The Pearl of Penang by Clare Flynn (best books to read for students txt) 📗

watched while he poured a brandy for himself, shaking her head when he offered her a drink.

Perched on the edge of the sofa, she watched as he slugged down the brandy and poured himself another, then took off his jacket and flung it carelessly on a chair.

He stood, leaning against the wall, looking at her, but saying nothing. His tie was undone, his dark hair unruly, where he had pushed his hands through it. She felt an unexpected rush of desire for him, seeing him there like that, slightly dishevelled, his forehead damp with sweat. But it was no good. They couldn’t go on like this, ricocheting back and forth while she had no idea what he was thinking or how he was going to behave. Never knowing whether he was angry with her. Even tonight, she had no idea whether she’d said or done something wrong during the evening. Was he about to tell her he wanted to end their marriage?

She decided she had to take the initiative. Taking a gulp of air, she said, ‘This isn’t working out. It’s time we admitted it. I can see you’re not happy about tonight. And I can’t handle your swings of mood any more. I’m going to go back to England. If you’ll pay for my trip home that will be the end of the matter. I don’t want anything more from you.’ She raised her palms towards him, wishing she’d accepted the offered drink. Convinced he wasn’t even going to dignify her with a reply, she started to get up. She might as well go to bed and try to tackle him again in the morning. At least he’d be sober then.

But Douglas put his glass down and moved towards her, pulling her into his arms. Evie was stunned. Her head against him, she felt his chest rising and falling as he breathed. His hands went to her hair, his fingers threading through it as he tilted her head back and bent to kiss her.

Evie jerked away. ‘What are you doing?’

‘What do you think I’m doing?’ His voice was slightly slurred as he reached for her again. ‘Let’s go upstairs.’

‘Don’t you listen at all?’ She stepped backwards.

He moved towards her, drawing her into his arms again. His eyes locked on hers and she felt herself weakening.

‘I couldn’t wait for them to go. For us to be alone.’ His hands were everywhere, running over the silk of her dress, following the curve of her hips. He made a little groaning noise, and kissed her. The kiss was hungry, as if he were intent on devouring her, consuming her.

Evie wanted to kiss him back, but a little voice inside told her not to. How many times would they go down this road? She had to be sure he wasn’t playing games with her again. ‘Stop!’

‘Please, Evie.’

She pulled away from him and went to sit on the sofa, drawing her knees up in front of her protectively. ‘I can’t keep doing this. I feel like a tennis ball, batted and slammed around the court and never knowing which side of the net I’m on.’

Douglas crouched in front of her, his hands against the sides of her legs. His eyes fixed on her, his expression anguished. ‘I’m sorry. I always seem to mess things up between us. Give me another chance, Evie.’

She breathed out a long deep sigh. ‘I’m not sure I can. I don’t think I can bear being treated like this anymore.’

‘Treated like what?’

She looked at him in irritation. ‘One minute you act as if you want me, then the next you can hardly bear to be in the same room. You never speak to me. You never tell me how you feel. You’re abrupt to the point of rudeness. You disappear. You’re cold. You’ve made it clear you feel no desire for me – only for the idea of having a child. I can’t do it any longer.’

He went to sit beside her, his body slumped forward.

Evie wondered whether to get up and go up to bed, leaving him there. She tried to make herself feel contempt for him, but instead she felt only sadness.

Eventually he spoke. ‘I know. I realise how hard you’ve tried. You were wonderful tonight. And you look wonderful too.’ His fists were clenched on his knees, his knuckles white. ‘Look, Evie, it’s complicated. Please give me time. I know it will get better. I’ll get better. Please don’t leave me.’

His face was a picture of remorse, his breathing ragged. She hesitated, uncertain whether to believe him. He took her in his arms again and began to kiss her. This time it was slow, tentative, and she found herself responding. Drawing her up to her feet, he took her by the hand and led her up the stairs.

When Evie woke the next morning, to her surprise Douglas was still lying beside her. To her even greater surprise he was looking at her. She felt her cheeks redden, remembering what had happened the night before, what they had done, how she had felt.

‘I was watching you sleeping,’ he said, stroking a lock of hair away from her forehead. He bent his head and brushed her mouth with his. She felt the roughness of his unshaved chin against her skin. He was smiling. ‘Thank you, for staying. Thank you for last night. For everything.’

A warm glow spread through her. Was this how it was going to be from now on? Had she at last broken through his coldness? Might he even be beginning to care for her? She was about to reach for his hand, to put her own hands on his body, to rediscover the pleasures of the night before, when he swung his legs off the bed and bounced onto his feet.

‘I have to go.’

She pulled herself up to a sitting position. ‘Now? Can’t you stay a while?’

‘Duty calls. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.’

‘Where are you going?’ As he put on his dressing gown,