Enjoy Reading --Moon Witch -Complete- Pg..17 - Page 13

Shanaya sat on the white window seat of the lounge of Malthorpe Hall, staring out over the gardens with unseeing eyes .Only the rain was real, falling heavily outside, soaking the trees and lawns, dripping from the terraces in a never ending stream. She thought it was fitting end to a terrible day .This afternoon they had buried J.K in the cemetery not far from the Hall, where all the squires of Malthorpe had been buried. Not that J.K. had ever been that ,but he had enjoyed the same popularity in the village .She had not cried ,she had not been able to cry ,and her eyes were hot and turning ,as though she was running a fever ..

Since the terrible night of their departure from Jamaica she had had plenty of time for tears , but they had not come .In the three days J.K. survived after their arrival back in England ,when the best specialist Jarron could summon were attempting to save J.K.'s life ,she had sat for long hours on this same window seat ,when she was not in the hospital ,sitting by J.K.'s bedside ,holding his hand and loving him, willing him to live .

But it had all been to no avail. His heart was too weak, it could not stand the strain of the second attack, and they had all been helpless, just waiting for him to die.

Helen had cried, she had been stricken with grief and at the funeral had aroused the sympathy of everyone who had attended. It had been a big funeral, an important funeral, the little village church was filled to capacity with mourners, many of whom had come from overseas to pay their last respect to a man admired and liked in business.

It was Jarron who seemed to bear the whole weight of the awful arrangements that had to be made .Seeing him going about the Hall, driving the Rolls, instead in one of his sports cars, always dressed in dark suits, his face dark and withdrawn. Shanaya could see little resemblance to the man she had spent happy hours with in Jamaica, for in spite of that last evening with despairing intensity.

Her enforced solitude has given her time to think, time to consider her own future, and to make arrangements to remove the responsibility of herself from Jarron's shoulders. It had been different when J.K. was alive, then he had been mainstay of her existence, but now that he was dead, she had no intention of sponging on Jarron any longer. Besides, no doubt now he would get married and provide himself a family, and she didn't want to be around to witness that.

So, she had contacted the textile firm in Birdchester ,for whom her grandfather had worked for so many years, and they had offered her a job as a trainee textile designer , a job which while being moderately paid would eventually provide her with an adequate career. For though at this moment, she love Jarron as she had been forced to admit to herself that she did, time might ease that particular pain and give her a tolerable life. She doubted she would marry ever. There was no doubt in her mind that she would never stop loving Jarron.

The door opened and Lauren Maxwell came in. Dressed in slim-fitting black suit with an astrakhan collar that suited her color very well, she looked sleek and sophisticated .Beside her, Shanaya's pale cheeks, auburn hair and grey dress looked dull and uninteresting. She seemed pleased when she saw Shanaya there and said:

" Well, it's all over .Everyone has gone , except my mother and father .I expect you are feeling pretty depressed.'

Shanaya nodded. 'Aren't we all?' she murmured.

Lauren gave her a speculative look. 'Some more than others. I would suppose,' she remarked sardonically, and shanaya felt her nerves tighten.

What do you mean?'

Lauren shrugged her elegant shoulders, Darling, don't be nave. You know perfectly well what I mean. After all J.K. was your surety of a meal ticket for life, wasn't he?'

Shanaya stared at her in horror,' You don't imagine that was how I thought about him?' she cried.

Lauren sighed,' Oh, spare me the histrionics, darling. I don't blame you .A working girl has to grab every opportunity that comes her way, I suppose. I would have done the just same in the same circumstances. Unfortunately, Jarron is not so gullible, is he?'

Shanaya got to her feet jerkily,' How dare you speak to me like this?' she exclaimed.' My reasons for coming here were purely unmercenery ones. I don't want J.K.'s money .I never did ! He wanted me here"my grandfather had made that stupid clause in his will"and J.K. practically forced me into it.'

"Oh, come on!' Lauren lounged into a chair, crossing her legs and taking out her cigarettes.' You don't think anyone, least of all Jarron , believes that ,do you ? Heavens, as I've said, you were onto a good thing. Unfortunately it didn't last enough for you to benefit from it. I should hazard a guess that in a couple of years you could have amassed quite a small fortune with careful consideration.'

"How can you talk like this way, when J.K. has hardly had time to settle in his coffin!' exclaimed Shanaya, her throat dry and uncomfortable,' I thought you liked him!'

"So I did, darling, but I liked his money even more.' She gave a short laugh." How gauche you sound, Shanaya .Sometimes I could almost believe you for real!. Did you fall from the Christmas tree or something? Or were you always so green!'

Oh please!' Shanaya put her hands over her ears.' This is terrible! Don't say any more! Anyway, I"I shall be leaving so that need not worry you!'

Lauren lit a cigarette, and drew deeply upon it. Darling ,it does not bother me at all. It seems obvious now that Jarron will like to settle down at last .As the eldest member of the family ,he can hardly behave so carelessly ,and I, as the most suitable candidate ,should soon become Mrs. Jarron Kyle.' She smiled.' Doesn't that sound nice! Mrs. Jarron Kyle!'

"It sounds delightful, darling,' remarked another voice and Shanaya turned in astonishment to find Tracy, leaning against the door post.'My, my Lauren, you don't waste any time, do you? Are you already dividing up the estate into his and hers?'

Lauren rose to her feet, and two faced each other angrily. Shanaya gave them a helpless look, then turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. She had not known Tracy was here. She had not attended the funeral so Jarron must have sent for her.

She walked towards the stairs wearily, when Jarron appeared from the study, 'Ah there you are, Shanaya,' he said, detachedly. We're waiting for you. Mr. Winstanley is here to read the will.'

The will!' Shanaya pressed a hand to her throat.' Oh, but that's nothing to do with me!'

Oh, but it is ! All the beneficiaries are to be present. You are one of them -like it or not!'

And without giving her time to argue ,he propelled her with undue haste into the study. Mr. Winstanlay was there ,with several of the servants and doctor Landry.

Shanaya stood near the door, refusing Jarron's indication that she should be seated. She wanted none of this .It seemed hateful, dividing J.K.'s possessions so soon after his death. Her cheeks were pale , and she was conscious that for the first time in days Jarron was studying her intently. Helen was not here, but Mr. Winstanlay explained that she had been overcome with grief and would hear her bequest later.

The servants were all left a substantial sum of money for their faithful services, and they filed out after their bequests were read .Then came Doctor Landry ,who received a gift of ten thousand pounds , and jade chessmen that Shanaya had so admired . Jarron ,of course inherited the whole of J.K.'s estate , his controlling interest in Kyle textiles and Malthorpe Hall. Shanaya was the last beneficiary, and she stiffened when lawyer spoke her name.

" To my son's ward, Shanaya Robins ,I bequeath my whole collection of antique porcelain and jade , my pictures and miniatures, for I know she will derive sufficient funds from their sale to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Mr. Winstanlay intoned the words solemnly , and Shanaya pressed the palms of her hands to her burning cheeks.

Oh, no!' she whispered, shaking her head .'No, no!' she looked desperately at the solicitor ,'I can't -I can't! I don't want anything!' she glanced at Jarron, who was watching her solemnly .'Please, can't you see? J.K. owed me nothing -nothing of all!'

Jarron moved. 'There is no mention of your requiring any payment,' he said briefly.'the gift is what it is .A gift.'

Shanaya shook her head .'I don't want them .I tell you ,' she said ,shaking her head desperately.' Mr. Winstanlay ,I could not sell J.K.'s collection!'

Jarron lifted the will from the desk .'The collection is worth between fifty and sixty thousand pounds.' he said."You can sell it to me!'

Shanaya stared at him.'To you ?'

"Of course .That was what my father intended, I imagine.'

She continued to shake her head ,'You can have the collection! I don't want any part of it ! Can't you see? I loved J.K.! I wish he was still here! I don't want your money!' her voice broke off on a sob, and to her astonishment she felt tears streaming down her cheeks.

My dear child ----began doctor Landly, while Mr. Winstanlay looked uncomfortable.

Shanaya looked from one to another, and from them to Jarron , standing still, looking so dear and familiar suddenly ,watching her and she could not bear it . There was only one thing in this room she wanted, and he didn't even realize she had feelings.

She opened the door , thrusting her way out , ignoring the surprised glances of Tracy and Lauren who were standing on the wide hall .She ran up the stairs as though devil himself was at her heels, sobbing uncontrollably , unaware that Jarron was following her , his face strained , his eyes anxious . But Tracy and Lauren watched this sudden action and their faces were astounded.

Shanaya ran to her room, throwing open the door ,closing it ,leaning back against it , aching with the misery she was experiencing .Oh, God, she prayed violently ,make the pain go away ,make it go away soon.

She felt the door opening behind her, and pressed against it,'Go away ,whoever it is .' she cried .'Leave me alone!'

The door was pushed powerfully, and she was almost thrown off balance as Jarron came in, closing the door himself, staring at her with tormented eyes. 'Oh, Shanaya,' he muttered.'You are crazy idiot, do you know that?'

Then astonishingly astoundingly ,amazingly , he pulled her in his arms ,'You wanted me , isn't it ? he muttered ,' You were not fooling me down there ,were you ? What I read in your eyes was love, wasn't it ? His voice was husky with emotions, and he drew back to stare at her comprehendingly.

She wound her arms round his neck ,crying and laughing at the same time ,'Oh,Jarron.'she said

For a long time there was silence in the room and then Jarron said ,'Before you get anything else wrong .I love you ,' he said winding her hair round his fingers ,'but if you marry me you'll be marrying me forever .'

Shanaya stared at him, 'Are you asking me ?'

Are you accepting ?'

Oh, yes, yes. Yes!' Shanaya raised his hand to her cheek .

"But, shanaya, you are crazy! Why me? For me, its different .I has been around. With you, you have your whole life to live any kind of life you choose.'

Shanaya sighed disbelievingly, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. 'You always underestimated me, 'she murmured smilingly.

I underestimated J.K., and most of all myself, but never you .' he muttered ,'Right from the beginning ,I knew you were Trouble ,with capital T.'

You didn't like me in those days,' said Shanaya frowning at the remembrance.

I resented you,' he corrected her gently ,'Don't you know you've twisted your way into my heart right from the beginning ? There you were, a wistful waif in that awful Mason woman's house and I knew then that you were going to live in my house ,disturbing me ,and I resented you for this .No woman has ever disturbed me and I guess after my father's unsatisfactory marriage ,I wanted no part of that kind of relationship.'

"You always treated me as though you hated me!'

He smiled, 'Well, maybe .I did ! After all, nobody likes to think they're vulnerable,' he sighed, And then when I picked you up from the road that night, you got soaked wet. I found myself wanting you but I hated myself as you were too young. I stayed away, even though I wanted to see you ,I knew you were ill . And then you phoned me that night ,you started all over again and I had to come .When I saw you on the landing ,looking so small and defenseless, I just turned away .Well J.K. arranged this trip to Jamaica and I knew he was not well. Doctor had warned me of that but he was so insistent that I could not refuse to take you.'

So you didn't hate me .'

Hate you! Oh, God,'Jarron lay on bed staring at the ceiling.'You have no idea what it was like, particularly you persisted in taunting me. If we had stayed in Jamaica, I would have told you the truth.'

Shanaya looked down at him lovingly ,'Oh, Jarron,' she murmured ,'If only ,I'd known .I've loved you for so long .Right from the beginning ,I think.'

Jarron sat up ,'Honey ,we can not stay here ,'he murmured ,'But we go I will tell you something else .I think J.K. wanted this to happen .I think that's why he left you the collection because he knew you would never be sure that I believed you when you said you came here because of him , not of the money .This way ,he has given you a chance to escape if you want to .' he stood up and thrust his hands in pockets .'I guess I should give you that chance ,too.'

What do you mean?'Shanaya felt those cold fingers gripping her heart again.

" You have got some trainee job in textile mill, is that right ?'

She nodded, 'How did you know that?'

Because he is friend of mine and he knew who you are .That's not why he gave you the job ,I might add, before you start jumping to conclusions. But he is quite prepared to give you the same position in his office, and I think maybe that's what you should do.'

She stared at him, ice cold now, 'Jarron!'

He turned away,'Don't look at me like that ,Shanaya.'

She shook her head incredulously,'Jarron you said you love me!' her voice broke.

He swung round ,'I know -and I do.But can't see you how is it with me ? I am possessive man"what I have ,I hold .You're too young to be shackled like that .I shouldn't have spoken yet !'

"Jarron!' she pressed her hand to her throat. 'Jarron, no!'

He bent his head .'You're making it very hard for me ,'he said unsteadily.'

Shanaya suddenly realized her powers over him .With an angry movement she twisted herself in his arms,'Now say it ,'she demanded angrily. 'Now tell me ,I must go to Paris!'

Jarron stiffened and then his arms went round her ,'Oh ,Shanaya ,'he muttered ,'It's as I said .You are a witch!'

A Sea Witch? She asked impishly.

No"A moon witch ,' he answered burying his head in her silky hair .

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