60108649-Charlotte-Lamb-A-Family-Affair by Lamb Charlotte

Author:Lamb, Charlotte [Lamb, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

'WHY DOES Kate keep harping on this idea of an engagement

party?' Jonas said irritably. 'Anyone would imagine it was she

who was planning to get married!'

'She has got a bee in her bonnet about it,' Elizabeth agreed,

sighing. 'But if it will make her happy I suppose we could do

something on those lines. . .'

'No,' said Dan curtly. 'It's out of the question. We don't want the news of this engagement to go beyond the family.'

Jonas stared at him quizzically, the thick brows meeting over

his strong, autocratic nose. 'Hmm. . .why is that?'

'Yes,' said Toby, coming into the room and dropping down

on the arm of Elizabeth's chair with a grin, 'why?'

Dan met Toby's mischievous, dancing eyes with a cool stare.

His voice was hostile.

'You know perfectly well why!'

'I do not,' said Jonas. 'Tell me!'

There was a silence. Elizabeth, her face pale and angry,

erupted. 'Because,' she snapped, 'the whole thing is phoney!'

Jonas chuckled. 'Good gracious me! Do you say so?'

She looked at him searchingly. His eyes twinkled. 'You

knew!' she accused.

'I suspected,' Jonas agreed, inclining his head. 'There was a

whiff of stage-management about the affair. Dan suddenly

flying off to Italy and returning with the pair of you, and a cock-and-bull story about an engagement!'

'You won't tell Aunt Kate, will you?' she asked in alarm.

Jonas looked offended. 'Certainly not! What purpose lies

behind it, though?' And he glanced at Dan.

'I had to bring them back,' Dan explained. 'I couldn't let Aunt Kate die without seeing them again, but if they'd rushed back so soon, she would have known that her illness was much worse

than she imagines.'

'You shouldn't have sent Toby to Italy in the first place,'

Jonas told him unbendingly.

'I didn't realise, when I made those arrangements, that Aunt

Kate was quite so ill. By the time I was aware of it, it was too late to change the plan.' His voice halted abruptly, and he

frowned, as though biting back something.

'What on earth made you dream up a mock engagement?'

Jonas demanded scathingly.

Dan looked sideways at Elizabeth, a derisive smile on his

firm mouth. 'It seemed like a good idea at the time. It has at least given Aunt Kate something else to think about, taken her mind

off darker subjects.'

'We all have to die,' Jonas said. 'Kate must face that. It's no good running away from the truth.'

'How can you be so callous?' Elizabeth flared. 'Because

you're strong enough to bear the truth it doesn't give you the

right to criticise her. Some people are more vulnerable than

others, and often that makes them more human. Strong people

are not exactly lovable.'

Jonas looked highly amused. 'Is that a shaft aimed at me, or

Dan?'

She flushed, aware that she had said more than she intended.

'It was just a generalisation, but if the cap fits. . .'

Toby laughed. 'You asked for that, Jonas!'

The sharp old eyes glared at him. 'Be quiet, boy! You have

behaved with complete irresponsibility. You had no right to

steal Dan's girl while his back was turned.'

Toby flushed and looked angrily at the old man. 'Now look

here—' he began hotly.

Dan stood up, his voice cold and incisive.

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