Read Robyn Donald – Iceberg for Free Online Page B

her.
    She swam well, but tired easily. After ten minutes Linnet climbed out and sat on the edge, pushing her wet hair
    back from her face.
    'Are you getting out so soon?' asked Sarah.
    'Yes. This is my first swim of the season, so I'm not going to overdo it.'
    Sarah considered her for a few seconds, then made her way to the edge. 'O.K., I'll get out too and keep you
    company.'
    Walled in as the pool was by greenery, it was hot enough to dry their bathing suits almost instantly. After she
    had covered herself with sunscreen, Linnet made a joke of smothering Sarah in it too, and then led the way to
    two loungers shaded by a screen of dainty Black-eyed Susan flowers.
    'What a funny name!' Sarah was enchanted when her companion mentioned it. 'How do you think they got
    called that?'
    So Linnet made up a story as the sun crawled its slow way westwards and the perfume of the garden bathed
    them in its sweetness.
    'Lovely,' Sarah enthused when she had finished. 'Where did you find that? What book? I'd like to read it.'
    'I made it up,' Linnet confessed.
    'Gosh!' There was awe in the high voice. 'You' are clever. Daddy, Linnet made that story up! Isn't she clever?'
    Linnet's eyes flew open, met the coldly sardonic gaze of Justin Doyle, and she blushed from her feet to the top
    of her head, most of it, unfortunately, perfectly obvious be’ cause of the scantiness of her bikini.
    'Very clever,' he agreed smoothly, lowering himself into a chair beside Sarah's. 'But I thought her name was
    Eiluned.'
    'I can't say that, and anyway, I like Linnet better. She says her mother calls her Linnet.' His daughter chuckled.
    'I've got a picture of a linnet in one of my books, bat Linnet doesn't look like it.'
    'Not in the least,' he agreed, that dispassionate, ironic glance traversing once more the full length of Linnet's
    body.
    She felt as though he had stripped her naked. With a gesture of anger she sprang to her feet, impelled to
    movement by her humiliation.
    ‘Now that your father's here, I'll go,' she said to Sarah, the words tumbling over themselves in their eagerness to
    be said.
    'Don't got' The child's face crumpled. 'Daddy, tell Linnet she doesn't have to go just because you're here.'
    He stood, took her wrist in a grip which seemed to burn her skin. 'As Sarah says, there's no need to go,' he told
    her, his glance at once impersonal and bleak.
    But she was close to panic. ‘I’ll have to,' she said rapidly. 'It's time to—to put the dinner on. I'll see you
    tomorrow, Sarah.'
    The grip on her wrist tightened. For one moment she thought that he was going to force her to stay, then he
    loosed his fingers as though the touch of her was distasteful.
    'But, Linnet------'
    'Say goodbye, Sarah.'
    The sensitive mouth quivered, then firmed. 'Goodbye, Linnet,' she said dully, 'Can we swim again tomorrow?'
    'Yes, of course. Goodbye, Sarah. Goodbye, Mr Doyle.'
    And she fled, wondering why the man had so unnerved her; aware that she was behaving stupidly, yet quite
    unable to control that imperative desire to get out of his presence as fast as she could, without caring for dignity.
    As she showered she realised that it was a kind of automatic reaction to danger, a physical need to flee. Fight or
    flight, she thought. How appropriate!
    The flat was hot, almost stuffy in spite of the windows being wide open, so she pulled on shorts and a brief
    cotton top. It was half past four, she had no idea when Bronwyn was due home, but it would be pleasant to have
    a meal ready for her.
    It took only a few minutes to scrub the new potatoes, make a dressing of yoghurt and mint and vinegar and put
    it in the fridge, then wash tomatoes and lettuce, slice ham and shell a bag of peas ready for her sister's arrival.
    It was while she was doing this that the bell went. She knew who it would be, and quelled rite rising tide, of
    panic within her by taking deep breaths as she washed her hands.
    Her hope that Sarah might be with him was dashed.
    'May I come in?' he