The School of English Murder by Ruth Dudley Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

Hey, come on. What about it?’
    ‘Oh, all right. Why not? We’re only young once.’
    Amiss tried to imagine what Jenn saw in herself that made her unsurprised that he would be craving the privilege — on his wages — of taking her out. Probably her admittedly impressive tits.
    On the stated grounds of convenience and the actual grounds of economy, Amiss tried to steer them towards a curry house, but Jenn outsmarted him. The ‘little place’ she liked that stayed open late was able to find them a table at midnight, and he saw with a sinking heart that dinner for two was going to cost him two days’ pay. At this rate he’d never be able to afford to visit Rachel.
    In for a penny. He ordered lavishly. Jenn looked at him admiringly. ‘What’s a big spender like you doing in a dump like the school?’
    Amiss looked shocked. ‘Trying out a new career. I think I might like it.’
    ‘Well, it’s a funny place to start. Why didn’t you try one of the proper places?’
    ‘Why didn’t you?’
    ‘Oh, they wouldn’t have me. Most of them expect you to be educated.’
    ‘You seem pretty educated to me.’
    She tittered. ‘In life, maybe. Not in langwidge. But that doesn’t matter at the Knightsbridge. Those wogs are getting it so cheap they can’t afford to go anywhere else.’
    Their overpriced starters arrived. Jenn tucked into her whitebait with gusto. Amiss, who always had a problem with their little eyes, alternated his gaze between his own soup and his guest’s face.
    ‘I’d have thought a lively girl like you would find it a bit dull.’
    ‘Well, nothing’s dull with Rich around.’
    ‘Really? I haven’t had a chance to get to know him yet. Good friend of yours, is he?’
    ‘You insinuating something?’ She seemed simultaneously pleased and insulted.
    ‘Nope. I meant friend.’
    ‘Yep. That’s all it is. Not that I’d necessarily mind a bit of you know…’ and she dug him in the ribs. Amiss realised that all that free drink was at last having its effect.
    ‘Like older men, do you?’
    ‘Sometimes. If they’re like Rich. ’Scuse me.’ She darted off towards the Ladies.
    Amiss had five minutes to himself, long enough to ponder deeply over the revelation that Rich could be attractive to a twenty-five-year-old woman. He felt the faint irritation of a nice-looking young man that a pretty young woman could fancy a hideous dwarf nearly thirty years his senior.
    She teetered back slightly unsteadily. Her fresh make-up had been applied with more optimism than accuracy. The waiter arrived at the table simultaneously, and the next few minutes were taken up with a particularly irritating carry on about how she wished she’d ordered his gigot rather than her seafood platter. When that was resolved she remembered what she had been clearly burning to say when she returned to the table.
    ‘Mind you, I like young ones too — if they’re fun.’
    ‘Been many of those around the school?’
    ‘You’re joking. I’ve been here a year and you’re the first bit of talent there’s been.’
    ‘Sounds as if you’re a choosy one.’
    ‘Bighead. No, you should’ve seen them. God! Well, you know Ned. And then there were a couple of women — Cath’s still here. She’s a stuck-up bitch.’
    ‘No other men?’
    ‘Oh yeh. There was a young spotty one and an old geezer who got done for indecent exposure in Hyde Park. And Gavs is still here — much good he is.’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘Well, he’s you know,’ and she treated Amiss to a poor imitation of a camp gesture. She paused for thought. ‘Oh, yeah. ’Course there was Wally. Was he well-named!’ She fell into a fit of merriment.
    ‘Who was Wally?’
    ‘He was the sort of deputy principal. Here for years. Before Rich came. He went and electrocuted himself in the language lab.’
    ‘Good God. When? How?’
    ‘Oh, only about a month or two back. And it happened ’cos he was an old idiot. Always showing off. “Let me demonstrate this,