The Brother of Daphne
nt is-"
looked up
ha
ou be alarmed or offende
as the
e, thank you, at
offer or a
said I. "It
tted he
one do wi
als wit
u like. You mustn't be rough with the bag. It'
you. It is not by force, but by per
ink you're a
said. "T
iage window and we had been permitted to enter. The other occupant of the carriage-an aged member of the House of Lords-after regarding us with disapproval for ninety miles, had left the train at the last station. Then my lady had turned to her nice new dressing-bag and had sought to open it. In vain s
s. All she had done was to double-lo
you s
as a burglar. What a blessed
pose i
you s
at
hey are-in his presence, he would probably have
laug
ather like i
lights, you should still be ende
ad of
one of my cigarettes. It's not a smoking carr
er point?" she
I. "It's a
n, but her eyes were. Great, big ones these, with a star in each of them for laughter. Her nose turned up ever so slightly, and
g to Whinnerl
, pl
the
as you
id you
tive bag h
you're one of
ns by marriage like to make themselves infamous, that is no fault of mine. They have ma
ave the
y last week, for inst
N
r. They scorned my request. Who was I? To-day, they drive from Norfolk to Dors
the
but against that you must set off the tone my presence
up wit
it off! Ta
tas
e. Take it off!
move. Draw you
proud to display. I let the wasp reach the dark blue cloth. Then I seized him. As I put him out of the window,
finger
outh and by ea
er
es
ress the p
stump if you like. Good heavens, y
is
s rea
your left hand. I'll
n stood in the August afternoon sunshine, touching his cap and starin
hen I recovered my senses, she was sitting as far away as possible in an
ey think? Whateve
long," said I musingly. "They only do
shiv
thought we were married,
pose t
they do. Or
ent by. She bowed abstractedly, an
is village
y, I suppose.
e are we go
med delightedly upon us. We stared at them in return. It was all wrong. This wasn't the Hall, and it wasn't W
ge white one, slung across the curling drive from one tree t
'engaged' carriage. We had alighted at their station-Whinnerley Bluff-doubtless some new halt, built since my last visit. We were in their car. We had received cheers an
nion's words flas
ey thought we were mar
hat has happe
ed frigh
married couple-mar
ivered
go on th
tared
our or two. The real ones can't arrive before seven. There isn't a train before then. We can slip aw
light came i
e?" she
s. Say y
over the sunlit park. T
rather a lot, ar
I said
you make su
it, she turned, and we looked
point is a poi
her small, g
e house was beautiful. There it lay, in the hot sunshine, all grey and warm and peaceful-a perfect specimen of the Tudor period, and about its walls a tattered rob
id," whispere
ispered back. "
d. I don't know wh
trembling terribly. Suddenly there was a scrambling noise, and a great black a
ling." said
ice, wagging his tail. She put out her hand and stroked his head. The great fellow whin
ied delightedly. "
. I followed thankfully
gentle housekeeper was saying. "I
ook the two letters from the salver the footman was holding out. Then I t
ling,"
d stopped, flushin
, de
was twenty paces away at the top of the stairs. I
no luggage. Ours, of course, went on to Whinnerley proper. Say your maid is
rig
eld a towel ready while I washed. Then he brushed me all over, and flicked the dust from my shoes. With the slightest encouragement, I believe he would have sha
means,
ip she will find
s,
e the drive by which we had come. Lazily I traced its line curling away between the trees. Suddenly something red and moving caught my eye. For a moment the trees hid it from view. Then I saw it again-just a flash of red in the avenue-moving towards the house. I
ram?"
was addressed to Maulfry Tower, Winnerley Bluf
gave him a shilling. He thanked me shyly and sped away to the lodg
rrive, the wagonette. They will not send the car for your maid. But
o a convent-that is, after I have served my term
here is no current, nor any time, nor action. Only the sun makes shining patches on the water, while now and again dragon-flies dart through the sleepy hum of insect life, like bright thoughts flashing across a reverie. Now, isn't that nice? I rea
critically, bendi
," she said, "if I had known the
suckle screened the table from view. The fourth lay open to the sinking sun and the park and the distant hill
said, witho
hanks, dear. I had m
umber sandwiches, his hand shook
h, did you notic
aid. "What
he thieves awfully, you know. They can't tell whether they're watching the fish-slice or the 'Longfel
, the servants had disappeared. I glanced through
id the gir
? I believe one is supposed to get to
ers the footman had gi
Peter Tagel. That's
y? And now,
his I shall, of course, have to leave your side. But that's for after. Till then-but I fear my thoughtless reference to our part
I shoul
onouring me enough," I said. "Of course, it's earl
abou
y'll see y
aught her cool, left hand. From the third finger a plain gold ring winked at me. I stared at it. Till
I said, "a
es
re you
ing me I am for t
t are yo
This in a tone
nd my
win me bread, you k
nt of her. Still the fai
me," I
y' marriage, was i
hat finger when we
rom mine, but still looking away over my head, up at
Anthony," I
e deepen
when we separ
been churlish to refuse. And so in and out of the tall bracken, under the spreading oaks, close to the gentle-eyed
house, watching the smoke rise from a tall chimney, a slight, s
h a pity. I glanced at my compa
ing all wrong?"
iled a
s
y and leave all this? My dear, it's all utter
t really
. Her eyes were wide op
one goes up a backwater, I suppose
rather short bac
en very su
use,
said. "Thank you." But, as I spoke,
quarter to seven. Thank you. A mome
had heard them put my case in the room adjoining. Very well. She was to sit-loll, if she liked-in the arbour, where tea had been served, while I ventured indoors and secured the luggage. Once across the lawn, I was to drop it over the sunk fence close to the drive. Togeth
ls crunched on the gravel-drive. I turned t
m window, and before I crept out of the
unfortunate confusion for which a certain simi
PETE
into the envelope. I addressed the latter, and put it wi
ferent matter. Mentally and physically the luggage embarrassed me. My appearance proclaimed an exodus-suggested a flight. Of course
under my arm and opened the door. Not a sound.
own the luggage and listened carefully. As yet there were no lights burning, and it was more than dusk in the hall below. I wiped the sweat off my foreh
he said, and swi
light came th
luggage. I don't know whose it is. The label on this bag says 'Whinnerley Hall', and
t yours
ly things." I flung t
man; order the car. I want to take them back to t
eared, breathless, I was sitting on a tabl
r coming?"
a moment. What a dreadful thing to ha
omething like our things. But look at that
ndeed,
I'll go and find her ladyship. I'
laining things to an open-mouthed girl in the arbour. As
to Whinnerley. Remember, you're terribly upset and simply frantic about your jewellery, especia
nging very still now, for the faint breeze had died with the day. As we approached the lodge gates I leaned forwar
ansit,"
backwater
re was that in her tone that made m
nd held it. Then I started. It was the left hand, but there was no ring upo
see?" I said, glancing at
id they m
hat, d
er very much if t
aneously with the seven ten.
urning to the servant, "Bring the bag a
s,
ble protest about tickets, but we thrust past hi
Delphine?
she's come," wa
d to th
own and go back to the car, in case we miss her lad
good
. Exactly opposite to where we were standing was a fi
bag, Peter?" said
d Lady Tagel passed down the pl
n began
ed comrades. Where was it we broke down? Oh, yes, Scr
head in and pul
phne. "I expect Boy's introduced himself, Julia dear. Yes, I tho
my lady'. Though she
Billionaires
Billionaires
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance