scene, not me, but if thanks are the order of the day, let’s do it properly. I’ve always had a soft spot for you, dear coz,’ and with the words James bent his head and laid his lips on Davina’s. Suddenly, some sixth sense gave warning and she broke free, to turn and find Rex Fitzpaine framed in the opening of the French window.
There was: a disconcertingly mocking smile curling one corner of his firm mouth. ‘Forgive me. It seems I interrupt.’ He came right into the room to address Davina directly. ‘Accept my apologies. Were you not otherwise engaged I’d have asked you for a dance,’ and with the words he opened the hall door, closing it quietly behind him.
Davina’s eyes met those of her cousin as he said, ‘This certainly is not our lucky night. First Miranda, now him,’ and he jerked his thumb at the closed door. ‘What’s got into everybody? Come on, let’s drown our sorrows, for heaven’s sake,’ and Davina gladly followed him to the buffet.
While James went in search of champagne, Davina herself loaded three plates with some of the delicacies on the long tables and they had settled themselves at a small secluded table, when Catrin slipped into the third chair. She had got her colour back and reapplication of lipstick and powder had made her look more like her usual cheerful self.
When James handed her a brimming glass, however, she laughed a trifle shakily. ‘I don’t usually like this stuff much, but I could use a bit of Dutch courage tonight. I shan’t forget Gran’s birthday in a hurry. How I wish David could have come, then none of this would have happened.’
‘You’re not the only one, love,’ James remarked, gulping down his own wine with total lack of respect for its vintage. ‘But who’s this David?’
‘According to Catrin, he’s the love of her life. He’s the navigating officer on a frigate and at the moment he’s doing a NATO exercise. For goodness’ sake, James, don’t start her off. What I can’t understand is why you simply didn’t tell Miranda you were more or less spoken for,’ Davina accused her sister. ‘That would have put a stop to all that nonsense over Rex Fitzpaine.’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ James replied with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘Didn’t I say yesterday that our Miranda sees her crown slipping?’
Catrin, however, missed the implication, for her eyes were on the tall figure approaching their table. ‘Here’s Rex now. What shall I do if he asks me to dance again? Miranda will be more furious than ever.’
‘No, she won’t. Look, here she comes now,’ and he pointed towards the door where Miranda, surrounded, by a positive bevy of young men, was about to come in search of refreshment. Paul at the back of the group gave his brother and cousins a wink as he passed them and Rex, who had stopped at Catrin’s side, raised his brows.
‘Sit down, Rex,’ James pushed a chair towards him. ‘Like some wine?’
‘I’d prefer a beer, but it can wait. I’ve come to see if Catrin would like to dance. How about it?’ he asked, looking down at Davina’s sister from his great height.
It was James who answered for her. ‘Go on, Cat. Miranda’s had her claws clipped for tonight. You’re quite safe,’ and flushing, Catrin got to her feet. Rex’s gaze passed from James to Miranda and back before he turned and followed Catrin, but he asked no questions.
‘No flies on him,’ James remarked. ‘I’ll bet Rex has got the general picture.’
‘About Miranda and Catrin, maybe. About you and me, I’m not so sure,’ Davina said quietly.
By two a.m. most of the guests had left and Mrs Brehm, still looking as fresh as a daisy, suggested that they all had a hot drink before they broke up her birthday party. Davina, feeling unusually tired, was glad to sit down and swallow a cup of piping hot coffee, for her feet ached and she longed for the moment when she could slip away to bed. Rex Fitzpaine had not proffered a second invitation to
There was: a disconcertingly mocking smile curling one corner of his firm mouth. ‘Forgive me. It seems I interrupt.’ He came right into the room to address Davina directly. ‘Accept my apologies. Were you not otherwise engaged I’d have asked you for a dance,’ and with the words he opened the hall door, closing it quietly behind him.
Davina’s eyes met those of her cousin as he said, ‘This certainly is not our lucky night. First Miranda, now him,’ and he jerked his thumb at the closed door. ‘What’s got into everybody? Come on, let’s drown our sorrows, for heaven’s sake,’ and Davina gladly followed him to the buffet.
While James went in search of champagne, Davina herself loaded three plates with some of the delicacies on the long tables and they had settled themselves at a small secluded table, when Catrin slipped into the third chair. She had got her colour back and reapplication of lipstick and powder had made her look more like her usual cheerful self.
When James handed her a brimming glass, however, she laughed a trifle shakily. ‘I don’t usually like this stuff much, but I could use a bit of Dutch courage tonight. I shan’t forget Gran’s birthday in a hurry. How I wish David could have come, then none of this would have happened.’
‘You’re not the only one, love,’ James remarked, gulping down his own wine with total lack of respect for its vintage. ‘But who’s this David?’
‘According to Catrin, he’s the love of her life. He’s the navigating officer on a frigate and at the moment he’s doing a NATO exercise. For goodness’ sake, James, don’t start her off. What I can’t understand is why you simply didn’t tell Miranda you were more or less spoken for,’ Davina accused her sister. ‘That would have put a stop to all that nonsense over Rex Fitzpaine.’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ James replied with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘Didn’t I say yesterday that our Miranda sees her crown slipping?’
Catrin, however, missed the implication, for her eyes were on the tall figure approaching their table. ‘Here’s Rex now. What shall I do if he asks me to dance again? Miranda will be more furious than ever.’
‘No, she won’t. Look, here she comes now,’ and he pointed towards the door where Miranda, surrounded, by a positive bevy of young men, was about to come in search of refreshment. Paul at the back of the group gave his brother and cousins a wink as he passed them and Rex, who had stopped at Catrin’s side, raised his brows.
‘Sit down, Rex,’ James pushed a chair towards him. ‘Like some wine?’
‘I’d prefer a beer, but it can wait. I’ve come to see if Catrin would like to dance. How about it?’ he asked, looking down at Davina’s sister from his great height.
It was James who answered for her. ‘Go on, Cat. Miranda’s had her claws clipped for tonight. You’re quite safe,’ and flushing, Catrin got to her feet. Rex’s gaze passed from James to Miranda and back before he turned and followed Catrin, but he asked no questions.
‘No flies on him,’ James remarked. ‘I’ll bet Rex has got the general picture.’
‘About Miranda and Catrin, maybe. About you and me, I’m not so sure,’ Davina said quietly.
By two a.m. most of the guests had left and Mrs Brehm, still looking as fresh as a daisy, suggested that they all had a hot drink before they broke up her birthday party. Davina, feeling unusually tired, was glad to sit down and swallow a cup of piping hot coffee, for her feet ached and she longed for the moment when she could slip away to bed. Rex Fitzpaine had not proffered a second invitation to
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