Read Online Moreton's Kingdom by Jean S. Macleod - Free Book Online Page A

Downhill’s party. It seemed, even now, that he had been in her life for a very long time.
    The friendly welcome of a log fire met her when she reached the foot of the stairs. It was almost dark now, but the lights in the hall had not been lit and it was only as she approached the fireplace that she was aware of someone sitting there. A tall girl in a woollen dress the colour of spent heather rose to her feet, the firelight picking out the glow of her magnificent red hair as she held out her hand.
    ‘I’m Emma Falkland,’ she introduced herself. ‘Chay and I are lifelong friends.’ For a moment a guarded hostility masked her candid hazel eyes. ‘I live here,’ she added. ‘I’m “poor Emma” who never quite made it anywhere else.’ The admission was ruefully amused. ‘I help my mother to run the hotel, but perhaps Chay has already told you that?’
    ‘No.’ Katherine moved nearer to the hearth into the circle of firelight where she could study Emma Falkland to better advantage. ‘He hasn’t told me very much, as perhaps you know,’ she said.
    It was no use pretending that she had come here willingly as Charles Moreton’s guest, she thought, for these were his acknowledged friends who would know all there was to know about Sandy and Coralie and perhaps about her own part in this strange adventure. They would have prejudged her as Coralie’s friend and would be ready to treat her as a potential enemy.
    ‘I know that Chay’s terribly worried about Sandy,’ Emma Falkland informed her almost aggressively, ‘and I can’t imagine what you hope to gain by all this. Surely you can’t expect to win when you have Chay to contend with,’ she added. ‘He’s the most ruthless man I know when he believes himself justified—the complete adversary. Having said that, I suppose I should wish you luck.’ She continued to study Katherine. ‘How long have you known Sandy’s mother?’ she demanded.
    ‘We went to school together.’ Katherine was tired of so much explanation. ‘She was slightly older than I was and I suppose I looked up to her from a distance, as schoolgirls do.’
    ‘And now?’ Emma demanded sharply.
    ‘We met at a party in London a few days ago.’
    Emma’s eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise.
    ‘As recently as that?’ she said. ‘The infatuation must have been complete!’
    Katherine’s steady gaze held hers.
    ‘You can call it fascination if you like—even a schoolgirl crush—but I felt compelled to help Coralie when I saw how distressed she was. Wouldn’t you have done the same?’
    Emma hesitated.
    ‘I may not be so easily taken in,’ she said, switching on the wall lights as Charles appeared at the outer door.
    ‘You still have my car keys,’ Katherine reminded him. ‘May I have them back, please?’
    ‘They’ll be needed in the morning,’ he told her. ‘I’ve been to look at your car, but I can’t do anything. Someone will take it to the garage in the morning. Hullo, Emma!’ he added, giving the older girl a warm, if not to say affectionate smile. ‘How’s the latest sculpture coming along?’
    ‘Not too well.’ Emma seemed to be avoiding his direct gaze. ‘I’ve had other things to think about these past few weeks.’
    ‘Of course.’ He turned back to Katherine. ‘Emma is our local artist,’ he explained. ‘She fashions marvellous little animals out of wood and stone which Sandy finds irresistible, but we’re finding it difficult to persuade her to make a proper career of it at present.’
    ‘How can I do that when I’m mostly up to my elbows in flour and baking powder?’ Emma demanded. ‘Besides, I like being here. “Making a proper career” would mean branching out, going to Edinburgh or London where I would be recognised if I was good enough.’
    ‘But you are good enough,’ Charles said with conviction. ‘You have a considerable talent which you’re hiding under the proverbial bushel at present.’
    ‘Chay, don’t exaggerate!’