Mariana Read Online Free PDF

service,' I promised. 'As a matter of fact, I could use visitors tomorrow. I'm planning to shift some of the furniture in the sitting room around, and I could do with an extra pair of hands.' ,
    Vivien laughed. 'Do you need help, really?" she asked me. 'Because I'm sure Iain would be happy to lend a hand.'
    'Heavens, no,' I said, raising a hand in protest. 'I was only joking.' A sudden thought struck me. 'What does Iain Sumner do, anyway? Is he a gardener?'
    'Farmer,' she corrected me. 'He keeps sheep. Has a small apple orchard as well, but that's mostly a hobby.'
    'Oh,' I said.
    'Of course, he does have green fingers,' she went on. 'He put a lot of time into helping Geoff get the gardens up at the Hall in order, before they opened to the public Geoff s father had let the place run down a bit, and the grounds were an awful mess. There's a full-time gardener up there now, to take care of things. Lovely rose garden they have— you really must see it in the summer.'
    'I'm sure I shall,' I said. 'After all, we are neighbors, aren't we? My house backs right onto the manor lands, from what I've been told.'
    'So it does. You'll like Geoff. He's a genuine aristocrat— his family came over with the Conqueror—but he's very down-to-earth, and great fun. Come to think of it, he may be able to tell you something about Greywethers. He did a lot of rooting about in the local history books when he was writing up the guidebook for Crofton Hall.' She turned to pour herself a cup of coffee from the venomous-looking pot that sat brewing on the back of the bar. 'Unfortunately, he's on holiday at the moment, in France, but when he comes back, I'll be sure to introduce you. In the meantime,' she added, stirring her coffee, 'I'll see what I can find out on my own from my aunt and the local grapevine.'
    'Thanks, I'd appreciate that. How much do I owe you for the drinks?'
    'Not a farthing.' She waved my money aside with a shake of her honey-blond head. 'They're on the house. My way of saying welcome to Exbury, if you like.'
    'But surely ... I mean, it's very nice of you, but ..." I glanced toward the end of the bar, where Ned was still slumped over his paper, and Vivien followed my gaze with understanding.
    'Oh, Ned's not the kind to tell tales to the boss,' she assured me. 'Even if he were, he wouldn't gain much by it, since I happen to be the boss.'
    I stammered a quick apology and flushed a brilliant crimson. Vivien graciously ignored my embarrassment.
    'Is your telephone connected yet? Good. What's the number?'
    I told her, and she copied it down. 'Right,' she said. 'I'll give you a ring if I find out anything of interest. Here.' She passed me a box of matches. 'My number's on the back, if you need anything. Or you can just drop by, any time you get bored with unpacking. I always have time for a chat in the afternoon.' She looked me straight in the eye and smiled her quick, frank smile.
    'I'm glad you've come to live here,' she said simply.
    I smiled back, feeling strangely warm inside.
    'So am I,' I told her.

    *-*-*-*

    I was still smiling as I walked home, enjoying the fresh, vibrant feel of the late-April breezes and the wonderful silence of the untraveled road. My house stood waiting to welcome me home, looking already a little less neglected to my biased eyes.
    'Hullo, Greywethers,' I greeted it, as I came up the drive. At least I had learned the proper name for my house. And that I had a ghost. What had the men at the Red Lion called her? The Green Lady. Somewhere in the garden.
    The question was, I asked myself, just where had the garden been? There certainly wasn't any trace of one now, at least not at the front of the house. Curious, I walked round to the backyard and had a look.
    Not the dovecote, I decided. That garden was new. By the kitchen, perhaps, alongside the drive? The ground there certainly looked more level, but ...
    No. Not there. I turned my attention to the other side of the yard. There, I thought with certainty. One