Read Sweet Sanctuary for Free Online

had startled her by his sudden hug.
    The moon was rising. It swam, reflected, in the waters of the lake below the house, a pale crescent half veiled in mist. From the dew-wet grasses of the park rose a pale vaporous mist which hovered, waist-high, especially in the hollow around the lake. The house seemed to float above, standing clearly against the sky, a sturdy, safe outline, promising security.
    She caught up with Nicholas and he glanced at her grimly, his face unsmiling in the dusk.
    "I'm sorry," she apologised. "I don't know why I was so touchy about such a silly thing."
    The cold mask dissolved. He smiled, crinkling eyes and nose in the charming amusement which could make such a difference to his face. "Forget it! Do you know 'Old MacDonald had a farm'?"
    She laughed. "Yes, of course."
    He began to sing, and she joined in, their voices blending well together. They walked up towards the house, singing loudly, and startling the rooks, on their nests in the elms, sending them cawing in disgust up into the darkening skies.
    The door of Sanctuary stood open, sending a shaft of bright gold winging into the dark. Their voices faltered and fell silent as someone emerged.
    Nick dropped his arm from around Kate's shoulders.
    "What," demanded Sylvia in a voice like splintering ice, "is
she
doing here?"

CHAPTER THREE

    "What are
you
doing here?" Nicholas asked Sylvia sternly. "I thought we'd agreed that for the time being you would stay away from Sanctuary?"
    "Yes, you talked me into that, didn't you, Nick— and your reasons were so good!" Sylvia's voice was scathing. "But you had a reason you didn't mention, hadn't you?" Her eyes flicked over Kate, the stiletto stab of her hostility visible. "So again—what is she doing here?"
    "By pure coincidence she was on her way here," he began, giving her a smile. "My aunt had given her a job."
    "A job?" Sylvia's voice was brittle.
    "Yes. Odd that we should meet on the way here, wasn't it?"
    "Oh, very!" Sylvia's voice was loaded with sarcasm. Nicholas looked at her, one eyebrow lifting in surprise.
    "Look here, I don't know what you're implying, but I can assure you that it was strictly a coincidence, Sylvia! Why on earth should I lie to you?" His voice was chilly, and the well-cut mouth stern.
    Sylvia shot him a look, and Kate saw her visibly struggle with her temper. The lovely face was turned away from Nicholas for a moment, hiding the conflicting expressions raging in it. Kate watched in stricken fascination. Then the exquisite features relaxed and a smile curved on the pink mouth.
    "Oh, Nick!" the other girl sighed, taking his hand in both her own. "I'm sorry, I've been a beast. But your aunt has been putting ideas into my head…"
    "Ideas? What sort of ideas?"
    A pretty shrug. Sylvia looked up at him, lashes fluttering. "I somehow got the impression that this girl was your guest. I didn't know she was an employee!"
    Nicholas looked down at her sharply, his grey eyes alert. "You misunderstood Aunt Elaine. We had a difference of opinion over Kate…"
    "Kate? You seem to have got on intimate terms very rapidly, considering you claim she's a stranger!" Sylvia spat the words at him angrily.
    Nicholas's face froze, then softened. "My dear girl, you aren't jealous?" A smile dawned on his face. He looked amused and, Kate suspected, flattered.
    Sylvia drew breath to retort, then relaxed again. Coaxingly, she murmured, "Have I any reason to feel jealous? Can you blame me, with your aunt implying things? She isn't frightfully subtle, you know. And I'm only human."
    "You silly girl," he murmured, slipping his arms around her and bending his head. She lifted her face, compliant and tender, the silky blonde hair outlining her like a halo.
    Kate, hot-cheeked and embarrassed, slid past them into the house.
    When Nicholas released her, Sylvia put up a hand to her ruffled hair. "Darling, you take my breath away!" Her eyes were lit with a hot glow as she smiled at him.
    Nicholas grinned. "Glad to hear