A High Price to Pay Read Online Free PDF Page B

some gall!'
    'Listen to me,' he said impatiently. 'If you agree to what I want, you
    can have the lot. The house as your own, a self-contained flat for your

    mother— anything you wish.' He hesitated, then added flatly, 'And I
    understand from Liddell that your sister's school fees are a problem.
    I'll pay them, and see her through university too, if she makes the
    grade.'
    Alison got to her feet. 'I wouldn't have any more Scotch,' she said
    sarcastically. 'You're obviously not well.'
    He gave a short derisive laugh. 'In other words, I'm either drunk, or
    out of my mind! I'm neither, I assure you. I've thought it all out very
    carefully, and it seems to me to be an ideal solution to a number of
    mutual problems.'
    'I think a good domestic staff agency would be an even better
    solution, and cheaper in the long run.' She began to move towards the
    door, but he came after her and took hold of her arm, halting her.
    She-tried angrily to shake herself free. 'Let go of me!'
    'When you've heard me out,' he said inexorably. 'Sit down, Alison.'
    'There's no point in my listening to any more of this. I have no
    intention of becoming your servant!' She stared at him in hostility and
    defiance.
    'I'm not asking you to be a servant,' he said. 'Actually, I'm asking you
    to become my wife.'
    There was a long pause, then Alison said shakily, 'You really must
    be—insane.'
    'On the contrary, I'm perfectly sober, and in my right mind.' He
    pushed her back on to the sofa. 'Will you just listen for two minutes? I
    want this house to be run with the kind of calm efficiency I've noticed
    on each of my visits, and in spite of the fact you look about sixteen

    years old, I now know this is all your doing. But it doesn't stop there.
    I also need a hostess—someone used to entertaining—someone to
    accompany me in public when necessary. In other words, I want a
    wife.'
    'Then I'm sure there's a whole queue of willing ladies only too happy
    to accommodate you,' she said stonily. 'Why pick on me?'
    'If I wanted romance—passion—all the usual ingredients, why
    indeed?' His voice was ironic. 'But I don't. I want the practical
    advantages of marriage without the emotional involvement. And if
    you agreed to marry me, that's the kind of arrangement it would be.'
    His brows rose at the sound of her little indrawn breath. 'Or did you
    by some chance think I might have fallen madly in love with you?'
    'No,' she said tautly, 'I didn't.'
    'Then we've achieved one level of understanding at least,' he observed
    sardonically. 'Think about it, Alison. Your old home, and comfort and
    security for your family, in return for continuing to run this house,
    and acting the part of the dutiful wife in public.'
    'I think marriage to you is a high price to pay, even for total security,'
    she said quietly.
    'But as I've tried to make clear, it wouldn't be a marriage in any real
    sense,' he pointed out impatiently.
    'I understand that.' Alison shook her head, aware of a growing feeling
    of unreality. 'But would you really be content with such a
    cold-blooded arrangement for the rest of your life?'
    'If I thought for one minute I was capable of finding the kind of
    genuine happiness my parents enjoyed, then probably not.' Nick
    Bristow gave a faint shrug. 'But that isn't going to happen. And I'm

    certainly not interested in saddling myself with declarations of
    undying love, and the inevitable tantrums when the thing comes
    unstuck. I know damned well what an ephemeral thing eternal
    passion is, at least where women are concerned.'
    'Are men any different?' Alison asked steadily. 'Perhaps you've just
    been unfortunate.'
    'Maybe.' He shrugged again. 'I'm in no real position to judge, but
    among my own friends I've seen any number totally committed to
    their marriages, and unable to see that their devoted wives are already
    looking over their shoulders, waiting for the next well-heeled idiot to
    come along so they can play change partners.' His mouth curled
    slightly.