silent for a moment, chewing on her biscuit and washing it down with another swig of her tea. “D’ye want the truth?”
Maddy nodded. “Please.”
Leaning forward, the older woman secured the girl’s full attention before saying bluntly, “I don’t think there’s a cat in hell’s chance of him accepting the baby.”
“But he
is
the father!”
“Oh yes, he may be the father, but he will
never
admit that the child is his. And I can’t see a child playing any part in his life. You know as well as I do, he’s a bad lot — along with the other villains he keeps company with. And not a single one of them has any scruples or conscience whatsoever.”
She paused, all manner of images going through her mind; of late-night visitors to the club, shady deals and vicious arguments, often ending in violence. Steve Drayton lived in a dark world, one in which she feared Maddy might get swallowed up.
“We both know the rumors that circulate about him and his cronies, and you know what they say — there’s no smoke without fire. That’s no environment in which to bring up a child.”
“I know all that,” Maddy admitted soberly. “And I still can’t help but love him.” She was well aware of all the warnings that Alice was sending out. “I wish I
didn’t
love him, but I do. I want to live with him and for us to bring our child up together.”
Dear God in heaven! What would it take for the girl to see the truth about Drayton? Alice insisted, “You must stay here with me for a while, until we know for sure he wants the two of you. Will you do that for me, if only for
my
peace of mind?”
For what seemed an age, the air was thick with silence.
Maddy had never seen Alice so agitated and, to tell the truth, she was beginning to wonder if her friend could see more badness in Steve than she could see herself. Oh, she knew he had a shady reputation, and she had witnessed at first hand how cruel he could be. But how could he not love her, when she loved him so much? She wanted to understand him, to heal his unhappy past, to restore his faith in womankind.
Her first impulse was to tell Alice that she was going back that very day. She had to reason with Steve, and the sooner the better. But something in Alice’s warning made her cautious. “Very well, I’ll promise not to come back with you today.”
“And what about tonight? You’ve got to teach him a lesson! Don’t turn up. Hit him in his pocket — where it hurts most.”
“I don’t know if I can let him down again.” Maddy was in turmoil. “I’ve only just got back onstage. Me being away has already cost him money. Besides, it’s Saturday — his best night. The place will be full to bursting. I need to think on it.”
“Well, while you’re thinking on it,” Alice said, “think about the way he attacked you. Think how he beat you up, even after you told him you were carrying his child. And even though you might by some miracle talk him into family life, just think what the future would be like — never knowing when he might turn on you or the child. God knows, he’s capable of it.”
“I know he’ll probably turn his back on me,” Maddy answered quietly, “but I still have to try and win him round, for the baby’s sake, if not for mine.”
“Then I’m not going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Sure, if I can’t make you see sense, and you insist on going in tonight, so soon after he’s done this to you, then you give me no choice. I’ll write my letter of notice and send it in. I can’t stand back and see him play you for a fool any longer.”
Maddy was horrified. “You can’t send in your notice! You love your work. Besides, it’s not so easy to find a job in the clubs. You know how they are a closed shop.”
“Don’t you worry, me darlin’.” Alice could see her little ploy beginning to work. “I’ll find a job, even if I have to move away.”
“I can’t let you do it,” Maddy said. “Promise me you won’t send in
Maddy nodded. “Please.”
Leaning forward, the older woman secured the girl’s full attention before saying bluntly, “I don’t think there’s a cat in hell’s chance of him accepting the baby.”
“But he
is
the father!”
“Oh yes, he may be the father, but he will
never
admit that the child is his. And I can’t see a child playing any part in his life. You know as well as I do, he’s a bad lot — along with the other villains he keeps company with. And not a single one of them has any scruples or conscience whatsoever.”
She paused, all manner of images going through her mind; of late-night visitors to the club, shady deals and vicious arguments, often ending in violence. Steve Drayton lived in a dark world, one in which she feared Maddy might get swallowed up.
“We both know the rumors that circulate about him and his cronies, and you know what they say — there’s no smoke without fire. That’s no environment in which to bring up a child.”
“I know all that,” Maddy admitted soberly. “And I still can’t help but love him.” She was well aware of all the warnings that Alice was sending out. “I wish I
didn’t
love him, but I do. I want to live with him and for us to bring our child up together.”
Dear God in heaven! What would it take for the girl to see the truth about Drayton? Alice insisted, “You must stay here with me for a while, until we know for sure he wants the two of you. Will you do that for me, if only for
my
peace of mind?”
For what seemed an age, the air was thick with silence.
Maddy had never seen Alice so agitated and, to tell the truth, she was beginning to wonder if her friend could see more badness in Steve than she could see herself. Oh, she knew he had a shady reputation, and she had witnessed at first hand how cruel he could be. But how could he not love her, when she loved him so much? She wanted to understand him, to heal his unhappy past, to restore his faith in womankind.
Her first impulse was to tell Alice that she was going back that very day. She had to reason with Steve, and the sooner the better. But something in Alice’s warning made her cautious. “Very well, I’ll promise not to come back with you today.”
“And what about tonight? You’ve got to teach him a lesson! Don’t turn up. Hit him in his pocket — where it hurts most.”
“I don’t know if I can let him down again.” Maddy was in turmoil. “I’ve only just got back onstage. Me being away has already cost him money. Besides, it’s Saturday — his best night. The place will be full to bursting. I need to think on it.”
“Well, while you’re thinking on it,” Alice said, “think about the way he attacked you. Think how he beat you up, even after you told him you were carrying his child. And even though you might by some miracle talk him into family life, just think what the future would be like — never knowing when he might turn on you or the child. God knows, he’s capable of it.”
“I know he’ll probably turn his back on me,” Maddy answered quietly, “but I still have to try and win him round, for the baby’s sake, if not for mine.”
“Then I’m not going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Sure, if I can’t make you see sense, and you insist on going in tonight, so soon after he’s done this to you, then you give me no choice. I’ll write my letter of notice and send it in. I can’t stand back and see him play you for a fool any longer.”
Maddy was horrified. “You can’t send in your notice! You love your work. Besides, it’s not so easy to find a job in the clubs. You know how they are a closed shop.”
“Don’t you worry, me darlin’.” Alice could see her little ploy beginning to work. “I’ll find a job, even if I have to move away.”
“I can’t let you do it,” Maddy said. “Promise me you won’t send in
Similar Books
