A Tempest of Blondes

dark, for one or two muted lights had been left on in the lounge to soften the night. They gave Kolade's Pete Rengol

acks of different sizes on the counter. She knew the smaller one was one

Scotch by the scruff of the neck. Booze enough for a year. And though the Scotch and guitar gave his

w he would let himself out to the servants' quarters. A sound that ma

*

olade would have liked to savour the moonlight before ducking into the s

one of the yew trees lining

rned slowly. Kolade hurried to her. "You gave me a bit of a sca

dabbed at her eyes wit

licitous. "You haven't

linked off a couple of tea

sweetheart

aw the moon – have you ever seen it like this, Cooladé? So full and yet so lonely? Somehow, it made me think of us

nny

lo

giant Scotch around her waist. "It's

t you do somet

Me or

eyelids. "Don't make

n't

you know I'm d

t's not fight, Penny. I'll play you a s

ching, he called, "Oy,

t's the matter with yo

? A couple of songs and we'll be along." He handed the b

lance. "Swiss chocolates! How

ttle in his hand. "Whe

ed. "A fair s

arted off in a lope. "I say,

h!" Kolade tossed

Scotch, Kolade settled with the maid on

Penelope mumbled through a mouthful

. "I hope you

ha

guitar. "The song

long, golden hair, he played her Go

*

n his Dasrat Sugrim antique four-poster bed. "This j

s applying her night-mask, Teni Ajibade said gentl

er-pampe

e you l

ttered philosophically, "not ruffles and flimsies. I have a

Aloe Vera Fair Maid. "That w

possibly derive from such company? Roger grins like a pirate, and his sis

ight, Ladi. They'

aff. The help. And Kolade

Kolade, but neither did he like how he was sounding – like a snob, lik

was

what he h

ng to pass. It was only a bad patch, and he would get beyond it. But he would have to cool it; h

s, the Supreme Court judge tried to dre

*

le. His irritation wasn't really over the card, for he was on the roll to beat Sandy and R

uitar, Penny had moaned about how unbearable it would be for her if he returned to Nigeria. "The

eplied, as she had done o

all been so

radio was blaring to

turn,

me, Cooladé,

adio down a mite, w

ly," Roger barked. "I

rough a back issue of Fashion Fair magazine, turne

" Roger took a drag on his ciga

bled Kolade, the irritation in

lew in Kolade's direction.

g," Sandy mumbled, "with all t

pty. Sandy was right. Enough alcohol and winnings had blown his way to make h

g against the table, toppled over. He didn't pick it up

ded him. "What

ade paced about, tryin

his cigarette. "Y

sip from the glass of Scotch by her side.

had heard right. He

" Roge

lay. "What did

king about going back t

do? Little laddies've got to tag along wit

heir baggies, inni

say 'we,' are you... are y

er magazine. "I'm saying I couldn't

de s

ng or what?"

ope had just said yes, hadn't she? She had said yes a

the game or stuff

shut hi