Roberta Leigh - Give A Man A Bad Name

Since first visiting her friend, Marly had been touched by such customs, for they indicated a respect and caring for each other that was endemic to Thai culture.

‘Your father is bringing Kevin Rossiter back with him from the hospital,’ Nan’s mother told them. In a pastel-blue cheong-sam, the traditional dress still favoured by many Thai women, she was smaller than her daughter, with silky, grey-streaked hair drawn into a coil at the nape of her neck. ‘Kevin is a brilliant young doctor and has been working with the professor for the past month,’ she explained to Marly.

‘Is he staying for dinner?’ Nan questioned.

‘He’ll be very welcome if he does,’ her mother replied, surveying the table the maid had set with more places than the size of her family. Thai hospitality was legendary, their homes and food being shared with anyone who cared to accept it.

Twenty minutes later Marly and her friend, showered and changed into softly shaded dresses, returned to the living-room where Nan’s father was talking to a sandy-haired young man.

‘Kevin’s from New Zealand and is studying tropical medicine in my department,’ Professor Damrong, a stockily built man a little taller than his wife, informed Marly.

Smiling at the visitor, Marly saw only Alex Hamilton’s face staring down at her—Alex Hamilton of the smoky grey eyes, chiselled features and supercilious smile, the man whose path she had blocked earlier that day.

‘Marly and my daughter were at school together in England,’ the professor went on. ‘She’s here to prepare a computer program for the Riverside Hamilton.’

‘Sounds a big job,’ Kevin commented, warm hazel eyes intent on her. ‘Why don’t you and Nan have dinner with me and put me in the picture? I’m a computer nut.’

‘You two go,’ Nan said promptly. ‘I’m behind with my lines and have three days left to learn them.’

‘Lines?’ Kevin quizzed.

‘For the cabaret the staff at the hotel are putting on for Christmas.’

‘Looks as if it’s just the two of us,’ Kevin said to Marly, and she tried to look pleased at the prospect.

Her brief encounter with Alex Hamilton had put her on an emotional high, and she was in no mood to make conversation with an earnest young doctor, worthy though he might be. But once seated opposite him in the Italian restaurant of the Royal Orchid Hotel, she was glad she had accepted his invitation. After all, it was stupid to behave like a lovesick schoolgirl over a man who did not know she existed!

‘It’s a stroke of luck meeting you,’ Kevin commented after they had given their order. ‘I hope you’re going to be here for several months?’

‘I’m not sure. It depends how long it takes me to devise the software that the hotel wants.’

‘Is it just for the hotel here?’

‘No. For the whole group.’

‘Obviously a very high-powered woman.’ Kevin looked flatteringly impressed. ‘Is there a boyfriend in the background?’

Marly shook her head. ‘Not even in the foreground! I’ve been too busy with my career. What about you?’

‘Fancy-free and still looking! Like you, I’ve been too busy establishing myself. Still, the worst is behind me and the future is for living,’ he said, signalling the waiter to pour their wine.

Sipping it, Marly studied him through her lashes. He was a nice-looking man if you fancied them fair, hazel-eyed and whipcord-thin. Except that she preferred them tawny-haired, smoky-eyed and powerfully built.

‘Tell me about your job,’ Kevin cut across her musing. ‘Or don’t you like talking shop?’

‘I love it,’ she grinned. ‘But right now there’s nothing much to tell. My boss was away until today, and I haven’t yet found out what my brief is.’

‘When did you arrive?’

‘A week ago, and I’ve been champing at the bit till now. Though to be honest I love wandering around Bangkok.’

‘Maybe we can wander together,’ he suggested. ‘How are you fixed for tomorrow? I’m always free on a Sunday.’

‘I’m not. At least not this Sunday,’ Marly lied, reluctant to give him any encouragement. ‘Now that Mr Hamilton’s back I’d better stay in the Riverside.’

‘Fair enough. But if you think I’m letting you off the hook...’

She smiled at his persistence and tactfully changed the subject. ‘How long are you here for?’

‘Six months. Before that I was doing a course in the States.’

‘What do you think of the standard of medicine there?’

Marly had hit on one of his hobby-horses, and for the remainder of the evening she managed to keep the conversation away from herself.

‘I’ll call you in a couple of days,’ Kevin said when he delivered her home.

‘Fine. By then I should know what free time I’ll have.’

As she let herself into the house, she forgot him completely. Strange that one uncaring man could bowl you over in a second, and another—striving for hours to make a good impression—could leave no impression whatever.

‘Enjoy yourself?’ Nan asked, bouncing into Marly’s room as she climbed into bed.

‘It was pleasant enough.’

‘Poor Kevin! That sounds like the kiss of death!’

‘He’s a nice guy but—’

‘He doesn’t set you on fire.’

‘That’s the story of my life!’ Marly yawned and stretched her arms above her head. ‘Are you rehearsing tomorrow?’

‘Until late afternoon. And you?’

‘I’m going to take it easy.’

‘You’ve done nothing else for a week!’

‘Blame Mr Hamilton,’ Marly said sleepily. ‘See you at breakfast.’

‘I’ll be gone before you get up,’ Nan answered, and switching off the centre light, left the room.

Emerging from the shower next morning, Marly heard a light tap at her door, and Ying, the youngest of the family’s four servants, told her she was wanted on the telephone. It was probably Kevin. He had not believed her excuse and had decided to try his luck again. Wrapping a towel round her, she hurried down to the living-room and picked up the receiver.

The voice at the other end was so unexpected, she nearly dropped it.

‘Andrea! How marvellous to hear from you. You sound so close.’

‘I am. I’m at Bangkok airport. The plane made an emergency landing here due to engine trouble.’

‘Have you finished your teaching job in Singapore?’

‘Yes. Well, to be honest, I resigned. I had to get away.’

‘What went wrong?’

‘I can’t talk on the phone. Is there any chance of you coming to the airport to see me?’

‘Of course,’ Marly said instantly. ‘How long do you have?’

‘A couple of hours. Get here soon, will you? I’ll wait for you in the main cafeteria.’

Marly hurried to her room to dress. She, Nan and Andrea had been inseparable at school, and had remained in touch through lengthy letters and the occasional telephone call. It was almost six months since she and Andrea had met, and it would be wonderful to see her again, though her tone of voice did not augur a happy meeting. Still, that was when one needed one’s friends.

Nan’s driving was as nothing to the forty-five-minute taxi ride Marly had to endure along the Expressway to Don Muang Airport, and as she entered the air-conditioned concourse she felt more in need of a stiff brandy than mid-morning coffee!

Her first sight of Andrea gave her a shock, for the radiant blonde she had last seen was now a picture of abject misery: hair without lustre, eyes puffy with unshed tears, and a once curvaceous figure angular.

‘Darling!’ Marly exclaimed, clasping her close. ‘What’s happened to you?’

Tears spilling over, Andrea told her.

It was a man, of course. The most fabulous man in Singapore—an Adonis, naturally!—with wit, charm, and money in abundance. A whirlwind courtship had been followed by a proposal of marriage, after which she had moved in with him. Then six weeks ago he had announced that he had changed his mind about marriage, packed his bags and departed for Italy.