Free Nina Coombs Pykare by The Dazzled Heart Page A

is frightened of what she does not understand.”
    Jennifer made no reply to this, conscious that she understood him only too well, but afraid to intimate as much.
    “I wish you to come with me to the Red Room so I can explain the working.”
      Jennifer wished very much to evade the man, but she could see no way. Because of his influence withMrs. Parthemer she could not afford to antagonize him. “Very well, but then I must attend to the lessons.”
    Monsieur Dupin nodded and took her elbow to guide her. It was with the greatest difficulty that Jennifer refrained from jerking away. Even through the sleeve of her dress the man’s touch burned her arm.
    The Red Room was now in better order. The tubs had been prepared, each had its lid on. From holes in the lids protruded iron rods and to iron rings in the center were tied lengths of rope.
    “Some will grasp the rods,” said Mon-sieur Dupin. “And others the ropes. The fluid travels through the rods and the ropes - and through the people.” He touched her hand and again she had to fight to hide her aversion. “The fluid now travels from me to you.” His eyes probed hers and Jennifer felt herself being drawn into a darkness. The feeling was terrifying and she jerked her eyes away.
    Monsieur Dupin did not take offense. “At this moment you feel the fear. Tonight when you see how much they benefit - these others - then you will recognize my power to help you.”
    “I have no ailments,” said Jennifer with false cheerfulness. “I am healthy as a horse.”
    “Perhaps no ailments of the body. But of the heart - that is a different story.”
    Jennifer knew the man’s eyes were on her and somehow she kept from coloring up. She even managed a small laugh. “Monsieur is mistaken. My heart is quite intact.”
    The Frenchman did not contradict her, but his eyes showed plainly that he did not believe her words. “Mademoiselle has not yet the trust for me. When that comes, she will see that there is much I can do for her. The shame is great that one of such refinement and beauty should be reduced to taking care of enfants, should be deprived of her rightful station in life.”
    “I am quite content in my position,” said Jennifer calmly, knowing as she did so that she had lied yet again. She had been more or less content with it until recently, until she had met and talked to a certain viscount. Quickly she banished such thoughts from her mind, almost as though she feared Dupin might be able to read them.
    The Frenchman inclined his head. “I bow to Mademoiselle’s wishes. But she should know - the truth cannot be hidden. Not from a man such as I.”
      Jennifer did not quite know how to respond to this and so she said nothing, merely turning away with a smile and hurrying off to the nursery.
    The children were eager and ready to go on their outing. They laughed happily as they made their way toward the stables. The sky was a beautiful deep blue with only the merest wisp of a cloud here or there.
    The pony whinnied at their approach and Jennifer was pleased to see that each child hastened to pet her. And this time Mortimer did not feel impelled to go under her belly or put himself in danger from her hooves.
    Jennifer congratulated herself. Mortimer had come round too. After his spirited defense of her to Haverford, he had been like another child altogether. Of course, that had not been very long ago, but somehow she felt that the change in the boy would be permanent. In the nursery, at least, things would run with relative smoothness.
    She realized that Mortimer’s change was due, in some part at least, to his meeting with the Viscount Haverford and the opening of his eyes to the true meaning of being a gentleman. She owed the Viscount a great deal, she thought, not only for his stopping the runaway but for being such an excellent example for Mortimer to observe.
      It would certainly be nice, she mused as the pony cart, now safely loaded, moved off down the road,