Romantic Association - Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Three weeks later, fed up with the isolation, she agreed to go to the church social.

Anything to get away from the homestead. And maybe she’d make some friends in Beeniup.

Her sister had been right: Gracie had made a mistake taking a job out in the country. But six months would soon pass and at least she’d save money. She kept reminding herself of that.

On the day of the church social, Gracie wore her best summer dress, calf-length in soft voile trimmed with lace. It was the same blue as her eyes.

Finn waited for her in the kitchen, looking very spruce in a dark suit and white shirt, his skin rosy and newly washed. He smelled of shaving soap and fresh air.

He let out a long, low whistle at the sight of her. ‘We’re in trouble,’ he told Cook.

Gracie looked down at herself in puzzlement. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Mrs Gilsworth will have a fit when she sees you in that outfit.’

She studied herself in the mirror. ‘What’s wrong with it?’

‘Nothing! But you look so pretty, she’ll start worrying about you getting married. She’s lost three maids that way in the past eighteen months.’

Flustered, Gracie picked up the small iced cakes Cook had prepared, because women had to take something for supper, it seemed. ‘Well, are we going?’

‘Your carriage awaits, madam.’ He flourished a bow and opened the door.

Their eyes met and her heart skipped a beat. He was a very attractive fellow. But she wasn’t getting tangled up with a servant. She wanted to escape from that.

At the doorway of the church hall she hesitated, suddenly nervous.

Finn smiled at her. ‘Come on! I’ll introduce you to a few people.’ He led the way, nodding and smiling, seeming to know everyone.

He left her with two young women and she enjoyed chatting to them.

‘You are lucky, working with Finn,’ one said, sighing.

Before Gracie could ask why, the music started and fellows crowded round. There seemed to be twice as many young men as there were young women. She danced with three different fellows, enjoying the fuss and attention, even though none of them was a good dancer.

Finn elbowed another man aside as she came off the dance floor the third time. ‘Fancy cooling down outside, Gracie?’

‘That’d be lovely.’

As they walked out together she could see heads turn their way. ‘Why is everyone staring?’

‘Oh, they always watch newcomers.’

A few couples were strolling up and down the scruffy sunburned square of grass behind the hall. The night air was cool and the moonlight bright. Finn made her laugh and they stayed out there for two whole dances.

As they went back inside, he put one hand on his heart. ‘May I ask you for a dance, Miss Bell?’

‘Why certainly, kind sir.’

It was a waltz, her favourite, but being held closely by Finn made her feel breathless again. He was so tall, his teeth white in his suntanned face, his smile seemingly for her alone. He was a good dancer and she relaxed, letting him lead her round the small dance floor.

‘Our steps match well, don’t they?’ he murmured as the waltz ended. ‘Another dance?’

‘That’d be lovely.’

Just before the supper break she went out to the lean-to at the back of the hall to powder her nose.

‘You certainly didn’t waste any time,’ another girl said. ‘Getting Finn for your fellow! I’d give a week’s wages to have him smile at me like that.’

‘ What? He’s not my fellow. We just work together.’

‘But he took you walking outside. Round here, that’s a sign you’re courting.’

Fury sizzled through Gracie. The sneaky rat! She wasn’t letting him get away with tricking her like that. If he wanted to court her, he had to ask her first. But surely—no, he couldn’t really be trying to court her! Not so quickly.

She went back inside the hall, marched across to him and said loudly, ‘I’m finished with you, Finn O’Connor! I never want to speak to you again.’ Then she stormed off. She didn’t look at him as she forced down a piece of cake that tasted like sawdust and chatted brightly to another young woman.

‘What did Finn do to upset you?’ the other whispered as Gracie discarded the empty plate.

‘Never you mind. How can I get back to Fairgums without him? Does anyone else go that way?’

‘No, and it’s five miles!’

Gracie scowled across the hall at Finn, who grinned and winked at her. What a nerve! She elevated her nose and looked away.

When the dancing began again, she saw him start towards her and slipped outside. Grimly determined not to drive back with him, still furious at him for tricking her, she stood in the shadows, trying to think what to do. Five miles wasn’t all that far, she decided. She’d walked five miles many a time. She didn’t have a coat to retrieve, not in this heat, and was carrying her handbag. She’d pay for the empty plate out of her wages, if necessary.

Anger carried her along the one and only street of Beeniup at a cracking pace. Apart from the church and its adjacent hall, the town consisted of one general store, a place advertising stock feed and farm supplies, and seven houses. Most people lived out of town on farms, apparently, though she didn’t call this a town, whatever the locals said!

She walked quickly along the road that led to the homestead.

A few minutes later she heard the sound of a car engine behind her and her heart began to pound. She looked round for somewhere to hide. But there were only open fields with wire fences, so she kept on walking, head held high.

Finn stopped the car. ‘Get in, you idiot! There’s no need for you to walk.’

She glared, arms akimbo. ‘I’m not going anywhere with you from now on. How dare you make people think we’re courting?’

He looked at her pleadingly. ‘Because I knew if I didn’t do something, the other blokes would be all over you. I could see the way they were looking at you and…well, I wanted you for myself.’

All the air seemed to vanish from the world. Gracie tried in vain to stay angry. Couldn’t.

He stopped the engine and jumped down.

She couldn’t move, not a step. In the moonlight, Finn looked rather like Douglas Fairbanks, her favourite film star. He was just as handsome. For a moment she wavered, swaying towards him, then she forced herself to turn and start walking again, afraid now of what she might do if he came too close.

He took her by surprise, scooping her up into his arms, laughing softly as she gasped.

‘Let go of me!’ She tried to sound angry, but couldn’t. Of their own volition, her arms slid round his neck. It felt so romantic, so right.

‘I’ll never let you go,’ he said as he set her down gently by the car, helped her inside and closed the door on her side. He got in but didn’t start the engine, just stared ahead, fiddling with the steering wheel.

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