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' I'm glad,' he told her, and led her off the dance
floor. ' Now, time for bed.'
' Should I say goodnight to Miss Tucker?' Megan,
conscious of the eyes on them, asked nervously.
' I'll explain,' he said, and led the way to the
central hall with the beautiful curving staircase.
They were silent as he escorted her to the door of
her flat. Megan felt ill at ease, wondering if she
should talk; wondering, too, if he always escorted
the staff to their flats?
He waited as she fumbled in her small diamante-
trimmed handbag; he waited until she had opened
the door and turned to say goodnight. Then he
frowned.
' It's not very wise. Miss Crane, on your first night
here to sit alone with one of the staff. Already the
girls are talking about you, because you're the
youngest and most attractive member of the staff,
but surely for your first night . . .'
47
* I didn't know he was there. I was tired and'|
found the seat. . ." . |
'I see,' Craig Lambert said, but she knew he |
didn't. Nor did he believe her. ' Frank Parr has-|
been with us for some time. He's a brilliant artist, I
gifted with the art of passing it on to others. Hither- I
to he has been without any blemish on his character.' |
Megan's cheeks were flaming red; she was so I
angry, she felt herself shaking. ' Are you suggesting -i
I was trying to seduce . . .' ;
Craig Lambert chuckled. ' Hardly, Miss Crane. '
You're not the type. Unfortunately Frank Parr has
a sentimental heart and you might. . . well, I'm just "
warning you. Miss Crane, we do not tolerate affairs
among the staff. I would advise you to avoid being
seen alone with Mr Pan- in future.'
( But that's absurd,' Megan said angrily. ' He
was the only really friendly one. I'm not going to
snub him simply because . . /
' You aren't?' Craig Lambert's voice rose slightly.
She stared at him and struggled to regain control
of her temper.
' Please believe me, Mr Lambert,' she said, her
voice still uneven. ' Mr Pan- was not making passes
at me, nor is he the sort of man to do so.'
' Why was he kissing your hand?' Craig Lambert
demanded.
Megan could laugh. 'It was a joke. Miss Tucker
told me he had an outsize inferiority complex.' She
paused .for a moment, wondering if she should tackle
him about saying she had such a complex, but
decided not to at -the time. It could wait! ' Then he
said some of the girls had crushes on him and he said
he couldn't understand it as he was the sort of man
who might just as well not exist. I remembered what
Miss Tucker had said, so I treated it as a joke and
asked him what was wrong with him and that I'd
enjoyed our talk. Which was true,' she added
defiantly, ' because he was the most friendly one of
48
:- ys.:'"'^ ''»,i;Q^S^^
all I've met tonight. So he said something' like
Mademoiselle, you are so sweet and kissed my hand.
It was just . . . well, one of those things. It didn't
mean anything to either of us.'
' I see,' Craig Lambert said slowly, but she knew
he was not believing a word she had said. ' So long
as you're both aware that it meant nothing. You
are, however, very young and Parr is a romantic.
We can't afford to lose our dancing teacher as soon
as she arrives.' He turned away, but she acted with-
out thought, clutching him by the arm.
' Mr Lambert, why did you sack Miss Pointer?'
she asked.
He turned back and looked at her. His face
changed, it was just as she had seen it before, as if
it was made of stone.
' That,' he said, ' is my business. _ Goodnight.'
49
CHAPTER III
Megan's first few days at the Lambert School were
not too happy, but her real shock was to come on
the fourth day. '
When she awoke the morning after the social even-
ing, she went and stood by the window, drinking in
the beauties of the deep blue sea and the foam-tossed
waves, and then she shivered. How was the job
going to turn out ? She felt she had so many enemies,
which was perhaps rather absurd, but Frankie Parr
had been the only really friendly one.
She washed and dressed quickly, choosing a rather
demure pale blue dress, and went down to the dining
room. The girls were all sitting at their tables and
the roar of voices hit her as she walked in. She stood
still for a moment, looking round, then she heard a
soft whistle. Looking in that direction, she saw
Frank Parr, beckoning to her from where he sat at
what was, obviously, the staff table.
Sitting by him, as he talked and joked, she found
some of her nervousness go. Several other members
smiled and spoke to her, but it was Frank who
seemed to have taken her under his wing.
' Did the old devil tick you off for sitting alone
with me?' Frank Pan- asked Megan suddenly.
Her red cheeks made it impossible for her to deny
it. ' In a sense, yes, but when I explained . . .'
' He said he understood. Right? I suppose he
warned you to keep away from me?' Frank Parr's
eyes were amused as he watched her tell-tale cheeks.
' I know. I'm the Don Juan of the college.' He
made a dramatic movement of his hand going across
his heart, and Paul Taft, sitting opposite, frowned.
' It's hardly fair to Miss Crane to attract attention,
Parr,' he said curtly.
Megan remembered Paul Taft from the dinner the
50
night before. He had been so quiet until he scolded
the girl.
Frank Parr laughed. ' How can she avoid attract-
ing interest, Taft old boy, when she's such a choice
dish?'
' Really, Parr!' Paul Taft looked disgusted and
then turned to Megan. ' Please forgive my friend
for his brashness. I trust that you will be happy
with us.' He spoke with almost pedantic politeness,
yet Megan found herself liking him.
' I understand, Mr Taft,' she said with a smile.
' Don't worry, I won't take Mr Parr seriously.'
' Oh, woe is me, alack, alas!' Frank Parr pre-
tended to groan. ' She's seen through me already.
I have no hopes!'
It was the same all through the meal, with Frank
joking and making Megan laugh, and even dour-
faced Mr Taft's mouth kept quivering as if he was
trying not to smile.
After that, Megan consulted her rota lists and
made her way in search of the right room and her
pupils. It turned out to be far easier than she had
expected. Indeed, the actual teaching was the
easiest part of her life those first days. The pianists,
generally elderly men, were charming and really
gallant, playing well and with feeling. The girls,
chatting away until she stopped them, seemed to be
eager to try her new ideas of dancing.
Perhaps it was the meals that were the biggest
trial. Megan would go and join the staff at their
table, hoping she might find an empty seat by Frank
Parr. Usually she did, and then it was all right, but
if she sat next to another member, a ' stranger'
really even though they had been introduced, it was
rather an ordeal, for the questions came pounding at
her like the waves against rocks.
' Weren't you lucky to get this job?' ' I imagine
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