by Anne Hampson
Teri’s fury rose to suffocation point, although the sudden sweep of colour in her cheeks was entirely the result of her companion’s words.
‘Just who do you think you are!’
‘The man with the strong hand,’ he laughed, staring in obvious enjoyment as her anger and embarrassment increased. She could not speak and at length Brand said in a much kinder tone, ‘Eat something, Teri. You’ve taken too much out of yourself this after-noon.’
She blinked rapidly. This softer mood only served to make her feel sorry for herself, and less angry with Brand. And her main desire was to sustain her anger against him. She picked up a sandwich and took a bite, conscious of his eyes taking in her every action.
‘You told Jon you wouldn’t be back until the weekend,’ she said at last when the silence threatened to become oppressive.
He smiled faintly.
‘Changing the subject again, eh? I was saying you deserved a good walloping for being so damned independent this afternoon.’
‘You’re talking in a ridiculous manner,’ she snapped. ‘I’m my own mistress, and always will be.’
Brand moved over to a chair and sat down. ‘Confirmed spinster?’ He laughed as he spoke and Teri’s chin lifted.
‘I intend to remain unmarried, yes. And I fail to see anything to amuse you in that.’
‘I am amused, nevertheless.’ A small pause. ‘I think it’s time for me to admit that I know a little of your background—’
‘Jon’s been talking to you?’ she interrupted, frowning.
‘Don’t blame him altogether. I probed, because I was curious. I deplore mysteries.’
Teri forgot her anger, and her resentment of his high-handed behaviour.
‘You know about my broken engagement?’
Brand nodded and leant back in his chair.
‘I had guessed, of course, even before I asked Jon about this Kemp whom Wendy mentioned. Had the engagement not been broken you wouldn’t be here. A woman never willingly goes far from the man she loves.’ No comment from Teri; Brand watched her in silence for a space, noting the pallor of her cheeks now, in almost startling contrast to the rosy hue of embarrassment which they had worn only a few moments ago.
‘It doesn’t really matter if you know.’ Teri’s lip quivered as she spoke, her thoughts being on Kemp and the wonderful future she and he had planned together. ‘But what I want you to understand is that the experience has taught me a lesson. Men aren’t to be trusted no matter how charming they might appear on the surface. No man will ever deceive me again.’
‘Nice thrust.’ He regarded her in some amusement. ‘I can’t recall having been particularly charming - owing to lack of encouragement,’ he seemed forced to add.
‘I never suggested you were charming!’
‘Don’t be childish, Teri; it’s totally uncharacteristic. So I’m to be classed in the same category as a fellow who jilts you on the wedding eve, am I?’
Teri flinched at his words, spoken with what could only be described as brutal indifference to her feelings.
‘I haven’t put you into any particular category,’ she returned curtly. ‘You’re a man and in consequence I’ve no interest in you whatsoever.’
Brand’s eyes glinted, cold as steel. But his tones were good-humoured enough as he said,
‘Fair enough, Teri. At least we know where we stand.’
She looked at him in bewilderment.
‘Where we stand?’
He quirked a smile at her.
‘It could be that I might have found you attractive.’ Brand watched her closely as he spoke, noticing the sudden fluctuation of colour in her face.
‘You talk a great deal of nonsense.’ Teri’s eyes were fixed on the sandwich she held between her fingers, and a glimmer of amusement entered her companion’s gaze.
‘And so do you,’ he responded, and once again she looked bewilderedly at him. ‘When you state so emphatically that you’re intending to remain a spinster,’ he elucidated. Teri fell silent; the conversation was too intimate, just as it had been on a previous occasion. Brand appeared to enjoy the intimacy; he was thoroughly human and not at all like the man who at first had treated her with such sarcasm and disdain. Why this interest? It was growing all the while... and Teri had to admit that it was having some effect on her own emotions. She cast Brand a flickering glance from under her lashes. He was smiling faintly, and that lip edged up at one side. Most attractive, it was. And those eyes, humorous and yet probing, were soft too in a way Teri had not noticed before.
‘It could be that I might have found you attractive,’ he had just said. Teri recalled her earlier notion that he was probably hoping to have an affair with her, hoping to gain some advantage by catching her on the rebound. And yet he was so cool about it all; there was nothing of the amorous, would-be lover about him as he leant back in the chair, one brown hand tapping the arm while the other came up suddenly to stifle a yawn. No, there was certainly nothing of the lover about him, she decided, feeling relieved by this. Brand was a good friend to Jon and Teri wished only that the friendship remain unimpaired. This would be impossible were any complications to occur in her own relationship with Brand - and complications must undoubtedly result were he to make any sort of advance towards her.
‘You know, Teri,’ Brand was saying, ‘the fellow isn’t worth a thought.’
She looked across at Brand, strangely unperturbed by this plain speaking. Nevertheless, she had no wish to prolong this conversation and she said,
‘I’m not willing to discuss my private affairs, Brand, so we’ll change the subject if you don’t mind.’
His mouth tightened; he had all the air of the imperious dictator who had forcibly put a stop to her work some half an hour or so earlier.
‘Haven’t you the sense to forget the man?’
Her eyes blazed.
‘I’ve said we’ll change the subject!’
Brand ignored that.
‘It’s obvious that both you and Jon came out here in order to forget the past. Jon seems to be succeeding, whereas you seem determined not to do so.’
‘Is it any of your business?’ she asked frigidly.
Brand stood up.
‘None at all,’ he replied unexpectedly. ‘Tell Jon I’ll be over in the morning to see how he is.’ A small pause and then, with emphasis, ‘And I’ll send some of my men over to finish the harrowing. Leave that tractor where it is.’
Teri clenched her teeth.
‘Who do you think you are to give me orders like that?’ she demanded furiously.
‘You’ve already asked me that.’ A gleam of sardonic humour replaced the steely light in his eyes. ‘I told you I was the man with the strong hand, remember?’
She could not stand any more and, rising to her feet, she ordered him out of the house.
‘As Jon’s asleep,’ she added for good measure, ‘there’s no need for you to be here at all. You’re his friend, not mine.’
He looked down at her with an expression of acute disdain before, swinging round, he left the room, taking the verandah steps two at a time. Teri watched him mount and ride away, down towards the river and the bridge. After a while she realized she was trembling slightly in spite of her relief at having rid herself of his company.
CHAPTER FIVE
WHAT had she done? Would he stay away, because she had insulted him? Had she caused an irreparable rift between her brother and Brand?
‘I don’t care,’ she told herself, picking up the tray and taking it into the kitchen. ‘He deserved it. And if he’s a man at all he’ll admit that he deserved it!’
Easy to tell herself that she did not care, but as the evening wore on Teri found herself carrying a leaden weight in the pit of her stomach. Jon had wakened and eaten a light meal, but he had instantly dozed off again. Linda brought Wendy back, but left on hearing that Jon was sleeping.
‘I’m going to the Daleys’ for supper,’ she said, adding, ‘You don’t mind if I come ov
er in the morning?’
‘Of course not; come any time. Jon’s much better this evening,’ Teri added, watching Linda’s face.
‘I’m glad. He should be up tomorrow, don’t you think?’ Her expression was controlled, but Teri was not deceived. Linda was fast losing her heart to Jon.
‘Yes, Linda, he’ll be up - for a while. He’s still weak, otherwise he wouldn’t be sleeping so much, so I expect he’ll soon tire and want to go back to bed.’
Linda nodded.
‘I’ll be here early and stay for lunch - if you’ll have me for lunch, that is?’ she grinned.
‘We’ll all be delighted. Thanks for having Wendy.’
‘A pleasure. That child’s a gem—’ Linda broke off as Wendy, having been along to her father’s room, reappeared. ‘Night-night, Little Dainty. See you tomorrow.’
‘Why is Daddy always asleep?’ Wendy was asking a few minutes later as Teri was bathing her. ‘I wanted to tell him what I had for my tea.’
‘Daddy will be awake tomorrow. He’s been very poorly and when you’re poorly you usually want to sleep a lot.’ Teri dropped a couple of plastic ducks into the water. ‘You can tell me what you had for your tea.’
‘It was sandwiches - all kinds, which Auntie Linda asked Shaka to make. Shaka’s Uncle Brand’s cooking lady. Did you know that?’
Teri smiled at her niece.
‘Yes, I knew that.’
‘Well, Shaka made these beautiful sandwiches and we had cakes as well and lovely fruit with cream on it.’
‘That sounds awfully good. Did you say thank you to Auntie Linda?’
Wendy nodded vigorously.
‘Yes, I did, and I said thank you to Shaka as well, because she did all the work.’
‘That was a good girl.’
‘I told Auntie Linda that my mummy used to make nice cakes like those.’ Wendy pushed one of the ducks about with her toe. ‘Auntie Linda said a funny thing when I told her Mummy had gone away on a long holiday. She said, “Poor Wendy. They should have told you the truth.” What did she mean?’
Teri bit her lip. Linda’s conclusions were that Jon had made this lie up in preference to telling his daughter the ‘truth’ - which was, so Linda believed, that her mother was dead. What a muddle! Teri felt she would be relieved when the truth did eventually come out, even though it must place Jon in an awkward position. But this present situation could not continue; Linda was becoming more and more enmeshed while Jon himself probably remained in ignorance of her feelings for him.
‘I don’t know what she meant,’ lied Teri, adding, ‘It wasn’t anything important, though. There, are you ready to come out?’
‘Not yet,’ coaxed Wendy. ‘Just a teeny-weeny bit more time?’
‘Very well. Where’s your other duck? Are you sitting on it?’ she teased, and Wendy looked up at her and laughed.
‘ ‘Course not. It would hurt!’ Wendy found it and began playing with it. ‘Auntie Linda asked me if Mummy was pretty and I said yes, she was the prettiest lady in the whole world—’ Wendy stopped, her brow furrowing as she gazed up at her aunt. ‘You’re pretty as well.’ Wendy lapsed into concentration, her wide brow still furrowed. ‘Have I told a big fib? You see, I think you are as pretty as Mummy, but I said she was the prettiest lady in the whole world.’
‘No, darling, you haven’t told a fib. To you, Mummy is the prettiest lady in the whole world.’ Teri’s voice trembled, and she swallowed a lump in her throat. ‘Come, my pet, let’s have you out.’ Wendy made no demur this time and Teri lifted her out and began rubbing her down. ‘Are you quite dry now?’
‘Yes, and I’m tired as well. Can I have my milk in bed?’
‘Very well.’ Teri took it in a few minutes after putting Wendy to bed. The child was fast asleep and Teri stood staring down at her for a long while, the glass of warm milk in her hand. Bright curls tumbled about the pillow; the childish mouth was curved in a contented smile. Teri thought of Linda, who seemed so taken with the child ... and then Teri’s thoughts switched to Brand and the way she had ordered him from the house. Jon would be so upset; he would be angry too, there was no doubt about that. Brand was the only real friend he had; he was a friend on whom Jon relied and already he had been enormously helpful to him.
Utterly miserable, and fatigued from her work, Teri sat on the stoep, inhaling the cool fresh air and making a concentrated effort to relax and forget all about her quarrel with Brand. But it was impossible and her eyes kept straying to the lights flickering through the trees bordering the river. Brand always had the outside light on and Teri could picture the smooth lawns illuminated, and the vivid bougainvillea which grew up the pillars at the end of the front stoep. Brand would be alone, since Linda was visiting Larry and Joan Daley.
The stillness became oppressive; Teri felt lonely and lost and the weight in her stomach remained, making it all worse, as it was a constant reminder of her quarrel with Brand. At last she reached a decision and, driving the station wagon, she reached the road and then the turning which led to their neighbour’s tree-lined drive, Complete darkness had fallen and the stars flared, brighter and more spectacular than anything Teri had ever seen in England. The air all around was deliciously cool; it brought exotic perfumes floating through the open windows of the car. Away in the dim purple distance the black outline of vegetation growing along the banks of the Limpopo took on strange shapes as it cut sharply into the sky. It was a mystic world of silence and darkness, a peaceful world and to her surprise Teri felt tranquil despite the ordeal to come. Brand would be sure to reveal his satisfaction quite openly; caustic remarks would be ruthlessly uttered and those hazel eyes would readily assume their familiar expression of sardonic amusement.
Brand was on the front stoep, relaxing in a cane chair, a book unopened on his lap. He stood up as she brought the station wagon to a standstill on the forecourt of the lodge.
‘Is something wrong?’ he asked, anxiously scanning her face. ‘Jon?’
Teri shook her head, and moved towards him with rather slow, reluctant steps.
‘No, it isn’t Jon,’ was all she could say at first. Brand continued to examine her face, dawning perception in his eyes. He brought forward a chair.
‘Sit down, Teri, and tell me to what I owe the honour of this visit.’ He spoke with an edge of humour and instead of portraying the humility intended Teri sent him a speaking glance. ‘Sit down,’ he repeated, and she obeyed, looking up at him as he stood beside her chair. His eyes flickered; he appeared to be slightly impatient, she thought, and wondered if he were noticing the black smudges under her eyes - the result of tiredness and of remaining out in the sun too long.
‘You’ll be delighted to know that I’m here to offer an apology for ordering you from our house,’ she said at last in tones scarcely audible. ‘It’s because of Jon. I hope you won’t stop coming to Karunda?’
His lips twitched.
‘Scared, eh?’ he said sardonically. ‘Which is in effect an admission that you do rely on my advice to some extent?’
She nodded, swallowing saliva collecting on her tongue.
‘You have been a great help to us,’ she admitted. ‘Jon would be lost if you decided to stay away because of - of what I said to you.’
‘Do you think I would stay away for that reason?’
‘It would be understandable. It was not very good manners to order you to leave—’
‘It was the height of bad manners,’ he swiftly cut in. ‘It may interest you to know that it was the first time anyone has ever dared speak to me like that.’
‘I’m sure it is,’ she agreed, averting her head because of the sternness in his eyes and the severe set of his mouth.
‘And if anyone should venture to do so again—’
‘No threats, please. I’m trying to exhibit an appropriate amount of humility, but you’re not helping.’
‘An appropriate amount?’ with grim humour. ‘And how much is that?’ Teri merely frowned at him and his amusemen
t grew, his eyes twinkling as they continued to survey her. ‘Why should I help, anyway? And as a matter of fact I can’t detect one scrap of humility about you. However, we’ll forget the whole thing and begin all over again. Sit back on that chair and relax; you look like a terrified child sitting there right on the edge.’
She sat back, wishing with all her heart that she could retaliate in the way which would have afforded her the most satisfaction. If only the man were not so imperious and domineering!
He was ringing a bell.
‘What are you having?’ he inquired of Teri, and then, before she could reply, ‘You’d better have something strong.’
‘Lemonade,’ she returned defiantly.
Brand spoke to the servant in Afrikaans and a short while later the glass was being handed to Teri by Brand.
‘Singapore,’ he explained on noting her expression. ‘For the nerves.’
Putting the glass down on the table, she said,
‘I asked for lemonade. There’s nothing wrong with my nerves.’ Brand merely shook his head in exasperation and Teri repeated sharply, ‘I asked for lemonade.’
‘And now you’re asking for that strong hand again. Drink that and no more argument. I’ve taken just about as much as I can from you, Teri. From the moment you first set eyes on me you’ve acted like a fractious child. I’m quite unwilling to take any more.’
‘You baffle me.’ Teri looked at him as he sat down opposite to her. ‘I’m at a complete loss to understand your attitude of today.’ She picked up her glass, prudently deciding it were better to placate him because he looked very much as if he would carry out that repeated threat, preposterous as it would be. But then his entire behaviour had been preposterous - from the moment he had taken her up on his horse to the point where he threatened to put her into the bath.
‘Baffle you, do I?’ He twirled his glass, appearing to be interested only in its sparkling contents. ‘Well, that’s something. I wondered when I’d begin to awaken- some emotion in you.’ He drank and put down his glass, then leant forward slightly and she saw with surprise that his eyes and mouth had softened. She lowered her head, aware of him, as she had been aware of him on several other occasions. She felt intensely affected by the power of him, the lean masculinity, the attraction. It suddenly struck her that although she had dearly loved Kemp she had never been similarly moved by his attractiveness.