'If only you would help us, the way you suggested! Please!' She put her hands on the desk top, trying not to see the expression on his face, trying not to let it deter her. 'You see,' she went on falteringly, 'Claudia's in love—very much in love, she wants to get married, in fact. But if all this comes out, then it will all be finished. His family are very well known, they'd never allow the marriage. It would break her heart!'
'Would it really?' He gave her a cold smile.
'Don't you see?' She leaned forward, her eyes wide, her cheeks flushed, determined not to let his tone intimidate her. 'If we can repay the money, no one has been harmed, have they? Of course I understand that Claudia would have to leave here, because—well, she's betrayed your father's trust, and he helped her so kindly. But now—' She hesitated, then ran on. 'Well, if your brother finds out what she's done—and he will unless you do something—then it's obvious what will happen, isn't it?'
'Is it?'
'But of course.' She stared at him. 'You told her yourself—he'd prosecute. He'd be delighted. He hates us both.'
'I see.' He stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly, with a swift movement that startled her, he got up.
'I'm afraid I can't help you,' he said shortly.
Luisa stared at him in dismay.
'But you said to Claudia yesterday…'
'That has nothing to do with it.'
Suddenly Luisa felt her temper snap. She stood up too, confronting him angrily across the desk.
'It has everything to do with it!' she cried hotly. 'How dare you lead her on like that! Promising to help her, making your sordid little bargain!'
'My what?' She saw him go white, and felt a wave of triumph.
'Your bargain!' she cried without thinking. 'Your blackmail, more like. You were always a liar—you haven't changed much, Kit, have you, in ten years?'
'I don't know what you're talking about,' he began slowly, but she cut him off.
'You know perfectly well. You mean you've forgotten the convenient little cover-up you cooked up last night? You have a very short memory!' She glared at him furiously, her eyes blazing. 'The whole miserable affair is so disgusting it makes me feel quite sick! But at least Claudia's sorry for what she's done, at least I'm trying to help her. All you're interested in is how you can blackmail her into going to bed with you. You're despicable!'
There was a long silence, during which his eyes never left her face. Then very slowly, as if reluctantly, he turned away and sat down behind the desk again. When he met her eyes once more he had recovered his composure, and he sat there for a moment, watching her with an insolent half smile on his face.
'So,' he said finally, 'I'm discovered. Caught out. By the pure sister.'
'How dare you! If you mean by that that Claudia's…'
'Oh, I know what Claudia is,' he cut her off. Then he shrugged.
Luisa felt a wave of despair flood over her. She had handled all this completely wrongly, she realised. She had abused him, lost her temper, and now totally alienated him. She lowered her gaze, and spoke quietly, trying to keep her voice level.
'I shouldn't have lost my temper,' she said coldly, 'it does no good. I'm here to tell you two things, and to ask one of you. Firstly, my sister has no intention of complying with your suggestion; secondly, the money can be repaid, as I said. Finally, I wish, for her sake, that you would help us, because I see no other way out.' She paused, and tilted her chin proudly. 'If I could, as you can imagine, I should take it.'
'You could go to Julius,' he said levelly, his face quite calm.
'You must be mad!' She stared at him in disbelief. 'He hates us, I told you. Because of our mother.'
'That was all a long time ago.'
'He won't have forgotten!' she flashed. 'He blames her for your parents' divorce… you must know that…'
'She was to blame.'
Luisa felt herself go white; it was true, of course, it was just a shock, hearing it said by someone else, by Kit, so flatly. She looked away.
'He might help.'
She swung round. 'Julius? He wouldn't help a dying man in the street!'
'Oh, really?' He stood up again, and gave her a cold smile. 'Then as you say, you've no option, have you, Luisa? You'll have to depend on me.'
She stared at him, confused by the silkiness of his tone, with its unmistakable underlying suggestion of threat. To her dismay, he crossed from behind the desk and came towards her.
She forced herself not to shrink back, to face him out.
'Will you help Claudia?'
He smiled. 'Oh yes.'
The relief was so sudden, so unexpected, that it almost overwhelmed her. She knew the joy she felt rushed to her face.
'Do you mean it?'
'Of course. With one little proviso.'
She froze, staring at him in dismay.
'No!' she cried. 'I've already told you, Claudia's in love, she'll never agree to…'
'I'm not talking about Claudia.'
He reached out and gripped her arm, urgently, just above the elbow, pulling her just a fraction towards him. He smiled down into her startled upturned face.
'I'm talking about you.'
'What?'
He gave a low laugh, an unpleasant, bitter laugh, and through her confusion she noticed for the first time the sensuality of his mouth, now so near her own.
'Well; after all,' he said insolently, 'when this bargain was suggested I hadn't seen you, had I? Not for… ten years. Now I do, and I wonder at my lack of perception in pursuing your sister. Why chase the easily obtainable?' His grip on her tightened painfully, and he lowered his face to hers. 'Here's metal more attractive, I'd say. Do you agree, Luisa?'
'Agree to what?' she stammered.
He smiled coldly. 'Oh, come now, do I have to spell it out? I will if you like. You come to bed with me, Luisa. Then I'll square things for your sister.'
Without thinking what she was doing, on a reflex of shock and something that felt like fear, she lifted her hand and struck him full across the face. The mark of her hand showed scarlet against his skin, and his hold on her slackened, though he did not recoil. She stepped back swiftly, her face white, her body shaking.
'You… you bastard!' she spat at him, the tears starting to her eyes. 'How could you… how could anyone…' Her throat felt constricted, the words would not come,, and she turned to the door.
'I should think about it, if I were you. And all its implications.' His voice, cold, totally calm, stopped her in her tracks. She spun round.
'How dare you threaten me!' she cried. 'How dare you threaten my sister! I shall find some way out of this mess without your help—your foul suggestions. Wait and see!'
'Oh, I shall.' He gave her a cold mocking smile. 'But I think you'll come back to me in the end, Luisa, don't you?'
'I'd rather be dead!'
She stared at him, white-faced, for a second. Then, without pausing, she ran from the room, and slammed the door violently behind her.
When Luisa returned to the flat it was empty. Tamara came mewing to be fed, rubbing herself against her ankles, arching her back. Automatically, hardly knowing what she was doing, Luisa found a tin, opened it, fed her. Then she cleared the breakfast table, which Claudia had left just as it was. She looked into Claudia's room, thinking she might be in bed, but she was not. White sheets were tumbled on the floor; a thin ray of light lit up the heavy dust that covered the tables.
Dully, her limbs feeling leaden, Luisa went back into the sitting-room and sat down. She stared sightlessly at the cold ashes in the grate, holding herself tightly for warmth. She was surprised Claudia was not there, but even that emotion felt remote, blurred, compared to the icy numbness that gripped her heart.
She closed her eyes, but the images would not go away even then; they danced in her mind confusedly, with an ugly hallucinatory clarity, their sequence discordant, as random as a dream. He had pushed her—no, not that; he had gripped her arm, that was it, and pulled her towards
him. The room had felt so hot, so airless, it had been impossible to breathe. She shook, and trying to calm herself, rolled up her sleeve. Yes, that was it. She bruised easily, and now the blue-black marks left by his fingers stood out clearly against her pale skin. Kit, she thought confusedly, and was suddenly possessed by a hatred for him so violent that it seemed outside herself, a malevolence, inhabiting the room.
She had no idea how long she sat there, locked in thoughts, in memories. But she was roused at last by the sound of feet on the stairs, the front door opening. She stood up shakily just as the door opened, and Claudia and Harry came into the room. Claudia was wearing the fur jacket, she saw at once, and her eyes met Luisa's immediately with a look of mute enquiry.
Luisa stared at her in dismay. Claudia looked terrible, she thought, moving quickly to her with a gesture of concern. Her face was chalk white; there were dark circles under her eyes; she was leaning on Harry's arm for support, and before Luisa could reach her, he helped her into a chair.
'What's happened?' she turned to Harry. 'Where have you been?'
He too looked troubled, she saw, his handsome boyish face clouded with worry. Could Claudia have told him?
'Luisa—I'm so glad you're back.' He stood looking down at Claudia worriedly. 'Claudia rang me this morning. She felt ghastly—I've just driven her round to the doctor's.'
'Clou…' Luisa knelt down quickly beside her sister, taking her hand; it felt hot and dry, feverish. 'Are you all right? What did he say?'
'It's nothing.' Claudia's voice was impatient. 'Probably 'flu or something. He's useless anyway, I can't think why I bothered. All he ever says is go to bed, get some rest and keep warm…'
Harry smiled. 'It wouldn't do any harm, darling,' he said gently. 'We have been burning the candle at both ends a bit lately…'
The intimacy of his tone, its quiet affection, evoked no response in Claudia. She looked away; Luisa blushed deeply.
'I'll light a fire,' she said briskly. 'You'd better stay at home today, Clou. I can stay too—I'll ring Luke at the gallery. I'm sure he won't mind…'
Quickly she busied herself, laying sticks and coal, clearing the ashes, trying not to hear the murmured conversation between Claudia and Harry. She fetched a rug, tucked it round her sister, and then stood looking down at her. Harry had perched himself on the arm of the chair, his arm round Claudia's shoulders, his face lowered near hers.
'Would you like some coffee, Harry?' she said stiffly.
He looked up, as if surprised, as if he had been oblivious to her presence, and then stood up.
'I think I'd better go in to work, actually,' he said awkwardly. 'I'm late enough as it is…' He broke off and turned to Claudia. 'Will you be all right, darling? I'll come round as soon as I'm free this evening.'
'Oh go,' Claudia said irritably. 'The Stock Exchange will probably collapse altogether if you stay any longer…' She groaned. 'Oh, hell! And we were going to that party tonight…'
'We'll cut it. It'd probably have been god-awful anyway.' He bent down and kissed her cheek gently. 'You rest, darling. Luisa will look after you. I can get back here by seven at the latest. Tell you what—I'll bring a picnic, shall I? Some champagne… what would you like? Smoked salmon? Some pâté—I can drop by Fortnum's…'
Claudia turned her face away.
'You decide,' she said flatly. 'The very thought of food makes me feel ill.'
Luisa saw Harry's face fall, and she stepped forward quickly, shepherding him to the door, a little familiar ache of regret nagging at her heart. Claudia was so casual, she thought; if someone had ever spoken to her like that… She sighed and took Harry's arm.
'Why don't you ring later?' she said gently. 'She'll probably feel better then, and if not…' Her voice trailed away. It was unlikely Claudia would, she thought quickly, after what she had to tell her. But Harry had already recovered his spirits.
'Fine,' he said, smiling. 'I'll do that. I'll fix something special for us. All the things she likes. You too, Luisa, of course…'
Then he was gone, and Luisa went slowly back into the room. Claudia was still slumped in the chair, holding her slender hands out to the warmth of the fire. As soon as Luisa came in, their eyes met.
'Well?'
Luisa felt herself go cold.
'Claudia,' she said haltingly, 'it's no good, I'm afraid.'
'What?' Claudia's beautiful face flushed. 'What do you mean, it's no good—it must be! What happened? What went wrong? Couldn't you get the money…'
'No, I can get the money all right,' Luisa said quietly.
'Well, what's wrong, then?' Claudia's voice was shrill, accusatory. 'It must be O.K., then. Didn't you see Kit?'
Luisa lowered her eyes, feeling the blood mount to her cheeks.
'Yes…' she said hesitantly, 'I… I saw him.'
'So?'
'He… he won't help us, Clou.'
Claudia fumbled angrily with the rug, trying to stand, then leaned forward, her eyes blazing dark in her white face.
'But he must help us! He said he would yesterday! He promised me, practically.' She broke off. 'Oh, God!' she cried bitterly. 'You messed it up, didn't you, Luisa? What the hell did you say to him? Oh, why did I tell you… why didn't I handle this in my own way…'
'It wouldn't have done any good,' Luisa said flatly. She knelt down by the chair and took her sister's hot dry hand in hers, but Claudia wrenched it away pettishly.
'Listen, Claudia, we have to think of something else. We have to. Kit can't help us, and I wouldn't take his help if he could do. He's… he's foul, Claudia… I…'
Claudia looked at her suspiciously. 'What do you mean, foul?' she said slowly. 'Kit's all right. If you've let all your old prejudices mess this up for me, Lou, I'll…'
'It's not that!' Luisa stared at her sister, her eyes wide. 'He… he stuck to his bargain…' she said finally.
'I see…' Claudia leaned back in the chair, her face set.
'No, darling Clou, you don't see.' Luisa reached for her impulsively. 'He… he changed his terms, there and then, for no good reason at all. He… he said he'd do it. But… but only if I went to bed with him…'
'What?' Claudia's eyes narrowed with disbelief. She stared at Luisa and then, to her amazement, threw back her head and laughed. 'Oh, my God,' she said weakly. 'How typical of Kit! What a joke. You, of all people!'
Luisa stared at her in disbelief.
'It was horrible, Clou,' she said fiercely. 'He… he had no shame whatsoever. He tried to get hold of me, and then…'
'And then you ran a mile, I suppose?' Claudia had stopped laughing, and was now looking at her appraisingly, Luisa saw, with a cold, thoughtful expression on her face. When Luisa didn't answer her, she looked away, reached impatiently for her bag, found some cigarettes and lit one. She drew on it deeply, coughed, then leaned back, her arm and hand extended, watching the thin grey smoke coil upwards in silence.
'Well, that's all right, then, isn't it, Lou?' she said finally.
'All right?' Luisa said in a quiet small voice; she felt the beginnings of fear grip her stomach.
'Of course. All right.' Claudia gave her a cold smile. 'I mean—you'll do it, won't you? Then I'll be in the clear.'
'Claudia!' Luisa stared at her in disbelief.
'Oh, hell, don't look like that!' Claudia flicked her ash in the grate. 'It's perfectly simple, isn't it? If that's what Kit wants—though I must say I think he's mad. But why not? What have you got to lose?'
Luisa's throat tightened, she felt tears start to her eyes; Claudia spoke flippantly, but she was clearly totally serious.
'Claudia…' Luisa's voice choked in her throat. 'You… you can't mean that…'
'Oh, but I do mean it.' Claudia stubbed the cigarette out impatiently, and turned to her, her face intent, tight.
'Well, surely you can see?' she said coldly. 'It's either that or I'm finished. It's not so much of a sacrifice, is it, for your own sister?'
'It certainly is!' Luisa stood up, co
lour rushing to her face, her hands shaking. 'I can't think how you can say such things, Claudia. To even consider… to ask me.' She broke off. 'He's the most hateful man!'
'No, he's not. He's extremely attractive.'
A memory of grey eyes, a mocking sensual mouth, came to Luisa; she reached automatically for her arm, for the bruises his fingers had left.
'No, he's not!' she cried hotly. 'And besides, that has nothing whatsoever to do with it. What he was suggesting was disgusting, obscene…'
'Was it?'
'Of course it was! It's just blackmail, pure and simple, of the most horrible kind…'
'Are you sure that's what's really worrying you?' Claudia leaned forward intently, her eyes burning, her mouth jagged with anger. 'Are you sure it's the blackmail you really care about, Luisa? Because I'd say it was something else.'
'Something else?' Her tone stopped Luisa dead, and Claudia gave a low bitter laugh.
'Oh, come on, Luisa, you can admit it to me! After all, I know you well enough, don't I? Look at you now!' Contemptuously, her eyes raked Luisa's pale oval face and trembling body. 'You're scared, aren't you? And not because of blackmail, because of sex. You're terrified of men, Lou, you always have been. As long as I can remember you've been like that—like ice. No man can get near you—you never give one the chance, do you? Why even when we were kids… oh hell, what's the point?' She broke off angrily. 'It's impossible talking to you. I don't know what's the matter with you—whether you've got some stupid hang-up about your virginity, or whether you're just pure perverse— God knows! You're twenty-five and you're on the shelf— heavens, if Kit knew what he was in for he wouldn't bother. No man would have much fun in bed with you!'
'Be quiet!' Luisa felt tears start to her eyes and covered her ears with her hands. 'How can you say such things, Claudia? It's not true! Just because I don't share your free and easy morals it doesn't mean I'm…'
'I know what you are, Luisa.' Claudia pushed the rug aside angrily, and stood up. 'You're a stupid, frigid prude. You can call it morality if you like. I call it being scared. I know what you think of me, you've preached often enough. But at least if I like someone I admit it—to myself and them. All right, I go to bed with them. So what? I give them something, they give me something. It's not necessarily ugly or cheap or wrong, it's sometimes painful and sometimes pleasant, but at least it's free. I don't hoard my purity like a fortune in the bank!' She stopped suddenly, her breath coming fast, as if aware she had said too much. The two of them stood still staring at one another in silence. It was Luisa who finally spoke.
The Devil's Advocate Page 3