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'I'm afraid so' Hazel went on to explain Celia's o Rafe's accident

Sylvia rose angrily to her feet 'That wo for the trouble she causes How could she do such a thing!'

'I keep asking myself the same question, and the answer isn't pleasant She hates me, Aunt Sylvia She really hates me!'

Sylvia sently 'It isn't you personally she hates Hazel, anyone would have done at the time You arrived here at a time when Celia wanted and de to her At sixteen she felt herself to be the most beautiful woman in the world, and she wanted everyone else to think so too, including Rafe But he had all his spare time wrapped up in you, attention she felt she deserved'

'But Rafe is her brother!'

'Even more reason for hirown into a swan But at the tientle care, the extra love he had to give And so it was you and not Celia who received the attention of Rafe Savage She longed to show everyone how her big strong fearless brother loved her, how he thought her beautiful But you arrived, a little waiflike creature with eyes too big for your face and an awful lot of love you wanted to give soone on disliking you for it all these years'

'I didn't realise I never asked for Rafe's care, you know'

Sylvia laughed softly 'You didn't need to He only had to look at you to know you needed a lot of undeave it to you'

Trisha careen suntop that coht blonde hair and reen eyes She hite shorts and plimsolls with her top and was obviously just on her way out ‘I thought I heard voices,' she grinned 'Fancy a game of tennis, Hazel?'

‘I don't think so,' Hazel replied uncertainly, at the moment her mind too full of the recent revelations about Celia

'Oh well,' Trisha sat down in the chair opposite theo another time'

Now Hazel felt guilty It wasn't fair to inflict her problems on this happy family They ht wryly 'Okay,' she gave in 'Why not? I could probably use the exercise'

The club couldn't be called large by any standards, but it had all the usual activities, a pool, half a dozen tennis courts, a squash room, and of course, the bar

Two or three of the tennis courts were already in use when they arrived, the youngsters already there old acquaintances asted no ti over to say hello Some of the parents of these people worked on Rafe's estate, although they always treated Hazel with the same casualness of their other acquaintances —for which she felt grateful

There were a couple of nise, but Trisha soon na in the village with the Delaneys Both tall and fair and good-looking, they could aluessed there es

'Are you going to play tennis?' Mark asked Trisha

She nodded enthusiastically, hurrying through the introductions She had had her eye on Mark Logan for the last few days now and this was the first opportunity she had had to actually speak to hiRafe of course; no one quite e, and she supposed no one ever would Most of the girls in the area were half in love with Rafe and given the least encourageo to hie

Carl Logan se them for three sets?'

Hazel laughed 'I'm not sure if I'm up to three sets I haven't played for so to try if you are I just hope you're a good player,' she added teasingly

It appeared that he was, the two of thethy battle The four of theers next to the pool, sipping thirstily at the iced lime juice they had ordered

'Your tennis is excellent' Carl watched her over the rilass, his blue eyes clear and uncoe after the traus today

She grinned at him 'I'ood player ould have lost, miserably'

Mark watched them with amused eyes 'When the two of you have quite finished co each other on that purely lucky victory,' he said tongue in cheek, 'I suggest we all '

'That would be lovely,' answered Trisha excitedly 'Wouldn't it, Hazel?'

Hazel looked from one to the other of thee Rafe first He hadn't always attended these weekly dances, although when he had he had always expected her to accompany him But that had been before his accident Anyway, hadn't he more or less told her to keep out of his way for the duration of her stay here?