Enjoy Reading --Moon Witch -Complete- Pg..17 - Page 3

" He is young ."

: Then he is the chairman of the corporation .' said Shanaya , swallowing hard , feeling slightly sick now .' Did he- did he say why he wanted to see me ?'

" the chairman ,' the headmaster was musing to himself reflectively.' What ? Oh no , shanaya , he didn't say . But he seems very impatient , so I should hurry along if I were you . He is waiting in my office . I'll go and wait in staff room .'

" Thank you , sir.' Shanaya managed a faint smile and then walked quickly along the corridor towards the office . As she neared the office , her footsteps slowed , and she wondered what he could want her for . Reaching the door she hesitated and then tapped the door before entering . Jarron Kyle was sitting on the edge of the desk , smoking a cigar , looking tall and lean and disturbingly male . In dark clothes ,he looked every inch the rich , powerful businessman he was . In deference to her femininity , he stood up at her entrance , while she hovered beside the door nervously.

" Either come in or go out ,' he said shortly and with a grimace , she entered and closed the door .' That's better,' He studied her , intently for a moment , noticing her pale cheeks , and the faint shadows round her eyes ,' You don't look at all well .'

Shanaya straightened her shoulders. I'm perfectly all right Mr. Kyle .' she replied coolly .

" Well , I'll take your word for that for the moment . Tell me , have you fixed yourself with the job ?'

I'm - I'm waiting for the result of my interview with the Matron . replied shanaya carefully .' I'm very hopeful .'

I myself contacted the Matron this morning ,' he said , surprisingly ,' You were accepted as a student nurse . I told her you would not be going .'

" You did what !' she stared at him in horror .' What do you mean by interfering in my affairs ! Of course , I will be going ! Oh, I shall have to get in touch with her at once ------

No, you won't .' he interrupted smoothly .' Because you will not be needing a job . you are coming to live in Malthorpe - at least for a year which my father stipulated the other night !'

She raised her head with a little touch of pride .' Oh , no Mr. Kyle . Now you are mistaken ! I have no intention of coming to live at Malthorpe - not now , or at some future date !'

" But you are .' he responded , with equal firmness .' Now , don't let's waste any more time . I shall see your headmaster myself , and you can collect your things . You won't be coming back here ,'

" Don't try your boardroom tactics on me , Mr. Kyle , because they just won't work !' she exclaimed angrily.

Boardroom tactics !' he said , half amused at her fervor . Boardroom tactics! You haven't the first idea what boardroom tactics may be !'

Well , may be not ,' she said hotly .' But you can't make me do anything !'

He thrust his hands into the pockets of his thick suede car coat ,' Ah , well , Miss Robins , there you are wrong .' he said smoothly ,' you're forgetting ! However unpleasant you may find the news .I am your guardian , and as such , I have absolute power over you . Unless , of course , you'd care to take me to the court to prove otherwise . But somehow I don't think you will. I could employ such a more satisfactory lawyer than you could !'

She could not believe her ears .' But why ? Why? Heavens, only a week ago you were suggesting I was trying to - well , you know what you said !'

" I know , my opinion has changed very little . However - he held up a hand as she would have protested--- however my father is insistent that you be allowed to come to Malthorpe , and he can be very persuasive .'

Her eyes mirrored her disbelief ,' Oh, really .' she exclaimed ." I can't believe the hard , powerful Jarron Kyle , chairman of Kyle Textiles and Lord of the Universe , could be persuaded by his father !' as soon as the words were spoken she was aghast at her own temerity , but instead of censure she saw a reluctant trace if admiration in his eyes.

Then , as suddenly it was gone , and he said quietly : " My father has a heart condition ; that's why he retired as chairman in first place . Last Friday he had another mild attack . I am not prepared to risk his health for my own amusement . If he wants you so desperately , then he shall have you .'

Her heart softened over so slightly .' Does - does J.K. know , you are here ?'

Jarron gave her an exasperated look.' You must be joking ! Of course he knows I am here ! Do you imagine I'm doing this to surprise him! Oh no . I'm well aware of his fallibilities . I'm almost certain his attack was contrived , but I'm not prepared to gamble on anything less than a certainty . Therefore , will you go and collect your things, Moss Robins?'

She hesitated .' And if I refuse ?'

" I'm pretty certain your heart is softer then mine , replied Jarron , stubbing out his cigar lazily .' You couldn't take that risk either . could you , Miss Robins?' and she knew he was right .

Today Jarron was driving a dark green sports car , and Shanaya at it with some interest as she climbed in .' A Ferrari!' remarked Jarron dryly , as though answer to her unspoken question .' Very expensive ! Would you like my father to buy you one ?'

She tightened her lips , not designing to reply , although his words were hurtful . she would not enter the battle of wits with a man much more capable of choosing his weapons than she was . Besides , she was vulnerable : he was not.

He drove out of the school with some impatience , Shanaya was glancing back at school rather regretfully , and Jarron said bitingly : "Surely a school can't arouse sentimentality !'

Her fingers gripped the leather satchel on her lap .' Not to someone like you , perhaps .' she replied quietly .

Mrs. Mason was standing at the door , talking to her next door neighbor . Shanaya gave a little sigh , when she saw them , and Jarron said : Now what's wrong ?' He glanced her way , and then back at the two women by the gate .' Are you afraid of what they might say ?' His tone was mocking ."

" Oh, you wouldn't understand !'she cried hotly as he brought the car to a snarling halt beside the two women.

" Credit me with a little common sense ,' he said shortly , and pushed open his door and slid out . Leaving Shanaya to extricate herself , he walked across to Mrs. Mason , looking arrogant and assured ,' Hello again .' he said smoothly .' You may be relieved to know that Shanaya is leaving !

" Leaving?' Mrs. Mason's voice was shrill, and Shanaya's heart sank to her shoes ," Do you mean- she is going to live with you ?'

Jarron smiled lazily .' With my father , Mrs. Mason . I knew you would be glad to be rid of the responsibility .'

Mrs. Mason was speechless for a moment, and then ,daring her to protest , she said : " Well I do not know about that , Mr. Kyle .'

"Why ?' Jarron drew out his cigar case and extracted one , lighting it with deliberate slowness.' You've made it quite plain from the beginning , Mrs. Mason , that you could not keep the child longer than was necessary .'

I know , but- well, I ...'

You didn't think such a thing would materialize , did you , Mrs. Mason ? I really believe you expected Shanaya to go to General Hospital without any further assistance from any of us , isn't it that right ?'

Mrs. Mason face was red .' I didn't think any such thing , and you have no right to say such things,' she replied , irritably.

" Well, I'm glad about that .' said Jarron , glancing round to where Shanaya was standing nervously beside the car .' Go and pack your things Shanaya . If you need any help------

Shanaya shook her head and approached them , passing Mrs. Mason as she entered the gate , Mrs. Mason looked at her piercingly ,' So you are leaving .' she said tartly.

Shanaya nodded uncomfortably .

Hmn!' Mrs. Mason said no more , and for the first time she was glad of Jarron's presence.

It didn't take long to pack her things and when she came out again , carrying her cases . Jarron was leaning on the bonnet of the car watching Mrs. Mason as she continued her conversation , now somewhat stilted , with her neighbor . . Straightening , Jarron threw away the cigar and came to take her cases from her unresisting fingers , Then he looked down at her , his eyes amused .' That wasn't so bad , was it ? and she shook her head speechlessly .

She thanked Mrs. Mason for her kindness, for she had been kind , even if that kindness had been tinged with bad humor , and then wishing her good bye she walked to the car , conscious of the two women's eyes upon her . She could almost feel the other eyes behind the lace curtains down the road and she thought clearly Mrs. Mason would have informed the whole street by the end of the day . No one would be in any doubt as to her position .

Jarron slid behind the wheels , leaning over to push open the door for her ," Get in , for God's sake .' he muttered .' No one got a shotgun on your back !'

Shanays compressed her lips , and did as he said realizing he was perfectly aware of her feelings . Then he started the car , Shanya sank back against the soft leather and sighed .

" Well, it's over .' he remarked as he turned the car to high street .' What a timid kid you are ! Hell, I don't ever remember being like that !'

I don't suppose you ever were .' Shanaya flared , her emotions disturbed by his indifference .

He gave a short laugh .' That's better. Shanaya show a little bit of spirit ! The life you are going to be leading , you are going to be meeting young men and who will positively eat you out if you continue to act like mouse !'

Men like you ?' she asked angrily . unthinkingly .

Jarron's expression was sardonic .' Hardly , kid !I don't come into either of those categories ! But I shall be watching just the same , and I'm expecting a great deal of amusement out of the spectacle !'

You are a- a -a brute !' she exclaimed , clenching her fists tightly .

" Oh , am I " he mocked her . " Well , you keep on remembering that , and we will get along fine !'

Shanaya was given her own room at Malthorpe Hall . When Hester , the maid , showed her into it , she could not suppress the gasp of pure delight that escaped her . Hester , who was in her fifties , looked on benevolently , as Shanaya swung round examining everything with an engulfing gaze . The carpet , soft and pale pink , flowed into every corner . A long fitted unit of teakwood double wardrobe and dressing table , the bed , a large divan and the curtains of lilac -striped brocade were reflected in the color of the bed spread . Hester waited for a moment , and then crossed the room to open a door at the far side .

" This is your bathroom , Miss Shayana .' she said smiling , and Shanya walked quickly across to peep into a large mirror- walled room , with a large step in bath of pink porcelain . The shelf above was filled with make up , bath oils , and Shanaya thought she would spend hours experimenting with them . Her only possession at the moment in the way of cosmetics ware a pink lipstick and an eyes -liner , which she has used only once . However as her skin was creamy colored , and her dark brows and lashes matched the color of her hair , she really didn't need a lot of make up .

Now she looked at Hester with unconcealed pleasure ,and said : Thank you very much .'

Hester smiled dryly , and walked to the door ." Don't thank me , Miss Shayana .' she exclaimed deprecatingly .' You've Mr. Kyle to thank .'

Jaroon!' exclaimed Shanaya , almost without thinking and saw the maid's lips tighten .

No , not Mr. Jarron , miss . Mr. Kyle senior .'

" Oh!' Shayana twisted her hands together , behind her back ." Oh , yes , of course.'

Lunch is in fifteen minutes , miss , if you will come down to the small lounge .'

" Which is where ?'

" If you find your way to the hall . I'm sure someone will be around to direct you .' replied Hester and withdrew , closing the door .

After she had gone , Shanaya flicked open her suit-cases and began to take out her clothes and lay them on the bed .Then she remembered that the made had said lunch in fifteen minutes, and she hastily took herself off to the bathroom to wash before the meal .It was quite a novelty , having her reflection thrown back at her from every direction and she spent several minutes turning from side to side , admiring her profile from angles she had never seen before . Then realizing time was passing , she hastily washed , cleaned her teeth and ran a comb through her long hair . Her pinafore dress would have to do , she thought , and at least blouse was clean . Then she left her room , closing the door behind her .

As she walked along the corridor to the head of the stairs , she realized this was the first time she had been at Malthorpe Hall in day-light and was eager to explore outside . May be after lunch , she thought , with some excitement . Now that she was actually here , the real meaning of her actual circumstances was beginning to catch up with her , and with it came a stomach - churning sense of anticipation. After all , she was only seventeen and only human , and there were so many things to look forward to. Her steps lightened , and she ran down the stairs , jumping the last two down on to the hall carpet .

Morris was standing in the hall sorting through some letters on a silver salver. He smiled at her youthful exuberance ,and said :' O gather you found your room satisfactory , miss.'

" Satisfactory !' exclaimed Shayana , smiling .' O=It's wonderful !Oh , Morris . I'm so excited suddenly . I don't think I could eat a thing !'

Morris chuckled and Shanaya thought she was going to like him very much . He was not at all like the butlers of her imagination .

I'm sure you will find lunch very exciting .' he remarked now ,' Do you know where Mr. Jarron and his father are ?'

At the mention of Jarron's name , Shanaya subsided somewhat ,' No- No ,I don't .' she said .

then come this way .' he led her across the hall and through the arched entrance to a room Shanaya had not seen before . It was slightly smaller than the lounge but equally luxurious . She thought it was probably a room used by ladies in bygone era .

J.K. himself came to meet her , smiling warmly .' Well , Shanya ,' he said .' Do you think you can be happy here ?'

Oh, J.K. , what a question!' she was enthused and then saw that a young woman was lounging negligently on the low couch , watching her through narrowed blue eyes . She looked elegant with curls cut short and framing her head like a halo . As though becoming aware of the Shanaya's attention , J.K. turned , drawing Shanaya forward .

" Come and meet Lauren Maxwell.' He said ,' Lauren , this is Shanaya Robins.'