Blood Line Read Free Page A

have heard so much about you - you are his clever policeman friend and I've been dying to meet you.'
    Faro was surprised to find her on his own eye level. An inch over six foot, he was used to looking down on most of female kind but this girl, studying him so candidly, was almost as tall as himself.
    Head on side, she continued, 'You don't look much like a detective, I must say. You look far too young - and jolly.'
    Faro's feelings were far from jollity, if truth were to be told, however he was sufficiently vain to be flattered by the definition 'young' from a girl half his age.
    'I've never met a detective, of course,' she said apologetically, 'and one gets very fixed ideas about people who are in authority. I've always imagined anyone to do with the Police Force as being quite stern and elderly.' She smiled, head on side. 'Not a bit like you. Sir Eric is always singing your praises and I'm so glad we've met at last.' And leaning forward confidentially, 'I'm terribly interested in crime.'
    Faro's eyebrows raised a little at this frank and decidedly unfeminine admission. In respectable drawing rooms such matters were restricted to behind-hand whispers since any interest in improper behaviour was considered not only unwomanly, but wanton.
    Here was a very forthright and unusual young female. And although he did not normally like tall women, finding that a certain aggressive manner went with the extra inches, this slender girl before him was most appealing. What Vince and his generation would undoubtedly call 'an absolute stunner'.
    A stunner indeed, and enchantingly pretty. Raven-black tresses coiled on top of her head sloped to a widow's peak on her brow, emphasising a heart-shaped face and eyes that in candlelight seemed golden brown. Her figure was exquisite and he was wondering where she fitted into Sir Eric's lonely bachelor life, when she suddenly trilled with laughter at his expression.
    'Oh, I am rude. Do pardon me. Of course, I should have introduced myself. I'm Lucille Haston - Sir Eric is my uncle. I've been staying in Orkney with his sister, my Aunt Maud, and I guess I bullied the poor dear to let me come to Edinburgh.'
    'You are from America?'
    The girl clasped her hands and laughed delightedly. 'Bravo, Inspector - a good try. Actually I'm Canadian backwoods and Orkney isn't much better - a peevish, dull place.'
    Faro refrained from comment. 'I hope Edinburgh is to your taste.'
    'Not so far, alas.' She sighed. 'All we do is play cards or chess or read books. We never go anywhere. Absolutely no social life, no people of my own age - except the officers of the guard and Uncle says I can't associate with them, since I'm unchaperoned - except for my maid. And who wants to go out to dinner or to a ball accompanied by one's maid? Girls in the backwoods have a little more freedom, thank heaven . . . '
    This breathless account was interrupted as the door was flung open by a uniformed maid, eyes discreetly lowered and carrying a tray.
    Lucille Haston greeted her appearance with that trilling laugh.
    'You see what I mean,' she said, and at the maid's sternly disapproving glance in the direction of this gentleman caller's boots, she sighed, 'No need to look like that, Bet. I am quite safe. Inspector Faro is a friend of Sir Eric's and he is also a policeman, so you needn't apply your eye to the keyhole any longer. I am totally in the hands of law and order and the Inspector is the very soul of propriety.'
    Bet, embarrassed by her young mistress's declaration, bobbed a curtsy and, avoiding Faro's amused glance, hurried out.
    'Refreshments, how nice. Will you take lemonade, or tea - and these biscuits are very good indeed.' At this hour of the day, Faro would have welcomed something stronger.
    He eyed the sideboard with its decanters longingly. Sir Eric was very generous with his drams.
    'I suppose you're wondering how my maid appeared with such alacrity.' And Lucille pointed to the large chimney-piece. 'Above that there is a