Witchstone. Anne Mather

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СКАЧАТЬ and sit by the fire, then. You said you weren’t cold earlier on,’ he remarked.

      Ashley shook her head. ‘I—I meant outside.’

      ‘I see.’ He paused. ‘Tell me, do you know Grüssmatte?’

      ‘Grüssmatte?’ For a moment she was all at sea.

      ‘Yes, Grüssmatte. In Austria. You said you didn’t expect I would find this climate any colder than Austria. I wondered how you knew I’d been in Austria.’

      Ashley flushed brilliantly. ‘Er—as a matter of fact, Uncle David told me.’

      ‘Did he indeed?’ Jake’s eyes were intent between the thick lashes. ‘And were you discussing me with your uncle?’

      ‘I—no—at least, not really.’ Ashley’s nails were almost penetrating the moquette as the pressure increased.

      ‘But you did listen when he spoke to you, didn’t you?’

      Ashley decided the only way open to her was attack. ‘If you’re trying to tie me up in knots by proving that I was discussing you with Uncle David——’

      Jake lay back in his chair, his expression mildly indulgent. ‘Now why would I do a thing like that?’ he mocked. ‘You seem perfectly capable of doing it for yourself.’

      To Ashley’s relief, Mark chose that moment to re-enter the room. ‘Oh, good,’ he exclaimed. ‘You’re talking to one another. I had visions of a pitched battle being waged in my absence.’

      ‘Don’t be silly, Mark!’ Ashley was curt. ‘What’s this?’

      Mark was handing her a tall glass laced with ice cubes, and he grinned. ‘Taste it! I think you’ll like it. It’s just potent enough to give the lemonade a kick.’

      Ashley sipped the liquid experimentally. It was delicious, but she couldn’t recognise the flavour.

      ‘I think it looks like Advocaat,’ remarked Jake, swallowing a mouthful of the amber liquid Mark had given him.

      ‘It is,’ agreed Mark, subsiding into his armchair again with a tall glass of lager. ‘A golden drink for a golden girl!’

      ‘Mark!’

      Ashley felt more embarrassed than ever, but as her aunt arrived with the coffee she was saved the need of having to parry any further comments from either of them. Conversation became general and it was not noticeable that Ashley played very little part in it. She was content to sit in her chair and drink her coffee and remain silent, absorbed as she was with her own thoughts.

       CHAPTER TWO

      ASHLEY was almost asleep when Karen came noisily into the bedroom and switched on her bedside lamp.

      ‘Ashley?’ she hissed in a stage whisper. ‘Are you awake?’

      Ashley sighed. She had thought that for once Karen would see that her eyes were closed and not disturb her, but she should have known better. Rolling on to her back, shading her eyes with her arm, she said: ‘Do you realise it’s almost half past eleven, Karen? I’m tired. What do you want?’

      Karen gave an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry, love. I really thought you were awake.’

      ‘I was,’ admitted Ashley. ‘What is it?’

      ‘I just wanted to talk to you,’ exclaimed Karen, beginning to get undressed. ‘Guess what? Frank’s got a new car!’

      Ashley raised her eyes towards the bedroom ceiling. ‘Super! Is that all?’

      ‘Don’t you want to know what it is?’ Karen sounded disappointed.

      Ashley gave a resigned gesture. ‘All right. What is it?’

      ‘It’s a Triumph Spitfire. A gorgeous little sports car, and can it move! We went for a run in it this evening, and it was thrilling—really thrilling!’

      Ashley blinked. ‘Great. Have you just got back?’

      ‘Well, I’ve just got in,’ replied Karen insinuatively. ‘We got back about half an hour ago.’

      ‘Fine.’ Ashley rolled on to her side again. ‘Can I go to sleep now?’

      ‘I suppose so.’ Karen plumped down on to the side of her bed to take her tights off. ‘What did you do this evening?’

      ‘Nothing much.’ Ashley’s voice was muffled.

      ‘Exciting!’ Karen was sarcastic. ‘Honestly, Ash, don’t you ever get sick of staying in all the time? I mean, I’m sure Frank could fix you up with a blind date——’

      ‘No, thanks!’ Ashley turned so quickly that she pulled the blankets out of the side of the bed, and mumbled irritably as she pushed them in again. ‘I don’t need Frank Coulter to get dates for me. I’m perfectly capable of choosing my own boy-friends.’

      Karen pulled on her pyjamas. ‘So why don’t you have any?’

      ‘I do have friends,’ protested Ashley.

      ‘But you don’t go out with them—at least, not alone anyway.’

      Ashley sighed again. ‘Look, you live your life and I’ll live mine.’

      ‘I just want you to have a little fun, that’s all.’ Karen climbed into bed. Propping herself on one elbow, she studied her cousin critically. ‘You should, you know. You’re very attractive.’

      ‘Thank you.’ Ashley wished she would hurry up and turn out the light.

      ‘Don’t you want to get married?’

      ‘Oh, Karen, honestly!’ Ashley had to smile. ‘I don’t want to get married for years yet! I’m not eighteen even. I intend to wait until I’m—oh, I don’t know—perhaps thirty, before I tie myself down with a home and children——’

      ‘You’re forgetting the most important part.’

      ‘What’s that?’ Ashley frowned.

      ‘A husband, of course. Or were you planning to have children and bring them up yourself?’

      ‘Don’t talk rubbish!’ Ashley wrinkled her nose. ‘You know what I mean. Besides, I may never get married.’

      ‘No. That’s true.’ Karen flopped back and folded her arms behind her head. ‘But I want to. I’ve never been particularly interested in a career.’

      Ashley nodded. ‘And do you think this—association with Frank is serious?’

      Karen shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Sometimes I think so, and then he does something or says something and—well, I wonder.’ She drew the covers up to her chin, tipping her head on one side to look at her СКАЧАТЬ