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taking her by the hand and leading her to the dance
floor.
His arm went round her and they were off ...
from then on, it was a nightmare for Megan. She
knew Patrick was doing everything in his power to
make her dance badly, or bungle it and look a fool.
He tried everything. Every trick that luckily she
knew so well and how to combat and even anticipate.
If only she was in Craig's arms, she found herself
thinking.
That startled her, for it was the first time she had
thought of him as Craig and not Craig Lambert.
Now what had made her do that? Was it the
memory of the wonder of the dance she had shared
with him? the strength of his arm, the courtesy of his
leading, the ... togetherness, there was no better
word for it, the togetherness of dancing. She
couldn't forget it. She would never forget it.
This was the exact opposite. It was a battle one
she was determined to win.
As the music stopped, Patrick let her go. He looked
thoughtful.
'You're a darned good dancer, Meg,' he said,
sounding surprised. 'You're wasting your time
teaching kids. You could make a fortune if you
96
 became a professional.'
' I'm happy where I am.'
They walked back towards the buffet tables. ' I
can't get it. How can you stand that man?' said
Patrick, his voice disgusted. ' It must be a night-
mare to have him always prowling around.'
' He doesn't prowl around!'
' That's what you think, Meg. I bet he knows
every single thing about you.'
Megan felt herself blush. Patrick was so right.
' He may have a reason,' she said stiffly. ' At this
sort of school, you've got to be careful who you
employ.'
' Too right,' Patrick laughed. ' So you're one of
the chosen few. All the same, I wouldn't work for
him. Rather starve. You just can't trust the man.'
'Patrick, Dad told me you said Mr Lambert
had . . . well, nearly ruined you. What did he do ?'
She saw the shock, on her brother's face. ' Dad
shouldn't have told you.'
' He was worried about you and very upset. But
I want^to know what Mr Lambert did.'
Patrick lifted his hand and waved to someone.
' It's too long a story to tell you now, Meg. Next time
you come over, I will. Now Georgina and I have
to dance. We give exhibition dancing always at
the hotel on Saturday nights, you know, so this is an
extra. Georgina and I are very popular. See you!'
^ Gradually the room was cleared, the guests stand-
ing or sitting in a big circle, leaving the centre of the
room for the two dancers.
Megan leant against a wall and watched. Patrick
was still as good a dancer, but this time he was
dancing differently from the way he had danced with
" her! She could see how he guided Georgina He
g was undoubtedly, the strongest. But Georgina was
..graceful and good and they deserved the wild
^applause they got as they finished the different dances
I and then bowed to the audience.
'" ---TO.ig'g
' Megan ma cherie, for you I have been looking,'
a deep voice said, and she turned to find Gaston
Duval by her side.
Something inside her seemed to be doing a wild
dance. She decided it was her heart. It wasn't fair
that any man should be so handsome.
' Hullo,' she said, trying to keep her voice calm.
His hand closed over her arm, sliding down it to
take her hand in his and lift it to his mouth.
' I saw you dance with Patrick. Very good, you
were. You are wasting your life at that school, my
little Megan. You are too good a dancer.'
Megan laughed. ' That's what Patrick said, but I
like my job.'
' This is something I have no power to under-
stand,' Gaston said, leaning against her a little, his
hand still holding hers tightly. ' How can you work
 with that pig?' he added angrily.
' Look, Mr Lambert isn't. . .'
' Excuse me, Megan, it's time we went back,' a
voice said.
Gaston seemed to jump, dropping Megan's hand
as if it burned him. ' And who is this?' he asked.
' Frank Parr, my ... my friend,' said Megan.
' Frank, this is Gaston Duval.'
The two men stared at one another. They were so
different that Megan found herself tempted to laugh.
Just as Frank was insignificant, so unobtrusive
with his pale skin, his light brown hair, his ordinary
unexciting features so Gaston was the reverse with
his lean handsome face, jet-black hair, dark warm
eyes and that smile . . . No one could ever overlook
Gaston, she thought.
'What's the time?' Megan asked, and when
Frank told her, she gasped. ' We must go! Miss
Tucker doesn't like us to be out too late.'
' And what right has this . . . this Miss Tuck . . .
Tucker to say it is time for you to be in bed?' Gaston
asked stiffly.
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 'The headmistress,' Megan said, and laughed.
' Look, say goodbye to Patrick and Georgina for us,
Gaston. Come on, Frank.' She took Frank's hand
and smiled at Gaston. ' Good-night,' she said.
They walked to the car in silence. Frank only
spoke as he drove away.
' So you've fallen, hook, line and sinker,' he said
with a strange sadness in his voice.
: 'Oh, Frank, not really, it's just . . .' Megaa
began.
' I know. Just... I don't blame you. I've never
- met a woman yet who hasn't fallen for that sexy face
; and that smooth smile,' Frank said bitterly. ' Just
: imagine being married to him and knowing that he
; could get any girl he wants just by smiling at her.'
' I'm not thinking of marrying him,' Megan said
quickly.
Or had she? she asked herself. If you let yourself
love a man like Gaston, you would be jealous, posses-
sive and determined to make him your own . . . You
wouldn't be able to help it, she knew.
' Look, this is only the-second time I've met him,'
she began again as the car shot along the deserted
road towards the school, the beams of light showing
up the palm trees and the flowering shrubs.
' I imagine the first was enough to do the damage.'
Frank looked down at the shadow by his side. ' Just
watch out, Meg. You're too sweet a kid to get hurt,
and a man like that can really harm you. I wish . . .
oh, how I wish you'd never come here,' he said with
a sigh.
Megan sat up. ' Frank, that isn't a very nice
thing to say. I thought you liked me,' she said
accusingly.
His hand covered hers for a moment and then left
it.
' That's the trouble, kid,' he said. ' I like you
too much, and I'm darned afraid you're going to get
hurt.'
99 -
"^"" " " '4'^1
' Oh, Frank, don't worry. I'm not a child.'
' Aren't you?' Frank gave an odd little laugh.
' I'm just wondering what trouble we're getting into
tomorrow.'
' It's not as late as that,' she protested. ' It's only
three o'clock.'
But three o'clock was unforgivable in Miss
Tucker's eyes, as she had no hesitation in telling
Megan next day, after sending for her.
' I understand you were not back until three
o'clock this morning,' she said, her cheeks red with
anger, her eyes cold. * This is ho example to set our
young people.'
How had Miss Tucker known? Megan wondered.
It could only be Petronella Weston! Had she lain [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]