Devil May Care Read Online Free PDF

marvelous time, darling, and don't worry about a thing." "I'm not worried," Kate said, frowning distractedly.
    "Did I tell you one of the neighbor boys is coming to look after the lawn? Oh, I did. Don't forget to keep an eye on Sapphira's gingivitis and that funny place on Duke's back. The vet knows all about it.
    You will count them all at night, and make sure everybody is in? Albert chases cars--"
    "I know all about the animals," Ellie said. "You've told me a dozen times. Just take care of yourself ... Henry, what's the matter?"
    Henry, who had been absentmindedly scratching his midsection, flushed irritably. Ellie should know better than to draw attention to such a crude gesture.
    "Nothing," he said repressively. "Good-bye, Ellie, I'll call you as often as I can. Do take care to lock the house up at night, you are careless about such things. I'm not sure I like your being here alone, in such an isolated place--"
    Ellie was looking at her aunt, who avoided her eyes. Staring at the beamed ceiling, Kate was whistling under her breath. She interrupted Henry, whose tone was decidedly petulant, with a brisk "Nonsense, she's perfectly safe here. You aren't worried, are you, darling?" Ellie opened her mouth to answer, but before she could speak, Kate went on, "Because there's nothing to worry about. The dogs DEVIL-MAY-CARE 27
    are all the protection she needs, they are all trained watchdogs, and brave as lions. And the ghosts are no trouble, they are very quiet types. No chains, or banging around in the night, or anything like that. Good-bye, Ellie, enjoy yourself."
    And out she went, before Ellie could say more.
    Henry gave her a rather formal kiss and followed.
    Ellie noticed that he was scratching his stomach again.
    She stood at the open door watching as Henry drove away. There was a flash of crimson as Kate pressed her face and her hat against the car window.
    Ellie waved. Then the car disappeared into the trees.
    The rain made a soft beating sound on the saturated ground.
    It was a warm, sticky morning. Ellie stared blankly out at the rain. She didn't know whether to laugh, or swear, or cry. Laughter won, and she stood giggling feebly for some time. The expression on Henry's face when Kate told her not to worry about the ghosts ... In all fairness to Henry, she had to admit that she herself wasn't always sure when Kate was joking--what was that awful word Henry used?
    "Joshing." Good God.
    Deep down in the hidden recesses of emotion, she had come to a decision about Henry; but, like many drastic decisions, it did not surface for some time.
    She knew only that instead of missing Henry, instead of anticipating lonely hours, she felt only an overwhelming sense of relief. The old house radiated welcome and comfort; she could almost feel it, like warm hands bracing her. Ghosts, indeed! Kate was really a little obvious at times. And yet Henry had definitely been scratching. He never scratched.
    Scratching was lower class. Was it possible that Kate ... The soft silkiness of fur brushed her bare ankles, and she looked down to find herself calf-deep in cats.
    The dogs had their own house, an elaborate heated
    28 Elizabeth Peters kennel that resembled a Walt Disney castle--one of Kate's more revolting architectural conceptions.
    They spent part of their time there and part of it in the house, to which they were admitted, on rainy days, via a system of mud rooms, drying rooms, and the like, as complex as the air locks on a space vehicle.
    But the cats had not gone out and they were not about to do so. When Ellie opened the screen door the assorted eyes, green and gold and baby blue, contemplated the rain, and then turned to Ellie with critical contempt. It was obvious what they were thinking and it put Ellie on the defensive, as it was meant to do.
    "I can't help it if it's raining," she said loudly. "It isn't my fault."
    Nobody in the crowd believed a word of it. Under their contemptuous regard Ellie began to doubt it herself.
    She