Free The House of Lyall by Doris Davidson

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    Andrew’s open face closed abruptly. ‘I’d rather you didn’t go, Marianne.’
    She felt outraged at his attitude. ‘You don’t own me, Andrew Rennie! I’ll go out with anybody I want!’
    â€˜But I know what he’s like. Remember the kind of girl he was with when –?’
    â€˜I know you said she was a lady of the streets, but that doesn’t mean Douglas is a …’ Not knowing the word ‘libertine’, she stopped.
    â€˜He boasts about the girls he’s …’ Too much of a gentleman to repeat the things the other man said, Andrew ended lamely, ‘… been out with.’
    She thought she knew what he meant. ‘I can look after myself. You should know by this time I’m not a shrinking violet.’
    He said no more, though aware that she had no idea what men like Douglas Martin could do, and she wouldn’t believe him if he told her.
    Monday was several degrees colder than Sunday yet Marianne’s temperature was higher than usual. Andrew wasn’t the only one who had shown displeasure at her making a tryst with another man: all three of his aunts had let her see how they felt at some time during the day, but she didn’t try to defend herself. They didn’t own her either, and they couldn’t interfere in her private life.
    Supper that night was eaten in an uncomfortable silence, but neither the sisters’ stony glances nor occasional accusing looks made any difference to Marianne, and when the time came for her to set off, she decided that she couldn’t keep up the animosity any longer.
    â€˜I know what I’m doing,’ she said as she put on her jacket.
    Miss Edith’s mouth twisted in disbelief. ‘You are far too young to know what some young men can do. You have only ever been out with Andrew, who is a proper gentleman. He would never –’
    â€˜I was out once with Stephen, remember?’ Marianne pouted. ‘Douglas is a nice boy, too.’ Andrew had made her suspect that Douglas wasn’t as decent as he or Stephen Grant were, but that was half the fun of going out with him, as far as she was concerned. She wanted to find out what he would do, and she would easily stop him if he tried to do anything wrong.
    Miss Esther took over the cautioning. ‘Be careful, Marianne dear. I remember, when I was about your age, a boy –’ Her face turning deep crimson, she came to an abrupt halt, then went on, her voice trembling a little, ‘No, no. You do not want to hear that.’
    â€˜Times have changed,’ Marianne murmured. ‘Things are different nowadays.’
    â€˜Not all that much,’ Miss Esther said sadly. ‘So be on your guard.’
    Miss Emily added a rider. ‘It is best not to let boys know how you feel; it only encourages them.’
    â€˜Do not let him keep you out too late,’ was Miss Edith’s farewell.
    Douglas was waiting at the Junction, where Holburn Street met Union Street. ‘I thought of taking you to see the show at the Music Hall,’ he observed. ‘It’s a bit too cold for a walk, isn’t it?’
    If they were in a hall among other people, Marianne thought, he wouldn’t have the chance to do anything to her, wrong or otherwise, and she dared to say quietly, ‘I’d rather go for a walk, if you don’t mind?’
    They set off into the dimly lit evening.
    Smiling at the effort her sisters were making to camouflage their tiredness, Miss Edith remarked, ‘For goodness’ sake, off you go to bed, the two of you. I’ll wait until Marianne comes in.’
    They jumped up with surprising alacrity, Miss Esther saying, ‘I seem to need more and more sleep as I grow older.’
    Stifling a yawn with her hand, Miss Emily nodded. ‘I am the same.’
    As the eldest, Miss Edith shook her head reprovingly. ‘If you give in to your years, senility will come on you all the