The Golden Maze Read Online Free Page B

could see the spire of a church—from behind a clump of trees came rising the smoke from a cottage. Every now and then she saw the lake below as the branches of the trees moved. She wondered where the path from which the castle got its name was.
    At last she saw the village ahead. Here the fields were gently separated by the fascinating dry stone walls, each one a miracle to Cindy as she wondered how they stayed put for so many centuries. Now she could see the church with its long pointed spire, the old timbered house by its side and what was obviously a school, then a cluster of houses, all made of grey stone. She drove over a humped bridge made of mellow stones and then there was a space in the cottages and she saw the lake.
    How peaceful it looked with the bushes and trees clustering round the edge. Not a ripple on it. Just so still ...
    She parked the car in an open space and then walked along, looking for a post office. She had promised both Keith Ayres and Mr. Jenkins that she would let them know she had arrived safely, so maybe postcards showing the beautiful countryside would be a good idea. Finding the post office, she turned and stopped dead, almost bumping into a tall man as he came out.
    Cindy recognised him instantly. But today with her glasses on, she could see his face clearly. A handsome face if you like a square chin, a rather long nose, and cold blue eyes.
    Cold eyes that looked at her and halted the smile
     
    of recognition she was giving him. She had already started to speak.
    "Fancy meeting you here !" she began.
    "Excuse me," he said coldly, moving her to one side and walking by her, paying no attention as he walked fast down the side of the street.
    It was as if he had slapped her in the face. Never had she felt such a shock. She turned round and walked down the road in the opposite direction. It was absurd, of course, but even her legs were trembling. Why had he been so rude? Cutting her dead, worse still, implying that she was trying to pick him up !
    How could he do such a thing to her? But he had.

 
     

CHAPTER THREE
    SOMEHOW Cindy walked along the narrow pavement, her mind in a whirl. Why had he been so rude to her? Maybe he hadn't recognised her in her glasses? Perhaps he was short-sighted. She found herself making excuses for his behaviour, yet it all boiled down to one thing and that was what shocked her so. He hadn't wanted to see her again. It was a real brush-off.
    She noticed a small tea-shop and went in and sat down. It was empty, but Cindy didn't mind. She wanted to be alone so that she could think. What could she have done to annoy him so ? For annoyed he had been. She shivered as she remembered the coldness in his eyes.
    Though perhaps his eyes were always cold? After all, she reminded herself, she hadn't seen his eyes before. Yet his voice had been so different. Here, it was so curt.
    "Excuse me," was all he had said.
    Yet in London he had teased her, joked and even been sarcastic, but there had been no curt coldness in her voice.
    Suddenly a tall girl came from the back of the shop. Cindy gazed in amazement. Why, she was beautiful ! A real model type, tall, with long slender legs well revealed by the elegance of her sea-green skirt and pale cream tunic. She had high cheekbones and
     
    surprisingly dark eyes as compared with her blonde hair which was beautifully curled.
    "I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in," the girl said. "Would you like some tea?"
    "Please," said Cindy.
    When the tea came, the tall girl smiled. "Mind if I join you? One gets so bored here with never a new face. You're Miss Preston, now ?"
    Cindy looked startled. "Yes, how did you know ?"
    The girl laughed. "Everything is known in the village. The castle will be yours if Peter Baxter doesn't turn up. Right ?"
    "Yes, but ...
    "He still may, though I doubt it. I'm Johanna Younge." She smiled ruefully. "Believe it or not, I was once a beauty queen, then, like an idiot, I' fell in love with a country boy and here I