Vivienne nodded absently, lingering near the bar. She was surprised to see when she looked at her watch that it was almost one o’clock.
She was half-listening to two turbanned Moors nearby talking in rapid Spanish when a hand touched her wrist and she turned to find Gary standing beside her. ‘Hello, again,’ he said, smiling broadly.
‘Can I buy you a drink?’
‘No, thank you. I’ve just had one,’ Vivienne replied a little breathlessly. She looked at him and asked, ‘Did you have a good win?’
‘No. Lost the lot,’ Gary shrugged. ‘But I’m learning to be a good loser.’ He seemed thoughtful and as though wanting to appear offhand he added with a grin, ‘I saw you with Trent Colby, the big boss himself. Is he a friend of yours?’
‘I suppose you could say that in a way,’ Vivienne replied.
‘How come you know him so well?’ Gary offered her a cigarette. She declined and said with a smile and a sigh, ‘It’s a long story.’
‘I like listening to stories,’ he quirked. ‘And anyway, weren’t we going to talk over old times together?’
Vivienne’s gaze was on the archways. Panic in her eyes, she said suddenly, breaking away from him, ‘I’m sorry, Gary, I have to go.
Trent’s on his way over.’
Gary appeared to size up the situation swiftly. He said with a pained grin, ‘Well, if you can’t talk now, how about meeting me tomorrow at the Scheherezade … at three o’clock?’
Vivienne’s mind worked rapidly. Tomorrow was Robert’s day for the hospital. Trent usually kept to himself in the house. Could she?
Dared she? She said quickly over her singing heart, ‘All right,’ and moved away.
Trent arrived before she had got more than a few steps away from the bar. He took her arm and said, guiding her out, ‘The cafe’s still a bit rowdy—a bunch from one of the cruise ships living it up a bit. I’ll take you through myself.’
At the outside door Abdul was waiting. Vivienne said goodnight to Trent, hoping there were no tell-tale stars in her eyes, and went out to the car with the Arab manservant. Her mood alternated between glowing happiness and panic and worry on the ride back to Koudia.
What had she done, saying she would meet Gary in town in broad daylight? What if someone saw them? Still there was no slackening of her pulses despite the danger. She would go, of course. How could she help herself?
The following day she kept mainly to her room, finding little chores to do so that she wouldn’t run into Trent. She couldn’t avoid lunching with him, but as the day was hot he had ordered the meal to be served out of doors, and with Momeen tripping back and forth and Abdul hovering over the food trolley the strain wasn’t so great.
Around half past two when the house was still and silent - she walked casually down the stairs, her heart hammering in case she ran into Trent. It wouldn’t have mattered, because she often went for a stroll round the grounds at this time of day. But there was something about what she was planning which filled her with distaste when she thought of Trent. Better for her conscience that he was nowhere about.
She took the route to the domed summerhouse where she sometimes sat with Robert gazing out to sea, and from here it was an easy matter to pick her way down the shallow slope into the fruit orchards. There were paths everywhere and Berber women working, so there seemed little chance of her being spotted from the house. Just the same she felt easier when at last she reached the main gates which opened almost on to city streets. Five minutes on foot and she was able to hail a taxi. She arrived at the Scheherezade a little before three.
The café, next to the Grand Mosque, was one favoured by tourists.
They could sip their drinks to the accompaniment of Arab music and browse among the displays of Moorish embroidery and leatherwork.
Vivienne looked round eagerly, fearing that she would never find Gary among the crowds, but yes, there he was at one of the alcove tables inside. It struck her fleetingly that he was practising discretion through no prompting from her.
He rose to meet her and she hurried in to him, her lips parted in a palpitating smile. She thought he might have commented on the pretty sun-dress she was wearing, but he simply indicated the seat opposite him and asked, ‘What shall I order?’
Nestled in the alcove seat across from him, she said with a nostalgic gleam, ‘Why don’t we have a Cinzano?’
‘In this heat?’ He pulled a face. ‘I’ll have a cold beer.’
Vivienne settled for iced lime. Philosophically she told herself that, four years older, she had no taste for Cinzano either. The drinks arrived and Gary held up his glass in a brief toast before swallowing thirstily. He was wearing a white open-necked shirt and dark trousers and from the moment she entered Vivienne had been mildly shocked at his appearance. His hair was coarse and thinning and there were lines around his eyes and mouth that she hadn’t noticed in the casino.
But he was still the same old Gary, the man who could set her pulses racing four years ago and who was doing just that right now.
She gazed at him and said softly, ‘Tell me about yourself. I’m longing to know what’s been happening to you while I’ve been in England.’
‘Not much.’ He gave the familiar shrug. ‘I told you my life story last night. I’m in the photography business with a Jibaldi. He stands on the Rue de Fez and snaps the passers-by and I do the developing.
Nothing earth-shaking, but it’s a living.’
‘And the casino?’ she asked with a twinkle.
‘It’s the only place where one has a chance to make a packet. It can be done, I’ve seen it happen. I don’t intend to spend my life pegging up negatives for a Jibaldi.’ He finished his beer and placing the glass down said, bringing his gaze up to hers, ‘Talking of the casino, last night you were going to tell me how you come to know Colby, the owner, so well.’ He added with a grin as though wanting to make light of his remark, ‘It’s not every day that one meets a close associate of one of the richest men in Tangier.’
‘As I told you, it’s a long story,’ Vivienne smiled.
‘We’ve got all afternoon.’ He reached for cigarettes.
She waited until he was leaning back with one, then said with a half laugh, ‘You’re not going to believe it.’
‘Try me.’ He drew on his cigarette. She thought she detected a flicker of impatience in the gesture.
‘Well, it’s all to do with Lucy, my friend.’ Of course she wouldn’t have divulged the secret to a soul, but Gary was someone special and soon she found herself pouring out the whole story to him. She told him all about the pen-pal relationship that had blossomed into a romance and how Lucy had sent her photograph and then found out that Robert was so ill she couldn’t bear to tell him the truth. How she, Vivienne, had agreed to pretend that she was really the writer of the letters, and how she had been living at Koudia playing the part of Lucy these past weeks.
‘I see,’ Gary’s eyes narrowed through the cigarette smoke. ‘You mean the kid has no idea that, you two girls have done a swap?’
‘None,’ Vivienne replied. ‘Trent sent for Lucy when he knew there was no hope and I arrived in her place. Robert’s very happy, and that’s the most important thing. This way he need never know.’
‘Yes, I see what you mean.’ Gary ran his fingers round the rim of his beer glass and asked, ‘Is the kid really incurably ill?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ Vivienne sighed. ‘He’s much weaker now than when I first came and he always comes back from his day at the hospital exhausted.’ She was suddenly bitter and her amber eyes were liquid with affection. ‘How can life be so cruel? If anyone deserved to live it’s Robert. He’s a fine young man, gentle-natured and unselfish. I’m very fond of him. I’d never do anything to hurt him.’ She finished her musings and came to with an apologetic smile. ‘So you see how it is, why I had to rush away from you last night. If Trent ever got to know the truth …’ She shuddered at the thought.
Gary said, ‘I take it Colby thinks
a lot of his kid brother?’
Vivienne spoke with wry humour. ‘That’s an understatement, if ever I heard one. He worships Robert. He spends all his time sheltering him from hurt of any kind.’ She shrugged. ‘We all do. Robert’s that sort of person. You feel you want to do everything to protect him.’
Gary, still fingering his glass, commented, his tight grin back again, ‘But-it can’t be that bad living up there in the lush villa that everybody can see from Tangier? They say it’s filled with French art treasures.’
‘I haven’t noticed,’ Vivienne said simply. ‘I spend most of my time outdoors. Robert can still swim and there’s nothing he likes more than …’
She saw that Gary wasn’t listening. He was stubbing out his cigarette and seemed lost in thought. Then glancing at his watch he said, ‘It’s time I was going.’
‘So soon!’ Vivienne couldn’t hide her disappointment. ‘I thought you said you had all afternoon?’
‘I was being generous with myself. Actually I ought to be getting back to the photo-lab.’ His smile did nothing to ease her disappointment, not until he took hold of her hand and said with some of his old urgency, ‘I’ve got to see you again. What about tonight at the casino?’
Vivienne knew an overwhelming joy, but she drew on her lip worriedly. ‘It’s risky, Gary.’ And thinking he hadn’t quite understood the situation she explained, ‘Don’t forget Trent believes that I’m in love with his brother. It wouldn’t look right if I appeared friendly with other men at the casino.’
‘I don’t see what he would find odd about it,’ Gary shrugged.
‘Engaged girls, even married ones, enjoy the company of other men occasionally when they’re out for the evening. What more natural than chatting to a mere acquaintance from time to time?’
He was right, of course, Vivienne pondered. Hadn’t she done just that last night? The inimitable Derek with the handlebar moustache had flirted with her outrageously and Trent hadn’t thought anything about that. She nodded before she could change her mind. ‘All right. But not tonight. I usually spend some time with Robert when he’s been away from the house all day. Tomorrow night.’ She knew she was asking a lot, but Gary didn’t seem to mind the clandestine meetings.
‘Fair enough. If we wait until the casino fills up a bit, around eleven, no one will notice us. Must dash.’ He rose and left her and she realised that he hadn’t paid for the drinks. But that was a minor detail.
Her cheeks were flushed with happiness as she searched for the correct coins in her bag. She saw nothing of the sun-starved tourists basking in the brilliance of the afternoon as she went out, or the teeming street with its loaded donkeys and noisy pedlars. While she was waving a taxi down it occurred to her also that they hadn’t got around to talking about old times after all. Still, she climbed into her seat feeling blissfully content. There would be plenty of opportunity for that now. Gary had asked to see her again. And he understood about Robert. What more could one ask for?
That evening she set herself out to be particularly attentive towards Robert. He arrived back from the hospital grey-faced and asking only for his bed. She went up in the lift with him and got out his pyjamas and bed robe. Trent who had come up with them didn’t suggest that they all dine together in his room. He knew that his brother was too tired. Vivienne had changed into an apple-green dress and brushed her hair so that it fell in loose dark waves. She singled out books of poetry for the bedside table, and filled the crystal carafe with fresh water. She felt Trent’s eyes on her as she moved about the room and wished she didn’t have this guilty feeling. After all, she told herself, she was playing her part in the tragedy to the best of her ability, and in the meantime she had her own life to lead. Yet she felt wretched just knowing that Robert was suffering.
Trent went downstairs to change before dinner. Vivienne planned to sit with Robert for a while. Settled back among the pillows now, he glanced at the dozens of small bottles beside him and joked hollowly, ‘All these pills and not one of them contains that new lease of life.’
Vivienne was sat on the bed beside him. She would have given anything to take away the look of hopelessness and dread in his eyes.
He pulled her to him and buried his face in her shoulder. ‘Hold me, Viv. Hold me close.’
She and Trent ate dinner in silence that evening. There was an air about the house that sickness brings. Even the effusive Momeen was subdued as he served the meal. Vivienne went to her room once Trent left for the casino. Haroun was back from his day in town and would be on hand if Robert needed anything. She decided on an early night herself. She knew that Gary would be at the casino and there was nothing to stop her going too, yet somehow she had no heart for it tonight.
When the sun shines down from a clear blue sky all the fears of the night seem to fly with the darkness. With roses tumbling in scented clouds, tiny button flowers in the trees, lush tropical blossom and palm tree greenery mirrored in the pool the atmosphere at Koudia righted itself the next morning as though the spirits of those within its walls were touched, uplifted by the vigour of growing things.
Breakfast on the little terrace with its view of the Casbah rooftops and sparkling sea was almost a merry affair. Summer was upon them, and as though there wasn’t enough colour to strike at the heart with its beauty, a gay sun umbrella had been erected to soften the glare.
Robert looking rested, his over-long blond thatch endearing him to Vivienne, actually ate most of his special breakfast bran that was prepared for him. Trent was wearing the kind of summer outfit, patterned beach shirt and linen slacks, which highlighted his tan and the premature grey at his temples. She thought, as he looked at her from time to time across the table, that his eyes had never looked bluer. For some reason she felt like singing inside. There was a strange kind of perfection about the morning just sitting here like this, with Trent and Robert.
After breakfast she pushed the wheelchair along the paths through the grounds and she and Robert laughed at the antics of a puppy who belonged to one of the Berber workmen spraying the fruit trees. They spent the afternoon in the pool, tusselling for the inflated armchairs and grimacing hilariously when the chlorinated water slopped into their drinks. Vivienne felt at one with the blue sky and the lush green surroundings. If only life could go on like this! If only Robert …
Swiftly she stifled the ache in her and laughingly lunged with him for a beach ball.
She didn’t think about her rendezvous with Gary until she was, changing for dinner that evening. She had rested after Robert had retired to his own rooms and later showered away the pool water and covered herself liberally with a sweet-smelling cologne. Now, padding over the carpet in bare feet and a cool lace slip, she pondered on what to wear. She didn’t possess a large wardrobe, but she had always shopped carefully when buying clothes, preferring to settle for one really good dress rather than several cheap separates. She was glad of this now because the casino attracted a considerable number of the dilettante type who dressed expensively and it was nice to know she wouldn’t be letting Trent down by her appearance.
She chose a dress of soft magnolia pink with a silver thread in it. It had a neat stand-up collar and small cap sleeves and she thought the slim skirt and wide silver belt gave her a chic appearance. She fastened a tiny silver star in her hair at each side so that it was drawn back a little from her face. She was so tanned now that make-up was hardly necessary, but a touch of powder took the shine off her skin and a shell-pink lipstick gave warmth to her colouring and brought out the hazel lights in her eyes. She had no silver shoes, unfortunately, but her rose-pink sandals with the neat slim heels seemed just right with her sun-tanned legs.
Trent was waiting downstairs in the room where they dined. He let his glance roam over her as she came to the table but made no comment as he eased her chair in. They talked leisurely through the meal, mostly about the events of the day. Trent had been in his usual place at the poolside during the afternoon and was content as she was that Robe
rt had had a good session. It wasn’t until they were on the sweet and he was passing her a dish of jellied cherries that he remarked suavely on her appearance. ‘You’re looking very attractive tonight, Vivienne. Do I take it you’re planning another visit to the casino?’
‘Do you mind?’ She served herself and handed him back the dish.
‘Not at all.’ He gave her a lazy smile. ‘It’s good for you to enjoy a little company occasionally. And I’d prefer it was at the Cafe Anglais than some other night spot.’
After the meal they adjourned to the window area. The nights were warm now and he led the way through an open doorway to a small elevated space entwined with creepers and vines. They smoked their cigarettes in silence, both gazing towards the twinkling lights of the city and listening to the distant sound of the Atlantic breakers on the shore. When Trent turned to go in it was well past his usual time for starting out to the casino.
Vivienne left him in the hall and went to her room to touch up her make-up and generally prepare for the evening. She heard the car go as she was dabbing a little perfume at her wrists and ear lobes. It was a few minutes before ten when she came downstairs. She was about to go in search of the manservant to tell him she would require the car when Trent appeared. Luckily she was able to contain her surprise. As he approached he said easily, ‘I sent Abdul on ahead to keep his eye on things. I thought I might as well drive you down myself, seeing that we’re both going to the same place.’
‘Fine!’ Vivienne agreed lightly, but her heart was thudding as he led her out to his car. Trent had never accompanied her to the casino before. His proximity in the gloom made her blazingly conscious of her promise to Gary to meet him there.
They were using the wine-coloured racer. She thought that Trent, groomed in white dinner jacket and finely creased dark trousers, was more suited to the elegant limousine when dressed like this, though he slid into the seat behind the wheel blending in with the expensive crampedness of the interior, gold-studded shirt cuffs and all. , The town was packed with people, dining out, strolling the streets, sitting in the crowded sidewalk cafes or on their way to one of the many cabarets where the rhythm of the tambourines and undulating torsos of girl dancers attracted a great number of visitors. Trent had to drive at a snail’s pace in some places, and the position wasn’t much better when they arrived at the casino. He paid a watchman to keep an eye on his car and guided Vivienne down to the sea front.
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