The Man From Ti Kouka Page 10

  ‘Dan, it’s just that I promised I’d help with the new wing, if we go ahead with the export order. I’ve been doing a feasibility study on it for Mr. Maugh. It would take a lot of effort if it goes ahead. It will be about nine or ten weeks, possibly more, if there are any delays.’

  Dan looked at her with a mock groan. ‘Woman, how could you agree?’

  ‘Well, of course, he might decide not to go ahead with the plan, in which case I could leave in a few days.’

  ‘You know what I’m hoping already, don’t you? This is one export order I could wish elsewhere.’

  Dan’s voice was low as he kissed the small spot under her ear. His fingers found hers and he looked at her ring finger thoughtfully.

  ‘Do you like emeralds, Trudi?’ he asked. ‘Mum has a ring she’s been keeping for me—an emerald in the centre with two diamonds. It belonged to my great-grandmother.’

  ‘It sounds lovely, Dan,’ she agreed.

  ‘You just say if you’d rather have a modern ring. I’m not quite broke!’

  ‘Oh, Dan! Of course I’d be happy with your family ring. I’ve always loved emeralds.’

  ‘That reminds me, Mum is very anxious to meet you. She said to tell you she’s looking forward to welcoming you to Ti Kouka.’

  Dan’s voice dropped a little as he wound a curl round his finger. ‘The tyrant’s livid, of course, that she was away when you were at Bell Bay. Poor Anne’s been pumped, but I assure you she gave a charming report.’

  ‘Dan, what if your mother doesn’t like me? What if the tyrant thinks I’m totally unsuitable? It would be dreadful!’

  Dan laughed. ‘That won’t happen, don’t worry. When will you know if the factory plan is going ahead?’

  ‘Tomorrow.’

  ‘Ring me immediately you know. If it’s no, I’ll drive down straight away and pick you up. Once you’ve met Mum and the rest you’ll relax, then perhaps we could get married on Saturday.’

  ‘Anne said you didn’t let the grass grow under your feet, Dan!’ Trudi laughed.

  ‘Plenty of other places for it to grow on Ti Kouka.’ Dan smiled and kissed her again, and Trudi thought she had never been so happy in her life.

  ‘Dan, let’s not hurry it so quickly. I feel it could be a mistake to rush in, we’ve got our families to consider. Let’s leave it two weeks.’

  They both smiled, then Dan’s mouth claimed hers again and she slipped her fingers around the back of his neck.

  By the time Dan left the night was well advanced and Trudi went off to bed humming a love song, wondering what it would be like to be married to him.

  Going in to work the next morning, Trudi tried to immerse herself in the work in front of her, but at last pushed it away, gazing unblinkingly ahead as she saw Dan in her mind’s eye, waiting for the telephone to ring. She felt oddly close to him and could almost feel his physical presence, his fingers holding hers for luck. She took one of the cups of tea that were just being poured and began talking to Rita, explaining that Dan had been down, when her buzzer sounded and she scurried into Mr. Maugh’s office.

  ‘I’ve taken the lease,’ he announced. ‘Truth to tell, I really only decided this morning. You’ll be glad?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll get started right away, but I’ve got a phone call to make first.’

  Back in her own office, Trudi dialled Dan’s number and the phone bleeped only once before it was answered. She told Dan the news and he sounded so disappointed she forgot her own feelings. She reminded him that three months would soon pass and they could get to know each other better.

  Just before lunchtime Mr. Maugh called the staff together and told them of the proposed plans and called for further suggestions. He asked Trudi to explain and she was kept busy answering questions and discussing the changes.

  Everything seemed to be roaring ahead almost as if the whole job was top priority, and Trudi was beginning to revise her schedule. She kept her fingers crossed for the weekend and told Dan she hoped to be with him by late Saturday afternoon, as the machines were being delivered in the morning.

  ‘That’s great, darling. We’ve got a big dinner party on with some overseas cropping experts, so you’ll be arriving in good company,’ he told her.

  His words made her frown as she envisaged the scene. ‘Dan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You’ll be tied up. I’ll ask Mr. Maugh to give me a couple of days off midweek instead and come up then.’

  ‘Make it three days and I’ll agree.’

  ‘Dan, I love you, but you’ll get me fired!’

  ‘Do you mean that?’

  With a smile she replaced the receiver. It was disappointing as she had worked hard to be free. Trudi imagined the scene at Ti Kouka. Dan, although such a junior employee, would be needed. He was so good with people, she thought proudly. Unfortunately if she was there he would look after her, and that could lead to trouble.

  It would be just dreadful if the tyrant disliked her simply because she was a nuisance at an important time, and from such a nickname it sounded highly possible. Her smile slipped as she realised the difficulties involved in taking time off the following week. Tuesday and Wednesday were fully taken up with the new season’s range. She wished there was someone who could step into her shoes. When Mr. Maugh came in she discussed it with him. He suggested she study the new personnel files, adding that the grapevine had been well and truly busy as they had had thirty applicants for work, without even advertising.

  Trudi felt glad, and reviewed the personnel in the factory, looking for the right person. Her eyes lit upon the neatly stacked application forms filled out in a myriad letters. On impulse she reached for them, thinking it a shame that so many would be disappointed. The second neatly typed form hit her with a sharp shock. She looked at it carefully and knew she had her replacement. She wrote ‘Accept, Forewoman New Wing’ across it, then dialled the applicant’s phone number. The phone was answered by her friend, and hearing her voice Trudi chided her for not approaching her directly for a job. Her answer was that she had not liked to place Trudi in a difficult position.

  ‘I feel so bad, as I approached you about the sewing machines and took it for granted you’d be transferring North too,’ said Trudi.

  ‘No, I thought about it, but with all the family here I didn’t really want to move.’

  ‘How does forewoman of the new wing sound? Come over after tea tonight and we’ll have a chat.’

  ‘Sounds great! Trudi, you’re a gem.’

  Smugly Trudy set off home. She felt as if she had just been given a million dollars. Finding her own replacement had been the biggest piece of luck imaginable. Best of all she could place her and then let Mr. Maugh ‘find’ her himself.

  Her friend had asked about her young sister, as she had always enjoyed Maria’s company. With a stab of guilt Trudi realised that the anniversary was almost upon her and. she had forgotten that Maria would be eagerly expecting the pale blue outfit. It was just as well she was not going to Ti Kouka after all, she mused.

  On Saturday morning she rang Mr. Maugh and told him she wanted to buy some pale blue fabric for Maria’s anniversary present. With a laugh he gave her the number and shelf card and told her to help herself. Trudi smiled.

  ‘I’m coming in myself in ten minutes, so I’ll cut it for you,’ he commented.

  Trudi had time to open up the storeroom and select the fabric before Mr. Maugh arrived. She explained the design and he cut it out for her on the big designer’s area.

  ‘I suppose you’re going to sit down and sew this now?’ he queried.

  Trudi nodded and Mr. Maugh smiled.

  ‘Let’s see it when you’re finished, would you, Trudi?’

  ‘I’ll bring it round this evening,’ Trudi promised, then made her way to the silent machine room.

  When the dress was finished she slipped it on. She wondered what Dan would think about it. Trudi had never worn draped effects, preferring simple styles. She pirouetted in a swirl of blue, seeing her ref
lection looking almost unbelievably pretty with her dark hair and her big eyes sparkling.

  Thinking back, she couldn’t remember Dan commenting much about what she was wearing, except for the memorable occasion she had danced on the beach in her silky green nightwear and he had called her a nereid. She could smile now at the fright and terror she had felt at seeing the enormous black figure rising from the water.

  Surveying herself again, she decided that when she had some spare time she would make a slightly similar garment for herself, but in the sea-green colour that reminded her of the emerald waters of Seal Bay.

  Mr. Maugh had left earlier, so she dialled his number and he invited her to share dinner with him. Trudi agreed without hesitation; they would talk shop and it would be a beautiful dinner as Mr. Maugh always appreciated good cooking. Dan wouldn’t ring as he would be busy with Ti Kouka’s guests.

  Trudi drove around to Mr. Maugh’s house, the new dress carefully placed in tissue in a box beside her. She wore a simple dinner dress in brown with a beaded neckline which she had always liked.

  On Mr. Maugh’s instructions she paraded the new blue dress with the right accessories and was rewarded with his approval. Although the brown was sophisticated and elegant, the blue seemed softer and more romantic. Mr. Maugh declared it was a winner and suggested they include a similar style in the new range.

  The hotel he had selected was one of the best and Trudi enjoyed herself, reflecting that this was a slice of life she would never see with Dan.

  She found herself telling Mr. Maugh about Ti Kouka and Dan and the day’s V.I.P.s at the farm. Mr. Maugh had heard of Ti Kouka and was vastly interested in her description. Immediately he realised the loss of her previous weekend and told her blithely that she could take off any time. When she reminded him a shade tartly that Tuesday and Wednesday were the range days he nodded.

  ‘Thursday and Friday—the place won’t fall to ruin without you, although I’ll be screaming! I’ve got a present for you, Trudi, that I’ve been meaning to give you for quite a while—another bonus, my dear. That Australian order was all your work and now the new wing is coming along in leaps and bounds. There must be a lot of extra time in it. I’ll see it’s put in your pay next week.’

  ‘Giving me Thursday and Friday off is all the reward I’d need,’ she assured him. ‘If you must give me a present I’d like enough of the sea-green colour in the fabric I made up for Maria today.’

  ‘I’ll make sure of it.’

  It was quite late when Trudi drove home. The doorbell woke her and she sighed, peering from her nest of blankets with surprise. The peal of the bell sounded again and she reflected that it was probably her cheerful but improvident neighbour, a young person who seemed to have trouble with household supplies. She grabbed her dressing gown and ran to the door, stifling a yawn. The figure who stood there had her smiling immediately.

  ‘Dan! What a super surprise!’

  ‘Good morning, sleepyhead. You look all soft and warm.’

  He closed the door carefully and she melted in his embrace. His lips were gentle and questing and she felt her own response spinning.

  ‘I’m jealous, sweetheart,’ he murmured. ‘I tried ringing you last night, but you were out. I went through sheer torture.’

  ‘I was out at dinner. We had oysters creamed and flounder poached in wine and tournedos and...’

  ‘Stop, stop, my woman! You’ll drive me crazy. Who took you?’ Dan’s arms held her stiffly.

  ‘Oh, Dan, you’re jealous!’ she chuckled. ‘I was with Mr. Maugh, my boss. In between all the food we discussed the current work and the new programme. Actually we got a lot of ground covered. And I told him all about you and he said you must be special to have found me!’

  ‘Guess I’ll believe you, darling. I was so disappointed when you didn’t want to come to Ti Kouka yesterday that I started imagining all sorts of things. I’m afraid the guests must have found me a little absentminded.’

  ‘I was sewing a dress for Maria at the factory,’ she told him. ‘Actually Mr. Maugh came in and helped me with the design, and it’s really pretty. Maria will be pleased. I thought I might make myself one, you might like to see me in a dress.’

  ‘Make a change from nightwear and jeans and shorts, darling, but I think you’re beautiful all the time,’ he smiled slowly, and Trudi felt her own eyes light up as he traced the lines of a tousled curl on her forehead. ‘Get dressed and I’ll take you to the town house with me,’ he told her. ‘I’ve got to pick up some papers that were left there.’

  ‘Will Mrs. Jay be there?’ queried Trudi anxiously.

  ‘No, she’s at Ti Kouka. Does that worry you?’

  Her eyes met his and she shook her head.

  ‘You know, love, I think you’re a little coward.’ Dan’s words mocked her as she fled to her room. She showered and changed in speedy fashion after telling Dan to help himself in the kitchen. A glance at her watch had told her he had been driving since early that morning. She pulled on a casual shirt and jersey and skirt, easing on her boots and a leather jacket.

  Dan eyed her warmly and she went to him and felt his deep love wrap around her as he kissed her with a passion that made her sag against him, breathless. She left her hand in his as she stepped towards the car. Trudi had never studied cars very much, but she knew that this was not the average run-of-the-mill car.

  Its engine barely sounded as they drove smoothly along the quiet streets and she knew from the superb interior that it was a luxury car. Sheridan Jay obviously allowed Dan the use of a car when he was on a Ti Kouka errand.

  They drove up to Cashmere and soon Dan turned down a tree-lined drive. He swung the wheel and they faced a large garage which adjoined the edge of a new town house. Trudi was impressed. Obviously the ‘tyrant’ knew a superb setting.

  The house was in gold brick with deep brown trim and the matching windows in aluminium blended perfectly. Dan flicked the key out with its distinctive holder and selected another key. Smiling, he opened the door, then picked Trudi up effortlessly and carried her over the threshold. She lay contentedly in his arms as he kissed her swiftly, then dropped her none too gently on to a deeply cushioned couch. She struggled to sit up as he peeled the thick curtains back from the window and revealed the richness of the furniture. Trudi hastily moved her booted feet.

  The lounge was quite one of the loveliest rooms she had ever been in. On the plain back wall a bush picture caught her eye and she found herself entranced. She gazed at it and turned to Dan who was standing watching her.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ she said. ‘Your tyrant must be a remarkable woman.’

  ‘I’d agree with you there.’ Dan sat beside her and pulled her close, and she lost herself in his arms for a few blissful moments.

  Dan stood up slowly. ‘I won’t be long. I’ve just got to get those papers. Make yourself at home.’

  He went off beyond a doorway and Trudi stood at the window looking out at the view over the city below. She could pick out the familiar lines of the city centre and the angles of streets. A whistle distracted her and she noticed Dan standing at the doors that evidently opened off a verandah. She ran along to see him, and her breath drew in as she gazed into the room. It was luxuriously appointed and Dan was sprawled on the bed as though he owned it.

  ‘Dan!’ Her tones were full of reproach.

  ‘Sorry. Was I a bit long?’ he enquired innocently. ‘Come on in, sweetheart, and help me sort through these papers.’

  Trudi hung back. It was all very well for Dan, but it didn’t seem right for her. The magnificent old carved desk that was in the bedroom had been an heirloom, a glance revealed that. She shook her head at Dan’s easy nonchalance.

  She almost ran back to the lounge and her eyes were caught again by the painting on the wall. Frowning, she went up to it, then stepped back as though stung. The work was an original.

  ‘Do you like it, Trudi?’ asked Dan. ‘I bought it for the tyrant a few years ago. Rather good, isn�
��t it?’ He held the papers he had obviously been sent to fetch.

  Weakly Trudi nodded. The thought of Dan buying and giving away a work of art shouldn’t have surprised her, she guessed. At least the ‘tyrant’ had appreciated the gift as it was in pride of place. If only Dan had kept the painting himself it could now be used as a down-payment on a house, she thought soberly.

  ‘What are you thinking about, sweetheart?’ he queried.

  ‘Must be my sordid nature, Dan, money! I guess that painting would be worth a great deal today.’

  ‘Yes, but only if you sold it, and it won’t be sold. It’s a gift, not an investment, darling.’

  Trudi studied Dan thoughtfully. She realised that he never seemed to care about money, and she could only marvel. She supposed Mr. Jay must have seen that he always had enough for his needs and living at the farmhouse his board would be included in his wages. If everything was supplied at Ti Kouka she supposed it was possible that Dan had never grown conscious of money. It seemed strange to her, but her own struggles had made her too conscious of its lack. She let Dan take her in his arms and felt the warm touch of his mouth drive out all thoughts.

  ‘You are the most incredible man,’ she whispered. ‘I love you, Dan Johnson.’

  ‘Much more and I won’t guarantee good behaviour, woman!’ he murmured as he kissed her.

  As she waved goodbye to Dan later, Trudi felt supremely happy. Her world was complete with Dan. There would be all sorts of snags ahead, but with Dan life held an extra promise. A man who could give away a painting and only rejoice in the owner’s good fortune when it turned out to be so valuable was a special person indeed.

  Her whole world had been turned upside down by the man from Ti Kouka. She grinned, thinking of the little tree which she had whittled so happily. One day soon she would finish it.