Free The Primrose Bride by Kathryn Blair Page A

less important than her own emotions and peace of mind. Was it possible to fall out of love?
    The more she thought, during those two or three days, the more chaotic were Karen ’ s mental reactions. Mixed up and horribly sharpened, her emotions forced her to hear Andrew ’ s car long before he reached the drive, to smell his cigarette smoke as it wafted in from the veranda, to hasten past his room even when it was empty.
    Though she took care never to look at the lean brown features, she knew his hands as if they were her own. They were strong, the fingers spatulate, the nails well-shaped; the hands of a man of action, though she knew instinctively, as well as from small isolated experiences, that they could linger and caress.
    But man of action he was. The mooted drives and picnics, bathing and exploring were forgotten. He slipped back into his office, his substitute was ready to leave on the first boat that could take him, and the medical check-up ordered by the last mail was already in process of organization. In about five days ’ time, when the Governor was due to return from his ceremonial tour of the islands, the administration machinery would be running as smoothly as if Andrew had never left Nemaka.
    Karen stayed fairly close to the house. Mrs. Mears came for a chat, there was a note of apology from Rita Vaughan and Tony Horwell dropped in for sundowners one evening.
    Then, one day, Andrew arrived for lunch in a small grey car. After they had eaten he said, “ I ’ ve bought the bus outside from Coppard. He brought it here eighteen months ago and has hardly used it. You ’ ll find it handy for getting about. The government cars are too big for you—awkward to handle. ”
    “ Do I need a car? ”
    “ We can ’ t have you getting bored or tired. The car will help you to settle in. ”
    “ Thank you, ” she said politely.
    “ You can try it out right away—drive me up to the offices. I ’ d rather be with you when you first handle it. ”
    “ Very well. Do you want to go now? ”
    “ It might be a good idea—give us time for a run round to get you accustomed to the gears before you drive back home. ”
    Karen went straight outside and got into the driving seat of the car. One thing she was not self-conscious about was driving with Andrew as a passenger. He had complimented, her on the speed with which she had learned how to control a car, had said she would soon become a first - class driver. Here on Nemaka there could be none of the hazards she had encountered and overcome in England. In fact at this hour of the day the roads were free of cars and there were only a few bicycles to avoid.
    She did not look about her as she drove past the government dwellings set back among the trees behind the tamarisk hedge, but at the end of the road she saw the stone pillars and wrought-iron gates which guarded the Residency, and involuntarily slowed almost to a stop. The police guard on duty saluted smartly, and Andrew returned the gesture.
    “ You can ’ t see much of the place from here, but it ’ s magnificently placed, ” he commented. “ The flag is always flying when the Governor ’ s at home. ”
    “ Does he go away often? ”
    “ Hardly ever. Last time I did the tour for him because he had lumbago. That was why he had to make it himself, this time, and it couldn ’ t wait, because there was an accumulation of business on Filfua and Malu. They ’ re the chief of the other islands and we have resident officers there. ”
    She accelerated slightly. “ The gardens look lovely, ” she said. “ I ’ m almost totally ignorant about the plants. ”
    “ You know the common poinsettia and hibiscus. There ’ s plumaria, frangipani and coral vine, and the many kinds of bignonias—the climbing thing with trumpets. Plenty of bougainvillea, too. At my first house here I had an immense avocado tree that produced fruit weighing nearly two pounds each. It was next to Tony ’ s house—young Austin lives