Dark Moonless Night. Anne Mather
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Название: Dark Moonless Night
Автор: Anne Mather
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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And yet, in spite of everything, the people themselves looked healthy, and happy, enough. The babies, who ran naked to their mothers at the appearance of this strange white woman and her children, had plump, rounded little bodies and bright, inquisitive eyes. There was a distinct absence of men to be seen, except for a few ancients seated cross-legged beside an open fire, smoking pipes and talking incessantly. Caroline assumed that all the able-bodied males were working, either at the mine or perhaps at some form of agriculture, although there seemed little scope for cultivation of crops about here. The women looked at them without interest, but Caroline was not disposed to linger. She felt that they were intruding somehow, and in spite of the children’s disappointed protests, turned back the way they had come.
They were perhaps half way back to the bungalow, when a low-slung American limousine came cruising alongside and stopped just ahead of them. A man leaned out, a dark-haired, thick-set, handsome man, who smiled a greeting. Caroline stiffened. Surely they were not about to be accosted in this remote outpost?
However, to her surprise, the man knew their names. ‘Hello,’ he called. ‘You look too young to be the children’s mother, so you must be Miss Ashford, is that right? And that’s David and Miranda.’
Caroline took a few tentative steps forward, holding both the children’s hands firmly. ‘Yes, I’m Caroline Ashford. But I’m afraid——’
‘I know.’ The man thrust open his door and climbed out. revealing that he was only a little taller than Caroline herself. ‘You’re naturally wondering who I am. Well, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Nicolas Freeleng. Gareth may have mentioned my name to you.’
At the mention of Gareth Morgan’s name, a wave of hot colour swept into Caroline’s cheeks. But of course the name was familiar. Wasn’t it for Freeleng Copper Incorporated that Charles worked?
Allowing her fingers to be engulfed in the man’s broad palm, Caroline managed to nod and say: ‘Yes, I do recall your name, Mr. Freeleng. How do you do?’
‘I’m very well, thank you.’ He let her withdraw her hand from his rather reluctantly. ‘I don’t feel I have to ask you that question. You look quite—delightful, if I may say so.’
Caroline’s colour did not subside as she introduced the children. Inevitably, David had a question and for once she was glad. While Nicolas Freeleng explained the dials on the car’s dashboard to his enthralled listener, she had an opportunity to study the man.
He was quite young, much younger than she would have expected him to be, perhaps thirty-nine or forty, with square shoulders and a rather heavily-built body. He was dressed in khaki shirt and trousers, and there were already signs of perspiration on the shirt’s crisp surface.
When he could extricate himself from David’s curiosity, he turned back to Caroline, and said: ‘Perhaps I can give you a lift back to Lacey’s bungalow, Miss Ashford. Actually, I was on my way there to see Mrs. Lacey when I saw you. I was about to suggest that you all dine with me at my house this evening.’
Caroline glanced down at the children. ‘I’m sure Mrs. Lacey will love that, Mr. Freeleng,’ she replied. ‘However, I hope you will understand that I couldn’t accept your invitation myself.’
‘Why not?’ Nicolas’s brows ascended.
‘Well—because I’m here to look after the children——’
‘If necessary the children can come, too,’ declared Nicolas, with a certain amount of arrogance. ‘I insist that you join us. You can’t remain aloof in a community like ours, Miss Ashford. We all depend upon one another too much for that.’
Caroline sighed. ‘It’s not a question of remaining aloof, Mr. Freeleng——’
‘Is it not? Then you will come.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘But we are wasting time. Come, get in the car. We’ll go and see Mrs. Lacey. I’m sure she’ll see it my way.’
Elizabeth was not about when they entered the bungalow, and excusing herself, Caroline left Nicolas with the children and went in search of her employer. She could hear Thomas singing in the kitchen as she went along the passage and a frown drew her dark brows together. Where was Elizabeth? Why hadn’t she appeared when she heard them come in?
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