The Flight of Swallows Read Online Free PDF Page B

who sat beside him was sixteen, probably almost seventeen and not the child he had first thought her, and each time he had dined at the Mount he had hoped that she would perhaps be present for she was old enough. This was the first time he had seen her since he had almost run her down on Max.
    They talked politely for ten minutes; about the coming coronation of their new King which was to take place in June; the death of his own father and Brooke’s part at Chitral; the ending of his career as a soldier and taking up the running of his family estate.
    ‘And you, Miss Drummond, what do you intend to do with . . .’ He was about to say ‘the rest of your life’ when he knew quite definitely what he hoped that would be!
    ‘Me? Mr Armstrong, what can I do? I am a woman and the only career open to me is to stay at home until some offer for me is made to my father. That or become a governess.’
    Brooke wanted to smile, since if he had anything to do with it, and he meant to, she would never be the latter!

3
    They were in the schoolroom when Father and Miss Parker entered. Miss Price was supervising their reading, all six of them with a book suitable, in Miss Price’s opinion, to their age. Charlotte was deep in Jane Eyre which she had read before but the charismatic Mr Rochester had her mesmerised and she could understand exactly how Jane felt in loving him. King Solomon’s Mines was Henry’s choice, William’s was The War of the Worlds , John was bent over Kidnapped and James was reading the new book by Rudyard Kipling called Kim. Robert did not read very well; Charlotte privately believed it was the influence of his father that made him slow, and he was stumbling through a book of nursery rhymes following Miss Price’s finger. When the interruption occurred he was murmuring hesitantly:
    Blow, wind, blow! And go, mill, go!
    That the miller may grind his corn;
    That the baker may take it,
    And into rolls make it . . .
    They all looked up as the door opened and at once the boys, on seeing the lady at Father’s side, got to their feet. Charlotte rose more slowly and for some reason her heart missed a beat. Miss Price was twittering and simpering, as it was not often her charges’ father deigned to visit the schoolroom, but with a regal lift of his hand, Arthur Drummond silenced her.
    ‘Good morning, children.’ He smiled. ‘And what a pleasant morning it is to be sure.’
    It was all they could do not to exchange startled glances but the lady let go of Father’s arm and sauntered over to the round table, glancing down at the books that were spread out on the red plush cloth.
    ‘ Jane Eyre! Mmm, I used to love Jane Eyre , did you know that, Arthur, when I was a girl, which was not so very long ago,’ she lied.
    The children exchanged furtive glances, for they had never heard anyone call their father by his Christian name. He was smiling in the strangest way, standing by the open door and watching the lady as she moved round the table studying the books the boys had been reading. Miss Price jumped hurriedly to one side or she would have been swept away since the lady seemed not to see her or even acknowledge her existence and Charlotte was immediately aware that the lady was accustomed to ignoring those she believed to be beneath her.
    ‘Miss Price, you may leave us, if you please,’ her employer told her. ‘I have something to discuss with the children.’
    ‘Of course, sir.’ Miss Price scuttled from the room like a little mouse getting out of the way of a prowling cat.
    ‘Now then, children,’ when Miss Price had closed the door quietly behind her. ‘This lady is Miss Elizabeth Parker and she is to be your new mother.’ He walked across the room and lifting Miss Parker’s hand put it possessively in the crook of his arm. ‘Yes, I’m sure you will be pleased to hear that she and I are to be married quite soon. Next month, in fact, and you, Charlotte, are to be a bridesmaid.’ He smiled thinly,