…The girl went out to the garden and came up to Legan, who was ripping off the petals of a pink bush. Having heard her footsteps, he turned around abruptly.
"What the hell was that?!" he attacked miss White. "Why on Earth would you cry at Nan Elroy's guest night? What if someone saw it? You're making a fool of yourself, and of me as well!"
"I don't care about it!"
"Oh, you don't care, ha-ha! But I do, you've put me in the pillory for so many times that I don't want to be a local clown anymore! So what else do you want from me?"
Candy squeezed her handbag.
"I… I wanted to apologize. I don't mean it… It's not what I think."
Neil raised an eyebrow and narrowed his lids.
"You don't mean it anymore… How long has it been, a week, huh? Isn't that too fast?"
Candy dropped her head.
"You're laughing at me. You're being rude to me. You always have," she said quietly. For some reason, miss White couldn't get thoroughly angry. She felt sad and heavy at heart.
"Rude? To you? When, Candy? But please, just don't recall things that happened ages ago. So I'm listening. When was I being rude, and why? Because I wanted to see you? Or maybe because I brought you to hospital after you ran to the quay to see another man? And what do you want from me now?"
"I… I want you to forgive me…"
"I told you, I have nothing to forgive you for. And please, stop crying, it drives me mad!" Neil clenched his fists. "Like any other man, I'm afraid of women's tears and I hate them, and you take advantage of it. Yet you have absolutely no reason to weep!"
They stood in silence, and Candy turned her back on Neil. The wind tossed her curly hair, and the girl felt completely unhappy.
"I know what you want from me," Neil uttered quietly. "You want me not to destroy your own little world where everyone loves and obeys you. The world of tame men. You shudder with disgust when I'm around, I know that, you know that and your friend knows that. But still, we must be nice to each other, I must not avoid you, because you don't like it! So we all must be like a big friendly family, where you will rule like a queen. And should someone try to keep his pride or simply escape this throng, like this Albert – you'll attack him with your tears, pleas, rebukes, and eventually the poor guy will come back to this circle of "friends". No, that's not for me! I want your love, or I don't want your company at all. Feast or famine! I won't become another friend of yours. I won't let you laugh at me behind my back with your girlfriends, oh no!"
The girl turned around impulsively and grasped his arm, stopping his outburst.
"That's not true! I swear, it's not! I'm crying, because… Because you don't love me anymore…"
"And why do you care whether I love you or not? Good riddance to another fool."
"No! You're… you're not a fool. I am. I said what I didn't want to say…"
He kept quiet, afraid to believe her words. But that's impossible! Impossible…
"And what did you want to say?"
Candy lowered her eyes.
"I wanted to… I… I can't say it."
"Why not?" Neil took her by the shoulders and felt her shiver.
"I'm nervous."
Legan smiled and hugged the girl. Her hands also closed around his waist. She burrowed her face into his shoulder, making the thin fabric of an expensive jacket wet.
Neil kissed her ringlets that smelled like sun.
"Nervous?" he whispered quietly.
"Yes…"
Neil held Candy closer, and she felt his heart pounding underneath a silken shirt.
"Your heart is beating so fast," she got surprised.
"That's because you are here."
"My heart is beating fast, too," the girl stepped back, took the man's hand and wanted to put it to her breast.
"Oh, no, no," Neil gently removed her hand. "I'll take your word for it."
That's right, don't be tempted yet. God knows you're not made of iron.
Legan took Candy's hand.
"Let's go 'till they miss us."
If they stay alone, he will kiss her, and then... They've got to go!
"Yes, but there's one more thing…"
"What?"
"A present."
Neil raised an eyebrow.
"What present?"
Candy unzipped her handbag and drew out a parcel.
"A birthday present."
His brown eyes widened in surprise as he unwrapped the paper.
"A present? To me?"
A black-striped raspberry neckerchief showed itself. Neil's eyes blazed with joy.
"You chose it? For me?"
"Yes."
Neil gave Candy her present.
"Will you tie it up?"
An expensive silken neckerchief dropped to the ground, replaced by a cheaper one.
Neil was barely breathing as Candy's gentle arms twined around his neck to tie the knot with some effort. He had never been so tormented by desire.
But he will do things properly. Once they get married, he will give vent to his passion.
And until then…
"Let's go," Neil offered Candy his hand. They went towards the mansion…