Read Online Island of Darkness by Rebecca Stratton - Free Book Online
Authors: Rebecca Stratton
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walked back along the road to where she had left the car, once again puzzling over Clive’s behaviour on the telephone, and more than ever sure that somebody had been
with him. It was the only reason she could think of for his having covered the mouthpiece while she waited. He seldom had visitors, although he was quite a social man and well liked in the local tavernas and the possible identity of his visitor puzzled her.
So preoccupied was she that she failed to give enough of her attention to the rough surface of the road, and before she realised what was happening she missed her footing and fell headlong in the dust. A little shaken and with her eyes prickling tearfully from a stinging graze on her left cheek, she was just thanking heaven that no one had witnessed her inelegant sprawl, when a male voice called out from behind her, and a moment later a hand helped her to her feet
“Mipermetta, signorina !”
“Thank you.” She felt such a fool for having gone sprawling and wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
The young man, who still held her arm briskly brushed dust from her dress and made sympathetic noises over the graze on her cheek. “You are hurt, signorina ,” he said, seemingly concerned and, although she felt a bit shaken, she managed a smile.
“I’m all right,” she insisted. “Really, signore .”
Her rescuer could have been no more than seventeen or eighteen, but there was a definitely interested gleam in his large dark eyes as he looked at her for a moment then glanced around him. “You are alone and on foot, signorina ?” he asked softly.
“Not for long,” Leonora assured him hastily. “My uncle’s on his way to fetch me - my car’s broken down.”
“Ah, si !”
“I’ll be all right now, thank you.” She was grateful for his concern, but something in his manner made her wary of trusting him too far.
“I will accompany you to your car, signorina ,” he offered, and evidently had no intention of taking no for an
answer, for one hand was still firmly under her elbow with the fingers tightly curled to prevent any sudden move on her part to leave. “It is unwise to be alone on the roads,” he informed her with a seriousness that was belied by the gleam of speculation in his eyes. “I will protect you.”
“Oh, but I don’t need protection, thank you,” Leonora denied firmly, and used her other hand to prise at those gripping fingers. “Please let go of my arm!”
“But, signorina - bella signorina, you are alone!” He rolled his dark eyes first at her and then at the sun that was already lowering in the sky. “Soon it will be dark, and you will be—”
“I can hear my uncle coming!” Leonora interrupted swiftly. “So you don’t have to concern yourself about me, signore. Now please let go!”
He did not at first believe her, she knew, but then he too caught the fast approaching sound of a car and glanced ahead with narrowed eyes. The powerful roar of the engine shattered the still, warm air and he moved hastily to one side of the road suddenly, taking her with him.
The car, she realised with a sinking heart, could not be her uncle’s rather sedate British family size, it was something much more fast and expensive. It also occurred to her that if she tried to enrol the driver’s assistance she had no guarantee that she would not be jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire.
It came into sight at last, low, very fast and bright, shiny black, and the driver turned his head swiftly as he passed them so that Leonora had a brief but clear view of his face. The brakes were jammed on so suddenly that the car skidded to a halt, sending up a cloud of dust, and her cry was instinctive when she recognised the familiar face of the driver.
“Scottie!”
He reversed the car skilfully on the narrow road and drove back towards them while Leonora almost wept with relief at the sight of him. The youth was looking at her cautiously, no doubt wondering what she
with him. It was the only reason she could think of for his having covered the mouthpiece while she waited. He seldom had visitors, although he was quite a social man and well liked in the local tavernas and the possible identity of his visitor puzzled her.
So preoccupied was she that she failed to give enough of her attention to the rough surface of the road, and before she realised what was happening she missed her footing and fell headlong in the dust. A little shaken and with her eyes prickling tearfully from a stinging graze on her left cheek, she was just thanking heaven that no one had witnessed her inelegant sprawl, when a male voice called out from behind her, and a moment later a hand helped her to her feet
“Mipermetta, signorina !”
“Thank you.” She felt such a fool for having gone sprawling and wished the ground would open up and swallow her.
The young man, who still held her arm briskly brushed dust from her dress and made sympathetic noises over the graze on her cheek. “You are hurt, signorina ,” he said, seemingly concerned and, although she felt a bit shaken, she managed a smile.
“I’m all right,” she insisted. “Really, signore .”
Her rescuer could have been no more than seventeen or eighteen, but there was a definitely interested gleam in his large dark eyes as he looked at her for a moment then glanced around him. “You are alone and on foot, signorina ?” he asked softly.
“Not for long,” Leonora assured him hastily. “My uncle’s on his way to fetch me - my car’s broken down.”
“Ah, si !”
“I’ll be all right now, thank you.” She was grateful for his concern, but something in his manner made her wary of trusting him too far.
“I will accompany you to your car, signorina ,” he offered, and evidently had no intention of taking no for an
answer, for one hand was still firmly under her elbow with the fingers tightly curled to prevent any sudden move on her part to leave. “It is unwise to be alone on the roads,” he informed her with a seriousness that was belied by the gleam of speculation in his eyes. “I will protect you.”
“Oh, but I don’t need protection, thank you,” Leonora denied firmly, and used her other hand to prise at those gripping fingers. “Please let go of my arm!”
“But, signorina - bella signorina, you are alone!” He rolled his dark eyes first at her and then at the sun that was already lowering in the sky. “Soon it will be dark, and you will be—”
“I can hear my uncle coming!” Leonora interrupted swiftly. “So you don’t have to concern yourself about me, signore. Now please let go!”
He did not at first believe her, she knew, but then he too caught the fast approaching sound of a car and glanced ahead with narrowed eyes. The powerful roar of the engine shattered the still, warm air and he moved hastily to one side of the road suddenly, taking her with him.
The car, she realised with a sinking heart, could not be her uncle’s rather sedate British family size, it was something much more fast and expensive. It also occurred to her that if she tried to enrol the driver’s assistance she had no guarantee that she would not be jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire.
It came into sight at last, low, very fast and bright, shiny black, and the driver turned his head swiftly as he passed them so that Leonora had a brief but clear view of his face. The brakes were jammed on so suddenly that the car skidded to a halt, sending up a cloud of dust, and her cry was instinctive when she recognised the familiar face of the driver.
“Scottie!”
He reversed the car skilfully on the narrow road and drove back towards them while Leonora almost wept with relief at the sight of him. The youth was looking at her cautiously, no doubt wondering what she
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