Across the Lagoon by Roumelia Lane Read Free Book Online Page B

rather than advising.
    When a suitable selection had been made there was the business of trying on the purchases. Most of the garments fitted perfectly, but one or two needed slight - alteration, mainly at the hem. A seamstress was on hand in the salon for this purpose and every so often Stephanie had to come out of the changing booth for a fitting.
    She was standing in a beautifully tailored striped beach suit having the trouser hems adjusted when Carol, looking on near by, noticed with a nervous thudding of her heart that Gray Barrett, his paper now folded on his knee, was also watching the proceedings.
    She walked over to where the purchased garments spilled about in boxes and tried to look busy. Hypersensitive to his movements, she knew he had risen from his chair and was strolling critically around the area where his niece was being attended to by the seamstress and the assistant.
    She didn't know why she trembled when she heard the muffled thud of his footsteps on the carpet coming up behind her. She felt his brown gaze taking in the expensive array of garments she was fiddling over, then his harsh voice sounded on her disbelieving ears. 'You'd better select yourself a dozen or so outfits while we're here.'
    'Me?' Carol swung on him with startled wonder. It was true she had been full of wistful admiration for the tasteful clothes she had seen in the store. But to be invited to choose some for herself! The idea left her positively breathless.
    Brusquely embarrassed by the glowing look she gave him, Gray Barrett said somewhat pompously, 'My niece is used to having only the best. Naturally as her companion you will be expected to command the same respect. You'll hardly do that with one small suitcase.'
    Seeing his point, Carol nodded meekly. But still glowingly she lifted her eyes and said, 'Thank you very much.'
    'Don't thank me,' he rasped drily, shifting his weight. 'Stephanie's parents are not poor. They're willing to pay anything to ensure her well-being.'
    Always provided she doesn't bother them, Carol was tempted to say, but she didn't.
    He must have spoken to the assistant, for a second or two later she came smilingly over. It wouldn't have been so bad if Carol had been left to it, but much to her excruciating shyness she found that Gray Barrett made no move to return to his chair. Standing beside her, he looked at every garment the assistant brought out and when Carol was too afraid to show her delight, he would comment with masculine offhandedness, 'That looks all right.'
    The light dresses for evening made her eyes shine. If she dared to finger one tentatively he would say testily, 'Well, for heaven's sake, go and try it on.'
    Eventually she was fitted out with several changes of attire. Luckily, because of her height, she had no problems with alterations. Stephanie still had one or two dresses which needed to be pinned at the hem. As she stood while the seamstress measured busily, Gray Barrett cast one or two impatient glances at his watch.
    Carol knew that it was approaching lunch time and she guessed that Saturday was half-day closing for the store. She couldn't think of anything else which would cause the man's obvious ill-humour, until he returned from a conversation with the manageress and briskly informed his niece, 'We'll have to come back later and pick you up, Stephanie.' And with a grinding look at Carol, 'Miss Lindley here doesn't yet possess a passport, and the offices won't stay open indefinitely. We'll be back as quick as possible.'
    Leaving his niece to make the best of it, he swept Carol before him and ushered her out into the street. At the car she fumbled nervously over the handle. Impatiently he opened the door next to the driving seat and clipped, 'In here.'
    The traffic was a pulsing roar as they slid into the stream of it. Carol sat rigid, trying to look patiently unconcerned at the muttered oaths of the man swinging - the wheel beside her.
    After jerking and stopping and speeding where