Read Online The Defector by Evelyn Anthony - Free Book Online Page A

efficient, brisk and sexless. He was beginning to understand the puzzle better, just by sitting within her family. He finished his wine, and found that Charley’s hand lay like a dove on his sleeve. She leaned across him, and the voluptuous scent was strong.
    “Mummy darling, you mustn’t monopolize Pavel - let me get a word in.”
    “I’m sorry,” Mrs. Graham apologized to him, “I love my garden and I do get carried away when anyone lets me;
    I’ll take you round tomorrow if it’s a nice morning. “
    “I would like that very much,” Sasanov said. He had a small dacha outside Moscow at a place called Zhukova. It was one of the privileges that went with his rank and importance. Fedya and his daughter Irina loved spending the weekends there; they used to go for long walks together, his daughter’s dog bounding beside them, barking and dashing to and fro with excitement. But they didn’t have a garden. Not a cultivated work of art like the gardens he had seen from the terrace at Marchwood. The memory of the dacha blotted out his surroundings for a few seconds;
    he could smell the pine trees and the crisp fresh air. The pain was sharp, like a stab wound. He looked across and saw Davina Graham watching him. Her sister’s hand still lay on his sleeve as she was talking to him. He smiled and didn’t listen. Instead he watched Davina gauging his reactions. She had a calm detachment that sometimes goaded him, and sometimes soothed his nerves. Her eyes were not normally expressive;
    she showed only those feelings he was meant to see. But now her face was a sad mask, and the polite little smile was full of hurt. He moved his arm, and the sister’s white hand fell away. He turned to Harry Graham and lifted his wineglass.
    “To your wife’s beautiful garden. And her charming daughters.” Charley answered the compliment in a low murmur.
    “I hope you’ll see more of both,” she said.
    “Mother,” Davina said.
    “Don’t you think we should leave Pavel and Father for a few minutes?”
    “Yes, of course.” Both men stood up as the three women left the room. Captain Graham carried a decanter of port and two glasses to the table and sat beside Sasanov.
    “I’ve got brandy if you prefer it, but this is rather a good Cockburn’s ‘62.” He looked gratified when his guest accepted the port.
    “Would it be indiscreet if I asked you what you thought of our present government? I don’t suppose you approve of it, but I’d like to hear a view from outside. And one does have the feeling that Poland is friendly to Britain deep down we fought a damned good war together.”
    “Indeed, yes,” Sasanov agreed. Captain Graham settled down to enjoy himself. Davina went to her own room; she was putting a little powder on her face, thinking that she was already too pale, when she saw her sister reflected in the mirror. She turned round.
    “Davy her sister said.
    “Can I come in?” That was why she hated the masculine abbreviation other name. Charley always kept it up.
    “Of course,” she said.
    “I won’t be a minute here.”
    “That’s all right,” her sister said.
    “I don’t want to do anything to my face. I just wanted to talk while we have a chance.” She took a cigarette out of her bag and lit it.
    “How are you?” she said.
    “I mean, how are you really!”
    “I’m fine,” Davina answered.
    “Very busy. I gather you and Brian are splitting up.”
    “Yes, we are; it’s unfortunate, but we weren’t good marriage material.” She smiled her beautiful smile.
    “Too selfish, I suppose. He likes his way and I like mine. We’re better apart, but the details are always a bore.”
    “They must be,” Davina said.
    “Why do you keep marrying Wouldn’t it save a lot of trouble and expense if you just lived together till you got fed up?”
    “I’m not the one who insists on marriage,” Charley answered
    “It was never my idea to marry Richard. I tried to tell you that at the time.
    I wish I felt