Lord of the Far Island, Victoria Holt [world of reading TXT] 📗

When we reached the Island we left Slack to tie up the boat and made our way to the castle.

Gwennol said: "How strange that you should have met Michael and did not mention it."

"I suppose there were so many other things to talk about."

"And you hurt your ankle in the woods."

"Yes, just as he appeared, I tripped and fell. Then he took me to the Manor House and brought me back to the inn."

She gave a little laugh. "You apparently didn't hurt your ankle very badly."

"It was just a temporary twist. It was all right the next morning."

"Just a convenient little twist," she said, and before I could give expression to my indignation she had turned and run into the castle.

I went up to my room. The pleasant day had been spoilt. I should have to be careful now and stay away from Hydrock Manor.

Jago looked at me reproachfully. We were at dinner that night and he had asked how I had been spending the day. I told him I had been to the mainland.

"What, Ellen, deserting us already?"

"It was only for a few hours."

"There's so much on the Island you haven't seen yet."

"I shall appreciate it all the more for having been away for a day."

"You have what we call here a silvery tongue. You say the right thing, doesn't she, Gwennol?"

"I'm sure she does... on every occasion," said Gwennol shortly.

"Well, where did you go?" asked Jago.

"To Hydrock Manor."

"Both of you?"

"I'd met Michael Hydrock before."

Jago put down his knife and fork and gazed at me. I was aware of Jenifry's eyes on me too. Gwennol kept hers on her plate.

I repeated once more the account of my meeting with Michael in the woods and how I had hurt my ankle.

"You were hurt!" cried Jago. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It was nothing. In fact, the next day I had forgotten about it."

"It was one of those temporary twists," said Gwennol, and I detected a note of sarcasm in her voice.

"And what happened then?" asked Jenifry.

"He took me to the Manor and a Mrs. Hocking—the housekeeper, I think—looked at it and said I shouldn't walk on it for a while and then Sir Michael drove me back to the inn."

"A very perfect gentleman," commented Jago.

"I thought so," I retorted.

I realized that this information had disturbed both Jago and Jenifry.

Jago said: "Tomorrow I will show you more of the Island. There's a good deal you have to discover yet, you know."

"Thank you," I replied.

"I was telling Ellen," said Gwennol, "that she should practice rowing."

"Have you ever rowed?" asked Jago.

"Yes, but not at sea, on a river, which I suppose was different."

"It's the same really," said Gwennol, "only you have to be more careful at sea—mostly because of the weather. When it's calm it's perfectly safe."

"Just practice going from bay to bay," said Jago, "and at first always have someone with you. I'll take you out tomorrow. Slack will always take you where you want to go. But just don't go alone at first."

I said I would like to try.

"First lesson tomorrow," said Jago.

I was very tired when I went to my room. It had seemed a long day. I had very much enjoyed visiting the Hydrock Manor even though the day had been spoilt by Gwennol's jealousy. It meant I should have to be very careful in future, which was a pity because it had been rather comforting to have such a pleasant friend on the mainland.

I lighted the candles on my dressing table and was sitting there plaiting my hair when there was a knock on the door.

I started up in dismay. I wasn't sure why, but always when the candles were lighted in this room I felt uneasy.

For a few seconds I merely looked at the door. Then there was a further knock and the door was quietly opened. Jenifry stood there holding a candle.

"I thought you might be asleep when you didn't answer," she said.

"I was just about to say 'Come in' when you did," I replied.

"I wanted to have a word with you."

She set down the candle and drew up a chair, so that we were both sitting at the dressing table.

"It's about Gwennol and Michael Hydrock," she said.

"Oh?"

I caught her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were downcast and it was as though she did not want to look at me.

"He's one of the most eligible bachelors in the neighborhood," she went on. "He and Gwennol have always been good friends, in fact. . . ."

"More than friends?" I suggested.

She nodded. "The general opinion is that they will in due course make a match of it. . . providing there are no obstacles."

"Obstacles?" I repeated.

I watched her reflection. Her mouth twisted and for a moment she looked quite ugly. It's the distortion of the mirror, I told myself hastily.

"A great family like that. . ." she said bitterly. "There are some who wouldn't think Gwennol quite suitable. They're so proud of their ancestry." Her lips curled in contempt. "That Mrs. Hocking . . . she doesn't think anyone but the daughter of a duke or an earl is good enough for him."

"Surely she wouldn't have any say in the matter."

"She's a sly one, planting doubts and suchlike. You know the sort. A woman in that position can have great influence. She was his nurse. She looks upon him as her child still. Clucks over him, pampers him. . . . Nobody's good enough for her dear Michael."

"He strikes me as a man who would make up his own mind."

"I reckon the Kellaways are good enough for anybody, but there's the story of our bastard branch . . . having something of the Devil in us."

"He wouldn't believe such a legend, I'm sure."

"People are superstitious and although he might not believe it, he'd be aware of what people were thinking and the effect it might have on future generations and all that. They were getting along very well and she was going to help him with his