A Mortal Sin (14 page)

“No, but I don’t want to be hurt again.”

“I won’t hurt you, Daphne. I love you.”

“How many women have you told that too?”

“None.”

Her laughter was high pitched, bordering on hysterical. “Don’t lie to me, Paul, I couldn’t stand it. I wouldn’t be able to survive if you betrayed me again.”

Her face was white with distress, her lips trembling and vulnerable, and in a simple pink cotton dress she looked about fifteen.

“Listen to me.” He grasped her hands and held them tightly. “There have been other women, quite a number. Beautiful too. I liked them, but I never mentioned the word love to any of them.”

“You slept with them?”

“Yes, I did with some. I’m a single, healthy man with the usual male urges, and I’ve never claimed to be a monk. How are things at home?”

“Mum and Dad were terribly upset when Robbie ran away to join up. We didn’t hear anything from him for over a year.”

“Stupid young devil.”

“I think he’s beginning to wish he hadn’t been so rash. He’s not like Tom, who was always restless and craving excitement. Robbie felt he should do his bit for our country.”

“You know something, Daphne. When I found out Allison Clarke was my mother I felt terrible because of you, but if it hadn’t been for that, I couldn’t have chosen anyone nicer myself. I really believe that as much as my father could love a woman, he did love her. My stepmother Isobel is neurotic, was from the start of their marriage apparently. He’s certainly rued the day he met and married her.”

“Perhaps that’s his punishment for what he did. It’s strange, you know what hurt Mum most about the whole affair?”

“No.”

“Your father deprived her of having Tommy Calvert’s baby. He was her one true love. For years she thought there was nothing of him left, that’s why there’s a special bond between her and Tom. In normal circumstances, a woman being confronted with her husband’s illegitimate offspring would be devastated, but she was glad.

“What are you saying? Tom’s not her son?”

“No. Tommy Calvert had a fling the night before he left for the Great War; he and Mum had argued and Tom’s the result of that. Tom’s mother died and Mum ended up with him. She always loved Tommy, they were soul mates. She showed me all of his letters once. They were really poignant. They were married only ten days before he went overseas and never came back. Her brother got killed too, and she was left to struggle on all alone.”

“Your father, um, Frank?”

“She loves Dad, I know it, he does too, but not in the same way as Tommy. With his dying breath Tommy tried to make things easier for his Allison, but only made them worse. Do you know how your father got you away from Dixon’s Siding?”

“No. I read the letter he must have taken from young Calvert. It was covered in blood. It contained a photo too, but I never saw it, that’s why I came to Australia originally. I traced Allison Calvert to Dixon’s Siding and to a dead end. I met you a few days later and gave up the search. Back then, I couldn’t understand why she let my father take me away, but after finding out how I was conceived, well...”

“No, you mustn’t think like that. Mum loved you. She really did. Your father virtually kidnapped you. He couldn’t marry Mum, so he wanted to set her up as his mistress.”

“What!”

“It’s true. Mum told me she was prepared to go even on those terms rather than lose you, but I came on the scene to complicate matters further. Your father gave her an ultimatum, leave me or he’d go to England without her. My real mother and Allison were close friends, and she had promised to care for me. She would have taken me to England, too, but your father took off without us.”

“Why didn’t she go to the police?” His mouth twisted slightly

“When Tommy Calvert lay dying on the battlefield he confessed to Phillip about killing Allison’s drunken father. Phillip threatened to have Mum implicated.”

 Paul’s face blanched. “I knew the old man could be ruthless, but I never thought even he was capable of stooping to something so diabolical.”

They sat without speaking for a time, each with their own thoughts. Paul finally broke the silence between them.

“Will you come out with me tonight? I know of a nice little place called the Tanglin Club that stays open until four in the morning. There are lots of places to see here. I could take you to the theatre, anywhere you like.” He sounded quite boyish in his endeavor to please.

“I’ll go to dinner with you, but somewhere quiet, please.”

“Pick you up about eight?”

“Yes, that will be nice.” Daphne sat watching until he drove away then slowly walked inside.

“You going out with him?” Molly met her in the hallway.

“Yes. Common sense tells me not to, but my heart won’t listen. I think I’ll have a lie down, I feel exhausted.”

Molly stared after this pretty, frail looking girl. Ever since they first met at the QueenVictoriaHospital, she had felt protective towards Daphne.

Men had never interested her. Self-centered bastards only wanted pretty, flighty little things. She was thirty-eight and had rarely been out with a man. Would never find a husband now. Never know the joy of bearing a child.

People thought her an oddity but she didn’t care. Her caustic tongue, mannish hairstyle and manner, would never endear her to the British populace. Daphne and her native patients were the panacea for all the snubs and slights she endured. No, Paul Ashfield would not add Daphne to his list of conquests in the Far East.

Daphne hadn’t gone into much detail about his previous betrayal, but it didn’t take a genius to guess what happened. I won’t let that bloody snob get away with doing it again. Poor, sweet Daphne had suffered enough already.

* * *

Right on eight o’clock, Paul arrived wearing a dark lounge suite. Daphne wore a plain oatmeal colored crepe dress, with a little governess jacket of jade taffeta over it.

“You look beautiful.” His appreciative male eyes appraised her. “Ready?” He put out his arm and she took it. As they left, Molly stared straight into Paul’s face.

Snobbish bastard, she thought. “Have a nice evening,” she said.

“Thanks, I won’t be too late,” Daphne promised.

As soon as they drove off Molly picked up the phone. Given time and the right circumstances, Daphne would get over Paul Ashfield. Major Paul Ashfield was not going to hurt her again, not while there’s breath left in my body, she vowed.

The small, intimate club overlooked the sea. Daphne, who had never been here before, glanced around with interest. There was a softly lit garden courtyard with several large palm trees and tropical plants.

“It’s beautiful, Paul.”

A Japanese waiter in a spotless white uniform greeted them on arrival.

“Major Paul Ashfield.”

“This way, Sir.” He spoke deferentially, but Daphne, glancing up as he held the chair out, caught something akin to hatred burning in his eyes. What had Molly said? Japanese were infiltrating legitimate businesses to spy on government and military officials. She gave an apprehensive shiver.

“Will you let me order for you?” Paul’s fingers stroked her knuckles.

“Yes, please.”

“Grapefruit first followed by soup.”

Daphne ate hungrily. Her appetite had been wretched since her arrival in Singapore. She always blamed it on the climate, but everything tasted different tonight because Paul was here.

The orchestra played a soft romantic number. It was a dream come true to be back in his strong arms once more. She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes to savor his nearness, inhale his special male scent and feel the heat emanating from his body. Please, God, don’t let him hurt me again, I couldn’t survive it a second time.

His breath stirred her short hair, when he whispered. “The music has stopped, Sunshine.”

He held her hand as they made their way back to their table. He briefly acknowledged the greetings of several couples he obviously knew, but made no attempt to join them.

“This place is wonderful.” She paused from eating a delicious asparagus roll.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Her mouth was curved into a soft, sweet smile and her hand touched his often, as they ate. He groaned inwardly as he fought to suppress the tumultuous feelings she aroused in him. God, he wanted her desperately.

“Coffee and liqueur?” he asked.

“Just coffee thanks.”

He ordered two coffees, plus a brandy for himself. He was desperate to take her somewhere so they might make love for the rest of the night, but dared not suggest it.

How could he blame her for being suspicious of him under the circumstances? She had every reason to distrust him and that’s why he decided not to tell her about Caroline Bowater. Why the hell did he ever let himself be maneuvered into getting engaged to her? He would have to do the decent thing and write to Caroline, asking to be released from the arrangement.

He kissed Daphne briefly when they returned to the doctor’s house that evening. The feel of her soft, tremulous lips nearly drove him insane, but he resisted the desperate urge to crush them beneath his own, to take all her sweetness and keep it for himself.

* * *

The next morning Paul called for Daphne in a staff car complete with a uniformed private as driver. The day was steamy, and Paul, in his uniform looked hot and sweaty, even though he would obviously have bathed recently.

Daphne felt cool and quite elegant in a bright floral dress, a white straw picture hat perched on her head.

It was a long drive, with several detours required, until a last they came to a native village. If it hadn’t been for the army vehicles parked outside the thatched huts, she would never have known it was a military establishment.

“I radioed through to Rob’s Company Commander; he’ll be meeting us here. I’ll be with you in a moment, Private.”

“Yes Sir.” He was young and he grinned good-naturedly at Daphne, but spoke only when addressed directly.

There was a slight arrogance about Paul. She had noticed it with the waiter last night. When he spoke to the soldier, his tones were clipped. The soldiers they encountered on their walk to the H.Q. building were more than a little interested and she smiled warmly at them. How tanned and fit they appeared in khaki shorts and shirts, and slouch hats.

“Where are you from, beautiful?”

She laughed out loud at the question from a swarthy-skinned young soldier.

“Australia.”

“You’re one of us?” Several others edged in closer now.

“Yes,” she told them laughing.

Paul’s lips drew into a thin, angry line. “Insolent young devils,” he muttered.

She shot him a questioning glance. “Why?”

“The Australians are notorious for their insubordination to officers. It’s intolerable.”

“Why should they snap to attention because some English major walks by? They’re not on a parade ground.”

“It shows lack of discipline.”

Their arrival at the hut stopped any further discussion. The young captain introduced himself as Steven Albright, but Daphne scarcely noticed him, her attention was taken by the tall soldier beside him.

“Robbie!” She was engulfed in a bear hug.

“Daffy, what are you doing here?” Then he noticed Paul. “Ashfield.”

“How are you, Rob?”

“All right, Sir.”

He was not all right, she noticed straight away. Beneath his tan there was a strained, anxious look about him, and he kept nervously rubbing his palms along the sides of his shorts.

“It’s a real coincidence. I met up with Paul in Singapore.”

“Did you?”

“We sorted out our differences, didn’t we, Daphne?”

“More or less.”

“Could I have my orderly bring you something, Major?” The captain spoke. “Tea perhaps?”

“I’d like some tea, thanks.” Daphne smiled.

“Not for me, thank you, Captain.” Paul stood up. “Can you guide me to the airfield?”

“Certainly can, Major Ashfield.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours. We’ll have to leave straight away.”

“Bye, Paul.”

She watched him stride out of the hut with the captain.

“He’s an arrogant devil,” Robbie said caustically.

“I suppose he is, but I love him, even after what happened.”

“You’re an idiot. If he hurts you again I’ll kill him.”

“You sound like Tom,” she teased.

“Yeah, well he’s having a better time of it than me. This is an awful place. I hate it, jungle, swamps and swarms of mosquitoes. There are scorpions here the size of crayfish, only black. One of the men killed a five foot cobra near our lines the other day.”

“Uh.” She grimaced. “Don’t tell me any more. Have you heard from home?”

“Yeah, a couple of days ago. Tom’s in Tobruk. No matter what Rommel does, he can’t dislodge them. I read it in some newspaper.”

“Aren’t you well, Robbie?”

“I got a dose of fever a couple of weeks ago; still get the shivers now and again.”

“Malaria?”

“I suppose so. The medics gave me a couple of days rest in bed followed by light duties for a week.”

“Left’s go for a walk,” she suggested.

“We can’t; we have to stay here. You shouldn’t even be here. Could have knocked me down with a feather when the captain said you were coming. When they hauled me up here, I thought I must have done something wrong. Instead they told me you would be visiting with an officer from British H.Q. I couldn’t believe it.”

A corporal brought some tea and a kind of stew for both of them.

“Lunch.” Robbie grinned. “What I wouldn’t give for a fat, juicy steak. I’m sick of this gruel all the time.”

“I thought you lived on bully beef and hard tack,” she teased.

“Get plenty of that, too.”

“When do you think you’ll get to Singapore? We could do a few Chinese temples, light up a couple of joss sticks,” she laughingly suggested.

“I don’t know. We’ve been into Kuala Lumpur a couple of times. Went to some club in Malacca, did a bit of shopping too. I bought Mum a moonstone necklace cheap and a wallet for Dad. I’m saving most of my money to buy a car when I get home. A Buick I think, or maybe a Ford. I’ve got a mate here from Albury, whose old man owns a bicycle shop, sells motorbikes, too. The old boy wants to retire, so Gordon and I are going into partnership. We might go in for cars as well. Fixing them up I mean, he likes tinkering around with engines too.”