Читать книгу Moon Witch - Anne Mather, Anne Mather - Страница 8

TODAY Jarrod was driving a dark green sports car, and Sara looked at it with some interest as she climbed inside. ‘A Ferrari,’ remarked Jarrod dryly, as though in answer to her unspoken question. ‘Very expensive! Would you like my father to buy you one?’

Sara tightened her lips, not deigning to reply, although his words were hurtful. She would not enter into a battle of wits with a man much more capable of choosing his weapons than she was. Besides, she was vulnerable; he was not.

The engine roared to powerful life, and he drove out of the school playground with some impatience, watched by a group of boys who had been playing football. Sara glanced back at the school rather regretfully, and Jarrod said bitingly: ‘Surely a school can’t arouse sentimentality!’

Sara’s fingers gripped the strap of the leather satchel on her lap. ‘Not to someone like you, perhaps,’ she replied quietly.

Mead Road was not busy at this hour of the morning, but Mrs. Mason was standing at her gate, talking to her next door neighbour, Mrs. Isherwood. Sara gave a small sigh when she saw them, and Jarrod said: ‘Now what’s wrong?’ He glanced her way, and then back at the two women by the gate. ‘Are you afraid of what they might say?’ His tone was mocking.

‘Oh, you wouldn’t understand!’ she cried hotly, as he brought the car to a snarling halt beside the two women.

‘Credit me with a little common sense,’ he said shortly, and pushed open his door and slid out. Leaving Sara to extricate herself, he walked across to Mrs. Mason, looking arrogant and assured. ‘Hello again,’ he said smoothly. ‘You may be relieved to know that Sara is leaving!’

‘Leaving?’ Mrs. Mason’s voice was shrill, and Sara’s heart sank to her shoes. ‘Do you mean—she’s going to live with you?’

Jarrod smiled lazily. ‘With my father, Mrs. Mason. I knew you would be glad to be rid of the responsibility.’

Mrs. Mason was speechless for a moment, and then as Mrs. Isherwood looked at her, daring her to protest, she said: ‘Well, I don’t know about that, Mr. Kyle.’

‘Why?’ Jarrod drew out his cigar case and extracted one, lighting it with deliberate slowness. ‘You’ve made it quite plain from the beginning, Mrs. Mason, that you could not keep the child longer than was necessary.’

‘I know, but—well, I——’

‘You didn’t think such a thing would materialise, did you, Mrs. Mason? I really believe you expected Sara to go to the Bridchester General without any further assistance from any of us, isn’t that right?’

Mrs. Mason’s face was red. ‘I didn’t think any such thing, and you’ve no right to say such things,’ she replied irritably, as Mrs. Isherwood folded her arms to enjoy this unexpected exchange.

‘Well, I’m glad about that,’ said Jarrod, glancing round to where Sara was standing nervously beside the car. ‘Go and pack your things, Sara. If you need any help——’

Sara shook her head, and approached them, passing Mrs. Mason as she entered the gate. Mrs. Mason looked at her piercingly. ‘So you’re leaving,’ she said tartly.

Sara nodded uncomfortably.

‘Hmn!’ Mrs. Mason said no more, and for the first time Sara was glad of Jarrod’s presence.