Free Beverly Byrne by Come Sunrise Page B

"It won't take long."
     
    She
looked around for an escape or an interruption. She felt like an animal trapped
in a pit. The hunters were waiting and their spears were sharp. "You're
wonderful, Amy," Luke said. "I enjoy being with you so much. But.
.."
     
    "I
really don't feel well," she said. Her voice was too loud, and she forced
herself to lower it. "I'm sorry, I must go to bed."
     
    "Sometimes
I'm not sure," he continued as if he hadn't heard her. "Sometimes I
think maybe I've been wrong all along, and you've been sent to prove it to me.
Other times I know it's just a test."
     
    "Sent
by whom?" she demanded. "A test of what?" As soon as she asked
the questions, Amy knew that she'd made a terrible mistake. Now she really was
ill. She would faint if she didn't get out of this room. She left him without
another word, ran to her bedroom, and closed the door hard behind her. Then she
stood leaning against it, trying to catch her breath and to hear what was
happening in the apartment.
     
    There
was the sound of low voices. Soon the outside door opened and shut. Luke had
said good night to Lil and left. A minute passed and she began to feel a little
calmer. Nothing irrevocable had been said. She would have to think and plan.
Then she'd find a way to make it all right again. A light tap on the door
intruded on her thoughts.
     
    "It's
Aunt Lil, darling. Luke said you were ill."
     
    "I
t's nothing really." Amy knew that she should be polite and open the door,
but she couldn't make herself do it. "Just a headache. I'll be fine in the
morning."
     
    Lil
made sympathetic noises and offered her tea.
     
    "Nothing,
thank you. I just want to sleep."
     
    Finally
she heard Lil's footsteps moving away. She threw herself on the bed fully
dressed. He doesn't love me, she thought. But she knew he did. She'd seen it in
his eyes, felt it in his touch.
     
    She
was young and inexperienced, but she couldn't be mistaken about that. Then why
was he resisting her and his own desires? His religion perhaps. But that was
mad! What did she care about religion? She would become a Catholic too, if that
was what he wanted. She must find some way to let him know that. She'd ask
questions about his church, and this time she'd really listen to his answers.
And she'd stop telling him she didn't believe in God.
     
    Satisfied
that she had some new insight into both the problem and the solution, Amy got
up and undressed. She was glad that she'd managed to forestall tonight's
conversation. At least she had gained time. She told herself that everything
was going to be all right, and finally she slept. But she had the same dream,
and this time the lion seemed closer and even more menacing.
     
    It
was late when she woke. There was a message for her. Donald Varley wanted to
see her as soon as possible, today if she could arrange it. She telephoned his
secretary and made an appointment for the same afternoon. There was no word
from Luke, and she was glad that he didn't arrive for lunch as he sometimes did.
She needed more time.
     
    When
Amy was seated by Varley's desk he told his secretary to bring tea. He insisted
that Amy have a cup right away, as if she'd braved an exhausting and perilous
ordeal to join him. She thought of telling him about riding alone through the
African bush, but decided against it.
     
    "I
understand you are very friendly with my nephew Luke," Varley said.
"You like Tommy too, don't you?"
     
    Amy
nodded at him over the rim of the teacup. Her large brown eyes grew wary.
     
    But
Donald Varley didn't sound a warning. Instead he said, "I think it's a
fine thing, considering how close your parents all were. Fine to see that kind
of loyalty continued. Gives me hope for the modern world."
     
    She
set down her cup and waited.
     
    "Amy,
I must speak very frankly, and in a manner no gentleman likes. If your poor
mother and father were alive, none of this would be necessary. But since they
aren't and you're alone, I have no choice but to do my