Without giving very much away, she told him, then courageously asked what his plans were. 'Ruby says you don't spend a lot of time at home.'
'I run a company, Alex, not just one station. If I did just that, life would be a whole lot simpler, but for Ruby and the other members of my family not nearly so well padded. Did she tell you that, I wonder?'
'Is wealth all that important?'
'To many people it's still the most important thing there is,' he said dryly.
Again Alex thought of her mother. Carefully she said, 'Ruby told me you like being at the station.'
'It's called Coolabra,' he enlightened her, 'and I love it. I have a passion for it that my sister doesn't share. The only thing she enjoys is the luxury it provides.'
But it couldn't do that on its own.'
I hardly think so.'
He stared at her broodingly, his eyes never leaving her, while apparently his mind pursued other things. It was as though he had two separate trains of thought on which he concentrated with equal absorption, his beloved cattle station and his business interests away from it. It must be purely incidental, Alex felt, that for some reason she couldn't fathom, she was receiving more than her share of his reluctant attention. No woman, she fancied, would absorb him completely. That day might never come! Later he took her back to the flat, through the dark reflecting lights of the city. He drove a long luxurious car which was obviously his own, but when she asked him if he had had a long drive getting to Melbourne, he smiled.
I travel by air. It's quicker and less wearing. I have apartments both here and in Sydney.' She didn't ask whereabouts in Sydney, but she was still digesting this as they reached the flat. Evidently his business commitments must force him to spend some time in both places, but both cities were big, there would be no likelihood of running into him when she went home.
Thinking it might help to ease a sudden, inexplicable tension between them, she suggested coffee while they waited for Ruby. Chase nodded, but when she came back with it he was drinking whisky again. He drank as though he needed it, and she wondered why.
Passing his coffee, she was unaware of the reproving look in her eyes which had his mouth twisting wryly as he accepted his cup and helped himself to sugar. While he drank it he regarded her intently, as he had done while they were out, and Alex wished he wouldn't. It was almost as if she presented a conundrum he didn't quite know how to solve. She couldn't recall ever being scrutinised so closely before by anyone and her heart began reacting strangely. It raced in her breast and she turned from him to hide her agitation.
A sigh of relief escaped her stiff lips when Ruby came home early. Murmuring a hurried goodnight, she turned a blind eye to Ruby's startled consternation. Clearly she wasn't pleased to see her brother. As Alex went into her bedroom she heard Ruby say she was going to make herself a cup of tea. She actually followed Alex from the lounge to go to the kitchen. Chase Marshall must have followed his sister, for she could hear them talking. Because the walls were so thin, Alex could make out what they were saying to each other. It didn't appear to occur to either of them to lower their voices. The kitchenette, next to Alex's bedroom, was small. Chase hadn't gone right inside. He would be lounging against the doorpost, as many of Ruby's male friends did. His voice came, terse with impatience. 'Where the hell have you been, Ruby?'
'Out.' There came the sound of the kettle being filled, then Ruby adding impertinently, I can see something's upset you. What exactly are you complaining about?' 'Just having to kick my heels for hours, being bored stiff!' Ruby's hoot of laughter was bitchy. 'Didn't you find young Alex entertaining?' 'No, I did not!'
Alex felt her face go slowly cold. Glancing in the mirror before diving to cover her head with a pillow, she saw she had gone quite white. Chase Marshall had affected her oddly, but somehow she had liked him. Under all her surging uncertainty something inside her had seemed to reach out to him, and she had felt he liked her, too. And all the time he had been bored! How stupid she had been to imagine it could be otherwise. Yet, if he had been fed up, couldn't he have kept it to himself? Did he have to tell Ruby? Tears stung Alex's eyes and she hated him. Never again would she trust a man!
Suffocating, she had to came up for air. They were still talking, Chase's voice hard. 'You wrote to Isobel Berry and told her you were going on holiday with someone called Alex.' 'You've just had her out to dinner.'
'But she isn't the Alex you meant. She isn't even due a holiday yet I asked her. You've been out tonight with a man called Alexander. Alex, I suppose, for short.' 'Who told you?' 'Miss Latham.' 'Oh, the little fool!'
'I think you're the fool, my dear. Your friend Isobel's been on the transceiver and it's all over the North. Henry's heard and he's furious.' 'Isobel Berry?' Ruby screamed. 'I trusted her!'
'I can't think why.' Chase Marshall sounded extremely dry. 'You know she's been chasing Henry for years.'
'But she's my best friend!' 'Is she?' again the extreme dryness. 'I'm not engaged to Henry,' protested Ruby.
'Then you'd better make up your mind or you might not get another chance.' Chase paused, then asked silkily, 'If you intended going on holiday with Alex Latham, why doesn't she know about it?' 'Because I haven't told her yet.'
'Right,' Chase's voice was crisp, 'you can tell her in the morning, no need to wake her up tonight. And when she asks where she's going, you can tell her to Coolabra. I'll pick you both up at Alice Springs.' 'I'm not coming home!'
'You'd better decide to. All the Territory believes you're going to the Barrier Reef with a man, so you'd better be prepared to bring Miss Latham along to convince people Henry particularly that Alex is a girl. It's either this or goodbye to Henry. And if that's finished, so are you. I've stood all I'm going to stand for the time being.'
Ruby's voice sounded nervous, but she jeered, 'How will you stand having Alex Latham around? She's clearly not your type.'
'No, she isn't, but I won't be there more than a day or two. Just long enough to see you settled in. I've spent enough time already.'
Alex didn't go to sleep, not even when Ruby and her brother went to the lounge and she couldn't hear them distinctly any more. Chase didn't stay much longer, but while he did he appeared to be the one who was now doing all the talking. Ruby was apparently being suitably chastised.
She hadn't expected to see Ruby until the next morning, so she was surprised when, after Chase had gone, Ruby burst into the bedroom. Alex, pretending she had been asleep, opened wary eyes and waited.
Sullenly, Ruby cried, 'Why had you to go telling Chase about Alexander?'
'He asked, and I didn't think it was a secret.'
Ruby stared down at her impatiently. 'Now I have to spend my holiday at Coolabra. Not only that, he wants you there, too.'
'Me?' Alex managed to look completely startled. 'Why me?'
'Because I was stupid enough to confide in a friend that I was going on holiday with someone called Alex. Now Chase wants you at Coolabra to convince people that Alex is really and truly a girl.'
'Were you really serious about going on holiday with Alexander?'
'I was thinking about it,' said Ruby lightly. 'Anyway, Henry Brett, he's the neighbour I was telling you about, the one Chase wants me to marry, has heard and he's furious!'
Suddenly Alex had a sneaking suspicion that Ruby rather liked the idea of Henry being furious. Do you love this neighbour?' she asked, brushing back her tumbled hair, as if to give Ruby her whole attention.
Ruby frowned, some of her self-confidence leaving her. 'Don't you see, that's what I've been trying to find out. Why I'm going out with other men. Chase just won't give me time.'
Alex smiled grimly, her heart still sore from Chase Marshall's insults. 'Well, I'm afraid I won't be going with you. For one thing, I haven't been with the firm long enough to ask for a holiday. I'm not entitled to one yet, and if I were I wouldn't be spending it with you. I'm not being rude,' she added hastily, 'but I know you wouldn't want me, and your brother has no authorit
y to order me around.'
At six the next morning, Alex woke to hear someone talking. This being unusual, at this hour of the day in the flat, she jumped out of bed to investigate, and was astonished to find it was Ruby on the telephone. Drawing back, before Ruby realised she was there, she found herself once again guilty of eavesdropping.
Ruby spoke in a low voice.' She won't agree, Chase: I'll try again when she wakes up, but I'm sure she won't change her mind.'
A pause, then, 'Yes, I know you haven't met a woman yet who couldn't be persuaded to change her mind, but I'm not a man. I've never had to use my charm on a woman I wouldn't know where to begin!'
Another impatient pause. 'Well, you're certainly welcome to try. Poor girl, I doubt if she'll stand a chance. I thought you were going straight to Sydney?'
A minute later: 'Yes, I can be out by ten. I'll leave the coast clear. Goodbye, Chase.'
Alex was in bed with her eyes closed when Ruby silently opened her door to see if she was still sleeping.
Quietly the older girl withdrew, leaving Alex seething. So Chase Marshall thought he had only to lift a little finger and she would agree to do as he asked! Well, he was going to have to think again, because she wouldn't change her mind about going to Coolabra. It wasn't just that he had confessed unashamedly to being bored stiff by her company, or his cool assumption that he had only to beckon and she would come running; it was something else, something she hadn't got figured out yet, that was warning her to keep away from Chase Marshall for her own peace of mind.
She was angry yet terribly shaken, fraught by emotions she didn't understand, that flowed through her in a deeply disturbing stream. It was like being attacked by an unseen, unknown enemy, but while she came to the conclusion that Chase Marshall must have triggered something off, she couldn't believe that such flings were because of him. It must simply be some slight revival of the reactions she had known when she had first left her home to come to Melbourne. Something she had thought she had got over nicely.
Having braced herself against further persuasion by Ruby, she was surprised, when the girl departed, without saying a word, at about nine-thirty to keep her usual Saturday morning appointment with her hairdresser. It could have been, Alex decided, that Ruby felt she might only make things worse. On the other hand, now that she had perhaps had time to think things over, she might not be as keen as her brother to have Alex at Coolabra.
Alex didn't dress. If Chase Marshall expected to surprise her she would let him believe she was surprised. At first she thought of having a showdown straight away, but dismissing this as too melodramatic, she settled for telling him coolly that she couldn't be persuaded to change her mind about visiting his cattle station. For an excuse she would simply say she didn't want to go there. Then she wavered. Why make it so clean and simple? Didn't he deserve to suffer, if only a few wasted hours? Why not string the great man along, let him believe she was really as gullible as he thought? She had had an expensive dinner out of him — why not lunch? If she was very clever and used her wits, as some of the girls in the office did to their advantage, she might get even more out of him which would make the watching of his face when she eventually turned him down even more pleasurable! When the doorbell rang her heart was beating heavily. It struck her that Chase must want this match between his neighbour and Ruby very much to be putting himself out as he was doing. Why else would he be going to such lengths to convince this Henry Brett that Ruby wasn't going on holiday with another man? He had even postponed his original plans to leave Melbourne early today in order to talk to a girl who, he had confessed quite openly, didn't give him any pleasure to be with. On opening the door to Chase Marshall, Alex had to admit she might find very few men like him. Dressed in a pair of casual pants and light jacket, he still had an aura of wealth and power, an authority that almost altered her breathing as she wondered how she even dared think of fighting him. She wasn't aware how her face was revealing character traits of her own. One moment she looked cool and self-confident, the next, anxious and shy.
'Oh!' She contrived to appear startled, relieved that he would mistake the guilty flush on her cheeks for confusion. 'I didn't expect to see you back, Mr Marshall. I'm afraid Ruby's out, having her hair done.' 'I changed my mind about leaving this morning,' he smiled charmingly, with little respect for Alex's heart, 'and it's not Ruby I've come to see.'
'Which only leaves me.' Whimsically, Alex tried to give the impression of amused sophistication as he deftly manoeuvred himself inside and closed the door.
'Yes,' he didn't beat about the bush, 'that only leaves you.' He hesitated, his eyes flicking over her tight jeans and tighter tee-shirt. 'I take it you don't have a similar appointment this morning?' I do my own hair.'
'It's quite charming.' He sounded as if he meant it. 'Last night I admired the colour. This morning,' he put out a hand and touched it gently, 'in the sunshine, it's even more beautiful.' Sharply Alex withdrew her head, stopping short of an actual jerk. She wanted to say, 'Last night you were bored stiff; the colour of my hair made no difference to your real feelings.' Instead she lowered her eyes, not altogether deliberately, away from his suddenly intent gaze. 'Thank you,' she murmured distantly.
Again he hesitated. Alex was sure he never did as a rule, which must be why his voice sounded terse. 'I believe you turned down the invitation Ruby gave you to visit Coolabra?'
Not it was Alex's turn to hesitate. Not having expected him to bring up the subject so quickly, she was unprepared. Instinct guided her to answer, as though overwhelmed, 'It's quite a big step, Mr Marshall.'
Expecting to be bombarded with immediate arguments as to why she should acquiesce at once, she was startled when he said, 'I have to go to Geelong. It's only fifty miles or so. How about coming with me and I'll tell you something of Coolabra on the way? Come as you are, if you like. We can always buy some food and have a picnic lunch on the beach.'
Alex felt like laughing. They must both be playing the same waiting game if with different goals in view. Again it struck her that Chase must be very keen to get his sister's affairs settled, if he was willing to endure being bored again by Alex Latham. As for herself, it was exactly what she had been angling after — wasn't it?
Almost she decided to take him at his word and go as she was. Until she remembered her chosen role.
He must soon find out that lunch was going to cost him much more than a few sandwiches and a bottle of Coke! Smiling sweetly, she shook her head, begging him to wait while she changed.
In her bedroom she paused. Why not begin right away? She could keep him waiting at least half an hour.
If he didn't like it and she suspected he wouldn't be used to it he could always go!
He didn't. He was still there when she returned in a light dress, which had only taken her moments to change into. He was lounging in the largest chair, drinking tea and reading yesterday's newspaper.
'Charming,' he commented, his eyes going lazily over her. 'Well worth waiting for.'
He was letting her know he knew. She could tell by the glint in his eye, behind the laziness. 'I hope I haven't been too long?' It was well over half an hour since she had left him.
It doesn't matter,' suavely he heaved himself upright, a little patience and I usually get what I want in the end.'
Wondering why she persisted, Alex was unable to resist pointing out concisely, 'That's a different kind of waiting, though.'
'Possibly,' he conceded her victory just so far.
'And you haven't been bored stiff?' She would liked to have stressed those last two words, but her courage failed her.
No,' he threw her a suddenly sharp glance, which unfortunately only confirmed that she had heard him aright the night before, yet his tongue was smooth as he relaxed and continued, 'As you can see, I've made myself at home. If it soothes your conscience, I quite enjoyed making myself a cup of tea and reading the newspaper. An odd item caught my eye that I hadn't known about.'
He was a fine one to be tal
king about anyone's conscience! Alex thought angrily, as they left the flat. His car was outside and just as comfortable this morning, she felt her body slither sensuously against the soft leather seat. She settled uneasily as Chase drove swiftly but carefully through the light industrial areas on the west of the city to reach the Princes Highway. Geelong, on the western shores of Port Philip Bay, was the gateway to the western district of Victoria and most of the district between Melbourne and it was built up. Beyond Altona lay the Air Force base at Laverton, where they joined the main highway and went on to the market town of Werribee, an area of dairy farming and vegetable growing. There was also a large metropolitan farm, Chase told her, with more head of cattle than many of the huge stations in northern Australia.
Alex, who had never been this far before, found she was listening keenly to everything he told her. She hadn't intended enjoying herself at all, but he made such an excellent guide she found it difficult not to.
He took a great interest in everything around him. He would, she acknowledged to herself reluctantly, realising this would be half the secret of his astonishing vitality.
Geelong was a busy port that served the local industries and sent out around twenty-five per cent of Australia's wheat exports. It also had major annual wool sales, which Chase said he usually attended, but most of the wool went out from Melbourne. Alex waited in the car while he disappeared into a huge office block. He wasn't gone long and she was surprised to find how pleased she was to see him back.
'Missed me?' he smiled, his manner not too familiar.
Shaking her head, she denied it shamelessly. 'Did you expect me to? We haven't known each other all that long.'
'No, we haven't, have we?' he agreed, the beginnings of a doubtful frown disappearing.
For a second she felt startled. She could only have imagined he was taking comfort from the thought.
She had sensed briefly that he was uncertain, even uneasy about something. Which must be a crazy thing to suppose about a man who so clearly knew his own mind. He was also a man used to having his own way. For no reason she could think of, Alex shivered.
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