Serpent in Paradise

by Rosemary Carter

  What would you say, Teri wondered, if you knew how close I was half an hour ago to leaving Vins Doux?

  Aloud she said, 'I hope so too. I was wondering what you'd like me to do.'

  Emma lifted her eyes once more, and this time they were twinkling. 'For a start, why don't you sit down? Virginia and Bruce have arrived—did you know?—and when they come from their rooms we'll have lunch.'

  Sloan. Would he also be here to welcome the new arrivals? Teri felt a quick twinge of panic. It was one thing to have decided to see things out at Vins Doux, quite another to face Sloan again so soon.

  'I'm not very hungry,' she said uncertainly. 'Would you mind very much if I skipped lunch today?'

  The grey eyes went to her face once more, thoughtfully, lingering longer this time. She knows, Teri thought, she knows what happened today.

  That being the case, this was the perfect moment to complain about Sloan. Teri opened her mouth, only to close it again. She would say what she had to, but not now. She could not have explained, even to herself, why the time was not right.

  'Of course you don't have to have lunch if you don't want to,' Emma said very gently. 'You can meet Virginia and Bruce later, at dinner.'

  'Thank you, I'd prefer that.'

  'We'll be dressing up tonight, Teri.'

  'A party?'

  This time it was Emma's turn to hesitate before answering. 'It's a rather special occasion.'

  Teri knew her friend well enough by now not to ask further questions. She would know the reason in good time.

  'Why don't you spend the afternoon exploring?' Emma suggested. 'You seem to enjoy being out of doors.'

  'Don't you have something for me to do?'

  'No, dear, I don't. I told you before that I'm not an invalid needing constant attention.'

  'I know that.' Green eyes were troubled. 'I'd love to explore, it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen, but I feel I'm doing nothing to earn my salary.'

  Emma smiled. 'I'll tell you when I need you. Jessie seems to have appointed herself Jill's nanny and she's a good soul, so the little one is in good hands. If you want to venture farther afield you're free to take the red Mini, I'll give you a spare set of keys.' More softly, she said, 'Enjoy yourself, Teri. You deserve it.'

  Teri parked the Mini at the top of the cliff and took the path that led down to the beach. Kicking off her sandals, she let her feet sink down into sand that was soft and deliriously sun-warmed. Before her was the ocean. The tide was in, the waves rising high before crashing on to rocks and shore in foaming thunder.

  Teri had taken up Emma's suggestion to explore because she wanted to be alone. The encounter with Sloan had raised unsettling emotions, and she needed to come to terms with them.

  The beach was almost deserted. The dearth of footmarks attested to the fact that few people came this way, but in the distance, on a jagged outcropping of rock, a lone fisherman cast his line. Gulls swooped about him, and Teri, girl of the interior and for too long starved of the sight of the ocean, thought what a lovely picture they made. On another day she would have searched in her bag for paper and pencil, would have tried her hand at a sketch. But not today.

  Today was for thinking. She lay down near the water and closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face and the sand sift through her fingers.

  She could have dealt with anger if that was the only emotion Sloan aroused in her, but there were other emotions which gave her more concern. An excitement when he kissed her. A surging primitive awareness of being female. A strange longing which had survived despite her outrage at the arrogance of his behaviour. It was a longing which was still with her now, however much she tried to deny the fact to herself.

  She had come to the beach to sort out her emotions—and it came to her gradually that she could not do so. How could she, when she did not even understand them?

  The simplest way of dealing with the matter would be to leave Vins Doux, but that was an idea which she had already rejected. She had made up her mind to stay. That being the case she must decide how to deal with Sloan.

  And how to deal with myself, said an insistent voice. I can't let myself go to pieces every time I see him. That path can only lead to destruction. Nor can I avoid him, as I'd first thought possible. Sloan has a special place at Vins Doux. I must find a way of living with the situation. I will find it. Somehow.

  And Sloan must never know the effect he has on me. If he did, his power would be absolute.

  Opening her eyes, she came abruptly to her feet. The wind was in her hair as she began to walk, keeping close to the water-line. The incoming waves hit the shore and became foam, curling around her ankles, and the taste of salt was strong on her lips. The fisherman seemed to have made a catch, for he was unhooking something from his rod, and Teri wondered whether his wife would be glad, or whether she would mind having to clean the fish.

  What a lovely spot this was! She walked as fast as was possible on the golden beach sand, and gradually she felt the tension drain away from her. She would come here with Emma and Jill, and she and Emma would sit and chat or read while Jill made sand-castles.

  Jill would thrive here, she could hardly do otherwise. Teri had been foolish even to consider letting Sloan deprive her sister of these surroundings.

  Her equilibrium regained, she made her way back to Vins Doux at last. Save for the clatter of dishes in the region of the kitchen, the house seemed deserted. Teri glanced at her watch, and wondered if Emma and her relatives had begun to dress for supper. She had stayed away longer than she had intended, and she quickened her step as she made her way to her room.

  Jill was already dressed. Jessie had chosen a pink dress with a wide gathered skirt and smocked top, and now she was brushing the little girl's hair.

  'Jill looks lovely,' Teri said gratefully. 'Thanks so much for looking after her.'

  Jessie tied a pink ribbon Alice-style around the small head, then left the room with the gentle smile that had endeared her to both sisters alike. It was Teri's turn to get dressed.

  The choice was surprisingly difficult. Sloan's remarks earlier in the day made her want to choose the simplest of her new dresses, something demure and plain and relatively inexpensive. Anything to deflect his scorn and keep attention away from herself.

  And then the fighting spirit which never deserted Teri for long came once more to the fore. Why pander to Sloan? Her eyes lit with mischief as she decided upon the rust chiffon. It was a dress she had hesitated over in the shop, though the saleslady had raved over it, and she had seen herself that it suited her. It was a dress that hinted and promised without being explicit or vulgar. It was the dress of a temptress.

  The effect was heightened by hair that had been quickly washed and dried on Teri's return from the beach, and which now hung in a smooth curve just touching her shoulders, and by eyes which had been provocatively shaded and darkened. It was an effect that was at once elegant and provocative. It would not be lost on Sloan, Teri thought grimly.

  Voices came from the dining-room, the sound of talking, and then a burst of laughter. A low laugh which Teri recognised, and a high brittle one which she did not. For a moment she felt unnerved, then she lifted her shoulders and put a smile on her face, and walked into the room with Jill.

  They were all at the far end of the room, pouring drinks, and for a few moments Teri's entrance was unobserved. She stood quite still, taking in the scene. Emma, in a gown of midnight blue, stood talking to a dark-haired young man. A few feet away was Sloan. A girl was beside him, her auburn head thrown vivaciously back, her hand on his arm as she laughed up at him. He was smiling down at her, absorbed in her, Teri thought, and his face had none of the familiar mockery.

  She caught her breath as pain knifed through her, unexpected and swift. The moment passed, but Teri felt weak. I can't be jealous, she thought numbly. Not of Sloan. Oh God, please, not of Sloan!

  CHAPTER SIX

  Emma looked up suddenly and saw her, and a moment later the othe
rs saw her too. Silence fell. Teri stiffened, her hand gripped Jill's more tightly, and the smile on her lips felt as if it had been pasted there.

  And then Emma was moving towards her, holding out her hand, drawing her into the group. 'Teri dear, I want you to meet Virginia and Bruce Mansfield, my nephew and niece. Ginny, Bruce… This is Teri Malloy.'

  'The companion,' said Virginia. She was a striking-looking girl, but the smile that revealed perfect teeth did not reach her eyes, Teri noticed.

  'And my very dear friend.' Emma's tone had the slightest edge of sharpness.

  'Glad to meet you,' Bruce said, giving her a look that was decidedly male, though not blatant. 'Good choice, Aunt Emma.'

  'Thank you, dear,' Teri heard her friend say lightly, and involuntarily her eyes went to Sloan.

  His scrutiny was blatant, missing not a line of the body revealed by the seductive dress. She saw his eyes rest on the shadowed valley between her breasts, saw them slide to her hips and her thighs, and she thought suddenly how stupid she had been—she should have worn the demure dress after all. His eyes lifted, travelled up to her face, and she saw the return of the mocking glitter that she hated.

  A spark of challenge surged once more through Teri's veins. She had been right to wear the dress, there was no need to play herself down! Lifting her chin, she danced Sloan her most provocative smile before saying primly, 'I'm not so sure Sloan approves.'

  There! The ball was in his court. Virginia sent her a hard puzzled look as Sloan's lips tilted in a wicked grin. 'Who says I don't approve?' he drawled, his tone so suggestive that only someone very naive would have misunderstood his meaning.

  Cheeks flaming, Teri glared at him. Their battle had been brought into the open this morning. It was clear that Sloan would use every means at his disposal to humiliate her. Had they been alone she would have slapped him, very hard, and taken joy in seeing him humiliated in his turn. As it was, she was glad when Emma said gently, 'What will you have to drink, Teri? Nothing? You're sure? Then why don't we sit down and start dinner?'

  The table was even more festive than usual, and the meal was delicious. Lightly poached asparagus was followed by a wonderful salmon, but Teri hardly tasted her food. She pushed it around on her plate, hoping nobody would notice, and then she looked up, found Sloan's eyes on her, and knew that he at least was aware of how little she ate. With determination she speared a piece of salmon and made herself swallow it.

  Jill was on one side of her, Bruce was on the other. After a minute or two Teri realised that she was to be spared the effort of making small talk with him. He. did not seem interested in her, but was absorbed instead in an anecdote Sloan was recounting.

  Teri had met enough men like Bruce to recognise the type. His response to the initial introduction had been mechanically male and gallant, that was all. Bruce was a man who would be attracted to girls who were scintillating and sophisticated, a little like his sister. Teri did not mind his lack of interest—if anything she was relieved.

  She was trying to adjust herself to the atmosphere, and finding it surprisingly difficult, There was conversation, light and sparkling, conducted mainly by Sloan and Virginia with Bruce interjecting pieces of quick repartee. And through it all, there was a sense of separateness, as if each person at the table was playing a part in a play.

  Sloan laughed once at a joke Virginia had made, and Teri's glance went to his face. With a sense of shock she saw that his eyes were not amused at all, that there was a hardness in the line of his jaw. There was something strange about Sloan tonight, Teri could not have said what it was.

  Come to think of it, Sloan was not the only strange one at the table. Though on the surface Emma was her usual friendly self, she was also withdrawn. Looking at her, Teri saw that she was preoccupied, and she wondered why. As for the guests—Bruce seemed bored, as if he had come to Vins Doux under duress, and Virginia was so vivacious and brittle that she began to get on Teri's nerves.

  Virginia turned to Emma, almost as if she suddenly thought it her duty to include her aunt in the conversation. 'Is it good to be back at Vins Doux?'

  'Very good.'

  'Why did you stay away so long?'

  'I needed a change.' Emma's tone was light.

  'I've never been to Johannesburg—did the City of Gold live up to your expectations?' Bruce asked.

  'In some ways.'

  'What did you do there?' Virginia was curious.

  'Amongst other things, I saw a way of life I'd never known. I twisted my ankle and I made two friends.'

  Emma smiled at Teri, and Virginia caught the smile and said, 'So that's where you found your companion.'

  'I found a friend,' Emma corrected her gently. 'Two very dear friends.'

  There was a moment of silence, then Virginia, voice higher now, said, 'Your attitudes seem to have changed, Aunt Emma. You used to have such high moral expectations of all the world.'

  No mistaking her meaning! Teri's cheeks flamed and she marvelled at the girl's rudeness. If anything, Virginia did not look the sort who would wait for marriage to sleep with any man who took her fancy.

  'Perhaps I'm more modern than you realise.' Emma's tone had lost none of its gentleness, but to Teri the rebuke was apparent. She shot her friend a grateful look. It was not Emma's fault that Teri had embroiled herself in a lie that now seemed foolish, but it was generous of her to play along with it all the same. She would have to tell them all the truth about Jill, but she would have to choose the right opportunity to do so.

  Virginia resented her presence here—that much seemed obvious. What was less obvious was why. But there was no time to think about it, for Bruce, as if to divert attention from his sister, had changed the subject. 'What decided you to come back here?' he wanted to know.

  Emma exchanged a glance with Sloan before saying, 'It was time. And Vins Doux is my home, Bruce dear, why don't you pour yourself some more wine? And Virginia's glass is empty too, I think.'

  Neatly done, Teri thought, for by the time Bruce had poured the wine the conversation had changed direction and he did not return to his question. Beneath Emma's unassuming exterior there was a woman who knew how to handle herself.

  There are undercurrents at this table, Teri thought again. At first I thought I was imagining it, but I wasn't. There are definite undercurrents, and Emma and Sloan are at the centre of them.

  Jessie brought in the dessert, a sherry trifle topped with strawberries and cream, and Teri saw that she had given Jill's portion, snug in its red plastic dish, an extra dollop of cream. Jill had found a friend, no doubt about that. And the gesture was appreciated, for the little girl attacked the confection with an enthusiasm which she had not extended to the rest of the meal.

  Teri herself took just a spoonful, then let it stand. What little appetite she had had was now gone.

  'No taste for trifle?' she heard Sloan ask.

  Did he watch her every move? Analyse her constantly?

  She shook her head and made a disarmingly rueful mouth. 'It's delicious, but I can't manage any more.'

  'I'm disappointed. I had you marked as a girl who would enjoy a good trifle.' His voice was bland, but his eyes glinted with mischief.

  A private joke. One that only you and I understand, Teri thought. The sort of thing lovers delight in.

  But we are not lovers! Even though I let myself be carried away today, and for a few seconds showed you just how much you could stir me. You do stir me, Sloan, I've been aware of you from the moment I came into this room, I can't fool myself on that score. But I don't love you. I don't even like you. And you've made it clear you don't like me.

  'Sorry to disappoint you,' she said lightly.

  'Unpredictable, are you?'

  'I would hope so.' She darted him a flirtatious smile from beneath her long lashes. 'Predictability makes life boring, don't you think?'

  Emma gave a soft laugh, and Virginia said, 'After dinner you must tell me what you've been up to since I last saw you, Sloan.'

/>   Once again the subject was being deftly changed. Virginia did not want Sloan's attentions centred on Teri, and in a sense the girl was relieved. It was hard enough to spar with Sloan when they were alone together. In company she found it even harder. Was Virginia attracted to him? A foolish question. Painfully she acknowledged that most women would be attracted to Sloan. She wondered if Virginia was aware of the fact that there was a Miranda, that she had competition.

  'You'll have to catch up on news another time,' said Emma. 'After dinner I would like you all to join me in the library.'

  Absorbed as she was in her own thoughts, Teri caught the serious inflection in her friend's tone. There really is an undercurrent, she thought with a sudden quiver of apprehension. And it's leading somewhere. And I'm not sure I want to be around when it reaches its destination.

  The library was a lovely room. Panelled in a warm red-brown mahogany, two of its walls were lined with books. The third wall was all glass, but it was dark now, and the curtains had been drawn across the big French windows. The remaining wall had a fireplace, and the air was just chill enough for a fire to have been lit.

  Dinner over, Teri had taken Jill to bed, but Emma had insisted that she come to the library once the little girl was settled. Joining the others, she found them ranged around the fire, liqueur glasses in hand.

  There was conversation, but it was of a desultory kind. Virginia was flirting with Sloan, but she and Bruce exchanged occasional glances.

  Then Emma said, 'My dears,' and there was a sudden hush. It was as if they had all been waiting for her to speak.

  'My dears,' she said again, 'I think you know I had a purpose in asking you all to be with me tonight.' She took a sip from her glass, and the silence in the room was intense.

  'Bruce asked me why I came back to Vins Doux,' she went on. 'I said it was time. That it was home. And so it is.'

  There was an infinitesimal pause as she looked at Sloan, and Teri knew, quite certainly, that Sloan had persuaded her to come back. Whatever Emma had told her to the contrary.