The Diary Of Pamela D. by greg monks Read Free Book Online

done to his word processor. In fact, after
breakfast the following morning, he led her to his study and opened
the closet. Sitting on the floor was a large cardboard box.
    ‘Do you have any idea how to set up a fax
machine? I bought the infernal thing almost a year ago now; it’s
hardly been out of the case.’
    Pamela took a cursory look at the writing on
the box. ‘I can’t promise anything,’ she said carefully. ‘All I can
do is give it a try.’
    He nodded. ‘Well, do the best you can.’ He
left her to manage on her own.
    After twenty minutes or so she came
downstairs and found him speaking with his mother and three of
their business associates. She was about to leave them to it, to
choose a better time, but he noticed her presence.
    ‘No luck?’ he said brusquely, as though
certain her efforts hadn’t met with success.
    She swallowed, intimidated by his abruptness
and by the subtle but intimidating way he communicated to her that
he was quickly dismissing her presence because she was a
distraction to the meeting. ‘I think it’s working,’ she said
quickly, hoping he wouldn’t require an explanation, ‘but I won’t
know until someone tries to send you a fax or an e-mail.’
    He quirked an eyebrow, unable to conceal his
surprise. ‘E-mail?’
    She shrugged. ‘You’re set up
for it now. At least, the line was already hooked up. I tried it
just to be sure. And the computer says everything checks out . . .
’
    She thought he looked annoyed as he said to
his guests, ‘Would you excuse me a moment, please?’ Then, taking
Pamela firmly by the arm, he said, ‘Now, suppose you show me what
it is that you’ve done.’
    After she had shown him how
to operate both fax and e-mail, he said, ‘Would you kindly stop
hovering and sit down ! I don’t make you that nervous, do I?’ Taking in her visage,
he sighed. ‘No doubt, now that you’ve seen fit to display your
hidden talents, you’ll be wanting to make use of these. So we’d
better set some rules so that there are no more unfortunate
misunderstandings.’
    She looked a question at him.
    ‘When you contact your family-’
    ‘I haven’t got any family!’ She
hadn’t meant to blurt it out so bitterly, and found herself at once
embarrassed and angry for letting her unruly emotions get the
better of her.
    ‘Oh, for pity’s sake! Would
you stop crying? What do you mean, you haven’t any family? Surely
there must be someone !’
    She wanted to get up off her chair and flee,
to run away from him, but he was kneeling in front of her, blocking
her in.
    ‘But I thought . . . ’ He
stopped himself, considering her carefully. At last, apparently
angry, he got up and turned away from her. ‘ Bloody hell !’
    ‘I’m sorry-’
    ‘What? What on earth are you
on about? Why do you feel it necessary to keep apologizing? Now
look . . .’ he reached into a pocket, withdrew an envelope and
handed it to her, ‘you’re to go to Haworth today with Mrs. Pascoe
to purchase some suitable clothing. Consider this a gift from my
mother. You’ll need something to wear to church, and winter, the
really inhospitable part, is just around the corner. And do get some proper
footwear. I want you to retire those shoes the moment you get
yourself a new pair.’
    When she got to her feet, something totally
unexpected happened. He approached her, put his arm around her slim
waist, drew her to him. At once, she gasped in fear, her heart
began hammering uncontrollably. She knew that she would be able to
sense the sheer size and strength of him even if she were to close
her eyes. She thought for a moment that he was going to kiss
her.
    Instead, his brow furrowed, and he said
doubtfully, ‘You’re trembling like a leaf! What are you so afraid
of?’
    Then, she fled, tripping over her skirt a
couple of times in her haste to be away from him. She almost ran
into Mrs. Pascoe as she rounded the corner into the hallway.
    ‘Whoa, Pamela! What’s your rush? Unless
you’re in a