with the hero. When she awoke it was dark and someone was hammering on the door.
‘You there, Miss Williams?’ came Mrs Styles’ voice. ‘Telephone for you!'
Davina sat up with a jerk and an answering ‘Coming P She stumbled over to the light switch and saw by her watch that she had slept all day. All her clothes felt as if they were sticking to her as she hurried down to pick up the receiver.
‘I was beginning to think the good lady had hung up on me,’ came Rex Fitzpaine’s voice. ‘What took you so long?’ Then immediately, ‘Never mind explaining. Look, can you be ready to take off for the North tomorrow? I got back to find the lawyers had really got a move on and I’m told it’s okay to take over the place any time I like.’
Davina was silent, alarmed by the feeling of excitement at hearing Rex’s soft drawl once again. She had forgotten how pleasant his voice could sound and she shut her eyes in sheer delight until he said, ‘I hope you’ve not hung up. Are you there, Davina?’
‘Yes, I’m here.’ She took a firm hold on her emotions and trying to sound brisk said, ‘I only got back this morning and was trying to remember if I’ve anything in the way of loose ends I ought to settle before I leave.’
‘I should have thought you’d have done all that before you left for your grandmother’s. You knew as soon as the sale was completed I’d be off. If you only got back this morning, I shouldn’t think you’ve even unpacked. Look, I’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.’
This was certainly rushing things and Davina said contrarily, ‘Now wait a minute. I haven’t said I can be ready by then.’
If she thought Rex would offer to await her convenience she was mistaken. ‘Then you’ll have to come by train. But after your all-night journey, I should have imagined you’d have seen enough of trains for a while,’ he ended slyly.
Davina let out a spurt of reluctant laughter. He had her there! She rubbed her back which still ached and capitulated. ‘All right, tomorrow at nine. I think you have the address.’
‘Yes—I’d mislaid it, but your cousin supplied it when the final negotiations were completed this afternoon. Don’t keep me waiting in the morning,’ and without so much as a goodbye Rex had rung off.
Davina stared at the telephone, then ran trembling fingers through her hair. She would have to hurry if she were to be ready in time and Rex did not strike her as being a patient man. The launderette kept open late tonight, thank heavens. She’d do her laundry and while it was drying off in front of the electric fire, she’d bath and shampoo her hair. What a mercy the trunk was ready 1 She ran upstairs two at a time to turn out her suitcase on to the bed.
Next morning she awoke early and after putting her clean laundry into the suitcase, she dressed in jeans, a clean blue shirt and a denim waistcoat, for despite the drizzle of rain the day was not cold. She had drunk a cup of coffee and eaten a slice of bread and butter when she heard the door bell, and a hasty glance at her watch showed her that the hands stood at a minute to nine.
Trust Rex to be punctual to the minute I she thought, running downstairs. Well, at least she was practically ready. There were only her toilet articles and cosmetics to slip into her capacious shoulder bag, and since Rex was sure to have bought a luxurious car, there was no need for more than a nylon raincoat should they stop for lunch.
But when she threw back the door, Davina saw with a feeling of dismay that instead of a comfortable saloon car, a serviceable Land Rover stood at the curb. Without waiting for an invitation, Rex walked past her into the narrow hall and when she turned to speak, Davina glimpsed a hint of impatience in the hard eyes.
‘Where’s your luggage? I’ll get it loaded. And you’ll need more than what you’re wearing once we’re moving. You’d better get a sweater or an anorak on.’
‘But they’re all
‘You there, Miss Williams?’ came Mrs Styles’ voice. ‘Telephone for you!'
Davina sat up with a jerk and an answering ‘Coming P She stumbled over to the light switch and saw by her watch that she had slept all day. All her clothes felt as if they were sticking to her as she hurried down to pick up the receiver.
‘I was beginning to think the good lady had hung up on me,’ came Rex Fitzpaine’s voice. ‘What took you so long?’ Then immediately, ‘Never mind explaining. Look, can you be ready to take off for the North tomorrow? I got back to find the lawyers had really got a move on and I’m told it’s okay to take over the place any time I like.’
Davina was silent, alarmed by the feeling of excitement at hearing Rex’s soft drawl once again. She had forgotten how pleasant his voice could sound and she shut her eyes in sheer delight until he said, ‘I hope you’ve not hung up. Are you there, Davina?’
‘Yes, I’m here.’ She took a firm hold on her emotions and trying to sound brisk said, ‘I only got back this morning and was trying to remember if I’ve anything in the way of loose ends I ought to settle before I leave.’
‘I should have thought you’d have done all that before you left for your grandmother’s. You knew as soon as the sale was completed I’d be off. If you only got back this morning, I shouldn’t think you’ve even unpacked. Look, I’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow morning.’
This was certainly rushing things and Davina said contrarily, ‘Now wait a minute. I haven’t said I can be ready by then.’
If she thought Rex would offer to await her convenience she was mistaken. ‘Then you’ll have to come by train. But after your all-night journey, I should have imagined you’d have seen enough of trains for a while,’ he ended slyly.
Davina let out a spurt of reluctant laughter. He had her there! She rubbed her back which still ached and capitulated. ‘All right, tomorrow at nine. I think you have the address.’
‘Yes—I’d mislaid it, but your cousin supplied it when the final negotiations were completed this afternoon. Don’t keep me waiting in the morning,’ and without so much as a goodbye Rex had rung off.
Davina stared at the telephone, then ran trembling fingers through her hair. She would have to hurry if she were to be ready in time and Rex did not strike her as being a patient man. The launderette kept open late tonight, thank heavens. She’d do her laundry and while it was drying off in front of the electric fire, she’d bath and shampoo her hair. What a mercy the trunk was ready 1 She ran upstairs two at a time to turn out her suitcase on to the bed.
Next morning she awoke early and after putting her clean laundry into the suitcase, she dressed in jeans, a clean blue shirt and a denim waistcoat, for despite the drizzle of rain the day was not cold. She had drunk a cup of coffee and eaten a slice of bread and butter when she heard the door bell, and a hasty glance at her watch showed her that the hands stood at a minute to nine.
Trust Rex to be punctual to the minute I she thought, running downstairs. Well, at least she was practically ready. There were only her toilet articles and cosmetics to slip into her capacious shoulder bag, and since Rex was sure to have bought a luxurious car, there was no need for more than a nylon raincoat should they stop for lunch.
But when she threw back the door, Davina saw with a feeling of dismay that instead of a comfortable saloon car, a serviceable Land Rover stood at the curb. Without waiting for an invitation, Rex walked past her into the narrow hall and when she turned to speak, Davina glimpsed a hint of impatience in the hard eyes.
‘Where’s your luggage? I’ll get it loaded. And you’ll need more than what you’re wearing once we’re moving. You’d better get a sweater or an anorak on.’
‘But they’re all
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