Read Online The Reluctant Guest by Rosalind Brett - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rosalind Brett
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fireplace was so placed that when it was cold one could warm one’s toes and still enjoy a view of Africa.
The woman who came into the room was no taller than Ann and only a little plumper, and she had a sweet smile. She could have been no more than thirty-two or three, yet the mid-brown hair was sheened with silver.
“I’m Shelia Newman,” she said. “You’re Miss Calvert, aren’t you?”
“Ann Calvert, yet. It’s a relief that you know me.”
“There aren’t so many newcomers to the district—everyone always hears about them. I happened to see you the other day in town, with Elva. Do sit down.”
Ann said, “You’re very kind. I felt rather strange about coming here and introducing myself.”
Mrs. Newman took a chair nearby. “I’m glad you did come. Elva is a little peculiar about friendships—she’s introverted, I suppose, and just doesn’t care very much for other people. One respects the kind of person she is, but when I saw you together I thought that staying with her must be rather dull. She’s so fond of going off on her own.”
“I’m not dull, as it happens. We’re spring-cleaning.”
Mrs. Newman smiled. “This is our autumn! But we have a good clean through any time we fancy it.” She paused. “You’re Theo’s friend, aren’t you—not Elva’s?”
“You might put it that way, though it was Elva who invited me.”
“Really?” The woman looked genuinely surprised. “She’s such an amazing girl—you never know what to expect of her. You know, she never visits or entertains. The most you get from her if you meet her is a nod. Since she came here three years ago this is the first normal thing she’s done—inviting you, I mean. I’m very glad. You’re from Cape Town, Miss Calvert?”
For half an hour they talked, about the Cape and Belati West, about shops and farms, the sea and the Great Karoo. Then Ann came to the point.
“You must be wondering why I’m here, Mrs. Newman.”
“Not particularly, but if I can do anything for you ...”
She made it easy. Ann stated her needs, the old sewing machine was promised and would be delivered at the Borland house tomorrow morning. Mrs. Newman asked about colour schemes and other details. Then she rang a bell, and five minutes later the perspiring servants brought a tea tray. Ann had again expressed her thanks and was in the porch saying goodbye, when Mrs. Newman, giving that soft and charming smile, said,
“By the way, Storr Peterson is home, isn’t he? I heard he gave a small dinner party the other night.”
“Yes, he did.”
“My husband was saying that he wished Storr would stay, but it seems unlikely. With him, the farm always came second to planes.”
“I suppose that happens sometimes—a member of a farming family going off into something quite different. I believe the farm is in good shape, though.”
“It’s bound to be, but it’s not the same as having the owner always there. How long is Storr likely to be here this time?”
“A week or two, I thi nk .”
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard whether he’s going to live in Johannesburg after his marriage?”
“His ... marriage?” queried Ann.
Mrs. Newman gave an embarrassed little laugh. Tm shameless, aren’t I—but I did think the Borlands would know all about it. Through friends of ours who often go to Johannesburg we heard that Storr is going to marry the daughter of one of his partners in Peterson Airways.”
“No,” said Ann a little hollowly, “we’ve heard nothing about it.”
The woman’s smile faded a little. “I think it’s true enough, but please don’t say anything to Elva or Theo. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if we hadn’t heard it only recently; our friends told us last night.”
“They may have been mistaken.”
“They’re not gossiping types; they were just happy about it because it may mean that Storr will spend more of the year here at Belati.”
“Oh, well, when he wants people to know he’ll make it
The woman who came into the room was no taller than Ann and only a little plumper, and she had a sweet smile. She could have been no more than thirty-two or three, yet the mid-brown hair was sheened with silver.
“I’m Shelia Newman,” she said. “You’re Miss Calvert, aren’t you?”
“Ann Calvert, yet. It’s a relief that you know me.”
“There aren’t so many newcomers to the district—everyone always hears about them. I happened to see you the other day in town, with Elva. Do sit down.”
Ann said, “You’re very kind. I felt rather strange about coming here and introducing myself.”
Mrs. Newman took a chair nearby. “I’m glad you did come. Elva is a little peculiar about friendships—she’s introverted, I suppose, and just doesn’t care very much for other people. One respects the kind of person she is, but when I saw you together I thought that staying with her must be rather dull. She’s so fond of going off on her own.”
“I’m not dull, as it happens. We’re spring-cleaning.”
Mrs. Newman smiled. “This is our autumn! But we have a good clean through any time we fancy it.” She paused. “You’re Theo’s friend, aren’t you—not Elva’s?”
“You might put it that way, though it was Elva who invited me.”
“Really?” The woman looked genuinely surprised. “She’s such an amazing girl—you never know what to expect of her. You know, she never visits or entertains. The most you get from her if you meet her is a nod. Since she came here three years ago this is the first normal thing she’s done—inviting you, I mean. I’m very glad. You’re from Cape Town, Miss Calvert?”
For half an hour they talked, about the Cape and Belati West, about shops and farms, the sea and the Great Karoo. Then Ann came to the point.
“You must be wondering why I’m here, Mrs. Newman.”
“Not particularly, but if I can do anything for you ...”
She made it easy. Ann stated her needs, the old sewing machine was promised and would be delivered at the Borland house tomorrow morning. Mrs. Newman asked about colour schemes and other details. Then she rang a bell, and five minutes later the perspiring servants brought a tea tray. Ann had again expressed her thanks and was in the porch saying goodbye, when Mrs. Newman, giving that soft and charming smile, said,
“By the way, Storr Peterson is home, isn’t he? I heard he gave a small dinner party the other night.”
“Yes, he did.”
“My husband was saying that he wished Storr would stay, but it seems unlikely. With him, the farm always came second to planes.”
“I suppose that happens sometimes—a member of a farming family going off into something quite different. I believe the farm is in good shape, though.”
“It’s bound to be, but it’s not the same as having the owner always there. How long is Storr likely to be here this time?”
“A week or two, I thi nk .”
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard whether he’s going to live in Johannesburg after his marriage?”
“His ... marriage?” queried Ann.
Mrs. Newman gave an embarrassed little laugh. Tm shameless, aren’t I—but I did think the Borlands would know all about it. Through friends of ours who often go to Johannesburg we heard that Storr is going to marry the daughter of one of his partners in Peterson Airways.”
“No,” said Ann a little hollowly, “we’ve heard nothing about it.”
The woman’s smile faded a little. “I think it’s true enough, but please don’t say anything to Elva or Theo. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if we hadn’t heard it only recently; our friends told us last night.”
“They may have been mistaken.”
“They’re not gossiping types; they were just happy about it because it may mean that Storr will spend more of the year here at Belati.”
“Oh, well, when he wants people to know he’ll make it
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