Victoria Holt - Road to Paradise Island

I was glad when the meal was over and Milton left.

"A very interesting man," was Raymond's comment.

I think Milton would have been less complimentary of Raymond. But that was an indication of their different natures.

I had been unable to sleep. I had another search for the map. I went through everything I had and could not find it.

The idea occurred to me that someone had stolen it. Why? Who would want it? What use was it to anyone? It was very strange.

Looking for the map I came across Felicity's pills. She hadn't needed one for some time now and I had almost forgotten them. I had regarded that as an indication that she was getting better. But I had made sure that I had some in case she should need them. There were ten still left in the bottle. I hoped she would not need them again.

During the afternoon when Felicity was resting I did have a talk with Raymond. We sat in the courtyard under a big sunshade. The heat was intense. The cicadas were making a great noise and now and then I heard the call of the fig-bird.

He said: "So you have discovered almost nothing about your brother's disappearance."

I shook my head. "Some people remembered him. He came and stayed here. Then he went away. That is really all 1 have found out."

"It was a long way to come for such a small reward and it has brought you no nearer to what you sought. ,,

I shook my head.

"You've changed. And so has Felicity for that matter. Do you think she will ever be the same again?"

"I think she could in certain circumstances."

"You mean if she went back home."

"I mean if she had someone to care for her... someone loving and tender... someone who would show her that marriage was not what she endured with that man."

"I am so glad you were with her. She said she did not know what she would have done without you."

"It was a terrible experience for us both."

"Yes. It has changed you, too. Are you longing to come home?"

I hesitated.

"No," he said. "You're not. The life here fascinates you in a way. I believe I can understand that."

"Raymond," I told him, "you are the most understanding man in the world."

"And have you been thinking about... us?"

"A great deal."

"And are you still unsure?"

I was silent again.

He said: "I think I understand. That man is in love with you. isn't he?"

"Well, yes ... He implies he is."

"And you?"

I said: "I don't know. You were so good to me. It was wonderful to know you when we were so desolate about Philip. And then ... you arranged everything for me ... so that I could do what I wanted to do. No one could have been kinder."

"I see."

"Do you, Raymond?"

He nodded. "Let's leave it, eh? Let's wait awhile. My arrival was so unexpected. I wish I could have let you know I was on the way."

"Life has been so strange. I have been worried about Felicity. Your coming has made all the difference to her."

"I've known her since she was a child."

"She told me. She is almost herself now. It's miraculous ... the difference in her."

"She will get better. I'll take charge of that."

"When do you want to go back?"

"Very soon."

I nodded. Then I told him about my meeting with Magnus Perrensen. "You remember ... the man who was mentioned in the journal. This is his great-grandson."

"What an extraordinary coincidence."

"When you consider all the facts it is not so very extraordinary. The family knew the story of Ann Alice and the island. The original Magnus came looking for the island, then settled in Australia and did some gold mining very successfully apparently. They then acquired this island. It was the nearest to that one for which they were looking. You see it is all quite logical when you look at it that way."

"It is strange that you should have met him."

"Yes, that was by chance, of course. But you can imagine how bewildered I was... and still am by all this."

"And you have not seen him since?"

"It is only really a short time ago. He said he would ask me to visit him or he would come here. I believe he will."

"I see. Annalice, let us wait a day or so. Perhaps you will know how you feel by the time the next ship leaves."

"A week?"

"Perhaps I could wait another week. But that would be the limit, I think. I have some business to do in Sydney. That was supposed to be the purpose of my coming out."

"Supposed to be?"

"Well, naturally I wanted to see what was happening to you. When I had that letter I was deeply concerned about Felicity. I thought from the first that she was a little unsure about that marriage."

"Yes. She rushed into it."

"I can't understand what possessed her."

I looked at him steadily. "She was really in love with someone else," I said.

He frowned and did not answer. Could it be that he who was so understanding about the affairs of others could be so obtuse about his own?

There was a silence of some duration. Then he said: "Well, all we can do is wait. In a few days ... perhaps ..."

I said nothing to that, and then after a while: "What a noise those cicadas make!"

Now I was wondering what he was feeling. Having basked in the torrid atmosphere of Milton's emotions 1 found Raymond cool and practical. His kiss had been gentle and swift. He knew Milton was in love with me and he would realize that Milton would not be the man to indulge in overmuch restraint. What did he see of my feelings for Milton? How obvious was that? And how much would it mean to

him if I decided to marry Milton and stay in Cariba? His calm, his serenity, which I had found so comforting, might mean that his feelings did not go as deep as some people's—Milton's, for instance. I was not sure.

How strange that, in my state of bewilderment, I was not even sure of Raymond.

There were times when I began to wonder whether I had dreamed up that visit to Lion Island. I heard nothing more from Magnus Perrensen. I had thought he would come to Cariba. It was only a few days, I supposed, but it seemed longer.

After John Everton had brought me back to Cariba I had not seen him. I wondered whether he had left. I thought that after our acquaintance he would surely have said goodbye.

Then next morning I did see him. He was sitting on the terrace talking to Maria, the chambermaid. Maria talked to anyone when she had a chance. She was even more garrulous than the rest of the staff.

So John Everton had not left.

I considered the idea of asking him to row me over to Lion Island. But I could scarcely go without an invitation. It would come. I was impatient.

Milton had not suggested coming to the hotel for dinner that evening; nor had he invited us to the plantation. I felt this was due to Raymond's presence.

I missed him. I was restless. I should have to make a decision soon. I had been drifting along in a pleasant state of euphoria. I had refused to look at the facts. I had just wanted to go on enjoying my relationship with Milton and putting decisions aside.

Now I had to make up my mind. Was I going to sail away with Raymond and Felicity, or was I going to stay with Milton?

I knew what I wanted to do. My feelings for Raymond had changed and that was due to Felicity. If I had not come into their lives none of this would have happened. Perhaps if I were not there Raymond would marry Felicity and she would be happy. And him? I had convinced myself that his feelings did not go as deeply as some people's do; that was why he was able to face the world so serenely.

Soon it would be sunset and that lurid red light would colour the scene. The sea would turn pale pink and the sky blood-red. I should never grow accustomed to the sunset and I always waited for the moment when that great red ball seemed to drop below the horizon. It was spectacular and never quite the same twice.