LITMIR.BIZ

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eyes were not on her at that moment.

      But David himself was walking towards the other man, holding out his hand and saying, ‘You must be Mr. Halstad. My name is Chalmers, sir. I'm very pleased to meet you.'

      Feeling she was neglecting her duties, Susan hastily joined them and made unnecessary introductions. She felt aware that Dominic Halstad was rather amused by her, and she felt annoyed and altogether uncomfortable.

      After they were seated, Dominic said, ‘Amanda is fussing over the dinner in the kitchen, so can I provide you with a drink? What would you like, Susan?'

      Susan shrugged. ‘A Martini, perhaps,’ she murmured. ‘Thank you.'

      ‘How about you, Chalmers?'

      David bit his lip. ‘I … well … perhaps the same for me, sir.'

      Dominic raised his dark eyebrows and walked indolently across to the cocktail cabinet. Susan glanced at David and he shrugged his shoulders defensively. He had never accepted a drink in her presence before.

      Dominic returned with two Martinis and a Scotch with ice for himself. After handing them their drinks he seated himself opposite them in a low armchair and said:

      ‘I understand you're engaged. When do you intend getting married?'

      ‘In October,’ replied David swiftly. ‘We're saving up for a house.'

      Susan glanced at David. So they were going to have their own house. She wondered whether he had told his mother so definitely. It did not seem likely. It was probably simply bravado away from her domineering attitude.

      ‘Very good. There are some pleasant new developments on the outskirts of the city. I've noticed quite a number of changes since my return.'

      ‘You've been abroad?’ David was interested.

      ‘Yes. I only returned this week.'

      ‘Really. Where have you been?'

      Susan glanced at the kitchen door, and wondered whether she could make some excuse and go and talk to Amanda in the kitchen. For some reason, Dominic Halstad's presence overpowered her and she found she could not look away from his compelling gaze.

      Amanda emerged from the kitchen at that moment, as though in answer to Susan's unspoken prayer, and said:

      ‘Hullo, there. How are you, David?’ She smiled round. ‘I see you've all been provided with drinks. Good. I thought Dom would look after you.'

      The two men, who had risen at her entrance, reseated themselves as Amanda took the chair beside Susan. Then Dominic got up again, and grinned.

      ‘I suppose I ought to offer you a drink,’ he remarked laughingly. ‘After all, it's your apartment and your liquor.'

      ‘That's right, darling. I'll have a whisky, please, with a little ginger.'

      David looked disapprovingly at Susan, and she shrugged almost imperceptibly. Martinis were one thing. Strong stuff like Scotch was for men, not for women!

      They lit cigarettes, although Dominic Halstad produced a case of cigars and preferred to have one of them. David refused a cigarette but accepted a cigar, and Susan felt an uncontrollable fit of giggles assailing her. Surely David, who did not smoke, was not going to attempt to smoke a cigar!

      But David allowed Dominic Halstad to light his cigar and drew back, puffing furiously.

      Susan looked away from him, and turned to Amanda in order to stop herself from laughing, while Dominic Halstad lay back in his seat, an amused expression on his face.

      Susan felt suddenly annoyed with him. Did he know how inexperienced David was at smoking? Had Amanda told him he was both a teetotaller and a non-smoker? If he did know, he was being deliberately provocative. Amanda, apparently unconcerned, said, ‘How's Jon these days?'

      ‘He's fine, thanks. He's looking forward to seeing you. I told him I would bring him to lunch with you some time next week. I'm sending him to Fay's in a few days. He can stay there for a week or so. I know he doesn't like going, but it will do him good to get with children of his own age. He's far too precocious. That's what comes of always being with adults.'

      Susan listened to this conversation with interest. Who was Jon? Her question was soon answered as Amanda said, by way of explanation:

      ‘Jon is Dominic's son. He's fifteen, and he lives in England most of the time. Dom doesn't take him with him on his travels, do you, Dom?'

      Dominic's eyes narrowed. ‘Unfortunately not. I feel I'm neglecting him at times, but at others I realize that were we together more we would probably get in each other's way.'

      Susan looked aghast. ‘What a thing to say!’ she exclaimed, before she could stop herself. ‘Poor boy!'

      Dominic's eyes were mocking. ‘There's nothing poor about Jon, believe me,’ he remarked coolly. He looked at Amanda. ‘Is there, A.B.?'

      ‘No, I suppose not. But I can understand Susan's feelings. She has never known a parent's love; she was brought up in an orphanage. To hear you speak of Jon you would imagine he was an encumbrance to you.'

      Dominic sighed, and drew deeply on his cigar. ‘Let's say Jon and I are too much alike to get along well together,’ he remarked. ‘We both like our own way too much.'

      ‘Besides,’ said Amanda dryly, ‘the kind of life you lead is not fitting for a child of that age.'

      David, who had not been taking any part in this conversation, looked appalled at Amanda's candid manner of speaking. He was already looking a little green, and had stubbed out the cigar.

      Susan, seeing this, said quickly, ‘Is that meal ready yet, Amanda? I'm starving!'

      The meal was delicious and David soon lost his pallor. After dinner was over they returned to the armchairs, and everyone but David had brandy in delicately cut glass goblets, warmed to perfection.

      Amanda began asking Dominic about his travels abroad and for a long while they listened while he recounted anecdotes about the people he had seen and the places he had visited.

      He was a fascinating raconteur and Susan sat listening to him as though hypnotized by the sound of his deep, relaxed tones. She avoided looking at him as much as possible, but occasionally her eyes strayed in his direction and she discreetly studied the strong line of his jaw and the thick richness of his hair. His linen was immaculate and accentuated his dark colouring, and the lashes which veiled his eyes were long and thick.

      But it was not his looks which attracted Susan. She had seen many handsome men who caused her not the slightest reaction. It was something more; a kind of animalism, which made her aware of the primitive emotions that run just below the surface of modern man. From Amanda's remarks she had gathered that, married or otherwise, Dominic Halstad was no saint, and the knowledge merely gave him an added attraction, a kind of dangerous temptation.

      Realizing where her thoughts were leading her, she quickly brought them back to normalities. Why could not she remember she was an engaged woman, and act accordingly? She felt she was behaving, or feeling, like a schoolgirl with a crush on the headmaster.

      It was eleven o'clock when David said, ‘I think we ought to be going, Susan. It's getting late.'

      Amanda stretched. ‘It's only eleven, David.’ She shrugged. ‘But if you must, you must.'

      Dominic rose to his feet. ‘Can I give you a lift anywhere?’ he asked.

      ‘Thank you, but I have my car outside,’ replied David. ‘And thank you, Amanda. I've enjoyed myself enormously.'

      Amanda stood up also. ‘I'm so glad. We must do it again, eh, Susan?'

      Susan nodded, and allowed David to wrap her cape about her.

      ‘Yes, we must,’ she said. ‘Mr. Halstad's conversation was quite fascinating.'

      ‘Yes, Dom ought to write a book,’ said

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