Dangerous Friendship by Anne Hampson

Author:Anne Hampson [Hampson, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7953-3888-5
Publisher: RosettaBooks
Published: 1976-05-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

‘You know, Lena,’ said June with a frown, ‘there isn’t really any need for you to go out to work. You’re doing a fine job here, helping me, and looking after the garden.’ She paused, eyeing her friend with a rather pained expression. ‘Do you have to go?’ she asked.

‘I’ll feel much better if I’m making a contribution towards the grocery bill, June. I can’t go on for ever, sponging on you—’

‘Sponging?’ cut in Gerald angrily. ‘You’ve never done that, Lena!’

‘I’ve got the job, and I must do it. Apart from anything else, I’d be letting Mr Cookson down if I backed out now. He’s chosen me from four applicants, remember.’

‘I’ve become used to having you around,’ complained June. And then, with that familiar forcefulness that had been practised with such success before, June added, ‘I want you here, Lena. It isn’t as if we don’t get along together like a house on fire! We do! I was so lonely before you came; it’s not quite fair of you to leave me now.’

‘I’m not leaving you.’ Distressed, Lena looked pleadingly at Gerald. ‘I must go out to work,’ she quivered. ‘Don’t you see how I feel, Gerald?’

‘Yes, I do,’ he said suddenly. ‘In any case, it’s not for either June or myself to organize your life.’

Lena looked gratefully at him before transferring her gaze to June.

‘Gerald’s right,’ she agreed with a sigh. ‘You must please yourself, Lena.’

‘When are you starting?’ inquired Gerald.

‘On Monday.’

‘I hadn’t expected you’d be starting before Christmas,’ June said.

‘Miss Lewis is leaving this weekend, and as Mr Cookson expects to be busy for the next two weeks he’s naturally anxious for me to start.’

***

As there were still five days to go before she took up her appointment, Lena decided to make one or two serviceable dresses—something dark, she told June, as the bookshop, like all the shops in dusty Fonteinville, was not the place in which to wear one’s good clothes.

After buying the materials Lena got down to cutting them out and sewing them; she was employed on this task one morning when Kane arrived, riding a beautiful Palomino gelding, strawberry with silver mane and tail, white blaze and socks. Glancing through the window as Kane stopped below the stoep, Lena gave a little gasp of admiration. Man and horse just oozed nobility and power. Her heart caught as she stared, and as her eyes returned to her sewing she began to wonder if she would not have made a more judicious decision by resolving to return to England. For how could she stay here once Kane was married to Magda?

‘Lena, Kane wants you,’ sang June from the yard, and this time Lena’s heart actually lurched. She made no move, but sat very still, her hands clasped and clammy, waiting for her heart and nerves to settle. ‘Lena,’ called June again, ‘did you hear me?’

‘Yes.’ Lena swallowed hard, stood up and glanced in the mirror. ‘I’m coming!’

‘Hello there.’ Having tethered the horse, Kane stood and surveyed her for a silent moment.

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