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could hear?
' It's a long story,' she began.
Simon folded his arms, smiled at her. ' I love long
stories and I hate sailing, so please do tell me.'
' You asked for it!' Claire told him, laughing, feel-
ing relaxed. ' That makes two of us. Not liking
sailing, I mean. This is my first.'
He laughed. ' I won't say you'll get over it, because
I've been for dozens of trips and still get as fuzzy.
Mike'11 bring me some brandy, I expect. Did he bring
you some? Good! Now go on ... who is Deirdre
and where does she come from?'
Claire told him the whole story, trying to be fair to
Deirdre, keeping out her own feeling that Deirdre was
acting a part just to get money out of Peter.
When she had finished, Simon nodded thoughtfully.
' Typical of old Peter always soft-hearted. I think
he's pretty daft, though, because helping her rather
implies that he feels responsible for the accident.'
' That's what my sister says, and Mrs Parsons.' She
saw Simon's puzzled look and laughed. ' She's one of
our two domestic helps. I think he's sorry for Deirdre.
She lived in a ghastly place and seems to have had a
pretty rotten life. Peter wants me to train her to do
this sort of job, but not yet awhile. He wants her to
be happy and . . .'
'He must be mad,' Simon said, and took out a
cigarette case. ' Like one?'
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I' No, thanks.'
He looked amused. ' Afraid I'm going to dope you?'
' You don't mind if I do? Good. Look, how about
a walk round the deck. We must look as if we're
enjoying it or else Peter will be upset.'
1 ' Do you think he'd care?' Claire asked, then wished
K -she hadn't, for Simon gave her an odd look.
| ' Come on,' he said, taking hold of both her hands
||and pulling her to her feet.
fc They walked down the deck. Now the water was
1-rough and the yacht was swaying and bouncing, but
I Simon's hand was firmly on her arm and he helped
i her walk so that she fitted in with the movement of
| the boat. Deirdre and Peter were at the tiller, talking.
| They looked up as Simon and Claire came along. The
j four talked, and before long the yacht went inland
| along a much more peaceful estuary and Claire lost
I the unpleasant feeling of nausea that had haunted her.
: Ashore they had lunch sitting round a swimming
pool under bright umbrellas. It was a pleasant meal,
for Claire found herself included in the conversation.
They all teased one another, Aussies as against Pom-
mies, with a lot ol laughter. Claire noticed that
Deirdre took little notice of Simon and he even less
of her.
Later they went yachting up the river before turning
to return to the harbour. Then unexpectedly Simon
said:
' Mind if I steal your Girl Friday, Peter? I want to
see someone about a business deal and need some notes
made. Would you mind, Claire?' He turned and
looked at her. ' I'll drive her back to Vauduse and I
suggest we all dine at the Poor Fisherman? Right?'
' But you haven't a car up here,' Peter began, frown-
ing.
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" Haven't I?' Simon chuckled. ° I've a car every
twenty miles. It pays that way.'
° How do you feel about it, Claire?' Peter turned to
her.
Claire was smiling at Simon. She knew it was all
make-up, that he was trying to save her and himself
the repeated horror of being tossed about in the.
Pacific Ocean.
' I'll be glad to help Simon,' she said. ' If you don't
mind.'
An unusual scowl clouded Peter's face. ' Of course
I don't mind. We'd better meet at the hotel, then.
Okay?'
' Okay,' Simon said cheerfully.
They were put ashore and had tea leisurely in a
long garden running alongside the river.
' Clever of me?' Simon asked with a smile.
" I'm most grateful,' Claire laughed. ' I'd be a great
deal more grateful if it was only for me.'
' Well, why should we suffer, just to please Peter?"
Simon asked.
' Why indeed?' Claire agreed, but she knew inside
her whyl
' What do you do, Simon?' she asked, comfortably
relaxed, knowing the drive back would be so much
easier than being tossed and rolled on the yacht.
Maybe she could have stood it had Peter been with her.
but Peter was always with Deirdre.
' What do I do? Lots of things.'
' Simon, you know I mean how do you earn your
living?'
Simon stretched his long thin arms and yawned.
'Sorry. Bad manners, I'm afraid. I do nothing to
earn my living.' He grinned at her look of astonish-
ment. ' Actually it's very unfortunate. I'm a million-
aire's son. I inherited money from my grandfather
80
and my mother and I've never been ambitious or
interested in anything much.'
' But you must do something?'
' I wander round, looking up the family businesses,
acting like hell if they're not doing well.' He grinned.
' I'm afraid I'm a chasing boss.'
She went red. ' I was afraid you'd all see it in a ...'
' Different way?' He chuckled. ' Somehow I can't
see Peter chasing his Girl Friday round the room.
Much more likely that she'd fall into his arms without
a word.' Claire looked at him sharply, but saw he
was talking impersonally. ' I bet the females are still
chasing him like mad and they leave him stone cold?'
' It ... it seems like it,' Claire said cautiously.
Should she tell him that she thought Peter was in
love with Deirdre?
She decided not to and they spent a pleasant time,
driving back to Vauduse, going into the very modern
hotel and finding themselves alone.
' I wish they weren't coming, then it'd be just the
two of us,' Simon said.
Claire smiled. ' Thanks for the compliment,' she
joked, but inwardly she found she agreed.
It was so restful talking to Simon. She hadn't to
worry if her hair blew about, if she said the wrong
thing, but she still had to guard her words for, what-
ever happened, he mustn't be allowed to know she
loved Peter or that she was so jealous of Deirdre.
As it turned out when the others arrived the dinner
was quite pleasant. Afterwards they danced. Peter's
arms going round Claire meant she had to fight to
control the shivers she felt. Yet in a way he danced
impersonally, looking round the small crowded dance
hall. She was nervous, afraid of stumbling.
' You like Simon?' Peter asked curtly.
Claire looked up, startled to realize just how close
81
their faces were.
' Very much,' she said truthfully.
' That's good, since he'll be coming out quite a lot
with us,' Peter told her as they walked back to their
table.
She looked at him quickly. So Simon was to be used,
just as she was being used, to make it possible for
Peter to take Deirdre out without the scandalmongers
and columnists being able to build up something out
of it. Molly was right when she said Peter made use
of people. She was quite right, Claire thought, all her
pleasure in the evening gone.
After dinner, Simon drove Claire back to Kurruwa,
followed by Peter and Deidre, and they spent another
hour sitting on the terrace, that overlooked the har-
bour with its brilliant lights. The night was very hot,
but there were fans whirling merrily. Finally Simon
left them and Claire stood up, saying goodnight. To
her surprise Peter stood up also.
' I want a word with you,' he said curtly, and led
the way to his study.
Claire happened to glance back and saw Deirdre mak-
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