Read Online And Be Thy Love by Rose Burghley - Free Book Online

moving about on the terrace at one time during the night.”
    “And you weren’t afraid? The sound didn’t disturb you?”
    “No—curiously enough it didn’t disturb me!”
    “Perhaps you really are very bold and brave?”
    “No, I’m not—I can assure you I’m not!” Their glances came together, and clung for a moment. “Perhaps I sensed that you were
    not—an intruder.... ”
    “So far as you’re concerned, knowing less than nothing about me, I might well have been an intruder!” Then he walked to the tiny, deep-set window, and stood looking out at the tangled garden. “But history will not repeat itself to-night, for I have arranged that someone will move in before dark, and that someone will be well able to look after you. As a matter of fact, we’re going to call in and see her on our way back, but I’ve already sent her a note, and I know she won’t fail me. She is one of Armand’s favourite tenants.” “Oh, yes?” looking at him for further information.
    He ground out his cigarette on the window-ledge.
    “I’ve told you that Armand has one virtue, and one virtue only, and that is generosity! He really can be extremely generous on occasion—it’s a kind of weakness, actually, and he probably fancies himself as a noble benefactor when he can so easily afford it, and nobody ever acted the part of a noble benefactor to him! It’s the sort of thing people wish to do when they want to possess some sort of saving grace..! However, this young woman’s husband was sent to prison for some sort of a housebreaking offense, and Armand came to the rescue with a spot of financial assistance. It was badly needed, for there are two small children, and Monique couldn’t very well leave them to earn money. So we are now on our way to Monique....”
    “I see.” She stood up. “But if it was the Comte who was generous to her, why should this Monique do something to oblige you?” “Because we’re in the same boat, she and I—we both find it so comforting to lean upon the Comte!” and once again there was a mocking gleam in his eyes.
    She looked at him a little doubtfully, and then a little frown drew her soft brown eyebrows together.
    “At the present time we’re all three a nuisance to the Comte, aren’t we? I ought to be looking round for a little hotel to stay at, and not put you to the trouble of finding someone to look after me.”
    For answer he picked up her hat from the stone floor of the cottage, dusted it carefully with his own immaculate handkerchief, and then handed it back to her with a little bow.
    “Shall we go now and find Monique?” he said.
    She sighed.
    “Nevertheless, I am a trouble....” Then, as she followed him outside she asked curiously: “But why did we come here?” She looked up at the creeper-clad front of what had once been a delightful, if diminutive, dwelling. “It’s in an appalling state, isn’t it?” with regret in her tones. “And it must once have been very pretty.”
    “It was.” His eyes were on the gaping thatch, and he shook his head. “I did once spend a very pleasant few weeks here, and I wanted to see it again. I must report to Armand that unless he does something soon there won’t be any roof left to this place, and that would be a pity.”
    “You think you might like to come and stay here again?”
    “Perhaps. Perhaps,” he repeated, and let his glance rove over her, and her cool pink linen, before he once more shut her into his car.
    Monique’s cottage was in a much better state of repair than the one they had just left, and she was hanging out a line of washing in her small garden when the car stopped outside the gate. She looked confused when Caroline stepped from the car, patted her windblown brown hair, and fumbled with the strings of her apron, as if she didn’t quite know whether or not to remove it. She had very rosy cheeks, and bright brown eyes, and Caroline liked her on sight.
    “Bonjour, mdm selle!—Bonjour,