Sweet Sanctuary Read Free Page A

window."
    Kate looked sideways at him from beneath her lashes. "Did you dream of living in a romantic Gothic castle, too?"
    He laughed, flushing. "I loved the tower as a boy —always wanted to sleep there. But it was in a state of decay. It was too dangerous for anyone to go up the stairs. They were crumbling away. I've had them renewed and walled in—I did a lot of the work myself. It's fun working with stone."
    Cushions of green moss sprouted on the uneven pink tiles of the roof. Wisteria had been trained along the lower wall. A white-painted dovecot stood on the lawn beside the house, doves cooing on the roof, their soft breasts puffed with satisfied complacency.
    "Where are all these animals?" she asked.
    Nick pointed to the grass behind the house. "Two acres of good paddock there," he said. She could see several horses, a donkey and some tethered goats grazing on the grass. "None of the horses is worth riding," he said. "They're all in an advanced state of decay. Aunt Elaine only takes in very old horses."
    "Poor darlings," said Kate.
    "Ye gods! I might have known it!" He looked at her in acute dislike, his eyes accusing. "You're another damned animal-lover!"
    "Is that a crime?" She lifted her nose in defiance.
    He started to laugh. She looked at him with flashing eyes.
    "What's so funny?"
    "You looked like a little brown mouse when you did that… your nose positively twitched." He flicked it gently with one finger. "All you need is whiskers!"
    He drove round the back of the house to some old stables. The stableyard was clean and swept. Stacks of sweet-smelling hay were piled in one stall, but there were no animals here. Nicholas parked the car and climbed out.
    "We'll find Aunt Elaine in the garden, no doubt," he said.
    He called loudly as they walked towards the back of the house. At last a voice replied faintly from behind a waist-high privet hedge. Nicholas led the way to a gap in the hedge, and Kate found herself in a large kitchen garden.
    Mrs. Butler was digging vigorously among some cabbages. She wore old brown corduroy trousers and a bright yellow sweater. It seemed unbelievable that she was nearly seventy. Her eyes were so young and bright, her smile as she saw Kate was radiant.
    "My dear, you got here! How splendid! You can feed the ducks for me before tea!"
    "Aunt Elaine," said Nicholas ominously, "what's all this nonsense about giving this young lady a job?"
    "Hello, Nick dear. Have you met Kate? Kate, this is my nephew, and such a kind, generous boy. He has given me a home all these years, just as if I were his mother. His mother was my best friend, you know… No, that isn't right. His grandmother? Was it your grandmother, Nick dear?"
    "My mother," Nicholas said slowly, on a sigh.
    "I loved her so much. When she died I was heart-broken. Nick's father didn't know how to bring up a boy alone, and I was so happy to step into the breach." She kissed his cheek, leaving a long smudge of mud across his face. Kate suppressed a smile, and Nick glared at her. "Take Kate into the house to wash before tea, Nick. You mustn't forget your manners. She's a guest in the house."
    "We'll discuss the matter later, then," Nicholas said. "Don't think I've given in, Aunt. I haven't, I've merely shelved it."
    "Of course," said Mrs. Butler vaguely. "Do look at these cabbages. Aren't they splendid? So bushy and well-grown. I've had good luck with them this spring."
    Nicholas took Kate by the arm and forcibly marched her towards the house, muttering under his breath. A frown creased his forehead and his eyes were furious.
    "What you'll find to do I have no idea," he said. "The house runs itself. Aunt Elaine does the cooking. A woman from the village does the heavy work."
    "I thought you'd decided I must go?" Kate kept her tone innocent, but he glared at her.
    "You know her—you've seen what it's like arguing with her? She just talks about something else. That's how it is over Sylvia. She's never said a word to me against