Anne Mather - A Savage Beauty

Not one would have recognized the elegantly attired soloist of the night before as this casually dressed stranger. Close-fitting denim jeans topped by a navy roll-necked sweater and a waist-length denim jerkin disguised him most effectively, and he could have been taken for a student.

‘You are surprised to see me?’ he inquired, in his lazy accented voice.

Emma shook her head slowly. ‘N-not entirely,’ she admitted. ‘But—’ she glanced round to make sure Mrs. Cook was not hovering in the background, ‘I thought you had a rehearsal today.'

He tipped his head on one side. ‘I did. I do. But I am afraid I am – how do you say it – playing truant? Si? '

‘ Si .’ Emma made a helpless gesture. ‘Why have you come?'

‘Ah!’ he shrugged. ‘Are you going to offer me some of that excellent coffee I can smell from the kitchen?'

Emma hesitated. ‘Well, I suppose so.’ She crossed the hall and thrust open the lounge door with rather jerky movements. ‘If – if you'll go in there and wait, I'll speak to Mrs. Cook.'

‘Very well.’ He did as she had suggested and with an exasperated shrug Emma hastened down the hall.

Mrs. Cook was busy at the sink and she looked up reprovingly as Emma entered the room. ‘Well?’ she said. ‘Has he gone?'

‘No.’ Emma looked at the percolator bubbling on the stove. ‘He – er – do you think we could have some coffee?'

Mrs. Cook dried her hands. ‘I expect so.’ But her tone was not encouraging.

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.