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

notice to quit the Lodge. She was unspeakable and he was too large, domineering and arrogant to have on the premises a moment longer than necessary.

 
    CHAPTER IV
    Lesley ’ s first instinct was to rush back to the Manor and demand to know what Ricky had been doing since they arrived here, but second and wiser thoughts prevailed. The last thing she must do was to upset Rita, and having a blazing row with Ricky would do that quicker than anything else. So far as he was concerned too, that would get her nowhere. He would just become stubborn and withdrawn or begin to talk of leaving Cornwall. It wasn ’ t as if he had ever wanted to come.
    No, the best thing she could do in her present mood of anger, frustration and general feeling of depression and despair was to walk it off and get herself sorted out.
    She hurried through the neat vegetable garden, and came to a rougher piece of land, mainly pasture with a few apple trees standing in the hollow. The path led upwards to a wall in which was a gate and soon she was on the cliff top with a magnificent view of the coastline beyond St Benga Town to some distant headland jutting into the lovely turquoise sea. It was rolling out but there were still white-headed breakers churning to foam on the cruel toothed rocks.
    As Lesley turned to look in the other direction she saw that there was a path winding down the cliffs, broken here and there by steps which led to a sheltered, sandy cove. It looked like a private bathing beach and probably Avas, but she had no intention of going down there. This afternoon it was probably going to be private to Air and Mrs. Blake Defontaine and their horses.
    She turned in the direction of St Benga Town, walking quickly along the springy downs for a time, her nerves so tense that she couldn ’ t even think coherently.
    But the cold wind blowing in her face and the exercise for which she had been pining gradually had their effect and after a while she slackened her speed, having worked off at least the surface of her w orries.
    She had got to get this matter of Ricky settled without bringing Rita into it. The girl twin would always spring to her brother ’ s defence no matter what the problem. They might bicker and even quarrel between themselves, but to the world they always presented a united front.
    Lesley thought despondently, everything had gone wrong. I had the biggest difficulty in persuading them to come and since we arrived here nothing has gone smoothly. It had seemed to start when they were confronted by the ogre-like figure of Blake Defontaine looming up in the half light of that late afternoon a week ago. He had seen who was driving, Lesley felt sure, and he was holding the knowledge over her head until it suited him to pounce. Wild thoughts of blackmail came fleetingly and went just as quickly in Lesley ’ s brain.
    Another piece of bad luck had been the twins ’ insistence on adopting the puppy. He had been a source of trouble since they came down here, and the twins were irresponsible about him. Lesley had to agree there with ‘ the Enemy ’ s ’ judgment. She would have to do something herself about getting a licence and try to train him. It would be no good leaving it to the other two.
    It had also been unfortunate that the two Trevendones who were in possession had both been away from the Manor when they had arrived and the only people they had been able to see had been the very old lady whose mind was fixed now only on the happy days of her youth and of course ... Blake Defontaine.
    Lesley began to walk quickly again, her hands thrust deeply into the pockets of her coat, her copper-coloured hair whipping across her face. He made her feel like this, tense and strung up in a suffocating excited way every time she met him or even thought of him.
    It had got to stop being like that. She must take a hold on herself, treat him with coldness and reserve, refuse to be drawn into battle, where possible, avoid him.
    He and his wife,