importance and her will-power weakened. She wondered what he was doing in that shopping area instead of being at work. She noticed that even as he spoke he put his hand on the elbow of the woman beside him in a little intimate gesture, and she felt a curious sense of resistance.
'This is my sister, Ruth,' he said, sounding pleased, even proud.
Emma looked into smiling, friendly grey eyes and realised the likeness. She could be two or three years older than he, but she shared -his strong, vibrant personality.
Emma felt a warmth steal over her and her greeting was enthusiastic. She knew that for one split-second a female figure beside Adam had suggested Dr Meyhew, distance defying recognition. She had not thought of his sister, and a faint tingle of emotion went over her which she was at a loss to comprehend.
'I'm so happy to meet you,' Ruth said as she extended her hand, refraining from adding, 'I've heard so much about you', since she felt the statement to be inappropriate. There was a touch of elusiveness about Emma as she stood there, despite the friendliness, and Ruth, ever observant, noticed a certain challenge in the way she looked at, and spoke to, Adam.
The formalities over, Emma allowed herself to say to Adam, 'I'm sure you don't often go shopping in the morning.'
'Is that a neat way of telling me I'm playing truant?' He held her gaze and, as ever, disturbed her.
'Only you would be able to assess that,' Emma quipped.
Ruth laughed. It was a lilting sound and Emma thought how attractive she looked in cream trousers and a tailored cornflower blue blouse.
'We're aiming to get a wedding present,' she volunteered, 'and are going to the Token House. I've just done a little shopping in here.' She indicated Caley's.
The Token House sold high quality glass and china and was much patronised by visitors to the town, particularly from overseas.
Adam held Emma's gaze, noticing her summery primrose and white dress which hinted at her perfect figure.
'I'm glad to see you out,' he said deliberately. 'How about joining us for lunch? We could go to the Castle Hotel. This is my day off.'
Ruth said instantly, 'That would be fine.' She looked at Emma in anticipation.
But Emma resisted the idea. For some unknown reason she didn't want to have lunch with Adam and his sister. She answered, 'Thank you all the same, but I've quite a bit to do.'
Adam looked immediately accusing. His voice was crisp as he said, 'I'm sure Irene is not alone.'
She cut back acidly, 'Our friend Marion Foster is with her.'
'Very well, then,' he said authoritatively.
Ruth stared at him, surprised by his tone.
'I am going to see a friend,' Emma said with finality. She met his gaze and tension mounted. 'Thank you all the same.'
'You must come to us,' Ruth said swiftly. 'We can fix it to suit your plans.' There was a welcome in her voice. She laughed. 'When doctors have a little free time they expect everyone else to be free also!'
'That,' said Adam, but he looked at Emma, 'was not what I meant.' He added, and there was a sudden quietness that was compelling in his voice, 'I had intended looking in on you this afternoon.'
'At least you know that Irene will always be there,' she said crisply, and wanted to retract the words the moment they were uttered.
'That is a situation I have set myself to cure,' he said adamantly. He implied that he did not need reminding, and as he stood there he had an overwhelming desire to put his hands on Emma's shoulders and shake her. He did not quite know why he was so annoyed at her refusing even to have lunch with him, when 'seeing a friend' could obviously have meant any time, or she would have announced immediately that she was already engaged for lunch.
Ruth studied them with dismay. She had heard a great deal about Emma and Irene Sinclair, but had not been prepared for this disharmony. It was out of character so far as Adam was concerned, and she wanted to make the peace.
'Anyway,' she said, 'I shall look forward
'This is my sister, Ruth,' he said, sounding pleased, even proud.
Emma looked into smiling, friendly grey eyes and realised the likeness. She could be two or three years older than he, but she shared -his strong, vibrant personality.
Emma felt a warmth steal over her and her greeting was enthusiastic. She knew that for one split-second a female figure beside Adam had suggested Dr Meyhew, distance defying recognition. She had not thought of his sister, and a faint tingle of emotion went over her which she was at a loss to comprehend.
'I'm so happy to meet you,' Ruth said as she extended her hand, refraining from adding, 'I've heard so much about you', since she felt the statement to be inappropriate. There was a touch of elusiveness about Emma as she stood there, despite the friendliness, and Ruth, ever observant, noticed a certain challenge in the way she looked at, and spoke to, Adam.
The formalities over, Emma allowed herself to say to Adam, 'I'm sure you don't often go shopping in the morning.'
'Is that a neat way of telling me I'm playing truant?' He held her gaze and, as ever, disturbed her.
'Only you would be able to assess that,' Emma quipped.
Ruth laughed. It was a lilting sound and Emma thought how attractive she looked in cream trousers and a tailored cornflower blue blouse.
'We're aiming to get a wedding present,' she volunteered, 'and are going to the Token House. I've just done a little shopping in here.' She indicated Caley's.
The Token House sold high quality glass and china and was much patronised by visitors to the town, particularly from overseas.
Adam held Emma's gaze, noticing her summery primrose and white dress which hinted at her perfect figure.
'I'm glad to see you out,' he said deliberately. 'How about joining us for lunch? We could go to the Castle Hotel. This is my day off.'
Ruth said instantly, 'That would be fine.' She looked at Emma in anticipation.
But Emma resisted the idea. For some unknown reason she didn't want to have lunch with Adam and his sister. She answered, 'Thank you all the same, but I've quite a bit to do.'
Adam looked immediately accusing. His voice was crisp as he said, 'I'm sure Irene is not alone.'
She cut back acidly, 'Our friend Marion Foster is with her.'
'Very well, then,' he said authoritatively.
Ruth stared at him, surprised by his tone.
'I am going to see a friend,' Emma said with finality. She met his gaze and tension mounted. 'Thank you all the same.'
'You must come to us,' Ruth said swiftly. 'We can fix it to suit your plans.' There was a welcome in her voice. She laughed. 'When doctors have a little free time they expect everyone else to be free also!'
'That,' said Adam, but he looked at Emma, 'was not what I meant.' He added, and there was a sudden quietness that was compelling in his voice, 'I had intended looking in on you this afternoon.'
'At least you know that Irene will always be there,' she said crisply, and wanted to retract the words the moment they were uttered.
'That is a situation I have set myself to cure,' he said adamantly. He implied that he did not need reminding, and as he stood there he had an overwhelming desire to put his hands on Emma's shoulders and shake her. He did not quite know why he was so annoyed at her refusing even to have lunch with him, when 'seeing a friend' could obviously have meant any time, or she would have announced immediately that she was already engaged for lunch.
Ruth studied them with dismay. She had heard a great deal about Emma and Irene Sinclair, but had not been prepared for this disharmony. It was out of character so far as Adam was concerned, and she wanted to make the peace.
'Anyway,' she said, 'I shall look forward
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