'Hey! No tears. You're perfectly safe.'
'I—I know that. It's because...'
'Because you feel absolutely rotten and you're embarrassed. I'll be the soul of discretion. Close your eyes and pretend I'm not there.'
Well, she did try it but the touch of his hands on her skin gave her a small electric shock. He slid the dress to her waist and then unclipped her bra, resting her against him as he turned and pulled her suitcase from the end of the bed.
'Is this locked?' he asked gruffly, and Natalie shook her head slightly her long, black hair parting and falling forward. She knew her nightie was on top and in a second he had eased her away, sliding the cool silk over her head and letting it fall around her. He stood her up, resting her against him, lifting her clear of the dress that fell to the floor.
His fingers on the fastening of her waist slip made her shiver; they lightly touched her stomach, cool and firm, and then he was gently pulling her arms into the nightie and lifting her back to bed.
'There. Very discreet, The best nursing care. It's all over.' He looked down at her steadily, his lips slightly curving in a smile. 'After that, the rest should be easy.'
It had exhausted her and she made no fuss when he handed her two tablets and a drink.
'What are they?' She looked at him with pain-filled eyes, too weak to be embarrassed, anyway, it was done now.
He glanced at the bottle. 'Painkillers. Try to sleep now.'
He turned to go but she still felt very guilty about the way she had behaved, almost as if she had no control over herself. It was not the image she liked to project. In some weird way it seemed to be his fault but her head, aching though it was, informed her that she was entirely to blame. She just hadn't acted normally with him. It was as if she had been instinctively led to fight him on sight.
'Mr Forsythe. I'm sorry.'
'Kip.' He turned his fair head and looked down at her. 'I can't have my guest being so formal. If we get visitors it will make everything look so much more suspicious.'
There was a taunting look about him but she was very wary because underneath she felt sure he was angry, very angry, and as she was the only one here it had to be with her.
Later, she was sure. When he came back she kept her eyes closed although the pain in her head had not in any way eased. She knew he was standing looking down at her but she must have fooled him because he switched off all but one lamp and went out, leaving the door only a little ajar. She began to drift into sleep but the sound of his voice woke her after a few minutes. It was low but she could hear him quite clearly, hear the angry undertone even though there was still that mocking quality to it.
'Oh, yes, Mr Minister, sir. I have your television lady. She's right here, safe but not altogether sound.'
'Why, it's really good of you to thank me,' he drawled sarcastically after listening for a second. 'There are more glad tidings, though. Your tough, businesslike advance guard is ill. No, she's not in hospital! She's not bad enough for hospital and not good enough for a hotel so guess where she is? Right first time! Oh, no, it's no trouble at all, think nothing of it.' He gave a sort of low growl. 'Damn you, Gabe! You're a sneaky devil! I did you a favour after much persuasion. I went to pick up a middle-aged woman in battle-dress with a few cameras slung over her shoulder; that was your offhand description. What I've got is an exotic black and gold butterfly. If you think I'm riding shotgun on her while she's here—think again. I've got enough on my plate as it is and I can tell you this, she'll never survive. She's stepped right out of a dream. One blast of reality and she'll be blown away.'
Natalie felt the tablets working, making her drift far away, her urge to get up and join in the conversation fading as fast as her ability to keep listening. An exotic black and gold butterfly! Temper made her more sick than ever. Just let him wait! She would put that taunting devil right in his place—just as soon as she was better...
In the night, pain woke her. She was already moaning as she opened her eyes and she bit her lips tightly together to stop the sound as Kip got up quickly from an easy chair by the bed. It hadn't been there before. He must have brought it in as she slept.
He was beside her at once, handing her a drink and more tablets.
'Here we go.' He glanced at his watch. 'It's just about time.' He eased his arm under her, lifting her so that she could drink, lying her back down when the tablets were safely swallowed.
For a moment she just looked at him, slightly puzzled, feeling more than a little woozy. He looked back at her steadily, his eyes skimming over her face.
'How do you feel?'
'Dreadful, though I hate to admit it.'
He smiled, his hand coming to brush the black hair from her face with a gentleness that surprised her, taking her nuisance value into consideration.
'You'll feel better tomorrow, no doubt, although I'm not a very experienced nurse.' He moved, sitting back in the chair, resting his head back and closing his eyes. 'Off to sleep, Natalie.'
'What are you doing here?' She kept her eyes on him, green and weary but very puzzled.
'Watching your head. You heard the doctor.' He did not open his eyes and the mocking voice was the same as ever, low, dark and taunting. She remembered the telephone call then, the crack about her appearance.
'There's no need for you to stay.' Her voice was meant to be sharp, but under the circumstances it came out a bit trembly. He opened dark eyes and looked straight at her.
'But I want to watch your head, Natalie. It's so beautiful. You can sleep in the sure knowledge that I won't take my eyes off it.' He closed his eyes at once and she turned over, every movement painful. When she was better she would pay him back in full. She would also offer to pay for her keep here. That would annoy him! The thought gave her a lot of consolation.
As it turned out, she was quite ill for two days, only vaguely aware of what went on around her. The doctor came several times and she could tell by the tone of Kip's voice that he had insisted. The doctor didn't seem at all interested whether she lived or died. Naturally Kip cared a great deal. As it was she presented a problem. If anything further happened to her his fury would know no bounds. She could just see the headlines—'Television woman dies in house of white...' What? She had no idea what he did, why he was out here in Madembi. It irritated her inquisitive mind. She was slipping up. Normally she would have had his life story out. of him within the first half-hour. It wasn't just the virus and she knew it. Since meeting him she had been trying to keep him out of her mind with an almost desperate determination.