Free A Girl Called Tegi by Katrina Britt

talking about,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you go to sleep?’
    Dorothy’s red lips tightened and her look was venomous as she took in the delightful figure in bra and panties.
    ‘Tony Mastroni brought you home, didn’t he? I heard the car. Dad was home hours ago. He said you were dancing when he left for home,’ Dorothy insisted.
    ‘I didn’t dance with Tony, if that makes you feel better,’ Tegi said quietly. ‘And I went with Dad at Mother’s request. I hope you didn’t row with them and spoil your father’s evening. He thoroughly enjoyed himself.’
    ‘He wasn’t the only one who enjoyed himself, was he?’
    ‘I hope not. Now go to sleep.’
    ‘That’s what you want, isn’t it—for me to take this meekly and say nothing. Well, I’m saying plenty! Inviting Tony to see Gary play football, then going with him to the dinner with Dad as a cover—you must think I’m an idiot !’
    ‘Then stop talking like one.’ Tegi put on her pyjamas and went to the dressing table to apply cream to her face. She stopped short, unscrewing the jar. ‘I see you’ve been at my cream again,’ she said wearily. ‘And while we’re on the subject, don’t borrow anything of mine unless you ask first. You had a nerve, taking my dress tonight !’
    ‘You should have told me you were going to see Tony, then I would have left it for you.’
    Dorothy had gone white with fury, but Tegi ignored her. Going to the small bedside table between the two beds, she picked up the little clock and began to wind it up.
    ‘I’m sure you would,’ she said, putting down the clock and slipping into bed. ‘Now go to sleep. I have to be up in the morning to go to work.’
    ‘Poor little you! I can see one has to be up early to compete with you. Why don’t you c lim b back into your own little rut, because that’s where you belong. Tony Mastroni isn’t your kind—you’d bore him to tears. You haven’t an ounce of sophistication to keep any man for long.’
    Tegi punched a hollow for her head into her pillow. ‘No?’ she answered. ‘Then why borrow my evening dress and my make-up if I’m so old-fashioned? You make me tired! You’re just spoiling for a row, and I refuse to join in at this time of night. For goodness’ sake save it for the morning.’
    Dorothy’s eyes were harder and brighter than ever. ‘I don’t trust you any more, do you know that? You’re jealous of me, always have been, because Mother thinks a lot about me.’
    Tegi said wearily, ‘You have a lot to learn. I’m not jealous of you at all. If you’re so clever how come you haven’t hitched up with some man in London or wherever it is you work? If you’ve decided to take on Tony Mastroni, you have a hard task ahead to hook him. He’s been around and he knows all the answers, believe me.’
    ‘That’s where you’ve been getting above yourself, my dear sister. I can hook Tony Mastroni or any man I please if I set my mind to it. As it happens, he’s opening a boutique in Douglas tomorrow and he’s invited me along.’
    ‘Congratulations. Perhaps you’ll find time in between ogling Tony to look for a dress instead of having to borrow mine?’ retorted Tegi. ‘You have a wardrobe full of clothes and if you don’t wear them it goes to show that you aren’t very good at choosing the right kind.’
    Dorothy said haughtily, ‘My wardrobe happens to be too sophisticated for here.’
    ‘Even for Tony?’ Tegi’s voice was dry. ‘You aren’t interested in Tony. You’re going after his image. He’s a celebrity, so you want to bathe in his glory. He can see through you and all the other silly girls who run after him—he told me so.’
    ‘Then there’s no danger of him falling in love with you, is there? If he’d been the least bit interested in you he would have strung you along like the rest at first, wouldn’t he?’
    Tegi conceded this. ‘You could be right.’ She yawned. ‘Now can we go to sleep?’
    ‘And he’s a very handsome,