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It was always held on the ninth day of the ninth month, called the Double Ninth, and was in memory of a family who heeded the advice of a monk and climbed to the top of a mountain on a certain day to avoid disaster. When they returned to their house they found it completely destroyed and all the livestock dead.

Thousands of people would climb the Peak, and there would be sideshows and picnics and the inevitable kite-flying. She suddenly wished that Vane would be here to share in the fun.

On the Friday she had a phone call from Liz, an excited Liz. ‘Guess what, Deb, I’ve met a super boy—he wants to be a doctor too. We’re both hoping to go to the same college. I think I’m in love, really in love this time. It’s nothing like what I felt for Vane.’

Debra smiled to herself. Liz still had a lot to learn. ‘I’m glad,’ she said. ‘I’m really happy for you.’ There was nothing else she could say. ‘I take it from that that you won’t be coming back here?’

‘No,’ cried Liz animatedly. 'I’m staying at Vane’s flat. He says I can make it my home as long as I like. Isn’t that kind of him?’

Very kind, thought Debra bitterly. It looked as though Liz had already forgotten how hateful Vane had been over the broken vase and mirror. It was only she, Debra, who remembered. She was the one who had got to work for more or less nothing so that she could pay for them.

She added a few more words of encouragement and then hung up. It was going to be an even bigger burden to bear alone. She suddenly wondered whether she would be able to go through with it.

The next morning stalls were erected in the courtyard and the grounds were alive with people both young and old, all joining in the festivities with true spirit.

Debra took the crowded funicular to the top and watched with interest the antics of two enormous bamboo and paper kites emblazoned with fierce red dragons. The object was to either cut the string of the other kite or knock it sideways in a deadly spin.

A plane flew overhead, coming in to land at Kai Tak Airport, and the kite became caught in its jetstream, putting a sudden end to the animated battle.

It began to grow dark and still she sat there. One or two children remained, playing with their kites, shouting, laughing, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

When a shadowy figure approached and sat down beside her she felt a tingling awareness. She did not have to look to know who it was. ‘Liz never said you were coming,’ she said faintly.

I
wanted to surprise you.’

‘I gave permission for your grounds to be used during the festival. I hope 1 did right.’ She sounded breathless.

Vane made no comment, saying instead, ‘What did you think of Liz’s news?’

'I’m very pleased for her,’ she said tightly, ‘though I doubt it will last. She’s too young to know her own mind. There was a time when I thought that ’ She turned away, unable to face him.

He took her chin between firm fingers. ‘When you thought what?’ His silver-grey eyes held her own and she knew that if she lied it would show on her face.

‘That—you and Liz—were in love.’

He chuckled. ‘Liz thought she was, and I must admit I found her a very attractive little thing. Very co-operative, which is more than I can say for you. Only her innocent blue eyes saved her, I’ll confess. No way could I violate the trust she put in me. We’re good friends now, I’m glad to say, and I’d like to take credit for helping her find herself after her deep personal tragedy.’

‘You certainly did that,’ said Debra weakly, ‘with a vengeance. I suppose I do have to thank you, but I heard you go to her room one night and you were a hell of a long time—are you trying to tell me that nothing happened?’

He grinned. ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you what we were talking about.’

‘Try me,’ she suggested.

‘We were discussing you.’

Her eyes widened.

‘See, I knew you’d question it. I was trying to persuade Liz to tell me why you always held me at a distance, why you always insisted that I was the boss. You see, I knew you were physically attracted and I couldn’t understand why you kept me at arm’s length.’

‘And what did she say?’

He shrugged. ‘She still thought herself in love with me at the time, she would say nothing. I came out of that room no wiser than when I went in. Suppose you tell me—now—what it is that you’ve got against me?’

Debra felt herself grow warm, but attempted a careless shrug. ‘Let’s say I don’t approve of mixing business with pleasure.’

‘Not even when you love your boss?’

Her mouth fell open. ‘How did—oh, I know, Liz! She had no right to tell you. I suppose you forced it from her?’

He smiled and shook his head. ‘She told me freely. I reckon she thought I’d done her a good turn, so she’d do me one. I appreciated it.’

I bet you did, thought Debra, embarrassment flushing her face. Wait till she spoke to Liz again, she’d soon tell her what she thought of her! She had no right interfering. She had promised.

‘You look annoyed,’ Vane said softly. ‘Don’t blame Liz. I’m glad she told me, if she hadn’t I’d have never found out.’

‘What difference does it make,’ said Debra tightly, ‘except that now you know how hard it will be for me to go on working for you year after year. I wish I could win the pools or something, then I could pay off my debt in full and get away before you break me altogether.’

'I’d never do that,’ he said thickly. 'I love you too much.’

She thought she had misheard him. Slowly and wonderingly she lifted her head, looking into the depths of his silver eyes, and what she saw made her breath catch in her throat.

‘Vane?’ she said faintly, questioningly.

He nodded. 'It’s true, for a long, long time. You were the one who was doing the heartbreaking.’ He gathered her to him with a groan, their lips met, and Debra felt her love swell and grow, and she clung to him desperately, never wanting to let him go.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she whispered.

'I could ask the same of you.’ His lips moved like a trail of fire down her throat.

'Is that why you insisted I stay to pay off my debts?’ Realisation had dawned.

‘Mmm,’ he said, busily nibbling her ear lobe. ‘I had to think of some way of keeping you here. I couldn’t have cared less about that damned mirror.’

‘But you sacked me when you thought I’d made a mess-up over those dresses.’

He paused, smiled ruefully. ‘I always say things I don’t mean when I’m in a flaming temper. It’s a good job you insisted on following, or I might never have discovered that you love me.’

There was silence for a while as they satisfied their mutual longings. The Peak became shrouded in mist, and Debra felt as though they were in a world of their own.

‘When did you discover you loved me, Vane?’ He smiled wickedly. ‘The day you walked into my office and applied for the job.’

She was surprised, and showed it. ‘But why did you insist on bringing me here?’

‘Because I wanted to get you alone. Unfortunately you insisted on dragging along your little friend. That was something I hadn’t accounted for. I’d thought to sweep you off your feet and make you my wife almost before you knew what was happening, but somehow Liz got in the way.’

'I’m sorry,’ she whispered. ‘And I really thought you were going to marry her. I remember you saying one day that there was a future in your relationship with Liz.’

‘My future was with you, my darling, and will be to the end of time.’ He kissed her again, and it was a long time before they dragged themselves up.

‘There is one thing that still bothers me,’ said Debra, as they made their way down to the funicular. ‘That time in your flat when you put me to bed, did you—’

He grinned wickedly. ‘My darling sweetness, I couldn’t do that, not to you—what do you take me for?’

‘But you insinuated ...’

‘And it worked.’

‘Oh, I hate you!’ she cried, pummelling her fists against his chest.

‘No, you don’t,’ he said confidently, gripping both wrists with one hand and tilting her face towards him with the other. ‘You’re going to love me for the rest of your life—and that’s an order!’

Harlequin Plus

A CITY OF CONTRASTS

Although Hong Kong has been a British colony for almost a century and a half, it is truly a city of the East, with all the allure of the Orient. Situated on one of the world's most beautiful natural harbors, a mile-wide strip of the South China Sea, it is sandwiched between Hong Kong Island on the south and Kowloon Peninsula, which borders mainland China, on the north. More than four million people live in this small area—an average of more than 10,000 in each square mile!

Sailing into Hong Kong harbor, one is immediately struck by the vivid contrasts. Elegant yachts and ocean liners compete for the right of way with tiny sampans and Chinese junks bringing cargoes of fish from the South China Sea.

The setting sun casts an eerie orange light across an army of white skyscrapers in the financial district, waiting stiffly at attention below the cloud-enshrouded hump of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island, but nestled among these towers are the red-tiled roofs of Bhuddist pagodas!

As the sky continues to darken, the lights come on in thousands of high-rise apartments in residential Kowloon across the harbor; and the smells of Chinese cuisine are wafted on the warm breezes.

Then, while some partake of cocktails in spacious villas on the hillsides overlooking the city, thousands of others begin to throng the more than forty open-air markets. For the markets are the “poor-man’s nightclubs.” There the customers will socialize, eat, drink and, as often as not, gamble at such Chinese games as Mah-Jongg.

All in all, Hong Kong is a city of mystery, fascination and startling surprises. No wonder Margaret Mayo chose such an exotic setting!