Read Online A Battle of Brains by Barbara Cartland - Free Book Online Page A

cautiously, she opened her bedroom door.
    As she expected, the lights in the passage had been dimmed, but every third sconce still held a lighted candle.
    Her stepfather was already planning to have gaslight installed in the house, but it entailed a great deal of disruption.
    Therefore he had decided that he would not have it introduced until he was staying in London for a long time.
    Yolanda actually preferred candles and loved eating in the dining room by candlelight.
    Now in her feet bare, because she thought it would be quieter, she tiptoed down the passage holding a candle.
    Very cautiously she opened the door into the boudoir attached to Mr. Watson’s bedroom.
    As she anticipated the lights had been turned out.
    Her candle would provide her with enough light to see what she was looking for.
    When she entered the boudoir, it seemed dark and gloomy with the curtains pulled over the windows.
    So she lit another candle from her own and placed both of them side by side on the writing desk.
    Her stepfather had been right.
    He had said that the despatch case that Mr. Watson had brought with him would have been put either on or by the desk.
    It was in fact lying on top of a blotter and Yolanda thought that would make it easier to open.
    She bent to insert the key into the lock hoping there would be no difficulties.
    She found it turned quite easily.
    As she opened the hood of the case, she thought that her stepfather must have a collection of keys – perhaps he had one for every well-known make of despatch case.
    He could therefore pry into the correspondence of every guest who stayed with him.  It certainly made things easier to obtain whatever information he wanted.
    It seemed such an extraordinary way to behave and it was something Yolanda had never heard of before.
    Now the case was open and she could see that there were a large number of papers inside it.
    There were so many that she thought it would take a long time to find what she wanted.
    She picked up a handful of papers.
    Suddenly the door behind her was flung open.
    Yolanda turned round terrified.
    Mr. Watson was standing there with the light from his bedroom behind him.
    He was wearing only a silk nightshirt.
    For a moment he stared at her and then he asked in a thick voice,
    â€œWhat do you want?  What are you doing here?”
    Yolanda moved forward so that he should not see the open case behind her.
    â€œI just – came in,” she stammered in a frightened voice, “to see that you have – everything you – want.”
    â€œEverything I want?  I thought that was what I had,” he slurred in a drunken tone.  “Now I see you, I know you are what I want!”
    As he spoke, he lurched forward towards her.
    Realising what he had implied, Yolanda turned to run away.
    But she was too late.
    With unexpected swiftness Mr. Watson caught hold of her arm.
    He pulled her against his chest.
    â€œYou’re pretty, so damned pretty!” he slurred at her hoarsely.  “I was thinking over dinner that I could do with you and now you’ve come to me – that’s just what I want!”
    â€œLet me go!” Yolanda cried out.  “ Let me go! ”
    She tried to struggle against him, but he was very large and she was very small.
    Her struggles were having no effect on him and his arms held her completely captive.
    Then she realised that he was trying to kiss her and she thrashed her head feverishly from side to side.
    â€œLet me go!” she begged, but he laughed.
    â€œYou’re what I’ve been wanting,” he gurgled, “but I didn’t know it till now.  Lucky, that’s what I am, always lucky and what can be luckier than to have you.”
    He was pulling her, as he spoke, out of the boudoir and into his bedroom.
    Yolanda realised that he was taking her towards his bed.
    She gave a scream of sheer horror.
    â€œLet me go!   Let me go !”
    Now she was beating her fists