Free The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt

can’t accept a friendly kiss … after leading me on.”
    I was silent with rage and astonishment.
    He could not see my face because it was dark. He said in a more gentle tone: “Don’t be silly, Lenore. I like you. You ought to be pleased about that. But of course you are. I’m going to give you a good time. We’re going to be friends. This is just a beginning. It’s a pity you sleep near your grandmother. Do you think the old lady would hear if I came up quietly?”
    I cried out: “I cannot understand why you are talking to me like this.”
    “Because you’re growing into an attractive girl and it is time you realized what good fun attractive girls can have.”
    My anger was turning cold. I knew that he was implying that because of my lowly and less than respectable birth I should welcome the attentions of the son of the house. I had never liked him. Now I hated him.
    “Please understand that I want to go at once and that I will have no more of this kind of behaviour.”
    “Oh, she is haughty, is she? Whom do you imagine you are? French scum … that’s what you are. And because I want to be kind to you … show you what a gentleman can do for you … you give yourself airs.”
    “The trouble is that you are not a gentleman.”
    He gripped my arm roughly. “Listen to me, my girl. All I want from you is a bit of fun. That’s what girls like you are meant for. You’ve no right in this house. Your grandmother may work for us but that does not mean that you can play the haughty lady … not unless you earn the right. Come on, Lenore, I’m lolling you I like you. Give me a kiss. There’s a lot I can show you.”
    I was in a panic. I was alone with him in this dark cubbyhole. I brought up my hand sharply and hit him in the face. I had taken him by surprise and I heard his gasp of astonishment as he released me. I lost no time in slipping past him. I dashed out into the corridor. I did not stop running for I felt he might come after me. I sped up to my bedroom. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. My face was flushed and my hair in disorder. I washed in cold water and was relieved to see that the red marks on my arms were beginning to disappear. I combed my hair with shaking fingers; but already I was feeling calmer.
    Perhaps he had drunk too much claret cup. I could not believe that he really liked me. He felt towards me as he did towards the maids who tittered when he glanced their way and looked secretive as though there was some special understanding between them. He wished to treat me as he treated them.
    I was very frightened but I must return to the ballroom for I should be missed. The party was not so large that absentees could fail to be noticed for long. I went down and slipped into the ballroom. No one looked at me in surprise. The Barkers were still alone. I went over to them.
    “Did you enjoy your dance?” asked Mrs. Barker.
    I smiled vaguely and asked if they would like to go in to supper.
    As I conducted them to the dining room, I saw Charles. He was talking to Amelia Barrington, one of the daughters of our nearest neighbours. He looked right through me as though he did not see me.
    “A fine room,” Mr. Barker was saying. “There’s a sign of damp up there. That wants looking into.”
    Philip joined us with Cassie. Cassie looked a little tired. She would be glad when this was over. It must be rather sad to sit and watch the dancing without joining in. Philip talked to Mr. Barker—or rather allowed him to talk and seemed quite interested in the building trade, or perhaps he was just being polite.
    He told me afterwards that he had a lot of sympathy for those people who were dedicated to their work. It was exactly how he felt about silk.
    I lived through the rest of the evening in a daze. I could not get that unpleasant encounter with Charles out of my mind.
    When I finally retired Grand’mere came in to talk to me. She sat on the edge of my bed in her silk wrap which, because she had