Betrayal

by Margaret Bingley

  But there was desire. A stronger, more urgent desire than he'd ever felt for a woman before, and it was proving difficult to wait, to mark time until the perfect moment; but until that moment came he still needed Kay because she was always available and he was a man of strong sexual appetites which she both understood and shared.

  Just the same she would have to go, and since she knew rather a lot about him that meant more than simply parting company. It would probably be a job for Bishop, who was practised and proficient in such matters.

  Finally, his mind once again back with Lisa, he slept.

  'You look wonderful!' enthused Neal as Lisa came slowly down the stairs. She had on a deceptively simple-looking navy wool dress that fitted tightly to the waist before flaring out into a calf-length skirt that was very full and had two shocking pink panels inserted into each side. She wore navy pumps, and her only jewellery was a pair of delicate silver earrings in the shape of tiny butterflies with transparent wings.

  'You're sure it's suitable? I wondered if it was too plain.' 'It's perfect. Why are you still wearing your wedding ring?'

  'Because as far as I know I'm still married. Besides, it's difficult to get off and it keeps the wolves at bay!'

  'I'll keep the wolves at bay. I'd much prefer it if you took it off.' 'Why?'

  He smiled. 'I don't usually go round with married women!'

  'I hadn't thought of that. Give me a minute, I'll try and get it off with soap. Did you bring your secretary to babysit?'

  'She's in the car. Is Jessica settled for the night?'

  'As far as I can tell,' she called from the kitchen, struggling to ease Toby's wedding ring off with some Fairy liquid.

  'Any luck?' he asked, wandering round the room and examining a half-written letter on the coffee table.

  'Yes, it's off. I thought that… Do you mind! You're reading a private letter.'

  'Who are you sending it to?'

  'You mean to whom am I sending it!' Neal flushed with annoyance and turned away to conceal the fact. 'Actually it's to Stephanie. I thought she ought to know of Jessica's existence. I might not post it, but it was something I needed to write. Look, can we leave a number for the sitter? If Jessica should play up… '

  'Of course. I'll write it down on the pad. She should be here in a minute. I came in ahead to make sure you were ready and there weren't any problems.'

  Just then Miranda Grant entered. She was small, fair, and in her early forties. An efficient and trustworthy secretary, she'd also raised four children of her own and was delighted to help her employer out. She'd met Naomi several times and didn't blame him for liking the 'company of other women.

  'Baby asleep?' she asked cheerfully.

  'Yes, but if she should wake and start screaming there's a bottle in the fridge that just needs popping in the microwave. I usually feed her myself but quite honestly she seems to find a bottle easier! If she still screams then put on some classical music, that always shuts her up. We won't be late, will we, Neal?'

  'About midnight.'

  'Don't worry,' soothed Miranda. 'I can cope with almost anything babies throw at me. You go out and have a good time.'

  'I've left supper in the kitchen and the T.V.'s on. I do hope she's good.'

  'It doesn't matter if she isn't,' remarked Neal as they walked out of the front door. 'Miranda's only too happy to be helping out. In fact, she'll be in her element if Jessica does wake. She's very maternal.'

  'So am I, but I don't find Jessica screaming her head off the most wonderful experience imaginable.’

  'May I suggest we don't mention Jessica again until we get back? This is meant to be a change for you. About the other guests: Mr and Mrs Hopcraft are very quiet and not particularly important, but the Erskines are vital to a new contract so it's important that they have a good time.'

  'What am I meant to do, dance a tango on the table top?' 'Hardly, he's a very conservative type. Just be nice to him. Use your considerable charm to good effect. He and I have been talking business all day, you're the final step in the game.'

  'Really? And while I'm charming Mr Erskine, what will you be doing?'

  'Talking to his wife and making sure she's suitable.'

  'For whom? Mr Erskine? Or were you thinking of trying her out yourself?'

  'Joke now by all means but please don't be flippant during dinner. If they'd wanted cheap entertainment they could have watched a game show.'

  Stunned, she turned her head away and looked out of the window. All at once the excited anticipation drained away and she wished she was back in her own home, watching television and knitting a jacket for Jessica. Perhaps it was boring, and possibly she was finding life dull, but she didn't need any instructions on how to behave at a dinner. How old did he think she was for God's sake, fifteen?'

  'Here we are!' he said cheerfully, trying to ignore her sudden silence. 'You'll enjoy the food.'

  'Better than the company by the sound of it!' she retorted. Mike—who was driving them that evening—had difficulty in hiding his smile as he held the door open for them both. She might have taken the bait but she wasn't going to be easy to land, he thought with amusement.

  In fact the dinner went off perfectly. After a couple of glasses of wine, Lisa found herself enjoying meeting people again, and James Erskine was an elderly man of great olde worlde charm who was a pleasure to talk to. By contrast, George Hopcraft talked too loudly and even told a joke that Neal made plain wasn't acceptable in mixed company. This quieted him down, but since he wasn't important, Lisa was able to ignore his occasional double-entendres and concentrate on James Erskine.

  They lingered over their coffee and brandies and she was astounded when Neal said it was two a.m. The Erskines invited Neal and Lisa to visit them in America if they were ever there and Neal accepted on their behalf, then George Hopcraft—who'd drunk a great deal and was feeling left out—asked if Naomi was keeping well. An awkward silence fell.

  'Extremely well,' said Neal crisply. 'She still can't go out very much but she's considerably improved. Your concern is most touching,' he added in an aside that made Mrs Hopcraft flinch. George merely laughed and said that in that case America would presumably be too far for her to go.

  For a moment Lisa felt awkward. Obviously the Erskines knew about Naomi, yet they'd invited her. This could only mean they imagined she and Neal were lovers. She supposed it was a reasonable assumption, especially since she'd removed her wedding ring, but she didn't like it.

  James and Felicity departed, still smiling and friendly, and then it was time for George and his wife to climb in a taxi and go on their way. 'Ignorant fool!' snapped Neal. 'He scarcely knows Naomi.'

  'I think he wanted to make us feel uncomfortable.'

  'You perhaps, he'd know better than to imagine he'd distress me. I can't think what possessed him.'

  'He probably felt the Erskines had monopolised the evening.'

  'So I should hope. He and his singularly boring wife were only there to make up the numbers. Was he drinking heavily?'

  Lisa laughed. 'That depends on what yardstick you use. Not by Toby's standards, but it did seem to be affecting him as the evening went on.'

  'Let's forget them,' said Neal with a smile. 'You were wonderful! Did you enjoy it?'

  'Yes, it was good fun. I'd expected there to be more business talk.' "Not in front of the ladies!'

  'Why's that?'

  'Far too boring. Here's Mike with the car. He's always prompt.' 'You mean you knew all along how late we'd be?'

  'I run my life by the clock, Lisa.'

  'Then why tell the babysitter we'd be home by midnight?'

  He coughed apologetically. 'That was for your benefit. Miranda knew how late we'd be, but I was worried you'd refuse to leave if I said three in the morning.'

  'I don't like people lying to me,' said Lisa indignantly as she climbed into the back of the Daimler.

  'That's understandable. I wouldn't have to lie if you weren't quite so neurotically po
ssessive about that daughter of yours.'

  'I thought we weren't meant to talk about her until I got home?' 'Touché! So, you enjoyed yourself?' He moved close to Lisa's side, putting one arm round her shoulders. 'Yes. Is this the way back?'

  'It's the scenic route! What perfume are you wearing? I noticed it earlier.'

  'Ma Griffe—Toby gave it to me early on, when he was still being nice!'

  Neal gently pressed her head down on to his shoulder and stroked her hair. 'You make most men want to be nice to you, Lisa.'

  'I haven't noticed!'

  'Toby isn't typical of most men.'

  'Sabrina said that all men were totally unreliable.' 'She sounds like a feminist to me.'

  Lisa pulled herself upright. 'That's typical of a man. If you don't agree with something a woman says you claim she's a feminist, but what you really mean is that she's a closet lesbian.'

  'My dear girl, that's totally untrue.'

  'Don't patronise me. I'm not your dear girl and it is true.'

  'If I've offended you, I apologise. You're very defensive, aren't you?'

  'Only when I feel threatened.'

  'You mean you feel threatened by me?'

  'Not physically, but I get the feeling that you could take me over if I wasn't careful. Swallow me up so that I became nothing more than a part of you. It would be terribly easy to lose my own identity at the moment, and you make it even easier.'

  'Nonsense!' He was secretly amazed at her perceptiveness. 'Perhaps, but it seems true to me.'

  He moved over to her again, putting both arms round her waist. 'Why don't you relax a little? Make yourself comfortable.'

  'I'll make myself comfortable once I get home. Please let go of me, Neal. I feel trapped in the back of this car.'

  He released her at once and sat drumming his fingers on his knees until they reached her house. 'Wait here for Mrs Grant,' he instructed Mike, who touched his cap in acknowledgement and looked out of his window to conceal his amusement.

  'Everything all right?' asked Lisa, rushing into the living room and looking anxiously at the sleeping Jessica.

  'She was as good as gold,' responded Miranda, deciding not to mention that she'd never had so much trouble getting a baby to drink from a bottle before. The child didn't seem to have a clue about the teat and ended up nearly upside down before she started sucking.

  'Mike will run you home,' said Neal swiftly. 'He'll come back for me later. I'm sure your family needs you.'

  Left alone with him, Lisa stood in the middle of the room and looked Neal straight in the eye. 'You might as well have gone with her. I'm exhausted.'

  'I thought we'd have a nightcap. I know there's some brandy in the cabinet. I put it there when you were still in hospital, for medicinal purposes naturally!'

  'I don't want any but help yourself. You bought it so you can drink it.'

  'Aren't you going to sit down?'

  'All right.' She sat opposite him on one of the easy chairs. 'Come and sit next to me.'

  'I'm quite comfortable here, thank you.'

  'This is silly. We've had a pleasant evening, surely you can bring yourself to sit beside me for ten minutes or so?'

  Knowing that she was being both ungrateful and rude, Lisa tried to conquer the terrible sick feeling in her stomach and walked slowly over to sit beside him. When he slid an arm behind her and began to kiss the side of her neck she wanted to scream and pull away but gritted her teeth and sat perfectly still.

  'I can tell you're enjoying this!' he said after a few moments, and turned her face towards him. 'I'm not Toby,' he said slowly, 'and I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to. Now, please, just relax.'

  'When people tell me to relax it makes me even more tense. Do you think I enjoy feeling like this?'

  'No, but give yourself a chance. Surely a goodnight kiss isn't too much to ask?'

  'I'm sorry, I just don't… '

  Neal Gueras wasn't a patient man and he wasn't used to being held off. Despite his initial good intentions he found that sitting next to her, with her slender body close to his and her perfume drifting up to him, he simply couldn't wait. He had to kiss her, and so he gripped her tightly by the shoulders, turned her body towards him and covered her mouth with his.

  She instinctively went rigid, closing her lips against his tongue and pulling away, trying desperately to free herself. Images of Roger and Toby flashed through her mind, and she remembered how Toby would hold her by the shoulders before forcing her down on to the bed and doing things that he knew she hated for the sheer pleasure of hearing her scream.

  Because he wasn't Toby, Neal had left her arms free and was totally unprepared when she slipped off one of her navy pumps and began hitting him round the head and shoulders with it.

  'What the bloody hell… ?' he shouted, pushing her away and leaping to his feet. Then, looking down, he saw her crumpled up and sobbing uncontrollably, still clutching the shoe tightly in her right hand.

  He sighed and turned away, knowing that it was his fault and he'd only made things worse. Lisa continued to cry, and the sound of her sobs woke Jessica who decided to join in so that when Mike tapped discreetly on the front door, Neal was highly relieved to see him.

  'Carry that child upstairs and put it in the cot next to the bed,' he instructed. Mike, after one quick glance at the rumpled, tear-stained Lisa, did as he was told.

  Neal sat down carefully next to her and gently removed the shoe from her hand. 'It's all right,' he said quietly. 'That was my fault and I'm sorry. I'm going to get a doctor to come and see you. He'll help you get over everything you've been through these past months. You won't mind that, will you?' She shrugged. All that she wanted was to be left alone, which was totally unrealistic, so she forced herself to shake her head.

  'Good girl! I'll be off now but I'll ring in the morning. Have a long lie-in if you can. And, Lisa… '

  She glanced up at him. 'Yes?' 'I'm sorry.'

  She bit her bottom lip. 'It's my fault. I'm the one who should be apologising. It was only that… '

  'I do understand. Now go upstairs and get some rest. Have you any sleeping pills?'

  'One or two.'

  'Then take one. Goodnight.'

  She didn't answer but when Mike came downstairs she raised her head. 'Have you ever seen a crying fish before?' she asked wryly.

  'There's always a first time. Actually, I'm fully expecting to find a tearful fisherman waiting out there!'

  Despite her misery she couldn't suppress a smile at the thought, and then Mike gave one of his quick winks and hurried off into the night.

  'Where's Kay tonight?' snapped Neal as the car started up. 'In the flat, sir.'

  'Take me there.'

  God help her if she didn't come up to the mark, thought Mike as they sped through the night. She was obviously going to be rather busy for her final few weeks, until Lisa capitulated. He wondered how she felt about it all, or if she even realised what was happening.

  Chapter Eight

  Kay was lying on top of the king-size bed pretending to read her book but in reality trying to think where she'd gone wrong. She thought she'd been the perfect mistress: never making a fuss when left alone for Christmas and Neal's long summer break, never running down Naomi but always willing to listen when Neal complained about her; and above all always being available to do whatever he wanted, whenever he chose.

  For ten years now she'd been by his side. There'd been other women, she knew and understood that, but she was the one who appeared on his arm in public. She was the 'old friend' who stood in for his missing wife at public functions. But not for much longer.

  Nothing had been said, nothing needed to be said. She knew because he rarely took her out any more. She was gradually slipping out of the social round. At the moment friends still rang her; she attended coffee mornings with other women and sat on the committee for underprivileged children, but eventually that too would stop.

  It was hard for her to face up to it b
ecause over the years she'd made the mistake of falling in love with Neal Gueras. At first she'd found him different—exciting and powerful, but that was all. He'd enabled her to keep up the lifestyle she'd been used to prior to her father's death when crippling taxation depleted the family fortune, and that had been enough for her.

  He was sexually demanding but did not go in for any show of affection. His manner could vary from punctiliously polite to gutter-born crudeness which shocked and occasionally frightened her. Also, he never said he loved her. She didn't know when her feelings had changed. Perhaps it was after she lost their love-child. He'd been so supportive and understanding then. Even her spell of depression that seemed to last forever, he tolerated with unusual gentleness.

  Yes, it was probably then that she started to love him, which made this particular turning point in her life extraordinarily difficult because she no longer had anyone of her own to turn to.

  Her mother was dead now, her only sister married and living in Australia, while her friends were solely mutual friends. Neal had carefully weaned her away from the people she'd known from childhood and she wondered where she'd go when he finally turned her out of his London flat.

  Perhaps he'd give her a little place of her own, she thought optimistically. After all, she did know rather a lot about him, and he wouldn't want her talking about the things she'd learnt. Not that she ever would, but he might be afraid to leave her homeless.

  She shook her head. He'd never do such a thing; she was being unnecessarily morbid. Neal would look after her. It was in his own interest as well as hers, and in any case she hoped that in his own way he was still fond of her.

  All at once there was the sound of his key in the door and his footsteps on the stairs. He'd made it plain he was unlikely to be calling tonight, and this change in plans lifted her spirits. She looked up at him, smiling warmly. 'How nice, you changed your mind!'

  He didn't return the smile 'Where did you get that negligee set?' he asked quietly.