Fire Under Snow by Dorothy Vernon

create the natural look which suited her best and did not detract from the loveliness of her green eyes and the delicate shape of her face. She believed that beauty aids should aid beauty and never be allowed to dominate or overpower. She had seen too many girls whose stunning looks were marred by overdoing the makeup. She coiled her hair into a simple chignon, twisting a lock to fall forward onto her forehead from force of habit; there was no longer anything to conceal. Sometimes it was difficult to believe she had been so badly scarred in the fire. Her skin’s own natural healing process, plus the skill of a brilliant surgeon, had restored her to her former self. If Jamie saw her now he would have no cause to cringe away from her in horror. She clenched her fingers tightly together and, with effort, put the unhappy memory from her.
    Noel was late. That was unlike him. He was always punctual, arriving one minute before the appointed time as though, unlike ordinary mortals, he was above traffic jams or any of the other delaying frustrations that most people have to endure from time to time.
    When her doorbell rang she raced to answer it, picking up her coat and evening purse on the way. Opening the door to him, she said, “I was just beginning to wonder what had –” And stopped. To begin with she had to lower her eyes a considerable distance. Even in her highest heels she still had to look up at Noel. But she wasn’t looking into Noel’s gray eyes. These eyes, not much higher than her own, were a friendly light brown in color.
    â€œHello, Mr. Peters,” she said, recognizing Shane Peters, the compère at The Black Cat.
    â€œGood evening, Miss Marshall.”
    â€œWhere is Noel?”
    â€œUnavoidably delayed. No cause for alarm. He tried to contact you himself, but apparently your telephone has a peculiar habit of being engaged; he phoned me instead and asked me to relay the message on his behalf.”
    â€œI see.”
    What did she see? The end? She had always known she was too tame, too unspectacular, too uncooperative, to hold Noel’s interest for long. Was he bored with her? Had a better prospect turned up and was she being gently set aside?
    â€œIt’s kind of you to come out of your way to bring the message, Mr. Peters. Thank you for not leaving me in the dark.”
    â€œHang on. You haven’t let me finish. It’s not kind of me at all; it’s my pleasure, even though I am only carrying out the boss’s orders. I’ve been instructed to take you to the club and keep you ... er ... suitably entertained until Mr. Britton arrives.”
    His audacious grin told her that was not quite what Noel had said. “Suitably entertained, Mr. Peters?” she couldn’t help teasing.
    â€œAll right. His actual wording was, ‘Keep your lecherous hands off her. Remember who she is.’ ”
    With a small return of her confidence, she said, “Perhaps I’ll just wait quietly here by myself until Mr. Britton can find time to collect me.”
    â€œPerhaps you won’t. Please, lady. I like my job. You wouldn’t have it on your conscience that you’d put me in the unemployment office?”
    â€œDon’t tempt me. It might save some other poor, petrified girl from being dragged up onto the stage against her will, as I was.”
    â€œYour friends set you up, not me. And don’t think too unkindly of them; most girls enjoy the attention. You were the exception and quite the worst case of shyness I’ve ever seen. I’m sorry for putting you through it.” His cheeky smile returned to lighten his eyes. “Anyway, I didn’t know you were special to the boss then.”
    â€œI wasn’t.” She wasn’t sure she was special to him now. “But for that we probably wouldn’t have met. So see what you’ve got on your conscience.”
    Flattering as Noel’s attention was, it could only end in