CHAPTER SEVEN

No chubby hand woke Jo in the morning, no ear ringing, no little voice admonishing her to get up before the sun burned a hole in her. When Jo looked in on the children they were both sleeping peacefully like cherubs. The first excitement of being on the station was gradually wearing off and they were settling to a more relaxed routine. They had appealed to Uncle Marsh to have at least one night sleeping out under the stars, but the time wasn't right with guests in the house. Perhaps next week; Jo was looking forward to it herself.

She dressed quickly in a soft embroidered voile peasant blouse and a brilliantly patterned skirt, then went out into the hallway, her head a little heavy because she had slept badly, the odd dream peopled by Blair and Julie having a very convincing argument, over her. It didn't make for a quiet night. Further down the corridor Mrs McConnell emerged from her room, saw Jo and signified by way of a hand signal that she wished her to come to her room.

My first greeting of the morning, Jo thought, and it has to be silent. She followed Mrs McConnell's gorgeous retreating figure into the master bedroom suite. So far she had only looked very briefly into it. It included a sitting room, separate dressing rooms and a large master bathroom. The ceilings were high, with heavy ornamental beams, the wall-to-wall carpet a soft seductive pale gold to match the drapes and the silk brocade bedspread, and the furnishings and paintings, the white marble fireplace, were all beautiful and distinctive. Jo would have enjoyed it a lot more, but it was obvious from Mrs McConnell's expression that she had some pressing worry on her mind.

She waved Jo into a Louis XV chair, a fine piece, but not the most comfortable in the world, considering what she must say, and Jo, being Jo, decided to help her.

'Is anything the matter? ' she asked kindly.

Mrs McConnell drew her magnificent Oriental kimono more closely around her. 'The fact is, Jo, ' she said in her rich contralto, 'both Julie and Philippa have come to me with the most disquieting news! '

Jo's stomach sank, though she looked up and said dryly: 'I already know Julie's news. Marsh told me. But I think I'd dismiss anything Philippa might have to say. '

Mrs McConnell inclined her splendid dark head, dressed appropriately enough in a thick pigtail. 'Actually, I'm rather cross with Philippa. What she told me, ' she glanced up quickly with Marsh's brilliant, penetrating gaze, 'is it true? '

'Perhaps you'd better tell me what she did say? '

'I'm past caring now! ' Mrs McConnell said with bitter humour. 'First things first. There's Julie. Could you please tell me, Jo, if you ever loved Blair? '

'If it's just between you and me, Mrs McConnell. I don't trust anyone else! '

Mrs McConnell raised her head. 'I'd feel exactly as you do. But I'm not a gossip, thank God! '

'There was a time when I was in love with Blair, ' Jo admitted.

'And did Blair give you to understand... ' a Gallic gesture... 'you know what I mean! '

'I'm paying you the compliment of being completely honest with you. Blair and I spoke of marriage. At that time I thought it was all I ever wanted. The engagement party, for instance, wasn't very nice for me, but looking back, and it's not so very long ago, it seems I was a different person. It's difficult to explain, but I'm no longer in love with him. I think I ought to continue to love him as family. And that's what the Leightons have been to me—family. One learns, and then Blair taught me a lot about the business! '

'Yes, ' Mrs McConnell said crisply. 'It would give me great satisfaction to kick his behind, but he is brilliant. If it were only brilliance! I tell you, Jo, this morning I feel like an elderly woman. We have a position to keep up! '

'Even so, these things happen in all circles, ' Jo pointed out.

Mrs McConnell let out a long whistling breath. 'I'd really rather it hadn't happened this way. Julie has given me to understand it was no accident, but planned. It was difficult to know what to say to her. It seems ridiculous^ now, but I always thought butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. The whole thing is a matter of how one has been brought up. I so dislike anything seedy. Poor little thing, she needs me now. You realise, of course, that Blair doesn't know? '

'Then he'll have to be told! ' Jo returned rather acidly. 'I mean, he was there at the time. '

'I should say so—and he didn't act properly! ' Mrs McConnell closed her eyes briefly and her head fell forward on her chest. 'I'm so glad the thought of their marriage doesn't make you unhappy, Jo. I like you. Goodness knows what Philippa hoped to gain. I might tell you she upset me. Bystanders should keep safely out of these things! ' She paused and went to the long windows, looking out. 'It was going to be one of the biggest events on the social calendar. Now I'd like to wave them off today! '

'You should refuse to allow it to upset you, ' Jo said gently. 'It will work, you'll see, and when the baby comes everyone will be happy. '

'The extraordinary thing is, I half expected it, ' Mrs McConnell mused. 'Even before she got it out I half expected it. Strange little girl. She's always been very repressed. I suppose we all break out finally. I did expect better behaviour, but however—! I do hope she finds comfort in this marriage she's set on. She'll always have to keep an eye on him. Ingratitude, ingratitude, but still it's no tragedy. Nothing's considered a mistake these days. I was brought up to believe that a woman should come to her marriage with her honour intact. All the young ones just go ahead, and really they're just as ignorant of human relationships as ever their parents were. I don't give a damn about Blair, ' she went on, 'but I was worried about you. Really, Philippa told me an intolerable lie. I'm so disappointed and irritated. I don't like deliberate mischief! '

Jo said, 'Perhaps she thought she was being helpful. '

'I don't think so. At least it didn't strike me that way. I'm so glad dear Grandfather isn't alive. Really, he would have been seething! Family celebrations were for everyone's benefit. Not a one of us would have dared embarrass him. ' Mrs McConnell passed a weary hand over her eyes, then she looked down at Jo with a curious intimacy. 'I want to have another chat with you, but about more pleasant matters. If you're going downstairs, dear, could you please ask Ellen to send a tray up to my room. I'm not yet ready to face the world or even decide what we must do, but at least I know you're not part of some dreadful triangle. You're too good for Blair. I admire him in many ways, but I can't help saying it. Whether he's going to be good for Julie or not, she wants him, otherwise we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in. Motherhood may be good for her. It will give her something to do! '

Jo stood up and went to the door. 'I'll tell Ellen right away. '

Mrs McConnell put up a staying hand. 'It might be an idea if Julie had something brought up to her before she stirs! '

She was trying to be calm, but Jo could see she was very upset. She smiled understanding^, then gently closed the door. She had a certain sympathy for everybody but not Blair. On the whole, Blair's behaviour had been deplorable and she wanted to tell him so, but she knew that if she did he would only look at her with that faintly crooked smile. Blair made his own rules and just as easily abandoned them, but it would be impossible for him to get out of this situation. Jo was suddenly, furiously glad.

She gave Ellen Mrs McConnell's message, had a companionable cup of coffee with her in the kitchen where Nara and another little housegirl were busy helping out, then she decided on a walk around the garden and down to the ornamental lake, a favourite spot. Nara had already promised to keep her eye on the children, and in any case they were yet to get up and have their breakfast. Julie's news had brought everything to a head. Both Marsh and Mrs McConnell felt responsible for Julie and were unhappy at the course she had decided on, but Jo wasn't going to see it as her fault. She had a good idea of the kind of thing Philippa would have said, though, apparently Philippa had received quite a different reception from the one she expected.

Her head felt easier now and she threw up her face to the morning, her hair lifting on the strengthening breeze. This was a beautiful time of the day, radiant and cool, before the sun swung into full power. She moved down the green lawn and around the flower beds, bending down and looking around appreciatively at the ecstasy of flowering, waving to a small black boy who smiled shyly, then twisted and ran away.

She had been down at the lake for almost an hour before Blair joined her. He had seen her from the balcony of his room and his need to talk to her was urgent. She seemed to be in a state of silent meditation and she looked very beautiful and almost remote, the sunlight shafting through the trees touching her golden-olive skin and deepening her eyes to jade. She didn't even know he was there until, he threw a fallen blossom in her direction. Immediately her eyes became guarded and her dreamy half-smile vanished.

'Hello there! ' she said doggedly.

'Jo! '

It sounded very emotive and she stared at him hard. He was immaculately groomed as always, but there were interesting shadows beneath his eyes.

'Is anything wrong? ' He flared up instantly at the quality of her expression, detecting the criticism.

'Wrong? ' Her delicate brows rose.

'You're looking at me very strangely. '

'I hope you don't mind. You've been acting sort of strangely lately. In fact, even talking to you is a dangerous proposition, ' she confessed.

His lean face flushed angrily. 'Half your trouble is, Jo, you're too damned old-fashioned. You make difficulties and you put your whole soul in to it. It goes oddly with your beautiful body! '

She looked down at the lotus blossoms standing up waxily in their violet blue haze. 'Look, Blair, I want to tell you something. You're determined on your marriage, aren't you? '

'Oh, yes! '

'No regrets? '

'You know damn well what they are! '

'I'm not flattered! ' she shrugged.

'You know why? You plague yourself with scruples. '

'I do! ' she said spiritedly. 'I admit it. '

'Anyway, ' he said after a minute, 'I've already spent a good deal of money. '

'Surely you could have waited? '

'I didn't want to! ' he said, irritated by her attitude. 'I'll treble Julie's share in the business in under a year! '

'Well, if it's not worrying her, why should it worry me? ' Jo said briskly. 'Be good to her, Blair. If you are, she'll stick to you no matter what! '

'I know that! ' he said in a throttled voice. 'It's you I want to talk about. Come back to the firm, Jo. You could quite easily. Julie won't bother us with tiresome jealousy. You have tremendous flair and all the clients and manufacturers like you. We all enjoy having you around. '

She paused and said jauntily! 'Well, I've been thinking a lot about it and I've decided to open my own business! '

He gave a bored smile and flicked an insect away from the open neck of his shirt. 'You know better than that. You're good, but you're not that good. Besides, you haven't got a cent! '

'Maybe like you I've found myself a backer, ' she said coldly.

Flames shot into his amber eyes. 'Go on! ' he invited. 'This beats me hollow! '

'If you're waiting for me to tell you, I'm not going to. That's my business! '

Blair's lips tightened and his well-bred face whitened. 'You haven't been misspending your time, have you? '

'No! ' she said, watching him lose control. Blair, the ruthless, jealous egotist.

A wave of fury took possession of him. 'Is it possible McConnell's already your lover? '

'I intend him to be! ' Jo said sweetly, pressing him to the limit.

She saw his face, but she couldn't move quickly enough. His sweeping slap stung viciously across her cheek and twisted her head back so that she didn't see her rescuer until he had pushed Blair in the lake. 'Paddy! ' Her voice trembled weakly and she was dismayed that he had witnessed the scene.

'It's all right, Aunty Jo, it was easy! ' Amazingly Paddy's small face had fallen into the stern, adult lines of his father's. She stared down at him, her shining black hair falling around her face and caressing her flushed, smarting cheek.

'Say you're sorry! ' Paddy yelled, swinging wildly, pulling his shoulders back so his compact little body looked inches taller.

An ache of tears was pressing at the base of Jo's throat. 'Stop, darling! ' she pleaded mildly. 'It doesn't matter! '

'It does matter! ' Paddy's hot blue gaze didn't fall away from the lake. 'Why did he hit you? '

Jo made an attempt at humour for the child's sake. 'All men do silly things at different times. '

'They don't hit ladies! '

'Not if they're gentlemen! ' It was quite easy to laugh, and Jo did, embracing Paddy's stiff frame. 'Come away now. I'm going to ask Uncle Marsh to let us camp out on the very first free evening. Would you like that? '

'In a moment, Aunty Jo, ' Paddy said kindly. His small face was still suffused with rage and he was looking at Blair with loathing and disgust.

'For God's sake go away, and take that child with you! ' Blair called grimly, standing sodden and uncertain in the lake.

'How wet you are! ' Jo said thoughtfully, and there was a wealth of scorn in the words. 'You seem to have a lily bulb on your head. Don't worry, we won't tell anybody about this miserable little episode, will we, Paddy? '

'If we do everyone will be mad. Particularly Uncle Marsh! ' Paddy announced, glaring. 'He's six feet two, and two thousand pounds. And he's a wild beast when he's angry! '

'But after all there's no danger. I have you, Paddy! ' Jo tried to distract him. 'Have you had your breakfast? '

'No. I saw you from upstairs and I ran down to meet you. Ellen said I could. I was going to bite him, but instead I pushed him in the lake. '

'Either way you won the battle! ' Jo put her arm around him and turned him about, using a little force. 'Come on, pardner, let's go up to the house. '

They didn't look back but continued to walk slowly up the slope, Paddy holding on to Jo so that she wouldn't stumble, though he tripped a couple of times himself, his quick temper not yet extinguished. The recent scene Jo so much regretted was not going to be dismissed from his mind too easily. Never in his young life had he seen such a thing, and he was going to do his utmost to protect Jo. If he told Uncle Marsh Lord knew what would happen. Even thinking about it made him feel better. Nearing level ground he swung around in front of Jo, forcing her to a halt.

'Bend down, ' he said as though he had suddenly thought of an instant cure-all, 'and I'll kiss it better! '

'That would be lovely! '

Towards mid-morning, Julie came down and quite rightly claimed her fiancé. Blair even rose from his chair on the veranda to greet her with some relief. Since Blair didn't ride and he wouldn't know where he was going anyway they all saw Julie take the wheel of the station wagon. She didn't wave, caught up in her coming ordeal, but took off immediately to discuss what was very much her and Blair's affair. Nothing on earth would make her give him up and she was certain he would settle down after the initial shock. Certainly she had very obvious claims on him, and she was far more determined than anyone had ever yet suspected.

Jo sank immediately into Blair's vacated planter's chair and looked down at the children's efforts. Nara, an accomplished and highly imaginative natural artist, had been giving them painting lessons and they were making real progress, especially Jenny, who had inherited her father's gift for draughtsmanship. Nara was drawing a totem pole with a bird's head at the carved apex and all sorts of designs on the barrel. She had considerable native talent and Jo was wondering how she might best turn it to some commercial advantage, though Nara and the twins were quiet happy on Malakai, their chosen place in the sun. Paddy was using lashings of red, white, black and yellow, but Jenny was sketching away seriously, admiring Nara's composition from time to time. When Philippa in riding gear suddenly came around the side of the house and mounted the veranda Nara and the children said hello politely and continued with their drawing, but Philippa gestured imperiously towards Jo.

'If you're looking for Marsh, he's down at Camp Two. '

She looked unusually tense and Jo took it as a sign that something had gone wrong. 'I wasn't, actually! ' she said lightly.

'I've an idea he's looking for you. Anyway, now you know where to find him. I have to get away home! ' She walked away quickly, and suddenly the blue sky seemed to call Jo. She was thinking she'd love to ride out and meet Marsh. She felt a need to be encompassed by his strength and personality. There was nothing sinister about Marsh, nothing weak, or vicious or obsessed. She stood up and the children, attracted, looked up.

'Would you mind if I rode out to see Uncle Marsh? I won't be gone for more than an hour. '

'Is it urgent? ' asked Jenny.

'Well, I'd like to get a few matters cleared up as soon as possible. '

'I won't leave them alone, Miss Jo! ' Nara said, smiling. 'Stay alonga time! '

Jo returned the smile warmly. 'It's just an hour. '

'Are you going to tell him you-know-what? ' asked Paddy, drawing in a bull ant, then a wallaby.

'We're going to forget that! ' said Jo firmly.

'All right! ' he shrugged, though he didn't understand.

'I'm going to speak to him about camping out! '

'Oh, beaut! ' both children chimed in at once.

It didn't take Jo long to get underway. One of the boys saddled up Honey for her and she headed across the home paddocks in the direction of the mustering yards known as Camp Two. By the time she reached the first watercourse the sun was hot enough to make her shirt stick clammily to her body and she rode gratefully into the occasional shade of a stand of bauhinias, the spent blossoms raining down on her head and collecting in the upturned brim of her wide straw hat. One of these days she would get herself something more suitable, like the elegant stetson Philippa wore. Mindful of snakes, she kept out of the long grass as she entered the scrub, and a wallaby jumped out in front of her and almost succeeded in startling the placid Honey.

They came down on the creek and splashed across it. Jo searched the other side of the bank for sign of the men or any recognisable sounds, then struck off towards the open country, the great grassy flats that ran on for ever. What whim of Philippa's had made her tell Jo where Marsh was to be found? —unless it was a stupid hoax and she was going in the wrong direction. Only a few strides away an emu rose up out of the grass and ran on before them, its unfeathered legs making strides of nine feet and more with ease. It turned about a little vaguely, then doubled back like a jet. It was just what Jo needed. It took her a good five minutes trying to hold Honey, and when the emu finally ran off she clung to Honey's satiny neck in a near-paroxysm of relief.

Away in the distance was a familiar phenomenon, a travelling cloud of dust. She rested back in the saddle, her glittering eyes trying to make out what it was. Slowly the cloud took form, each flying body uncovered, and she sat as if hypnotised, then twisted to look around her, her reaction astonishment. Racing across the plain like wildfire, fast bearing down on her, was a mob of wild horses, a stallion and its harem band and a string of half grown fillies and colts. They had been on the move for nearly an hour and they were being driven towards the silver bow of the river by a team of stockmen.

It was unbelievable—a stampede. And even in her panic Jo found the sight incredibly stirring. The cloud of dust was swirling nearer and now she could hear the drumming, insistent and powerful, vibrating the flats. Honey became excited and started to reef. Where once the landscape had been empty except for a coasting eagle now the flowering flats throbbed to the sound of pounding hooves. Down along the river the birds rose from the trees and curled away into the blue sky in waves of white and rose-pink; corellas and galahs. Honey's muscles were twitching under her gleaming skin and Jo turned her head around and rode. If she was trampled to death she wouldn't be able to blame anyone. If somehow she survived she would be able to blame Philippa—an enemy in the grand fashion.

Horsemen broke out in a long line. They had sighted her, and if they cursed her sudden, threatening appearance, they all broke out in a cold sweat for her.

Jo couldn't turn in the saddle or look back, even if every moment she expected an avalanche of horseflesh to move down on her. Despairingly she felt herself jerked sideways. Why had she so foolishly boasted that she would make a good rider? She hadn't the experience to ride this one out, and Honey, wild-eyed, was heading straight for a dense wall of scrub. Jo jerked on the reins and lowered her head, clinging hard with her legs to the chestnut's flanks.

From out of the whirling darkness on either side of her, men were riding, superb horsemen and trained at heading off cattle or the thirsty, frightened brumby band. Whips cracked and lashed and shouted commands seemed to hurl around the heavens. One rider flowed up beside her, riding hell for leather, Jamming his horse up against the quivering, screaming mare, calling to Jo so that she trusted him entirely to do what he asked. Iron hands bit into her ribs, so she felt they must crack, then she was swung out of the saddle and up before Marsh's hard body, every tense muscle braced, while the wind whistled past them and the thundering hooves suddenly wheeled away and broke their mad gallop.

Yells shattered the air, then there was a curious silence as the brumby leader, a tall, thickset bay stallion of tremendous endurance, two lassos around its neck, came to a slobbering halt. Instantly, as though on command, the harem stood quietly, badly scared but empty of direction. Every sweating body, black, bay and the beautiful silvery-grey, was caked in red dust, mares and foals, all of them wild and unused to restraint of any kind, while the stockmen formed a circle around them. Some would be kept for breaking and the others would be turned out with their stallion again.

The dust was only just beginning to clear and a little further along an aboriginal boy had caught Honey, soothing her down, so after a little while she walked back quietly to join the mob. Marsh reined his beautiful palomino mare to a halt, glancing down at Jo's pronounced pallor.

'What else are you going to spring on me? ' he asked, not in the least gallantly. 'They say things go in threes! '

'Am I still alive? ' Gingerly she touched her aching breastbone.

'Only just. Either you like frightening the living daylights out of me or you're suicidal. Which is if? '

'Believe me, I'm sorry! ' She leaned back against his supporting arm. 'I had no idea you were driving the herd in. '

'Yet you knew where we were? '

'Oh, don't talk about it! ' she begged jaggedly, thinking of Philippa's lethal intentions. 'I'm a wreck! '

'Stick around and I'm afraid my own nerve might go! ' Marsh's black eyes were glittering and he was pale under his deep tan.

'The fright of the century! ' she said, turning her dishevelled head along his hard chest. She was very near tears, trembling with relief and her searing love for him. He was holding her very close, almost forcibly, but she didn't want to shift. 'What an ordeal! '

'I don't get it! ' he said tensely, 'but I will. If you'd been hurt... '

'You really hurt me when you catapulted me out of the saddle! ' Jo croaked appealingly.

'If I hadn't I mightn't have got you back in one piece! ' He dismounted and held up his arms for her while Jo slid into them, her protesting muscles making her tremble all over.

'I can't stand! ' she said weakly.

'All right, over here! ' He led her out of the burning sun and she slid to the ground, her hair tumbling around her face. She was very pale and her eyes were glittery with suppressed tears.

He stood looking down at her for a moment, then he swung away, talking to one of the men in a low, indistinct undertone. A few seconds later he came back with a flask, which he held out to Jo. 'Drink it! ' he said curtly, some of the fury of fright still in his face.

'Well, you know... ' she protested, but he removed the stopper and put the flask purposefully into her hand.

It didn't seem wise to resist. The fiery liquid burned violently all the way down, but it seemed to stop the worst of her trembling. Bart, the head stockman, had gone for the jeep and he was bringing it up now, negotiating the crossing. Marsh let Jo remain in the same position for a few moments, then he bent over her to help her to her feet.

'Come on, Jo, you can't stay here! '

She moaned and stood up shakily, swaying a little, more in reaction than any passing effect of the brandy. All of the men sat their horses or stood stock still appraising her condition. She had given them all an appalling fright, but the speed of the Boss's reactions were legendary. Jo looked up at them all staring numbly at her and she tried a smile.

'Thank you! '

Bart, the closest to her, swept off his dusty hat. 'How are you feeling, miss? '

'Peculiar! ' she smiled.

'That's only natural, miss. I'm in a state of the jitters myself! '

'I'm sorry I caused such trouble! '

Bart screwed up his sun-weathered face. 'We weren't expecting you, like! ' he explained.

'I wasn't expecting you either! ' Jo returned with faint humour, and Marsh turned to his foreman.

'Spell the men a little longer, then get the horses into the yards. I'll take Miss Adams up to the house. '

Bart nodded, tipped his hat to Jo, then walked away briskly to pass on the order, while Marsh escorted Jo towards the waiting jeep. Only his eyes registered any expression and he made no further comment on what seemed to be reckless and dangerous behaviour. Jo sagged in the seat swamped by the pretty neurotic desire to fall into Marsh's arms and stay there for ever. She made a determined effort not to fall sideways, and fainting wouldn't help anybody. There was a suggestion of menace about Marsh, a tension in his hard, lean body that could flare into anything.

A small plane rose out of the trees, climbing towards the sun. Jo looked up at it with a strange faraway expression in her eyes. 'There goes your girl-friend! '

The road ahead seemed to require concentration, because he didn't shift his gaze. 'I don't know that we're so friendly! '

'I thought you'd decided to get married. '

'I haven't changed my mind. '

Jo looked sad. 'A bit risky, that one! '

'How are you feeling? ' He dismissed her advice.

She stretched out her hands, staring at them. 'Not so shaky! ' She dropped them into her lap. 'I don't want to go up to the house yet, Marsh. I don't want to upset the children, and I'm not going to tell them. '

He glanced sideways at her, then pulled the jeep off the track and down towards the lagoon. 'I'm waiting for you to tell me, ' he said brusquely.

'About what? ' she asked evasively.

'Are you trying to drive me up the wall? ' he asked wearily. 'You could have been killed. Even Honey could have thrown you. You're quite inexperienced! '

'Leave it, Marsh. ' She jerked back her head distractedly. 'It's not worth it! '

'On the contrary, I think we should have a little talk about it, then I'll decide what to do. Hell, it's no joking matter! '

'It's been real fun up to date. Please don't let me be the cause of any more trouble! '

His glance sharpened over her pronounced femininity as though it irritated him. Her skin gleamed in the sunlight and she looked very lovely and curiously vulnerable. She could hear his teeth snap. Impatience, concern, swift anger. Surely Philippa couldn't have intended violent tragedy? Jo's feelings caught in her throat and stifled her. Perhaps she intended no more than a few moments of frozen fright. Even that was bad enough, but Marsh was an obsession with Philippa and she had looked very strange when she had come back to the house, deserted, frightened, in a mute rage. Jo could see her now in startling clarity. Something had set Philippa off, and Jo had the odd feeling it had been Marsh.

In the glow of midday, the surface of the water shone gold. Marsh braked the jeep to a stop, then switched off the ignition, his lean, powerful body nearly hunched in the seat. After a minute he swung out and came round to Jo's side, just leaning against the side of the vehicle looking in at her.

'Do you think I'm a mind-reader? ' he demanded.

'You haven't done too badly reading mine! '

'Oh well, I fear for you, Josephine, when I'm not around. ' His brilliant gaze slid over her. 'Where did I hurt you? ' he asked gently.

Desire overtook her right there and then, but she managed to shake her head. 'Don't feel guilty. You saved my life. '

'Now it's mine! ' He glanced away across the shining water and back to her face again. 'How are the lovebirds this morning? '

'God knows! ' she said, as though she didn't care much.

He focused on her intently, a faint frown between his marked brows. 'You mean you don't care? '

'Should I? ' she asked honestly. 'I just wish they'd go away. The children want to camp out and so do I! '

Marsh made a sharp hissing sound, then a smile twisted his mouth. 'Don't tell me he doesn't want you after all? '

Jo tilted her head back and closed her eyes. 'Don't be ridiculous—and don't talk to me about Blair. I'm nauseated enough! '

'Dear heaven! ' She could hear the mocking jeer in his voice. 'You are a one, aren't you? '

She sighed, resting immobile, the colour coming back into her face. 'I was brought up a puritan. I was taught, for instance, that it's sinful to covet someone else's husband. Anyway, my hot blood has cooled. I don't even enjoy his company any more. The wedding will have to be fairly urgent, won't it? '

'I'd recommend it! ' he said in a crisp, clipped voice. 'Let them do what they think best. Arranging weddings isn't really my department and I think Cyb's given it all away. I can't think why they came out here in the first place. Only you've got over your girlhood crush, so it wasn't very kind. '

'Then why did you let them come? '

'Open your eyes, Jo, ' he said a little grimly. 'I don't want to miss anything and they're very transparent. I was testing you. I'm not very kind either! '

'Was it really as bad as that? ' she asked softly. '

'You can't imagine! ' he said dryly.

Her hair spilled around her face and she looked intensely feminine, the flutter of her racing heart visible against the silk of her shirt. A bird swooped overhead, the most beautiful azure kingfisher with a red breast and back. Jo followed its flight, but she couldn't evade Marsh's brilliant probing gaze.

'I love you! ' she said urgently, as though she was offering him a priceless treasure.

'My poor demented girl! ' He leaned over and stroked her hair away from her face.

'I know you don't care! ' There was an emerald blaze in the depths of her eyes. 'Anyway, you're my friend! '

'I'm that! It would be treason to deny it. Are you going to get out of the jeep or am I going to lift you out? '

'It's O. K., I'd be glad to. ' Marsh opened the door and she jumped down. 'I must be out of my mind, telling you I love you! '

'It doesn't bother me, ' he said dryly. 'All you've got to do is prove it! '

'I will when I feel better! ' She moved slowly around the hanging, lemon-flowered vines. The moist red earth was covered thickly in tiny, delicate ferns. She could feel the adrenalin tingling through her body, exhilarating her. How could she tell him in such an unconcerned way that she loved him? Yet he was taking it just as lightly. Maybe with tragedy averted such a short time ago it was difficult to be normal. Just the sweetness of being with him was seducing her.

For several minutes there was total silence, then Marsh leaned over her and the look of possession on his face was so strong her body twisted up involuntarily as though she couldn't stand being parted physically from him. He was holding her gently but irresistibly and watching the way her face came alive.

'I wish there'd never been anyone but you! ' she whispered frantically.

'No, it's a good thing. Anyway, nothing of importance happened to you. '

'No! ' she said softly, glad it was true. 'You're my one love. My only love. I'm going to love you until I die! '

'You'll have to! ' he said distinctly, and brushed her eyelids with his mouth. 'I'm not letting you go—not now, not ever. It's about time you realised that. I never had any trouble making up my mind. I wanted you from the very first minute. Beautiful Miss Adams, brushing me aside! '

'I didn't! ' she protested.

'You did. I almost admired it. That's when I decided you were going to be mine. You know how to love a man, you'll know how to mother his children. It all comes naturally to you, my beautiful, kind, loving, clever Jo! ' He touched her mouth gently, a smile in the depths of his eyes.

She drew a jagged little breath, brought to wild life, feeling the strength and warmth of his body. 'Aren't you going to kiss me better than that? ' she asked plaintively.

'How can I, when all your ribs are aching? '

'Don't make too much of it! ' she implored him. 'I want you to love me properly. '

'I will soon enough! ' he said tautly, still holding back. 'You're a miracle. My woman, and you'll never escape me! ' His eyes were steady, forcing her to listen and heed.

Jo murmured his name gently, passion and tenderness all mixed up together, ruling her. 'I'll never want to. This is shelter and happiness and the most impossible, astonishing love. I feel like a child, newborn. To be shaped any way you like! '

Marsh hesitated, but only for a second, then he tipped her head back, claiming her mouth with a hungry intensity, a total pride of possession that went far beyond words and time and even the limits of the vast kingdom of Malakai. The sun through the trees cast a strange golden glow over them, their bodies leaving a single shadow on the ground. For the time they were together the world was a pulsing ring of fire and they were safe at its centre.

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