Part 11 (2/2)

'I'm all right, Susie,' Catherine exclaimed impatiently, and then gave a sheepish smile, remembering the other occasion she had said the same. 'All right, I know I said that before, but I mean it this time. Look!' She rose to her feet and did a light pirouette.

'There-does that rea.s.sure you?'

Susie still looked doubtful. 'Well, would you like me to help you downstairs?'

'I'm not an old lady, Susie! No. Go on, tell Mr Dexter, I won't be long.'

It didn't take long to rinse her face and hands and put on some panties and a soft jersey tunic. The cream silk skirt swung softly against her legs, and it was good to feel normal again. John was waiting in the parlour, and she was satisfied with her appearance when he showed his evident admiration.

'What's this I hear about you having sunstroke?' he demanded, by way of a greeting, and she relaxed completely.

'Just a mild attack.,' she conceded smilingly. 'But what are you doing here? And how did you find out?'

'I had dinner with some friends of the Prentisses last evening.

Your name was mentioned. I'd have come sooner if I'd known.

You haven't returned any of my telephone calls,' he added reproachfully.

Catherine sighed, sinking down on to a low couch. 'I haven't really had much opportunity.'

'Don't give me that!' John pulled a face at her. 'So-how are you?'

Catherine couldn't resist it. 'How do I look?'

'Marvellous,' returned John steadily. 'Are you going to the party on Friday?'

Catherine shrugged her slim shoulders. 'I don't know. That depends.'

'On what?'

Catherine looked up at him. 'Are you going?'

'Is that an invitation?'

She laughed. 'No. I'm just asking.'

'I'll go-if I can escort you.'

'Oh, John!' She looked at him gratefully. 'You're so good for my ego.'

He came down on the couch beside her then, taking one of her hands in both of his. 'I could be more than that, Catherine. Do you realise, I've thought of you more than any girl I've ever met?

Have you thought about me?'

Catherine tried to disentangle her fingers, but he wouldn't let her.

She could hardly admit that since the night of the party she had thought of no one but Jared.

'John,' she murmured protestingly. 'Don't- don't try to rush things. Give it time...'

'But it's never hit me like this before,' he told her urgently, his eyes searching her face. 'I've known dozens of girls, I'll admit it, but never one like you.'

'Oh, John!' Catherine felt frustrated. She needed him, but as a friend, not a lover!

'Am I intruding?'

Jared strode unsmilingly into the room, and if he was intruding, he obviously had no intention of withdrawing. Catherine was shocked. She had not heard his arrival, and she wondered what he was doing here. Had he finished the commission? Or was this just another visit? In close-fitting suede pants and a matching black s.h.i.+rt, he was more formally dressed at least.

John rose awkwardly to his feet, but Catherine remained where she was on the couch, concentrating her attention on her hands, now clasped together in her lap. She wondered how much of their conversation he had over-heard, and what interpretation he had put on that.

'h.e.l.lo, Jared!' John greeted him politely. I didn't know you were here. I understood you were working down at the beach house.'

'Did you?' Jared's voice was chilling. 'And who told you that?'

'Why, Laura, as a matter of fact. I saw her a few days ago at the clubhouse.'

Jared inclined his head. 'I see.' Then he s.h.i.+fted his attention to Catherine. 'Ought you to be out of bed?'

His scathing tone caught her on the raw, and she looked up at him angrily. 'I'm not an invalid!'

'But you have been ill,' he corrected her coldly, holding her gaze.

'I heard something about-sunstroke?'

'That's right.'

His scepticism was denigrating. 'Really?'

Catherine bent her head. She had sampled his particular brand of cruelty before, but she had never been so vulnerable.

'Catherine's had a pretty rough time, so I hear.' John was quaintly gallant in her defence, an unusual role for him, she guessed. 'Too much sun can be pretty nasty!'

'I'm sure.'

Jared had taken up a stance in front of the screened stone fireplace, and it was obvious from his manner that he had no intention of leaving them alone again.

John, sensing this, looked regretfully down at Catherine. 'Well, I suppose I'd better be going. I don't want to tire you on your first day out of bed.'

'You're not tiring me, John,' she protested, getting to her feet, but Jared chose to differ.

'I think Dexter's right,' he remarked, moving to press the bell by the door. 'You mustn't- overdo it.'

Catherine turned her back on him. 'It was nice of you to call, John-and about that party you mentioned. ..'

'Yes?' John looked at her eagerly.

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