Authors: Katrina Britt
He eyed her calculatingly.
‘
I
’
d say you could have
a number of suitors after your fortune. Shall you still want to carry on with the old firm?
’
‘
That
’
s a fool question,
’
she snapped.
‘
Of course. You can sell my car if you like. I shall bring my new car back with me.
’
‘
Selling your car will present no problems. I
’
ve missed you.
’
Floyd pushed back his empty plate as a hint for Nora to get up and take it away with her half-filled one to the kitchen. She was some time dishing up the apple pie and cream.
‘
You heard what I said,
’
he went on pointedly upon her return to the table with the tray.
‘
I missed you.
’
Nora gave him a generous helping of the apple pie and added a dollop of thick cream.
‘
You mean you missed my cooking. All those evenings you came to dinner
!’
He picked up his spoon and looked at her darkly.
‘
That isn
’
t what I mean and you know it.
’
Nora put a small portion of the apple pie on her own plate and an equally small amou
n
t of cream. Then she sat down and looked at him across the table.
‘
We have a good business partnership, but marriage is a very different matter. You and I have nothing in common except the shared enthusiasm for our job. As for new offices, we don
’
t need them
—
certainly not the kind they
’
re building now.
’
‘
But we
’
re taking on more responsibility. We need to expand,
’
he said stubbornly.
‘
So you keep saying.
’
Nora ate a portion of pie daintily.
‘
There
’
s nothing that can
’
t wait until I get back. Meanwhile, I have to concentrate upon the job in hand. Surely you can see that?
’
‘
I can see you
’
re being difficult as usual,
’
he answered in aggrieved tones.
Her mouth quirked at the corners.
‘
As usual meaning when you want your own way. We
’
ll go into it when I come back. How long are you staying?
’
‘
I was going back tomorrow. There
’
s really no point in my staying,
’
he muttered sulkily.
‘
It
’
s up to you. You might enjoy a day or two here.
’
Her smile became impish.
‘
Who knows, you might even vet one or two possible suitors for my hand.
’
His lips thinned.
‘
I really believe you
’
re enjoying it.
’
‘
Oh, don
’
t be stuffy,
’
she snapped.
‘
I
’
ll make the coffee, then you can tell me what
’
s been going on while I
’
ve been away.
’
Floyd had papers in his pocket which he wanted her to sign. They dealt with business matters amicably, but Floyd
’
s morose expression was never far from his face. It was a relief to Nora when he finally left and she went to bed bemoaning the fact that all her problems were related to men. They were not worth bothering about.
CHAPTER FIVE
Floyd h
ad gone back. Nora had taken him to the airport and was feeling rather lost on her return to the flat. The feeling of restlessness was back and after her evening meal at the flat she went for a walk along the promenade towards the pier.
She had not gone for a walk alone on the pier since the dreadful night when someone had pushed her into the sea. It bothered her, this fear she still had each time she thought about it. It had been a beautiful day and the evening was warm and without wind. The sea was tranquil and looking up from where she had stopped she could see two couples half way along the pier standing looking down into the water.
Partly to quell her fears and partly because the walk along it was so inviting, Nora took a deep breath and went in through the turnstile. On the pier the little train had been put away in its usual siding and she could hear someone tinkering with it as she passed. They were on the far side of the train so she could not see what it was.
Forgetting all about it, she strolled along, enjoying the fresh smell of seaweed and salt water. The two couples she had seen at the rails were now coming towards her, and looking ahead she could see no one. When they had gone she would be alone on the pier. They were quite a long way off yet and by the time they had passed by Nora would be well on to the other end of the pier ... alone. Hastily she glanced behind, but saw no one.
It was very quiet with only the occasional swishing sound of the sea swirling around the girders of the pier. Slowly the two couples advanced. They were quite young, hardly out of their teens, and they were holding hands. Nora could hear their voices now and soon they would be gone. But still she kept walking on. When they had passed she would turn around and follow them.
Steady now, she assured herself. What
’
s the panic? Had not Juan told her that there was no longer any danger lurking for her on the pier? But what did she really know about Juan? Only that he looked dependable, and it was so easy to be taken in by appearances.
Nora
’
s mouth went dry and her hands clenched in the pockets of her jacket as she walked on, her heart throbbing violently. The two couples were almost abreast of her now. Give them a minute or so to pass on, then she would turn round and follow them. If anyone was actually watching and waiting for her they would know that she had turned back because she was afraid of what might be waiting for her. But what did it matter what they thought? They were too despicable, whoever they were.
They had gone. Nora drew in a deep breath and took further paces forward. Now
!
She swung round on her heel to face the way along the pier that she had come and something hit her head on. She clutched whatever it was to save herself from falling and felt arms like steel bands going around her.
‘
Steady on!
’
Juan
’
s deep voice, threaded with laughter, struck her ears like a gong.
‘
You
’
ve knocked the daylights out of me
!’
Nora had closed her eyes and she was shaking from head to foot. The floor of the pier seemed hinged and she had the sensation of being swung around until she was giddy. But it was all in her imagination, for she was standing gazing up into Juan
’
s laughing face.
Suddenly the twinkle in his dark eyes was taken over by a look of concern. His arms tightened around her as he stared down at her working face.
‘
Nora,
’
he said urgently,
‘
what
’
s wrong? You
’
re shaking. Are you all right?
’
She dropped her head with her forehead against his chest, and stood speechless, held tightly against him. What was he doing so close behind her? Had he been following her? A shudder went through her and then she stood perfectly still.
‘
You frightened me,
’
she whispered.
‘
What were you doing so close behind me? Where did you come from?
’
‘
Hey, you are upset, aren
’
t you?
’
She lifted her head and looked up at him,
white-faced
but not trembling any more.
‘
Can you wonder, when you frightened me so badly?
’
she cried indignantly.
‘
I frightened you?
’
He laughed.
‘
You scared me too. Whatever made you turn round so unexpectedly?
’
‘
I ... I ... decided to go back,
’
she stammered. How could she tell him that she had been afraid of being on the pier on her own? He probably did not know what fear was. Besides, it would not do to let him know how frightened she had been. Suspicions crowded in on her and she loosened her grip of him slowly.
He scanned her expression with dark intelligent eyes.
‘
There
’
s something else, isn
’
t there? You thought I was creeping up on you? You silly child, you
’
re worse than
Aimée
. Come on, I
’
ll take you back to the flat. I have my car outside the pier.
’
Nora allowed him to put an arm loosely about her slim shoulders, and they went back along the pier in silence. The short run to her flat was soon accomplished and he calmly took the key out of her hand to go up with her to her flat.
‘
I
’
m going to make you a drink of hot sweet tea, so put your feet up,
’
he said, pushing her gently down on the settee.
Pushing cushions behind her head, he lifted her feet up and took off her sandals. Then he went into the kitchen. His comforting warmth and vitality had done much for restoring her calm, but Nora was not convinced of his part in the whole affair. He was being so gentle and kind, but it was not enough. How could she be certain that it was not an act?
Wearily Nora closed her eyes. It had been quite a day, what with Floyd adding to her problems and now Juan again. It would be so easy to succumb to his charm when perhaps, for all she knew, he meant her harm. Her eyes were still closed when he came with the tea and she opened them to find him gazing down at her with an expression in his eyes which he quickly changed to one of concern.
‘
Come on, drink this up and you
’
ll feel fine,
’
he said, placing the cup in her hands.
‘
It
’
s sweet and hot.
’
Drawing up one of the chairs, he sat facing her just an arm
’
s length away bent forward with his strong arms along his thighs.
‘
All right, you were trying to prove something to yourself,
’
he said.
‘
What I don
’
t understand is why, after the first shock of bumping into me, you didn
’
t relax when you saw who it was.
’
Nora avoided his eyes.
‘
I thought you were creeping up on me. I was tensed up, seeing myself all alone on the pier deliberately asking for another attack from ... from someone who for some reason wants me gone.
’
‘
You weren
’
t alone on the pier, I was there. I happened to be tinkering with the train. It had
seized up earlier in the evening and I felt bound to help out since the man who runs it had done me several good turns including bringing my car along for Aim
é
e after our sail. I
’
d put it right and was cleaning up when I saw you along the pier. You must have passed me without either of us realising it.
’
‘
You could have called me,
’
with an uncertain smile.
‘
I didn
’
t want to alarm you, so I sprinted along after you and gave you the shock of your young life.
’
He grimaced apologetically.
‘
I didn
’
t mean to. I
’
m sorry.
’
He reached out a hand to push the silky hair gently back from her forehead and her heart lightened absurdly at his touch. Now that her pulse was back to normal it was enough for the moment to have him near, to have him regarding her keenly yet with unusual gentleness.
The hot tea was bringing back the healthy pink to her cheeks and she drank the rest of it with his eyes upon her. Taking the empty cup from her, he put it down on the low table nearby, then took one of her hands in his. She felt the cool strength of the fingers closing around her own and waited.
He went on,
‘
I ought to have told you before about that evening on the pier, but I was hoping it wouldn
’
t be necessary. You see, everything has been taken care of. You have nothing to fear any more.
’
‘
How can I believe that when I know none of the facts?
’
she asked shakenly.
Juan said slowly,
‘
The facts are that Jony has a half-brother whom everybody calls Paitchey
—
Paitchey is the Manx name for child. You see, Paitchey has the mentality of a boy of seven and he
’
s nineteen years old. He
’
s been in a home since the age of ten and Jony has him home every weekend. Normally Jony has him with him during that period, but on this particular day he was busy on the farm and let Paitchey go fishing off the pier with several other teenagers. No doubt you would meet them that evening on the pier.
’
Nora swallowed convulsively as she recalled seeing the boys passing her on the pier. Her fingers clung to his, and she nodded.
‘
Go on,
’
she whispered huskily.
He continued,
‘
The boys would see you long before you saw them and they would probably tell Paitchey teasingly that you were Jony
’
s new girlfriend from across the water. As Paitchey is Jony
’
s responsibility because he
’
s the boy
’
s only relative, you can imagine what effect this teasing remark had on him. Right away he would think you
’
d come to take Jony away with you back across the water. So he let the boys go on ahead on leaving the pier. They wouldn
’
t bother about him lagging behind because there was only one exit and they would wait for him there.
’
‘
But he might have gone down the steps of the pier by the jetty and got drowned,
’
she said.
Juan shook his head and smiled.
‘
Paitchey then put down the plastic purse and unhooked the rope from across the gap in the pier rail. Then he hid and while you were picking up the purse and peering over the side, which I presume you would do, he pushed you over into the water.
’
Her eyes were wide with horror.
‘
But I might have drowned! What if I hadn
’
t been able to swim?
’
He smiled.
‘
Paitchey would take it for granted that you could swim. He can swim like a fish, and he learned by being pushed into the water. He would naturally take it for granted that you
’
d swim ashore by the same process. He wanted to scare you into going back and leaving Jony alone.
’
‘
I see.
’
She lowered her eyes to their clasped hands and felt the strength of his.
‘
How did you find all this out?
’
‘
By making a few enquiries after working it out who would do that to you. I went to see Jony, showed him the purse, and he recognised it as one Paitchey had received at a party given at the Home where he was staying. He
’
d put some money in it for the boy the day previous. He said he would question him about it, which he did. Paitchey no longer had the purse and he admitted giving it to a pretty girl on the pier who
’
d come from across. We presumed he meant you as the boys who were with him swore that he
’
d talked to no one on the pier while he was with them.
’
‘
I hope he won
’
t be punished,
’
Nora said anxiously. .
‘
No one will know about it, so it won
’
t come to anything unless you want to bring charges.
’
‘
I would never do such a thing
!
’
she cried, adding as something occurred to her,
‘
So that was why Jony called on me that day we went to the fish farm. He didn
’
t stay long—just called in to ask how I was and mentioned the pier.
’
He raised a brow.
‘
Did you tell him what had happened?
’
She shook her head.
‘
No,
I
didn
’
t. He warned me against you. He told me that the
Dancing Belle
wasn
’
t yours.
’
Juan laughed goodhumouredly.
‘
Jony
’
s a deep one. He was sounding you out about Paitchey. He
’
ll be grateful that you aren
’
t taking the matter any further. It
’
s probably done some good, because Jony will take more care of Paitchey in the future when he has him to stay. I
’
m afraid you had the
worst of it, my little eayn.
’
Nora wrinkled a smooth brow.
‘
What does eayn mean?
’
‘
Manx for lamb.
’
He let go of her hand and patted it.
‘
Anyway, it
’
s all over and you needn
’
t be afraid of going along the pier again alone. All right now?
’
He laughed into her face and Nora felt a tugging of her heart-strings. She was fine while he was there. It would be when he had gone that the pain would start. And he had no idea
o
f it. He would go back to the yacht and immediately immerse himself in its needs. What did he care that Nora Bain, a silly little comeover, had succumbed to his charms along with many other girls?
Pride cooled her voice.
‘
I
’
m fine, thanks to you. I
’
m sorry about Paitchey. I wish Jony had told me about him, but I suppose he wanted to protect the boy. As far as I
’
m concerned it never happened.
’
She bit hard on her lip, wishing she could say the same about meeting Juan.
‘
Can I get you a drink or something?
’
she added stiffly.
‘
No, thanks.
’
Juan was obviously trying to find the reason for her sudden coldness.
‘
You
’
re in no condition to entertain anyone. Go to bed—and don
’
t have any nightmares. I
’
ll let myself out.
’
He paused at the door.
‘
Aimée
is having a birthday soon. I hope you can come?
’
She hesitated.
‘
Let me know when and I
’
ll buy her a present.
’
‘
You mean you won
’
t be going?
’
He raised a dark brow and she lowered her eyes against his scrutiny.
‘I
’
ll let you know,
’
she answered evasively.
‘
You
’
ll probably have an invitation. Goodnight. Meanwhile if you have any further problems let me know. You can contact me at Finn Cullan
’
s place, The Armitage.
’
Juan
’
s unexpected exit might not have been so bad, Nora decided, if he had not been so offhand about it. He had been patently unconcerned at her frozen mitt, as it were. The thought that there was nothing to stop her packing and going home made her pause momentarily before she got to her feet. Then she surrendered to weariness and made her way slowly to her bedroom.
The pristine freshness of her room filled with sunlight greeted her after a disturbed night. As she searched for clean underwear she mused that it was a pity that cares could not be shrugged off as easily as clothes. The memories of the previous evening still rankled, but the thing that hurt most was Juan
’
s offhand attitude when he had left.
Nora spent the next few days exploring the island by car. It was a relief to get away from the
Dancing Belle
in the bay and the constriction of four walls in order to sort out her problems. But always on her return to the flat her heart would contract and her nerves go tense when she approached the promenade which she regarded as Juan
’
s familiar territory.
Then one morning she met him. The early post had brought an invitation for
Aimée
’
s birthday party and she was thinking about it on going out for her morning paper. Juan was leaving the supermarket carrying a box of provisions.
He grinned at her over the top.
‘
Hello there,
’
he said carelessly.
‘
How are you?
’
Her colour deepened as the moment eased, and she met his amused eyes with a smile. She answered his queries as to what she had been doing since they last met and heard with deep misgiving that
Aimée
was looking forward to her coming to her birthday party.
She asked uncertainly,
‘
Are you taking the box to your car?
’
Juan looked down at the provisions in his arms and frowned.
‘
Yes, it
’
s right behind you in the square. Why?
’
‘
Would you wait while I go back to my flat for Aim
é
e
’
s present? Maybe you would take it for me?
’
‘
Anything wrong with your car?
’
he asked in clipped tones.
‘
No.
’
‘
Then why not take the present yourself to the birthday party?
’
Juan
’
s tone was baffling—meant, she thought, to challenge her into accepting. But a compromise was too fraught with personal conflict for Nora.
‘
I
’
m sure
Aimée
will be too engrossed in her presents and other small guests to miss me.
’
The fresh breeze frolicked in the silky hair at her temples and curved the denim skirt against her shapely figure. The eyes she raised to his had a hint of pleading in their depths and her cheeks burned.
His glance roved slowly over her, and the ironic line of his
well-cut
lips smoothed out.
‘
Another pair of hands are always welcome when there are youngsters to look after, and it
’
s a big house,
’
he said meaningly.