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Authors: Sara Craven
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anything?'
He let her go, and turned away with a weary gesture, walking over to
the window and staring out at the gardens.
'They speak for themselves,' she returned defensively. Her shoulders
were tingling from the pressure of his hands, and she moved them
protectively under the straps of her dress.
He glanced at her over his shoulder and she was chilled anew at the
lines of bitterness and cynicism that stamped his face.
'Perhaps they do at that—even for a child of your age. It must take
something to persuade you to shut yourself up here in this forgotten
world with an autocratic old woman who has yet to be convinced that
slavery has been abolished.'
'That's an abominable thing to say about anyone,' Christina said, her
voice shaking. 'And about your own aunt...'
'Doesn't it fit in with your romantic notions of plantation life? Or did
you visualise us all sitting round on the terrace sipping Planter's
Punch in happy amity?' He shook his head. 'Don't be deceived by the
name, Miss Bennett. It's no Paradise and there are no angels living
here.'She was thankful for the sudden opening of the door. She
imagined it would be Eulalie. But it was not.
He was, she decided later, her own age or even slightly younger. His
good looks were breathtaking—black hair and dark, glowing eyes,
and a mouth with more than a hint of sensuality in its full lower lip.
He was dressed for riding, his clothes immaculate, his boots highly
polished.
He said directly to Christina very charmingly, 'I'm too late—you've
had tea, and I did mean to be back. Please forgive me. I'm Theo
Brandon.'
His eyes went past her and narrowed slightly as if he was displeased.
'Hello, Dev.'
Devlin Brandon gave him a dispassionate nod. He said, 'What's this
strange passion for tea, Theo? It didn't used to be one of your failings.'
Theo shrugged, his eyes going frankly to Christina. 'I just wanted to
welcome our guest.'
'Guest?' Devlin's eyebrows rose. 'I understood she had come here to
work.'
Theo gave an impatient gesture. 'Oh, I daresay Grand'- mere will find
her something to do if she gets bored, but the plan is for her to have a
complete rest in the sun.' He sent Christina a sympathetic glance.
'She's had rather a tough time lately—a family bereavement.'
'I see.' Devlin's breath was expelled in a short, harsh sigh. 'In which
case I could have saved myself quite a lot of trouble.' He walked
briskly to the door, then paused. 'When Tante has recovered from the
journey, you can tell her, if you will, that a deputation from the Island
Committee would like to see her—at her convenience, naturally.'
'Do you think it will ever be convenient?' Theo said with a faint grin.
'Probably not, but I was asked to pass on the message.' Theo sat down
on the arm of one of the chairs, flicking at his boot with his riding
whip. 'And will you be a member of this deputation?' he inquired
softly.
'Of course.' He turned to leave, without sparing another glance for
Christina. Her temper rose. This man could do with a lesson in
ordinary manners!
'Goodbye, Mr Brandon,' she said clearly and very sweetly.
'I understand the sentiment, but it's a little extreme,' he flung back at
her over his shoulder. 'No doubt we shall see more of each
other—during your holiday.'
Not if I can help k, Christina thought, smouldering with fury as the
door shut behind him. She found Theo regarding her with a curious
expression, and flushed slightly.
'Do you find him attractive?' Theo asked with what she thought was
deliberate outrageousness.
'No, I don't,' she snapped, then paused, guiltily, realising that they
must be related. 'I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean ...'
'No,' he said, and he was laughing. 'Don't spoil it. Your natural
reaction was perfect. Devlin would be really put down if he knew. He
regards himself as being quite a lady- killer, you know. Women
generally seem to find him irresistible." What has he been saying to
upset you?'
His bone
He let her go, and turned away with a weary gesture, walking over to
the window and staring out at the gardens.
'They speak for themselves,' she returned defensively. Her shoulders
were tingling from the pressure of his hands, and she moved them
protectively under the straps of her dress.
He glanced at her over his shoulder and she was chilled anew at the
lines of bitterness and cynicism that stamped his face.
'Perhaps they do at that—even for a child of your age. It must take
something to persuade you to shut yourself up here in this forgotten
world with an autocratic old woman who has yet to be convinced that
slavery has been abolished.'
'That's an abominable thing to say about anyone,' Christina said, her
voice shaking. 'And about your own aunt...'
'Doesn't it fit in with your romantic notions of plantation life? Or did
you visualise us all sitting round on the terrace sipping Planter's
Punch in happy amity?' He shook his head. 'Don't be deceived by the
name, Miss Bennett. It's no Paradise and there are no angels living
here.'She was thankful for the sudden opening of the door. She
imagined it would be Eulalie. But it was not.
He was, she decided later, her own age or even slightly younger. His
good looks were breathtaking—black hair and dark, glowing eyes,
and a mouth with more than a hint of sensuality in its full lower lip.
He was dressed for riding, his clothes immaculate, his boots highly
polished.
He said directly to Christina very charmingly, 'I'm too late—you've
had tea, and I did mean to be back. Please forgive me. I'm Theo
Brandon.'
His eyes went past her and narrowed slightly as if he was displeased.
'Hello, Dev.'
Devlin Brandon gave him a dispassionate nod. He said, 'What's this
strange passion for tea, Theo? It didn't used to be one of your failings.'
Theo shrugged, his eyes going frankly to Christina. 'I just wanted to
welcome our guest.'
'Guest?' Devlin's eyebrows rose. 'I understood she had come here to
work.'
Theo gave an impatient gesture. 'Oh, I daresay Grand'- mere will find
her something to do if she gets bored, but the plan is for her to have a
complete rest in the sun.' He sent Christina a sympathetic glance.
'She's had rather a tough time lately—a family bereavement.'
'I see.' Devlin's breath was expelled in a short, harsh sigh. 'In which
case I could have saved myself quite a lot of trouble.' He walked
briskly to the door, then paused. 'When Tante has recovered from the
journey, you can tell her, if you will, that a deputation from the Island
Committee would like to see her—at her convenience, naturally.'
'Do you think it will ever be convenient?' Theo said with a faint grin.
'Probably not, but I was asked to pass on the message.' Theo sat down
on the arm of one of the chairs, flicking at his boot with his riding
whip. 'And will you be a member of this deputation?' he inquired
softly.
'Of course.' He turned to leave, without sparing another glance for
Christina. Her temper rose. This man could do with a lesson in
ordinary manners!
'Goodbye, Mr Brandon,' she said clearly and very sweetly.
'I understand the sentiment, but it's a little extreme,' he flung back at
her over his shoulder. 'No doubt we shall see more of each
other—during your holiday.'
Not if I can help k, Christina thought, smouldering with fury as the
door shut behind him. She found Theo regarding her with a curious
expression, and flushed slightly.
'Do you find him attractive?' Theo asked with what she thought was
deliberate outrageousness.
'No, I don't,' she snapped, then paused, guiltily, realising that they
must be related. 'I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean ...'
'No,' he said, and he was laughing. 'Don't spoil it. Your natural
reaction was perfect. Devlin would be really put down if he knew. He
regards himself as being quite a lady- killer, you know. Women
generally seem to find him irresistible." What has he been saying to
upset you?'
His bone
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