Page 11 (2/2)

And she hadn't see hi peaceful years Would he have changed? She re tall, very tall, and dark, with the dark skin colouring and thick black hair of his ancestors The Savajes had originated froo, their nae

Rafe wasn't even really her cousin, her father having married Rafe's true cousin when Hazel was only two years old Her first e of five, when he was already a grown man of twenty-three, and she had fallen and cut herself, sobbing bitterly for her father Rafe had laughed at her tears, saying she was a big girl now and big girls didn't cry over silly little things like cuts Froun to hate him

And now her tie House, a large house overlooking the sea that pounded on the rocky beach far below theain, so nervous that by the time the plane landed she was pale and apprehensive And her journey wasn't over yet

She had cabled a couple of days ahead to say when she would be arriving, but having received no reply she had no idea if she was going to be etting to Savage House on her own The grounds surrounding the house were private, with a ate to stop any intruders, and no one was allowed in without Rafe's explicit per to arrive there and not be allowed in! It would be the sort of hu

She knew her fears to be groundless when she saw Jae Dear kind Jae fa the cook and housekeeper

Hazel hugged hi to overspill 'Oh, James, it's lovely to see you!'

He held her away fronised you, you're so grown up'

She laughed 'I'll take that as a compliment, James, thank you' She licked her lips nervously 'Rafe hasn't come with you, then?'

The ed man frowned ‘He would have come himself noro out htened 'But it should be different now you're hoe has certainly missed you'

Hazel doubted that veryelse he had said held her attention much more 'You say Rafe has been hurt?' she asked sharply 'What do you mean by hurt?'

James stashed her suitcase in the boot of the Mercedes, just one of the cars kept for the use of the e family She supposed she could be considered part of the fah she had never considered herself as such Rafe had ahimself about the estate

James looked at her sharply now, his surprise unhidden 'Why, he was hurt in the accident, Miss Hazel Hurt quite badly too Of course he won't admit to the pain he has, but you can see it in his eyes You'll probably notice it '

Hazel frowned her puzzle me that Rafe has been involved in an accident?'

Ja the car door for her 'You mean you don't know? Didn't Miss Celia write and tell you?'

She shook her head 'What should she have told me, James? Tell me what's happened to Rafe!'

He shook his head 'I would have thought someone would have told you,' he muttered to himself

'Tell me, James!' she pleaded

He sighed 'Mr Savage was on the launch No one realised, least of all him, that there was a leak in the petrol tank One lit e likes to smoke those cheroots of his, it was inevitable it would happen as soon as he went on board Luckily he was thrown clear, but the left side of his face was badly burnt and he had a crushed bone in his left hip that's left him with rather a nasty limp at times'

Hazel paled at this infor about She and Rafe ued constantly, but she had never been able to deny that he was a fine speciroaned She felt physically sick 'When—when did it happen, James?'

'About a year ago now Mr Savage------'

'A year ago?' she burst out 'But I—I------No one told me!'

James closed her car door behind her and climbed into the driver's seat 'That's very odd, Miss Hazel, because I'e asked for you Miss Celia proan to look unco he had said too much ‘I suppose she must have decided it was better not to worry you'