The Breadth of Heaven Read Online Free

should have a glass of brandy, petite ,” he said, and his voice was amazingly gentle. “It has all been too much, I think. I will ring—”
    “No, no, please. I don’t want any brandy, Leonid. And I don’t want to see anyone—except you, and Miss Grant. Tell Miss Grant she has got to stay with me! I should feel so much safer!”
    At this point Kathy decided that it was high time she intervened personally. “I’m very sorry, Your Highness, but I simply couldn’t just abandon my job here and start working for you. I mean,” she went on, swallowing in sudden nervousness as the mysterious Leonid turned very slowly to look at her, “ I mean, I would have to give notice, and—and that sort of thing, and besides ... ”
    “And besides, from all that you have gathered tonight of my sister-in-law and the situation in which she finds herself, you don’t feel that the job would be either congenial or particularly safe?”
    “Of course I didn’t mean that. I—”
    “I am certainly not blaming you, mademoiselle. Your feelings are perfectly reasonable, for a young woman of your type. The Princess Natalia, however, apparently feels that in you she has found something in the nature of a sister. As you see, she is quite distraught, and since I have—as you say in England—her best interests at heart, I can only say that I hope you will accept this rather generous offer of a position in her service. You are not, of course, the sort of person whom I myself would have chos e n as a companion for her, but—”
    “Leonid!” From the direction of the settee, a soft voice interrupted him. “You must not be rude to Miss Grant. She has been very kind to me. She—”
    “Yes, yes, Natalia, I understand. Miss Grant, do you feel able to accept the position, or don’t you? I assure you, you have no need to worry about your present employer. I myself will arrange matters with him. As to the question of salary ... ” His expression grew colder, and something like contempt appeared in his eyes. “As to the question of salary, which is no doubt of paramount importance with you, I think you will find that any remuneration offered to you by my sister-in-law could hardly be bettered. And,” drily, “despite any impression you may have received this evening, my family’s employees do still receive fairly punctual payment of their salaries.”
    “I ... I don’t know ... Kathy hesitated, wondering what to say. She felt deeply sorry for the Princess, but her brother-in-law’s arrogance and obvious contempt for what he clearly regarded as a very ordinary little English secretary had irritated her to such an extent that she felt her own rarely aroused temper struggling to get the upper hand. On the other hand, the job itself undeniably possessed enormous attractions—would certainly tempt any young woman who had never even dreamt that such an opportunity could come her way. And then there were the children ... Nina and her brother, undoubtedly a pair of pathetic babies whose lives were at present dominated by an obviously neurotic mother—for whatever reasons Princess Natalia might have for her nervousness it was quite clear that she exaggerated the danger ... at least a little.
    Kathy looked down at Nina, whom she was still holding in her arms, and found that she had fallen fast asleep. Then she looked up again, and saw that across the room Princess Natalia was watching her with a look of desperate anxiety in her amazing golden-brown eyes. The man called Leonid produced an elegant gold cigarette-case, flicked it open, and held it towards the English girl.
    “You will smoke, mademoiselle? A cigarette may help you to make up your mind.”
    This time his tone was careless and totally indifferent, and she knew that her eyes flashed resentfully as she shook her head.
    “Thank you, I don’t smoke, monsieur ... ” Her voice trailed away pointedly.
    He made a small sound which could possibly have been apologetic.
    “I beg your