Island of escape (2 page)

- The place teemed with people—tourists and locals

and gamblers, among them many Asiatics from the boats that were in the harbour, and Ellis, failing to see Jake, pressed on towards their meeting place. He wasn't there, and a little uncertainly she took a chair at a small table not far from the bar, and hoped that he would turn up soon. She was not used to such sophistication—her life in Melbourne had been quiet in the extreme—and she hoped that in this dimly lit part of the casino she wouldn't attract attention.

But before very long she became aware that a man was studying her. She could feel his eyes roving over her, and she shrank within herself, wishing she could suddenly become invisible. Then unexpectedly her confusion gave way to a completely different feeling as she realised she was no longer the neatly dressed little innocent who had kept house in a Melbourne suburb. She remembered the image she had seen in the mirror

Unable to resist it, she glanced across at the man who was taking such an interest in her, and she did it boldly and openly. He too was alone at a small table, but he had a glass of something—probably Scotch, she decided—in his hand. She judged him to be somewhere in his mid-thirties, for though his thick dark hair had a dramatic silver streak in it, his deeply tanned and strikingly handsome face was young. He wore a velvet jacket of darkest brown, a pale peach-coloured shirt and a silky, striped tie, and as he moved one arm she caught the flash of gold cuff links.

Their eyes met, and, without altogether meaning to she smiled, then felt her heart give a nervous leap as he smiled back and raised his glass to her. There was a very decidedly worldly cynicism in his smile, and she looked away hastily, aware that he might think she was inviting him to pick her up. She opened her purse and

pretended to hunt for something in it, and hoped he wouldn't come over and speak to her. She'd have no idea what to say to a man like that. He belonged to a world that was completely different from hers—though, seeing her in this get-up, that fact wouldn't be so apparent to him, she thought wryly.

She had an almost irresistible compulsion to look at him-again—aloofly, haughtily, this time, just to show that she wasn't in the least interested in him, but probably fortunately for her, Jake arrived—handsome, suave, with nothing of the father figure about him, despite his fifty-one years. Wealth, Ellis thought irrelevantly, certainly suited him, and she smiled at him affectionately.

He greeted her as gallantly as if she were some woman he was interested in romantically, instead of just Ellis Lincoln, whom he'd known since she was a small child.

`My darling, you look beautiful. That new hairstyle couldn't suit you better.'

As he spoke, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. It was all part of his policy of making her feel better, of boosting up her ego, and though she knew he did it to make her feel good, she was aware that people looked and smiled cynically—just as that man in the velvet jacket was looking now. And she had a pretty fair idea as to what he was thinking

`I'm sorry I've kept you waiting,' Jake was saying. `You should have bought yourself a drink ... I had a real run of luck at roulette just now, and I didn't want to get out too soon. Forgive me? Anyhow, let's eat, shall we?'

Ellis nodded and got to her feet and let Jake take her arm. Deliberately, she didn't glance at the man who had been staring at her, as they went into the Cabaret

Room, and she told herself firmly she simply didn't care what he thought.

Jake ordered pre-dinner drinks when they were seated at their table, then once he had decided what they'd have for dinners he produced a small packet from his pocket and handed it across the table to Ellis.

`Here's something I picked up in Battery Point while you were at the hairdresser's today. See if you like it.'

Oh dear ! Ellis felt slightly embarrassed, though she knew Jake hated her to feel that way. He had heaped so many gifts on her, and her pale cheeks flushed as she thanked him and opened the packet to discover it contained a little gold bracelet, set with small sapphires.

j
ake, it's beautiful ! But you really shouldn't—'

As she spoke, a man came down the shallow steps and paused nearby, waiting to be shown to his table. It was, Ellis noticed with an inward glance, that man with the silver-streaked hair, and as she glanced at him, it was obvious from the derisive lift at the corners of his rather wide and sensual mouth, that he had noticed what was going on at her table. She looked way from him angrily, disliking him intensely. He took it for granted, of course, that she was accepting jewellery from an older man in return for favours given or hoped for. He wouldn't for an instant see Jake as a kindly uncle or a godfather—not after the way he had kissed her fingers earlier on. She was thankful when the waiter came and he was taken to a table that, though it was within sight, was at least out of earshot!

Jake had taken the bracelet and was fastening it round her wrist.

`No protests, darling. Giving you things is my pleasure. Having money is no use unless you have someone to share it with, and Siddie and I had precious

little time.' He didn't release her wrist, but looked at her seriously. 'Am I going to be able to persuade you to forget about this job you've applied for and come to live with me and Pat? You'll get along very well together, I promise you.'

Ellis bit her lip and awkwardly moved her hand from his to pick up her glass.

`Jake, I—I don't know what to say. I feel so ungrateful, but the fact is, I just don't think I could adjust to doing nothing. I know you think I'm mad to have applied for a position as housekeeper, but it's really what I want. I want to be independent, to—to do some kind of work—'

He frowned thoughtfully. B
ut not that kind of work, Ellis. I don't know how you came to apply for such a position, but as far as I can see it will be a case of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. You'll be a drudge. It's just not good enough. you've slaved for that uncle of yours for long enough while Jan's messed around enjoying herself, and you'd be wasting yourself to go off and do the same thing for some sheep farmer. When I think what a pathetic, unhappy little thing you looked the day I met you at the airport last week, and how in just a few days you've blossomed out into a beauty—a real beauty—I regret the years you've been away from me.' He paused and gave her a long look. 'Didn't you see yourself in the glass before you came downstairs tonight? There's not a woman in this room can hold a candle to you. You're a—a mad mixture of sophistication and innocence, of lady and coquette. You'd have a wonderful life with Pat and me —you'd meet all sorts of eligible fellows, forget that idiot Paul completely—'Ellis shook her head hopelessly. It would be impos-

sible to tell him that Pat wouldn't really want her, and after a second she said ruefully, 'I guess there's something wrong with me, then, Jake, because most of all I want to do something useful—I really do. And—and I'm not a beauty. You've given me some lovely clothes, I've learnt how to make the most of myself, and I know I look a lot nicer than I did, but inside I'm just Ellis Lincoln.' She sighed a little. 'I really would like to get this job I've applied for. Besides, isn't work supposed to be an—an antidote for a broken heart?' she added with a wry smile.

`I guess it is, Ellis,' he agreed after a moment. 'And it could be you're wise. Maybe I'm just selfish to want a daughter.'

`You're sweet,' she said, and put her hand over his.

No more was said on the subject after that. They had dinner, and at ten-thirty the cabaret show began. Ellis hadn't realised it was a nude show, and for the first few moments she felt more than a little shocked. All those beautiful girls with their fantastic headdresses and their bare breasts

For some strange reason, she turned her head to see if the man in the velvet jacket was still there. He was, and he was looking not at the show but at her. Badly disconcerted, she turned swiftly away, and decided to put him completely out of her mind, and soon, because she began enjoying the show, she managed it. The sets and the lighting were lavish and dramatic and so were the costumes, and though it was the most sophisticated show she had ever seen in her life, it was not in the least vulgar, and the dancing and singing were really first class. Ellis supposed that with all that money coming in from the gaming tables, the management could

well afford a production where no expense was spared !

When it was over and the lights went up, some of the performers—though not the nude ones ! —came down to move about among the tables, and Jake told Ellis, `I'll see if I can persuade a couple of the members of the cast to come and join us for a drink. Would you like that?'

She nodded smilingly. As a matter of fact, she would just as soon have called it a day and gone up to bed, but it would be unkind to reject Jake's efforts to amuse her. He really put himself out to do that, and she watched him go down the steps to speak to one of the male singers, then disappear somewhere at the side of the stage.

Ellis sat back in her chair to wait for him. Drink waiters were hovering, a few people were leaving their tables, probably to go into the casino which stayed open till three or four o'clock in the morning. It had been fun staying here, she reflected, and it had helped a little to take her mind off her unhappiness, but this sophisticated life wasn't really for her. The late nights had exhausted her a little, probably because she wasn't sleeping well. Once she was alone with her thoughts, they were all too likely to go to Paul, and she would remember his kisses, his caresses—the murmured words that after all had meant so little

Unaware of it, she had been staring at a man who was coming towards her, and her nerves jumped and colour flooded her face as he stopped near her, his hand on the back of the chair that Jake had vacated.

`May I join you?' he asked her silkily, with a smile that bordered on a suggestive leer.

Ellis licked her top lip nervously. I'm—I'm waiting for someone.'

`Then let me buy you a drink while you're waiting,' he said, obviously not believing her. 'What would you like?'

`Nothing. I—I don't want a drink,' she stammered. He looked so determined she didn't know what to do, and helplessly she watched as he pulled out Jake's chair, then looked about for the drink waiter. Ellis repeated distinctly, though she was quailing inside, 'I don't want a drink, and that chair is—is reserved.'

Her words had absolutely no effect and she looked around her wildly for Jake but instead caught the eye of the man in the velvet jacket. He had risen from his chair and was coming purposefully towards the man who was pestering Ellis. She had no idea what it was he said to the other man, but it was certainly effective, for with a shrug, and without another word to Ellis, he took himself off.

Ellis looked up at her rescuer to thank him and found herself staring into eyes that were green and hard and mocking, and totally devoid of anything resembling sympathy, and she felt herself stiffen instinctively.

`Thank you,' she said indistinctly, discovering her throat to be suddenly dry, and added, reacting to his expression, 'You needn't really have bothered. I can—I can cope.'

He raised dark eyebrows that, unlike his hair, were untouched by silver. 'Well then, you can cope with me, now that we're alone,' he said dryly. 'We'll see how you make out.'

She parted her lips to protest, but without any regard for her wishes he pulled out Jake's chair and sat down opposite her, then turned and summoned the waiter.

`What are you drinking?' he asked her with a lift of his brow.

`Nothing,' she said icily, reflecting she had merely exchanged one unwelcome companion for another.

She saw his mouth quirk. He told the waiter, 'A Dubonnet for the lady with ice and orange juice, and a Scotch for me,' then returned his attention to Ellis, and, in particular, to the bracelet glittering at her wrist. Instinctively she removed her arm from the table where it had been resting and then wished she hadn't. It looked somehow guilty, and she raised her hand to touch her hair.

He said appreciatively, 'Real sapphires. Quite a nice little gift to receive before dinner—or even after it.'

She bristled at his obvious implication—but of course she had known what conclusions he had drawn about her and Jake before. She had told herself she didn't care then, but somehow it was different when someone was sitting face to face with you and as good as telling you he thought you were immoral. She tossed up between a casual, Yes—it is nice, isn't it?' and a strong desire to tell him to mind his own business, and the latter impulse won.

`I don't know quite what you're suggesting,' she said distantly, 'but I think you have a nasty mind, and I wish you'd mind your own business. I—I didn't invite you to join me.'

`I don't have a particularly nasty mind,' he said calmly, 'but I happen to be a realist. As for invitations —your eyes have been throwing them around very generously tonight. And a display of female charm is an invitation in itself at any time.' His greenish eyes moved from her face to the smoothness of her shoulders and the swelling curve of her breasts beneath the soft stuff of her gown. Then he leaned forward and looked intently into the blue of her eyes, his shoulders against the light broad and intimidating. 'Your boy-friend's

too old for you,' he said flatly.