The Master of Barracuda Isle Read online

  wants to marry my uncle and none of us want her to as she is... well, she wouldn't let him help us as he does. She's a greedy type. Mum knows this, so she does her best to keep them from meeting...." She stopped speaking abruptly as the swing door opened and her mother stood there, looking angry. "It is too badnow Amanda isn't well. She's lying down and says she doesn't think she'd be fit to travel tomorrow and we have all those letters to write and phone calls to make. Really, it's most aggravating!" Mrs. Fairlie sighed, then left them, swinging the door to again. Sara chuckled, looking mischievously at Jan. "Do you dig it? She's worried stiff about Amanda and about Uncle. You see the money's all tied up in a trust business and Uncle is the guardian and... well, it'll be all right if he marries the right kind of person, but if not...." Suddenly Sara clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Jan, I've just had a super idea. Why don't you marry Uncle?" "Me?" Jan caught her breath. "But why me?" "Why not? You'd make a perfect wife for Uncle and I'd like you as an aunt." Sara began to laugh. "Don't look so horrified. I won't twist your arm!" Fortunately at that moment there came the tinkle of the luncheon bell, so Jan jumped to her feet. Mrs. Fairlie, like her brother-in-law, disliked unpunctuality. "Seriously, Jan, think about it," Sara said, slowly rising. "It's just an idea." A crazy idea, Jan thought. Unfortunately she thought about it all the .time. Jan had often wondered what sort of woman Mrs. Fairlie would prove to be, and had rather dreaded meeting her, expecting Jarvis's mother to be as critical of her as Ludovic obviously was. However, to Jan's surprise they got on well. Mrs. Fairlie could be charming, and, to Jan's amazement she seemed to want to be on good terms and was witling to talk. "43

  "I find it a most engrossing and satisfying life, doing what little I can to help such poor tormented creatures as kangaroos, who are being shot all the time. Ludovic, of course, doesn't agree with me," Mrs. Fairlie said, as later, after lunch and a siesta, she joined Jan and Sara on the verandah. "He says they're vermin. I can't agree." She^ flashed a smile at Jan and glanced at Sara, who was staring out at the lagoon, her face stiff. "I hope I'm not boring you?" Mrs. Fairlie went on. "Most certainly not," Jan told her with genuine eagerness. "Anything about Australia fascinates me." "Dear child!" Mrs. Fairlie's voice had a faint tinge of patronage, but her smile was friendly. "How sweet of you, and so sensible. When you marry a man of another nationality it's wise to give up your own and assume his." "In England we think of Australians as our cousins," Jan said quickly. Mrs. Fairlie smiled again. "A nice thought Would you care to see my scrap books?" she asked. When Jan nodded, Mrs. Fairlie turned to Sara. "Would you get them for me, Sara? They're in the bottom drawer of the desk in my room." Sara uncurled herself from .the cane chair and went into the house, her long pale blue trousers and matching tunic suiting her. Mrs. Fairlie sighed as she looked at Jan. ^"Such a difficult age, my dear. I'm so glad you're here with Sara, she needs someone of her own age." Jan flushed. "I'm nineteen, Mrs. Fairlie." "Is that so? You girls look so young today. Ah, here we are!" Mrs. Fairlie said as Sara came back with two big black-covered books. Jan had not lied when she said she was interested in everything to do with Australia. It was not only because of Ludovic that she found it a fascinating, exciting country, but its size amazed her, and the progress it was making. Now as they went through, the album of photographs, in every one of which Mrs. Fairlie stood, looking elegant and charming, Jan saw a real cross-section of 144 Australia from the lovely harbour of Sydney to the fascinating Alice Springs country. After dinner, Mrs. Fairlie listened to the radio as a speech she had made was on and Sara and Jan slipped away. Sara went into Jan's room and sat on the bed. "Isn't she a bore?" Sara sighed. "No, she isn't," Jan said, and smiled. "I suppose you've heard it all so often." "You're so right. I could recite it all backwards." Sara jumped up and began to walk restlessly round the room. "How she loves an audience!" Jan sat down on the window seat. "Don't we all?" she asked quietly. Sara stood before the mirror, looking at her reflection. turning sideways, moving backwards, and then she laughed. "Touchee, Jan. We're all as bad as Mother, but sometimes it gets me down." "I'm sure it does," Jan said gently. A knock came on the door. "Come in!" Jan called. It was Esther. They had not seen her since Mrs. Fairlie and Amanda arrived. Now she smiled and came in, closing the door behind her and leaning against it. "Barry's going to show the slides," she laughed as Sara groaned, "and Mrs. Fairlie thought Jan would be interested." "Of course. Slides of what?" asked Jan, jumping up and smoothing her white dress down. "Slides of Mother's trips round the world," Sara said moodily. "I might have known it. She never misses out on a newcomer." "By the way, how's Amanda?" Jan asked as she ran a comb through her hair, which she let fall to her shoulders, a cloud of black beauty. Esther smiled. "She's eating well but still in bed. She seems quite happy, but I guarantee she'll have recovered by tomorrow afternoon when..." 145 "-^ "Uncle comes," Sara finished the sentence for her. "So do I. Mother's mad as can be with her." "Let's face it," said Esther, "Amanda does work very hard for your mother, so perhaps she really is ill." "Not likely! Mother heard Uncle was coming up, so she rushed off to tell Amanda they must leave the next day. I bet Amanda felt ill then and not before. She's determined to see Uncle and Mother's lost this time," Sara chuckled. "What a game!" Was it a game ? Jan thought miserably. If it was, then it was a game in which her heart was involved. "Well," Esther's hand was on the door knob as she prepared to go, "the slides will be ready in ten minutes." "See you there ?" Jan asked. "In the background," Esther smiled. "Safest place when..." "Mother's about," Sara finished as Esther left the room. "Mother likes to throw her weight around, Jan. Sometimes I wonder if she suffers from hallucinations and thinks she's a duchess or something. Barry resents it, and I don't blame him, for he and Uncle went to school together and have been close friends all their lives. You can go if you feel you should, but tell her I've got a headacheif she asks where I am," she added bitterly. "Of course she will," Jan said quickly. But Mrs. Fairlie didn't. "Come in, Janet, and sit by my side so I can explain everything." There was a big white screen on one wall, Barry standing behind the projector in front of it. It was an Interesting collection of slides and Mrs. Fairlie seemed to enjoy telling Jan just where they were taken and why. In most of them Mrs. Fairlie appeared. "Amanda is a good photographer," Mrs. Fairlie said. "I taught her." Some of the slides had pictures of Ludovic. These Jan longed to ask to be shown again. None of them had Sara or Jarvis in, she noted, with a heavy heart That night Jan found it hard to sleep. It .was a hot 146

  night and she kept thinking of what Mrs. Fairlie had said as they parted to go to bed. "My brother-in-law is coming tomorrow and I'll speak to him, Janet. I'm sure marriage to you would be the answer to Jarvis's problems. He's an adult now and should be treated as such. I'll do my best to make Ludovic understand, but I can promise nothing, because he can be difficult and unfortunately Jarvis is his ward until the boy is twenty-five. My father-in-law was strict and old-fashioned in his views, I'm afraid, and made a very difficult and unfair will," she said. "So now what about tomorrow?" Jan asked herself. How would Ludovic react? Would he accept Mrs. Fairlie's advice and tell Jan she had better return to Sydney, to be by Jarvis's side? Or would he advise her to stay where she was until the Final exams were over? Mrs. Fairlie was talking, about making arrangements for the wedding. She had suggested having it in perhaps four or five months' time. Jan had not known what to answer, for she seemed to be getting more and more involved every moment. She coulld be honest, of course, and tell them that a mistake had been made and it was Felicity that Jarvis loved... but then Ludovic might be annoyed with Jarvis and all this be for nothing. But then Jan knew it could never be for nothingshe had not only had the most wonderful holiday, made friends such as Esther, Sara and Barry, but had the chance to know and love a wonderful man like Ludovic. She drew a long deep breath and told herself that although she knew she was heading once again for heartbreak yet there had been much happiness, too. In the morning Jan and Sara went fossicking as usual. Mrs. Fairlie said she had lette
rs to dictate, for she could use Ludovic's dictaphone and Amanda could type the letters as soon as she was well. It was a perfect day, as every day in this paradise seemed perfect in some way or another, Jan thought as they followed Rab as he balanced precariously on the coral reef, searching for some special specimen. But that 147 evening, Jan reminded herself, Ludovic would come, and what would happen then? Would he refuse to listen to Mrs. Fairlie? Or would he change his mind and agree that it would be a good thing if Jan married Jarvis ? After a shower and a change into more formal clothing, Jan and Sara had tea on the verandah with Mrs. Fairlie, who said she had slept well that afternoon. "It's really rather pleasant to be on one's own sometimes," she said, and from the quick look Sara gave Jan, she knew that Mrs. Fairlie was thinking of Amanda, the beautiful, brilliant and efficient secretary who could, apparently, be rather a trial at times. They were startled when they heard the clatter of horses' hooves and watched the carriage come to a stop outside the house. They watched silently as Ludovic got out and turned and helped... Amanda out. Jan heard Mrs. Fairlie give a quickly suppressed gasp of annoyance. "I thought..." she began, then stopped and waited, her eyes cold. Ludovic walked slowly, Amanda, beautiful in a jade green suit, holding his arm, laughing as she looked at. him. "Hullo, Agnes," Ludovic said to his sister-in-law, and smiled at the others. Amanda, by his side, also smiled. "I thought it would be nice if someone met him." "I thought you were too ill to work," Mrs. Fairlie said stiffly. "I was," Amanda agreed, going .to sit by her employer, giving her a sweet smile. "I felt fine after lunch, though, and thought the fresh air might help me. You were sound asleep and I thought it better not to disturb you." She smiled^ again. "I know how much you enjoy your afternoon siesta, so I asked Barry to take me. I feel much better now." Amanda smiled at Ludovic and he smiled back. It made Jan catch her breath. A real pain gripped her for a moment as she closed her eyes. 148

  A fear that she had felt before now became a truth. Ludovic loved Amanda. A smile like .that could surely only mean.... Jan thought miserably. She slipped away quietly as Ludovic sat down, talking to his sister-in-law. Alone, Jan stood very still. How could she bear it? The answer was simple. She had no choice. 149

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  IN the morning there was no sign of Ludovic. It was Saturday, so Rab wouldn't be coming, and Sara and Jan, meeting on the verandah, decided to go for a swim and then sunbathe. They could hear Amanda's deft fingers flying over the typewriter keys as she coped with the work that was waiting for her. There was no sign of Mrs. Fairlie, either, "Where's your uncle?" Jan asked, as casually as she could as they settled on the hot sand. "I don't know." Sara, in a minute scarlet bikini, stretched her arms and legs luxuriously. "I bet he's gone off fishing with Barry. Anything to get away from four women!" she added with a laugh. "He seemed to be enjoying himself last night," Jan pointed out, remembering the previous evening miserably. "Sara, are you sure he's not in love with Amanda?" she heard herself ask, then wondered if it was wise, but it was too late, for Sara rolled over, turning her head to stare at her. "What makes you think he is?" "Well...." Jan searched for the right words. "Well, she went to meet him and... well, he was holding her arm as they came in...." "No, Jan, she was holding his," corrected Sara, beginning to smile. "Go on." "Well, last night, for instance. He sat by her, he even danced with her." "Again she made the move, Jan. Didn't you hear her say she felt like dancing? I mean, it could have been either of us, for Uncle's crazy about dancing and will always fall for that line." Sara chuckled. "She looked like a cat that's just swallowed cream, didn't she?" "Then you do think...?" Jan hesitated, afraid of 150

  giving away the truth, that she was insanely jealous when she saw someone else in Ludovic's arms. "No, I don't." Sara rolled over on her back, resting her head on her arms. "I can't somehow see Uncle marrying her." "But he does seem to like her. I mean..." Sara laughed. "Oh, Jan, you are dumb! He does that to make Mother mad. You see. Uncle Ludovic has a weird sense of humour, he loves teasing people, making them feel and look fools." "That's for sure!" Jan agreed fervently. "And he certainly succeeds." "That's where you're all so stupid," said Sara, sitting up and hugging her knees, turning to look at Jan who was lying on her back, her black cloud of hair spread over the towel laid on the sand. "So long as he knows he's made you feel a fool he'll go on playing tricks. He's given up teying with me, 'cos I never let him see it hurts." "But why should liking Amanda anger your mother?" Jan began, then nodded. "I remember, you're afraid the wrong kind of wife will influence Ludovic as regards your allowances, but isn't it all legally decided?" Sara laughed. "Of course, but actually, you know. Uncle is very generous and gives us more than we need. My mother is afraid, though, that if he's married, his wife may not approve." Jan sat up suddenly, hugging her knees, too, turning to look at Sara and only vaguely seeing the lovely background that normally she would be admiring. "Do you honestly think Ludovic would let any woman influence him?" Sara shrugged. "Men are strange, sometimes. If he was handled diplomaticallywell, maybe. She might say it wasn't good for us, that we should stand on our own feet, perhaps she could convince him." "That's a thought," Jan agreed, nodding slowly. 151 "You know Ailsa? I told her, I think, that she turned up. She found me here and was furious, tried to throw me out. She called me a trespasser." "I bet she was mad," Sara laughed. "Any competition terrifies Ailsa. She lives in a dream world, because Uncle would never look at her." "She's very lovely." "Her looks are all right, but..." Sara lifted a handful of sand and- let it trickle through her fingers. "But?" "Well," Sara laughed, "Ailsa is a name-dropper and a social climberthese are two things my uncle can't stand. Neither can I, for that matter." "A name-dropper? I don't get it." Sara laughed. "Honestly, Jan, sometimes I feel years older than you! You just don't seem to know anything. A name-dropper is one who would never say she'd stayed in Lisbon but would always say at the Hilton hotel in Lisbon, or at the Ritz in London. Also she goes out of her way to meet important people and is always talking about my dear friend. Lord Gough or Lady Catherine, we were at school together. Maybe they were, but who cares? Get me?" "Yes, I do." Jan lay down again, wishing she could be sure Sara was right about Ailsa and Amanda. All the same, Jan thought, she could not forget the way Amanda had smiled at Ludovic, and Ludovic had smiled back. Jan and Sara had a pleasant morning, moving down to the lagoon where they floated peacefully, then later ended it by lying in the shade of a huge palm tree. "This place really does have something, doesn't it, Jan?" Sara asked, her voice sleepy. "I always feel so happy here. I almost like Uncle." She rolled over to look at Jan. "Can you?" Jan stiffened as the unexpected question frightened her, for it would be so easy to give the truth away. Sara was remarkably quick about discerning things and if she knew, what would Sara do? Would she see it as a great joke and 152

  tell Ludovic? He would laugh, Jan thought unhappily, and how humiliated she would be. So Jan told a truth that was no longer true. "I don't think I've ever hated any man so much," she said, hoping Sara would not notice that it was the past tense she was using. Sara yawned. "That goes for me, too." They dozed and were surprised when they awoke and saw the time. They strolled back to the house, chatting happily, and Jan was totally unprepared for what awaited her. Lunch was ready and they were late after they had hurriedly showered and changed into clean shorts and shirts. Mrs. Fairlie and Amanda were sitting at the table and, to Jan's complete surprise, Ludovic was there. He turned as they entered the room and as soon as she saw the look in his eyes, her whole body tensed in preparation for what might lie ahead. "Late as usual," Ludovic said cheerfully. "Sit down and let's eat this delicious meal. I must say Esther is a very capable housekeeper." It was a good meal, lobster and salad, followed by chocolate mousse, but it might have been sawdust for all Jan noticed. However, as the meal came to an end they were all talking about various subjects, some of her tension left her so that when, as they drank coffee, Ludovic leaned forward, looked down the table to where she was sitting, and addressed her, she was totally unprepared. ^ "Jan," he began, "I'm
glad to tell you that my sister-in-law and I have reconsidered the situation of you and Jarvis." Jan's mouth was suddenly dry. She looked wildly down the table and Jarvis's mother smiled triumphantly. Amanda looked bored, and Sara's eyes were wide open as if she, too, was surprised by Ludovic's words. "As you know," he went on, "we both felt Jarvis was too young to consider marriage, but his mother has made me change my mind." 153