by Jane Corrie
`Mrs Soames is too well trained to interfere in a domestic tiff,' said Julian lightly. 'She's had a lot of
practice, if you remember,' he added meaningly.
With a sinking heart, Melanie had to admit that she was beaten. She was no match for him, and never had been. He would enjoy himself and she would have to wait until he felt that he had punished her enough.
`I've seen the claws,' Julian said quietly, 'now let's see if I can make my kitten purr,' and he released one of his hands to catch her chin, forcing her to accept his lips.
This was no time for Melanie to remember that she loved this man, and it was certainly not the time to try and convince herself that she hated him. Not with those firm lips of his gently tracing hers in a soft, insinuating way, demanding her response, a response that she didn't dare give, although her heart was urging her to do so. Only the thought of Leonora gave her the strength she needed to keep her wits about her.
Suddenly Julian let her go, and stood surveying her through hooded lids. 'So I was wrong,' he said caustically. 'Not a mouse, nor a kitten, but an ice maiden.' He stood away from her and opened the door. 'My apologies,' he said stiffly, 'for subjecting you to what must have been a very distasteful exhibition.'
Melanie somehow managed to walk out of the study, although all her instincts screamed for her to run, and once clear of Julian's watching eyes, she rushed up the stairs to her rooms as if the hounds of death were upon her heels.
By the time she reached her rooms, tears were cascading down her cheeks, almost blinding her, and she had to resist the temptation to throw herself down on her bed and weep her heart out. Julian might decide to follow her, and she was not going to let him find her in that state.
Melanie turned her swimming eyes to her case, neatly standing by the wardrobe, and the sight of it gave her confidence, as she had hoped it might do. There was nothing to stop her from walking out here and now. It was what Julian might expect her to do, indeed, hope that she would do, in which case he hadn't been considering Celia. He had been too intent on paying her back for what he considered insubordination from the ranks.
She had defied him right through their relationship, and had withstood every insidious attack, not only mentally, but physically. He just had to have one last go at her, unable to convince himself that there was a woman who could resist him, and that was her own silly fault, she thought bitterly, recalling the way she had looked at him last night. No wonder he had decided to try his luck!
She drew in a shaky breath when the thought occurred to her that he might have tried last night. She recalled the confident way that she had removed the chair from the door, and her absolute certainty that she would be able to stand up to him.
Well, she now knew the answer to that, and so did he. She had nothing to fear from him now. It would be all he could do to acknowledge her presence, she thought, and Celia would be too caught up with the arrangements of the coming trip to notice anything amiss.
Celia was back by mid-afternoon, and by that time Melanie had got herself well in hand, and was able to listen to her comments on the shopping trip with some degree of equanimity. They had not, apparently, met Julian for lunch, for Celia mentioned snatching a sandwich in a snack bar.
When Melanie had dutifully inspected the result of
her morning's shopping, Celia went off down to the paddock, and Melanie was left to her own devices again.
She decided to telephone her aunt to forewarn her that she would be with her at the end of the week, and she felt that the communication would do her good; she needed to feel that she belonged somewhere, just to ease this terrible ache of unhappiness inside her.
As she was about to make the call, Leonora I appeared in the hall, and Melanie told her that Celia
was in the paddock, to which Leonora replied, 'I know; I saw her. I came round the back way. I wanted
a word with you.'
Instantly Melanie was on her guard, for she had a pretty good idea why Leonora had sought this private talk with her. In all fairness, she was going to try to put Melanie into the picture, as if she didn't know the way the wind was blowing, Melanie thought caustically, and vaguely wondered how she was going to go about it.
Leonora's first question, however, threw Melanie off balance. 'Do you love Julian ?' she demanded.
Melanie blinked, then made a swift recovery. Leonora didn't believe in beating about the bush, evidently, and Melanie's voice was low as she replied, `No,' and hoped to be forgiven for the downright lie.
Leonora's features hardened and the warmth in her eyes died out. 'I thought not,' she said drily. 'So that was all play-acting on your part last night, was it? I rather thought it was. From my own observation, and from what Celia had told me about you, it was entirely out of character.'
Melanie looked away quickly from Leonora's accusing eyes. She couldn't even act the doting wife with any degree of realism, she thought miserably, but
she said nothing; there was nothing that she could say.
`Do you think that was very kind?' Leonora asked.' `And before you ask if it's any business of mine, I'll tell you that I'm very fond of Julian. There was a time when I don't know what I would have done without his help.' She shrugged impatiently. 'But that's beside the point. Let me give you some advice. Leave here. I can't imagine why you didn't do so before. I'm sure Julian will see that your future is attended to; he's a very generous man.'
Melanie looked at her. The advice was good, but there was Celia. 'Celia ' she began.
`I'll look after Celia,' Leonora broke in impatiently, `don't worry about her.'
At this point, Celia joined them. 'I thought you'd come and look at Popsie,' she accused Leonora. 'I saw you go by.'
Leonora promised to do that right away, and Melanie stood gazing after them, remembering the look that Leonora had given her before she followed Celia out of the French windows.
She might just as well have shouted at her, 'Get going!' and Melanie decided to take her advice.
The first thing she did was to ring for a taxi to take her to the station. She had no idea when the trains went, but they should be frequent, and she gave herself fifteen minutes to finish her packing.
Then she went up to her rooms and completed the task she had begun the day before, so that she was ready well before the given time.
Her one fear was that Celia would come back with Leonora before she had left, but she had a feeling that Leonora would prevent this happening.
She didn't give herself time to think about anything else but the need to get away. To be on her own for a
while, just to give herself time to straighten herself out. Her head was beginning to ache, and she felt as if she were in the middle of a gigantic whirlpool and had to make a great effort to reach calmer waters.
Just before the taxi was due, she wondered if she ought to leave some sort of a note for Julian, but on second thoughts, she knew that Leonora would do all the explaining for her.
The taxi was on time, and her furtive look around to see if Celia was in the vicinity before she got in the taxi settled her worries on this score. There was no sign of her, and Melanie decided that she had gone back with Leonora.
There was no fear of running into Mrs Soames either, for Melanie knew that she was in the habit of taking a rest in her room during the afternoon before she prepared dinner, and Amy would have taken the opportunity of sneaking a couple of hours with her fiancé.
When they reached the station, Melanie learnt that she had just missed a train, and would have twenty minutes to wait until the next.
Suddenly she felt that the noise and clamour around her was too much to take, and she picked up her case, and headed out of the station and up the hill to the town. She craved peace and serenity; she had a vague idea of getting a coach to the city. It would be a longer ride, but she was in no state for a rush of any kind; it didn't matter what time she arrived, for she could always take a room at a hotel for the night if it came to that, and see h
er aunt the next morning.
She asked a passer-by the way to the coach station, and having got directions she made her way towards it. She had almost reached her destination when a bright orange poster caught her eye as she passed a
shop. It was advertising a bird sanctuary, transport provided, and a large red arrow pointed to where the transport was waiting.
If ever Melanie needed a sanctuary of some kind, this was it, and a bird sanctuary would provide the peace she needed. She joined the small queue waiting to board the minibus.
Her case was not too large to be incongruous, and not too heavy for her to manage, and there were plenty of willing hands to relieve her of it while she climbed into the bus.
She sat at the back so that her case wouldn't be in anyone's way, although there was plenty of room on the bus. She was glad of the case, for it prevented anyone from joining her, she was not feeling particularly communicative at that time.
The sanctuary was set in a huge park, in the centre of which was a lake where stately swans glided by to be admired by the visitors.
There were large aviaries that housed tropical varieties, but Melanie elected for the lake, where she could sit in peace, and let time pass by with as much interest in the outside world as the swans that glided by.
Gradually she was able to think clearly. She didn't regret what she had done. Leonora was right, it was time to go. She thought of what Leonora had said about Julian being generous and looking to her future. Those few words had said a lot to Melanie. One, that she had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Julian's marriage. If she had known, she would have taken a very different attitude towards Melanie.
However communicative Celia had been with her, she had kept that fact to herself. Melanie's soft lips twisted wryly as she acknowledged Celia's attempt to
protect her, even from Leonora.
Julian hadn't told her either. He had probably mentioned something along the lines that he had made another matrimonial mistake, and things weren't working out. He must have intimated something on those lines to give Leonora the spur she needed to get rid of Melanie. Not that he would appreciate her action.
In point of fact, he would probably be very angry with Leonora, for arrangements would have to be made, and he would have no idea of Melanie's whereabouts.
Melanie watched a family of ducks swim past slowly, with one eye on her in case she had something in the food line to throw to them. She wasn't sorry that it had ended this way. She hadn't wanted to take any money from him, and now she didn't have to.
She had enough to keep going until she found herself some work. It didn't have to be teaching; anything would do as long as it kept her busy and stopped her thinking about Julian.
She bit her lower lip. That was easier said than done. He filled her every thought. She would never forget him. She drew in a swift inward breath. At least she knew he would be happy with Leonora, once his pride had been assuaged over the way she had taken things into her own hands.
`Room for one more?' a familiar voice said, and Melanie swung round to face Julian.
He settled himself comfortably beside her, and stared down at her case on the ground beside her. `Rather a lot of bird food there, surely?' he asked, his grey eyes lifting to meet her astounded ones.
Melanie wanted to fling herself into his arms and sob her heart out, but she couldn't move. She wasn't
even sure that it was Julian sitting beside her, and not a mirage!
`Going somewhere?' he asked casually.
Melanie looked back at the lake. The ducks had come back again hoping for more luck with Julian. Her eyes were moist, but she managed to reply calmly, `I'm going home.'
`We're ready when you are,' said Julian quietly. `Jenks is in the car park.'
Melanie swallowed. 'I didn't mean Oaklands,' she said, then made a swift recovery, and began to get cross. 'How did you know I was here?' she demanded.
His brows rose, as if surprised that she should be angry with him. 'We were doing some shopping in the town, and I saw you by the minibus, so we followed it. You know, you'll have to square things with Jenks; he's not used to following minibuses—felt it was beneath his dignity. It is a Chrysler, you know!'
Melanie swallowed the urge to giggle. How could he act like this? What did he want with her? Was he going to suggest that she stayed on even after he married Leonora?
`I suppose you left me a note,' Julian said, his eyes on a small group of people across the lake. 'What does it say? That you don't care for me and never will?'
Melanie looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. He was being cruel again, she thought. 'I didn't leave a note,' she said in a low voice. 'I think Leonora will explain things.'
`Leonora?' Julian exclaimed. 'What's Leonora to do with you and me?'
Melanie did look at him then. 'As if you didn't know,' she replied angrily. 'At least Leonora's honest. She advised me to leave.'
`She did what?' Julian said in a voice that boded ill
for Leonora's peace of mind. He turned towards Melanie. 'And you followed her advice? I ought to thrash the pair of you!' he growled. 'Would you mind telling me exactly why you took that advice? And don't say it's because you thought that I was in love with Leonora, or I'll put you across my knees here and now, either that, or I'll strangle you,' he threatened her. 'You love me, as much as I love you. No, not as much as I love you. I wouldn't have walked out on you.'
Melanie heard, but was having some trouble in believing the evidence of her own ears. She felt Julian's movement beside her as he felt in his coat pocket and produced a small jeweller's box. 'This is what I stopped off to get in town,' he said quietly, 'I felt I owed you some explanation for my bull-in-the china shop tactics this morning.'
Melanie had no choice but to open the small box, and her eyes went moist as they met the dazzle of small diamonds on an eternity ring. She was in danger of having to beg a handkerchief from him.
`There are two messages that go with that ring,' Julian said softly. 'One, that I love you. Two, that I'll never let you go.'
There was so much that Melanie wanted to say, but all she could get out was, 'I didn't think
`No, that was your trouble all along,' cut in Julian sternly. 'I gave you enough notice, heaven knows, but you kept on keeping me at a distance. I couldn't even begin to court you. Why on earth do you think I arranged for Celia to go on that trip to Venice? I love her dearly, but I also happen to love my wife—at least I would love my wife, if she would only let me.'
The last words were given in a plaintive tone that caught at Melanie's heartstrings. She suddenly saw
that she was the cruel one, not Julian. How right Leonora had been when she accused her of being unkind!
`And Leonora knows?' she asked in a whisper.
Julian looked at her. 'That I love you? Of course. She happens to know me fairly well, and wanted to know if there was anything she could do to help. That's why she agreed to take Celia off our hands.'
Melanie frowned. But why did she say that it was unfair to me?' she asked bewilderedly.
`When did she say that?' Julian asked.
In a somewhat incoherent manner Melanie began to tell him. It wasn't easy, because it touched upon what now had turned out to be a cruel action on her part by baiting him the way she had, but eventually she got there, 'So, as you were so long coming,' she hesitated again, and then felt his arm slide round her waist, at which action she unashamedly nestled closer to him, 'I opened my window to see if you were still talking to Leonora, or whether you were seeing her home, and I heard her say it then. I thought she was telling you that it was unfair to keep me on.'
Julian's grip on her waist tightened. 'Quite the contrary,' he said lightly. 'I remember now. In fact, she had perceived that you were putting on an act for her benefit, and felt that I was wasting my time in trying to arouse your affections. She knew me better than to try and dissuade me. She felt sorry for you.'
Melanie gave a deep sigh.
Now she understood why Leonora had asked her if she loved Julian. She had wanted to spare him the misery of another disastrous marriage. She must have thought that Melanie had married him for his money, and that was why she had made a point of assuring her that she would be provided for.
A slight frown marred her smooth forehead. On the face of things that was all quite plausible, but she felt that there was more to it than that. 'Tell me about Leonora,' she said.
Julian looked at her, and the look in his eyes made her knees go weak. 'Still have doubts, my kitten?' he asked. 'You are my kitten, you know,' and at Melanie's answering love light in her eyes, he said, `Very well, just so you'll understand her actions. Leonora imagined herself in love with me from a very early age. It was just a kind of puppy love, and I was sure that she would grow out of it, and she did. She married. I expect that you heard about that from Mrs Hardwick. Tragically, she lost her husband after only a few months of happiness. She had also lost her father the previous year, so she was absolutely alone. She took to calling over here on the slightest excuse. I didn't mind, she needed help, and for a while she lost sight of reality.'
He was silent for a moment or so, and stared across the lake. 'She got it into her head that her marriage had been a mistake, and that she should have married me. In fact, we were back to the childhood infatuation stage. She tried all she knew to get me to marry her—was convinced that all would come right for her once we were married. It wasn't an easy time, I'm afraid, but I'd already had a taste of the marriage stakes with a woman who was entirely wrong for me. I just didn't happen to care for Leonora in that way, and as much as I felt sorry for her, I refused to be drawn into that trap.'
He kissed the tip of Melanie's nose. 'Well, eventually, she pulled herself together, and began to see things reasonably. She picked up her life again, and took on the work she's now doing.'