Free Robyn Donald – Iceberg by Robyn Donald Page A

for my own pleasure. I'm explaining to you exactly why I'm the way I am.'
    She smiled without humour. 'You see, you were the one thing I loved then; I was very proud of you. It must
    have been fairly deep rooted, because I've discovered that I care for your-good opinion.' Without giving Linnet
    time to reply she continued, 'Well, that sort of childhood’ helps you to use your brain to plan ahead. I
    determined that I was going to become independent as soon as possible, so with Dad's help I bought the
    boutique and discovered that I was a pretty good business woman. It's a success, and that's important to me.
    That's why Justin and I get on so well together—we have the same need for success, and neither of us need or
    want the kind of romantic attachment I'm sure you'll be happiest with. Love conquers all, that sort of dung. For
    you it might work—for me, never.'
    'How do you know?' Linnet asked soberly. 'Perhaps you've just never experienced it.'
    Her sister smiled cynically. 'Oh yes, I have, and was miserable. To lose control—well, there's no need to rake
    over the details. I hated it. I know what I'm doing, Eiluned, what's right for me. If I seem hard—well, dial's the
    penalty I'll have to pay for thinking things through and refusing to be ruled by my emotions. But I don't want to
    seem unkind. Sarah will be quite safe with me.' Linnet realised that she really believed this; it seemed that any
    effort to convince Bronwyn that there were many ways to be unkind to a sensitive child other than the deliberate
    would be doomed to failure. Perhaps, she drought wearily, aware that she was evading the issue, perhaps by
    being around Sarah Bronwyn would learn how to manage her and make her happy.
    Later that evening, as she brushed her hair before sleeping, she wondered why Justin's blunt announcement that
    Bronwyn would not need the flat for much longer had affected her so strongly. It was tantamount to saying that
    their marriage was fairly close; the reason she felt so concerned about that was that she worried about Sarah, of
    course.’ An odd tiling, the maternal instinct For Sarah's sake she wished rather fervently that Bronwyn would
    develop it.
    The child arrived immediately after breakfast the next day, half apologetic, half defiant, but when Linnet treated
    the incident with casual unconcern she dropped her uneasy belligerence and followed suit.
    'I'm sorry,' she said, squeezing her companion's hand, 'but I couldn't sleep, and I got to thinking about you, and I
    just got all silly and upset. Linnet, did you mean it when you said you wouldn't go?'
    'Yes. Bronwyn has agreed that I can stay here with her."
    As always when the older girl's name was mentioned, Sarah's expressive countenance registered sullen
    resignation. But after a moment she said, "That's nice. When, will you know if you've got your job?'
    'In a week or so."
    'Good; then we've got a week together.' 'She was jubilant, making suggestions about ways to spend the week,
    some ridiculous, some interesting. Then a strange expression crossed her face; she chuckled suddenly, but when
    Linnet asked her what was up she shook her head, smiling mysteriously.
    'Wait and see,' she teased. 'Linnet, do you want to write?'
    Bemused by this sudden change of attitude, for Sarah had always seemed a little jealous of her writing, she said,
    'Yes, I do.'
    'Then you sit down and write," Sarah told her graciously. 'I'll just pop up to the house.'
    Once writing time was forgotten; it was late in the afternoon when she surfaced, hungry, thirsty and surprised at
    being left alone for so long.
    Sarah had still not appeared when Bronwyn came home, but within a few minutes she was down and with her
    came her father, looking distinctly grim and unapproachable in the warm spring sunlight.
    'What on earth------?' Bronwyn looked startled, but there was no sign of it when she opened the door to Justin
    and his daughter.
    Like a coward Linnet stayed in the kitchen where she supervised