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She sat on the grass, staring at a patch of daisies so bright in colour that the air above them shimmered. She knew what she must do. There was in fact only one solution to her problem. For the remainder of the voyage she would treat him with polite indifference. Once on Verva she would confide in Margo, get her to talk about the days following her break up with Ashley. In so doing she could again build up a picture of him as a heartless monster who preyed on beautiful young women, and kill for ever the love she now felt. Margo had got over him—and so would she—given time. It would not be easy, she realised that, but she would beat it in the end. She must.

Realising that it was well after midday and that she had not eaten, Lorna pulled herself to her feet. Somewhere in her mind’s eye she recollected a small cafe that had looked inviting. She would find her way back and have a leisurely meal. Then she would return to the
Oceana.
There was no pleasure in sightseeing on your own. She almost wished she had accepted Gordon’s offer. It would have at least helped to fill in the time.

She turned, her hand flying to her mouth in astonishment at the silent figure standing behind her, wondering briefly whether he had followed her and why he had not made his presence known.

“You ! Why are you here?” Her voice was hoarse, a mere whisper.

“I promised to show you Cape Town, remember?” Tall, unsmiling, completely alien to the man with whom she had fallen in love.

“B—but that was before I—”

“Before you made it quite clear that you wanted nothing more to do with me,” he nodded. “I know, but when I saw your friend drive off leaving you alone I was afraid you’d get lost.”

So he
had
followed her! She was surprised he still showed any interest.

“I couldn’t let that happen to you—even if you do hate me. I don’t hold it against you—you can’t help your feelings.”

“Thank you for your concern.” It was an effort to remain cool when her heart was thudding erratically. He still cared—after everything. “But as you can see, I’m quite all right. I’m just on my way back.”

“Without going up Table Mountain? Your visit won’t be complete without that.”

Lorna looked at the craggy heights rising above, anything to take her mind off this man’s disturbing nearness. “It looks aft awfully long way.”

“Nonsense, not by cable car. Come, I will take you.”

His touch on her elbow was cool, impersonal, but it set Lorna’s nerves tingling. Resolutely she pulled away. Ashley’s jaw tightened, unaware of the reason for her action. “You needn’t make your dislike so obvious. Don’t worry, I won’t touch you again.” Lorna flushed but remained silent. How could she explain that his touch incensed her? That she wanted to fling herself into his arms and say, “Ashley, I love you”? If only it were as simple as that. If only she could trust him!

Ashley knew his way about and it seemed no time at all before they were in the cable car and on their way to the top of the mountain. In here, with the many other passengers, it was impossible to avoid being pressed against him. “I’m sorry,” he said, “it won’t be for long. The journey only takes a few minutes.” His voice was stiff with reserve. She might have been a stranger. So that he should not see the hurt on her face she turned away, watching the city as it grew smaller and smaller, until the buildings looked like matchbox models on a papier-mache landscape.

“Terrific, isn’t it?” His voice came over her shoulder, his breath warm on the back of her neck.

Lorna tried to sound natural, but she felt suddenly breathless and her heart beat at such an alarming rate she was sure he must hear it. “Fantastic. Look, there’s the
Oceana.
It looks like a child’s toy.”

“Yes, and that building there is the Nico Malan Opera, and there’s the old Castle.”

He continued to point out different places of interest until they were too small to distinguish.

Alone, Lorna would not have attempted this ride. Heights terrified her and the thought of swinging through space was enough to turn her stomach over. She recalled her parents taking her in a cable car at some gardens they had visited when she was a child. That had only been a few hundred feet, but she had sat petrified throughout the whole ride and had never been on one since. Until now. Yet strangely she was not frightened. With Ashley beside her her fears evaporated. She was actually enjoying herself. It was like being in another world, a silent world with only the hiss of the windy racing past. No noisy engines to disturb the silence, no fumes to pollute the air. She closed her eyes. The silence was almost tangible.

Then suddenly they were at the top and Ashley was helping her out. From here they had a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the blue curve of Table Bay. In her excitement Lorna forgot that she was supposed to hate Ashley and turned, impulsively placing her hand on his arm. “Isn’t it marvellous? I’m so glad you brought me.”

Pleasure showed for a moment on his face, to be replaced almost immediately by a mask of indifference. “I’d have done the same for anyone. Look, that’s Lions Head mountain over there—and there,” he pointed in the distance, “are the Hottentots.” Lorna felt oddly disappointed. In spite of the fact that his indifference helped her carry out her own decision to treat him coolly—a plan she had almost forgotten in her excitement—she felt an inexplicable hurt.
I'd have done the same for anyone.
The words came painfully back. Yet hadn’t he taken the trouble to follow her? To make sure she returned safely to the
Oceana
? He must care a little.

In anguish Lorna turned away. She felt so confused. She knew she could never allow Ashley to mean anything to her. Yet when he stood beside her every fibre of her being called out for him. How could she stick to her resolution if he insisted on playing the guardian angel? It was impossible.

“If you’re ready, we’ll go.”

Ashley’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to find him watching her, a strangely withdrawn expression on his face.

“I’m ready,” she said quietly, making her way towards the cable car, leaving Ashley to follow.

He took her to a quiet little restaurant where they ate their meal in silence. Lorna almost wished they were back to their verbal sparring matches. They would at least be communicating instead of this dreadful reserve behind which they both hid.

Afterwards they walked in the castle grounds, and in the castle itself admired the splendid collection of historical paintings and period furniture together with the glassware and china.

Eventually they made their way back to the ship and Lorna was glad when she reached the privacy of her own cabin. She could relax here. Responding to Ashley’s polite conversation had proved exhausting.

He had previously made Cape Town sound so wonderful—and now she was disappointed. Admittedly he had not failed to draw her attention to anything he thought she might find of interest, but without any real enthusiasm. He might have been an official guide taking her on a conducted tour for all the personal pleasure he had shown, and when they finally boarded the
Oceana
she had felt sure that his relief was as great as hers.

Now, washed and changed, Lorna made her way down to “D” Deck only to find that the dining room was practically deserted. Most of the remaining passengers were still ashore and a cold buffet had been arranged for the few who wanted it. Lorna helped herself to chicken and salad but was unable to finish her meal. Her main interest now was reaching Durban and leaving behind for ever this man who had exploded so abruptly into her life.

At breakfast the next morning, Sunday, Mrs. Fletcher at the next table invited Lorna to spend the day with her and her husband and their three teenage children. “I can see you’re on your own,” she said, “so why not come with us? We’re joining a barbecue on one of Clifton’s beaches—it should be fun—especially for you youngsters. What's happened to that handsome boy-friend of yours? Left the ship now?”

“Er—no,” said Lorna, “but I’m not expecting to see him today. I’d love to join you.”

“You’ve not fell out?” smiled Mrs. Fletcher. “Never mind, love. Shipboard romances never last.” Well meant advice, no doubt, but in Lorna’s present frame of mind hardly encouraging.

Lorna spent an energetic if not entirely happy day with the Fletchers. Their children, Sandra, Jenny and Robin, roped her in for all their beach games and Lorna had not the heart to refuse. It kept her mind off Ashley—if nothing else. When they finally returned to the
Oceana
preparations were already under way for her departure. Lorna stayed on deck feeling the engines burst into life and watching as Cape Town and Table Mountain receded slowly into the distance. Only two more days now ...

Lorna opened her eyes wondering why she felt different. Then she remembered. Overnight they had docked at Durban and in a short time she would be leaving the ship. The last two days had been an ordeal. On Monday Ashley had turned up at breakfast and insisted on taking her on a tour of Port Elizabeth. The restraint was still there, though, and they had both been so studiously polite that neither of them had enjoyed their day. Yesterday had been the same at East London. Lorna would have preferred he kept away rather than subject her to these carefully guided tours. It seemed that in some inexplicable way he felt responsible for her, as though it was up to him personally to show her something of the sights South Africa had to offer. In the circumstances Lorna was in no mood to appreciate anything. She recalled walking round Snake Park and the Oceanarium in Port Elizabeth, seeing the famous Van Stadens Bridge, watching the surfing at East London, but it all seemed like a dream. There was no reality to it.

Ashley had been careful not to say or do anything that she might interpret wrongly, and she on the other hand had tried hard to maintain a cool aloofness she was far from feeling. If he only knew how many times she had come close to admitting she loved him, to confessing that the only reason she had spoken as she did was because she was scared of losing him when he tired of her. She had tried unsuccessfully to persuade herself that a few blissful weeks of happiness would be better than the heartache she was now suffering. A store of happy memories instead of only one night. It was strange so much had happened on that one occasion. It had been the turning point of her life. Nothing would ever be quite the same again. Falling in love was a momentous experience, but not all so rosy as one is led to believe.

Swiftly now, Lorna pushed back the sheets and jumped out of bed. There was much to be done. She had intended packing last night, but after their day in East London had felt much too tired. Her dress still lay on the floor where she had stepped out of it. Scolding herself for her unusual untidiness, Lorna picked it up and placed it on the bed, noticing as she did, the silver brooch pinned to the neck.

Carefully she unclipped it. It was beautiful— shaped like a rose, the silver petals gently furled. It looked too fragile to handle. Ashley had given it to her yesterday. Window shopping along Oxford Street she had admired the exquisite craftsmanship, but had been totally unprepared when Ashley whisked her inside and bought it. “You mustn’t,” she had demurred but he insisted.

“Let’s say it’s a goodbye present. Tomorrow you’ll be meeting. Pieter again—and I? Who knows where I’ll be going?”

Sadness darkened his face for a second until resolutely he had smiled and led her from the shop.

Lorna wondered now what could have caused his sorrow. Not their parting—of that she was certain. He must surely be glad to see the last of her. These few days must have been as big a trial to him as they had been to herself. No, he must have problems here in Durban, she decided. Probably something connected with his work. Firmly she dismissed Ashley from her thoughts. She would get nothing done at this rate.

Half an hour later, everything packed and ready, Lorna descended to the dining room for breakfast. She wore a pale green linen suit with matching shoes and could not help feeling a thrill of excitement at Ashley’s admiring gaze.

“You look very nice,” he said. “Pieter should be proud of you.” His eyes flickered to the brooch fastened to her lapel and back to Lorna’s flushed, happy face. His pleasure disappeared, curtained by the mask of indifference he had worn for the last few days. “I was going to ask whether you’d changed your mind about me—but those sparkling eyes are answer enough. I haven’t seen you so happy since the ni—for several days.”

Lorna knew what he had been going to say. And he was right—except for one thing. Her animation was for him, not Pieter. For one moment as their eyes met across the dining room it was as though the clock had been put back. His gaze had been frankly admiring, and there had been something else... She was sure.

Swallowing painfully, Lorna said, “It will be nice to see Pieter again.”

Ashley snorted. “Nice! Is that the best word you can find? Aren’t you longing to feel his arms round you? Don’t you want to hear how much he’s missed you?”

“Of—of course I do, but you needn’t be so horrid about it.” Near to tears, Lorna bent her head and tried to concentrate on her breakfast. Why couldn’t he be nice to her at this their last meeting? What did he hope to gain by such childish remarks?

“I’m sorry.” Suddenly his hand was on hers. An electric tingle vibrated through Lorna’s arm reaching to every corner of her body. Her heart pumped madly as she tried to free herself. But his grip tightened. “What’s the matter? Look at me.” His other hand tilted her chin, and Lorna countered his gaze as two huge tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. “Hey, what’s all this about? You looked so happy a minute ago. Come on, let’s get out of here. I didn’t feel like breakfast anyway.”

He took her to her cabin where he produced a handkerchief and gently wiped her face. But this further display of concern only succeeded in making Lorna feel worse. The next moment she was in his arms, savouring this last moment with Ashley before they parted and went their different ways. It was very difficult not to declare her love, but eventually, with a strength she did not know she possessed, Lorna pushed him away.