Read Online Clandara by Evelyn Anthony - Free Book Online Page A

fiercely. “I forbid you to speak that word. I know what wanton means … beautiful, sweet, foolish Katharine, mistress of my heart, come back to the Ball before I lose my head again.”
    â€œIs there a turret walk at Kincarrig?” She looked over her shoulder at him as they turned to go back, and her eyes shone in competition with the great stones round her neck.
    â€œThere is no turret walk,” he answered. “But we won’t need one there. Wait till you see it tomorrow …”
    â€œI’m so excited,” she said. “I don’t even want to go to bed. Why don’t we ride straight there, my love, after this Ball is over?” He opened the door and helped her down the narrow winding steps.
    â€œBecause it’s a five-hour ride, and I have arranged for our grieve to meet us. I shall have to go to Dundrenan tonight and then we will go together tomorrow morning; I’ll bring my grieve with me and we’ll meet at the Black River Bridge and ride on together. How I hope you like what I have done!”
    â€œI’m sure I shall,” she reassured him. “But you’ve made such a secret of it I’ve been tempted to slip over alone in the last month and see … Supposing Father had not made a wedding date – didn’t you even think of that when you began all these preparations of yours?”
    â€œI knew you would be my wife,” he said quietly. “And I have prepared Kincarrig accordingly. But if you don’t like it, my love, then we will pull it down and build another house. Come, isn’t this the door into the main corridor?”
    In the corridor, half-way down to the head of the main staircase, they suddenly came upon the Countess Margaret. She had dressed for the Ball in a gown of pale pink velvet and satin, more suitable to a girl of Katharine’s age than her own. The soft, youthful colour of her dress only accentuated the pale face and the tired eyes.
    â€œWhy, Margaret!” James stopped, and, taking her hand, kissed it and bowed. “I’ve hardly seen you tonight. We looked for you below but I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
    â€œI have been in the Library,” she answered. She looked at him and then very slowly at Katharine, and after a second’s pause her step-daughter began to blush.
    â€œYou have been taking the air, I see,” she said.
    â€œYes, Maggie.” James’s tone changed to the friendly, mocking voice she had known when they were both children and she had paid long visits to Dundrenan House. “Yes, Maggie, we’ve been taking the air, as you call it. And haven’t you done the same yourself, an old married woman like you?”
    To his surprise, Margaret’s pale face flushed a deep, painful red. She did not look at Katharine.
    â€œNo,” she said, and her voice, in contrast to her strained unhappy face, was flat and calm. “No, I haven’t. Or anything like it. If you want to know why, you had best ask Katharine. I’m not surprised she hasn’t told you. Now I’m going to bed. I’m not used to festivities,” and she gave her cousin a terrible smile. “Good night.”
    â€œWell I’ll be damned.” James stood looking after his cousin as she walked quickly back down the corridor and disappeared into one of the rooms. “What the devil did she mean by all that?”
    â€œI don’t think she’s very happy,” Katharine said. Suddenly she felt almost guilty about the Countess. “She told me the other day that a marriage of convenience was not what she expected when she married Father.”
    When James looked down at her it was the first time she had seen him frown.
    â€œForgive me,” he said quietly. “But what is meant here by a marriage of convenience? Explain it to me, I feel a little confused …”
    â€œIt is not consummated.” Katharine was so nervous that she spoke quite