Maggie MacKeever Read Online Free PDF Page B

pleasing, Dillian!” Isolda snapped. “I detest these unbecoming ways. To begin with, you might learn to enter rooms in the conventional manner.”
    Loveday was surprised at Isolda’s patent dislike for the girl, who was a fairy-tale creature with hair so light as to appear silver and eyes of a pale gray. She was clad in a plain dress of some durable fabric, but even the ugliness of the garment couldn’t disguise her elfin quality. Dillian seemed totally unconcerned with Isolda’s disapproval.
    “I am sadly shatterbrained, I fear,” Dillian murmured vaguely in her sweet soft voice. She dropped gracefully to a stool by Loveday’s feet, and the cat immediately draped himself across her lap, with his head and paws hanging over either side, and fell asleep. “Are you going to be my friend, Loveday?”
    “I hope so,” Loveday replied with sincerity. Dillian intrigued her. This was the strangest of all the Ballerfast group that she’d met thus far, but she saw no reason to call such an ethereal creature daft.
    “There are those as won’t care overmuch for it,” Dillian commented cryptically. “Come! Let me show you the old wing.” She darted to her feet, pulling Loveday by the hand. Angered by this unceremonious interruption of his nap, Verdelet hissed and leaped through the open window.
    “If the duchess doesn’t mind,” Loveday protested, though she wanted more than anything to go with this strange girl.
    Isolda’s expression was unreadable. “Go on, children,” she said, with an airy gesture of one thin hand. “We can talk later.”
    Loveday was hard-pressed to keep up with the elusive Dillian, who flitted ahead of her like a dancing butterfly, humming her unfamiliar song. The girl was probably some sixteen years of age, and Loveday wondered that she wasn’t in the schoolroom. Then she remembered Mrs. Merryweather’s tale of the last governess.
    The castle stood on high ground, and what once had been a moat was now filled in with pleasant, rolling lawn. The worn stone structure was impressive; old and new had emerged to make a harmonious whole. Only one tower remained intact, though there had once been another in the ruined wing. The overall appearance was one of timeless, ageless beauty, and Loveday could almost feel the centuries fade away. She sniffed the clean country air as she gazed about her with delight. When she glanced at Dillian, she found the girl scrutinizing her.
    “I have something for you.” Dillian took an amulet from around her neck. “It matches your eyes.”
    Loveday took the necklace cautiously, as Dillian watched her. “It’s a gamahe, if you’ve never seen one before. You must wear it all the time.”
    Loveday had heard of such stones, which bore curious and wonderful scenes. She inspected the amber amulet, in its strange golden setting, carefully. “It’s a unicorn,” she breathed with awe. The tiny animal was posed as if in flight.
    “Unicorns bring good luck.”
    “Dillian, however did you come by this? It’s exquisite!”
    “It was pinned in my clothing when they brought me here. I suppose it was meant to keep me from harm.”
    “All the more reason why I cannot take it,” Loveday protested.
    “Fiddle!” retorted Dillian. “You have far more need of it than I.”
    “Whatever do you mean?” Dillian made no answer, but snatched the necklace and fastened the thin gold chain around Loveday’s throat.
    “There!” she said, with great satisfaction. “It looks very fine on you, and no one will suspect that it’s more than just a pretty ornament.”
    “I don’t mean to seem vulgarly inquisitive,” Loveday apologized, “and I am very much obliged to you, but what leads you to believe that I stand in need of protection?”
    Dillian smiled. “Perhaps I merely wished to make you a present. But this is fair and far off. Follow me.”
    Dillian darted off before Loveday could question her further. “Around here,” Dillian called, and led Loveday past the