Named of the Dragon Read Free

discussing the contract, and the next I'm hearing all about her Christmas plans,"
    "Oh, yes? And where's she off to this year? Rome? Vienna?"
    ' 'Pembrokeshire.''
    "I'm sorry?"
    "Some little place called Angle, in south Pembrokeshire."
    "Of course," he said. "That would have been my next guess."
    "Yes, well, you might laugh, but she's been asked to spend the holidays with James Swift, of all people. And she wants me to go with her."
    Graham turned his head at that. "I hope you told her yes."
    "I told her maybe." To his scandalized expression I explained: "It's my brother's first Christmas in Canada, Graham—my family's expecting me there."
    He felt sure they'd survive. Turning away, he adopted a carefully casual tone. "You do know who represents Swift, don't you?"
    "All the more reason not to go," I said.
    "And miss the chance to lure away his blue-eyed boy? You disappoint me." He glanced at me and smiled, taking pity on my situation. "I've been in this position myself,
    you know. I once had two invitations arrive by the same post—one to my oldest sister's anniversary supper, and another to this gala West End opening—both for the same night. In the end, I found that there was only one fair way to settle it." Fishing in his pocket, he produced a single penny and held it up for me to see.
    "What, you tossed a coin?"
    "It's the tried and trusted method," he defended his decision. "Saves a lot of mental aggravation. Here, you give it a go."
    I caught the coin in a reflex motion, shaking my head. "Don't be daft."
    "No, really. Heads, you do the boring family thing and go to Canada, and tails ... oh, hell," he said, as the ringing of his telephone cut in. "I'll have to take this, Lyn. Won't be a minute."
    As he swung round in his chair to take the call, his back to me, I frowned, considering. He might be right, I thought—a toss of the coin did seem the only fair way to decide where I ought to spend Christmas.
    And it only took four tries to make the penny come up tails.

III
    And so to the land's
    Last limit I came —
    Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Guinevere"
     
    My mother didn't seem at all put out by my announcement. Sitting cross-legged on my sitting-room floor the next evening, she measured out ribbon with one hand and bent forward, only half-listening. "Of course I don't mind. Heavens, dear, you're twenty-eight now ..."
    "Twenty-nine."
    "Old enough to do your own thing, that's my point. Could you just put your finger right here, on this ribbon? That's it." She finished tying the elaborate bow, and sat back to judge the effect. To my mother, wrapping Christmas gifts was a job that demanded absolute perfection. She'd been a window-dresser once, and she still liked to make things beautiful. "That will have to do, I suppose." Setting the professional-looking parcel to one side she picked up a football shirt and shook out the creases. "Now then, who is this for?"
    "Patrick. He desperately wanted the new England strip." I glanced at her sideways. "You're sure you don't mind?"
    "Darling, I've already told you ..."
    "I know, but you're wearing that look."
    She raised her head and smiled. "You shouldn't be so sensitive to how I look, you know. I didn't live my life to please my mother."
    "Yes, well," I said drily, "I doubt that you could have pleased Granny. She'll have something to say about my not coming to Canada."
    "Your grandmother," my mother assured me, "will be far too busy putting Patrick's in-laws in their place to wony about you."
    I'd met Patrick's in-laws the previous summer. They were very political, full of opinions and ready to argue. They'd lock horns with Granny the minute they met. "Oh Lord, I hadn't thought of that."
    "So you see, it's just as well you won't be there," she said. "It isn't going to be a restful Christmas. I, for one, intend to buy a vat of sherry at the Duty Free and keep it to hand." Reaching for another roll of Sellotape, she glanced up, met my watching eyes, and sighed. "If I'm wearing any look