The Fifth Day Of Christmas by Betty Neels

Author:Betty Neels [NEELS, BETTY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction
Published: 2011-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

“

Julia laughed hollowly.

“No, of course not. You surprised me.”

He was standing just inside the door, and although his eyes were neither black nor beady, it was obvious that the old lady with the bustle had handed on the penetrating stare.

“Whose car is that outside?” he asked.

She should have been ready for that question;

instead she uttered, “Well—that is…”

He put his hands in his pockets and leaned comfortably against the wall, all day at his disposal.

“Do tell,” he invited silkily.

“Of course I’ll tell,” she said crossly.

“It’s no secret—it’s Mijnheer de Winter’s.”

He repeated the name.

“Do I know him?” he inquired.

“How should I know?” snapped Julia, getting more and more cross. If only the wretched little man would come downstairs and answer Ivo’s questions for himself!

“Visiting Marcia?” Ivo’s voice was very smooth.

“In that case I’ll go up and see for myself, since you’re so charmingly ill-tempered and secretive.”

He went upstairs unhurriedly without giving her time to answer, which was just as well, because she had nothing to say. She didn’t think he was going to like Marcia’s visitor, nor was he going to like Marcia forgetting to mention his visits, especially as she harped continuously upon her loneliness-almost, it had seemed to Julia, reproaching Ivo with it. She went into the kitchen and put the coffee on again, then wandered round the house, not quite liking to go upstairs but wondering if it would help if she did. She had just made up her mind to do so when she heard steps on the staircase and Ivo’s voice, speaking with the icy civility of a well-mannered man determined not to show his ill humour The front door opened and shut and a moment later Ivo lounged through the kitchen door.

“What a detestable fellow,” he remarked.

“No wonder you didn’t want me to meet him.” He shot her a sudden fierce glance.

“And it seems that I knew all about him, or so. Marcia told me just now.”

Julia said quickly, “I daresay if you were busy you might have forgotten—it’s not important, is it—and if you had other things on your mind…”

“I had nothing important on my mind until a short time ago, and I should make it plain to you that I seldom forget anything which I am told.” He grinned suddenly.

“Aren’t you going to offer me some coffee?”

She had a cup with him, there in the kitchen while he told that he was unexpectedly free because the surgeon who was to have taken the list had ‘flu.

“Do you have a list this afternoon?” asked Julia.

“In Breda, yes. A pity you aren’t free, I’d take you with me.”

She had been unable to prevent the look of pleasure on her face, although she said quietly enough, “That would have been pleasant, but I think it’s a bit too far for Miss Jason, don’t you?” and instantly wished she hadn’t said it because his face hardened into a grimness which she couldn’t bear to see. Before she could stop herself she asked impulsively, “Can I help, Ivo—is—is something the matter?”

He passed his coffee cup, his face once more smoothly bland.

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