Garret's Gambit by Dale Mayer (book club books .TXT) 📗

“My brother,” Garret said, “he’s missing.”

“I heard that,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“But you haven’t heard anything about it?”

“No, I haven’t, but we do have feelers out.” Charles walked over to the ladies and set a tray down on the coffee table in front of them. “The tea will help fortify you.”

Amy looked at him in disgust. “Fortify? Nobody uses that language.”

Charles laughed gently. “That’s true. I’m a relic of times gone by, though that doesn’t mean it’s any less valid.”

Astra gave her sister a look that clearly stated Astra was ashamed of Amy’s words, and that was a damn good thing because they’d been taught better than to insult their host. Astra smiled and admitted, “Thank you. A cup of tea sounds perfect.”

“A cup of tea is perfect, any time, my dear,” he said, with the gentlest of smiles. “Your rooms are ready, should you need a nap or just even to lie down or freshen up for a bit.”

“That would be lovely,” Astra said.

Amy looked around and said, “I’m not even sure where we are.”

“South of London,” he said smoothly. “Not to worry, you’re safe and we have your luggage with us.”

She glanced at him and asked, “What street?”

“Do you need to know?”

Astra smiled and said, “No, she does not need to know.” She wasn’t sure why her sister was being so difficult, but, given her condition and what she’d been through, maybe it made sense. “I’ll take you upstairs,” she said to her sister.

“You don’t even know where the upstairs is,” Amy snapped.

She looked at Charles and said, “I’m sorry. My sister is pregnant.” Then she let her voice drop away.

“Sure, let my pregnancy be the excuse for my manners,” Amy said, with an eye roll.

“It would be nice if something was,” Garret said, his tone much less amiable than before.

Amy glared at him and sank back again into the couch. But a yawn caught her sideways. Surprised, she said, “I guess I am more tired than I thought.”

“Pregnancies will do that to you,” Charles said.

This time, at least, she didn’t dare insult him with another smart remark. He motioned at the tray on the sideboard and said, “I did bring some treats, in case anybody would like a pastry.”

Immediately Astra sat up and asked, “Are those honest-to-goodness cream scones?”

He gave her a beaming smile. “They are, indeed.”

Kano hopped up and said, “You have no idea how good his cream scones are. This man’s a genius when it comes to baking.”

“Do you have a recipe that’s really good?” Astra asked. “I never seem to make them taste quite right.”

Charles immediately hopped up, walked over, and pushed the tea cart closer. Then placed a large tray with cream scones and other treats on the coffee table in front of the ladies, with a plate of saucers and knives. “Help yourself, my dear. You tell me if it’s a recipe you would like, and I’d be happy to share.”

Eagerly, Astra reached for one, broke it in half, and just took a sniff, rolling her eyes in joy. “Now this looks wonderful.” She put a little bit of butter on the side, took a tiny bite, and moaned in joy. “Delicious,” she announced.

“Aw, for crying out loud,” Amy said. But she leaned forward, picked up a scone, and, after she cut it and buttered both sides liberally, she sat back. Once she demolished it in a few bites, she reached for a second and finally a third. She stared down at her empty plate.

The three others looked at him, and Charles said, “They must have been delicious.”

“I’ve never eaten so many in my life.”

He just gave her a paternal smile and said, “Babies will do that.”

She just continued to stare in surprise.

But Astra was happy that Amy had eaten at least. It didn’t look like she’d touched much of the food she had brought to the cabin, certainly not enough to sustain anybody, not to mention a pregnant somebody. Still, her sister being amiable was a whole lot easier to deal with than her sister being rude. A few moments later Astra asked if it would be okay if they went up to their bedrooms.

“Of course,” Charles said. “Follow me.”

When they all trooped up behind him, even the men, Astra looked at Garret and said, “You don’t need to come.”

He gave her a smile and followed behind her. She still wasn’t sure what to think of him and his behavior, but it was pretty hard to do anything, given the way they were acting now. Upstairs, the women were shown to two bedrooms on the right, with the men given two bedrooms on the left. Surprised, but happy to see the divine quality of the rooms, Astra smiled and said to her sister, “Why don’t you go lie down for a bit? It will make you feel better.”

Amy shrugged and said, “Why not? I ate so much that I’m tired.” Stepping inside, she shut the door in their faces.

Astra looked back at Garret, shrugged, and said, “Do you want me to disappear? I can go spend some time in my room.”

“No,” he said. “You’re fine.”

She frowned. “Are you sure? Do you guys need some private time?”

“It’s fine,” he said. “Come on down, and we’ll talk.”

Back downstairs again, with her sister settled in her room, Astra motioned at the tray and said, “Charles, would you mind terribly if I had another one?”

He said, pleased, “Absolutely not, please have more. I’m delighted that you’re enjoying them.”

“Thank you,” she said, with a smile, then watched as the other two men helped themselves to more and soon had demolished the rest of the plateful as well.

“This is great,” she said to Charles. “I would love the recipe.”

“Not a problem,” he said. “I’ll get it for you in a few minutes.” He sat back, looked at the two men, and asked, “So any news?”

“No, and it’s very, very frustrating.”

“Of course it is,” he said. “Nothing quite like