A Rumoured Engagement

by Catherine George

  She grinned at him mischievously. ‘Spoilsport!’

  His eyes were suddenly deadly serious. ‘I won’t share, Saskia.’

  ‘Neither will I!’

  ‘Good,’ he said briskly. ‘Now that’s sorted, I’ll let you go off to bed. But because I’m letting you go alone I’ll dispense with a goodnight kiss.’

  Saskia smiled as she made for the door. ‘Not even one little brotherly peck?’

  He gave her a glittering look. ‘No. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m only human.’

  CHAPTER NINE

  SASKIA slept very little that night in the beautiful brass bed, most of it spent in regrets for her solitary state when she could have been with Luke if she’d given in to her natural instincts. But all the old doubts and fears had reared their heads at the vital moment. And this was no ordinary man-friend she could send on his way without the prospect of meeting him again—Luke was part of the family. Their relationship had never been very cordial up to now, but they were still expected to attend family functions and form part of the celebrations in Oxford at Christmas. If it all went terribly wrong, as well it might, it would make things difficult for everyone concerned.

  A little after seven Saskia heard a tap on the door.

  ‘Want some tea?’ called Luke softly.

  ‘Yes, please!’ She shot upright in bed, pushing her hair back from her face, smiling as Luke came in, elegant in a dark City suit, a cup of tea in one hand.

  ‘Morning, Sassy. I like the nightshirt, Sleep well?’

  ‘No,’ she said frankly, and took the cup from him. ‘Did you?’

  ‘No.’ He smiled at her.

  ‘This is wonderful,’ she told him, sipping blissfully, then smiled at him impudently. ‘I thought this wasn’t part of the Armytage service!’

  ‘I’ve made an exception for your first day. Must go.’ He turned in the doorway. ‘Ring me tonight.’

  ‘I will.’ She hesitated ‘Thank you, Luke.’

  ‘For the tea?’

  ‘That, and for a great many other things, too.’

  They exchanged a long look, then Luke crossed the floor and bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I think I can risk this. Ciao, Sassy.’

  Saskia arrived in Oxford to find the house in uproar because the twins had gone down with chicken pox. Her exhausted mother was delighted to see her as always, but this time had even more gratitude for her daughter’s company. An extra willing hand was obviously a godsend. Life was hectic for several hours as Saskia was welcomed with open arms by two spotty, doleful little boys. She fetched drinks and did puzzles, and eventually cajoled the boys into sitting quietly to watch a cartoon video, and, because their father was away on a lecture tour in Scotland, read to them at length at bedtime to give her mother a rest.

  When the little boys were finally asleep Saskia rang Luke to say the lunch at Smollensky’s Balloon would have to be postponed. ‘The twins came down with chicken pox overnight—simultaneously, thank heavens. This way we can at least get it over at once.’

  ‘Poor little brats; what bad luck. How about you?’ said Luke in swift concern. ‘Have you had it?’

  ‘Oh, yes. When I was their age. I’ve got the scars to prove it’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘You mean you didn’t notice at our first meeting at the villa?’

  There was a pause.

  ‘Don’t say things like that,’ he said huskily. ‘It’s bad for me.’

  Another pause.

  ‘Are you still there?’ he demanded.

  ‘Yes,’ she said breathlessly. ‘It’s just that I’m not used to this.’

  ‘This?’

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘Oh, yes, Sassy. I know exactly what you mean.’ He took in a deep, audible breath. ‘So. When exactly do you intend moving in with me?’

  Sassy slid down onto her mother’s hall carpet, her back against the wall. ‘I start back to the bank next Tuesday.’

  ‘How about Sunday, then? I’ll meet your train. Come early.’

  ‘It depends what time your father arrives back. I can’t leave Mother on her own with Jonty and Matt. They look so pathetic all covered in spots. And it’s a terrible fight to keep them from scratching.’

  ‘Poor little chaps—I can imagine. I’ll ring tomorrow evening for a progress report. In the meantime, don’t wear yourself out completely.’

  ‘I won’t. They’re actually being quite good because they feel ill at the moment. But the doctor says that’s likely to be short-lived. The real fun starts when they feel better.’

  Luke laughed. ‘I can imagine that, too. But Dad will be on hand then, and, even if I do say so myself, he’s the best father in the business.’

  ‘He certainly is!’ Saskia sighed. ‘A pity the twins had to miss their treat on Saturday, though. I’m sorry, too,’ she added.

  ‘So am I. Roll on Sunday.’

  Saskia looked up as Marina came downstairs. ‘Must go. It looks as though Mother’s free to partake of something nourishing.’

  ‘Give her my love.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Talk to you tomorrow, then. Ciao, Sassy.’

  ‘That was Luke,’ said Saskia, joining her mother in the kitchen.

  Marina looked up from the sauce she was stirring. ‘You were talking all that time to Luke?’

  ‘Yes. I was reporting on the twins, cancelling lunch on Saturday, and so on.’ Saskia perched on the table, legs swinging. ‘He sent you his love. Shall I make a salad?’

  Her mother nodded, looking at her searchingly. ‘Are you really going to live with Luke?’

  ‘I’m going to share his house for a while, yes.’ Saskia grinned cheekily. ‘There’s a difference.’

  ‘I know that. Especially as it’s Luke. Throw some pasta in that pot, would you, darling?’ Marina went on stirring intently for a moment. ‘Francis rang a couple of times last week, by the way.’

  Saskia turned sharply. ‘You didn’t say where I was?’

  ‘No. Of course not. You asked me not to, remember?’

  ‘Sorry. Anyway, what did he say?’

  ‘Asked where you were, of course, so I said you’d gone away on holiday, and I wasn’t at liberty to tell him where.’ Marina’s weary, beautiful eyes danced suddenly. ‘He was pretty angry. All the more so, I think, because he could hardly vent his wrath on me.’

  ‘What happened the second time?’

  ‘Sam spoke to him.’ Marina chuckled. ‘He was very daunting and professorial, and made it clear he had no intention of discussing your arrangements with anyone. Francis was put very definitely in his place.’

  ‘He must be puzzled, though,’ said Saskia fairly as she drained the pasta. ‘He hasn’t a clue why I did a runner.’

  ‘Are you going to tell him?’

  ‘Only if absolutely necessary.’ She pulled a face. ‘I’m certainly not going to ring him up and say, “Sorry, Francis, caught you doing naughties with the wife.” Smacks too much of farce.’

  ‘Have you told Luke what happened?’ asked Marina, serving the meal.

  ‘Yes. Oddly enough he feels partly responsible—because he introduced Francis to me. Now, let’s get on with this while there’s peace. And by the way,’ Saskia added, frowning at the shadows under her mother’s eyes, ‘I’ll get up to see to the twins in the night, if necessary. You need a rest.’

  As expected, the night was broken by demands for drinks and stories, when the two feverish, itching little boys needed comfort. And since Saskia was the next best thing to their mother she was able to settle them down each time without disturbing Marina.

  The next day was not an easy one for any members of the household. Fortunately Marina’s daily help was a tower of strength in seeing to shopping and even in concocting a casserole for dinner, since both Marina and Saskia had all their work cut out in looking after the twins.

  Jonathan and Matthew Armytage were handsome little boys, with their father’s blue eyes and their mother’s dark hair, but at the
moment the small faces were covered in spots, and their normal glow was dimmed. They also missed their daily, energy-channelling visit to nursery school.

  ‘I’m sorry you can’t be there, too,’ said Saskia to them with feeling at one point. ‘So’s Mummy. But with those spots you can’t, so let’s play Snakes and Ladders.’

  By the evening both Marina and Saskia were weary, and heartily glad when the twins were asleep at last and looking much better.

  ‘I hope this doesn’t put you off having children of your own,’ yawned Marina.

  ‘No, of course it doesn’t Life isn’t all chicken pox.’

  ‘No. But it’s pretty hectic, even when they’re well. More so, sometimes.’ Marina gave her daughter a sudden smile. ‘Take my advice—don’t leave it until you’re forty-odd to have twins!’

  ‘Do they run in Sam’s family?’ asked Saskia thoughtfully.

  ‘Apparently so. Why?’

  ‘I just hadn’t heard of any in ours, that’s all.’ She raced into the hall as the telephone rang. ‘That’s probably for me.’

  But when she lifted the receiver it was Sam Armytage on the line, not his son. She chatted affectionately with him, swallowing her disappointment, then fetched Marina.

  While her mother was talking on the phone Saskia had a swift bath, feeling a lot better as she emerged to meet Marina coming upstairs.

  ‘Would you mind if I just lazed around in my dressing gown tonight, Mother?’

  ‘Good idea. I’ll do the same.’ Marina looked a lot more cheerful. ‘Sam says he’ll get away after his lecture tomorrow afternoon, instead of staying on for the dinner. Glad of the excuse, he assures me,’ She stretched wearily. ‘I need a bath.’

  ‘The boys are fast asleep for the moment, so have a nice laze,’ advised Saskia. ‘We can eat later.’

  After checking on the twins, Saskia went down to the small morning room, wondering when Luke would ring. Perhaps he worked late on Fridays. Or maybe he’d forgotten his promise to ring. Eventually convinced he was out wining and dining some woman or other, she was scowling at a television game-show when the doorbell rang. At this time of night it had to be one of Sam’s students wanting help with something. In which case, she thought irritably, he or she was out of luck.

  Saskia tied the girdle of her dark green robe tightly, and marched into the hall just as the front door opened and the tall figure of Luke Armytage stood there, smiling at her, key in hand.

  ‘Luke!’ she said in a choked voice hardly recognisable as her own, whereupon he closed the door behind him, dumped down a hold-all and held out his arms. She flew into them, her mouth upturned to his engulfing kiss, which confirmed, beyond any shadow of doubt, that this was really all she’d wanted since she was fifteen years old.

  She slid her arms beneath his heavy raincoat, eager to get close to him, and with a smothered sound Luke held her tightly in the crook of his arm while his free hand slid beneath the dressing gown to explore in a manner which made her knees buckle. For a long, breathless interval their absorption in each other was absolute, until at last Saskia tore herself away, face flaming as she retied her sash.

  ‘You didn’t say you were coming,’ she gasped.

  ‘I thought I might give a hand with the twins,’ he said, breathing equally hard as he slid out of his raincoat. His eyes met hers. ‘Or anything else you might need.’

  ‘Marina will be delighted.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘So will the twins.’

  ‘How are they?’

  ‘A bit better tonight. I’m so glad you came,’ she added.

  ‘I hoped you would be.’

  ‘You know I am.’

  Their eyes were telling each other so much more than the mere words that Saskia closed hers for a moment, afraid to give too much of herself away.

  ‘Luke, I’d better go and put something on.’

  He nodded, his eyes darkened almost to black as he looked her up and down from her bare feet to her tousled hair. ‘Preferably right now.’

  She gave him an incandescent smile, then raced up the stairs to knock on Marina’s bedroom door. ‘Mother, Luke’s here. I thought you might want to make yourself respectable after all.’

  It was a very convivial evening. The twins remained fast asleep, and the three of them were able to enjoy the casserole in peace, with the added pleasure of the wine which Luke inevitably insisted on opening to celebrate.

  ‘What exactly are we celebrating, Luke?’ asked Marina, looking from her flushed daughter to her tall, relaxed stepson.

  ‘The ceasefire between Sassy and me?’ he suggested, raising his glass.

  ‘I’ll drink to that,’ said Saskia promptly, and her mother shook her head in wonder.

  ‘I will, too, with the greatest of pleasure. Though I never thought I’d see the day,’ she added. ‘Sam will be delighted, too. Am I allowed to ask what brought the transformation about?’

  Luke and Saskia exchanged glances. ‘Much as I hate to say it I think I’ve got Francis Lawford to thank for some of it,’ he said wryly.

  ‘And maybe,’ said Saskia, smiling at him, ‘I just grew up at last.’

  The evening passed very quickly, and Marina eventually excused herself, yawning. ‘I need to go to bed. And, Luke, if you hear the boys in the night please don’t show yourself. One look at you and we’ll never settle them down again.’

  He laughed. ‘Whatever you say, Marina. I’ll report for duty in the morning—try to keep them out of your hair for a bit.’

  When they were alone Luke drew Saskia onto his lap on the sofa, and held her close. ‘I feel an urgent need for this.’

  ‘Likewise,’ she muttered against his throat. After a while she raised her head to look into his face. ‘Is this really us, or am I dreaming?’

  ‘If you are we’re sharing the same dream.’ His eyes narrowed intently. ‘I couldn’t wait until Sunday. After I spoke to you last night I thought, Why hang about in town for the weekend when you’re down here? So here I am.’

  ‘You didn’t ring to tell me.’

  ‘I wanted to surprise you.’

  ‘You did.’

  ‘It was worth arriving unannounced, just to see the look on your face.’

  ‘I was pleased,’ said Saskia sedately.

  He smiled triumphantly. ‘I know, darling, I know.’

  At the endearment they both suddenly became still, as though some boundary had been crossed. They looked at each other in silence, then, as if a question had been asked and answered, Saskia laid her head on his shoulder again.

  ‘I’ve brought a present for the twins,’ he said after a while.

  ‘Good,’ she said with feeling. ‘We’ve about exhausted everything on hand.’

  He chuckled. ‘I can well believe it’ He shifted her in his arms more comfortably. ‘Is Marina all right? She looked very tired.’

  ‘It’s only natural in the circumstances,’ Saskia chuckled. ‘She advised me against waiting until I’m forty-odd to have twins.’

  There was silence for a moment.

  ‘Do you want children?’ asked Luke casually.

  ‘Yes. Of course I do. Some day.’

  ‘I thought first-hand experience with Jonty and Matt might have put you off.’

  ‘Absolutely not. I used to love helping with them when they were babies.’

  ‘Some girls might have been embarrassed by their mother’s production of twins at the age you were,’ he pointed out.

  ‘Were you embarrassed?’ she retorted, sitting up.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then why should I be?’

  ‘All right, put your claws away.’ He grinned at her, and smoothed a hand down her cheek, and Saskia gave him an answering grin which turned into a gigantic yawn. Luke set her on her feet and got up.

  ‘Time you were in bed. I assume my normal accommodation is waiting for me?’

  ‘If it wasn’t beforehand I’m sure Mother made it so before she went to bed.’ Saskia bit her lip. ‘I didn�
�t think; I should have offered to do it myself.’ She looked up at him, sighing. ‘It’s your fault.’

  ‘Why mine?’ he demanded.

  ‘I was so desperate to be alone with you I forgot about mundane things like clean sheets!’

  Luke pulled her into his arms and kissed her at length, to demonstrate his appreciation. It was a long time before he let her go. ‘Goodnight, darling. Sleep well.’

  ‘I intend to, if the boys leave me in peace. I was reading to them at three this morning, but they settled down after that so it was worth it.’

  ‘I could do that tonight—’

  ‘Heaven forbid!’ She shuddered. ‘One look at you and they’d never get to sleep again.’

  He laughed, walked with her to the foot of the stairs, set her on the bottom step and kissed her again. ‘I’ll lock up and see to the lights. Get your head down while you can.’

  Saskia jumped out of bed next morning, horrified to see it was past seven. If the twins had woken up in the night she hadn’t heard them. She threw on her dressing gown and went along the landing to the boys’ room to find them still sleeping, and let out a sigh of relief. She opened her mother’s door gingerly, to find Marina dressing quickly.

  ‘Did they wake up in the night, Mother?’ she asked guiltily

  ‘Only once. I gave them drinks, tucked them up, and they went back to sleep.’ Marina smiled fondly. ‘Don’t worry, darling, I’m not about to keel over. Decrepitude hasn’t overtaken me quite yet, but I rather fancy some breakfast before the fun starts. Is Luke awake?’

  ‘No idea. I’ll throw some clothes on, then I’ll be down.’

  After orange juice, toast and several cups of coffee, both women felt a great deal better prepared to face the day.

  ‘Good heavens,’ said Marina, jumping up. ‘What a noise up there!’

  ‘The twins have found Luke. You stay there and read the paper,’ said Saskia firmly. ‘I’ll go up and dress them.’

  ‘You spoil me.’

  ‘Only for today. Luke’s giving me—and my belongings—a lift back to London tomorrow.’