Read Online Ladies’ Bane by Patricia Wentworth - Free Book Online Page B

House, hundreds of years before the big place was built, it had another, secret name. And do you know what it was?” She put her lips quite close to Ione’s ear and dropped her voice to a thread. “They called it Ladies’ Bane.” Ione was startled.
    “Why?”
    “Oh, I don’t know-some old story.” She shook back her hair and gave that tinkling laugh. “Stupid, isn’t it? A thing like that couldn’t be true.”
    “A thing like what? If you don’t tell me, I shall ask Geoffrey.”
    A fleeting look of terror passed over the little pointed face. Allegra’s hands came out and clutched her.
    “No-no-you mustn’t ever! I’ll tell you. But it’s all nonsense, and you mustn’t think about it or speak about it-especially not to Geoffrey, because it would make him dreadfully angry. I oughtn’t to have said a word, but sometimes it frightens me. Oh, Io, it
does
!” She came very close again and whispered as she had done before. “It’s just-they say-that anyone who is mistress here-will lose the thing-she cares for most-in all the world.”
    The last words came in a terrified rush. And only just in time, because Geoffrey Trent came into the room. There had been no sound of an opening door. If it had been unlatched, would that frightened whisper have reached him? Ione did not think it possible. Then how much had he seen of the frightened whispering attitude? Allegra had been quick to lean back in her corner of the sofa and to call his name in a tone of pleased surprise. Curiously enough, it was this which made the least agreeable impression. The Allegra of two years ago would not have known how to change her part like that. She had had no need for that or any other part. She had been simple, candid, sincere. She had also been loving and vulnerable. There were obvious changes now.
    That bright blue glance of Geoffrey’s travelled over the sisters and came to rest upon his wife. She met it with a flush and a smile.
    “I was telling Ione about the house. But I really oughtn’t to-I told her so. You do it so much better.”
    He laughed and came to stand in front of the fire.
    “I’ve just about exhausted her patience, I should think. But”-with a return of his eager manner-“it is all rather absorbing, isn’t it?” Ione smiled and nodded.
    “I feel as if I had been on a personally conducted tour of the fourteenth century.”
    “And you didn’t like it?”
    “Well, not the underground part. But then I’ve got rather a thing about cellars, so if I scream in the night, you’ll know why.”
    Allegra’s little restless hands were plucking at one another. They stopped for a moment now. She stared at them and said,
    “No one would hear you if you did-the walls are too thick.”
    If there had been a pause just then it would not have been a pleasant one. But there was no pause, because Geoffrey spoke, still with that pleasant eagerness about him,
    “I’m not suggesting anything about the inside of the house, but I did wonder whether you would care to see the outside. Of course there’s nothing in the garden at this time of year, but you can see how it’s been laid out. There’s a really wonderful rock garden in what used to be an old quarry. Those Americans spent hundreds on it, and it’s really very hot stuff indeed. Wouldn’t you like to see it? And if you come, perhaps Allegra will too. She doesn’t get out enough. Dr. Whichcote says she ought to have plenty of fresh air.”
    “It’s so cold-” Words and tone were those of a fretful child. She shrank back into her corner as if an attempt might be made to dislodge her by main force.
    “You would be much warmer when you came in, my dear.”
    Allegra shook her head till the light, fine hair flew up in a cloud.
    “No-no-I wouldn’t! I just get colder and colder until the last bit of warmness is gone!” Her eyes implored him. The hands were plucking at one another again.
    Ione got up.
    “All right, darling, we won’t make you come this time-will