drawn as she did to Andrew.
And then there was Nicholas. Much as she tried, it was almost impossible to exclude him from her mind. His image had the most irritating way of in-trading where it was not wanted ... Nicholas was all the things she most detested—arrogant, conceited, domineering. She guessed that he was self- sufficient and ruthless. But he was not childish. She smiled a little wryly as she wondered, if Nicholas Van Mijden had ever been childish. Reckless and daring? Yes. There was a look in the grey eyes that suggested he could be daring indeed, that he was a man who would enjoy a risk and take it with flair. But the risk would be his own. It would be undertaken only when all the consequences had been weighed very thoroughly. And it would never be at another person's expense.
How she could know so much about the man she hated was something she did not understand, but know it she did, and the knowledge gave her a strange sense of elation. Just as the fact that she was making comparisons, in which Gary could only be shown to disadvantage, filled her with shame.
It grew chillier. It was also getting late. Reluctantly Kelly got to her feet. It was restful on the bench beneath the stars, but if she was going to put in a long day's work tomorrow it was time she went to bed. The stars shed just enough light for her to make out the path, but the bushes and trees were no more than dark silhouettes, mysterious and a little-eerie.
Something touched her foot. It was soft and slippery. She let out an involuntary scream as a tiny creature ran further, rustling the grass.
'A frog.' The voice was low and amused.
Kelly spun round. Her heart was racing. She clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle another scream. 'How do you know?' she gasped, when she could speak, and wondered if he guessed that her shakiness was only partly due to the frog.
'I'm a farmer.'
She did not need to see his eyes to know that they would be alight with mockery. It was too dark even to make out the expression on his face, but strangely no light was necessary. She had known him only two days, and yet every rugged feature of the starkly handsome face was etched upon her mind. It came to her quite involuntarily that the face of her fiance had never assumed such clarity.
She took a step away from him. To break the silence she asked, 'Where's Miss de Jager?'
'She went home.'
'She lives near here?'
'On a farm next to my own.'
Neighbours! Serena de Jager would be a frequent visitor at Nicholas's farm. From the degree of familiarity she had displayed in the dining-room, it would seem that they saw each other often. Kelly wondered why the thought should disturb her so intensely.
'She said you had a date...'
'A movie in the village.' His voice was lazy. Kelly knew it was absurd even to imagine that Nicholas could guess at the effort it took to keep her voice level. Yet oddly, she had the idea that he did know. It was not the first time she had endowed him with a perception he could not possibly possess.
'You didn't go because it was late. She ... she seemed upset about that.' Kelly wondered what drove her to pursue the conversation. She wouldnever see Serena de Jager again. After tomorrow she would not see Nicholas either. His social life did not concern her in the least.
'Serena upset? Not once she understood. It wasn't our first date.' Nicholas spoke easily. 'It won't be the last.'
Kelly winced at the words. The pain that she had felt once before came again, and it baffled her. There was no reason for it, none at all. She had not changed the opinion she had formed of Nicholas the first time she had seen him. His undisguised contempt had made her think him arrogant and unpleasant. Nothing he had said or done since then had altered her views. Besides, she was engaged to be married. It could only be the unusual day she had spent which gave rise to a pain she could not remember having experienced before. Nothing else would make any sense.
His voice
And then there was Nicholas. Much as she tried, it was almost impossible to exclude him from her mind. His image had the most irritating way of in-trading where it was not wanted ... Nicholas was all the things she most detested—arrogant, conceited, domineering. She guessed that he was self- sufficient and ruthless. But he was not childish. She smiled a little wryly as she wondered, if Nicholas Van Mijden had ever been childish. Reckless and daring? Yes. There was a look in the grey eyes that suggested he could be daring indeed, that he was a man who would enjoy a risk and take it with flair. But the risk would be his own. It would be undertaken only when all the consequences had been weighed very thoroughly. And it would never be at another person's expense.
How she could know so much about the man she hated was something she did not understand, but know it she did, and the knowledge gave her a strange sense of elation. Just as the fact that she was making comparisons, in which Gary could only be shown to disadvantage, filled her with shame.
It grew chillier. It was also getting late. Reluctantly Kelly got to her feet. It was restful on the bench beneath the stars, but if she was going to put in a long day's work tomorrow it was time she went to bed. The stars shed just enough light for her to make out the path, but the bushes and trees were no more than dark silhouettes, mysterious and a little-eerie.
Something touched her foot. It was soft and slippery. She let out an involuntary scream as a tiny creature ran further, rustling the grass.
'A frog.' The voice was low and amused.
Kelly spun round. Her heart was racing. She clapped a hand to her mouth to stifle another scream. 'How do you know?' she gasped, when she could speak, and wondered if he guessed that her shakiness was only partly due to the frog.
'I'm a farmer.'
She did not need to see his eyes to know that they would be alight with mockery. It was too dark even to make out the expression on his face, but strangely no light was necessary. She had known him only two days, and yet every rugged feature of the starkly handsome face was etched upon her mind. It came to her quite involuntarily that the face of her fiance had never assumed such clarity.
She took a step away from him. To break the silence she asked, 'Where's Miss de Jager?'
'She went home.'
'She lives near here?'
'On a farm next to my own.'
Neighbours! Serena de Jager would be a frequent visitor at Nicholas's farm. From the degree of familiarity she had displayed in the dining-room, it would seem that they saw each other often. Kelly wondered why the thought should disturb her so intensely.
'She said you had a date...'
'A movie in the village.' His voice was lazy. Kelly knew it was absurd even to imagine that Nicholas could guess at the effort it took to keep her voice level. Yet oddly, she had the idea that he did know. It was not the first time she had endowed him with a perception he could not possibly possess.
'You didn't go because it was late. She ... she seemed upset about that.' Kelly wondered what drove her to pursue the conversation. She wouldnever see Serena de Jager again. After tomorrow she would not see Nicholas either. His social life did not concern her in the least.
'Serena upset? Not once she understood. It wasn't our first date.' Nicholas spoke easily. 'It won't be the last.'
Kelly winced at the words. The pain that she had felt once before came again, and it baffled her. There was no reason for it, none at all. She had not changed the opinion she had formed of Nicholas the first time she had seen him. His undisguised contempt had made her think him arrogant and unpleasant. Nothing he had said or done since then had altered her views. Besides, she was engaged to be married. It could only be the unusual day she had spent which gave rise to a pain she could not remember having experienced before. Nothing else would make any sense.
His voice
Similar Books
