“Don’t bet on it. Did you have anything else you wanted to discuss?”
“No, damn it.” Bryce stalked out of the room.
***
It took Caroline a week to find a suitable position as secretary in a lawyer’s office. Her elderly boss hadn’t been happy about employing someone as young as she was, but the glowing reference from Geoff Davies had convinced him to at least give her a try.
What a dull job, typing up wills, affidavits and various other dry legal documents. Pity he wasn’t a criminal lawyer. Then she would have been typing up heaps of interesting cases. Another part of her job entailed going to the Registrar of Land Titles, searching out titles for clients buying real estate. This was her favorite duty, as it got her out of the office and into the fresh air for a time.
About three weeks after she left Harringtons, a check for five hundred dollars arrived in the mail. It had been signed by Bryce.
“The golden handshake for services rendered,” she commented bitterly to Kerry. “I feel like tearing it up.”
“Don’t be stupid,” her friend remonstrated with her. “You’ll need every cent you can get your hands on. You won’t be able to work forever, you know, and what about after the baby is born?”
“I’ll cope. Others have done it. Once Andy gets a permanent posting, he’ll help me.” Caroline tried to sound confident. In reality, terror overwhelmed her.
“You won’t consider adoption, I suppose?”
“Never.” Not her baby, Bryce’s baby. She would fight to the death to protect it. She’d sell herself in the street if necessary.
***
Andy met Kerry in a cafe near Flinders Street railway station and they shared a plate of sandwiches.
“Tell me now, what’s wrong?” He took his cap off and rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead. “I haven’t had a minute’s peace since you rang me.”
“I don’t know of any other way to tell you this, so I’ll be blunt. Caroline is pregnant.”
“What!” His loud exclamation caused several heads to swivel in their direction.
Kerry told him the whole story.
“Rotten bastard! I ought to kill him!”
“Keep your voice down, or you’ll get us arrested. Caroline didn’t want to tell you yet, but I had to do something. She’s got me worried. I wanted her to confront Harrington, even volunteered to go with her or see him myself, but she refused. Begged me to keep away from him.”
“I’ll see him. Where’s that office again?” Andy pushed his sandwiches to one side.
“You might as well finish your lunch first.” Kerry smiled at him to lighten the moment.
“I’ll choke if I eat them. I’d like to ram them down Harrington’s throat.”
“I have to get back to work now. My boss, miserable old goat, wasn’t too happy about giving me the time off. Let me know what happens, won’t you?”
“Yes, I will. Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it.”
Andy arrived at the Harrington building just before three o’clock. “Excuse me, could you direct me to Bryce Harrington’s office please?” he asked the receptionist.
Standing in the elevator she had directed him to, he clenched his hands into fists. How could a man do this to his softhearted, gullible sister? Hate and fury climbed to boiling point. It took all his army training to keep it under control.
As the elevator door opened he charged out and marched into Caroline’s office. A woman of about forty sat there typing. “I want to see Bryce Harrington?” He didn’t know where he dredged the strength from to speak civilly.
“I’m sorry. Mr. Harrington is holding an important meeting in his office and can’t be disturbed. I’ll make an appointment for you to see him later on.”
“To hell with his meeting. That’s his door isn’t it?” Andy strode across the room, snatching off his cap as he did so.
“You can’t go in there.”
“Yeah? Try stopping me.”
Without knocking, he flung the door open and started across the room. So, this was the inner sanctum.
“Harrington, I want to speak to you.”
Six sets of eyes swiveled towards him.
“What the hell are you doing, bursting into my office like this? I told my secretary I wasn’t to be disturbed.”
“Too bad, I’ve got something to say to you. Frankly, I don’t give a damn whether I say it in public or private.”
He watched Harrington get to his feet and take up a threatening stance. “I’m asking you to leave, or I’ll have you thrown out by security.”
“I’m not leaving. I’ve traveled over a hundred miles to get here, and neither you nor any of your paid henchmen can stop me saying my piece. It’s about Caroline and the firm’s Christmas party.”
A guilty flush crept up Harrington’s cheeks.
“Go and have a coffee break. We’ll recommence the meeting in fifteen minutes or so.”
“What I’ve got to say won’t take fifteen minutes, more like five. I couldn’t stand being in the same room with you for any longer, Harrington.”
There was a shocked silence.
“Fifteen minutes,” Bryce snapped the words out, and the men left. He lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply.
“What do you want, Andy, isn’t it?”
“I’ve come because of what you did to Caroline.”
“Jealous soldier boy, that she preferred me to you,” Bryce sneered.
“You filthy bastard! I ought to kill you! Caroline’s my sister.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made that remark anyway.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. There are lots of things you shouldn’t have done.” Andy spat the words out. “You seduced my sister. Got her pregnant. Then fired her.”
“What did you say?”
“You heard me the first time,” Andy retorted furiously, “You seduced my sister and got her pregnant.”
“Pregnant!”
Harrington looked as if he’d been knifed in the guts.
“What the hell are you raving about?”
“Yeah, pregnant, and I want to know what you’re going to do about it? You’re not getting my sister into trouble and leaving her to struggle on alone.”
“Sit down. For God’s sake! I didn’t know she was pregnant. I never gave it a thought.”
“No, I’ll bet you didn’t,” Andy replied scathingly.
“Did Caroline ask you to come and see me?”
“No. She hasn’t even told me. Kerry rang me up at the base. She’s worried sick. I haven’t seen Caroline since Christmas.” He thumped the desk with a clenched fist.
Bryce glared at him. “For God’s sake, can’t you be reasonable about this? How did an immature, hot-headed kid like you get selected for officer training?”
“The old school tie, dear boy.” Andy affected an upper class English accent. “If you go to the right school, anything is possible. If your father was a decorated officer it helps also, but we’re digressing. I came to see you about Caroline, not to discuss my military career.”
“All right, I give you my word I’ll go and see her. We’ll work something out.”
“How can I trust your word after what you did?” Andy retorted.
“For God’s sake, I’m not proud of what happened, and naturally I’ll make myself responsible for her expenses.”
“Big of you, I’m sure. If you think you can wipe the slate clean by paying her to dump the kid off at some orphanage, forget it. Kerry said Caroline is adamant, she wants to keep it.”
“Young fool. I’ll go and see her.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Persuade her to get rid of the kid and you’re off the hook.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bryce snarled. “Give me a chance to think this through. I’ll go and see her tonight. We can discuss everything civilly and work out what’s best to do.”
“How can I trust you?”
Andy watched Bryce’s face darken in temper. “I�
��ve given you my word. I’ll see her tonight.”
“I have to get back to camp. You’d better work something out, because I’m warning you. I’ll drag your name through the gutter press if I have to. I won’t stand by and let my sister be hurt any more.” Andy strode towards the door and wrenched it open.
“Just a minute,” Bryce called him back. “What school did you go to?”
“Melbourne Grammar,” Andy flung the words over his shoulder, “if it is any of your business.”
“That’s the school I went to. You just about have to be the son of an old boy to get in.”
“I know.” Who the hell did Harrington think he was? Bloody snob. “I am the son of an old boy. My father and grandfather both attended there, Caroline went to the girl’s college. I have to get back to base. Can’t say it’s been a pleasure.” Andy slammed the door behind him, hoping it would fall off its hinges.
Bryce slumped at his desk feeling as if a serrated knife was paring away his insides. Andy’s explanation explained a lot of things about Caroline. The way she spoke, the swimming coach, even the way she walked. No wonder his father knew the name. He must have gone to school with their father. I’ve got her pregnant. He held his head in his hands. How the hell was he going to sit through this bloody meeting? His father would be mortified. Thank God he wasn’t here. Only decent break he’d had all day.
Caroline pregnant, he’d never given a thought to such a thing. No wonder she’d been sick, explained her hurried departure.
What an idiot. He slammed his fist on the desk. One night. One bloody night. He always used a condom, even though the women he associated with knew how to take care of themselves. He hadn’t known Caroline was a virgin. He tried to excuse himself, but was honest enough to admit. Fueled by alcohol he’d wanted her so badly he hadn’t thought about protection. What a mess. He groaned out loud.
The men returned. “Who was that?” Geoff Davies asked.
“Caroline’s brother.”
“I didn’t know she had a brother.”
“I knew she had a brother,” Bryce replied savagely, “but I didn’t know he was a hot-headed, pretty-looking soldier boy.”
“What did he want?”
“It’s a private matter,” Bryce snapped.
Geoff was curious. No way would he be satisfying the older man’s curiosity, the fewer people who knew about this debacle the better.
With an effort, he pulled himself together and carried on with the meeting. Sheer will-power kept him glued to his chair when he felt like going to the nearest bar and getting blind rotten drunk. As soon as the meeting finished, he vowed to himself, he’d go over to his club for a few drinks while he worked out the best course of action.
Chapter Twelve
It was nearly six o’clock by the time Bryce arrived at his club. He couldn’t get a parking spot and had to park out in the street. How come every other club member had decided to come here tonight, he fumed. It was a dead-set certainty no one else’s need was as great as his.
He stalked into the club lounge. Might as well have dinner here, too, although he felt sure he couldn’t eat a bite.
A couple of business acquaintances were dining here, also. Their wives were at some hen meeting, seafood and champagne, dinner to follow, just the kind of social affair that appealed to his mother.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Caroline. What would he say to her? This was one confrontation he dreaded. Morosely he chewed on a piece of veal steak. It had been marinated in wine but, for all the enjoyment he got out of it, he might as well have ordered stale bread.
He answered his companions in a distracted manner. They kept staring at him, but he didn’t care as he gulped down a couple of glasses of wine. Alcohol wasn’t going to help. It had gotten him into this terrible mess.
“You okay, Bryce?” one of his companions asked.
“Yes. Of course I’m all right.” It took all his control to answer without snarling. “I’ve just had a trying day.” What an understatement. It had been a real shocker. “I’ve got an appointment.” He glanced at his watch. “See you later.”
He strode out of the club, wishing he hadn’t bothered to call in. He still felt absolutely wretched.
He drove to Caroline’s apartment and parked outside in the street, making sure all his doors were locked. That’s all he needed, for some deadbeat to steal his car.
He knocked on the door and it was swung open by Kerry, who eyed him with dislike.
“Is Caroline here?”
“What if she is?”
“I want to see her.”
“Well, she mightn’t want to see you, you arrogant, egotistical brute. Did you ever think of that? She’s learnt the hard way, what kind of man you are.”
“Meaning what?” He pushed past Kerry and strode into the sitting room.
“Where is she?”
“She’s lying down, gets tired easily these days.”
“I’ve got the message. Her brother gave it to me loud and clear,” he ground out before striding into the bedroom.
The blinds had been drawn, plunging the room into semi-darkness, but that didn’t do much to hide the shabbiness. Caroline lay on the bed in her bra and panties. Her head was turned away from him, so he didn’t know whether she was asleep or not.
He couldn’t stop himself from staring at her white breasts as they peeped out over her lacy bra. His scrutiny continued. Her stomach looked smooth and flat. Maybe she wasn’t pregnant, after all. The oldest trick in the book. How many men had been trapped that way over the years? What on earth was he thinking about? He shook himself mentally. She’d hardly be two months gone.
What he knew about pregnancy would fit on a postage stamp, but even he knew she wouldn’t be showing yet. Besides, that was no act her brother had put on. He’d stormed into the office with murder in his eye.
He moved towards the bed and hovered there. Maybe she was asleep. Perhaps he shouldn’t wake her. But that was only an excuse, and he knew it, to delay the confrontation. What am I, a man or a mouse?
“Caroline.” He hadn’t meant to use that tone, but it automatically came out that way.
She turned her head, and he watched bemusement in her eyes give way to shock. She had obviously been asleep.
“What do you want?” Her voice came out in a throaty whisper.
“I want to talk to you. Er, could you put some clothes on?” He couldn’t stop staring at her almost naked body. It mesmerized him.
“Where’s my brunch coat?” She glanced around.
“This do?” He reached out and flicked a cotton dressing gown off the door handle and gave it to her.
“I don’t think we’ve got anything to talk about. I won’t come back to work for you.”
“You know damn well I haven’t come to talk about that. I got a visit from your big brother, the army captain, uniform and all,” he went on sarcastically. “I thought he was going to challenge me to meet him at daybreak with pistols drawn.”
“What do you mean?” Her voice was low and he sensed she fought back tears. At any other time he would have felt sorry for her, but the only sorry feeling he had at the moment was for himself.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were pregnant? Up and leaving like that. What kind of man do you think I am?”
“Not much of one,” Kerry said, as she entered the room.
“Get out. This is a private conversation.”
“You happen to be sitting on my bed.”
Caroline started crying.
“You’ve upset her, you callous beast. Leave before I call the police,” Kerry attacked him.
“You listen to me. I’ve taken enough abuse for one day. I’ve come over prepared to be reasonable and sort out this mess.” It sounded pompous and he knew it. “I haven’t got all night. I want to get everything cleared up now.”
“Another date? The full seduction routine, I suppose,” Kerry sneered.
“Get out. I’m warning you, or so help me…
” His hand fisted in his pocket.
“Could I offer you coffee, laced with arsenic, of course?” she said as a parting shot.
The breath hissed from between his clenched teeth. “Why didn’t you tell me, Caroline, for God’s sake?”
“Why should I? You didn’t care about me after you got what you wanted,” she answered bitterly.
That shook him. He’d never known her to be bitter before.
“I want to help.”
“Do you? Really? It’s a wonder you don’t accuse me of lying about being pregnant and trying to put the blame on you.”
“I admit the responsibility is mine, and I’m prepared to help. I’ve just said that.”
“Think you’ll buy me off, do you? A few hundred dollars to pay for an abortion and your conscience will be clear.”
“Abortion!” That shocked him. He didn’t like the thought one little bit.
“What’s it to you?”
“Don’t be bitter.” He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face up so he could stare straight into her eyes.
“Do you want an abortion? Honestly, do you?” He watched her eyes fill with tears.
“No, I’m not having an abortion. It’s my baby and I’m keeping it.”
He wondered why that pleased him. Then he felt as if she had kicked him in the stomach when she went on passionately.
“I’d sell myself in the street, if I have to. I’ll do anything to keep my baby. You hear me? Anything! Now please go away and leave me alone.” She started crying again.
“Don’t upset yourself.” God, he needed a drink, several drinks, in fact. “I’m prepared to help you. Give up your job. I’ll pay you an allowance and be responsible for all your expenses.”
“Don’t bother. I don’t want your charity.”
He ground his teeth. “It’s not charity.”
“What would you call it? Your Christian duty? Conscience money? Tell me, Bryce, what would you call it?”
“I’m going,” he ground the words out. “I’ll come back when you’re prepared to listen to reason.” He strode out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him. Those two girls would drive him into the lunatic asylum in next to no time.
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