Melissa stood up and was forced to sit down again. The relief of seeing Avril and hearing her voice brought a dangerous return of weakness so that for a moment she distrusted her limbs to obey her command. She shook her head. 'It is you, Avril? You're not ... that other girl ... Avril, for heaven's sake, what's going on?'
Nothing's going on, darling.' Avril's eyes widened with the innocent look Melissa also knew well. 'But I must say this is a bit of a shock, you turning up like this. Vihatever possessed you to come all this way? I got a shock when I heard you were over here.'
'You got a shock! What do you think we got when we couldn't trace you? And you can sit there and say you got a bit of shock.' Melissa took a deep breath, and the return of sanity brought indignation. think you'd better start explaining, Avril. Why did you go off without a word? Without letting us know or having the decency to leave an address where we could contact you. Mother's worried sick about you. And if you knew I'd come to look for you why didn't you get in touch? Instead of ... What are you doing here? And who's this man who—who practically tricked me into coming here, and ...'
`Oh, you mean Raoul.' Avril gave a knowing grin. 'He's quite shattering, isn't he?'
could think of other descriptions more fitting,' Melissa said tartly. `He's the most arrogant, ruthless blighter I've ever met, and if I never meet him again it'll be soon enough.'
Avril giggled. 'That's your trouble, darling. You've no guile. I expect you let fly at him and got a shock when you found you didn't have the last word. Honestly, Lissa, you never learn, do you? You just don't try to fight a man like Raoul.'
`I'm not interested in fighting him, I'm only interested in getting home and taking you with me. Thank God I'll be able to send that cable at last and let Mum know.' Melissa paused and a new thought struck her. She said sharply, 'You're not involved
with this Raoul, are you? You haven't done anything crazy?'
Avril shook her head and laughed outright at the horrified suspicion on her sister's face. 'You know me, darling; number one's the important one. It's the only way in this hard cruel world. No, now don't start lecturing me ...' she said mockingly, 'besides, I'm forgetting, I've to see to my hostessly duties. I see Meriam brought you a nightie and a robe. Trust you to come like a lost weekend. You're the one who needs a keeper !'
Ignoring Melissa's indignant exclamation, she crossed the room to a door Melissa had not previously noticed and flung it open, indicating the interior with an airy wave of her hand. 'You'll find towels and soap and everything you need in here. Meriam will bring you morning tea about seven thirty, breakfast's any time between seven and nine, depending on how you feel. It's all quite lush, I can assure you. There's a pool, and you can ride if you want to, or just laze around. It's too hot most of the time to do much else. Well,' she stretched and yawned languidly, can go back to bed now, sister mine.'
Melissa turned from her contemplation of an extremely luxurious bathroom fitted throughout in ice blue and stared at her sister. For a moment words were beyond her, then she almost exploded with wrath. 'Just like that! You can go back to bed! Oh, no, not until you tell me what all this is about. I want to know why you're here—and why Pm here,' she added grimly.
'No can—I've had my five minutes already. Rules of the jolly old house, you know,' Avril said flippantly.
We have to obey orders.'
'Whose orders?' It was a stupid question, Melissa thought helplessly, even as she uttered it.
'Need you ask?' Avril did not seem in the least perturbed. makes the rules around here, darling, and it pays to obey them.'
'And you do?'
'Of course. I do work here, you know.'
'You mean you ...?'
mean I work here, I told you I had a new job. It's dead easy—except for ' She hesitated and shrugged. 'I'm well paid, so I obey the rules. It's as simple as that.' The amusement had died from Avril's face and the cool, hard selfpossession was back in her expression. didn't ask you to come here interfering in my affairs, so I'm afraid you've only yourself to blame for what happens.'
Melissa stared. 'What do you mean? What happens?'
'That we don't know—but we will in the morning,' Avril said coolly. 'So for heaven's sake, turn in and stop nagging—you do realise it's three o'clock in the morning, don't you? I'll see you at breakfast—if I'm up by then. Sleep well.'
With this flat rejoinder Avril had gone before Melissa could make any further protest. The echo of the door closing had a strange finality about it, and it had the effect of checking the instinctive steps Melissa took forward. The halfformed idea of stopping Avril, following her to insist on instant explanations, died and her hand dropped to her side. It was dreadfully late and she knew from experience how Avril could close up when the secretive mood took her. Melissa
turned slowly towards the bathroom; the main worry was settled; she'd found Avril, and Avril seemed as self assured and stubborn as ever.
But all the puzzling aspects still remained, and as Melissa went through the mechanical preparations for retiring she found despair superseding the weariness of physical exhaustion. The reunion with her sister had proved totally different from the meeting she had imagined. She had to admit that Avril hadn't seemed exactly overjoyed to see her. She'd evaded answering questions, seemed almost resentful. Why? And what had she meant by obeying the rules? And, even more disturbing on reflection, what had she meant when she
said : 'You've only yourself to blame for what happens.'?
What did Avril expect to happen?
And who was the other girl?
Melissa cradled the soft fluffy blue towel against her face and stared into the wallsize mirror with eyes that were dark with foreboding. There was only one thing which instinct screamed with fatal certainty : the centre of it all was the stranger from Casa. Raoul ...
Shakily, she spread the towel along the gleaming rail and rested her hands on it, knowing only that she wished with all her heart that the answer had lain in anything or anyone other than this particular man. For a moment she was back in time, in a sunlit street in Casa, recognising the underlying character of a stranger; a man who would be an unshakeable ally—or a remorseless enemy. Events seemed to be proving the accuracy of her lightning surmise, even as they failed to provide a single reason why she should be the object of his enmity
Sighing, she went back into the adjoining room and the discovery she made when she did so turned the treinors of unease into chill, trembling fear.
While she had been in the bathroom someone had secured all the window grilles—and locked the outer door. There was no key.
For the first time in her life Melissa knew what it was like to be a prisoner.
She experienced many reactions in the minutes following that frightening discovery, the most compelling of them being the frantic urge to scream for release, demand her freedom, find a way of escape.
When she had made certain that there was no mistake, and no way out, the first impact of shock was abating, leaving a cold impotent fury as she realised her helplessness and how useless the blind desire to scream for release. If someone wanted to imprison her they would hardly be likely to go to the trouble of doing so only to meekly release her at her first squeak of rage.
She sank down on the divan and a modicum of sanity prevailed as she faced an unpleasant truth; even if she did succeed in escaping where could she run in the darkness? She had no idea where she was, except that it was a long way from the kind of civilisation she recognised as such, and she had very little money—very little of anything—with her. For the moment she had no choice but to accept that she was helpless, no matter how bitter the despair of that acceptance, until morning brought light and something tangible against which she could fight.
But there was little sleep for Melissa when weariness finally drove her to slide into the cool luxury of pure silk sheets and the softly sprung comfort that at any other time should have wooed her into relaxed, perfect sleep. There was no clock on the littl
e table by the head of the big divan, and many times during the dark hours she cursed the lack of her watch, wished bitterly she'd never strayed into that little street where a small pathetic creature had roused all her instincts for anger and compassion ...
When the first pale apricot rays tinged the eastern horizon the light came quickly, bringing the shapes in the spacious room to increasing clarity. Melissa stirred, rubbing hot tired eyes, not sure if she had actually fallen into a brief, restless doze. She sat up, the primrose silk covering falling away from her bare shoulders, listening for sound as her wide awake senses warned that someone was at the door.
She called, 'Is that ? Who's there?'
`Oh, you're awake,' said a light voice instantly. 'May I come in?'
'Can I stop you?' Melissa muttered, and threw back the coverlet. The door opened as she did so, revealing a rectangle of prim rose walled corridor and the curve of a large gold and red lustred jar partly out of her range of vision. The fair girl advanced out of the rectangle and looked at Melissa over the tray she carried while she reached back with a slender sandaled foot to kick the door shut.
She plonked the tray down on the small table and said sulkily : 'There's your tea—I've been sent to apologise.'
Melissa stared at the averted face of the girl who had made her startling announcement of identity the previous night and for the moment did not think of it consciously. She said angrily : 'Was it you who locked me in here?'
The girl turned sharply and her sulky expression changed to surprise. 'Locked you in? Me? What are you talking about?'
Melissa closed her eyes; she must have got into a madhouse. 'Didn't you? Somebody locked me in, and I want to know why, and who.'
The girl picked up the small silver teapot and filled the cup. 'You must be imagining things. Nobody locked you in. The door was open just now. There's no key there, and I've no key. Are you sure?'
'I'm sure.' Melissa passed her hand over her brow and reached for the dainty bone china cup. She was beginning to feel unsure of anything. She looked at the girl, who now seemed genuinely puzzled. 'Somebody did, but ... oh, it doesn't matter. Why did you say you were Avril last night?'
'It was a joke. We didn't mean to upset you. We ...'
We?'
'Your sister and ...' the fair girl had the grace to look somewhat discomfited,`that's why I have to apologise. But we never thought you'd take it like that.'
'You didn't think!' Melissa said furiously. 'Didn't you think I might be worried sick about Avril, not knowing where she was? Where is she?'
'She's not up need you ask? You raised quite a stir last night, you know,' the fair girl said carelessly,
catching sight of her reflection in the dressing table mirror and flicking at her long silky hair. 'By the way, you'll have to get used to the names wapping while you're here or you'll ruin everything.'
Melissa's cup went down with a sharp chink, and the brief sense of returning normality vanished. She stood up. 'Listen, what is all this? What will I ruin? What's the mystery? Who are you?'
'Me?' The hint of mischief returned to the wide, provocative eyes. 'I'm Avril Blair. It's all very sinister. Fun, but sinister. You mean they haven't told you yet?'
`No, but I'm going to find out.' Losing all patience, Melissa snatched the primrose wrap from the foot of the divan and thrust her arms into it. 'There must be someone around who hasn't gone stark raving mad.' The silky folds flared out behind her as she whirled angrily into the bathroom. 'What do you all do here in your spare time?' she demanded over the spurting hiss from the taps. 'Write monster movies, or run the Moroccan M.I.6? Names wapping. Dragging me halfway across the country. Locking me in. Treating me as though I—' Melissa spluttered and gasped under the unexpected force of a shower spray which she had inadvertently turned on to full spate. Ducking out, she cried, don't know what game you and my stupid sister are playing, but I can tell you it's not funny.'
The younger girl had drifted to the bathroom door while this tirade rushed forth. Apparently unconcerned, she said, 'Try that man's talc—it's gorgeous. I think they're making lusher stuff for them than us. Have you ever tried ...?'
Her mouth tightening, Melissa ignored her, towel
ling herself roughly dry and grabbing the first talc that came to hand while the high spots of angry colour flamed in her cheeks. She brushed past the girl and looked distastefully at the undies she had worn yesterday and which she had no option but to don again. Her dress was limp and creased and horrible after the long day of travelling, and it all added acrimony to the mental argument she was rehearsing for the moment when she confronted the man called Raoul. He was behind all this, and when she saw him ...
She combed her hair impatiently and pinned it back into severe lines, for once caring little that she was devoid of cosmetics. She swung round. 'Now, where will I find him? This man Raoul?'
`Oh, Raoul ... I meant to tell you ... he's waiting for you. As soon as you're ready you're to join him for breakfast. I'll show you where ...'
Just like that! Melissa's anger hardened and immediately she experienced the contrary urge to refuse, to keep him waiting. With an effort she assumed an icy calm and gestured to the door.
There, the girl paused suddenly and stared at her for a moment, then grinned. 'He's really got you mad, hasn't he? He said you were a reckless, stubborn little fireeater—and an absolute menace he hadn't bargained for. And that—' The girl checked. 'Here's Meriam—we'd better go. Come on.'
The woman who apparently was the housekeeper had paused just outside and looked curiously into the room. She asked for the tray and Melissa managed to maintain control as she responded, but if she had been simmering a few minutes previously she was now at seething point as she followed the other girl. So she
was reckless, stubborn, a fireeater ! A menace! All this! After—Melissa's hands clenched; there weren't words to express her feelings at this moment.
What she had assumed from one glimpse to be a corridor proved to be a tiny annexe which merely shielded the entrance to the bedroom she had occupied. Its open archway gave directly on to the patio which bordered all four sides of the riad, the large enclosed garden, rectangular in shape, around which the house was built in the traditional Moroccan style.
There were pools and two fountains, and little arbours among the miniature shrubberies, and little winding mosaic paths leading from the long graceful Moorish colonnade edging the patio. It was tranquil and very beautiful, and cool with the fresh sweetness of early morning, but Melissa was blind to its charm and immune to its peace broken only by her own steps ringing a brittle tiptapping on the mosaic as she followed the longer, more languid steps of the fair girl.
At the first angle joining the long and short sides of the patio the girl stopped and gestured to where the high grilled window shutters stood wide open to the garden a little farther along. 'In there,' she said.
Melissa glanced at her, and the girl waved vaguely and took a pace back. lust go in.'
Obviously she had no intention of remaining there any longer than necessary. Melissa gave her another look and took a deep breath Chin high, she marched along the patio and in through the open french window.
'Good morning!'
She jerked to a halt within inches of collision with the tall figure who had moved from the side of the room at the precise moment she entered. She backed a small pace from the broad, whiteclad shoulder she'd almost buried her nose into and said coldly, 'Good morning—I was told to come straight in.'
'Oh yes, won't you sit down, Miss Blair. I didn't expect you.quite so promptly. Did you sleep well?'
didn't—and I'm surprised you even do me the courtesy of asking.' Melissa ignored the satinwood and lime chair he indicated and remained standing. 'But it doesn't matter. I want to'
order breakfast immediately. Do you prefer fresh fruit or juice?' He was brushing past her to touch an old fashioned bellpush near a large ormolu and lacquer cabinet that dominated one wall. 'Coffee? Or the favo
urite English tipple?'
'No! I don't want anything. I want to know why I've been brought here,' she flashed. want to know why my sister is here. 'What hold you have over her. Why you're keeping her here. And why did that other girl say she was—?'
'Calm yourself and sit down,' he said imperturbably. shall answer all your questions—after breakfast.'
demand to know now. I ' She gave an angry
exclamation as a white robed servant entered silently and the man from Casa turned away to issue crisp instructions. The dark boy glanced past his master, betraying neither surprise nor curiosity at seeing her there in what was obviously the private domain of the master of the house. When the boy withdrew the stranger turned back to her and his expression had
taken on the sardonic air of amusement which infuriated Melissa more than outright rudeness or indifference.
He said : 'It will only be a few moments, and you will argue with more strength on a full stomach. Although,' his mouth compressed slightly, 'you fire extremely well even when hungry.'
Her own mouth compressed. 'Must you be insolent as well?'
'I'm sorry, I did not intend that deliberately. But you are mistaken about several facts. To start with, I have no hold, as you term it, over your sister and I can't imagine how you have gained such an impression. Secondly, she is here entirely of her free will—and receiving adequate remuneration for her services,' he added dryly. 'Thirdly, I hoped I'd made it perfectly clear last night that their foolish prank was no part of ' He stopped as the door swung open and the boy entered with a large tray.
There was silence in the airy room as he deftly transferred dishes from the tray to the small table already laid with white linen and the same delicately patterned china as Melissa's morning tray had held. There was quite an array when the boy stood back and looked enquiringly at his master, then said: 'Three minutes, master?'
The house of the Amulet Page 5
