Read Online Rainbow for Megan by Jane Corrie - Free Book Online Page B

—when he married, for instance—she might as well get used to it now as later.

CHAPTER SIX
    TWO weeks passed. Megan had no time to mope over her last meeting with Alain. True to his word, he had not attempted to seek her out. On several occasions while she walked Chas in the evening, she found herself hoping he would put in an appearance, yet she knew he would not. Ray had accompanied her on one or two occasions, and Megan knew the village was speculating on this new development and avidly watching points. She studiously avoided any get-together organised by the village's various committees, particularly if she knew Alain would be attending. She found she was much sought after to attend such functions and knew it was hoped Ray would accompany her.
    Soon it would be harvest time, and the thought made her sad. It had always been a big occasion in the village—first the church service for the thanksgiving, then the harvest supper held at Clock House. Megan had always had a lot to do with these arrangements. Baskets of fruit and vegetables were made up, not only for the estate employees, but for the older folk of the village, a custom carried down from the ages
    by Alain's family. One had to make certain that no one was left out, and this had been Megan's task. Iris would now take it on, she thought, and hoped she wouldn't act the Lady Bountiful when taking them round to the older folk, or there would be some sharp reactions.
    On the Monday of the third week, a cablegram was received from the American publishers. The book had been accepted, contract to follow. Mr. Shaw handed it to Megan as soon as she walked in that evening, and she gave a whoop of joy. 'I knew it !' she cried. 'Ray said they would !'
    After dinner Megan hastily cleared away and washed the dishes. When this was done, she called, 'I won't be long,' and got the car out, and headed for The Foxes. She couldn't wait until morning to tell Ray the good news and thank him.
    When she got there she decided she would not use the key he had given her to let herself in in the mornings. He was not expecting her to call and she felt it would be presumptuous of her just to walk in. She rang the bell.
    `Why didn't you use the key ?' asked Ray on seeing her. 'Come on in. I've ...'
    Megan didn't let him finish. 'I'm not staying,' she said hastily. 'I just wanted to tell you Father's heard from the American firm, and they've accepted the book !' Her eyes shone. 'Oh, Ray, I could kiss you!'
    she cried.
    His eyes twinkled. 'What's stopping you, then ?' he said teasingly.
    Megan grinned, 'You asked for it !' and reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Ray's arms came round her and he gave her a slight hug.
    Drawing back from the embrace, Megan stiffened as she caught sight of someone standing behind Ray in the hall. It was Main. She felt her cheeks burn and wished she could sink through the floor. 'I must get going,' she said hastily. 'I haven't taken Chas out yet.'
    The gears grated as she swept out of the drive. She could still see Ray's wicked grin and Alain's cold eyes. Heaven knew what he had thought of that little episode, she thought bitterly. What was he doing there anyway ? Ray's mention of a key made her cheeks start to burn again. Main wouldn't have missed that, she thought.
    She had never ever called on Ray in the evening. When he accompanied her on her walk with Chas, he always collected her from her home, and the one evening she chose to visit him, Alain had to be there ! Why hadn't she seen his car? She would at least have had some warning, and shot off home again. Then she realised he would have entered the back of The Foxes, cutting the journey by going through the estate.
    Well, it was done now, she thought wearily. She
    wouldn't have had a thing like that happen for the worlds. So Alain had been unreasonable, but at least he had thought enough of her to try and save her from herself, or so he thought. In her headlong rush to thank Ray she had unwittingly