the lamps switched on, she turned back to him with feigned nonchalance.
“You see – no intruders!” she remarked lightly.
“Why are you afraid of me, Darrell?” he asked unexpectedly, one hand supporting himself against the open door.
“Af-afraid of you?” Darrell faltered. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Matthew studied her suddenly heated cheeks with resignation. “Yes, you do,” he returned flatly. “You’re as nervous as a wild cat when I’m around. Why? What do you expect me to do to you? What has Susan told you about me that’s given me such a bad reputation?”
Darrell gasped. “I – you’re imagining things, Mr. Lawford.”
“Am I?” Matthew folded his arms. “I wonder.” He smiled, but it was a rather twisted sort of smile. “Did she tell you that I live some kind of amoral life? That I mix with people whose whole object in life is the pursuit of pleasure? Well, maybe she was right. The codes I live by might not go down too well in a place like Sedgeley. But I am not without conscience, Miss Anderson, and contrary to belief, I’ve never been unfaithful to my wife!”
Darrell didn’t know where to look or what to say. She felt totally and completely demoralised, the more so because she had judged him without scruples.
“So …” Matthew turned to go out the door, “I’ll say goodnight. My mother told me you’ve been given the week off, so no doubt we’ll see one another again. Goodbye.”
The door closed behind him and Darrell stood staring at it feeling sick and distraught. And this time, it had nothing to do with Susan and Frank.
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