Fascination Read Online Free Page A

same for the marquês. Within a few minutes Hydee had met Mrs. Doreen Fitzwarren, who at present had charge of the children.
    A tall, attractive woman of about thirty, she instantly put Hydee at her ease by saying, after the introduction had been made, ‘Carlos was telling me on the phone that you come from Crady-on-Sea. I used to live there myself when I was in my teens. I expect it’s changed since I left more than twelve years ago.’
    ‘It hasn’t changed very much. There are a few more hotels, of course, to deal with the extra holidaymakers who’ve recently been attracted to the resort.’ Her thoughts went quite naturally to Noel, who, as manager of the White Hart, had brought about a threefold increase in profits, gaining promotion for himself as a result.
    Doreen began speaking to the marquês rather quietly, and Hydee, undecided as to whether or not she was meant to overhear, moved towards the open window, where she caught her first glimpse of the children. Ramos and Luisa…. Both dark like their father, both extraordinarily good-looking, Ramos in a strong, classical way, with a firm chin even now, and the same jawline as his father. Hydee could not see his eyes but knew instinctively that they were dark brown. Luisa’s prettiness was equally marked, but in a more gentle way. Her delicate little face, with its pointed chin and rosebud mouth, was creased with laughter now as she stood before her brother, who, having come into contact with something sharp, was looking with dismay at the large tear in his denim shorts. Hydee’s mouth curved and her eyes lit with amusement. They were
natural
, at any rate, just as she had hoped they would be. For she had come with some slight doubts in spite of their father’s assertion that they were in no way inhibited by convention.
    She was still smiling in amusement when, addressed by the marquês, she turned round to face him. She saw his eyes flicker, then move slowly to the scene outside, where his daughter was still laughing and his son just about to give her something which would take the humour from her face. This he did, but playfully, and then they were sparring together; they fell into a flower border, where the struggle continued.
    Ramos cried, ‘Stop biting me!’ in English, and his sister returned, ‘Then you stop punching
me!
If you’re not careful, you’ll tear your silly old pants even more—and that’ll be funnier than ever because it’ll show your—’
    ‘Luisa! Ramos!’ Their father’s voice brought the children instantly to their feet. ‘That’s enough. Come here and meet a friend of mine.’
    Hydee looked swiftly at him, the colour rising to tint her cheeks. So naturally he had referred to her as his friend, yet it was as a servant that she was entering his employ. Her thoughts faded as a wry expression crossed her face. She was taking far too much for granted. She might be a little more then halfway to obtaining the post, but the biggest hurdle had yet to be surmounted.
    Would these lovely children like her? she wondered, apprehension suddenly filling her heart.
    ‘I’ll go and leave you to it, Carlos,’ Doreen said, her glance darting to the French window, which was partly open, and through which the children would come racing in a few seconds. ‘You’ll be staying for dinner, I hope?’ And she was gone without waiting for an answer from the marquês.
    ‘Papa!’ Both children spoke together. ‘You’ve been gone a long time! Where have you been?’ Ramos wanted to know, the words interspersed with great gulps of air. ‘We want to go home!’
    Hydee, a little surprised that they seemed to speak English all the time, looked at the marquês inquiringly.
    ‘Their mother was English,’ he explained without much expression. ‘Ramos, Luisa, meet Miss Merrill. She will be staying here with you for a few days.’
    ‘Oh….’ Both children subjected Hydee to a long and disconcerting scrutiny before Ramos said respectfully, ‘How do