Free An Introduction to the Pink Collection by Barbara Cartland Page A

to manage as best he could.
    â€œSo what are you going to do?” Mr Wyngate  barked. “You’re not going back to sea, are you?”
    â€œI’m finished with the sea,” John said. “I have enjoyed seeing the world, but that’s now in the past.”
    â€œSo you’re going to live here?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGood. That’s how it should be. Houses like this are part of our country’s heritage.”
    It gave John an eerie feeling to hear such words falling from this harsh man’s lips. He sounded as though he’d learned them by rote.
    â€œOur country’s heritage,” Mr Wyngate  repeated, as though having taken the trouble to learn the correct expression he wanted to get full use out of it, for reasons of economy.
    â€œAnd our country’s heritage must be protected,” he went on. “For the sake of future generations. Children. Grandchildren. They need houses like this to remind them of our glorious history. Such places are a sacred trust. They must be preserved at all costs.”
    His voice was like the cawing of a rook.
    â€œBut the place is falling down,” he went on. “How the devil do you manage to live here?”
    â€œI have nowhere else to go, and very little choice about how I manage here! I can’t sell the house or the lands because they’re entailed. They have to be passed on to my heir – intact, which is rather amusing considering the state they’re in now.”
    Mr Wyngate  leaned back against the sofa, and looked pleased.
    â€œThat is exactly what I want to talk to you about,” he said. “You’d find this place very empty and depressing – if you did not have your cousin with you.”
    He left the last words hanging in the air, having given them a sly emphasis that made John want to hit him.
    â€œIf you mean what I think you do, sir, then let me inform you that my cousin is a most honourable lady, of impeccable reputation and – ”
    â€œYes, yes, yes,” the other man said testily. “I’m sure she’s as pure as the driven snow. They always are, you know, and if you haven’t learned that by now then it’s time you did. Never mind her. I don’t care what you do as long as she’s out of the way when the time comes. I don’t want any trouble, d’you hear?”
    â€œI fail to understand you, sir,” said John stiffly.
    â€œNo, you don’t. You understand me perfectly. We’re both men of the world and it’s a fair bargain. I’ll probably be out of pocket, but I don’t mind paying for what I want, as long as I get what I pay for. And I always get what I pay for, because there’s trouble if I don’t.”
    John stared at him, feeling sick with loathing at this man who spoke of Rena in such a way. He would have liked to slam his fist into Wyngate’s face. The only thing that had prevented him was the reflection that he himself had exposed Rena to this by claiming her as his cousin.
    To have inflicted violence on him would had cast further suspicion on Rena, so John clenched his fists and controlled himself with a violent effort.
    Wyngate’s cold eyes met his.
    â€œI’m quite sure you follow me,” he said.
    John had the nightmarish sensation that cobwebs were being spun around him, and when he tried to break them he would find that they were made of steel.
    Where was Rena?
    Why didn’t she come and help him?
    *
    Rena and Matilda had reached the lake, and were wandering around it.
    â€œWhat a wonderful place for swimming!” Matilda exclaimed.
    â€œIf it was thoroughly cleaned up, yes,” Rena agreed.
    â€œI enjoy swimming. In America the girls swim almost as much as the men, but that doesn’t seem to happen in England. And when you do swim, you have to wear a swimming costume that smothers you, and is thick and uncomfortable. I swim my best when I have nothing