moon dragon anne hampson

8/10/2019 Moon Dragon Anne Hampson

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MOON DRAGON

Anne Hampson


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"Women need a little rough treatment!"

Renny listened to her husband's uncompromising statement insilence. Carl's angry cynicism was hardly surprising.

Eight years before, she had responded to his kindness by desertinghim on their wedding day. Now she had come to Singapore to askCarl for a divorce, so that she could remarry.

But incredibly, Renny found herself drawn to Carl's powerful,magnetic personality like a moth to flame. Could she extricate herselffrom this potentially dangerous situation? Or would her love be theweapon by which he would vengefully destroy her?


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CHAPTER ONE

R ENNY C OLBERT stood against the window and peered across thevalley to the austere majesty of the snow-clad hills beyond. The skywas ominously dark, the valley veiled in shadows.

'There'll be more snow,' she predicted, turning to face the cosy room.'I suppose it can be expected at this time of the year.' Her brown eyes,large and clear beneath a high, unlined forehead, stared pensively intothe flames sent up from the pine-logs burning in the grate. Thefair-haired girl in the chair glanced up, but her hands remained busywith a pair of knitting needles. 'Shall we have snow at Christmas, Iwonder?' Renny stirred restlessly as she spoke, and moved away fromthe window.

'Sunshine, probably, with the vagaries of our weatheror should itbe climate?' The girl who spoke was Renny's flat-mate, who hadcome to share the expenses four years ago when, owing to asubstantial increase in her rent, Renny had advertised for someone toshare the flat which, occupying the first floor of a small manor housethat had long since been converted into two dwellings, commandedmagnificent views from almost every window. But today the aspectwas depressing and, unfortunately, very much in keeping withRenny's mood.

'Clare,' she said decisively, 'I want to talkno, not just to talk, but toconfide. There comes a time in one's life when the skeleton in thecupboard becomes oppressive.'

'Fire away.' invited Clare unconcernedly and Renny had to smile. Inall the four years she had known Clare she had never seen herruffledno, not even when cows strayed into their little vegetablegarden and ate the sprouts and cauliflowers right down to the stalks.'If you've something on your mind then it'll be good for you to confide


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in old Clare here. After all, I am your senior, if only by a month andthree days.'

'You don't look twenty-six,' remarked Renny, for the momentdiverted from what was pressing on her mind.

'Neither do you, for that matter.' Clare laid aside her knitting andlooked up into her friend's face. It was an arresting face with firm,classical lines, and yet by some subtle etching of the contours therehad emerged a certain softness which was reflected in the gentleexpression which invariably looked out of her eyes. The wide mouthspelt compassion and, like the eyes, there was a mysterious qualityabout it that had long since caused Clare to suspect a secret, and shehad guessed instinctively that Renny would one day let her into it.

'You asked me the other day if I was in love with Gordon.' Rennymoved with slow steps to take possession of the vacant armchairopposite her friend.

'I shouldn't have. It's obvious, has been for a few weeks now.'

'I've an idea he's going to ask me to marry him.'

Clare's expression became puzzled.

'In that case, what's your problem? He loves you and you love him.Adds up to wedding-bells, surely?'

Renny looked into her friend's eyes, eyes that were big arid blue andhonest.

'You ask what my problem is.' She paused as if having difficulty in

framing her next words. 'I'm already married,' she owned, the wordscoming easily and simply in the end.


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'Married!' ejaculated Clare, and several seconds elapsed before,recovering from her stupefaction, she was able to add, 'Is this true? Ifso, why haven't you mentioned it before?'

'I've never told a soul about it --' She broke off, spreading her hands. 'I

was eighteen at the time and the man I married was twenty-three.'

'You've been married for eight years?' Clare looked disbelievingly ather. 'Tell me some more.'

'We were both distracted, quite out of our minds and therefore totallyunfit to make a decision. But we did make oneas hastily as that!'

Renny snapped her fingers, a frown lingering in her eyes. 'It seemsincredible when I look back on it now.'

'It was obviously a failure. How long did you live together?'

'About six hours --'

'What!' For fully half a minute Clare could only blink at her. 'Sixhours?'

'You see, we'd known each other for less than four days when we gotmarried.'

Clare gaped, completely tongue-tied this time. It was an age beforeshe said,

'Renny, girl, you stagger me. Are you sure you're not pulling my leg?I mean, you're so level-headedmust be to hold on to the job ofprivate and confidential secretary to the chief consultant to one ofEngland's largest engineering firms.'

'I'm level-headed now, but then ...' Renny's eyes become reflective. 'Iwasn't at that time, Clare. You see, my fiance had been killed in an aircrashNo, he hadn't been killed, but I thought he had.' She stopped


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as she noticed the expression in her friend's eyes. 'I expect it soundslike a lot of nonsense to you?'

'It certainly doesn't make much sense, my pet. You say your fiancewas killed, and then he wasn't. I feel like asking twenty questions!

Am I to take it that the man you married was not this fiance youmention?''That's right. I married someone else altogether.'

Clare drew a breath.

'You're having difficulty in relating this story, even though you wantto relate it. Well, Renny, just you begin at the beginning and I'm sure

it won't be nearly so difficult. I'll help you with part of it. You'vealready told me your parents were killed when their little pleasurecraft capsized and they were carried out to sea. You weren't in theboat, as you'd gone to stay with a schoolfriend somewhere in Wales.Your parents' solicitor befriended you, finding you a home and a job,correct?'

'Yes, that's correct.' Renny had listened attentively and now she satback, relaxing against the soft velvet upholstery of the chair, gratefulthat Clare had managed to make things easier for her.

'You decided to attend a secretarial school in the evenings andeventually landed the marvellous job with Gordon Elmsley.' Clare

looked steadily at her. 'But what you want to talk about takes place before you went to work for Gordon.'

'I was nearly eighteen when I got engaged to Paul Houseman,' saidRenny, taking up the story and speaking quite calmly about themomentous events which had taken place at that time. 'He was asteward on an aircraft, and although I didn't really care for his job I

did feel happy and secure once we'd decided to marry. I could see anice little home of our own, and a contented life ahead. It was awfulwhen I had no one of my own, as you can imagine,' she added,


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digressing for a moment as the memory of her desolation swept overher. -- --

'Indeed yes. I'm lucky, having parents and two sisters.'

'Paul and I were saving every penny, as we both wanted to getmarried as soon as possible.' Renny paused musingly. In the grate alog slipped and a flame shot up from out of the glowing sparks; ithigh-, lighted her honey-brown hair, long straight hair that fell like acloak about her shoulders. Clare saw her lips move, the manifestationof a memory and, too fascinated to break her reverie, she just sat andwatched in sympathetic silence, waiting for the mood of retrospectionto pass. When presently it did pass Renny continued, in that soft andsweetly-modulated voice which was one of her greatest attractions, 'Iwas listening to the radio one evening when, on the news, I learnedthat a plane had crashed somewhere in the desert. Everyone on boardwas killed.'

'Your fiance was on board that plane?'

Renny nodded, marvelling at her lack of emotion. Nevertheless, shedid manage to convey-to her friend just how she felt at the time.

'I was shattered, and didn't want to live. The names were given laterand Paul's was one, so it seemed there could be no mistake. My fiance

was dead.''What a terrible time you must have had --' Clare, deeply affected, hadto stop because of the ache of compassion that caught her throat. 'Tohave lost your parents only two years previously, and now yourfiance. No wonder you were shattered.' Clare paused, but Renny saidnothing and she went on, 'You were married at eighteen, you said, to

this other man --?'

'It'll all be plain in a moment,' interrupted Renny who, having got thisfar, was anxious to come to the end of her story. 'If you can imagine


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how I was, distraught, with no hope for the future, no one of my ownto turn to for comfort. I went out, into the teeming rain and mist of aLondon night and wandered from one street to another, scarcelyknowing what I did. I remember being soaked to the skin, and thetraffic splashing mud on to my legs and clothes. The physical

discomfort seemed, absurdly, to help me bear my mental agony.'Clare nodded but made no comment. 'I don't even remember steppinginto the road, right in front of an oncoming lorry. A man, acting withincredible speedy and realising that to try to drag me back would onlyresult in the loss of a vital second, ran into my back and pushed meforward, falling on top of me as the lorry sped by, missing us bothquite literally by inches. Apart from a few cuts and bruises neither ofus suffered any injury, because there was nothing coming in the otherdirection. It was a miracle.'

Renny stopped, gripped in a vice of emotion which showed in the tinybeads of perspiration standing out on her clear wide forehead.Tendrils of hair had become dampened and she lifted a hand to push

them away. 'This man picked me up and carried me to a cafe, wherehe bought me a cup of tea. I couldn't drink it --' She broke off, and itwas Clare who supplied the words,

'Because you just sat there and vomited.'

A convulsive shudder rippled along Renny's spine.

'The man called a taxi, put me into it, then asked where I lived. Ibelieve I became hysterical, declaring quite emphatically that I hadno home, no peopleno one at all. I said I wanted to die and this, ofcourse, fitted in with the impression I had given the man that I hadattempted suicide. He took me to his flat. Clare, it was the mostluxurious place you ever saw! Even in my numbed and anguishedstate of mind I could appreciate the lovely decor and expensivefurnishings.' Renny paused, glancing at her friend. 'It's proving to be along story,' she added apologetically.


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'And., a most interesting one. Please go on, Renny. I'm a little aheadof you, of course. You married this man who had saved your life.'

"Yes, you were bound to guess, after what I've already told you. It sohappened that he too had suffered, as his fiancee had jilted him almost

at the altar. That very afternoon she'd told him she was in love withsomeone else and was breaking off the engagement. Iimaginealthough he never said sothat he pleaded with her toreconsider. There was no doubt at all that he was madly in love withher.'

Clare had become thoughtful, working out in her mind exactly whathad happenedhow fate had played such a strong hand inprecipitating two desolate people into a hasty andas it turnedoutdisastrous marriage.

'It's obvious that, when you met, you were both passing through thedarkest period in your lives.'

'Very true. With me--well, I had had one dark period, when I lost myparents. But, as you say, this was a very dark period, a hopelessperiod when, for my part, death would have been welcome.' Rennymoved in her chair, away from the heat of the fire. 'You can see whatI meant when I said that neither of us was fit to make a decision.'

'You were only eighteen, and he was twenty-three. He was too youngfor marriage, anyway. Thirty's early enough for a man to marry.'

'L agree) although Paul was only twenty-five.' Renny thought of herhusband, who would be thirty-one now. Had he found someone tolove? If so, he obviously had no wish to marry her; there was proof ofthis in the fact that he had never divorced his wife.

"When this man found you --' Clare broke off, to ask the name of theman Renny had married.


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'Carl Langley.'

"You've never used the name, I take it?' Without waiting for theobvious answer Clare went on to ask if, when Carl found her, he toohad been wandering the rain-washed streets of London, scarcely

knowing what he was doing.

'Yes, I discovered that the following day, when we talked together.'Renny went on to relate how Carl had been infinitely kind to her,making her take a bath so that she would not catch a chill. She hadbeen provided with a pair of his pyjamas and a cosy dressing- gown,both much too big for her but welcome after the wet clothes she hadbeen wearing. He gave her supper, sternly forcing her to eat it. Thencame a drink, and some tablets to make her sleep.

'You weren't afraid?' said Clare with a curious glance at her across thespace that separated them.

Renny shook her head.

'For one thing, I hadn't the strength to protest, and for another I knewinstinctively that I could trust him, this even though, at that time, Ihad no idea that he had just lost his fiancee.'

'I rather think,' mused Clare, 'that he probably welcomed the

diversionoh, I don't mean that he was glad you'd suffered sodreadfully, but that as you were precipitated into his life at this crucialtime, he had something to take his mind off his own misery.'

'The same idea crossed my mind,' nodded Renny, - 'and I'm very surenow that this was the case. He was so kind, Clare, you have no ideawhat he did for me at a time when I felt so utterly alone and unhappy.

We talked the following morning. I learned that he was in business,his father having died the previous year and left., him several hotelsin the Far East. Two were in Singapore and one in Bangkok. He wasterribly bitter about his mother, who had remarried within three


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months of his father's death. When Carl took her to task over this sheadmitted that she had been having an affair with the man for severalyears.'

Clare's eyes opened very wide. -

'Lord, this, and the jilting, ought to have given him the strongestaversion to women!'

Renny bit her lip, a tinge of guilty colour fusing her cheeks. Not onlythose two, she reflected, but herself too, deserting him within hours ofthe marriage. It would not be at all surprising if he were a woman-

hatera circumstance that would acpount for his not attempting togain his freedom.

'He believed I'd intended to commit suicide,' she went on hurriedly. 'Itr^ed to convince him otherwise, but failed, and as it wasn't importantI let him think what he liked/

'He'd probably felt like ending his own life.'

'No, he was too strong a character for that, Clare. I knew that althoughhe was kindness itself, keeping me at his flat and tending me with thecare of a woman, he could be very stern and masterful. If he told meto do something I never once thought of disobeying him, as I knew it

would be futile.' --''Even at twenty-three he was masterful? I wonder what he's like nowat...' Clare calculated a moment. 'At thirty-one. A very attractive agefor a man, Renny. What was he like? Good-looking?'

'Extraordinarily so. And tallwell over six feet. He had an air of

nobility about him which, added enormously to his innate confidence.I felt small and insignificant beside him, but very safe as well.'


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Clare glanced at her with a curious expression. But she made nocomment. She was impatient for the rest of the story and urged Rennyto continue.

'We seem to have digressed a little,' was all she said', and then fell

silent.

'There isn't much more to tell. Carl pointed out that we had both losteverything we'd lived for, that we were now two lonely people whomfate had thrown together in the most improbable circumstances. Hesaid that our only immediate prospect was one of deep unhappiness,but that if we married we might be able to comfort one another.'Renny's expression became thoughtful. 'Looking back now I believehis chief concern was for me. He was strong and although he wasdevastated at the time, his personality was such that he would nevergo under. He would surmount the heartbreak eventually. But hewasn't so sure about me. He was aware that I had no one of my own,that I was in no fit condition to resume my employment. I remember

him saying that while marriage to him couldn't in any way beregarded as a panacea for my grief, it would at least put a stop to mywandering about in a demented condition, and stepping in front oflorries. Well, with this man coming into my life at such a vital time,offering me not only physical comfort and protection, but sympathyand kindness as well, I had no hesitation in saying I would marryhim.'

'He sounds very nice, Renny. And you obviously didn't find himrepulsive in any way --'

'Indeed no I' broke in Renny swiftly. 'On the contrary, I found himattractiveperhaps because of his kindness and understanding. Iknow I could have could have...' She tailed off, not knowing how tofinish what she had wanted to say. As before, Clare supplied thewords for her.


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'You could have been his wife in the true sense? You'd no visions of just a marriage of convenience?'

'No, I hadn't. I don't believe Carl would have agreed to that kind ofmarriage. It was to have been normal.'

Clare nodded, becoming thoughtful for a space.

'I believe I know the rest,' she told Renny, 'but tell me just the same.'

'It was all over in four days. Carl said a strange thing as we came outof the Registrar's office and got into his car. He said, "Renny, my

dear, one day you and I might be able to laugh together ... and afterthat, who knows?"'

Clare eyed her perceptively.

'It would appear that he hadn't dismissed the possibility of yourfalling in love with one another, later, when you'd both got over yourbroken hearts?'

'I believe you're right, Clare.' Renny was frowning heavily as shespoke. She was far from happy at the idea just voiced by her friend.She wanted her to be wrong, for then she would not feel quite soblameworthy for the way she had treated the man who became herhusband. 'I said we lived together for six hours,' she continuedpresently. 'Carl insisted on our having dinner out, and he drove intothe country to a very expensive hotel. We reached there about seveno'clock, having been married at three that afternoon and gone back tohis flat for an hour or so. We had dinner --'

Renny broke off, her mouth quivering, and Clare, with the picture in

her mind of a girl who was little more than a child, dining on herwedding-day with a man who had taken her dead fiance's place, hadno difficulty in guessing at the depth of emotion which, for a while,prevented speech. 'When it was time to go home I went: into the


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cloakroom for my wrap. The woman attendant had her radio on,listening to details of the crash.' Another slight pause and Clarewaited, her own nerves actually tensed, , for the most dramatic wordsof this incredible story to be voiced. 'The announcer was saying that amistake had been discovered; it was known that at least three

passengers and two of the crew had survived and that a rescue squadwas on its way to them. Paul's name was given out as one of thesurvivors. Itit had come through on the radio of the aircraft, whichat first had been out of order, and that was the reason for theassumption that everyone on board hadhad died.'

Silence and fireglow pervaded the cosy living-room, but outside thewind could be heard; it had risen a little, causing the slender branch ofa tree to whisper against the window-pane. Both girls listened, Rennywith her thoughts in the distant past, wondering where her husbandwas at this moment. She stared into the fire and wished that all herproblems were solved.

'Looking back now I know I ought to have gone immediately to Carland explained how I felt. He would have understood, I'm sure of it.' Ashadow of regret darkened Renny's lovely eyes. 'For some reason Ipanicked, remembering only Carl's sternness and mastery, andimagining he would be furiously angry and force me to stay with him.This was only one part of me, though. The other part rejoiced thatPaul was safe. Nothing seemed to matter except that I get to him,without delay.' Renny's expression was pained suddenly. 'There's nodoubt at all that my mind was affected at that time, because every oneof my actions was irrationaltotally and inexcusably irrational!'

'Don't blame yourself so much,' chided Clare. 'You were only a kid,and alone in the world. You couldn't be expected to tackle problemswith the maturity of an older woman, and one whose background wassecure.'


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'All the same, I should have known better than to run out on myhusband, leaving nothing more than a hastily-written notewhichwas probably curt as well saying I was going away as I'd learnedthat my fiance was alive.'

'You went from the hotel into your fiance's loving arms? No, hehadn't been rescued yet, you said?'

'No.' Renny gave a deep sigh and lapsed into silence.

'What happened? You never divorced Carl to marry Paul, which wasto be expected.'

Bitterness held Renny silent, for a space.

'I'll not bore you with the miserable details, Clare,' she said at last. 'It'ssufficient to say that Paul went wild, with fury at the idea of my beingmarried. I tried to explain that I was overwhelmed by grief and didn'tknow what Iwas doing. His reaction was harshly condemning. Hescourged me for marrying someone else when I believed he'd justbeen killed, said he'd had a narrow escape as I was shallow. Heshowed me the door--' Renny broke off, her whole body jerkingwith the convulsive shudder that passed through her as starkrecollection thrust itself into her consciousness and she re-lived heranguish. 'I loved Paul dearly, and it was terrible to bear.'

Anger brought two bright spots of colour to Clare's cheeks.

'It-must have been, but you've since admitted that it was you who"hada narrow escape, not this Paul?'

'Yes, I certainly had a narrow escape. When I compare Carl's

kindness, his gentle concern for me, and his understanding, with thebehaviour of the man I loved, it's amazing that I didn't run back to myhusband at once.'


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"What did you do?'

'I grieved and fretted in my little apartment and tried to think thingsout. I still loved Paul and I believe that if he had come to me I'd havetaken him back even though, deep down, I was already admitting that

he and I would never have made a go of marriage. He had nounderstanding, no sympathy with my agony of mind, whereas Carlwas just the opposite. And I suppose it was the convictionthat Carlwould understand, and forgive methat sent me back in the end.'

'You did go back, then?'

Renny nodded.

'I was already thinking in a more rational way, because of course Iwas no longer grieving for a fiance who was dead. Also, I wasgradually coming to accept that I'd not lost anything by the break withPaul.'

'In other words, you were realising that you'd thrown away the goldfor the dross.'

'Something of the kind, although you must remember that myhusband was still a stranger to me. However, his words kept runningthrough my mindthat we might one day be able to laugh together. I

had a wonderful feeling of optimism, I remember. I'd be able to helphim and he'd help me. I'd do all in my power to mend his brokenheart, to make him forget. the girl who had so callously let him down.Do you know, Clare, that I was actually excited when I'd eventuallymade up my mind to return to him. I felt we could make a success ofour marriage in spite of the way we'd rushed into it. I'd given myself afull week to think things out. When I went back to his flat I found it

closed up; and the tenant of an adjoining flat informed me th&t theowner had gone abroad and his flat was up for sale.'

'He'd gone off to lick his two wounds?'


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'I expect so,' answered Renny sadly. 'I felt awful, Clare. No one couldhave felt more ashamed than I did. And I felt lost, too, terribly alonein the world. But I had no one to blame but myself, making one majorbluMer after another like that. Why, for instance, didn't I return toCarl immediately instead of letting a week go by?'

'You're altogether too self-critical, Renny. As I just pointed out, youwere a mere child at that time. You'd never think of acting like thatnow simply because you're older, and more mature in consequence.'Clare spoke her mind as she added, 'The only real mistake you madewas in falling in love with a man who was unworthy of you. He musthave revealed his true self at some time or other in your relationship?'

Renny nodded in agreement.

'I remember that he used often" to find fault with me, and to grumble.It hurt a lot; I remember that too.'

Clare veered the subject, asking Renny what she meant to do now.

'You want to marry Gordon, so you'll have to divorce Carl. Do youknow how you're going to find him?'

'I remember him saying that if he hadn't met me he'd have gone to livein Singaporeafter he'd been jilted, that was.'

'He sounds as if he's rich. You could have been living the good life allthese years.'

Renny nodded, digesting this as she recalled yet again Carl's wordsabout their being able to laugh together.

'I wonder what he's doing...' She spoke to herself, feeling a strangelittle access of sadness that she had a husband and yet had no ideawhere he was or what he was doing.


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'You'll have to contact him, but that'll be difficult and it'll take time.Will Gordon wait?'

'I feel he'll be patient. I've shirked telling him I'm married and canonly hope he'll understand.'

'I feel he will; he's that sort of person.'

And it transpired that Clare's prophecy was to prove correct. After theinitial shock of discovering that his beloved was already married,Gordon listened sympathetically to her story and when at length shestopped speaking he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.

'Between us, love, we'll have it sorted out.' He paused in thought.'Singapore ... I wonder...?'

'Wonder what?' enquired Renny after waiting some moments forGordon to continue.

'I was offered a transfer to Singapore --'

'You were? You didn't say anything to me.'

'No, I turned it down because I took it for granted that you wouldn'twant to go there, since you'd always told me how much you love theEnglish countryside. I knew I was intending to ask you to marry meso, as I said, I turned it down.'

Renny looked at him.

'You could still have the job?'

'I'm fairly sure I could. I don't think it's even been advertised yet.'

'I'd go with you as your secretary?' she asked unnecessarily.

'Of course. You don't suppose I'd go without you, do you?'


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She smiled up at him, feeling foolish for putting the question. Shewas Gordon's secretary and therefore she must accompany him,wherever his assignments took him.

'I feel it would be a very good idea to accept the transfer,' she said. 'If

Carl is in Singapore then I could surely find him.'

'You haven't any real need to meet him, you know. One can get adivorce very easily these days.'

'I realise that but, somehow, I feel I owe it to him to see "Him andexplain my conduct. Please don't ask me for a reason; I can't give

myself one. All I know is that, after the shabby way I treated him, Iought to say I'm sorry.'

'You're a brave girl,' remarked Gordon wryly. 'From your descriptionof the man he sounds rather formidable to me,'

'He'll have got over any anger he felt towards me/ was Renny'sconfident response.

Gordon made no comment. They were in the lounge of the Fox andBarrel, having drinks before going into the restaurant for dinner.Renny looked at him across the table, some impulse directing her tocompare him with Carl. Of course, Carl might have changed

considerably in eight years. He certainly must have changed a little,since time inevitably did, change people. He had dark brown hair, sheremembered, and it waved slightly at the front. His eyes were tawnyin colour and, she suspected, they could have reflected something farremoved from the gentleness she invariably saw in them when he wasso assiduously ministering to her needs. She had seen them stern butnever harsh, she recalled. Gordon's eyes were blue, light blue, going

well with the colour of his skin and his fair hair. He was big in a morerounded way than Carl, whose tall frame was lean and athletic, andwho carried it with an air of distinction not untinged with


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arroganceespecially in the way he held his head, and with thosebroad shoulders so erect. His features, too, were lean, and bronzed asif he spent a good deal of his time out of doors. His hands were longand sensitive, she reflected, and they had been so very gentle whendrying her tears of grief. Carl was taller than Gordon, and his

confidence even then, at twenty-three, seemed more pronounced thanGordon's, despite the fact that Gordon had the sort of job which calledfor confidence, being, at twenty-nine, the youngest chief consultantthe firm had ever employed.

'I'll see about that transfer,' Gordon was promising later, when he andRenny were saying goodnight at her door. It was Saturday and he hadcome over from Manchester, where he had a service flat, to spend theweek-end in Buxton, staying at an hotel because Renny could notaccommodate him at the flat. She had the room but not the furniture.Gordon's coming up each week-end was routine ever since he andRenny had been going out together, and every Monday morning theywould drive together to their place of work outside Manchester. 'I

hope I haven't lost it,' added Gordon a trifle anxiously. 'I feel we shallboth thoroughly enjoy a spell in the Far East.' He stopped to kiss her,and whisper something that was totally irrelevant to what he had justbeen saying. 'If you do find this husband of yours, and a divorce canbe arranged amicably, then it won't take long at all.'

'I hope it won't,' responded Renny seriously. 'How long can we stay inSingapore?'

'About a year.'

'A year? That's a fair time. I ought to be able to find Carl long beforeit's time for us to leavethat is, of course, if he is living there. I've noproof, remember.'

'It seems very likely, though, that he's there, with owning these hotelsyou mention.'


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'Yes, I agree.' Renny paused in thought for a moment. 'I expect he'llbe willing to have the amicable divorce you mention,' she addedconfidently.

Gordon looked at her.

'You speak so calmly of Carl,' he remarked. 'But I suppose he'sbecome a nebulous figure to you after all these years?'

'Strangely he isn't nebulous at allat least, not now. All through theyears I've scarcely ever thought of him, there was no need to, as Ididn't want a divorce. But now that I've begun to think about him his

face is unbelievably clear. His manner, too, and his kindness --'Renny looked at Gordon with a hint of apology in her eyes. 'You dounderstand, don't you, Gordon?'

'Of course, my darling. What sort of man would I be if I didn't? Carlwas marvellous to you-at that time. After all, he could havedisappeared immediately after' the rescue. Instead, he must haveguessed you needed help, and he concerned himself with yourwelfare. It's incredible, when you think about it in some depth. Mostmen wouldn't have bothered.'

'He saw my condition; I was soaking wet, right through to the skin. Iwas crying, and almost hysterical. Yes,' she mused, 'he was so very

good to melike an angel appearing just when I needed one.' Rennygave a small sigh. It was strange how she felt, how she wanted to seeCarl again, to talk to him and let him know that she was grateful, andwould be for the rest of her life.

'It's a wonder he's never wanted to marry,' Gordon said. 'A man likethat is wasted if he remains a bachelor.'

Renny smiled. A bachelor? Carl was neither husband nor bachelor, just as she was neither wife nor spinster.


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'Clare is of the opinion that he's a woman-hater. You see, it wasn'tonly that he was jilted, and then deserted by his bride, but his motherhurt him as well; she married within three months of his father'sdeath- married the man she'd been having an affair with for severalyears.'

'Good lord! He's certainly suffered at the hands of women I I'minclined to agree with* Clare that he's a woman-hater.'

'It would account for his not asking me for a divorce.'

'Yes, it would.'

'I wish he'd found someone nice,' murmured Renny on a sad littlenote. 'No one deserves happiness more than he does.'

"He's still young. He'll find happiness one day.'Gordon, consideringenough time had been spent on talking about Renny's husband, tookher in his arms, and for the next few minutes no words were spokenbetween them. But at last they were saying the final goodnight, andRenny stood on the step, waving in the darkness, as Gordon slid intohis car and drove away.

On the following Tuesday he was able to inform her that the job washis and that they would be flying to Singapore immediately after

Christmas.'We'll be there for the Chinese New Year,' he added. 'It's at the end ofJanuary, and this year is the Year Of the Dragon, so I'm told.' Hestopped and laughed at Renny's expression. 'Don't ask me to explain;I don't know anything much about it at all. Apparently their NewYear is linked to the Chinese zodiac and every twelve years it comes

round to the dragon, which is the zodiac's most auspicious animal,,standing, in that part of the world, for all that's good. So we're mostfortunate in having an opportunity to join in the celebrations thisparticular year.'


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'It sounds fascinating. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll certainlybe a change from anything we've ever experienced before.'

'We're lucky...' They were in the office and so he did not attempt tokiss her, but his glance was tenderness itself and so was his voice as

he added, 'Christmas to look forward to first, and then this trip toSingapore, and after that ... marriage. Does it make you happy, mydarling?'

'Just about as happy as it's possible to be, Gordon.'

'I wish you'd have let me buy you the ring. I want you to be wearing

it...' He shrugged resignedly even before she said,

'I'd rather wait until I'm free, Gordonplease try to - understand. Itseems wrong, somehow, to be wearing your ring when I'm married tosomeone else.'

'You have high ideals, and I love you for it. But we are engaged,' headded with a hint of mastery.

'Of course we are,' returned Renny happily. 'And this time next yearwe might be married.'

'In which case we shall be spending our honeymoon in some romanticplace in that part of the world. How would you like to go to the islandof Bali ?'

Her eyes shone.

'I've read about Bali; it's supposed to be the world's most beautifulisland.'

'A fitting place for a honeymoon, my love. If the divorce goes throughin time that's where I shall take you.'


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CHAPTER TWO

AFTER a smooth descent over Singapore's harbour and city, theBoeing 707 made an equally smooth touchdown on the runway of theisland's Paya Lebar Airport. It was half-past seven in the evening, and

Renny and Gordon were charmed by the myriad coloured lightswhich spangled the busy waterfront. In the harbour were ocean liners,freighters, sampans and numerous other vessels. Kelongs with theirpowerful storm lanterns added to the mixture of light and shade, their

jumble of wooden poles topped by small shacks, rupturing the sea'shorizon and yet giving it a sort of mystic aspect which was always somuch a part of the Orient. Kelong owners were a very special breed ofmen, hardy men whose lives were spent in fishing at night under theglow of their lanterns whose bright lights attracted schools ofanchovies and cuttlefish, and also their predators, tuna fish andmackerel. The men rarely if ever married, preferring to spend theirentire lives in the spartan existence which began and ended with thespiky-looking contraption of architecture known as the kelong.

'Oh, but this is exciting!' Renny exclaimed, thinking of thenarrowness of her travel ventures up till nowCornwall for herannual holiday each year, and a week-end in London now and then.'Gordon, aren't you excited too?'

He was, he admitted, but his reaction was less spontaneous than

Renny's.

They had been booked in at the Mandarin Hotel, but heir stay wouldbe only temporary as the firm was hoping to find them a privateapartment or villa.

'I've never seen anything like it!' gasped Renny even before sheentered the incredible Mandarin Square, the vast lobby of the hotel.'It's ... breathtaking!' She just stood, absorbing the contrast of amagnificent white marble floor with the black Italian marble walls


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and seats of vibrant scarlet. 'Just look at that mural!' Renny pointed,indicating a beautiful work of arteighty-seven larger-than-lifefairies delineated by gold etched into gleaming white marble. 'I neverexpected the firm to send us to an hotel like this.' Renny stared andstared, then lifted her eyes to the canopies .decorated with an

abundance of gold leaf, exquisitely worked. And cascading downfrom the ceiling was a massive waterfall made of Venetian glass.

'If this is the lobby,' said Gordon, 'then what's the rest of the hotellike?'

They were soon to discover that the bedrooms reflected the sameluxurious good taste as the Mandarin Square.

Renny, left by the porter who had taken her baggage to a palatialroom whose decor left her breathless for the second time, wondered ifthis was some enchanting but impossible dream from which shewould soon awaken.

'It must be the most beautiful and extravagant hotel in the world...'Her awed gaze rested on the bed, with its spread of soft pastelprimrose matching the drapes at the huge floor-to-ceiling window.There was a television set and radio, an elegant sofa in gold-colouredvelvet with matching down cushions. The bathroom, with itsflowery-patterned tiles in primrose and brown, had twin basins, bath,

shower and even an extension telephone. Soap was in pretty boxes, asachet of expensive bath gelee was on the end of the enormous bath.

Renny gave a deep contented sigh and began to unpack. She andGordon were dining at nine o'clock in the Top of the M, theMandarin's revolving restaurant on the fortieth floor. For thisoccasion Renny chose to wear a long full dress of white lace with anunderslip of apple green nylon'. Her hair shone and so did her eyes.She was happy and it showed. As Gordon had remarked when they


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entered the hotel lobby, this was a most romantic start to theirengagement.

'It's a shame we're not on our honeymoon,' he was> saying as they satat a secluded table in an atmosphere of soft lights and quiet music,

enjoying the last of their wine while waiting for the sweet course tobe served. The meal had been a delight to Renny, who ventured to trythe Shark's Fin soup and then another exotic delicacy, Peking Duck.The view was also a delight, as from the high wide window therecould be viewed a spectacular panorama of Singapore and thecountries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Sea, jungle and the star- filledsky...

'It's a three hundred and sixty degree view of South- East Asiawithout moving from your seat,' observed Renny, enthralled by therestaurant and the food and the impeccable service. But she wasaffected in a different way altogether. Her senses seemed to respondindefinably J the vibrant atmosphere of the Orient; she was aware of

emotions that were exciting in some deeply mystic way that left herwith the firm conviction that life would never be quite the same when,at the end of the year's term here, she and Gordon returned to the coldreality of the Western world. He was speaking, suggesting they goalong to one of the cocktail lounges, but she declined, saying shewould prefer to go to bed. They had eaten their sweetGordonhaving fresh fruit but Renny once again being venturesome andchoosing Bo-buh Cha. Cha- more for its intriguing name thananything else. It turned out to be an ice dessert flavoured with cubesof jelliton and yams. She found it delightfully refreshing and kept it inmind for a repetition some time.

'It was such a long flight,' she said apologetically when Gordon hadtried again to persuade her to join him at one of the bars. 'I slept, Iknow, but fitfully. I'm looking forward to a good night's rest.'


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'Well, we haven't to start work for another three days, so you can liein in the morning if you wish.'

'No, I don't think I'll do that, Gordon. I'd rather use these three dayswe have to try and find Carl.'

'I think I agree. The sooner you find him the better.' He paused,looking at her with affection. 'As I've already said, there isn't any realnecessity for you to meet him, you know.'

'Please bear with me,' begged Renny seriously. 'I want to meet him,and to thank him for all he did for me. It's late, I know, but I haven't

had an opportunity before of meeting him. If I do find him I must tellhim of my deep gratitude, and how ashamed I am for running out onhim. I also want' Her voice trailed to silence. For some reason shecould not confide to her fianc that she wanted to see how herhusband was faring, to see if he was happy.

'Yes?' Gordon looked enquiringly at her, but she shook her head.

'It was nothing. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go to bed/ They hadboth risen as she spoke; Gordon decided to go along to the ClipperBar for a last drink, but he escorted Renny to her room first, goinginside with her and kissing her goodnight.

The following morning they met at the breakfast table. Gordon hadalready received a message and he told Renny that he had to go intothe office later that morning.

'I'm sorry, darling, to leave you on your own, but I have to obey thesummons.'

'Don't worry about it, Gordon. I'm not a babe in arms, you know.'

'I shall probably be away for the greater part of the day.' Hisgood-humoured face was a trifle anxious despite Renny's attempt to


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reassure him. 'It's a strange place, with strange people. I don't like theidea of your wandering about, all by yourself.'

She had to laugh at his fears.

'I shan't get lost, if that's what's troubling you. I've at tongue in myhead, and everyone speaks English.'

'Very well, if you're happy about it,' he said accommodatingly. 'I don'tyet know for sure, but I've an idea I'll be wanted tomorrow as well astoday, and probably Friday too.'

'Won't you need me? I am your secretary, after all.'

Gordon shook his head.

'I shan't need you, Renny. I'm only looking around, really. It seemsthey want me to familiarise myself with the whole place.' He paused,looking questioningly at her. 'You haven't told me how you proposeto begin your search?'

'I thought of making enquiries at police headquarters. If Carl's wellknown then I might just get a clue from the police.'

'It seems reasonable,' agreed Gordon. 'If, as you believe, he hasinterests in hotels here then it's feasible that he's well known.'

To Renny's surprise it was an Englishman whom she saw when, afterentering the building, she asked ipr the police officer in charge. Toher further surprise she was immediately informed that Mr CarlLangley owned the Zephyr Hotel in Orchard Road, where he residedin a penthouse.

Orchard Road ... The same road in which the Mandarin was situated.


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Renny came out of the building only fifteen minutes after entering it,dazed by the ease with which she had been able to locate her husband.She walked on, into a throng which included Chinese, Malays,Indians, Europeans and many other nationalities. Trishaws slowed upalongside her, but she smilingly declined the services offered to her.

Taxi drivers slowed their cabs too, hoping for a fare. Renny walkedon, through a kaleidoscope of colour, through a medley of voices andlaughter, her entire thoughts with the man whom she had married insuch haste and then deserted. The forthcoming encounter was nolonger viewed, objectively and without emotion. On the contrary, sheknew fear, uncertainty and trepidation and these combined to erasethe complacency with which she had hitherto regarded the meetingwith Carl.

She was asking herself how he would receive her. He might beamused at her whim, or he might on the Other hand treat her with thecontempt she deserved. He could be angry with her, remembering thehurt and humiliation she had caused him when, after he had done so

much for her, she had repaid him in such a callous manner. Renny bither lip, vexed with herself for what she could only term cowardice.For without doubt she was not looking forward to the meeting withCarlin fact, she almost felt like shirking it, and getting in touchwith him by post. But immediately this struck her as absurd, if onlybecause Carl was living so close to where she was at present staying.

She made her way along Orchard Road to the Zephyr, and stoodoutside looking up at its many rising storeys. A truly magnificenthotel that must surely rival the Mandarin in elegance and good taste.

Twice she entered the lobby, then went out into the road again. A fewmoments more of uncertainty and she was hurrying back to her ownhotel.


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'You discovered his whereabouts as easily as that! 'was Gordon'samazed exclamation when he learned of Renny's success. 'Howincredible!'

'I intended to go and see if he was in,' she said.

'Why didn't you?'

She looked at him and wondered how he could be so calm about it all.And yet why shouldn't he be? she was asking herself a moment later.Carl was nothing, either in Gordon's life or in hers.

'I suppose,' she admitted at length, 'that I got cold feet.'

'Cold feet?' Gordon raised his eyebrows. 'Surely not. After all theseyears it'll only be like meeting a total stranger.'

Stranger ... and yet her husband...

'I can't explain,' she sighed. 'I feel apprehensive at the idea of comingface to face with himI know it sounds crazy to you, but there it is.'

Gordon shrugged and Renny changed the subject,, aware that he wasbecoming impatient with her.

The next day she wandered through the streets of the city, admiringthe decorations which were being put up in readiness for the NewYear celebrations. Brilliantly coloured dragons seemed to beeverywhere high up on the facades of buildings, on the ground infront of hotels, or in gardens fringing the roads. Everyone seemedinfected, commenting and laughing and stopping to watch the men atwork on ladders putting up the bunting.

Renny wished she had nothing on her mind, so that she too could beenjoying the excitement. The Zephyr loomed before her suddenly and


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she swung round to proceed in the other direction. But she stoppedabruptly.

'It's got to be done,' she told herself resolutely and; propelling herselfwith a sort of mechanical determination, she entered the hotel before

she could change her mind even yet again. But it then took sheerstrength of purpose to carry her to the reception desk and ask to seeMr Carl Langley.

'Mr Langley is not in at present.' The Chinese clerk, speaking perfectEnglish but with a high-pitched intonation, asked politely if shewould like to leave a message.

She sighed and shook her head. After all her efforts Carl was not in.

'No-r-eryes, I will leave a message...' She stopped slowly, watchingthe man's expression. He was staring beyond her, towards theentrance, and Renny turned her head.

'He is here now, madam.' The voice of the clerk seemed to drift to herover a distance; the face of the man coming towards her was blurred,as was that of the glamorous slant-eyed beauty at his side. Renny felther legs go weak, her heart begin to race madly against her ribs. Achoking sensation swelled up in her throat, preventing speech. Theman stopped, his tawny eyes bright, and piercing. A movement at the

side of his jawlike that of a nerve out of controlwas the onlyvisible sign of emotion. Renny stared, taking in the changes in hisfeaturesthe taut jawline and harsh contours of his lean bronzedcheeks. His mouth was thinner than she remembered, his chin moreout- thrust. And sprinkled among the brown hair were a few threadsof grey here and there.

This man was her husband ... Sounds reached her cascading chatterand laughter from Singaporeans sauntering past the hotel entrance;the voice of the Chinese porter speaking to a couple of American


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tourists who were asking about a room, a vehicle backfiring and ascreech of brakes ... Other things registered: the girl with the almondeyes, her arm tucked possessively into Carl's, the man himself, slowlycoming towards her, a tall assured man of the world whoseformidable appearance made Renny want to turn and run, but instead

she passed a tongue over her dry lips and tried to say something. Butit was Carl who broke the silenceand the spell.

'It's ... Renny.' He added something softly to himself. Renny saw themovement of his lips and knew he said, 'My wife.'

Never was a moment so tensed, so charged with emotion. The girl,obviously puzzled, looked from Carl to Renny and back again.

'But will you not introduce me, Carl?' The voice, husky and low, wasattractively seductive, as was the girl's whole appearance, from herblue-black hair and Asian features to her incredibly slender figureand perfectly-shaped legs. She wore a suit of emerald green linenwith a blouse beneath which had a mandarin collar which went sowell with her general appearance.

Carl came forward, the girl at his side. Renny heard the name, Masie,and automatically extended a hand to her as she said,

'How do you do...?' then stopped. She. had not heard the girl's

surname.'I came to look for you,' Renny managed at last, looking up at Carland gathering a modicum of composure which she hoped she couldretain. 'Is there somewhere where we can talk?'

He looked her up and down; she felt stripped before the tawny eyes'

examination and the blood rushed to her cheeks.

'You can come up to my apartment.' Carl's voice was clipped andharsh, so very different from that gentle voice which, so long ago, had


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comforted Renny in her distress. What a transformation I She hadexpected some change, but never anything so marked as this.

Renny's eyes slid to the Chinese girl, who was still very puzzled, andfrowning a little. She had withdrawn her arm from Carl's and was

regarding her long, beautifully-shaped fingernails with a sort of mildinterest, but the frown of puzzlement was still there. She was listeningintently to what Carl and Renny were saying.

'Yes, that will do fine. Your apartment is in the hotel, I'm told.'

'Told?' repeated Carl briefly.

'I enquired at police headquarters for you,' Renny explained. 'Theytold me you had a penthouse here, at the Zephyr.'

'I see...' Turning, he spoke to Masie, using Chinese so that Rennywould not be able to understand. The girl pouted and her frowndeepened. But she shrugged her shoulders nevertheless and saunteredoff, towards the lounge.

"This way.' Carl swung a hand negligently. 'I have a private lift.'

Renny followed, her legs still weak. She stood beside her husband asthe lift whirled up to the top of the high building and wished hernerves were not so tensed. Carl was regarding her in silence,examining her in profile. She swallowed and coloured up ... andwished she were somewhere else.

Carl did not speak until they were in his sitting- room, an incredibleapartment with Imperial Chinese decor and furnishings. Carl invitedRenny to sit down, which she did, right on the edge of a low armchair,

deeply cushioned but with carved sides and arms. Carl spoke softly,from the other side of the room, and asked her what she wanted to talkto him about.


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'A divorce,' she answered, swallowing hard. 'I want to get marriedagain.'

Carl's eyes flicked over her, his mouth curving in contempt. Rennystared, fascinated, thinking of the charming young man she had

married,- the gentle, compassionate man of twenty-three, who hadgone for ever, replaced by a harsh-featured and arrogant stranger witha mouth too thin and eyes as hard as stone.

'You came all this way to say that to me?' He was standing with hisback to a vast grille of ornate wrought-iron covered with gold leaf,and behind the grille, which was close to the wall and covering theentire length of it, was a brilliantly-coloured mural depicting aChinese garden. 'How did you know I was here?'

'I wasn't sure, but I thought it likely, as you'd said that if you hadn'tmet me then you would have gone to Singapore to live.' Rennymoved uneasily on her chair. 'I want to talk, Carl, there's so much tosay.'

'Then say it,' curtly and without a sign that he had heard either theapology in her tone or the faintly- pleading accents that were meant tosoften him a little. His eyes swept her figure, resting for a moment onthe firm contours of her breasts. She coloured painfully, saw himsmile at her discomfiture, and those tawny eyes took on the kind of

expression that made her want to get up and flee from his austere andcontemptuous presence.

But instead she looked at him and said,

'The way I ran out on you, Carl. It was a dreadful thing to do, but atthe time --' She shook her head in a little gesture of helplessness and

regret. 'I didn't know what I was doing.'


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'All you did know was that you had to get back to your fianc.Couldn't you have come to me first, and explained it all, instead ofwriting a note like that?'

She nodded guiltily.

'Yes, indeed. I have no excuse to offer, only a sincere apology.'

Carl said after a pause,

'What happened? You obviously didn't marry the man. Did you livewith him, perhaps?' A sneer edged his voice as his eyes flicked her

contemptuously. 'You've parted, I suppose, and now you've metsomeone else and want to get married, is that it?'

Renny was shaking her head even before he had finished speaking.

'No, you have it all wrong! It isn't like that at all,' she went onprotestingly. 'I didn't live with Paul.'

'Then what happened?'

'He hated me for getting married when I believed he'd just beenkilled. I expect there was some excuse for the attitude he took.'

'He hated you?' Carl frowned, then shrugged. 'Why didn't you comeback to me?'

Renny had expected this question; she supposed it was the obviousone he would put to her. She was about to tell him that she hadreturned to his flat but that it was too late; he had left. But, owing tohis contemptuous expression, and because of the cold reception hehad given her and the complete lack of friendliness, her pride came tothe fore. She had come prepared to show contrition and ask hisforgiveness; she had not come prepared to adopt a pose of abjecthumility. And so she omitted to inform him that she had returned,


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hoping he would forgive her, and vowing to help him over his ownunhappiness.

'I felt it was no use,' was all she said. 'After all, you and I were merestrangers.'

'At that time, yes, but we wouldn't always have been strangers.' For amoment his voice had lost its harshness and she wished she had notdecided on the omission.

'About the divorce, Carl. Will it take long?'

'It all depends,' he answered, unmoved.

'On what?' Something bordering on uneasiness touched her senses.'You wouldn't defend it, surely?'

The tawny eyes were inscrutable.

'I might.' He walked over to the window and stood looking down intothe hectic hurry and bustle of Orchard Road. Was he hiding hisexpression? wondered Renny as she sat staring at his broad back. Orwas he just being deliberately rude?

'But it won't do you any good to defend it,' she pointed out. 'If I want adivorce I can get one,'

'Eventually, yes,' he agreed. 'But it will take much longer.'

Renny frowned in puzzlement.

'I can't see any reason at all why you should want to defend it,' shesaid, and he turned round then, slowly, and his eyes swept over herface, her lovely curves, her shapely legs and ankles.


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'You've grown very beautiful.' His voice held an unfathomableinflection; the tawny eyes were veiled. 'Tell me about yourselfNo,tell me about this man first,' he amended. 'This man you want tomarry.' His manner had changed to one of arrogant command andRenny bristled, flashing him an angry glance. But her voice was

gentle when she spoke, as she began telling him a good deal aboutGordonhow she had come to work for him, as his private andconfidential secretary.

'So you came here as his secretary, not to find me?' Carl spoke whenat length Renny paused. 'How long will you be in Singapore?'

'About a year. I did come as Gordon's secretary, but I wanted to findyou, Carl. It was an excellent opportunity of meeting you anddiscussing the divorce. As I've, mentioned, you said you'd have comehere to live if you hadn't met me, so it seemed probable that this iswhere you'd be now.' 'Now?' with a lift of his brows. 'It's eight yearssince I said I'd come to Singapore.'

She nodded.

'I wasn't sure of finding you, but as Gordon had the chance of this jobit seemed a good idea for us to come.'

Carl said nothing for the moment. When he did speak it was to ask

Renny if she would like a drink.'I'd enjoy a cup of coffee,' she said.

Carl rang a bell, then looked down at her again.

'Yes,' he murmured almost to himself, 'you've grown very beautiful.'

A pause and then, 'Life appears to have treated you kindly, after yourexperience.'

'I was fortunate in getting the post with Gordon,' she admitted.


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'You mentioned that you share a flat with someone.'

Renny wondered if he were talking for talking's sake, as he waited forthe response to his ringing of the bell. A Chinese boy came, enteringafter knocking softly on the door. Carl ordered coffee, then asked

Renny if she wanted anything to eat, glancing at his watch at the sametime.

'No, thank you, Carl. I'll be having my lunch in a short while.'

'You're staying at the Mandarin, you said.' Carl spoke as the Chineseboy left the room. 'You'll be having your lunch there?'

'Yes, Gordon's had to go into the office, so I shall be taking it on myown.'

It never occurred to her that Carl would seize this as an opening for aninvitation to lunch. He had been almost hostile to her several timesduring their conversation, so the invitation took her completely bysurprise.

'Lunch with you ... here?'

Carl nodded.'Yes; we have a very charming restaurant right at the topwith a view similar to this.'

She found herself wondering why she was accepting his offer insteadof voicing an instant refusal. It was as though she were once again aneighteen-year-old who had neither the wish nor the strength to opposethe desires of the man who had saved her life and who was soon tobecome her husband.

'That would be nice, Carl. Thank you for asking me.' He said nothingand she added after a space, 'It will give us the opportunity of talkingabout the divorce.'


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'Will it?' with a sort of bored disinterest. 'Ah, here's Willy with thecoffee.' He told the boy to put the tray on a table. 'We'll pour itourselves, thank you,' he said, and the boy left at once.

Watching him pour it into fine china cups Renny wondered just how

self-sufficient Carl was. She thought about the Chinese girl, Masie,and dwelt for a moment on their relationship. The girl was glamorous,exceptionally attractive. Would Carl marry her once the divorce wasthrough? Perhaps, but if he had wanted to marry her he would havesought a divorce himself.

'You take sugar still?' Carl had poured her coffee; he held a silversugar bowl towards her. It was incredible that he had remembered shetook sugar 1

'Yes, please.'

She felt shy and awkward as he came closer ... very close ... She sat,motionless, every nerve stirred as she ieaifeed that she was suddenlyaware of him as a man, of his vital personality, and of his subtlereserve which, putting him on a separate plane from herself,awakened the desireperhaps born of piqueto break down thatreserve and make him notice her as a woman.

She smiled up at him, held out her hand for the cup.

She took sugar from the bowl and thanked him. And all the time theireyes held, his unfathomable, hers soft and gentle and yet faintlybewildered because she was not at all sure of what she was trying todo.

All she knew was that .Gordon seemed to be a million miles away at

this moment!


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'I see. Where are you meeting him?'

'We didn't make any firm arrangements. I said I'd phone him if youwere going to be away tomorrow you did mention that you mighthave to go to the office.'

'Yes, I did.' Gordon paused; Renny knew he was far from pleased,and again she could not blame him. After all, she was acting ratherstrangely, this she was more than willing to admit. 'Supposing,' wenton Gordon quietly, 'I hadn't been going into the office tomorrow?'

Renny looked at him swiftly.

'Then I'd have to fix another time, I suppose.'

'But as it is, you're intending to phone him and arrange to see himtomorrowand have lunch with him again, no doubt.' Anger now inhis voice and Renny bit her lip. What was the matter with her? shewondered. She seemed to be affected by Carl in some unfathomableway which pulled on both nerves and mind.

She thought she must be crazy, but she knew she would far rather ithad been Carl sitting there than Gordon...

'I promised to phone him, yes,' she admitted. 'And I expect we shalldiscuss the divorce.'

'I hope so, Renny,' responded Gordon stiffly. 'The sooner it's allsorted out the better.'

She nodded but said nothing. Her eyes, moving rather absentlyaround the room, settled on the man at the keys of the grand piano. He

was playing a light melody, but she-had to strain to hear it above thechatter going on at a nearby table where a lovely Malay girl dressedin a brilliantly-coloured sarong and keb- aya laughed and chattedwith three more people as they drank their cocktails.


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Gordon was silent too, and suddenly Renny felt miserable, wishingshe had not come here. She and Gordon had never had one crossword, nor had there been one awkward or uneasy moment betweenthem. But now there was a tenseness which she could not haveanalysed, and she felt sure that he would not be able to do so either.

Of course, Carl was the cause of itand she, Renny, was to blame.She had not been able to give her fiance the answer he had eagerlyexpected when she told him that she had at last plucked up sufficientcourage to meet her husband.

They parted a short while later, each going to their room to change.There was to be a Dragon Dance in the hotel after dinner, when atroupe of ten boys would 'man' the dragon, which was over thirteenfeet in length. Renny had been looking forward to it,---but noweverything seemed to have fallen flat.

Gordon was cool and silent when then met again at eight o'clock inthe Clipper Bar. Neither spoke much over dinner, nor during the

entertainment afterwards, and Renny breathed a sigh of relief wheneventually it was time for them to go to their rooms. Gordonaccompanied her to hers but left her outside the door. She went in,tears starting to her eyes at his coolness. And yet she was honestenough to admit that he was justified in adopting this particularattitude. He must be greatly puzzledand disappointedthat thedivorce had not been discussed.

The following morning they met at the breakfast table. Gordonseemed to have recovered from his moroseness, but he was firm in hisrequest that when Renrfy saw Carl today she must thrash out thematter of the divorce.

'I intend to,' she assured him, and she meant it. Yesterday they hadloitered over lunch and when afterwards Carl had suggested a stroll


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shoulder-bag. Her hair shone, draping her shoulders. She had used alovely perfume and a little lipstick, that was all.

Carl's tawny eyes flickered strangely; Renny tried to ignore theirexpression, but whatever her mind had decided it could not control

the little throb of excitement that affected her senses. No doubt at allthat her husband was an impressive man, and an inordinatelyhandsome one as well!

And he was interested in her as a woman...

The Raffles Hotel was in the same luxury class as the Mandarin and

the Zephyr and Renny could not help thinking how fortunate she wasto be sitting here, in the restaurant called the Elizabethan Grill, eatingdelicious local dishes and drinking expensive wine. Carl, sittingopposite to her, asked her if the food was to her liking.

'It's delicious!' Somehow, this didn't seem the right moment to broachthe subject of the divorce but, driven by the fear that, if she hesitated,it might not be broached at all, she said quietly,

'The divorce, Carl. Have you thought any more about it? I mean,you'll let it go through in a friendly way, won't you?'

He smiled as if he just had to.

'In a friendly way? Seems odd to talk of divorce in the same breath asfriendliness.'

'Perhaps,' she agreed, but went on to remind him that theirs was adifferent kind of divorce. There could not possibly be any bitternessattached to it simply because they had never lived together.

'And come to detest one another?'

She shook her head in protest.


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'You sound cynical, Carl.'

'Perhaps I am cynical.' He took up a small piece of Melba toast andbegan to butter it. 'If I agree to let the divorce go through withoutdefending it you could be married to this Gordon by this time next

year.' He spoke softly, almost to himself.

'You say "if you agree to let it go through without defending it. Surelyyou have no reason to defend it, Carl?'

He looked at her, his eyes resting for a moment on her lovely facebefore travelling to her curves, then to her hands, one of which was

resting on the white tablecloth, the other holding her fork. It seemed atense and intimate moment, with the deep silence that had fallen onlyadding to that intimacy. Again Renny was conscious of the throb ofexcitement she had experienced before ... and again her fianceseemed to be a million miles away ...

She said, swallowing hard because her throat felt dry all at once,

, 'Please, Carl, don't defend the divorce. What good can it do you? Ishall get it in the end.'

He nodded, but absently; she knew instinctively that he was busywith thoughts of his own.

But at last he said,

'You're quite sure that you've made the right choice this time?'

'Of course I've made the right choice,' she answered, a sharp edge toher voice. *What a thing to ask!'

'Is it so strange?' Carl spoke with a trace of contempt in his voice. 'It'syour third choice, remember.'


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She coloured, his sardonic smile angering her.

'That was neither nice nor reasonable,' she retorted.

'It wasn't meant to be nice. It was certainly not unreasonable, seeing

that it was the truth.''Even the truth can be unreasonable!'

'Sometimes, maybe, but not in this instance.' Carlturned his head,recognising a tall Chinese man as he skirted the next table. A greetingpassed, but as it was spoken in Chinese Renny could not understand

it. 'You might not like it brought before you, Renny, but you can'talter the fact that you've been engaged twice and married onceandwhat age are you? Twenty- six.' He pursed his lips thoughtfully. 'Notbad. I wonder what your record will be by the time you're forty.' Hewas watching her, his smile taunting and amused. Her colourdeepened/ but her chin lifted and there was a sparkle in her eye as shesaid,

'You talk to me like this, and yet maintain you're not beingunreasonable! You know very well how it was. I became engaged toPaul with the firm intention of marrying him --'

'But you now know that he wasn't the right one for you,' interrupted

Carl suavely.'As it turned out, yes,' she admitted. 'Then you married me, anddecided again that I wasn't the right man for you.' Carl paused, eyeingher with a quizzical expression not untinged with contempt. 'Andnow you're engaged again --'

'Oh, stop!' she broke in irritably. 'What is all this leading up to?'


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'As your husband,' was his calm rejoinder, 'I feel a certainresponsibility as regards your welfare. I'm not at all sure that this manis right for you.' Renny stared in disbelief.

'You might be my husband, Carl, but we knew each otber-' for only

four, days, remember. You have no authority over me at all.'

'No?' Even the one word carried a stern inflection, but Carl made nofurther comment, his mind being on what Renny had said at first.'Four days,' he. repeated, reflectively. 'Was that all? How veryimpulsive we were --' He laughed unexpectedly, a cynical laugh thatgrated on Renny's sensitive ears. 'Such are the follies of youth. I wastwenty-three and you were eighteen a truly delightful age. I guess Icould have moulded you to something that would have pleased me,had I had the chance --'

'I wish you'd stop!' flared Renny, beginning to lose her temper. 'Doesthe past matter? And another thing: you said I'd had three men in mylife. Well, you've had three women, so what's the difference?'

'Three?' Carl's expression was enigmatic. 'How do you know howmany women I've had in my life?'

'All right, I don't! You were engaged before I met you. Then youmarried me, and now you have Masie.'

'Masie...' He nodded, but his expression was still unreadable. 'She'svery beautifulmost Chinese girls are when they're young. But theirbeauty doesn't last, unfortunately.' He gestured towards a far table.'The lady you see there was once a famous beauty.'

Renny turned her head. The woman was alone at a corner table. Her

face was drawn, as if the skin merely hung where healthy flesh hadonce filled if, her lips were bloodless, her eyes deep-sunk but stillalert. Her greying hair was wispy, like straw parched under a hot sun.


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Carl said, as Renny turned again,

'They don't grow old gracefully in the East. You, now, will still bebeautiful when you're seventy or more.'

She looked at him, deeply affected by his flattery. She murmured,speaking her thoughts aloud,

'You're not intending to marry Masie, then?'

'Marry her?' with a look, of surprise. 'Can you imagine my beingmarried to her?'

'Well... no ...'

'In any case, I am married.'

Renny gave a sigh.

'We're having a divorce,' she said firmly.

'So you say. However, as I mentioned, I'm not at all satisfied that thisman is right for you. I must meet him. When will it be convenient forme to do so?'

Again she sighed, but this time resignedly.

'If you insist on meeting Gordon, then perhaps you'll join us fordinner this evening?'

'I shall be delighted,' was his gracious response.

An hour later Renny was in her room at the Mandarin, writing toClare. She then wrote to two colleagues who had exacted a promisefrom her to write and tell them all about Singapore. After that shewent out, having decided to take a cruise in the harbour. It took only a


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couple of hours, with the boat leaving the Clifford Pier at four o'clockin the afternoon.

She paid her money and boarded. A torrential shower had justbrought everything to a standstill,, with people scurrying to shelter in

the arcades and a forest of umbrellas shooting up by their hundreds.But now the sun was out again as bright as before, bringing itsdelightful warmth and drying up the newly- washed pavements.

The sea was smooth as the boat rode the busy harbour where massiveocean liners were docked beside tankers and sampans, and freighterslooking so rusty that they seemed scarcely to be seaworthy. Therewas an island with a temple sanctuary, there were the picturesquekelongsfish traps on. stiltsand the Malay villages which werealso on stilts. Renny could newer, even have begun to sort out thehotch-potch of vessels any more than she could have counted theships' flags, since there were hundreds of them flying in this, thefourth largest port in the world. On the smaller craft men could be

seen cooking on deck, and over the air drifted the appetising smell ofcurry to mingle with the less pleasant smell of oil and the natural saltytang of the water itself. A huge junk floated into sight, then was lostamong the vast number of other vessels anchored or sailing smoothlyin to drop their anchors.

Renny was spellbound, fascinated by the tremendous activity going

on around her. The traffic streamed unceasingly, the cargoes beingdealt with at an incredible speed.

At last the trip was over and she was on her way back to the hotel,walking through the busy streets where the decorating was still goingon in preparation for the New Year, which was without doubt themost important festival of the Chinese calendar.

Reaching the hotel at length, Renny entered the lobby and as alwaysshe stood in wonderment, surveying the incredible decor while at the


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same time marvelling that it could be so opulent and yet retain an airof perfect taste and beauty. The designer obviously possessedunusual talents and imagination.

She went to the desk for her key, and was handed a note.

'For me?' She looked with some surprise at the Chinese clerk who hadpassed her the note along with her key.

'Yes, Miss Colbert.'

She moved away, nerves beginning to tingle as she thought that the

message might be from Carl. Had he changed his mind about comingto dinner this evening?

But the message was from Gordon. He had phoned through earlier tosay he wouldn't be back before eleven o'clock at the earliest as he'dhad to go to the industrial town of Jurong, which was four hours bycar from the city. It depended on what time he left, of course, but hewas sure he would not be back at the Mandarin before elevenalthough, he warned, it could be midnight or later, so he advisedRenny to have an early dinner and go to her room to read or to watchthe television.

She phoned down from her room to find out what time the message

had come, and frowned on hearing that it had arrived before lunch.Had she received it before meeting Carl she would not have invitedhim to dinner. Should she ring him and put him off?

Strangely, she felt no guilt at her decision to dine with Carl alone, butshe did spare a thought to what Gordon's reaction might be. That hewould be far from pleased was possiblein fact, it was almost a

certainty. Yet Renny could not bring herself to reach for the phoneand ring through to the Zehpyr Hotel...


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She wore a black tiered taffeta skirt with a jewel-toned Lurex top,gathered at the off-shoulder neckline and falling loosely over thewaist of the skirt. Her hair, shining and long, was held subtly at theleft side by a slide of Ming jade which she had bought that morningbefore going to lunch with Carl. A long and critical look in the mirror

gave back a picture of unsophisticated elegance and Renny gave asatisfied sigh as, finally, she sprayed perfume on her hair and wrists.Her mind was in a sort of half-daze, for she admitted with one part ofit that she ought not to be going to all this trouble with her appearancefor any man other than Gordon, but with the other part she owned toan excitement that was totally inexplicable. It was like playing withfire ... but convinced that she could keep everything under control.

She met Carl in one of the lounges and explained about Gordon'sabsence, aware as she spoke that Carl's eyes were roving her body,taking in what she was wearing, and how well it suited her. She hopedshe sounded casual and apologetic as she made excuses for Gordon'sabsence, but she rather thought that Carl might suspect that she had

not been averse to dining alone with him. His enquiry served tostrengthen this idea as he said, a hint of sardonic amusement in hisvoice,

'The object of my dining here was, if you remember, in order that Icould meet this Gordon you're supposed to be in love with.'

'Yes.' She knew a little access of anger at the word 'supposed' butquelled it successfully. 'Yes, that was the object of your coming todine here.'

His tawny eyes fixed hers.

'You could have rung me, putting off the dinner until anotherevening.'


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She nodded, scarcely knowing what to say in answer to this. Carl wasmaking her feel awkward, embarrassed even. He was so superblymasculine and superior in a white suit of finest linen, beautifully cutbut casual in .that-the jacket fitted loosely, and it was open to reveal, apale blue shirt and a Thai silk tie, hand- embroidered in dark blue to

contrast with the colour of the tie itself and the shirt. One hand wascasually thrust into his pocket; in the other he held an un- lightedcigarette. He broke the silence as he realised that Renny had nothingto say, asking her what she would like in the way of an aperitif.

They sat down after he had ordered, and again Renny was subjectedto an examination of her clothes before Carl's gaze settled on her face.

'You're looking- particularly beautiful tonight,' he remarked, leaningback a little as the drinks were brought and put on the table. 'I feelrather proud of my wife.'

Renny blinked at him. There was something un-nerving about hismanner which caused her to inject a sharpness into her voice as shesaid,

'I'm not your wife, Carl; not in any real sense, I mean.'

'We were married, remember?'

Renriy felt a chill sweep through her.'Being tied must be just as tiresome to you as it is to .me, Carl.'

'I've never found it tiresome.' Carl's eyes were staring fixedly in tohers. 'Nor, it seems, have you until recently.'

'No,' she admitted, 'because I didn't want to get married.''But now you do?'


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'Of course I do,' impatiently as she watched him bring out a lighterand apply it to his cigarette.

'And you feel sure you Jove this man?' Carl's voice was very quiet,expressionless ... and somehow carrying an inflexible quality that

increased her uneasiness.

'I love him,' she returned, picking up her sherry glass from the tableand taking a sip. 'I shouldn't be thinking of marrying him if I weren'tin love with him, should I?'

'I don't know,' dryly as he too picked up his glass. 'The workings of

the female mind are beyond my comprehension.'

She coloured, saw him lift an eyebrow as if what he observed wassomething to appreciate. She said, instinct being responsible for thequestion,

'You're thinking not only of me, but of your fiancee the one who jilted you, I mean?'

He nodded without hesitating.

'She discovered she'd made a mistake and decided to divorce the manand then she and I would pick up again, all nice and cosy anduncomplicated.' The sarcasm, mingling with a measure of contempt,brought an unpleasant edge to his strong deep voice. 'What is it thatmakes women so impulsive? Do they live merely for the moment,letting the future take care of itself?'

'You've become cynical, Carl.' Regret touched Renny's voice. Shethought of the man she had married and found herself wishing he had

not been destroyed by disillusionmenta disillusionment of whichshe herself had been an important part.

'You're very right, I am cynical. Who wouldn't be in my position?'


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'One day,' responded Renny softly, 'you'll find the girl of yourdreams.' The words were scarcely out when he laughed, laughedheartily as if at some very amusing joke.

'The girl of my dreams, eh? The female with her romanticism!

Where, for heaven's sake, is your real- , ism? Must everything be seenthrough rose-tinted glasses?' He looked at her through a thin veil ofblue smoke rising from his cigarette. 'No wonder women spend halftheir lives recovering from disillusionment!'

Renny's colour deepened, this time with anger.

'How do you know we spend half our lives recovering fromdisillusionment?'

'I have the usual amount of perception. The girl who jilted me is stilltrying to get over her disillusionmentthis eight years after shedecided that this other man was the only one in her life.'

Puzzled, Renny said, forgetting her anger of a moment ago,

'You see this girl, then?'

'She comes over here several times a year.'

'She has friends here?'

'Yes. Two are married to. businessmen who work mainly inSingapore.'

'I see...' Renny looked thoughtful. 'You're with her every time shecomes?'

'Oh ' carelessly as he drew on his cigarette. 'We go about together. It'sall very pleasant, and passes some of the time away for her.'


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'Youcouldn't take up again, where you left off?'

'One should never go back, so it's said..Carl's voice faded, slowly, ashis glance flickered over his wife's lovely face to her hair, shining andclean and enticing. 'That's what's said, but perhaps...' Again that

unfathomable drifting away of his voice to silence.

Renny wished she had not decided to dine with him alone. Hebewildered her, and bewilderment brought a strange fear which shefailed entirely to understand. She looked with relief at the waiter whobrought the menu, handing it to her. Another was brought to Carl,along with the wine list, and for a few minutes both she and he wereabsorbed in choosing their food. Renny had chosen to dine in thefabulous Belvedere Restaurant where French food was served againsta background of candlelight and violin music. The Belvedere was oneof six different restaurants which the Mandarin boasted, and wasrecommended by the management as just the place for 'specialoccasion' dining. Why had she chosen it? It was all wrong, being here

with Carl. Gordon was bound to be angry ...Need she tell him? Renny shook her head, despising herself, angrythat she had not telephoned Carl to inform him that the man heparticularly wanted to see would not be here for dinner and so theyhad better make another date.

Well, what was done was done, thought Renny philosophically. Shemight as well try to enjoy the meal... and the company.

They dined on subtly-spiced French food washed down with adelectable vintage wine. The famous variety of cheese which was afeature of the restaurant was tempting beyond anything Renny hadever imagined. In addition was the unique salad trolley from whereone could choose one's own ingredients and dressing, designing anew salad. The sweets were mouth-watering, the coffee superb. Carlchatted amicably enough, but on the two occasions when Renny tried


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to broach the subject of the divorce he changed the subject in such away that after the second attempt she gave up.

After dinner they danced. It was an experience that set all Renny'snerves on edge. For Carl's whole manner was one of total

possessivenessit was revealed in the way he held her, the way hisface came close to hers and stayed there, in the way his firm andmasterful hold tightened each time she attempted to draw away fromhis body.

At last he decided it was time he left. Renny, more bewildered thaneverthis time by her own feelings could not honestly have saidwhether she was glad the evening had ended or not. What she had nodoubts about was that she would never even mention this evening toher fianc.

'Do you still want to see Gordon?' she asked as Carl was leaving.

'Certainly. Ring me and we'll make another date.'

'He'll be here tomorrow evening,' she said.

'Then call me.' His voice was abrupt; Renny felt sure he was nowanxious to get away.

'I will. Perhaps we'll have dinner here tomorrow evening?' She wastalking for the sake of it. wanting to keep him...?

She was in her room at last, standing at the high window, staringdown the street to where the soft lights of the Zephyr Hotel filteredthrough the palms to cast a golden glow on to the pavement. She wasdoubtful if she would sleep, but eventually she undressed and got into

bed. It was a quarter to eleven. The phone rang and within minutesshe was speaking to Gordon, then hearing him say, deep apology inhis voice,


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'Darling, I have to be here for another couple of days. They've hadsome trouble and are relying on me to sort it out.' He paused, but shedid not speak. 'I'll ring you again tomorrow ... Are you all right?' heasked when she remained so quiet.

'Yesyes, of course, darling.'

'You went to your room early? I couldn't phone you before, sweet,because I was hard at it on the job.' He paused a second. 'What timedid you dine? Were you lonely?'

'Er --'

'You must have been, my dearest. Have you been reading in yourroom?'

Renny's mouth was dr

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