Lost heritage by Rebecca Stratton Read Free Book Online Page A

Lizette again.
    But it was not Jean Cordet she caught sight of as she came down the last few steps into the hall. Raoul Menais was just leaving his office and she eyed him warily without quite knowing why she reacted the way she did. He saw her in the same mcnnent and came across the hall with long purposeful strides, arriving just as she reached the foot of the stairs. Boldly and without attempting to disguise it he took stock of her. Just as clearly he liked what he saw.

    although he did no more than narrow his eyes slighdy.
    Charlotte clutched the evening purse in her hand so tightly that the raised pattern on it impressed itself cm her palm, and she found the scrutiny of those grey eyes so discomfiting that she did not look up at him. *I am sorry to disappoint you, mademoiselle,'* he said without preliminary, *but I need your help.'
    Glancing down at her dress, Charlotte frowned anxiously. *My help?' she queried. *I don't quite understand. Monsieur Raoul.'
    Impatience showed in his eyes, and she had noticed before how his mouth tightened when anyone failed to comprehend his meaning immediately. He was decidedly the most impatient man she had ever met and he seemed to regard her as slightly dim-witted by his standards, it seemed.
    *It is quite simple, mademoiselle,'' he explained with studied precision. *I have some important letters to get off tonight, and I need the services of a secretary. Mademoiselle Duclair who normally works for me has succumbed to some mysterious illness and gone home, and there is no one else available!'
    He spoke as if he suspected the poor girl of arranging her sudden illness with the specific idea of annoying him, but in any case Charlotte did not see what possible use she could be to him when she spoke almost no French. *I don't speak French,' she reminded him, *and I wouldn't know where to begin taking dictation in French, Monsieur Raoui. Couldn't you get cme of the other girls to help out?'
    She could feel his temper reaching out to envelop her and there was no concealing the bright glitter of it in his eyes as he looked down at her. *No, mademoiselle, I cannot get another girl to help, I have already said so. They have all departed for the day.'
    *Which is what I was about to do,' Charlotte reminded

    him. *I have a dinner date, Monsieur Raoul.*
    'I have already apologised for your disappointment,' he pointed out with chilling practicality, *but this is more important, Miss Kennedy, and I have Madame Lizette's permission to make use of your services.' He swept his gaze once more over the pale yellow dress and must have known just how she had looked forward to her date. *If you would prefer to change into something more practical before you begin,' he told her, *do so; but I am in rather a hurry, so please do not be too long.'
    It was an order, quite clearly, and Charlotte's chin took on the slightest suggestion of a thrust as she looked up into his face, finding those steely grey eyes very hard to meet. It wasn't easy defying him, but she felt he was behaving so unreasonably that she was entitled to object.
    'I'm all ready to go out,' she pointed out unnecessarily, *and I feel '
    'I am not concerned with what you feel, mademoiselle^ he interrupted shortly. *These letters are most urgent and you are employed by my family as a secretary. I shall expect to see you in my office in not more than ten minutes' time, however you are dressed!'
    He turned and went striding back across the hall while Charlotte was still trying to gather her wits. For a moment or two she stood at the foot of the stairs wondering if she had the nerve to simply go with Jean Cordet and ignore the order to report to foul's office, but the fact that her own disobedience must inevitably involve Jean Cordet as well finally decided her, and she went back upstairs.
    She was trembling when she opened her bedroom door and she glared at her own reflection as she pulled on the red dress she had worn all day. He had no right, she