Read Online Winter at Cray by Lucy Gillen - Free Book Online Page B

that. Actually, ’ she added, irresistibly, ‘ I get along with Essie rather well and I don ’ t really mind how long she stays. ’
    ‘ But you ’ ll be mighty glad to see the back of me, hmm ?’
    ‘ I did not say that, ’ Louise protested, the more indignant because it was the truth. ‘ You ’ re very good at putting words into other people ’ s mouths, Mr. Darrell. Is that part of the art of being a reporter? ’
    ‘ Actually I ’ m a journalist, ’ he corrected her with a grin, ‘ and that ’ s a pretty snide remark, Miss K. You ’ ve an even worse opinion of me than I feared. I shall really have to do something to set you straight on that. ’ He glanced out at the sullen but snowless sky. ‘ Weather permitting, of course. ’
    Having him stand so close behind her made her uneasy and she would have turned and moved away, but he stood near enough behind her in the curve of the bay window to make passing him impossible without first getting uncomfortably close. Since she was not prepared to chance that, she stayed where she was, her back straight, her chin set at an angle that was both stubborn and defensive.
    ‘ I don ’ t think I ’ m interested enough to want to be put straight, as you call it, ’ she told him, and he laughed.
    ‘ A mere scribbler is well below your social standing, of course, ’ he taunted, still smiling as if it worried him not all. ‘ I ’ m sorry, Miss Kincaid, I should have known better. ’
    He could not know, Louise thought, that Essie had told her about his own position and he was evidently set on playing the humble role of struggling writer as long as it served his purpose. ‘ You ’ re putting words into my mouth again, ’ she accused, and again he laughed as if he found her indignation amusing.
    ‘ Usually the right ones, you have to admit, ’ he insisted, and she could guess that the inevitable dim ple was in evidence again, although she refused to look at him.
    She was silent for a moment, staring out at the snow and the bleak grey sky, conscious of him standing so close that she could hear his every breath in the stillness of the room. ‘ I wish you wouldn ’ t try to be so clever at my expense, ’ she told him at last. ‘ I made the arrangements to have you here, you and Essie, because my great-grandmother wanted it. If it had been left to me I ’ d have refused to allow anyone in your profession even to land on the island. ’
    ‘ But why, for heaven ’ s sake? ’ He sounded exasperated as well as puzzled and his hands turned her to face him, so that she was forced to meet the steady gaze of his eyes briefly before hastily lowering her own. ‘ Why, Louise? ’
    ‘ Let go of me !’ She shook herself free of his hold, annoyed to find her hands trembling and the prickle of tears in her eyes. ‘ I—I have my own reasons, ’ she told him, ‘ and I don ’ t have to explain them to you. ’
    ‘ That ’ s right, you don ’ t, ’ he retorted, ‘ but it ’ s the least you can do since you insist on treating me like some kind of monster. I think I ’ m entitled to know why. ’
    ‘ I—I just don ’ t like reporters—journalists, ’ she corrected herself hastily before he could do it for her.
    ‘ So you ’ ve said before, ’ he told her, ‘ but I want to know why. ’
    ‘ And I don ’ t have to tell you why !’ She had raised her voice and she swallowed hastily, hoping no one had overheard and was likely to come into the room, especially Stephen. His dislike of his room-mate was, if anything, deeper than her own and he would probably make a scene which she would regret more than anyone.
    ‘ You ’ re the most stubborn, unreasoning female I ’ ve ever had the misfortune to meet, ’ he informed her, exasperation at last dismissing the smile from his face. ‘ You ’ re supposed to be like your great-grandmama was at your age, but I ’ m damned sure she was never as prickly and pig-headed as you are or Robert Kincaid would have