Dark inheritance (20 page)

"Care for a game of canasta?"

"I don't think so, thanks. I want an early night and once you inveigle me in" playing cards I never get to bed before midnight."

"That's hardly fair," he protested. "If I remember you were the one to insist on another round last night."

She smiled,
"touché.
All the same, I don't think I'll play tonight if you don't mind."

"I do mind, Barbara. You're the one bright spot in this dreary scene."

"Why do you stay if you dislike it so much?"

He came round the side of the table. "It could be because of you. You're very attractive, you know—or have I told you that before?"

She stood up. "Don't flirt with me, Mark, I'm not in the mood."

"A pretty girl like you should always be in the mood." He put an arm around her waist. "I thought we were going to be such good friends but since the cruise you've changed."

"That's a woman's prerogative," she said lightly, and tried unsuccessfully to disengage herself.

"I didn't think you were as changeable as most women, Barbara."

"Then I must assure you I am. Now if you'll excuse me I must go up and settle Aunt Ellie."

She tried to move away, but Mark caught her in his arms and before she could do anything to stop him had kissed her full on the mouth.

Her first impulse was to smack his face, but deciding it would be childishly melodramatic she regarded him coolly.

"Really, Mark, you're behaving like a small boy. Don't you know when you're not wanted?"

He flushed. "Never at a loss, are you?"

"I might say the same of you. Look, I work here, this is my job. I'm not doing it for fun but as a living, and I'd be grateful if you wouldn't make it any more difficult for me than it already is."

"Don't believe in combining pleasure with business, eh?"

"That's a rather unnecessary remark."

"I'm sorry, it was very bad manners. Forgive me?"

He seemed so genuinely contrite that she relented. "Forgive you. Now I really must go up. Good night, Mark."

She left the room and went quickly up the stairs to make sure Aunt Ellie was comfortable for the night before going along to her room to tidy her hair. Then resolutely she hurried downstairs and across the hall towards the study, determined to get the interview over as soon as possible.

But as her hand was raised to knock she heard the sound of angry voices from within, and stood transfixed at the fury and hatred she heard in them. Mark must have gone straight into the study as soon as she had left the dining-room, for the two cousins were in the middle of a fierce quarrel.

"You've no right to refuse me." It was Mark. "After all, I've good reason "

Dominic's voice cut harshly across his. "I've every right to refuse you! Although you don't seem to be aware of it I am master here. You may have been brought up at Crags' Height, but this is my home and inheritance and it was my father who took you in."

"Then it's a pity you're not more like your father," came the sneering reply.

"Because he was blind where you were concerned? I know you a good deal better than he ever did, Mark.

You've run through the money he left you and I'm sick to death of paying your debts. Once and for all I'm not giving you any more. What happened to the three hundred pounds I gave you before I went abroad? I suppose you gambled it away."

"It's no business of yours what I did with it!"

"Of course it's my business—it was my money. But I warned you then it was the last you were going to get, and you should know me better than to think I didn't mean it."

"I tell you you can't treat me like this, Dominic! If you hadn't been here with Uncle Hugh when he made his will he'd have left me much more."

The older man's voice was icy. "You may find this rather difficult to believe, but I assure you I was not in the habit of discussing his will with my father. Whatever he left you was entirely of his own choosing and I've n intention of discussing it with you. I've offered to give you a job on the estate "

"Don't make me laugh!" Mark broke in. "Do you want to turn me into one of your farm-hands? You have your own reasons for living the life of a hermit, but they don't apply to me, thank God!"

There was the sound of a chair scraping violently back. Then: "Get out of here, you swine!"

Quickly Barbara moved into the shadows as Mark stormed out of the room, his genial face so distorted with rage that it was barely recognizable—obviously the Rockwood temper was not confined to Dominic.

She stayed in the shadows until Dominic closed the door of the study. In the best of moods he was difficult enough, but to talk to him now would make the interview even more unpleasant, so abandoning all idea of speaking to him that night she went back to her room.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE following morning Barbara found that Mark had already left. Although somewhat piqued that he ha gone without saying good-bye she was relieved that he would not be there to pester her with his attentions. She did not know how to tell Aunt Ellie of his departure, for the old woman had been looking forward with pathetic eagerness to seeing him again, and had expressed the intention of coming down that evening. Although the old lady was still far from well, the doctor had decided that she could do herself as much harm from thwarted obstinacy as by being allowed to dine downstairs, and had merely insisted that she have a longer sleep than usual that afternoon to prepare her for the exertions of the evening.

Left to herself, Barbara had tea in the dining-room, ruminating over her coming interview with Rockwood. She knew it would be impossible to catch him on his own once Aunt Ellie was downstairs, and it seemed a good omen when she heard the front door slam and realized he had come home much earlier than usual.

A moment later he appeared at the dining-room door and stopped short at the sight of her.

"Good afternoon. I didn't know you had tea here."

"I usually have it with your aunt, but she wants to come downstairs tonight, so she's having a longer rest than usual."

"Is it wise to let her get up?"

"I don't think it'll do her any harm. She frets at having to stay in her room all the time."

He moved over to the fire and warmed his hands, and
Barbara regarded his back uncertainly. "Shall I ring for some tea, or have you had some?"

"Don't bother, I'll ring myself," he replied ungraciously.

She felt her anger rising. Surely there was no need for him to be so surly? He had made his attitude to her clear enough without the added necessity of underlining the change in their relationship.

"As you please," she said stiffly. "Although while you're here there's something I'd like to say." He made no reply, but inclined his head as if giving her permission to speak, and she went on: "I'd appreciate it you'd find someone to take my place, Mr. Rockwood."

She thought she heard a sharp intake of breath, but when she looked up his expression was unchanged.

"When do you intend going?" he enquired coolly.

"As soon as you find someone else. I don't want to leave your aunt until she's got someone suitable."

"Your concern for my aunt is most commendable."

"I don't expect you to understand an emotion like that."

His face darkened. "Does my aunt know you're leaving?"

"Not definitely. I didn't want to tell her until you've found someone else. It may be a couple of weeks and she'd only fret, whereas if she had another companion
straight away she'll be occupied and won't miss me so
much."

"I don't expect she'll forget you quite so easily as it's convenient for you to believe."

"I believe nothing of anybody any more, Mr. Rockwood."

His retort was checked by Emily coming in with some
fresh tea and he waited until she had poured him out a cup and left the room before he spoke again.

"I shall get in touch with the employment agencies
immediately and tell them
to
send mc anyone suitable on their books. I'll Jet you know as soon as I'm satisfied."

"Thank you."

There was a slight sound at the door and they both turned, startled to see Aunt Ellie standing there.

Barbara hurried towards her. "You shouldn't have come downstairs on your own," she admonished anxiously.

"I don't see why not," the old lady smiled, "I feel perfectly all right. Just a little wobbly and short of breath, that's all." She came into the room on Barbara's
arm and sat down. "How nice to have you home for tea, Dominic dear. I always think a cup of tea is so refresh
ing." Then looking round the room: "But where's Mark? Is that naughty boy still late for meals?"

"Mark's gone," Dominic said shortly.

"Gone?" the old woman quavered. "Gone where?"

"Mark had to go to London rather suddenly," Barbara explained. "He left too early to come in and say good-bye to you himself, so he told me to say it for him."

The old face crumpled. "Oh, and I was so looking forward to an evening with him! It's the first time I've been down since we came home and I thought it'd be just like old times." Weak tears trickled down her cheeks, but she made no effort to brush them away. "He should have come and said good-bye to me—I wouldn't have minded being awakened. After all, I'm not a baby. I know I don't always say and do the right things, but I've got feelings like anybody else."

Dominic set his cup down sharply on the table. "There's no need to cry, Aunt. If Mark didn't disturb you it was one of the few times he's ever shown any consideration, and you shouldn't blame him for it."

"Nobody bothers about me at all," the old woman said with pathetic inconsequence.

"I wouldn't say that," her nephew said drily. "Now wipe your eyes and try to look more cheerful. If you're not too tired after supper I'll have a game of bezique with you."

Aunt Ellie clasped her hands in rapture, the tears still wet on her face. "Oh, will you? Dear Dominic, how good you are to me!" She reached out to pat his arm but he moved awkwardly away and went out of the room, leaving Barbara to think how utterly unpredictable he was.

After dinner they lingered over coffee, Dominic sipping brandy from a thin goblet, every inch the master of Crags' Height as he sat with the firelight darkening his hair and throwing his shadow over the panelling of the walls.

"If you want your game of cards, Aunt," he said at last, "we'd better go along and play. Otherwise you'll be too tired."

"I'm ready when you arc, Dominic," she said eagerly.

He stood up and helped the old lady to her feet, giving her his arm as they walked across the hall to the drawing-room, with Barbara following. Blodwyn had lit the fire and with the flames flickering up the chimney and the curtains drawn against the night the room looked far more cheerful and inviting than usual.

Aunt Ellie went to the cabinet and took out a pack of cards. "I'll be shuffling them while you get the table ready, Dominic," she said gaily. The man went to do so and the old woman moved into the centre of the room. "Bring it over here, dear, it's warmer." She glanced towards the fireplace as she spoke and suddenly her face contracted and the cards dropped to the floor and scattered on the carpet. "Why Dominic, you've hung poor Margaret's picture again!"

Rockwood turned towards her, his face expressionless. "Yes, Aunt, I have. I like to see my mother."

"Yes, of course," Aunt Ellie said quickly. "After all,
Hugh always kept her picture here. I think it's right that Margaret should be here. This was always her favorite room, and I'm glad you've put the picture back, Dominic. I think it "

"We needn't discuss it any further. Aunt. The picture is back and I don't want it referred to again."

"Yes, yes, Dominic dear, I understand. I won't mention it any more." Hastily Aunt Ellie bent and fumbled for the cards, but Barbara was already on her knees picking them up.

"Leave them alone Barbara, I'll do it," Rockwood said curtly. He stooped for the rest of the pack and before she could withdraw from his proximity their hands touched. He started back and got quickly to his feet, putting the cards on the table in front of the fire.

"Now Aunt, let's begin."

To Barbara's surprise he showed great patience with his aunt and she was sure he allowed the old lady to win when he could easily have beaten her. She thought crossly that as he was going out of his way to be kind he might have gone a little further and tried to hide the boredom on his face, but Aunt Ellie did not seem t notice and he evidently did not care if it was apparent. And yet why should he when he had gone out of his way to show how little she meant to him?

Absently her eyes left her knitting and travelled round
the room. What a fool she was to have imagined that she and Dominic might find happiness here, to believe they might ever have a future together! When he married it would obviously be to someone of more importance than herself, someone of position and social standing who could make Crags' Height and its master her whole life, since she would not have children. And yet
how different this gaunt house would be with children
running up and down its corridors and young voices floating up the stair-well and echoing in its rooms! She
dropped her knitting on her lap and stared pensively into
the fire, her face serious, her profile intent.