Authors: Katrina Britt
CHAPTER
FOUR
Nora s
pent the evening alone, from sheer cussedness rather than from choice. On the way back from the fish farm Juan had asked her again, this time in front of
Aimée
, to go with them for a sail at s
o
me future date. With the child
’
s eyes fixed on her face in silent poignant appeal Nora had reluctantly agreed. But she had refused to make any dates with Juan in the meantime.
So when the doorbell rang that evening at seven she went to answer it expecting Juan to be there. She wanted him to be there, although she did not know what she would say to him. It was not his way of ringing the bell, but he could have been deliberately ringing it differently in case she did not answer it when she recognised it.
She had not dined but had changed her dress for the evening, just in case Juan came.
‘
Hello there,
’
Jony greeted her sheepishly,
‘
I thought I
’
d call to see how you were faring.
’
Nora found herself greeting him just as awkwardly.
‘
Hello, Jony. Nice of you to call. Do come in,
’
she added on a late smile.
He came in and followed her to the lounge.
‘
Come in,
’
she repeated as he stood awkwardly in the doorway.
‘
And sit down. I
’
m fine. How are you?
’
He looked at her warily as he took a chair and she sat opposite to him in the other.
‘
Fine,
’
he answered laconically.
‘
Going out much?
’
‘
Yes. I have the car and I go swimming.
’
‘
Go along the pier?
’
‘
Sometimes.
’
Nora hesitated, seeing his closed look. Had he heard about the incident on the pier. Was that the reason for his visit? If he had anything to say on the matter he left it unspoken. She moved uneasily in her chair, reluctant to say anything about it. It was something she preferred to forget.
‘
Would you like a cup of coffee or something?
’
she added lamely.
He shook his head and said awkwardly,
‘
I only called to see how you were going on.
’
Nora frowned and gave a pained smile.
‘
You said that as if you were expecting something to happen to me.
’
He rose awkwardly to his feet, and mumbled,
‘
You being a girl on your own and inheriting what you have are points always open to speculation.
’
She said pointedly,
‘
You mean having someone seeking my company with that in mind? I
’
m beginning to see what you mean now by everybody here knowing everything about what goes on. Have you come to warn me about anything or anyone in particular? If you have just tell me. I don
’
t think it
’
s necessary because I can take care of myself. But since you
’
re here...
’
Jony moved slowly across the room as though deep in thought. Her plain speaking had obviously taken him aback and Nora wondered what was going on beneath that closed exterior.
He was at the door when he spoke.
‘
I
’
d be careful of going out with strangers if I were you,
’
he said darkly.
Nora followed him to the door.
‘
By strangers you mean Juan Cregeen?
’
His face went a dull red.
‘
I wouldn
’
t trust him if I were you.
’
He gestured towards the sea with his head.
‘
That yacht out by the pier isn
’
t his. It belongs to a millionaire. You
’
ll always find Juan Cregeen among the people with money.
’
‘
I
’
ve met the millionaire,
’
she told him sweetly.
‘
Finn Cullan. He seems a nice man.
’
He shrugged.
‘
Can
’
t say I
’
ve heard anything bad about him, but you can
’
t be too careful these days.
’
He had washed and changed into a presentable suit, and Nora presumed that he was about to go out with his girl-friend or spend an evening in one of the pubs.
She agreed.
‘
Thanks for
calling,’
she said, walking past him along the short corridor to the front entrance of the flat, and opening the door.
‘
See you around.
’
Her smile was friendly, but she knew he shared the tension inside her. Somehow they never quite shared that ease of manner which was an integral part of friendship between two people.
When he had gone Nora returned to the lounge with mixed feelings. His visit had unsettled her and she prowled around the room, wishing she knew what was at the bottom of his visit.
She was staring aimlessly through the window when two figures walking along the promenade by the sea wall caught her attention. There was no denying the wide-shouldered, slim-hipped grace of Juan Cregeen and the more bulky form of Finn Cullan.
Nora willed them to look up at her flat, but they did no such thing. They were going towards the pier, presumably to the yacht anchored there. Both wore parkas and were bareheaded. She drew in a frustrated breath, swung round, and snatching up a wrap and her evening purse, she left the flat.
It was imperative for her to get out of the flat and she made for the restaurant adjoining. The meal was good, might have been excellent had she been in the mood for it.
The man who asked politely if he could share her table was the elderly type with a roving eye, but Nora was not bothered. Apparently his son had a yacht in the harbour and they spent most of their time there. His son had another engagement that evening, so he was on his own.
He began by asking her about herself, but gave up when she made it clear that sharing her table did not mean he was entitled to know anything about her, and began to talk about the island. When the meal was over he suggested a stroll along the promenade because it was such a lovely evening. Nora agreed, feeling grateful for his company, and they stood by the sea wall looking across at the three yachts anchored by the pier.
Her companion said,
‘
That yacht nearest the pier, the
Dancing Belle,
belongs to Finn Cullan. Nice boat.
’
But Nora merely murmured something and when he suggested a stroll along the pier she said she was going indoors.
‘
Thank you for your company,
’
she said, turning to him with a smile.
‘
We were both at a loose end and it
’
s been a pleasant interlude.
’
He raised a calculating brow.
‘
What about a nightcap?
’
‘
No, thank you.
’
‘
What about an evening out tomorrow? There
’
s a good eating place over at the..
.’
‘
I
’
m sorry. As I said, we were both at a loose end. Let
’
s leave it at that, shall we? Goodnight.
’
He shrugged thick shoulders.
‘
No chance of a future date? The island can be lonely when you
’
re on your own.
’
She shook her head.
‘
Sorry.
’
Again he shrugged.
‘
Are you in a hotel?
’
he persisted.
‘
I
’
m staying with a friend.
’
If one could call the ghost of Jed Kelly that, she thought.
‘
Goodnight, then,
’
he answered.
‘
Can
’
t blame me for trying.
’
Back in the sanctuary of her flat Nora pulled the draw curtains to shut out what was for her the turbulence of a calm night. She wondered if Juan and Finn were sleeping on the yacht and felt comforted by the thought of them being near.
The next day the island was covered with the thick mist of incessant rain. All day long the skies were laden and dark, and the sea had white horses topping mountainous waves. Nora went to Douglas in the car, browsed around the shops and had lunch there. It was late afternoon when she was putting the car back in the garage and the rain was still coming down.
Pulling the hood of her white mackintosh over her bright hair, she went to the corner of the flats to peer across to see if the Dancing Belle was still there. It was.
The next day was dull, rainless but stormy at sea. Nora dined in the flat that evening and later went for a stroll through the quiet little village. The main street was almost deserted except for cars passing through. Several people were taking their dogs for their evening stroll, their owners gazing through the windows of shops long since closed for the night.
Turning the corner to enter the glass-fronted entrance to the flats, Nora stopped precipitately. A tall, broad-shouldered figure was leaning negligently against the wall waiting for her. The ground beneath her feet seemed to rock as she pushed open the glass door.
The yachting cap was pushed back on the dark crisp hair and his hands were thrust into the pockets of his jacket.
‘
Juan
,’
she croaked huskily.
‘
What are you doing here?
’
‘
Waiting for you.
’
His eyes were steady and enigmatic. He looked strong and vital and it made Nora feel weak just to look at him.
‘
Waiting for me?
’
she echoed.
‘
Why?
’
‘
To make arrangements for our sail tomorrow.
’
‘
Are we going sailing?
’
‘
The weather is going to be nice tomorrow. The storm has blown itself out. Put a warm sweater on and bring a mackintosh with hood, that
’
s all.
’
‘
All?
’
she cried, repeating him like a parrot.
‘
What if I
’
ve made other arrangements?
’
‘
Cancel them. You don
’
t want to disappoint
Aimée
, do you? She
’
s never stopped asking when we are going.
’
‘
You could always take Tricia,
’
she prevaricated. She tried to collect her wits in order to subdue the sudden surge of emotion his unexpected appearance had caused.
‘
What
’
s the matter? Scared? I
’
ll turn back at the slightest sign of bad weather. That
’
s the only thing that need bother you.
’
His lip curled a little as he spoke.
Nora knew he was cutting her down to size. At the same time he was making it very difficult for her to wriggle out of a promise, however reluctantly it had been given.
‘
What time?
’
she asked, avoiding his eyes.
‘
Ten o
’
clock. We can go along the pier in the little train.
Aimée
will enjoy it and it will give her a much-needed lift to the jetty to board the boat.
’
His eyes roved over her face glowing from the fresh air, the clear eyes were shining. She looked as slender and fresh as a young willow.
He grinned, his teeth white against his tan.
‘
You
’
ll be going back home looking as fit as a fiddle when we
’
ve finished with you!
’
‘
That
’
s very comforting,
’
she assured him with a bite of sarcasm.
‘
But I don
’
t happen to have had polio.
’
‘
You can thank the Lord that you haven
’
t,
’
he answered grimly.
‘
I hope to heaven you never do.
’
Nora bit on her lip.
‘
Then stop treating me as if I had,
’
she snapped.
‘
Honestly, the way you treat me, anyone would think that I was
Aimée
’
s twin sister!
’
‘
I could treat you like a grown-up,
’
he said darkly.
‘
But therein lies the danger. Still, if that
’
s what you want...
’
‘
Oh, stop trapping me into corners,
’
she cried angrily.
‘
I
’
ve never met anyone like you!
’
‘
That makes two of us. Interesting, isn
’
t it? Have you missed me?
’
Nora pushed past him and inserted her key in the lock of the hall door.
‘
Goodnight,
’
she said without turning round.
Juan
’
s deep chuckle followed her to the elevator. Why with all the island to choose from did she have to meet such an aggravating, impossible young man?
Nora was waiting for Juan and
Aimée
the following morning when they called to pick her up. The man who drove the little train had not turned up, so Juan got the train ready himself and drove them down to the landing steps. He lifted
Aimée
on to his back, carried her down the steps to the waiting dinghy, then put her and Nora into it.
Tremors ran through Nora when Juan lifted her aboard the
Dancing Belle.
She saw white teeth glistening beneath the peaked cap as he steadied her with his hands on her waist until she had the feel of the boat.
‘
There isn
’
t much of either of you,
’
he said.
‘
You
’
re like two pieces of thistledown.
’
The morning was perfect for sailing when Juan cast off from the buoy. Down below
Aimée
was excited about her first sail.
‘
It
’
s great,
’
she said, hugging Nora.
‘
I
’
m going to marry Juan when I grow up.
’
Her hair was in a ponytail. She wore jeans and a striped sweater in navy and white and there was a red ribbon in her hair.
Nora teased,
‘
I bet that
’
s why he hasn
’
t married,
’
holding the small head against her.
Aimée
looked up at her seriously.
‘
You don
’
t think he
’
ll marry anyone else, do you?
’
She sighed.
‘
He
’
s so very attractive. Of course, I wouldn
’
t mind if he married someone like you—until I grow up. Then I
’
d want him back.
’
Nora was laughing when Juan joined them.
‘
Am I missing something?
’
he asked, looking from one to the other with a cocked eyebrow.
‘
Don
’
t tell him, Nora.
’
Aimée
giggled, but her look at him was openly adoring.
‘
I
’
m thirsty. Please can I have
a drink?
’
Juan eyed her darkly.
‘‘
So it
’
s to be two to one, is it?
’
He ruffled her hair.
‘
Well, I would remind you, miss, that I
’
m the strongest of the three of us. Also I have you both at my mercy, so beware
!’
Aimée
laughed as he handed her a glass of orange juice and a packet of chocolate biscuits. Then he went in the galley to make coffee.
Aimée
had made short work of her drink and several chocolate biscuits when Juan brought in the coffee. He gave a cup to Nora and sat down with his opposite to her on the padded cockpit side seats.
Aimée
nibbled another biscuit.
‘
I wish we could do this every day,
’
she said wistfully.
‘
You
’
d soon get bored,
’
Juan told her lazily.
‘
I would never get bored with you,
’
she assured
him earnestly.
‘
Tell me another story about the fairies on the island.
’
Juan grinned.
‘
They
’
d soon be fed up with your incessant chatter for a start. They can
’
t stand noise. All fairies have a great objection to noise. It
’
s said that three score and ten years ago a man was wakened from his bed on a fine spring morning to the murmur of voices outside his window. Going to look, he saw an orderly procession of hundreds of the little people scrambling over stepping stones in the river to make their way slowly up the Bearey Mountain until they disappeared in the mist at the top. Most of them wore tiny pointed caps on their heads and were carrying pots, pans, kettles and even spinning wheels, all their worldly possessions. A mill had recently been built in the village and they objected to the noise it made. So they went in search of a quieter place.
’
Aimée
clapped her hands as Juan finished his coffee. As he put down his cup
Aimée
threw herself at him to kiss him soundly.
‘
Now tell Nora a story—please, Juan,
’
she begged.
He looked startled at the suggestion.
‘
I
’
m sure Nora has no such childish fancies.
’
‘
Oh, but I
’
m sure she believes in the fairies, don
’
t you, Nora?
’
Aimée
’
s big eyes were very appealing.
Nora laughed, avoiding Juan
’
s mocking eyes.
‘
Indeed I do,
’
she said lightly.
‘
I
’
m not sure that Juan does, though.
’
‘
Of course he does. Don
’
t you, Juan? Go on,
’
Aimée
urged,
‘
tell Nora a story.
’
He laughed and tweaked her hair.
‘
I don
’
t have to tell Nora a story to entertain her.
’
The hesitancy in his voice made Nora look directly at him. He had pushed the yachting cap to the back of the crisp curling hair. His tall wide
-
shouldered frame dwarfed the confines of the cabin and she was once again reminded of that deadly charm. Furthermore, the remark he had made about being the strongest of the three of them came back to taunt her, for he was looking at her in much the same way that a pirate of old would look on a pretty captive.