chapter 16 . darkness had descended like a curtain by the time they docked at Belleray . and though Guy , made nervous by Beryl &apos;s silence , drove at reckless speed to the Villa , it was quickly evident that the party was over . Piers came strolling out to meet the Deanes , and as soon as Guy had driven away , invited them casually to come to his flat for a drink . to Beryl , at least , this was anti-climax with a vengeance . she had expected to be met with violent reproaches - and here he was bland and smiling . but it did not take her long to realise that his mood was less pleasant than appeared on the surface . he told her nonchalantly , as he led the way to his own veranda , that he had taken the liberty of asking Jack - as a representative of the Vallin family - to come over and make the presentation in her stead . I caught him just as he was going to the airport to meet Blanche , he said . as a matter of fact I &apos;d asked him last night to deputise for me and fetch her . he brought her to the party too . they &apos;re both here . I did n&apos;t know she was coming back from Barbados so soon . Beryl said the first thing that came into her head . oh , she was due ! and then he added in the same casual tone , she &apos;s not returning to her family . she &apos;s going to live with friends of the bank manager , just this side of Belleray . Mrs Deane made a suitable comment , but Beryl said nothing . she was trying to sort things out in her mind . that beneath his unnaturally smooth exterior Piers was simmering with anger against her she had no doubt . but had n&apos;t she cause for anger too ? had he acted within his rights in inviting Jack Vallin to act on her behalf , in having Blanche there - not doing the honours , perhaps , but as the only white woman of position ? be this as it might , she must on no account show resentment now , and she greeted Jack and Blanche with friendly courtesy , thanking Jack warmly for coming to the rescue , and explaining as best she could how it was that she had been obliged to miss the celebrations . Jack and Blanche were quick to sympathise , and to express their disgust at Sir John &apos;s abominable treatment of his guests . but Piers remained aloof , and when Beryl suggested having a second party , the following week , he poured cold water on the project . everyone , he declared , had had a thoroughly good time , and it would take them nearly to next week to settle down again . meanwhile Hubert would have betaken himself and his well-earned gratuity to his native village at the north of the island . it was all over and done with . for the time being Beryl was content to let it go at that , but she resolved to have it out with Piers when a reasonable opportunity presented itself . he must learn that he could not treat her with injustice and contempt , ignoring her explanations as though he were a schoolmaster and she a small , ignorant child . he gave her no chance of any private conversation that evening , for when Blanche and Jack left , he went with them . but next morning she insisted on his taking her out in the jeep - to find , if possible , Hubert and his relations , and tell them of her great disappointment at being held up in Balicou . with an air of resignation he sent Judy , his Boxer , to the back , and made room for her beside him . is that all you want to do ? he asked , letting in the clutch . no ; I want to make you understand just what happened about this Balicou trip , she returned coldly . I &apos;m a little tired of being treated like an ineffective imbecile . and I &apos;m heartily sick of being constantly called to account for my manners , he retorted . what have I done wrong now ? I cover up for you the best way I can by getting hold of Jack to make the presentation , I run the damned party to the best of my ability - saying the sugary things you ought to have been there to say - and all you can do is to find fault . it &apos;s your superior attitude that riles me . Beryl was scarlet with annoyance . how I happened to be marooned at Balicou does n&apos;t interest you in the faintest degree . you look as though it was only what you expected of me , as though I did n&apos;t care a hoot about letting Hubert and his pals down . as your employee it &apos;s not my business to understand all the whys and wherefores of your actions , he said stiffly . still less to criticise you . oh , drop that nonsense , Piers ! be yourself , she exclaimed , with mounting exasperation . very well ! he brought the jeep to a standstill in a rough path fringed and shaded by citrus trees . if you want my true opinion I &apos;ll give it . you made some sort of a protest to Graybury . I &apos;ll give you credit for that . but you did n&apos;t press the matter because , very naturally , you were thoroughly enjoying Forrest &apos;s company in idyllic surroundings . how dare you say such a thing ? she blazed . for goodness &apos; sake show a glimmer of reason , was his equally indignant rejoinder . one minute you order me to behave like your secretary , the next like an uninhibited human being . and then he added caustically , I &apos;ve only to mention Forrest &apos;s name to put you in a temper . why not admit that you &apos;re in love with the fellow and have done with it ? because I &apos;m not , she snapped . you expect me to believe that ? there was open mockery in his tone . you &apos;ll be telling me next that you spent all those hours together on Balicou without his kissing you . she caught her breath . of all the caddish things to say ! nonsense . if I &apos;d been in his place I &apos;d have kissed you myself - good and hard , as I &apos;m tempted to now . you talk as though we were alone on Balicou ! she avoided his gaze , and tried to ignore that last impertinent remark . with four other people - whom you never once managed to circumvent . the mockery in his voice had deepened . with all due deference , Miss Deane - come off it ! she met his eyes then . very well , she said coolly . we were alone together for an hour or two , the first afternoon . and he did kiss me . but if you think I acquiesced in the delay because I wanted his company - well , you &apos;re misjudging me badly . you mean that ! his expression had changed . it was n&apos;t on his account at all that you allowed Sir John to get away with this - this Hitlerish behaviour . she wavered , and at last said slowly , if you must drag the truth out of me , I must ask you to regard it as confidential . my dear Beryl , do n&apos;t tell me anything , if you &apos;d rather not . he was clearly startled by her words . but remember , it was you , not I , who started this conversation . I know . absurd as it may seem , I did n&apos;t want you to think badly of me . she turned away from him to fondle Judy , who , sensing something amiss , was nudging her in the endeavour to gain her attention . the truth is that if I had absolutely insisted on sailing at the time originally arranged , Sir John would have had it in for Guy . you see , it was , apparently , through a mistake on Guy &apos;s part that we missed seeing the flamingoes our first morning on the island . what harm could possibly have come to Forrest through Sir John &apos;s nonsense ? Piers could hardly have spoken with more contempt . a bully like that respects anyone who dares to stand up to him . Beryl tried to suppress the thought that this was precisely the remark she had made to Guy . she said icily , as you pride yourself on your knowledge of all the affairs of the island I need n&apos;t tell you that Sir John Graybury is one of Mr Hewson &apos;s most important customers . so what ? you &apos;re not trying to say that Hewson would victimise Forrest for behaving with ordinary moral courage ! he &apos;s quite capable of telling Sir John to take himself and his business to an unmentionable destination . there &apos;s a difference between what a senior and a junior partner can do , was her quick reply . what they can bring off ! I &apos;ll admit that . but Forrest might at least have tried . he &apos;s pretty spineless ! you think you could have carried more weight with Sir John ? she enquired cuttingly . for all your good opinion of yourself , I doubt it . he &apos;s about as easy to push around as - as a grounded whale ! he had to smile at that , but went on airily , I &apos;d have made an attempt to show my lady-love that I put her interests before my own . I would n&apos;t have cared to risk her thinking me a selfish weakling . the barb hurt cruelly . for in her heart of hearts Beryl had resented Guy &apos;s apparent indifference to her dilemma - had come near , indeed , to despising him . but her soreness merely increased her anger with Piers . was it studying my interests to bring your girl friend to my party for the labourers ? she demanded . to have her act as hostess in my absence ? he looked at her , not wrathfully now , but quizzically . my girl friend , as you call her , remained as much in the background as even you could wish . he patted the Boxer &apos;s huge head . Judy , here , was more forthcoming . in fact , she trotted round , obviously trying to make everyone feel at home , gazing reproachfully at the few timid ones who bolted . she was tempted to laugh , but it was as though that barb still stuck in her quivering flesh . you &apos;ve an answer - of sorts - for everything , she said shortly . personally I &apos;ve no more to say , so I suggest we get along . to her great relief they arrived at the cluster of little houses where Hubert had been living to find the old man stowing in leisurely fashion his few possessions into a ramshackle and incredibly ancient car , surrounded by innumerable friends and relatives . their air of smiling somnolence showed them to have been guests at yesterday &apos;s celebrations , and their friendly welcome and warm sympathy , as she explained how she had come to miss the party , made her send a complacent glance in Piers &apos; direction . what a fuss-box the man was , she thought impatiently , trying to worry her into the belief that her failure to appear at a function on the estate was a major error : that it was the kind of thing that , with these simple folk , spoiled the master-servant relationship . and then she received a jolt . old Hubert , standing beside her , his battered hat in his hand , his toothless mouth stretched in a wide grin , told her in halting patois that Mistah Piers had explained right at the start that Mis&apos; Beryl would be plenty , plenty sad not to be back at the Villa in time . that it would n&apos;t be her fault at all . that she was a lady who , like her Uncle Charles , took the highest pride in keeping her word . I could see anudder t&apos;ing , he went on in a lower voice , his sunken black eyes twinkling . he powerful anxious , poor Mistah Piers . we all know how Balicou Island dangerous to all kin&apos; o&apos; boats , wid d&apos;ose big , big rocks in an&apos; out o&apos; de water . he full o&apos; fear you comin&apos; bad harm , Mis Beryl . I see it in his eyes , even when he smilin&apos; and larkin&apos; wid us . I knowin&apos; him well , Missie . he always sayin&apos; he one of us , &apos;cos he born an&apos; bred in de islands . an&apos; he say for true ! this sidelight on Piers had its effect on Beryl . without taking it too seriously she found herself regretting some of the sharp things she had said to him and when , her goodbyes said , she climbed back into the jeep , preparatory to returning to the Villa , it was with the resolve to make up her quarrel with him - to achieve , at least , a surface peace . 