Bride in Flight Read Online Free PDF Page A

her from the three people in the seat across the aisle.
    He had her hand, his face close to hers. “Hey, what’s the matter? Altitude bothering you? I’ll get the hostess to bring you something.”
    She shook her head. “No, please don’t. Just let me get over this and don’t say a word. It’s nothing. I wouldn’t like anyone to think I was ill and turn back. I’ll be all right. I won’t be a bother.”
    He smiled. She thought vaguely it was a nice smile. “I won’t think that. I’m only sorry you’re feeling like this. Are you sure you aren’t ill?”
    She shook her head again. “No ... it’s only stress really. Perhaps delayed shock. I’ll be right. Truly.”
    “Sure?”
    “Yes ... in a moment you can get me some orange juice. But I want no fuss.” She managed a grin. She realized he was still holding her hand, warm and comforting. How stupid to want to be warm on a night like this.
    She drew in a deep breath, let it out, suddenly felt normal.
    He noticed it, said, “You mentioned delayed shock. Would it help to talk about it? I mean I don’t mind—we’re only ships that pass in the night. Sometimes it helps.” She was fighting for normality. “I do appreciate that. But no—I don’t want to break down.”
    He nodded. “I can understand that. It’s a bit too public. I get it... you’ve recently had a loss, a grievous loss, and you’re going for a change of scene to help you. Is that it?”
    She clutched at that gratefully. “Yes, that just about sums it up. Sorry you haven’t a brighter travelling companion. But never mind, I’ve got control again. It was just the relief of getting away. I’ll—I’ll just read and not bother you.”
    “As a matter of fact, I’ve worries of my own. Would you mind if I unloaded them? I’m trying to think my way through them. It might help to talk.”
    She looked at him with gratitude. He was probably quite a psychologist and knew it. would do her good to listen to someone else’s cares. The sound of the human voice alone would help her. Keep those other thoughts at bay.
    “What’s your particular trouble?” she asked.
    Before he answered her he called the hostess and got them two glasses of orange juice. Kirsty immediately felt better.
    “My sister has been taken ill—well, she had a fall, broke her hip and is to be in hospital ages. She has three children, nine, seven, and two, and her husband is in England till the middle of the year nearly. I’ve been away some time myself, Canada and Australia. Fortunately my time was near enough finished not to matter. I’m rushing home to the kids. Lucky for me someone cancelled their seat at the last moment—oh!”
    Kitty glanced up inquiringly. “What’s the matter?”
    She thought the brown face had flushed slightly.
    “I—it’s just dawned on me. Look, I’m sorry, I’m a clumsy oaf. I said I was lucky. Was it someone who should have been travelling with you?”
    Kirsty swallowed. “Yes, but—”
    “I can’t tell you how sorry. I am. This loss ...” his eyes went to her left hand with its patently new wedding ring on it. “Was it your husband? And should he have been with you?”
    Panic returned to grip Kirsty. He had an unopened paper tucked into the magazine pocket on the back of the seat in front of him. She dared not say too much. He would open that soon, read the headlines, add two and two.
    Better by far to make it appear the bereavement he thought it was. It wouldn’t matter. In less than four hours they would touch down in New Zealand and their ways would part.
    So she said vaguely, “Don’t apologize, please. You said it in ignorance. It doesn’t matter.”
    “It does, though. I hate to hurt anyone, even unwittingly. And I do realize that your—loss—must have occurred very soon after your wedding, which makes it all the sadder.”
    His eyes were on that blatantly new wedding ring, that utterly hateful wedding ring that she had to wear till she got off this plane and