Read Online Anne Belinda by Patricia Wentworth - Free Book Online Page A

years.”
    Jenny turned her head, in its close black cap, and smiled a puzzled, deprecating smile. The movement and the smile were full of a natural grace and charm. She did not speak, but stood there smiling with a delicate lift of the eyebrows.
    â€œIt’s your cousin, John Waveney,” said Mrs. Courtney in her deep voice.
    John shook hands, and became properly sensible of the fact that he was certainly lucky to have so charming a cousin. An old woman in Waveney village once said of Jenny Marr that everything she did became her. “If she talks to you, the time just passes like a flash. And if she don’t talk, one can always look at her.”
    She was much prettier than John had expected. The thin black which she wore showed off a very graceful figure and a dazzling complexion.
    John stayed ten minutes, and then made his farewells. From the moment of Jenny’s entrance Mrs. Courtney’s interest centred on her so obviously as to make him feel himself in the way. Jenny gave him three fingers and a pretty, friendly glance.
    â€œYou must come and see us. You will—won’t you? I’m only up for the day, but you must come down to us for a week-end. I suppose this week’s no good?”
    â€œWell, as a matter of fact—”
    â€œCould you come? Then do. As Aunt Jen says, we ought to have known each other years ago, and I want you to meet Nicholas.”
    He went out into the street, warmed with a pleasant sense of kinship. Jenny turned to Mrs. Courtney.
    â€œHe’s rather nice. I like the quiet, straight way he looks at you. Thank goodness he’s presentable. He might have been anything, really, what with going out to the colonies at eighteen, and the war, and knocking about all over the place ever since. You’d better start match-making for him.”
    â€œI told him he ought to marry and settle down. Jenny, he’s frightfully interested in Anne. When’s she coming home?”
    â€œIn Anne!” Jenny’s pretty colour faded slowly. “How can he be interested in Anne?”
    â€œI don’t know. But he is.”
    Jenny’s eyes filled with tears.
    â€œAunt Jen, don’t! I can’t bear it.”
    â€œIsn’t she any better? Oh, my darling, don’t cry! What a fool I was to ask!”
    Jenny dabbed her eyes.
    â€œIt’s silly of me. I won’t. I do miss her so, Aunt Jen. And when you said that about John Waveney being interested, I couldn’t help thinking how lovely it would be if—” Her voice broke into a sob.
    â€œWell, perhaps it will be.” Mrs. Courtney would have said anything to bring the sunshine back.
    Jenny pressed her handkerchief to her eyes. Mrs. Courtney could feel her trembling. She said, “No—no,” in a muffled, broken voice. Then she got up, went quickly to the window, and stood there fighting for composure. When she turned round she was still pale, but her smile had come back.
    â€œLook what Nicko gave me yesterday!” she said.
    She dropped back into her chair and held out a long chain of square-cut crystals held together by platinum links. The links were set with emeralds. The crystals were exquisitely carved.
    â€œHow lovely! But, Jen, it must have cost a fortune. Why not pearls? I do so love you in pearls.”
    Something flickered for an instant in Jenny’s eyes. They were brown eyes—brown, sunny eyes; but just for that instant they looked dark and cold.
    â€œI don’t care frightfully for pearls,” she said. Then, with a complete change of voice, “Aunt Jen, baby laughed at me yesterday—he did really. He saw me come in at the nursery door, and he turned his head and laughed. Nurse says he’s most awfully young to laugh. She says babies of three months old often don’t—and he was only two months yesterday. She says—”
    She talked ecstatically for an hour about little Tony Marr. Mrs. Courtney did not mention Anne