'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.'