His Diamond Bride

‘I don’t think you’re stupid because you like Billy,’ she said. ‘I’d think you were stupid if you didn’t. When I set my heart on a dog my parents weren’t keen either, but I pestered and pestered until they gave me Billy for my seventh birthday.’

‘Pestering my mother would only have brought me a clip round the ear,’ he said wryly. ‘She didn’t like what she called “insolence”.’

‘She sounds terrible.’

‘No, she just had a very hard life. She was devastated after my father left.’

‘I thought you said he died.’

‘He did, eventually, but he deserted her first. Keep that to yourself, I don’t tell everyone.’

She nodded, understanding the message that he hadn’t told Sylvia.

‘Unfortunately for us both,’ he went on, ‘I look very much like my father, and it didn’t help.’

‘She blamed you for that?’ Dee demanded, aghast.

‘It wasn’t her fault,’ Mark said quickly. ‘She couldn’t cope with her feelings, she didn’t know what to do with me.’

‘How old were you when your father left?’

‘Six, and ten when he died.’

‘No brothers or sisters?’

‘No, I wish I had. It would have helped if there had been more of us. Or one of you,’ he added, looking down at Billy. ‘You’d have been a good friend.’

‘She should have let you have a dog,’ Dee said. ‘You’d have been easier for her to cope with.’

‘I got one once,’ he said with a wry smile of recollection. ‘It was a stray and quite small, so I took him home and hid him. I managed to keep him a secret for two days before my mother found out.’

‘What did she do?’ Dee asked, although she was afraid to hear.

‘I came home from school one day and he’d vanished. I went through every room looking for him, but he wasn’t there. She said he must have run away, but I found out afterwards that she’d thrown him out in the rain.’

‘Did she give you a clip round the ear?’

‘Mmm! But I was defiant. I went looking for him.’

‘Did you ever find him?’

‘Yes, I found his body in a pile of rubbish on the street. From the look of him, he’d starved to death.’

‘Did you tell your mother?’

Mark shook his head.

She hesitated a moment before asking, ‘Did she hit you often?’

‘Now and then. When things got on top of her, she’d lash out. I learned to keep out of her way and stay quiet.’

Suddenly he raised his head. ‘Hey, what is this? Why are we being so gloomy? It’s way in the past, all over.’

She’d liked him before, but now she liked him even more for this brief glimpse into the unhappy childhood that must have made him as he was today. She guessed that it wasn’t over, whatever he said.

‘Nobody realised Billy was going to grow so enormous,’ she said. ‘He’s really too big for that little house so I take him for walks whenever I can. Thank you for bringing him out.’

‘He’s marvellous company.’ Frowning, he added, ‘He must be about eleven, quite old.’

‘Yes, I know I won’t have him much longer so I make the most of every day. I can’t bear to think of life without him.’

‘I can imagine. He’s exactly the dog I’d have liked.’ Mark turned his attention back to Billy. ‘D’you hear that? You’ve got a fan club right here.’

‘I’m jealous,’ Dee said, regarding Billy, who was receiving Mark’s caresses with every sign of bliss. ‘Normally he’s only like that with me.’

‘I guess he knows a willing slave when he sees one. Hey, the owner’s trying to attract our attention. I think he wants to close.’

They took the journey home at a gentle stroll, enjoying the pleasant evening, which was mild for winter, with a bright sky. Once Mark stopped and gazed upwards, prompting her to say, ‘Are you thinking of how soon you can be up there?’

‘If there’s a war. There might not be.’

‘Then you’d have to forget planes and enjoy motorbikes. It must be thrilling to go at that speed.’

‘I’ll take you some time. Sylvia didn’t like it, but I think you would.’

‘Mmm, yes, please!’

He laughed and put a casual arm about her shoulders. ‘You know, it’s funny,’ he mused. ‘I’ve only known you a short time-but that’s really all you need, isn’t it?’

‘Is it?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘Yes. I already feel that you’re my best friend. I think I knew from the start, when we understood each other at once. Normally, a man wouldn’t want a woman to understand him too well, but in you I like it. It’s almost as though you’re my sister. You don’t mind my saying that, do you?’

‘Not at all,’ she said brightly. ‘I’ve always wanted a brother.’

‘Really? What a coincidence. I’ve often thought it would be nice to have a sister, preferably a younger one.’

‘Yes, so that she could help you out of trouble without complaining, and let you get away with murder,’ Dee said tartly.

He laughed. ‘You see? You understand my requirements instinctively. What a fantastic sister to have!’

And she really would be his sister when he married Sylvia. With a sinking heart, she realised that he was preparing her for the announcement of the marriage.

Sylvia was waiting for them on the front step. ‘Where have you been?’ she demanded. ‘You said you were taking Billy for a walk and you just vanished.’

He explained about rescuing Dee from the bus. ‘So naturally I had to take her for a cup of tea.’

‘That’s right, I was dying for one,’ Dee said. ‘But Sir Lancelot rescued me.’

‘Who?’ Sylvia asked.

‘Never mind,’ Mark said, hastily drawing her aside.

Dee took Billy into the kitchen and released him from his lead while she explained to Helen.

‘I hope that doesn’t mean you don’t want your tea,’ her mother said practically. ‘It’ll be on the table in a minute.’

‘I’m starving.’

On her way through the hall she was waylaid by Mark, hastily thrusting some money into her hand.

‘That’s too much,’ she said, examining it.

‘Give me the change later,’ he muttered. ‘Just don’t tell-Sylvia!’

‘What’s going on?’ Sylvia demanded, seeming to appear out of nowhere. ‘Why are you giving Dee money?’

Quick as a flash, Dee replied, ‘He’s not giving it to me, he’s lending it to me. I really try to manage on what I earn but I’m a bit short this week, so Mark’s helping me out. Don’t tell Mum, will you?’

‘Of course not, but why didn’t you ask me? I’ve helped you out before.’

‘I know, and I didn’t feel I could ask you again, and Mark’s been so chivalrous.’

Somewhere in the atmosphere she was aware of Mark, torn in two directions; half of him grateful for her quick-witted rescue, the other half fighting to keep a straight face.

Sylvia remained oblivious to the undercurrents. ‘You mustn’t borrow money from Mark,’ she said. ‘It isn’t proper. I’ll lend you what you need. Now, give him that money back.’

‘Yes, Sylvia,’ she said meekly, handing the cash over but unable to meet Mark’s eyes.

Nor could he meet hers. And somehow that made the secret all the sweeter.

It seems so trivial, looking back, but your masculine pride was involved, which made it important. I still laugh when I remember how horrified you were, and how we had to sneak a meeting later so that you could give me the money again. How grateful you were to me for putting Sylvia off the scent, and how happy I was!