Castle Thunderbird by Susan Barrie

Author:Susan Barrie
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-06-27T12:12:08+00:00

CHAPTER IX

THE journey back to Donnersvogel had none of the gaiety of the outward journey, but a good deal of quiet thought was indulged in, and Noel, certainly, was extremely thoughtful.

Her employer and Harriet had left Walderstein well ahead of them and Harriet at that stage had not been talking to anyone. She had looked much more than upset ... she had looked white and repressed and furious. Her green eyes had glittered in such a way that they seemed actually to exert a baleful influence, and when Noel had stepped forward and asked impulsively whether she would like her, too, to accompany her—for her pallor had a deathliness about it that indicated she was in the throes of a physical indisposition as well as a mental turmoil—she had practically snapped her head off.

“No, I don’t want you ... not you! Stay and keep the Countess Rosental company! She seems to have taken rather more than a fancy to you!”

Gerard had said nothing. He made no effort to excuse either his grandmother or his housekeeper and as he drove away with the latter his ward muttered sullenly under her breath:

“How I loathe, detest and abominate that woman! I’m glad the Countess hasn’t learned how to keep her voice down ... and if Harriet heard things she didn’t like it was no more than she deserved. Richly deserved!”

When Axel said goodnight to Noel on the steps of the schloss he added eagerly:

“I will see you again soon? How soon?”

She felt a trifle bewildered. She had had to cope with a near-hysterical Harriet that night, a malicious old lady who thoroughly enjoyed the unpleasant scene she created, and a plainly seriously perturbed employer who informed her in an undertone that he held her responsible for the hour at which Clia returned to Castle Thunderbird. And now an apparently very impressionable young man wanted to know just how soon he could see her again.

“I’m afraid I don’t know. I mean, I don’t quite know what’s going to happen here ...”

“You mean you don’t know how soon Harriet will get over it? Well, I can assure you she’ll recover her temper fairly quickly ... she’s got to! Even Gerard won’t put up with a sulky Harriet.”

But Noel was not so convinced.

“I feel responsible,” she admitted. “My arrival seems to have caused a certain amount of discord.”

“Rubbish!” the Count exclaimed. He squeezed her fingers hard. “Anyway, I shall come over and test the temperature for myself. And whatever happens you’re entitled to your free time. We must have our evenings together!”

Noel looked at him, and felt startled.

“I don’t know when I’ll get another free evening,” she replied. “I’m an employee, you know,” and ran into the house.

The next morning Clia came to her room very early.

“Did you hear Harriet in the night?” she asked. “She was making a scene downstairs in the hall. I heard her quite plainly because I couldn’t sleep ... and I heard Gerard go down and try to persuade her to behave rationally.

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