No Gentle Possession

by Anne Mather

  When her father came home she tried to probe information from him as to whether Alexis had left the mill or not and succeeded in discovering that he had, in fact, been away for the day. This left her wondering what time he was likely to get back, and she had hardly any appetite for the rissoles her mother had prepared for their meal.

  But half-way through the meal the telephone rang, and Karen got up to answer it. To her surprise it was Alexis, but before she could express her indignation that he should ring her at home, he said: ‘Have you been trying to ring me?’

  ‘Yes,’ answered Karen quickly, ‘but—’

  ‘I thought it was you,’ he interrupted her. ‘Blake was out, but he heard the phone ringing as he came in. Before he could answer it, you’d rung off.’

  ‘Who is it, Karen?’

  Her mother was standing in the kitchen doorway, and Karen looked up guiltily. ‘Oh – er – it’s Ray,’ she answered unhappily. ‘I won’t be long.’

  Her mother nodded and went back into the kitchen and closed the door. Karen sighed in relief, and Alexis said: ‘So I’m to be Nichols, am I?’

  ‘What would you have said if my father had answered the phone?’ she challenged him in a low angry tone.

  ‘I’d have thought of something. The current order, for example. Does it matter?’

  ‘I’m not as used to intrigue as you are!’

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ His tone was cold, and when she didn’t answer he went on: ‘Well! Have you thought about what I asked you? Are you coming to Falcons with me?’

  Karen fingered the receiver uneasily. ‘I’ve thought about it, yes. But it’s not that simple.’

  ‘What now?’ He sounded bored by it all.

  ‘Ray knows – and – and he wants to come too.’

  There was silence for such a long time that she half thought he had rung off, but at last he said: ‘I see. You told him, I suppose.’

  ‘I – I had to. He saw us together on Friday lunchtime.

  ‘Indeed. And his coming along – whose suggestion was that?’

  ‘Why – his, of course.’ Karen lifted her shoulders. ‘Oh, look, Alexis. Ray and I are almost engaged. How would you like it if you were in his position?’

  Alexis didn’t reply to this. Instead he said: ‘And how do you think it will look if the three of us arrive together? Michelle’s not stupid, you know.’

  ‘I don’t see what else I can say.’

  Alexis considered for a moment. ‘Maybe – maybe if there was someone else with us – some other girl – she would accept it.’

  Karen gasped. ‘Another girl?’

  ‘Yes. Someone who could pass for Nichols’ girl-friend. You must admit it would look more realistic.’

  ‘As friends of mine, you mean?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But who? I don’t know anyone who would do such a thing.’

  ‘Don’t you? What about that girl we gave a lift to the other evening – Shirley something or other. She’s a friend of Nichols’, isn’t she? Wouldn’t she do it? For a week-end away, all expenses paid.’

  Karen stiffened. The idea of taking Shirley Scott into her confidence wasn’t appealing. ‘And what am I supposed to say to her?’

  Alexis hesitated. Then he said: ‘Tell her I’ve invited you and Ray for the week-end. Ask her if she’d like to join the party.’

  ‘But – but she’ll think – you’re inviting her,’ Karen demurred.

  ‘I am.’

  ‘But – but—’ Karen couldn’t altogether understand her reluctance to agree to such an arrangement.

  ‘But nothing. I know these house parties of my father’s. They’re not small affairs. There’ll be so many people present that by the end of the evening nobody will notice who’s with whom.’

  ‘I see.’ Karen’s voice was almost inaudible.

  ‘Well?’ Alexis was impatient now. ‘Will you do that?’

  ‘I – I suppose I shall have to. When – when will we leave?’

  ‘On Saturday morning. I could pick you up at home, but I guess you’d rather meet me in the High Street.’

  ‘Yes,’ Karen nodded.

  ‘Fine. Well, let’s say – about nine-thirty. Subject to alteration by phone, if necessary, right?’

  ‘All right.’ Karen’s throat felt dry. ‘Is that all?’

  ‘I guess so.’ Alexis sounded amused. ‘What’s wrong? Don’t you like the arrangements?’

  ‘I don’t like any of it!’ retorted Karen heatedly. ‘Not any of this whole affair.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  KAREN’S first sight of Alexis’s father’s house was from a cramped position in the rear seat of Alexis’s car. The mellowed old building was reassuringly plain and not at all the elaborate kind of background she had expected Alexis to have. Tall spruce trees lining the drive gave glimpses of lawns and terraces overlooking the river, and because it was a warm spring afternoon there were boats on the water making their way upstream, the sound of voices and laughter lingering on the air.

  She looked sideways and met Shirley Scott’s knowing blue eyes. If only there had been some other way of doing this, she thought for the umpteenth time. It wasn’t that there had been any particular difficulties involved in persuading the other girl to come, rather the reverse, but nevertheless Karen couldn’t help wishing it was all over and that they were on their way north again.

  To her surprise, Ray had been quite enthusiastic about asking Shirley. He had agreed that a foursome was a far more suitable arrangement and as Shirley had been only too willing to accept such an invitation there had been no problem there.

  But Karen had had other matters to occupy her. In the end she had confided to her mother that they had been invited to spend the week-end at Alexis’s father’s home. Mrs. Sinclair had been flabbergasted at first, and then increasingly concerned about Karen’s part in all this. Karen’s explanation that he had asked Ray first had not quite rung true, particularly as her mother knew of their previous association.

  ‘And does Ray know Alexis Whitney that well?’ she had asked suspiciously, and Karen had had to explain that he was only asking them to make up a foursome with Shirley.

  ‘We were the only people he could ask – mutual friends, so to speak.’

  ‘Well, I shouldn’t have thought he’d be interested in Shirley Scott,’ retorted her mother. ‘I’ve heard rumours that Lucy Summerton has designs in that direction. And after all, her father has known Howard Whitney since he first went into business.’

  Karen turned away. She didn’t want to hear about Alexis and Lucy Summerton. ‘You never can tell,’ she remarked vaguely, but her mother was not put off.

  ‘You just watch your step, Karen,’ she said with emphasis. ‘I don’t altogether care for you going down to London for the week-end, no matter who it’s with. Hostelling in the Lake District is one thing, London is quite another.’

  ‘Oh, Mum!’ Karen was disparaging. ‘Do you honestly believe it makes any difference – surroundings I mean?’

  ‘No – no, I suppose not,’ Laura had to agree. ‘But just remember, Alexis Whitney is not to be trusted.’

  Karen made some dismissive comment and hoped the subject would be dropped. And it was. Except that Laura added that it might be diplomatic if they said nothing about Alexis Whitney to Karen’s father. ‘There’s no point in antagonizing him unnecessarily,’ she had supplemented ruefully. ‘He thinks a lot of Ray and I don’t think he’d encourage either of you to get involved with the Whitneys.’

  And so that morning they had left Wakeley before ten and driven the two hundred miles to Maidenhead. It had not been a comfortable journey for Karen, neither physically nor mentally, conscious as only she was of the undercurrents here. Only really Shirley out of the four of them seemed totally relaxed, and Karen thought rather enviously that it was easy for her. So far as Shirley was concerned she had been invited to Alexis’s home for the week-find to make up a foursome with Karen and Ray, and if she sometimes look
ed at Karen in a rather strange way that was only to be expected in the circumstances. Up until then she had believed Karen’s relationship with Alexis to be a big secret, and to discover that Ray apparently knew all about it was rather disappointing. Nevertheless, the prospect of a week-end with nothing to do but enjoy herself provided a more than adequate compensation.

  Alexis brought the big car to a halt at the foot of a flight of steps leading up to the main door. And almost as though on cue the door opened and a manservant appeared.

  ‘Jeeves, I presume,’ murmured Shirley with a giggle, and Alexis glanced round at her.

  ‘Searle,’ he corrected her with a smile. ‘But he serves the same purpose.’

  Shirley glowed under his attention, but then he thrust open his door and slid out, calling a greeting to the elderly man waiting on the steps.

  As Karen had been seated behind Ray it was he who helped her out before going to help Alexis take their luggage out of the boot. She looked about her with undisguised interest. For all they were so near London it was very peaceful here, only the sounds of the river disturbing the stillness. She walked across a smooth lawn, looking towards the water, scarcely conscious of the others behind her. On the journey down Alexis had told them that his father had bought this house when he was only about ten years old, and she wondered what kind of a boy he had been then. Of course, his mother had been alive in those days, and no doubt she had spoiled him terribly. Mothers usually did. Particularly if their sons were as charming and attractive as Alexis.

  A hand descended on her arm and she almost jumped out of her skin. It was Alexis and he was looking down at her with a curiously guarded expression in his eyes. ‘Come along,’ he said. ‘We’re waiting for you.’

  Karen inclined her head in assent, but then with stumbling nervousness, she said: ‘Am I – that is – are you going to introduce me to your parents as – as your fiancée?’

  Alexis considered. ‘Don’t you think I should?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Karen was impatient. ‘You must know what you intend to do.’

  ‘Oh, yes.’ He was mocking. ‘I know that.’

  ‘Well then?’

  He shrugged. ‘All right. Of course. That’s the whole point of this exercise, isn’t it?’

  Karen frowned. ‘But Shirley – what will she think?’

  Alexis drew her determinedly back towards the steps where both Shirley and Ray were watching them with varying degrees of annoyance. ‘Leave everything to me,’ he remarked quietly, and then released her to take the steps two at a time after Searle.

  In the hall they shed their coats and Alexis suggested that it might be best if they were shown their rooms first so that they could freshen up after the journey.

  ‘What about lunch, sir?’ inquired Searle politely. ‘Have you eaten?’

  ‘Thank you, yes. We stopped just outside of town and had a meal,’ answered Alexis smoothly. ‘Unless,’ he glanced at the others, ‘unless anyone would like some more coffee, or tea, perhaps.’

  ‘Nothing for me, thanks,’ answered Shirley, rubbing her stomach meaningfully. ‘We had a delicious meal, didn’t we?’

  Searle looked relieved. ‘I’m so glad, miss. What with the arrangements for the dinner party this evening, Cook’s quite run off her feet.’

  ‘I thought she might be,’ commented Alexis, with a smile. ‘Where is my father and his wife?’

  ‘Mrs. Whitney’s resting, I believe, sir, but your father’s down at the boathouse, as far as I am aware.’

  ‘I see.’ Alexis nodded. Then he looked at his guests. ‘I suggest you allow Searle to show you your rooms, and if you come down later, say about four, tea will be served in the lounge. Searle will tell you where that is.’

  Ray ran a finger round the inside of his collar as though it was too tight for him. ‘I could use a wash myself,’ he said.

  ‘Good.’

  Alexis’s eyes flickered over all of them, coming to rest for several seconds on Karen before he nodded politely and left them, walking across the hall and disappearing along a passage which appeared to lead to the back of the house. Karen thought he was probably going to the boathouse, to find his father. Why? To warn him of what to expect, perhaps?

  But she wasn’t given any time to speculate upon Alexis’s movements. Just as Searle was about to show them the way upstairs, four people appeared at the top of the stairs on their way down, and the old manservant stood aside courteously.

  There were two men and two women, probably married couples, Karen decided, in their late thirties, all dressed in tennis clothes. They smiled at Searle, but looked rather curiously at the others, and Karen wondered whether they were comparing the quality of their clothes with the expensively cut gear they were wearing.

  After the others had gone and they were going upstairs, Shirley said: ‘Who were they?’ to a rather startled Searle. He was obviously not used to such impertinent questions.

  ‘Why – er – some guests of Mr. Whitney’s, miss,’ he replied, and with that Shirley had to be content.

  Their rooms were on the second floor, and Karen and Shirley were to share a bathroom, with Ray a little further along the corridor. For all that these rooms could not be used very frequently, they were beautifully decorated and furnished, and Shirley kept coming through their mutual bathroom into Karen’s bedroom to exclaim at some new extravagance she had discovered. Karen herself wasn’t particularly interested in her room. Instead, she walked to the long windows and perching on the seat looked down on the stretch of river spread out below her. From here it was possible to see the whole of the rear part of the building, and across the expanse of water the wooded slopes and rolling parkland of some unidentified common.

  The Whitneys’ property was extensive, with lots of trees and trellises, ideal hiding places for children. She could see an empty swimming pool, and some tennis courts on which the four people they had seen earlier were knocking a ball about. Lower, terraces gave on to wide shallow steps where the corrugated roof of a building which she suspected was the boathouse could be seen. And even as she watched, Alexis came out of the boathouse and up the steps accompanied by a tall, powerfully built man whom Karen vaguely recognized as Howard Whitney.

  They came up the path together, stopping by the tennis courts to have a casual word with their visitors, and then disappeared under the lee of the building. Karen sighed. What would his father’s reaction to their supposed engagement be? No doubt he would ultimately want someone better for his son, someone whose family could provide prestige and capital, or perhaps possess a title of their own. It was hinted that Howard Whitney expected a knighthood in the very near future. Certainly he would not look kindly on a girl whose father worked in the Wakeley mill, and who could offer nothing but herself.

  With an impatient gesture she got to her feet. What was she thinking of, speculating about such things? It didn’t matter what the Whitneys thought of her. Sooner or later this assumed engagement would be broken and then she would make sure that she did not get involved with Alexis again.

  Shirley came into the room dressed only in her slip, a towel about her bare shoulders. ‘I’m going to take a shower,’ she said. ‘You don’t mind?’

  ‘Of course not.’ Karen forced a light note into her voice.

  Shirley watched her closely. ‘This is a turn-up for the book, isn’t it?’

  ‘What?’ Karen pretended ignorance.

  ‘Why – coming here, of course.’ She shook her head. ‘I didn’t realize Alexis had found me so attractive.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Short of making some excuse to come to the school again there was no other way he could arrange things.’

  ‘No. No, I suppose not.’ Karen bent her head. ‘Anyway, I expect there’ll be dozens of guests.’

  ‘Yes. Isn’t it exciting!’ Shirley raised her shoulders in an anticipatory gesture. ‘I can’t wait. What are you wearing? I’ve bought myself a new dress. It
’s sort of jungle printed, you know the sort of thing. Anyway, it suits me, or at least I think it does.’

  Karen sat down at the dressing-table and studied her reflection critically. ‘Oh, well I didn’t buy a new dress. Just a blouse. I’ve brought a long skirt and I thought I could wear them together.’

  Shirley nodded, not particularly interested. She was too absorbed with the prospect of stunning the men with her own brand of sophistication. With a little smile, she danced back into the bathroom, closing the door and sliding the bolt into place, and a few minutes later Karen heard the sound of water running.

  Her case had been left at the foot of her bed and getting up now Karen began to unpack it. Capacious wardrobes were fitted against the walls and she opened the louvre doors and found dozens of coathangers. Then she took out her toilet bag and crossing to the pale blue washbasin sluiced her face in cold water. She was drying her hands when there was a knock at her door and she called: ‘Come in!’ expecting it to be either Ray or one of the servants.

  But it was Alexis who entered the room at her request, and she stood rather nervously looking at him, wondering what on earth he had come for. She was supremely conscious of her make-upless face and unsophisticated appearance, and wished she had had the sense to ask who it was before calling admittance.

  Alexis was still wearing the cream suit he had worn to travel in, and now he said: ‘My father wants to meet you. I’ve been asked to bring you down.’ He glanced round the room with a tightening of his lips. ‘Have you unpacked?’

  ‘Why – why, yes. Does it matter?’

  ‘No. Except that Searle will have to arrange to have all your things transferred to another room.’

  ‘But why?’ Karen was aghast.

  ‘My fiancée should not be accommodated on the top floor. Now – are you ready?’

  ‘No. No, I’m not. And I don’t want to be moved either.’ Karen stiffened her shoulders. ‘I don’t know anyone here but Ray and Shirley. I’d rather stay near them.’

  ‘You know me!’ remarked Alexis briefly.

  ‘That’s not – the same.’