Alyona's Voice

by Joan Shirley-Davies

  The sunlight filtered through the marquee and cast a warm light around it. The tables, each one laid for eight people, were placed around a wooden dance area. Cutlery shone and glasses sparkled. The centrepieces of fresh flowers and candles added a vibrant splash of colour. There was a carpeted dais for the musicians.

  When they were seated, Fraser poured Cristal into Claudia’s glass, he knew it to be her favourite but never questioned how she came to like this particular vintage. But then he thought how ridiculous it was to know that and not the fact that she was a child star or that she could speak Russian. He waited for her to pick up the glass and perform the subtle little ritual that had always fascinated him. She would smile and watch the bubbles before taking a sip. Then she would pass her tongue over her lips, as if to make sure she tasted it all. But he’d never asked her what it was all about, in case she stopped doing it. It was her secret, her special memory―like the pinecones. It was something he’d always loved about her and kept it locked away in his memory, as if it was a jewel in a safe.

  Fraser felt disappointed when she didn’t do it. Instead, a smile lit her face as she raised her glass and said, ‘To people who plant daffodils.’

  When dinner was over, they danced, held each other close and he felt comfort in the regenerated friendship. His friend had returned to him, but his reactions toward her were not the same. This became clearer when the Tango was announced, and Yuri swiftly moved into action and led his countess, who had clearly accepted rather than cause a scene, to the dancefloor. Her Russian blood, albeit diluted, had obviously attracted him. Jenny was right, Fraser had no claim on her, he had to acknowledge that. Yet, his precious friendship had become entangled in this physical attraction, and it made him nervous as he watched them dance. Claudia’s hair shimmered, her feet moved professionally, her skirt waved and rippled as her hips turned about and revealed brief glimpses of the lower part of her thigh. Her skin was golden in the soft lighting. He sat and devoured the sight, consumed with fascination and the sudden hot sizzle of erotic energy throbbing through him. Yuri began to show off, but Claudia didn’t let him steal the thunder and rose to it effortlessly, with so much style. She was a delicious blend of grit, intrigue and tantalising sex appeal. He wanted to fence with the grit, flirt with the intrigue and take the sex appeal to bed. Oh god! How he wanted to take her to bed. The thought shocked him, and he gulped down some water.

  Yuri ended the dance with flair, spinning Claudia, snatching her close again, spreading the palm of his hand across her beautiful naked back, between the narrow straps of her dress and her defined shoulder blades. A snap of jealousy hit his gut and, once more, shocked him.

  ‘Wow!’ Grace said, when Claudia returned to the table. ‘You tango like an Argentinian gypsy. You obviously had lessons.’

  Claudia was very casual about it. ‘My mother dragged me off to lessons for everything, dancing, swimming, riding, tennis, fencing…yada, yada, yada.’

  ‘What’s your tennis like?’ Eliot asked. ‘We could have a game.’

  ‘Pathetic,’ she said. Then she laughed. ‘But I had a great coach who taught me how to serve really stylish double faults. I’m rubbish at fencing too.’ She smiled, cunningly, as she added, ‘But I can ride a horse, like a Texas Ranger.’

  ‘You sure can,’ Paige said, ‘and so could Mathew Jay. The way he drove the cattle was amazing. Do you ever see him?’

  The question seemed to take Claudia by surprise, the light suddenly faded from her eyes. Fraser almost felt the change in her as he committed the name, Mathew Jay, to his memory.

  ‘I don’t see him anymore,’ Claudia said.

  ‘He was gorgeous in that Christmas special,’ Paige continued enthusiastically. ‘Was he as nice as he seemed?’

  Claudia smiled but a look of sadness lingered in her eyes. ‘Yes…a beautiful man.’

  Fraser could see that Claudia hadn’t relished this topic of conversation. He took her by the hand. ‘Let’s go and get some air,’ he whispered.

  Chapter Nine

  They walked to the lake. Claudia took off her shoes. When they got to the water’s edge, Fraser scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a fallen tree that had, for some years, been a seat. She gasped with surprise and then laughed. The garden was lit, and a faint glow spilled onto the lakeside. The music and the voices faded, and all seemed still. There was barely a ripple on the water, as all the wildfowl were settled.

  Claudia’s voice broke the silence. ‘This night air’s going to make my hair curl up even more.’

  ‘I can’t wait to see it happen.’

  ‘I hate it,’ she said. It wasn’t a casual comment. ‘That’s why I used to keep it so short.’ She looked towards the lake. ‘You must have had such fun here when you were boys.’

  ‘Yes, Grandpa Franklyn invited us every summer. It was expected that we agreed to come. He was a big influence in our lives―old-fashioned but an amazing man. I suppose that’s why we’re close. Between school and Larchwood, we lived as brothers. We once tried to make a boat out of sawn-off bike wheels and a sheet of polythene. We paddled it quite a way out, and then it capsized and we had to swim for it. We arrived in the kitchen, soaking wet, looking forward to Stella’s offer of hot chocolate and brownies, but Grandpa Franklyn sent us back to recover the wreck. We didn’t know how, but he said we had to work it out. Tony designed a raft, with a winch, which was far more stable. We managed to drag it back, then we got the hot chocolate and brownies.’

  Claudia laughed. ‘Well the Wright Brothers didn’t fly on day one. They kept trying.’

  ‘Maybe if they had a sheet of polythene and a couple of sawn-off bike wheels, they might have achieved it sooner.’ Fraser felt the urge to ask about Mathew Jay. Of all the things he’d found out about Claudia, this was the most intriguing. He resisted the temptation for a while, but curiosity got the better of him. ‘Tell me…this beautiful man…I get the impression that he was special?’

  ‘Mathew? Yes, he was. Why do you want to know about him?’

  ‘You never talked about him.’

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘Maybe I’m jealous.’

  Claudia nudged him like she used to when he said something ridiculous or made a bad joke. ‘Idiot!’ She seemed to think out her next move very carefully. Then she said, ‘An English actor.’

  ’And…?

  ‘Don’t you think we’ve talked enough about me this evening?’

  ‘Not nearly enough. I’m way behind on your history.’

  ‘He played my uncle when I was that feisty little tearaway kid that Paige talked about.’

  ‘But you weren’t a kid in the Christmas special.’

  Claudia shook her head slowly. ‘No. When I finished college, I was in debt, like any other graduate. So when I was offered a one off mini-series, including a Christmas Special, I took it. When I met Mathew again, I was all grown up. He didn’t ruffle my hair anymore or raise his hand for a high-five when we finished a scene. As soon as the filming and the promotions were finished, we came back home together. We went to live by the sea for a while. Then we moved back to London because he wanted to do some theatre. We were together until five years ago.’

  ‘About the time we first met in the park.’

  ‘Yes but…’ She shrugged as if to shake off a sad memory. ‘It was all over by then.’

  She clearly wanted to move off the subject, and Fraser had to quash his burning curiosity about it. ‘Did you do any more acting?’

  ‘No, I’d made enough to pay my debts and buy a few posh frocks for the promos and interviews.’ She pinched some of the fabric that rested on her thighs and said, ‘This one included. Didn’t you notice how so last season it was?’

  ‘Absolutely not, you look fabulous. Besides, you of all people must know how to care for textiles, keep them looking new.’ He thought for a moment, not wanting to stir the calm atmosphere. ‘You were very successful. Why were you so short of money?’

  ‘That’s just
a detail in a long, tedious story. Not for tonight. I’ve had such a fabulous time. I don’t want to talk about those days.’

  Fraser had no idea of the time they sat there. Claudia wanted to know more about Larchwood, and the childhood experiences he had with his cousins. They were easy to talk about.

  Eventually, the music stopped. He and Tony had agreed that the party wouldn’t go on too long because the sound carried across the lake. He glanced at his watch, the evening, he had worried so much about, had flown by.

  ‘I must go home,’ Claudia said.

  Fraser frowned. ‘Home, what, now? I’m disappointed. I hoped you’d stay over.’ He noted Claudia’s shocked expression. ‘Not that kind of stay over. Stella prepared rooms, just in case.’

  ‘I’d like to go home,’ she said, ‘I wasn’t expecting to come, remember?’

  She put on her shoes and insisted on walking.

  They arrived back at the marquee. Tony and Lizzy were sitting at the table with Paige. Yuri had already left; Eliot and Grace had gone back to the house to make a cup of tea.

  Paige got to her feet and thanked Tony and Fraser. She looked at Claudia. ‘It’s been such a pleasure to meet you.’ She hugged her, and then she beamed a smile and added, ‘But why didn’t you tell me about the box set?’

  Claudia frowned. ‘Box set?’

  Fraser could see the change in Claudia’s face and he asked, ‘What about it?’

  ‘Re-released! Every episode,’ Paige said. ‘I’ll be able to binge on them after a tough day. But I guess I’d better get myself a bigger cushion.’ She left with a big smile on her face.

  ‘I have to go.’ Claudia hugged Lizzy and then thanked Tony, who kissed her cheek. She turned to Fraser. ‘Thank you, Fraser, it was a lovely party.’ She started to walk away.

  Fraser caught her up. ‘Hey! Hold on! What is it? What’s wrong?’

  Claudia didn’t stop, she was clearly suppressing anger. ‘Nothing, I’ll deal with it.’

  ‘Deal with what? What’s this all about?’

  She stopped walking and looked at Fraser. ‘My mother sold me out. Nobody asked me about the box set.’

  ‘Perhaps it was a buy-out in the first place. They wouldn’t need your permission.’

  ‘Elsa Hamilton would never agree to that. Otherwise, she would have to relinquish control, and that’s something she never does. This must have been arranged months ago. And she’s got the cheek to turn up to my house and make demands on my inheritance?’ She moved on.

  ‘Claudia, wait!’ Fraser caught her up and walked by her side. ‘What demands?’

  ‘Did Lizzy tell you that my grandmother left me some precious, family diaries written by my great-grandaunt?’

  ‘No, I don’t think she’d deem it appropriate to do that.’

  ‘Well…my mother wants them, and she’s trying to take them from me. I can’t let her do that. They’re too precious. She’ll abuse them just to make some quick money. I promised my grannie I wouldn’t let her have them.’

  ‘Will she contest the will―take it to court?’

  Claudia scoffed. ‘I wish! At least that would give me a chance. She doesn’t get a lawyer, she finds much more effective ways to beat people into the ground.’

  ’Such as…?

  ‘She finds a weakness, makes threats, and she won’t stop until she wins.’

  Fraser was perplexed. Claudia was smarter than this. Why did she think it was so difficult? ‘Come back to the house, and we’ll sort something out.’

  Claudia became exasperated. She stopped and faced him. ‘Why do you presume I’m being naïve? You don’t seem to understand that she takes what she wants. That’s why I moved from London, to give me some thinking time. Do you think I would have gone to all that trouble if it was straightforward? She’s looking for me as we speak. When she finds me, she’ll make a move to force me to hand over the diaries. When I deny her, she’ll increase the pressure. She’ll continue to do that until I give in. She’s very good at what she does. I won’t have a clue where she’s going to come from. Your conference is more important than my lifelong quarrel with my mother, so don’t get tangled up with her.’

  ‘This is too fantastic for words. I can’t believe she’d deliberately―’

  Claudia glared at him. ‘Then stay out of it.’

  Fraser put his arms around her, ‘Claudia, darling,’ he pleaded softly. ‘This isn’t us. We don’t do this.’ He pressed a light kiss on her face then embraced her, held her tightly, and she relaxed into his arms. ‘Come back to the house, and we’ll talk.’

  Claudia broke free. ‘We’ll talk on Thursday, like we agreed. I have to leave.’ Her eyes watered, and for a moment, she seemed to wilt. ‘You don’t need my problems on your mind as well as your own. Goodnight.’

  Fraser watched her walk away. He wanted to understand her problem. What could be so bad that would induce her to pack up and move? Why would it be so difficult to deal with her own mother?

  *****

  Claudia walked towards the main entrance of the house. Even though the box set wasn’t part of the battle, she felt the sharp pain of her mother’s distant prod. Time was running out. It had all been used up on this unexpected twist of meeting Fraser again. Her eyes watered. ‘Don’t blub, Claudia,’ she whispered as she walked. ‘Don’t let her win. You’ll find a way to stop her before she can get any closer.’ She squared her shoulders and continued to walk. ‘Just don’t blub.’

  Irena met her by the house. ‘Mr Gallier called and said you are going home.’

  ‘Yes, is there a taxi company I can call?’

  ‘Friends and guests of the Franklyns do not need to call a taxi. You look upset, I will take you myself.’

  As they drove from the Larchwood gates, Claudia expelled a quivering sigh. ‘I’m afraid I caused a bit of a scene.’

  ‘Please tell me that you poured your drink over Yuri Balakirev’s head?’

  ‘No, I didn’t do that.’

  ‘That is a disappointment.’

  ‘I was unfair to Fraser. He wants to help me, but he can’t.’

  ‘Do not be concerned about him. He is a powerful man, accustomed to dealing with difficult situations.’

  ‘He can’t believe I have a malicious mother. This family is so close, he doesn’t understand that a relative could scheme against you, cause you great pain.’

  ‘Then he is very fortunate. My ex-husband placed me in a dangerous position, my children also. That is why I left my home in Ukraine and came to the UK.’

  ‘I thought I’d made a brave move.’

  ‘It was no more than you have done, I think. If it was to get away from your mother, then indeed she must be a very dangerous person?’

  ‘Yes, and it doesn’t help that Fraser thinks I’m being paranoid. He thinks it can be settled with a good lawyer, but he has no idea what I’m up against.’

  ‘It is easy for a man to believe a woman is worrying about nothing, when he does not fully understand her problems. He also has many people to help him. You are a woman alone in a difficult situation. So do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.’

  ‘That’s very kind, Irena.’

  ‘A woman does not forget her own troubled past.’

  ‘But I’m not your responsibility, am I?’

  ‘I consider all women, at some time, to be my responsibility. We go through challenging times, and so we should help each other…yes?’

  Chapter Ten

  On Wednesday, even though the conference was still in session, Lizzy insisted that they keep the tea-and-cake date. As usual, the table by the window was reserved.

  Jenny prodded her lemon tart with a pastry fork. ‘Well, there’s one thing about being off chocolate, you get to explore other experiences.’

  Claudia watched her as she sampled some of the crumbling pastry, laced with yellow filling. ‘How is it?’

  Jenny’s left eye screwed up, and she spoke out of the corner of her mouth. ‘Tan
gy!’

  ‘That’s good, isn’t it?’

  ‘My palate doesn’t do tangy.’ She sipped her tea and then looked at Lizzy. ‘When are you going to Italy?’

  ‘Third week in August,’ Lizzy said. ‘It’s going to be fabulous, just enough summer left. Tony’s looking forward to it. He was really concerned that we hadn’t seen much of the family this summer. We’ll have time to catch up.’

  ‘Is Fraser going?’ Jenny asked.

  ‘Yes, he’s meeting up with his parents. They can take a few days before the grape harvest. I presume Natalie won’t be there now though, unless they make up.’

  Jenny’s eyes sparkled as she told Claudia all about Villa Firenze, Tony’s facility in Tuscany, for corporate entertaining. It was run more like a hotel, with lots of rooms, huge lounges. Dining is mostly al fresco under the pergola. ‘It’s fabulous,’ Jenny said. ‘The pool is kidney-shaped, and the steps are like a fan in the recessed part. You just want to plunge into it. And there are tables and chairs and loungers, and it’s all lit at night.’

  ‘You’ve been?’

  Jenny shook her head. ‘No, but Grace and Charlie had their wedding there. I’ve seen the videos…fabulous.’ She became distracted and looked across the restaurant. ‘Incoming!’

  ‘Who?’ Lizzy asked.

  ‘Fraser.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Claudia sighed. ‘I thought he’d be busy.’

  Lizzy frowned. ‘What’s wrong? I thought you two were OK.’

  ‘We still have…issues.’

  ‘Friends aren’t supposed to have issues,’ Lizzy commented.

  ‘I’m not even sure we’re very good friends anymore.’

  ‘Well, he’s making his way over to us, and he looks very serious,’ Jenny said.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Fraser said, ‘mind if I join you for a minute?’ He was carrying a magazine.

  ‘Course not,’ Jenny said, ‘you look a bit tense.’

  Fraser sat by Claudia. ‘I’m good. I just…’ He paused and laid the magazine on the table. ‘One of the receptionists showed me this, Claudia. I thought you should see it.’