Anne Hampson

by Beyond the Sweet Waters [HR-1467, MB-433] (epub)

  Her brother came downstairs and she faced him resolutely.

  'I've changed my mind,' she told him quietly. 'I can't go with you to Craig's.'

  'You—?' He stared at her incredulously. 'You're not coming?'

  'It's impossible. I'm sorry, Mark. Apologize for me, please.'

  'But you can't let Craig down, not at this late hour. It's not done. He'll have everything ready.'

  'I'm sorry,' she said again. 'I'd rather stay at home.'

  'But what on earth can I tell him? You can't do this, Jeanette.'

  'Tell him I've a headache - or something.'

  'That's a lame excuse,' he flashed, and her eyes filled up at his impatient tones. 'I'm not telling a lie like that! Besides,' he added, 'what am I going to feel like, sitting there while he and Diane make eyes at one another?'

  Jeanette bit her lip. She hadn't thought of that. Nevertheless, her resolve did not weaken.

  'It's no use. I just can't go.' Her distress seemed to register, for Mark's brow cleared a trifle.

  'You've been avoiding him like the plague for the past few weeks. Is there something I don't know of? What's happened to make you like this?'

  She cast him a startled glance and sought for a diversion.

  'It's too intimate, with just the four of us. If there were other guests it wouldn't be so bad. But even Mrs. Fleming won't be there.'

  'You knew there were no other guests invited - and that Craig's mother intended visiting this old friend of hers. Why did you accept the invitation?'

  'I thought I'd be able to go through with it,' she replied unhappily, 'but I know I can't. Please try to understand, Mark.'

  'I've no need to try to understand; I know how you feel. But this little dinner is put on specially for us, because we're going home. And you won't be there.' She said nothing, and after a little while he shrugged resignedly. 'I'll not be too late,' he said. 'But don't wait up for me — unless you want to, that is.'

  She opened the door for him; a flurry of snow came in and sprinkled the carpet.

  'You're not walking?'

  'No, I'll take the car. Seems ridiculous for such a short distance, but there's no point in walking in this foul weather.'

  She closed the door after him and went into the sitting-room. The only illumination came from the fire, where the pine logs glowed, throwing out an orange light to soften the shadows. Taking a magazine from the couch, Jeanette sat down on the rug, and began turning the pages, but her thoughts were with her brother. She felt guilty, and a coward, but she also felt there was an excuse for her conduct and hoped Mark would think up some convincing excuse for her non-appearance.

  Craig would undoubtedly be annoyed, but that wasn't anything new. In any case, she wouldn't be affected by his annoyance. She began to wonder if he'd really wanted them to dine with him and Diane, and came to the conclusion that he had invited them merely because it was the polite thing to do, seeing that they were shortly to leave Istanbul for good.

  Through the mist of her thoughts came the sound of a car, purring softly up the drive, and a slight frown crossed her brow. Why should Mark come back? It didn't sound like his car; odd how the snow softened the noise of the engine. Then she heard the bell. Mark wouldn't ring? And it wouldn't be Sally or Gwen, for they thought she was going out. She listened for Metat opening the door, was aware of his soft voice speaking in Turkish - and her eyes widened as she caught the abrupt, imperious tones of her visitor. Her heart began to, thud unevenly as the door opened and she turned to see Craig standing there, his face a thunder cloud despite the softening effect of the snow on his eyebrows and hair. A smouldering glance told him that her decision was a last-minute one, for she still wore her cocktail dress.

  'I invited you to dinner.' The door shut with an ominous little click and Craig leant against it, appearing even taller and broader than usual in his heavy tweed over coat, with the storm collar turned up protectingly against his throat 'Do you normally give back word five minutes before a meal is to be served?' In contrast to his expression his tones were low - but dangerously emphasized for all that. Her nerves fluttered and she stared across at him in bewilderment. Never for one moment had it occurred to her that he might react in this way.

  'I— Didn't Mark tell you I had a headache?' She tried to rise, but her legs had lost the power of movement and she just sat there, absently pressing her fingers into the thick pile of the rug.

  'He did,' Craig remarked drily, 'but Mark isn't a very good liar; I didn't believe him.'

  She was all confusion.

  'I'm sorry, but I didn't feel like going out You shouldn't have left Diane - and Mark. Oh, dear, the dinner will be ruined,' she added, as the thought occurred to her.

  'They'll get theirs.' Craig advanced slowly into the room, unbuttoning his coat as he did so. 'And I don't suppose either will notice whether the dinner is spoiled or not — the way they're feeling at present.'

  'The way they're feeling?' she echoed blankly, again trying to rise. But she was too surprised to move, for Craig was taking off his coat, obviously, preparing to stay. She watched, fascinated, as he folded it and laid it over the back of the couch. 'I don't know what you mean?'

  'I left them sorting out their future.' He spoke curtly, moving towards the fire. 'They've discovered they're in love.'

  'They've - they've—!' Jeanette gaped at him, unable to comprehend this staggering pronouncement. It wasn't possible! Only a short while ago Mark had expressed his reluctance to go alone to Craig's, because of the embarrassment of sitting there watching Craig and Diane 'making eyes at each other' as he had termed it. 'Mark and - and Diane?'

  'I expect they're planning a spring wedding,' he returned calmly, coming closer.

  Bereft of speech, she continued to stare at him. And yet even as she groped with the sudden chaos of her mind she recalled the several occasions when she had wondered about her brother's feelings for Diane. Diane's manner too had been puzzling at times, especially when they were on the island. She had almost flirted with Mark on one occasion. But despite these revealing flashes of memory, Jeanette could think only of the way Craig had waited all these years and she murmured, on an unconscious note of indignation,

  'They can't be in love! It's quite impossible.'

  Craig was right above her, his jaw set, an unfathomable expression in his eyes. Swiftly she averted her head, feeling somehow to blame for what her brother had done. He extended a hand to her.

  'Get up,' he commanded.

  Dazed by his action, she took his hand, quivering at the contact, and scrambled to her feet. He seemed to be waiting for her to speak.

  'Craig... if this is true—?' It must be true, she reluctantly concluded, for why else would Craig be here? Mark and Diane... how could they do this to him? 'I'm so sorry,' she whispered huskily, looking up with wide, compassionate eyes. She could find no words with which to convey her sympathy, for she felt that whatever she said would cause him embarrassment. 'I can't imagine what's happened - in this short time - but I can understand why you had to come away. You couldn't stop there and see them - see them—' She broke off, flushing with dismay at her clumsiness. Craig must be feeling terrible, and she was only adding to his misery. 'I don't know what to say,' she ended lamely. They were standing very close; Jeanette made to free her hand with the intention of moving away, but it was retained in a firm and slightly hurtful grip.

  'You've adequately expressed your pity for my broken heart—' His grip tightened as he spoke and she winced. 'Now,' he said with wrathful force, we'll change the subject. You can let me have the real reason for shirking my company this evening.'

  'I wasn't shirking—' She stopped, almost intimidated by his darkening glance. There was something wrong; his attitude was certainly not that of the rejected lover. 1 just didn't feel like going out—'

  'Don't lie! From the very beginning you've shirked the inevitable. I know you care for me - have done for some time - but you've persisted in fighting against it. Be honest and
admit it!' She was too dumbfounded to utter a word and her silence, gave the wrong impression, increasing his anger. 'Do you think you can go on evading me?' He gave her a little shake. 'Admit that you love me - I'll make you!' He held her away- from him and she managed to stammer,

  'Y-yes, I d-do love you, Craig,' feeling she would have said it, whether it were true or not, amply to pacify him, for he looked almost ready to murder her. 'But I wouldn't let you see because of—'

  'I know full well why you wouldn't let me see! But this is the end, I've had enough!' She was drawn, almost brutally, into his embrace and a far from gentle kiss was forced upon her. 'I've been patient far too long. There's to be no more dwelling in the past. You're going to marry me - and like it!'

  'M-marry you?' she managed to gasp, shaken by his rough handling. 'But you're in love with Diane.' The words didn't ring true, even to her own ears, and her heart began to race. But her mind was still in a state of chaos and the only picture it gave up was of Craig, hurt and embittered by the loss of Diane to his best friend, trying to find solace in marrying someone else. Her instinct was to express angry indignation at being chosen as the victim, but she prudently curbed it and began to point out, in what she hoped was a reasonable and sympathetic way, that while his reaction was perhaps a natural one, on being jilted after waiting all those years, she felt sure he would very soon come to regret having asked her to marry him. She was about to continue, to offer advice as best she could, but again her voice tailed off, for his eyes had darkened even more ominously. She felt his hands move from her waist, and she twisted round, away from the fire, and away from Craig. But he took her arms, jerking her back, and she steeled herself, sure he meant to shake her. However, if that were his original intention he changed his mind, and stood holding her, his lips compressed. A glimmer of memory brought back those occasions when his proprietorial attitude had been that of a man whose authority had some basis; he was now adopting a similar attitude - and Jeanette became enveloped in a sort of breathless expectancy.

  'May I ask what makes you think I'm in love with Diane?' he inquired, with commendable control.

  'Everybody knows—'

  'Everybody?'

  'Mark told me about what happened when you were both young, and how you had to part. And then your mother, she was very definite—' She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said too much. Craig's eyes glinted coldly, and he demanded to know what his mother had said about Diane and himself.

  Jeanette couldn't tell him, and to her relief he seemed to understand and didn't press her, though his glance became oddly perceptive.

  'So Mark told you that Diane and I were waiting to be married?' He did not give her the chance to reply, but added in a thoughtful tone, 'That rumour appears to have caused a good deal of trouble, one way and another.' His anger had left him and a faint smile appeared to relieve the stem set of his jaw. 'I'm not in love with Diane -haven't been for about fourteen years - so my asking you to marry me is not the natural reaction, as you term it of being jilted.' He paused and then, softly, 'I happen to love you, Jeanette.' His touch became gentle and his face relaxed and was softened by the curling flames as he half turned towards the fire. With infinite tenderness he took her into his aims and kissed her. She was breathless when at last he slackened his hold; her heart was acting most unnaturally and she could not speak for a while because of the emotion within her. She was no longer in doubt, yet it was so hard to believe that after a time she looked up, timidly, from under her lashes and said, as if in a dream,

  'It can't be true....' But she nestled close again, her head against his, shoulder and a sigh of sweet contentment on her lips. 'Craig...'

  'My love?' His lips caressed the top of her head. 'What is it, darling?'

  'Mark and Diane? Mark did think you and Diane would marry when her husband died.' Even as she spoke Jeanette recalled that her brother had once hinted - though so vaguely that it had not registered with her at the time - that Diane and Craig might no longer be in love. Fifteen years was a long time, Mark had said, and

  people change.

  'Diane and I did have a love affair....' He tailed off smiling reminiscently for a moment. 'The sort of affair one has at nineteen - and for a while we both felt the world had come to an end when we were forced to part. But the very fact that we could part demonstrates the real strength of our - love. We've always remained friends, mainly I suppose because my mother has been a constant companion of Diane, and has helped her enormously during the past difficult years. I have a great admiration for Diane, but that isn't love, Jeanette,'

  'But you've remained single all these years.' Somehow, that wasn't the right thing to say, and she added, to hide her slip, 'Mark thought it was because of Diane. He thought you and she were going to marry— He did, Craig, right up to about an hour ago. What happened ?'

  'Diane and I had been talking before dinner, and I asked her outright if she cared for Mark.' He glanced at her in some amusement and added, 'As for my remaining single all these years, I've been waiting for you, my sweet.'

  She blushed adorably, and spoke in haste, ignoring his flattering comment.

  'You asked her?' She leant away, blinking at him uncomprehendingly. 'You had an idea she might be in love with him?'

  'It came to me in a flash when we were at the yali. It was the way she looked at him. How Mark missed it I don't know. I suppose it was because, as you've said, he was under the impression that she cared for me.' He drew her close again and kissed her lingeringly. 'That's what I meant just now when I said the rumour has caused a deal trouble.'

  'What did Diane say when you asked her?'

  'She admitted that she cared for him,' he said, and Jeanette was reminded of that coquettish glance which Diane had cast at Mark when they were all at the yali, examining the tapestry. That must have been the look to which Craig referred. 'And as I had suspected for some time that Mark was in love with Diane, I simply told him, as I let him in tonight, that he could go ahead and ask her to marry him.'

  'You—' Jeanette stared. You said that?'

  'I'd had enough complications with my own love affair,' was the grim rejoinder. 'I didn't see the sense of allowing theirs to become involved.'

  'Wasn't Mark surprised? He thought he was going to play - that is....'

  'Play gooseberry?' Craig's brow lifted in amusement. 'Yes, I expect he did, with you not coming. He was more than surprised, mainly because Diane and I had, recently, been - er - rather affectionate towards each other.'

  'Yes.' She glanced up swiftly, puzzlement in her eyes. 'Especially that night when Mark and I came to dinner. You - you were ever so loving to her.'

  Craig paused for a moment as if reluctant to explain. But her anxiety touched him and he no longer hesitated.

  'I'd told Diane of my feelings for you, and of your determination never to marry because of your dead fiance—'

  'It wasn't that - at least, it was at first, but soon I knew that Ned would never have wanted me to be unhappy and lonely all my life. No, Craig, that wasn't the reason I was determined not to marry.'

  'I know that now, but I didn't then. Mark told me, before you arrived; about your tragedy, and that you were clinging to a memory. I wasn't interested — until I saw you. I knew almost immediately that you were the girl for me—'

  'You couldn't have,' she interrupted swiftly. 'You ignored me for a month - often acted as if I weren't even there.'

  'Only because of what Mark had told me. As soon as I realized how my feelings were I decided the most prudent course would be to leave you entirely alone.' He paused for a moment, shaking his head and smiling faintly. 'It was no use; I just had to make you love me. But I gradually became more and more frustrated at not being able to make any headway. As I said, Diane knew how I felt about you, and it was her idea to make you jealous. She said it was bound to work. She knew, being a woman, but somehow it misfired.'

  Jeanette's lips quivered at the memory. She said, in tones barely above a whisper,


  'Oh, Craig, it did hurt. On the verandah when you were waiting for Mark and me - you were holding hands....' Her voice was not quite steady as she went on, 'You were so affectionate towards her - and to think you were only trying to make me jealous.'

  'What a muddle! There was I, believing you were obstinately clinging to a memory, and you, darling, thinking I was to marry Diane. But surely,' he added in toft and gentle tones, 'you could tell that I cared. We were often so close, and I was so patient—'

  A tremulous little laugh cut him short.

  'Patient! How can you say that? - after threatening me the way you have! You've made me quite afraid of you.'

  'Don't tell me any of your fibs. You're not in the least afraid of me!' His eyes narrowed, and he looked dark and rathe'r formidable as the flames from the fire died down and the room became bathed in shadow.

  'You did frighten me once,' she reminded him, and then wished she could take back her words; she wanted him to forget that party, and the way she was dressed.

  'I'm making no excuses for that,' he returned inflexibly. 'I could have killed you - and Rustem! It's lucky for you that you weren't my wife! If I frightened you it's only what you deserved, although,' he added with a mingling of anger and indignation, 'I never intended the sort of mischief you seemed to be worried about. I wouldn't have expected you to think of me as that sort of blackguard.' She remained silent, burying her face in his coat as a flush of guilt spread at the recollection of her conclusions regarding his character. To her dismay Craig seemed anxious to see her expression, and he put a hand under her chin, tilting up her face. 'You did!'