Edges of love

broken into thunderstorm

wet September. This morning, as Kate Reynolds picked her way along the streaming pavements of the City, past the towering buildings—old and new— where a great portion of the world's business took place, the sky was a uniform

hissed under the wheels of

cars and vans and lorries, spewed across the road, carelessly splashing the hurrying pedestrians as it went, and finally gurgled in dismal rivulets down the

id

ught with black humour, dr

her slim waist. Just the f

nrelieved

She eased back the cuff of her wet mac to look once more at her watch and a trickle of rain ran down her arm, making her shiver, more with nerves than cold.

en. Zero hou

imposing entrance to one

et grey, eyes fixed with

said Barn Trekke

ould she go through this mi

n if it were the worst one

in leaving him to cope o

ity for himself so

hy not. This last mess h

ther's heart if he found ou

too, finally. For a moment her throat choked up as she thought of, the way he had been since last Sunday—insisting on carrying on his parish duties although he looked hardly fit to drag himself out of the house. She just had to make this interview a success somehow.

She blinked and swallowed, pushing back the wave of emotion. She had to keep a grip on herself so that she could present her arguments coolly and reasonably.

She climbed the entrance steps and paused, out of the rain, to peer at her face in her small handbag mirror. Before she left home this morning she had taken particular trouble over her grooming, in the hope that nothing about her appearance should make a bad impression on this unknown, frightening

o see. This 'inhuman basta

played havoc with her care

rainproof had long ago

her mac pocket. Her very

her shoulders, enclosing a

e light application of eyeshadow had smudged at on

ble, reasonable young wom

hed

exasperation, dabbing at h

g she could do now about

or it by her demeanour—v

ask a favour of this man,

on. Jerry's description ha

ain when the man had inter

n Trekker must be able to

seen that Jerry was

a clock began to strike

d aloud, drawing in a sha

chin. 'Let's

t and she felt as if she w

-hard tiles. But her secre

approached the imposing

nd a

slim five feet four inches.

ster, of Ba

's handbag and she opened

her any longer, as they ha

eir quiet West Country

d his head towards a row of

o see Mr Caist

that Kate felt she should a

she closed them behind he

unctuated by pale wood door

h. This was evidently the

oration, where the

t marked J. S. Bruce,' Jerr

e flushed with fever. 'I su

imself will be b

he had come home pale an

ory to her, Jerry had tol

ay in America. 'This Caist

bastard. That's the whole

line over a paltry thirty

like a c

are a criminal. Taking mo

even if it is only thirty

ly borrowing it until

as 'family' and she had to

r in case Father should co

ting but was probably wor

in the interest of one of t

pe with life in this tough

eager

t the door and looked over

o happe

r, a quiff of fair hair ha

aw the beads of sweat the

it would take this to m

on his high and mightiness

ear what sentence he's

idn't convince Kate.

least of it. The swine

ve passed through Kate's

as appalling, unthinkab

d, if he really wa

dreadful for Father. I th

gra

e, for God's sake. I woul

ing to make such he

, 'Of course I'm worked u

octor said on Sunday, aft

er and not worry so

the details of the scene i

ther's thin, rather frail b

he black of his cassock; h

king conv

ed, Jerry. Another attack

it. 'You must tell this Ca

h

ernoon. He didn

r being ill, and what the

ink he had to resign his l

im. Did you ex

stuff,' said Jerry, sulky no

ou'd agree with me if you

nai

and put a hand over her ey

did you have to g

he said in an odd, straine

o a mess, do you

rry. It had always been, 'I

ily. 'You

nce. Jerry was doubled up i

tle

ng to continue the discuss

omforter—the role she ha

ten and Jerry was six. No

ged. She got Jerry to bed,

time she went to bed hers

ning a high temperature—p

he les

and stared up at her with

do, Kate? Oh God, wh

this was his first job.

to sleep, dopey,' she told h

ll go and see

d been worse, and so no

. S. Bruce, With a hollow

d hav

breath, knocke

rrow, windowless room, al

ing cabinets. A secretary's

behind that inner door

hair, and a harassed exp

Kate went in. 'Yes?' She

i

Kate had her first words ready, the ones she had rehearsed and memorised. 'My name is Reynolds. I'm Jeremy Reynolds's sister. He was told to report here at eleven this morning, but he's ill and unable to come. As the matter was important I offered to come and see Mr Caister in his place.'

e's wet grey mac, which wa

woman glanced down at a

e,' she snapped. 'I don't

d Rey

Kate had had a horrid idea

what he had done. 'This

ister, acting

aister's extremely busy an

he is, had better come hi

he woman lowered her hea

of dis

to be a nuisance,' she said

Mr Caister if he will see

ecretary jumped to her fee

re you? I won't be dictated

chit of a girl who cares

ors. What impudence!' She

uth closing

ial training, Kate could

ly wasn't the way to deal

she reminded herself, sh

—sor

firmly, and sat down on a ch

ame the secretary. Her fa

wait here, I'll not allow

ng my work and badgering m

can tell your precious b

h and Kate realised that s

. She must have been in a j

she possessed must have b

ing her up from the chair

ore

ce burst open and a man's

here? Miss Parkes, please

as a wrest

he was perfectly in contro

office, like opening the l

. She dropped Kate's arm

her hands. 'Oh, Mr Caist

with some cock-and-bull st

e, and I ‑' The pale bl

er did his expression chan

ver the wretched woman. '

office until you're in a fit

aspirins or black coffe

you've got contr

. 'I don't really need ‑I'm

her eyes pleadingly to the

and choked

r and opened it. 'Out!' he

uttled away do

knob as he turned to Kate

Make it brief, please, I

without

ke in details of the man i

leanness and hard muscu

han she had supposed—midthirties probably—and sh

stard. Her own instinct la

was hopelessly incompet

like that, humiliating her

nd unne

ool somehow for Father's

his man for a favour, howeve

yes squarely. 'I'm Kate R

appointment with you for e

come himself, so I offered

what you've d

n settling between his str

don't know anyone called

ual mouth took a downward

thug in Accounts who's be

y ca

n his tone that Kate almo

o keep her voice even. 'I

I should be very grateful

lain t

as she stood there in h

ing in limp strands round

tly s

. He turned and strode

large, opulently-appoin

and down at the City far

d by a narrow silv

a black leather executive c

on which he had evidentl

s—e

hank you, but I'd rather

ted, with weary auth

nd then sat down on the e

e to obey this hateful man

orrection, she added men

his chair, eyes narrowed

, you say. What's t

u. He's running a

ose cynically. 'Very conve

sister along to plead his

tment, was t

t to control her temper. 'N

orcefully than she had inte

yes. 'And I haven't come t

e for what he did. If it we

t for himself. But my father

nd he's been overworking

t take it easy and avoid s

man opposite had bent his

he top of his head with its

he was listening. 'If Jerr

nk it would -- I don't k

th

d her outburst she felt as

heard what she had said? W

l

l she was sure she would

A touching story, but how d

according to my informa

sister be eq

old with shock. 'Do y

n a faint shrug. 'Well, are

able to me. The ailing, e

f-sacrificing sister.' He smi

to be

rass paperweight on the de

It is true, whether y

ers on the desk impatient

expect me to

agerly she said, 'If—if yo

her department where th

uldn't—so that you could

nd then rushed on, 'or if

ney, and—and—let the matte

ery young-— only sevente

e, but he's never done an

money, he was going to pu

t w

ad no idea whether she wa

d what she would say and

it th

taking the money—he didn'

l and he wanted to take

efore and he got it very

how i

s hand on the desk sounde

gh, Miss Reynolds. I don't

e had your two minutes, no

y pati

her eyes went wide. What

an? Nothing, reason told

in—nothing to do with Je

minor epis

nd stood holding the door

faltered. She wasn't a timi

man who towered above he

he reached scarcel

u think I'd do? Did you i

e done better to face up to coming

don't know w

' he sneered'. 'How far w

s a bed-partner in return f

be tempted?' His glance f

mptuo

ut she managed to keep he

back of the chair. 'That w

ne anything else for you

, cooked— anything—anythin

ur thoughts seem to ru

onging the interview. She

more desperate than they

d dignity. 'Good morning,

him out of

es turned to jelly and she s

the top floor. She fell int

shivering as the floor num

ey

he lift stopped, and befo

soft shudder and it b

no logical reason why it

wards, but somehow she k

the lift sighed to a halt,

e had just left stood befo

his tall, for

on the gate. 'We hadn't q

s Reynolds,' h

ly at him and quickly remo

the corridor. 'There'

crisply. He stepped into the

ground floor button. 'We'l

e prem

mate, one of a slick fleet

he was pressed against the

n besi

ice her embarrassment.

lf, 'Besides, I can do wi

thing down

. Paul Caister stepped ou

me along,'

on them. 'Let me go!' she

ur pri

hosen word. She had a sudde

nked by policemen, and

aines,' Paul Caister calle

d to spring to attention.

he comes before I'm back

ted smartly and Kate found

he corner to a coffee-house

in the heart of the old ci

d wood and hazy with smok

it must have done here for

eats upholstered in burgu

re,' Paul Caister said, glancing rou

ace of the man sitting op

oding, the near-black liqui

garding her narrowly an

made his face hollow-che

ad-tempered?— the lips thin and straight, the fain

ite experienced enough

used to realise she had be

utes ago you nearly thre

. The situation has change

ade me an offer. You said

I'd get your bro

hed. 'Coffee, please, Hen

was friendly as he

, thank you, sir. You back

ather in H

two.' He glanced at the deep, leadlighted

returned almost immediat

pot. 'Is the offer still

ga

ded her coffee very black

e stimulating heat racing th

t the hard look of

wife,' he continued, hel

ou might do for me

aw again Father's chalk-wh

r his collapse in church

id steadily, 'the o

of course, which you menti

sardon

disliking the man more

hen he was blis

my proposition doesn't include bed.' The dark eyes g

ng.' He glanced dismissive

table and added, 'though

n't you slip your coat

c as if it were armour, d

o enjoy humiliating her.

if

king down thoughtfully int

g with precision. She wou

coffee; it seeme

ciatively, then put down

Hong Kong tomorrow to fin

ing to England late in Oct

ancée join me there and sta

en shot at her, 'Is that p

ows. Why shouldn't he tak

ally, pitying anyone enga

she

then, we can get

d. What do you want me t

? Bookings o

atiently. 'My dear girl, u

or so, while I'm in Hong K

job you do, but I'd pay yo

free holiday— Hong Kong's

lothes.' His eyes passed w

y m

'You're mad! I couldn'

h each other? Oh, I expec

lacent. 'Once they got o

o fall for a nice little clergyman's daughter. T

rned, haven't you noticed

her!" ' he mimicked nastil

ded, tossing down the r

lergyman's daughter now, d

ecause his opini

you were telling the truth.

vincing and in character.

trary to your sweeping in

a girl to sleep with just

usively on my bu

ve her own ears. Of all

s resentment flared into f

gs—not yet. Not until she

ttempt to protect Father f

stall, to give he

it? This brilliant idea of y

ng. with

udden. It came to me the

l do anything for you—anyt

ou weren't play-acting, i

ng off now and all that r

about my

'What problems? You're

it sound insulti

N

can be coped with.' He sho

? Someone who would

n there had been quite a q

past six months she had avoided making any relat

etting the large, inconve

h all the small chores that

evenings were spent work

day Kate Reynolds was

taria

said coldly. 'I don't a

y liberated woman!'

her words implied and to

face. 'I'm not a liberate

she said

rl, don't let's get involve

anything in particular, so

l we? I promise you nothin

fancy you. Is that quite cl

d, 'Now, what do you

ere of the coffee room hi

Kate felt a strong prick o

shattering. 'I—I couldn't

s to thin

warn you, Miss Reynolds,

Because

won't do this crazy thing y

on J

ther has already taken it o

llow justice to

like a trickle of ice. She

e about a motoring offence

d defendant had looked wh

of the law still had the power to make her shiver. And Jerry's case would be much, much worse.

ust get back to the office

ke up your mind. If you d

e and we'll take it from th

and what to do,' he

the man's tall, broad ba

e table overlooked the ste

ain, running up agilely, a

—even the weather would

his c

rsuade her finally that if

d do exactly what he sa

ble cons

black coffee into her cup

o choice, was there? She h

confused and appalled he

woman couldn't. That w

forehead, willing herself

first priority was Father's

t

, she muttered between her

, if that's

doubts began to recede. Ou

verpowering, or herself so

ere was even a watery su

ience, she told herself. W

could mention casually tha

East. That would sound good. She was actually smiling faintly as she went up in the lift again to the top floor.

The luckless secretary had not come back yet and the outer office, when Kate knocked and went in, was empty. The door to the inner sanctum was ajar and voices came from inside

amused, said, 'You're not

then,

the deep, disdainful voice

was acutely conscious tha

ng grasp. 'Have a heart, Po

And, apart from that, can y

f a clergyma

, Paul dear. But are you qu

ers are little gre

said grimly. 'Wait

e sure she'l

her story was true and s

art, then she's got

to the palms of her hands

eally falls for you? Ha

d when it happens. But natu

t it do

The woman laughed again. 'If you weren't my brother I could slay you for that, Paul. You really are the limit!'

y more. If she got any angr

office and throw something at this impossible man—either that or dash away quickly and take a bus home, her mission having failed. Either course was an admission of defeat, and Kate had reached the stage where she wasn't going to admit defeat. She was going to get her own back on Mr Paul Caister if it was the last thing she did. Every word he uttered stiffened her resolution. Pulling herself up very straight and tightening the belt of her grey gabardine

office door wide, witho

le in her cle

urch mouse, Mr Caister—Pau

pick up the crumbs tha

ked she sat down and str

pleasantly, 'shall we g