Mail-order Bridegroom Part 45

"So there you are!" she cried, advancing on Roslyn who stood rooted to the

spot in sick dismay. Did it ever stop?"It was just too much to expect, wasn't it? That's what comes of a lack of breeding. You can't be trusted to act with honour. Well, you can stopplaying your games around me, you devious little b.i.t.c.h!"Close up Roslyn could feel the heat coming off Kim's tall body. Her own face darkened but she fought hard to hold on to her composure."What compels you to attack me?" she asked."What gives you the right? You talk of breeding. You're no one to admire.""And you had to tell the girls?""What?""Oh, don't act the innocent. Don't make me sick!" Kim cried hotly. ' "How could you when you promised? You've humiliated me dreadfully.

Perhaps lost me my dearest friends. "

"Kim, you'll have to explain yourself," Roslyn said in a quiet voice that

lost nothing in intensity.

"Otherwise I'm going in search of a cold drink."

"You'll d.a.m.ned well stand still and listen to me!"

Kim reached out and grasped Roslyn's arm, her long fingers digging into the skin.

Roslyn shook her head.

"Take your hand off me, Kim. I don't respond to this kind of approach."

"Oh, I hate you. I hate you," Kim said."Why did you ever have to come back? We thought we were shot of youforever!" She threw off Roslyn's arm and immediately Roslyn stepped back.

"But I'm here, Kim and I'm staying," Roslyn said with quiet dignity.

"Then bear in mind you're not wanted."

"Marsh is the only one I'm worried about."

"Of course!" Kim gave a discordant laugh.

"But when are you going to get it into your head he'll never take you

seriously? He doesn't respect you. He doesn't" -- She broke off as tyres crunched on the driveway and a moment later Marsh started up the steps, halting on the threshold as he sensed the anger and tension that bound the two women.

"Anything wrong?" he asked briskly, his burning blue eyes moving from Roslynto Kim.

"No." Roslyn was reluctant to go into it, but Kim laughed incredulously.

"No, she says, when her underhand actions have bitterly hurt and humiliated me."

Marsh's expression went grim."Hey now!" he protested, moving further into the entrance hall.Roslyn put out a hand to him, seeking to avert a worse scene."Kim is upset about something. I don't know what.""Then she'd better explain herself. What's your problem, Kim? Maybe we can straighten it out?"

Kim turned to him in an att.i.tude of appeal.

"You can't trust her.

Marsh, as you'll soon discover. You're

playing with fire encouraging thisgirl. She's not one of us. ""It might be a good idea, Kim, if you minded your own business,"Marsh responded in such a cutting voice Kim's face crumpled."To say that to me." she cried, unable to conceal her hurt.

"After all we've been to each other."

"Kim, we haven't been anything to each other for years," he contradicted her flatly.

"You loved me!"He spread his hands."I'm sorry, no. You knew what we had the brief time we spent together.""It was wonderful!" Kim stared at him, her heart in her eyes."I'll remember it always. Always!""That would be downright foolish," Marsh responded, still with that tough slant.

Roslyn found she couldn't bear it. She had never been much good watchingsomeone else's pain."Please excuse me," she said."My throat is quite parched.""Hah!" Kim suddenly cried, blocking Roslyn's way. "It's this girl, isn't it? This little n.o.body whose mother is in your employ."Marsh's blue eyes flashed sparks."Your sn.o.bbery is appalling. And it beats me why!""What about your sisters, then?" Kim challenged. "Do you know how they feel?"

Marsh shrugged.

"I had hoped they'd drop into the twenty-first century. It's long overdue.

But so far as Rosa's concerned, my sisters have no say at all. If Rosa and Iwant to get married, we will."Kim's imperious, high-boned face blanched."Married? Whoever mentioned the word? Not even Roslyn would be such a fool.""I mentioned the word," Marsh told her grimly.

"Rosa's been holding out on you but I don't mind telling you I've asked her to marry me and she's agreed."

Kim stood like a woman faced with the un graspable "You're joking,"

she said finally.

"It's just a cruel joke. You want to get back at me.""That's a big job! Actually, Kim, on this occasion I didn't give you athought."

"Ah, no!" Kim wasn't yet persuaded, locked into her own vision."What made you tell her, Marsh?" Roslyn asked, distressed."Don't be ridiculous, Rosa!" he said with crisp impatience."It needed saying. I've gone along with your idea long enough. It hasn't come off."

"I don't believe this!" Kim stared from one to the other though her gazeseemed unfocused."I'm sure you do," Marsh responded."Not marriage, no Your mother detested this girl. And her mother.She'll be here to haunt you. ""Oh, my!" Marsh said with a derisive smile."I must go home!" Kim cried, realising her plans had been shot to pieces."Whatever you think best." Marsh shrugged."Take a little time to calm down, Kim, please," Roslyn begged, but Kim turned on her with loathing.

"How can you speak to me like that after all you've done? You couldn't waitto reduce me in Dianne's and Justine's eyes.""How is that?" Marsh asked curtly, infinitely more aggressive than Roslyn."I'll tell you how," Kim said in a harsh voice."She told them about that incident yesterday when she promised she wouldn't.

She made me out a coward in the girls' eyes."

"No!" Roslyn bmshed her dark glossy hair off her face."You're quite mistaken."Marsh's tall, lithe body went tense."A liar she is not If Rosa said she didn't say anything, she didn't. Why don't we get to the bottom of the matter right now?""Why not?" Kim agreed harshly, breathing fast."At least you'll find out what your precious Rosa is really like."Marsh's expression turned daunting, but he didn't reply. He turned away, leading them through the house until they found Dianne and Justine deep in conversation on the rear courtyard overlooking the pool.

Both young women broke off in their conversation as the others approached.

"Hi!" Marsh said in such a clipped tone Justine rose to her feet.

"What's up?"

"A little matter to be cleared up." Marsh swooped on the big, fringed umbrella, adjusting it so Dianne was completely in the shade.

"Thanks, Marsh," she said, looking up.

"You seem upset?"

"You've got it in one! Kim seems to think she's been shamed by something

Roslyn said to you both regarding the incident with the brumby?""Oo-oh, need we talk about it?" Dianne nearly wailed."So unlike Kim.I can scarcely believe it! ""What makes you think Ros told us, Kim?" Justine demanded."Well, didn't she?" The words exploded out of Kim with furious impatience."Not at all!" Justine spoke very coldly and distinctly. "Marsh and Ros allowed us to believe your version. It was Mrs. Earnshaw who put

us in the picture. She con N side red your action put Ros into considerble danger.

Let alone Marsh!

She wasn't about to kowtow to your desire to protect yourself. ""Well, thank you, Justine!" Kim sounded cut to the heart."Mumma told you?" Roslyn asked Justine in amazement."That's right!" Justine turned to her.

"She was very angry about it.She didn't think she was under any obligation to cover for Kim. As far asthat goes. Kim's overdue for a set down She's been barely civil to Ros and her mother for as long as I can remember. I suppose if Mrs. Earnshaw evercomes back to Mac.u.mba as Lady Mortimer, Kim will fall down before her. ""That'll be the day!" Kim gave a hard, ironic laugh. "Harry's probably not serious at all. Once he gets back to his own people he'll forget all about her."

"It just kills me you've done this, Kim," Dianne said sorrowfully.

"The consequences could have been dreadful."

"I thought you wanted Roslyn out of the way?" Kim gripped a chair and shook it.

Dianne's mouth fell open.

"Come off it, Kim! I've always had a problem with Ros. No question about

it. I think it started when I kept growing and growing and Ros stayedpet.i.te.""Good G.o.d!" Kim said in disgust."So you'll settle for having her as a sister-in-law, will you?"Dianne straightened abruptly."A whatT' she demanded with some vehemence."I would have liked to tell you myself," Marsh interjected, "but Kim is bent on vengeance. Afterwards she's promised to pack up and be on her way. Rosa was giving you time to settle but it seems to be out in the

open now. I've asked her to many me and she's agreed."

"But you can't many her!" Dianne gasped, and fell back among the cushions.

I'll go insane with Roslyn for a sister-in-law. "

"Oh, shut up, Di," Justine said briskly.

"You know you're talking rubbish." She turned to Marsh and Roslyn, who haddrawn closer together."I'm offering you both my love and very best wishes right now. I truly believe you'll be very happy together.""Thank you, Justine." Roslyn inclined her head as Justine bent to kiss her."What a turncoat you are!" Kim cried scathingly. "I'm shocked.Shocked. Just you wait until the word gets around. ""Concerning whatT' Marsh asked with such asperity Kim sobered abruptly."I'm not a good man to cross.""None of us are!" Dianne said sharply."So don't go spreading any gossip around.""It could be you're all mad!" Kim cried emotionally. "I'm not among friends anymore. I'll go pack."Less than twenty minutes later Kim had herself organised to leave."You're all going to regret this!" she cried out in the hallway."There's no way Marsh can marry that girl and have a happy life."Despite protests she didn't want them, they weren't friends, Dianne and Justine accompanied her to the airstrip, Justine at the wheel of the Jeep.

"Very bad manners not to have," Dianne declared afterwards.

"I'd like you to know, Ros, I warned Kim against spreading any malice. If

you must be part of the family, we'll all have to pull together."

"That's very kind of you, Di," Roslyn answered politely, trying hard to look suitably grateful.

Olivia wasn't in the least perturbed she had precipitated the crisis."There's no such thing as keeping something like that quiet on a station,"she told Roslyn when Roslyn approached her about it. ' "Even when she gaveher version I somehow didn't believe her. Young Jessie told me in thekitchen this morning. She got it from her dad.