The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt Page A

glory.”
    “One thing,” said Philip, “you would not be expected to defeat the Spanish Armada. There’s another meaning. Drakon. It is an old English word. Draca; and the Latin, of course, is Draco. Dragon.”
    “How learned you are.”
    “I looked it up.”
    ”Because of your Drake?”
    “I thought it was interesting.”
    “I wonder what he will be like,” said Julia.
    “A great sea captain … or a dragon?” I suggested.
    Cassie said: “He’s probably very mild and meek … not a bit like Sir Francis Drake or a dragon. It often happens that people are not like what their names suggest.”
    “You’ll be surprised,” said Philip. ” Lenore, do bring me one of those jam tarts,” said Lady Sallonger.
    I obeyed.
    “Oh … it’s raspberry. I do like black currant. I wonder if they have any black currant.”
    This was the usual practice so I rang and Grace appeared. Soon she returned with black currant tarts.
    I smiled as Lady Sallonger took one which I was sure she would only nibble. If it had been black currant in the first place she would have wanted raspberry. But I expected they were accustomed to her vagaries in the kitchen.
    I was almost certain that we should be disappointed when Drake Aldringham appeared. Then I began to wonder whether he would come at all. Charles had not said when he was arriving and as the days passed we gave up expecting him.
    Charles came back alone. There was real dismay. We had heard so much about Drake Aldringham that we were patiently awaiting him. Charles said Drake had had to go to spend a few days with an elderly aunt and was coming to The Silk House as soon as he could get away.
    Charles had changed. I was always amazed to see him and Philip when they came home; they seemed to grow so fast and to change with it—particularly Charles. He was quite grown-up now; he walked with a swagger and drawled faintly. He was playing the part of a worldly young gentleman. I was faintly amused. I saw his eyes following Grace with some appreciation. I heard Miss Logan say to Miss Everton that she would like to know what he got up to … or perhaps it would be better not to know.
    Miss Everton sighed and said: “They don’t remain young long.” She spoke with feeling. I imagined she was thinking they would not be needing her at The Silk House much longer.
    Philip was very different from Charles—much more serious, I thought Charles was not very interested in the family business—or ever would be. But he was enormously interested in the female form.
    Once, to my horror, I caught his eyes on me as though he were considering … what? I could not imagine. But I did not like that seering glance and I felt myself growing hot under it.
    I was in the garden where I used to sit with Grand’mere and I was alone, hoping that she would join me as she often did at this hour. I heard footsteps and looked up expecting her. But it was a young man.
    He was very tall and very fair … quite good looking in a Nordic way. When he saw me he smiled pleasantly. “Oh, I say,” he said, “I hope I’m not intruding.”
    “No,” I replied. “What… do you want? Are you looking for someone?”
    ”For Charles Sallonger actually. There wasn’t time to let him know. I’ve left my luggage at the house and as none of the family was in I said I’d look round the garden for a while. It’s a lovely spot. I knew it was in the heart of the forest but I didn’t imagine it quite like this.”
    “Are you a visitor? You must be …”
    “Drake Aldringham,” he said.
    ”I might have guessed.”
    “Are you … Julia?”
    “No. I’m Lenore Cleremont.” Clearly he did not know who that was, so I explained: “I live here. I’m not one of the family. My grandmother works here and it has always been my home.”
    He nodded. “It’s a most interesting place. Coming here from the station I thought it was magnificent.”
    “Yes, I feel that, too.”
    “Charles tells me it is the country house. There is a