returned, sticking her hands in her pockets. 'I'm sure your brother can.'
Don Milson grinned suddenly. 'Meaning that you're not going to get far without him, Jill.' His gaze resting on Sara was speculative and amused. 'I gather our friend here has been laying down the law since he arrived. Tends to do that with the fair sex, I've noticed. Keeps 'em under control like the rest of the game.'
`Shut up,' said Diane pleasantly, and then to Sara, `You have to take my brother as you find him, I'm afraid. His manners aren't all they should be.'
So the Milsons were brother and sister. Sara had thought them husband and wife. She could feel Steve's eyes on her, but nothing would have persuaded her to look at him right then. 'Why don't we all go indoors?' she suggested brightly, determined to regain at least a little of the initiative in her own home. 'You must all be ready for a drink.'
`Best suggestion I've heard yet.' Don moved forward to join her. 'Lead on.'
When he set himself out, Sara found over the following minutes, Don Milson could charm the birds down from the trees. Perhaps two or three years younger than Steve, his attraction lay in the irrepressible humour lurking deep in his eyes, belying the slightly cynical cast of his features. The very fact that a man like this could find her entertaining enough to pay so much attention to was balm to her bruised spirit. She responded sparklingly, ignoring Steve's sardonic observation.
It was Ted who eventually put the suggestion forward that the Milsons should stay on at Kambala for the few days they intended to spend away from the farm they ran together.
`We do have two rooms spare now that Kimani's gone,' he pointed out. 'That is if Miss Milson doesn't mind sharing.'
It was hard to calculate Steve's reaction from his expression. He drew deeply on his cigarette before answering, exhaled slowly into the still air. 'Better if the two girls share,' he said, and to Sara, 'Any objections?'
What objection she could possibly make with the subject under discussion sitting right across from her, Sara quite failed to see and never doubted that he was perfectly aware of it himself. She met Jill's eyes and smiled. 'Not at all. There's plenty of room for another bed.'
`Fair enough.' He nodded to Ted. 'You'd better send Temu across for the baggage. He'll do it before nightfall if he leaves now.' He lifted his glass towards Diane, mouth slanting into an odd little smile. 'We can't offer you all the home comforts of the Lodge, I'm afraid.'
`But I'm sure there are compensations,' was the soft reply.
Sara was sure of it too, and the knowledge was like a sudden lead weight in her chest. When she looked up Don was watching her with a shrewd expression. She gave him a hastily contrived smile, and welcomed the diversion created by Kiki appearing on the windowsill at her shoulder.
Jill was enchanted by the gregarious little animal, and only too eager to have him perched on her shoulder while he ate the banana Sara gave him. Diane watched her young friend tolerantly, shaking her head when invited to touch the soft fur herself.
`Monkeys always make me feel itchy,' she confessed. `I hope it doesn't get into the bedrooms.'
`He doesn't have to come indoors at all while you're here,' put in Steve before Sara could answer. 'I'm sure every effort will be made to keep him under control.' This last accompanied by a glance which challenged Sara to argue with that statement. 'They're amusing little beasts, but they can sometimes become a nuisance. Why don't you take Jill along and show her where she's going to sleep?'
His sister pulled a face at him. 'Trying to get me out of the way already?'
He smiled back. 'Not so as you'd notice. You two can start getting to know one another quicker on your own.'
Sara stood up, avoiding his eyes. 'He's probably right. Come on, Jill, let's make the most of it.'
Ted had obviously looked in on the kitchen quarters while passing, for Njorogi was already at work
Don Milson grinned suddenly. 'Meaning that you're not going to get far without him, Jill.' His gaze resting on Sara was speculative and amused. 'I gather our friend here has been laying down the law since he arrived. Tends to do that with the fair sex, I've noticed. Keeps 'em under control like the rest of the game.'
`Shut up,' said Diane pleasantly, and then to Sara, `You have to take my brother as you find him, I'm afraid. His manners aren't all they should be.'
So the Milsons were brother and sister. Sara had thought them husband and wife. She could feel Steve's eyes on her, but nothing would have persuaded her to look at him right then. 'Why don't we all go indoors?' she suggested brightly, determined to regain at least a little of the initiative in her own home. 'You must all be ready for a drink.'
`Best suggestion I've heard yet.' Don moved forward to join her. 'Lead on.'
When he set himself out, Sara found over the following minutes, Don Milson could charm the birds down from the trees. Perhaps two or three years younger than Steve, his attraction lay in the irrepressible humour lurking deep in his eyes, belying the slightly cynical cast of his features. The very fact that a man like this could find her entertaining enough to pay so much attention to was balm to her bruised spirit. She responded sparklingly, ignoring Steve's sardonic observation.
It was Ted who eventually put the suggestion forward that the Milsons should stay on at Kambala for the few days they intended to spend away from the farm they ran together.
`We do have two rooms spare now that Kimani's gone,' he pointed out. 'That is if Miss Milson doesn't mind sharing.'
It was hard to calculate Steve's reaction from his expression. He drew deeply on his cigarette before answering, exhaled slowly into the still air. 'Better if the two girls share,' he said, and to Sara, 'Any objections?'
What objection she could possibly make with the subject under discussion sitting right across from her, Sara quite failed to see and never doubted that he was perfectly aware of it himself. She met Jill's eyes and smiled. 'Not at all. There's plenty of room for another bed.'
`Fair enough.' He nodded to Ted. 'You'd better send Temu across for the baggage. He'll do it before nightfall if he leaves now.' He lifted his glass towards Diane, mouth slanting into an odd little smile. 'We can't offer you all the home comforts of the Lodge, I'm afraid.'
`But I'm sure there are compensations,' was the soft reply.
Sara was sure of it too, and the knowledge was like a sudden lead weight in her chest. When she looked up Don was watching her with a shrewd expression. She gave him a hastily contrived smile, and welcomed the diversion created by Kiki appearing on the windowsill at her shoulder.
Jill was enchanted by the gregarious little animal, and only too eager to have him perched on her shoulder while he ate the banana Sara gave him. Diane watched her young friend tolerantly, shaking her head when invited to touch the soft fur herself.
`Monkeys always make me feel itchy,' she confessed. `I hope it doesn't get into the bedrooms.'
`He doesn't have to come indoors at all while you're here,' put in Steve before Sara could answer. 'I'm sure every effort will be made to keep him under control.' This last accompanied by a glance which challenged Sara to argue with that statement. 'They're amusing little beasts, but they can sometimes become a nuisance. Why don't you take Jill along and show her where she's going to sleep?'
His sister pulled a face at him. 'Trying to get me out of the way already?'
He smiled back. 'Not so as you'd notice. You two can start getting to know one another quicker on your own.'
Sara stood up, avoiding his eyes. 'He's probably right. Come on, Jill, let's make the most of it.'
Ted had obviously looked in on the kitchen quarters while passing, for Njorogi was already at work
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