A Girl Called Tegi (14 page)

Tegi’s relief on seeing Tony’s car was so great that she all but collapsed. Asking Beryl to accompany her into the house to give her the moral support she so badly needed had been a cry from the heart. Her friend was right in everything she had said about Tony and her own reactions to him.

Where was her pride anyway? Humiliating as the memory was, it was impossible to forget how his touch had thrilled and stirred her as no other man had ever done. Of course she would forget the whole incident in time; it was the only thing to do. But already her heart was saying something entirely different.

Her heart was quickening into a breathless beat and there were butterflies in her stomach as they approached the house. The front garden was bright with flowers, the sky very blue overhead and stentorian laughter mingled with lighthearted chatter floated through the open window of the lounge.

Beryl smiled and thrust her arm through Tegi’s as the rattle of tea-cups rang out a welcome.

‘I’m dying for a drink of tea,’ she said. ‘Let’s hope there’s some for us.’

The front door was open and sun streamed into the bright little hall. Dead silence greeted their entrance to the lounge. As far as Tegi could gather in one short glance there were six men sitting around with cups of tea and plates of sandwiches while her mother hovered with the teapot.
Someone gave a wolf whistle as the two girls walked in and most of the visitors stood up to give up their seats, Tony included. Tegi could not look at him.

‘It’s all right, boys—do sit down. Most of
you have met my daughter Tegi. I don’t think you know her friend Beryl.’

Tegi’s father made the introductions lightheartedly, and Tegi took the teapot from her mother using it as an excuse to go to the kitchen for more tea.

For palpitating moments she leaned against the sink and then switched on the kettle. All she could think about was that Tony was all right. Her prayer had been answered. A line of sweat prickled on her brow and her mouth was parched with emotion.
I
t was too late to deny her love for him. It was too deep-rooted, but it had to die like all romantic dreams. Tegi had no time to dwell upon how to achieve this, because her mother came into the kitchen looking cool and fresh in a neat white blouse and tailored linen skirt.

‘Come on, Tegi,’ she said with gentle banter. ‘They’re waiting for more tea and you haven’t got the extra cups and saucers for yourself and Beryl. Really, you do daydream
!’

‘Sorry.’ Tegi emptied the teapot and rinsed it with almost boiling water from the kettle. She smiled weakly. ‘Is it true that one of the riders came off his bike on the hairpin today during the race?’

‘I believe so.’ Her mother busied herself reaching for two Willow Pattern cups and saucers and matching plates. ‘You’ll have to ask your father for details
—
I know nothing about it. It’s enough to have one member of the family soaked in it—and I thought you weren’t interested?’ She moved to the now boiling kettle. ‘Here, let me do that. You might fill the milk jug and sugar basin on the tray, and take it into the room. I’ll bring the teapot.’

‘I heard it was someone named Tony who’d been hurt,’ Tegi insisted.

Her mother said vaguely, ‘I believe he was named Tony. He came from the U.K. Did you know him?’

‘No.’

‘Then what are you bothering about? These things happen and there’s nothing we can do about it except to be kind to those involved. This is one of those occasions when I’m glad I only had one boy.’

Tegi only glanced once at Tony, when she entered the lounge and wondered how long she could stand his watchfulness. Beryl was lodged on the arm of her father’s chair, Tegi noticed, and stood up at their entrance to help herself to a cup of tea.

It was the easy natural movements of her friend that tended to help Tegi back to normal behaviour. Two extra chairs were brought in from the kitchen and Tony stood up, leaning nonchalantly against the wall to survey the scene in order that her mother could sit down.

Tegi, sitting directly across the room from Tony, found herself unable to stop taking surreptitious glances at him to convince herself that he was there all in one piece instead of lying smashed up in a hospital bed.

The conversation passed more or less over her head
until she heard her own name and was aware that someone had asked the reason why she had been called Tegi.

Her father said simply, ‘I wanted a boy when Tegi was born, and I was disappointed, but when I held her in my arms I was bewitched by her dark eyes. She was so beautiful, a real charmer, so we called her Tegi after the enchantress who came to the Isle of Man to lure men to their destruction with her beauty.’

‘That’s right.’ Tegi’s mother took up the story. ‘My husband knows a lot about the folklore of the island from me. There’s a poem about Tehi-Tegi, the enchantress, which goes: “With lips of rosy hue, dipped five times in ambrosial dew, she led men to their destruction.” We named her quite lightheartedly, but she’s the least likely to harm anyone, our Tegi.’

The colour rushed to Tegi’s face as she avoided Tony’s mocking gaze. This was something she had not expected, this turning the spotlight on herself. She had to do something about it.

She said, ‘What happened at the hairpin bend today during the races? I heard someone was injured.’

It was Tony who explained. He said, ‘A rider named Tony Caster came off and was seriously injured. We’ve since heard that there’s a chance of him recovering.’

Beryl said, ‘Tegi thought it was you, Tony. She was quite upset.’

Fortunately Gary came in at that moment with windblown hair and dirty knees. He drew back on seeing the lounge full of people and made for the kitchen. Tegi followed him.

She kept away from Tony for the rest of the evening, going with Beryl to her car and thanking her for coming,

She said ruefully, ‘I wish you hadn’t told Tony that I was upset about him.’

Beryl laughed. ‘Why not? Don’t be so serious. Keep it light and nothing will go wrong,’ she counselled. ‘If Tony is playing a game why can’t you play one too?’

‘Because I’m not made that way. See you
!’

Tegi went indoors wishing that the week was over and that everything was normal again. She gave Gary his supper in the kitchen and supervised his haphazard way of scrubbing himself in the bath.

After doing all the chores she could find in the now spotless kitchen she saw it was getting on for seven o’clock when her footsteps turned reluctantly back to the lounge.

Getting as far as the hall she paused to slow down the painful throbbing of her heart in order to steel it against Tony’s pleasant tones coming from the lounge.

He was still leaning nonchalantly against the far wall. In the lean, tanned face the dark eyes still mocked her entrance and his mouth twisted sardonically.

Her mother said, ‘Close the window, Tegi. The wind has changed and I can feel a draught.’

She was collecting the dishes used by the visitors and putting them on a tray as she spoke. Evidently everyone was making a move to go.

Tegi was reaching up to the window catch when she felt someone move behind her. A lean brown
h
and reached easily above her own to secure the catch.

‘Allow me,’ Tony murmured.

At his nearness, Tegi was filled by a tide of longing that made her feel weak at the knees. His closeness was a pain that fanned her vulnerability. To make matters worse his friends were leaving the lounge along with her father. Soon they would be alone.

But she could not move, for his hands were gripping her shoulders and drawing her back against the hardness of his body.

‘Still mad with me,’ he murmured, and felt her tremble. ‘It is all right, there is no one to hear. Your mother has gone to the kitchen. You are invited with your family to a dinner tomorrow evening at the Beach Hotel. You will be there?”

In a panic lest the tide of her longing for him showed in her eyes, Tegi replied swiftly, vehemently.

‘I don’t think so. I might have other plans, personal ones.’

He turned her round to face him, said coolly, “Whatever they are they won’t prevent you from coming home for a meal. Be seeing you.’

‘She touched his arm as he made to leave the room and he turned with simulated surprise.

‘Yes?’

‘I shan’t be coming with you tomorrow evening, that’s all,” she told him firmly.

‘My dear girl,’ he drawled, ‘the boys are giving a dinner for your family to thank them for the hospitality during the last fortnight. Surely you can come along?’

‘I didn’t offer you hospitality, my parents did.’

He smiled. ‘No, but you helped, and you certainly brightened the landscape.’

Tegi felt her colour and was determined to make one thing clear.

‘What Beryl said earlier this evening about me being upset because I thought you were the rider hurt at the hairpin bend was a joke. She knows that I’m not interested in the T.T. or the riders.’

‘Is that meant as a challenge for me to make you interested?’ Tony asked mildly. ‘I could if I chose.’

‘I think you’ve tried to do that since we met, but you haven’t succeeded. I can’t wait for the next week to end and for you all to be gone.’

He smiled despite the edge on his voice. ‘Is that so?’ He raised a tantalising brow. ‘You hibernate all in the winter and when summer comes you start bleating about the dullness of everything on the island. You long for something to happen and when it does you haven’t the courage to enjoy it. Fine, go back to your little cramped shell, but you are going to accept the invitation in the spirit that it was given. Right?’

With a look which cut her down to size, he left the room. Looking after him, Tegi felt the anger inside her growing into something cold and hard. He had given her a few bald facts about herself which she knew to be true. What he did not know was how far he had really succeeded in getting her interested in just one rider—himself.

She was stacking the newly washed dishes from the tray her mother had carried from the lounge when she came in from seeing her visitors off. She looked happier than she had done for a long time. There was a y
outhful glow in her cheeks. Looking at her, Tegi saw her soft indeterminate features relax into a smile.

‘
Did Tony tell you we’re going to dine with the boys as their guests tomorrow evening?’ she enquired.

‘Yes.’

‘Isn’t it nice of them? I’ve really enjoyed their company this year.’

‘I suppose Dad’s recovery from his back ailment has something to do with it,’ Tegi said with brittle coolness. ‘After all, he should be going out more now and taking you with him.’

Her mother smiled. ‘Funny you should say that, because Tony has invited us to stay at his home in Tuscany whenever we feel inclined to take a holiday.’

Tegi disposed of the washing up water down the sink and rinsed it.

‘That’s very nice of him,’ she remarked.

Her mother looked at her curiously. ‘Don’t you like him? He appears to like you. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you this evening.’

‘Tony is accustomed to girls swooning at his feet. He doesn’t take kindly to the brush-off.’

‘No young man does,’ was the philosophical reply
.

Because she did not want to spoil things for her parents Tegi went to the dinner the following evening with the firm resolve to keep away from any intimate conversation with Tony. Several times during the evening he captured her glance, but she looked determinedly away from him.

But despite the excellence of the food and service,
T
egi had no appetite either for the meal or for social activities. It was impossible to enjoy anything when her mind was in a turmoil. It was getting near to the race on the following day and her whole being cringed at the thought of Tony being hurt or even killed.

But she would lose him in any case since on Saturday he was leaving for home. The agony of her thoughts only went to prove how sensible she had been in having nothing to do with anything as risky as the T.T
.
races, and of Tony Mastroni who, for some unknown reason, had invited her parents to visit his home in Italy.

When he had left the island things would become normal again. They had to, although she faced the prospect of a future without Tony very bleakly indeed. Maybe she was lucky not to become involved with a man who obviously had no desire to settle down and be tied to one place. He had avoided like the plague any permanent union with a woman, preferring instead an extension of delight in a collection of experiences with the opposite sex.

As for his settling down at home, Tegi doubted cynically whether it would be of long duration. She did manage to keep away from him during the evening, trying not to look at him as she found herself unwillingly aware of how much he stood out among his companions in the matter of charm and good looks.

The race the next day in which Tony was to take part was in the early afternoon, around the time Tegi was having her lunch, but she refused to think about it. She heard nothing of the result but waited until her father came home to relate the day’s events.

He had a spring in his step these days and Tegi marvelled at the change in him since his back had righted itself. In a way, although she was very thankful that it should be so, her father’s independence now that he was free of pain seemed to shut her away all the more into a lonely corner of her own.

She had been so busy lightening her mother’s burden of an ailing husband that now she had time on her hands, for he was beginning to share the chores with her mother, like wiping the dishes and
d
oing light tasks
li
ke dusting the rooms, cleaning the vegetables for a meal and taking more interest in Gary’s boyish pursuits.

It was Gary who told her that Tony had won the race of the day.

He sat at the kitchen table shovelling strawberries and cream into his willing mouth, Tegi’s share plus his own.

‘Tony Mastroni is great,’ he cried enthusiastically. ‘He’s won two races. I bet he’s glad. I’m glad too, aren’t you, Tegi? He’s nice. I want to be like him when I grow up.’

Tegi went cold. She said brightly, ‘I think you would look much nicer in a yachting cap instead of a helmet. What do you say to going out fishing this evening on a real yacht
?’

His eyes widened with delighted expectation. ‘Can
I?’

She nodded. ‘Mr
.
McBain has his boat back in the harbour and he has invited us to visit him any time. We can go this evening.’

Tegi had put on pale green slacks and a loose sweater in primrose to combat the sea breezes after seeing Gary dressed warmly when the telephone rang.

Her heart dipped at the sound of the deep brown
voice of Tony. The hand holding the receiver trembled and her palms became damp as she sought to control her voice.

‘Is that you, Tegi?’ he asked evenly. ‘I wondered if you were free tonight. The hotel here where I am staying is putting on a celebration dinner for me for having won the race today, and I especially want you to come
. I
t was meant as a surprise, so I could not contact you sooner. I’ll come and fetch you. How about it?’

A sudden glow warmed her whole being—to share his victory, to be with him for the last time. Tegi was sorely tempted especially since she had prayed so hard for him not to be in any fatal accident during the races. That prayer had been granted, but that was the only part she was going to take in anything remotely concerning him.

It was asking more than flesh and blood could stand to see him being surrounded by girls like those who had accompanied him at the dinner in Douglas that she had gone to. She would have to drink his health along with them. No, Tegi did not want to be remembered as one of the crowd; at least she would stand apart from all the others.

‘Are you still there, Tegi?’ Tony demanded.

She gave a start and swallowed on a dry throat. ‘Yes, I’m still here,’ she replied. ‘I’m awfully
sorry... but
...
I can’t accept your kind invitation. You see, I’m just about to take Gary out and he’s all ready and waiting. I can’t disappoint him.’

Already she was hating herself for using Gary as an excuse. It would have been quite simple for her to take him down to the harbour and leave him with
Mr
.
McBain, who would have been delighted to have him for the evening.

‘I see,’ Tony answered after a considerable pause. ‘I leave tomorrow for home in the afternoon. Perhaps if you are coming to Douglas we could meet for lunch?’

Tegi had to grip the telephone receiver hard as she fought for self-control.

‘I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it tomorrow, thanks all the same,’ she replied, trying to keep her voice from wobbling. ‘Congratulations on your fabulous victory in winning two major races. I’m sure the memory of such a happy time will lend colour to your life when you return home. Your parents will be thrilled to see you returning victorious. I’d like to wish you the best of luck in the future and great happiness in all you do. Goodbye.’

Tegi dropped the receiver before her voice became too choked to say any more. The tears were cours
ing
down her cheeks as she fled to her room.

‘
Ready, Tegi?’ Gary called from the foot of the stairs.

Hastily she dried her tears, splashed her eyes with cold water and made up her face lightly to conceal any sign of tears. Then picking up her woolly jacket and bag, she ran downstairs.