Oliver, this is fantastic !
' I thought it would surprise you. Do you like it ? It's wonderful, but—
He bent down and put a match to the fire already laid. A pile of logs were on the hearth. Whatever had been used for kindling, the fire burned up almost immediately.
Oliver turned and smiled. Bring up a chair—or the couch. The place will soon warm up now.'
As he spoke he pulled the couch up to the edge of the hearthrug. She sat down and looked around again, unable to believe what she could see.
But, Oliver, I don't understand. Have you leased the place ? '
That's right.' He sat down beside her, his hands clasped together between his knees.
But why, when you're leaving ? '
He sighed and grimaced. ' Oh, I don't know. A couple came from London and wanted to lease it. The man in the office knew I'd been interested, so he rang me up and asked me if I still was. I don't know what possessed me—I knew then I was being transferred— but I said yes, I was. Knowing you were so keen I couldn't bear the thought of somebody else having it.' He turned to her and shook his head ruefully. I guess I knew all along, deep inside, that it would be no use with you and me. And it isn't, you see, is it ? What you feel for Jim has gone too deep to be easily forgotten. Besides—' He broke off, listening. I thought I heard a car.'
Sara strained her ears. ' I can't hear anything.'
Nevertheless, Oliver rose. I'll just go and make sure. Somebody might have been attracted by the light.'
He went out and Sara gazed into the fire. Oliver was right, of course. But it still left her own problem unsolved. It had been sweet of him to lease this place on her behalf, but she would have to let it go. She couldn't possibly stay in the district under the circumstances.
After a few seconds, she did hear a car. Obviously, somebody had driven up. Oliver must have very acute hearing. The front door opened and closed again, and she heard his footsteps in the passage.
Who was it, Oliver ? ' she asked as he came in.
Then she felt the colour drain from her face. It wasn't Oliver at all who entered the room. It was Jim. She stared at him unbelievingly.
' Where—where's Oliver? 'she asked getting to her feet. ' He's gone.'
' Gone ? He can't have. He didn't say he was going. He—he went to see who '
He smiled slightly and came towards her. I'm
Sorry, Sara, I'm afraid there's been a little conspiracy. Oliver knew I was coming. In fact, I'm afraid there's
Something of his old grin appeared as he stood looking down at her.
Er—matchmaking, I regret to say.'
Her cheeks flamed. She stood up again, swiftly. But this is preposterous ! It's unforgivable. Who has been—matchmaking, as you call it ? Alys ? Oliver ? Well, they could have saved themselves the trouble.' She picked up her bag and made a movement towards the door.
But he took her firmly by the shoulders. ' Sit down, do. You're much too impulsive. It's high time somebody took you in hand.'
' Really ? Let me go ! '
She gave a twist as she had earlier in the music-room in his house, but this time he held her the more tightly.
You can't go yet. It's too far to walk home. Oliver has taken his car—and he won't be coming back. And I've got my ignition key safely in my pocket. You'd have to knock me insensible to get it from me, believe me. Now sit down and let's get a few things straight, you and I. I'm not having you run away again until we've done a little bit of talking.'
He pushed her gently but firmly down on to the couch and took off his jacket. Then he piled some more logs on the fire.
We might as well be warm,' he said. We might be here quite a while. If I were you, I'd take my coat off and make myself comfortable.'
I shall do no such thing. If you won't drive me home, then I shall walk.'
He grinned. You're making a lot of trouble for yourself. I took the precaution of locking the front door, too. I don't want you running away from me again.'
She looked at him startled. ' This is ridiculous. What do you think you're playing at ? If this is your idea of a joke, it isn't mine.'
He shook his head at her and sat down beside her. ' It' s no joke, I assure you. Tell me, Sara, why did you run away from me when I kissed you ? Do you hate me, Sara ? Do you ? '
She swallowed hard and backed away from him. No, I—of course I don't. Not that it's any thanks to you, if I don't,' she added accusingly. ' You've behaved abominably. You—but I don't want to stay here and talk about it.'
There you go ! Now who's behaving abominably ? '
She closed her eyes despairingly. Why had he come ? What had Oliver been thinking about to let her in for this ? What was he trying to do ?
`Sara'—Jim's voice came softly—' I'm sorry for the way I've behaved, but I honestly thought you disliked me.'
' I don't want to discuss it,' she repeated desperately. Any minute now he would suggest that they could be friends, and if he did, she would scream.
You make it very difficult, Sara. It seems the only - thing for me to do is tell you the truth, then if you still want me to go—if you still want to go home; I shall have to take you. I—wouldn't have agreed to come. I mean '
She sprang to her feet. ' Then why did you ? '
He gave an exclamation and stood up beside her, taking her by the shoulders.
I'll tell you why. I came because I was fool enough to think you might—I repeat might—conceivably have some other feeling for me besides loathing, but I'm beginning to think— ' He broke off. ' Here it is, then, the great joke. Do you know why I've behaved so abominably, as you call it ? Do you know why I kissed you tonight ? Why, after you ran away from me, I've still come here ?
She stared at him, her lips trembling, her eyes misting over. She stared at him and shook her head.
Because, heaven help me, I'm—in love with you, that's why ! ' he almost shouted.
Her eyes widened still further. She couldn't believe it. A cross between a sob and laughter escaped her. She looked at him, and far from appearing like a tender lover, he looked angry. Laughter, bordering on the hysterical, won over tears which would have been tears of joy.
' Oh no ! ' she gasped. Oh no, I simply can't believe it.'
Then perhaps you'll believe this.'
He caught her to him roughly, and wrapping both his arms about her kissed her fiercely. But this time she did not try to break free of him. She returned his kisses with passion. After a minute or two, he broke off and looked at her incredulously.
' What—what's this, Sara, for goodness' sake ? Is it for real, or
She smiled tremulously. What do you think ? ' she answered in a voice hardly above a whisper.
How the blazes do I know what to think ? You'd better tell me before I go stark raving bonkers.' He pushed her gently down on to the couch again and cradled her in his arms. ' Now, spell it out to me in words of one syllable. Say, Jim, I love you, or better still '
' Darling, if you'll stop bossing me about just for one second—I love you,' she told him, her eyes shining.
For a long moment, he looked at her. Say it again,' he commanded.
She lay back in his arms and smiled up at him. You hard of hearing all at once ? Jim Crombie, I love you, " heaven help me ". I love you.'
He closed his eyes momentarily, as if he could better let it sink in.
Then why the blue blazes have you been—why did you run away when I kissed you earlier on
x
She felt on fire with happiness. Laughter bubbled up inside her. It was all too incredible, too wonderful. No need to worry about whether he liked her or not, to look for double meanings in what he said. No need for misunderstandings or to weigh her own words, even.
Why do you think, you idiot ? ' she said teasingly. ' You hadn't given me the slightest hint of how you felt, so how was I to know ? I thought you were kissing me because—well, because of your animal instincts. You know just one of those things.'
&
nbsp; ' Animal instincts ! I like that,' he said indignantly. ' For two pins, I'd '
' Well ? ' she prompted mischievously. ' You'd what ? '
' For two pins I'd put you across my knee and give you a jolly good spanking.'
I'd like to see you try.'
With a strength which surprised her, he took up her challenge and she found herself across his knees, struggling wildly.
' What do you think you're doing, you fool ' she gasped, but underneath she was shaking with laughter.
' Now then,' he grinned, a few minutes later, when she was the right way up again, ' that's just a taste of what you're likely to get in the future if you don't behave yourself.'
' Oh, is it ? '
Yes,' he said firmly. Then he became tender. ' I love you, Sara. I kissed you there in my mother's music-room because I simply couldn't help myself. You looked wonderful. You're a witch, do you know ? I believe you wore that dress and did your hair that way just to ensnare me.'
' I thought it would be fun to see your reactions,' she teased.
' You did ? Well, they were the same as they were the
first evening you came. I fell in love with you then, and '
She looked at him in amazement. You fell in love with me that first evening ? Oh no !'
But yes.'
Then why on earth didn't you tell me ? Why were you so—
So what ? '
So—horribly sarcastic, most of the time. I thought you heartily disliked me. You said '
My dear, sweet idiot, I wasn't sarcastic at all. Not on that particular evening, anyway. I was only teasing you. And you don't tease someone you don't like. It's a sign of affection. But you were so prickly. As for not telling you how I felt before, how on earth could I ? Before I could turn round, there you were, thick as thieves with Oliver.'
She gave an amused smile. I wouldn't have thought a he-man like you would, let a thing like that put him off.'
Watch out,' he threatened. Otherwise, you'll find yourself the wrong way up again. Oliver was my friend. I've got some scruples. I didn't fully realize I'd fallen seriously in love with you on that first night, of course. But I soon realized how jealous I was of Oliver, and by the time the truth dawned on me it seemed you were in -love with him.'
When did you find out that I wasn't ? ' she asked curiously.
He kissed her before answering. Darling, a number of our friends have been very concerned about us. You wouldn't believe the rumours, the hints that have been flying around.'
Her eyes widened. Alys was the only one who knew how I really felt. And she promised faithfully she wouldn't tell you.'
She didn't. She only said you didn't really dislike me.
And that was only because I was going off the deep end, saying how you hated the sight of me and so on:
She smiled. ' I thought I did at one time. My defence mechanism, I suppose. But that still doesn't explain why you came tearing along here, and why Oliver suddenly had a change of mind or why he bought this place— or rather leased it and bought this furniture.'
Darling, as I told you, there's been a lot of conniving. I suppose you haven't yet learned. what it can be like in a village. There's one person you seem to have forgotten, in all this.'
And who's that ?
Uncle John.'
She gave a puzzled frown. What has Uncle John got to do with it ? Of course, in any case, I wouldn't have left him in the lurch.'
' He knew that. That's why he pretended to have had a relapse. I told him he'd never get away with it, you being a very clever doctor and all '
You mean— ? The old rogue ! Well, of all the— Just wait till I see him ! '
Jim laughed softly. Don't be too hard on him. He knew I loved. you. And truth to tell, he knew you weren't in love with Oliver. I—er—wouldn't like to say where he got his information, but he did say he hadn't made any promises not to tell anybody anything. He said you weren't in love with Oliver, you were in love with some idiot who looked like letting the most gorgeous girl in the world slip through his fingers. Well, darling, as I was the only idiot in sight at the time —
I never heard the like of it. Alys must have told him. I made her promise not to tell you, but of course, I meant for her to keep it to herself and not tell any
What a conniving lot they are. But I'll forgive them.'
He held her even closer to him. I've been a fool, but it never occurred to me that you could love such a
She put her finger on his lips. Don't speak so desparagingly of the man I love.'
' Oh, darling, I never in my life expected or even dreamed I'd ever hear you say that. You're the kind of woman I've always wanted, but never thought it would be my luck ever to get.'
Tell me what sort of woman I am,' she said dreamily.
' Oh, well ' he began in a teasing, off-handed
manner. Let me see now. You're good-looking. I like blondes '
' You know, that surprises me. I thought you liked brunettes.'
' You did ? What made you think that ? '
Well, I—I thought you were-- I thought you and Nina were '
He stared at her. Me and Nina ? ' He raised his eyes to the ceiling. ' What on earth is this crazy woman talking about ? Where did you get that idea, for goodness' sake ? '
Well, she seemed to be always there. She called you Jim. You were with her that night when I ran into the deer '
Good heavens Such flimsy evidence. Of course she calls me Jim. That's my name, isn't it ? A good three-quarters of the village call me Jim. I was born here. Anyway, she's engaged to some fellow she met while she was on holiday somewhere in the Outer Hebrides. That's one reason why I engaged her. I wanted a receptionist who—
Who wasn't looking for a handsome husband ? Uncle John told me how the ladies in the village were continually trying to marry you off.'
Bless their hearts, they felt sorry for me. Well, they won't any longer, will they ? But fancy you thinking me and Nina '
' You know how it is. People in love aren't normal. They jump to conclusions and '
' If you're so knowledgeable about it, why did you jump to so many conclusions yourself ? ' he demanded.
Doctors are hopeless when it comes to diagnosing themselves, didn't you know ? '
He smiled. I suppose that's true. Darling, you're sure you won't mind marrying a doctor ? '
Not if you don't.'
Silly of me to ask. Having got this far, try to get out of it, if you can.'
She entwined. her arms around his neck, loving the feel of him. He kissed her and stroked her hair.
That reminds me. Do you know what ? Farmer Williams was boasting to me tonight that he intends modemizing his cottages. He's going to start on the Scotts' place. See what you've done ? And you haven't been in the place five minutes.'
Wonderful, but I doubt whether it's any of my doing.'
Are you arguing again ? But tell me, darling, where would you like to spend your honeymoon, supposing we've got time for one ? '
Right here, in this cottage,' she said promptly.
e I was hoping you'd say that. I can't think of a better place. I'll pay Oliver what he paid for the lease, and for the furniture—though he said something about a wed.- ding present.'
They were both silent for a little while, thinking of Oliver, and. as if reading her thoughts, Jim said,
Darling, don't worry about Oliver. He never seriously thought you'd marry him. He told me so. When you went rushing downstairs, he came up and told me he'd already made up his mind that it wasn't going to be any use. That's why he grabbed. hold of this place. He said—not to worry about him.'
She smiled a. little sadly. He always said he kept both his feet planted firmly in the ground.?
He gave her a long look and cupped her face in his hands. Darling, there's one woman for one man, and
you're the one for me. I love you. We've talked quite long enough, and I've waited for you quite long enough.'
He covered her lips with
his, and with a long, gentle sigh of happiness, she closed her eyes.
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