Sheer Folly by Carola Dunn

sure to visit the place while I’m here.”
    â€œI understand you’re at Appsworth to do business with the firm.”
    â€œNot on my own account,” Sir Desmond said quickly, as if Daisy had accused him of robbing a bank.
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œYou’re laughing at me, Mrs. Fletcher. Your generation may find it quaint, but I assure you, it’s not so long since being personallyinvolved with a manufacturing business could get one blackballed.”
    â€œHow fortunate that you’re involved only on behalf of the government—or so I hear? And in the building business, rather than manufacturing.”
    His eyes narrowed, though on the surface his manner remained urbane. “You seem to know a great deal about my business. You’re a journalist—but this isn’t the place or the time. I’d like a word with you after dinner, if you please.”
    â€œI’m not a reporter. And even if I were in the habit of regaling the scandal sheets with tidbits, which I’m not, I rather doubt they’d be interested in this particular snippet of news. But if you need further reassurance, I’ll be happy to give it to you later.”
    He gave an abrupt nod, and turned away to respond to Mrs. Howell’s anxious twitterings on the subject of the lack of fish.
    While sparring with him, Daisy had overheard Rhino, seated on Mrs. Howell’s other side, ragging her about the bad soles. Lucy now distracted him with a question about some mutual acquaintance on the London social scene. She had been chatting quite happily with her other neighbour, the sandy young man, who had a Canadian accent. His name was apparently Armitage, but Daisy hadn’t been able to hear enough of their conversation to work out what his place was in the scheme of things. His attention, in turn, was captured by the doctor’s wife, as loquacious as her husband was taciturn. Perhaps, Daisy thought, her loquacity accounted for his taciturnity.
    At least his silence left her free to study the rest of the diners. Armitage, though attending to the doctor’s wife sufficiently to make the proper noises in the proper places, was gazing diagonally across the table at Julia, with a besotted expression on his face.
    Oh dear, Daisy thought, another victim, and by the look of him one who was not likely to win Lady Beaufort’s approval even if he earned Julia’s.
    Julia was on friendly terms with Owen Howell, as far as Daisy could tell, though they were on her side of the table, beyond thedoctor, so she couldn’t see them properly. A pleasant chat at the dinner-table was hardly significant, but what a turn-up if Julia were to fall for the plumber! It seemed at least as likely as that she should accept the abominable Rhino.
    At the far end of the table, the unlikely quartet of Mr. Pritchard, Lady Ottaline, Lady Beaufort, and the young bureaucrat were getting on like a house on fire. Daisy decided Pritchard must be a brilliant diplomat, wasted on the world of plumbing.
    A couple of maids removed the soup dishes. Sir Desmond turned to Daisy and said in a low voice, “Why all this fishy business?”
    â€œMuch ado about nothing. I’ll tell you later if you really want to know.”
    The maids reappeared. An astonished silence fell as they placed in front of each diner a small plate with a couple of sardines, decorated with croutons and parsley.
    Daisy looked at Lucy. Lucy looked at Julia. All three burst into fits of laughter. The infectious sound made most of the others smile, but Mrs. Howell looked ready to weep. Rhino didn’t help by saying disdainfully, “Fish! This might just possibly be adequate as a savoury.”
    â€œI told Cook to do the best she could.”
    â€œVery ingenious of her,” said Daisy. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Howell. We were just laughing at a private joke. Nothing to do with your cook, or your excellent dinner.”
    â€œAre you going to