Free Dorothy Eden by Lamb to the Slaughter Page A

she was glad that it was Felix who took her arm in a proprietary manner and said that it was time he was taking her home.
    ‘Thou wretched rash intruding fool!’ he said, when they got outside.
    ‘Why?’ Alice asked innocently.
    ‘If you think there’s any queer business going on you don’t fling down the gauntlet like that. You watch and say nothing.’
    Alice was a little startled. The night was very dark, and the trees overhanging the road seemed to press in on them, making the air breathless. At the same time she was glad for this discussion with Felix, for surely it showed his innocence. Instinctively she moved closer to him.
    ‘You mean about the fur coat?’ she said. ‘Then you do think there is something going on.’
    ‘I don’t know. Camilla was fond of animals. I can’t think she would leave them to starve.’
    ‘She meant to come back. I’m sure she did. Something’s happened to stop her.’ Somehow her mind shied away from what that something might be. She added, ‘Dundas had seen an American car at the cottage once or twice.’
    ‘Had he?’ said Felix, with interest. ‘Then what a secretive little devil she is.’
    ‘She’ll write and explain,’ Alice said. ‘But honestly, it puzzles me how Camilla had all you men on a string. She’s such an empty little creature, really. And that, believe me, isn’t said from jealousy.’
    ‘I’m not on a string,’ said Felix in his light careless voice. ‘Not me.’
    Alice was going to protest, then remembered that tonight Felix had seen Katherine Thorpe for the first time. Naturally he had slipped off Camilla’s string. He must, indeed, be thankful for Camilla’s disappearing act. Poor susceptible Felix, who wasn’t empty like Camilla at all, but who had all of that young lady’s tendency to a roving eye.
    ‘Anyway,’ said Alice, ‘I shall find it interesting visiting the Thorpes tomorrow. He seems a Heathcliff kind of person. I shouldn’t be at all surprised if he knows more than anyone what has happened to Camilla. But Katherine’s perfectly lovely. Isn’t she?’
    She made her question on a light upward inflexion, as if she cared nothing for Felix’s reply.
    He surprised her by being cautious.
    ‘Very. Dundas Hill has a glint in his eye, too, hasn’t he?’
    ‘You mean for me? How absurd.’
    ‘It’s not absurd at all. He likes small women. Look at that museum he has.’
    ‘That’s what Margaretta said.’ Alice gave a faint sigh. ‘Like you, she seems to think there is cause for jealousy. Only, of course, I know it isn’t jealousy with you,’ she added calmly. ‘I wonder why Margaretta got so upset about those shoes. I wonder why she didn’t tell us they were Camilla’s—if she knew they were. I really think the child enjoys being mysterious. It’s her father’s fault for the kind of life he makes her live. She’s just too sensitive.’
    Felix chuckled softly.
    ‘You know what happens when a woman starts to reform a man’s household. Good luck to you, my pet. Dundas is a thoroughly worthy person. And if you really won’t go back to England—’
    ‘Felix, how dare you!’ Alice burst out, aware that he always did this to her, always turned the tables on some grievance so that it was she in the wrong.
    ‘Little Alice!’ he said in his caressing voice.
    Alice jerked away from him.
    ‘Once I believed the things you said, heaven help me!’
    ‘And it doesn’t hurt too much to disbelieve them?’
    ‘It doesn’t hurt at all.’
    ‘Good. That’s the place we wanted to get to. Believe me, Alice, it’s only gifted people who get to that place.’
    Almost he sounded as if he were trying to convince himself, as if his precious ego were hurt. (Oh, Felix, try your blarney on Katherine Thorpe, or any other beautiful woman who comes along. In future I’m only going to fall in love with sensible sober men whom I can trust.)
    They had reached the gate of the cottage. Felix pushed it open and let her precede him to the