Seven for a Secret by Victoria Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

Cedar Hall. But I could describe its gracious interior on what I had seen at St. Aubyn’s, making sure to make it more grand, more impressive.
    Rachel sat back, listening intently, seeming to sink further and further into her chair.
    “Of course,” said Tamarisk, eyeing Rachel, “Rachel doesn’t know what we are talking about.”
    “I do,” said Rachel.
    “Oh no you don’t. You only live in the old Bell House, and before that, where did you come from? You couldn’t know anything about houses like this, could she, Fred?”
    I said: “You can know things. You don’t necessarily have to live in them. Besides, Rachel’s here, isn’t she?”
    Rachel looked grateful and from that moment I decided to protect her.
    She was small and pretty in a fragile way. I liked Rachel. I was not sure of Tamarisk.
    We went on boasting about our houses until Miss Lloyd came in with the maid. The latter took away the tray and we settled down to the lesson.
    On that first morning I remember we did geography and English grammar:
    and I became quite absorbed, to the pleasure of Miss Lloyd, which was apparent.
    It was quite a satisfactory morning until we started to leave for home.
     
    1 was to walk back to The Rowans in the company of Rachel, for the Bell House and The Rowans were not very far from each other.
    Miss Lloyd smiled benignly on me and said that she was pleased that I had joined them and she was sure I was going to be a satisfactory pupil.
    Then she left us and went to the little room which she called her ‘sanctum’ and which was next to the schoolroom.
    Tamarisk came down the stairs with us.
    “Huh!” she said, giving me a little push.
    “I can see you are going to be old Lallie’s pet. Sucking up, that’s what I call it, Fred Hammond.
    “I am sure you are going to be a satisfactory pupil.” ” She mimicked Miss Lloyd.
    “I don’t like suckers-up,” she added ominously.
    “I was only being natural,” I said.
    “I like Miss Lloyd and I shall be a satisfactory pupil if I want to. She needs at least one.” Then I looked at Rachel whom I had promised myself to protect, and went on:
    “Or two of us.”
    “Swot!” said Tamarisk.
    “I do hate swots.”
    “I’ve come here to learn and that is what we are all supposed to do.
    What would be the use of coming otherwise? “
    “Just hark at her,” said Tamarisk to Rachel.
    Rachel lowered her eyes. No doubt she was used to Tamarisk bullying and felt she had had to accept it as payment for being able to share the lessons. But this sharing was no business of Tamarisk’s. It had been arranged by the grownups, and I was not going to pander to it.
    Tamarisk decided to abandon the matter. I was to learn that her moods were short-lived. She could insult one moment and profess friendship the next. I knew in my heart that she was rather pleased that I had come to share the lessons; and the fact that I stood up to her amused her. It broke the monotony of Rachel’s meek acceptance.
    As we came down the wide staircase a man was at the bottom waiting to come up.
     
    “Hello, Crispin,” said Tamarisk.
    Crispin! I thought. The brother! The Lord of the Manor who didn’t want people to forget it.
    He was just as I had expected from Aunt Sophie’s description. Tall, lean, with dark hair and light greyish eyes cool eyes rather contemptuous of the world. He was in riding clothes and appeared just to have come in.
    He nodded in acknowledgement of his sister’s greeting and his eyes momentarily swept over Rachel and me. Then he ran past us up the stairs.
    Tamarisk said: “That’s my brother, Crispin.”
    “I know. You said his name.”
    “All this is his,” she said proudly, throwing out her arms.
    “He didn’t take much notice of you!”
    “That was because you were here.”
    Then I heard his voice. It was one of those clear voices which carry a long way.
    He said: “Who is the plain child with the others?” He was talking to someone up there.
    “New, I imagine,”