Captivity

by Margaret Pargeter

  Conscious of what he was thinking, she went cold. 'No, Chase. I can't think you mean it, but even if you did, I can't marry you.'

  'You're confused.' He lifted his head, his lips near hers again, his voice teasing, his eyes intent. 'I haven't proposed to a girl before, Alex. You can feel flattered. Marry me and you'll have everything you ask for.

  So will your mother a millionaire.'

  'Don't be silly!' What was he talking about? Was he trying to impress? Did he think he could buy her?

  He wanted someone without blemish for Coolabra. For this he had made passionate love to her, a girl who, by the evidence of his own lips, bored him. All for his beloved station! She was amazed and sorry for him. It must have gone greatly against the grain having to come down from the elevated position he occupied to plead like this, to humble himself. If this really was what he was doing. More likely he believed in short cuts. A leisurely wooing would be beyond his patience when he wanted a girl for only one purpose. He was treating her as he would any woman, convinced he had merely to arouse her to render her incapable of resisting him. It wasn't easy to! Alex felt a wave of bitterness against her own too responsive body. His lovemaking did turn her on. She wasn't so naive that she wasn't up with most of the current expressions, but love didn't come into it. Desire could generate a burning heat in the blood, but how long did it last without love to support it?

  'No, Chase,' she tried to push him away, to speak firmly. 'If you're serious about wanting to marry me then I have to refuse.'

  His eyes narrowed consideringly on her flushed but oddly determined face. 'Darling child,' he mocked, 'do you realise what you're turning down?'

  'Now you're being insulting!' She struggled so fiercely he let her go. Embarrassed to distraction, she fumbled to cover herself with her bikini. Her fingers trembled so much it took her ages to fix it and then put on her short robe. Chase didn't offer to help, but sat and watched until she could have screamed.

  'You're insulting!' she contented herself by repeating.

  'I heard the first time.' His tolerance was converted to anger that made a glitter of his eyes through the darkness. Find me one woman who would agree with you. God, I've asked you to marry me, Alex, not go to bed with me, at least not until after the ceremony. Why, I haven't even tried to make love to you properly, and I'm willing to bet you'd be a hot little thing, once the first time was over. I couldn't think of anyone who would deny you'd been honoured. I've paid you a compliment you might not receive again.'

  Equally angry, Alex exclaimed, 'You want to marry me, but you don't love me. You only want me for...for breeding purposes. It's...it's disgusting!'

  'Love!' His strongly fashioned mouth curled back in a mirthless smile. 'If you're waiting for love you might never get a ring on your finger. Come to that,' his eyes glinted derisively, 'do you love me?'

  'No, but I wasn't the one who did the proposing!'

  'Understood,' he scoffed insolently. 'And love disposed of. So what's left to worry about? Your mother?'

  'No!' Alex was too agitated to know what she was saying. 'She would approve of you, all right. She'd think me a fool not to take you. But as she's not here she can't force me. This is one time I don't have to run when I can make up my own mind.'

  The thoughtful flash in his eyes passed as she jumped to her feet, his hand automatically going out to help her. Very slightly he smiled. I can wait, but I won't promise not to try and wear you down. You'll soon find out I can be pretty potent, when I put my mind to it. We could be married before Ruby.'

  'No, Chase!' She shivered. Mistaking it for cold, she huddled tighter in her robe, her eyes veiled. 'I don't want you wasting your time over me. I won't ever marry I've had it rammed down my throat far too often.'

  'You're crazy, girl.' His hard voice was clipped. 'I'm not just any man.'

  'Not so crazy as you're bigheaded!' she whispered vehemently. 'Look, my mother exhausts herself trying to push me into marriage, and now you! I don't want it. I have my own life to lead. Can't you believe it?'

  'I believe you believe it, but I'm not convinced,' he taunted, a belief in his own power dominating his dark face. 'From now on you can take it you're being pursued, and you can certainly believe that! My patience is not unlimited. I can't guarantee I'll fight clean, either, but I do have the decency to give you fair warning.'

  In the darkness Alex was all pale contours, very slight, suddenly beset by a terrible exhaustion, particularly of the spirit. How could she fight him, if he meant what he said? She wanted to be free, unchained. Any invisible threads she felt holding her to this man must be easily breakable. In his arms she felt imprisoned, committed, imperilled by her own passion as much as his. A few minutes ago she had been burning up like a fire, driven by forces she could no more control than understand. It disturbed the even tenor of her life just to be near him. Marriage was clearly impossible!

  'I must go in,' she said quietly, the note of finality bringing his head up sharply.

  He went suddenly still, but the darkness, the forces fullness of him halted her in her tracks, not to be ignored. 'Alex! You'd better give yourself time to think it over. Consider the advantages. You'd have everything money could buy. In return all I ask is your help in entertaining. I do a lot and I'll be badly in need of a hostess now that Ruby's getting married and my aunt too old. The only other thing I ask of you is children, and I haven't wanted them with any other woman before.'

  Chase Marshall's children? Her nerves contracting deep in her stomach, her mouth suddenly dry, Alex looked at him, her cheeks burning. 'Why don't you ask Miss Wilde? I'm sure she would give you beautiful children.'

  The set of his head was answer enough. 'I'm proposing to you, not Miss Wilde. I suggest you concentrate on that.'

  'My answer will still be the same,' she replied, in a kind of frantic panic leaving him to skim the dewy lawns to the house. She thought it was his footsteps following until she realised it was the wildly pounding beat of her own heart.

  The next day Chase was going to Mount Isa. Alex learnt this over breakfast and the tension that had gripped her all night lessened as she contemplated a whole day without him. Her relief was shortlived. It turned to despair when Aunt Harriet produced a shopping list and begged Alex to go with him. It was mostly extra stuff they needed for the party. She would be eternally grateful if Alex would go.

  As Miss Marshall rushed out again to consult with Mrs Young, Chase looked up from a personal letter the mail plane had just brought in. 'You aren't thinking of refusing?'

  'I don't see how I can,' she retorted sharply, feeling trapped. Chase had behaved over breakfast exactly the same as usual, but she wasn't altogether reassured. Somehow she didn't trust him.

  He was studying her face slowly, no doubt taking the credit for the dark shadows under her eyes. They betrayed her sleepless night, which he had obviously and arrogantly decided was because of him.

  'You could get yourself a new dress for the party. Mount Isa has fine shops.'

  'I have one that will do nicely,' she answered, looking away from him.

  'Let me buy you another. I'll come with you, if you like.'

  'A fine lot of talk that would cause! No, thank you.'

  'But you're still coming?'

  'Do I have any other choice?' She stared at him coldly, feeling miserable without knowing why.

  'You have a rare gift for enthusiasm,' he remarked cuttingly. 'Or is it only me?'

  'We were talking of a trip to town.'

  'Were we?'

  They stared at each other like two antagonists, until Alex's eyes fell before his indisputable authority.

  'Don't lose any more sleep about it,' he drawled, getting lithely to his feet. 'Both the trip and my company might be better for you than you think. Be ready in half an hour.'

  CHAPTER SIX

  Mount Isa, on the banks of the Leichhardt, was the most important industrial, commercial and administrative town in north-western Queensland. Its copper and lead fields wer
e well known, as was the living standards and modern amenities provided for the men and their families who worked there. Alex had heard that along with good housing there was a large variety of leisure facilities to choose from a golf course, tennis courts, a ten-pin bowling alley, water-skiing and sailing, to name but a few. Apart from these there were churches and schools, including a technical college, and the town had well stocked shops.

  Chase told her Mount Isa attracted a lot of tourists who wanted to see something of the real Australia. In the winter, he said, there was a large rodeo, usually a two-day event, which brought rough riders from all over the State.

  I'll take you,' he glanced at her coolly as the plane landed and came to a standstill on the runway. His mouth quirked: 'As my wife you'd be entitled to my company.'

  'On the rare occasions you were home?' Alex observed sharply, averting her eyes.

  'Does that mean you've decided to marry me?'

  'No, it does not!' Her voice wasn't quite steady enough, but she felt her meaning was clear.

  This appeared to have little effect on his confidence. He smiled, as if likening her to a fly attempting to escape from a web. 'I intend being home most of the time, if that's what's worrying you.'

  'You did say you wanted a family.' Her cheeks flushed as she replied with an audacity she had never dreamt herself capable of. 'I suppose that would take time.'

  'Do you?' he replied, so softly that she immediately regretted mentioning it. Why could he so easily embarrass her, provoke her into saying all the wrong things?

  'What time are we leaving?' she asked quickly, glancing at him mutinously out of her vivid blue eyes.

  'After lunch.' His black brows tilted. 'I take it you'll be willing to share that with me?'

  Ignoring his sarcasm, she nodded, listening carefully as he gave her detailed instructions as to where he would meet her. 'I'll be there,' she promised lightly, deliberately indifferent as she left him.

  Later that morning, as she walked around a corner, Alex saw him talking to Davina Wilde. Davina had her hand on his arm, so that the rest of her was very close to him and she was smiling. Chase looked down at her and he, too, was smiling. Alex, pausing uncertainly, noticed his hand go out to touch the film star's cheek.

  Angrily Alex turned in the opposite direction, feeling slightly sick. Not because Chase and Davina were together-it was simply a question of deploring bad taste. How could a man propose to one girl and flirt so blatantly with another? It just proved, she thought bitterly, that regarding herself, Chase had no deep feelings whatsoever!

  As they ate a very good lunch in the hotel later, he asked Alex if she had enjoyed her shopping.

  'Yes,' she answered, meeting the silvery intentness in his eyes. 'I saw you did, too.'

  'Meaning?'

  'I saw you with Miss Wilde.' She hadn't intended mentioning it, but her tongue ran away with her. Why had she let it? Surely he was free to talk to anyone he liked?

  He asked, with a kind of lazy amusement, 'Were you jealous?'

  'No, why should I be?'

  He placed a hand unexpectedly over hers and she went tense as needles of excitement pricked up her arm, causing a nerve to jerk at the corner of her mouth.

  Quickly she snatched her hand from under his. Panic flashed in her eyes and she could see he was drawing his own conclusions from it.

  'Jealousy is a perfectly natural emotion, Alex, one we're all born with.' Sardonically he went on, 'Last night you turned down my proposal. Today you see me with another woman and you don't like it.'

  'I didn't say that…'

  'It bothered you, though. You even thought it contemptible.'

  Alarmed by his astuteness, she gasped, 'I didn't say that, either!'

  'When we're married—' Chase began suavely.

  Suddenly she felt suffocated by his persistence, frightened by it. It made her wonder if she would ever find sufficient strength to fight him. 'I haven't agreed to marry you,' she. hissed,' so keep your voice down!'

  'I never give up, Alex.' His mouth thinned and his eyes lost their tolerance. 'I told you last night I always get what I want, one way or another. Even if I have to use a little force.' 'You can't mean to kidnap me?' she challenged witheringly, her voice dismissing such a suggestion as absurd.

  'Not unless all else fails,' he snapped, enjoying the quick quiver of fear she was unable to hide. Ruby's engagement party was a huge success. Alex enjoyed it but found she was relieved when it was over. She liked Coolabra best when it was quiet, and after the party some of the guests had stayed for almost a week. She could see, though, what Chase meant about entertaining. Coolabra was ideally suited to it, with its big lounges and spacious bedrooms, many of which were en suite. Then, outside, there was riding, swimming and tennis, or just lounging with drinks on the wide verandah or in the wonderful gardens. While on the more serious side, if one was interested, and a lot were, there was much to see of the work and skill involved in the running of a large property. Wistfully, she thought of her father. He would love it, as she did, Alex knew, as his research was mostly agricultural.

  During the party, and the days which followed, Chase had been attentive, but not so much as to cause undue speculation. He had danced more with Davina and other equally scintillating ladies. Alex found herself hoping, not without cause, that he had changed his mind about marrying her. So reassured was she by his continuing reserve, she consented to stay and help with the wedding. As this was to be at Coolabra there was certainly enough to do and there was little doubt she was needed. It even went to her head a little when both Miss Marshall and Mrs Young assured her that for a nineteen-year-old girl her efficiency was remarkable. In spite of all this, however, Alex realised she had no alternative but to stay, as she was virtually a prisoner.

  Ruby, with her head in the clouds, was too busy gathering a trousseau together to be of much help with the practical side of things. She was willing to gossip and talk about her wedding, but that was all. Chase was curiously withdrawn, busy most of the time in his office or out on the station. One day Ruby remarked on this. 'He was only going to stay a few days. It's years since he's been here so long. We're all surprised.'

  'He couldn't very well leave on the eve of your wedding,' Alex replied, without looking up from the slip she was mending.

  'I'm not so sure.' Ruby's eyes were frankly sceptical. 'Davina is still here and I can see she's still interested. Maybe this is it? Has he said anything to you?'

  'No.' Alex kept her reply brief and her head bent over her work. What would Ruby think of her brother's proposal? she wondered. Of course she might not believe it as, like Chase, she would never believe any girl in her right senses would turn him down.

  Davina stayed for several more days after the other guests had departed, contributing nothing but perhaps her undoubted beauty. She rose at noon and spent the greater part of every afternoon by the pool. In the evenings she contrived to display almost as much of her body at dinner. She could wear the most outrageous dress and get away with it. Sometimes Alex almost blushed for her until she remembered the actress was used to the limelight and dressed to attract it to herself. 'I'm trying to imagine you in a gown like Davina's,' Chase teased Alex one evening as he handed her a dry sherry. 'My guess is you'd be even more spectacular.'

  'I couldn't carry it off,' she answered stiffly, fixing her eyes on the glass of whisky he had poured for himself. She wished he would go and talk to someone else, but he stayed by her side. 'I might carry you off,' he muttered, 'if you were inside that.' 'Why don't you try such caveman tactics on Miss Wilde?' she suggested sharply.

  'Ah, but Miss Wilde doesn't provoke me as you do,' he returned smoothly, his eyes on the neat little dress her mother had chosen. It didn't hide the full curves of her breasts but did little else for her. Tersely impatient of a sudden, he said, 'Your hair is wonderful, Alex, like pale silk. You've a skin like satin and nature couldn't improve much on your figure, but I'd like to get my hands on the person who chooses your c
lothes. Your mother?'

  Colour flared in Alex's cheeks. The impulse to hit out at the insolence in his eyes had never been greater, but conscious that they weren't alone, she controlled herself. 'My clothes are good.'

  'So's bread and butter.' His tone was dryly dismissive. 'When we're married…'

  The booming of the gong mercifully interrupted, Polly, one of the Aborigine girls, using a heavy hand this evening. 'Allow me,' Chase murmured, grasping Alex's rigid arm firmly and leading her in to dinner.

  Alex wasn't so angry that she didn't see how this surprised the others. In the dining room, as he released her, she felt it expedient to find some explanation for Aunt Harriet. His last words and actions disturbed her so much she mumbled the first thing to enter her head.

  'I wanted to ask Chase about his horses. He has some beautiful thoroughbreds. Miss Wilde and I were watching Drew Blake exercising one after tea. We were just saying how we rarely get the opportunity of seeing them.'

  She hadn't counted on Chase overhearing. She didn't know he had until she heard him saying suavely, with the hidden intention to punish, 'I'll take you on a conducted tour in the morning, darling, if you're up soon enough.'

  Mischievously, driven by a devil, Alex smiled at Davina, who was sitting beside her. 'I think Mr Marshall must be speaking to you, Miss Wilde?'

  Davina, more than willing to believe it, looked back at Alex, her eyes sparkling with triumph. Do you know, it's an invitation I've been angling for ever since I came, but Chase is so difficult to pin down.'

  Radiantly she smiled at him, perhaps mistaking a flicker of vengeful fury for pleasure. 'You are the oddest man, darling. You do choose your time to tell me!'

  Alex couldn't understand why her heart was so heavy next morning when she saw them going off together. Last night, ignoring Chase's grim expression, she had congratulated herself on outsmarting him. This morning she wasn't so sure. She would have loved to have gone riding with him. Reluctantly she confessed it. The thought of Davina sharing with him all the early morning freshness reduced the triumph she had felt to nothing. It was being rapidly replaced by a growing uncertainty, a conviction, not easily dispelled, that she didn't fully realise what she was up against. Chase hadn't approached her after dinner. He sat in the lounge drinking whisky instead of coffee, talking to the others, but somehow this had aroused in Alex only a fresh and terrible uneasiness.