‘I’m just wondering how useful you are, actually.’
‘That’s a bit unfair. I’ve driven Bastian’s pick-up everywhere locally which has been really useful. Not to mention sewing up Ranulph’s leg. I’ve achieved a lot.’ She suspected she sounded like a teenager being questioned on how much revision she’d done. Then, more truthfully, she said, ‘I want my father to be proud of me!’
She looked up at Austin briefly. It was true that she didn’t want to disappoint Howard, but staying to help Bastian was a more powerful reason. Her father would definitely want her to do that.
Austin brought the subject up again at lunch. Bastian wasn’t there but Ranulph and Becca were, as well as another couple of the archaeologists she knew. As Cass helped Delphine get things on the table, Delphine told her that the new member of the archaeology team had brought a box of solar lanterns and paraffin for local people.
‘So they’re not freeloadin’ on Bastian, like some people I could mention.’ She looked pointedly at Austin.
Cass could easily understand why Delphine hadn’t taken to Austin. He tended to treat everyone like staff, as if they were there to look after him. Although Delphine had put him right on this matter early on, he still persisted on treating Bastian’s house like a hotel.
When everyone was seated and the bottle of hot sauce was going round the table, Austin turned to Ranulph. ‘Do you know why Cass has changed her mind about leaving the island with me?’
Ranulph put down his fork. ‘You’re staying, Cass? That’s great news.’
‘I thought you two were going to discuss it,’ Austin persisted, obviously trying to make trouble between Cass and Ranulph. ‘I’d have thought you’d be pleased to think she was returning to civilisation sooner than you thought.’
There was an awkward pause and then Becca said, ‘She’s a free agent. She doesn’t have to discuss all her decisions with either of you.’
‘Did your father – this Howard someone – ask Ranulph to look after you, Cass?’ said Austin. ‘Is that why you’ve changed your mind about leaving?’
‘No!’ said Cass, although Howard had more or less placed Cass in Ranulph’s care. ‘I don’t need a man to look after me. Which century are we living in?’
‘Victorian times, obviously,’ said Becca. ‘But don’t worry! Think of all those intrepid female travellers there were then.’
Austin narrowed his eyes in thought, making Cass wonder what he was up to.
Cass spent that night on the veranda again, thinking about how she was going to illustrate Bastian’s paper and wondering why Austin was so keen for her to travel with him. He’d had another little go at her about it in the evening. Was it really because he thought she’d be able to make it easier for him to get a lift in a plane?
Or, and this she felt was much more likely, was it that he wanted to get her away from Bastian’s house because he suspected her of helping him? She’d thought for a while that he had a horrible way of knowing what no one had told him.
He would probably abandon her in Roseau if he could, and get on the first plane that had room for him. A space for one was far more likely than for two and he wasn’t the sort of man who would step aside and say, ‘You first.’
The next morning, Becca was coming out of the bathroom as Cass was on her way in.
‘Hi, Cass!’ she said brightly. ‘It was so kind of you to lend me things so I could stay these couple of nights but you’ll be glad to hear that the whole group arecoming over to help with the dig and we’ve found a house to rent. It’s had a bit of damage from the hurricane, but our lads will fix it up in no time.’
She then handed Cass her moisturiser, which Cass hadn’t realised she had. ‘I hope I haven’t used too much. But I’m about ten years older than you – a year younger than Ranulph in fact. My need is greater than yours!’
Cass entered the bathroom, which smelt of Ranulph’s deodorant, wondering if Becca was giving her a message. If she was, its meaning was clear: she was too young for Ranulph.
After breakfast, Cass had hoped to catch Ranulph before he set off with Becca but Austin waylaid her. Cass watched Ranulph and Becca setting off down the beach together, talking intently. Ranulph was hardly limping now, and although Cass mentally took the credit for this, just now she was taking no pleasure in it.
‘I think you’re making a big mistake, Cass,’ said Austin, holding her arm. ‘I get that you want to make your dad proud and all, but really? Do you want to watch Becca and Ran making sheep’s eyes at each other?’
‘They haven’t been doing that,’ said Cass.
‘It won’t be long before they do,’ said Austin.
For once, Cass found herself agreeing with him. She sighed.
‘You don’t have to decide right away. But as soon as I find a way to leave – and no, I’m not going to walk to Roseau like the locals – I’m out of here. You’d do well to be with me.’ He paused. ‘I’m going to join them at the dig now. There might be something there thatcould add a finishing touch to my work.’ He gave her smile, cold but determined. ‘I’m going to win that prize. You may as well get used to the idea.’
As she hadn’t heard Bastian’s pick-up drive off, Cass had hopes of finding him in the outhouse. And there he was, mixing up food for Friendly, who was thumping his tail against the floor from time to time. Friendly got up when he saw Cass.
After a suitable amount of time fussing the dog, Cass said, ‘We have a bit of a problem.’
‘We have many. Which one do you want to talk about?’ Bastian gave the waiting dog a biscuit and regarded Cass.
