Sally Wentworth - Liberated Lady

by Sally Wentworth

  Taking a deep breath before she turned to face him, she gave a bright, brittle smile. 'Hallo, Alex. How are you?'

  His eyebrows rose slightly. Fine. And you? Working hard as usual, I expect.'

  If he had meant to draw her he didn't succeed. 'Of course. Is Veronica about? I haven't seen her yet.'

  'I believe she's in the drawing-room, but I shouldn't disturb her at the moment; she's having ten minutes with her feet up before she goes to the church.’ His eyes ran over her appraisingly. 'You look very sophisticated.'

  'Do I?" she asked, glancing down at the soft cream woollen blouson suit she was wearing. 'From anyone else I'd probably take that as a compliment.'

  His left eyebrow rose interrogatively. 'But not from me?'

  Sara smiled sweetly. 'Hardly; You have such strange ideas about the difference between sophistication and self-confidence!' And with this shot she turned on her heel and went to greet Mrs Ogden who had appeared at the back door in her best outfit, looking rather flustered at all the comings and goings. The housekeeper seemed pleased to see her and chattered excitedly on for several minutes before Sara had a chance .to ask her how Veronica Quinlan was.

  'Oh, very well. Miss Sara. She's done all the phoning, and any running around that's needed to be done, Mr Alex has done it,' she added approvingly. So he had got to Mrs Ogden too, had he? Sara thought drily.

  But the wedding cars started arriving then and Alex came to shepherd her into the first one with some people who introduced themselves as relations of the bridegroom. Her high heels made loud clicking noises as she walked the length of the aisle to take her place on the left-hand side of the church. Trust the bride to be put on the left hand, she thought cynically. The church was a small one, built of local stone, and every available surface was filled with vases and arrangements of flowers. The day was fine and bright and the's«n shone through the stained glass windows, casting gaily coloured patterns of light on the worn stone slabs of the floor.

  Behind her she could hear the pews filling up and presently Richard and Alex came to sit in the front pew on the other side of the aisle. Richard, dressed in a conservative dark suit and with his hair cut shorter, seemed nervous and ill at ease, but Alex talked to him and made him smile at something he said. Suddenly Alex turned his head and looked directly across at her. For a moment she felt completely open and vulnerable, but then remembered' she was still wearing 'the dark glasses and gave an inner sigh of relief. Thank the Lord for modern science!

  The organ had been playing quietly in the background, but now it changed to the Wedding March as everyone stood up to await the entrance of the bride. It had never occurred to Sara to wonder who would be giving her away, so it came as something .of a shock when she saw Nicky being escorted down the aisle by her godmother, and there was such a look of pride and happiness on Veronica's face that Sara hastily bent her head to look down at her hymn book. She felt a fierce surge of envy run through her. If only she had, been able to have such a warm and loving relationship with her sister! The old feelings of bitterness and failure crept like a cold hand round her heart and tears pricked threateningly at the back of her eyes. Defiantly she lifted her chin and began to sing.

  At the end of the ceremony all the principal guests followed the bridal path in to the little vestry to sign the .marriage certificate. After Nicky had done so she turned a face up to Richard that was so radiant with happiness that in that moment she was almost beautiful. That the power of love could so transform someone came as something of a shock, especially when Sara saw a now very composed and dignified Richard confidently add his signature and turn round to receive the congratulations of the guests.

  'Miss Royle, if you would sign now, please the vicar said, indicating the place.

  Rather dazedly she stepped forward and fumbled to take off the sun-specs. It took all her control to write her name clearly and as soon as she put down the pen her hand began to shake. Alex stepped quickly .forward to add his signature, but then he was beside her, taking the glasses from her as she raised them to put on again.

  'You don't need these any more, Sara,' he said softly, and put them into his pocket.

  For a long second she gazed up at him, her eyes wide and naked in her pale face, then she turned abruptly and went back to her seat.

  Sara kept well in the background at the reception, chatting to the few people she knew, who were mostly friends of Veronica's; the other guests she gathered were 'mostly Richard's relations and school friends of Nicky's. She kept glancing at her watch, wondering how soon she could decently leave. Veronica had come up to her almost at once with her usual cheery smile.

  ‘I’m so glad you came, my dear. Nicky would have been so upset if you hadn't.'

  Sara doubted this very much, but she let it part. 'I had no idea you were going to have so many people she remarked. ‘This reception must have cost a bomb, and I should have been the one to provide it. You must promise to send me the bill, Veronica, or better still tell me how much it cost and I'll give you a cheque now,' she added, reaching for her bag.

  'But it hasn't cost me a penny, my dear. Alex paid for it all. And do you know, he had the boathouse repaired as a surprise for me. I didn't know anything about it until he took me down there to show me when it was all finished. You must go and see it later,'

  'Ye’ Yes, I will. But hadn't you better sit down for a while now?' She found the older woman a chair and turned to make Way for others who had come up to talk. As she did so she came face to face with Nicky and Richard.

  Richard said at once, 'We wanted to thank you properly for your super present, Sara. Didn't we Nicky?' he added, giving his new wife an insistent nudge.

  'Yes. It was very generous of you, Sara.' Nicky carefully avoided her eyes, a faint flush of embarrassment in her cheeks.

  Sara smiled woodenly. 'The least I could do.' There was a rather strained silence and to break it she said quickly, 'You look very nice. Quite stun and grown up.' The moment she said it she could have bitten out her tongue, but it was too .late. Nicky went beetroot red and turned sharply away, Richard following her after he had shot Sara a darkling glance. Biting her lip, Sara cursed herself for being a fool and wished heartily that she could get away from here. But first there was the cake to be cut and the telegrams to be read before Nicky changed and they were at last ready to go off on their honeymoon. Sara overheard a relation of Richard's mention that Alex had given them the car they were to go in as a wedding present, and it occurred to her that he most be loaded if he could afford to be so generous towards his nephew.

  Everyone gathered in the driveway to see the bridal pair on their way and soon they came out of the house and ran towards the car as the guests pelted them with confetti. Nicky hugged Veronica while Richard shook hands with Alex, and then they were moving to the car in a flurry of good wishes. Nicky started to get in, but then she hesitated and turned back, her eyes searching the crowd. Sara felt her heart contract as her sister moved suddenly towards her.

  'Sara, I thought you might like this,' she said hesitantly and offered her the wedding posy of white rosebuds.

  Her throat gone suddenly dry, Sara reached slowly out to take it. Nicky looked searchingly at her bent head for a moment, then bit her lip and went to turn away.

  'Nicky.' Sara's voice made her turn back quickly and then she was held close in her sister's arms. 'Be happy,' Sara said chokingly. 'Oh, Nicky, please, please, be happy.'

  And then Richard was pulling her towards the car as Nicky stared at Sara's face in astonishment.

  They were away at last and Sara walked quickly back into the garden. She looked at the posy wryly, then dropped it on one of the tables. Bouquets were for brides, not career girls. Still shaken by the sudden emotion of the last few minutes, she needed some time to herself before she. could feel confident enough to face anyone again. She groped for her glasses, then remembered that Alex had taken them away. Curse the man, what had he done that for? Just because she'd been wearing them, she i
magined. The other guests had started to filter back so she walked further on down the path to the boathouse. It looked as good as new; the roof had been replaced and the rest repaired and given a coat of paint that made it blend in with the background trees.

  Leaning against it, she gazed into the water and thought of Nicky and Richard. She didn't even know where they were going to live. Now that they were married she would have to see the solicitor and arrange for Nicky's inheritance to be passed over to her. It shouldn't take long, it was only a question of formalities, she thought broodingly.

  'A penny for them!' Alex's voice broke into her. thoughts and she turned her head to see him standing only a few feet away.

  'You're behind the times,' she said tightly. 'Inflation has put the price up to at least five pence now.' Then she added, 'I believe you have my sunglasses.'

  'Ah, yes.' He patted his pocket. 'But I think I'll keep them for a while in case you're tempted to hide behind them again.'

  'I shall need them on the drive back,' Sara pointed out.

  His eyes narrowed. 'You surely -don't intend to drive back to London today? You'll be .touch too tired. You must stay here tonight and go back tomorrow.'

  Sara lifted her chin. 'Must?'

  'That's what I said,' he replied calmly.

  ‘And just what right have you got to give me orders?’

  'None—yet.' He reached up and took off her hat so that her hair fell down, tumbling like shiny, molten gold around her face. 'But I intend to take a very particular interest in your future welfare.' He dropped the hat on .the ground and took a purposeful step towards her.

  'Oh, no!' Sara breathed defensively.

  'Oh, yes!' He said forcibly as he took her in his arms and silenced any further protests. There was nothing tender about his kiss, it was as forceful as his personality and it left Sara feeling bruised and shaken. His voice rather uneven, Alex said softly, 'I've been wanting to do that again ever since you left here.'

  So he did it again, very thoroughly, and it was only the sound of approaching voices that made him let her go. For a moment Sara was too stunned to move; she could only lean against the boathouse and stare at him, heart pounding, her eyes dazed under heavy lids, lips still parted from the pressure of his. Then she realised they were being watched, so turned hastily and began to walk along beside the lake. Nonchalantly Alex bent to retrieve her hat and strolled alongside her, just as if being caught in a passionate embrace was the commonest thing in the world.

  Sara found that she wasn't so blasé and hurriedly tried to think of something to say to cover her embarrassment. 'Somebody said you'd given Richard a car for a wedding present,' she managed.

  'It wasn't a new one, only second-hand, but I thought they might need something to get around in.'

  "Where are they going for their honeymoon?'

  'Not far. Only to the Peak District for a few days. Richard's missed quite enough of his studies already.'�

  ‘The—the Peak District?' Sara looked at him questioningly, remembering all too vividly their own journey into the area when they had followed the false trail.

  Alex grinned. 'Yes, I was able to personally recommend it.'

  They were hidden from sight now by the rich greenness of a large rhododendron bush, so he hooked her hat on to a convenient branch and caught her round the waist, pulling her to him. 'And now can we forget about those two and concentrate on us for a change?'

  'Us? There's nothing between us to talk about,' Sara said bravely, determined to go down fighting.

  'Isn't there? I rather think there is.' And this time he was gentle, tracing with his lips the outline of her closed eyes, the contours of her cheeks, the shape of her trembling mouth. 'Oh, Sara, Sara,' he murmured. 'I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. During the day I wonder what you're doing, who you're with. And at night… Perhaps I'd better not tell you what I think about at night.' His eyes glinted down at her mockingly, but then they became serious, an intense force darkening them as his hand came up to stroke her hair and push it away from her face so that he could bend to kiss her ear, catching the lobe between his teeth and biting gently. I want you, Sara. You don't know how much.' His lips left her ear and continued down her throat, burning into her skin.

  Sara gave a little shuddering moan and then pushed herself away from him, afraid that matters might get out of hand. 'Alex, please! Somebody might come.’

  He gave a somewhat rueful grin.and straightened up, pushing his hair back from his forehead. 'Sorry. It's just that you're so damn desirable, I find it hard to keep my hands off you. You don't have to go back to London today, do you? Surely you can stay until tomorrow? We'll go out and have dinner, somewhere quiet where we can talk.'

  Sara stared at him, heart racing, knowing the proposition he wanted to make to her, realising that the answer she gave now was crucial. 'All right,' she whispered. ‘I’ll stay.'

  He picked up her hands and carried them silently to his lips, but his eyes spoke volumes, so that she could hardly even think coherently. An incredible excitement gripped her as her brown eyes met his dark ones. Never before had she been so physically aware of a man; his kisses had lit a fire deep within her and some instinct told her that this was only a small .flame com-, pared with the blaze of passion that Alex would rouse in her when he took her completely. And that he meant to take her there was no doubt. Perhaps he might even come tonight when the house was quiet and she was alone in her room. A mixture of fear and anticipation made her start to shake and showed in her eyes, wide in her suddenly pale face.

  'Sara! Oh, God, you're so lovely. And it's such a hell of a long time till tonight.' His lips met hers in a kiss that was brutal in its hunger, his hands gripping her shoulders as he drew her against him. Sara's arms wound round his neck and she returned 'the .kiss with an ardour that could only increase his passion. She pressed herself against him, but it wasn't dose enough. She knew with overwhelming certainty that she wanted to be a part of him.

  Rather abruptly he raised his head. Sara could feel his heart hammering in his chest and it was several minutes before he could say raggedly, 'I got more than I bargained for then, didn't I?' He stroked her hair again and gave a ghost of a laugh. 'I think we'd better go back to the reception before I forget myself completely. Kissing you is like kissing a keg of dynamite!'

  He twined his fingers in hers, his eyes smiling at her with undisguised warmth. 'Thank heavens we've got those two married off at last. I was afraid you'd never stop fighting me.'

  Sara smiled rather shyly back, hardly believing that this tall stranger beside her could have come to mean-so much in such a short time. 'It was kind of you to arrange the reception. You must let me know how much it cost so that I can…'

  His fingers tightened on hers. 'Sara,' he said, warningly.

  She laughed. 'All right, if you insist;'

  'I do. And I'm going to insist on a lot of other things too,' he added firmly.

  But that was dangerous ground again, and Sara hastily changed the subject. 'I'm sure they must both be very grateful. I expect if the baby's a boy they'll name it after you,' she added lightly.’

  Alex lifted a long finger to trace the curve of her lips and answered only abstractedly. 'Oh, no, they'll probably name it after Veronica because it was her idea to invent it in the first place so you'd…' He stopped abruptly, suddenly aware of his own words and the incredulous look that was slowly dawning on Sara's face:

  'What—what did you say?' Her hand broke free from his and she took a step away from him. The look of disbelief gradually changed to one of angry certainty. 'You made it up! There isn't any baby at all. Is there? Is there?' She almost shouted when he didn't answer immediately.

  'Damn!' Alex raised his face to heaven as he cursed/ himself for a fool. Then, ruefully, 'No, there isn't. I intended to tell you, of course, but not until we'd sorted ourselves out.' He saw the look of fury in her eyes and added hastily, 'We had to do it, Sara. You were making the two of them completely misera
ble and for no good reason. Veronica happened to say that the only way to get your permission would be if Nicky was pregnant, and when yon insisted on being stubborn I let you think it was so.'

  'Let me think! You lied to me. You rotten…'

  'No!' Alex cut in. 'I didn't lie to you. I simply told you they'd got to get married and your imagination filled in the rest.'

  'Don't try to wriggle out of it that way. You know darn well what you implied. God, and to think I believed you! Let you see how much it mattered…' She turned away, filled with such a fierce rage that she wanted to strike out at him.

  'Sara.' He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, but she shook him off, twisting out from under his hands and turning to face him again. 'Keep away from me, you—you louse!’ Bid Nicky know about this? Did she?'

  'She does now, although she didn't know at the time that I intended to use it as a last resort.'

  "That's right—if you can't win fairly by all means go ahead and lie and cheat!' she said scathingly.

  A muscle in Alex's jaw tightened and she knew that she had flicked him, but he said brusquely, 'Be your age, Sara. What do you think would have happened if you hadn't let them many? They would have been unhappy and miserable and you'd probably have provoked exactly the same situation anyway. But they don't matter now, they're on their own. What's important now is us.'

  'If you think I ever want to even speak to you again after this, you're crazy! As far as I'm concerned you can go to hdl and stay there. Where's my hat?'

  She tried to reach past him, but he caught hold of her arms, holding her so that she couldn't get free, although she beat furiously against him with her fists.

  'Sara, we've got something going for us and I'm damned if I'm going to let you break it tip because of that foul temper of yours.’ He tried to make her listen, but she wouldn't, covering her ears with her hands and refusing to look at him, until in the end he lost patience and pulled her roughly into his arms to get through to her that way.