CHAPTER TWELVEHilary sat down on the arm of a large leather-covered chair. She was glad to sit down, but it put her at a disadvantage, because Henry remained standing. He leaned against the mantelpiece and gazed silently over the top of her head. Enraging. Because if you wanted to stop Henry talking you couldn’t—he merely raised his voice and continued to air his views. And now, when you wanted him to talk, he went all strong and silent and looked over the top of your head. She said, in rather a breathless voice,
“Don’t do that!”
Henry looked at her, and immediately looked away again. “As if I was a black beetle!” said Hilary to herself.
He said, “I beg your pardon?” and Hilary forgot about her knees wobbling and jumped up.
“Henry, I really won’t be spoken to like that! I wanted to tal
