Edges of love

were turned towards Kat

woman's dancin

rned you, didn't I? The li

hand towards Kate. 'I'm P

u needn't scowl like that.

g up a game

ver a small chair near the

s the word for this youn

oned urchin cut of her glea

t, with an enormous silver

ned to the lapel. A short f

he looked much youn

quired. A quick turn of h

you,

against the window-frame

ng irritation on his

he said

t him and looked back towa

lous game that Paul's

ether on her lap, pleased

s. And as your brother poin

me,' she a

t bet on being engaged to

me

ient movement of his broa

w the score. I

nd on his coat sleeve. 'No

Never mind, dear, I'm sure Kate will help you out splendidly.' She threw a wicked grin at Kate.

the man's eyes on her. Fur

ing some clapped-out j

would start. 'We'll just

desk and picked up a lett

o get back to the really

irritated by f

ough today, Polly. I'm det

gets back.' He tossed the l

ve all his attention to his

he best you can. Get this

e me when you fix what fl

he added as an

ark brows and lifted one h

together

tten.' Paul yanked a che

tore it out, all in one

er

gine so. I'll ask your agent

?' She folded the cheque an

et you know if w

t and slung it 'round her s

to be a captain of industr

expensive perfume mov

at the top of the man's b

ead of dark hair seemed

ye, Mr Caister,'

ot meeting her eyes. 'Go

ack to t

his lips stirred someth

as she going to manage to

o managed to arouse such intense hosti

Polly shrugged her arms in

cab to take me to the

Can I drop

other way. I'll get a tube

r from

u're sure. Well now, look,

o my place tomorrow morni

n the shop at half past ni

ine? Could you

was beyond wondering wha

was to be alone to face all

emselves to the s

and we'll make plans. 'Bye

off across the tiled hall

de

y Chard lived in a world

own world as it could po

to be friendly—which wa

You couldn't he

ld drizzle of the autumn da

ot in this nightm

n hour later she found J

e looked white and haggard

ment she came

I can guess how it went. I

nd sit

, old-fashioned kitchen.

me this morning she had dr

n half-heartedly applying for jobs since they moved,

ome money soon, but the

loomed larger in her mind t

f

atiently. 'Yes, he's okay

been taken t

by the fire, sank into t

rd ea

lot of thinking since you

've been feeling an absolute

ult and, I should have face

sly. 'Was i

Jerry had been penitent be

sm at school—the period, l

ost of , his time with som

lectures—that awful bus

nts about drug-taking (for

ugh). It all came

pleasant intervi

at brute Caister didn't

l Caister seemed to float

really,' she said. For some reason she didn't want to discuss Paul Caister with Jerry.

did he

him carefully. 'I explain

and there, but I think he'

does anythi

s anxiously. 'But what di

have got some idea whether he was going to ‑' he swallowed'—to put me in the dock.'

n't know, Jerry. I really

She glanced quickly at h

o you think he's guessed y

word and I don't think he'

how I was and if I wanted

and that I was much better

ck to work tomorrow. That

us

lessly over to the table, t

en! That was a good job I

, have got transferred to

better, I could have got re

mucked up my

ly angry with himself, not

had gone wrong. He wasn'

nged, either. Perhaps Jerr

t another chance he wo

l Dad?' he said. 'Break it t

st happens? I will, Kate,

ey came and—and took m

ry really was thinking of

ng yet,' she told him! 'Wait

how he is. H

ead at the sound of steps

door opened and Father st

weed suit, greying, stooped

which seemed to Kate to ha

thought, wit

aid. He dropped two unope

t of the fire, rubbing his

t to th

ut to the hospital urgently— old Mrs Warren from up t

ead worriedly. 'She should

hty. It's

Kate asked, although she c

of the many lonely peopl

assistance so

into the fire in silence

ad it had happened. With

comfortable for a while.

tolerable for her when s

omes

utting one on Jerry's sho

y, two such grand children

a

lay on her shoulder. It

a surge of compassion, faci

y been middle-aged when he

y-five. Retiring age. But

imself into the — She bit

er thoughts

e vowed, because he'll ne

ll the cruelties and sorro

d curiously

e thought he

ade some of your favourit

over to the cooker. 'Would

n have a rest on the couch

he stove befor

'Thank you, my dear, that would be splendid.' He looked down at Jerry. 'You're really feeling better, my boy? You had a nasty turn, you mustn't hurry back to work.'

hunching his shoulders a

nd thre

Reynolds turned to his d

rocious morning. How did

t to hear al

e cooker and picked up a l

ll you when I br

'That means I'm in the coo

lf off and rea

got up and moved restless

l! He looked tired, Kate,

g to

n of soup. 'Leave it, Jerry,

g you

ter's deep, disdainful vo

n himself,' and she fe

r. 'Look, Kate, I can't st

ing to tell Da

oon and it fell with a clat

mbled past her. 'No, Jerry

ea

ing at her wildly, the blo

en't told me, Kate. 1st th

Suggest som

ently she picked up the sp

t may be a way out. But I ca

to wait. But if you go and

Now, go and sit

t to say something and th

lence Kate set a tray with bread and

he obstacles she had been

bstacles that loomed larg

t abou

aul Caister to shrug off h

s?' There were plenty. If

e house? Who would clea

roning? Who would attend t

ld-fashioned house in all t

fully, that Father was no

enough

o of them—would probably

ough, not in the pr

e stove in his shabby, muchloved leather chair. He

led at her as she set the

me and talk to me while I

for

the rug at his feet and wa

ter, she thought, with a w

had shown any enthusiasm

Sun

a little. But even so, cou

And if she didn't accept P

what might happen to Jerr

ainfully in two d

ow, tell me about your in

ook for a job. She was wa

woefully,

lly. She twiddled a strand

afraid it's not really on

month, almost

ad? W

the idea. 'The other side

expression; if he showe

d tell the Caister man s

dictive enough to keep his

ve to r

his chair and she could fi

'Well now, that sounds ab

on, my dear, to get an offe

houldn't miss the opportu

njoy it, wo

ands. 'I suppose it woul

nkling as she lifted her o

man he was amazingly per

ing after myself while

plessly. 'Well,

ee, the matter might not ar

me if you can doubt that

He chu

d recognised the firm, no-

r father's younger sister a

le Tom's death, two years

ld move south to be nearer

t. She was, she argued, t

ved her cottage. She had

a living in London. She co

ld choose to live in su

th her own brand of dry

chosen to move—so that he

rancis, This will no doub

it you for a few weeks. It

poor old cottage and it has to have one wall entirely r

living under tarpaulin at

mount to) I'm begging your

orking my passage as wel

dy of an aunt, then it migh

u tell me she's been too b

at by now she would be q

er, clever girl that she is

with me. I should so enj

d even tolerate the horror

tionate si

adness in her father's face

timely. Oh, it will be so

e put on his glasses and s

, here it is. An epistle f

idering the possibility of

d who's anxious to take H

actical side of the work, w

n the beat, so to speak, be

asks for my though

t-looking missive and be

s abound on my

e Bishop jolly well knows

re you don't wea

erself. But everything was

nues of escape from her

putting a hand gently on he

y mind. You'll let them kno

Yes, I suppose there's not

found Jerry prowling a

ruptly and stood stock sti

he tried to grin. 'What's the ve

nch and I'll tell you.' Sh

Jerry the precise facts, a

d. 'Engaged to Caister? Yo

man li

crossly. 'It's only a sh

his own. Don't ask me what

r lip curl

t w

he told him impatiently. 'I

cy for you, for Father's s

he offered me a bargain.

e for a month, while he wa

erativ

thank you, you're the abs

ulously. 'Hong Kong,

,' she sai

e all right, you always cope

uch of anxiety. 'You don'

ience for you, going abro

o travel

in front of him. 'All right

unt Ella will be coming f

re while

.' He looked slightly cha

er of a job in Hong Kong fo

ow. Und

ised fervently. 'Oh gosh, I

e the best of it,

ade short work of his b

ng in his shabby jeans and

nly three and a half

u do,' s

te, next morning, to find th

—very small, just a sliv

s on one side and a bespo

was situated at the e

exquisite gown, a swirlin

omposed of a myriad tiny pl

pe of rich bitter-chocolat

t was Polly's touch, Kate

iful, sophisticated cloth

ot the tre

erself in the jeweller's

in a short grey coat ove

't look like a drowned rat

in Polly Chard's league—

th

g out to impress him. He

anted her for this scheme of

he

night, and in the small h

aul Caister. She would be

e had let him get under h

her. He wouldn't do it a

he was now, and she would

oss. She would work for hi

be over. Meanwhile she w

wing that it would help her

resolution, she pressed the

he shop entran

said tinnily, 'Yes,

d Polly said, 'Oh yes, of

p, the doo

er dark staircase, to find

ith a thick twisted rope o

oked s

d, taking her arm. 'You're

leaving in a m

hadn't expected him to be

s hadn't quite

your dear little grey mou

ent to the far end of the

was sending out

ly aware of the colours an

ped the room with Polly's

stered was the form of the

acing the teleph

poured in, putting a glo

ar-cut features. He was we

t in fawn, and he looked e

lise yet another milli

r Kate without expre

?' She lifted her chin a

olu

' He walked towards the d

would be stupid to turn dow

ong

She said coldly, 'My acceptance had nothing to do with a free holiday, you know that.'

way. We'll have to see h

won't you, Polly? I'll exp

ur

be my transport,' he sa

inute,' s

as at a docile puppy who

his attent

mportant thing—what d

l him? Tell him to get on

of the petty cash

trike that hard, sneering f

t he can't just walk in as

partment knows

rs impatiently. 'That's al

nything

m, his hard arrogance, his

is sister, across the room.

glance just sk

m, her dark eyes dancing.

cée goodb

think of everything,

e an idea. We must star

nk as he moved towards her

nst him with a steady stre

o her face and she could f

ers. She pressed her lips

e her, a fluttering w

practice might be in order before we appear in public

nsuously,

she had been in any state

be as brief, as perfunct

treatment of her up to

had never been kissed lik

g kiss, a beginning witho

pen and harden. Her eyes c

s if he had been her lover

heartily

nd reached for the back of

her, his dark eyes narrow

well, not a little grey mou

ollar of her rose-colour

r a moment. 'I shall have to

n't

lly, who was watching this

e mouse,' he said. 'Dress it

ing to

He walked to the door, picked up his air-travel cases and lifted a hand in farewell. Kate had time to notice the mocking smile that touched the corners of his mouth before he went out. She stared dazedly at the door he had just closed, aware that Polly had spoken to her but that the words hadn't registered. 'I'm sorry?' she queried, feeling a fool.

Polly was smiling broadly. 'Knocked you off your balance, did he? Paul's an expert, I'm given to understand by his girl-friends. What I said was would you like some coffee?'

'Oh. Oh, yes that would be lovely, thank you.' Kate followed the beautifullypoised black-suited back down the long room, wishing for just half Polly's composure.

Polly poured coffee into a beaker and said, 'I'll have to go down and open up soon, but I don't suppose I'll have anyone in yet. Let's just sit and drink our coffee, then you can come down with me and see what you fancy in the way of

e a hefty cheque, so yo

at kiss, coming so unexpec

s, had left her feeling to

. She blinked at Polly. '

Her voice sou

I know, it's all been a bi

g, once he makes up his m

e acted on impulse, but n

dds like a human computer

mouth. That kiss had be

dn't like that sort of kis

ough. I'm not a pink suga

, I'm not any

her thoughtfully. 'N

ression,' Kate continued,

nervous and at a disadvan

Paul told me, and I thin

ful t

darkly. 'He's quite old enou

I didn't do it for jerry's

e couldn't take the strain

ce terribly. Then when Jer

d to come and see your br

hink I was very hopeful re

nt to listen, he

wry face. 'I kn

his proposal that he would

if I would go out to Hong Kong to act as his fiancée for a month I hadn't any choice but to agree. I suppose all this gave him the impression that I'm some sort

k little

e that Paul's got quite a

he bargain and I won't be a

. Could I ask you ju

her coffee beaker and prepa

all face lively

a fiancée for a limited pe

to predatory females, I i

erfectly capable of delive

, then Polly said, 'I don

onal affairs—certainly not

e. I mean—well,

t liked what she'd seen, bu

blend of masterful arr

the power to make women

your life, M

he coffee beakers into the

owed

lic,' his sister mused. 'I

back from Hong Kong a

ounced that he was going

lle. I introduced them myse

gorgeous thing imaginab

d, violet-eyed beauties. P

I'd see the day that Paul

r out to Hong Kong with

kers and set them t

the night before last,' Pol

he showed it to me. Well,

than I've ever seen him

Polly. Don't ask me why, a

side him, waiting to burst into flames. He's n

ory, as far as I know it, ex

ce. I expect

living room and Kate a

law unto himself, as they

ill be expecting him-to pr

ne and telex—he's bound t

them she'd turned him do

I'm a glamorous model. To

mouse or pink mouse

I'm not so sure. Moonlight

e the poets say—you know

tely got something. Hasn't

uti

—men say all sorts of n

don't have to

ter. 'Bright as well—the gi

ome really super

o take so much trouble,'

,' Polly assured her, 'and

my marriage broke up a c

He set me up here, as a m

I've nearly paid him bac

s—our parents both died ,

mischievous small face wa

ome along downstairs and

a selection up here and

em

o the window, eyes narrow

out to start work

sed. 'The latest in make-u

ong Kong when you get out

ul is going to get more

was being kind, but not

r would be impressed by

Mouse she was to him a

down the steep flight of s

ay her knees had felt wea

e had never felt before had

o

always get exactly what

l

hought, gripped by uneasy

han I barg

ks ahead were full of n