The Hidden Evil by R.L. Stine

Author:R.L. Stine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse

♦ ♦ ♦

“And this room is where we keep the silver and such,” explained Andrew the next morning. After breakfast he insisted on giving Maggie a tour of the estate. Garret had refused to come along, although Maggie invited him three separate times.

Maybe it’s just as well, she thought. Maybe I need to get to know Andrew and Garret separately for now. But she did want to get to know Garret. She thought he needed a friend even more than Andrew did.

“Come on!” Andrew cried. He raced into a room lined with paintings. He stopped in front of a portrait of a beautiful woman with long blond tresses framing a thin, sad face. Another portrait of the boys’ mother, Maggie thought. Again she felt uncomfortable as she gazed at the woman.

“This is the gallery,” Andrew told her casually. She thought his big blue eyes looked shiny, as if moist with tears.

“Andrew? Is this your mother?” she asked gently, stepping close to the painting the little boy had been studying.

Andrew nodded slowly.

“She was very beautiful,” Maggie said softly.

Andrew looked away.

“Andrew—” Maggie tried to find the right words. “I am sorry about your mother. You must feel free to speak about her if you like.”

The little boy bit his lip. Maggie could tell he struggled not to cry.

Feeling a wave of tenderness and pity, Maggie threw her arms around the child. He let himself be hugged for a moment, then slipped free from her grasp.

“I think the paintings in this room are very fine,” he said loudly.

It wrenched Maggie’s heart watching the little boy try to be so brave. He lost his mother. His father is nowhere to be found. And three governesses left him.

All he has left is Garret. And Garret is so troubled. So angry.

Andrew has me now, Maggie reminded herself. They both have me!

“There are paintings of almost everyone in the Malbourne family on these walls,” Andrew continued, interrupting her thoughts. He spun in circles in the center of the room, his arms open wide.

“Careful,” Maggie said, catching him as he tottered slightly. “You’re dizzy.”

“This is my grandfather,” Andrew said, pointing to a portrait in an elaborate frame. “I think he looks scary. Do you agree?”

“Very. Here, I can make the same face.” Maggie tightened her lips into a straight line, lowered her eyebrows, and stared down her nose at him.

Andrew giggled. “And this is my father, Harrison Malbourne the second.”

Maggie stopped short. There stood Harrison Malbourne, her employer. So we meet at last, she thought. Even if it was only a painting!

The man gazed at her with eyes as blue and clear as those of his younger son. Dark hair. A strong jaw. A cleft chin. Handsome did not begin to describe him.

But his face held a troubled expression. And his hair had a streak of white—unusual for one so young. Why does Tanglewood have such an effect on people? she wondered. Why is everyone so unhappy in this place?

She forced herself to look away. “Well, Andrew, what is next?”

He took her hand and led her to the billiard room.

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