Read Online The House of Lyall by Doris Davidson - Free Book Online Page B

landed in trouble by committing a crime and came to her for help, would she stand by him? She didn’t think she would! But then, she had never professed to love him – that was the difference.
    She wasn’t interested in love. She wanted the safety, the power, of money around her, the wherewithal to buy enough clothes to fill closet after closet – and have some little saleswoman falling over herself to give advice on the proper outfit for the occasion. She could do without cuddles and kisses, she hadn’t had many up to now anyway … though she’d the feeling she could grow to like Andrew’s. But he could never take her into the realms of the upper classes, where no one would ever dare speak to her the way that stuck-up pig of a girl had tonight. If it hadn’t been for that, she might have let herself be swept away by his declaration of love.
    She was getting weak.
    The New Year of 1897 was only days old when the snow started, and for the next three weeks there were no walks for Marianne and Andrew, which, if they were perfectly honest, was a relief to both of them. By the time the storm came to an end, and the streets had cleared, the two upsetting episodes of the night of the ball were past history and were never mentioned, and Marianne and Andrew slipped back naturally into the easy relationship they had had before.
    Marianne, however, was still longing for a chance to compare him with another man … or more than one … and so, if they met any of his friends when they were out, she deliberately flirted with them. Her efforts came to fruition oneSunday early in March, when they ran into Douglas Martin, whom she had met only once before, with his common ‘friend’, Vi.
    He was with a young man this time, one who greeted Andrew like a long-lost friend. ‘Oh, Rennie, you don’t know how glad I am to see you. Could I possibly have a few words with you, or …’ He tailed off, looking apologetically at Marianne. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realize …’
    â€˜I don’t mind,’ she assured him, walking on to give them privacy.
    Douglas seemed to have the same idea, because he hurried to catch up with her. ‘You don’t mind if I keep you company until they …?’
    She smiled encouragingly. ‘I don’t mind.’
    He waited until they were well away from their companions before he said in a low voice, ‘I’ve seen you out with Rennie a lot, though you haven’t seen me, and I hoped I’d get a chance to speak to you on your own some time. Maybe I’m saying something I shouldn’t – if you and Rennie are … I don’t want to trespass.’
    She was mystified, but intrigued. ‘Andrew and I are only friends.’
    â€˜Thank God! I’ll have to grab my chance, so … will you come out with me tomorrow night?’
    She did not take long to consider. She couldn’t say she cared for him much, but Andrew had told her some time ago that Douglas Martin had given up Law and was now studying for the ministry, so an evening out with him would be interesting … yes, it would be very interesting. ‘I’d love to,’ she murmured.
    â€˜Seven o’clock at the Junction?’
    â€˜All right, but I might be a few minutes late. I don’t finish work till six.’
    â€˜I’ll wait,’ he grinned, turning as the other two came alongside.
    They split into their original pairs, and Marianne’s curiosity made her ask, ‘What did that fellow want with you, Andrew?’
    â€˜He wants me to help him with some written work he should have handed in, so I said I’d go over it with him tomorrow night.’ He hesitated for a moment, then said, ‘What was Martin saying to you? You looked very serious.’
    â€˜He asked me to go out with him tomorrow night and I said yes.’ Why should she keep it a secret? There was nothing to