Chapter Eleven: The Mysterious Island
"Well, well, the mystery is solved."
"What mystery?" Charity frowned, stretching and yawning as she awoke from her nap. She still felt sluggish and a little groggy, and she didn't like the way Dr. Margaret Carlton was looking at her.
"The mystery of why you dumped snow all over those two perfectly charming boys the other day. The mystery of why you refused to obey your conditioning and have the two of them at once like a good little Beta-minus girl."
"I didn't mean to be rude," Charity said, shrugging her shoulders. "I just didn't want them." The redhead sat up on the rumpled bed, rubbing her tired eyes. "Ford, I feel exhausted. What an afternoon!"
"Yes, I would imagine you had quite a time keeping up with hefty Helga in bed," Dr. Carlton perched lightly on the corner of the bed. Her dark blue eyes were twinkling with amusement. "Now that I know where your interests really lie, I can understand why you followed slim and shapely Dr. Edith Beddington all the way up to Greenland."
"It wasn't like that," Charity snapped. She really didn't like the way Margaret was looking at her. Raven-haired Dr. Carlton was just as sophisticated and sexy as blonde Dr. Beddington, but if she really thought . . . if she imagined . . . "I came looking for Dr. Beddington because she's my friend, that's all. Back in London she always looked out for me and I'm not leaving Greenland until I find her!"
"There, there," the attractive older woman said soothingly. "My sources tell me you've always had your share of men, including that handsome Harry back in London. I only thought, if you don't object to a woman having you, and judging from Helga you don't, well . . . perhaps you'd consider staying on here as my assistant."
"Well, I don't . . . I mean, I haven't . . . I mean, Greenland is cold!" Charity giggled nervously, but her freckled cheeks burned like fire at the idea of sharing Dr. Carlton's bed. She really didn't know what had come over her with Helga. She'd never even imagined such possibilities back in London! There it was always boys, boys, boys, keeping her busy, and then soma when she wanted to relax.
"Think it over," Margaret Carlton said. She patted Charity's knee in a very friendly manner, but didn't go any further. "In the meantime, I have news for you. While you were sleeping after your lovely time with Helga I got in touch with some of the researchers your Dr. Beddington used to work with on Disko Island."
"Disco Island?" Charity got the giggles for real this time, picturing some very serious-looking scientists dancing the night away at an old-style discotheque.
"It's spelled with a k, silly baby." Dr. Carlton's stern and commanding features took on a serious air. "If we're going to find Edith, we'll need to go up there together, in my helicopter. And we'll have to hurry. It's rough flying in this weather. Are you up for it?"
"Oh! Yes, I mean, I guess I'm up for it." Charity wasn't sure why, but her heart was thumping like mad as she looked into Margaret's eyes and agreed to fly off with her to the mysterious island.