'We had things to discuss.' She wondered why she was explaining things to Neil and also why he was so bent on forcing the subject. His easygoing attitude seemed to have deserted him.
'Didn't you stay with him while you were ill?' Ray asked, and she detected a note of goading in his voice that was certainly not aimed at her.
Undercurrents seemed to be swirling around her, things she had never noticed before, Ray's eyes watching for Neil's reaction to this information.
'He was very kind to me. I wasn't really fit to be in a hotel. His servant's wife nursed me, actually. I don't really know what I would have done without Kip.'
'Forsythe seems to be a big wheel in these parts.' Ray was clearly driving home some point of his own and Natalie firmly squashed it while she still could,
'His firm built the dam and the owner of the firm is his brother-in-law. Kip is also a great friend of the minister's. It's as well to keep on the right side of him, actually, especially as we'll need his help while we're here. Believe me, if he pulls out, we're stuck.'
She went off to discuss the photographs with Ray while Paula and Neil strolled in the grounds and as soon as they were on their own she tackled him.
'How do you know I stayed with Kip Forsythe while I was ill?'
'Your old man told me—inadvertently, I'll admit.' He wasn't grinning in his usual manner and Natalie looked at him in exasperation.
'What's wrong with you, anyway?' ,
'Neil Bradshaw's wrong with me. I could smash his smug face in—maybe I will.' He turned to walk over to the window, hands in his pockets, frustration in every
line of his body, and Natalie watched, almost open-mouthed. 'You...?'
'The most mild-mannered of men,' he finished for her in a rasping voice. 'I'm sick of him in more ways than one. Sick of him throwing his weight about for one thing.'
'He's good at his job-' Natalie began but he cut her off ruthlessly.
'Aren't we all? Isn't that what this unit is about, small and excellent? I can tell you I was delighted to hear you put him down when we came.'
'Well, I'm ashamed of it.' She was, thinking about the reason why she had acted so out of character. 'He was quite a big producer before he joined us. In fact I can't think why he did join us.'
'Come off it, kiddo! He took one look at you!'
'And then he took one look at Paula,' Natalie snapped. 'What's this all about? You've never listened to anyone in your life, so why is Neil getting under your skin?'
'Paula,' Ray said tautly. 'She's heading for a big hurt. She's so innocent, poor little thing. It's all Bradshaw can do to keep his hands off you.'
'Well, he's managed so far,' Natalie snapped, 'and I think you're exaggerating.'
It was only last night that Kip had thought she was an innocent creature. Now he thought she was some sort of a femme fatale. He had come to make it up with her at lunchtime, she was sure of it, and now she was right back to square one. She wished the team had not come out. She wished she were back in London. Much more of this and she would scream at everybody.
When she went back out Neil was looking very pleased with himself. She even noticed the smugness for the first time ever.
'I got Forsythe's number from Reception, Natalie,' he announced with a clever look that had her fuming. 'He'll be delighted to come. I told him to bring his girlfriend. That makes three men and three women. A nice little dinner party.'
'We're not here to give dinner parties!' Natalie blazed, but he simply smiled and dropped his tone to tenderness.
'It's going to be dark in an hour. It's too late to do anything else, love.' Love! She saw Paula's eyes widen and Ray's darken with annoyance but neither of them knew how she felt. Kip would bring Annette Shelton and she would have to watch them together. It mattered to her now, she admitted it.
'Damn!' She glared at Neil and then stormed off to her room, leaving them to think what they liked. One more minute there and she would have burst into tears of frustration. Much longer in Africa and she wouldn't have either a mind or a heart of her own. She hated all men, Ray, Neil and even Kip.