Enjoy Reading --Moon Witch -Complete- Pg..17 - Page 7

Her mind was active with the problem of the proposed trip to Jamaica . she would not have been human had she not felt excited at the prospect of two weeks in the sun , away from the damp and cold of England at this time of the year . . But she wished J.K. had mentioned it to her before asking Jarron . She would have liked to have been there to gauge his reaction to such a request . Of course it all must have been done by telephone . Jarron hadn't been near them for weeks .

She entered the library , closing the door and leaning against it . A huge fire burned in the grate as usual , and in the fire light the room looked warm and inviting . A cream telephone stood silently on the small bureau in the corner , and her eyes flickered over it , an idea occurred to her . If she were to ring to Jarron herself , speak to him personally , she would be able to ask him about the trip , discover for himself what he had to say .

In theory it seemed a good idea , but in practice her nerve took over . Her voice trembled as she asked for the number , and her hand shook as she listened to the ringing tone . It seemed to ring for ages and ages before anyone answered it , and she was beginning to feel a sense of relief that he was not there , when the receiver was lifted and a woman's voice said the number . At first Shanaya thought she had wrong number , but then realized from the sounds of music and laughter that there must be some party going on , and that was very likely the person who had answered was one of maids . She was about to say it didn't matter , when she heard the woman say to a third person :

" I don't know who is it , darling , they haven't answered yet . Perhaps they're in coin box , and haven't the change ."

Shanaya swallowed hard , felt a shiver run up her spine and then heard Jarron say ;" Who is this ? " In a short abrupt tone .

" It's me -Shanaya !" she managed to , very quietly , and he said :

" Who ? Shanaya ? Oh is something wrong , Shanaya ? Is my father ill ? His voice was slightly warmer .

" Err-no , Mr. Kyle , J.K. is fine ." she stumbled over the words , feeling awkwardly and immature . Was that woman , the one who called Jarron darling , still listening to their conversation ?

" Then what is it , Shanaya ? " There was faintest sign of impatience now .

" I- I wanted to speak to you , Mr. Kyle ." she stammered ." But - but - privately !"

" Look Shanaya , there is a party going on here . I can't possibly have any lengthy discussions with you at this moment !" his attitude was wholly impatient now .

And as though his words triggered off some defense mechanism inside Shanaya , she felt her own anger rising ." Oh, that's all right Mr. Kyle ." she said coldly ." Sorry I bothered you . Goodnight !!! " and she slammed down the receiver .

After she had done so , she felt contrite . After all he was entertaining , and may be she was being unreasonable ringing him at such a time expecting him to speak to her . , but then she hardened her heart as she remembered his cold impatience, and hunching her shoulders she moved closer to the fire. She would have to content herself with waiting until he decided he had time to visit them at Malthorpe.

She was startled out of her wits when the telephone started ringing . She rose at once to answer it , and then hesitated . It could be Jarron ! And if it were, she did not want to speak to him . The effort of calling him in the first place had taken all her energies, and she was not willing to enter into any further argument this evening .

The ringing stopped and she realized that Morris or one of the servants had answered it . She relaxed and lay back in her chair . She ought to be feeling happy and contented , living here in such luxury without a care in the world , yet all she felt was an emotional disorder that was heightened every time she considered going to Jamaica with a man who obviously found her nothing but an annoying responsibility .

The library door opened after a brief tap on its panels , and Morris stood thee ," Excuse me , Miss Shanaya ," he said ." But Mr. Jarron is calling you from London . Will you take the call in here ?"

Shanaya jumped jerkily to her feet ," Oh- oh yes, all right . Morris . Did - did he say why he was calling me ?" she swallowed hard ." Are you sure its not J.K. he wants to speak to ?"

Morris half smiled ." Definitely you , miss ," he replied kindly , as though aware of her discomfiture.

" Yes- yes , all right , Morris , thank you ." she gingerly lifted the telephone receiver from its cradle , and Morris withdrew , leaving her alone ." He- hello , Shanaya Robins speaking ."

" Shanaya ," Jarron s voice was taut . " Do not ever hang up on me again !"

Shanaya shivered , although the room was hot ." I- I didn't hang up on you ,' she protested her anger again , dissipated by nerves ." You - You were obviously busy . I didn't want to trouble you anymore ."

" Rubbish !" Jarron sounded furious ." Anyway , I'm alone now , for the moment at least , so let's have it . What do you want ?"

Shanaya took a deep breath ." I really want nothing at all , from you ,' she replied stiffly ." I - I had a notion to ask you about something , that was all . I realize I was stupid : it was not the time or the place . I guess it doesn't matter anyway ,' this last was said rather pathetically .

Jarron seemed to be controlling his temper with difficulty ." Shanaya ," he began ." I shall not ask you again ! I want to know why you rang - now !"

Shanaya hesitated ." Well , if you must have it , it's about this- this proposed trip J.K. had planned for Jamaica-----"

" And ?" He prompted impatiently .

" You don't want to take me !" it was statement rather than a question . " Did J.K. tell you that ?"

" No, not exactly , I guessed."

" Did it ever occurred to you that your unsophisticated attempts at estimating my opinion might be wrong ?"

Shanaya sighed ." J.K. ought not to have mentioned it to you without my knowledge . I don't want to feel beholden to you !"

Jarron gave a short laugh ." Don't you now ? And don't your wardrobe , your car , and your present status make you feel beholden ?"

Shanaya felt a hard lump in her throat ." Th- that's a terrible thing to say !" she whispered , unable to find any healthy resentment inside her ." Oh, how can you ? How can you ?" and with shaking fingers she replaced the receiver on its cradle , sitting staring at the telephone with tortured eyes . She had never felt so desolate , not even in those awful first days after her grandfather's sudden death . She had known Jarron was hard , cynical , but he had been never been so cruel to her before .

As before the telephone began to ring again , but Shanaya moved away from it and Morris tapped at the door to tell her that Jarron wanted her again , she merely shook her head dumbly , forcing the unshed tears to remain stationary . She would not - she couldn't speak to him again !

Morris gave up after a moment and went away , but he came back again , looking concerned ." Won't you please speak to Mr. Jarron ?" he asked ," He is most insistent ."

" No - no , Morris . Tell him - tell him I've gone to bed ."

Morris sighed and closed the door , and after a few minutes the door opened again , but this time it was J.K. . He was frowning and shanaya sighed heavily .

" You've been speaking to Jarron ," he said , looking at her intently , " Did he ring you ?"

" Yes - at least - oh , I suppose you already know anyway , I rang him first ." she hunched her shoulders.

" But why ?"

" I wanted to ask him about the trip to Jamaica . I knew he didn't want to take me ! Oh , J.K. , I wish you hadn't asked him . He is so absorbed with his life here to want to take a stupid teenager to the West Indies !Then , when I rang , there was this party going on , and a woman answered , and Jarron did not want to speak to me , and I hung up on him , and he got mad ----" her voice trailed away , and she lifted her shoulders in an eloquent gesture." That's all !"

" All! All! Isn't that enough ? Good lord , Shanaya , whatever possessed you to attempt to speak to him tonight? You might know he wouldn't be tactful . Jarron seldom is . At least , so far we are concerned ."

" Tactful ! " Shanaya bit hard on her lower lip ." He was horrible ! Horrible !"she buried her face in her hands , the hot tears forcing their way between her fingers , and dropping into her lap .

" Oh , my dear !" J.K. went down on his haunches beside her ." For heaven's sake , don't cry , darling ! Jarron didn't mean it , whatever he said . He might be cynical and selfish , but he is not intentionally cruel ."

" Isn't he ? she rubbed her eyes blindly ." I think I hate him !"

" Don't be silly , Shanaya . whatever did he say to upset you so ?"

" I-I-I said I didn't want to feel beholden to him -for taking me to Jamaica , of course , and he said - he said - oh , he said I already was beholden to him -for - for everything !"

J.K. made a grunt of annoyance ," Well , Shanaya ." he said , sighing , " I suppose in a way , you are . Did he say he wanted to be rid of that responsibility ?"

Shanaya looked up ." N0o,' she said slowly .

" Well , there you are then !"

Oh, it's not simple as that ,' she said , taking out her handkerchief and drying her eyes ." He does not have to say everything. I just know !"

" I think you are letting your imagination run away with you ," said J.K. firmly ." Now, come along, come and watch Doctor Landry get his just deserts. I have cornered him, and he can't possibly escape! " He smiled encouragingly .

Shanaya noticed, and allowed him to lead her from the room , but inwardly she was distraught as before .

Late that night, when she was lying sleeplessly in her comfortable bed , she heard the powerful roar of a car coming up the drive . Immediately her senses were vibrantly alive, as she realized it could be only Jarron at this time of the night. No one could have been allowed through the gates and she felt restless. Why had he come back so unexpectedly? Had he spoken to J.K.? And if so, what had been said ?

Sliding out of the bed , , she slipped her arms into the sleeves of amber- colored quilted gown that lay at the foot of her bed . She had to be certain that it was Jarron . She had to see him for himself to know he was actually there .

Opening her bedroom door she stepped out on to the dimly lit landing , paddling softly along to where the balcony fell away in to the beautiful well of the hall . A lamp glowed on the polished chest in the hall . Outside , she could hear wind moaning through the trees and the silence was almost tangible .

Then a car door slammed and a few minutes later a key was inserted in the door and it swung inwards to admit Jarron . Dressed in dark overcoat over a dark suit , tall and lean , moving with the smooth , lithe grace of a predator , he epitomized all that was sleek and powerful and disturbing to Shanya. And she pressed a hand to her mouth when realized that it was not hatred he aroused in her . She turned her back on the scene down in the hall as Jarron shed his overcoat , and flicked through the pile of mails that awaited him on the hall salver.

Wrapping her housecoat about her , she smoothened her hair , and turned to make her way back to her bedroom . But she had not been conscious of the swift passage of time and in those moments she had taken to gather her emotions . Jarron had mounted the steps and now stood regarding her cynically , some two feet away .

" Oh!" Shanaya gasped in astonishment.

" Good evening , Shanaya ,' he said sardonically ." How nice of you to provide a welcoming committee !"

" I didn't - I mean - excuse me !" she would have brushed past him ,but he halted her easily , his fingers about her small wrist .

" Don't go ,' he mocked her ," you and I haven't finished our conversation!"

" Don't go ,' he mocked her ," you and I haven't finished our conversation!"

" We- we can't discuss anything tonight ,' she said , trembling in his grasp ." Please let me go -I don't want to arouse your father by having to shout for help!"

" What makes you think I might do something to make you want to shout for help ?" he murmured huskily, regarding her rather more intently , making Shanaya acutely conscious of the scarcity of her attire . With her hair loose about her shoulders , she was unaware of the elusive quality of her allure, but Jarron was aware of it ,his senses heightened by their argument earlier , and the violent , savage journey he had made from London , as much in contrition as anger .

" Nothing- nothing !" Shanaya felt a breathless inertia overtaking her . It was so late , and the wind outside isolated them from the rest of the world , and her own thoughts of a few minutes ago , were still very much uppermost in her mind . Jarron was very close and she was fast losing her urge to escape from him .

Jarron was aware of the moment too. His eyes were no longer mocking her but warm and disturbing .

" Jarron ," she murmured but he made for the head of the stairs .

" Go to bed , Shanaya ,' he said harshly .

She stared at him without speaking , hugging herself shakily , and he swore violently ." For God's sake , go to bed ."

She stared at him for a moment longer , and then without a word sped along the corridor to her room , opening her door with trembling fingers, closing it behind her . Then she went to the mirror , gazing at herself with agonized eyes , seeing the hurt and bewilderedment mirrored there .Oh God , she thought shivering uncontrollably , what have I done ? What have I done ?

When she went down for breakfast next morning there were dark rings round her eyes and J.K. , who was sitting reading a newspaper with his coffee, frowned when he noticed them ." Didn't you sleep ?" he asked bluntly .

She seated herself before replying ." No- not very well," she murmured." I- well , the wind was very strong ."

J.K. looked skeptical , and then pouring himself another cup of coffee , he said : " Jarron arrived last night ."

She controlled her color with difficulty," Oh- oh , did he ?" she said , sipping her fruit juice ." Did you know he was coming ?"

" Not really , although I suspected he might after your argument on the phone last evening . No matter how you see it . Jarron is not vindictive. He probably needs to apologize. Besides, it will give us the ideal opportunity to discuss this trip . I thought you might leave at the end of the week ."

" At the end of the week ?' her eyes were wide ." But- but we couldn't - we couldn't possibly !"

" Why not ? you know you obtained your passport weeks ago . There is nothing to stop you . Jarron is perfectly well aware of the proximity of the departure date ."

She felt all traces of appetite leaving her . She couldn't go abroad with Jarron right now , not immediately . She needed time to think, to gather together her scattered senses , to get things in to perspective , to achieve that detached aloofness that would prevent her from making a fool of herself .

"Where - where is Jarron?" she asked in a small voice.

" He went about six-thirty - on Alexander . It's quite a bracing morning , for all the cold , and I expect he'll ride over to the Maxwells' for breakfast ."

"Oh.' She finished her fruit juice ." What - what did he say ?"

"Nothing much . Why?" J.K. regarded her speculatively ." He can't have slept much last night. He didn't get here until after midnight - much later than that , actually , and to be out so early ..." He shrugged." May be his conscience is troubling him ."

She doubted this, particularly after the incident on the upper landing . At the remembrance of this, the color flooded her cheeks, and J.K. narrowed his eyes ," Don't let Jarron hurt you ." he said , surprisingly ." His bark is much worse than his bite."

She managed a half smile." Do you think so? Oh J.K. . I wish you hadn't decided on this trip to Jamaica ! It will be impossible !"

J.K. sighed ." Look, Shanaya , you are travelling with Jarron. When you get there ,Helen will be your hostess, and she'll see that you're not left a target for Jarron's ill- humor . Besides , Jarron likes Jamaica ,and I daresay you may find him a much more agreeable person away from my influence ."

"You never said a truer word !" a cool , amused voice remarked , ans Shanaya glanced round , startled to find Jarron leaning against the door post ." What a cozy chat you seem to be having." he remarked, with some dryness." The trials and errors of life in a goldfish bowl!"

"Don't be so sarcastic , Jarron ," said J.K. sharply ." where is Lauren ? I would have thought you would be breakfasting there if you had been riding with her."

Jarron flung himself into a seat at the table , pouring himself some coffee." I have been not riding with Lauren. I haven't even seen Lauren,' he replied sardonically." I preferred my own company this morning." His eyes flickered over shanaya swiftly and she bent her head to avoid the speculation in his gaze." Do you not ride these days, Shanaya ?"

"No." she was abrupt.

" She has not done anything since her illness,' replied J.K. " I believe , I told you several times , she isn't well , at least she hasn't recovered her spirits since her weeks in bed . This is my dilemma, the reason I asked you to take the trouble to take her to Jamaica!"

Jarron studied her bent head ." How do you feel about it , Shanaya ?" he asked .

She looked up , and then applied her attention to her toast ." As I told you last night , I have no desire to be an encumberance to you . May be I am looking rather washed out, but it will pass. As soon as the weather gets warmer. I shall be fine!"

" No, you will not ! ," thundered J.K. , " Not sufficiently fast for me , at any rate . Jarron , tell the child you'll take her to your mother s with good grace ! Don't make her feel such a nuisance!"

Jarron raised his dark eyebrows ." Did I say that? Did I say she was nuisance?"

" You apparently said enough ,' retorted J.K. ." You are so wrapped up in your own blasted affairs that you have no time to think of anyone but yourself!"

"Oh, please !" Shanaya rose to her feet." Don't, please , have any argument over me ! I have told you . I don't want to go to Jamaica!"

Jarron rose too, towering over her , making her acutely conscious of him ." Of course you want to go ," he said smoothly ." And what's more you're going ! The arrangements are already made. This morning I telephoned the agency I deal with in London."

Shanaya stared at him." But you couldn't possibly. It's only nine-fifteen now. Agencies don't open before nine."

Jarron gave a short laugh." My dear , Shanaya , when you are the chairman of a combine like Kyle Textiles, there is no such word as don't . He will open his office at two in the morning if I asked

him!"

She compressed her lips." Oh, really ." she said bitterly." You're so sure, aren't you, so confident , so arrogant ! You can't believe that I might not want to go with you to Jamaica!"

"Frankly, no. Oh, I don't flatter myself it's my company you are wanting , but you did say you wanted to travel , didn't you , and I'm sure such an opportunity could not go unnoticed !"

"Jarron! For God's sake ------"J.K. smote his fist on the table." She is no match for you, and that tongue of yours. Leave her alone! You say you've made arrangements for the flight?"

Jarron looked round at his father ,: Yes , Matt is going with us ,"

"Matt?" J.K. frowned. "Why?"

"I decided he should ." Jarron was non-committal.

"When did you decide this?"

"This morning, actually. Any objections?"

Shanaya sighed. Who was this Matt they were talking about ? And why he was going to Jamaica with Jarron? Had it anything to do with the abandoned way she had acted the previous night? She had been so wrapped up in her own feelings she had not stopped to think how Jarron might construe her actions.

J.K. seemed to sense the trend of her thoughts and said :" Matt is Jarron's personal assistant as well being a close friend . He is nice , you'll like him .Jarron , are you taking the direct flight ?"

" No. We leave Saturday morning and stay overnight in New York. The flight to Kingston leaves Sunday afternoon."

" I see. What do you intend doing in New York? I suppose, it's not just by chance that you're staying there overnight."

"Well." Jarron thrust his hands into the pockets of his overcoat." I thought I might get to meet Jefferson Saturday evening."

J.K. clicked hi tongue in annoyance." Jarron, this is not to be an excuse for a business trip ."

"J.K.," Jarron voice was equally hard," I make my own rules, and I play by them . Don't try alternating the game, because your rules just don't apply!"

J.K. sighed." I'd be interested to know exactly what your game is, Jarron,' he said dryly.

Jarron smiled." I guess you would at that." he conceded." I suppose Shanaya feels the same way. however,' as Shanaya walked to the door." this is not the time or the place, for inquisitions on my character. Well, Shanaya , can you be ready in three days , do you suppose ?Potter can bring you down to London on Friday , and you can stay overnight at my apartment ." he gave his father a wry glance ." I'll ask Tracy to stay there, too." He looked back at Shanaya ." Just so everything is proper."

J.K. nodded decisively." All right, Jarron . Shanaya can manage that .I'll see she does."

Shanaya heaved a sigh . It seemed she had no choice but to give in with good grace. After all, with this Matt along, it would relieve matters , and there would be no intimate moments alone with Jarron.

" I-I think I'll go and wash my hair ,' she said now ,excusing herself and J.K. frowned .

"You're not brooding?"

"No, of course not."

"Good." said Jarron. "Because I'm leaving again this afternoon and I'd hate to feel that you were annoyed with me !"

"My opinion of you hardly matter one iota; returned shanaya , with some annoyance , hardly able to credit that that little scene on the upper landing had ever occurred . Jarron , this mocking , sardonic man , could never have looked at her with such melting warmth , never triggered off such an explosion of dangerous awareness between them ; it just was not possible.

As she left the room ,Jarron said : " I'll see you at lunch ,I expect , but if not Friday afternoon, right ?"

" Right ." responded Shanaya , somewhat wearily, and did not bother to look back at him again . She wanted to get away quite badly ,and try and retrieve her lost defences .

Ventura Court was a tall imposing block of luxury apartments , favored by famous people .Here they lived in isolated anonymity , in opulent surroundings , separated from the outside world . To Shanaya it looked cold and uninviting , and although the evening was warmer and a faint sun was setting as Potter brought the Limousine to a halt by the shallow flight of steps that led up to the swing glass doors . She shivered uncontrollably as much from nerves as anything else. She looked down at the orange slack suit , she was wearing with some misgivings . Combined with her auburn hair and creamy complexion ,it was very attractive , but she felt over dressed and uncomfortable , wishing herself miles away from here .

Potter opened the door and escorted her up in the lift , with her cases , to the penthouse apartment that Jarron occupied . The lift doors opened on to a thickly carpeted hallway and Potter led the way t the double white doors with KYLE written on them in tiny gold letters.

"Well, miss.' He said as he rang the bell." here we are! I hope you are going have an enjoyable holiday in Jamaica. I envy you .I really do."

Shanaya half smiled, a trifle wanly." Believe me, Potter, if I could change places with you .I would."

Potter looked taken aback, and she thought she ought not to have said anything so reveling to a chauffeur of J.K. s .Still Potter was more like a friend and he had known that she left rather distressed at leaving J.K. behind . He had looked so lonely, standing on the steps of Malthorpe Hall , and she had wanted to stop the car and dash back to the security of his arms . Somehow, even with her grandfather, who had been an undemonstrative man at best , she had never felt the same sense of belonging , and in a short time J.K. had come to mean a lot to her .

Now the doors of the apartment were opened and another manservant stood there .

" This is Hastings," said Potter and introduced both of them. " Come in ,miss. Mr. Jarron isn't in at the moment ,but Miss Merrick is here , waiting to greet you ."

Immediately Shanaya's heart sank to her shoes . Another obstacle to meet and overcome! If only Jarron had allowed her to arrive and make herself at home alone. As it was she was to meet yet another edition of Lauren , all ready to make a verbal meal of her . She didn't know whether she would be able to stand it .

Continued...