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‘Finish your breakfast, Liz,’ she said bitterly. ‘I’ll see you later.’

‘Can we go out?’ asked Liz eagerly. ‘Vane said something about a tour of the island.’

Debra nodded. ‘If you like.’ But she could whip up no enthusiasm. She was annoyed with Vane for breaking his word and kissing Liz. She was annoyed with Liz for flaunting herself. She was annoyed with the world in general. What had promised to be an exhilarating change was turning into a nightmare.

While waiting for Liz she sauntered out into the gardens. They were filled with beautiful flowers, hibiscus, coxcombs, pinky white bauhinias. Carp lay in the still silvery waters of a pool, swallows skimmed overhead. It was exotic and peaceful, but Debra’s distress was not easily assuaged, and when she saw Vane sitting in the shade of a peach tree her steps quickened.

He looked up as she approached, smiling encouragingly, and her resolution faltered beneath the warmth of his gaze. She wished he were not so handsome, so capable of making a woman feel that she meant something special to him.

One look from those silver eyes and she went weak at the knees and it took all her willpower to maintain her anger. She flashed him a belligerent look. ‘What do you mean by kissing Liz?’ she demanded. ‘You promised not to touch her.’

His thick brows slid up smoothly. ‘Is that what she told you?’

‘Are you calling her a liar?’

‘Not in the least, but perhaps she’s adept at twisting the truth.’

Debra frowned. ‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.’

He studied her for a few seconds. ‘Your little friend kissed me. She came flying out of her room and almost knocked me over. Naturally I held out my arms to steady her, and the next moment her lips were on mine.’

‘I don’t believe you,’ snapped Debra.

He shrugged. ‘Believe what you like, it’s the truth. Admittedly I got a certain amount of satisfaction from the feel of her body in my arms. What man wouldn’t? She’s—very attractive, your little friend. One day she’s going to be a beautiful woman.’

She glared angrily. ‘And you did nothing to stop her kissing you, after all I’d said about her having a crush on you?’ The man was a beast, not to be trusted, not one inch.

‘If you’re trying to say did I encourage her,’ he frowned grimly, ‘no, I did not, but 1 couldn’t hurt her feelings by rejecting her.’

‘It would be better in the long run,’ said Debra.

‘She needs kindness at the moment,’ he replied gently. ‘She’s still pretty much upset. All this pretence at gaiety is a front, she’s trying to bluff out her sorrow. I think she’s very brave.’

Recalling that he too had suffered a similar bereavement, Debra reluctantly conceded that he might be right. Perhaps he, strangely enough, understood Liz better than she did herself. But she was not prepared to admit this.

‘I still don’t like the way she’s behaving towards you. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t encourage her.’

Vane sighed impatiently. ‘I’m not,’ he said. ‘I’m merely being friendly. Sometimes it’s easier to confide in a stranger than it is to someone who’s been close to you all your life.’

‘I wish I felt as confident,’ she replied, more calmly now. ‘I’m worried about Liz, and ’

‘Unnecessarily so,’ he interjected, standing up and placing his hands on her shoulders. ‘Dear Debra, relax, stop being over-protective. Take each day as it comes—and talking of today, have you decided what you want to do?’

His close proximity caused her breath to catch in her throat and Debra gave an angry shake of her head. She had never before met anyone quite like Vane Oliver. How a man she distrusted could have such an electrifying effect on her senses she did not know. It was disturbing to say the least.

‘Liz wants to go sightseeing,’ she said tightly.

‘And you, what do you want to do?’

He made it sound as though it was important to him, and she tilted her head so that she could see his face clearly, then wished she hadn’t as the intensity of his eyes seared through her, quickening her pulses and making her skin tingle warmly.

‘I’ll fall in with the majority,’ she said, forcing lightness, wishing he would let her go. She could move, of course, quite easily, but that would give him the satisfaction of knowing that he disturbed her, and in no way was she going to reveal that.

He smiled slowly. ‘You sound reluctant. A pity, I want you to enjoy the day. A happy beginning to our new association.’

Before she had time to realise what was happening he had kissed her, a brief hard kiss that shocked her so that she had no time to feel anything before he suddenly let her go.

‘What did you do that for?’ she asked, wide-eyed, a little bemused.

‘Why does a man usually kiss a woman?’ he countered. ‘You’ve a very kissable mouth, Debra Delaney, in case you didn’t know it.’

He seemed to have difficulty in tearing away his eyes, and Debra felt herself grow warm. She was under no delusion that he talked to all women in this way, and it was with relief that she saw Liz approaching across the lawn.

‘What are you doing out here?’ called the younger girl. ‘I thought you’d gone without me.’

Vane looked at her and smiled. ‘Admiring the view. Are you ready?’

Debra could have kicked him and scowled as she followed them back towards the villa.

His car was waiting outside the courtyard gates, and Liz climbed into the front without being asked. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Deb? You know how sitting in the back makes me sick.’

It was true, but by no means as bad as Liz made out. It was an excuse to sit by Vane, that was all, and if Liz thought Debra was not aware of it, then she wanted her head examining.

As they made their way down the Peak Liz kept up a constant stream of chatter. In a way Debra was thankful that all she had to do was sit back and watch the city loom nearer. She studiously avoided looking at Vane’s reflection in the interior mirror, knowing full well that at times he purposely watched her.

The longer she knew him the more disconcerting she found him, and it irritated her that her new employer should have this ability to make her feel awkward.

Once they reached the crowded streets of Victoria Liz said impulsively, ‘Oh, Vane, let’s go shopping instead. I’d forgotten how exciting it all is. I was only a child the last time I was here, but I can still remember the smell of incense and the washing hanging over balconies, and the festivals and the neon lights.’

‘You still are a child,’ he teased.

Debra saw Liz’s back stiffen. ‘No, I’m not, I’m seventeen. In another six months I’ll be old enough to vote.’

‘So old,’ he mocked, but the bantering light in his eyes soon had her smiling again. ‘We can go shopping if you like,’ he said easily. ‘How about you, Debra, does it appeal?’

‘I don’t mind what we do,’ she said politely, indifferently.

His eyes narrowed, but he parked the car and soon they were a part of the bustling city. They rubbed shoulder to shoulder with Chinese in black trousers and short jackets, dodged baskets of dried fish swinging from a pole, sniffed the new and exhilarating smells which were like a drug.

Before long Debra forgot her antagonism and became as intoxicated as Liz with the thrill of it all. She glanced curiously at an elderly Chinese man carrying a gilded cage with two tiny white birds whistling loudly, exclaimed over hundred-year-old eggs in the street market, and pointed out ducks that had been pressed as flat as pancakes.

‘Anyone would think you girls had never been here before,’ exclaimed Vane, smiling indulgently at their animated faces.

‘It’s been so long,’ said Debra. ‘Besides, you see things with different eyes when you’re grown up. Oh, look at those poor crabs!’

A stall was piled high with crabs bound and gagged ready for the pot. Next to them were fish dried out like parchment.

They ate lunch at one of Hong Kong’s countless restaurants and then continued their shopping expedition.

So far they had bought nothing, merely allowed themselves to be caught up in the magical spectacle of it all, sampling dried sea-horse from one of the many herbalists’ shops, allowing Vane to introduce them to Chinese wine to which had been added snake venom. It was not until they had swallowed the contents of their glasses that he informed them that it was supposed to be an aphrodisiac.

Debra stared at him in horror, not really believing. Liz laughed happily. ‘What a lucky man you’re going to be tonight!’

‘That’s what I had in mind,’ he said solemnly, and Debra could not be sure whether he was joking or really meant it.

They got lost in the labyrinth of side streets, enthused over exquisite Oriental jewellery, leather goods and lamps. The variety of merchandise on sale was infinite, and when Vane insisted on buying them each a present Debra settled for a beautifully carved ivory box, and was annoyed when Liz let him give her a pair of gold filigree earrings set with tiny pearls and jade.

‘They’re not real,’ she said, when they got back to the villa and Debra tackled her about it.

‘That’s beside the point,’ argued Debra. ‘No girl accepts jewellery from a man unless he’s someone special.’

Liz’s blue eyes flashed. ‘Vane is special. He’s good to us, you can’t deny that. He’s the nicest, kindest person I’ve ever met.’

And no amount of arguing is going to make you change your mind, thought Debra, sighing inwardly and leaving the other girl to take a shower and rest before their evening meal.

Debra had not wanted to make a fuss in the shop over the jewellery, but she intended speaking to Vane about it all the same. He was giving Liz the wrong impression, whether intentionally or not.

He had said dinner would be ready about seven. At six-thirty she set out in search of him.

She found him on the verandah, eyes closed, though she felt sure he was not asleep. He had changed into a cream silk evening shirt and a pair of dark slacks, and was half sitting, half lying on a cane lounger cushioned with brilliant yellow pillows.

Deliberately making herself heard, Debra stood over him. ‘Mr Oliver, I want a word with you.’

No indication that he had heard.

‘I know you’re not asleep, so please don’t pretend you are!’

At the angry tone of her voice his lids flickered. ‘Fire away, I’m listening.’

‘Then look at me!’ snapped Debra, wondering if he was deliberately making things difficult for her.

‘I am looking,’ he said, and she realised that he was watching her through the thick fringe of his lashes.

There was a chair beside him and she sat down, feeling that she could talk more easily if they were on the same level. ‘Why did you buy Liz those earrings?’ she demanded.

‘Because she wanted them, isn’t that a good enough reason?’

She shook her head savagely. ‘I don’t agree. Jewellery is personal, usually only given to someone who’s close to you.’

A slow smile widened his lips, annoying her even more. ‘What a sweet old-fashioned thing you are! But it was a trinket, nothing more, something pretty that Liz fancied. Surely you’re not reading anything more into the gift?’

‘Knowing you, yes,’ she snapped.

Very gradually Vane hauled himself up so that he sat facing her. She was aware of muscles rippling beneath the smooth silk of the shirt, and became fascinated by the hidden power.

It was funny, she thought, she had always imagined dress designers to be dapper, effeminate men, nothing like this towering giant who could flatten her with one blow if he so chose.

‘What do you expect me to do?’ he snapped, features suddenly harsh. ‘Ignore the child? Pretend she doesn’t exist?’

‘Now you’re being stupid,’ she cried. ‘You know very well that’s not what 1 mean, but you could try treating her as though she were a child and not some sex object for whom you’ve developed a fancy.’

‘I don’t think she’d thank me for that.’ He pushed himself up and stood over her. ‘Liz doesn’t see herself as a child any longer, and neither do I. Maybe she was before her parents’ death, maybe she’s grown up quickly, I don’t know, but I do know that she would hate it if I patronised her.’

‘Mr Oliver,’ Debra suddenly made up her mind, ‘I don’t think this Hong Kong thing’s going to work out. I think we should go back to England now, before I begin the job, before I feel guilty at letting you down.’

‘And what do you think Liz would say to that?’ Eyes as hard as ice pierced her own.

‘I don’t suppose she’d like it,’ admitted Debra.

‘I know damn well she wouldn’t,’ he came back fiercely. ‘Think about it for a minute, Debra. This trip out here is the best thing that’s happened to her since the loss of her parents. By taking her back now you would be doing the harm. She’d withdraw into her shell, she’d resent you as well. Life wouldn’t be worth living for either of you.’

He was right, damn him, but Debra was reluctant to admit it. ‘Suppose we stay, then,’ her chin lifted determinedly, ‘what do you propose doing about your behaviour?’

‘Precisely nothing, my dear Debra,’ he said coolly. ‘It’s you who’s worrying, not me, and I’m perfectly sure Liz isn’t either. If I were you I’d push all this nonsense about me trying to seduce Liz out of your head. In the long run you’ll see that you’ve been bothering about nothing.’

With those words he left her and walked back into the house, and there was nothing she could do except follow, admit defeat, and wait and see what happened next.

The
next morning Vane drove Debra down to the offices of Vanoli, leaving Liz still asleep. Cars and trams were nose to tail along the entire route, and it took them so long that Debra thought they would have been better off walking.

She did not speak, their affray of the day before still uppermost in her mind. Inside the building they each went their different ways.

She had scarcely seated herself when the phone rang. It was Vane. ‘I’d like to see you in my office,’ he said.

Why the hell couldn’t he have mentioned it before, whatever it was? she pondered angrily. It was ridiculous him sending for her like this when they had only just parted.

But her frown faded when she saw the troubled look on his face. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.