Something Wicked by David Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

Cambridge but I’ve always been more of a cricket man. I remember you rowed.’
    ‘Yes. It’s one of the attractions of this place – being able to get on the river. In fact, I’ve been asked to make up an Old Etonian four during the regatta but I don’t think I’ll risk it. My puff isn’t what it used to be. Getting old, I suppose.’ He changed the subject. ‘Your young woman – how is she getting on with Bladon? By the way, isn’t he a Cambridge man?’
    Edward winced at the thought of how Verity would hate this description. ‘That’s right. He was up at Trinity with me.’
    ‘Is he a good doctor? I don’t hold with them myself. Kill as soon as cure, I’ve always said.’
    ‘I think so. He’s very clever and strong enough to stop Verity exhausting herself. She hates not doing anything. That’s why I’m so keen to get her working on this business of my dentist.’
    ‘Oh yes, you mentioned it on the telephone. It sounds most macabre but can’t the police deal with it? Why are you getting involved?’
    ‘I’ve drifted into doing a bit of sleuthing,’ Edward said, rather embarrassed. Here was one person who had not read about anything he had done and he should have been glad of it. Instead, he thought he ought to explain himself a little.
    ‘You remember when poor Molly was murdered?’ Molly Harkness was a woman they had both known in Nairobi. ‘Well, I managed to help . . . you know, get to the bottom of the affair.’
    ‘Oh, I say! You’re not a private eye, are you? I thought they were only in America.’
    ‘Don’t rib me, Harry. I’m not in the mood,’ Edward responded, irritably. ‘I’m not a private detective. I mean I don’t do it for money but I have solved one or two problems that the police . . .’
    ‘You are a private eye! Of course, I’m sure you are very good at it. Now, you must let me help you. It sounds like good clean fun.’
    ‘Not for Eric Silver, it wasn’t,’ Edward said roughly. ‘I’ll tell you all about it later. In the meantime, would it be possible for me to have a wash before dinner?’
    ‘I’m so sorry!’ Harry said quickly, getting up from his chair ‘I didn’t mean to josh you. Come, I’ll show you your room. Your man arrived a couple of hours ago. Everything should be ready for you. Take a bath. There’s plenty of hot water. I thought we’d dine at eight – just the two of us. Don’t dress. I wear an old smoking jacket when I’m alone, like I did in the bush.’
    ‘That suits me.’
    ‘Funny about the dentist though.’
    ‘Funny?’
    ‘Well, old man, you remember what Emerson said about being dead?’
    ‘You read Ralph Waldo Emerson?’ Edward was amused. ‘What did Emerson have to say about death and dentists?’
    ‘He said that when you’re dead, “at least you’re done with the dentist.” Of course, in this case, it’s death which did for the dentist.’
    The smile faded from Edward’s lips. He was no longer amused.

3
    Turton House was a big, ramshackle place of no particular architectural period or interest but with a splendid view of the river, and before dinner Edward strolled down to the river bank to think about Verity. He always loved gardens like this where the lawns sloped gently down to the water. It was soothing to his troubled spirit and, in the gathering dusk, the river looked serene and infinitely gentle although he knew that even the Thames could be dangerous if taken for granted. He peered into a large boathouse containing several small craft including rowing boats and two fast-looking ‘riggers’ which reminded him of his schooldays. A young man wearing grey flannels, vest and cap sculled by, his long, elegant strokes hardly ruffling the water. He thought it would do Verity good – weather permitting – to lie in a punt and watch athletic young men row up and down.
    It wasn’t quite as it had been before the war when Henley Royal Regatta was one of the great social events of the season but it was still an