by June Tate
‘Hello, Bruce, can you come round to the flat this evening? I need to talk to you.’
On the other end of the line, Bruce Chapman frowned. Knowing Victoria as well as he did, he knew that this was serious and, for some unknown reason, he guessed that this was about their future.
‘Yes, darling, of course, what time?’
‘Severn thirty?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. Are you all right, Victoria?’
She hesitated. ‘I just need to talk to you.’
His heart sank. ‘Very well, I’ll see you later.’
When Victoria eventually arrived at the club, she found Sandy, suitcase by his side, reading the paper and drinking coffee. He looked up as she walked in.
‘I’m going back to the smoke today, darling, got time to have a coffee with me before I go?’ he asked.
She sat beside him and asked a waiter to bring another pot of coffee over. ‘Are you coming back to live here after all?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I am. I have rented a small flat for the time being. I need to tidy up some things before I finally move, but yes, I’m coming home.’ He stared at her. ‘What’s the matter?’
With a look of surprise she said, ‘Matter? What makes you think something’s wrong?’
‘Darling child, I’ve watched you grow, I know all your expressions and now you’ve got something on your mind. Want to talk it over with an old and trusted friend?’
She let out a sigh of relief. Sandy had always been in her life and he was just the person she needed right now.
‘I’m going to break off my engagement tonight and I feel an absolute bitch!’
He took out a cigarette and lit it slowly. ‘Johnny Daniels got under your skin then?’
Her eyes widened with surprise. ‘Is it so obvious?’
‘Only to people who know you really well. Are you sure you’re making the right choice?’
She pushed her fingers through her hair with frustration. ‘No, I’m not! All I know is that I’m not being fair to Bruce. How can I wear his ring and want another man?’
‘You can’t! But what if this is just infatuation – or just plain lust? You will have ruined your happiness with a good man.’
‘I know! But I have to be truthful with Bruce or I couldn’t live with myself.’ She hesitated. ‘You know Johnny. Am I being a complete fool?’
Sandy was at a loss. He liked young Daniels, he also knew his record with women, but he also felt that Victoria meant more to him than was usual. Yet . . . his background made Sandy somewhat wary.
‘To be honest, darling, I don’t know. This is something only you can sort out and, as they say, only time will tell. I just hope you don’t get hurt in the process.’
‘Poor Bruce is the one who will be hurt and it’s all my fault!’
Sandy’s taxi arrived at that moment and Victoria reluctantly saw him off the premises.
‘I’ll be back very soon,’ he told her, ‘and we’ll talk again. But be kind to Bruce when you tell him, that man adores you.’ He kissed her goodbye and was driven away.
That evening, Victoria was pacing up and down in her flat, awaiting Bruce’s arrival. Her nerves were in tatters. Bruce had meant something very special in her life. When they’d been together in France, they’d been very close as lovers and as friends and she didn’t know quite how she was going to tell him her news. Whichever way she had rehearsed, she couldn’t find the right words and the more she tried the worse it became. The front-door bell rang and with her heart pounding, she opened the door.
‘Hello, darling.’ He stepped inside and gave her a bottle of wine. ‘I think we are both going to need a drink, don’t you?’ He kissed her on her cheek. ‘Find me a corkscrew and then we’ll talk.’
He opened the bottle, filled two glasses, gave her one then, taking her by the other hand, led her to the settee.
‘Right, now, what’s this all about?’
‘I’m sorry, Bruce, but I can’t marry you.’ She hadn’t meant to blurt it out quite so suddenly but the words just tumbled out of her mouth. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
‘I see.’ He sipped slowly from his glass. ‘Has this anything to do with Johnny Daniels?’
She nodded, at a loss for words for a moment. ‘I am so sorry, Bruce. I feel dreadful about letting you down, but I can’t wear your ring any longer feeling as I do.’ She picked up the little box on the table and handed it to him. ‘I do hope you can forgive me.’
For a moment he was silent. ‘I have to say this is not a complete surprise, Victoria. If I’m honest I have seen it coming. But, darling, don’t throw away our happiness for him, he’s really not worth it!’
She was immediately defensive. ‘How can you say such a thing?’
‘Because I have dealt with men all my adult life. His type will always let you down.’
‘People can change!’ Her face was flushed with anger. ‘I know he comes from a dodgy background, but he works hard and is in a legitimate business now.’
‘And you are obsessed with him! He’s always hanging around, no doubt working his charm on you and you’ve fallen for it. Oh, Victoria, I thought you had more sense.’
‘Don’t treat me like a child, Bruce, because I’m not one. I’m very much a grown woman!’
‘Of course you are, but you’re also vulnerable. This man is temptation personified. He must seem exciting to you especially because of his background . . . or is there more to it than that?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Have you slept with him?’ He looked steadily at her and she didn’t answer. ‘I see.’ His words were clipped and angry.
‘I am so sorry, Bruce. I thought it would get him out of my system if I did.’
‘You didn’t think to say no, I’m sorry, but I’m engaged and in love with another man?’ Now he was furious.
She just shook her head.
Bruce rose to his feet. ‘There’s nothing more to be said, except that I am truly disappointed in you, Victoria. I trusted you implicitly, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, you meant that much to me, but obviously I wasn’t that important to you.’ He threw the box with the ring in it on to the coffee table.
As he walked out of the door, Victoria just watched in silence. After all, what could she say? Then as the door closed behind him, she burst into tears.
Fourteen
Bruce made his way to the Langford Hotel, walked into the bar and asked for a large whiskey and soda. He sat deep in thought, unaware that Lily, Victoria’s mother was approaching.
‘Hello, Bruce, how’s my future son-in-law?’ She kissed his cheek and sat beside him.
‘Let me get you a drink, Lily, you can join me as I get smashed.’
‘Why, whatever is the matter?’
‘Victoria broke our engagement this evening.’
‘What? Whatever are you talking about?’
He smiled wryly. ‘She’s fallen for Johnny Daniels it would seem.’
Lily looked puzzled. ‘Say that again.’
‘I know, I could hardly believe it either.’ He rubbed his forehead wearily. ‘I don’t know what to do. I really love her, Lily, and she’s making a dreadful mistake and nothing I can say will change that.’
‘Oh, Bruce, I am so sorry.’
‘Maybe she’ll come to her senses in time, but it’ll be too late for us.’ He took a long drink from his glass.
‘What are you going to do?’ she asked anxiously.
‘Sail off into the sunset! Next week I’m being given my own vessel and we’re off for manoeuvres. Perfect timing, don’t you think?’
She heard the bitterness in his voice and was sad. She so admired this man and had thought him a perfect husband for Victoria. Now she was worried. Victoria was stubborn and wayward. Johnny Daniels was a charmer and had a way with women, she’d seen that for herself and Victoria had fallen for his charms it would seem. She was throwing her future away . . . for what?
‘Is there anything I can do, Bruce?’
He shook his head. ‘No, but thanks for asking. You know as well as I do that once Victoria has decided on something, she becomes stubborn if anyone tries to change her mind.’
‘Yes I’m afraid so, she takes after her father in that way. But on the other hand, she won’t suffer fools gladly and if Johnny Daniels plays her up, she’ll show him the door.’
‘Perhaps, but she liked him enough to sleep with him!’
Lily was shaken. This madness had gone further than she imagined – and so soon. She saw the pain in Bruce’s face and her heart went out to him.
‘I’m really sorry, Bruce. I don’t know what to say.’
He finished his drink, climbed down from the bar stool and kissed her on the cheek. ‘There’s nothing to be said, sadly. I’m going back to my quarters. I’ll be in touch.’
Lily watched him walk away. How could Victoria have been so stupid? She wanted to shake her.
Luke walked in the bar at that moment. ‘I thought I saw Bruce leaving just now.’
She told him what had transpired.
‘I’m really sorry to hear that,’ he said, ‘but Lily, you can’t interfere, this is between Victoria and Bruce. She isn’t a child and she must be allowed to make her own decisions.’
‘As if I would!’
‘Don’t look so outraged, I know you. Leave them alone!’
Luke was called away and Lily sat ruminating over his words. She wanted desperately to call Victoria and remonstrate with her but it would only make matters worse. Luke was right. She left the bar and went to her office, totally deflated.
Victoria, now alone in her flat, was feeling much the same. She’d cried so much after Bruce had gone, she was empty of emotion. She felt so guilty about hurting him after such a close relationship, but really she didn’t have a choice.
The telephone rang and she cursed. She didn’t feel like talking to anybody, but she had to answer it in case it was from the club. She picked up the receiver. ‘Hello.’
‘Victoria?’ It was Johnny.
‘Hello, Johnny.’
‘Whatever is the matter, you sound awful?’
‘I’ve just broken off my engagement to a lovely man and I feel dreadful.’ The words stuck in her throat.
‘I’m coming round now.’ She heard him put the receiver down and ten minutes later she opened the door to Johnny Daniels. He stepped inside, closed the door and took her into his arms and held her.
‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see,’ he said quietly. ‘I’m going to take good care of you, Victoria. I promise.’
She stared into his eyes. ‘I’ve given up a good man for you – you’d better be worth it!’
He started to laugh. ‘I love a feisty woman,’ he said and kissed her.
In the small town of Romsey, the following morning, life continued as usual for the local inhabitants, going about their business. Visitors milled around, some taking trips to Broadlands, the home of the Mountbattens, and others shopped for souvenirs. Two of Pat Daniels’ men were sitting having a coffee, reading the local paper, gleaning any information they could about the area and the occupants of the house they planned to rob in the near future.
The owner, it appeared, came from a wealthy family and worked at Lloyds in London, was well liked, generous to local charities and opened his garden to the public twice a year. In the spring and the late summer and the following Sunday it would be open from eleven o’clock until two. The Londoners couldn’t believe their luck. They travelled back to Southampton and enjoyed the next two days visiting as many public houses as possible. On Sunday morning, suffering greatly from drinking far too much alcohol, they waited for a train to take them back to Romsey.
The stately home belonging to Edward Mansfield and his family stood in ten acres of ground, with hidden gardens, artfully laid out in different areas with deep flowerbeds, arbours, and wooden benches that invited you to sit and admire the view at leisure. Now it was ablaze with rhododendrons and azaleas. A woodland flourished, carpeted with bluebells. It was a feast of colour for the eyes, but the two men from London were not in the least bit interested.
They wandered nearer to the house, walking round the rose beds and up the wide steps to inspect the tall, imposing jardinières standing like sentinels at the top, in front of the wide glass windows. Glancing around to see if they were being observed, they sauntered along the building, peering inside the sumptuous rooms eyeing the contents with glee. These men knew about antique furniture – and inside was a small fortune. In a tall, glass-fronted case was a collection of priceless porcelain. But this would not be an easy job. To remove any of the larger objects inside would need a furniture van and some muscle. Hardly unobtrusive, and to do this, the house would not have to be occupied and, from what they were able to observe, Mr Mansfield lived high of the hog and was well attended. The men returned to the town for a hair of the dog at the nearest public house where they discussed their problem.
‘There’s too many people about,’ said one, ‘and we’ve yet to discover their alarm system. I reckon we should give this one the elbow, myself.’
Shrugging, his companion agreed. ‘But you know the boss, whatever we think we’ll have to find out more detail before we go back to him or we’ll be in trouble.’
It seemed that luck was truly on their side that day. As they sat discussing the problem a man came into the bar, dressed in chef’s attire beneath his jacket. He walked up to the counter and ordered a half of bitter.
The landlord greeted him warmly. ‘Have many visitors to the garden today, chef?’
‘Yes, Mr Mansfield will be pleased, his charities should do well out of it. I’ve got a dinner party tomorrow night and I’ve just been to collect the meat from the butcher.’
The two Londoners looked at each other and nodded. They casually walked over to the bar. ‘Couldn’t help overhearing your conversation,’ said one. ‘We were at the garden this morning. What a marvellous place, must be worth a mint of money. You must be pretty good at your job to work there.’
The chef was flattered. ‘Yes, well, I trained in London at some of the top restaurants. I was last at the Savoy.’
The men looked suitably impressed.
‘If the house were mine,’ said the other, ‘I’d be worried sick about being burgled. A home like that must be full of treasures.’
‘We don’t worry about such things,’ the chef told them. ‘We have a great alarm system and recently Mr Mansfield installed a brand new one recommended by a friend of his. He had one installed himself. He was told about it by the bloke mending his roof. Young Mr Daniels has done them both a favour.’
He downed the rest of his drink, nodded to them and left the bar.
The two men looked at each other. ‘That’s put the mockers on it then. The old man won’t be happy, especially when we tell him about young Johnny.’
‘Best get back to London,’ said his companion. ‘There’s no point in hanging around.’
When Pat Daniels was given the news, he was livid. ‘What the bloody hell is the boy thinking of? The stuff in this place is worth a fortune.’
One of his men interrupted. ‘Even so, boss, without the new alarm, it would be pretty impossible. There’s far too many people milling about and Mansfield comes back from London most nights from what we could gather. It would be a very risky undertaking.’
Pat was too enraged to listen to reason. ‘Every property has a weak spot. It would just take longer to discover it and, from what you tell me, the wait would have been worthwhile. I could throttle the bastard. My own son! How could he do this to me? Well I’m bloody well going to find out!’
The following day was Saturday. Pat had been delayed in London, so when his train drew into Southampton it was early evening. He took a taxi to Johnny’s office in the High Street, but it was closed for the weekend, his flat was also unoccupied, so he asked the driver to take him to the Club Valletta where he paid him off. But as he made his way to the entrance, the doorman
stopped him.
‘Can I help you, sir?’
Pat glowered at him. ‘No thanks, I can find my own way.’
The man stepped in front of him, barring the way. ‘I don’t believe you are a member, sir.’
‘No, I’ve come to see my son who is a member!’ Daniels snapped.
‘And who might that be, sir?’
‘Mr Johnny Daniels, now get out of my way!’ He tried to push past the man, but the doorman, now quietly enraged by his treatment, took him firmly by the arm.
‘Sorry, sir, but I can’t let you go in. Mr Daniels has not yet arrived and without him, there’s no way I’m letting you inside these premises.’
Hearing the raised voices, George Coleman walked outside to see what was causing it. He recognized Pat Daniels immediately but he ignored him and turned to the doorman.
‘What’s going on?’
‘This gentleman isn’t a member, Mr Coleman, he’s looking for young Mr Daniels but he’s not here.’
George thought quickly. Although Pat Daniels was well dressed, unlike his son he was a rough diamond and he thought this was a great opportunity for Victoria to see what she was getting herself into. He’d been appalled when he’d heard about her broken engagement and thought that this might just be the very thing to bring her to her senses.
‘I’ll sign this gentleman in,’ he told the doorman, ‘but you were right to be so vigilant. You did a good job. Thanks, I’ll take it from here.’
Thus mollified, the doorman glared at Daniels and stepped aside.
Pat began to thank George but he interrupted him. ‘You’ll sign the visitor’s book, I’ll buy you a drink because only members are allowed to do so, but if your son doesn’t arrive in the next thirty minutes, then I’ll have to ask you to leave. What do you want?’
Inwardly, Daniels fumed. No one dared speak to him this way on his own home ground, but he swallowed his pride and ordered a pint of beer. When he’d been served, George took him to a seat and told him to wait there, then he walked away. This should be really interesting, he thought, and smiled softly to himself as he waited to see what happened.
Twenty minutes later, Johnny Daniels walked into the club and ordered a drink. He didn’t see his father until he felt a tap on his shoulder.