Lost heritage by Rebecca Stratton Read Free Book Online

suppose I am your employer,' she mused, as if the fact had only just dawned on her, and Charlotte found her touch-ingly naive in the circumstances, for the idea so obviously intrigued her. *You're entided to free time, are you not?' she asked, and Charlotte nodded.
    *Yes, madameJ'
    *Well then—yes, I suppose that you may have the evening off,' she said. She brushed the wisps of hair back from her forehead with one hand; a gesture that was becoming very familiar. *You have a date?' she enquired, and Charlotte nodded.
    *Yes, madame, although I told him that it depended whether or not you allowed me the evening off.'
    Lizette flicked through the pages of a magazine without even looking at them. 'What time is he coming for you?' she asked, and Charlotte took it that she had her permission to go.
    *At six, madame; we're driving into Paris for dinner.'
    'Naturally, where else? Mon dieuy the inevitability of men!'
    Charlotte looked at her uneasily. Somehow whenever Madame Menais said Lizette was unwell the words seemed to have inverted commas around them, and these moods of

    hers made her uneasy. In the circumstances it might be expected that she stay with her instead of going out. Making light of it, she ventured a question and laughed as she did so.
    *I suppose we're not breaking any house rules by dating, are we?' she asked. *I mean, there's nothing against members of the staff going out together?'
    Lizette's pale blue eyes looked blank for a moment, then she laughed harshly. *Rules?' she echoed, and waved her arms about carelessly. *Are rules not made to be broken? Go and &a}oy yourself, ma fille, while you have the opportunity !'
    Her laughter made Charlotte shiver involuntarily, for it had the ring of desperation, or madness. 1 just thought ' she began.
    *Act, don't think!' Lizette advised wildly. *No one thinks first in this family! We might live to regret it, of course, but it's fun while it lasts, and that's all that matters, isn't it?'
    Charlotte 'could not even guess what was behind the remark, but its bitterness starded her and made her more uncertain than ever about leaving Lizette alone. Glancing at her watch at that moment was purely instinctive and meant nothing, but Lizette noticed it and reacted.
    *0h, for heaven's sake go and get yourself ready before I change my mind I' she ordered sharply. *I can manage by myself, I'm not completely helpless!'
    There seemed htde point in arguing with her in her present mood, and Charlotte had to admit that she looked forward to an evening out. The company of Jean Cordet was infinitely more inviting than that of her employer, and she could always arrange later dates to suit her. *Thank you, madame, that's very good of you.'
    Lizette said somediing in Prench which went right over her head, but Charlotte was conscious of the pale eyes fol-

    lowing her to the door and she half-turned in the doorway to look back at her. *Have fun! * Lizette said in her harshly husky voice. 'Amuse-toi bien, ma cherel*
    It was the hardest thing in the world to close the door on her and just walk off, but Charlotte told herself she was being over-sensitive as she made her way along to her own room. Lizette Menais was used to being alone, and one more evening wasn't going to make very much difference.
    CHAPTER THREE
    Charlotte took a last look at herself in the mirror and was glad she had chosen to wear the pale yellow dress because it suited her so well and she wanted to look good for her first date with Jean Cordet. She had no hesitation in looking upon this as their first date, for she had litde doubt that he would ask her out again.
    The chiffon clung sofdy to her shape and its colour emphasised the tawny lights in her hair, so that she was quite satisfied with the end result. Checking her watch as she turned away, she wondered if by some happy chance Jean Cordet might arrive early tor their date, and with the possibility in mind she made her way downstairs, resisting the temptation to look in on