As the Crow Flies
Page 55
“He wouldn’t be left with any choice, Charlie, surely you see that? He’d sail home on the next boat and marry me. He’s an honorable man.”
“An honorable man, is he?” said Charlie. “Well, if he’s so honorable you can afford to promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll write to him tonight and tell him the truth.”
Becky hesitated for some time before saying, “All right I will.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight.”
“And you should also let his parents know while you’re at it.”
“No, I can’t be expected to do that, Charlie,” she said, facing him for the first time.
“So what’s the reason this time? Some fear that their careers might be ruined?”
“No, but if I did his father would insist that Guy return home and marry me.”
“And what’s so wrong with that?”
“His mother would then claim that I had tricked her son into the whole thing, or worse—”
“Worse?”
“—that it wasn’t even his child.”
“And who’d believe her?”
“All those who wanted to.”
“But that isn’t fair,” said Charlie.
“Life isn’t, to quote my father. I had to grow up some time, Charlie. For you it was the Western Front.”
“So what are we going to do now?”
“We?” said Becky.
“Yes, we. We’re still partners, you know. Or had you forgotten?”
“To start with I’ll have to find somewhere else to live; it wouldn’t be fair to Daphne—”
“What a friend she’s turned out to be,” said Charlie.
“To both of us,” said Becky as Charlie stood up, thrust his hands in his pockets, and began to march around the little room. It reminded Becky of when they had been at school together.
“I don’t suppose…” said Charlie. It was his turn to be unable to look her in the face.
“Suppose? Suppose what?”
“I don’t suppose…” he began again.
“Yes?”
“You’d consider marrying me?”