“Tell me about Debbie,” said Felicity, now desperate to change the subject.
“Huh, Debbie. I was a bit smitten at first. She has a lovely sweet face and told me she was the Managing Director of a company. Oh, and she often mentioned places in Windsor in her messages. It was only when we set up a video conference that my suspicions were first aroused. To be honest, lust made me ignore her accent when I first heard it.”
“Lust, Rosemary?”
“Well, if you must know… I guess I need to talk to someone about these things.”
“You know it will not go any further.”
“Oh, I know I can trust you Felicity. It is just that I don’t find it easy talking to a straight woman about it. I would prefer it if you were a lesbian.”
Felicity laughed for the first time that morning.
“Sorry,” chuckled Rosemary, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know you did not. Mind, life may be simpler if I were. I would not have to worry about whose todger went up my fanny.” She immediately regretted echoing Rosemary’s words.
“I sometimes wish you were.”
“Oh no Rosemary, please do not say that.”
“No, don’t panic, you are quite safe. I don’t lust after you because you are straight. However, I have sometimes wondered how I might feel about you if you were not.”
“Perhaps you should continue telling me about lust and Debbie.”
“Oh yes. Here goes. When the video window opened up on my computer, this Debbie was sitting there in just a pink bra. As I said, the sight of her… you know, made me ignore her accent. She certainly didn’t sound like a Managing Director from Windsor. To cut a long story short, it turned…”
“No,” interrupted Felicity. “There is no need to cut it short. Steady Lester, we will set off soon.” She leant to pat the side of his neck, where she always patted it. Lester settled immediately.
“No, I can’t.”
“Yes you can.” She smiled encouragingly.
“Debbie took her bra off. That is what you wanted me to tell you, is it not?”
Felicity’s eyes dropped to where the lapels of Rosemary’s black riding jacket met. “Did you do the same?”
“Yes, I did. It was fun at the time. I regret it now though.”
“Why?”
“The system has a capture mode; that is why. So if I could do it, so could she.”
“You have a video of Debbie chatting to you, with her pink nose puppies on show.”
“And the rest.”
“The rest?”
“That is enough. I will leave you to imagine the rest.”
“Would I be right in thinking that you are now worried about where this video of you may end up.”
“Yes.”
“Send her a message, ask her to delete it.”
“I can’t. I took her off my playmates list before I left home this morning. And she took me off her list.”
“Why?”
“That is what I was trying to tell you earlier. All she is; is a manicurist. She has a tiny little shop in Aldershot. All she does is cut the nails of squaddies’ wives.”
“Oh dear Rosemary. I did warn you about sites like that.”
“I know, but some good has come from it.”
“And what would that be?”
“They are throwing a party in London. Remember, I told you they organised social events.”
“So you are thinking about going to a party full of Debbies and Desirees, are you?”
“No, that is exactly the point. Women like them will not pay the entrance fee or be able to afford the dress hire,” enthused Rosemary. “It is five hundred pounds a ticket.”
“Five hundred pounds?”
“A Savoy chef is supervising the buffet, and there is going to be a top notch burlesque show. Oh, Felicity, please say you will come. You said you would.”
“When I said I may join you for a fun night out in London, a lesbian orgy was not what I had in mind.”
“Why should it be an orgy? Do all heterosexual parties descend into orgies?”
“Point taken. Maybe a night out without a man in sight would be a pleasant change. I am not sure though.”
“Why are you not sure?”
“I would have to pretend to be a lesbian.”
“No, no you would not. I am hoping to meet someone new, so the last thing I would want is other woman thinking you were my partner.”
“I don’t think that would put them off.”
“You are doing it again, Felicity. Why do you think lesbian women are into multiple partners?”
“Are they not?”
“Some are, but most are not.”
“Okay then, just so long as you promise not to leave me on my own.”
“Oh Felicity, thank you, I could have gone on my own, but I would not have felt comfortable doing so.”
“If any of them get frisky, I shan’t be shy about telling them I am straight.”
“I will get you a label that says; hands off, I have a husband.”
“What will I have to wear?”
“Victorian.”
“Victorian?”
“You know the type of thing, tight bodices and petticoats, with a long dress over them. Or something a bit more burlesque, something a little raunchier, if you want to do more than flash an ankle.”
“Do you think women will hit on me?”
“You are funny, Felicity. They will only hit upon you if you flash those come-to-bed eyes of yours at them, the ones you flash at men.”
Oh dear, thought Felicity, if Rosemary had spotted them, what else might she have picked up on. The question, ‘do you know about Phillip and me?’ reached the tip of her tongue before being swallowed back down in the nick of time.
“Come on, we came here to ride, so let’s ride.” Felicity turned Lester round and set off down the track.
By the time Felicity got home, she had formulated a plan, and her mobile was to her ear.
“Hello, is that Andrew?”
“It is. Who is this?”
“It’s Felicity. Who did you think it was?”
“Hello Felicity, good to hear from you.”
“Hello Andrew. Did you not recognise my voice?”
“I would have done if I were expecting you to call. I’m at work and I do have a lot of female reps phoning me. They pester me all the time.”
“Ah, you poor thing, my heart bleeds for you.”
“This will have to be quick, I’m afraid I have allowed a bit of a backlog to build up.”
“Are you working late tonight then?”
“It is Wednesday; I always work late on a Wednesday.”
“Can we meet up on the twenty-second?”
“The twenty-second, what day of the week is that?”
“It is a Saturday, ten days time.”
“Not during the week then?”
“No, as I said, it is a Saturday.”
“I may be busy during the day, but the evening should be okay.”
“Well, I have not firmed it up yet, but I may be accompanying a friend to a party near Marble Arch, a party I may well wish to leave early.”
“So by Saturday, you mean Saturday night?”
“Yes, I mean Saturday night.”
“Should I book a hotel room?”
“What is wrong with your place?”
“Nothing, we could do that if you prefer. I just think hotels are more romantic. A red rose on the bed, that sort of thing.”
“A red rose on the bed. Now, that does sound enticing.”
“Are you sure? I do not want to rush you.”
“I am a married woman, Andrew. I am not looking for six months of courtship.”
“Nor a divorce I take it.”
“Nor a divorce.”
“I always knew you were my kind of girl.”
“Woman, I like to think of myself as a woman nowadays.”
“And you are sure?”
“Y
es Andrew, I am sure. I will let you know the moment it is all firmed up.”
“It is already firmed up,” joked Andrew.
“I will call you. Go and give it a rub.”
“I might just do that. It will have to be a quick one mind.”
“Speak to you soon, bye.”
“Bye Felicity, bye.”
“Daniel, would you mind if I accompanied Rosemary to an event in London on Saturday week?”
“It is not another of those horsey, charity events, is it? If the working class cannot afford to ride, then let them buy a hamster or something. That is what I say.”
“No, that is not it at all.” Her thumb was already tucked inside the elastic of his pyjama bottoms, her fingertips stroking his upper groin.
“Well, what is it then?”
“As you know, Rosemary finds it difficult to meet like-minded ladies in the shires.”
“Good Lord, what are you two up to now?”
“We are not up to anything darling, though Rosemary would like to be up to something.”
“So tell me, what is your role in this? Is this your way of telling me something? You have seemed a bit distant lately.”
“No darling, I know what side my bread is buttered on.” She slipped her hand inside the fly of his pyjamas. “This is what I like.”
“And you have not got a little curious?”
“No Daniel, I have not got curious.” She went to work with a loose fist. “Though, I could pretend to be if you want a little fantasy.”
“Ooh, I say, that does feel nice.”
“My mouth will feel even nicer in a moment. It is lovely and warm, and moist.”
“Yes please.” He hurriedly pushed the quilt down to the top of his thighs.
“I may deposit some red lipstick on it.”
“Please do.”
Felicity lowered her head into position. Permission granted, she said to herself. You will not be able to say I did not run it past you.
Chapter 14
“Let’s take our coffees through to the front room,” said Sofia.
“I would like some cereal first.”
“No Anna, let’s go and sit down.”
Anna tightened the chord on the new dressing gown Sofia had bought her. “What is it?”
“You need to sit down.”
“No I fucking don’t. Tell me, what is it?”
“Anton has gone.”
“Gone?”
“Gone back to Latvia. We knew it was going to happen, Anna. It will not be long before he is back again, just a few months.”
“Oh, what am I going to do?” She sat down at the kitchen table and started to sob into her arms.
Sofia rubbed the top of Anna’s back. “We’ll sort something out, don’t you worry.”
“When did he go?”
“He was put on an early flight this morning. It was probably the phone that woke you. Anton will phone you just as soon as he can. He wouldn’t want you to cry.”
“That is all I can do for him.”
“Okay, Anna, let it out. Here, let me get you some cereal.”
“I don’t want any fucking cereal, I want Anton.”
“Of course you do.”
Two hours later, Anna was once again walking London’s grimy pavements. A homing device inside her body took control at every turn, by midday she was standing outside Anton’s flat.
She looked up at the door that had disappointed her so much a few months earlier. Now that door said, ‘welcome home.’ But without Anton, it was an empty home, as empty as Anna’s heart. She walked up the steps towards it.
Anna spent the entire afternoon crying on the bed Anton and she used to make love on. The bed where she used to snuggle into his back, while he snored gently towards the door. The bed that gave an exhausted Anton the only respite he got.
As she lay on her back, with tears rolling down her cheeks, Anna started to think of how she could get back to Latvia, how she could get back to Anton. She needed someone’s help, and there was only one person that came to mind. Sofia would not help her. It seemed to Anna that Sofia had a different agenda.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Anna knew it would be the police, but she did not care. Maybe that was another way to get back home. Not a pleasant way though, she thought as she swung her legs round onto the floor.
There was another knock on the door. Anna reached out and opened it.
“Who are you?” asked the balding, overweight man.
“Sorry.” Anna wiped a tear from each eye.
“Not only has the bastard not paid me, he’s fucking sublet the gaff.”
“No, no, I am Anna. I am girlfriend of Anton.”
“I don’t care who the fuck you are, you should not be in my fucking flat.”
“This flat is Anton flat.”
“No it fucking ain’t.” He pushed past her. “Fucking hell, it’s freezing in here. If you ain’t got any money for heating, you certainly ain’t got enough to pay the rent. Hang about, where are his clothes, and where are your fucking clothes?”
“We do not live here now.”
“Well, what the fuck are you doing here then? Oh no, don’t tell me you’ve turned the place into a fucking knocking shop.”
“I will go,” said Anna despondently. “Here is the key.” She was halfway out of the door.
The man put his hand on her shoulder. “You can’t just fuck off without paying the rent.”
“Take your hand off me.”
“You’ll get more than my fucking hand if you are not careful.”
“If you touch me, you will regret it.” Where that came from, Anna did not know, but it did the trick.
“Go on then, fuck off, you Russian bitch.”
“I am not Russian. Have a nice evening.” She set off down the stairs with only one question on her mind. Would Jonathan still be in his shop?
“Long time, no see, girl,” he chirped as she walked through the door.
“Hello Jonathan.”
“Hello Anna. Jesus, have you been crying?”
“Yes, I have been crying.”
“Why babe, what’s the matter?”
“Can you afford to buy me a coffee at Derek’s?”
“Can I afford to buy you a coffee? Of course I can. In fact, business has been so good today, you can have two.”
“I will wait outside.”
“No you won’t. You’ll wait in here while I empty my till and the like.” The till-drawer shot open. “Have you eaten tonight?”
“Not today.”
“Not today! Oh, Anna, what am I going to do with you?”
She shrugged.
“I am going to buy you whatever you want from Derek’s exotic menu, that’s what I’m going to do with you.” He wrapped an elastic band around a pile of notes and stuffed them into a black shoulder bag. “Oh, fuck it; they can have the coins if they break in.” He slammed the drawer closed.
Anna shot him a surprised look.
“Sorry babe, I do curse now and then I’m afraid. Come on, let’s get you fed and watered.”
“So, why the sad face, and why haven’t you eaten?” He stirred his tea.
“My boyfriend, Anton…”
“Hold up girl, maybe it is not wise to talk about this in here.”
“It does not matter now. They have planed him back to Latvia.”
“Flown, flown him back to Latvia. When did this happen?”
“This morning.”
“I assume they had him locked up for a while, did they?”
Anna looked down at her coffee. “Yes. He has been living at Gatwick airport. There is a building there. I could not be with him.”
“No, I guess not. How have you coped?”
“I live with a friend, but I am not sure if she is a real friend.”
“Jesus, the plot thickens. How do you mean?”
“She was a prostitute. Now she lives with a man called Kevin. She married him to get to En
gland.”
“It happens, babe. Get married, establish yourself over a number of years, and then get divorced when the time is right.”
“No divorce. They live in a big house with lots of bedrooms. I hear the noises every night. I hear lots of bed creaking, lots of grunting.”
Jonathan leant forward and whispered, “You’re staying in a brothel?”
“It is not a brothel. The girls live in their rooms, but I think the men pay for the sex.”
“The plot is more than thickening, it is solidifying. Hang about; you haven’t been forced onto the game, have you?”
“Am I a prostitute? Is that what you are asking?”
“I guess so.”
“No, I am not. But I think Sofia and Kevin want me to be.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Here you go, ham omelette and chips, twice.”
“Thanks Derek,” said Jonathan.
“They have talked about another girl wanting to rent the room I am in. I have seen the money the girls give Kevin each week.”
“Are you staying there for nothing at the moment?”
“Yes, and they pay for my food.”
“You’re probably right, they probably are grooming you.”
“I want to go back home.”
“Finish your meal first girl, and I’ll walk you round.”
“No, I want to go back to Riga. Anton will be in Riga now.”
“Oh, right, I’m with you now.”
“No more flat. The man knocked on the door tonight.”
“The man?”
“The man Anton rent the flat from. I think it was him. He came to the flat, asking for the rent. He was not a nice man. There are many bad people in England, yes?”
“Quite a few, I’m afraid. Most people are nice though, you just bump into more than your fair share of rum ones, that’s all.”
“I don’t like it here.”
“Now come on Anna, don’t cry. Eat your food and then we will set about sorting this out. I could get you a flat if you had enough money to pay the rent. You would need a job like. Mind, maybe I should concentrate on getting you home to Riga, that’s the place you should be.”
“Yes, I want to go back to Riga.” Anna pinched the bridge of her nose and breathed out sharply through her mouth.
“Look, Anna, stop playing with that omelette and eat it. I may need a bit of time, but I will sort this for you.”
Down in the Woods Page 19