The Emerald Eagle Read online

  The Emerald Eagle - Jane Corrie

  Sonia was very fond of her half-brother George, and was only too delighted to be visiting him at his island home in the Caribbean. But she did draw the line at George using her, and her spectacular good looks, as bait in his business dealing with the impressive local Lord of the Isles, the haughty Rory Maragal. She was just not interested in the man! But whether she liked it or not, she just kept being pitchforked into his company—and meanwhile, George's behaviour had given him the lowest possible opinion of her. And then Sonia managed to play right into Rory Maragal's hands . . .

  Printed in Great Britain

  Books you will enjoy by JANE CORRIE

  PEACOCK'S WALK

  Jenny Grange had quite got over Mark Chanter when he came back into her life again—why, she didn't even feel jealous of Dilys, who was trying so hard to capture him. But Mark seemed to think that all was not over between them. Just what did he want ? And what did Jenny want herself?

  THE IMPOSSIBLE BOSS

  Tammy Dainton hadn't come all the way out to the Australian outback just to be bullied and pushed around by that detestable, impossible man Rick Hatton—but Rick Hatton held all the cards, and it looked as if Tammy would just have to put up with him .. .

  THE TEXAN RANCHER

  Josie owed a debt to her grandfather—a debt of love, and went to Texas to repay it. It wasn't long, however, before she found she was in debt to Kade Boston, too—and love had nothing to do with that debt!

  PATTERSON'S ISLAND

  After the break-up of her romance, Beth sought refuge on a Caribbean island. But as things turned out, it proved to be anything but a haven, for Gavin Patterson, the autocratic owner of the island, seemed intent on making her stay as brief as possible!

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the Author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the Author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  The text of this publication of any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  First published 1975

  Australian copyright 1978

  Philippine copyright 1978

  This edition 1978

  © Jane Corrie 1975

  For copyright reasons, this book may not be issued on loan or otherwise except in its original soft cover.

  ISBN o 263 72837 4

  CHAPTER ONE

  SONIA ought to have known there was a catch in it. And what a catch, she thought, looking at the six-footer weighing her up with narrowed grey eyes—eyes that did not miss a trick. He was dark and looked as if he might have a touch of Spanish in his blood. There was a haughty look about him. She noted the dark winged brows now slightly uplifted as he made his calculations about her. In that brief somewhat earlier glance he had afforded her, she was uncomfortably aware that he knew her exact measurements. As her hand was lost in his she felt an electric current shoot through her and alarm bells started ringing in her brain. She stole a peep at him under her golden lashes, wondering whether he was aware of her discomfiture. She had a strong premonition that he was, by the sudden glint in his hawklike eyes. When he casually informed her that he would pick her up at eight, she felt like a sparrow on whom a sparrowhawk had just descended. She shivered and attempted to pull herself together. This simply would not do. The thought of an evening alone in his company

  terrified her; she would feel safer with a couple of gorillas. She heard herself murmuring, 'I'm sorry, I have a previous engagement.'

  His eyes narrowed and the finely moulded lips were tight as he answered, 'Break it,' in no uncertain terms.

  A flush stained her cheeks. He might own the island, but he didn't own her. 'Some other time, perhaps?' she said coldly.

  He looked at her as if she had committed an unpardonable sin. 'I wouldn't advise you to follow that line,' he said softly. 'It's been used before and somewhat bores me. Either it's tonight or you can forget it, honey.' His glance flicked over her. 'I thought under the circumstances you might have been a little more accommodating. I must admit when I first saw you I thought it was a very smart move on George's part. I don't deny I'm interested.' His eyes swept over her diminutive figure. 'Very interested,' he drawled.

  Sonia couldn't blush any deeper. She had not liked being called 'honey' in that familiar way, she had most certainly not liked being looked at as if she were the choice item on the menu. Just wait till she saw George!

  There was a lot more behind his entreaty to come and stay with them during her vacation and keep Chloe company as she had been a little off colour lately. Chloe was George's wife

  and had been in the best of health when she arrived, so there just had to be another reason. Sonia was fond of her half-brother, but fully aware that he never did a thing without a reason. She had no sooner arrived on the small island in the Bermudas than he had held this luncheon party, and lost no time in presenting her to the man now standing beside her. When he was introduced as Rory Maragal, Sonia knew why George had shown such deference towards him. Not only was he the owner of - the island, but the man George hoped to persuade to give him the contract to build a luxury hotel on the island's south coast. Rory Maragal was in favour of such an undertaking, the trouble was that George was not the only one in the field. There were at least two others intent on the same project.

  Remembering the way he had conveniently slipped away after the introduction, Sonia knew she had met the fly in the ointment. It was not the first time George had used her as bait—her lips clamped together—very successfully too. Arnold Cairn of the Tryfold organisation had been well and truly hooked. It had taken Sonia a little while to fall in with what George was up to, and by then poor Arnold had fallen in love with her.

  She had been a slightly giddy nineteen-year old then, full of the joy of living and ready for

  any adventure. Arnold had wined and dined her and taken her to the best shows in town, showered her with gifts. Sonia was not unused to this treatment, for she was a beauty. Her white-gold hair, green eyes and pocket venus figure attracted men like flies. She had learned to live with it, never stopping to think of the hurt she caused through her indifferent treatment of her admirers. She never took anyone seriously. To her, men were born flatterers. At each proposal she would grin and murmur that they would feel better in the morning.

  It had been Arnold that had awakened her conscience. His absolute despair at her refusal when he proposed at first perplexed her, then caused her much heart-searching. She had not meant to hurt him. She was very fond of him. At the time she had felt so bad about it, she had almost married him to ease her conscience. It had been Chloe who had put her foot down. `You don't love him, Sonia, it would be cruel in the long run.' Sonia knew she was right. She had become more selective and wary in her dealings with men after that. Dates were not fun anymore for her. In other words, Sonia grew up.

  She sighed inwardly and looked at the man still obviously waiting for her reply. Why couldn't she play the old games with him? He would not be hurt. He was too sure of himself. What she could not understand was why she was

  so frightened of him. Was it because he was so unlike the men she had learnt to handle, even the cynical, experienced ones ? This man was in a class of his own. If anyone got hurt it would be her, and she was not inclined to put her theories to the test. I am sorry,' she murmured, managing to give him a bright smile, synthetic, but a smile. 'I really am booked up.'

  She did not miss the quick intake of breat
h. The next minute he had moved on and was soon deep in conversation with another guest, never, giving her another look.

  Sonia took a deep breath at having successfully warded him off and went in search of Chloe.

  She knew a moment's awkwardness when she found she was placed next to Rory Maragal at the lunch table later. Her attempts at light conversation with him were met with an indifference that almost amounted to a snub. She was made to feel like an intruder who had gate crashed a party. She gave up after the second attempt and devoted her attention to a middle-aged man the other side of her, not missing the smug look on the face of the girl opposite and with whom Rory Maragal entered into a light flirtatious conversation.

  The middle-aged man, who had been introduced as John Hanser, asked Sonia if she were just on holiday or thinking of settling down

  there. Before she could answer, Rory Maragal drawled out that he rather thought they had the full quota of residents at that time. John Hanser blinked and stared owlishly at him.

  `I thought you were hoping for a few more permanents, Rory?' he coughed discreetly. 'The right types, of course.'

  Rory Maragal nodded and agreed, `the right types, of course'.

  Sonia felt the flush creep in her cheeks. There was no mistaking his meaning. She didn't know just what she had done to deserve this kind of treatment, but she didn't see why she should be subjected to it a moment longer. She debated whether to fling her glass of wine in his face, or whether to just get up and walk out. Common sense won the day. It was George's luncheon party, and even if Rory Maragal had no manners, she had. Clenching her teeth, she made herself reply to Mr Hanser, who sat looking very embarrassed beside her. She answered as if Rory Maragal had not spoken.

  `I'm on holiday,' she explained. 'Coral islands are fine for a few weeks, after that they begin to pall. I'm an awful square. I actually love dear old England. Fog and rain maybe, but where you can speak your mind without fear of being clapped in irons or threatened with deportation.' She gave a sweet smile on the last words.

  There was a sudden shocked silence and Sonia

  saw with no little amusement the man beside her cast a quick startled look at Rory Maragal. The girl looked extremely anxious too. Sonia calmly picked up her wine and sipped. She felt much better now.

  `We no longer clap them in irons, Miss Wells,' murmured Rory Maragal in a deadly voice. 'We have a more sophisticated way of dealing with misdemeanours. Of course, it differs according to the sex and—er—their attractions. Old hags, for example, are thrown off Spanish Head cliffs. Men of workable age go to the silver mines, and,' he looked up from the peach he was peeling, to her, 'saucy young maidens tend to disappear, kept, it's rumoured, in an underground palace for the master's amusement.'

  Sonia gasped. She had not liked the look in his eye as he had said this. He was, of course, only frightening her, nevertheless she felt the prickles creep along her spine. She gave him a sweet smile and said, 'You terrify me.'

  The girl opposite gave a squeal. 'Rory ! ' she exclaimed, then giggled. 'I've a good mind to take you up on that,' she laughed. 'Now what can I do to get in your bad books?'

  He glanced across at her. 'Refuse a dinner date,' he said abruptly.

  Sonia hastily helped herself to a peach.

  `I wouldn't dare,' rejoined the girl, laughing. `Not one of yours. That would be an insult,

  considering how rarely you hand them out.'

  Sonia felt Rory Maragal look at her; she quickly turned to Mr Hanser and asked him how long he had lived on the island. She was vastly relieved when luncheon was over and she unobtrusively made her exit from a gathering debating what to do that evening. She heard Rory Maragal's deep voice suggesting a moonlight bathing party on Soya Sands, wherever that was; judging by the response she knew his suggestion had been unanimously accepted. She had just got to the door when he asked for a show of hands in order to provide enough food, and she slipped through the door quickly.

  If he had suggested they walk the Sahara in bare feet, she had a feeling they would comply. She clenched her teeth. She was beginning to understand why he had been so upset over her refusal to dine with him. He just wasn't used to such treatment.

  Thankfully reaching her room, she kicked her shoes off and lay down on the bed. She felt exhausted; she had yet to acclimatise to the time change. She drowsily watched the sunlight penetrating through the slatted windows. Before she fell asleep she wondered whether George would be sent to the silver mines. There was a smile on her face as she slept.

  She was woken by Chloe at four o'clock with a cup of tea. 'George isn't pleased with you,' she

  said as as she handed her the tea.

  Sonia blinked and dragged her sleep-clogged senses back to the present. She had dreamt of a piratical character who had dragged her back to his lair by the roots of her hair. She gingerly felt the crown of her head. Odd, really, in her dream it had hurt very much. She shrugged and gave her attention to Chloe.

  `Are you awake?' demanded Chloe.

  Sonia nodded still a little sleepily. 'Sorry, dear, time change and all that,' she murmured. `I could sleep for a-week !'

  `The way George feels at this moment it might be a good ideas' said Chloe. 'However, you're being given another chance to redeem yourself.'

  Sonia sipped her tea. 'I've a bone to pick with him,' she stared at Chloe. 'I suppose that was why I was invited?' she asked. Without waiting for a reply she carried on, 'I ought to have known, of course,' adding wearily, 'he never gives up, does he?'

  Chloe sat down beside the bed. 'Not when it involves this amount of money,' she remarked dryly. 'You know George.'

  Sonia looked quickly at Chloe. 'You're not broke, are you?' she asked.

  Chloe laughed delightedly. 'Can you see George going broke?'

  Shaking her head, Sonia replied, 'No. He's

  much too cautious.' She looked at Chloe. 'Why, then?'

  `He wants to justify his seat on the board,' she answered. `If he can swing that contract he's in line for the chairmanship that's coming vacant at the end of this year. It will give him a head start on the others.'

  Sonia laid her cup and saucer down. 'Well, he's picked a loser in me,' she said firmly. 'Why didn't he hire some luscious-looking secretary for his bait?'

  Chloe sighed. `He even thought of that. Trouble was, Rory saw a photo of you and expressed a wish to meet you. You can't blame George for trying to capitalise on it.'

  `Oh, can't I?' growled Sonia. `And how did he happen to show my picture to him? Answer me that if you can. Oh, don't bother. He did it on purpose, and I can guess which one it was. The one on Silver Sands, wasn't it? With a bikini I only dared sunbathe in. He took that photo without me knowing. Well, I'm sorry. Its no go. For one thing, I can't stand the man, for a second, he scares me to death.'

  Chloe burst out laughing.

  `It's not funny,' Sonia snorted indignantly. `How would you like to be dished up on the menu as the evening's speciality?'

  Chloe made an effort to restrain her hilarity. `When the man in question is Rory Maragal, I'd

  love it,' she said wickedly. 'I don't know what he's got, they fall in droves for him. It's not just the money.'

  `I'll tell you what he's got,' said Sonia positively. 'An oversized ego, that's what ! There are plenty of wealthy men around, but they don't chuck their weight around, do they? Or act like the Lord of the Isles.'

  Still smiling, Chloe shook her head. 'There's only one Rory Maragal,' she said.

  `And for that, we may be thankful. Many more like him and the world would no longer be a safe place,' said Sonia, and lay back on the bed, folding her arms behind her head. 'I think I'll move on to the Bahamas,' she mused.

  Chloe looked alarmed. 'Sonia, you can't ! You've only just got here ! ' she protested.

  Sonia's eyes narrowed. 'I'll stay on one condition,' she said. 'That George accepts me purely as his sister and guest and not a decoy.'

  Chloe's face fell. 'Please, Sonia, don't talk of going yet.
I've been so looking forward to your visit. The island folk are friendly, but they're not family.'

  Sonia studied Chloe's homely features. She had wondered on many an occasion why she had married George; she loved him, of course, but they were so different. Chloe, slightly dizzy, with an impish sense of humour, took life as it came. George, now, took life very seriously, was

  to Sonia's way of thinking just a little pompous. Fifteen years her senior, he had taken on his shoulders her upbringing when their sole surviving parent had died seven years previously. She had no complaints in that direction. Her education had been the best that was possible. A strict eye had been kept on her and her acquaintances, and although he had been guilty of attempting to swing an important deal in his favour by introducing her to a few young wealthy clients, they would all be bachelors of good character. Sonia knew that he eventually hoped she would accept a proposal from one such client, and had been rather disappointed when she had refused Arnold. She glanced at Chloe's large brown eyes soulfully watching her, and patted her hand. `I'm not blaming you, Chloe,' she said. 'Honestly, I'd love to stay, but I will not be thrown at that man. It's entirely up to George.' Her green eyes sparked. 'As a matter of fact,' she added, 'after this afternoon I've a feeling even Rory Maragal got the message.'

  She sat up and swung her feet off the bed and looked at Chloe. 'Chloe, I'm engaged ! ' she announced triumphantly.

  `You are?' said Chloe, her eyes opening wide.

  Sonia shook her head impatiently. 'Of course

  I'm not. But don't you see what a wonderful

  cover it will be? George will be able to placate

  Rory Maragal's ruffled feelings by telling him he

  didn't know about it, which he doesn't, if you see what I mean.'

  Chloe looked askance, then grinned. 'You know, Sonia, it might work at that ! Who's the lucky man?'