Dragon's Lair by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online

Gethyn's Aunt Beth—his
    father's sister.'
    It seemed ludicrous under the circumstances to express any kind of
    pleasure at the meeting, so Davina contented herself with shaking
    hands in silence.
    'I'm sorry if my arrival has upset anyone,' she said at last. 'But I am
    here on business.' She indicated her briefcase, leaning against one
    leg of the table.
    Mrs Parry eyed it almost distractedly. 'Yes, of course, only ... It's so
    difficult, you see.'
    'Mrs Parry,' Davina tried to sound reassuring, 'I haven't come to
    stay. I work for my uncle at Hanson Greer and I have some papers
    for Gethyn to look at. If I could just see him for a few minutes ...'
    'Well, you can't, then,' Rhiannon broke in rudely. 'Because he's not
    here and he won't be back until tomorrow or the next day. So you
    may as well take yourself off.'
    'Rhiannon!' It was her mother's turn to sound really angry now. 'If
    you can't be civil, you'd better go to your room. I'll deal with this.'
    Rhiannon's lip curled. 'Please yourself. If you want me, I'll be in the
    stables.' With a last inimical glance at Davina she walked out of the
    front door and disappeared.
    Mrs Parry became galvanised into activity. 'Won't you come in,
    Miss—er—oh!' She broke off in confusion. 'I don't even know what
    to call you.' She threw open one of the doors on the left revealing a
    large sitting room furnished with comfortable sofas and deep
    armchairs covered in faded chintz. 'Do sit down. I'll go and make
    some tea.'
    Davina halted her. 'Please—not for me. Was Rhiannon right? Is
    Gethyn not here?'
    His aunt looked troubled. 'Well, no—not at the moment he isn't.
    He'll be back, of course, but it's difficult to say when. He comes and
    goes as he pleases, you see.'
    'He hasn't changed,' Davina said quietly. She made herself smile
    briefly. 'Well, that makes things—rather awkward. I had rather
    counted on seeing him. My uncle will be very disappointed.'
    Mrs Parry appeared to think quickly and make up her mind. 'Well,
    if you'd like to stay and wait until he returns, you'd be very
    welcome.'
    Davina hesitated. It was obviously the most sensible course to
    pursue under the circumstances, yet she felt uncertain. For one thing
    she was putting Gethyn's aunt in a difficult position, and for another
    she would have to cope with Rhiannon's open hostility. Gethyn, it
    seemed, had not been reticent about the past with his young cousin.
    'I don't know,' she said eventually. 'It's very kind of you, but I
    thought you said there was no room.'
    'Oh, but you're family.' Mrs Parry gave a quick, rather shy smile.
    'That makes all the difference. We can find a corner for you.'
    Davina bit her lip. To describe her as family under the
    circumstances was pitching it a bit high, but Mrs Parry clearly
    meant well and it would be churlish to reject the relationship or the
    hospitality, so she merely thanked her quietly.
    The room she was shown to was quite a large one at the back of the
    house, overlooking a small orchard with a glimpse of the river in
    the distance, and beyond that the steep outline of the mountain. It
    contained a wide brass bedstead covered in a Welsh tapestry
    counterpane, and matching curtains hung at the windows. There
    was a tall dressing chest in one corner topped by a mirror on a
    swivel, and a matching mahogany wardrobe on the other side of the
    room. There was a small table under the window and an elderly
    easy chair close beside it. The floorboards and furniture gleamed
    with polish and a faint fragrance of lavender hung in the room.
    'It's delightful,' Davina said after the first appreciative glance
    around.'
    'It's a lovely old house,' Mrs Parry agreed. She walked to the
    window and pulled back the curtain. 'Nice view, too. It's clear
    today, so you can actually see the Dragon.'
    'What did you say?' Davina stared at her.
    Mrs Parry smiled. 'Moel y Ddraig—that's what it means. The bare
    hilltop of the dragon, and there he is, the old thing.' She pointed
    upwards and