Sun And Candlelight Part 40

' The nutty things were a great success.

The whole dinner party was a success, with Wien and at the top of his form because, sure enough, Irene had said she would marry him.

She would be a darling sister-in-law, Alethea decided, watching her wrinkling her ordinary little nose over the champagne Sarre had produced, and tonight, because she was so happy, she looked pretty with colour in her cheeks and wearing a blue dress which matched her eyes.

Alethea, in the grey-patterned crepe, beamed at her with genuine

delight.

It was after dinner, while they were all sitting around discussing the wedding over coffee and Sarre's best brandy, that Irene said in her clear voice: "T think that it is because of you, Alethea, that I wish to marry Wien and.

' She flushed brightly.

"Oh, I would have married him, I think, but seeing you and Sarre so

happy together when we were here, I thought that if you can be so content, then so can I. ' She added, "They are not alike, but they are brothers, if you see what I mean?

' Alethea thought that she saw very well and said so, which emboldened

Irene to go on: "You are not jealous?

' Neither of them had noticed that the men were listening.

"Why should I be jealous?

' asked Alethea serenely.

"Well, it is perhaps.

but we are going to be sisters, are we not?

Wien and has taken out very many girls, but I think that he will not do

so now that he has me.

And Sarre, of course, he has had friends too; they did not matter,

there is only Anna.

' She looked apprehensively at Alethea.

"You are not angry that I speak like this?

' "Of course not.

' She braced herself to utter the lie about Anna; jealousy at that very

moment was rocking her so violently that she had to take a calming

breath.

She let it out with a rush when Sarre said quietly: "You'll have no cause to be jealous of Wien and, Irene, just as Alethea knows that she has no reason to worry about me.

' He smiled at them both.

"We've been listening quite shamelessly to you, you know.

I'm glad that Alethea and I have--er--influenced you.

' They saw their guests to the door presently and stood by it in the

cool evening, watching the car disappear down the street.

"She's such a nice girl," said Alethea chattily, anxious to break the

silence.

"They'll be very happy.

' Sarre flung an arm round her shoulders.

"Oh, yes, and why not?

That's a pretty dress you're wearing.

' "It's getting old now," she said shyly, 'but you said you liked it

and I wanted everything to be just right for Irene.

' He seemed to understand this obscure remark.

"Yes, I know.

' He sighed and took his arm away, so that she felt instantly lonely.

"T have to be at the clinic early in the morning.

' She went indoors at once.

It was always the same, whenever they were together he had some good

reason for leaving her.

She said now in a colour less voice: "It was a lovely evening.

Will you be in to lunch tomorrow?

' She was already walking ahead of him, making for the stairs.

"No--tea, perhaps.

Alethea.

' She cut in ruthlessly, longing to stay with him but determined to get

away as quickly as she could.

"T'll say goodnight, then.

' She flew up the staircase without even looking at him.

She was in her dressing gown, brus.h.i.+ng her hair, when she saw the musical box.

It was on the drum table and she stared at it unbelievingly.

When she picked it up she wasn't certain if it was the same one,

miraculously repaired, or another one just like it.

It didn't matter; Sarre had done it for her, he must have known that she had been upset.

She flew from the room and across the gallery and knocked on his door,

the dainty thing held carefully in one hand.

Sarre was standing in the middle of his room in his s.h.i.+rtsleeves,

taking off his tie.