Harlequin Omnibus: Take Me with You, Choose What You Will, Meant for Each Other by Burchell Mary

Author:Burchell, Mary [Burchell, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Toronto ; New York : Harlequin Books
Published: 1975-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

just To—to you."

"But what about me?" cried Mrs. Mayhew, in a tone of such anger and pain that Harriet winced. "I haven't the nerve to face up to this. I can't look Lin in the face and tell him that his own brother has dealt him such a blow. Of all people, I can't do it."

Harriet was appalled.

"But why not?" she said gently. "I mean—I know it's a terribly pamful thing to have to do. But you 're so courageous. You never seem to be afraid of anything. Why is it impossible for you, especially, to do it?"

Mrs. Mayhew didn't answer at once. She stared away from Harriet into the fire, and at that moment she looked old and tired and beaten.

"Roddy was always my favorite," she said softly at last. "I tried never to make any difference between them, and I knew perfectly well that Lin was the better man. But somehow—Roddy was my favorite. He was so like his father, for one thing. Lin knows it, I think. Knows, I mean,

that Roddy is nearer my heart. He hasn't ever resented it. Lin isn't tne resentful sort. But he has known it. Now, to have me—me, of all people—act as though I am on Roddy's side, as though I half condone what he has done. Surely Roddy could have seen that? Surely he could have realized that I was the last person to choose!"

There was an awkward little silence. Then Harriet said deprecatingly: '*Someone will have to tell him."

Yes, someone will have to tell him. But I can't and I won't. If it were something clean and irrevocable, like death, I would be prepared to do it." Mrs. Mayhew spoke almost fiercely. "But I will not be the one to tell Lin this."

"Very well," Harriet said slowly, and she was surprised at her own calmness." I will tell him."

"You?" For a moment Mrs. Mayhew looked at her in astonishment. Then a great wave of relief seemed to pass over her, blotting out some of her anger and distress. "Oh, Harriet—will you? I know it's a wretched task for anyone to take on, but it might come better from you than from most people. At least he knows and likes you-. It wouldn't be like nearing it from a stranger. But there would be less—less emotion about it than if I did it, and no—no hateful implications."

"Yes," Harriet said, rather mechanically.

"Do you—mind very much?"

"I don't like it. But I'm willing to do it."

She spoke almost tonelessly. But she was really thinking— I precipitated this. I can't refuse to go through with it. I was responsible for this crisis. Why should she suffer for it, more than is necessary?

^'You are a good child." Mrs. Mayhew held her hand rather tightly. "I'm so grateful, Harriet. I know I am being a coward for the first time in my life, but—"

"No. It's all right," Harriet said. "I quite see that for you to have to tell him would hurt you both unnecessarily."

"You do see, don't you?' The old lady spoke almost eagerly.

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