Without leaving a mark.
“Best get back to work,” Piers said, hoping his stern expression conveyed that Bert would be watched from now on.
Chapter Twelve
Old Lady Temperleyemerged from the house on Stewart’s arm.She wore a startling puce print gown with an unfashionable natural waist, and several warm, paisley shawls.Everyone stood up with varying degrees of awkwardness, and April introduced the rest of the company to her.
Fosterson held a chair for her, and April poured tea into the one remaining cup and took it to her.
“Thank you.”Apparently, the old lady had decided to be gracious.She was also a lot less vocal than she had been earlier, at least in the first half of the tea ceremony.After the usual general discussions about the weather, which April always found both pointless and tedious, the company slipped back into its usual more learned chatter.
Quite suddenly, Lady Temperley pronounced, “Rubbish!”
Everyone stared at her in surprise, but as though she didn’t notice, she argued a coherent case against Mal’s Pliny theory.At least it seemed coherent to April who had little interest in the theory and less understanding.It seemed to her blindingly unimportant.
But the old lady appeared to like that Mal defended his views.Her eyes gleaming, she turned abruptly to Piers.“What doyouthink?”
“I agree with you, of course,” Piers said promptly, and she cackled delightedly.
“Only because my aim is good!”
When tea was over, she rose to her feet unaided, and commanded Fosterson and Mal to escort her back to her room.April sent the long-suffering Becky and Peggy to help.
“What an eccentric old lady,” Mrs.Hubb commented.
“I rather like her,” Claudia said.“In fact, I want to be just like her when I am a hundred, or however old she is.”
“At least your aim won’t be so good,” Hale said.
“What do you mean?My teamwonat pall-mall, and I scored more than anyone else.”
“Then I shall have to keep you locked in the attic,” Hale said, and Claudia hooted with derision.
Mrs.Hubb looked slightly shocked.
“Haven’t you ever been tempted to throw things at Piers?”the professor asked April.
