Tomorrow's Bride(10)

'Oh?' One dark eyebrow was raised questioningly. His tone was bland but  there was little doubt that he knew she was being difficult.

'Yes.' Contrarily Leigh was now regretting becoming involved; she would  hate Holly and Paul to imagine that she had such a sour view of life  that even the best of motives were suspect-she didn't want even him to  see her in that light-but now she had embarked... 'So many Westerners,  all with high standards of living. Isn't it quite difficult arranging  for supplies to be ferried in for large groups?'

"That, in fact, was no problem.' If she had rubbed him up the wrong way  he wasn't showing it. 'The organisation we belonged to has a rule: all  fieldworkers live at the same level as the natives. Of course that  wouldn't apply in famine conditions-little point in dropping people in  to swell the numbers starving-but where the subsistence level is low  everyone has to accept the local standards. Naturally, that isn't to say  that if someone became seriously ill he wouldn't be ferried out, but  no... we lived with the locals, ad as a result most of us lost the odd  half-stone while we were there...'

'I see.' Leigh was trying very hard not to blush; she sensed she was  failing but she did manage to produce a smile for her host and hostess.  She just hoped it wasn't too apologetic. 'Well, that would seem to be  the only sensible way to operate in the circumstances.'

A brief smile aimed at the other two faded as Patrick stared across the  table at Leigh. 'But the first shock of going there is when you arrive.  You're simply unprepared for the sheer beauty of the place. Your mind  has been programmed for the dirt and dust associated with grinding  poverty, but we came to Ashala in the early evening when the sun was  setting. There was a golden haze over the river, an air of such peace  and tranquillity that I wondered what we were doing there. It seemed so  much like the spot we'd all love to escape to.'

Even the cold look in his eyes could not damp down the wave of intense  melancholy and regret that swept through Leigh at the thought that she  might have gone with him, seen life through such different eyes  and-----He was continuing.

'But then, of course, things change.' Again his expression was adding to  the words, accusing her. 'Nature takes a hand, like the flood I just  mentioned...'

Paul was toying with his glass. "That must have been terrifying.'

'Strangely enough, it happened so quickly you had no time to think.  First of all the people tried to get the children away to higher  ground-the villages tend to lie along the riverbanks-then they came back  to try to save what they could. They're so hard-working, and certainly  don't deserve the opinion some of us have-----' and now his look was  even more critical '-that they ought to do more to help themselves. That  is precisely what they do, and in the long term they are the ones who  will win the battle against poverty and disease. Certainly it won't be  won by the pathetic hand-outs they get from the West.' His smile was  directed at his hostess, and was charming and self-mocking. 'Here ends  the lesson.'                       
       
           



       

'Thank you for telling us about it, Patrick. It must have been a worthwhile experience in every way.'

'Well, as I said, it sorts out the priorities. One's whole perspective  changes. All the minor things which were once so important seem to drift  away, and with luck-----' though he was no longer looking at her Leigh  had little doubt that this was a personal attack '-none of them will  ever be so important again.'

She was so involved with her own raised emotions, so highly sensitised  by everything he had said, that for a moment Leigh didn't realise they  were being invited through to the salon. There Holly began to pour  coffee, while urging her husband to refill glasses.

'As I said before-----' she handed a cup to Leigh while speaking to  Patrick '-I feel quite desperate that I didn't do something along those  lines years ago. And of course-----' here she wrinkled her brow with the  effort of remembering '---you did something along those lines too,  didn't you, Leigh?'

'I did?' Feeling colour rising in her cheeks and still more conscious of  those dark eyes trained to miss nothing, Leigh stared at her hostess in  an attempt to convey total discouragement. 'No, of course not...'

But Holly, involved with coffee and pressing Patrick to take cream, was  oblivious. 'Yes, you did.' She spared a quick glance towards her  husband. 'Drinks coming, darling? Of course you did, love.' She returned  to her theme. 'Remember that first Christmas when we were all going  skiing, but you wouldn't because you were involved with Crisis at  Christmas? At St Martin-in-the-Fields,' she explained to Patrick who,  Leigh could see without looking at him, was wearing his brooding  Heathcliff expression.

'That was nothing.' Paul's offer of a liqueur was a relief. 'No, not for  me, Paul.' She was normally abstemious, rarely drank more than two  glasses of wine, rarely wanted more. 'The wines were delicious, but I've  had enough.'

'And I seem to remember-----' Holly could be exasperatingly tenacious when she chose '-you drove a load of supplies to Romania.'

'Just a tiny one.' Even to herself she had never analysed her reasons  for doing those things, but certainly they had had nothing to do with …   anyone else...

She became aware that Paul was trying to make her to change her mind.  'It is a special occasion, after all-you and Holly meeting up like this  when you were such friends before...'

'Go on.' Holly joined her husband. 'Beside I... at least, Paul and I...  have a great favour 1 ask, and we want to try to get you into a  receptive mood.'

'We-ell.' For a moment she hesitated, and gave way. 'Just a very  little.' She watched Paul splash some of the amber liquid into a large  glass, took it and placed it on the nearby table. 'You said something  about a special favour...'

'Yes, a very special one.' Holly had always had | the inclination to make mysteries from the simplest events.

'Then if it's at all possible I'll be happy to do what I can.' Leigh had  a sinking feeling that she might be invited to act as nanny while the  parents took themselves off for a weekend break. Naturally she would  have to agree, so long as everyone understood that she knew nothing  about infants. 'And I don't need alcohol to persuade me. At least-----'  her eyes widened in a parody of apprehension '-I hope it isn't one of  those promises-the kind extracted when one's normal common sense has  gone out the window?'

Paul laughed. 'It might be best described as a lifetime's commitment.' But it was obvious he was teasing.

'Oh, dear, it's beginning to sound quite threatening.' And Leigh mopped  her forehead, still laughing at herself but still completely puzzled.

'Paul and I-----' Holly slipped a hand into her husband's' -would be thrilled if you would agree to be Pauli's godmother.'

'G-godmother.' The idea was so surprising that her mind went blank for a second, then her face flushed with pleasure.

'Please say you will,' Holly persuaded. "The christening is in two weeks' time, right here in Paris.'

'Well, of course.' Conscious of Patrick's close position, as well as the  colour coming and going her cheeks, she felt awkward and conspicuous.  'I would be flattered and delighted.'

'So you agree?' Holly's expression was total pleasure. 'Oh, thank you,  Leigh. There's no one else I wanted to ask. I'm so grateful to you both,  in fact. Patrick,' she explained, 'is to be one of the godfathers.'                       
       
           



       

And when Leigh's startled glance transferred to Patrick's face she could  tell from his raised eyebrow just how much sardonic amusement he was  deriving from her discomfiture.

'Oh, and I shall let you know all about timings in a day or two. It's  such a pity you're going to be so busy while you're in Paris.'

Before long, when, in spite of all Holly's promises, the baby showed no  sign of waking, Leigh, suddenly exhausted and very nearly as dejected as  she had been earlier, decided it was time to go, and would not be  persuaded otherwise.

'It is getting late.' Patrick glanced at his watch and got up. I'd  better go too. I'm sure you two are ready for bed-I just hope that Pauli  will realise that as well.' Forestalling Leigh, who was about to ask if  she could ring for a cab, he added, 'I can see Leigh safely into a cab.  It's easier to pick one up on the corner than to ring.'

It seemed boorish to object so she smiled as goodnights were said and  promises repeated, but when she and Patrick were walking to the lift she  allowed her irritation to simmer. He was equally silent, standing with  his jacket looped over his shoulder, till a sudden, unexpected spatter  of rain against the window made them glance round.

'Hmm. A bit of a squall.' As they stepped inside the lift his attention  was all on her, from the top of her head to her slender feet in strappy  impractical sandals. 'And you...' his voice had softened, though his  eyes were dark and sombre '... you are scarcely dressed for stormy  weather.'