The Girl From Over the Sea by Valerie K. Nelson Page A

!’
    ‘ They aren ’ t children ,’ she flung back. ‘ They both look much younger than they are because they ’ re so small and slight .’
    Her face suddenly went very stubborn. Why was he spending so much time here ... as if he was trying to find out every single thing about her, looking at her with his cold intent eyes?
    ‘ Blake darling, so this is where you are. I waited ...’
    The speaker wasn ’ t where Lesley could see her yet, but she stiffened, disliking instinctively that smooth—and what Lesley considered affected—drawl. Dingo evidently agreed with her. He set up his vociferous barking until a cuff from Defontaine sent him down on his stomach wagging his tail ingratiatingly.
    In a leisurely manner, Defontaine now turned, presumably smiling a greeting, for Lesley did not hear him speak. She was bending down again struggling with the knots, determined not to give up.
    Now that penetrating voice came again. ‘ Surely that dog isn ’ t still there? I thought we ’ d decided it had better be put down. ’
    Incredulous amazement and a kind of tearing rage shot through Lesley. She got up and almost leapt across the space towards the door. She gamed a swift impression of a tall young woman with long black hair dressed in an expensive suede coat with a sheepskin collar and high ‘ suede boots which matched exactly the colour of her coat. There w as something vaguely familiar about her, but Lesley didn ’ t pause to sort that out. She just though t , so this is his wife—his lady, as the gardener had put it.
    She said hotly, ‘ If anybody injures my dog in any way they ’ ll be sorry for it, believe me !’
    ‘ What have we here? Blake, don ’ t tell me you ’ ve tied the girl up as well as the mongrel ! ’ The dark young woman ’ s face was a picture of amused contempt.
    As she saw that smile for Lesley the picture fell into place. But of course, this was the girl who had stood in the doorway of the house, on the cliffs at St Benga Town and had seemed inclined to let her Borzoi take up Dingo ’ s pathetic challenge.
    ‘ Sorrel, go on ahead. I ’ ll join you in a minute or two ,’ Defontaine said, standing between the two girls.
    The one he had spoken to laughed again. ‘ Take my advice, Blake, tie her up with the dog. These wild and woolly savages from over the sea need to be disciplined .’
    Lesley decided to ignore that. Her private opinion was that th e person who should be tied up w as Madame Sorrel Defontaine herself. T w o unpleasant types seemed to have found each other in these two, and no doubt theirs was a very successful match.
    The girl ’ s smile to her husband was a very special one and then she turned and sauntered a way . No w Blake Defontaine let his arm drop from across the door. H ad he thought she would fly at his wife ’ s throat? Lesley wondered.
    ‘ Don ’ t do anything stupid like releasing that dog ,’ he advised. ‘ You ’ re nursing your sister, so you can ’ t keep an eye on the puppy as well. Your brother is evidently not sufficiently responsible to do so. If you have any thought at all for the puppy leave him where he is so that he doesn ’ t get into further trouble. ’
    Lesley bit her lip. She hated the idea of giving him best, but she had no alternative till Rita was able to go out. If only Ricky ... Where had he been this morning?
    She bent to Dingo and gave him a hug. ‘ All right, old boy, ’ she whispered, ‘ I ’ ll have you out as soon as I can .’ She turned back to Blake Defontaine. ‘ I ’ ll be responsible for him as soon as my sister is well and I ’ ll ask my brother again to take him out only on a lead. ’
    ‘ That ’ s very sensible of you, ’ he said with a nod, and Lesley could have struck him for his condescension. Seething with fury, she passed him without a glance. One thing was quite certain in her mind. As soon as Ricky had established his claim to the Trevendone estate Mr. and Mrs. Blake Defontaine must receive