Read Online Bond of Fate by Jane Corrie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jane Corrie
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she replied quietly, 'I shall be ready,' and went to her room.
A glance at her watch showed that she had exactly thirty minutes' grace, and she wondered if she ought to change into another dress for the party, but recalling Julian's anger at her previous attempt to act the part, she decided to stay as she was.
The communicating door between her room and Celia's was open when Melanie got to her bedroom, and Celia called out a greeting to her, forcing Melanie to go in and see her.
She found Celia propped up in bed reading a large volume on human anatomy, and gave a grimace as she met Celia's dark eyes. 'Not quite what I'd recommend for bedtime reading,' she said.
Celia laughed. 'It's absolutely fascinating,' she replied. `Do you realise ?'
`Not now, thank you,' said Melanie hastily, seeing that the page open showed a detailed drawing of the gullet. 'I've just had dinner.'
Closing the book, Celia put it down carefully on the bedside table and turned her attention to Melanie. `You look smashing,' she said, 'and that dress is just right for you. I'll bet they stared, didn't they?' she asked.
`It wasn't exactly a hit with your father,' said Melanie drily. 'In short, he was very angry indeed.'
Celia stared at her. 'Are you sure?' she demanded. `Perhaps he was just bowled over?' she suggested helpfully.
Melanie shook her head emphatically. 'No, I was the one who was bowled over, or perhaps I should say bawled out. I got a lecture on keeping my place,' she added, then, realising that Celia was still a junior, and in her charge at that, although it was difficult to remember this with her totally adult outlook on life, she added with a grin, 'I think he's afraid that it's all gone to my head—and don't worry, I didn't tell him it had been your good idea that I have my hair cut.'
For once Celia didn't rise to the intended assurance that she had nothing to worry about, but sat with knitted brows, and then shook her head slowly. 'It's not like him at all,' she said. 'I do wish he would ease up at work. It's not as though he needs the money.'
`Perhaps it's the sun,' Melanie commented drily.
This time Celia did laugh, but her expression soon resumed its earlier doubts. 'I'll have a go at him to give it all a rest,' she said, then snuggled down in bed. "Night, Melanie,' she murmured, and was asleep before Melanie had reached her room.
The thirty minutes' grace before she was due to join Julian for the party had now been whittled down to a mere ten minutes, and Melanie wandered aimlessly around her room to while away the time. She didn't want to think too much about her changed circumstances, but of course she did. It had never once occurred to her that the man she had got to know and respect in that short three-week period could have changed to this extent. She could appreciate how difficult it was for him, but surely he should have foreseen how difficult it was going to be for her?
As she recalled the beach incident, and his anger at finding her with the children, Melanie's depression deepened. Even Celia had been puzzled by his
reaction, and if Celia was puzzled, then what chance had Melanie to reach the right conclusion?
When the hands of her watch reached the hour, Melanie left her room and went to the lounge, and was slightly surprised to see that Julian had changed out of the dark evening suit that he had worn at dinner into a white tuxedo that emphasised the tan that he had already acquired from their few days in the sun. He was, she thought absentmindedly, one of those few lucky people who tanned easily.
You could have changed,' he said abruptly, as he looked her over.
Melanie felt her hackles rise. Of all the disagreeable men ! 'I would have done, if I had known I was expected to,' she replied, letting a cold hint of her feelings creep into their association for the first time.
She saw his lips tighten as he acknowledged the truth of this bold statement, but he hadn't liked having it pointed out to him. 'I
A glance at her watch showed that she had exactly thirty minutes' grace, and she wondered if she ought to change into another dress for the party, but recalling Julian's anger at her previous attempt to act the part, she decided to stay as she was.
The communicating door between her room and Celia's was open when Melanie got to her bedroom, and Celia called out a greeting to her, forcing Melanie to go in and see her.
She found Celia propped up in bed reading a large volume on human anatomy, and gave a grimace as she met Celia's dark eyes. 'Not quite what I'd recommend for bedtime reading,' she said.
Celia laughed. 'It's absolutely fascinating,' she replied. `Do you realise ?'
`Not now, thank you,' said Melanie hastily, seeing that the page open showed a detailed drawing of the gullet. 'I've just had dinner.'
Closing the book, Celia put it down carefully on the bedside table and turned her attention to Melanie. `You look smashing,' she said, 'and that dress is just right for you. I'll bet they stared, didn't they?' she asked.
`It wasn't exactly a hit with your father,' said Melanie drily. 'In short, he was very angry indeed.'
Celia stared at her. 'Are you sure?' she demanded. `Perhaps he was just bowled over?' she suggested helpfully.
Melanie shook her head emphatically. 'No, I was the one who was bowled over, or perhaps I should say bawled out. I got a lecture on keeping my place,' she added, then, realising that Celia was still a junior, and in her charge at that, although it was difficult to remember this with her totally adult outlook on life, she added with a grin, 'I think he's afraid that it's all gone to my head—and don't worry, I didn't tell him it had been your good idea that I have my hair cut.'
For once Celia didn't rise to the intended assurance that she had nothing to worry about, but sat with knitted brows, and then shook her head slowly. 'It's not like him at all,' she said. 'I do wish he would ease up at work. It's not as though he needs the money.'
`Perhaps it's the sun,' Melanie commented drily.
This time Celia did laugh, but her expression soon resumed its earlier doubts. 'I'll have a go at him to give it all a rest,' she said, then snuggled down in bed. "Night, Melanie,' she murmured, and was asleep before Melanie had reached her room.
The thirty minutes' grace before she was due to join Julian for the party had now been whittled down to a mere ten minutes, and Melanie wandered aimlessly around her room to while away the time. She didn't want to think too much about her changed circumstances, but of course she did. It had never once occurred to her that the man she had got to know and respect in that short three-week period could have changed to this extent. She could appreciate how difficult it was for him, but surely he should have foreseen how difficult it was going to be for her?
As she recalled the beach incident, and his anger at finding her with the children, Melanie's depression deepened. Even Celia had been puzzled by his
reaction, and if Celia was puzzled, then what chance had Melanie to reach the right conclusion?
When the hands of her watch reached the hour, Melanie left her room and went to the lounge, and was slightly surprised to see that Julian had changed out of the dark evening suit that he had worn at dinner into a white tuxedo that emphasised the tan that he had already acquired from their few days in the sun. He was, she thought absentmindedly, one of those few lucky people who tanned easily.
You could have changed,' he said abruptly, as he looked her over.
Melanie felt her hackles rise. Of all the disagreeable men ! 'I would have done, if I had known I was expected to,' she replied, letting a cold hint of her feelings creep into their association for the first time.
She saw his lips tighten as he acknowledged the truth of this bold statement, but he hadn't liked having it pointed out to him. 'I
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