Bond of Fate Read Online Free PDF

that I never told Dad. I spent a term at a school in Switzerland two years ago, and Mother found out and came to see me. She lives in Italy, you know. Her mother was Italian.' She shrugged her shoulders. 'Of course I wanted to meet her. I didn't remember anything about her, you see. Dad never mentioned her, so when she suggested I spend some of my free time with her, I jumped at it.' Her black eyes narrowed as she went back in time. `She's an actress, you know, and quite famous, really.' She scuffed her sandals on the lower paddock rail. 'I suppose that was why she didn't want to be bothered with a baby, and certainly didn't intend to stay at home and look after me. Well, as I said, I did stay with her at her hotel, and the first day or so, it was wonderful, everyone bowing and scraping to her, and men falling over themselves to escort her to whatever party she'd decided to go to. She's beautiful, of course—and she knows it.' The last statement was made in a cynical tone that surprised Melanie.
     
    `She didn't want people to know that I was her daughter, and luckily we weren't that much alike. I take after Dad in looks, but I suppose everybody more or less guessed, because she's not the sort of person to take to a child. Too much competition, of course,' added Celia, this time with an engaging grin that took the cynicism out of the statement.
    Even more so in a few years' time. Melanie thought inwardly. Celia was a lovely child. As a woman she would be devastating.
    `I never told Dad about seeing my mother, let alone staying with her,' Celia went on, 'but I'm glad that I did go, because I found out a lot about her. Enough to know that it's not me she's after, it's Dad. She never got over the fact that he divorced her. She's so used to adoration, and having everything her way, that she really thought she could keep him and all the glamour of her work as well.'
    Melanie was beginning to understand, but one thing puzzled her.
    `I don't see how my marrying your father will alter anything,' she said frankly. 'I mean, if your mother is set on making life difficult for your father by trying to get you back, marriage wouldn't change anything, would it?'
    Celia gave her a pitying look. 'It changes everything, from her point of view,' she said firmly. 'This story about her getting married again is just Scotch mist. It's meant to force Dad into taking her back again. Don't you see. She's still in love with him. Goodness, she could have got married any time during the last twelve years! There's an old Count—well, I don't suppose he's all that old,' she amended, 'who's crazy about her and follows her around all the stage locations, and she could have him by lifting her little
     
    finger, but no, it's Dad she wants. She kept telling me how happy we would all be together if he'd only give her another chance.'
    Some of Melanie's thoughts showed in her face, for Celia said indignantly, It's true, I tell you! She keeps having a go at him to take her back. That's why we take off on those trips abroad. Dad has someone who tips him off when she's due to come over here to do some work, and it saves a lot of emotional scenes if we keep clear of her. I told you she was half Italian, didn't I, and they go in for big scenes. Dad hates them, and you can imagine what life would be like if he was ever stupid enough to take her back, but he won't. Whatever he felt for her vanished when she took off with a film director when I was barely a year old.' She caught Melanie's hand. `Do say yes!' she pleaded. `You'll never regret it. She won't give up until Dad does marry again. She's convinced herself that he's not married because he's still in love with her and all that trash. Surely you can see that that threat of hers to get me back is just hogwash. She doesn't stand a chance—not after the way she deserted us all those years ago. All she can hope for are a few odd visits of mine to her now and again, and she won't take that on when she realises that