The Soft Whisper of Dreams Read Online Free PDF

clear as well. But perhaps it was time to test the old woman’s powers? He didn’t like the fear he saw in Maddie’s eyes.
    ‘Kayla, would you mind taking Jago for a bit?’ He swung the little boy off his shoulders. ‘I just need to … you know.’ He nodded in the direction of the Gents, which was nearby. ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ he added to Jago, who showed signs of starting up a tantrum. ‘Then I’ll carry you again.’
    ‘Yes, of course. Come on, Jago, let’s go and see if they have any nice toys over here.’ Kayla and the others moved off and Alex headed for the Gents. As soon as the little group were out of sight, however, he turned and walked back towards Madame Romar’s tent instead. Fortunately there was no queue, so he ducked inside.
    ‘Knock, knock?’ he said, jokingly.
    Romar looked up and a smile spread over her features, crinkling the deep-set eyes. ‘Alexander! How lovely to see you. To what do I owe this pleasure?’
    He sat down on the small stool opposite her and leaned his elbows on the table, then grinned at her. ‘I think you already know the answer to that. Or are you a fraud as my sister-in-law suspected?’
    She made a noise of derision. ‘Hmph, only to those who don’t want to hear the truth.’
    ‘So when Kayla’s friend came in just now, you didn’t deceive her?’
    ‘The tall red-head? No. She needed a warning, that one, and I might as well tell you as well, since you’ll be the one protecting her.’
    ‘She’s nothing to do with me,’ Alex protested. ‘She is just staying with Wes and Kayla at the moment.’
    Romar’s mouth quirked into an enigmatic smile and she shook her head at him. ‘Foolish boy. You think I can’t see you like her? And besides, my crystal ball never lies. I saw you.’
    ‘When you told Maddie’s fortune?’
    ‘When I looked into her future,’ Romar corrected. ‘One way or another, you are there, so be careful. Help her. I saw danger, evil stalking her.’
    ‘Of course I’d help her if she needed me to, but …’
    Romar shook her head. ‘Just trust me, wait and see what happens. And be ready for anything. But you must put aside your prejudices. Like that Darcy man on TV.’
    ‘What?’ Alex wondered if the old woman was going soft in the head. ‘What’s he got to do with anything?’
    ‘He was blinkered by stupid ideas. Don’t make the same mistake is what I mean.’ Her eyes lit up with mischief. ‘And he was tall, dark and handsome, just like you. Isn’t that what every woman is looking for? This Maddie included.’
    ‘Romar …’ Alex tried to sound cross, but he knew she was just teasing.
    She put her hand on his and squeezed. ‘Just look after yourself, my boy. You’ve been through a lot, and so has she, but you’re both strong. Make sure good triumphs over evil. It’s up to you.’
    Alex wasn’t sure he knew what she was on about and didn’t like having a responsibility like that foisted on him, but he nodded. ‘Okay, thank you. See you at Marcombe soon?’
    ‘Yes, we’ll be there, as always. It’s our summer haven.’ She shook her head when he extracted some coins from his pocket. ‘No, Marcombes never pay, you know that. You’re kin.’
    As Alex escaped into the sunshine, he couldn’t help but shiver despite the heat. Romar had tried to warn him and he knew she wouldn’t do that without cause. He couldn’t be sorry if it was something that allowed him to spend more time with Maddie, but what was he supposed to guard against? Apparently only time would tell.

 
    Chapter Five
     
    ‘So what do you think of Alex then?’
    Maddie and Kayla were sitting in the first floor gallery at Marcombe the next morning, looking at the portraits of Wes’s ancestors. Directly in front of them were two Gainsborough portraits of his five times great-grandfather and grandmother, Jago and Eliza. Kayla claimed the portrait of Jago was responsible for bringing her and Wes together, and that the man in the painting had