Rough Cut Read Online Free Page B

attention.
       “I hear good things about your organisation of our conference in Sainte Maxime next week.”
       “Good, I’m glad.” Eloise paused for a few moments before continuing, “I was really looking forward to it, but now, after this…”; she waved her hand in front of her.
       “Yes, I can imagine. But it’ll do you good, I’m sure. The boat trip to Monaco, especially.” Eloise smiled weakly as Jeremy continued. “Did I tell you Anna’s decided to come with us? Says she’ll need a few days somewhere warm after Moscow this weekend.”
       Eloise laughed politely. “Me too!” she said
       “Are you all packed and ready? It’s an early flight you know.”
       “Yup! Woolly hat and winter coat already in the case,” joked Eloise.
       “Good! And don’t forget your gloves. You’ll need them too,” said Jeremy, playing along.
       “You’d never guess it was the middle of summer would you?” added Eloise and Jeremy laughed.
       “We’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning, as planned, OK?”
       Eloise nodded and smiled as Jeremy wandered off. When he had gone, her thoughts returned to the reality of the occasion, her brother’s funeral. She stood alone, lost in her thoughts for a few minutes before Anna approached her. She reached out her hand and touched Eloise’s shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look as she did.
       “Lovely spread,” said Eloise as Anna let her hand drop to her side, “It was very kind of you to go to so much trouble. I don’t know how Mum would have coped without you these last few days.”
       “Glad to be able to do something to help,” said Anna and she smiled warmly at Eloise. “It was the least I could do at such a difficult time.”
       “Are you still as busy as ever with all your charities?” asked Eloise, trying to make polite conversation. She knew very well that Anna was tireless in her devotion to those organisations which had won her support. Anna smiled slightly, happy for the topic of conversation to move on to something other than Rob’s untimely demise and its consequences.
       “Oh, yes. Still keeping busy winkling money out of people who have more than they should.”
       They both laughed dutifully and then there was a few moments of awkward silence before Anna saw Philippe approaching. She put her hand on Eloise’s shoulder again as she spoke.
       “Oh, please excuse me, Eloise. I must just speak to Peter Brearly over there. He’s promised to organise a fundraiser for me. I’ll see you in the morning.”
       Anna glanced at Philippe as he approached and his eyes followed her as she darted off leaving Eloise on her own.
       Eloise’s grandfather was French, very French, and he had a commanding presence. A successful businessman in his seventies with fingers in many pies, he was tall for someone of his age and his face wore a tough, almost gaunt look although this was softened somewhat by a large grey moustache. Eloise smiled as he came up to her and they kissed each other on the cheek.
       “Hello, Grandpa,” she said.
       “Eloise,” he responded rather formally, “How are you doing?”
       “OK, I suppose, in the circumstances.” Eloise’s answer was non-committal.
       “This is a bad business,” broached Philippe. “Whoever did this will pay for what he has done.”
       “The police don’t seem to be making much progress,” offered Eloise.
       “Don’t worry, Cherie, justice will be done. Of this I am sure.”
       Although Philippe was her maternal grandfather, Eloise hardly knew him and found it difficult to carry on a conversation with him. She could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times they had met and she had always been a little frightened of him. Eloise knew from what her mother had told her that he was a hard man to please. He had taken it badly when his daughter had announced her intention to marry an Englishman and this had resulted in a