Read Online Dark inheritance by Roberta Leigh - Free Book Online
Authors: Roberta Leigh
Tags: Romance - Harlequin
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scurrying to and fro to make enough money to go on scurrying to and fro." She paused, then went on reflectively: "But sometimes I felt they were better off than people like me, for although their lives were so narrow and circumscribed they were probably happier than I ever was."
"How young you are to talk like that, Miss Mans field." He looked out at the dark water, the bony structure of his face thrown into relief. 'Those poor people, as you describe them, probably have as many unfulfilled ambitions and desires as their more fortunate fellow human beings. It doesn't always pay to judge people by appearances, you know, and John Smith, who probably looks as common-place as a potato, may have the yearnings of a poet or the curiosity of an explorer."
Barbara regarded him with interest. "I can sec you've given some thought to the subject."
"At one time I was a rebel too; wherever there was an under-dog you'd find me defending him."
"And now?"
'The fire of youthful idealism has burnt itself out, I'm afraid. I've realized the uselessness of railing against Fate and accept whatever comes. But I didn't follow you out here to give tongue to my opinions. I was going to ask if you'd care to come ashore with me tomorrow."
"You needn't worry about my missing the boat again," she replied quickly. "I'll make sure I don't forget the time."
"So my invitation is refused?"
"It's very kind of you, but you needn't have bothered." Then, seeing the sudden bleakness in his expression: 'There was really no necessity for Aunt Ellie to ask you to look after me. It makes me un comfortable to feel I'm a bother to you both."
"What has Aunt Ellie got to do with it?"
"But didn't sheI thought she must have asked you to go with mc."
"No one dictates to me, least of all my aunt," he said coldly. "I asked you because I thought you'd ap preciate being shown Athens by someone who knows it. But I can see I was too presumptuous,"
He turned away and was walking up the deck to wards the companionway when she called after him.
The wind carried her voice away and whipped her hair into disarray as she turned her head, but she called his name again, and at the hatchway he looked back.
'What is it?"
She moved towards him quickly, her skirts blowing against her thighs. "I didn't mean to be ungracious. If you really want to take me ashore tomorrow I'd be very pleased to go with you."
There was a short silence. Then: "Very well, be ready at eight. The Greek port officials come aboard then to give out landing permits, and unless they've changed their ways they'll be off again at eight-fifteen —it's a case of first come first served and hang the rest, so don't be late." And with a lift of his hand he dis appeared below.
CHAPTER SIX
BARBARA was up early next morning and when she left the cabin Aunt Ellie was still asleep. Although she did not like leaving the old woman on her own all day, the stewardess had promised to keep a kindly eye on her, and another elderly woman on the cruise with a middle-aged cousin had offered her companionship.
Barbara's first glimpse of Greece was disappointing, for the boat was already anchored in the port of Piraeus, which looked just like any other Mediterranean port—in fact, even dirtier and more dilapidated than most.
Rockwood was already at breakfast when she went into the dining-room, and stood up to go almost as she sat down. "If you'll give me your passport I'll get your landing permit."
She complied. "Shall I meet you up there?" He nodded. "On deck in about twenty minutes." Equipped with sun-glasses and a floppy, wide-brim med straw hat, Barbara went to join him as arranged, and found him waiting for her impatiently. An impassive Greek soldier guarded the gang-plank, but allowed them through when he saw their passes.
At the far end of the dock they were accosted by a jabbering crowd of taxi-drivers, but Rockwood waved them peremptorily aside and went up to a small, dilapidated car standing on its own.
He spoke to
"How young you are to talk like that, Miss Mans field." He looked out at the dark water, the bony structure of his face thrown into relief. 'Those poor people, as you describe them, probably have as many unfulfilled ambitions and desires as their more fortunate fellow human beings. It doesn't always pay to judge people by appearances, you know, and John Smith, who probably looks as common-place as a potato, may have the yearnings of a poet or the curiosity of an explorer."
Barbara regarded him with interest. "I can sec you've given some thought to the subject."
"At one time I was a rebel too; wherever there was an under-dog you'd find me defending him."
"And now?"
'The fire of youthful idealism has burnt itself out, I'm afraid. I've realized the uselessness of railing against Fate and accept whatever comes. But I didn't follow you out here to give tongue to my opinions. I was going to ask if you'd care to come ashore with me tomorrow."
"You needn't worry about my missing the boat again," she replied quickly. "I'll make sure I don't forget the time."
"So my invitation is refused?"
"It's very kind of you, but you needn't have bothered." Then, seeing the sudden bleakness in his expression: 'There was really no necessity for Aunt Ellie to ask you to look after me. It makes me un comfortable to feel I'm a bother to you both."
"What has Aunt Ellie got to do with it?"
"But didn't sheI thought she must have asked you to go with mc."
"No one dictates to me, least of all my aunt," he said coldly. "I asked you because I thought you'd ap preciate being shown Athens by someone who knows it. But I can see I was too presumptuous,"
He turned away and was walking up the deck to wards the companionway when she called after him.
The wind carried her voice away and whipped her hair into disarray as she turned her head, but she called his name again, and at the hatchway he looked back.
'What is it?"
She moved towards him quickly, her skirts blowing against her thighs. "I didn't mean to be ungracious. If you really want to take me ashore tomorrow I'd be very pleased to go with you."
There was a short silence. Then: "Very well, be ready at eight. The Greek port officials come aboard then to give out landing permits, and unless they've changed their ways they'll be off again at eight-fifteen —it's a case of first come first served and hang the rest, so don't be late." And with a lift of his hand he dis appeared below.
CHAPTER SIX
BARBARA was up early next morning and when she left the cabin Aunt Ellie was still asleep. Although she did not like leaving the old woman on her own all day, the stewardess had promised to keep a kindly eye on her, and another elderly woman on the cruise with a middle-aged cousin had offered her companionship.
Barbara's first glimpse of Greece was disappointing, for the boat was already anchored in the port of Piraeus, which looked just like any other Mediterranean port—in fact, even dirtier and more dilapidated than most.
Rockwood was already at breakfast when she went into the dining-room, and stood up to go almost as she sat down. "If you'll give me your passport I'll get your landing permit."
She complied. "Shall I meet you up there?" He nodded. "On deck in about twenty minutes." Equipped with sun-glasses and a floppy, wide-brim med straw hat, Barbara went to join him as arranged, and found him waiting for her impatiently. An impassive Greek soldier guarded the gang-plank, but allowed them through when he saw their passes.
At the far end of the dock they were accosted by a jabbering crowd of taxi-drivers, but Rockwood waved them peremptorily aside and went up to a small, dilapidated car standing on its own.
He spoke to
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