Beautiful Strangers

by Ellen Dean

  ‘Thank God that’s over.’ Beth flung her arms around Lou as she slid off Saffy. ‘I’ve gone over every jump with you, on both horses.’

  ‘Did you enjoy it as much as we did then?’

  ‘Enjoy? I’m nearly in need of therapy. God, you must have nerves of steel, or be completely mad. Why the hell do you want to jump fences like that?’ Beth was still hanging on to Lou.

  ‘You can let go now.’ Lou laughed. ‘Fran needs to see to Saffy. She’s just jumped the cross country course, you know.’

  Beth let go of Lou, but took hold of her hand and placed it on her chest. ‘Here. Feel my heart. It’s beating so fast it feels as if it’s going to burst.’

  ‘Well, if you feel you’ve jumped every fence, then you’ll know how brilliant it is. Perhaps you should think about qualifying.’ Lou winked at Fran.

  ‘In your dreams!’

  Beth and Lou tried to make their way back to the horsebox, but Lou was constantly stopped and congratulated by well-wishers. What a birthday present her precious horses had given her, she thought. Beth’s lucky horseshoe must have magical powers.

  They had no sooner finished eating supper when there was a knock on the door and Penny burst in wielding a couple of bottles of Bollinger, with a friend in tow.

  ‘Hello, girls. We’ve come to celebrate your successful cross country rides. I’ve brought a fan of yours along to meet you, Lou.’ Penny pulled a stunning looking woman, who looked like she’d just stepped off the cat walk, into the wagon. She pushed her towards Lou. ‘Montanna wants to know all about your horses, Lou. She’s holidaying here from America, and considering trying cross country herself.’ Penny paused to look at Beth. ‘Beth, be a dear and find some glasses so we can have a drink. Lou, push along so that Montanna can sit beside you.’ Penny looked over her shoulder. ‘Beth, have you found the glasses yet?’

  Beth opened cupboard doors searching for suitable glasses. She was fast going off Penny.

  Montanna slid into the seat beside Lou. ‘Hi, Lou. I am just so thrilled to meet you,’ she drawled, ‘I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time.’ Pushing her long glossy brown hair behind her ears she focused her brown almond shaped eyes on Lou, and started to talk, and flirt. Her smiling red lips, and pearly white teeth had Lou mesmerized.

  It was her diamonds that mesmerized Beth. She seemed to be covered in them. Every time she moved she sparkled like the Christmas Fairy.

  At first Beth was prepared to like their American visitor and not to judge her, but she became angry as she watched her cling to Lou like a limpet, hanging on to her every word, and gushing compliments. The final straw was her wandering hands. She touched Lou constantly.

  Why didn’t Lou kick them out? Montanna’s accent began to grate on Beth. The woman was all gong and no dinner, and she looked like she’d had an appointment with Mr. Spray Tan. Penny didn’t have much to say, simply because she couldn’t get a word in for Montanna’s incessant babbling.

  When she finally stopped haranguing Lou to speak to Penny, Lou pulled a face at Beth, inclining her head towards the door indicating she’d had enough.

  ‘Right ladies . . . sorry to break up this enchanting evening, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate I have such an important day tomorrow, I really must get some rest now.’ Lou stood up. ‘Thank you for your kindness Penny, the champagne . . . and for bringing Montanna to meet Beth and I.’

  With that Lou virtually pushed them out of the door. Shutting it firmly she said to Beth. ‘Did you see how they were looking at each other?’

  ‘Each other? Don’t be stupid, Montanna couldn’t take her eyes off you. She was flirting with you, and you were happy to flirt back!’

  ‘Me? No. She kept looking past me, at Penny.’

  ‘She did? Oh, well I was just about to extinguish her flame!’

  Lou laughed. ‘Well, well! You have got a fiery side.’

  Beth put her hands on her hips, and stamped her foot. ‘This is my fiery side.’

  ‘My beautiful Beth, you never cease to amaze me.’

  ‘Amaze you? Well, watch this.’ Beth lifted her top to reveal bare breasts.

  ‘Yes,’ Lou studied them looking from one to the other, ‘they’ll do for me.’

  ‘At least they’re not like Davinia’s.’

  ‘Davinia’s?’

  ‘Yes.’ Beth paused. ‘Her tits are so big they move independently of each other.’

  Lou burst out laughing. ‘I love you, you crazy woman.’

  ‘Of course you do. What can I say? Except, did you see those diamonds? They must be worth a fortune. And did you notice the pendant Penny was wearing?’

  ‘No, hun, I didn’t. Why?’

  ‘It looked the same as Montanna’s. Why on earth do they wear the same jewellery? Women don’t do that unless they have a connection.’ Beth paused. ‘I don’t like that bloody American. She was all over you like a rash!’

  ‘Yes, she was awful, wasn’t she? Hey, you’re not jealous, are you?’

  ‘Me? Of course not!’ Beth snapped, her eyes blazing.

  ‘Not just a teensy-weensy bit?’

  ‘What on earth gave you that idea?’ Beth said haughtily. ‘I think they’re up to something.’

  Lou grinned. She picked up their jackets, tossing Beth’s to her. ‘Come on hun, we’re going to follow them. If you think they’re up to something, let’s see if we can find out what it is. While we’re out we’ll call on Fran, and see if she needs anything.’

  Stealthily they moved between the horseboxes, staying in the shadows so they weren’t seen.

  * * * * * * * *

  Penny opened the door of one of the flashiest wagons calling loudly as she stepped inside. ‘Hi, Fliss. We’re back. Have we missed anything?’

  ‘Yes!’ a strident voice replied. ‘I have a message for Montanna. What took you so long and where the hell is she?’

  ‘She’s coming. You know we had a job to do, Felicity.’ Penny’s voice rang out clearly into the darkness.

  ‘Sorry, I know. But H was so insistent things went smoothly, and you know what she’s like. You never know she could fly in on that broomstick anytime.’

  ‘Girls . . . please . . . your voices are carrying.’ Montanna hobbled into the wagon, carrying a broken sandal. ‘I got the heel stuck in the ground. Now, what’s wrong, Fliss? And what does H want?’

  ‘For God’s sake, shut the door!’ Fliss said, and then indicated they should sit down at the table.

  They sat in silence while Fliss poured four glasses of brandy.

  ‘Four?’ Penny raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Constance should be here any second.’

  On cue the door opened and Constance stepped in. ‘Hi everyone. I’ve checked around the wagon. We’re okay to talk.’

  Constance removed her outdoor jacket, picked up a glass of brandy and took a drink, coughing as it took her breath.

  ‘Are you trying to pickle your liver girl?’ Penny said.

  Outside the wagon, Lou and Beth pressed as close to the window as they dared, straining to hear.

  ‘What do you think? Will she do?’ Penny sounded serious.

  ‘No. I don’t think she will.’ Constance’s voice was firm. ‘She’s not gullible enough. Oh, I know H thought she was going to be perfect. But no . . . she’s not for this game.’

  ‘That’s a pity,’ Penny said. ‘She would enjoy the group benefits.’

  They all laughed.

  ‘Well,’ Penny continued, ‘at the end of the day it’s H’s decision, and if she wants to initiate Beth, then that’s what will happen. I must say, the thought of her in purple really turns me on.'

  Lou held Beth tightly in the darkness. They remained still, eavesdropping.

  ‘Lou will be a pleasant distraction.‘ Montanna said. ‘I really should thank H for coming up with that idea. Seducing her will be an absolute pleasure, and will make the way clear for H to work on Beth.’

  ‘Leave Beth and Lou alone.’ Constance spoke with authority.
>
  ‘We cannot go against H’s wishes.’ Penny said emphatically. ‘Although, in this case Constance, I’m inclined to agree with you. We’ll never split them up, they’re as solid as a rock. I want you all to keep them under close observation, and report back to me daily. I will update H personally.’

  The droning of a heavy engine made it impossible for Beth and Lou to hear any more.

  * * * * * * * *

  At six the following morning, the place was alive. Putting all thoughts of the night before out of her mind, Beth focused on the day ahead, and was surprised to realize that she was thoroughly enjoying herself. In a brief moment of reflection she considered how naturally she had moved into a very different lifestyle.

  Trying to be useful, she gave Lou and Fran a hand mucking out the stables. Both horses successfully passed the final vets inspection. Both being placed in the top twenty they wouldn’t jump until the afternoon.

  Beth went to sit in the owner ’s area beside the show jumping arena. She spied Felicity, who came straight across to join her. Felicity was full of talk about her horse Trojan.

  ‘He’s so brave. We did our show jumping this morning.’

  ‘Did you manage to get an early night?’

  ‘Yes, thankfully. I needed my rest after that gruelling cross-country course. I was shattered.’

  ‘Did you see Penny with her friend Montanna at all? They paid us a visit.’

  ‘No, but I was out for the count.’ Felicity lied.

  ‘Look, here comes Lou on Charley.’

  Charley’s coat shone as he trotted into the arena circling wide until the starter sounded. He was tired, and this was confirmed when, despite jumping so carefully, he had the last fence down. Saffy was the star. She had a clear round and the crowd erupted.

  Beth, ecstatic, jumped up to run after Lou, but Felicity stopped her.

  ‘Congratulations, Beth.’ Felicity thumped Beth on her back. ‘You must be thrilled by Saffy’s performance.’

  ‘I’m thrilled about both horses. Lou will be too. Excuse me. I must go.’

  ‘I was wondering . . . do you ride, Beth?’

  ‘In a fashion.’

  ‘Why don’t you both come and ride-out with me at The Manor? I have horses to suit all riders.’

  ‘I’ll run it past Lou.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to your visit. Tell Lou I’ll give her a full tour of the stables. It’ll be fun.’

  ‘Thanks, Fliss. Give us a call sometime? I really must go to Lou now. Bye.’

  Chapter 35

  Home from Badminton. Lou was doing the late night check on the horses. Beth was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper, when she received a text message from Lindsay. Ring me asap-urgent.

  ‘Hi Linz. What’s up?’

  ‘You’re on your own?’

  ‘Lou’s out with the horses. If she comes in I’ll start and talk about Badminton.’

  ‘Badminton? Never mind. Listen. This is highly confidential. I’ve been seconded to Interpol. That’s the International Criminal Police Organization.’

  ‘I know what Interpol is. Wow. Good for you.’

  ‘It’s a wow all right. Would you believe that I’m working with, in layman’s terms, the smuggling division?’

  ‘Where are you now?’

  ‘At home, watching it get darker outside. But listen to this.’

  ‘Go on. I’m listening.’

  ‘I’ve been teamed up with someone who knows all about Penny Corday’s boating accident.’

  ‘Boating accident? I didn’t know she’d had one.’

  ‘Didn’t I tell you? It happened years ago. Anyway, I knew my gut feeling was right about that woman.’ Lindsay paused. Beth guessed her friend was probably taking a swig of malt. ‘You must stay away from Penny, and Hyacinth.’

  ‘Why? What have you found out?’ Beth brushed an eyelash from her cheek.

  ‘Tell me about Badminton first.’

  ‘We’ve just come back. It’s the international horse trials, you know.’

  ‘Yes, I do know.’

  ‘Lou’s horses have been competing. Lou rode them herself. She was absolutely brilliant. They did so well.’ Beth sneezed.

  ‘Are you getting a cold?’

  ‘No. I’m reading the newspaper and the smell from the print makes me sneeze.’ Beth stood up, and headed across to the Aga. She lifted the hot-plate lid and slid the already full kettle on to boil.

  ‘Penny was there, at Badminton. After the horses finished jumping the cross country course she gate-crashed our horsebox with some American tart called Montanna.’ Beth opened the fridge door and reached inside for a bottle of milk.

  ‘Cheeky mares.’

  ‘That was quick for you, Linz.’ Using the side of her foot Beth kicked the fridge door shut. ‘Seriously though, Montanna was awful. She was all over Lou. Her hands were everywhere.’ She poured milk into a blue mug and set the bottle down beside it on the table. ‘Lou was just so polite, but in the end she showed them the door. It was Lou’s idea that we follow them and see who they were with.’ She leant against the Aga waiting for the kettle to boil. ‘They went to Felicity’s horsebox. And they weren’t alone.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘Constance arrived. She didn’t see us. We stayed out of sight.’ Beth wound a long strand of her dark hair around her finger. ‘They are planning to initiate me, probably something to do with their witchcraft.’ Beth thought for a moment. ‘That’s twice I’ve heard that said.’

  ‘Witchcraft, eh? What book are you reading now Beth? Talk about an overactive imagination.’ Lindsay played it down, but was pleased to learn that Constance had been there.

  ‘Lindsay!’ Beth lifted the hot kettle, poured the boiling water into a brown earthenware teapot and left it to brew on top of the Aga.

  ‘Let’s get back on track. Penny Corday,’ Lindsay said sternly, ‘is known to Interpol.’

  ‘Really?’ Beth nearly dropped the kettle.

  ‘You have to promise me that this conversation stays between us, no matter what. Promise?’

  ‘Promise.’ Beth sat down heavily, facing the window so that she could watch for Lou coming in from the stables.

  ‘Penny was the only survivor of a boating accident engineered by an Italian group known as The Syndicate.’ Another pause on the line. Knowing her friend, Beth could imagine the ubiquitous cigarette being lit and inhaled. ‘Penny should not have been on that boat. The Syndicate didn’t know she was on board, but they probably wouldn’t have cared one way or the other.’ Another pause; probably another pull on the cigarette. ‘Unfortunately this brought Penny to their attention. She was only on board because she’d managed to wangle a lift.’

  ‘Are you saying that this Syndicate caused the accident?’

  ‘Yes. The boat blew up. It was a miracle Penny survived.’

  ‘But why? This sounds all very Al Capone.’

  ‘You’re not kidding. Apparently Penny’s friends were smuggling diamonds, and The Syndicate didn’t like it. Penny has always insisted that she has no memory of the incident.’

  ‘If all of this happened years ago, why are you telling me about it now?’ Beth dunked a plain biscuit into her tea, half of it broke off and dropped in. ‘Oh shit!’

  ‘What? Is that Lou coming back?’

  ‘No. I’ve just dunked a biscuit in my tea and half of it broke off.’

  ‘BETH.’

  ‘Sorry. Go on.’ Beth tried to scoop bits of biscuit out of her tea with a spoon.

  ‘LISTEN! I’m working on an operation that involves a world-wide diamond smuggling ring in which that very Syndicate are heavily involved.’ Lindsay aggravation was palpable. No doubt she was raking her hand through her hair. ‘They want supremacy and are stamping out anyone they see as a threat. The Amethyst Group come into this category.’

  ‘The Amethyst Group?’

  ‘It’s Hyacinth’s group.’ Lindsay paused. ‘Hyacinth Dickinson is a diamond smuggler, Beth.’ Another pause before
she said. ‘Did you already know that?’

  ‘No. Of course I didn’t. I would have told you.’ Beth unwrapped a chocolate biscuit. ‘Are you sure H is smuggling diamonds? This all sounds very far fetched to me. A group of women smuggling diamonds? H is a gynaecologist for God’s sake. And Penny’s titled.’

  ‘It makes no difference who they are, or what their job title is. The Syndicate threatened H so she closed down her operation. Wisely, she didn’t want to become involved with them.’

  ‘Sounds intriguing.’ Beth took a bite of her biscuit.

  ‘Are you eating again?’

  ‘Yes. A Kit Kat this time. I’m boosting my blood sugar.’

  ‘It seems that our Hyacinth has broken her word. She did stop her run before Christmas, but rumour has it that things are moving in her group again.’

  ‘Oh dear, naughty Hyacinth.’

  Lindsay’s temper flared. ‘Do you realize that if you keep on seeing Hyacinth you could end up in a life threatening situation.’

  ‘Don’t be so melodramatic Lindsay. I’ve hardly seen the woman.’ Beth scrunched the biscuit paper into a ball and fired it across the table at the rubbish bin. ‘I’m staying here with Lou for a couple of weeks anyway, so I won’t be seeing her or any of her little band of followers.’

  ‘Be sure to keep your word on that. Keep yourself — and Lou — safe. No more impromptu appearances at any of her events.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Your face has been all around the world on the cover of Life in the Spotlight magazine.’

  ‘I hope Lou hasn’t seen it.’ Beth’s mouth was suddenly dry. ‘If she has, she hasn’t said anything.’ She drummed her fingers on the table. ‘I’ll have to explain what happened.’

  ‘I suggest you do, and make it a priority.’

  ‘Sorry, gotta go. Lou’s coming in.’ Beth ended the call.