The Defector by Evelyn Anthony

was devastating in its perception. He hadn’t been fooled by the beauty and charm and sexual magnetism that had made idiots of clever men before.
    “A woman who would only take from a man…” And with that assessment, Sasanov had discarded Charley. “I wanted a woman who could give.” She had given gladly, and she would go on, if he wanted it. She could help him get the best possible terms from the Brigadier, insist on his wife and daughter being smuggled out of Russia. And feel no jealousy that he wanted them. She knelt by the fire and lit it, watching the little flames flickering among the wood and catching hold. The room was still and peaceful, and the fire warmed her as she sat on the floor, still holding the matches. She wanted Sasanov to be happy. They were allies now, instead of adversaries, and she felt a tremendous relief. There was a movement behind her and she turned. He was awake, watching her.
    “You look like a little girl, sitting on the floor,” he said.
    “You slept for a bit,” she said.
    “Do you want some tea?”
    “I hate English tea.”
    “Don’t be bad-tempered. I’ll put lemon in it.”
    “Where has everyone gone?”
    “My mother’s in the garden I think, and my father and Charley are out walking.”
    “You have an obsession in this country,” he remarked.
    “Every minute you go for a walk.” Davina saw the provocative look in his eye and stood up.
    “I’ll get some tea for you,” she said blandly.
    “Don’t let the fire go down.” In the garden, Charley was explaining her reason for going back to London.
    “It’s not just my girlfriend, darling,” she said.
    “I don’t like to say it to you, but it’s difficult for me with Davina here. It’s nearly two years since I’ve seen her, and she’s just as angry over Richard. You’d think after five years she’d have stopped hating me for it. “
    “I was afraid this might happen,” her father said grimly.
    “I warned your mother she’d be awkward. The trouble is, she’s never found anyone else. He was her one chance, I suppose.” He sighed.
    “You can’t help it if Richard fell in love with you. The pity is, you married him. She can’t get over that anyway that’s what your mother says and she’s probably right. But it’s a damned nuisance. I’d been looking forward to you coming down and spending a nice weekend at home. After all, it’s her own fault if she wants to be an old maid! She’s never made an effort with anyone else. But she won’t come down again, not for a time, anyway. So you come next weekend, Charley darling, and we’ll have you to ourselves.” She squeezed his arm affectionately.
    “I will; I promise. And don’t say anything to Mother about this, will you?
    I don’t want to upset her.”
    “I won’t,” her father said.
    “Let’s go in, shall we? It’s turning cold. Have some tea before you go? ” She saw the pleading in his face, and said, “Of course I will. We’ll have some together in the kitchen. Then I’ll pack and be on my way.” They had always been intimates; even as a tiny child, she felt a sympathy with her father that was closer than with anyone else. He gave her a feeling of comfort and reassurance; when she was naughty as a little girl, she never doubted his forgiveness and she had the same certainty in adult life. He hadn’t reproached her for taking Davina’s fiance and marrying him, even against her family’s advice. When that marriage ended in under two years, with her husband drinking and near-bankrupt, Captain Graham had welcomed her home and set his solicitors on the unfortunate Richard. Her second attempt had seemed more promising; this time the man was not an infatuated young architect, but a very rich man some ten years older, with a property and investment company. When that marriage too fell to pieces, Charley sped home to be comforted and reassured that for the second time she was in the right. Yet she only believed it when she was with her