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‘On the other hand,’ she said softly, ‘I know just the oil to use.’
‘You think I’d be foolish to try my luck any further?’
‘Very foolish.’
Renzo leaned forwards so that his mouth was close to hers. ‘A brave man would put that to the test.’
‘How brave are you?’
‘Shaking in my shoes.’
The next step was so easy. She had only to say the word and she would be in his arms, his mouth on hers, relishing the kiss for which he’d been cleverly preparing her.
Preparing her!
Mandy froze as knowledge hit her like lightning.
It was a game, a trick, and she’d walked into it with her eyes open. He’d probably taken a bet with himself that he could lure her into dropping her defences. And she’d fallen for it. Nearly.
‘Shaking in your shoes, hmm?’ she mused. ‘Well, I think that’s a very good idea. If you knew what I was thinking right now, you’d really shiver.’
‘Mandy—’
‘Don’t treat me like a fool, Renzo. I know what you’re up to, and I’m ahead of you. You did it well, I admit, but not quite well enough.’
‘You think I’m—’
‘Just fooling. Admit it.’
‘Well—’he seemed to consider ‘—since you saw through me so easily, I guess that’s it. I might as well give up.’
‘You and Henry both,’ she said firmly.
After that there was nothing to do but walk casually back indoors, bid a cheerful goodnight to everyone, go to bed, and lie staring into the darkness wondering if she was going mad.
* * *
The sun rose on another bright day and, to Mandy’s relief, the ghosts of the night before were dispelled. He’d laid a trap, she’d weakened but seen the danger in time. The world was good again.
Renzo seemed to have forgotten about the night before. He had some words of advice for each of them.
To Mandy he said, ‘Don’t rush it. You climb as if you’re always trying to prove something. Just take it easy.’
They all set out cheerfully, taking deep breaths of the clear air, relishing the day to come.
As they trod carefully along a narrow ridge, Mandy began to fantasise about reaching the top. How incredibly blue the sky was, how wonderful it would feel to be there! Entranced, she let her thoughts drift.
Suddenly the ground, so firm beneath her a moment ago, simply ceased to exist. For a blinding moment the steep slope stretched away, yawning into the depths of infinity. Snow and sky became one, swirling sickeningly back and forth. Then the world steadied again. She was being drawn upwards, supported around her waist by an arm that seemed to be made of steel.
‘All right?’ said Renzo’s voice.
She lay on her back, looking up into the heavens, her heart thundering, while the universe fell into its right place again.
‘What happened?’ she gasped.
‘You slithered, but it’s all right now,’ he said in a reassuring voice. ‘Take a few deep breaths. No rush.’
‘I’m fine,’ she said, sitting up.
She began to get determinedly to her feet, accepting his support for a few moments. As they went on she put a brave face on it, but she felt shaken and it was a relief when Renzo said, ‘We’re not going so far today. There’s another hut soon up ahead. It’s not as grand as the one I was aiming for, but it’ll give us a much-needed rest.’
Mandy was desperately glad. Weariness had caught up with her and there was a pain in her leg where she’d scraped it as she’d fallen. At last the hut came into view. As Renzo said, it was basic, but comfortable.
In the bedroom, shared by four girls, Joan took charge of Mandy, helping her to undress and getting out her nightwear, a pair of pyjamas, consisting of a jacket and shorts, which revealed a long red mark down her calf.
‘Wow!’ Joan exclaimed.
‘It’s impressive, isn’t it?’ Mandy said, touching it gently. ‘It’s also sore.’
There was a knock at the door and Renzo’s voice said, ‘Can I come in?’
‘Yes, fine,’ Joan called.
‘Joan, Peter’s looking for you,’ he said, entering. ‘I think he’s planning a romantic tryst in the moonlight. Shall I tell him you’re not interested?’
‘Don’t you dare,’ Joan said eagerly and slipped away.
‘Let me have a look at that leg,’ Renzo said.
Mandy sat on the bed, swinging her legs up so that he could see the mark, and he seated himself, inspecting it critically and laying his hand over it.
‘It’ll be better when I’ve rubbed some of this in,’ he said, holding up a bottle.
‘What is it?’
‘Dr Renzo’s All Purpose Linctus is what you need. Stretch out.’
His manner was so impersonal that it was easy to lean back, close her eyes and succumb to the soothing effect of his hands rubbing her leg rhythmically. It was wonderfully relaxing, and she soon felt warmth flowing through her.
‘Mmm!’ she said softly.
‘Good?’
‘Mmm!’
‘Got any more aches and pains?’
‘Everywhere,’ she murmured. ‘Neck, shoulders, arms, back—’
‘Turn over.’
She did so and he continued massaging her back, sliding his hands under the cotton jacket until, almost without realizing what she was doing, she opened the buttons at the front and he pulled it off.
How good it felt to have him massaging her spine, her shoulders, her neck, driving the strain away until she was floating in a cocoon of comfort. She was vaguely aware that she was being foolish, lying here, half naked, alone with a man who charmed his way through life. When he’d finished easing her ailments he would try once more to bring her under his spell, perhaps to avenge his defeat the night before.
He’d do it by letting his hands wander just a little too far, drifting forwards to caress her breasts, pausing to see if she objected, but not really expecting it. Then she would have to be firm with him, which would be hard because she felt too contented to be firm about anything.
‘Right, that should do it,’ Renzo said, standing up. ‘I’ll send some food in, and then a good night’s sleep should make you feel better. Goodnight.’
And he was gone.
Mandy lay there, thoughtful, unsure whether to credit him with being a gentleman or blame him for the implied slight. While she was trying to decide, she fell asleep.
CHAPTER THREE
WHEN she awoke, Joan was there.
‘Renzo sent me in with food an hour ago, but you were dead to the world,’ she said. ‘Now, I’m under strict orders to keep an eye on you and make sure you eat as soon as you awake.’
Mandy sat up, rubbing her eyes. ‘Where does he get off giving people orders?’
‘He doesn’t, really. He just gets his own way with that smile. It’s far more effective than anything else, sort of wicked and gorgeous. It invites you into a conspiracy with him, and you know that it would be the most delightful conspiracy in the world.’
Now Mandy knew what she had against him.
‘Does Peter know you feel like that about our great and glorious leader?’ she asked tartly.
‘Every girl on this trip feels like that about him. Except you, but then you’re just “ornery”. I can’t think why, especially when he’s been so nice to you today. Oh, yes—I see. I should have thought of that.’
‘Thought of what?’
‘When he was giving you that massage—I should have stayed here, shouldn’t I? I thought he was the perfect gentleman, but I ought to have known better.’
‘What are you saying?’ Mandy demanded.
‘Well—you know—he probably let his hands wander too far. That’s it, isn’t it? He “took advantage of you”.’
‘No, he didn’t,’ Mandy said, exasperated beyond endurance. ‘He was totally professional and his hands didn’t wander one inch from where they should be.’
‘What, not even the tiniest—’
‘No!’
‘Ah,’ said Joan wisely. ‘Now I see.’
‘There’s nothing to see. It’s time I got up,’ Mandy said firmly. ‘I’ll eat out there. Shall we go?’
Joan’s knowing eyes saw too much.
Mandy edged tentatively off the bed, fearing the worst, but she felt good. Dr Renzo had been very effective, she thought, pulling on some clothes, pleased to find that it was easy.
The others raised a cheer as she appeared and asked kindly how she was. Renzo didn’t speak, but he observed her carefully and served her food with his own hands.
‘Eat it all,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to keep your strength up.’
While she ate he watched over her like a guard dog, or a nanny. Suddenly her thoughts about his amorous intentions seemed ridiculous, and she began to chuckle.
‘Careful,’ he said gently. ‘What’s so funny?’
‘Nothing—nothing—’ she gasped.
‘Well, don’t choke yourself for nothing. Steady.’ He was patting her on the back. ‘That’s better. Now can you share the joke?’
‘No way,’ she said. ‘Some jokes just can’t be shared.’
‘They can be the best,’ he suggested.
‘That’s true, and this one—Oh, don’t get me started again.’
He looked at her curiously, and seemed about to say something, when a shout of, ‘Hey!’made everyone look up.
It was Henry, standing at the window.
‘It’s snowing,’ he bawled.
At once they crowded to the window to see the soft flakes drifting down. Renzo slipped outside and Mandy joined him.
‘I don’t like this,’ he said, staring intently.
‘It’s not very bad, is it?’ she asked. ‘It’s only a light fall.’
‘Yes, but if it keeps on for long it can have a destabilising effect. You get too much light, powdery snow that hasn’t had a chance to firm up and compact with the rest.’
‘You mean, we couldn’t go on?’
‘It might be a good idea to turn back.’
‘I hope we don’t have to,’ she said with a little sigh. ‘It’s so lovely up here—and just a little bit of snow—’
‘The trouble with you English is that you live in a moderate climate,’ he chided her. ‘You don’t really understand that snow can be dangerous. But look high up.’ Renzo indicated the flakes and, beyond them, the white peaks rearing up in the darkness. ‘Snow like that isn’t just affecting life. It is life. At the best it’s a challenge, at the worst it’s an enemy.’
‘Hey ho! That’s that then.’
‘No, it’s too soon to know how bad it’ll be. Don’t despair yet.’
‘Me, I never despair,’ said a voice behind them, and they both groaned at the arrival of Henry. ‘Come on,’ he rallied them. ‘Where’s your sense of adventure?’
‘I put it to rest on the day I accepted responsibility for bringing people up here,’ Renzo said through gritted teeth.
Now he was a guard dog again, shepherding them both back inside, commanding everyone to bed, chivvying them until they obeyed.
‘How’s the leg?’ he asked Mandy.
‘Fine. Everything’s fine. Dr Renzo’s Linctus is great. You should patent it.’
‘No, I keep it for special occasions. Sleep well.’
To everyone’s relief, the snow stopped during the night, but the day was overcast, making Renzo frown. As breakfast finished they were startled by the sight of a group coming out of the clouds on skis, heading towards them. When they arrived, it soon appeared that they had turned back.
‘It’s getting bad up ahead,’ said the leader, a bearded young man called Toby. ‘We’re going down before it gets worse.’
‘Right, then so will we,’ Renzo declared. ‘Sorry, folks, but safety first.
‘Everyone get packed up and ready to go. And that includes you, Henry. Henry? Where is he?’
‘I haven’t seen him this morning,’ one of the men said.
Even then nobody guessed the truth. Renzo simply shrugged and said, ‘Tell him to get packed up, and then hurry.’
It was another five minutes before one of the young men approached him and said worriedly, ‘Henry’s vanished. We found this.’
It was a note in Henry’s schoolboy handwriting:
Some of us aren’t afraid to go on. See you up there, losers!
‘He’s gone ahead on his own!’ Mandy breathed. ‘How can he be such an idiot?’
‘Because he is an idiot,’ Renzo said savagely.
The look on his face made his audience recoil. They were used to seeing Renzo friendly, amusing and firm, but nothing had prepared them for the bleak fury that confronted them now.
‘Scary,’ somebody muttered.
Mandy agreed. Suddenly he become a new man, one capable of terrible deeds. She wondered how she could ever have thought him lightweight.
He began to curse in Italian, speaking softly but in a way that made the underlying violence more alarming. At last he controlled himself and said, ‘I have to go after him. The rest of you are going down with the party that’s just arrived. Get moving.’
Nobody felt inclined to argue with him in this mood. Mandy slipped into the bedroom and packed up her things ready for departure. A resolution was growing in her. She couldn’t tell from whence it came, but instinctively she knew that she must not let Renzo go after Henry alone.
‘Are you ready?’ Renzo asked when she appeared.
‘Yes, but I’m not going down. I’m coming up with you.’
‘No way. That fool could do anything.’
‘Then you might be glad of backup,’ she said defiantly.
‘Look, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but he’s capable of landing us all at the bottom of a ravine.’
‘Fine, I’ll let you tackle him, and if he takes you down with him, I’ll still be alive to tell the world what happened to you.’
He stared at her, speechless.
‘Look,’ she persisted, ‘I’m coming whether you like it or not. I can either go with you in relative safety, or I can go on my own and take my chances.’
‘Is there any use saying no to you?’ he snapped.
‘None at all, so why are we wasting time?’
Joan and Peter emerged at that moment and Renzo appealed to them. ‘Can you talk some sense into her? She thinks she’s coming with me.’
‘Great idea,’ Joan said. ‘I’ll come too to keep an eye on her.’
‘Me too,’ Peter said.
Renzo tore his hair. ‘When we get out there, you do as I tell you, and if we see Henry, you stay clear.’
Toby was gathering his party ready for departure, asking if anyone was joining them. Mandy, Joan and Peter folded their arms stubbornly, but the rest trooped out, ready to descend the mountain. There were goodbyes all round, and then Renzo was left alone with the other three.
‘You’re mad, all of you,’ he growled.
‘Yup, you’re stuck with us,’ Mandy affirmed. ‘Some people would call it loyalty.’
‘Most people would call it stupidity.’ But his face softened as he said, ‘Thank you.’
As the others busied themselves with final preparations, Renzo moved closer to Mandy, murmuring, ‘You haven’t got the infernal nerve to try and protect me, have you?’
‘What, delicate little me?’ she teased. ‘No, the one I’m trying to protect is Henry—from you.’
‘You might have a point there.’
They fitted on their skis, Renzo checked the ropes that connected them, and they set out, climbing slowly and carefully, their eyes skinned for any sign of Henry.
‘It’s a pity we can’t shout,’ Joan observed. ‘I’ve got plenty of names I’d like to call him.’
‘Don’t,’ Renzo said firmly. ‘If there’s any name-calling to be done I’ll do it, at close quarters.’
But the day moved on without any sight of their quarry. Mandy hoped fervently that he was safe, but only for Renzo’s sake. If one of his party came to harm he would get the blame, however wrongly. She felt a powerful surge of anger towards Henry.
It grew colder and bleaker as they climbed. Now there was no sun and the world was grey. Peter, whose courage was fast deserting him, was the first to express doubts.
‘I wouldn’t mind finding a hut right now.’
‘What about that one over there?’ Joan said, pointing in the distance.
‘It’s deserted,’ Renzo said. ‘Can you see that it’s on the edge of a precipice? It wasn’t on the edge when it was built, but the ground has fallen away ever since, until it’s no longer safe.’
They moved on up, anxiety growing on them, until suddenly Renzo said, ‘I can see him.’
Henry was up ahead on a ridge, turning to watch them, waving like a victor.
‘Damned fool!’ Renzo snapped. ‘He’s actually pleased with himself.’
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