Part 13 (1/2)
For the kind of dances she had grown accustomed to the night she had spent in Andrew's company, the sand was an ideal surface and she soon began losing her inhi bitions when she saw everyone else dancing as well.
Their parents were seated on low loungers set in a cir cle round the fire and more drinks were being dispensed by a white-coated waiter.
The roar of the sea was in their ears and the smell of the surf was stimulating. Samantha wished it was warm enough to swim.
She would have adored getting into a bathing costume and allowing the cold water to surge gently over her limbs.
More guests arrived before the steaks were ready, among than Ken Madison with some girls. Soon Saman tha and Andrew were the centre of a noisy crowd with the Frazer children milling round madly and trying to cause a rumpus.
The music was all terribly up-to-date, and the older members of the party sat around talking and smoking and drinking the delicious punch which Giles Frazer himself had made.
Samantha, escaping for a while from the throng, found herself beside Gina Frazer. Patrick's sister smiled encour agingly.
”Do you find us all completely mad?” she exclaimed, laughing. ”Most visitors wonder how I cope with such a bundle of live-wires. My only consolation is that I can always tell if any of them are under the weather, they soon show up amongst the others. Ken, you know Ken?”
”Yes. He's Andrew's partner, isn't he?”
”That's right - well, Ken and his friends are as often here as away and my family table usually stretches to twelve or more every night. It's just as well Giles is so easy going. Many men would find our life intolerable.”
Samantha smiled. ”Well, I think you have a marvellous family. I envy you. I've never known what it's like to have brothers and sisters.
Gina cast a strange glance in Barbara's direction. ”No. You wouldn't have. Tell me, doesn't your mother like children?”
Samantha felt awkward and immediately Gina was all contrition. ”I'm sorry, dear, I shouldn't have said that I'm always putting my foot in it, only whenever she comes here she seems to avoid contact with them. It's probably my imagination, but I can't help hoping she doesn't marry Patrick if that's the case. He adores our crowd and I'm sure he wants children of his own. My mother is always complaining about his staying a. bachelor!” She laughed ”Poor Pat, he's such a nice person. I'm afraid we're apt to allow the children free licence while he's here. They simply dote on him.”
”Dote on who?” A husky voice was close to Samantha's ear and she immediately recognized whose voice it was.
Gina smiled affectionately. ”As if you didn't know! Are you enjoying yourself?”
”I guess so. Who on earth is that creature with Ken tonight?
The one in the leopard-skin tights and low-cut sweater?” He sounded amused.
”Oh, you mean Angela!” Gina giggled and Samantha, acutely conscious of Patrick's arm, casually across her shoulders, glanced round to see who he was talking about.
”Get the picture?” he asked, his warm breath fanning her cheek..
Samantha smiled, feeling achingly like leaning back against him. ”Yes, I get the picture. What does she do, Mrs. Frazer?”
”Mrs? Good heavens, my dear, call me Gina. Everyone does. As for Angela, I believe she's a dancer at some club in town. Ken has all sort of friends. They get successively worse.”
Patrick grinned. ”She's quite a dish,” he murmured, his eyes following her progress as she moved sinuously to the beat music on the record player.
”Do you think so?” Samantha gazed at him.
”Sure. Don't you?” His grin grew wider and more amused.
”No, I do not” Samantha compressed her lips. ”She looks ...well....”
”Don't bother to draw me a picture,” said Patrick laughingly. ”I can see for myself.”
Gina had drifted off to speak to another of her guests and for the moment they were alone, just outside the ring of the firelight.
Samantha wriggled free of his arm and moved away walking slowly towards the sea.
”You were just baiting me, weren't you?” she accused him, as he fell into step beside her.
”Now, why should I do a thing like that?” he asked evasively.
”Well.” She thrust her hands into the pockets of her slacks.
”You couldn't possibly like a creature like that! Not...
well....not to be with at all!”
”Why not?” He, too, had his hands in his pockets. He had discarded his coat and was just wearing his sweater and slacks.
Samantha looked away in annoyance. ”Stop it,” she said angrily. ”I don't want to hear any more.”
They were well out of hearing distance of the group round the fire now, and only their silhouettes could be seen against the pale moonlight.
Patrick halted at the sh.o.r.eline and looked round at her.
”Well,” he said softly, ”and what would you like to hear?”
Samantha shrugged her shoulders. ”Nothing. Every thing.”
”There's an answer,” he remarked laughingly. ”What am I supposed to say to that?”
”Oh, nothing.” Samantha trudged her feet through the sand. ”We go to Daven tomorrow.”
”I know. Barbara told me.”
”She would,” muttered Samantha moodily.
”My, my, I have annoyed you haven't I? I'm sorry.”
”Don't tease me,” she exclaimed wearily. ”I'm not a child!”
”I know,” he said quietly. ”You're twenty-one.”
Samantha stared at him. ”How do you know that?”
Patrick shrugged his broad shoulders. ”It's quite simple 1 really. I paid a visit to Somerset House.”
”Where's that?”