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‘Of course, old chap. We’ll go inside right away.’ Turning to Judy, he said, ‘We’ll continue this discussion later...before you leave. Perhaps you can also throw light on one or two points that have been puzzling me.’
Before you leave. she noticed, but made no comment.
As they left the Range Rover and went towards the front door she also noticed that Ryan carried Robin’s suitcase but had left her own in the vehicle. It made her realise he was adamant in not wishing to have her stay in his house, and that he fully intended to find other accommodation for her. The knowledge gripped her with a surge of disappointment, but she kept it well hidden by remaining silent as she followed him upstairs to the main living quarters.
Robin’s most urgent need was attended to, and then he was shown into the smallest of four bedrooms opening off a passageway. It held a single bed with bedside table, a dressing table and a built-in wardrobe. He opened the door of the latter, and, having surveyed its emptiness, turned to the tall man with a wistful query. ‘Uncle Ryan—have you got any toys?’
Ryan looked vaguely amused. ‘Did you expect to find some in there?’
Robin nodded. ‘Gran makes me put them away in the wardrobe. I don’t want dolls and things for girls...’
Ryan flicked a glance towards Judy, then spoke in a serious tone. ‘I dare say we can both do without dolls. I’ve been avoiding them for years. As for toys, tomorrow you and I shall visit the shops to see what we can find for boys.’
‘And Judy—she’ll come with us?’ Robin asked anxiously.
‘We’ll see about that,’ Ryan said in a noncommittal tone, ‘Miss Arledge will probably be busy doing other things.’
Judy turned away to stare unseeingly through the window. It was easy to guess at what this autocratic man considered she’d be doing. No doubt winging her way back to Christchurch on tomorrow’s first night. She bit her lip as she again became gripped by a sense of having been rejected. Then came frustration, because she was unable to see what to do about it.
Of course, if she returned to Christchurch so rapidly she’d be doing exactly as the dictatorial Hilda Simmons had decreed. But she hadn’t visited the coastal city of Napier befone, and now that she was here the desire to have a look at the place was strong. It had nothing to do with Ryan Ellison, she assured herself firmly. Her recent experience with Alan Draper had turned her off men. Although she had to admit that there was something about this particular man that interested her—something that made her feel it would be nice to get to know him a little better, if only she could find a way past his initial hostility.
Ryan cut into her thoughts. ‘I can hear Miss Coster in the kitchen. She’s probably making a cup of tea.’ He guided Judy towards the living room, which had a dining alcove adjoining it, the latter being attached to the kitchen by an archway instead of a door.
Kate Coster came forward to meet Judy. She was a tall, gaunt woman, with straight grey hair and a small tight mouth. Her pale grey eyes blinked in surprise as they took in Judy’s youthful appearance, missing nothing—not the depth of blue in her large eyes, the slight wave in her blonde hair, nor the golden lights that made it shine.
Ryan said, ‘This is not Mrs Fulton, as we expected, Kate. This is Miss Judith Arledge.’
Judy smiled and held out her hand. Determined to be pleasant, she said, ‘Most people call me Judy.’
Kate Coster ignored her outstretched hand and spoke bluntly. ‘Well, I must say you’re not what I expected. You look as though you’re still in the sixth form, or maybe just out of it.’
A cool smile touching his lips, Ryan explained, ‘Kate was a school teacher before she reached the retiring age.’
Kate nodded. ‘Yes, indeed. I know exactly how to handle children, especially the naughty ones.’ She bent a cool gaze upon Robin, who had been staring at her with apprehension written all over his face. ‘So he’s to be here for the remainder of the school holidays. I hope he’s a good boy.’
‘Yes, of course he is,’ Judy said faintly, while becoming conscious of Robin’s tenseness as he gripped her hand
‘Come and talk to me, Robin,’ Kate commanded, in the tone of one who would stand no nonsense.
‘No-I don’t want to,’ Robin gasped, then slipped behind Judy and flung his arms around her while burying his face against her skirt.
Ryan became impatient. ‘Just ignore him until he knows you better,’ he advised Kate. The point is that I have a problem. I didn’t think before, but it’s obvious I need a woman to care for Robin while he’s here. Someone with more maturity than Miss Arledge—who, as you’ve noticed, appears to be just out of the schoolroom.’
His words had an effect upon Judy. Her chin rose, her cheeks became flushed and her eyes flashed blue sparks as she faced him furiously. ‘Mr Elliso—I’ll have you know I’m more than capable of caring for Robin,’ she flung at him.
‘I didn’t say you weren’t,’ he snapped.
‘Then what are you saying?’ Her breatbing had become agitated as all her recent frustrations began to spill over. ‘Please be frank so that I can understand the situation.’
‘I’ve already told you,’ he snarled. ‘However, I’ll spell it out again. The situation is this—I have no wish for a girl such as yourself to be living in my house. Is that clear enough?’
‘Perfectly clear... although it’s beyond me to know exactly what it is about me you’re so afraid of,’ she said with cold dignity. She took a long, deep breath. ‘So, what will you do about Robin?’
‘I’ll appeal to Miss Coster for help,’ Ryan informed her smoothly. ‘I shall make it worth her while to take care of the boy.’ He turned to the older woman. ‘Will you agree to do so, Kate? You can either stay here or take him to your cottage.’
Kate Coster looked so startled by the suggestion she could only gape at him. Nor did she appear to be particularly pleased by it. She frowned, and although her thin lips opened, no sound came from them.
‘It’ll be worth your while, Kate.’ Ryan pursued softly.
‘You know I can be generous when the mood takes me.’
‘Oh, yes, I do indeed,’ Kate admitted. ‘Oh...well...I...I suppose I’ll do it,’ she said with reluctance. ‘But he’ll have to be a very good boy and do everything I say at once. I shall not tolerate the slightest disobedience. Do you understand, Robin?’ She glared at the boy menacingly.
Judy was appalled by Kate’s manner and attitude. The woman’s a fool, she thought. She might have been a school teacher, but this was not the way to deal with children—especially Robin—and not for one moment would she consider leaving him in Kate’s care. But the boy had been sent to Ryan. She herself had delivered him. And because Ryan had no wish for her to be in his home the situation had become problematic.
Robin’s voice rose on the air. ‘I don’t want to be left with her,’ he wailed tearfully.
The boy’s loud protests were ignored by Ryan. ‘Well, that’s settled, then,’ he said with easy satisfaction. ‘Kate will take over. I’m sure everything will work out well. OK, Kate—he’s all yours.’
‘No...no...no...’ Robin shouted, while clinging even more tightly to Judy, at the same time beginning to stamp his feet.
‘Stop this nonsense at once,’ Kate snapped at him.
‘Don’t leave me, Judy,’ he pleaded between gasps of weeping. ‘Please, Judy...don’t leave me with her—’
Judy began to feel desperate, her frustrations almost bursting within her as she put her arms about Robin in an effort to comfort him. She was assailed by a feeling of helplessness, and then Robin’s pleadings gave rise to another question, which she flung at Ryan above the noise of the boy’s weeping. Glaring at him above Robin’s head, she demanded wrathfully, ‘Mr Ellison—would it be too much to ask what plans you have in mind for me? As you intend throwing me out of your house, shall I be left on the road or tossed into the sea?’ Agitation caused her voice to shake.
‘Nothing so drastic, Miss Arledge,’ he retorted coldly. ‘If you’ll come over to the window I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping this evening. It’s not far away.’ He strode across the room and stood waiting for her to join him.
Judy had already noticed that most of the windows faced the ocean, and now curiosity caused her to comply with his request. Keeping her arm about Robin, she drew him with her as she went to stand beside Ryan.
He pointed towards the left, where two wide buildings were situated near the waterfront. They were surrounded by lawns and gardens. ‘The first building is a motel,’ he explained. ‘The second is its restaurant. If the motel hasn’t a vacancy I’ll find you one elsewhere, and tomorrow I’ll arrange for your return flight to Christchurch. There’s no need for you to worry about anything. Robin will be quite all right with Kate. He’ll get over his upset.’
But Ryan’s words set Robin off again. Sobs shook his body as he said between gasps, ‘I want to be with Judy. I don’t want to be with...with that other one. I don’t like her. She’s crabby and cross.’ The wails grew louder.
Kate’s stern tones rose above the din Robin was creating. ‘Didn’t I tell you to stop this nonsense at once?’ she scolded. ‘You will come with me and have your face and hands washed.’ She crossed the room and grabbed his arm, making an effort to drag him away from Judy.
But the action had dire results. Robin threw himself into one of his famous tantrums, which was something Judy had been secretly fearing. His sobs switched to loud yells as he wrenched his arm from Kate’s grasp. His small fists flayed at her, then his leg swung as he kicked her on the shin with his heavy winter shoe.
Kate sprang back with a horrified shriek. ‘You little brat—’ she ranted furiously. ‘This is a tantrum if ever I’ve seen one.’
‘That’s right,’ Judy informed her calmly. ‘Robin’s very good at tantrums. I’ve seen quite a few of them.’
‘Hell’s teeth—can’t you shut him up?’ Ryan barked at her.
His tone brought Judy’s own temper seething to the top. ‘Now you listen to me, Ryan Ellison,’ she raged at him above the noise of the boy’s gasping sobs. ‘Robin is my responsibility and I won’t desert him if he’s not happy. If I go to that motel he comes with me. Is that understood? And you can explain the reason for it to his grandmother.’ Her face flushed as she held Robin in her protective embrace.
As if by magic her words silenced the boy, who had grasped their meaning without any trouble. His oear-filled eyes gazed up at Judy imploringly as he pleaded, ‘Promise, Judy... Promise you won’t leave me? Promise... promise... promise...’
‘Yes, darling, I promised.’ She opened her shoulder bag and drew out a bundle of tissues. ‘Wipe your eyes and blow your nose...there’s a good boy. And don’t let’s have any more fuss.’
Ryan made no secret of his relief. ‘At least you seem to be able to control him.’
Kate examined her shin, then demanded aggressively, ‘How often do these tantrums occur?’
‘Only when he feels very deeply about something,’ Judy informed her. Then she sighed and went on in a resigned tone, ‘If you’ll pardon my frankoess, I can only point out that your manner towards Robin was stern and bossy for no reason at all. It made him feel frightened and insecure. Anyone who is accustomed to dealing with young children would have realised that he’s had a long and tiring day. He was up early, leaving all that’s familiar, to catch a plane from Christchurch to Wellington, and then there was a wait before boarding a different plane to Napier. After all, he’s only six.’
‘The little man has had a busy day,’ Ryan drawled in what sounded like a more kindly tone.
Judy pursued her efforts to make excuses for Robin. ‘And that is not all. You—Mr Ellison—have made no secret of the fact that you don’t want me here. That’s upset him badly because I’m his link with security and all that’s familiar.’ She paused to take a deep breath, then went on warningly, ‘If I agree to your plan and leave him here, he’s likely to sob his heart out for most of the night And when he becomes upset to that extent he’s liable to wet the bed—and I’m not just talking about tears on the pillow!’
‘Bedwetting!’ The word was jerked out of Kate with a gasp of horror. ‘Oh, dear...oh, dear...we can’t have that.’ She turned a pathetic face towards Ryan. ‘I’m sorry...I don’t think I can cope with the boy. I’m too old. I’m beyond handling children who can be as difficult as this one. I’m afraid you’ll have to make other arrangements—’
‘It’s all right, Kate,’ Ryan said irritably. ‘I suppose Miss Arledge will have to stay here after all.’ He sighed, as though the thought exasperated him.
Judy looked at him with disdain while wondering what on earth had made her imagine she’d like to get to know this man better. Then her tone became scathing as she said, ‘Thanks a million for the charm and warmth of your invitation, Mr Ellison. However, I can assure you that staying here is the last thing I wish to do.’
His mouth twisted slightly as he frowned at her. ‘So—what action do you intend to take?’
Feeling suddenly exhausted, Judy spoke wearily, ‘If you’ll be good enough to take me to the motel, I’ll stay there as you suggested—providing they have a vacancy, of course. Robin will come with me and tomorrow we’ll go back to Christchurch. It’s as simple as that.’
‘I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that,’ he retorted, in a voice as hard as granite. ‘The boy stays here with me. He’s been sent to me and there must be a reason for it. The dragon does nothing without a reason. Perhaps you can help me fathom it out—unless you’ve been sworn to secrecy?’
‘Secrecy? What utter rubbish!’ Judy exclaimed, while gaping at him incredulously. ‘I must say you’re a strange man with some very odd ideas, Mr Ellison.’
‘Am I indeed? Well, perhaps I’m approaching this from the wrong angle. Perhaps I’m being over-protective of my hermit’s cave—as Kate likes to refer to this place.’ He sent a mocking glance towards his housekeeper, then his manner changed as he took several steps closer to Judy and stood staring down into her face.
Speaking softy, and keeping his deep voice low, he said, ‘Judy—will you try to overlook these eccentricities you see in me? I’d be grateful if you’d stay so that we can talk this over.’
So, she had suddenly become Judy, she noticed. And why was her previous attraction towards this man rearing its head again? It was something she’d have to control, and to prevent him from seeing any hint of eagerness in her eyes she turned to stare through the window as she said, ‘Very well, I’ll stay—but we’ll talk only after Robin has been fed and put to bed.’ Despite her calm assertion, the thought of spending the evening with this man made her pulses quicken.
CHAPTER TWO
RYAN turned to Kate with a request. ‘Perhaps you could show Judy the food we have in the fridge? I’m sure she’ll find something suitable for Robin. While you’re doing that I’ll bring her suitcase up from the Range Rover.’
Kate sniffed and led the way to the kitchen. ‘Rather you than me with that boy,’ she muttered, with a hint of sympathy.
Judy rose to the child’s defence. ‘He’s a dear little boy and I’m very fond of him.’ Then she smiled disarmingly. ‘After all, most children become cross when they’re tired and hungry.’
Kate sniffed again as she opened the large fridge. ‘Then you’d better let him have some of this meat and vegetable casserole. You can heat it up in the microwave. Or perhaps you’d prefer to give him a plain boiled egg with fingers of toast. I’ll leave you to make up your own mind about it. Goodnighl’
Judy watched her open a door in the kitchen, then make her way down a back stairway. Miss Coster, she realised, was feeling disgruntled with the world in general, but there was little that she herself could do about it A sigh escaped her as she searched for a small saucepan in which to boil an egg. Robin, she knew, was in no state to be confronted by vegetables, whereas he enjoyed poking toast soldiers into a softly boiled egg.
An hour later, with a very drowsy small boy fed and put to bed, Judy was feeling more relaxed. She had renewed her make-up, and had changed into a damson-colored dress which made her eyes seem a shade purple. She was also feeling more confident, and as she sat opposite Ryan in the living room, while sipping a delicious Spanish sherry, it was hard to believe that this was the same man who’d been so annoyed when he’d learnt she was not Mrs Fulton.
To her relief, he now appeared to be resigned to her presence, and was treating her as a normal guest instead of something untouchable that had found its way into his hermit’s cave. The fact that he had no wish to entertain a young woman such as herself appeared to have been forgotten. Or had it been temporarily put on hold until he’d learnt all she could tell him?
However, he didn’t rush matters, and her crystal glass had been refilled before the questions began. It was enough to make her realise that the sherry was intended to loosen her tongue, although she knew there was little she could tell him.
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched before him, his olive-green eyes hooded as they examined the liquid in his glass. ‘OK... so tell me about the workings of the dragon’s mind,’ he requested lazily.
Judy laughed. ‘I’m afraid it’s beyond my powers to do that.’
Frowning, he said, ‘As I remarked earlier, she does nothing without a reason—and as she’s never gone to this extent before, I can’t help wondering what it is.’
Judy shook her head vaguely. ‘Apart from bronchial trouble, I can’t imagine what it can be—although I can hardly believe she’d send Robin to Napier without giving you a reason.’
He shrugged. ‘Only the one about his need for a warmer climate. Is he really bronchial?’
‘To be honest, I’ve never noticed it,’ she admitted.
Ryan continued to frown as he said, ‘If it was so imperative for him to come to Napier, why didn’t Verna bring him? After all, she’s his mother. Or Mrs Simmons herself?’
Judy had no wish to discuss Hilda Simmons or Verna. She wanted to learn a little more about this man, whose masculinity stirred something deep within her. But she knew he expected an answer, therefore she said, ‘It seems that Verna had already left for a skiing holiday a few days before Mrs Simmons decided upon this move. The snow is supposed to be really good further south, near Queenstown.’
His mouth tightened. ‘I’ll bet it is. It’s also mighty thick on Mount Ruapehu, where rm supposed to be skiing at present However, this business of young Robin was thrust upon me.’
She felt perturbed. ‘Are you saying you’ve had to forgo your own holiday?’
‘That’s it exactly.’
‘Why didn’t you refuse by explaining it was inconvenient?’
‘Because I was reminded that I owed her, and that I owed Verna. It had a strong smell of blackmail about it, but I decided that if the dragon imagined I was in their debt I would prefer to be free of it.’ He sipped his sherry, his eyes slightly narrowed as he went on, ‘Do you ever get the feeling there’s more to a situation than meets the eye? That’s how I feel about this. There’s something I just can’t put my finger on. Are you sure she didn’t say anything else?’
His last words jerked Judy’s memory. ‘Well...she did say she thought Robin would be safe with you.’
‘Safe?’ He sat up straight and stared at her. ‘What did she mean by that? Safe from what, may I ask?’
Judy shook her head. ‘I haven’t a clue. I asked, but she brushed the question aside.’
‘Well. that settles it,’ he rasped irritably. ‘The dragon has definitely got some plot simmering.’
The statement confirmed Judy’s own thoughts, but all she said was, ‘Vema will probably be able to explain...when she arrives.’
His face became a mask. ‘Verna is coming here?’
‘Of course. Didn’t her mother tell you? She’ll come to fetch Robin at the end of the school holidays. It’ll probably please you to learn that I was ordered to return to Christchurch almost at once.’
‘So I’m likely to have Verna here instead of yourself?’
She nodded. ‘Perhaps sooner than you expect.’ How did he feel about that? she wondered, covertly watching his face and hoping for a reaction to the thought of Verna’s arrival. But his expression remained unfathomable, and she then tried to tell herself that the question had no real interest for her. Or did it?
After that a silence hung between them, until she glanced at her watch and was amazed to see how the minutes had slipped by. A hunger pang told her it was time she ate, and hesitantly she said, ‘I’ve no wish to appear to be taking over your kitchen, but—would you like me to do something about the food Miss Coster has left in the fridge?’
Ryan took a hasty glance at his own watch. ‘Yes, it’s time we had supper. Let’s do things together. I’ll find cutlery and tablemats while you put whatever you wish into the microwave.’
She stood up and moved towards the kitchen. ‘Let’s do things together’, he’d said. It sounded pleasant, but of course she knew that he meant nothing of a familiar nature, and the sooner she controlled her wayward thoughts the better. Remember Alan Draper, she reminded herself. All men are the same.
