Kirkland Revels by Victoria Holt Page B

did you arrive?”

    I told him and he listened gravely. I thought there was a foreign look about him but his name was as English as it could be; I supposed he seemed so dark because of the extreme fairness of my new relations.

    He said: ” I was going to call at the Revels to-day. Shall we walk back together?”

    We did so and he made me feel that I had found a new friend.

    He talked familiarly of the family, and when he spoke of Gabriel there was an anxious note in his voice. I knew what that meant and I wanted to speak to him about Gabriel’s health, but I refrained from doing so.

    Later, I promised myself. He would be easy to talk to.

    He told me that he had been invited to dine at the house on Saturday.

    ” My daughter and I,” he added.

    I was astonished that he should have a daughter old enough to be invited to a dinner party. He saw my surprise and I liked him no less because he appeared to be pleased by it. I had thought he was somewhere in his mid-thirties, but decided he must be older than that.

    ” I have a seventeen-year-old daughter,” he said. ” She enjoys parties. My wife is not well enough to attend them, so she and I go together.”

    ” I shall look forward to meeting her.”

    ” Damaris is looking forward to meeting you.” He smiled.

    ” Damaris! That is an unusual name.”

    ” You like it? It’s from the Bible. Just a brief mention … but it’s here.”

    I remembered what Luke had said about biblical names, and I wondered if it was a custom in this part of the world to take names from the Bible.
    I was about to mention this ; then I remembered that Madame la Directrice had said that my impetuosity often verged on bad manners, so I restrained myself.

    We went into the Revels together. The doctor sent one of the servants to tell Ruth he had arrived; and I went up to my room.

    -I wore a white gown on the night of the dinner party. It was the only real evening ore that if entertaining at the Re scale. I should have some white chiffon and lace, very si:

    I had no qualms about it bee I had were perfectly cut an company. I did my hair in liked so much; and I was < dress, for time was passing.

    As he did not come, I we and I went on to the balcony He was nowhere in sight, b coming from the porch.

    I was about to call out an’ ” I heard a deep masculine You have not taken to our little 1 I drew back, feeling the li I knew that listeners are said i Fanny had told me that oft el when you overhear yourself ingly, to refrain from listenn ” It’s early yet,” answered There was a laugh. ” I’ve easy prey. “

    I did not hear Ruth’s reply ” Why did you let him stray si to find some little fortune-hu I was furiously angry. I v and tell whoever was speakin, him ; I wanted to tell him that position when I had marriec I stood still, my eyes blazi; a little, and by leaning over 1 was light brown and he see mi a resemblance to the Rockw stepped forward suddenly into I hated him, whoever he was I was trembling as I went was already there. He was on hurrying.

    ” I forgot the time,” he sai Where have you been? Why It was on the tip of my heard, but I changed my mil was breathless now. No, I would fight my own battles; I should have to teach this relative, whoever he was, a lesson. So I helped Gabriel dress and when we went down I met my enemy.

    He was Simon Redvers, the cousin; he looked less broad when seen on the level. He was very tall, a fact I had not fully realised looking down at him.

    Gabriel introduced me, and when he took my hand those cynical eyes looked straight into mine and I knew exactly what he was thinking. His eyes were light brown and his skin deeply bronzed; his mouth was smiling slightly but his eyes were not. I knew my own were flashing with anger, for I had never found it easy to restrain my feelings and I could not get the sound of his words out of my ears.

    ” How do you do?” he said.

    ” I am well, thank you,” I answered.

    ” I suppose I