Love Is My Reason by Mary Burchell Read Free Book Online

” She twisted her fingers together in a childish, clumsy way which Celia would not have liked, he supposed.
    “ It ’ s perfectly natural. You needn ’ t apologize for it. Anyone who had a similar shock and grief might well feel the same, ” he found himself assuring her.
    “ Oh, David, you ’ re so good and kind! ”
    “ No, I ’ m not, ” he said, smiling at her. “ But I happen to believe that unhappiness can ’ t be banished by simply pretending it isn ’ t there. I do understand your natural reaction to this rather curious adventure, as I say, but I feel bound to point out that the chances of Anya having the remotest connection with your son are infinitesimal. ”
    She was silent for a moment. Then she said—much more quietly, as though it had eased her to have someone else put into words what she hardly dared to express to herself —“ With my head, I know you ’ re right. But my heart still refuses to agree. ”
    “ That ’ s understandable. But a friend—myself, for instance—would have to remind you that Martin was last heard of somewhere in the Balkans —”
    “ Bulgaria, ” she said quickly.
    “ Very well, Bulgaria. And Anya described her parents — and her grandparents too—as living in Russia. They left there after Anya was born, and went to Prague. There isn ’ t much connection there, if one looks at it objectively, is there? ”
    “ Except that Martin might have gone on to Russia, after he was lost sight of in Bulgaria. He might have known — possibly married—Anya ’ s mother and—and died there before the girl was born. ”
    “ He might, of course, ” David conceded. “ Anything is possible. But you do see, don ’ t you, that the chances are a hundred thousand to one? ”
    “ Not quite such heavy odds. ” Teresa Preston smiled suddenly, so that one saw she must have been a very pretty girl. “ There are not quit e so many unexplained Englishmen wandering in Europe. ”
    “ Well, no. ” David laughed at that, glad to see that the tension was lessening. “ But Anya ’ s father was not necessarily either unexplained or wandering. He may have been a perfectly ordinary chap working for a Russian firm. ”
    “ Ye-es. That ’ s true. ”
    “ But, in any case, I promise you I shall get to the bottom of the mystery this afternoon, when I go there with Robin Drummond. ”
    “ Oh, David! You really think you ’ ll be able to? ”
    “ Why not? It was quite impossible to press the matter further last night. The poor fellow was too utterly exhausted by talking and with the emotion of making his big disclosure to me. But today, as soon as Robin has seen him, I ’ ll be able to ask all the vital questions. It won ’ t take long, and I think he is as anxious to impart the information as I am to have it. ”
    “ Oh, thank you, David! ” She gave him quite a beautiful smile. “ And—and don ’ t say anything to Celia about this conversation, will you? ” She looked anxious. “ She is a wonderful girl, but she doesn ’ t always understand about one ’ s less sensible impulses. ”
    “ I won ’ t mention it, ” he promised. And for the first time it crossed his mind that if someone were going to live with you for life, it was very necessary that they should understand your less sensible impulses. Or, at any rate, bear with them.
    He di s missed the reflection immediately, as being in some way a little disloyal. And then the others joined them and they had quite a cheerful breakfast together.
    No all-day expedition had been arranged, and so it was easy for David to be available—indeed, waiting with some eagerness—when Robin Drummond arrived, just before three o ’ clock, as he had promised.
    He was a tall, pleasant-looking fellow in his late thirties, with an air which inspired confidence. And he listened with the greatest attention while David put him in possession of rather more of the story than he had been able to tell over the telephone the previous