The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley Read Free Book Online

I haven’t introduced myself.’ With Aurora still clinging to his hips, he walked towards her and extended a hand. ‘Alexander Devonshire.’ His long, slim fingers clasped hers.
    Grania did her best to drag herself back from the sense of the surreal she was experiencing. ‘Devonshire? I thought this was the Lisle family?’
    A pair of dark eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly. ‘You are right in the sense that this is the Lisle family house, but I married into it. My wife –’ Alexander’s eyes darted to the painting – ‘was the heiress to Dunworley House and one day it will pass to our daughter.’
    ‘I’m sorry … I didn’t realise.’
    ‘Really, Grania, I’m used to being called “Mr Lisle” around here.’ Alexander pulled his daughter closer to him, lost in his own thoughts.
    ‘I’d better be getting home,’ said Grania uncomfortably.
    ‘Oh, Daddy, does she have to go? Can’t she stay for lunch?’ Aurora looked up at her father, imploring him with her eyes.
    ‘Thank you for the offer, but really, I must go.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Alexander. ‘It’s very kind of you to spend time with my daughter.’
    ‘She’s far more fun than the old nanny, Daddy. Why can’t she look after me?’
    ‘Darling, I’m sure Grania has lots of other things she needs to do.’ Alexander smiled apologetically at her over Aurora’s head. ‘And we mustn’t take up any more of her time.’
    ‘Really, it was no bother. I enjoyed it.’
    ‘Will you come back tomorrow with the paints when the bowl is dry?’ pleaded Aurora.
    Grania looked to Alexander for approval and got it. ‘Of course, I’ll see what I can find.’ Grania started to move towards the door, and Alexander moved aside and held out his hand again.
    ‘Thank you, Grania. It’s very kind of you to take the time to amuse my daughter. Please, feel welcome to drop in any time. If I’m not here, Mrs Myther lives in with Aurora to take care of her.’ He guided Grania out of the drawing room across the hall and back towards the kitchen, Aurora holding his hand. ‘Aurora, will you go and find Mrs Myther and tell her that we’re both ready for lunch now?’
    ‘Yes, Daddy,’ she said obediently. ‘Goodbye, Grania, see you tomorrow.’ Aurora turned and disappeared up the stairs.
    Alexander led the way across the kitchen to the back door. As he opened it, he turned to her. ‘Please, Aurora can be very persuasive. Don’t let her talk you into spending more time with her than you wish to.’
    ‘As I said, I enjoyed it.’ The proximity of Alexander’s presence only a few inches from her as he held the door open was turning Grania’s brain to putty.
    ‘Well, just be careful. I know how she can be.’
    ‘I will.’
    ‘Good. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you here again soon. Goodbye, Grania.’
    ‘Goodbye.’
    As Grania walked across the courtyard, and then along the path that led back down to the gate that opened on to the cliff, she was desperate to look behind her to see whether he still stood by the door. After the gate, she set off at a brisk pace along the cliff path until she reached her favourite rock. She slumped on to it, feeling breathless and disorientated.
    She put her head in her hands to try to gather her senses. An image of Alexander’s face appeared in her mind’s eye. She felt overwhelmed and almost fearful that a man with whom she’d had no more than five minutes contact could have such an effect on her.
    She lifted her head, and looked out to sea. It was calm today, tranquil – a sleeping monster that could rise up and create havoc within the space of a few minutes.
    As she stood up and set off for home, Grania ponderedwhether the analogy could also be true of the man she had just met.
    ‘Hi there, it’s me. Can you let me in?’
    ‘Sure.’ Matt pressed the entry button and walked back disconsolately to his perusal of a baseball game.
    Charley appeared at the door, and closed it behind her. ‘I’ve bought us