hearing, Ca rn e, that you have a spark of what it takes to carry a man to fame. How fortunate for you that you should be travelling with Miss Carmichael.”
By now Jeremy was standing. Under the cool satire of Mark’s glance, his composure began to warp.
“I think so, too,” he managed, with a show of nonchalance. “It’s been an amazing day for me.”
Astra placed slim fingers with bronze-red tips upon his wrist. “Then you’re happy about it now? I was half afraid that your Lisa would not approve, but, after all, she’s only a shipboard companion, isn’t she?”
This last was murmured in a tone calculated to make Lisa go hot. In addition, Mark was regarding her with a mocking intensity, which was confusing, to say the least. A nd more than anything Lisa hated to be bait e d. Considering that she seethed, she answered for Jeremy with admirable control as well as a show of spirit.
“I think if I were Jeremy and had an excellent post awaiting me in Durban, I’d refuse to give you a definite answer till the end of the voyage. And if I agreed then to join your company I’d insist on a two-year contract.” This small bombshell was received in heavy silence.
Jeremy was somewhat stunned by L isa’s quite unpre c edented temerity. Astra was gathering her forces, and Mark, naturally, remained the amused, aloof spectator.
“I see,” said Astra in a drawl. “You’re militant on his behalf. How nice for you, Jeremy, to have Lisa already your s trong admirer. It should encourage you, because our audiences have a fair sprinkling of young women whom y ou might convert into adoring fans. But you are by no means a fool about women; yo u know us very well. ”
Before any kind of rejoinder could be slipped in, she inserted a hand into the crook of his elbow. “You and I have had an exhausting day, my dear, but there is just one tiny point I’d like to discuss with you. Shall we go to the reading room?”
It was accomplished smoothly and efficiently, like a stage exit. Jeremy went o ff resigned but not reluctant, with Astra easting over her shoulder a warm, silky smile. Mark was looking at Lisa and smiling, too; but his was neither a pleasant nor a triumphant smile. It did not reach his eyes.
“Come with me,” he ordered crisply.
“With you?” she echoed.
“Yes, to a place where we shan’t be interrupted.”
“What can you possibly have to say to me that can’t be said here?”
“You’ll find out. This way.”
He did not touch her as they came to the companion down to the lower deck, but indicated that he would go first and she was to follow.
“Take your time,” he said. “You’re not a sailor.”
Lisa had no idea where she was being taken. Here, the deck was narrow and deserted, and she looked back to discover that the lights of the promenade deck were above and infinitely far away. He unlocked a door, pushed her into a dark cavern and snapped shut the door behind them before switching on the l ight.
Lisa blinked and gazed about her. It was a snug little cabin with book-lined walls, two leather armchairs, a Shiraz rug and a couple of odd tables. The light was a Chinese vase lamp with a tasteful rose and cream silk shade.
“Is this your den?” she queried, unable to suppress the delight in her voice.
“Yes.” He sounded terse. “I have two cabins on the bridge, but this is where I get away from it all, or entertain a friend.”
“It’s cosy, like a lounge in a flat. What heaps of books you have.”
“I didn’t bring you here to debate literature.”
“I realize that. Have I infringed one of your nautical rules and regulations?”
“I expect so—passengers invariably do—but I haven’t been told about it.”
“Then would you m i nd telling me what you did bring me here for?”
“Sit down,” he bade her. “You won’t like this, but it has to be said. Want a drink to help you through?”
“I’ll have one if you think I need Dutch courage.”
He mixed drinks at a low
By now Jeremy was standing. Under the cool satire of Mark’s glance, his composure began to warp.
“I think so, too,” he managed, with a show of nonchalance. “It’s been an amazing day for me.”
Astra placed slim fingers with bronze-red tips upon his wrist. “Then you’re happy about it now? I was half afraid that your Lisa would not approve, but, after all, she’s only a shipboard companion, isn’t she?”
This last was murmured in a tone calculated to make Lisa go hot. In addition, Mark was regarding her with a mocking intensity, which was confusing, to say the least. A nd more than anything Lisa hated to be bait e d. Considering that she seethed, she answered for Jeremy with admirable control as well as a show of spirit.
“I think if I were Jeremy and had an excellent post awaiting me in Durban, I’d refuse to give you a definite answer till the end of the voyage. And if I agreed then to join your company I’d insist on a two-year contract.” This small bombshell was received in heavy silence.
Jeremy was somewhat stunned by L isa’s quite unpre c edented temerity. Astra was gathering her forces, and Mark, naturally, remained the amused, aloof spectator.
“I see,” said Astra in a drawl. “You’re militant on his behalf. How nice for you, Jeremy, to have Lisa already your s trong admirer. It should encourage you, because our audiences have a fair sprinkling of young women whom y ou might convert into adoring fans. But you are by no means a fool about women; yo u know us very well. ”
Before any kind of rejoinder could be slipped in, she inserted a hand into the crook of his elbow. “You and I have had an exhausting day, my dear, but there is just one tiny point I’d like to discuss with you. Shall we go to the reading room?”
It was accomplished smoothly and efficiently, like a stage exit. Jeremy went o ff resigned but not reluctant, with Astra easting over her shoulder a warm, silky smile. Mark was looking at Lisa and smiling, too; but his was neither a pleasant nor a triumphant smile. It did not reach his eyes.
“Come with me,” he ordered crisply.
“With you?” she echoed.
“Yes, to a place where we shan’t be interrupted.”
“What can you possibly have to say to me that can’t be said here?”
“You’ll find out. This way.”
He did not touch her as they came to the companion down to the lower deck, but indicated that he would go first and she was to follow.
“Take your time,” he said. “You’re not a sailor.”
Lisa had no idea where she was being taken. Here, the deck was narrow and deserted, and she looked back to discover that the lights of the promenade deck were above and infinitely far away. He unlocked a door, pushed her into a dark cavern and snapped shut the door behind them before switching on the l ight.
Lisa blinked and gazed about her. It was a snug little cabin with book-lined walls, two leather armchairs, a Shiraz rug and a couple of odd tables. The light was a Chinese vase lamp with a tasteful rose and cream silk shade.
“Is this your den?” she queried, unable to suppress the delight in her voice.
“Yes.” He sounded terse. “I have two cabins on the bridge, but this is where I get away from it all, or entertain a friend.”
“It’s cosy, like a lounge in a flat. What heaps of books you have.”
“I didn’t bring you here to debate literature.”
“I realize that. Have I infringed one of your nautical rules and regulations?”
“I expect so—passengers invariably do—but I haven’t been told about it.”
“Then would you m i nd telling me what you did bring me here for?”
“Sit down,” he bade her. “You won’t like this, but it has to be said. Want a drink to help you through?”
“I’ll have one if you think I need Dutch courage.”
He mixed drinks at a low
Similar Books
