Free A Quiet Death by Alanna Knight

uncharitable, so ungallant, he told himself sternly. I should be delighted, gratified, since it appears that Vince has taken to heart my advice that there was more to love and a life partner than a pretty face.
    But his initial disappointment was soon quenched by more important factors.
    As Vince went forward to greet his beloved, Faro had remained at a discreet distance, easy to achieve in that vast room. He stared out of the window, admiring the view and allowing the lovers a little time to themselves.
    The girl's voice alerted him and turning he witnessed something stranger than the scene of sweet dalliance he had expected.
    'I beg you to say no more, Dr Laurie. I can only presume that the urgency of your wish to see me concerns my grandfather's health. Pray be seated.'
    Although the girl spoke softly her voice reached with a bell-like clarity to where he hovered waiting to be invited forward.
    The words were either a joke or a bombshell. Faro looked across at Vince, who remained smiling tenderly down at the girl. A joke obviously, he thought with relief. A little game for lovers. She was pretending, teasing him. Well, well, was that the secret of her allure?
    Still smiling, Faro moved nearer. But his presence had been forgotten.
    Vince was no longer smiling. 'Rachel—dearest—for heaven's sake. What is all this about?'
    Rachel Deane looked beyond Vince and saw Faro. 'Sir,' the appeal was directed at him. 'I received you both because Dr Laurie is my grandfather's physician. Indeed Sir Arnold thinks very highly of him. But when he knows how his trusted doctor has abused his role to press his unwelcome attentions in this manner - and invade my privacy, I think he may come to change his mind.'
    Faro looked from one to the other in bewilderment. If this was a joke being staged for his benefit, then it was being played too hard and had gone too far for his taste.
    He watched Vince spring forward and in an agitated manner attempt to seize Rachel's hands. He watched him sink on to his knees before her, saw her wrench her hands away, cowering far back in her chair.
    'Sir—Mr Faro—please—be so kind as to remove this—this gentleman from my presence. Or must I call the servants.'
    Faro went forward, put a restraining hand on Vince's arm. He noticed how it trembled.
    'Vince, lad, what on earth has happened?' he whispered.
    'I will answer that, sir,' said Rachel. This—this creature with whom you seem to have some acquaintance and influence, claims that I—that I am his betrothed, that we are to marry soon. This is preposterous, ridiculous. You have my word, sir, that although I have heard his name mentioned by my grandfather, I have never set eyes on him before in my whole life.'

Chapter 7
     
    'Rachel, for God's sake. Is this some kind of joke? You know perfectly well that it was through Sir Arnold that we first met. Oh my dearest girl, you can't have forgotten that. You can't have forgotten Errol—' his voice dropped to a whisper—'the cottage where we stayed together.'
    'The what? Are you mad? I never set foot in any cottage with you. Sir!' Again she appealed to Faro. 'You look respectable enough—can you not restrain this creature?'
    'For God's sake, Rachel. Don't pretend not to have heard of him either. He is my stepfather, Detective Inspector Faro of Edinburgh City Police.'
    Her eyes widened. The information seemed to take her by surprise, as indeed it must if she had never met Vince Laurie before.
    'Then I presume you can vouch for this gentleman.'
    Argument was futile. 'I can indeed, Miss Deane.'
    She shrugged. 'At least I am not being confronted by a madman, for that was my first impression. But now I can see that he has been the victim of some wicked practical joke.'
    'A joke you say. Is that all you can call it? All our—our days—our nights together.' Again Vince knelt before her, tried to seize her hands and was pushed away.
    'Dearest girl, tell me the truth. Are the family forcing you to deny me, to deny