A Lady's Luck. Ken Casper

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ banister topped with a shiny wood rail. A thick, red wool runner covered the white marble stairs, softening their ascent.

      At the head of the stairs, Heather led them to a heavy, dark paneled door on the right and turned the polished brass handle. They entered a reception area.

      “If you’ll wait here, sir.”

      She went to the open doorway beyond and tapped on the framework. “Mr. Brent Preston and his daughters, Rhea and Katie, have arrived, Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin.”

      The woman who emerged was tall, close to six feet, and Raphaelesque in build.

      “Mr. Preston,” she said in a strong but pleasant voice, “how very good of you to visit us. I’m delighted to meet you.” She immediately shifted her attention to the girls. “Rhea and Katie. So which twin is which?” Her smile seemed genuine.

      More the extrovert, Rhea spoke up. “I’m Rhea. She’s Katie.”

      Eyes twinkling, Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin took a minute to study the two of them, her attention flicking from one to the other. After what seemed like a very long interval, she asked, “Do the two of you always dress alike?”

      “Mostly,” Rhea said brightly. “Except Aunt Melanie bought us ugly green dresses. I think they look like barf, so I never wear mine. But Katie wears hers sometimes.”

      “I didn’t bring it with me,” Katie informed her. “And it doesn’t look like barf. It’s more like…celery pudding.”

      Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin’s brows rose precipitously. “Celery pudding? I’ll have to think about that. Rather an unusual image, I must say.” She was clearly straining to control a smile. So was Brent.

      “Let’s go for a walk, shall we? I’ll show you our grounds before it starts to rain, and you can tell me about your school back home in Kentucky.”

      Brent had mentioned where they were from when he’d called from the States to make the appointment. She’d obviously made note of it. The day was overcast and gloomy. The headmistress queried the girls about the subjects they were studying in school and asked questions to determine their level of advancement. Satisfied with their answers, she let them run ahead to the play area.

      A scrap of paper fluttered to the ground.

      “Katie, you dropped something.”

      One girl turned around, while the other looked over at her sister.

      “Right there.” Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin pointed to the ticket stub from one of the places they’d visited.

      Katie stared at her, her expression one of awe bordering on fear.

      “Pick it up, dear. When we go inside I’ll show you where you can throw it in the dustbin.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Katie replied softly. She picked up the litter, then ran after her sister.

      “Congratulations. We have friends at home,” Brent remarked, “who’ve known them since they were born and still can’t distinguish them.”

      He wondered if it was luck that she’d picked the right name or if she really could tell them apart on only a minute’s acquaintance.

      “Several sets of twins are in attendance here, Mr. Preston. I find them an interesting challenge.”

      They walked on. She recited a brief history of the school, the enrollment numbers, staff qualifications and the most recent awards the academy had received.

      “When you called to make this appointment, Mr. Preston, you said you anticipated spending some time here in England on business.”

      “It’s not certain yet. That’s why I haven’t said anything to the girls and asked you not to mention it in their presence. As far as they know we’re here only on vacation.”

      “I fully understand. I’ve alerted the staff, as well. We have a number of foreign students boarding here whose parents travel a good deal.”

      He couldn’t imagine leaving his girls with strangers.

      “They could live with their grandparents back home, but I’d prefer to keep them with me.” He paused. “Since their mother passed away, I feel it’s important that we stay together as much as possible.”

      “My condolences on the loss of your wife, Mr. Preston. They seem well-adjusted, polite girls. May I ask why you have elected to consider Briar Hills Academy?”

      “A friend recommended it. Nolan Hunter. I understand his sister is one of your teachers.”

      “Lord Kestler!” Her face lit up. “Yes, of course. His sister, Devon, is one of our sterling young instructors. Do you know her, as well?”

      “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting her.”

      The headmistress gazed up at the dark sky. “We’d best go inside straightaway.” She clapped her hands. The girls, chattering on a seesaw, stopped instantly and swiveled to face her.

      I wish they would obey me that well, Brent thought.

      “Come along, girls,” she called out. “Inside, quickly.”

      The four of them had hardly entered the building’s back door when the first large raindrops began splattering the black slate walk.

      “Perfect timing,” Brent said, as he let the door he’d been holding close behind them.

      “I’ll have Miss Hunter join us,” the headmistress said. “She’ll be delighted to meet you. She thinks the world of her brother. A fine gentleman.”

      Three

      It was rare for Devon to be called out of her classroom in the midst of a lesson. She prayed it wasn’t to learn of tragedy. Her mother’s health was fragile, but surely Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin would come in person to inform her if something had befallen Lady Kestler. Could it be about her brother? Nolan had become a mystery to her of late.

      “She has a visitor,” Heather whispered, almost in awe, as she looked up from her desk, where she’d been tapping away at her computer keyboard a moment before. “She said for you to go directly in.”

      “Who is it?” Another VIP, no doubt. Maybe a Member of Parliament on an inspection tour or dropping off his daughter for the first time.

      “You’ll see.”

      Devon wondered at her friend’s dramatic secrecy. Judging from the impish grin on her pixie face, the surprise would not be an unpleasant one.

      Before approaching the headmistress’s open doorway, however, Devon paused to adjust her frock, to make sure her belt was straight and to smooth out any wrinkles. As a matter of habit she ran her hands through her shoulder-length hair, and only then knocked on the headmistress’s office doorframe and entered.

      Mrs. Sherwood-Griffin was standing in the center of the room, talking to a man Devon was sure she’d never seen before. With his back to her, she saw only that he was tall, an inch or two over six feet, СКАЧАТЬ