concentration upon Marion and his ease of manner emphasised her own isolation. We must all get together. . . That, of course, included Judy Meyhew!
Marion, aware that Emma's attitude was tense, enthused, saying, 'I would certainly like to meet your sister.' She waited for Emma's comment, but Emma remained silent. She could not rid her thoughts of Adam, aware of how impressive he looked, his well-cut light grey suit and white shirt emphasising his warm tan and adding to his sex appeal. She was intensely annoyed with herself for concentrating upon him, or even noticing him to such a physical degree.
Drama crept into the atmosphere as Adam turned to Irene and said deliberately and coaxingly, 'And how about your coming too, Irene?'
Irene caught at her breath and gave a little strangled cry.
'You're my doctor! You know I can't go out and that I can't stand meeting new people!' She put a hand up to her throat as though she were about to choke. 'Now,' she added violently, as she got to her feet, 'you have taken away all my calm, my peace.' She reached the door and called to Marion, who joined her as she rushed from the room, adding, 'Talk to him, Emma.'
Emma stood up, angry and distressed.
'Stay here.' Adam spoke with authority, and got to his feet.
Emma turned on him fiercely, like a mother protecting her child.
'How dare you? How could you?' The words shook with fury. 'What has to happen to prove you're so wrong? Well, I hope you're satisfied.' Her eyes blazed as they met his.
His voice was impressive in its calm as he exclaimed, 'I know what I'm doing! If Irene is never challenged she will never escape from this way of life. Her feelings '
Emma exploded as she stood close to him, her gaze filled with something near to hatred as she raised her voice and cried, 'What do you know of feelings, suffering? I doubt if you have any emotions!'
The words leapt between them, reverberating like thunder, and before she could utter another word he had leaned forward, his hands gripping her shoulders as he stooped, his lips parting hers in a passionate kiss that robbed her of breath and strength to resist.
He drew back abruptly, his eyes dark, triumphant and challenging.
'Suppose you take that as my answer,' he said roughly, as he strode from her, leaving her shaken and astonished, her mouth burning from his contact and, despite herself, excitement robbing her of speech.
Irene's voice calling Emma broke into the scene. Adam was at the door.
'I will go to her,' he said in the tone of a doctor expecting to be obeyed.
Emma's legs felt that they no longer had the power to support her and she sat down. She had no fight left. And then her mood changed. Wasn't Adam's behaviour typical of her assessment of him? No doubt kissing was part of his technique, and Judy Meyhew also a recipient, his great popularity having its inception in cautious flirtatiousness. She ought to have wrenched herself away, hurled abuse at him for taking a mean advantage. Instead of which she had meekly obeyed him. It was as though he had won a battle.
Marion joined her at that moment.
There was an awkward pause before she said, 'Dr Templar is certainly in command. If anyone can deal with Irene's case——'
Emma let her chaotic feelings give rein to a fierce criticism. 'Irene won't forgive him for this.'
Marion shook her head.
'On the contrary. She was even worried about what he would think of her.' She added, 'Her mood swings have increased. I've noticed that, even today.'
Emma heard Adam's words: 'If Irene is never challenged she will never escape from this way of life.'
'Nevertheless,' Emma insisted, 'I thoroughly disagree with his challenge.'
Marion studied Emma closely and claimed the privilege of friendship to be blatantly honest.
'You resent him in some way, don't you?'
Emma wanted to give vent to her feelings, but said discreetly, 'I question his tactics.'
And at that moment, Adam was studying Irene objectively. The scene with Emma had shaken
Marion, aware that Emma's attitude was tense, enthused, saying, 'I would certainly like to meet your sister.' She waited for Emma's comment, but Emma remained silent. She could not rid her thoughts of Adam, aware of how impressive he looked, his well-cut light grey suit and white shirt emphasising his warm tan and adding to his sex appeal. She was intensely annoyed with herself for concentrating upon him, or even noticing him to such a physical degree.
Drama crept into the atmosphere as Adam turned to Irene and said deliberately and coaxingly, 'And how about your coming too, Irene?'
Irene caught at her breath and gave a little strangled cry.
'You're my doctor! You know I can't go out and that I can't stand meeting new people!' She put a hand up to her throat as though she were about to choke. 'Now,' she added violently, as she got to her feet, 'you have taken away all my calm, my peace.' She reached the door and called to Marion, who joined her as she rushed from the room, adding, 'Talk to him, Emma.'
Emma stood up, angry and distressed.
'Stay here.' Adam spoke with authority, and got to his feet.
Emma turned on him fiercely, like a mother protecting her child.
'How dare you? How could you?' The words shook with fury. 'What has to happen to prove you're so wrong? Well, I hope you're satisfied.' Her eyes blazed as they met his.
His voice was impressive in its calm as he exclaimed, 'I know what I'm doing! If Irene is never challenged she will never escape from this way of life. Her feelings '
Emma exploded as she stood close to him, her gaze filled with something near to hatred as she raised her voice and cried, 'What do you know of feelings, suffering? I doubt if you have any emotions!'
The words leapt between them, reverberating like thunder, and before she could utter another word he had leaned forward, his hands gripping her shoulders as he stooped, his lips parting hers in a passionate kiss that robbed her of breath and strength to resist.
He drew back abruptly, his eyes dark, triumphant and challenging.
'Suppose you take that as my answer,' he said roughly, as he strode from her, leaving her shaken and astonished, her mouth burning from his contact and, despite herself, excitement robbing her of speech.
Irene's voice calling Emma broke into the scene. Adam was at the door.
'I will go to her,' he said in the tone of a doctor expecting to be obeyed.
Emma's legs felt that they no longer had the power to support her and she sat down. She had no fight left. And then her mood changed. Wasn't Adam's behaviour typical of her assessment of him? No doubt kissing was part of his technique, and Judy Meyhew also a recipient, his great popularity having its inception in cautious flirtatiousness. She ought to have wrenched herself away, hurled abuse at him for taking a mean advantage. Instead of which she had meekly obeyed him. It was as though he had won a battle.
Marion joined her at that moment.
There was an awkward pause before she said, 'Dr Templar is certainly in command. If anyone can deal with Irene's case——'
Emma let her chaotic feelings give rein to a fierce criticism. 'Irene won't forgive him for this.'
Marion shook her head.
'On the contrary. She was even worried about what he would think of her.' She added, 'Her mood swings have increased. I've noticed that, even today.'
Emma heard Adam's words: 'If Irene is never challenged she will never escape from this way of life.'
'Nevertheless,' Emma insisted, 'I thoroughly disagree with his challenge.'
Marion studied Emma closely and claimed the privilege of friendship to be blatantly honest.
'You resent him in some way, don't you?'
Emma wanted to give vent to her feelings, but said discreetly, 'I question his tactics.'
And at that moment, Adam was studying Irene objectively. The scene with Emma had shaken
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