At lunchtime the next day Kate received a call from Joshua Howard's secretary-to tell her she was expected to lunch in the directors' dining room. Kate put down the telephone and made a face at it, wondering how the man had known she had not lunched with the other directors during his absence. Did he always interfere in everything or was he just doing so with herself out of perversity? She longed to ignore his request and go to the canteen,
but knew that such behaviour would be construed as deliberately baiting him and, having made up her mind last night that she would try and stifle the antipathy he aroused in her, she reluctantly obeyed his dictum.
Entering the dining room, she found Joshua Howard at the centre of a small group. He saw her and immediately disengaged himself from them and came over to her. He Was holding a glass of whisky and a small, dark cigar ao4i always when she saw someone smoking, she could not refrain from a look of disapproval. He was quick to notice it but misconstrued her reason.
'I know you like wine, Dr Gibson, so is it that you object to hard liquor?'
'It isn't my business to object to anything you do, Mr Howard, but as a matter of fact it was your cigar I was looking at.'
‘Better than cigarettes, surely?'
‘Not as safe as a pipe.'
'Do you see me as a calm pipe smoker?'
‘Not exactly,' she said with a slight smile. .
'But 1 handle a gun well and I do go for walks with a dog.'
Her smite broadened even though she knew he was teasing her. 'I am sure you have many admirable qualities, Mr Howard, not the least of them being a dog-lover!'
He grinned at this and led her tack to the small group with whom he had been talking. At once conversation centred on the outbreak of food poisoning; and the effect it had had on production.
'It's lucky it wasn't a lunchtime meal that was contaminated,' she said, 'or you would have had the whole labour force ill.'
‘That's bound to happen sooner or later,' one of the , directors said. That's always the problem where you do mass feeding. There's a lot to be said for everyone bringing their own lunch box the way they did in the old days.’
'Some men still do.' Dermot joined the circle, smiling a welcome at Kate as he spoke. 'It beats me why so many wives bother when their husbands can get a far better meal here than the stodge and sandwiches they provide.'
'I imagine that the women who provide their husbands with lunch boxes are the ones without children,’ Kate said. 'It makes them feel they're contributing to the marriage.'
‘Being a real wife, you mean?' Dermot asked, and looked at the other directors. 'You see how important it is to have a woman's point of view!'
Then you should employ a few more,’ Kate rejoined,
Dermot grinned. 'If Mr Howard could run the plant as an all-male concern he would, but unfortunately men don't type as well as women!'
They would also want more money, as secretaries,’ Kate said crisply, 'so women do have their uses.'
‘Excellent uses,' a deep voice said behind her, and uncomfortably she wondered how long Joshua Howard had been listening to the conversation; most of the time apparently, as his next words signified. Women don't want only their husbands to need them, they also like their employers to show the same attitude. I have yet to have a man sulk because,’ I didn't thank him for staying late to get some work done, or flounce out in a temper because I objected to their having a long telephone conversation.'
‘Women do talk longer on the telephone,’ Kate agreed, ‘but you can't blame them if they want to be thanked for staying late. After all, secretaries rarely get paid overtime, though I bet none of your men stay late without being paid for it.’
The dark eyes glinted, though it was not until they moved towards the table that Joshua Howard spoke softly to her. ‘You enjoy attacking me, don't you, Dr Gibson?'
'Only because you enjoy provoking me.'
‘You think I do it deliberately?'
‘Yes.' She glanced at him and then looked away quickly, uncomfortable beneath the intenseness of his gaze.
'I suppose I do,' he murmured. 'It's probably because I like to watch the way you sparkle.
You should have had red hair.’
‘You mean I'm not the mouse I look!’
He held her chair for her and she saw with dismay that he had placed her next to him.
'Never a mouse, Dr Gibson. A marmot perhaps, with sharp little teeth.'
She instantly pictured a small and nondescript furry creature and wondered what animal he would liken Felicity Davis to? A sleek black panther perhaps? Seeing he was still watching her, she hurriedly picked up her spoon and began to eat her grapefruit.
'I gather you have been lunching in the canteen in my absence,’ he said.
'Most of the time,’ she replied. 'But I lunched here once with Dermot.’
'Ah, yes. You and he have become good friends.’
‘I find him sympathetic,’
‘Unlike myself?'
‘Must you make everything so personal, Mr Howard?'
‘Does it worry you?' he asked so blandly that she knew it was useless to pretend that it didn't.
'It worries me In the sense that it irritates me,’ she said icily. 'I'm sure you don't act so—
in the same way with the men you employ. But because I'm a woman, you persist in teasing and taunting me. You obviously still regard the female sex as second class citizens!'
‘You have a strange idea of what my opinions are,’ he answered. 'I suppose it's because I objected to you taking up the post here? But I think I made out a good case for my reasons, and they still exist.'
‘No, they don't,’ she denied. The surgery has been considerably busier in the last few days,’ . The aftermath of the food poisoning,’ he replied.
‘More than that,’ she persisted. 'Lots of the men are already accepting the fact that I'm a doctor first and a woman second,’
His eyes moved over her slowly. ‘I would say you are a woman first.’
‘You think that way because I'm not your doctor.’
‘Nor likely to be.’
She set her spoon sharply on her plate. 'I don't wish, you ill, Mr Howard, but I must say I would enjoy prescribing for you!'
'I might end up by liking the prescription!'
She gave him a startled look and felt her colour deepen. He had unexpectedly given the conversation a different meaning, as if to emphasise the fact that she was a woman and he was a man. Not that this was something he needed to emphasise, for she was all too aware of his masculinity. Even seated, he towered above all the men around him; and not only because of his height and breadth of shoulder but because of the magnitude of his personality. In the little Dermot had said about him, she knew his roots were deeply embedded in this region, and the fact that his home was an ancient one spoke for several
generations of success. Yet despite this there was a self-made aura about him, and she guessed that though he might have begun with money, it was his own efforts that had increased it tenfold.
As if deciding he had spent sufficient time talking to her, he turned to the rest of the table and re-opened a general conversation. There was talk of the new extension he was
planning and surprisingly a couple of the directors were critical of the project. But he took their , outspokenness in his stride and she concluded he was impervious to it. He was the sort of person to make up his own mind and allow no one to change it. At last the lunch came to an end and, declining coffee, she pushed back her chair.
‘What's the rush?' Joshua Howard asked.
'I have to make some calls and then go to the hospital. Some of the men are still there.' 'If you care to wait half an hour I have to go to town myself and I'll drive you.’
‘There's no need, thank you. I'm not sure how long I shall be at the hospital.'
He accepted her refusal with a nod and she went out of the dining room, trying not to show by her swift pace that she was conscious that all eyes were upon her. But back in her consulting room a quick glance in the mirror beside her desk showed her a flushed face and bright eyes. The head of Howard Engineering might irritate her, but he also gave her animation.
Checking her case to make sure she had all her equipment, Kate went out to the car park.
It was a warm day and she realised how quickly summer had stolen upon spring, or was it that one was more conscious of the seasons when one could see purple hills against blue sky and rolling green fields in place of grey buildings? She unlocked the door of the car and was about to step in when a Bright red sports car stopped smartly beside her.
'Hello, there,' a husky voice said as Felicity; Davis slid out of the front seat, all long silken legs and emerald green suit. 'Are you going or coming?'
'Going,' Kate replied. 'But I'll be back at three-thirty.’
'Has Joshua finished lunch yet?' 'I left him having coffee.'
'Do you always lunch with the directors?'
The question was artless, but there was a probing look in the vivid blue eyes. 'It is expected of me,' Kate said coolly.
'I thought doctors were too overworked to stop for lunch.'
'I was when I was working as a G.P., but I have much more free time here.’
‘Too much, I should think,' Felicity Davis said. 'Joshua is a fool to mollycoddle his men the way he does. Still, he can afford it, and if it makes him feel good…'
'I don't think he does it in order to feel good.' Kate was surprised to find herself defending him. 'He does it because he believes it's the right thing to do,'
'Naturally you agree with him.' There was amusement on the beautiful face. 'After all, it gives you a cushy job.'
Felicity Davis's voice was still artless, though Kate was now sure that the meaning was not. But she was careful to hide her irritation as she slid behind the wheel of her car.
'Sorry to cut our conversation short,' she said sweetly, but I'm off to do a bit of window shopping.'
Only as she turned out of the car park did she allow herself to grin at the look of surprise that had crossed Felicity Davis's face. Next time they met the Welsh girl would be more careful with her tongue. Kate gave a half frown as she tried to think why Felicity should dislike her. Did she see all women as rivals and dislike them for this, or was it only those who came into contact with Joshua Howard? Either way it indicated jealousy of him and lack of confidence. It was surprising so lovely a girl should be worried by any other women, and Kate wondered if the man was still playing hard to get. She tried to picture him married to Felicity, but since she did not know his background she could not place them together in it and they remained shadily on the horizon of her mind, hovering there for the rest of the afternoon as she made her calls at the hospital and then visited the men who were confined to their home.
She returned to the factory to find her waiting room full and could not restrain a sensation of triumph. What a pity Joshua Howard did not walk in on her now! For the first time since coming to Llanduff she was late in closing her surgery and it was well after six before the -last patient left. Leaving Nurse Evans to tidy up, she went out to her car and, expecting the car-park to be empty, felt a stirring of apprehension as she saw the silver grey Porsche and the tall, black-haired man who loomed beside it. It was impossible to avoid him without seeming rude, so she deliberately moved in his direction and gave him what she hoped was a careless smile.
'Goodnight, Mr Howard,' she said, not slowing her pace.
'Good evening, Dr Gibson. What’s your hurry?'
At this she had to stop and stare up—a long way up— till she met his gaze. 'No hurry,’
she replied. 'I'm just on my way home.'
'I have something for you.' He held out his palm.
'Do you want me to read your fortune?' she asked.
He smiled. 'I want you to take the key.'
Immediately she saw the silver-coloured latch key and felt foolish. 'Why are you giving it to me?' she asked.
'It’s the key to your front door. I had a feeling that unless I gave it back to you, you would change the lock!'
Since this was exactly what she had planned to do’, she went scarlet, and he made no attempt to hide his amusement. For a subtle woman you have a strange tendency to give yourself away.'
'I have never considered myself subtle, Mr Howard'
‘You haven't been with me,' he admitted, 'but that’s because you haven't tried.' Would you like me to do so?'
He took time before answering. 'No,' he said slowly. I like you exactly the way you are.' 'Does that mean you no longer disapprove of my being a doctor?'
He gave an exclamation of annoyance. 'I have never objected to your medical
qualifications, only to your practising them in my factory. And only then because I felt—
and still do—that my men would prefer to be taken care of by a man. You obviously feel that too, otherwise you wouldn't be planning to open a surgery in your house.'
‘Nurse, Evans's sister's grapevine, I suppose?'
‘Nurse Evans's sister's grapevine,' he said solemnly, and then gave her an intent stare.
'Should you be doing so much?'
'Looking after eight hundred men isn't much,’ she said scornfully.
'It is, in your present condition.'
‘You make me sound as if I'm pregnant!' She was sorry the moment she had spoken, for his eyes travelled over her slender lines.
‘You look too much of a child to be a mother,' he said abruptly.
I’m twenty-seven, Mr Howard.'
'And I am thirty-eight.' He ran a hand over his hair and tilted his head back. His skin was so bronze that it looked as though it had been coloured by the tropics, bat despite the dark intensity of his looks and the swarthiness of a Welshman, he was considerably taller than most of his compatriots. He looked as if there was Spanish Blood in him and it did not require much imagination to see him swashbuckling his way across a rolling deck, with a skull and crossbones fluttering from the mast.
Tut it away,' he said suddenly, and with a start Kate realised she was still holding the key.
'I used it for the last tune today,' he continued. To let in Mrs Pugh.' 'Mrs who?'
‘Your new housekeeper.'
Anger swamped her. He had said he had engaged a housekeeper, but she had never believed he would go ahead with it once she had made it clear she was vehemently opposed to it. ‘You had no right to bring anyone into my home!' she said hotly.
'I explained the other day exactly why I thought I did have the right.' He put up a hand to stall her comment. However, if after a month you say you definitely don't want Mrs Pugh to remain with you, then I won't insist on her staying.'
This remark cut the ground from under Kate's feet and her temper retreated, although it did not die. 'Do you always get your own way?' she demanded. 'Generally.'
‘One day you will concede defeat over something.’
‘You may well be right'
His tone was so serious that she felt his answer held a deeper meaning than she
understood. Was he thinking of Felicity Davis and wondering whether marriage to that beautiful charmer was something he might regret in the distant future? Somehow Kate could not see him doing -anything he might have doubts about. He was a man of strong conviction and even stronger courage who would never do anything if he had the slightest reason to believe he would regret it.
‘What's puzzling you?' he asked softly.
‘You are,’ she said candidly. 'I can't make you out’
That's the first sign of uncertainty you've ever shown towards me. Does it mean you are mending your opinion of me?’
'People are always changing,' she replied sweetly. 'And when you become less obstinate in your opinions, I might become less obstinate in mine.'
He filing back his head and laughed. It was a deep sound and she enjoyed it. But abruptly he stopped and was serious again.
'Don't let me detain you any longer, Dr Gibson. I'm sure you have a great deal to do.' It was a dismissal and she turned quickly to her car. But as she drove away she saw he was still standing by his Porsche watching her, his well-shaped head clearly .outlined against the pale concrete wall of the factory behind him. In that instant she had an intense feeling of his aloneness. It was nothing to do with his being lonely, she decided, for she felt it to be a deliberate choice on his part. He was a solitary reaper who had no need of people. Yet there must be some need inside him; otherwise he would not be considering marriage. Still, what he . did with his life was his own affair and no concern of hers.