Sea Gem Read Online Free Page B

decided to invade,’ she
explained as they mounted to the top of some wide, carpeted stairs. ‘Now here is your room. You’ve a nice view of the sea from the front and countryside from the rear window. The
bathroom is down the corridor on the right, so I think you’ll be comfortable. When you are ready, come down to the kitchen and we will eat in about half an hour.’
    ‘My own room!’ Mary marvelled in a whisper. ‘I’ve never had a room of my own before,’ she said, letting her eyes slide around with awe and delight.
    It seemed enormous to her with a large, double bed, chairs, a dresser complete with a huge wardrobe of deep, red wood. The carpet was thick underfoot and inviting to bare toes. It was the kind
of room she had always dreamed of having but never thought she really would.

TWO
    Mary woke slowly and lay cuddled in blissful warmth for a few seconds, puzzled as to where she was, then realisation dawned gradually and she bit her lip with wonder. After a
delicious tea-cum-supper, she had retired early for the night to this dream of a room. Tante had been pleasant enough while they ate, chatting gently without engaging in too many probing questions
for which Mary had been grateful. She had felt bone weary from the long sea crossing and sheer nervous tension.
    She turned her head and was stunned to see it was eight o’clock. It was the first time in her life she had ever stayed in bed until such a horribly late hour. This was what the gentry did.
Her gaze roamed around the room with its quiet simplicity. It still seemed incredible and awesome to discover this was how Duret lived. How naïve she had been to think of him as a
fisherman’s son, then her face became very serious. If she wanted, all this could be hers. The eldest son was dead which made Duret the heir. It was odd though that no island girl had staked
a claim on Duret Noyen before he left for England. Was he disliked and, if so, for what? Was he such a gentle dreamer that girls became impatient with him? Or was there something else she did not
yet know?
    She rose and went to the window which she had left open two holes. She suddenly froze as she heard Tante’s voice from below. Her instinct was to back away then she paused, positioning
herself so she could hear but remain unseen.
    ‘Morning, Mistress!’ a man said gruffly.
    By standing on her tiptoes and stretching her neck, Mary could just make out the man below who stood facing Tante.
    ‘Good morning to you, Sam!’
    ‘Well, did she come then?’
    ‘She did!’ Louise said slowly and paused as if sorting out complicated thoughts.
    Mary could see the man’s hair was thick, grey and with a faint wave and guessed he must be the old family retainer.
    ‘Well, what’s she like then?’ he demanded impatiently.
    Tante shook her head as if exasperated. ‘Not at all what I expected I can tell you, Sam. She is independent, speaks her mind, has a very square jaw and I guess she is tough.’
    ‘Is that so?’ Sam drawled slowly, ‘She might just be the right one to shake young Duret alive then.’
    ‘Or cause a packet of trouble!’ Tante replied coldly.
    ‘Is she pregnant? Is that it?’
    ‘Not as far as I can tell, though it could be early days. Somehow though, I don’t think she is. I get the impression her head is screwed on the right way and far too firmly for any
young man to play footloose with her. It just might be fastened on too tightly for her own good.’
    ‘You mean she’s after what she can get?’ Sam questioned shrewdly.
    There was a pause and Mary held her breath as she waited for Tante’s reply. When the words came they were a measured sentence.
    ‘It’s possible. On the other hand, you know what Duret is like. He might fancy some kind of mother figure and what can I do? If I become difficult I alienate him; he can be so
obstinate when the mood takes him. The weird thing is I get the impression the girl, though she wears his engagement ring, is not madly in