No Cooperation from the Cat Read Online Free Page B

snatched it up, demanding, “Now, what?” She listened a moment, then said, “No, no, Cecile. Just the usual madhouse.”
    “Oh! It’s just Dame Cecile.” Jocasta was just beginning to relax when the doorbell rang again. She shrieked.
    “Pull yourself together!” It was Martha who spoke, although she sounded exactly like Evangeline in that moment. I hoped rogue genes weren’t coming through. “You can’t carry on like this. We have work to do!”
    “Yes, yes, I know. I’m sorry.” Jocasta apologised automatically, but I could feel her watching me nervously as I went down the hall to answer the door.
    I was still trying to decide whether I should slam the door in his face when I realised that it wasn’t Banquo who stood there looking down at me as though uncertain of his welcome.
    “Teddy!” I said, loudly enough to reassure Jocasta. “I thought you were in Brighton.”
    “I was, I am, but—” He smiled imploringly. “You did say I could have visiting privileges.”
    “Oh yes, of course. Come in.” I stepped back and he rushed in so quickly that I looked beyond him to see if he was being pursued. I wouldn’t put it past that awful wife of his.
    “Where is she?” He looked around eagerly. “Where’s my little darling?”
    I told myself that that pang in my heart wasn’t jealousy as Cho-Cho surged forward with a chirrup of delight to be swept up into his arms.
    Cho-Cho was simply an exceptionally loving and friendly little cat, I lectured myself further. Naturally, she was happy to see Teddy again—he was her former owner.
    But he had given her to me. He couldn’t change his mind, could he?
    No, no, of course not. His wife still hated the cat and would always hate her. Nothing would change that. It wasn’t safe for Cho-Cho to be anywhere near Frella ever again.
    Surely Teddy would never forget Frella’s deadly hatred—that was why he had let Cho-Cho go. Besides, I had given him visiting privileges. Wouldn’t that be enough for him? Or…?
    Evangeline’s poisonous glare made me aware that I was wringing my hands as I followed Teddy and Cho-Cho into the kitchen.
    “Teddy, old man!” Nigel greeted him as a friend and, possibly, ally. Was Nigel feeling a bit outnumbered being the only male amongst all these females?
    “Teddy!” Jocasta smiled wanly, but welcomingly. “Have you had breakfast?”
    “Some,” Teddy admitted, sniffing the fragrant air. “Rather a long time ago. Before I caught the early train from Brighton.”
    “Sit down,” I urged. “There’s plenty for everyone.” It wasn’t a bribe, but I did want to keep on his good side.
    “Coffee.” Martha sighed resignedly, pouring out a cup. “Perhaps toast. Since you’ve already had something, perhaps you won’t mind waiting a bit for more. We’re going to test a kedgeree recipe. I thought it would do all of us for lunch.”
    “Splendid, splendid!” Teddy agreed, settling himself next to Nigel, who had raised his head alertly.
    “Perhaps Nigel would join the testing panel, too—” Jocasta had noticed. “If he isn’t too full—”
    “I’ll force myself.” Nigel beamed. “Anything to be of help.”
    Evangeline snorted as she replaced the phone. “Cecile will be joining us for lunch, brunch, whatever,” she reported. “Throw another potato into the pot.”
    “It’s rice, actually,” Martha said coldly, as Jocasta scurried to unearth a chunk of smoked haddock from the freezer and access the rice canister.
    I knew the eggs were already waiting. Martha was incapable of getting her hands on a dozen eggs without immediately hard-boiling at least half a dozen of them to stand ready for future use in salads, dressing, or, in this case, it seemed, kedgeree.
    Teddy was devoting most of his attention to Cho-Cho, but the aroma of the haddock gently defrosting and poaching was beginning to perfume the air and she stirred restively in his arms. She still loved him. Of course she did. But he didn’t loom as large in her