PAGAN ADVERSARY Read Free Page B

quite
    capable of bringing him up. And that's what I intend to do,' she added
    in a little rush.
    As she fumbled with the door handle she was afraid that he might
    come after her and stop her leaving, but he didn't move, and at last she
    got the door open and shot through it into the outer room under Miss
    Greystoke's startled gaze.
    As she reached the corridor she was crying, and she made straight for
    the staff cloakroom on the ground floor. Fortunately it was
    unoccupied, and she sank down on the bench against the wall and let
    her emotions have their way with her. She was sick and trembling
    when the tears finally stopped, and the face which stared back at her
    from the mirror looked pale and ravaged. She bathed her eyes with
    cool water, and let the tap run over her wrists in an attempt to steady
    her racing pulses. Then she snatched her blazer from its peg and slung
    it round her shoulders.
    Her thoughts weren't particularly coherent, but the necessity to get
    Nicky out of London predominated. She had no idea where to go, or
    how to find a hiding place which Alex Marcos' money would not
    disclose, but speed was of the essence.
    She had a little money in her bag, and more at the flat, and some
    savings in a building society. If she went to one of the big stations in
    the rush hour, she thought feverishly, it was unlikely anyone would
    remember a girl with a young child. She would travel as far as she
    could afford, and pretend Nicky was hers—that she was an unmarried
    mother. She could disguise herself, she thought wildly, dye her hair,
    or buy a wig. If she could lie low for long enough, surely Alex
    Marcos would get tired of looking for them and return to Greece.
    She bit her lip. There was no way she could make that sound
    convincing to herself. I said I'd fight him, so I'm damned if I'll just
    give in without a struggle, she thought.
    She felt guilty about leaving the company without a word of
    explanation, or handing in her notice but she had no alternative. She
    didn't think anyone had seen her leaving the building, but she kept
    glancing behind her as she anxiously waited for a bus.
    Manda looked surprised as she opened the door. 'You're early,' she
    exclaimed. 'I've just put him down for a nap.'
    'Yes,' Harriet forced a smile. 'I'm sorry, Manda, but I must take him
    with me. And he won't be coming tomorrow—or until further notice.
    In fact I don't know if—or when.
    Manda gave her a searching look. 'The kettle's just boiled,' she said.
    'Go and make yourself a cup of something while I get Nicky up and
    put his coat on. On your own head be it too,' she added as Harriet
    moved obediently towards the kitchen. 'He's hell if he's woken before
    he's ready.'
    Nicky was plainly disgruntled when he appeared in Manda's arms,
    but still too sleepy to be real hell. He held his arms out imperatively to
    Harriet, who look him, her welcoming smile wavering as she felt his
    warm little body curling trustingly into her lap.
    'Don't squeeze him to death,' advised Manda, refilling her own cup.
    'What's the matter? Has the Wicked Uncle appeared and started
    putting pressure on?' "
    Harriet nodded, and Manda sighed. 'Well, I suppose it was inevitable.'
    She put out a hand and affectionately ruffled Nicky's thick dark hair.
    'Goodbye, love. Our yard today—a millionaires' playground
    tomorrow. Can't be bad.'
    'He's not having him!' Harriet's voice was fierce.
    'I admire your spirit, but I don't think you're being very realistic.'
    Manda sounded almost matter-of-fact. 'Greeks are very patriarchal,
    you know, and Nicky has Marcos blood in his veins. And just
    suppose you did persuade his uncle to let you keep him—do you
    think Nicky would always be grateful? Unless he was superhuman,
    he might start reckoning up on some of the things he'd missed out on.'
    'That's—horrible,' Harriet said slowly.
    'Yes, isn't it?' Manda agreed. 'But being an orphan doesn't
    automatically confer sanctity as well, you know.'
    'So you think I should