Part 54 (1/2)

'Thank you.' He sat down and folded his arms across his chest. Now they were on the same level.

She waited. He took his time.

'Lydia, what you did last week was very wrong and your mother and I are deeply upset about your behaviour. You should be ashamed.' His brown eyes studied her. 'But I don't think you are. I have spoken to Wai and he tells me he hardly saw you all week and that you were always in the shed or in your room.' He glanced around him as if he might yet find Chang behind the door. 'Clearly you were with your Chinese friend. Is that correct?'

She nodded.

'And your friend is a fugitive Communist?'

She was more wary now.

'I do not intend to ask about the degree of . . . intimacy between you,' a red flush of embarra.s.sment made him pause, ' . . . but I trust you sufficiently to know that you . . . well . . . that you would not do anything unwise. Immoral or unchristian,' he added with sudden intensity.

'Alfred, he was ill. I nursed him. Is that unchristian?'

'Of course not, my dear. It is to be commended. The Good Samaritan, eh?'

'The Good Russian.'

It made him smile. 'Exactly.'

He was showing signs of beginning to relax. Only a little, but it was something. She picked up the coffee.

'Mmm, it's good,' she said. 'Thank you.'

He leaned back in the chair and unfolded his arms. 'What we have to discuss is where we go from here. I don't want to cause any of us unnecessary grief.'

She controlled her relief, keeping it from her eyes and her face. He was coming around.

'So I feel I must remind you of the promise you gave me in the teashop. Our bargain.'

Her relief ebbed away. She brushed a hand across her face to hide her disappointment. 'So what orders are you giving me?'

'Lydia, I don't like that tone of voice. I do not consider the word orders orders to be appropriate, but I am saying that you must not see this Chinese Communist again. It is too dangerous for you.' to be appropriate, but I am saying that you must not see this Chinese Communist again. It is too dangerous for you.'

'No. Please.'

'I insist.'

Lydia could feel her face slowly fall apart. She hid it in her hands.

There was a long silence in the room. Then he was on the bed beside her. 'There, there, my dear. It's for the best. Don't cry.' He patted her shoulder.

She wasn't crying. Just dying.

'Alfred,' she said through her fingers, 'how would you feel if I said you must never see my mother again?'

'That's different.'

'It's not.'

'Oh Lydia, my dear girl. You are too young to be going through such despair.'

'Please, Alfred. Let me see him.'

He stroked her head, and she knew by the touch of his hand he was going to say no. She sat up and suddenly smiled at him.

'Mama told me you want a baby.'

He blushed fiercely and looked away, at the snow on the sill outside where a sparrow was fluttering, its feathers ruffled against the cold.

'I think it's wonderful, Alfred.'

'Really?'

'Yes, I do.'

'Excellent.'

He was delighted. She could see it in his eyes, and it touched her that he should care what she thought.

'So how about another bargain?'

'Pardon?'

'A bargain again. I'll do everything I can to persuade Mama to come around to the idea of having a baby, if you . . .'

'No.'

'Let me say it. If you let me visit Chang An Lo while he's at Mr Theo's house.'

'Look, Lydia, I . . .'

'Mr Theo can always be in the room. We'd never be alone, I promise. Please. I need to see that he's getting better and is still safe.'

'I'm not happy about it.' He frowned at her, but his eyes were softer.

'It matters to me so much,' she said quietly.

He took a deep breath. Teetered on the edge.

'A baby would be lovely,' she urged.

His mouth widened into a smile, despite himself. 'You are a very persuasive young lady, you know.'