Island of the Heart by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page B

more. 'You're the very epitome of what a working
    girl should be.'
    She bit her lip. 'I'd be in the music room at this moment, if you
    hadn't driven Crispin away.'
    'I'll try and remember what a sensitive soul he is in future,' said
    Flynn. He gave her a last, derisive look, clicked his tongue to the
    horse, and moved off, breaking into an easy canter.
    'Can't he just ride!' James said enviously, spreading out his towel
    and throwing himself down on to it. 'O'Flaherty says he could have
    been world class, better even than his father, if he'd stuck to it
    instead of commerce.' He sighed. 'We wish he'd come back here for
    good, don't we, Steffie? Then maybe he'd have us with him all the
    time.'
    With a pang of sympathy Sandie remembered what Crispin had told
    her of the twins' background.
    'But this really is your home, isn't it?'
    The two exchanged rueful glances. 'Well, it is and it isn't,' Steffie
    said reluctantly. 'We're away at boarding school mostly, and
    sometimes, when Mother's touring, she arranges holidays for us with
    friends of hers—people who owe her favours—but we'd rather be
    here.'
    'Only Flynn doesn't come as often as he used to,' James said
    mournfully. 'O'Flaherty says he gets sick, as who wouldn't, of
    having a decent house turned into a class of rehearsal-room.'
    'Apart from the fact that he and Crispin hate each other,' Steffie
    added.
    Sandie was aware she probably shouldn't be listening to all this, but
    found it quite irresistible.
    She said tentatively, 'I suppose—your brother tends to feel the odd
    one out, with all this music?'
    'It's not just that,' James said scornfully. 'Flynn and Crispin always
    fought like cat and dog, generally over women,' he added with a
    worldly air. 'Mrs Doherty from the gift shop says they were a pair of
    devils, always stealing and snatching each other's girls, and that
    nothing in a skirt was safe from them from here to Dublin.'
    Sandie's brows drew together. 'I don't think we should be talking
    like this about your brothers' private affairs,' she said stiltedly.
    The twins looked at each other and hooted. 'There wasn't much
    private about them. The world and his wife had them under
    discussion,' Steffie told her kindly. 'They'll be talking about you
    next.'
    'Well, I'd prefer them not. to,' Sandie said hotly. 'Besides, there's
    nothing to talk about.'
    'Except that Flynn and Crispin have been bawling each other out
    ever since you got here.' James gave her an angelic smile.
    'And I don't understand the reason,' Sandie said despairingly. 'Why
    does Flynn resent my being here?'
    'Oh, he doesn't approve because of Francesca.'
    'Francesca?' Sandie echoed slowly. 'Who is Francesca?'
    The twins collapsed into paroxysms of mirth again.
    'God, don't you know anything?' Steffie demanded between giggles.
    'Why, she's Crispin's wife, of course.'
    Sandie felt as if she'd been turned to stone. Crispin was—married?
    But it wasn't possible. She'd never heard any mention of a wife in
    any of the publicity about him. And if it was true, why hadn't he told
    her?
    All at once the little secret dreams she'd been harbouring about him
    seemed not merely pathetic, but dangerous.
    She drew a breath. 'I really shouldn't be letting you tell me these
    things. It isn't right...'
    'Who's to hear us?' James asked practically. 'Anyway, you needn't
    consider us. We're used to broken homes round here.'
    'And you don't have to worry,' Steffie added kindly. 'She and Crispin
    were always rowing at each other. In the end she walked out on him.
    She hasn't been back for two years, so he'll be about ready to fall in
    love again.'
    'But you can't expect Flynn to be too pleased. Apart from anything,
    Francesca's parents still live over there at Croaig Mhor. And people
    round here still look down their noses at divorced people. Mrs
    Cadogan from the hotel says Mother is forgiven because she was
    widowed from her first true husband besides being a great artist, and
    judged differently from the rest of