Witching Hour by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page A

into her room, and slammed the door. She
    leaned back against the panels, her breathing quick and shallow,
    her small breasts rising and falling as if she'd been running.
    She didn't know whether to scream, or burst into tears, and was
    sorely tempted to do both, because it was just as she'd feared. Lyall
    might at this moment be on his way to Truro, but this room was
    filled with him. She could close her eyes, and blot out his image,
    but that couldn't destroy the taste of him, the scent, the feel of his
    body against her own.
    For as long as she stayed in this house, she knew she would never
    be alone again, and the knowledge made her tremble.

CHAPTER THREE
    MORGANA was still lying on her bed staring sightlessly up at the
    ceiling almost an hour later when there was a knock at the door,
    and her mother popped an apologetic head into the room.
    'Darling, are you all right? It's almost time for dinner. Are you
    coming down?'
    Morgana forced a smile. 'I don't think so. I—I'm not really very
    hungry, and Rob is picking me up later. We'll probably go to the
    Polzion Arms and I can grab a sandwich there.'
    'You're probably more than wise.' said Mrs Pentreath with a little
    sigh. 'Elsa's behaving very oddly, and she won't even discuss
    whether there's going to be a pudding. I suppose if all else fails we
    can open some tinned fruit.' She paused. 'Well, what did you think
    of him? Really, he seemed very pleasant.'
    'That's hardly the word I would use.' Morgana swung herself to the
    floor and walked across to the dressing table.
    'Well, darling, it's hardly any wonder. You were extremely rude to
    him. I was very dubious about allowing you to show him round,
    but Miss Meakins was being extremely difficult—most inquisitive,
    and so carping about all sorts of little things which she's never
    mentioned before, and all done for effect, I'm convinced. So I was
    really grateful to Mr Pentreath when he made a tactful exit.' She
    hesitated. 'Did he give you any kind of hint—about his intentions, I
    mean?'
    Morgana, brushing her hair, had an insane desire to burst into
    hysterical laughter.
    She said gently, 'No, love. At least, not in the way that you mean. I
    don't know what his plans are.'
    Mrs Pentreath sighed again. 'He's coming back tomorrow, so I've
    ho doubt he'll tell us then. I've invited him to lunch, and told Elsa
    to get a couple of ducks out of the freezer.'
    'I don't think you'll soften his heart with our brand of gastronomic
    delights.' Morgana said drily. 'He has an expense account air about
    him.'
    'Well, I must say I liked him much better than I expected to.' Mrs
    Pentreath's voice was slightly defensive. 'He isn't a bit like his late
    father—or what I remember of him at least. He must take after his
    mother's side of the family. I wonder who Giles did marry?'
    'Does it matter?' Morgana wearily replaced her brush on the
    dressing table. 'It would have been far better for us if he'd
    remained a bachelor.'
    'I wonder if Lyall himself is married?' mused her mother. 'Did he
    mention a wife, or a fiancée?'
    On the contrary, Morgana thought bleakly, but that doesn't mean
    with his kind that neither of those ladies exists.
    Aloud she said, 'We didn't really talk about personal things. He
    wanted to see the house, and learn something about the family
    history. I told him about Giles the Wrecker.'
    'That's a terrible story,' Mrs Pentreath said indignantly. 'I've never
    believed one word of it.'
    'Yet you believe that old Josiah was a smuggler.' Morgana shook
    her head affectionately.
    'Well, smuggling is different,' Mrs Pentreath excused herself. 'In
    those days, simply everyone did it. It was quite respectable.'
    'Tell that to the Customs and Excise!' Morgana gave her mother a
    swift hug. 'Shall I lay, the dining table, or has Elsa done it?'
    'She was doing it when I came upstairs, and singing 'Rock of Ages'
    very loudly, and rather badly. I think this business over the entail
    has affected her almost as deeply as it has