A Girl Called Tegi (10 page)

She never used to feel this way, and when her eyes met the dark cynical ones of Tony across the room she quickly lowered her eyelids. The big barn cleared for dancing was festooned with flowers and streamers, and they all trooped in wearing their paper hats to give a festive note.

A piano had been dragged into the barn and someone had a violin. Some of the guests sat around the walls of the room on chairs to watch while others formed couples for the dance.

The music was lively and exhilarating as the audience began to clap in time to each beat. Tegi whirled around, her hair flying out around her flushed face, the skirt of her cotton dress billowing out to show shapely legs as her small, dainty feet hardly touched the ground. Masculine hands gripped her trim waist as they lifted her into the air in the rhythm of the dance.

To her relief Tony did not join in the dancing, but he was just as disturbing as he leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets, his smile cynical as he looked on. She only looked his way once, but it was enough that the mere sight of him, withdrawn, slightly mocking, put her out of her stride.

He was the cause of all her unhappiness, all her soul-searching. For the sake of her own peace of mind she must not allow
him
to be important in her life. But somehow he appeared to come between her and the dance, and when the next one ended she made her escape.

Linda’s mother was coming into the
barn
with, a trolley of refreshments and Tegi went past her quickly to the house. Silence greeted her as she entered and made her way to Linda’s bedroom where she had left her beach bag and coat. If Beryl had not brought her and if it had not been too far to walk, she would have set out for home.

As it was she had to stay. She combed her hair and studied her bright eyes and glowing cheeks in the mirror of the dressing table. If only she could be sure of not coming into contact again with Tony she would not mind, but knowing him, she knew it would only be a matter of time before he waylaid her again for some reason.

Tegi lingered for a while, knowing she would be missed soon, and reluctantly made her way downstairs. To her surprise as she entered the big kitchen everywhere was in darkness. Not long before the kitchen had been a blaze of light when she had passed through.

Standing still in the doorway, she was aware of movement in the darkened room, then the sudden switching on of a torch startled her. It had been laid on the table and a figure was bending over something there. Her heart began to beat rapidly as her bemused brain tried to figure out what was going on.

With everyone in the barn it would be quite easy for someone to come in unobserved, someone who had not been invited to the party. Such thoughts were absurd in a place that was relatively safe from intruders.

Suddenly a deep voice said lazily, ‘Why not give me a hand holding the torch while I replace a burnt out lamp instead of standing there trying to make up your mind if it’s safe to come in
?’

He would have a voice like that, she thought angrily. Why couldn’t it have grated on the ears, been rough and uncouth, instead of playing like a harp on her nerves, plucking the strings of her heart? Clenching her hands, she ventured further into the room, cursing a fate which seemed forever throwing Tony Mastroni in her path. She wanted to tell him to get lost, but dared not trust her voice.

Afterwards she supposed that she might easily have ignored him instead of looking blindly up at him as he swung himself up on to the table. Tegi picked up the torch and shone it upwards on the length of tube lighting he was reaching up to.

‘How did you know it was me
?’
she asked at last.

‘Your dress—which is a very pretty one, by the way,’ he replied. ‘The white background against those flowers stands out.’

She said vexedly, ‘What are you doing here anyway, repairing the light? Isn’t that an electrician’s job?’

He said calmly, ‘There doesn’t happen to be one available. I volunteered to do the job.’

‘
I hope you’ve switched the current off,’ she murmured apprehensively, and the torch wavered.

‘You know,’ he remarked coolly, looking down at her upturned face in the gloom, ‘I have the idea that you would not turn a hair to find me dropping like a stone through touching a live wire.’

Tegi quivered inwardly. Silently she watched him bend down to put the spent electric tube on the table and gesture with a lean brown hand for the new one near to her.

‘Do you mind passing it to me—and do not drop it.’

Tegi was tempted to hit him with it as she picked it up and handed it to him. It was galling to her that he had made himself as much at home here as he had at her home. How hateful that he should spoil everything for her, even Linda’s party. At least, he spoiled it for her; everyone else appeared to be delighted to have him around.

He had even taken the joy of her dress away from her. It was a very pretty dress, as he had said, with a sun top and nipped-in waist that showed off
her youthful figure to perfection. Not too long, it served as a cocktail dress among its other uses, and was cool for dancing besides looking elegant.

He set the new tube in place very efficiently and taking a duster from his pocket wiped the top of the protecting frame around it. And all the while Tegi was wishing for someone to appear from the music rocked barn to break up the intimacy she had not wanted with an aggravating man.

‘Shall I switch on the light?’ she asked, longing to get away.

‘No.’ He wiped his hands and dropped down easily from the table to eye her silently.

She had laid the torch on the table for the glow to light up the room. Tony loomed larger than life in front of her, reminding her of the first time she had seen him in the alleyway bending over his motorbike.

Now he was almost bending over her. Defying him was like throwing oneself against a brick wall; the only thing you got at the end of it were bruises. In Tegi’s opinion being handsome would have gone a long way in spoiling him. With the added attraction of being a celebrity circumstances had made him unbearably conceited. Yet at the moment, wiping his hands on the duster, he looked companionable enough.

‘Why are you hiding out here?’ he asked abruptly.

‘I’m not hiding.
’

He smiled, his teeth white in the gloom, and ledged himself on a corner of the table.

‘I will try again,’ he said tantalisingly. ‘Waiting for someone?’

‘What does it matter to you?’

‘It does. Were you waiting for ... now what is his name
...?’
He clicked two fingers together in the air. ‘Colin?’

Tegi stiffened. ‘No, I was not.’

‘I hardly thought you would be waiting for a young man like Colin.’

Tegi stared at him, her eyes large and bright in the gloom.

‘And why shouldn’t I be waiting for Colin?’

‘Because he is not the right one for you,’ he said tolerantly. ‘You need to go around with other
young men before making your choice.’

‘And you’re qualified enough to judge, I suppose.’

‘I have been around more than you. There is a chance that you might decide to settle for Colin and never know just how exciting love can be.’

‘You mean you know? I’m not surprised—you certainly get around
!’

Tony laughed. ‘I do. There is nothing like it.’

Tegi felt an ache inside her. Was it really liking for him that brought the dryness to her throat, the sting to her eyes? He was tough, masculine and strong. She thought of Colin and the Adam’s apple working overtime in his throat, especially when he was nervous, and realised that it was unfair to compare him with anyone else.

Tony stood outside the beam of the torch with his face in the shadows. The air was electric and the silent house held a listening quality, a kind of hidden warning. Nervously, she thought, he’s too dangerous, too dynamic.

She steeled herself against him. The words came tumbling out before she was aware of them.

‘That’s where you have us at a disadvantage. We lack your experience. How does it feel to be king of all you survey, always one step ahead of us poor yokels?’

He moved forward suddenly into the beam of light and Tegi saw the derisive smile as he hauled her into his arms. His grip was like steel, crushing the breath out of her as his lips came down on her soft lips in no uncertain manner.

To Tegi they were the
most
delicious moments of her life. The blood leapt madly through her veins and she closed her eyes as the magic seeped through. He had drawn her up on her toes and she clung wildly, ecstatic, glowing with the force of life rushing through her.

‘Hello there! Did you manage the light, Tony?’ The voice of Linda’s mother struck them like a blast of cold air. Tegi almost lost her balance as Tony released her. The next moment the room was flooded with light as he moved rapidly to the light switch.

‘Yes,
Mrs.
Braidson,’ he said coolly as Jean stood blinking in the doorway. ‘Tegi has been helping me.’ His dark eyes twinkled devilishly at Tegi, whose face was flushed, her eyes very bright. ‘She held the torch.’

‘Well, I am pleased. Things always go wrong when you least expect them,’ Jean Braidson chatted on. ‘Fortunately, I always keep several light tubes in stock just in case one goes. You’re a friend in need, Tony. Thanks.’

‘A pleasure,
Mrs.
Braidson,’ he replied with his flashing smile, and Tegi infused life into her shaking legs to edge nearer to the door.

Jean looked from one to the other. ‘I mustn’t keep you from the fun. There is one more thing you can do for me, Tony. Will you take some cans of beer into the barn for me?’

Tegi made off to the lighted
barn
, filled now with laughter, and music. Streamers were flying around and everyone appeared to be dancing. Tegi was caught around her waist and whirled among the dancers by an exuberant young man who passed her to his neighbour.

The fun was fast and furious and in the glorious confusion she managed to find her way back to normal. Tony had been completely cool in a situation which had to
rn
her apart. How many other such embarrassing situations had he been in?

It occurred to Tegi with painful certainty that the situation had been similar to many others Tony had known, making him a master in the art of diplomacy. He had not turned a hair, whereas poor little Tegi Moore had been trembling in her shoes.

What a fool she was! Thank goodness
Mrs.
Braidson had appeared when she did, otherwise she would have made a bigger fool of herself by melting into his arms. To her relief he did not come near her again, but remained talking to his friends, co-riders, on the far side of the
barn
.

The Braidsons had been sensible about providing beer with their drinks. Soft drinks had flowed more freely, so the party was under control at all times. Everyone agreed that they had enjoyed themselves and that it had been a fabulous party.

Beryl talked about it on the way home, but Tegi was not entirely with her. Humiliating though Tony’s kiss had been, she could not forget how his touch had thrilled and stirred her. Useless to deny it, because Tegi knew that she was wax in his strong hands as soon as she surrendered to his charm. And because this was a true fact it was more frightening to feel that quickened beating of her heart when she thought about him. It only took a glance, a touch or a kiss for her whole body to flare up with need for him.

And he could stroll nonchalantly away with not even a lazy flip of a lean brown hand as he went on his way to add her scalp to all the others he had collected on his travels.

CHAPTER SEVEN

There
was a light on in the lounge when Tegi returned from the party. She looked in curiously to find Dorothy waiting for her. She was reclining on the settee watching the television, but turned it off when Tegi entered the room.

‘Enjoy yourself?’ she asked flintily, her eyes watchful.

Tegi sank down into one of the easy comfortable chairs and gazed across at her.

‘Very much,’ she answered. ‘And you?’

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were going to a party, today? You could have got an invitation for me if you’d wanted,’ Dorothy said sulkily.

‘You were in bed this morning when the invitation came. I suppose you could have come with us, but I naturally thought you had made other arrangements
,’
Tegi answered quietly.

‘Tony Mastroni was there, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes.’

‘That was why you went, wasn’t it, and why you didn’t tell me?’

‘No, it wasn’t. I didn’t know Tony had been invited. It was a surprise to see him and his friends there.’

‘I’m sure
it was. I suppose it was a surprise when you met Tony in Douglas and went out with
him
for the day?’

‘Yes, it was.’ Tegi knew what was coming and held herself back from saying more. It was clear that her sister was in a fighting mood and she was not going to encourage her. But, to her surprise, Dorothy’s mood softened.

‘I don’t blame you really,’ Dorothy said now. ‘It must be dull for you here, and Tony Mastroni is a dish even by my standards. You won’t be feeling very kindly disposed to my being here and butting in on your rare moments.’

‘You must be breaking your heart,’ Tegi said,
un
i
mpressed. ‘Well, you’re not breaking mine. What is it you really want? I know you too well to be taken in by talk.’

Dorothy did not hurry to reply. She lay back on the settee with her hands behind her bright head and looked silently at her sister.

‘I’m a bit hard up at the moment, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go out with someone like Tony who would pay for everything,’ she admitted at last.

‘I see. What do you want me to do about it?’

‘You’ve got to help me. I can’t ask the parents because they haven’t got anything to give me.’ Some of the hardness came back into Dorothy’s eyes. ‘On the other hand, they’d probably fork out if the appeal was dramatic enough.’

‘Is there a ... possibility that you might
be...?’

‘Pregnant?’ Dorothy laughed. ‘I’m not that dumb! On the other hand, it would get me what I want. Only you can help me. I’d better explain.’

Tegi said, her throat dry, ‘You certainly had.’

‘I have a friend who’s going to America to do television commercials. She wants me to go with her and share her flat. She’s nervous going on her own—not only that, she’s sure I can get a job there too. The snag is I haven’t any capital to tide me over until I do. I can manage the fare, but little else.’

Tegi frowned. ‘But why did you pay the money to come here? Surely that would have helped you for a while?’

Dorothy waved a red-tipped hand. ‘I only got the letter yesterday. I’ve been thinking it over all this weekend, wondering what to do. It’s a chance too good to be missed—surely even you must see that?’

Tegi shrugged. ‘I know you’d like me to, but it isn’t as if you’ve really been offered a job over there, is it? You are taking a risk, aren’t you?’
She spread her hands out hopelessly. ‘So what? I can’t help. I have a bit of money saved, but it’s for my holidays. You can hardly expect me to give you that?’

‘It will only be a loan. If I got a job there in America you could come out to stay with me later. After all, I suppose you were only going away with Colin. You wouldn’t be missing much.’ Dorothy’s smile was a little derisive. ‘Besides, I’d be leaving and giving you a free run with Tony. He appears to be interested in you. Why should he take you out otherwise?’

Tegi said crisply, ‘A good question, and one which is easily answered. Tony Mastroni collects girls like trophies. He’s only amusing himself—I told you before about him.’

Dorothy took her hands from behind her head and studied fluted red nails with lowered concentration.

She said thoughtfully, ‘You’re hoping he isn’t
,
though, aren’t you? Your face gives you away
—
you’ve gone scarlet!’ Her eyes narrowed between thick eyelashes. ‘Why don’t you try and hook
him?
Surely you don’t want to stay here all your life, do you?’

‘Tony Mastroni isn’t our kind,’ answered Tegi. ‘He’s going back home at the end of the racing year to work on his father’s farm. In a few weeks’ time he won’t even recall what we look like.’

Dorothy s
hru
gged and swung her legs from the settee. ‘I hope you think about what I’ve told you
—
but don’t tell Mum. She’ll go bananas if she thinks I might be going to America. Whatever you lend me I’ll pay back, honestly.’

Tegi said quietly, ‘You do know what you’re asking, don’t you? You’re asking me to give up any thoughts I have for a holiday this year in order to help you in a wildcat scheme which may never come off. Suppose the boot were on the other foot and I’d asked you to forgo your holiday in order to help me? How would you feel about it?’

Dorothy smiled. ‘I’d do all I could to help by asking the help of friends.’

‘I bet you would
!’
Tegi scoffed.

Her sister had the grace to blush. ‘I would,’ she contradicted. ‘It’s strange how wholeheartedly you can go out to help someone else yet be strangely reluctant to seek help for yourself.’

‘I’ve never seen you at a loss yet when asking for something for yourself,’ commented Tegi.

‘Maybe I haven’t, but it’s because the parents and you are such decent sorts. Don’t think I’m not aware of you being worth half a dozen of me.’

‘You are trying hard, aren’t you?’ Tegi said
wearily. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m tired—too
tired to discuss anything tonight. I’ll let you know
what I decide tomorrow night when I come home
from work.’

Tegi went to bed with a sense of misgiving. She
knew that her mother worried a great deal over her
younger daughter being in London where she was
o
pen to all kinds of dangers. How would she view her
decision to go to America?

The thought touched Tegi on a vital nerve. She
tossed about in bed wishing that there was someone
to consult about it.

After a morning of almost continuous rain, Tegi
and Colin had lunch in a modest restaurant in the
town and Colin again brought up the subject of holidays.

‘Have you made up your mind yet about us making a foursome to go to Greece?’ he asked, lingering
over his coffee. ‘Mother doesn’t mind us going.’

Tegi felt her inside tighten at the last sentence. Yet
there was nothing to get worked up about, she told
herself bleakly. Colin had gone his mother’s way
many times. She knew his mother, and her power over him. There are times in one’s life when decisions
are made at the drop of a hat with far-reaching consequences for all concerned. Tegi crossed her fingers
and hoped her decision now was the right one.

She said cheerfully, ‘I’m sorry, Colin, but holidays
are off for the time being. My holiday money has gone into
something which is more important at the moment.’

Colin’s mouth fell open in astonishment. ‘You
don’t mean it,’ he exclaimed. ‘What’s more important than your holiday? I mean, you work for it all the year round.’

She nodded. ‘I know, but it’s just one of those things. Anyway, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go, is there?’

‘What, and play gooseberry? You must be joking
!’
he answered, highly indignant.

‘You don’t have to play gooseberry. All you have to do is to put it around the office that you want a girl companion to go with you on a holiday. No strings attached.’

‘But it wouldn’t be you, would it? And it is short notice, you have to admit.’

Tegi conceded this, at the same time telling herself that if he had anything about him he would find his own holiday spot regardless of company. A pity he was so easily led. He was quite attractive. He was always well groomed and his clothes were impeccable—something he owed to his mother.

Another picture flashed into her mind of Tony with his handsome face and cap of thick black hair. She recalled
h
i
m
in bathing trunks, recalled the smooth strength of his sun-browned throat encircled
w
ith a fine chain and the medallion of St Francis, the powerful chest, and all his lean
-l
oined vigour.

Was she glad of an excuse not to go with Colin? How could she answer that, struggling as she was against the uncertainty she found herself in? It was like prodding at a sore wound, making her squirm.

‘Where’s your sense of adventure?’ she said flippantly. ‘Now’s your chance to get out on your own, forget your mother. Be a free agent. Be a devil.’

Her suggestion disgusted him. ‘There’s no substitute for a companion who matters to you, someone you like to dance with, who knows your likes and dislikes, who laughs at the same things that amuse you, can swim or fight with you, who even tries to whistle with you
...’

He broke off to gaze down into the loveliness of her wide-eyed face, the dark copper of her hair, her slightly parted pink lips showing pearly teeth.

‘Thanks for the trying to whistle bit,’ smiled Tegi. ‘I’m no great shakes at it—but then neither are you. However, the trouble with you, Colin, is that you don’t like change. Honestly, I think you’ll go on for ever being Mother’s little boy. Tell me honestly, am I right in thinking you don’t want the trouble of having another companion to take on your holiday vetted by your mother?’ Her smile was teasing. ‘Now admit it. I’d like to bet that a girl who’d be a hilariously funny companion on your holiday wouldn’t be approved by your mother.’

He stared at her in bewilderment. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about?’

‘Oh, come off it, Colin! Holidays are fun. Don’t look so downcast at the thought of it.’

He said darkly, ‘You’re going somewhere else, aren’t you? That’s why you’re not coming with me. All that talk about Mother is just a blind, isn’t it
?’

She shook her head. ‘No, it isn’t. I’m not going away anywhere.’

‘Then I’ll stay at home too. We can go for trips, day trips across the water.’

‘And have everyone accusing me of spoiling your holiday? No, Colin. You must go away. You’ll find
somebody else to make up a foursome, you’ll see.’

‘What about you? You’ll have offers of dates from more than one admirer. What’s more, you’ll feel free to accept them if I go away with someone else.’

She said sensibly, ‘If I’d been interested in some other man I would have dated him regardless of what you said. Besides, it works both ways. What about you miles away with some other girl?’

‘It’s you who wants me to take someone else,’ he pointed out.

‘Think about it,’ said Tegi, and consulted her wristwatch. ‘We have to go, unless you want to be late for work.’

Tegi was in her room changing for that evening. She was in her bra and panties, having taken off her office dress, when Dorothy burst into the room.

‘Have you decided?’ she demanded, sitting down on one of the twin beds.

Tegi reached for a cotton dress and slipped it on. ‘Yes, I have,’ she answered. ‘You can have the money on one condition, that you tell the parents that you have a job to go to in America. I won’t have them worried more than they are over you.’

‘I’ll promise anything!’ Dorothy glowed, and hugged her. ‘How much can you let me have?’

‘Two hundred pounds, and I have it with me in notes—English fivers. It’s in my bag on the dressing table.’

‘You don’t know how grateful I am
...’
Dorothy began, making for the bag.

Tegi said wearily, ‘Spare me the grateful thanks. I must want my head examining for giving you the money I’ve worked so hard to save. You’d better
make good use of it—and don’t go making yourself a gift for any man. A girl puts her own price on herself. Don’t forget that.’

‘It hasn’t exactly been a
philosophy that’s got you very far, has it?’ Dorothy’s greedy little hands closed on the wad of notes. ‘Don’t worry, I know how to look after myself.’

Tegi moved the brush slowly over her shining hair. ‘When are you planning to leave?’ she asked.

‘As soon as possible.’ Dorothy pushed the money into her handbag, adding thoughtfully, ‘On the other hand, I might stay for the races and go back with the boys. Nice to have male company on the jou
r
ney.’

‘Enterprising little thing, aren’t you?’ Tegi turned on these words to see the door closing behind her sister.

The evening sun filled, the kitchen, turning it into an oven as Tegi washed the dishes after the evening meal. The family was out and the house seemed strangely quiet. The resounding throb of powerful motorbikes on the mountain road bounced off the hills, reminding her of Tony and the risks he was running.