Paradise Found by Dorothy Vernon Page A

know that his mocking amusement increased on a par with her discomfort.
    It was Hannah who said, ‘You’re unusually quiet this evening, Zoe. Are you not feeling well?’
    â€˜Truthfully, I’m not my normal self. I think I’m paying the price of vanity.’
    â€˜You?’ her hostess queried in disbelief.
    â€˜I wanted to quicken up the tanning process, so I might have sunbathed too long.’
    â€˜Ah, most unwise. You must be more careful in future.’
    â€˜One learns by one’s mistakes. I intend to be.’ She averted her gaze from Hannah’s face to meet those compelling black eyes again. ‘Will anyone mind if I break up the party? I think I’ll go to bed.’
    â€˜Of course not, Zoe. I don’t intend to wait too long before I turn in myself. Run along, child,’ Hannah said.
    â€˜Goodnight, Hannah. Goodnight, Matt.’ Zoe bent to kiss Tony. He let her and then grinned impishly as he said, ‘An early night wouldn’t come amiss for me, either.’ He scooped up his crutches and accompanied her out of the room.
    Zoe carefully closed the door behind them, glad to be out of range of Matt’s vision. At the bottom of the stairs she turned. ‘Goodnight again, Tony.’
    â€˜Don’t go straight up. Come and look at the stars from my bedroom window.’
    He had already hinted at something like this, but this was the first time he’d come out with the direct suggestion. Odd that he’d waited until Matt’s arrival to do so.
    â€˜Have you forgotten that your room happens to be right next to your grandmother’s?’
    â€˜No. And neither have I forgotten that we’re engaged.’
    â€˜Tony . . . I. . .’
    â€˜I know. You’re feeling wretched. That’s obvious just from looking at you. I can tell that you’re not putting it on. I’m being inconsiderate, aren’t I?’
    â€˜Well . . . I . . .’ Zoe felt awful about making him feel guilty. The shame was all hers. She was horrified at her glibness in covering up. It wasn’t the ultraviolet rays of the sun that were responsible for the way she felt. She had a great need to unburden herself to Tony—but what could she say? If Matt had been a secret from her past, something that was dead and buried, it would have been difficult to explain but not impossible. What made it virtually impossible was her awareness of Matt now. She couldn’t very well say, ‘I was infatuated with your uncle when I was a silly nineteen-year-old and knew no better—and nothing’s changed, except that I’m five years older, because I’m as madly attracted to him as ever.’
    Surely, when she was safely married to Tony, everything would be all right? She pulled herself up sharply. Safely married to Tony? That sounded as though she was viewing marriage merely as a way to escape from her own weakness.
    â€˜If only I hadn’t been so stupid,’ Tony said, the floor receiving an aggressive thump from his crutch.
    In repentance at the thought that skidded across her mind, that in one way she was glad of the enforced postponement of their wedding, Zoe slid her arms round his waist and snuggled close. Tony leaned his second crutch against the newel post to free his hand to go round Zoe and bring her closer still. He was not inexperienced. His kiss was both expert and ardent. When it kindled no answering response in her she told herself fiercely that it was because she wasn’t in the mood. There was a light in his eyes which told her that he was—very much so. He was still hankering for her to go to his room with him.
    Very firmly she said, ‘Goodnight, Tony.’
    She knew she was falling short of what he had a right to expect from his fiancée, and the disappointment on his face made her heart ache slightly.
    He crooked a finger under her chin, and this time his kiss gave warm pleasure and asked nothing of her.