Was it possible that she was going to have a child? She stared at herself in her mirror, her face suddenly white, her eyes standing out against her skin like dark pools.
What an irony of fate if that one night should have such consequences!
She began to count the days, to watch herself like a hawk for other signs. She dared not mention it to Clyte. Clyte would be bound to tell Argon, and Argon would undoubtedly write to Paul—and the last thing Leonie wanted was for Paul to find out. She did not want his pity or his enforced company. If he knew she was carrying his child he would feel bound to stay married to her, and such a marriage could only be embittered by resentment on both sides, which would not be good for their child.
So for the moment she kept the news to herself, deciding that there would be no outward sign to betray her for some months yet.
She needed confirmation, however, and knew that if she saw the island doctor the news would rapidly flash around the whole island.
She had to leave Comus—there was no other answer. She went to Argon and told him that she had to return to England for a while. Must a week or two. I'll come back very soon, I promise.'
Argon stared at her, frowning. 'Why is it so urgent?'
'My aunt is ill,' she lied. 'I rang her last night and she said she would like to see me.'
She had, in fact, rung her aunt in England, to ask if she might pay her a visit. Clyte had already informed Argon of the telephone call, so Argon was easily convinced. Grudgingly, he agreed that she should go.
Two days later Leonie was in England. She took a hotel room in London and made a private appointment to see a doctor in Harley Street, not wanting to alert her aunt to her condition any more than she wanted Argon to know.
The doctor was soon able to confirm her pregnancy, and gave her advice about her care of herself, prescribing iron tablets and vitamin tablets for the moment.
'You're very brown, Mrs Caprel, and you look healthy enough, but during pregnancy it's often the case that a young woman develops iron deficiency. You must take care of your diet. Drink plenty of milk, eat fresh vegetables and fruit, and avoid fatty foods..
She listened, nodding, then hurried away to think alone in her hotel room. What was she to do? She could not leave Argon alone during these last months, yet once her condition was realised, Paul would soon be told and then she would have to face a terrible problem.
She sat staring at nothing for a long time, coming to no conclusion.
At last she decided she was hungry. The hotel dining-room was half full when she arrived, and she was shown to a pleasant table by the window, looking out over a tree-lined avenue.
It was the early evening. The sun was just sinking below the skyline, illuminating the London roofs with a fringe of crimson light. She ordered her meal and waited for the first course to arrive, idly playing with her cutlery.
'Good heavens! Leonie!'
The voice made her jump out of her skin. Pale and shivering, she looked round.
Jake Tennyson stood beside her, his expression almost as startled as her own.
CHAPTER NINE
'WHAT on earth are you doing in London? Is Paul with you?' Jake asked curiously.
'No,' she said quickly. 'No, I'm alone. I'm visiting a relative over here.'
Jake smiled. 'Then may I join you? I hate to eat alone, and it's a piece of exceptional good luck finding you here like this. I've often thought about you, Leonie, since I got back here from Paris.' He pulled back a chair and sat down facing her, his fingers laced together, staring at her over the top of his hands. 'You don't look well, somehow. Is something wrong? Although you're as brown as a berry you have a haggard look about you.'
She laughed. 'Women love to hear things like that! Thank you, Jake.'
He grinned. 'I'm sorry. Was that very rude of me? This new haunted look doesn't detract from your good looks, you know. It underlines them.'
Leonie flushed at the admiration in his eyes. 'Oh. Her lashes fluttered down to make a curtain on her golden-brown cheeks.
Jake watched her, tracing the fine curve of cheek and throat, the faint blue stains beneath her eyes which betrayed some i
nner conflict, the tremor of her passionately shaped mouth.
'You've been in Greece lately, I gather?' he asked.
She looked up again, eyes widening. 'How did you know that?' "