A Most Determined Bachelor

‘Yes, darling, I promised.’ She opened her shoulder bag and drew out a bundle of tissues. ‘Wipe your eyes and blow your nose...there’s a good boy. And don’t let’s have any more fuss.’

Ryan made no secret of his relief. ‘At least you seem to be able to control him.’

Kate examined her shin, then demanded aggressively, ‘How often do these tantrums occur?’

‘Only when he feels very deeply about something,’ Judy informed her. Then she sighed and went on in a resigned tone, ‘If you’ll pardon my frankoess, I can only point out that your manner towards Robin was stern and bossy for no reason at all. It made him feel frightened and insecure. Anyone who is accustomed to dealing with young children would have realised that he’s had a long and tiring day. He was up early, leaving all that’s familiar, to catch a plane from Christchurch to Wellington, and then there was a wait before boarding a different plane to Napier. After all, he’s only six.’

‘The little man has had a busy day,’ Ryan drawled in what sounded like a more kindly tone.

Judy pursued her efforts to make excuses for Robin. ‘And that is not all. You—Mr Ellison—have made no secret of the fact that you don’t want me here. That’s upset him badly because I’m his link with security and all that’s familiar.’ She paused to take a deep breath, then went on warningly, ‘If I agree to your plan and leave him here, he’s likely to sob his heart out for most of the night And when he becomes upset to that extent he’s liable to wet the bed—and I’m not just talking about tears on the pillow!’

‘Bedwetting!’ The word was jerked out of Kate with a gasp of horror. ‘Oh, dear...oh, dear...we can’t have that.’ She turned a pathetic face towards Ryan. ‘I’m sorry...I don’t think I can cope with the boy. I’m too old. I’m beyond handling children who can be as difficult as this one. I’m afraid you’ll have to make other arrangements—’

‘It’s all right, Kate,’ Ryan said irritably. ‘I suppose Miss Arledge will have to stay here after all.’ He sighed, as though the thought exasperated him.

Judy looked at him with disdain while wondering what on earth had made her imagine she’d like to get to know this man better. Then her tone became scathing as she said, ‘Thanks a million for the charm and warmth of your invitation, Mr Ellison. However, I can assure you that staying here is the last thing I wish to do.’

His mouth twisted slightly as he frowned at her. ‘So—what action do you intend to take?’

Feeling suddenly exhausted, Judy spoke wearily, ‘If you’ll be good enough to take me to the motel, I’ll stay there as you suggested—providing they have a vacancy, of course. Robin will come with me and tomorrow we’ll go back to Christchurch. It’s as simple as that.’

‘I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that,’ he retorted, in a voice as hard as granite. ‘The boy stays here with me. He’s been sent to me and there must be a reason for it. The dragon does nothing without a reason. Perhaps you can help me fathom it out—unless you’ve been sworn to secrecy?’

‘Secrecy? What utter rubbish!’ Judy exclaimed, while gaping at him incredulously. ‘I must say you’re a strange man with some very odd ideas, Mr Ellison.’

‘Am I indeed? Well, perhaps I’m approaching this from the wrong angle. Perhaps I’m being over-protective of my hermit’s cave—as Kate likes to refer to this place.’ He sent a mocking glance towards his housekeeper, then his manner changed as he took several steps closer to Judy and stood staring down into her face.

Speaking softy, and keeping his deep voice low, he said, ‘Judy—will you try to overlook these eccentricities you see in me? I’d be grateful if you’d stay so that we can talk this over.’

So, she had suddenly become Judy, she noticed. And why was her previous attraction towards this man rearing its head again? It was something she’d have to control, and to prevent him from seeing any hint of eagerness in her eyes she turned to stare through the window as she said, ‘Very well, I’ll stay—but we’ll talk only after Robin has been fed and put to bed.’ Despite her calm assertion, the thought of spending the evening with this man made her pulses quicken.

CHAPTER TWO

RYAN turned to Kate with a request. ‘Perhaps you could show Judy the food we have in the fridge? I’m sure she’ll find something suitable for Robin. While you’re doing that I’ll bring her suitcase up from the Range Rover.’

Kate sniffed and led the way to the kitchen. ‘Rather you than me with that boy,’ she muttered, with a hint of sympathy.

Judy rose to the child’s defence. ‘He’s a dear little boy and I’m very fond of him.’ Then she smiled disarmingly. ‘After all, most children become cross when they’re tired and hungry.’

Kate sniffed again as she opened the large fridge. ‘Then you’d better let him have some of this meat and vegetable casserole. You can heat it up in the microwave. Or perhaps you’d prefer to give him a plain boiled egg with fingers of toast. I’ll leave you to make up your own mind about it. Goodnighl’

Judy watched her open a door in the kitchen, then make her way down a back stairway. Miss Coster, she realised, was feeling disgruntled with the world in general, but there was little that she herself could do about it A sigh escaped her as she searched for a small saucepan in which to boil an egg. Robin, she knew, was in no state to be confronted by vegetables, whereas he enjoyed poking toast soldiers into a softly boiled egg.

An hour later, with a very drowsy small boy fed and put to bed, Judy was feeling more relaxed. She had renewed her make-up, and had changed into a damson-colored dress which made her eyes seem a shade purple. She was also feeling more confident, and as she sat opposite Ryan in the living room, while sipping a delicious Spanish sherry, it was hard to believe that this was the same man who’d been so annoyed when he’d learnt she was not Mrs Fulton.

To her relief, he now appeared to be resigned to her presence, and was treating her as a normal guest instead of something untouchable that had found its way into his hermit’s cave. The fact that he had no wish to entertain a young woman such as herself appeared to have been forgotten. Or had it been temporarily put on hold until he’d learnt all she could tell him?

However, he didn’t rush matters, and her crystal glass had been refilled before the questions began. It was enough to make her realise that the sherry was intended to loosen her tongue, although she knew there was little she could tell him.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretched before him, his olive-green eyes hooded as they examined the liquid in his glass. ‘OK... so tell me about the workings of the dragon’s mind,’ he requested lazily.

Judy laughed. ‘I’m afraid it’s beyond my powers to do that.’

Frowning, he said, ‘As I remarked earlier, she does nothing without a reason—and as she’s never gone to this extent before, I can’t help wondering what it is.’

Judy shook her head vaguely. ‘Apart from bronchial trouble, I can’t imagine what it can be—although I can hardly believe she’d send Robin to Napier without giving you a reason.’

He shrugged. ‘Only the one about his need for a warmer climate. Is he really bronchial?’

‘To be honest, I’ve never noticed it,’ she admitted.

Ryan continued to frown as he said, ‘If it was so imperative for him to come to Napier, why didn’t Verna bring him? After all, she’s his mother. Or Mrs Simmons herself?’

Judy had no wish to discuss Hilda Simmons or Verna. She wanted to learn a little more about this man, whose masculinity stirred something deep within her. But she knew he expected an answer, therefore she said, ‘It seems that Verna had already left for a skiing holiday a few days before Mrs Simmons decided upon this move. The snow is supposed to be really good further south, near Queenstown.’

His mouth tightened. ‘I’ll bet it is. It’s also mighty thick on Mount Ruapehu, where rm supposed to be skiing at present However, this business of young Robin was thrust upon me.’

She felt perturbed. ‘Are you saying you’ve had to forgo your own holiday?’

‘That’s it exactly.’

‘Why didn’t you refuse by explaining it was inconvenient?’

‘Because I was reminded that I owed her, and that I owed Verna. It had a strong smell of blackmail about it, but I decided that if the dragon imagined I was in their debt I would prefer to be free of it.’ He sipped his sherry, his eyes slightly narrowed as he went on, ‘Do you ever get the feeling there’s more to a situation than meets the eye? That’s how I feel about this. There’s something I just can’t put my finger on. Are you sure she didn’t say anything else?’

His last words jerked Judy’s memory. ‘Well...she did say she thought Robin would be safe with you.’

‘Safe?’ He sat up straight and stared at her. ‘What did she mean by that? Safe from what, may I ask?’

Judy shook her head. ‘I haven’t a clue. I asked, but she brushed the question aside.’

‘Well. that settles it,’ he rasped irritably. ‘The dragon has definitely got some plot simmering.’

The statement confirmed Judy’s own thoughts, but all she said was, ‘Vema will probably be able to explain...when she arrives.’

His face became a mask. ‘Verna is coming here?’

‘Of course. Didn’t her mother tell you? She’ll come to fetch Robin at the end of the school holidays. It’ll probably please you to learn that I was ordered to return to Christchurch almost at once.’

‘So I’m likely to have Verna here instead of yourself?’

She nodded. ‘Perhaps sooner than you expect.’ How did he feel about that? she wondered, covertly watching his face and hoping for a reaction to the thought of Verna’s arrival. But his expression remained unfathomable, and she then tried to tell herself that the question had no real interest for her. Or did it?

After that a silence hung between them, until she glanced at her watch and was amazed to see how the minutes had slipped by. A hunger pang told her it was time she ate, and hesitantly she said, ‘I’ve no wish to appear to be taking over your kitchen, but—would you like me to do something about the food Miss Coster has left in the fridge?’

Ryan took a hasty glance at his own watch. ‘Yes, it’s time we had supper. Let’s do things together. I’ll find cutlery and tablemats while you put whatever you wish into the microwave.’

She stood up and moved towards the kitchen. ‘Let’s do things together’, he’d said. It sounded pleasant, but of course she knew that he meant nothing of a familiar nature, and the sooner she controlled her wayward thoughts the better. Remember Alan Draper, she reminded herself. All men are the same.