Free The Golden Maze by Hilary Wilde

stopped at Ambleside and looked at the quaint little cottage perched on the bridge, he showed her Cray Castle and then the cottage where Wordsworth lived and the rock on which he was supposed to have sat as he composed his poems, as well as the church where he and so many of his family were buried. Finally Peter drove then into the more bleak mountains, explaining that screes were where rocks had broken into small fragments and were dangerous to walk on. He showed her the majestic beauty' of Honister Pass and the gloomy frightening greyness of Wastwater. As they drove back to Claife Castle, Cindy felt sad, for she had an intuition that this would be their last morning alone together. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling that something unpleasant was about to happen .. .
    As they went into the Castle Mrs. Stone came hurrying, her face concerned.
    "You're late now, and a young lady phoned you,
    Mr. Baxter, asked you to pick her up at the station."
    "A young lady?" Peter sounded perplexed and then
     
    he laughed. "Was her name by chance Miss Todd?" he said.
    "That's right."
    "Well, we're starving, so please serve lunch, Mrs. Stone. Paul can fetch the young lady."
    "But she won't have had anything to eat."
    "I expect she's eaten there. In any case, she's on a diet, so it won't hurt her to starve for once—or if she's hungry when she arrives, I'm sure you can toss up a delectable omelette." He smiled as he spoke, but Cindy shivered. She knew—how she had no idea—but she knew he was angry, that he was battling to control his temper.
    Who was this Miss Todd? Cindy wondered as they ate their lunch almost in silence. He didn't seem to want to talk, so she sat quietly.
    They were drinking coffee when they heard the sound of a car. Peter frowned and looked at Cindy.
    "Women !" he said scathingly. "Why were they ever invented? They're nothing but a nuisance !"

 
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    THEY sat in silence, listening to the impatient hammering on the front door, then the squeak as it was opened.
    Cindy had no idea what sort of person she expected `Miss Todd' to be, but it seemed obvious that she was someone Peter didn't like particularly, for he had sent Paul to meet her, and also told Mrs. Stone they wouldn't wait for lunch ! So, as Cindy heard the sound of heels pattering on the polished floor, an impatient voice and Mrs. Stone's shrill answer before the dining-room door was flung open and 'Miss Todd' stood there, she hadn't expected what she saw !
    Cindy caught her breath; for a moment she could not believe her eyes or that this slim, tall, beautiful girl could possibly be 'Miss Todd'.
    But she obviously was, for Peter was on his feet. "Hullo, Yvonne."
    She practically charged into the room, glaring at him, her black and white fur coat swinging, her small white fur hat perched on top of short curly dark hair.
    "I just can't understand you, Peter Baxter !" she almost shouted, her cheeks flushed with rage. "A fine way to treat me ! I had to wait on that beastly cold platform—I'm starving, and then, to add to it, you haven't the decency to come and meet me yourself !" She looked round the room and as she saw Cindy, she
     
    seemed to freeze with shock, then swung round to look at Peter.
    "What's she doing here? I'd have thought she'd have the decency to go after the way she's behaved !" Yvonne Todd demanded.
    Peter's face was sud denly hard. "Miss Preston was good friend of my father's and I hope she will be my friend, too, so kindly stop behaving like a fishwife and being so rude !"
    Peter and the lovely girl just stood and stared at one another—almost as if it was the start of a duel, Cindy thought, as she stood up. Or perhaps two angry cats about to fight.
    Yvonne gave a little grunt, then smiled politely. "How do you do, Miss Preston. Delighted to meet you," she said sarcastically before turning back to Peter. "What some people can get away with amazes me. You're just like your father—soft to the wrong people. Is that