“I shouldn’t know. I’ve come to the conclusion I know very little about anyone. People always behave unexpectedly in my life. Perhaps, like you, I am not a good judge of character.”
“Who said I wasn’t a good judge?”
“I did. But that’s only sour grapes. I always wanted you to admire me, to think I was clever and brilliant, even when I was a little girl. Instead, you just looked superior, with a ‘girls don’t count’ sort of attitude.”
“Listening to you I begin to believe I’m a rotten sort of fellow.”
“Listening to me,” Mona retorted, “you’ll learn that you’re just a little bit smug.”
“How do you know. You’ve been away a long time. I might have altered.”
“So you might,” she agreed reflectively. “I never thought of that. Have you altered Michael? What have you been doing? Having dashing, romantic love affairs?”
“Perhaps.”
“Oh, how thrilling! And nobody’s told me. Who with?”
“I thought you were against confessions.”
“Touché,” Mona exclaimed. “But I have an idea that you are trying to drive a hard bargain. I’ll tell you if you’ll tell me. But how do I know there’s really anything to tell? Of course, that dark, handsome reserve of yours has its points. The strong, silent man, an English Gary Cooper. Michael, I believe you are a dark horse and I have never realised it.”
“And what happens now do you think?” Michael inquired.
“I can’t think,” Mona said mockingly, “except it’s rather more exciting for me to realise that here, next door, is a strange, and shall we say attractive man, about whom I know nothing. I believe I shall have to flirt with you.”
“Your mother would be delighted.”
Mona laughed.
“All right, that’s one to you. You have altered, Michael. I have a feeling that you most definitely might be amusing. Let’s go down and see what the others are doing now. I expect they’ll only play one rubber. The General never stays out late.”
She rose to her feet and stood shaking out the folds of her dress. Michael had risen, too, and was looking down at her.
“A most interesting little talk, Major Merrill!” she said frivolously.
Then she gave a little gasp for Michael, coming suddenly close to her, put his arms round her.
“Michael!” she exclaimed, but the words died on her lips as his mouth crushed hers.
He kissed her fiercely, almost brutally, holding her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. Then abruptly he let her go. She stood swaying with the surprise of his action, one hand against her breast, the other against her cheek.
“Michael!” she exclaimed again.
“Isn’t that what you’ve been asking for?” he inquired, and his voice was as insulting as if he had slapped her. “I thought you were trying to flirt with me.”
For a moment she stared at him, as if he had suddenly gone mad, and then the warm colour flooded up her white neck and over her cheeks. She drew in her breath, and without speaking swept across the polished floor towards the door.
Seven
They came down the oak stairway in silence, Mona moving in front of Michael, her head held high. As she reached the hall, she heard someone knocking on the front door.
‘I expect Nanny’s gone to bed,’ she thought, and crossing the hall raised the heavy iron latch.
A man stood outside, and when the light shone on him Mona could see that he was wearing Air Force uniform.
“Is Dr. Howlett here?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mona replied. “Do you want to speak to him?”
“I want him to come at once,” the man answered. “My child’s hurt himself badly.”
“I’ll fetch the doctor,” Mona said. “Won’t you come in?”
“It’s Squadron-Leader Archer, isn’t it?” she heard Michael say.
A few seconds later Dr. Howlett came hurrying into the hall.
“What’s the matter, Archer?” he asked. “One of the kiddies ill?”
“Gerry’s cut himself,” the Squadron-Leader replied. “He woke up and asked for a drink of milk and my wife gave it to him in a glass. She only turned her back for a moment but he managed to break it and he’s bleeding pretty badly.”
“I’ll come at once,” the doctor said. “Thank goodness my bag’s in the car! I have the sense never to leave it at home these days.”
He put on his thick coat. On an impulse Mona slipped into one of the old tweed coats that her mother habitually kept hanging in a cupboard by the front door.
“I’m coming with you,” she said shortly, when Dr. Howlett looked at her inquiringly.
“Tell Dorothy where I’ve gone, will you?” the doctor asked Michael.
