Patterson's Island Page 11

  It was on her return after her third trip out to collect more drinks that Beth's certainty that nothing could go wrong received a rude awakening. A man stood by the drawing room door, hesitating a little as he looked round to find his host, and Beth very nearly dropped her tray. Nicholas! Her frantic eyes searched for Janice, who at that particular moment was having a cosy chat with an elderly woman. Janice, then, had not yet seen him.

  When Nicholas moved further into the room, heading in Gavin Patterson's direction, Beth did the only thing she could think of at the time, and ducked down behind the club chair, the occupant of which she had just provided with another sherry.

  Now she was safely out of sight, it only remained for her to get out of the room. The tray of drinks she left on the floor, and crawled on all fours towards the side of the room. The chair provided an excellent screen for her from the rest of the room, and having safely negotiated the distance without mishap, she crawled through the swing door, thanking providence for her quick-witted action.

  Had Johnny not chosen that particular moment to bring in the canapes, Beth's escape would have been

  successful. As it was, having no reason to suspect that he would meet someone on their hands and knees, he cannoned into her, propelling his tray through the swing doors in an action not dissimilar to that accredited to flying saucers.

  Beth's amazed eyes watched Johnny's exit, and she hoped he had a soft landing, although judging by the resulting crash she rather doubted it. She sat back on the floor, and seeing that she had collected a few delicacies from the tray Johnny was carrying, carefully removed a sardine and a few radishes from her lap. There was a suspiciously damp feeling on her forehead, which she suspected was another sardine, and she was just about to investigate when her eyes alighted on an immaculate pair of size nine shoes standing right in front of her.

  `I might have known it was too good to last. Have you anything else up your sleeve to ensure that my evening's ruined?' demanded a furious Gavin. 'Because if so, forget it. The first act was a roaring success!'

  Beth couldn't think of anything to say except to ask if Johnny was all right.

  `Oh, you do think about other people, then. Well, that's something. He's fine—due, only I might say, to his acrobatic training.'

  Beth had now lost interest in the conversation and continued brushing her dress down. 'You might at least apologise!' he ground out.

  Her attention focussed on a dish of some grey-looking mixture, probably horseradish, within tempting distance of her hand. 'I'm sorry,' she said, hoping

  that would be that, and he would leave her in peace, but he wasn't through yet.

  `I've a good mind to make you go out there and apologise to my guests, but you'd probably make a hash of that, too. I can't think, Miss Knight, what we did for excitement before you came to this island. I only know that if I had my way, your sister's wedding would take place tomorrow.'

  Beth's fingers curled round the dish in front of her, and she hurled it at him. Seeing it coming, he ducked, and the man who had just appeared on the scene caught the full blast of the sticky pottage on the front of his evening jacket.

  `Beth ! ' exclaimed Nicholas.

  Gavin Patterson was clearly confused, and Beth noted the fact with pleasure as she watched him help Nicholas to clean his jacket, profusely apologising all the time.

  When that was done they turned their attention to Beth, who still sat there, under the vague impression that if she kept quiet they would both go away. Feeling their eyes on her, she sighed, and looking at Nicholas, said, 'Sorry, Nicholas.'

  `I should think so! What a greeting ! ' he replied rapidly.

  Beth got up slowly, and Nicholas, taking another white handkerchief out of his pocket, began to wipe whatever it was off her forehead, just as if she had been a child.

  `I gather you know Miss Knight,' Gavin commented dryly, watching Nicholas's tender administration with some amusement.

  `He's what you might call my keeper,' said Beth bitterly.

  Nicholas gave a smug smile. 'She means fiance, of course.'

  `Ex-fiancé,' Beth returned firmly.

  Ignoring this, Nicholas, now satisfied he had removed all trace of food from Beth's forehead, pulled her to him and gave her a hard swift kiss, completely taking her by surprise, to her fury.

  The fact that Gavin Patterson stood by watching made it worse for her. She wrenched herself free, and to take that sardonic look from Gavin's face announced that it was time she went, as she had to wash the dishes.

  Nicholas stared at her. 'You've to what?' he demanded.

  `Wash the dishes,' Beth repeated sweetly. 'It's the least I can do. I'm up to my neck in trouble as it is. And if you knew my boss ...' She ran for it.

  When she got to the kitchen, that was exactly what she did do, only she hadn't washed many plates when Gavin caught up with her.

  `Put that damned dishcloth down,' he shouted. `You know damn well we employ staff for that job ! '

  `Temper, temper ! ' admonished Beth, determined not to put up with any more browbeating from this man.

  `As I've just spent the last five minutes explaining to Harbin that I do not employ you as a kitchen maid, perhaps you'd be good enough to explain your extraordinary behaviour. I may be a little slow on the uptake, but I did gather that his appearance might have

  had something to do with what happened earlier. Am I right?' he demanded.

  Beth dried her hands slowly. She didn't want to explain why she had acted as she had, or the blind panic she had felt at the sight of Nicholas. He wouldn't understand anyway.

  But that cloth down,' he ordered, 'and sit right there. I'm going to get to the bottom of this.' He pointed to a kitchen chair and perched himself on the table, one leg swinging, showing his impatience for Beth to get on with it.

  Beth's lips set mutinously. She had no intention of enlightening him.

  She was saved by the sudden appearance of Janice, who rushed into the room, and catching sight of Beth announced dramatically, 'He's here! Nicholas is here, Beth!' She glanced wildly round the room as if seeking somewhere to hide her sister. 'What are we going to do?' she wailed.

  Beth sighed. 'You don't have to do anything,' she told the frantically worried Janice. 'I shall have to do the disappearing act again, that's all.'

  Gavin stared from Janice's white face to Beth's set one, and a grin of unholy amusement appeared on his. 'This Harbin must be quite a character,' he drawled. 'I must cultivate his acquaintance.'

  Janice frowned at his levity. 'It's no laughing matter, Gavin,' she said sternly. 'I see he's got his name down for the trade conference.' She looked at her sister. 'Isn't that just like him?' she asked the thoughtful Beth who was busy making plans for her early departure. 'To kill two birds with one stone, I mean,

  fix up a deal for his business, and collect you on the way back ! ' Her hands clenched into fists. 'Only he's not going to take you back with him. You're here, and you're staying ! '

  Gavin's brows raised at this vehement statement. Beth could imagine his thoughts. Janice was doing the mother hen act again. She felt him look at her, as if to provoke her into action. He was also reminding her of his advice given earlier that evening, to go back to Nicholas. It was also obvious that Janice meant to keep her in her sights. Her previous idea of making herself scarce wasn't going to work either. Nicholas would just hang around. He'd know Beth would keep in contact with Janice, and it wasn't fair to leave Janice to cope with him. If she hadn't been so spineless before, she wouldn't now be in this mess.

  She took a deep breath. 'I'll just have to talk to him, won't I? I couldn't have made it plain enough before.' She sighed. 'I suppose he's still in the drawing room?' she asked the stunned Janice.

  The question brought an immediate response from Janice. 'Talk to him?' she echoed indignantly. `You've already talked to him—and left a letter, confirming your decision. What more can you do? I don't trust him,' she muttered. 'I've seen what happened before. No, Beth, yo
u're not seeing him alone. I'm coming with you.'

  Before Beth could persuade her otherwise, Gavin Patterson intervened with a smooth, 'Come now; it seems a little common sense is needed here.' He gave Beth a cold look. I'm sure your sister can manage her own affairs, if given the opportunity, that is, She

  may very well find that she's had a change of heart and decide to marry him after all.'

  The mother hen became a vixen defending her young from a predatory attack, as Janice whirled on him. 'You know nothing about it!' she cried, and to Beth's consternation her large brown eyes showed signs of tears.

  By this time Beth had had more than enough. She was even willing to marry Nicholas if she could bring a little peace into her life again. Her escape hadn't been very successful, had it? Nothing had gone right since she had left England. Her eyes fixed on the man now looking with some concern at Janice. None of this would have happened if he had had some sensibility, or shown some sign of that sense of humour Janice declared he possessed. He wanted her off his island, and he wasn't going to be too fussy as to how he achieved his aim. Nicholas's arrival would be seen as a heaven-sent opportunity to remove the thorn from his side. She, being the thorn. Beth knew that whatever she said to Nicholas would be undermined by the no less determined Gavin, who would do a little batting practice in his own part of the field. To give him some credit, he was looking out for Janice, and would very probably convince her later that his course of action was the right one.

  It was this thought that made Beth stick to her guns. She wasn't being married off to accommodate Gavin Patterson! It wouldn't, she mused, be good policy, however, to say so at that particular time. If he thought his problem was solved, then he would let well alone, and Beth would be free to do a little

  manoeuvring of her own. She looked up to find his eyes on her, his expression plainly showing that he thought it was her fault that Janice was upset. Her eyes blazed back into his. How she hated him ! 'I might very well do that,' she ground out.

  `Beth?' there was a note of pleading in Janice's voice, 'You don't mean that, do you?' She turned to Gavin. 'Now see what you've done?' she cried, and rushed out of the kitchen.

  Beth's look at Gavin as she went after Janice, echoed the same sentiments ! It was harder for Janice, of course, for she had just realised that one of her champions had joined the opposition.

  Beth was close enough to Janice to follow her into her office, and went up to the still figure that stood facing the window, although Beth knew she . wasn't seeing the view, for her head was bent in silent misery.

  She touched her arm gently. 'It's all right, love. I'm not marrying him,' she said softly.

  `But you said you might,' gulped Janice. 'And that will be enough for Nicholas.' She swallowed. 'He'll probably make it a double wedding. He won't leave you here. I shall never see you again, I know I won't ! '

  Beth squeezed her arm. 'Now you know that's not true,' she scolded her mildly. 'Nothing's changed. I've had a taste of freedom, remember, I'm not likely to trade that in again.'

  Neither of the girls saw the tall figure of Gavin by the open door, having followed Beth when she rushed after Janice.

  `But why did you say you might?' demanded Janice, giving a loud sniff.

  Beth sighed. 'Well, as you've just found out, your boss regards me as a disaster zone to be avoided at all costs. I said it for his benefit alone. I'm afraid, pet, I shall have to make other arrangements for my stay in this part of the world, find some place where I can ,get employment—there're scores of islands to choose from. Not too far, though,' she added, hoping to mollify the still miserable Janice. `So that I can dodge over to see you every now and again, and vice versa. Just as long as I. can keep out of you-know-who's way.'

  Janice straightened her back. 'I'll talk to Gavin,' she said firmly. 'Once he knows about Nicholas, he'll understand.'

  Beth gave a loud sigh. 'Janice ! You've just not been listening to me, have you? There is no way—repeat, no way,- that that man and I will ever see eye to eye. As for your crackbrained scheme of me becoming his secretary—I tell you, if it came to a choice of either marrying Nicholas or working for him, then I'd choose Nicholas—better the devil you know!'

  `Beth ! ' exclaimed the scandalised Janice.

  `I mean it!' said Beth. 'So don't you dare say a word to him. I want your promise on that, here and now!'

  The figure by the door left as unobtrusively as it had come.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ON the girl's return to the drawing room, Nicholas, who had been talking to Gavin, abruptly concluded the conversation and strode over to Beth.

  Placing a proprietorial arm around her waist, he complained, 'Where have you been?'

  Beth was saved the necessity of answering by Gavin, who had decided to join them, asking, 'How long are you staying, Harbin?'

  Janice, torn between staying put by Beth's side and carrying on her duties as hostess by seeing off a few guests on the point of leaving, was left no option in the matter by Gavin's drawled, 'Janice?' and she shot Beth a look of, 'Don't give in, will you?' before she drifted away in the wake of the departing guests.

  Nicholas took his time in answering Gavin's question, then looked at Beth. 'It depends,' he murmured.

  On how long it took to bring her back to her senses, Beth thought, but having only just regained them, she wasn't likely to lose them again.

  Gavin looked thoughtfully from Nicholas to Beth. `I don't know your line of sport, but the island offers some good yachting facilities. We've a regatta tomorrow if you're interested, and I'd be only too happy to take you out, if you wish to take part in it.'

  For once Beth applauded an action of Gavin Patterson's—even if he had an altruistic motive for

  gaining Nicholas's friendship. Under the circumstances he might even grant him the freedom of the island, if his mission was successful. As she could see Nicholas was wavering, for he was tempted to accept, she added her persuasion. 'You would enjoy that, Nicholas,' she urged, thinking of a whole day of freedom for herself.

  `What will you be doing?' he asked, and Beth sighed inwardly. She was back to square one with him monitoring her every movement.

  `Oh, I shall do some sketching,' and catching Gavin's eye, she added for his benefit, 'At the cottage. I promise to give the harbour a wide berth.' She thought she saw his mouth twitch, but couldn't be sure. Nicholas just looked bewildered.

  `Why can't you come with us?' Nicholas demanded, and turning to Gavin, 'I presume there's a yacht club Beth can watch us from?'

  Beth held her breath; he wouldn't like that at all, she thought. Why, she might even get near the starter guns ! She was confident he would think up something though, but to her astonishment she heard him answer smoothly, 'Of course, why not?'

  Why not indeed? Beth's eyes spoke her thoughts as they met Gavin's bland ones, and she felt like screaming. It was plain he was going to allow nothing to stand in the way of her reconciliation with Nicholas, and even the thought of a ruined regatta would not swerve him from that course. A tiny prick of panic went through her as she acknowledged that she had not one but two adversaries to conquer. Nicholas was formidable enough on his own—linked

  with Gavin Patterson, he was invincible. She felt like waving a white flag !

  The fact that Gavin was to accompany them the next day allayed Janice's fears on Beth's behalf. It was as if his being there would give her protection, and although Beth knew otherwise, it would be a waste of time saying so.

  Wearing a tan silk two-piece, which suited her Nordic colouring and gave Janice fresh qualms about her safety with Nicholas, because she looked adorable, Beth waited for Gavin to pick her up as had been arranged the previous evening, after first collecting Nicholas from his hotel.

  Her hopes that it would pour, or that a thunderstorm would descend, ending all hopes of the regatta, were thwarted by a brilliant blue sky, and a reluctant Beth was forced to wish both men a 'Good morning' as she got into the car.

  Her fee
lings were further outraged by a protective Nicholas who helped her into the back seat, after giving her another of those hard kisses that sealed his ownership of her, although Beth did her best to avoid the action by turning her head away, but Nicholas wasn't so easily deterred, and rather than put up an undignified struggle in front of Gavin she had to accept the kiss.

  The yacht club was decked out with flags, and was a hive of activity when they arrived. Gavin, hailed on all sides, ushered his guests into the club, and seeing Beth installed on the veranda, in a position that gave her a commanding view of all proceedings, took Nicholas off to the quay section, where boats of all

  sizes and shapes were being lovingly prepared for the day's racing by their enthusiastic owners.

  The air of happy anticipation affected everyone but Beth, who sat bemoaning the work she could have been doing. As yet she was the only observer, although there were plenty of women there, but they were, it seemed, all taking part in the proceedings, and dressed for the part, making Beth feel overdressed in her suit. She could of course have worn her jeans, and cotton top, but Nicholas would not have approved. She sighed; already he had got through to her, and she was automatically carrying out his wishes. She frowned. It wasn't that she was weak—well, she didn't think so; it was just that Nicholas had that effect on her.

  In an effort to turn her thoughts elsewhere, she watched the last-minute preparations for the first race, and her eyes alighted on Gavin and Nicholas. Nicholas, as Beth had presumed, was crewing for Gavin, and wore a white sill( short-sleeved shirt, while Gavin favoured navy blue; both wore navy slacks.

  Beth's gaze lingered on them, noting that they were much of a height, but that was where the resemblance ended. Nicholas's dark good looks and lean wiry figure, as against Gavin's blond, muscle-bound frame, brought them in sharp contrast. They had a lot in common, Beth thought bitterly, for they were both of the same disposition, and each used to getting their own way !