Then she went up to her rooms and completed the task she had begun the day before, so that she was ready well before the given time.
Her one fear was that Celia would come back with Leonora before she had left, but she had a feeling that Leonora would prevent this happening.
She didn't give herself time to think about anything else but the need to get away. To be on her own for a
while, just to give herself time to straighten herself out. Her head was beginning to ache, and she felt as if she were in the middle of a gigantic whirlpool and had to make a great effort to reach calmer waters.
Just before the taxi was due, she wondered if she ought to leave some sort of a note for Julian, but on second thoughts, she knew that Leonora would do all the explaining for her.
The taxi was on time, and her furtive look around to see if Celia was in the vicinity before she got in the taxi settled her worries on this score. There was no sign of her, and Melanie decided that she had gone back with Leonora.
There was no fear of running into Mrs Soames either, for Melanie knew that she was in the habit of taking a rest in her room during the afternoon before she prepared dinner, and Amy would have taken the opportunity of sneaking a couple of hours with her fiancé.
When they reached the station, Melanie learnt that she had just missed a train, and would have twenty minutes to wait until the next.
Suddenly she felt that the noise and clamour around her was too much to take, and she picked up her case, and headed out of the station and up the hill to the town. She craved peace and serenity; she had a vague idea of getting a coach to the city. It would be a longer ride, but she was in no state for a rush of any kind; it didn't matter what time she arrived, for she could always take a room at a hotel for the night if it came to that, and see her aunt the next morning.
She asked a passer-by the way to the coach station, and having got directions she made her way towards it. She had almost reached her destination when a bright orange poster caught her eye as she passed a
shop. It was advertising a bird sanctuary, transport provided, and a large red arrow pointed to where the transport was waiting.
If ever Melanie needed a sanctuary of some kind, this was it, and a bird sanctuary would provide the peace she needed. She joined the small queue waiting to board the minibus.
Her case was not too large to be incongruous, and not too heavy for her to manage, and there were plenty of willing hands to relieve her of it while she climbed into the bus.
She sat at the back so that her case wouldn't be in anyone's way, although there was plenty of room on the bus. She was glad of the case, for it prevented anyone from joining her, she was not feeling particularly communicative at that time.
The sanctuary was set in a huge park, in the centre of which was a lake where stately swans glided by to be admired by the visitors.
There were large aviaries that housed tropical varieties, but Melanie elected for the lake, where she could sit in peace, and let time pass by with as much interest in the outside world as the swans that glided by.
Gradually she was able to think clearly. She didn't regret what she had done. Leonora was right, it was time to go. She thought of what Leonora had said about Julian being generous and looking to her future. Those few words had said a lot to Melanie. One, that she had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Julian's marriage. If she had known, she would have taken a very different attitude towards Melanie.
However communicative Celia had been with her, she had kept that fact to herself. Melanie's soft lips twisted wryly as she acknowledged Celia's attempt to
protect her, even from Leonora.
Julian hadn't told her either. He had probably mentioned something along the lines that he had made another matrimonial mistake, and things weren't working out. He must have intimated something on those lines to give Leonora the spur she needed to get rid of Melanie. Not that he would appreciate her action.
In point of fact, he would probably be very angry with Leonora, for arrangements would have to be made, and he would have no idea of Melanie's whereabouts.
Melanie watched a family of ducks swim past slowly, with one eye on her in case she had something in the food line to throw to them. She wasn't sorry that it had ended this way. She hadn't wanted to take any money from him, and now she didn't have to.
She had enough to keep going until she found herself some work. It didn't have to be teaching; anything would do as long as it kept her busy and stopped her thinking about Julian.
She bit her lower lip. That was easier said than done. He filled her every thought. She would never forget him. She drew in a swift inward breath. At least she knew he would be happy with Leonora, once his pride had been assuaged over the way she had taken things into her own hands.
`Room for one more?' a familiar voice said, and Melanie swung round to face Julian.
He settled himself comfortably beside her, and stared down at her case on the ground beside her. `Rather a lot of bird food there, surely?' he asked, his grey eyes lifting to meet her astounded ones.
Melanie wanted to fling herself into his arms and sob her heart out, but she couldn't move. She wasn't
even sure that it was Julian sitting beside her, and not a mirage!
`Going somewhere?' he asked casually.
Melanie looked back at the lake. The ducks had come back again hoping for more luck with Julian. Her eyes were moist, but she managed to reply calmly, `I'm going home.'
`We're ready when you are,' said Julian quietly. `Jenks is in the car park.'
Melanie swallowed. 'I didn't mean Oaklands,' she said, then made a swift recovery, and began to get cross. 'How did you know I was here?' she demanded.
His brows rose, as if surprised that she should be angry with him. 'We were doing some shopping in the town, and I saw you by the minibus, so we followed it. You know, you'll have to square things with Jenks; he's not used to following minibuses—felt it was beneath his dignity. It is a Chrysler, you know!'
Melanie swallowed the urge to giggle. How could he act like this? What did he want with her? Was he going to suggest that she stayed on even after he married Leonora?
`I suppose you left me a note,' Julian said, his eyes on a small group of people across the lake. 'What does it say? That you don't care for me and never will?'
Melanie looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. He was being cruel again, she thought. 'I didn't leave a note,' she said in a low voice. 'I think Leonora will explain things.'
`Leonora?' Julian exclaimed. 'What's Leonora to do with you and me?'
Melanie did look at him then. 'As if you didn't know,' she replied angrily. 'At least Leonora's honest. She advised me to leave.'
`She did what?' Julian said in a voice that boded ill
for Leonora's peace of mind. He turned towards Melanie. 'And you followed her advice? I ought to thrash the pair of you!' he growled. 'Would you mind telling me exactly why you took that advice? And don't say it's because you thought that I was in love with Leonora, or I'll put you across my knees here and now, either that, or I'll strangle you,' he threatened her. 'You love me, as much as I love you. No, not as much as I love you. I wouldn't have walked out on you.'
Melanie heard, but was having some trouble in believing the evidence of her own ears. She felt Julian's movement beside her as he felt in his coat pocket and produced a small jeweller's box. 'This is what I stopped off to get in town,' he said quietly, 'I felt I owed you some
explanation
for my bull-in-the
china shop tactics this morning.'
Melanie had no choice but to open the small box, and her eyes went moist as they met the dazzle of small diamonds on an eternity ring. She was in danger of having to beg a handkerchief from him.
`There are two messages that go with that ring,' Julian said softly. 'One, that I love you. Two, that I'll never let you go.'
There was so much that Melanie wanted to say, but all she could get out was, 'I didn't think
`No, that was your trouble all along,' cut in Julian sternly. 'I gave you enough notice, heaven knows, but you kept on keeping me at a distance. I couldn't even begin to court you. Why on earth do you think I arranged for Celia to go on that trip to Venice? I love her dearly, but I also happen to love my wife—at least I would love my wife, if she would only let me.'
The last words were given in a plaintive tone that caught at Melanie's heartstrings. She suddenly saw
that she was the cruel one, not Julian. How right Leonora had been when she accused her of being unkind!
`And Leonora knows?' she asked in a whisper.
Julian looked at her. 'That I love you? Of course. She happens to know me fairly well, and wanted to know if there was anything she could do to help. That's why she agreed to take Celia off our hands.'
Melanie frowned. B
ut why did she say that it was unfair to me?' she asked bewilderedly.
`When did she say that?' Julian asked.
In a somewhat incoherent manner Melanie began to tell him. It wasn't easy, because it touched upon what now had turned out to be a cruel action on her part by baiting him the way she had, but eventually she got there, 'So, as you were so long coming,' she hesitated again, and then felt his arm slide round her waist, at which action she unashamedly nestled closer to him, 'I opened my window to see if you were still talking to Leonora, or whether you were seeing her home, and I heard her say it then. I thought she was telling you that it was unfair to keep me on.'
Julian's grip on her waist tightened. 'Quite the contrary,' he said lightly. 'I remember now. In fact, she had perceived that you were putting on an act for her benefit, and felt that I was wasting my time in trying to arouse your affections. She knew me better than to try and dissuade me. She felt sorry for you.'
Melanie gave a deep sigh. Now she understood why Leonora had asked her if she loved Julian. She had wanted to spare him the misery of another disastrous marriage. She must have thought that Melanie had married him for his money, and that was why she had made a point of assuring her that she would be provided for.
A slight frown marred her smooth forehead. On the face of things that was all quite plausible, but she felt that there was more to it than that. 'Tell me about Leonora,' she said.
Julian looked at her, and the look in his eyes made her knees go weak. 'Still have doubts, my kitten?' he asked. 'You are my kitten, you know,' and at Melanie's answering love light in her eyes, he said, `Very well, just so you'll understand her actions. Leonora imagined herself in love with me from a very early age. It was just a kind of puppy love, and I was sure that she would grow out of it, and she did. She married. I expect that you heard about that from Mrs Hardwick. Tragically, she lost her husband after only a few months of happiness. She had also lost her father the previous year, so she was absolutely alone. She took to calling over here on the slightest excuse. I didn't mind, she needed help, and for a while she lost sight of reality.'
He was silent for a moment or so, and stared across the lake. 'She got it into her head that her marriage had been a mistake, and that she should have married me. In fact, we were back to the childhood infatuation stage. She tried all she knew to get me to marry her—was convinced that all would come right for her once we were married. It wasn't an easy time, I'm afraid, but I'd already had a taste of the marriage stakes with a woman who was entirely wrong for me. I just didn't happen to care for Leonora in that way, and as much as I felt sorry for her, I refused to be drawn into that trap.'
He kissed the tip of Melanie's nose. 'Well, eventually, she pulled herself together, and began to see things reasonably. She picked up her life again, and took
on the work she's now doing.'
Melanie nodded. She knew that Leonora had had one last try to get him, and almost succeeded. If Julian hadn't spotted her in the town—she hastily thrust this thought away. Somehow, some way, he would have tracked her down. Leonora would never have succeeded.
`Shall we go home?' Julian asked. His voice was light, but his eyes spoke volumes.
Melanie couldn't speak, she was too full of happiness. She watched Julian pick up her suitcase and hold out his hand to her, and she caught it and held on tightly, her small hand lost in his hard, sure, but loving grip.