Part 11 (1/2)

She saw him offer his hand, saw her own accept it, becoming instantly lost in its smooth, firm grip. She prayed he would not feel the trembling that had begun to seize her.

D'Arcy held her chair for her, and mechanically she sat, aware of a quickened heartbeat.

'I tried to get in touch with you earlier to tell you about Guy's arrival in Ottawa, but we couldn't find you.' He looked down at her gla.s.s. 'We're a bit ahead of you on drinks, my dear,' he went on. 'What can I order for you?'

'A Martini, please,' she answered, startling herself, since she wasn't particularly fond of drinking. With a tremendous effort she forced her eyes to meet Guy's. 'You're here on business, I suppose, Guy,' she said.

He took a sip of his Scotch and put the gla.s.s down. 'That's right,' he replied. His voice was crisp and somewhat cold, she thought. 'I'm making rescheduling arrangements for the Enterprise. She didn't go back to the Arctic for a second run as we'd planned. We took her instead to Rotterdam.'

'Rotterdam... but why?'

'There was storm damage to repair, of course. But the s.h.i.+pyard is also making some other modifications to her. Let's hope the next voyage won't be quite so hair-raising as the first.'

'I can't deny that's rea.s.suring,' said Sarah with an attempt at lightness.

'Actually, it's a fairly major overhaul we're doing. We've managed to trace certain problems with her back to their source. In a way, I suppose, we should be grateful that we hit the worst conceivable weather on her first run.'

Sarah shuddered. 'Grateful-how can you, of all people, say that? After... after what almost happened to you!' For the first time she allowed her eyes to rest on his face. High on his temple, almost hidden by a shock of hair, she could see the bruise, still livid and swollen, that was the result of his head being flung against the pipes.

'It put the spotlight on weaknesses, potential problems. We're not running in the dark any more, and that's what counts.'

'That will mean quite a delay in the s.h.i.+pment of the L.N.G., won't it?'

'It will,' he confirmed. 'Freeland will be absorbing the expense of that wait. It means the Enterprise will be running without profit for some time, but that's an acceptable penalty for the future benefits that will accrue to us.'

'This, by the way,' interjected D'Arcy, 'is your next a.s.signment, Sarah-a follow-up on improvements and alterations that came as a result of the first trip. Just something small-a few paragraphs in your regular column should do it.'

Sarah's eyes were enormous and pleading. Even a few words with Guy were taxing her resources to their limit. But dear D'Arcy couldn't know that-he thought everything was falling into place beautifully. She saw the puzzlement in his eyes at her stumbled response.

'Guy has already given so much of his time for the first story, D'Arcy. I'd hate to ask him for more during an important business trip, just for a little blurb in my column.'

D'Arcy frowned. 'But he's already offered, Sarah. And I don't think I twisted his arm too hard... did I, Guy?'

'Of course not,' Guy replied smoothly. 'I'm sure Sarah and I can arrange an hour or so that's mutually convenient.' The absolute calm of the man only underscored her own jangled nerves. 'I feel I owe you that much for the story you did on us,' he said, looking back at her.

'You've seen it, then?' she asked, flus.h.i.+ng. She had completely forgotten the morning paper. 'Yes. And on behalf of Freeland s.h.i.+pping, I'd like to thank you for it, Sarah.'

'That's not necessary,' she said stiffly, conscious of the impersonal tone he was using. 'Besides,' she added, this time more softly, 'I'm sure I needn't point out to you that the article wasn't entirely positive-I'm sorry about that... truly.'

'There were criticisms, to be sure. But they were fair, and they were well balanced. A sensationalist, someone less ethical, could have devastated us.'

This time she spoke without hesitation. 'Those people didn't deserve to be dragged through the mud, Guy. I don't know when I've ever met a group of people who impressed me more than the crew of that s.h.i.+p. They were wonderful, and I felt they deserved to have their story told.'

She broke off suddenly, uncomfortably aware of the strange way he was looking at her. It was as if the ghost of his cousin was sitting there with them. Was Guy still trying to understand where Tony fitted into all this? She retreated into silence as the waiter brought their food.

The meal pa.s.sed in agony for her. The usually poised and self-contained woman, at ease in the most exalted company, found herself fumbling for words, awkward with her food, afraid, even, of spilling her wine.

A few weeks before she had stood on the decks of the Enterprise and ached for the chance to tell this man that she loved him. Now, observing his detached, reserved demeanour, she felt chilled and knew that it could never happen.

The men had just been served their brandy when she gathered up her bag and gloves. 'Sarah, you're not leaving us already!' chided D'Arcy.

'I'm sorry,' she said breathlessly. 'I've got to be up very early tomorrow... I promised someone I'd go skiing.'

'But you haven't even set up an appointment with Guy yet,' he reminded her, this time with real irritation in his voice.

'I'll... I'll call you tomorrow morning, Guy,' she said.

'You won't be here,' he pointed out.

'Then Monday. Where are you staying-here at the Chateau?'

To her dismay he was at her side, draping her fur jacket over her shoulders. 'Since Sarah finds herself so pressed for time, D'Arcy, perhaps you'll excuse the both of us. I can take Sarah home and we can discuss it on the way.'

'That's really not necessary, Guy... I have my own car outside anyway.'

'Then I'll drive you and take a taxi back,' he said, unperturbed.

She began to protest again, but felt his hand close tightly and meaningly over her elbow. After thanking his host, he propelled her firmly through the maze of tables as if she were something he owned. In front of all those watchful eyes she did not dare protest. Once in the lobby, though, she pulled her arm from his grasp and said briskly, 'Can't we just set up a time now, Guy? This really isn't necessary!'

'I know that. But I'm going with you anyway,' he announced curtly. 'Stay here while I get my coat.'

She fumed silently at the familiar dictatorial manner. But she waited.

Later, slipping into the seat beside her, he put out his hand wordlessly for the keys. With an impatient flick she dropped them into his palm.

'Are you really going skiing tomorrow?' he asked, looking back over his shoulder as he eased them out of their slot.

'No,' she said with defiant bluntness. 'I lied.'

'I thought so. That was rather rude,' he said reproachfully.

She ignored that. 'You have to make a left turn here to get to my place,' she said flatly.

'I know where you live. But I want to drive for a while. I enjoy it. You don't mind, do you?'

Sarah sighed and looked out the window at the blurring lines of car lights in the frosty night. Guy drove as she thought he would, quickly and with careless ease. They were quiet for a while, and she found herself untensing just a little, enjoying it as he did.

'Tony's out of Freelands,' he said at last, shattering the stillness. His voice was quiet but almost brutal.

So a final confrontation over Tony was not to be avoided after all, she thought with a kind of sad resignation. She supposed it had to be, and it might provide the only satisfaction of their ill-fated relations.h.i.+p. But what had he meant by 'out'?

'I don't understand,' she said, turning to face him. 'How can Tony be out of his own company?'

He stared straight ahead. Pa.s.sing cars shone their lights into the car. In the moving beams she caught the tic of a jaw muscle, the compression of his lips. 'He's sold his stock in the company to Uncle Julian and me. He has absolutely no position in Freeland s.h.i.+pping any longer.'

Sarah tilted her head to one side and tried to understand what he was telling her. 'Just like that?'

'Just like that. He made no conditions on the transfer of either the stock or the power, and the lawyers tied the whole thing up very quickly.'

'But s.h.i.+pping is Tony's pa.s.sion, Guy, his obsession in life! I heard him threaten to force you out of the company.'