Storm In A Rain Barrel

by Anne Mather

  Yvonne left immediately after dinner, driving away recklessly in the red low-slung sports car that had brought her to Grey Witches. Mrs. Mannering retired to bed with a headache and as Melanie was engrossed in a book about horse-breeding, Domine watched television. It was quite a novelty really and she enjoyed it. She refused Lily’s offer of supper and went to bed early feeling a little less alien than the previous night …

  During the next few days she saw little of James Mannering. According to his mother he was continually on the telephone to London and she abhorred the bills he must be running up. She had by no means got over the way he had acted the day Yvonne Park had spent with them, but if her constrained attitude was an attempt to bring pressure to bear on her son she didn’t seem to be making much progress.

  Domine’s days were full of riding and walking and helping Melanie. The older girl seemed to have accepted her for what she was, and obviously didn’t consider she represented any problems so far as James Mannering was concerned. As they got to know one another, Melanie had confided her affection for James, and had admitted that he was the only reason she put up with Geraldine Mannering’s barbs, but although Domine appreciated Melanie’s trust she couldn’t dispel the disturbing emotions that the other girl’s words had aroused in her. Maybe it was because for the first time in nine years she was living a normal, family life that Domine felt such an unreasonably possessive attitude towards her guardian, she didn’t know, but she did know that she didn’t want him to consider marrying anybody right now.

  The weather maintained a calm countenance and the mornings were becoming quite frosty. Domine always rose early and went out with Rosie, the mare, on to the moors. Sometimes Melanie accompanied her, and once James himself joined them, but mostly she was alone and she forgot the anger James had displayed that first morning when she had ridden away on her own. After all, she was never too far from the house, and she felt quite capable of avoiding any unsavoury characters she might encounter.

  All the same, she got quite a start one morning when she had dismounted and was allowing Rosie to crop the grass and a horseman came galloping up to her. Gathering the mare’s reins ready to make her escape, she relaxed smilingly when she saw that the horseman was none other than Vincent Morley.

  ‘Hello there!’ he said cheerfully. ‘This is a pleasant surprise.’

  Domine smiled, and allowed Rosie to go on cropping the turf.

  ‘I’ve not seen you on the moors before,’ she said, looking up.

  Vincent dismounted. ‘You mean you do this regularly?’

  Domine nodded. ‘Most mornings.’

  ‘I see.’ Vincent’s smile warmed her. ‘I must make a point of riding out more often. Where do you usually go?’

  ‘Oh, just about this far,’ said Domine, looking round. ‘Just so that I can see the sea. It’s a lovely view from here.’

  ‘Have you been down to the coast? To Whitby or Scarborough?’

  Domine shook her head. ‘No. Actually, I haven’t been anywhere yet. Mr. Mannering is busy writing, and I’ve been helping Melanie about the farm.’

  ‘Good heavens!’ Vincent Morley frowned. ‘But surely your guardian doesn’t know you’re doing that!’

  Domine shrugged. ‘I don’t know whether he knows or not. Does it matter?’

  ‘Well, I should say so. After all, there’s no necessity for it.’

  ‘I know, but I enjoy it,’ said Domine simply. She sighed. ‘It is beautiful here, isn’t it? I never get tired of the emptiness of it all.’

  Vincent shook his head. ‘You’re an unusual girl,’ he remarked. ‘Most girls in your position and with your opportunities would be hankering after the bright lights. I should have thought James would have found it difficult to keep you here.’

  Domine bent her head. ‘I suppose it’s easier for him—keeping me here, I mean, and as he happens to be able to work at the moment, I don’t think he notices either me or his surroundings.’

  Vincent took out some cigarettes and offered her one and they smoked companionably for a few minutes. Then Vincent said:

  ‘Anyway, you’ll be leaving for London soon enough, I suppose. This play of James’s, the one they’re performing on television, it’s to be screened in a few days, isn’t it?’

  Domine frowned. ‘Is it? Oh! I didn’t know.’ She swept back the fringe from her brow. ‘Do you think James will need to go back for that?’ His name came naturally to her and she didn’t attempt to retract it.

  Vincent frowned. ‘Well, I would think so. It’s usual for last-minute directing and so on.’

  Domine’s heart fluttered a little. ‘I see. I shall be sorry to go.’

  And yet would she? she thought with candour. Yorkshire appealed to her most strongly because she had found a home here, but without James Mannering the home would be incomplete even if his remarks to her were few and far between. He was there—and that was the important thing.

  Suddenly and almost simultaneously, they heard the sound of horse’s hooves and Domine shaded her eyes to see who was approaching them. When she recognized her guardian, the fluttering in her breast increased uncomfortably. He was scowling when he reached them, and he sat astride the black hunter regarding them sourly.

  ‘So this is where you’ve got to,’ he said, addressing Domine, harshly. ‘Melanie told me you were out alone.’

  ‘I am—at least, I was,’ Domine amended hastily. ‘Mr. Morley just encountered me a few minutes ago.’

  ‘Indeed?’ James looked dourly at Vincent. ‘I didn’t know you rode out here in the mornings.’

  ‘I don’t very often,’ replied Vincent calmly. ‘It was by sheer chance I came up on Miss Grainger.’

  James considered this and then said: ‘Are you ready to ride back, Domine?’ in a cold tone.

  Domine gathered the mare’s reins, stepping on the stub of her cigarette. ‘Yes, I’m ready,’ she agreed, climbing into the saddle.

  ‘Then I’ll say goodbye—for now,’ said Vincent, smiling rather sardonically. ‘I may see you again some morning, Miss Grainger.’

  Domine nodded and smiled, and then Vincent Morley wheeled his horse and rode off with a casual salute. After he had gone, Domine made as if to move away, but James leant across and caught the reins, preventing her from controlling her mount.

  ‘I want to talk to you,’ he said bleakly, ‘and now is as good a time as any.’

  Domine shivered. ‘I’m cold,’ she said, rather nervously. ‘Can’t we talk back at the house?’

  ‘No. There are too many distractions there. Besides, my mother is careful to see we’re never left completely alone together.’

  Domine flushed. ‘I can’t imagine why,’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Can’t you?’ He gave a harsh smile. ‘Then obviously you haven’t been looking at yourself lately. With good food inside you, and plenty of fresh air and exercise, you’re developing into an attractive girl.’

  ‘Why, thank you,’ she murmured, attempting a casual tone and failing dismally.

  James glanced round, then he said: ‘Follow me,’ and allowed his horse to canter away across the moor. Domine followed him, glancing round occasionally to keep her bearings, for this was all new territory to her. Presently she saw James’s objective. Ahead of them was a shepherd’s hut, the kind of shed-like dwelling that could be used as a place for making a hot drink by a farmer searching for lambs or lost sheep.

  Reaching the hut, James dismounted and tethered his horse outside, then waited for Domine to join him. However, she dismounted swiftly, avoiding his assistance, and when he pushed open the door she preceded him into the hut. It was a stark lodging with only a bench and a table, and a spirit stove in one corner. But at least it was warmer out of the frosty morning air, and the light that filtered through the dusty window was already tinged with sunlight.

  Domine moved round the table, putting some little space between herself and her guardian, then said, ‘Now what do you want to say? That we’re leaving for London in a day o
r so?’

  James frowned. ‘Now where did you hear that?’

  ‘Mr. Morley was just telling me,’ she replied, shrugging. ‘He told me that your play is going to be transmitted in a few days’ time.’

  ‘That’s right, it is,’ said James, kicking at the unoffending leg of the table with his boot. ‘As my mother has constantly been complaining, I’ve been on the phone to London most days, but even so, it’s still become necessary for me to go down. Besides, it’s better to be on the spot.’

  ‘I can understand that,’ nodded Domine.

  ‘The point is—I don’t want you to come with me,’ he continued quietly.

  Domine’s head jerked up. ‘What?’

  He sighed. ‘You heard what I said, Domine. I want you to stay here—at Grey Witches.’

  ‘But why?’ Domine felt indignant. ‘You were the one who insisted I remained here with you, even though my great-uncle made no provision for me. Now you say you’re going back to London, and leaving me behind! Was that your intention all along? To bring me here and abandon me?’

  James chewed his lip. ‘I’m not abandoning you, Domine,’ he exclaimed impatiently. ‘You know you couldn’t possibly stay with me at the apartment in town!’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Don’t be deliberately obtuse! I don’t need to spell it out for you, do I? God, in no time at all people would be saying we were living together.’

  ‘Well, we would be,’ she said moodily.

  ‘All right, then,’ he snapped, ‘sleeping together!’

  Domine’s cheeks suffused with colour. ‘As you consider me such a child, there’d be no question of that!’ she retorted painfully.

  James glared at her. ‘I am not treating you as a child, Domine. Hell, it’s not many minutes ago that I agreed you were an attractive girl—’

  ‘How kind!’ Domine’s eyes flashed. ‘How patronizing!’

  ‘Oh, what’s got into you, Domine?’ he exclaimed, raking a hand through his thick hair. ‘What do you want me to say? I don’t know the current teenage jargon!’

  ‘And nor do I!’ she returned fiercely. ‘My regular escort was a man in his seventies, remember?’ She twisted her fingers together. ‘At least he treated me as his equal!’

  ‘Very appropriate!’ remarked James cruelly. ‘He was in his second childhood!’

  Domine’s face mirrored the hurt he had so carelessly inflicted. ‘Why do you say that?’ she cried. ‘Because he was decent enough to care for an orphaned girl, giving her someone to care about and to care about her!’

  James shook his head rather contritely. ‘No, I didn’t mean that,’ he said patiently. ‘You’re deliberately misunderstanding me. Look, I’m sorry about this, but there’s nothing I can do!’

  Domine sniffed. ‘Isn’t there?’ she asked miserably.

  James came round the table to her side, placing his hands on her shoulders as he had done once before. ‘Look, Domine, I don’t want to hurt you,’ he began. ‘Heavens, I’ve known what it’s like to feel lost and lonely. But that’s not for you!’ He shook her gently. ‘I shan’t be gone for ever. I’ll be back almost before you’ve noticed I’ve gone.’

  Domine looked up at him. ‘And will you bring me a nice teddy bear to take to bed with me?’ she asked mockingly, hiding her fears in baiting him.

  His fingers tightened on her shoulders. ‘You deserve a good hiding for that!’ he snapped angrily.

  ‘And who’ll administer it, you?’ she taunted him, unable to prevent herself.

  ‘If necessary, yes,’ he muttered violently. ‘And don’t get any ideas about disappearing in my absence, because if you do I’ll find you, make no mistake about that!’

  Domine wrenched herself out of his grip and turned away, fingering her braid of hair. ‘Oh, go away now, for all I care,’ she exclaimed, unwillingly aware that she was near to tears. She stared through the grimy window of the hut out on to the wild expanses of the moor and thought its desolation was symbolic of the desperation she was feeling. She had grown to love the bleakness of it all, but in spite of that she could not bear the idea of James returning to London and leaving her here. After all, Christmas was only about five weeks away and he might not return until then. She hunched her shoulders. Maybe even then it was a doubtful possibility. These were hardly the kind of surroundings he would choose in which to celebrate the festive season. He was rich, comparatively young, attractive to women; his sophisticated tastes had been denied long enough. She might not get the chance to spend any time with him again. Once Christmas was over, her six months would soon be up. The knowledge made her reckless. Without looking at him, she said: ‘You can’t stop me coming to London on my own!’

  James uttered an expletive. ‘You’re to stay here, Domine,’ he commanded furiously. ‘Hell, I won’t be dictated to like this!’

  Domine swung round. ‘And nor will I,’ she retorted angrily. ‘You took me away from everything I’d ever known—you opened Pandora’s box and set me free—well, see if you can control me now!’ and without another word she wrenched open the door of the hut and stormed out into the icy morning air.

  Running to the mare, she grasped the reins and swung herself into the saddle as he appeared in the doorway of the hut. Giving him a scornful glance, she dug her heels into the animal’s side and set her cantering away across the moor. But cantering wasn’t absorbing enough, her mind could still torture itself with thoughts, and she leant low, urging the horse on, pressing it into a gallop. She was uncaring of anything just at that moment, but a desire to escape from the despair that enveloped her.

  The wind tore at her sweater, lifted her fringe and loosened tendrils of hair from the braid, ran its freezing fingers down her spine. But there was exhilaration in fighting its force, a numbing sense of achievement in racing into its blast. The mare’s breath mingled with her own as steam in the frosty air, and Domine gave her her head.

  Unfortunately she had not considered which direction she was taking and the roughness of the earth underfoot warned her that this was new ground she was covering, ground that could be dangerously riddled with rabbit-holes or air-vents to the underground workings of years gone by. Rosie stumbled once, and Domine managed to right her, drawing on the mare’s bit, trying to prevent her headlong passage into what could be disaster. But Rosie was enjoying herself too much, and she refused to accept the attempt at restriction. Instead she surged on with Domine clinging to her back until she finally responded to control and came cantering to a standstill. Domine was sweating from the exertion, and trembling from the realization that she had unwittingly endangered the mare’s life. Sliding from her back, she patted her steaming flesh, taking deep breaths and trying to dispel the awful feeling of panic that the mare’s bolt had aroused in her.

  And even as she stood there, she heard the hooves of James Mannering’s hunter thundering down upon her, and presently he reached her, swinging from the saddle to grasp her and shake her furiously.

  ‘You crazy little idiot!’ he swore violently. ‘Have you no sense at all? Don’t you know Rosie could have stumbled and you could have been thrown? What’s got into you, Domine? Are you deliberately trying to prove that you’re not safe to be left alone? Is that it?’

  Domine felt unutterably weary. Putting up a hand, she swept back her tangled hair from her eyes, and stared at him without defiance. There was nothing more to be said. No matter how she tried, she was no match for his strength. Yet even as she stared at him she realized that his eyes were no longer cold and enigmatic, but burning with a passionate anger that gave a flame-like brilliance to the blueness.

  ‘Well?’ he muttered harshly. ‘Haven’t you anything to say for yourself? Or are you still shaken, too?’

  Domine shook her head without speaking, and he closed his eyes for a moment as though to shut out the sight of her. Then he heaved a sigh, and said: ‘You could have killed yourself!’ in a curiously uneven voice.

  Domine swallowed hard. ‘I—I know, I know,’ she s
aid tremulously. ‘I’m sorry if I disturbed you—’

  ‘Disturbed me!’ he echoed, a trifle thickly. ‘What an inadequate word!’ His fingers slid across her shoulders to her throat, cupping its slenderness but not savagely. He shook his head exasperatedly. ‘What am I going to do with you?’

  Domine shivered even though she was not cold and a new awareness of him gripped her. No matter what he thought, she was not the child he had imagined he was going to be responsible for. She was a young woman, with a woman’s needs, and foolishly she was allowing herself to drift into a situation where he was becoming important to her, much more important than any guardian could ever be. She wasn’t quite sure how she knew this, certainly she was not experienced in that direction, but some things were instinctive, and this was one of them.

  In consequence, she thrust such ridiculous longings aside, and said quite coolly: ‘I’m cold. I want to go back to the house.’

  He set her free instantly, and turned to his horse, mounting without another word, and wheeling the animal towards Grey Witches. ‘Follow me!’ he commanded, and cantered away.

  Domine found it difficult to mount at all considering she was shaking quite badly now, and not only with the cold. But at last she managed to climb on to Rosie’s back and allowed her to follow the hunter home. By the time they reached the stables, she was numb with cold, but blowing on her hands she unsaddled the mare and began to rub her down herself. She had thought James had gone into the house, leaving the hunter to one of the men, but presently he emerged from the stables, and when he saw Domine busily engaged in her task, he said, rather bleakly:

  ‘Leave it! Go indoors. You’re blue with cold.’

  Domine hesitated, and then decided not to argue. Instead, she nodded and went through the entrance into the hall. She wished she had more courage to stand up to him. This morning’s effort had exhausted her both physically and mentally, and she went up to her room with a heavy heart.

  CHAPTER SIX

  FOR the rest of the day James was closeted in his study, and although Domine attended meals, he did not. Neither Mrs. Mannering nor Melanie saw anything strange in that. He very often was absent for meals. But after supper, when the three women were sitting in the lounge together, Mrs. Mannering said: