South of Capricorn by Anne Hampson

‘Please leave us, Dave.’
    ‘Yes, Boss,’ and without a glance either for Gail or Leta, Dave strode briskly away towards the path along which he had come.
    ‘And now,’ drawled Kane Farrell evenly, ‘perhaps you will explain?’ His face was an impenetrable mask, but Gail had the impression that his mind was working at top speed.
    ‘Your daughter,’ began Gail, when she was interrupted, this time by Leta herself. The child had drawn so close to her and Kane Farrell that she was at his feet.
    And like a miracle her whole manner underwent a change. Her mouth curved in a smile, her face was bright—animated, almost—and her beautiful eyes shone up at her father. Gail stared, open-mouthed, absorbing the fact that the child very much liked what she saw,
    ‘Hello, Daddy!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’ve come to live with you because I can’t live with Mummy any more. She’s gone to heaven and ...’ The bright excited voice trailed away as Leta turned to Gail, a question in her eyes, her forehead wrinkled as if she were struggling mentally. ‘What else did you tell me to say? I can’t remember—but I’m still having my books and chocolates and dolls’ clothes, remember!’ A threatening finger was wagged at Gail and Kane Farrell’s eyes narrowed ominously. However, it was not anger Gail detected in his expression ... no, it was something very strange indeed. He seemed to be deep in thought, as if a plan of action had formulated in his brain. ‘If you don’t give me all the things you promised I’ll kick and scream and pull your hair out!’ Leta was continuing in a loud voice. ‘It isn’t my fault that I’ve forgotten some of the things you said I must say to my daddy!’
    Gail had naturally coloured vividly at this. Kane Farrell’s eyes were for a second tinged with amusement, but that something else still remained. How cool he was! It amazed Gail that, confronted like this with the child he had deserted, he could remain so unruffled. It was almost as if this sort of thing was an everyday occurrence with him, she thought, having an inexplicable desire to laugh—hysterically.
    ‘I d-did mention that her name was Leta?’ she stammered, and only then did she remember that he knew his daughter’s name anyway, from the letters Sandra had sent him. ‘Sandra, when she wrote to you all that time ago, would have told you everything about her ...’ She stopped, realizing she was speaking just for the sake of it, to relieve the tension that had taken possession of her. Her voice had a cracked quality about it which seemed to be affording her listener some amusement. Yet when he spoke it was absently, and his eyes seemed to be staring into the past.
    ‘All that time ago...’ he was murmuring at last, repeating some of Gail’s words and allowing his eyes to wander down to the child who, still at his feet, was staring up at him with a smile on her lips. He continued to stare at her with an intentness that revealed nothing to Gail. ‘Yes, all that time ago.’
    ‘Oh,’ intervened Leta brightly, ‘I’ve just remembered some more that you told me to say to my daddy—’
    ‘Never mind,’ broke in Gail, glaring at her. ‘You can now be quiet while I talk to your daddy.’
    But another silence followed, with Kane Farrell’s face a study—unfathomable yet disturbing. His mind was on Leta, no doubt of that. What was he thinking about her behaviour? Strangely, he seemed not to be too perturbed by it, observed Gail, once again feeling that he had in mind some plan, a plan of which Leta was a part. He transferred his attention to Gail, saying quietly,
    ‘I’m waiting for your explanation, Miss...?’ A brow was raised inquiringly as he waited for her to answer his unspoken question.
    ‘Stafford,’ she replied briefly, and noticed his slight start of surprise.
    ‘The same name as Sandra. Some relation?’
    ‘Cousin.’ She paused a moment, aware of the fact that she had fully expected him to deny that he was