Ship's Nurse by Vivian Stuart

Author:Vivian Stuart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jentas Ehf
Published: 2022-10-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

AT THREE O’CLOCK, Barney O’Farrell was waiting at the head of the gangway which connected the Shagreen to the shore pontoon. Attired in a spotless, well-tailored white uniform, his cap at a jaunty angle, he was an escort to be proud of, Ann thought, as she approached him. Barney smiled down at her.

“I’ve a taxi laid on. ’Tis not the Agent’s Cadillac, but then I’m not a member of the Board of Directors, more’s the pity. All the same——”

Ann raised her eyebrows. “What do you know about the Agent’s Cadillac? And what do you mean?

“Aisy, now, aisy! ’Twas not to have my head bitten off that I asked you to come ashore with me!”

His expression was so rueful that Ann relaxed, laughing. “You shouldn’t say things like that, then.”

“No, perhaps I shouldn’t. But sure and wasn’t I on the deck above, when his lordship was after inviting you? And then the First called for me, before I’d time to hear your answer, and I’ve not known, till this very moment, whether you’d be keeping your promise to come with me.”

“I have kept it,” Ann pointed out.

Barney took her arm. “Sure and I see you have, God bless you! I’ll guarantee you’ve no cause to regret it.”

He Was as good as his word. Together they toured the city, halting by curiously wrought balconies in the old harbour district and before the gleaming marble and plate glass of the modern shopping centre. They visited Simon Artz, lingered over the fascinating babel of a street bazaar and sipped coffee while fountains played in a garden worthy of the Arabian Nights. Yet, against these novel and delightful sights, Ann saw, superimposed, the frown on Nicholas’s face and the possessive triumph in Andrea’s, when he had bent towards her in the big black car. The memory would not leave her mind. Everything she saw during the long afternoon seemed a little unreal, a sort of mirage, and even Barney, for all his charm and his efforts to entertain her, could not quite dispel her lingering sense of uneasiness.

He divined it and his blue eyes were hurt, though he was careful to make no mention of it. They returned to the ship to change and were on their way, by taxi, to the hotel where Barney had booked a table for dinner, when he asked, with unexpected bluntness:

“Ann, tell me honestly—you’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”

“I——” She met his pleading gaze guiltily. “Oh, Barney, of course I am! It’s been lovely.”

He slipped an arm, very gently, about her shoulders: “I’d hate to think you were not. His tone Was suddenly very serious.

“I am.”

“You won’t let me get near you, Ann. You——” His grip tightened about her as he made to draw her into his arms. Startled, Ann held him off. “No, Barney, no!”

“Why not? What’s a kiss, Ann?”

“It’s a lot, to me,” Ann told him gravely.

Colour crept up beneath the bronze of Barney’s cheeks. “And you think it’s not to me? You think I’m trying to flirt with you?”

“Well—aren’t you?” Ann forced a bantering note into her voice.

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