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‘Meaning you think I’m after something else?’ She smiled acidly. ‘Well, aren’t you? You’ve chased Liz and me ever since we’ve been here— quite unashamedly.’

‘With two entirely different reactions.’ The deepset eyes regarded her gravely. ‘Why can’t you be as approachable as your friend?’

‘I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you.’ She returned his gaze steadily. ‘But no two people are ever the same. It’s as well, don’t you think?’

He shrugged. ‘I suppose it stops life from becoming boring.’

‘But it goes against the grain when things don’t go all your own way?’

The silver eyes were watchful. ‘What do you think?’

‘I’m sure you’re not interested in my opinion of you,’ she said slowly. ‘I think I’ll go and see if Liz is awake.’

‘I want you here,’ he said with sudden ferocity. ‘I enjoy your company. Why do you always run away?’

‘Then come with me,’ she said. ‘Besides, I’m sure Liz would really prefer to see you.’

‘I wonder?’ he said slowly, ‘but if that’s what you want, go and see if she’s awake—I’ll be along in a few minutes.’

Liz was awake, sitting up in bed, reading a magazine. ‘Vane’s coming to see you,’ Debra told her. ‘He’s concerned, he thinks you must be ill.’

Her lie was rewarded by a sudden spark in Liz’s eyes. ‘Pass me my hairbrush and a mirror,’ she said quickly. ‘I can’t let him see me like this.’

Being in love suited her, thought Debra. It brought a glow to her cheeks like nothing else ever had. It was a pity Vane was not so single-minded in his devotion.

‘You look lovely,’ she said. ‘I have some good news. Vane’s taking us to London for a few days.’

‘It’s not the fashion show already?’ queried Liz sharply.

‘Oh, no,’ replied Debra. ‘He needs me for fittings.’

Liz’s rapture faded dramatically. ‘In that case I shan’t come,’ she said flatly. ‘I shall only be in the way.’

Debra had thought Liz would be delighted, was startled by her unexpected reaction. ‘But you can’t stay here by yourself. You must come. Vane’s booking us into a hotel—you’ll enjoy it, I know.’

But Liz was adamant, and when Vane came into the room Debra said quickly, ‘The London trip’s off. Liz wants to stay here and naturally I can’t leave her alone.’

His eyes hardened and he looked from one to the other. ‘Why don’t you want to come, Liz?’ he asked abruptly.

The girl looked hurt and Debra wished he had not been so harsh. Couldn’t he see that Liz was still desperately in love with him? Did he have to treat her so coldly? Whatever had happened surely it couldn’t be so bad that he could not be gentle?

Liz gazed up at him with hurt blue eyes. ‘Because I like it here,’ she said. ‘You and Debra go, see if I care.’ The last four words were muttered defensively, telling Debra that in reality it was the last thing she wanted.

And loving her friend as she did, she knew that in no way could she hurt her. Vane had done enough harm already, whether he realised it or not.

‘I won’t go without you, Liz,’ she said warmly, sitting on the edge of the bed and putting her arm about the younger girl’s shoulders. ‘If you want to stay here, then I will. The fittings will have to be done some other time.’

Vane’s eyes glinted in sudden anger, his lips thinned. ‘What is this, a conspiracy? I think you’re forgetting, Debra, that you work for me. If I tell you you’re going to London then you go.’

Her chin tilted and her eyes matched his for hardness. ‘I’m not going, Vane. Make of it what you will. Sack me if you like. At this particular moment Liz needs me more than you, and my loyalty is with her.’

His eyes swivelled to the younger girl. 'Do you need her, Liz? Answer me honestly. Do you want Debra to stay here with you?’

Before she could reply Debra said quickly, ‘Naturally she’ll deny it, but I haven’t lived with Liz nearly all her life not to know what’s going on inside her head.’

This was perhaps not strictly true. At one time she and Liz had been so close that often neither needed to speak to know what the other was thinking. It was only of late she had been completely baffled by Liz’s behaviour.

‘I’m asking Liz,’ snarled Vane, ‘not you. Please be quiet.’

Debra looked at her friend, who appeared on the verge of tears. ‘You’re upsetting her,’ she cried vexedly. ‘Leave her alone!’

He looked from one to the other, pivoted, and left the room.

Knowing that she had not heard the last of it, Debra shrugged off all thoughts of their next meeting, instead concentrating her attention on Liz. ‘Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong? Have you and Vane fallen out?’

Liz shook her head, her lips clamping together, her eyes becoming blank.

‘Then what is it?’ insisted Debra. ‘If you won’t tell me I can’t help.’

‘Just leave me alone,’ snapped Liz suddenly. ‘Leave me alone. You wouldn’t understand, not in a thousand years.’

Surprised by her sudden outburst Debra said gently, ‘Try me, Liz. I might surprise you. You really do have me worried.’

‘But you have Vane to take your mind off it,’ said Liz tightly. ‘Go to him, I know that’s what you want. It’s what you’ve wanted all along. I ought to have known it would never last.’

So it
was
all over between them!

Debra took Liz into her arms. ‘Would you like to tell me about it?’

But the other girl pushed her away angrily. ‘Get out, Debra. Go to London, go with Vane. Just leave me alone, that’s all I ask.’

Liz’s face was white and her rejection hurt Debra, although she had the sense not to touch her again. ‘If you could only talk about it, Liz,’ she implored, ‘you’d feel a lot better, I know you would.’

‘Talk to you!’ snapped Liz. ‘You’re the last person on earth I’d discuss my problems with. How would you understand when you’re in love with Vane yourself? You must be laughing under your hat. Pretending to sympathise, trying to make believe that you’re concerned. What do you take me for, a complete idiot?’

Debra was appalled by Liz’s hatred. She had never thought that Vane would split them up like this. ‘There’s nothing between me and Vane,’ she declared, in a last attempt to placate her friend. ‘Admitted, he’s tried it on, but it means nothing. Vane doesn’t love me, nor ever will. It’s you he loves, you’ve told me so yourself more than once.’

Liz sank wearily back into the pillows. ‘I thought he did. I was too inexperienced to know the difference.’ She spoke so quietly that Debra had to bend her head to hear. ‘I know now that he was merely being kind.’

‘He’s told you that?’ Debra recalled his words that there was a future for him and Liz together.

‘He told me I was making a mistake loving him.’ The tears that had threatened for so long overflowed, rolling down her cheeks, falling in damp splodges on to the silk sheets. ‘He—he said he was too old for me, that very soon I’d meet someone my own age—and that ’ She broke down completely, unable to go on, and this time did not resist when Debra gathered her to her breast.

Debra waited until the sobs had subsided before saying quietly, 'It might seem like the end of the world now, but in a few weeks you’ll be able to laugh. We all go through it, we all make mistakes, thinking we’re in love with some fabulous man, whereas in fact all it is is infatuation.’

Liz clung unashamedly to her friend. ‘Oh, Debra, I’m glad you know. It’s been so horrid keeping it to myself. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. I made Vane promise not to tell you either. I thought you’d be glad, and I couldn’t stand that.’

Shaking her head, Debra said, 'I wish you’d told me sooner. I love you as if you were my sister. Haven’t you always come to me with your problems? I’d like to think you always will.’ She paused, mopping the younger girl’s face with her handkerchief. ‘And Vane hasn’t rejected you either, I’m sure about that. He told you what he did for your own good, but deep down inside he’d still like to be your friend, if you’ll let him.’

Liz shook her head vehemently. ‘I don’t want to speak to him, not ever. I know I’m being stupid, but ’ She wrung her hands in distress. ‘You do understand?’

Debra nodded and smiled. ‘I think I do. But time is a great healer, you’ll think differently soon, and when you do he’ll be ready and waiting.’

The young girl looked doubtful.

‘He will,’ confirmed Debra. ‘And now I suggest you wash your face and go back to sleep. In the morning you’ll feel much better.’

Liz smiled wanly. ‘Are you going to London?’ Debra shook her head firmly. ‘I’m staying here with you. He can say what he likes, he can’t make me go, short of carrying me every inch of the way.’ Her friend giggled at the picture of Vane carrying Debra all the way to London. ‘I’m glad, Debra, but aren’t you a little bit scared? He’s in a filthy mood—look how he bounced out of here.’

Debra squared her shoulders. ‘I can handle Vane, don’t you worry. If the worst comes to the worst I simply get another job. People are crying out for people like me, don’t you know that?’

Liz grinned again. ‘I’m glad you know. I feel much happier already.’ She swung her legs out of bed and made her way towards the dressing room. There was a tiny crease between her brows when she turned. ‘Do you love him, Deb? You never said.’

Unsure whether or not to admit it, Debra struggled with her feelings for a few moments before nodding lamely. ‘But don’t you dare tell him, I’ll murder you if you do.’

‘Your secret’s safe with me,’ said Liz. ‘Seems like we’ve both fallen for the same man and neither of us is going to get him.’

‘The difference being,’ said Debra pointedly, ‘that I haven’t let him see it. You’ll know next time, Liz, not to wear your heart on your sleeve.’

She waited until Liz was settled before leaving the house and strolling across the sloping lawns, inhaling deeply the fresh evening air, glad that such scenes did not happen every day. She did not think she could stand them.

It was a relief that her friend had at last confided. She felt sure now that it would not be long before she returned to normal. Perhaps then she, Debra, could go with Vane, but certainly not before. No way would she leave Liz to cope with this alone.

When she returned to the villa he was waiting for her, a shadowy figure on the verandah, leaning idly against one of the posts, his cigar glowing red in the fading light.

‘I want a word with you,’ he said roughly.

‘And me with you,’ she returned, determined that he should in no way put her down.

They moved into the drawing room where Debra switched on the central light in order that she could see him more clearly.

‘You had a long talk with Liz after I’d gone,’ he commented, pouring himself a drink, but not bothering to offer her one.

‘So?’

His eyes narrowed. ‘I would like to know what you were talking about.’

Debra’s chin shot up. ‘It’s none of your business. Since when have I had to report to you full details of all conversations I have with my friend? I’m entitled to a certain amount of privacy!’

Anger tightened his face muscles, drawing the skin tautly across his prominent cheekbones. Silver eyes glittered from beneath hooded lids. ‘I have the feeling you were discussing me. And if that’s the case then I want to know what was said.’

‘No,’ said Debra deliberately, icily, ‘what Liz and I had to discuss was private.’

‘But you’re not disputing the fact that my name did enter the conversation?’

‘Maybe,’ she shrugged. ‘Does it really matter?’

‘I should say it matters a great deal,’ he said. ‘It will probably give me the answer as to whether you’re coming with me to London.’

Her eyes flashed. 'I can tell you that. The answer is no. I’m staying here with Liz.’

A pulse jerked in his jaw. ’And if I say you lose your job if you defy me?’

I
t will make no difference.’ There was an edge to her voice that he had not heard before. ‘I managed before I worked for you, I’ve no doubt I can again.’

There was silence for so long that Debra wondered if she ought to leave. Then Vane said savagely, 'I'll give you a week, Debra, to make up your mind. If at the end of that time you still refuse to accompany me, then you’re dismissed. I’ve no patience with people who defy my orders.’

Debra froze inside. She felt completely alienated from Vane, as though all the tender moments they had shared had never existed. How could he be so cruel? Didn’t she mean anything to him at all, not even as a good designer?

Like Liz earlier she felt like crying, but determined not to give him the pleasure of seeing her distress she said tightly, 'If that’s what you want, Mr Oliver, then so be it. You may as well sack me now, because there’s no way I’ll change my mind. Liz means more to me than your precious business.’

Eyes like ice glittered into her own. 'I admire your sentiments, Miss Delaney, but surely you have your priorities wrong? Don’t you owe it to yourself to look after your own interests? With you out of work how are you and your friend going to live? Come to think of it, where will you live? You won't be able to get your tenants out of the house until the agreement’s up, you’ll be lucky even then. These people have a way of sitting tight.’

‘We could stay in Hong Kong,’ replied Debra defensively.

‘And live in a shack, or perhaps a junk in Aberdeen harbour? Not quite what you’re used to, but I doubt you’ll be able to afford anything else. After I’ve deducted living expenses from your salary I doubt there’ll be much left.’

Debra was aghast. ‘What do you mean? You said accommodation went with the job.’

He smiled mirthlessly. ‘Liz doesn’t work for me. I never said anything about her living here for nothing.’

Absolutely furious now, Debra picked up the nearest thing and threw it. He ducked and the vase hit an ornately framed mirror on the wall behind him.

The vase broke, the mirror shattered, but she was beyond caring. ‘I hate you, Vane Oliver!’ she cried loudly. ‘I shall be glad to leave, do you hear, glad, glad, glad, and I hope your miserable Hong Kong collection is a failure!’

Tears raced down her cheeks as she fled, but it was not until she reached the sanctuary of her room that the enormity of what she had done hit her.

God, how could she have got so carried away that she had destroyed not one but two valuable objects? Would he insist that she pay for them? Would she spend the rest of her life working to pay off her debt to Vane Oliver? It did not bear thinking about.