Travers sipped his arm around her and pulled her to him.
‘Don’t let’s quarrel, honey,’ he said. ‘I may be wrong, but if I’m not, it’s going to be all right between us, isn’t it?’
‘I’m thinking of Kit,’ Iris said. ‘Oh, Ken, even if you are right… I do hope you’re not! I wouldn’t want that money, knowing how unhappy Kit would be… but I’m sure you’re wrong.’
Travers kissed her. Breaking away, Iris got out of the car and ran up the drive towards the house.
She paused at the front door, listening to Travers driving away, then she unlocked the door and entered the dark hall. She went silently up to her bedroom. She was surprised to see a light coming from under her door. Turning the handle, she walked in.
Kit was sitting in an armchair, smoking. Her face was pale and her brown eyes were unnaturally bright. Iris paused in the doorway to stare at her.
‘Why, Kit! Why aren’t you in bed?’
‘I wanted to talk to you,’ Kit said. ‘Come in and shut the door.’
Iris shut the door and went over to sit on the bed.
‘Dave tells me you are going to work at the bank,’ Kit said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Her cold, hostile voice startled Iris.
‘You weren’t there when he asked me. I – I thought he had told you,’ Iris said. ‘Why? You don’t mind, do you?’
‘Yes, I mind. You’re only a kid. I don’t want you to be exposed to Dave’s charm.’
Iris felt her face grow hot.
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Don’t you?’ Kit’s bleak eyes frightened her. ‘I think you do. I’m going to marry him. I’m twice your age. I’m not anything like as pretty as you. The less you see of him, the better it will be for me.’
‘Kit!’ Iris jumped to her feet ‘You don’t know what you’re saying?’
‘You mean I’m drunk?’ Kit smiled bitterly. ‘I guess I am.’ She passed her hand across her eyes. ‘You’re not going to work for Dave. Do you understand? I forbid it.’
There was a long pause, then Iris said quietly and steadily. ‘I’m sorry, but I am. It’s all arranged. It’s a good job and I need the money. I’m sure you don’t know what you are saying. Please go to bed.’
Kit remained motionless. Her head throbbed. Her brain felt as if it were in a covering of cotton wool. She wished now she hadn’t had that last drink.
‘Kit… it’s late. Please go to bed,’ Iris said.
Unsteadily, Kit got to her feet.
‘All right, you poor little fool,’ she said, her words slurred, ‘then work for him if you want to, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I don’t care… I don’t care a damn what happens to him or to you or to me,’ and lurching a little, she went out of the room.
Iris listened to her mother’s stumbling steps as she climbed the stairs. She felt a cold chill crawl up her spine, and involuntarily, she shivered.
CHAPTER FOUR
1
A little after six o’clock the following morning, Kit woke with a start. She became aware that someone was tapping softly and persistently on her door.
She half sat up. Her head felt heavy and her eyes burned. She looked towards the bedside clock as she called out, ‘Who is it?’
‘Dave! Open up! I’ve got to talk to you.’ Calvin’s voice was pitched low. There was a note of urgency in it that alerted her.
She threw off the bedclothes, snatched up a wrap and struggled into it as she crossed the room and unlocked the door.
Calvin, his face set, a cold, bleak expression in his eyes, came in and shut the door.