by Anne Hampson
'I did not act in an abandoned manner. No one even saw us—'
'I saw you,' he cut in frigidly, 'and so did Alma. If you're not careful you'll soon be having your name bandied around among all the young hopefuls on Barbados !'
'Oh…!' Fury brought two brighter spots of colour to flare above the rest. 'What a thing to say!'
'This is an island,' he reminded her tersely, his eyes flickering over her with a contemptuous expression that stabbed even as it served to swell her anger. 'Gossip travels fast.'
'No one,' she told him quiveringly, 'is going to gossip about me!'
'I imagine the gossip has already begun.'
'I don't believe you!'
'I've lived on islands longer than you,' he reminded her icily, 'and I know what happens when a woman —especially a married one—indulges in flirtations with men like Hal Charlton.'
'He has a reputation?' she queried, for the moment diverted from the main issue.
'He has,' briefly and with emphasis.
Jane looked down at her feet, feeling more unhappy than ashamed, the fact of Hal's reputation affording her a slight measure of satisfaction since she could now use him without there being any danger of his suffering hurt. And use him as she fully intended doing. Scott Kingsley was going to be kept in his place as her employer. With another man in the picture he would hardly pursue the matter of having an affair with her. Not that she really believed he meant to do so; by now she was growing a little more wise to his tactics and realizing that while they were in part a game conducted for his amusement, they also constituted a carefully-devised plan by which he was getting his own back for the damage she had done to his pride in the past.
She said after a contemplative silence,
'While I'm fully aware that you can dismiss me, I do not believe you would dismiss my brother as well. Such an action would be grossly unfair, since he's done nothing to deserve dismissal, and—' Jane broke off, casting him a sideways glance. 'I'm quite sure you'd never act in so unjust a way.'
A faint, humourless smile touched his mouth.
'Then you don't know me very well.'
She examined his expression, convinced that she had him at a disadvantage. She could press home with a reminder that he had on more than one occasion praised Les; she could remind him too of his declaration that Les would be an asset to the firm. But some inner warning impelled her to pause a moment and consider his probable reaction. She decided that silence was the best policy since the last thing she desired was to anger him. And so she merely said, and this in a rather subdued tone,
'You once mentioned that it was a wise course to keep a good employee.'
The blue eyes glinted.
'Just what are you trying to do, Jane?' inquired Scott in a very soft tone.
She feigned bewilderment.
'I don't know what you mean?'
Scott traded his smile for a disparaging twist of his lips.
'You're not obtuse,' he said, and added, 'No counter-stroke you can think up will avail you anything. Either you act in a more seemly fashion or you take the consequences.' He was the employer, stern, implacable. He was not hesitating to ensure that she was fully conscious of his power over her.
'My private life has nothing to do with my position as your employee,' she ventured, loath to capitulate after having decided that the only way to combat Scott in the particular game he played was to let him believe she had found herself a young man. 'I—er—like Hal very much,' she thought to add, just for good measure.
'Like?' he repeated harshly. 'Are you telling me you're attracted to a rake like that?'
She said, her words another daring venture,
'You seem to forget, Scott, that you yourself could be branded a rake.'
His lips snapped together; she heard him grind his teeth.
'Be very careful,' he warned darkly, his fury simmering beneath the surface. 'I'm still your employer.'
Jane hung her head. It was no use trying to argue with someone who could beat her at every turn. It was incredible that at one time she had experimentally adopted a haughty manner with him, practically ordering him to take her to one hotel to dine when he himself had chosen another. And it was more incredible still that he had pandered to her desire without argument.
'You're insisting that I don't ever see Hal again?'
'You're bound to see him again; he attends all the Yacht Club functions and you'll obviously attend many of them too. I'm merely telling you to act in a more seemly manner—and to remember you're married,' he added forcibly.
'Remember I'm married…' She looked oddly at him. 'What you're really trying to do is restrict me—as to finding myself a young man?'
'You yourself are the one who elected to adopt the role of married woman,' he reminded her harshly. 'And it's my wish that you remember it!' His anger was clearly written in his expression; Jane knew instinctively that to carry this argument further would result merely in her own embarrassment, for undoubtedly Scott was determined to have the last word.
And so no more was said at this time, but later, when she was ready to go home, he said warningly,
'Keep in mind what I've told you. If I hear that you've been seen about with Charlton there'll be trouble.'
For a fleeting moment her eyes glinted as a retort leapt to her lips, but she bit it back and, without a word, ran down the verandah steps to her car.
On the following Sunday she went over to Bathsheba to see Susan and David. The first thing Susan mentioned was the Yacht Club dance.
'You were certainly enjoying yourself. Hal Charlton told David that he wanted to see more of you.' Susan grinned and twisted the ends of her hair in that little habit of hers. 'We're pretty sure he'll be chasing you even though he's under the impression that you're married.'
Jane coloured; she was not too sure she now wanted to cultivate the attention of Hal.
'I believe he has a reputation?'
Susan nodded, but went on to say,
'What man hasn't these days?'
'Or woman either,' supplemented her husband.
'Hal isn't any worse than any other man.' Susan looked curiously at her friend. 'Do you like him?'
'He's all right,' guardedly and in a tone that suggested the subject be dropped. But Susan obviously missed this and went on,
'Lots of girls would be flattered by the attention Hal gave you the other night.' A small pause followed. 'You know, Jane, we've been thinking that the time will come when both you and Les will decide to be frank and admit to the deception.'
Jane's eyes flickered as she met her friend's gaze.
'You and David,' she began. 'Aren't you worried about your part in the deception?'
'We have been, but we now believe that Mr. Kingsley will forgive us. You see, we've made so many improvements here that every time he comes he has nothing but praise for what we've done. It seems that before he took over the company it was being sadly neglected. He appointed Mr. Spender, who happens to be an excellent man at picking out those who really have a flair for the hotel business, hence our appointments, and yours.'
'Mr. Kingsley comes here often?'
'Quite often. He's talking of an extension, and of having private family chalets built over on that spare land. They'll be lovely, with all the trees round them and the shore only seconds away.'
'Yes, indeed. You'll then have a great deal more work, and responsibility?'
David nodded, but appeared very happy at the idea.
'We'll be managing one of the largest hotels on the island,' he said With a distinct hint of pride in his voice. 'Of course, we'll be having a much larger staff.'
'Mr. Kingsley must think a lot about you,' murmured Jane, reflecting on what Susan had just said about Scott's probable forgiveness of their part in the deception which, as Jane had prophesied at the very first, was causing so much trouble—to herself mainly, but she now suspected it was troubling Les a great deal also, for she had watched h
im closely with Gwen and had more than once surprised a swift frown whenever the girl's departure was mentioned.
'He's a most appreciative man, and so very kind.'
Swift astonishment appeared in Jane's expression.
'Kind?' she echoed.
'Of course he's kind. You must have noticed it, working as you do, so close to him. David was saying only the other day that you must have landed yourself one of the most attractive jobs on the island. Why, you've said yourself that he's always giving you days off. And he took you home once when you told him you'd had a sleepless night.'
'The days off he gives me are so that he can go to St. Vincent, where he used to live,' Jane informed her in a tone gone suddenly flat. For it was patently clear that Scott's arrogance and formidable manner were kept for her alone.
'He still has his house there, but he's selling it. He goes over because his girl-friend lives there.' Susan absently twisted her hair. 'You've met Miss Bonsall, surely?'
'Yes, I've met her.' Jane hesitated. 'You have too, apparently?'
'That's right. He brings her here to dine sometimes.'
'You like her?' Jane avoided Susan's eyes as she put the question, sure that her expression would give away her own feelings for Scott.
'We think she's lovely to look at,' laughed David. 'But we're not at all sure she's right for Mr. Kingsley. We think he needs someone softer—seeing that he's that way himself.'
'That way?' disbelievingly Jane shook her head. 'I'd never call Mr. Kingsley soft.'
'Not soft exactly,' corrected Susan, looking at her husband. 'He's compassionate and sort of—gentle.'
Jane's eyes wandered pensively to the beautiful curve of the Bathsheba coastline with the rolling Atlantic breakers sweeping towards the shore and the green hills rising behind it, clothed with breadfruit trees and coconut palms and the inevitable sugar canes. Small native houses dotted the landscape, all bedecked with tropical flowers.
Compassionate and gentle… The words spoken by Susan repeated themselves over and over in her mind as the vision of Scott as she knew him intruded to give the lie to anything even remotely connected with compassion and gentleness. The side he showed to Jane was hard and ruthless, his manner always the employer—and most certainly not a kindly employer! On the contrary he was magisterial and demanding, fault-finding with her work and even critical of her behaviour even when she wasn't at work. True, there had been the occasion when on being told she had not slept he had appeared to be anxious, and had taken her back to Coral Gables so that she could catch up with her rest, but Jane had very soon concluded that his anxiety stemmed from the inconvenience her absence from work would cause him. Far better to let her have a few hours off work than have her off for two or three days.
'You surprise me when you say he's gentle.' Jane spoke at last, aware that some comment was expected from her. 'I—I hadn't noticed. He seems very businesslike and efficient.'
'Of course he is; he must be.' Susan looked at her with an odd expression. 'Don't you like Mr. Kingsley?' she asked after a slight hesitation.
Susan had asked the question before, and in the same curious tone; Jane replied as before, in the same careless tone.
'I'm indifferent to him.'
A long silence followed, Susan and David exchanging glances more than once. When at last David spoke it was to change the subject as he reverted to Alma and whether or not she was right for Scott.
'Undoubtedly she'd be an asset socially,' he went on to concede, 'but somehow they don't seem ideally suited.'
'He must think so, though,' from Susan, reasonably, 'for otherwise he wouldn't be going out with her.'
Jane wondered what they would say were she to mention that Alma had another man-friend, one to whom Scott had not the slightest objection.
'I don't think Mr. Kingsley is interested in marrying her,' she submitted. 'He doesn't strike me as the marrying sort.'
'Most men marry eventually,' put in David with a grimace expressly for his wife. 'Mr. Kingsley'll go the way of the rest of us.'
'It was you who did the chasing,' she retorted. 'I'd told you, several times, that I was determined to remain a spinster—and keep my independence!'
'But you're glad you didn't.'
'What an opinion you have of yourself! How do you know I'm glad I didn't?'
'Because, my love, of your contented expression. There's really no other state as satisfying as that of marriage… if you've been lucky enough to find the right one.' He glanced at Jane. 'Don't you agree with me?'
She spread her hands.
'I'm sure you're right,' she said. 'But for myself, I can't agree or disagree, as I'm not married—nor likely to be.'
'You'll marry some day,' interposed Susan emphatically. 'I'll bet something comes of this Hal business. If you fall for one another then you'll just have to open up and confess to Mr. Kingsley. He'll understand, and although he might be a little cross with you both, he'd never sack you, or anything like that'
Jane had to smile, in spite of her dejection. How little these two knew! It would be interesting to repeat Scott's recent threat to dismiss both her and Les, just to note their reaction.
However, she merely said that as far as she was concerned nothing serious could come of the 'Hal business' as Susan had termed it.
'He's not my type,' she added, injecting a note of finality into her voice which both Susan and David noticed, and respected. But in any case, the conversation would have been interrupted owing to the unexpected appearance of Scott himself. Jane was the first to see his low white car gliding along the wide, palm-shaded avenue leading from the road to the hotel entrance, and her nerves tingled. For some indefinable reason she experienced a strange uneasiness at the idea of being in Scott's company and in that of Susan and David at the same time.
'Why, here's Mr. Kingsley!' There was no mistaking the pleasure in Susan's voice. 'How very nice!'
'I wonder what he wants?' David rose as the car came to rest under a rugged mahogany tree, and Scott slid his long body from the driver's seat. He stood for a second, staring at Jane, then flicked the car door closed.
'Good afternoon.' His greeting embraced them all and they responded. 'I'd like to have a word with you in private, Mr. Shore,' he added without preamble. 'It's about the projected extension.'
'Yes, Mr. Kingsley—of course. We can talk in my study.'
'They'll be there until tea time,' declared Susan with a grimace. 'Mr. Kingsley had said he might be away this week-end; he must have changed his mind.'
'Imagine his working on Sunday,' said Jane musingly, her eyes following the two men as they disappeared into the hotel. 'I'd no idea he'd do that.'
'He seems to work very hard. I suppose, being single, he hasn't much else to do. He's bought that lovely house, but I don't think he has much home life. Men on their own seldom do have. Mr. Kingsley always reminds me of a man who ought to be married, with a wife whose chief interests are him, his children, and his home—in that order.' A small laugh followed, and as Susan's gaze was on the view over the hotel gardens to the shore below, she missed Jane's shadowed expression, reflecting the deep regret which even once again encompassed her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
It was half past four when the two men emerged from the hotel to join the girls on the lawn. Jane and Susan had been playing tennis, Susan having lent Jane a pair of white shorts, which Jane still wore and which flatteringly revealed her shapely brown thighs. Scott's glance flickered over her before coming to rest on her face. She was relaxing on a garden chair after her strenuous game and she felt hot and knew her hair was awry. Her thoughts flew to Alma, always so immaculate, and Jane thought that Scott must surely be making comparisons. But on noting the indifference which had taken place of the slight interest of a few seconds ago she decided he was not sufficiently interested to be making comparisons.
'Had a good game?' he addressed Susan rather than Jane, and she nodded and smiled.
'V
ery good, thank you, Mr. Kingsley. Jane plays a wonderful game.'
'She does?' That flickering glance again. 'I must have a game with her myself, then.'
'Oh, no—!' exclaimed Jane involuntarily. 'I wouldn't play with you.'
'Why not?' with a slant of his eyebrows. 'I'm a player of very indifferent skill, I assure you.'
She was sure he lied and said without thinking,
'I rather think you would be bored by playing with me.'
'By playing…?' with a subtle inflection and a shadow of a smile. He appeared to forget the two others present as he added, 'I assure you, my dear Jane, that playing with you would afford me immense pleasure.'
David and Susan exchanged swift glances. Jane went red, and flashed a furious look at her employer. To her utter relief the situation was eased by David's remarking that Mr. Kingsley would have his little joke. It was a weak effort, but Jane was grateful to David for all that. She wondered what he and Susan were thinking. It was bad enough for Scott to have used her Christian name, without his subtle tones and faint but unmistakable stress on the final two words.
'We can play all together,' submitted Susan, rather tentatively, but Scott ignored this and Jane saw at once that his silence had put Susan in her place as his employee.
'Will you stay to tea?' asked David, but Scott shook his head.
'I must go. I'll see you again early in the week about a start being made on the additions. The chalets can be erected without any interference to the smooth running of the hotel. We'll leave the alterations to the main building until the end of the season.'
David nodded. Clearly he was very happy at the vast improvements which were to be made.
'I think it's an excellent idea to have the chalets. Families can have complete freedom and privacy and yet enjoy all the facilities of the hotel, including the restaurant.'
Scott nodded, mechanically, his attention now being wholly on Jane. He said at length as if coming to a sudden decision,
'You can come along with me, Jane. I have things to discuss with you as well.'
'Me?' She stared, acutely conscious of the astonishment of her friends at this unexpected request. Request? It was an order, as the expression in Scott's eyes fully revealed. 'I have my car here.'