Dark inheritance (5 page)

"Some people are superstitious about opals, I know."

"I don't think it's superstition," Aunt Ellie said quickly, "I expect he doesn't want to be reminded of his mother, poor boy."

She stopped so abruptly that Barbara knew she had been about to say something more; but this was not the first time the old lady had behaved in a guarded man
ner, for although she could be very garrulous at times Aunt Ellie always checked herself whenever she spoke of her sister. That there was some mystery about the
woman was obvious, and Barbara wondered whether
Rockwood's parents had been unhappy together. Per
haps that might account for Aunt Ellie's reluctance to talk about her sister, and also for the fact that there were no pictures of Mrs. Rockwood anywhere in the
house. Even the servants never mentioned their former
mistress, and Barbara found it strange that apart from Aunt Ellie's occasional reference to her, no one ever spoke of Margaret Rockwood by name.

"I've been talking to you, Barbara, but you haven't
been listening." Miss Berrcsford was holding something
out towards her. "I thought perhaps you might like to wear this."

It was an ornate, emerald brooch, the stones glittering darkly in a heavy, gold setting.

"Oh, I don't think I'd better." Barbara glanced down at her plain black dinner dress. "It wouldn't be correct for me to wear your jewellery."

Aunt Ellie looked as crestfallen as a child who had been rebuked.

"Besides, it's your birthday," Barbara went on quickly, "and I want you to be the belle of the ball, not me."

The old woman brightened. "How sweet and thought
ful of you—you're such a good girl, such a very good
girl. But perhaps you're right—the emerald is a little grand for your dress." She explored the box again. "The opal brooch would be far more suitable."

"Oh, but isn't that the one "

"Dominic isn't here, so he need never know!" Her tone was full of childish glee." And anyway, / shan't be the one who's wearing it. Now I know you won't begrudge me this little pleasure on my birthday." And without giving Barbara time to protest any further she pinned the brooch to the shoulder of her dress.

With Barbara supporting her, Aunt Ellie went slowly downstairs and they had just readied the hall when Mark came out of the drawing-room. He stopped at the sight of the two women and gave a low, ceremonious bow, then surveyed them in exaggerated admiration.

"Well, well, I'm certainly a lucky chap to be dining with two such beauties! Aunt Ellie, you look more glamorous than Lily Langtry, and as for Barbara"— his eyes travelled appreciatively over her slim figure, coming to rest on her wide, generous mouth—"if the Hollywood lovelies could see you now they'd tremble in their shoes."

Barbara flushed. "We must return the compliment," she said composedly. "I hereby disavow my allegiance to George Peppard!"

Mark sketched a salute. "I'm very flattered if you're transferring it to me."

"Dinner must be nearly ready," Aunt Ellie put in, "and I do want my glass of sherry before we sit down."

With a little sigh of relief Barbara led the way into the drawing-room and rang the bell for Emily, who came in with the sherry and three glasses on a tray.

The atmosphere was so gay that even the teetotal Emily tempered her disapproval at having to pour out the wine, and when the meal was over coffee was brought to the table to save Aunt Ellie the exertion of going into the drawing-room for it. As they sipped they chatted desultorily, until the old woman's eyelids began to droop.

"I think it's about time you went to bed," Barbara said gently.

"Would you like me to carry you up?" Mark offered.

"After the amount I've eaten I doubt if I could manage the stairs," his aunt confessed. "But I might be too heavy for you."

"A featherweight like you? I could carry you with one hand!" He stood up and moved over to her, lifting her up in his arms as if she were a child.

Aunt Ellie put one arm round his neck. "How strong you are, Mark! I can "

"What are you doing with Aunt Ellie? Put her down immediately!"

They all turned, startled to see Dominic Rockwood at the door. In a dark overcoat and gloves he looked tired and travel-stained, but it was the expression on his face that held their attention, for his mouth was drawn into a thin line and his eyes blazed with fury as he repeated: "Put her down, I tell you!"

"Don't loose your temper, old chap," Mark said quietly, lowering his aunt into her chair again. "I was only taking her up to bed—she's rather tired. We've been having a bit of a party."

Rockwood's glance travelled over the table, noting the remains of the meal and the empty wine bottle. "So I see," he said icily. "Didn't you remember, Aunt, that I've forbidden you to drink?"

Miss Berresford seemed too terrified to answer and Barbara put in quickly: "It's her birthday. We gave her a little party for her birthday."

Rockwood turned to the girl, taking in her festive appearance with distaste. In her agitation her breast rose and fell quickly, the opal brooch at her neck gleaming as it caught the light.

The opal brooch! With a furious exclamation he strode over and pulled it roughly off, ripping the ma
terial of her dress as he did so.

"How dare you wear this!"

Barbara whitened and recoiled. "I'm sorry, I— "

"I asked her to wear it." Aunt Ellie found her voice at last.

Dominic turned on her savagely. "How many more times do I have to tell you I never want to see these opals again? Haven't you any more sense than to dis
obey me, or do you think you can do what you like when I'm not here? Perhaps I'd better get someone
more responsible to look after you, someone to restrain
your foolishness." His voice reverberated through the room. "If you cannot do what I tell you, you may
tempt me to send you away where you can be properly
controlled."

"Take it easy, Dominic," Mark said quietly. "Don't get so mad."

Rockwood drew back sharply, all the fury and pas
sion dying out of his face. The lines from nose to jaw relaxed with conscious effort and the eyes took on a
veiled look as Mark stared back at him with insolent
mockery.

Then with a muttered exclamation he turned on his heel and left the room.

CHAPTER
FOUR

BARBARA opened her eyes next morning and lay for an instant wondering why she felt as if something were hanging over her. Then she remembered the scene that had taken place the night before, and thought what an ugly end it had been to an evening which had begun so happily. Quickly she washed and dressed and went along the corridor to Miss Bcrresford's room, hoping Rockwood's fury had not upset the old woman too much, but she found her placidly sipping her tea and rather surprised at the early intrusion. "Why are you up so early?" "I wanted to see if you were all right."

"Why shouldn't I be? Is anything the matter?" Barbara began to feel a little foolish. "No, of course not. It was just that I thought last night might have upset you."

"Last night? Oh, you mean Dominic." The faded
eyes shifted. "I never take any notice of him when he's like that. I sometimes think he has his mother's temper.
Margaret was just the same." For an instant the old face took on the remote, withdrawn expression with
which Barbara was becoming familiar. Then it changed
and grew more kindly. "I think you were more upset than I was, my dear. You mustn't let my nephew frighten you with his rages. When you're here a little
longer you'll get used to his manner. It's hard to under
stand at first, but his tempers never mean anything."

"I expect you're right," Barbara said quietly.

"I'm quite sure that by this morning he'll have for
gotten everything he said last night, and it never pays to remind him so try and forget about it yourself. I'm sorry about your dress being torn," the old woman went on easily, "it was my fault for lending you the brooch. I should have known better. But I'd no idea
he was coming home so soon." She sighed. "I love the
opals and I only thought ... Ah well, never mind, I can pin them to the counterpane and look at them when I come to bed. Dominic never comes into this room, so he won't know."

"As long as he didn't upset you too much, I don't mind," Barbara said. "I can soon mend my dress."

"That's a sensible girl. Now run along and have some breakfast."

Barbara went downstairs, relieved that the old lady was none the worse for her nephew's outburst of the
night before, and going into the dining-room was sur
prised to sec her employer at breakfast with Mark. She
halted on the threshold, uncertain whether to go in, but Mark looked up and saw her.

"Good morning!" he hailed. "You're down early. Come to bid me farewell?"

"Are you going, then?"

^"
Yes, off to London. Had enough of Crags' Height for the moment."

"I see no necessity to detain you any longer." Rock-
wood regarded the younger man sarcastically. "I'm
only sorry you've had to suffer the meagre amenities of
my home for so long."

"Not at all. I enjoyed every minute of my stay in spite of your absence, dear cousin," Mark responded imperturbably. "Barbara is a delightful companion, as you probably know."

"Miss Mansfield wasn't engaged as my companion, and when I am here is usually too busy looking after my aunt to have time for anything else/' He stood up. In case I don't see you again, Mark, have a good journey and make sure it isn't necessary for you to come again too soon."

The door shut behind him and Barbara looked at Mark, admiring him for his restraint.

"What an insufferable man he is!" The words were out before she could stop them.

Mark shrugged. 'Tm used to him, although I must admit he's got worse with the years." He drained his coffee cup. "I must go if I want to get to town before dark." He stood up and went towards her, putting his
hands on her shoulders. "The one good thing about my
visit is that I've met you, and it'll make me want to
come back in spite of Dominic's grudging hospitality.
Good-bye, beautiful, I'll be seeing you." Before she could stop him he bent and kissed her lightly, full on the lips. Then with a "Don't let Dominic bully you!" he sauntered out of the room.

Barbara did not sec Rockwood until the evening.
Aunt Ellie stayed in her room all day, for although she
professed herself unperturbed by her nephew's outburst,
the excitement had tired her, and Barbara wondered whether she ought to have her supper on a tray with the old woman or go down into the dining-room as usual. Uncertain what to do, she went into the kitchen and asked the housekeeper.

"You can please yourself, miss, but Mr. Rockwood
asked me to lay two places for dinner, and there are no guests." Seeing the doubt on her face Emily went on: "It'll do the master good to have your company. He's on his own too much as it is."

Dreading the prospect of a meal alone with her em
ployer, Barbara delayed going down until the last pos
sible moment, but when she entered the dining-room it was still empty and she was beginning to wish she had had her meal upstairs after all when she he Rockwood's heavy tread across the stone flags of the hall.

He came into the room with a murmur of apology for his lateness.

"My manager's been taken ill again. He'll go and see a specialist if I have to make the appointment myself." He sat down and took up his napkin, and the belated meal commenced.

Rockwood ate in absorbed silence to begin with, but
after the first course made some pretence at conver
sation although it needed no effort on Barbara's part to realize he was finding it difficult. She was thankful when the meal came to an end and stood up quickly as soon as they had both finished.

"Don't you want any coffee?" His voice arrested her at the door.

"I forgot "

"Obviously But Emily will be upset if you don't have it when she's made it for you."

He held open the door and she preceded him across the hall into the drawing-room, seating herself as close to the fire as possible. Rockwood drew up an oak-backed chair and sat beside her, and Barbara thought
how typical it was of him to choose the most uncom
fortable piece of furniture in the room instead of one of the brocaded easy chairs.

Beneath his unwavering gaze her hands were un
steady as she poured out the coffee, and he accepted it
with a murmur of thanks, the thin china looking more
fragile than ever as he cupped it in his broad hands.

The silence was becoming oppressive when Rock
wood suddenly put down his cup and stood up, turning his back to her as he spoke.

"I must apologize for my behaviour last night. My
only excuse is that I'd been travelling all day and was exhausted by the time I got home.-I didn't expect Mark
to be here, and when I saw Aunt Ellie and the win " He faced her and Barbara was struck by the
seriousness of his expression. "My aunt must never be
over-stimulated, and alcohol is the worst thing for her.