by Anne Hampson
‘Yet he isn’t interested in marriage. How strange.’ Dominie was thinking more of the man’s love for children than anything else, but on learning his age a moment later she did wonder how he had managed to escape the marriage net for so long.
‘Thirty-four? You’d think he’d have been married long ago, seeing that he’s so attractive. I mean—he could have anyone, by the sound of things.’
‘No doubt about that. Women give him that sort of look all the time—’ Jake broke off, grinning. ‘You know what I mean? They find it difficult to be indifferent to his charms. But it gains them nothing; he’s just not interested—’
‘Because he only likes little girls,’ intervened Susie, her mouth full of meat. She had been listening intently to the conversation, as had her brother, and Jake made a slight sign to Dominie.
‘I’ll tell you all about it later,’ he promised, and from then on the conversation was such that the children could take part in it.
When the meal was finished Jake arranged to meet Dominie in the Calypso Room on the Promenade Deck and she was already there when he arrived, taking possession of the chair she had saved for him at a small table a little apart from the main body of people. She had brought with her the pamphlet describing the excursions, but Jake made no attempt to go through it with her at present.
‘I’m exhausted with those two.’ He leant back in his chair, relaxed, and watched the dancers doing a foxtrot on the small space in front of the band. Dominie remained quiet, feeling he wanted it that way. His eyes closed now and then, as if he were tired. But, sensing her interest as she examined his rugged features, he opened his eyes and smiled at her. She liked that smile; it was sincere, friendly, inviting. He was a kind man, she thought, and, having previously assessed his age to be at least forty-five, she wondered how old he was when he married. He later told her his age was fifty-one, adding that he looked younger owing to the good life he had led. She laughed, as he meant her to, and told her he had been alone for five and a half years. ‘We parted when Geoffrey was only a few months old,’ he added with a note of regret in his voice. And he gave a small sigh. ‘Just one of those things; it happens to so many couples these days. I sometimes wonder if that’s one reason for Rohan’s remaining a bachelor.’ Jake stopped, and went quiet, as if considering, and then he shook his head. ‘No, I’d rather put it down to his experiences. His mother had a raw deal, being supplanted in middle age by a lovely young thing of twenty-two who managed to hold on to Rohan’s old man until he died and so got most of his fortune. Rohan’s mother died a few years before her husband, kept in luxury by Rohan, who had entered business when quite young and made a phenomenal success of it. He’s now a millionaire.’
‘So Rohan had a hate at an early age, apparently?’
‘He certainly hated that girl. Then about five years ago he began going around with a beautiful brunette whom all the men raved over. She and Rohan seemed eminently suited in every way, but she met a man even wealthier than Rohan, and this, plus a title, resulted in the break-up of the affair just as we all expected an engagement to be announced. Most people felt sure he was in love with Nina...’ Jake broke off slowly, his brow creasing in thought before, dismissing whatever it was that had caused the frown, he gave a small shrug. ‘Nina doesn’t live in St. Thomas, which is a blessing. Rohan hasn’t seen her since her marriage and to all outward appearances he has got over it.’
‘He should have, in five years.’
‘One never can tell with love.’ Jake looked curiously at her. ‘You haven’t a young man?’
‘No.’
‘I concluded that. You wouldn’t be taking this cruise if you had.’ His tone invited her confidence, but she refrained from entering into explanations about her life. Instead, she reintroduced the subject of Rohan de Arden, saying it was understandable that he should dislike women, but adding that there were other types besides those who had caused him hurt.
‘Perhaps.’ Once again Jake took on a musing attitude. ‘I haven’t told you all,’ he went on after a while. ‘You see, he had a young sister to whom he was greatly attached. He was her guardian, but allowed her to go to England to be trained in acting, as that is what she had wanted from being quite small. Rohan has friends in England, and they had Alicia living with them. Well, Alicia had great talent and by the time she was twenty she had made two films. He went over often, as she was on television and liked him to see her. He brought her over to St. Thomas for holidays and on the particular occasion in question he had gone over for that precise purpose, as it was Christmas time—just less than two years ago, as a matter of fact.’
Two years ... Dominie clenched her fists, forcing herself to thrust the tragedy from her. She looked at the band, at the couples dancing, at the people sitting around, talking and drinking.
‘What happened?’ she heard herself say, still fighting to shut out her brother’s face.
‘Rohan had hired a car to take them to the airport; there was an accident and Alicia was killed—’
‘Killed! Oh, how dreadful!’ Dominie’s fingernails were biting into the palms of her hands. How could she forget her own anguish when here was Jake, talking about another death ... and one that had occurred almost at the same time as Jerry’s?
‘Yes, it was a terrible thing—a great blow to Rohan. A woman driver came out of a minor road—raced out, in fact, without even slowing down or sounding her horn. Rohan tried to avoid an accident by swerving, but hit a lamp standard. The girl drove a short way, then stopped, but only long enough for a witness to pop his head through the window and discover that she was drunk. She then started the car up and drove away.’
‘But how wicked! Wasn’t she jailed?’
‘They never found out who she was. The witness said she reeked of whisky, or some spirit. And she blabbered something unintelligible before driving away. It was dark and the man couldn’t get her number. Rohan was a broken man when he returned home, and I do believe that he would have killed the woman, could he have found out who she was.’ Jake stopped, noticing the pallor of Dominie’s face. ‘Is something wrong?’ he inquired anxiously.
‘My brother was killed two years ago—just a couple of days before Christmas. Rohan’s sister must have been killed about the same time.’
‘Your brother? I’m terribly sorry, Dominie. I wouldn’t have spoken of such a matter had I known how it must affect you. It’s brought it all back, I suppose?’ He asked the question unnecessarily and instantly apologized for doing so. ‘My dear child, forgive me.’
‘You’re not to blame,’ she hastened to assure him. ‘You couldn’t have known about my tragedy.’
‘No...’ Jake lapsed into one of his thoughtful moods. ‘What a strange coincidence,’ he murmured at length, ‘that your brother and Rohan’s sister should die about the same time, and both in road accidents.’
‘Yes, it is—a most strange coincidence.’ Dominie paused a moment. ‘It’s understandable now why Rohan hates women. Just think—that young girl, cut off from life just as she was becoming a great actress.’
Jake nodded.
‘She was very beautiful, too, and charming. We all loved her dearly.’ Once again Jake became thoughtful, but suddenly he rose and reached for Dominie’s hand. ‘Come, let’s dance! We’re not going to talk of such matters again!’
For the rest of the evening they danced together, or sat with their drinks watching others on the floor. At midnight there was a floor show and immediately it was over Dominie said she was going to bed. Jake, who several times had left her to go and see if the children were all right, said he too was ready for bed, and they left the Calypso Room together, having spoken for a time to the couple at the next table, who also had two children of similar ages to those of Susie and Geoffrey.
‘Perhaps we can get together regarding the baby-watching.’ Dorothy had suggested, for her husband was also making journeys now and then to their family cabin two decks below. ‘We have a party to attend, and if you could s
ee to our two, we would see to yours if you wanted to go ashore at Barbados on Wednesday evening?’
‘Certainly. We’ll discuss it later.’ Jake had been into the question of excursions with Dominie, but as he and she walked away from Dorothy and Vic he suggested they should go ashore at Barbados together.
‘Let me take you to the Hilton for the barbecue and the show. We can dance afterwards. You’ll love it there.’
‘Thank you very much,’ returned Dominie. ‘It’s most kind of you to ask me.’
‘Nothing of the sort. I’m considering myself lucky to have found someone so pleasant—and attractive,’ he added with a fatherly sort of smile.
‘Thank you,’ she said again, this time rather shyly. ‘I also am lucky.’
‘If I’m not too old, and I don’t bore you or cramp your style, I’d like to be your companion until we reach St. Thomas. May I, Dominie?’ They had reached ‘A’ Deck and Dominie had stopped, as her cabin was just around the corner from where they were standing.
‘I’d love that,’ she responded enthusiastically, her mind calculating, and telling her that by the time they reached St. Thomas the dreaded date would be past. ‘I shall feel glad of your company, Jake.’ These last words spoke volumes and he nodded understandingly.
‘Just treat me like a father,’ he said, and touched her cheek lightly with his lips.
CHAPTER TWO
The ship docked six days after leaving Southampton and Dominie and Jake went off in a taxi to the Hilton where they ate outside among the trees and later danced to the steel band. Limbo dancers performed for them, and later still Dominie and her companion strolled along the beach, with the warm waters of the Caribbean lapping the shore and the sky above star-studded, and spangled here and there with soft white cloud.
‘It’s so warm. You’d be able to swim in this sea—even now, at midnight!’ Dominie was bending down, her hand in the water. ‘Just think ... it’s December!’
‘You’re in the tropics, my dear,’ Jake reminded her in his soft American voice. ‘It would be very strange if it wasn’t warm. We could have rain, of course,’ he thought to add, glancing up at the sky.
‘I’m glad we haven’t had it. It was fun being outside all the time.’ She straightened up, coming closer to Jake than she expected, for he had moved towards her. He took her hand, drying it with his handkerchief.
‘You’re a nice kid,’ he said, looking into her face. ‘Why haven’t you found a young man before now?’
She watched him with the handkerchief, recalling that last evening at dinner she had told him her age.
‘There wasn’t much time for going out,’ she explained after a small hesitation. ‘I was looking after Jerry, and there was such a lot to do in the house. I never met any men—apart from those I saw at the staff dance and at the odd party given by my friends.’
‘You don’t mind not having a young man?’ He put the handkerchief away in his pocket, but retained her hand in his.
‘No, I don’t mind. I’m a fatalist, and if I’m to marry, the right man will appear ... from somewhere,’ she ended vaguely, and with a little laugh.
‘You’re right,’ he agreed with a sign. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
She withdrew her hand, but made no move to walk on. They were right on the edge of the shore, with the gentle sea moving ever so slightly at their feet. A breeze came over the water—the cooling north-east trade wind—and fanned their faces. She looked up at Jake, sensing that he was sad. He seemed to know this and presently told her that he had been very much in love with his wife right up to the time of parting.
‘I don’t know whose fault it was—’ Jake broke off, frowning and shaking his head. ‘Perhaps it was mine. I believe women like a masterful man and I’m not that sort. I’m always afraid of hurting people. I suppose I’m not manly enough.’
‘Of course you are!’ exclaimed Dominie indignantly. ‘You shouldn’t say that!’
‘Thank you, my dear. What a nice girl you are.’ He smiled as she blushed in the half-light thrown off by the lamps in the trees. ‘But to get back to my wife: she was not happy for a long while before she suggested we separate. I felt she was—well, ashamed of me.’
Dominie gave a little gasp.
‘That’s impossible!’ Her eyes travelled from his rugged kindly face to his hair, fair and wavy and clean. She looked at his immaculate attire, at his broad shoulders squarely set. ‘How could you possibly have gained an impression like that?’
‘I didn’t mean ashamed of my personal appearance, Dominie. I meant that she was not proud of me as a man. If you saw Rohan you’d know what I mean.’
‘But he’s one in a thousand, from what you’ve said. It’s the same with women—you get one now and then who is superlative, flawless in every way. That doesn’t mean that all the others are to be despised. And anyway,’ she added, the note of indignation creeping once more into her voice, ‘this Rohan might not have such a nice personality as other men. They haven’t, usually, when they’re so admired, you know.’
Jake was smiling, with humour. She was talking about one of his best friends, he said, and Dominie gave a small start and hastened to apologize.
‘How could I forget that? I’m terribly sorry,’ she said again.
‘Don’t worry, my dear. It’s not important.’ His blue-grey eyes twinkled as they rested on her flushed cheeks. ‘I’ve said, don’t worry about it.’
‘I didn’t stop to think,’ she murmured, biting her lip, ‘or I would never have spoken disparagingly about your friend.’
‘He’ll be looking forward to seeing the kids,’ said Jake, veering the subject a little, for Dominie was still embarrassed at her lack of tact. ‘And I expect he’ll be glad that they’re to stay permanently with me.’
Dominie said nothing for a while and they began to walk on again, along the quiet shore. From the hotel gardens behind drifted the sounds of the steel band, and the heady scents of tropical flowers.
‘Is St. Thomas as lovely as Barbados?’ she asked at length.
‘We who live there consider it even more lovely. There isn’t the poverty, for one thing. Here, you have a great gap between rich and poor. St. Thomas is U.S.-owned and the standard of living is high.’ He paused a moment, drifting into his familiar mood of thoughtful silence. ‘It’s a great pity you’re not staying longer at St. Thomas; I could have shown you round.’
‘I’ll book an excursion; at least I shall then see a little of the scenery.’
Jake nodded, again thoughtful.
‘The ship’s scheduled to stay for nine hours, I believe?’
‘Yes, that’s right. We arrive at nine in the morning and leave at six in the evening.’
‘Not long enough,’ he asserted with a frown. ‘It’ll take you an hour to get organized on your trip. You’ve to come ashore by launch, remember, and then there’s sure to be a delay in leaving Charlotte Amalie Harbour. Pity,’ he said musingly, ‘great pity you’ll not see more of our beautiful island.’
‘None of these stays are long enough. I could stay in Barbados for a week. But we’ve been given only a few hours.’
‘Badly organized—all these cruises are. You travel for six whole days to get to the Caribbean, and once here you stay for so short a time that you scarcely get a proper impression of a place. It’s such a shame, for every one of these islands is a tropical paradise.’ They were still strolling along on the beach, but Jake glanced at his watch and said that, pleasant as it was, they must retrace their steps and get a taxi back to the ship.
‘I’ve had a wonderful evening,’ Dominie was saying when at last they were back on board the great white liner. ‘Thank you very much, Jake.’
‘Thank you, my dear, for the pleasure of your company.’
‘Well, here we are, Dominie.’ Jake spoke with a distinct hint of regret as he and the children sat down to breakfast on the morning after Boxing Day. ‘This is where we say goodbye.’
Dominie felt strangely choked; she
had become fond of Susie and her brother, and she had also enjoyed immensely the company of their father. He was a thorough gentleman in every way, grateful for her company, and showing this gratitude in many ways. At Curacao he had insisted on buying her a bracelet despite her vigorous protests. The children supported him and in the end Dominie gave way, and now she owned a piece of jewellery she would never even been able to buy for herself.
‘You’ve helped with the kids,’ Jake reminded her in the midst of her protests, ‘washing and ironing all their clothes like that.’
‘It was nothing. I had to do my own, so it wasn’t any trouble at all.’
‘We want you to have that bracelet,’ from Susie. ‘It’s beautiful—real gold!’
‘It’ll look nice, Auntie Dominie,’ supported Geoffrey with enthusiasm. ‘My mummy had hundreds of bracelets like that!’
‘Not hundreds, Geoffrey,’ chided his father. ‘Don’t exaggerate.’
Dominie wore the bracelet now, and as she glanced at it she felt a great surge of dejection that she would never see Jake again, or the children. He had confided that when his wife died his feelings were mixed. His hopes of a reconciliation had long ago been crushed and he had unhappily accepted that his children were denied to him for all but two months of every year. Although he felt sad at the death of his wife, who was seventeen years younger than he, he was at the same time happy at the prospect of having his children to live with him on the island. He owned a house in the hills, he said, but made no other mention of it, and Dominie was left guessing as to what it was like. Susie had mentioned a swimming pool and Geoffrey a tennis court, so she assumed it was a luxurious place.
‘Why,’ said Geoffrey right out of the blue, ‘can’t Auntie Dominie come home with us? It doesn’t take long in the car, and then we can come back and wave to her as she goes away to the ship.’
