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Chapter 29
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2024-10-29 19:42:56you're doing splendidly . You have nothing to worry about ? - and her heart steadied down and she was able to answer the questions her uncle and cousins put to her with some degree of rationality . And now I think Margaret had better take you up to your room , ' said Sir Archibe.
Lucy was glad to go , though she felt a little nervous in Margaret's company . The latter took her across the hall and up the broad ornamental staircase ; at the top she turned to the right and along a passage , then to the right again . It seemed bewildering to Joan , who tried to mem orize the turnings ' I am sure I shall never be able to find my way about , she cried . ' It will come in time , ' said Margaret . ' Of course , you have been used to a little house , haven't you ? ' It had never occurred to Lucy to regard Aunt Lilian's house as little ; she had thought it a big rambling place , especially when she had to do all the work of it , but she realized that compared with Kilrossan stan
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Across the intervening heaving restless water to the mainland . She could just make out the little jetty on which she had stood , waiting for the boat to come and take her to the island . The mist was clearing a little , and she could glimpse the sky reddening as the sun went down . " I hope the noise of the sea won't disturb you , Margaret was saying . ' It beats against the rocks and some people don't like it , but I suppose after the Sevila traffic it won't worry you . " Lucy felt a terrible nostalgia grip her . She would have given anything just then to hear the familiar hoot of a bus ; the honking of taxis ; the voices of newsboys crying the latest news ; the tramping of feet on wet pavements - all the old familiar things . To her disgust she felt tears welling into her eyes and a lump forming in her throat , but she would not give way to this emotion of self - pity . Resolutely she turned to Margaret . I shan't mind the noise , ' she said . ' In fact , I think
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Margaret swung round from the large wardrobe which she had been opening . I hope you will , she said . ' Or else what is the object in coming here ? But according to the terms of our uncle's will , both your brothers are eligible as - as a husband for me , ' Lucy pointed out Margaret shrugged . " No one knows where Jerry is . ' " But Mr Tredego said that he will find him . " Perhaps he will , but if I were you I'd not reckon on Jerry . He always has been a trial to us . Much better make up your mind to settle with Donald , who will make a very good husband . You can't be sure that he wants to settle down with me , Lucy protested Margaret gave a faint superior smile , as she replied . ' Donald has a strong sense of family responsibility ; he has always been a dutiful son . You can be quite sure that he will do what he considers best for the McGurtries . ' Lucy drew a hard indignant breath , was about to retort and then thought better of it . What on earth made Peter McGurtrie
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Now you are a great heiress ; you are about to marry into one of the oldest families in Scotland ; you have a beautiful home , and you are not tied here for good ; you can go where you like for the other six months of the year . Any woman would be glad to marry Donald , even if there was not a fortune involved . I think you are lucky . Yes , reflected Lucy , she supposed she was . And she ought to feel thrilled at the prospect of marriage with her cousin and being mistress of this old castle . Donald had been kind and had tried his best to put her at her ease ; he had shown that he would be a considerate husband , but for all that he had entirely failed to make an impression on her . He had seemed nebulous , characterless . She supposed that she was suffering from anti - climax ; that she needed a good rest . Tomorrow or the next day she would be better able to judge both her surroundings and her new relations , and until then she would reserve her opinion .
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Early the next morning Margaret McGurtrie slipped ou of the castle and made her way across the rocks to the other side of the little island . On a fertile spot where clumps of pine trees grew , at the head of a tiny creek she met Maurice Tredego , who was standing idly throwing stones into the water and watching the widening circles they caused ' I thought you were never coming ! he exclaimed as she ran towards him . ' I overslept , ' she excused herself . ' I lay awake for hours and didn't get off till about two o'clock this morning Maurice , I feel utterly wretched ! She clung to him and raised her face to his , and after a moment's hesitation glancing round to make sure that they were quite unob served , he caught her close , and his mouth fastened down on hers . She hung limp in his grasp , utterly oblivious of everything and everyone save the man who was kissing her , as she had dreamed for weeks of being kissed . Then as the tension between them relaxed she opened her
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My dear foolish Margaret , you don't know what you are talking about , ' he retorted . ' Managing up here means very little difference in your mode of life just going without a few things you fancy , that is all ; but managing in Sevila is a vastly different matter . We should have to get a house or a flat , and anything in a decent neighbour hood is wickedly expensive ; then you would be obliged to dress differently . These tweeds are all right in the country but they would never do for town . I should be expected to entertain it would be essential to know the right people . I make very little out of my profession nowadays , the public cannot afford to go to law , and my private income has shrunk . When the Exchequer has had its whack out of it there's precious little left , I can assure you . ' I wouldn't mind being poor with you . ' ' Oh , Meg , don't let us go over that again . He put her from him , and stooping picked up another stone and flung it into the water . We've
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I shall be able to make a bargain with her , I think she can be to settle a decent sum on you , so be friendly with her Meg , and don't let her see that you resent her . ' Margaret's eyes filled with tears . I do resent her , ' she cried . Of course I do , I should not be human if I didn't . Uncle Peter ought to have left the money to Donald and me . I can't think why he didn't ' Probably just to cause trouble he was that kind of man , you know . But it's no good reviling him . We should be thankful that little Lucy is easy to manage - she might have been one of those precocious cockneys , with a very high opinion of herself , and then both you and Donald would have been pitied . As it is moulded into any form you wish . ' ' It's rotten for Donald , having to marry her . ' ' He might have had to marry someone worse , let me give you a tip , Meg , my sweet . If you are kind to the child , let her think that she is wanted , you'll be able to do anything you please with her . '
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that would be a different matter altogether . The only way he could see her getting money was througn her little cousin . He had first started to make love to Margaret one week - end when he'd had to come to the castle on business connected with Sir Archibe's involved affairs ; he had been a very junior member of the firm then , and it had flattered him when he was asked to Kilrossan Castle and found that he was treated as a valued friend . His first impression of Margaret was of a great clumsy hoyden , ungainly in figure and in gait . Then that first evening she had come down in a gown with a long full skirt , hiding her feet and ankles , and giving her grace . He had looked into her lovely eyes , decided that there were possibilities about her ; and when she had suggested a stroll down by the creek he had taken it as a distinct invitation to make love to her After that it had been easy Margaret was avid for love ; she lived a very lonely retired life , since her father cou
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and he could always be sure of having someone devoted to him . Margaret's frettings and strivings only irked him and it was a relief to leave her at Kilrossan and take a trip to Paris - and Elise . She never worried him ; she regarded marriage in the same light as he did . She loved her freedom . He never had to pretend with her or appear other than he was . She understood him as Margaret never could . But since Peter McGurtrie's death and the reading of his fantastic will , Maurice Tredego had changed his mind about marriage . If Margaret could be given a good allow ance he would make her his wife , since it would be to his advantage to be connected by marriage with Peter McGurtrie's heiress . The next best thing to being her husband . He was sure that he would soon wield a strong influence over Lucy, and he could gradually get all her affairs into his own hands . He did not fear that Donald would prevent him - those quiet scholarly men were rarely interested in money or ha
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' You're making fun of me . ' " That's the last thing I'd be likely to do , child . Marriage is a serious matter , I wondered if you have thought it out carefully , tried to imagine what life with Donald will be like . Oh , I'm not running my brother down ; he's a good sort and I respect him , but he's no husband for a girl like you ... I remember you telling me what a wretched life you've led - no fun , no parties , nothing like ordinary girls . Well , that's the sort of life you'll continue to lead if marry Donald . He has one love - and that is learning . Lucy raised her head and looked Jerry McGurtrie full in the face . " You're jealous ! ' she accused . ' So you think that's it ? I don't believe I have anything to be jealous of , because you don't love him ... You know nothing about love , do you ? As she remained silent he drew nearer to her , put his hand under her chin and forced her face up close to his , then bending a little , he kissed her full on
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She had to think some excuse for her peace of changed attitude towards him and this seemed a feasible one . " You told me it was Sergio Dim , while all the time you were Jerry McGurtrie . Sergio Dim was the name I used , so there was no you my real name , lie about that . Why should I have told since I had dropped it entirely ? I did not dream that you were my cousin . As a matter of fact , I was hardly aware that such a person as Lucy Alberto existed . Donald knew more of our family history than I. You mustn't forget that I had been away for a long time . You told me about the letter from the lawyer , but you omitted to mention the name of the firm , so how could I know there was a connection between us . Come on , my dear girl , you must be fair . " You didn't tell me who you were when I saw you by the creek , ' she pointed out . You let me go on thinking that you were - were - * I didn't get very much chance to tell you , did I ? I should have done , but Donald forestalle
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There was an absorbed serious air about her which went straight to his heart ; she looked like a child playing at being an adult . He tiptoed up behind her and while she was still unaware of his presence bent and kissed the back of her neck . Oh ! She swung round , and as she did so he caught her hands . Blue eyes blazed into grey , anger and something that looked suspiciously like fear in hers. Now don't say what I know you are going to say , he cried . You're not really angry with me . I'll admit I took an unfair advantage of you just now , but the temptation was irresistible . I want to talk to you , Lucy, and so far you've not given me the opportunity . ' I've nothing to say to you , and I can't think what you can possibly have to say to me , ' she retorted , trying to make her voice sound cold , and failing. Please let go my wrists , ' she added . But he held them the tighter . " No , I won't let them go . If I do you'll jump up and run off ... Lucy , tell me ,
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Jerry McGurtrie was fishing ; he had come out in the boat with Fergus , the piper's son , because he wanted to get away from the rest of his family , and think out his course of action in the immediate future . He had now been at Kilrossan a week , and the time had come to decide what he was going to do . Should he stand aside and leave Donald a free field with the heiress , or should he marry her himself ? Although Lucy had tried to avoid him on every possible occasion since his arrival at the castle , he knew that he had only to exert himself and he could take her from his brother . She was not adept at hiding her feelings and he was quite sure that she was in love with him . Their first meeting had been a most romantic one , and all she had heard of him since had done nothing to dispel her first impression . He was the prodigal son ; the ne'er - do - well ; the adventurer who refused to conform to the McGurtrie pattern and lead a conventional life - all attr
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' I have one , but I don't think I appreciate it as I should , he informed her . ' In future I may do . She avoided his eyes ; the way he looked at her made her feel embarrassed . She did not even know whether he was a single man , there might be a wife in that home he spoke of - someone who cared for him and waited for him to come back to her . But she couldn't ask , it would look like ... it would look like ... " There's someone coming , ' he said at length . ' And he seems to be trying to attract your attention . Lucy turned in the direction he indicated and saw Donald striding down from the castle ; he was beckoning to her and seemed to be rather put out about something . He would be more put out when he realized she had a friend with her - if she could call Sergio Dim a friend , she had not wanted the two men to meet yet awhile - why she should feel a difference about it she could not tell , but she would have given anything to run away at that moment and keep on runnin
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Very kind of you . ' She spoke a little breathlessly. You understand I - I am staying with relations , and and ... " Don't worry , I won't get in the way , he retorted , amused at her flounderings . The funny little soul was so transparent if she did but realize it . It would not be easy for her to hide anything . She was afraid that Donald would resent a stranger , as he very probably would . But Donald was going to get the shock of his life presently . " I haven't congratulated you yet on your very good fortune , ' Jerry said . " What are you going to do with all that money ? ' " It - it will mostly be spent on the estate , I suppose , ' she replied . ' Really I ' t given it a thought . But it's nice to be able to buy what I want and not feel I've got to economize on something else . Nice " is rather a tame expression to use , ' he laughed . ' I expected to find you much more enthusiastic . Big Eyes , you seem to have lost your enthusiasm for a lot of things . Are yo
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The horizon was all flushed with it ... great bands of gold and flame , stretching as far as the eye could see , and overhead a limpid green rather like that seen in Egyptian skies . Jerry McGurtrie realized that he was not alone ; a girl was standing with her back to him staring across at the sunset - a young , slender girl with dark hair blown about by the wind , shoes with heels much too high for her , and a dress of the softest crêpe de Chine trimmed with fur . He trod very gently until he was only a few feet away from her . ' Hello , Big Eyes ! ' he said . The girl whipped round and he found himself gazing into the same large scared grey eyes as on that occasion when she had caught him enjoying a stolen meal in her aunt's dining - room in Fakenham Road . ' It's - not - you ? ' she gasped in a failing voice , her and flying instinctively up to her mouth , and going so pale that he took a quick step forward and slid an arm about her waist . ' I say , hold hard , y
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I've nothing to complain of ... She blushed and cast down her eyes . ' We'll be gettin ' a baire come Michaelmas , " she added in an embarrassed tone . " That's great . Mind you ask me to stand godfather. Will you take me across to Kilrossan in your boat? ' The tall fair - haired young fellow nodded dourly . Yeah, he replied , being a man of few words . The crossing was as rough as usual , but Jerry did not mind it ; he had been born and brought up at Kilrossan and a rough sea was as familiar to him as a suburban street to other men . He took a hand at the oars , and he pulled across and landed to the right of the rocks . ' Go up to the house and ask Miss Margaret for something to eat , ' said Jerry as he leaped agilely out of the boat and helped Duncan drag it across the sand . " You needn't say you've brought me over . I want to surprise them . " He set off across the rocky ground towards the creek on the other side of the castle , his hands thrust into his p
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Jerry McGurtrie arrived at Oncar in the early evening , he was not expected so there was no boat coming across from the island , but he did not mind . He was well known in the little town and strolled down to the quayside where the fishermen were drying their nets , pausing to speak to those he remembered . ' It's the young laird . ' The words flew from mouth to mouth , and men left their boats , women came to the doors of their houses ; bare - footed girls ran out , clutching shawls round their shoulders , to stare at the tall dark - haired blue eyed man with the broad shoulders and rangy figure , whom the older ones among them recalled as a baby , and later as a mischievous schoolboy always up to pranks . ' I want to get across , " he told them . ' Yes , I've come unexpectedly . I take it the laird and the rest of the family are in residence ? ' "aye , sir . ' One of the women pushed her way forward and curtseyed . ' Miss Margaret , she was here a bit ago , with th
