Free A Blunt Instrument by Georgette Heyer Page A

back?" she asked.
    "Certainly I'm coming back," he replied.
    She hesitated, then said in a low voice: "You're very angry about this…'
    "We won't discuss that. The mischief is done, and I imagine my possible anger is unlikely to make you regret it more than you are already doing."
    She lifted her hand to her cheek. "You don't believe me, but I wasn't having an affair with Ernie."
    "Oh yes, I believe you!" he returned.
    Her hand fell. "You do believe me? You didn't think I was in love with him - ever? I thought -'
    "You thought because I personally disliked the man, and your intimacy with him, that I was jealous," he said sardonically. "You were wrong. I always knew he was not the type you fall for, my dear."
    She winced. "It is not fair to say I fall for anyone. It sounds - rather Victorian, but I've been perfectly faithful to you."
    "I am aware of that."
    "You have made it your business to be sure of that!"
    "It was my business," he replied hardly.
    "Why did you behave as you did over my friendship with Ernie, then? You knew you could at least trust me not to indulge in a vulgar intrigue!"
    "It wasn't- you, but Fletcher whom I mistrusted," he said. "I warned you that I wouldn't stand for that particular friendship, didn't I?"
    "What right had you to expect me to drop him or any other of my friends? You allowed me to go my own road, and you went yours -'
    "This is a singularly unprofitable discussion," he interrupted. "You chose to go your own road, but if I remember rightly I made it clear to you two years ago that I would not tolerate either your debts or your indiscretions. Six months ago I requested you to keep Ernest Fletcher at arm's length. You have been almost continuously in his company ever since."
    "I liked him. I didn't love him!"
    "You can hardly have expected the world to know that."
    "But you knew it!"
    He looked at her with narrowed eyes. "I knew that Fletcher had a peculiar fascination for women."
    "Yes! That's true, and I did feel that fascination. But love - ! Oh, no, no, no!" She turned away in some agitation, and walked rather blindly towards the window. With her back to the room, she said after a moment: "Why did you come down here today? You suspected I was - mixed up in this, didn't you?"
    "Yes," he said. "I did."
    "I wonder you came, then," she said bitterly.
    He did not answer at once, but presently he said in a gentler voice: "That's silly, Helen. Whatever our differences we are man and wife, and if there's trouble brewing we're both in it. I hope, however, that it'll blow over. Try not to worry about it - and don't say more than you need if Superintendent Hannasyde questions you any further."
    "No. I'll be very careful," she replied.
    Miss Drew reappeared at that moment, with the tidings that luncheon would be ready in five minutes.
    "Thanks. I'll go and wash," North said, and went out.
    Sally eyed her sister's back speculatively. "Tell him the truth?"
    "No."
    "Fool."
    "I couldn't. It's no use arguing: you just don't understand."
    "He'd prefer the true story to the obvious alternative."
    "You're wrong. He knows there was nothing between Ernie and me."
    "Does he?" said Sally.
    Helen wheeled round. "What do you mean?"
    "I'm not sure. But somehow he didn't give me that impression. If he knew there was nothing between you and Ernie, I don't quite see the reason for the very definite animus against Ernie."
    "He never cared much for him. But as for animus, that's absurd!"
    "Oh no, it isn't, and you know it isn't, my girl! John's wasting no tears over Ernie's death. Moreover, it wouldn't altogether surprise me to learn that he knows more than you think he does."
    "Once a novelist always a novelist!" said Helen, with a little laugh.
    "Too true! And that being so, I think I'll wander round to take a look at the scene of the crime after lunch."
    "You can't possibly do that!"
    "What's to stop me?"
    "It isn't decent!"
    "Decent be blowed! I shall go and rout that poor worm Neville out. He's another person who