Reluctant Relation Read Online Free PDF Page A

while I have my supper?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Then I’d like that,” Pearl declared with a sigh of satisfaction. “Shall I fetch my supper?”
    “No, darling. I’ll get it for you. You can read a few more pages of your book.”
    “You are nice,” said Pearl, in the same tone her mother had used when she had said Meg was going to be a comfort to her. “If only Leigh—if only my father would come back now I’d be perfectly happy.”
    Feeling she was being mean, even though keeping Pearl free from further emotional upset, Meg refrained from any hint that Leigh was in the house. Instead, she repeated that it would be fun for Pearl to stay in her room and have supper there, and then she went downstairs to the kitchen, where she found Cecile preparing dinner.
    “She has gone, that Na-nee?” inquired the Frenchwoman, giving the word a contemptuous inflection.
    “Oh, yes, she’s gone.”
    “Madame will be pleased,” said Cecile, as though no further accolade was necessary. “You have done well.”
    “I’m glad you think so.” Meg smiled. “What do you suppose I should give Pearl for her supper?”
    “I shall prepare her a little omelette,” the Frenchwoman declared agreeably. “Sit down, Mademoiselle. You will be tired after your encounter with that Na-nee. In six minutes I shall have little Pearl’s supper ready, and you shall take it up to her.”
    “Thank you very much. I’m quite sure your cooking is better than mine.”
    “ Pas du tout ,” said Cecile politely. But it was evident that she agreed with Meg entirely.
    It was a pleasure to watch the unhurried deftness with which she set about making Pearl’s supper. Meg was enjoying the sight when Dick Manners came into the kitchen from the garden.
    “Who’s Madame’s visitor?” he inquired of Cecile.
    “Visitor? Madame should be resting. She should not be receiving visitors,” declared Cecile quickly.
    “Well, she is,” said Dick, unmoved. “I could see someone talking to her in the living room, but I couldn’t see who it was.”
    “She should be resting,” repeated Cecile severely.
    “She was resting,” Meg explained, with a faintly guilty feeling. “But Mr. Sontigan called, and when I told her, she went downstairs to speak to him.”
    “Leigh, eh?” Dick Manners looked interested, while Cecile gave a slight screech of disapproval.
    “You should not have admitted him,” she declared. “You should have sent him about his business, that one.”
    “He’d already admitted himself,” Meg replied dryly. “And as for sending him about his business, I’m quite sure I haven’t got what it takes for that task, Cecile.”
    “Madame was so tired ... she’s so easily upset,” lamented Cecile.
    “Nonsense, Cecile. She’s a lot tougher than you ever let on,” declared Dick callously. “She can manage most things and people if she puts her mind to it. Even Mr. Sontigan. Though it would be interesting,” he added reflectively, “to know just why he turned up again.”
    “Yes, indeed!” Cecile was curious, as well.
    Pearl’s supper, however, was ready, so Meg took it and went upstairs, leaving Dick Manners and the devoted Cecile to speculate as they pleased.
    Pearl was delighted by the novelty of having her meal in her room, and she obviously enjoyed her supper. But she was tired too, and, as soon as the meal was finished, Meg hurried her off to bed.
    “ Say goodnight to Mommy for me.” She was evidently not expecting any visit from her mother. “And oh, Meg, I’m so glad I started to run away and met you.”
    “And I’m glad you decided to come back, or else we would never have arrived at the present arrangement,” Meg pointed out as, smiling, she bent to kiss the little girl goodnight. Then she took the tray of empty dishes and went out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
    As she started downstairs, Felicity came running up and brushed past her without a word. Her color was high and her eyes bright, and