Harriet Read Online Free PDF Page A

Simon’s digs were black. He’s gone, she thought in panic; one of those dazzling creatures has spirited him away. No, a thin beam of light trickled through the green silk curtains. A group of people were coming out. Oh, those echoing self-confident voices!
        ‘I do think it’s anti-social of Simon to throw us out when it’s so cold. Chloe is going to be simply livid,’ said one of the girls, scooping up a snowball and throwing it at one of the boys, as they all went screaming off into the night. Harriet threw away her chewing gum, it made no sound as it landed in the snow. The door was still open as she went up the path. Simon emerged from the darkness, his hair gleaming white in the street lamp.
        ‘I thought you’d done a bunk,’ he said.
        ‘I got soaked. I had to change.’
        He put his hand out and touched her cheek.
        ‘You’re frozen. Come in.’
        Only three people were left in the drawing-room. Deirdre, who was putting on lipstick, a blond man who was rooting around the drinks tray to find himself some more wine, and Chloe who sat on the sofa, huddled like a sparrow on the telegraph wires on a cold day.
        ‘Oh poor thing,’ thought Harriet. ‘I’d mind losing Simon.’
        ‘Come on chaps,’ said Simon removing the bottle from the blond man, ‘chucking-out time.’
        Harriet went over to the fire. She felt miserably embarrassed. Chloe looked mutinous. Simon got her blond, squashy fur coat out of the bedroom and held it out for her.
        ‘Come on, darling,’ he said firmly. ‘Beat it.’
        Two angry spots of colour burnt on her cheeks. She snatched the coat from him and put it on herself.
        ‘You’re a bastard, Simon,’ she hissed. ‘And you won’t escape unscathed either,’ she added to Harriet, and, with a sob, ran out of the room down the stairs.
        ‘We might all meet at Serena’s party later,’ said Deirdre, kissing Simon on the cheek. ‘She is expecting you, Simon."
        ‘Not tonight, darling. Tell Serena I had a previous…’ He shot a glance at Harriet. ‘No, a subsequent engagement. Now goodnight, darlings.’ And he shut the door on them.
        He turned and shot Harriet that swift, devastating smile.
        ‘One has to be brutal occasionally to get what one wants in life.’
        ‘She was awfully upset,’ said Harriet.
        ‘She’ll recover,’ said Simon.
        He chucked some logs on the fire, covering the flame and throwing the room into semi-darkness, and gave her a drink, the cold condensing on the outside of the glass. She held on to it to stop her hands shaking and took a huge gulp; it was a long time since the baked beans.
        Simon disappeared into another room. She felt as though she was alone in some deserted woodland house, and that Indians or some invaders were slowly creeping through the undergrowth towards her - but she didn’t know when or from where they were going to attack. Simon returned with the remains of a quiche on a plate.
        ‘We never did have any lunch. Do you want some?’ She shook her head.
        Simon helped himself to a slice.
        ‘You’re all right after the crash, are you?’ he said with his mouth full.’Just a few bruises, that’s all.’
        ‘I must look at them later.’
        Her heart thumped madly; the firelight flickered on his face. She jumped as a log fell out of the grate.
        ‘Relax,’ said Simon. ‘I’ve never seen anyone as terrified as you. What put that scared look in your eyes? Were you raped as a child? Did you have strict parents? Were you bullied at school?’ He was making fun at her now, but his voice was like a caress.
        She took another gulp of wine. Having eaten the inside of the quiche Simon was about to throw the pastry into the fire. ‘We could give it to the birds,’ said Harriet.
        ‘We could, I suppose.’ He opened the window, letting in a draught of icy air; the snow gleamed like a pearl. Simon put