“I’ll see you both at dinner. Enjoy yourselves.” Blair did not smile and his eyes were dark and somber. She didn’t know why she felt pleased he would be sharing their meal. What would it take to make him laugh?
A maid let them out of the house, and once in the street Danny put on his slouch hat. They linked arms as they strolled along the path. She was filled with pride to be seen in the company of such a handsome young soldier.
They ambled along for a time admiring the many mansions with their park-like gardens. Even the smaller, more modest houses looked pretty.
“I’ve missed you like hell.” He pulled her into his arms and his kisses were hot and fierce.
“Danny, please, someone might see.”
“Don’t you want to kiss me?”
“Yes, but…”
His lips obliterated the rest of her answer. His hands pressed her so hard against him, the buttons on his uniform jacket dug into her breasts.
He moved his tongue inside her mouth, darting, flicking and tasting. She found herself responding to him. Her heart fluttered and excitement swirled around in the pit of her stomach.
“I love you, Laurie.” He shifted his lips so he could nibble her throat. “My mate told me about this hotel where they don’t ask any questions.”
“What!” She stiffened in his arms.
“Please.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ve thought of nothing else for days. I’m just about out of my mind with wanting you.”
“I, I… can’t.”
“If you loved me, you would.” His tone became sullen. “You’re my girl. We’re going to get married one day, so why not?”
“Sneaking off to some cheap hotel room would make everything seem sordid.”
“Yeah, too good for a common private, huh? You’re acting like some outraged virgin, and we both know you aren’t.”
Hot tears sprang to her eyes as she twisted away from him. She couldn’t believe he would say something so cruel to her.
“Laurie.” He strode after her. “God, I’m sorry. What a filthy thing to say.” He grabbed her arm. “Please, I’m a bastard. I didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, you did.” She let him swing her around. “It’s true.” Huge tears hung on her lashes.
“No. You’re beautiful, far too good for me. You always have been. I love you so much, it’s the only excuse I can offer. Oh, Laurie, Laurie.” He pulled her head onto his chest. “I’d cut my tongue out if it would do any good. You’re the best girl a man could ever have.”
He threaded his fingers through her hair. “I didn’t mean what I said. I love you so much and I wanted you. We mightn’t see each other for ages. I got desperate and lost my temper,” his voice broke. “There won’t ever be anyone else for me. You’re the only person in the world I care about.”
“Danny, Danny.” She nuzzled her face into the warm flesh of his throat. “It isn’t that I don’t love you. I’m frightened I might have a baby.”
His body went rigid. “Hell! You think you might be having one?”
“No.”
He sagged against her with relief.
“A week after you left, I knew everything was all right.”
“I’m a bastard for asking you to take such a risk again. Honestly I didn’t even think about it.”
“Men never do, but it’s all right as long as you still respect me. I couldn’t bear it if you didn’t.”
“You know I do. If we were older we could get married straight away, but there’s no way your father would give his consent. Later on, when I’ve made something of myself, he might agree.”
His lips brushed hers in a gentle caress. “Tell me all the news from home.”
She filled him in on all the local gossip. As he did not ask about his Uncle Alf, she volunteered no information about him.
“Your father didn’t mind you coming down to Melbourne?”
She gave a defiant toss of her head. “He wouldn’t let me, so I came anyway.”
“Hell.” He slapped his forehead with his open hand.
“It’s all right, I told Uncle Richard. He’s going to fix everything with Dad.”
“You defied your father for me?” He hugged her tight, and everything felt right with her world again. Be cheerful. You want him to go to the war with happy memories, not neglect his own safety because of worry about you.
“Seen much of the Bryson brothers?”
“Nope, they got transferred to a field ambulance unit, so I’ve only run into them a couple of times since. Captain Sinclair is a lucky devil. I wanted to join the Light Horse, but I was worried about the war ending before I got there. Now they won’t let me transfer. Let’s catch a tram into Melbourne and I’ll buy you afternoon tea. I heard of a nice tearoom from a mate.”
The cable trams were painted in distinctive colors and Laurie tried to curb her excitement. She had never been on a tram before. They climbed into the first car, which Danny explained was called a dummy.
“How do you know all about it?” she teased.
“Easy. Ernie, my mate, used to be a grip man on the trams, born and bred in Melbourne, so he knows his way about. Told me about the tearooms, too.”
Danny pointed out an iron handle, which passed through a slit so it could grip the cable below. “You see, when the grip man wants the tram to go forward, he uses a lever to close the gripper on the cable. When he wants to stop, he lets the cable go and applies the brakes. It sounds easy. I could probably drive one myself,” he boasted.
Except for the roof, the dummy was quite open, and she preferred this to the closed-in trailer part. The breeze lifted up her hair, whipping it across her face in gay abandonment, and had her clutching her hat lest it should fly away.
Danny gazed into her flushed face. How beautiful she was, and he hated himself afresh for the cruel words he had thrown at her. He wanted to go to the war, craved the excitement, but leaving Laurie was the hardest thing he had done in his life. A few months away would quell the restlessness that had become a driving force within him, and then he would never leave her side again.
“I don’t need to ask whether you’re enjoying yourself,” he said.
“It’s wonderful! I love it.” The soft shining light in her eyes told him she had forgiven him, and he was glad. She meant more to him than any living person and always would.
“Is this your first ride, Miss?” the grip man asked.
“Yes, I love it.”
All too soon the ride ended. Danny helped her alight with a hand under one elbow. She put her hat back on and ran her fingers through her hair to give it some semblance of order before slipping her arm through his.
Inside the small tearoom they sat on a red velvet seat positioned against a wall. All the tables were covered with lacy white cloths, adding to the atmosphere of quiet refinement.
“How about a pot of tea and some scones with jam and cream?” he asked
“Thanks, sounds nice.”
When the food arrived they ate hungrily. “Beautiful.” She wiped a dab of cream from her lips with a red serviette.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Would you like to browse around the shops, or we could go back to your aunt’s place, maybe take a stroll along the beach before it gets late.”
“A stroll along the beach, I think.” She gave an excited giggle.
Danny picked up the docket and paid their bill on the way out. Once more they found themselves jammed between throngs of scurrying people. As far as she could see, Melbourne people rushed everywhere. Such clatter and noise was terrible.
In the motorized cab she sighed with pleasure as they reclined in comfortable seats.
“I’m being spoilt, cable trams, motorized taxis. Blair and Helen picked me up from the station in a Ford. Dad won’t believe all the things I’ve done. Are you really happy?” She bit her lip. “I mean in the army and everything.”
“Yeah, don’t worry about me.” He draped his arm across her shoulders and she rested her head on his c
hest. The coarse material of his jacket tickled her skin.
As they alighted the sun shone, having successfully chased the clouds away. The trees were breaking out in their beautiful spring blossom, and the cool air smelt faintly of the sea.
Danny paid the driver and they stood together without speaking until the motorcar disappeared. Holding hands, still without speaking, they ambled towards Uncle Richard’s house.
Two bangs of the heavy brass knocker summoned a maid.
“We only called in for a moment to let you know we’ve arrived back from town. Oh, and to give you our hats. We want to go for a walk along the beach,” Laurie said.
“Very good, Miss, I’ll tell them inside.” The girl took their headgear.
They ambled towards the back garden and the picket gate giving them access to the beach. “This is fun,” Laurie said.
“Yeah, best day I’ve spent in ages,” Danny agreed, holding the gate open.
They wandered along for a time, the golden sand soft against their feet. Without speaking, they stared out across the blue water trying to find a ship, but the horizon was strangely empty. Seagulls flew all around them, and she could scarcely believe how tame they were.
“I’m glad you wear your hair down. I like it all flying loose. Lots of women put it up, but it wouldn’t suit you. You’ll write to me when I let you know where to send the mail, won’t you? It’s awful not getting anything at mail call.”
“Of course I’ll write—twice a week, at least,” she vowed.
“Good. I knew I could depend on you. Think I’ll have a paddle in the water.”
“Your uniform might get wet.”
“No, it won’t.” He sat down and started unwinding his cloth puttees. She watched with interest as he removed his boots and socks before rolling up his trousers.
“Come on, take your shoes and stockings off and have a paddle with me.”
“But I, I couldn’t,” she spluttered, feeling embarrassed.
“Why not? I’ll turn my back like a true gentleman.” He laughed, and under his teasing she decided it would be rather nice to have a paddle in the sea. Most unladylike, but there was still some of the tomboy left in her, even if she had turned seventeen.
“Turn your back and don’t peek,” she instructed.
He turned away and she rested one hand on his shoulder for support, hopping first on one foot, then the other. Rolling her stockings together, she shoved them inside her shoe.
“Can I turn around now?” he asked
“Yes.”
Grinning, he loped towards the water, leaving her to follow at a more sedate pace. Charging straight ahead, he did not stop until the water lapped around his knees, then throwing his arms above his head he urged her on.
Tentatively she dangled a toe in. Ooh, the water felt freezing.
“Scaredy cat,” he taunted, grabbing her hand to drag her in deeper.
“Danny,” she shrieked, grabbing at the hem of her skirt so it wouldn’t get soaked.
“The sea looks never ending, doesn’t it? Imagine sailing across it. A couple of months ago, if someone had suggested such a thing, I’d have laughed in his face. Laurie, I embark tomorrow.” His countenance turned grave, his eyes became dark and shadowed.
“So soon?” she asked in an aching whisper.
“Yes, that’s why I acted like I did before, because I won’t be seeing you for ages. I got desperate. Forgive me?”
“Yes, I panicked. I do love you.” She reached out and stroked his cheek with trembling fingers.
“Same here.” He tapped her under the chin. “Think of it, in a few weeks’ time I might be in England or France. Would you like me to bring you back some French perfume, maybe some fancy lace stuff? What was the name of that famous church in France?”
“Notre Dame.”
“Yeah, I might see it, too.” His voice rose with enthusiasm and his brown eyes danced with a sudden excited expectation.
“You’ll have to fight.”
“Nothing I like better than a fight. Come on, let’s run and warm ourselves up a bit.”
He grasped her hand and they set off, laughing and kicking up sprays of water as they went. He slowed down for a moment and then, putting on a spurt, dragged her after him, and their laughter rang out on the deserted beach.
They raced up and down, sometimes on the sand, other times in the water. She clutched her skirt in one hand while Danny hung on to the other.
“No more, please.” She collapsed against him breathless.
“Maybe we’d better start back. It’ll be dark soon,” he said as the sun streaked the sky with pink. Darkness fell swiftly this time of year.
“Race you back to our boots.” He started running, but after a few yards he stopped and waited for her to catch up. Hand in hand they started off again, Laurie laughing, he whooping loudly.
She glanced up and the laughter caught in her throat. Blair Sinclair stood on the beach smoking his pipe and watching them. She glanced down at her creased skirt with its damp hemline. Heat rushed into her face as his gaze strayed to her ankles and bare feet.
“We were having races, neither of us has been to the beach before,” she explained with an embarrassed giggle.
“I enjoyed watching you both. Oh, to be young and carefree again.” He gave a huge sigh.
“You aren’t old, Blair, are you?”
“I’m twenty-eight. Your aunt wanted to let you know that dinner will be ready soon. I felt like a smoke, so I volunteered to fetch you.”
He knocked the pipe out on his heel. “Didn’t think I’d be entertained, as well.” He gave a soft chuckle. His eyes turned misty blue in the fading light, causing the usual air of graveness he wore to lift momentarily. Why did her heart beat quicken?
Danny, looking sheepish, dragged on his socks and boots, and she watched with interest as he put on the cloth puttees that covered his trousers from ankle to knee.
“I’ll have to tidy up a little. I must look awful,” she apologized
“You look quite lovely, Lauren.” Blair’s compliment had her staring at him in surprise. What was there about him that made her think he was sad?
“Laurie always looks nice. Doesn’t put on all that makeup stuff, either,” Danny tacked on gallantly. She walked between the two soldiers, feeling rather foolish in bare feet.
“Maybe you had better go upstairs and change your skirt, you’re a bit bedraggled. Captain Sinclair and I can entertain your aunt until you get back.” Danny laughed. It sounded so happy and spontaneous that she joined in. Their laughter emphasized Blair’s sobriety. Was he worried about something?
“What on earth is going on?” Like a ship rigged for racing, Helen sailed out, immaculately groomed as always, causing Laurie to feel even more disheveled.
“Really, Lauren. Your skirt! As for your hair…” She grimaced with distaste.
“Come on, darling, they went paddling in the sea,” Blair jumped to their defense. “They’re young enough to enjoy such a frolic.”
“There’s no need to encourage them. I blame you for this.” She turned her venom on Danny.
“Leave it, Helen. The boy embarks for overseas tomorrow. Why begrudge him a bit of fun? I should be going myself soon, once this wretched holdup with the horses has been sorted out.”
“Blair, you can’t go overseas. I’ll worry every minute you’re gone.”
He smiled tenderly as he gazed down at Helen. When they came to the house, Laurie felt even more embarrassed about her bare feet.
“Maybe I should use the servant’s entrance.”
“Don’t be foolish, Lauren.” Helen’s laugh sounded forced. “If you could only see yourself.”
Laurie dashed upstairs and changed into her travel outfit. Within fifteen minutes she joined the others who waited in the sitting room.
“You weren’t long.” Danny grinned.
The four course dinner was partaken in a leisurely fashion, and it was nine o’clock before they retired to the sitt
ing room for coffee. Uncle Richard had rung at the last minute before dinner, saying he had urgent business requiring his attention. Laurie was sorry he would not be able to meet Danny, but he did put his car and chauffeur at their disposal.
She sat in a chair with Danny perched on the arm. His long legs were stretched out straight in front of him, his arm draped across her shoulders.
“Will you thank Mr. Cunningham for arranging my transport back to camp?”
“It’s the least we could do.” Aunt Jane smiled, the charming perfect hostess.
The evening passed pleasantly. Danny laughed a lot, and Laurie knew he was excited about going overseas.
“I should be leaving soon. There’s a curfew tonight,” he announced, standing up with a suddenness that took her by surprise.
Aunt Jane shocked Laurie by saying quite warmly. “Good luck, Danny.”
“Thanks, but who needs luck. I can’t wait to have a go at the Hun.”
Laurie watched his eyes sparkle with a frightening, reckless glow.
“You might get killed or wounded,” her voice wavered.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be all right. You know something? I’m not frightened of dying. In fact, I’d rather die than come back maimed. Imagine losing a leg or…”
“Stop it. Stop it!” The words were wrenched from her throat. Danny crippled or maimed? She began to cry. It was too awful to contemplate.
“I’m sorry.” He dragged her into his arms. “Don’t cry, please. I didn’t mean to upset you. It was a stupid thing to say.”
She sobbed, brokenhearted, against his chest.
“Don’t cry anymore. You know I could never stand it when you cried.” He raised her head, brushing her tears away with his fingertips. “I want to remember you smiling when I leave.” His thumb caressed her cheek. “That’s better.” He laughed when she gave a watery smile. “See, you can do it if you try.”
“Take care, I mean, eat properly and everything.”
“’Course I will, and I’ll write as soon as I can. Don’t forget you promised to write at least twice a week. Knit me some socks, too, if you like, long thick ones. It’s sure to be cold in France,” he teased.
“You know I can’t knit very well.”
Lauren's Dilemma Page 4