"Crombie, Deborah - A Share in Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Crombie Deborah)

owning the same week?"

"Not really. New people buy in all the time. Owners trade
weeks, or use their time somewhere else, so you never really
know who's going to turn up. We have several first-timers
this week, as a matter of fact."

"Good. I won't be the only novice, then. How many
guests are there?"

Cassie leaned back against the balcony rail and folded
her arms, patient with his tourist's curiosity. "Well, there
are eight suites in the main house, and three cottage-type
accommodations in another building. You may have noticed
it to your left as you drove up to the house. I'm using one of
the cottages myself right now, the one at the far end." Her
spiel of facts and figures came effortlessly, her delivery as
smooth as her voice.

She looked steadily and directly into his eyes, and attractive
as she was, the calculated and somehow impersonal
invitation made him feel uncomfortable. Moved by a perverse
desire to ruffle her, to indicate that he was not one to
be so easily manipulated, he asked, "Does your assistant live
here on the premises as well? He seems a pleasant chap."

Cassie straightened up abruptly. Her voice, as she delivered
Sebastian Wade's social condemnation, betrayed a hint
of the venom he had heard earlier. "No. In the town with his
old mum. She keeps the tobacconist's shop." She brushed
her hands together, as if disposing of crumbs. "If you'll
excuse me, I've things to do. Let me know if you need
anything, otherwise I'll see you later." The smile was brief
this time, and held no invitation. Cassie slipped past and
left him alone on the balcony.

IP

1 wй

>a^


penelope mackenzie stole a furtive look into the suite's
sitting room, where her sister Emma seemed to be absorbed
in checking her life-list against today's notations in her
birding notebook. Penny settled herself more comfortably
in front of the bedroom window with a quick sigh of relief.
She'd have a few more minutes with no demands, a small
escape from her sister's solicitous supervision.