Unknown by Unknown

to Sonya. 'What's come over her?'
    'Sven,' Sonya replied tartly. 'He likes his women sweet, simple and clinging.' She did not really know about the clinging, but she deduced it from what he had said to her.
    Derek whistled. 'So she hasn't given him up?'
    'To Tom indifference is a challenge,' Sonya told him, and recalled that Sven had said the same of herself, but now she had become utterly compliant where skating was concerned she had ceased to be one.
    That Thomasina was succeeding along different lines seemed apparent when Sonya overheard her say to him:
    'My flatmate will be away for the weekend. Wouldn't you like to spend a quiet relaxed evening with me? I've some good records you might like to hear.'
    'Sorry, Tom, but my Saturdays are engaged.'
    A flash of impatience showed in her eyes. 'Oh yes, that old ...' She checked herself, remembering her new image. 'So sweet of you to give up your leisure to that poor old fellow,' she purred. 'He must appreciate it. What about Sunday then, you'll be free?'
    'I would be charmed ...'
    Sonya turned away, unwilling to hear any more. A vision of a dimly lit comfortable room swam before her eyes, with Tom and Sven sitting together listening to soft seductive music in cosy intimacy. There could be only one sequel to that. If only she were a little older, more sophisticated, so that he saw her as an attractive woman, not merely Eliot Vincent's kid daughter, who had to be respected and protected because she was an innocent given into his charge. Evenings in Thomasina's flat would be no drain upon his pocket, she thought bitterly; Tom was not seeking to exploit him, she did not want entertainment or presents, only his body, and that she would get. Sven had admitted he was no monk. But why did these images so wound her? Did she want him to make love to herself? The mere thought set her trembling. It was only that their close skating association had given her a feeling of possession, and she resented Thomasina's claims as trespassing. It was something she must suppress, because she had no claim to his affections, did not even want one.
    Just before Christmas there was a club dance. It was not on a Saturday but a Friday, so Sonya did not intend to come to it, but evidently Sven must have mentioned it to her father, for Eliot said to her:
    'You must go to this function to represent me, since I can't go myself.'
    'I don't really care about it, Daddy.'
    'But I do. I've a special interest in the club, your mother's memorial, so there should be a Vincent present.'
    There was no accounting for her father's whims, Sonya thought. The dance was held every year and he had never previously suggested she should attend it. , She supposed Sven had put the idea into his head, thinking she would enjoy it.
    She bought a new dress in tangerine colour, which went well with her dark hair and turned her eyes to violet. Since Thomasina had chosen to eclipse herself in neutral colours, she would flame. The dress was long and flowing and with it she wore a topaz necklace and gold bangles, gilt slippers on her feet. Thomasina came in slinky black trimmed with diamante. The gown was not cut too low and had long transparent sleeves. She looked superbly stylish, and Sonya felt her own outfit was a little tawdry, but Derek was enthusiastic. He had attached himself to her as soon as she appeared.
    'You look wonderful, Sonya, and how your eyes sparkle! No one could call you frozen now. You seem to be lit with an inner flame.'
    But the fire had not been kindled by him, in fact she was still unaware of it, although she had only one thought. Would Sven dance with her? He was there, elegant and debonair in evening clothes. Most of the company were formally dressed, though not all. Derek was in a dark suit, but some of the younger members were clad in sports clothes. Mr Wylie actually wore tails and a white tie. The dance was held in the big gymnasium which was hung with paper chains and Chinese lanterns. There was a buffet