101. A Call of Love by Barbara Cartland Read Free Book Online

hiding-place.
    The curtain that covered the corner and the hooks on the wall was half open.
    It took him only a moment to slip behind it and pull the curtain to so that he could not be seen.
    He heard the Stewardess come back into the cabin and put something down and then, turning out the light, she left, closing the door behind her and locking it.
    Arthur Watkins realised that he was locked in, but that did not perturb him.
    He had learnt during the years in which he had made money to wait for exactly the right moment before forcing the issue.
    ‘It will only be a question of time,’ he thought to himself, ‘before Aisha comes to bed and Lord Kenington, I am almost sure, will not be with her.’
    He did not realise that Lord Kenington was next door, as he had not been interested in anyone’s cabin with the exception of Aisha’s.
    One of the reasons he had made so much money was that he had concentrated fiercely and determinedly on one issue at a time. And he never relaxed for one second his insistence on getting what he wanted.
    That evening he did not have to wait long.
    When Aisha came into the cabin alone and locked the door behind her, he thought that he had been extremely enterprising.
    Peeping through the curtain, he saw Aisha standing in front of the dressing table gazing at herself in the mirror.
    Then slowly she took off the necklace from around her neck and next the dress that covered her slim body.
    Because she was so lovely, Arthur Watkins felt his heart pounding and his breath coming quickly.
    Then, as she crossed the floor, he realised what was going to happen and waited.
    When Aisha pulled back the curtain and screamed, he realised that it might alert a Stewardess and so he put his hand over her mouth.
    She struggled, but he was very strong and his right arm pulled her close against him.
    “Now listen to me – ” he started to say.
    But she was struggling, even kicking at his legs, in an effort to get away from him.
    She wanted desperately to scream out, but his hand was held tight over her mouth preventing her from making a sound.
    She continued to struggle, although she felt every movement she made was ineffective against his strength.
    *
    In his own cabin, Lord Kenington thought that he had enjoyed the evening enormously.
    All the fresh air and the exercise he had taken had made him feel more active than he had felt for a long time. He had, in fact, through overwork, been more tired than he had thought it possible to be.
    He had to admit his mother was right when she had said it was good for him to take some rest and have plenty of sleep on the voyage.
    As he took off his evening coat, he realised he had not told his valet to be waiting for him and, if he required the man, he would have to send a Stewardess for him.
    On most evenings he let his valet, whose name was Newman, help him take off his clothes, so that he could press them ready for the next day.
    But he thought tonight that there was no need to bother the man and actually, having enjoyed his time with Aisha, he had no wish to talk anymore.
    He therefore was just about to undress further when there was a knock at the door.
    A Steward then entered the cabin with the bottle of water he always had beside his bed.
    “I’m sorry to be late, my Lord, but we’ve run out of the particular brand your Lordship wanted and it had to be fetched up from the storeroom.”
    “Thank you for taking so much trouble. I do prefer that water to any other.”
    “I agree with your Lordship, it’s the best.”
    Then the Steward started.
    “Was that a scream?” he asked.
    “A scream?” Lord Kenington said. “I did not hear one.”
    “I’m sure I did, my Lord, and from the next cabin. I wonders if the lady who was dining with your Lordship is in any trouble.”
    Lord Kenington walked across the cabin.
    “You have your master key. Open it for me.”
    The Steward did as he was told.
    Taking his master key from his pocket, he went out into the passage with