be attracted to the kind of the'er-do-well Gary Grant had played. Luke said: 'But that's why she fell for him -because he was dangerous.'
'Are dangerous people attractive?'
'Absolutely.'
Elspeth turned away from him and looked at the reflection of the moon on the restless surface of the water. Billie Josephson was dangerous, she thought
Luke sensed her annoyance and changed the subject 'This afternoon, Professor Davies told me I could do my master's degree right here at Harvard if I want.'
'What made him say that?'
'I mentioned that I was hoping to go to Columbia. He said: "What for? Stay here!" I explained that my family's in New York, and he said: "Family. HuhP like that Like I couldn't possibly be a serious mathematician if I cared about seeing my little sister.'
Luke was the eldest of four children. His mother was French. His father had met her in Paris at the end of the First World War. Elspeth knew that Luke was fond of his two teenage brothers and doted on his eleven-year-old sister. 'Professor Davies is a bachelor,' she said. 'He lives for his work.'
'Have you thought about doing a master's?'
Elspeth's heart missed a beat 'Should I?' Was he asking her to go to Columbia with him?
You're a better mathematician than most of the Harvard men.'
'I've always wanted to work at the State Department.'
'That would mean living in Washington.'
Chapter 2
Elspeth was sure Luke had not planned this conversation. He was just thinking aloud. It was typical of a man, to talk without a moment's forethought about matters that affected their whole lives. But he seemed dismayed that they might move to different cities. The solution to the dilemma must be as obvious to him as it was to her, she thought happily.
'Have you ever been in love?" he said suddenly. Realizing he had been abrupt, he added: 'It's a very personal question, I don't have any right to ask.' -
'That's okay,' she said. Any time he wanted to talk about love, it was fine with her. 'As a matter of fact, I have been in love.' She watched his face in the moonlight, and was gratified to see the shadow of displeasure flicker across his expression. 'When I was seventeen, there was a steelworks dispute in Chicago. I was very political, in those days. I went to help, as a
volunteer, carrying messages and making coffee. I worked for a young organizer called Jack Largo, and I fell in love with him.'
'And he with you?'
'Goodness, no. He was twenty-five, he thought of me as a kid. He was kind to me, and charming, but he was like that with everyone.' She hesitated. 'He kissed me once, though.' She wondered whedier she should be telling Luke this, but she felt the need to unburden herself. 'We were alone in the back room, packing leaflets in boxes, and I said something that made him laugh, I don't even remember what it was. "You're a gem, Ellie," he said - he was one of those men who shorten everyone's name, he would have called you Lou for sure/Then he kissed me, right on the lips. I nearly died of joy. But he just went on packing leaflets as though nothing had changed.'
'I think he did fall in love with you.'
'Maybe.'
'Are you still in touch with him?'
She shook her head. 'He died.'
'So young!'
'He was killed.' She fought back sudden tears. The last thing she wanted was for Luke to think she was still in love with the memory of Jack. 'Two off-duty policemen, hired by the steelworks, got him in an alley and beat him to death with iron bars.'
'Jesus Christ!' Luke stared at her.
'Everyone in town knew who had done it, but nobody was arrested.'
He took her hand. 'I've read about that kind of stuff in the papers, but it never seemed real.'
'It's real. The mills must keep rolling. Anyone who gets in the way has to be rubbed out.'
'You make it sound as if industry were no better than organized crime.'
'I don't see a big difference. But I don't get involved any more That was enough.' Luke had started talking about love, but she had stupidly moved the conversation on to politics. She switched back. 'What about you?' she said. 'Have you ever been in love?'
'I'm not sure,' he said hesitantly. 'I don't think I know what love is.' It was a typical boy's answer. Then he kissed her, and she relaxed.
She liked to touch him with her fingertips while they kissed, stroking his ears