Read Something Dangerous (Spoils of Time 02) for Free Online Page B

old.’
    ‘She’s not old, she’s mature. And you shouldn’t confuse sex and youth,’ he added, sounding suddenly rather pompous. ‘Giles, old chap, what do you think? Wouldn’t you agree with me that your aunt is a very attractive woman?’
    ‘I’m not – sure,’ said Giles. ‘I’ve only ever thought of her as my aunt. And she is quite old.’
    ‘Well – she is,’ said Adele thoughtfully, ‘but I suppose she is a bit of a mystery. I mean, there’s Jay for a start. I could never quite believe in the husband of only a few weeks being killed in the war . . .’
     
    ‘Happy birthday, Maud, my darling. Sorry to be late for our tea. Here, present from your old dad—’
    ‘Daddy! Tiffany’s! How lovely. Oh, I love these boxes and the white ribbon so much – oh, Daddy! Thank you so much. Oh, it’s lovely. Simply beautiful. Here, put it on me. Let me get to a mirror quickly. It’s – oh, it’s heaven. I shall never take it off again.’
    ‘Darling, I hope you will. Diamond watches don’t benefit from being put into the bath. Or taken out riding.’
    ‘I know, I know. But it’s ravishing. Thank you. Here, let me kiss you again.’
    Robert Lytton sat back in his chair, smiling at her, thinking that every year made her so much more than a daughter to him, that she was also companion, confidante and best friend. And, indeed, had been for most of her life; and the feeling was, he knew, mutual. Their love for one another was absolute, and remarkably untinged by any serious jealousy or possessiveness on Robert’s part. He had brought her up alone from the age of two when her mother had died; they had faced the world together and made for themselves a very happy life. He had built the house where they lived for her, planned his social life round her, run his company with her always in mind. He refused to travel too much, or to work too late, turned down many social engagements so that he might be at home with her, and at all times endeavoured to encourage her interest in what he did. It was not difficult; Maud was as fascinated by the real estate industry as most girls of her age and social status were by clothes and boys.
    Not that those things did not charm and engage her too; but her greatest happiness was found in accompanying her father to building sites, where she would stalk about in the mud, wearing trousers and stout shoes, holding her own set of plans and gazing up at where the next great skyscraper might rise, or the latest chic hotel stand, asking questions, making suggestions (and even, at times, quite sharp observations). She was about to go into her last year at the Chapin school, an exclusive (and academically excellent) establishment in New York for girls; she hoped after that and after her debutante season – to which she had agreed without a great deal of enthusiasm – to go on to Vassar to study architecture, and thence to Lytton Brewer Real Estate as a junior partner and thus become involved in her own right. Most of her contemporaries thought she was quite mad.
     
    ‘And you really don’t mind having dinner alone with me and Jamie tonight?’ said Robert now.
    ‘Of course I don’t mind. I’ll love it. And I want to hear all about Jamie’s latest young lady. I wish he’d bring her.’
    ‘He says she doesn’t deserve it yet. I don’t know what that means quite.’
    ‘Nor do I. Here, have some birthday cake.’
    ‘Mmm. Delicious. Dear Martha. She never fails. Amazing. She must be the oldest cook in New York.’
    ‘And absolutely the best.’ Maud licked her fingers one by one, then said, ‘I wonder how the twins are. What they’re doing today.’
    ‘Driving their parents insane as usual, I expect. I had a letter from Oliver, saying happy birthday to you, and that he and, possibly, Celia are coming over next month.’
    ‘I wish they’d bring the twins. It would be such fun.’
    ‘Maud, those trips are—’
    ‘I know, I know, business. Well, we’ll just have to arrange