but his manner was clear. If Kelly was not engaged, or if she regarded the engagement as something which could be broken, he would be interested. She did not take him up on it, and knew that this did not offend him. He was nice, she thought, very nice. It was a long time since she had felt quite so relaxed with any man. With Gary there was always excitement, laughter and fun. With Nicholas there was tension. There was also the knowledge, much as she tried not to think of it, that his touch could provoke sensations that left her weak. With Andrew there was a feeling of peace and serenity.
She felt a small pang of envy for the girl whom Andrew would eventually marry; that girl would have a life of harmonious happiness, a husband who would love her and look after her.
She looked down at her ring and wondered how she would behave now if she were not already engaged. Would she meet Andrew half-way? Would she let him know that she was interested? She had always thought that romantic love was an essential part of marriage. Love was what bound her to Gary. Now, as she looked at the sensitive face of the engineer, she realised that with a man like Andrew a kind of love could grow on its own.
And then, quite unbidden, an image came into her mind, a lean mocking face with stern rugged features and dark intelligent eyes. For a moment it was that image which took precedence over the flesh-and-blood man sitting next to her. Dimly she was aware that Andrew was speaking, but she did not hear what he said. Only gradually did his features come into focus once more. She smiled at him, but inwardly she was shaking.
Not far away a laugh rang out, husky and amused, and Kelly froze. She recognised that voice—Serena de Jager.
They were sitting at a table for two not far away. Absorbed in her thoughts, Kelly had not seen them come on to the verandah. She wondered now how long they had been there. As before, Serena was sitting very close to Nicholas. She was talking, her features vivacious, her gestures animated. Nicholas was smiling as he listened. They were too far away for Kelly to hear what the other woman said, but it was evident that she was both amusing and witty. Once Nicholas laughed. They could have been quite alone on the verandah, so totally absorbed were they in each other. And for the third time that day Kelly felt the inexplicable twist of pain in her chest.
She had been enjoying sitting in the cool fragrant air with Andrew. Now, all at once, her body tautened and she was no longer relaxed. She wondered if Nicholas had seen her. She knew that even if he had, she had long since ceased to be a part of his conscious awareness. For him there was only Serena.
Determinedly Kelly turned her eyes back to Andrew. Their talk turned to other topics—books, music, painting. Kelly found that there was much they had in common. The conversation flowed easily, one observation giving rise, quite naturally, to the next. Normally she would have enjoyed herself. But the charm seemed to have gone from the evening, and try as she would she could not recapture it.
The verandah began to empty. If the mountain air was invigorating, it was also sleep-inducing. The guests began to go to their rooms. For some the next day would be spent walking. For others there would be the talk-filled hours of the convention. When Kelly said she was tired Andrew said he would turn in too. His rondavel was in the circle at the back of the building. Her cottage was at the other end of the garden. He offered to walk with her, but smilingly she declined the offer.
They walked together to the edge of the verandah. At the bottom of the stone steps they paused to say goodnight. Unexpectedly Andrew leaned towards her and kissed her lightly on the lips. 'Sleep well, Kelly,' he said.
CHAPTER FOUR
K ELLY did not go directly to the cottage. Though she had not wanted to sit any longer on the verandah, she was not as tired as she had said.
Slowly she walked through the
She felt a small pang of envy for the girl whom Andrew would eventually marry; that girl would have a life of harmonious happiness, a husband who would love her and look after her.
She looked down at her ring and wondered how she would behave now if she were not already engaged. Would she meet Andrew half-way? Would she let him know that she was interested? She had always thought that romantic love was an essential part of marriage. Love was what bound her to Gary. Now, as she looked at the sensitive face of the engineer, she realised that with a man like Andrew a kind of love could grow on its own.
And then, quite unbidden, an image came into her mind, a lean mocking face with stern rugged features and dark intelligent eyes. For a moment it was that image which took precedence over the flesh-and-blood man sitting next to her. Dimly she was aware that Andrew was speaking, but she did not hear what he said. Only gradually did his features come into focus once more. She smiled at him, but inwardly she was shaking.
Not far away a laugh rang out, husky and amused, and Kelly froze. She recognised that voice—Serena de Jager.
They were sitting at a table for two not far away. Absorbed in her thoughts, Kelly had not seen them come on to the verandah. She wondered now how long they had been there. As before, Serena was sitting very close to Nicholas. She was talking, her features vivacious, her gestures animated. Nicholas was smiling as he listened. They were too far away for Kelly to hear what the other woman said, but it was evident that she was both amusing and witty. Once Nicholas laughed. They could have been quite alone on the verandah, so totally absorbed were they in each other. And for the third time that day Kelly felt the inexplicable twist of pain in her chest.
She had been enjoying sitting in the cool fragrant air with Andrew. Now, all at once, her body tautened and she was no longer relaxed. She wondered if Nicholas had seen her. She knew that even if he had, she had long since ceased to be a part of his conscious awareness. For him there was only Serena.
Determinedly Kelly turned her eyes back to Andrew. Their talk turned to other topics—books, music, painting. Kelly found that there was much they had in common. The conversation flowed easily, one observation giving rise, quite naturally, to the next. Normally she would have enjoyed herself. But the charm seemed to have gone from the evening, and try as she would she could not recapture it.
The verandah began to empty. If the mountain air was invigorating, it was also sleep-inducing. The guests began to go to their rooms. For some the next day would be spent walking. For others there would be the talk-filled hours of the convention. When Kelly said she was tired Andrew said he would turn in too. His rondavel was in the circle at the back of the building. Her cottage was at the other end of the garden. He offered to walk with her, but smilingly she declined the offer.
They walked together to the edge of the verandah. At the bottom of the stone steps they paused to say goodnight. Unexpectedly Andrew leaned towards her and kissed her lightly on the lips. 'Sleep well, Kelly,' he said.
CHAPTER FOUR
K ELLY did not go directly to the cottage. Though she had not wanted to sit any longer on the verandah, she was not as tired as she had said.
Slowly she walked through the
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