by Anne Hampson
Jake, she was thinking a moment later. His illness couldn’t be serious, she told herself vehemently. No, it must not be serious!
She had not been downstairs more than five minutes when Rohan arrived. The children saw him first as his long graceful strides covered the distance along the drive, and with squeals of delight they ran to meet him. Susie was swung up into his arms, then seated firmly on his shoulder. Geoffrey was then brought up to occupy the other and with the same easy grace Rohan continued walking towards the house. Dominie’s heart fluttered on his appearance, and one hand sought the patio rail, as if she would support herself. Her love for him was an almost physical thing, an emotion so strong that it carried a small access of pain to her heart, and there it remained, even when, easing himself down carefully, he kissed her quivering lips, and then her forehead.
‘Ooh, it’s not fair!’ exclaimed Susie with a pout. ‘You said that all your kisses were saved for me! And you said you only like little girls—not big ones!’
‘Never!’ he laughed, turning his head to kiss her. ‘I like all girls.’
‘You said you only like little girls,’ persisted Susie. ‘I told you that, didn’t I, Auntie Dominie?’
‘Yes, Susie, you did.’
‘Did she, by gad! Down you get, brat—for telling tales out of school!’
‘Don’t you want a kiss, Geoffrey?’ asked Susie as she was being lowered to the floor of the patio.
‘No, I do not!’ Geoffrey was put down beside his sister. ‘I’m a big boy, and big boys don’t have kisses!’
‘Off you go and play,’ ordered Rohan a few minutes later, and the children instantly obeyed him.
‘Mrs. Edgley’s here,’ Dominie informed him as he eased himself into a chair. ‘She called just before lunch and I asked her to stay. She’s so lonely, Rohan.’ Before he could speak she had told him all, ending by saying that Erica would be staying to dinner. ‘I thought it would be good for her to have company; also, I said that if she waited until I’d phoned the hospital she would know whether or not she could visit Jake there.’
Rohan was frowning.
‘How do you know Jake will want to see her?’
‘I’m hoping—’ Dominie stopped, biting her lip. Somehow, she had a strong suspicion that Rohan would not understand. ‘She’s still in love with him, after all these years. Don’t you think, darling, that it would be wonderful if Jake fell in love too, and they got married?’
Rohan’s eyes widened at this.
‘Good heavens, aren’t you a bit ahead of the situation? Jake’s probably forgotten all about the woman’s very existence. It wasn’t as if he ever cared a rap for her. I expect plenty of women fell in love with him in his youth. He’s handsome enough now, so he must have set many a feminine heart racing when he was young.’
‘You don’t think much of my notion, then?’
The amber eyes twinkled with amusement.
‘No, my would-be little matchmaker, I do not. And now, take that frown off your face and give your lord and master a smile!’
The ache in her heart was healed by those words, and although she still retained an ache which had nothing to do with her own love, she managed to smile as ordered. But she did at the same time lift her chin and proceed to remind him that he was not yet her lord and master.
‘And even when we’re married,’ she went on to tell him, ‘I shall not be a meek little come-hither wife. I intend to have a will of my own!’
‘Rebellion already!’ His straight dark brows drew together in a frown. ‘Shall I beat you into submission—or make love to you?’
Startled, she gave a rather shaky little laugh.
‘I was only teasing,’ she said.
‘Scared now, are you? Yes, I think I shall make love to you, so that you’ll know, for future reference, who’s the master.’
After a nervous little cough Dominie said,
‘Mrs. Edgley—Erica—I was telling you about her. I do think that Jake might grow to care for her, no matter what you say to the contrary. She’s awfully sweet, Rohan...’ Her voice trailed off as Rohan burst out laughing. He stood up and drew her close against his hard and muscled body: she saw his head come down, felt the first touch of his lips that was no more than the caress of a breeze in summer ... and then she was possessed, her lips and her body; her very soul seemed to be stolen from her by his ardour and his strength.
‘Rohan,’ she gasped, trying to twist her body away after succeeding to free her lips. ‘Please!’
At last he held her at a distance, his hands gentle on her arms, his eyes dark with suppressed passion and yet surprisingly retaining a hint of amusement in their depths.
‘So ... I can scare you, it seems. Don’t worry, my dear sweet love, I’ll never harm you.’ Tenderly he kissed her, then let his mouth caress her face and the lovely curve of her throat. ‘Did I really frighten you, my darling?’
‘J-just a little,’ she owned, pressing her face into the gleaming whiteness of the cotton shirt he wore. ‘Or perhaps,’ she amended in a muffled voice, ‘it was myself I was afraid of.’
‘You ... darling!’ And she was swept into the whirlpool of his ardour again, her soft breasts crushed against the iron-hardness of his chest, her mouth bruised under the mastery of his. She had asked for it, of course, and she made no effort at resistance this time, but gave herself up to the sheer undiluted rapture of the moment. But when his hand came from her back and would have cupped her breast she caught it swiftly and put it to her cheek. Softly he laughed, and drew away from her a little, so that he could look down into her eyes, eyes drowsy and darkly shadowed by the longing that was still intensely gripping her. ‘My cautious little love... I adore you!’
She gave a shy and quiet laugh, responding to his own.
‘I love you dearly,’ she whispered huskily. ‘How much I cannot say, but all I know is that, in so short a time, you’ve become my very life. Without you I should die—’
‘You’ll never be without me—never!’
Mistily she looked into his eyes, searching them, probing, endeavouring to read his thoughts.
‘Whatever happened ... you would still love me?’ What words were these to ask a lover? His voice, his expression, his caress, his tender roughness that was ardour held in check ... all these were proof of enduring love, and yet that question had emerged from some tortured corner of her mind, to be voiced through lips that quivered almost piteously.
‘Darling, what’s the matter?’ His anxious voice, tender-edged and low, was accompanied by a protective tightening of his arms again as Dominie was brought up close to him. ‘This is for ever; you must know that. It’s no shallow, purely physical attraction that we’ve found, but something so deep and lasting that it will endure until the very end.’ His voice was grave now and so were his eyes. ‘I have no doubts, my dearest, so why should you?’
‘I’m silly,’ she admitted, pressing her face into his shoulder. ‘It’s just that I’m so happy that I’m frightened.’ She paused, waiting, but Rohan made no comment and she continued, ‘I suppose a man thinks differently from a woman. He doesn’t harbour stupid fears and doubts; he doesn’t see pictures that aren’t really there.’
‘Pictures? What sort of pictures?’
She shrugged deprecatingly.
‘Pictures of—of disaster,’ she said at last, and received a little shake, and a smack.
‘Stop being silly! I mean it, Dominie!’ There was no softness about him now. On the contrary, his face was stern and set, his thrusting jaw flexed, his eyes flickering with a warning light. ‘Snap out of it—do you hear?’
‘Yes. I’m sorry...’ She hated his mood, and she was angry with herself for causing it. ‘D-don’t be like this, Rohan.’
He softened then, and for a long moment she knew the thrill of his kisses again.
‘Better now?’ he asked gently, and she nodded.
‘I don’t know what came over me.’
‘Probably pent-up emotions,’ h
e said with a bluntness that made her blush. ‘I hope it won’t be too long before we can be married—Don’t be so embarrassed, my pet. It’s natural. For myself, I want you now—this minute!’
CHAPTER SEVEN
Both to Dominie’s disappointment and Erica’s, Jake was not allowed visitors. He was comfortable, was the non-committal report received when Dominie telephoned the hospital. No, said the abrupt voice at the other end of the line, his illness had not yet been diagnosed.
‘I have the sure conviction that I’m not to meet Jake.’ Erica’s voice was listless and edged with resignation. ‘I’d like to keep in touch until I leave the island,’ she added, glancing from Dominie to Rohan who had strolled over again after dinner—just to kiss Dominie goodnight, he said. ‘I would be happy to know that he’s getting better.’
‘Of course you must keep in touch,’ Dominie agreed, wishing Rohan would be a little more friendly towards Erica. He had no time for women who ran after men, he had earlier told his fiancée. It was the male who should do the hunting, as nature had ordained. ‘Come whenever you like. I wish I could invite you to stay here, but I’m afraid I couldn’t take it upon myself to go that far.’ A sideways glance at Rohan revealed a lifting of his brows in a gesture of astonishment that Dominie should even mention such a thing as that of having Erica stay at Sunset Lodge in Jake’s absence.
‘It’s kind of you to think of that, Dominie, but as you say, I can’t stay here without Jake’s permission. I’ll accept your offer to come and see you, though. I’m alone, as you know, and it’ll be pleasant to have your company now and then.’ She looked at Rohan; his handsome face was impassive, and with a sort of urgency Erica rose and picked up her handbag from the couch where she had been sitting. ‘I’ll say goodnight—’ A smile fluttered; Erica seemed nervous and unsure of herself as she took a backward step towards the door. ‘I’ll call round tomorrow afternoon, if I may?’
‘Come for lunch,’ invited Dominie impulsively. ‘There’s no need to be on your own. I shall love to have you, and so will the children.’
The smile took on a more definite curve.
‘I will come for lunch,’ she decided, and went with Dominie to the front door. ‘I don’t think Mr. de Arden approves of me,’ she said quietly, and then she asked, before Dominie could find anything to say to that, ‘Is he your young man?’
Dominie became guarded, her thoughts immediately flitting to the possibility of a meeting between Erica and Jake—a meeting which she. Dominie, intended to bring about if she could.
‘He’s just a friend, Erica. He’s known Jake for years, and consequently he and Jake are regular visitors to one another’s homes. He’s exceedingly anxious about Jake at the present time.’
No more was said, except a final goodnight, and after waiting until Erica had disappeared from view Dominie returned to the sitting-room where Rohan was standing by the window, looking stern. Sensing a reprimand, Dominie forestalled it by asking about Jake’s wife.
‘Was she a good mother?’ Dominie added when Rohan had described Doreen as very lovely, with auburn hair and grey-green eyes.
‘I believe so. Jake never complained about her treatment of the children, and they appeared to be happy enough—’ He broke off, the stern expression still lingering on his face. ‘I expect you want me to say she wasn’t a good wife to Jake, and that Mrs. Edgley would have made a better one? Well, as I have never asked for Jake’s confidence on so intimate and personal a matter I wouldn’t know.’
Dominie swallowed. She knew a surge of dejection as the idea occurred to her that Rohan might be a little disappointed in her, considering her to be a meddlesome female who could not mind her own business.
‘Are you angry with me?’ she asked at length, unable to bear the hurt any longer.
‘I’m surprised that you should interfere in something that isn’t your concern. As I’ve said, I have no time for women who do the chasing, and if the truth were known it would probably transpire that Mrs. Edgley has no one else but herself to blame that Jake wanted nothing to do with her.’
‘You’re very unkind, Rohan,’ Dominie could not help saying as the sad face of Erica rose up before her. ‘A woman can’t help it if she falls in love with a man. And it must have been true love she felt for Jake, otherwise it would have died before now.’
‘Jake,’ responded Rohan with quiet deliberation, ‘is a very wealthy man.’
‘Erica isn’t interested in his money!’
‘That might be your opinion; it doesn’t happen to be mine.’
‘She has money of her own.’
‘Which is nothing in comparison.’
Dominie’s colour rose; she was angry and unhappy at the same time. There seemed to be so many facets to the personality of this man whom she was to marry, and she did wonder if there would be numerous occasions on which he would hurt her, as he was hurting her now, by the hardness of his features and the abruptness of his tone. Suddenly she wanted to be alone, to have Rohan leave before this discussion developed into a quarrel.
‘I’m tired,’ she said, trying to blink away the prick of tears behind her eyes. ‘I think I’ll go to bed ... if you don’t mind.’
Rohan stared, and as she watched a tiny gasp left her lips at the sudden transformation in his face. Tender lines erased the hardness round his mouth; the amber eyes softened and the voice was yielding and gentle as he said,
‘Darling, we’re not going to quarrel over this woman. She’ll be gone in just over a week and we shall probably never set eyes on her again.’ Crossing the room, Rohan took Dominie in his arms. ‘Don’t cry, my love—you mustn’t!’ His tender lips found hers; his kiss was reassuring and she shook off her unhappiness, smiling apologetically when a moment later he was gently drying her eyes with his handkerchief. ‘I love you for your anxiety over Mrs. Edgley,’ he said unexpectedly, but went on to add that in his opinion any matchmaking plans Dominie had were doomed to failure. ‘Forget all about them, my sweet, and give all your attention to your lover.’
Rohan was probably right, Dominie was telling herself when, the following morning at half-past eleven, she stood on the verandah and watched Erica coming along the path. Slender and youthful, Erica walked with a graceful, attractive swing. She seemed happier, even from this distance, and as she drew nearer Dominie noticed the half-smile on her lips.
‘It’s so nice to have somewhere to come to!’ she exclaimed on reaching Dominie. ‘It all seems so aimless, travelling about and sightseeing all the time—’ She gave a shrug. ‘And yet, when you’re on your own, what else is there to do?’
Inwardly, Dominie gave a deep sigh. She wished she could make a friend of Erica, could help her to feel less lonely. But as Rohan had said, Erica would be gone quite soon and it was unlikely that their paths would cross again. If only Jake had not been struck down as he had ... What was the use of wishful thinking?
‘Come right in,’ smiled Dominie, leading the way. ‘Will you have some coffee?’
‘I’d love some.’ Erica relaxed in the chair Dominie had indicated. ‘Have you any news of Jake’s condition?’
A quick nod from Dominie and then,
‘I phoned earlier and was told that he improved during the night. However, he’s still very poorly and they gave no hope of his being out this week.’
Erica’s face fell.
‘So I won’t see him? They’re still not allowing visitors?’
‘Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll let us visit him shortly. I’ve to ring again this afternoon. Rohan rang before I did, and then he rang me. They gave him exactly the same information as they gave me.’
‘The children must be upset at not being allowed to see their daddy.’
‘They are; but being at school will occupy their minds during the day. They stay to lunch, but will be back at half-past three, so you’ll still be here when they come home.’
‘You don’t mind my staying all that time?’
‘I enjoy your company, Erica,’ s
he returned, and went off to get the coffee.
They had drunk it, and were strolling in the garden when Erica said, rather awkwardly,
‘Your friend Mr. de Arden—I gained the impression that he despised me—’
‘Oh no!’ protested Dominie before the woman could go any further. ‘You mustn’t think things like that.’
‘I have the idea,’ continued Erica, by-passing the interruption as though it had not registered, ‘that he considers me a designing female whose only interest in Jake is his money.’
Astounded at this outspokenness, Dominie found an excuse for it only when she remembered that Erica had no idea that she was speaking to Rohan’s future wife.
‘You’re quite wrong, Erica.’ Dominie had to lie, and yet, as she half-turned her head to note her companion’s expression, she knew at once that she wasted her time. However, Erica was now too tactful to carry the matter any further and the conversation turned to Dominie herself, with Erica interestedly asking about her life in England. Obligingly Dominie supplied the information and in turn later heard a little more about Erica’s life.
‘My husband left me comfortably off,’ she said reflectively, ‘but I’m not wealthy, by any means. I live in a flat and manage to run a car.’ She paused, and bent down to touch with loving fingers the lovely spray orchids cascading over a low wall, their blooms of brilliant pink appearing luminescent as they caught the fierce rays of the sun. A hummingbird hovered intrepidly close to Erica’s hand, bringing the whole exotic picture to life. ‘Time often hangs, though,’ continued Erica, straightening up and allowing her gaze to follow the tiny bird as it flew into a golden candle bush. ‘And life becomes a bore. I feel that mine is a useless existence.’ She cast Dominie a sideways glance as they began strolling on again, towards the palm-shaded path leading to the swimming-pool. ‘You were fortunate in finding a post like this, Dominie, and I think that when I get back home I’ll try to find something similar.’