The Man at Mulera (35 page)

“
But do you
think
she cares for him?
”

“
She likes him—it
’
s even possible that he
’
s more the type she could love than I am. Certainly she was never in love with me, but she knew me first and was quite convinced that it would be charming to have a plantation in Africa as well as an estate of her own in England. Besides, she
’
s snob enough to feel it
’
s a come down to marry one
’
s bailiff. But now that Jim accepts the situation as it is, he may manage her just as expertly as he manages her property.
”

“
I hope so,
”
said Lou soberly.
“I’m
afraid Martin will be disappointed.
”

“
What the deuce! We can
’
t satisfy everyone—and it does happen that he likes both you and Jim Morda
u
nt! He
’
ll be getting spliced
himself
one of these days and bothering more about his own domestic affairs.
”

“
And you
’
re sure about your aunt?
”

“
Maudie only had to think about it for a minute before
sh
e saw how much better it would be for me to have someone young and tractable. Only Maudie doesn
’
t know the
half
of it
.
You
’
re about as tractable as a ramrod!
”

Lou said,
“
I knew Paula wasn
’
t really in love with you—and that you weren
’
t really in love with her. But everyone seemed to expect you two to marry.
”
She paused, and on the point of telling him about that afternoon when she had called on Paula and subsequently scratched his car, she stopped. None of it mattered very much now. But one
other thing was rather important. She broached it warily.
“
Ross, I know you dislike Greg
...”

“
Not so much as I did.
”

“
That
’
s good, because I
’
d like you to help him a
little.
He
’
s backsliding again
...”

“
Was that why you came out in the rain today?
”

She nodded.
“
He said yesterday that I might be able to help him make a decision.
”

“
That
’
s off,
”
he said crisply.

“
Yes, I know.
”
She sounded most submissive.
“
But
you
could do it
.
He
’
s just aimless again, and I think that what he really needs isn
’
t a woman to batten on at all. He needs someone like you—only not when you
’
re cantankerous. You
’
ve admitted he was doing well at Mulera.
”

“
I won
’
t have him at Mulera!
”

“
All right
.
Then think up an alternative for him. There must be another planter somewhere who needs an assistant
.
”

“
No wife would be safe with Allwyn around!
”

“
You
’
re prejudiced, and it
’
s unfair. Greg told me that he
’
d never realized till he came to Mulera how much he
’
d like a stake in a plantation. Well, if he were an
assistant...”

Ross put one arm round her and
his
other hand over her lips.
“
This is my last word about Greg. If I can, I
’
ll get hold of a small slice of land for
him
and run
him
up a shack. What he makes of it will be up to him.
”

She smiled and kissed the palm which covered her mouth and by the small adoring action Ross was vanquished. He was cruel and tender, laughing and passionately intent.

“
My dearest lovely darling,
”
he said, in various ways.

L
ater, he took time off to look at the rain, and regretfully he started the car. They swished down the road.

He glanced at Lou fleetingly and smiled.
“
Everyone will know what
’
s happened to us the minute we go into the hotel. Will you mind?
”

“
I want the world to know,
”
she sighed happily.
“
I love you so much, Ross!
”

“
Careful, now. I refuse to look at you again till we get there!
”

Laughter bubbled in her throat, an overflow from the happiness which filled her heart. She saw a shaft of muted light in the dusk and knew it was from the dying sun, and she thought about tomorrow, when the rain would have left a clean and sparkling world, new-minted for herself and Ross.

THE END