Free The House of Adriano by Nerina Hilliard

parents’ death. It might even be suggested that she deliberately refrained from contacting his relatives, not through any desire to follow out what she had believed to be Eric’s wishes, but because she wanted to keep Peter for herself.
    There was only one way and, although she knew it was the wrong way, she intended to take it. She had to take it. There was no other choice left to her. She could not give Peter up. The only thing she really regretted was having to deceive Marius Jenton.
    When she left the office she did not go anywhere near a solicitor. Luckily she did not have many personal odds and ends in her office and what few items there were easily went into her handbag and the little wicker basket she always carried to take home her shopping. Luckily Betty was out on a message and did not query why she was clearing out all her personal belongings.
    From the office she went straight to the bank and drew out all her money, almost five hundred dollars, what was left of the nest egg her mother had bequeathed to her from the ruins of the old grazing property. Perhaps it was dangerous to carry that amount around with her, but it would soon be put back into the bank, a different one, though - and under a different name. From there she went to Central Station.
    It was a simple enough solution. Eric had managed to stay out of contact with his relatives for years and he had not even tried to hide his movements. Surely if she did the same thing, disappeared completely, they would not be able to find her. Only, unlike Eric, she would make a definite attempt to cover her tracks. A new city and a new name - then let Duarte try to find her and take Peter away from her.
    She managed to book straight away on the Daylight Express to Melbourne, which left early the following morning. With the tickets in her handbag and a feeling of distinct satisfaction in her heart at being about to thwart Duarte even when it seemed he had the upper hand, she left the station, picked up a few items of shopping and went home.
    For the rest of the day, until it was time to collect Peter, she was very busy. Their things had to be packed - clothes and a few personal belongings scattered about the flat. Luckily there was not too much and everything went into two medium-sized suitcases which she could carry herself with a bit of an effort. Since she had always believed in buying good clothes, although that restricted both their wardrobes, clothing did not cause too much bulk and there was even room for Peter’s toys. By tea-time she was fully packed except for overnight things, tired but once again conscious of satisfaction. Maybe what she was doing was quite wrong, but she could not let Duarte Adriano win, could not let him take Peter away from her.
    When she went out to collect Peter she explained to the Misses Carstairs that she had to go away very suddenly and asked if they would hand a letter to the school authorities for her when they took the other children to school in the morning. Twittering with curiosity, they agreed readily enough and were too genteel to ask her outright what had caused the sudden departure, for which Aileen was heartily glad.
    Mrs. Margetson was a different matter. Aileen had to invent a different story, telling her that the man who had come to visit Peter yesterday had been one of his relatives and that he wanted them to visit his family. Since business necessitated an immediate return for him, they all had to move quickly, which was why she had to give up her room without any prior notice. Mrs. Margetson was very understanding, making Aileen feel quite ashamed of having to deceive her.
    Peter of course took it all as a great adventure. “Going away? On the train?” The great dark eyes, so like Duarte’s, looked up at her. “Where to?”
    “A long way. I’ll tell you later, when we get on the train.” She did not want him mentioning their destination to anyone in the house, because Duarte was sure to make