The Red Cliffs (28 page)

“
I knew you had a cruel side to your nature.
”

“
I only wanted to wake you up, Alison, hoping to make you more aware of me, hoping to make you want me.
”

“
You succeeded in that,
”
she said.

“
Darling, if you want me one tenth as much as I want you, we
’
re going to be happy.
”
This time he would not admit of any more talking, but gathered her close and silenced her with kisses.

“
Oh, what a strange day this has been,
”
said Alison at last.
“
First tragedy, and now happiness.
”

“
Don
’
t mind too terribly about the crib,
”
began Neil.

“
I don
’
t,
”
she interrupted him.
“
At first, just at first, I did. I felt my heart was broken. But all day I
’
ve been feeling sorry for Hugh and not for me, because I
’
ve had the satisfaction of creating it. The important thing was the doing of it. Already I feel better. Only I don
’
t want to see the r
u
ins again.
”

“
You shall not—I
’
ll take them all away.
”

“
And I
’
ll make another for Hugh next year.
”

“
Next year, darling, you
’
ll be married to me. Do you think you
’
ll have time to make another?
”

“
Don
’
t you want me to go on with my work?
”

“
Of course, of course. You shall have a wonderful studio, and I shall be proud of having such a talented wife. As long as you don
’
t neglect me.
”
She put her hand under his chin and pulled him gently towards her, and kissed him full on the lips.

“
You
’
ve got a job,
”
she reminded him.
“
You mind you don
’
t neglect me.
”

“
Never. You
’
re a woman who needs a lot of looking after. What about the night I found you sleeping in the workshop, hungry and worn out? I loved you fiercely that night. I carried you upstairs, but I very nearly put you to bed.
”

“
I think that might really have given you away,
”
laughed Alison.

Later, they drove slowly back towards the Cottage.

“
Will you marry me very soon, Alison?
”
he asked.

“
Yes.
”

“
How soon?
”

“
Before Corinne goes off to Paris, so that she and Lucy can be my bridesmaids.
”

“
Why, you
’
re getting ahead of me. And that reminds me, what of Ralph? He isn
’
t going to like this.
”

“
No, but Ralph had his chances—and threw them away.
”

“
He has caused me a lot of concern.
”

“
Well, I
’
m glad, because I
’
m sure you have everything too much your own way.
”

“
Then I shall have you safe and sound before the winter,
”
said Neil.
“
I couldn
’
t bear the thought of your being alone there when Corinne went away. By
the way, haven
’
t we left Corinne alone quite long enough?
”

“
Yes, let
’
s go back and tell her our news.
”
Corinne was delighted, but hardly surprised. Neil stayed for some sherry with them, and Corinne made a toast to their happiness. Alison sat back on the couch, tired but content, watching the play of the flames. It was roughly a year since she had first come to this house and felt its attraction. She had been full of prejudice against Neil, and he had been prejudiced against her. She felt devoutly thankful that their bad beginning had not developed into real enmity; that Neil, in spite of her accusations of interferenc
e, had still kept an eye on her,
had rescued her from Roger
’
s attentions, had looked after her.

Neil said he must be going, and that galvanised Alison into action.

“
Don
’
t go, darling,
”
she said very persuasively.
“
Do stay to supper.
”

His eyes lit up at the warmth in her voice, but he shook his head.

“
Old Dr. Perth is coming in to have dinner with me,
”
he said.
“
It was arranged last week, I have to go. Come and see me out. Goodnight, Corinne.
”
Alison went with him into the hall, into his arms, to bliss and to passion.

“
I hate to let you go,
”
she said.

“
Dr. Perth will leave me by half-past ten at the latest. Walk up the drive and meet me then,
”
he said.
“
I
’
ll come to meet you.
”

She could endure the evening, knowing that she was going to see him again. She could talk and laugh and plan things with Corinne, knowing that in a few short hours they would meet again. Promptly at half-past ten she closed the front door behind her and stepped out into a moonlit night. The trunks of the tall trees made black bars across the silver beauty of the countryside. It occurred to her that only last night Roger had made his way along this same drive, in a fit of madness and hate and lust for destruction to lay waste her work of months, and she shivered suddenly in the cold air. Then she resolutely put that thought away from her. What was past was past. She had her future to think of, and hurried her footsteps to come to Neil; and, seeing him approaching in the silvery distance, ran to meet him.