‘Yes, yes, of course, old chap.’ Winstanley Fortescue quickly piled a plate with choice prawns, slices of roast beef and chicken and set it down in front of the cat.
‘Still spoiling Monty, I see,’ Tottie said approvingly. She was wearing a new dress—he had insisted that her back wages be paid before he agreed to begin talks with Rufus. She looked splendid and was a lot more relaxed these days.
‘Monty deserves it.’ Miranda was with her. ‘He was practically nursemaiding Win through the bad days.’ That was how she thought of them: ‘the bad days’. But they were over now. From now on, all the days were going to be good.
‘You’re looking radiant, my love.’ He had meant to tell her before. ‘I haven’t seen you all afternoon.’
‘No,’ Miranda said, ‘I’ve been busy.’
‘Peter,’ Tottie said, ‘why don’t you and I go and get some more champagne?’ She took his arm firmly and led him away.
‘Busy doing what?’ Winstanley Fortescue recognized the lead-in to a big scene when he saw one.
‘I’ve been to see a friend of Sir Reginald’s—’ She hesitated.
‘And—?’ For a moment, cold horror enveloped him. He wasn’t, unbeknownst to himself, worsening, was he? The doctors hadn’t been giving Miranda bad news? No, no, Miranda didn’t look disturbed. In fact, she looked quite happy.
‘Win,’ Miranda said, ‘I’m leaving the show at the end of the month. I’ve talked to Tottie, she can take over Cynthia’s part and Cynthia can step up into mine.’
‘But … ? Miranda … ?’
‘Yes, darling,’ she said. ‘And everything’s going to be all right this time. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. I had a scan this afternoon. We have a perfectly-formed healthy daughter on her way to us.’
‘Wonderful! Marvellous! The best news in the world!’ He turned to embrace her—and suddenly caught Monty’s eye.
Monty looked away guiltily. He caught up a slice of roast beef and, still not looking at Win, backed into a corner and crouched over it, defying the world.
‘Win—?’ Miranda was waiting for the kiss she had every right to expect. ‘Win, what is it?’
‘Uuurrrr …’ Win was doing some rapid mental arithmetic. He glowered at the cat.
‘Win? It’s all right, isn’t it? You are pleased?’
‘Yes, yes!’ He pulled himself together. ‘Of course, I am.’ He gave a sudden shout of laughter.
‘We must call her Kitty,’ he said.
About the Author
Marian Babson, born Ruth Stenstreem, is an American mystery writer. Her first published work was Cover-Up Story (1971), and she has written over forty-five mysteries. Babson served as secretary of the Crime Writers’ Association and was awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library in 1996.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 1994 by Marian Babson
Cover design by Amanda Shaffer
ISBN: 978-1-5040-5858-2
This edition published in 2019 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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New York, NY 10038
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MARIAN BABSON
FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA
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Nine Lives to Murder Page 19
