Matters of the Heart by Rosemary Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

week.’
    ‘And what was your opinion of this piece of history?’
    ‘I found it fascinating, but also decidedly evil.’
    ‘I had no idea you felt this way, Miss Merriock,’ Robert’s voice drifted across to me. ‘Did you, Laura?’
    ‘I agree with Jane.’
    My aunt, who rarely spoke in my presence, surprised me at her words.
    ‘It is no matter to me whether I see them again or not for the whole place fills me with dread.’
    ‘My dear ladies, you have nothing to fear. Is it mere superstition which makes you think thus?’
    Alan Lester sat back in his chair. His voice had become stronger and I realised he thought passionately about this subject.
    ‘It is not only superstition, Mr Lester, but an enormous, tangible feeling of menace.’
    Aunt Laura obviously felt very strongly about this.
    ‘You have no need to fear folklore. Believe me when I say this for the stone circles are in fact attributed to the Druids and are certainly not maidens turned to stone. I assure you that history is fascinating and not to be feared. We have history all around us. Why...’
    He paused, his hand indicating our surroundings.
    ‘This house is a prime example. I wouldn’t doubt there is a priest’s hole somewhere in this building. Would you fear that also?’
    I glanced across at Aunt Laura and saw her face had paled significantly and her hand was clenching the serviette she held, her knuckles turning white.
    ‘There is much talk of it,’ my grandmother now joined the conversation, ‘but one has never been found.’
    She turned to Laura.
    ‘You were fascinated by this when a young girl, weren’t you, Laura?’
    ‘Yes, Mother. Both Felicity and I searched the house from top to bottom,’ she said, her voice trembling as she spoke, ‘but we found nothing. So, Mr Lester, this assumption is unfounded.’
    ‘Yet I would have bet my life on it, but I bow to your knowledge of the house, Miss Pendenna.’
    Mr Lester bowed his head briefly in my aunt’s direction.
    ‘We will change the subject now,’ my grandmother interposed. ‘Let us talk of lighter things, like my charming granddaughter, Jane, who has brought such light into my life.’
    Grandmother raised her glass of wine as she spoke.
    ‘To Jane. Long may she stay at Pendenna Reach and come to love it as all Pendennas before her.’
    I felt weak with embarrassment as I watched them all raise their glasses, Aunt Laura reluctantly, Alan Lester with a guest’s enthusiasm and Robert, well, he looked toward me glass in hand, and said quietly, ‘To Jane.’
    After a delightful evening of witty conversation with Mr Lester, we stood in the hallway to bid him good-night.
    On reaching me he whispered, ‘Hold fast when you have it.’
    I looked at the others but thankfully no-one had heard him. As I looked into his dark sparkling eyes I realised the words had indeed been meant for my ears alone. What had Robert been telling this man? I felt my cheeks go hot once more as I saw Robert looking at me, that secret smile on his lips once again.
    No sooner had I climbed into bed and nestled into the feather mattress than a thunderstorm started to rumble in the distance. It wasn’t long before it had moved nearer. I got out of bed and, drawing back the curtains, stood silhouetted as I watched the lightning dance across the water. The thunder appeared to shake the foundations of the house as each clap got louder and even nearer.
    The storm made me restless and I knew there would be no chance of sleep so, putting on my robe, I made my way to the library with the intention of selecting a novel. As I stepped into the corridor, the house seemed even more eerie at night. Candles still flickered in the sconces and the dim light cast my shadows across the walls as I moved slowly towards the staircase. Before descending, I glanced almost furtively around me. The clock startled me as it chimed the hour of three. The sound of it appeared louder at night and I marvelled that I could not hear it in my