Read Bird of Prey for Free Online Page B

capable of laughing so heartily.
    “No doubt they were as young as yourself?” he inquired.
    “Yes, but Dick was different.”
    “He was older, then, was that it?”
    “Oh yes, Dick knew everything. He was a wonderfully competent person.”
    “So you like older men, is that it?”
    “Oh yes, I think they’re much more fascinating. They’ve travelled and seen things and their conversation is so much more interesting.”
    “But you were telling me about the singing competition this Dick Travers character got up on your one rainy afternoon. Don’t let’s get sidetracked.”
    “It was nothing, not really! Just to see who could sing the highest note.” “And of course you won hands down.”
    “Well—yes.”
    “And after that, what happened?”
    “Oh, nothing—the sun came out, you see.”
    Again he threw back his head and burst into laughter. “So that was the end of your promising career?”
    “Yes, you see, they all wanted to go swimming then. ”
    “And was there no award for your spectacular achievement? No silver cup?”
    “No, of course not! Just a sort of fun prize,” she told him rather shyly.
    “I see, and just what was the fun prize? You seem rather reticent. ”
    “Well, it was a little donkey; a toy really, with a long ribbon around its neck, so that you could hang it up, a sort of mascot.”
    “Tell me, did you bring it with you?”
    Caroline nodded.
    “Just as I thought! So you keep it with you to remind you of Dick! Now let me guess where you keep it. On your dressing-table, perhaps?”
    Again she regarded him cautiously, scenting mockery. But it was so hard to tell. Those steely grey eyes beneath the heavy brows were so piercing and expressionless. Like a hawk’s, she told herself, cold and implacable!
    “All right, now that we’ve got so far, why don’t you go the whole hog and tell me where exactly you keep this precious souvenir?”
    Somehow it was almost impossible to be devious with her imperious employer and in spite of herself she found herself answering, “I hang it on the brass knob at the foot of my bed.” She waited, almost flinching, for his abrupt laughter, but instead he remained silent, looking at her curiously for a long moment. “You know, you’re a strange little person, Caroline Downes. In all my long career I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”
    As he spoke he bent down and tried the switch on the polisher. “Yes, you seem to have broken it,” he remarked as it remained silent. “What Mrs. Creed will have to say about this, I dread to think. However, this time I’ll try and make things right for you—but only this once, remember. Afterwards you’ll have to fight your own battles. By the way, you may see your cousin again sooner than you expect. How she managed to hear of your existence here at Longmere so quickly I don’t know, but already the Lynebeck grapevine has been in operation and she knows that, instead of meekly taking the train home, you’ve managed to establish yourself here. At any rate, she rang this morning to say she’s coming over and wants to see you. I shouldn’t be the smallest bit surprised if that excellent woman you were talking about has decided she’s had just enough of Robin and that your cousin’s once again in need of a nursery governess.”
    “Then you know Grace?” Caroline blurted out in surprise.
    For a moment he remained silent and Caroline wondered if she had only imagined the strange expression that seemed to gleam for a moment in those strange, hawk-like eyes before they regained their usual cold detachment.
    “Yes indeed, I know your cousin quite well. ” But now his eyes were hooded and inscrutable. “In the meantime,” he said crisply, “could you possibly restrain your daydreaming, otherwise I’m afraid Mrs. Creed will demand your marching orders.”
    And, before she had time to frame an answer to this devastating remark, he turned and strode swiftly along the corridor.
    Caroline gazed after his