Silver Fruit Upon Silver Trees. Anne Mather

Чтение книги онлайн.

Читать онлайн книгу Silver Fruit Upon Silver Trees - Anne Mather страница 10

Silver Fruit Upon Silver Trees - Anne Mather Mills & Boon Modern

Скачать книгу

the jamb for a moment. “You always said we had a lot in common, Brandt,” he remarked lazily, and the door closed behind him with a definite click.

      After he had gone the room seemed suddenly empty. Sophie looked awkwardly at Eve’s grandfather. “You – you have a beautiful house,” she murmured. “I – I’m longing to see it in daylight.”

      “Indeed, yes.” Brandt seemed to relax and came towards her again smiling down into her eyes. “I’m sure you’re going to be happy here, Eve. If you’re not, it won’t be through the fault of not trying on my part. I intend to make your stay so enjoyable that you won’t want to leave us again. We have so much here to interest you.” He spread and encompassing hand. “Swimming; sailing; skin-diving, if you’re adventurous enough. Edge and Piers would teach you. They spend hours out in the boat. Then, of course, the island itself is a veritable paradise for nature-lovers. We have so many different species of birds. We must take you to the Caroni bird sanctuary to see the scarlet ibis. I don’t suppose you’ve seen it in its natural habitat.” He sighed. “You see, my dear, already I’m anticipating the weeks ahead with a great deal of satisfaction.”

      Sophie was saved the need of responding to this small speech by a knock at the door. At Brandt’s bidding a black-skinned servant appeared, and he smiled.

      “Ah, Violet,” he said, putting an arm round Sophie. “Eve, my dear, allow me to introduce you to our treasure, Violet.” The black woman chuckled and he went on: “She smoothes all our lives without us really appreciating it, don’t you, Violet?”

      “If you say so, Mr. Brandt.” Violet’s dark luminous eyes shifted to the girl at his side. “How do you do, Miss Eve. I’m pleased to meet you.”

      “Hello, Violet.” Sophie managed a smile.

      “Will you show Miss Eve to her room, Violet?” added Brandt, propelling Sophie forward. “Then we’ll have dinner in half an hour.”

      “Yes, sir, Mr. Brandt.” Violet stepped back into the corridor behind her. “Will you follow me, miss?”

      After receiving another encouraging smile from Eve’s grandfather, Sophie accompanied Violet back along the passage to the hall. They crossed to the wrought iron staircase and had just begun to climb when a young man came in through the mesh door and saw them. He was tall and very lean, his bony body accentuated by close-fitting hipster jeans and a collarless sweat shirt. When he saw them he looked up in surprise, his gaze moving over Sophie as Edge’s had done. Sophie guessed that this must be Piers, but he was not as dark as his father and his hair was longer. However, he had lazily attractive features, less aggressively masculine than his father’s.

      “Well, well,” he commented, moving to the foot of the stairs. “You must be Eve, am I right?”

      Sophie saw that Violet had halted ahead of her and was obviously waiting for her to respond to Piers’ informal introduction. She nodded. “Yes, I’m – Eve. And you, of course, are Piers.”

      “I do have that dubious distinction.” Piers laughed. “Aren’t you coming down to say hello to your long-lost cousin?”

      Violet leaned over the balustrade. “Mr. Brandt said dinner was to be served in half an hour, Mr. Piers. Miss Eve needs time to wash and tidy herself before then.”

      Piers made a face. “Family dinner,” he mocked. Then: “And have you met our family, Eve?”

      Sophie hesitated. “All except Great-aunt Rosalind, I believe.”

      “Rosa?” Piers’ lips twitched. “Ah, well, that’s a treat in store.”

      “Mr. Piers!” Violet sounded reproving.

      “I know, I know. I shouldn’t speak disrespectfully of my elders, but really ... Don’t take too much notice of what she says, will you, Eve?”

      Sophie was saved from replying by Violet’s expressive snort and when the servant continued on up the winding staircase, Sophie followed her without looking back.

      But a smile was touching her lips, too. She liked Piers. He was nice and – uncomplicated. She thought she could understand him. But she’d never understand his father; never in a million years ...

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAgEBLAEsAAD/4Rj2RXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUA AAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAAagEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAcAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAjodp AAQAAAABAAAApAAAANAALcbAAAAnEAAtxsAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENTMiBXaW5kb3dz ADIwMTQ6MDU6MjcgMTM6MTM6NDIAAAAAA6ABAAMAAAABAAEAAKACAAQAAAABAAAGS6ADAAQAAAAB AAAKAAAAAAAAAAAGAQMAAwAAAAEABgAAARoABQAAAAEAAAEeARsABQAAAAEAAAEmASgAAwAAAAEA AgAAAgEABAAAAAEAAAEuAgIABAAAAAEAABfAAAAAAAAAAEgAAAABAAAASAAAAAH/2P/gABBKRklG AAECAABIAEgAAP/tAAxBZG9iZV9DTQAB/+4ADkFkb2JlAGSAAAAAAf/bAIQADAgICAkIDAkJDBEL CgsRFQ8MDA8VGBMTFRMTGBEMDAwMDAwRDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAENCwsN Dg0QDg4QFA4ODhQUDg4ODhQRDAwMDAwREQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwM DAwM/8AAEQgAoABlAwEiAAIRAQMRAf/dAAQAB//EAT8AAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIEBQYH CAkKCwEAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFBgcICQoLEAABBAEDAgQCBQcGCAUDDDMBAAIRAwQh EjEFQVFhEyJxgTIGFJGhsUIjJBVSwWIzNHKC0UMHJZJT8OHxY3M1FqKygyZEk1RkRcKjdDYX0lXi ZfKzhMPTdePzRieUpIW0lcTU5PSltcXV5fVWZnaGlqa2xtbm9jdHV2d3h5ent8fX5/cRAAICAQIE BAMEBQYHBwYFNQEAAhEDITESBEFRYXEiEwUygZEUobFCI8FS0fAzJGLhcoKSQ1MVY3M08SUGFqKy gwcmNcLSRJNUoxdkRVU2dGXi8rOEw9N14/NGlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpamtsbW5vYnN0dX Z3eHl6e3x//aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AyTAa4kwACSTwAq7b8dwlt1ZHk9v/AJJPlOJxcoeFNn/UOXDq f4jiE5QN1QLZ+G8+eVjkAgJ8ZidTw/K99VRkXsD6KrLmHh9THPaY599Yc1S+xZ3H2W/Tn9E//wAi t3/Flkk/VuuppO5l1refNtn/AKMXc1+n9k3B3ugkuJ/O8D/aWcMO+uzqf6YlQPtDX+t/6C+VfYc/ /uJkf9tP/wDIJ/2d1L/uFk/9s2f+QXpld9jQC4OEeJWlU4vra4OOonlIYQeqJfGJj/JD/G/9BfIT 0/qI5w8gfGmz/wAgo/Ys7/uLf/20/wD8ivX3bjoXH7yhlm09/vTjgH7yB8Zn/mh/jf8AoL5KMLOO gxbz8Kn/APkUjg545xbx8an/APkF6lYSw7pP3qpfkugwSfmmSxAdV4+LTP8Akh/jf+gvmj6b649S p9c8b2lv/VBMa7GtD3McGO0a4ggE+Acuy6n077bayt59rQAZ1gn3blj9f6WzAwsVzDO+1zPH6LN0 /ioyKZuX+ISy5Y4zAR4r1v8Aq8ThpJJIOk//0MLL/oeT/wAVZ/1Dlw67m8F2Le3uarB97XLh3scw w4QVb53eHkWLFsX0j/FpmtxegZ9rjpjX73D+S9jP/SK9B6Zfh5uLvDNzy4BzSJLXDUT/AGfz15V/ i5Bvo6thz/OtpIHm02f9Vu2r0LFxb7LBk41gDi2LGnSYEbX6tVERsydLFCM8Vk8Mh1elfjUvaQBt B52mFOuGNDAIa0QB5BY7er/YgPtrH+iebmguA/rcbloY/UMPMr9XFuZfX+8wzH9YfSakdCxSxzjv Zj+9+i2HvAVd9vinc4lVrZKBkuhEML7QeFWA3P1RvTcdVE7apc8gNaJcTwAOSojruyaAaIbAyuq2 6xj7A33bKWl9rz9FjKq2/Se5y5r6z3ZlmFiMysJ+GW3PcNzmuB3M/miWOd+mZ+f7V2HRcirPouzK jZS6t7q/TfDNB7m2/wAptzXbmb1zH17uotdi+nPq7ibhrtnbDYb+8hOFRvuz8hK+ahGtif8AoSeU SSSUL0L/AP/RxiNzH+bSD9y5vNwAd5A+jELo2nR3wMqk1jHm1p10H8VZ+IGjA+BW8sL4g6X+KfFa /L6iX/SYKWx5E2v/APRbV6p+z6nP9TYN3dw0J+MLxb6u9ef9WeufaSw24lzdmTW36W2dzbK/+Eqc vZOj9d6Z1XGGRgZDL6jztPuaf3bKz763f11S633bIJAoGqsNhuJS3/Bg/HX/AKpE9NnZobGggAKW 5p4KcFvikdUEnqWBaDohupHyCM6ytokkABUcjqNQ0YZ+CaSANV0eI7JLC1o8Fn30uzZqaIoGth/e I/M/q/vI+E13Umes10Yh4sH58c+l+8z/AIX6H+jU+

Скачать книгу