"He's not one for flashing compliments about," Aunt Ellen admitted, pouring water into the teapot and placing cups on the table between them. "When he does, he's normally sincere."
She poured the tea and Jacqueline helped herself to milk and sugar.
"I get the impression," Jacqueline continued, stirring her tea thoughtfully, "that Dr. Powers didn't want me here for some reason."
"You're wrong, Jacky," Aunt Ellen corrected, placing a plate of koeksisters in front of her. "When the Hospital Committee were dubious about taking on the daughter of Bernard Thornton, Meldon was the one who fought for your application to be accepted."
Jacqueline bit into the syrupy koeksister. Could this then be the reason for his strange attitude towards her? Was he afraid that she would let him down in some way that would afford the Committee the pleasure of perhaps saying: 'I told you so'? She was suddenly immensely ashamed of some of the things she had said to him. She could understand now why he was so critical of her work, and why he treated her so harshly when she showed signs of stepping out of line.
"Thank you, Aunt Ellen. I think perhaps I understand him better now."
"Understand who better now?"
"Meldon!" Aunt Ellen shrieked, jumping up. "You're just in time for tea, dear boy."
Jacqueline had swung round in her chair to see Meldon, tall and tanned, standing in the doorway. In white slacks and a colourful short-sleeved sweater he looked extremely virile, and Jacqueline felt her pulse beat quicken as he sauntered across to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Surprised to see me?" he asked Jacqueline, noting her flushed face and downcast eyes.
"Yes," she replied, recovering from the initial shock of his sudden appearance. How much of their conversation had he overheard? she wondered.
"Aunt Ellen and I are old friends. Didn't you know?"
"No."
"I appear to have a dampening effect on Jacqueline this afternoon," Meldon remarked as Aunt Ellen placed a cup of tea in front of him. "All I get from her is 'Yes' and 'No'."
"What do you expect when you walk in on us so suddenly and give us the fright of our lives?"
His eyes met Jacqueline's, and she was pleasantly surprised to note how relaxed he appeared to be. He looked almost boyish as he sat there regarding her with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Shall I go out and come in all over again?" he asked with a grin.
"Don't be silly," Jacqueline laughed.
"Ah! Do you hear that, Aunt Ellen?" he teased. "She hasn't lost her tongue completely."
"Stop teasing her, Meldon," Aunt Ellen reprimanded him playfully as she saw Jacqueline blush and avoid his glance. "You're embarrassing the poor girl."
"Am I embarrassing you?" he asked, leaning towards Jacqueline, a look of mock concern on his face.
"Of course you are," Aunt Ellen interceded crossly. "Drink your tea before it gets cold."
He winked at Jacqueline and obediently did as he was told.
"I'm having Mrs. Watson admitted to hospital tomorrow afternoon," he spoke seriously to Aunt Ellen. "Will you and your ladies rally round and help where necessary with her children?"
Jacqueline sat back and studied Meldon while he was engrossed in conversation with Aunt Ellen. His muscular arms were as tanned as his face and neck. It was obvious that he spent much of his free time out of doors. He gestured expressively with his well shaped hands as he spoke, his voice low and pleasant to listen to. He had the longest eyelashes she had ever seen on a man, and she was suddenly startled to find his blue eyes appraising her with a certain amount of amusement.
"Do you make a habit of studying people while they're not looking?"
Jacqueline blushed becomingly and looked away.
"You have an inflated opinion of yourself if you think I'd waste my time studying you."
Meldon threw back his head and laughed heartily.
"You deserved that, my boy," Aunt Ellen pointed out to him.
"Perhaps I did," he said thoughtfully. "Would you join me for dinner at Bergvliet, Jacqueline?"
Startled by this sudden invitation, Jacqueline stared at him dumbly. "I don't think—I mean—yes, thank you."
A smile played about his lips as he looked at her. "If you're afraid of being alone with me, we could ask Aunt Ellen to come along as chaperon."
"Would you come, Aunt Ellen?" Jacqueline asked her seriously, ignoring the mockery in Meldon's eyes.
"My dear, I've promised myself an early night all week, and although Meldon's staff normally prepare a delightful meal, the idea of getting to bed early is far more enticing."
"Well?" Meldon raised a cynical eye brow in Jacqueline's direction.
"I would have to go to my apartment to change first," she replied, glancing down at her blouse and denims.
"I'll follow you in my car," he proposed, "then I'll wait for you and take you to Bergvliet in my own car."
Meldon changed into something more formal after their arrival at Bergvliet. Jacqueline was delighted to find that he was indeed a superb host, and while still in a relaxed and jovial mood, he had her laughing helplessly almost throughout their meal. Her nervousness at spending an evening alone with him had disappeared soon after their arrival, and Jacqueline found herself responding to this new side to his character.
"Would you play the piano for me?" she asked when they had finished their coffee.
"What would you like to hear?"
"Anything."
He took her hand and led her to a chair beside the piano.
"Sit there where I can see you."
The music flowing from his fingers transported Jacqueline into another world. From time to time their eyes met, and it was almost as if he were trying to convey a message to her with the tenderness of the melody. She felt a strange stirring within her breast and a tightness in her throat that she swallowed at vainly.
"That's enough," he said much later, closing the lid and turning to face her. For a moment his eyes explored the delicate contours of her face, dwelling a while on her soft, generous mouth. She felt herself grow hot under his scrutiny when his glance shifted to her slender neck and lower.
"Let's go for a walk," he suggested, rising to his feet.
They strolled into the scented garden, Meldon walking a little distance away from her. They circled the lily pond and went further into the shadows to where they could sit down on a bench beneath the eucalyptus tree.
Meldon lit a cigarette but did not extinguish the flame of his lighter, and held it up so that he could scrutinise her face.
"It seems as though you get on well with young Martin Richter. In fact, you seem to be popular with all the men on the staff, excepting myself." He looked at her more closely. "Has Martin asked you to marry him yet?"
"No," she retorted stiffly, blowing out the flame of his lighter, "and don't look at me like that."
"How?"
"As though I were a specimen under a microscope!"
He laughed softly and slipped the lighter into his pocket. "I wish I could put you under a microscope to see what you're made of."
"I'm made of flesh, blood and bones, just like everyone else."
"Ah, but you left out the most important thing—the heart." The red glow from the tip of his cigarette lit his face for a second, and gave' it a harsh look. "Have you got a heart, Jacqueline?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just that." He spoke abruptly. "Have you got a heart, or do you collect men like playthings that can be tossed aside whenever they begin to bore you?"
Jacqueline stared aghast at the dark form beside her. It seemed incredible that he should revert back so suddenly to the austere person she had grown accustomed to. A few moments ago they had been so close when he had played for her, yet now she was aware that he was once again forcing that unseen wall between them.
She got to her feet, her skirt rustling softly as she moved a little away from him, striving to suppress the anger and disappointment that threatened t
o overwhelm her.
"I'm not a Delilah or a Jezebel," she said, swallowing at the painful lump in her throat. "I've never had many friends of the opposite sex, and I don't intend to marry the first man who asks me. If that makes me heartless, then I suppose I am."
He flung his cigarette into the darkness and came towards her. "What kind of man would you consider for a husband?"
She pressed her hand to her fluttering breast and chose her words carefully. "I haven't any particular kind of man in mind. I only know I could never marry a man unless I loved and respected him."
A frog croaked somewhere in the undergrowth as she turned to find that Meldon was dangerously close to her. Surely he must hear the wild beating of her heart? She tried to move away, but found her shoulder gripped firmly to prevent her involuntary action. The warmth of his hand against her bare skin was disturbing and she trembled inwardly.
"Cold?" he asked softly, moving his hand round the back of her neck and threading his fingers through her hair.
How it happened, Jacqueline never knew, but the next moment she was in his arms, crushed against his broad chest. His lips claimed hers in a kiss that seemed to drain her of all resistance, while she became aware of the heavy throbbing of his heart beneath her fingertips.
His lips strayed across her cheek to where a pulse jumped wildly in the hollow of her throat. For a moment sanity returned as she thought guiltily of his close association with Tanya. She tried to say something but couldn't, and once again his mouth closed over hers, parting her lips in a passionate kiss. Excitement stirred within her, her guilt at trespassing no longer important. Once again she was appalled at this new emotion she was experiencing and then, abandoning all thoughts of escape, she slid her arms about his neck and surrendered herself to the thrill of the moment.
His hands caressed her, causing a fiery delight to spread through her body, and when he finally released her, she swayed slightly on her feet.
"Meldon?" She looked up at him curiously, unaware of the note of appeal in her voice.
"It's time I took you home," was all he said, his voice quiet and expressionless.
The journey back to the hospital was a nightmare to Jacqueline. Meldon was morosely silent while she felt wave upon wave of humiliation sweep over her at the way she had behaved. What in the world had possessed her to respond to his kisses with such fervour?
He parked his car at the entrance of the staff quarters.
"Don't get out," Jacqueline said quickly, fumbling for the door handle, "and thank you for a delightful evening."
"Jacky?" He stopped her just in time and twisted her round to face him. It was the first time he had used the abbreviation of her name, but she was too perturbed to notice. His eyes searched her face and noticed the trembling lower lip. "Sleep well," he said softly, releasing her.
Jacqueline fled from him, stumbling up the steps to her apartment. She went through to her bedroom and flung her purse on to the bed. Sitting down on the stool in front of the dressing table, she stared at her reflection in the mirror as if she expected to see a difference in her appearance.
Why had Meldon kissed her like that? Did he care, or was he merely behaving like most men did when they found themselves alone with a girl in the moonlight? 'No!' her heart cried out. Meldon was not like that! Or was he?
She pressed her hands against her eyes and tried to force her thoughts away from her.
There was a knock at her door, and thinking it would be Martin she opened it joyfully, only to find Tanya Mason standing there.
"May I come in, Jacqueline?"
"Of—of course, Dr. Mason," she stammered, standing aside for her to enter.
"Do call me Tanya," the other girl smiled. "It's so much friendlier."
"Won't you sit down?" Jacqueline asked nervously, wondering to what she owed this unexpected visit.
When they were seated, Tanya smiled across at her, but the smile did not quite reach her eyes.
"I thought it time we got to know each other," she said, stretching her shapely legs out before her. "We haven't been getting on too well in the past, and I realise I'm mostly to blame." She hesitated as if she expected Jacqueline to contradict this, but when no response was forthcoming she continued, "I would like us to be friends."
Jacqueline thought this highly unlikely but muttered something appropriate which seemed to please Tanya.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?" Jacqueline asked, mainly as an excuse to occupy herself with something useful.
"Please."
They discussed the patient Jacqueline had operated on the previous day.
"It's very easy to make a mistake like that, you know?" Tanya said as Jacqueline handed her her coffee.
"I know," Jacqueline said quietly. "I'm only sorry that things happened the way they did."
"Think no more about it."
They drank their coffee in silence, and Jacqueline shifted about uncomfortably, wishing that Tanya would go when she had emptied her cup.
"As we're now friends," Tanya said, ending the long silence, "I feel there's something I ought to tell you."
Jacqueline looked at her expectantly.
"Don't pay too much attention to Meldon," she continued. "He's fond of having little interludes with different women, but in the end he always comes back to me."
She bit off the words, letting the delicate innuendo linger in the air between them, and Jacqueline felt as though she had been struck physically. She paled visibly, causing a smile of satisfaction to appear on Tanya's face.
"Meldon and I are unofficially engaged," Tanya added.
A wave of nausea swept over Jacqueline. "Please—will you go," she managed through stiff lips. "I don't feel so well."
"Certainly, my dear, and do come along to my apartment some time when you have nothing to do."
Jacqueline nodded, her throat too tight to utter a sound.
When Tanya had left, she locked the door and leant wearily against it. She placed her hands against her hot cheeks and felt the tears pricking behind her closed eyelids. How could he? How could Meldon have been so cruel? He had aroused emotions within her she never knew existed, and while to her those moments had been almost sacred, to him it had just been another interlude.
A strangled moan escaped her as she ran into her room and flung herself across the bed. Was this the reason for his silence in the car? Did he regret his actions when he realised that his kisses had meant more to her than just a mild flirtation? She had certainly made that painfully obvious. Jacqueline turned her face into the pillow and felt she could die with shame.
She had called him many things in the past, but she never thought that 'philanderer' could be added to that list. She had trusted and respected him, and he had let her down. Why had he not mentioned his engagement to Tanya?
A shuddering sigh escaped her and her throat ached with unshed tears as she undressed quickly and slid between the cool sheets. It was a long time before she fell asleep, for her thoughts twisted this way and that until her mind felt too exhausted to probe the matter further.
CHAPTER FIVE
Jacqueline awoke the next morning with a violent headache. She swallowed a couple of aspirins and by the time she went down for breakfast it had simmered down considerably.
She seated herself at her usual table and ordered toast and coffee. It was going to be another hot, exhausting day. Already the heat was oppressive as if another storm was brewing. The sheep farmers had indeed been fortunate this season and were enthusiastic about the good prices they were getting for their wool.
"Good morning, Jacky," Martin interrupted her thoughts as he sat down opposite her.
"Hello, Martin."
"Where were you last night?"
"Why?" she asked sharply.
"I was hoping for a cup of coffee and a chat, but your place was in darkness."
"I told you I was going to visit Aunt Ellen, Martin." Somehow she could not bring herself to mention the fact that she
had dined with Meldon at his home.
"Have you a busy programme ahead of you today?" Martin asked later as they lingered over their coffee.
"Not too busy. And you?”
He shrugged. "In Casualty you never know whether you're going to be busy or not."
Their conversation was somehow stilted and occasionally Martin would glance at her curiously, but Jacqueline pretended not to see. They left the dining room, walking past the nurses' quarters on their way to the hospital. As they entered the main building she saw Meldon coming towards them. This was the moment she had been dread-ing, when she would have to come face to face with him.
East of Barryvale Page 8
