The Last of the Kintyres Read Free

kindest possible way, feeling that she would like to be with her brother, and she had accepted that kindly gesture without hesitation until a moment ago.
    It can’t make any difference, she decided, as she shook Richard Lord by the hand and bade Hew Kintyre a rather frigid good-bye. If he works in London we’re not likely to see him again.
    The following morning, however, as she made her way slowly back towards Lincoln’s Inn alone, she was more than ever aware of Hew Kintyre and the disturbing impression he had made upon her.
    She had talked and reasoned with Tony far into the night and the effort had left her tired and a little irri t ated, so that she had been almost glad when he had gone off with some friends for a day on the river, leaving her with his grudging promise to co-operate in what he called the “Dromore fiasco” for a week or two, at least.
    She hoped that she would not meet Hew Kintyre again. There was no reason to suppose that he would be at the solicitor’s office when she got there. He had said so plainly, so definitely, that he had no responsibility for taking her to Ardlamond Lodge, that, in fact, she would never have been invited there if he had!
    Well, she assured herself firmly, she could forget him. She believed that Sir Ronald lived at Ardlamond alone now, since his wife had died just over a year ago, but she could make quite sure of that by asking Mr. Lord.
    Making her way through the narrow alley-way which led to his office, she saw a tall, vaguely familiar figure come down the worn stone steps at the entrance to the close and turn in the opposite direction, towards Hol born . The colour flamed in her cheeks as recognition became a certainty and she slowed her steps, but Hew Kintyre had strode on, looking neither to left nor right. He had been walking quickly, a man in a hurry, or an exasperated man, perhaps, who had just accepted the fact that he would be forced to bow to the inevitable?
    Richard Lord was waiting for her when she reached his office. He did not say that she had just missed meeting Hew Kintyre for the second time, but she was even more surprised by what he did say.
    “All the arrangements have been made for your journey by Mr. Kintyre. He is acting, of course, on behalf of his father.”
    “Of course.” Elizabeth took off her gloves, folding them rather precisely on her knees before she asked, “Mr. Lord, can you tell me what exactly my position will be when I go to Ardlamond Lodge?”
    He looked taken aback, and then he laughed and said:
    “If it will make you feel any better about your invitation—more independent, perhaps—I feel quite sure that Sir Ronald hopes that you will be able to look after your brother and perhaps make him feel happier about the transition from London.”
    There was a small, awkward pause before Elizabeth forced herself to say:
    “Then he does know how—difficult Tony can be?”
    Mr. Lord stroked his thinning hair.
    “Shall we say that he appreciates the fact that all young people of your brother’s age are something of a problem?” he answered with a smile. “He does realize that perhaps your mother was a little lenient towards him because of the circumstances of your father’s death. A mother tends to spoil her son more than she does her daughter,” he added. “And you are older.”
    “I’m twenty-two,” Elizabeth said. “That’s why I don’t intend to—sponge on Sir Ronald when it isn’t really necessary,” she added firmly.
    “My dear young lady!” Mr. Lord exclaimed, “I don’t think that was ever suggested. Sir Ronald wants you there, too, for your mother’s sake.”
    “Does he—live alone?” Elizabeth asked cautiously.
    “Most of the time.” The answer seemed to be just as cautious. “His son farms several miles away,” he added with the barest suggestion of a twinkle in his eyes.
    “Oh—I thought he worked in London!”
    Richard Lord shook his head, smiling, as if the idea amused him.
    “I can’t