The road to Paradise Island by Holt Victoria 1906-1993

Author:Holt, Victoria, 1906-1993 [Holt, Victoria, 1906-1993]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday
Published: 1985-06-05T05:00:00+00:00

But I would come back to Sydney and get on that Wednesday boat out to Cariba, and I expected that while I was there, making enquiries about Philip. I should see something of Milton Harrington. I might as well admit that I should look forward to that.

But I could not curb my anxiety concerning Felicity. She was on the verge of marriage with a man for whom she did not care; and now I had seen him I could understand why. What on earth had possessed her to agree to marry him? Why did she feel that just because she had been jilted by this other man, she had to take the very next one who came along? Was she afraid of growing into a spinster and becoming like Miss Cartwright? It was madness and I had a very strong notion that she was regretting it now. But even at this hour it was not too late. She was not married yet.

We went through narrow winding streets into a busy thoroughfare and in due course arrived at the hotel. It was spacious with red velvet curtains and rich red carpets and a great deal of brass.

I noticed that Milton Harrington was treated with great respect by the staff of the hotel who seemed to know him well. He whispered to me: "I'm a good customer. I always stay here when I am in Sydney." He went on in a louder tone: "Shall we all meet before dinner for an aperitif?"

William Granville said that would be an excellent idea.

So it was arranged and we were taken to our rooms. Mine and Felicity's were next door to each other.

I looked round mine. The furniture was large, the ceiling was high and there was a window which looked out on the street. The furnishings were similar to those in the reception hall—heavy red velvet curtains caught back by thick bands of brass. There was an air of cleanliness about the place which was pleasant.

I felt a little bewildered. Here I was, miles from home, bent on carrying out a rather vague mission and very much aware of moving towards a climax for which I had not bargained. First there was Felicity. Her wedding was imminent, and I could not help feeling alarmed at the prospect of what was going to happen to her. I had taken an instant dislike to her bridegroom. There was much about him that I did not trust. He looked... what was the word... ? Debauched? No, that was a little too strong, but somewhere near it. I thought his glance at me had been offensively bold ... but only slighdy. He had been pleasant enough outwardly. He had seemed to be delighted to greet Felicity. Was I seeing him clearly? How unwise it was to judge people on one meeting! So there was Felicity to stir up my apprehension; and of course, Milton Harrington. I was annoyed because that man kept coming into my thoughts. He was a born intruder, always where he was not wanted.

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