Read Online The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt - Free Book Online Page B

conspiratorial look.” Alas, Mr. Barker, that you were not around at the time. I am sure if you had been it would have been even more splendid.”
    Mr. Barker looked pleased. “Oh, I would have brought a bit of modernity into it. That fireplace. Look at it. It must use up tons of coal. Should have been more shallow.”
    “I am sure you are right. I am going to take Lenore round the floor. She looks as if she is longing to dance.”
    I turned to Mrs. Barker. I felt it was strange that Charles should be so concerned about me.
    Mrs. Barker said: “That’s nice. Young people ought to enjoy themselves. We’ll see you later, Miss Cleremont.”
    Charles had gripped my arm.
    “There,” he said, as he led me into the dance. “Ah, the waltz. I love the waltz, don’t you?” He put his arm round my waist and drew me close to him.
    My heart was beating fast. I was suspicious of him. I could not understand why he was being so genial towards me after the indifference—tinged with contempt—which he had so often shown me.
    “I hope,” he went on, “that you are grateful to me for rescuing you from those two old bores.”
    “Oh,” I replied. “They are not so bad. Mr. Barker must be an expert builder.”
    ”Why Mama had to ask them, I cannot imagine, and then to condemn you to look after them! Cruelty to the young, I call that. I say, Lenore, you look remarkably pretty tonight.”
    “Thank you. It’s the dress.”
    “If you were to ask me I should say it is what is inside the dress.”
    His fingers crept up to the bare flesh of my neck and I felt a shiver run through me. He was aware of it.
    “You are very young, Lenore,” he said. “Just a little girl, in fact.”
    ”I shall soon be sixteen.”
    “Dear me! What a great age! Sweet sixteen and never been kissed. Or have you?”
    He was whirling me round at a great speed. I loved to dance. I used to dance with Julia. Miss Logan was teaching her. I imagined that when the season grew nearer she would have a real dancing master or mistress. Dancing was one of the social graces at which one must be proficient when coming out. I joined in the lessons to give Julia a partner and I always enjoyed the session. But I was not really enjoying this. Charles seemed quite different from the young man whom I had known before. I had always thought I was far beneath his notice.
    We were passing a door and as we came level with it his grip tightened about my waist and he swung me out of the ballroom … all along the corridor.
    I gasped: “What are you doing? Where are you taking me?”
    “Patience,” he sang out.
    He opened a door and we were in a small room where the maids did the flowers every day. There was a sink and a tap. It was very cold and dark. I suddenly felt his lips on mine and I had rarely been so horrified.
    “Let me go,” I shouted.
    “Why should I?”
    “I didn’t know …”
    “You know. I think you are rather pretty. You’re a babe, but babes can be taught and there are a lot of things I can teach you.”
    “I … I don’t think I want to hear them. I want to go back to the ballroom. I have to make sure the Barkers get supper.”
    “The Barkers can take care of themselves for a while. Come on, Lenore. What’s the matter? You know I like you, don’t you?”
    ”I am sure you don’t,” I said.’ ‘You’ve always despised me.”
    “I never despise pretty girls,” he said, attempting to insert his fingers into the neck of my dress.
    “How dare you!” I cried. “I am going … now.”
    He barred the way. “Now come on. You can’t tease me like this. I don’t like girls who tease.”
    “And I don’t like people who force themselves on others.”
    “Oh, you are a haughty piece, are you not?”
    “I am myself and I choose people I shall talk to.”
    “You little bastard,” he said.
    I caught my breath and he laughed sneeringly. “Why so shocked? It’s what you are. Why we have you in the house I don’t know. Giving yourself airs …