‘I felt sorry for them.’
‘That didn’t stop you eating them.’
‘His banter brought happy laughter to her lips. ‘It seemed pointless not to once they were dead. They were delicious, weren’t they?’
‘
You’re
delicious.’ The eyes that roved over her face were warm, his voice slightly husky. ‘I’m just beginning to realize how wrong my opinion of you was.’ Ellie’s heart did a series of somersaults when his lips grazed gently against hers. ‘You wanted to know about Todd. Perhaps we could talk after I’ve had my shower.’ Taking her hand he led her back to the kitchen. ‘Make some coffee whilst I’m gone.’
Fifteen minutes later Ellie was still drowning in the blue ocean of Patrick’s regard when the telephone rang and shattered her dream.
Patrick flipped it from its rest. ‘Yes?’ His lips tightened suddenly, the eyes resting on her face darkened. ‘Yes, she’s here.’
‘Who is it?’ she mouthed, bewildered by the change in him.
Anger chased across his face. ‘Who the hell am I? The hired help. Who the hell are
you
to ask?’ A gritty smile crossed his face. ‘Her fiancée?’ Voice laced with brimstone he handed her the telephone. ‘Your fiancée, David Lessingham wishes to speak to you.’
‘David?’ Startled she took the receiver from him.
Cauldrons of fire!
He couldn’t have picked a worse time to contact her. What did he want after all this time?
Aware of Patrick’s accusing gaze upon her she hardly took in what David was saying, something about being back in Melbourne for a holiday. He wanted to see her.
‘You want to see me?’
David’s smooth voice finally said something that registered in her brain. She started to laugh. ‘You’ve missed me, want to take me to America to live?’ Her laughter faded as his words sunk in.
‘Marry you?
Oh David, you know very well …’
The door slammed so hard behind her that her spine jerked, her stomach contracted, and her suddenly nerveless hand lost its hold on the receiver. It dangled an inch from the floor revolving round and round on its cord. Each time the mouthpiece turned her way she could hear David’s voice. It sounded like a duck quacking in the distance.
‘… I don’t love you,’ she finished.
Once she’d been so besotted with David she’d have given anything to have heard him say those words. Now they were meaningless. David had never loved her. What had motivated him to contact her now? Grabbing up the receiver she cut off his flow of words.
‘Why, David?’
* * * *
‘I’ve always been honest with you, Ellie.’
When it was expedient.
‘I’m on my way up. I associate with some important people in America. Having the right partner will be an asset. Besides,’ and his voice became almost businesslike, ‘you’ll need someone to manage your affairs.’
‘They’re not that complicated. I can manage them myself.’
‘You were always a fool with money.’
Thanks. David. You weren’t too good yourself if my father’s business was anything to go by, she thought resentfully.
‘Two million dollars isn’t peanuts, Ellie. It needs managing.’
‘Two million dollars? What the hell are you talking about, David?’
‘The investments your father made for you ten years ago. It’s made front-page news. The liquidator can’t touch it.’
The information made contact with a childhood memory lurking in her brain, that under the circumstances she didn’t feel like dusting off.
The avarice in David’s voice made her feel sick. ‘Crawl back into your hole, David,’ she snarled. ‘I never want to see or hear from you again.’ She slammed the receiver down on its rest and stared at it in disgust. ‘How could you do this to me, Dad?’ she whispered.
‘Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise.’ The wise old voice in her head sounded like her aunt. ‘Think of the good you can do with it. Your father would have wanted his debts paid.’
‘Thanks for the advice, Aunt Vera.’ Ellie sniffed back her threatening tears. ‘But will Patrick understand about David?’
Obviously not, they were back to square one when he entered the kitchen, his face as chilly as an Arctic winter.
‘Congratulations,’ he said icily. ‘You’ve finally hooked yourself a husband.’
‘You pig-headed, stubborn brute!’ Ellie watched him swing an ax over his head with effortless ease, then split a huge chunk of wood in half. ‘If it wasn’t for Todd I’d let you walk into town.’
Since David’s call two days previously, Patrick had hardly been able to hide his disgust for her. And because he’d insulted her by jumping to the wrong conclusion she’d decided he didn’t
deserve
an explanation.
To make matters worse, before she’d plucked up the courage to tell him about the money he’d learned about it from a news broadcast.
‘I suppose you conveniently forgot to tell me about that piece of small change,’ he’d said harshly.
She
hadn’t
forgotten. She’d assumed it had been part of her father’s business dealings when she’d first learned about the investment in her name. At fourteen, she’d been too young to understand what her father had told her, and he hadn’t mentioned it again.
She’d slept on the problem before deciding on a course of action. The stunned protest from her father’s lawyer when she’d phoned him the next morning had angered her.
‘David Lessingham has already told me he’ll be acting as your advisor. I doubt if he’ll agree to that.’
* * * *
‘Let me make one thing clear,’ she said sharply. ‘In no shape or form is David Lessingham my advisor. Those are my instructions and I want them carried out to the letter. If you’re unable to do that I’ll hire a lawyer who can.’
Five minutes later she’d rung him with an apology, and an explanation of her motives. The man had been a lifelong friend of her father and Ellie had known him all her life. She’d found him sympathetic and understanding.
When she signed the papers that afternoon the burden of wealth would be lifted from her shoulders.
Lunch was an awkward affair. The omelets she made were as rubbery and flat as she felt. Patrick pushed his aside. Todd was subdued. Instinct told her he was fretting over the parting. She’d eased him into the idea the previous day, but that hadn’t stopped him from clinging to her side, which earned her several accusing glances from Patrick.
‘I’ve split some logs for you.’ Patrick ignored her murmured thanks and gazed at Todd. ‘Hurry up and eat, mate. It’s nearly time to go.’
‘I’ve got a tummy ache,’ Todd said miserably.
‘Your nanna will fix it.’
‘I want Ellie to.’ Tears filled her eyes when his bottom lip began to tremble.
‘Cut it out,’ Patrick said with a sigh. ‘You’re making it harder for him.’
His heart was made of stone. Pushing her lunch to one side she headed for the door before he had the satisfaction of seeing her burst into tears. ‘Call me when you’re ready to leave,’ she choked out. ‘I’ll be in my bedroom.’
* * * *
The creek was down to its usual trickle. Patrick’s truck, its cabin flattened, was covered in debris. She shuddered. If they’d been in it they’d never have survived.
‘The truck and van will be moved tomorrow.’ The glance he gave her was cursory, his voice curt. ‘I’ve arranged for your car to be towed into the garage. You can fill in the insurance papers when you’re in town.’
‘You’ve already told me that,’ she snapped, her nerves stretched to breaking point by the atmosphere between them. ‘Let me concentrate on driving this thing. I’m not used to the Rover.’
He didn’t say another word until they reached the outskirts of Benella. ‘Make a left turn at the traffic crossroad, then second right.
Second right!’
Damn, she’d missed the turn off! Pulling the Land Rover to the side of the road she ground the gears into reverse, backed it into a driveway and turned back the way they’d come.
‘Someone should teach you to drive,’ he muttered under his breath.
‘And someone should teach you some manners,’ she shot back. The tires squealed as she tore across the road and around the corner. ‘Which house?’
‘The house at the end of the road; the one with the veranda and iron lacework. Try to avoid my father’s rose bushes when you go up the drive.’
The sarcasm wasn’t lost on her when she pulled into a driveway wide enough to accommodate a bus.
Immediately, a woman emerged from the house, a welcoming smile on her face. ‘You’ll be coming in for tea, Miss Bryce.’ Her eyes darted to Todd’s glum face. ‘Hasn’t my boyo got a kiss for his nanna, then?’
The soft welsh lilt to the woman’s voice was unexpected, even though Patrick had told her he’d been born in Wales.
‘I’ve got a tummy ache, Nanna.’
* * * *
Patrick’s lips tightened when Todd edged across the seat towards her. He took his son firmly by the waist and lifted him from the car. ‘Miss Bryce won’t be staying.’
The woman’s sharp blue eyes told Ellie she’d missed nothing. ‘Shame on you, Patrick,’ she said softly. ‘Was it you I addressed? Be off with you into the house. Your brother is waiting with some news.’ She took Todd from his arms and watched him leave before turning her attention back to her grandson.
‘It’s a face like sour pickles you’ve got, just like your father. It must be a terrible tummy ache. And to think I spent all morning cooking your favorite cheese scones. Perhaps Miss Bryce will come in and help me eat them.’
‘I feel better now.’ Todd’s face brightened when she smiled and got down from the car. The woman gave her a frankly interested glance. ‘Is it Miss Bryce I must be calling you then?’
‘Ellie.’ She held out her hand. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs Morgan.’
The woman ignored the hand and kissed her on the cheek. ‘It’s Bronwyn, my dear.’ Her voice became fierce as they reached the door. ‘In you come. If that dolt of a son doesn’t mind himself it’s a smack on the ear he’ll get for his trouble. And
that
goes for the two of you,’ she warned as the sound of male laughter reached their ears.
Ellie was spared having tea with Patrick. After greeting Andrew, and being introduced to Bronwyn’s husband, she watched with a smile as the woman shooed the men through to the sitting room and took them a tray.
She and Bronwyn sat in the roomy kitchen with Todd, and Ellie found herself liking the woman more and more. Bronwyn could have pried, but she didn’t, restricting her conversation to generalities. When it was time for her to leave, Bronwyn made the parting gentle and easy.
‘It’s visiting Ellie we’ll be next week if she’d have us, Todd.’
‘I’d love to see you.’ She knelt and gave Todd a fierce hug. ‘That’s a promise.’
‘Run and tell your father Ellie is leaving, Todd.’
‘Don’t bother.’ Hastily Ellie shot to her feet. ‘He’s busy.’
‘Not too busy to say good-bye.’
A grin was playing round Patrick’s mouth when he escorted her to the car. ‘I got that contract I was after.’
‘Congratulations.’ She started up the engine. ‘Your mother’s bringing Todd up to visit me next week. Do you mind?’
‘Whose idea was that?’
‘Not mine.’
His hand covered hers. ‘Is that wise? You’ll be going back to Melbourne in a couple of weeks.’
‘I don’t know what’s wise and what isn’t any more.’ She gazed at him helplessly. ‘I haven’t got the ability to cut off relationships without bleeding a little.’
‘And I do?’ Did he have to sound so accusatory?
She echoed his tone. ‘You just lie to yourself. In fact, you’ve stabbed yourself repeatedly, and are bleeding to death.’
‘You should have listened to me, Eloise.’ The mocking light was back in his eyes. ‘I told you you’d get hurt.’
‘I know.’ She caught and held his eyes. ‘My father taught me to take responsibility for my own actions, so I only have myself to blame.’
‘Ouch,’ he drawled. ‘You have a kick like a mule, lady.’
‘And you have a mule’s disposition.’
* * * *
He laughed. ‘When you marry your yuppie boyfriend I hope you’ll find
his
disposition more to your liking.’
‘That wouldn’t be hard,’ she snarled. ‘The collective disposition of a pack of wild dogs would an improvement on yours.’ Angrily she slammed the door shut and thrust the car into reverse. ‘What makes you think I’m marrying him anyway?’
‘Aren’t you?’ The detaining hand he put on the car made no difference to it rolling down the drive. ‘Come back,’ he shouted, starting after her. ‘We haven’t finished this conversation.’
Who did he think he was giving her orders? ‘I have.’
The garden sprinklers were on, the end of the drive where it met the road was puddled with muddy water. She grinned as he came towards her. Didn’t she owe him one?
Thrusting the vehicle into forward she stamped one foot on the accelerator, the other on the brake. The wheels spun crazily before they gripped to propel her towards the end of the road.
She started to laugh when she glanced in the driving mirror. ‘Take that, Patch Morgan! Ellie shouted gleefully as the corner cut his dripping figure from her vision.
* * * *
Benella was a pretty little city. Apart from its connection with the Kelly gang, its other claim to fame was the profusion of roses that bloomed from spring through to autumn.
Today, the gardens surrounding the lake were thronged with people enjoying the winter sunshine, and the neatly pruned rose bushes were waiting for spring to encourage them into life.
Ellie didn’t have time to linger. After her business at the garage she hurried to keep her appointment at the bank, and was immediately shown into the manager’s office.
‘I’m sorry I’m late.’ Filled to the brim with Bronwyn’s cheese scones she declined his offer of tea. ‘I had an accident in my car and the insurance papers took longer to fill out than I thought they would.’
‘You didn’t hurt yourself, I hope.’
‘Thank you, no.’ She smiled at him. ‘The papers are ready for signing?’
‘They came by internal mail this morning.’ He hesitated. ‘Are you quite certain you’re doing the right thing? An amount of money this size shouldn’t be taken lightly. Have you taken advice on this?’