Free Dragon's Lair by Sara Craven Page B

herself, Davina had to smile. 'I was really planning an
    early night,' she began. 'I've a long drive ahead of me tomorrow…'
    'See?' Rhiannon cut in rudely. 'I told you she wouldn't want to
    know.'
    Huw shrugged. 'Then I'll just have to go on my own.'
    'No, wait.' Davina's voice halted him as he rose. She had no real
    wish to go the disco, although Huw seemed pleasant enough, but
    there was something in Rhiannon's attitude which stung, and she
    reacted impulsively to it. 'Three-quarters of an hour, you said? I'll
    be ready. I'm afraid I have nothing to change into, though.'
    'You look fine as you are.' Huw's grin was both delighted and
    triumphant. He walked towards the back door, then turned. 'Sorry
    about your headache, Rhi. Hope it's better soon. See you presently,
    Davina.' And he was gone.
    There was a short tense silence, then Rhiannon, her flush
    heightened and her eyes blazing ominously, flung herself into the
    scullery, banging the door behind her.
    Davina was conscious of a feeling of compunction. It was wrong of
    her to become involved in whatever the situation was between
    Rhiannon and Huw, and the only excuse she could offer was that
    Rhiannon had asked for it. The fact that she was wearing an
    attractive dress indicated that she had had every intention of going
    out with Huw that evening. Davina could only surmise that her
    reluctance had been totally assumed in order to demonstrate to
    herself that Rhiannon had a power over men that she could exert
    when she wished, only it was a demonstration that had gone
    disastrously awry. Huw Morgan, she thought with a faint grin, was
    by no means a conventional young man, and if Rhiannon were
    seriously interested in him, she would have to change her tactics.
    All the same, she regretted her own involvement, and wished she
    had stuck to her guns and insisted on an early night. If she had had
    the wit to leave Huw and Rhiannon alone together, they would
    probably have resolved their differences quite amicably, she
    thought unhappily.
    She hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked across to the
    scullery door. She could hear the clatter of pots and pans but no
    sound of voices. She knocked lightly and pushed the door open.
    Rhiannon was alone in the room at the sink, a tea-towel swathed
    round her waist. She looked round, pushing a strand of hair back
    from her face, and her expression became set and sullen when she
    saw Davina.
    'I've got an idea,' Davina tried a tentative smile as she came into the
    room. 'I'll vanish up to my room out of the way, and when Huw
    comes back you can be waiting for him. You really want to go out
    tonight, don't you—and Huw only asked me for devilment, you
    know ...'
    'You don't have to tell me anything about Huw Morgan. I've known
    him longer than five minutes,' Rhiannon snapped. 'And you can stop
    playing the Lady Bountiful. I don't need the crumbs from your table.
    You go out with Huw tonight and welcome!' She grabbed at a piece
    of steel wool and attacked a pan with it almost savagely.
    Davina lifted her shoulders in a brief, helpless shrug and turned
    away. She had attempted a friendly overture and it had failed.
    After the warmth of the day, there was a satisfying coolness in the
    evening breeze from the mountain and Davina closed the window in
    her room before rummaging in her case for the black crocheted
    shawl she had brought with her as a wrap. She put it round her
    shoulders and went downstairs. There was a babble of voices and
    laughter from behind the closed sitting room door, and she sent a
    rather wistful glance in that direction as she walked towards the
    front door. As she reached it, Mrs Parry emerged from the dining
    room with a tray of glasses. She looked mildly surprised to see
    Davina obviously on her way out.
    'Going for a walk?' she enquired. 'It's getting a bit chilly. Would you
    like to borrow a coat?' ,
    'No, thanks.' Davina felt more uncomfortable than ever. 'As a matter
    of fact, I'm going to a disco—with