by Jane Corrie
Sonia debated whether to fling the drink then and there or leave it till later; she could keep it as a treat in store for her. Still she absolutely refused to look at him, and she knew this further
annoyed him. Her eyes were on her glass. Idly she thought how appetising it looked. They really did take pains to make things look good. She heard the quick indrawn breath.
`Lost your tongue?' he goaded. 'You really are exhausted, aren't you? Is there something wrong with your drink?' he persisted.
Sonia sighed. It was no use ignoring him. He was determined one way or another to get an answer. 'Not really,' she replied casually. 'I was just wondering whether to remove the decorations before throwing it over you.'
Another quick intake of breath followed this remark. His hand closed over hers holding the glass. 'I wouldn't if I were you,' he said softly. `I might retaliate in a most unconventional way. If you don't believe me, try it.'
Sonia stared at the hand covering hers. The fingers were long and the strength of their hold conveyed much of their owner's character—a strong man who brooked no interference. The dark hairs on his wrist stood out in startling contrast against the white sleeve of his tuxedo jacket.
`Well?' he murmured.
Sonia shrugged. He still kept his hand on hers.
`Shall we dance?' he asked conversationally.
She did look at him then, her eyes clearly
giving her thoughts away. 'No, thank you,' she
said.
His fingers tightened over hers. 'Why, you little—' then he removed his hand.
Sonia hoped he would go. He had no right to desert his guests for as long as he had. 'Oughtn't you to go back to your guests?' she enquired sweetly. 'I thought the redhead was quite lovely.'
His eyes glinted down at her. `Jealous?' he asked, grinning.
Her fingers curled round the drink again. He looked at the glass, then back at her. 'I'm ready when you are,' he said airily.
Sonia's hand fell slowly away from the glass.
He gave a low chuckle. 'I believe you're beginning to know me,' he said. 'Given a little more time I think we shall reach a mutual understanding.'
Carefully studying her ring, Sonia murmured, `It's a pity I'm moving on, then, isn't it ?'
He glanced at her sharply. 'Is George sending you back ?' he demanded.
She opened her eyes innocently at him. 'Oh, no, not yet. I'm visiting the Bahamas,' she answered, then paused and added airily, `I expect he has a few business acquaintances there too.'
His eyes narrowed. He gestured towards her ring. `And he has no objection?' he sneered.
Again she gave that wide-eyed look. 'Oh, I've promised to give it up when we're married,' she
said confidingly.
Judging by the look in Rory's eye it was as well for her that Chloe returned just then. He stood up, his jaw set. 'If you will excuse me,' he said coldly, and strode back to his table, passing George and Kirk on their way back.
Kirk sat down. 'Phew ! He looked ready to chew nails,' he said, grinning. 'Has someone upset him?' he enquired innocently.
Sonia grinned back at him. She was beginning to enjoy herself.
Neither George nor Chloe liked the way things were developing. George looked meaningly at his wife. 'Time we made tracks, dear,' he murmured. `Sonia's not yet accustomed to the time change,' he said to Kirk.
Looking indignantly at him, Sonia recalled that it had not occurred to him before, had it? Now she was enjoying herself he would adopt the heavy brother act. 'Must we ?' she protested. `It's only eleven, George.'
Chloe gave a tiny shake of the head, conveying to Sonia that she thought it was time they went too.
`Perhaps another time,' George answered in a determined way, and summoned the waiter.
Kirk stepped into the breach hastily. `Might I make a suggestion?' he asked. 'Would you entrust Sonia to my care for the rest of the evening? I promise to deliver her safe and sound on
the stroke of two.'
George was furious. Sonia knew the signs and saw there was no hope for it. She would have to go back with them. She was about to refuse Kirk's offer when the smooth tones of Rory Maragal cut across the silence.
`Are you off, George? I was about to suggest that we joined forces.' He looked directly at Kirk. 'It's so much easier than dodging from table to table.'
George hesitated. On the one hand he had no wish to antagonise Rory, but after his determined attitude a moment ago could not now retract. Kirk, smarting under Rory's earlier censure, said quickly, 'Sonia wishes to stay. I've offered to stay with her.'
`Have you?' drawled Rory coldly. He looked at George. 'I'll see she's looked after, George. I'll drop her off on my way home.'
George looked well pleased with this arrangement. Chloe looked anxious, and Sonia looked murderous. 'There's no need for you to put yourself out, Mr Maragal,' she said haughtily. 'Kirk has already offered to see me home.' Then she added as an afterthought, But thank you all the same.'
He did not even bother to acknowledge this statement. 'As I said,' he repeated quietly, 'I'll see her back, George.'
George nodded and helped Chloe on with her
wrap. Sonia was beaten and regretted not abiding by George's earlier decision. Chloe's eyes when they met hers plainly told her it served her right, but she came to her aid nevertheless. 'Sure you want to stay, dear ?' she asked. 'You were whacked last night, weren't you?'
Feeling all eyes on her, Sonia would dearly have loved to change her mind, but there was such' a look of challenge in Rory's eyes that as much as she wanted to she couldn't back out. `I'll stay,' she said firmly.
Kirk grinned. `Atta-girl,' he murmured. "Shall we give another exhibition?'
`I think not,' said Rory icily. 'Other folk want to dance as well. I should rest on your laurels if I were you.'
George took Chloe's arm. 'Well, enjoy yourself,' he said.
Sonia felt as though she were at sea without a lifejacket as she watched them leave.
Rory took her arm. 'Come and join my table,' he ordered.
Kirk caught her other arm. 'We can stay here if you prefer it,' he said, glaring at Rory.
Sonia felt like a bone being fought over. She knew what she wanted to do, but also knew it wouldn't work out that way.
`It may have slipped your mind,' Rory said coldly to Kirk, 'but you do happen to be my guest.'
Kirk's eyes fell under the other man's gaze. `Okay,' he muttered. 'I was only thinking of Sonia.'
Sonia found herself being guided firmly towards Rory's table. The look on the redhead's face was hardly welcoming as they neared the table. The elderly man stood up as they approached. The introductions were made, and Sonia found herself seated in between Rory and Jim Dilson. Barbara Dilson's cold blue eyes flicked over Sonia's dress, and Sonia felt she was mentally pricing it. She had no quarrel with her, in fact she welcomed her presence. If Rory thought she was jealous of the redhead he would play on the fact by giving her his undivided attention, hoping to annoy Sonia. Sonia devoutly hoped he would adopt this tactic leaving her free to enjoy the rest of the evening with Kirk.
Jim Dilson grinned at Sonia. 'I enjoyed the floor show,' he said, 'but it kinda, made me feel old.'
Kirk grinned, 'It had the opposite effect on me ! '
His father drank the last of his drink and looked at Rory. 'Mind if I make tracks, Rory? I'm past the age of playing gooseberry too,' he smiled.
Rory nodded. 'I'll see you tomorrow, Jim,' he said.
This further clinched Sonia's assumption that
the Dilsons had won the contract. She felt a downright traitor sitting with them.
`Your dancing was almost professional,' remarked Barbara. 'Is that your line ?' she asked as her father left.
She could have framed it better, Sonia felt. Before she could think up a suitable rejoinder, Rory spoke. 'Oh, Sonia has a much more exciting line than that, haven't you ?' he drawled.
Barbara's slim pencilled eyebrows rose. 'Well ?' s
he demanded when there was a small pause after this provocative remark. 'Aren't you going to tell us, or is it a secret?'
Sonia's eyes sparked green shoots. She really was in the enemy camp. They might as well get their money's worth ! 'I'm what's known as a professional hostess,' she answered calmly, noting Barbara's eyebrows rise even higher. She smiled sweetly at Rory. 'I'm afraid it's not quite so exciting as Mr Maragal seems to think it is. There are times when we don't enjoy the work. Having to entertain continually can be exhausting.' She sighed elaborately. 'And of course every now and again we are unfortunate and come up against someone who puts their own interpretation on the type of entertainment offered.'
She would have elaborated on this theme had her arm not been caught in an iron hold and a tight-lipped request from Rory of 'Would you care to dance?' Apart from the fact that he half
dragged her from the chair she had no chance of refusal. The grip on her arm was not released until he got her to the dance floor, and then only for a short space of time while they joined the dancers. No friendly hold here either—it was more in the nature of restraint. The dance was a quickstep and Sonia did not think it warranted the close hold he had on her. When she complained she would like to breathe occasionally he pulled her even closer and her head was jerked against the lapel of his jacket. His eyes glinted down at her.
`If,' he said between clenched teeth, 'you ever get to the Bahamas in one piece, you may consider yourself extremely lucky, my girl.'
`I'm not your girl ! ' she said indignantly.
`It was purely an expression,' he said haughtily. 'Not an invitation, or indeed a wish, so don't get any ideas on that score. As a hostess,' he added coldly, 'you ought to have learnt not to take things so personally. Barbara could teach you a thing or two on the correct procedure.'
Sonia gasped. Of all the people to talk . . . ! `I suppose,' she grated, 'making remarks about any ring was not personal?'
He smiled grimly. 'If hostesses are engaged, honey, they have more sense than to wear the ring.'
She felt like screaming. Forcing herself to remain calm, she murmured, 'It depends on
what type of hostess you have in mind, doesn't it ?'
`Precisely,' he said softly.
Sonia had never welcomed the end of a dance with such fervour before. She almost tore herself out of his grasp and without waiting to see if he was following made her way back to Kirk. She would get him to take her back, no matter what ! She had taken positively the last insult from Rory Maragal. If Kirk hadn't transport she would take a taxi.
Rory was right behind her as she reached the table. Another melody struck up and Kirk looked at her hopefully. She nodded grimly, and in a matter of seconds he was beside her. Leaving once more for the dance floor, she heard Barbara laugh somewhat harshly. 'What energy ! ' she said.
No sooner had they begun dancing than Sonia made her request. 'Kirk, I want to go back, right after this dance. Will you take me ?'
He looked surprised. 'Sure, if that's what you want.'
It is,' she replied firmly. 'I have a raging headache.'
Looking at her flushed face, he asked kind `Would you like to go now ?'
Sonia looked back to their table and saw Rory and Barbara walking to the dance floor. She sighed with relief. 'Yes, please,' she answered.
`We can leave a message for Mr Maragal and your sister, can't we? I should hate to spoil their evening,' she added grimly.
Kirk smiled. 'Sure can,' he said.
Sonia did not look back once at the dancers as she collected her bag and wrap, trying not to look as if she were in too much of a hurry. Kirk was not slow off the mark himself and within minutes she was thankfully breathing the cool night air. This time she did not linger to take in the scenery.
Kirk led her to a sports model drawn up just beyond the entrance to the club. As she climbed in, it suddenly occurred to her that he might not know where George and Chloe lived and she was hardly qualified to direct him. When he started up without a word, however, it was apparent he did know and she tried to relax. However, this was not easy. Not until she was actually inside the house would she feel safe, and not even then, she thought despondently. She could no longer depend on George to shield her from Rory Maragal should he take it into his head to rush after them and demand an apology for their abrupt departure. Once again she wished she had not allowed Chloe to talk her out of going that morning.
Kirk saw her to the door, but she did not ask him in. The feeling of pursuit still lingered and she wanted to get to her room and compara-
tive safety. He asked if he could see her again, and mentioned that he meant what he had said about escorting her around the Bahamas, and Sonia told him she would think about it. 'I'll give you a ring tomorrow,' he said hastily as she made a move to go in. 'Perhaps we can fix something up.'
Chloe and George were surprised to see her back so early. Sonia carefully explained that Chloe had been right. She was tired, she said, but she also refrained from mentioning who had brought her back. 'I've a bit of a headache,' she said before George could pose any awkward questions, 'so I'm off to bed.'
To Chloe's offer of an aspirin she explained that it was only tiredness and sleep was really all she needed.
She had showered and had just got into bed when she heard the crunch of wheels on the drive. She didn't require three guesses as to who was calling at that time. Hastily putting out her light, she dived under the bedclothes.
About fifteen minutes later the sound of a car starting up reached her. She grinned. 'Goodnight, Mr Maragal, and goodbye,' she murmured.
CHAPTER THREE
THE following morning, Sonia purposely took her time on her ablutions and going down to breakfast. She couldn't hope to avoid George all day, and knew he would be in no sunny mood. When she heard his car depart shortly before nine, she knew he had gone to his office in the small township. A creature of habit, she had guessed he would not deviate from this custom, even though the contract had been lost. He would now have to wind things up anyway. She was not exactly brimming with high spirits herself, and in no mood for a lecture on etiquette, the result in all probability being a bang-up row with George which would upset Chloe and put an intolerable strain on the remaining three days until she could depart.
She found Chloe in the dining-room and received a reproachful look from her as she joined her.
`How's your head ?' enquired Chloe with a sceptical look in her eye.
`Fine, thank you,' replied Sonia, accepting a cup of coffee from her.
Chloe sighed and put the coffee pot down.
`Okay, let's have it. I suppose you fell out with Rory again?'
`Of course not,' retorted Sonia. 'How can you fall out with someone like that? You just take orders as if you were some kind of zombie. He owns the place, doesn't he?' She buttered a slice of toast. 'I've come to the conclusion that I've been spoilt,' she declared airily. 'I've got into the habit of expecting men to be polite and I've had a bit of a rude awakening.' She looked at Chloe. `He did come last night, didn't he ?' She bit viciously into the toast and chewed, then swallowed. 'On the excuse, I suppose, that I got back safely, yes?'
Chloe made a small moue. 'That's one way of putting it,' she said. 'He was absolutely furious. At one stage I really thought he would seek you out and shake an apology out of you.'
This did not surprise Sonia, the only thing that did was that someone was able to stop him from doing just that. 'I hope,' she said icily, `George has now got the message. Surely even he can see the kind of wolf he's lined up for me.'
Tracing a pattern with her finger on the white cloth, Chloe answered, 'But that's just it, Sonia. He's not a wolf. Autocratic yes, proud yes, dictatorial, anything else you - want to level at him, but no wolf. You ought to know George by now. Contract or no contract, he wouldn't let him within a yard of you if he were. We've been
here over a year, you know. George had that contract on the mainland and that's how he heard about the hotel Rory want
s built. We've both had ample time to get to know him. Where women are concerned he's extremely cautious—courteous, even flirtatious with the pretty ones, but not one of them gets past that stage. The general opinion is that he's too proud and if he ever did take a wife she would have to come from some Spanish nobility. He's half Spanish, of course. His father was the first one to break from tradition and marry an English girl.' She frowned. 'That's why I can't understand what's got into him.' She looked at Sonia. 'I think he's fallen for you. There's no other explanation for his outrageous behaviour.'
`Oh, you do admit it's outrageous, then?' said Sonia. 'Well, that's something anyway. As for being in love with me—definitely no, dear. I ought to know the signs by now. He's not a man who contemplates failure. I simply refused to play the admiration game, somewhat deflating his ego. The thing is,' she muttered, wiping her hands on her napkin, 'it's not just admiration he's after.' She nodded sagely at Chloe's astonishment. In spite of your testimonial on his blameless character. As far as he's concerned I'm a pretty toy offered for favours, and he's ready and willing to play, only the toy isn't. He can't understand it at all. He actually told me I could
take a few lessons from Barbara Dilson on the art of hostessing !' Her eyes glinted at the memory.
`Hostessing?' squeaked Chloe. 'What's that got to do with it?'
Sonia shot her a quick look, then grinned. `That's what I said I was,' she announced airily. `I was in the enemy camp, remember, and the natives were not exactly friendly. Barbara asked what my line was, in the nicest possible way, of course. Rory Maragal was highly amused and hinted at subversive activities, so I let them have both barrels.' She handed Chloe her cup back for a refill. 'I enjoyed that part of the evening,' she said.
`No wonder you had to take off,' commented Chloe. 'I'm only thankful George and I were spared.'
`Oh, don't worry,' said Sonia soothingly. 'He doesn't think I'm George's sister either, so he need have no qualms in disowning me.' She thoughtfully stirred her coffee. 'Not that that's surprising, we have different names, of course. and we're not a bit alike, but no one has ever queried the relationship before, have they?'
