by Anne Hampson
- but by then it was too late anyway, she thought, her anger still rising.
‘To think I allowed myself to be drawn into a scheme like that,’ she said angrily, ‘to have planned the whole thing, and all so that you could have the way made easy for yet another of your frivolous escapades — for this engagement won’t last any longer than the rest.’
‘It will,’ Vicky declared earnestly. ‘This is the one, Kim. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love Stephen.’ A wrathful click of Kim’s tongue was her only answer to that, and Vicky went on, ‘You did agree that I could never marry Julian. He wouldn’t have done for me, you said so yourself.’
‘You should have discovered that before you promised to marry him!’
‘I’ve told you how it is,’ Vicky said, twisting her hands and looking quite fragile and pale. ‘They all get romantic, and then—’ ‘I don’t believe for one moment that Julian became romantic. He isn’t the type.’
‘How do you know?’ asked Vicky, diverted.
‘He doesn’t look the romantic type. In fact, I’ve never met anyone who appeared less romantic.’
‘Well, at least he could kiss better than any of the others,’ Vicky began, and then lowered her head under Kim’s glance of disgust.
‘I’m beginning to believe you’re utterly selfish,’ Kim said accusingly. ‘Did you ever, for one moment, think about the risk I was running? Just supposing this Julian had guessed what was going on, where would I have been? You’ve said yourself he can be violent.’
‘But you can take care of yourself, Kim, so I wasn’t really worried about you. And besides, the plan was so good that he couldn’t possibly have guessed.’
A long and uncomfortable silence followed before Kim said curiously,
‘How did he take it when you gave him up? I mean, you merely said on the phone that everything had turned out all right.’ ‘Aunt Margaret told him - for I couldn’t,’ she added fearfully. ‘I kept out of the way and left it to her.’
‘You appear to leave everything unpleasant to other people,’ was Kim’s scathing comment on that. ‘What did your aunt say to him?’
‘She accused him of having an affair with you - with an unknown girl, I mean, because Aunt Margaret doesn’t know you. And Julian just accepted it and went away without any trouble.’
‘Without any attempt to explain?’
‘Yes, he made no effort to put things right between us, so you were right when you said he didn’t love me. And how could I have married a man who doesn’t love me? Would you want me to, Kim?’
‘No,’ Kim admitted after an impatient little silence. ‘But you must have known he didn’t love you. Did he ever say he cared?’
‘Men don’t usually have to say it,’ Vicky explained knowledgeably. ‘You can tell, if you know what I mean?’
‘I never know half what you mean. You’d better explain.’
The sandwiches and coffee were brought on a tray and Vicky did not answer until Kim had poured the coffee and passed Vicky’s over to her.
‘Julian held me and kissed me, and so I took it for granted that he loved me.’
Kim picked up a sandwich and placed it on her plate.
‘I know I’ve had very little experience of - er - love,’ she admitted frankly. ‘Nevertheless, it seems to me that it’s not unreasonable for a girl to expect a declaration of love from the man who aspires to become her husband.’
‘Oh, how stiff and formal you are,’ exclaimed Vicky with a little crow of laughter, quite forgetting why she was here until a heavy frown from Kim reminded her. ‘I expect you’re right,’ she went on, more soberly. ‘But with a man like Julian you don’t expect it. He’s not the demonstrative type at all.’
‘That’s what I said, he isn’t the romantic type.’
‘Perhaps he would be if he really became madly in love with someone,’ said Vicky musingly, and then, ‘You’re not angry now, are you, Kim? I couldn’t marry him, could I?’ she added
persuasively.
‘No,’ Kim had to agree. ‘You couldn’t marry a man like that. But,’ she added with a returning flash of anger, ‘I still think you’re utterly selfish, Vick, for you didn’t care a toss about what might have happened to me!’
‘Well, nothing did happen,’ came Vicky’ s soothing reminder, ‘so please don’t keep this up, Kim. I couldn’ t bear it if you stopped being my friend.’
Kim almost scowled at her - and yet there was something about Vicky that always touched a soft spot somewhere in Kim’s make-up. In spite of her frivolity and obvious shallowness, she was a defenceless little thing. This had been more than proved by the way in which Julian Parnell had frightened her by his threats. For she had been frightened, no doubt of that.
They fell silent and at half past seven Vicky said she’d have to g°.
‘I must get them to ring for a taxi,’ she said, looking round for the waiter.
‘I’ll take you home,’ Kim offered, wondering why she had troubled to bring Vicky here at all, for nothing had been gained by it - except that Kim had learned a little more about Julian Parnell, and he was the last person about whom she wanted to learn more.
‘Thanks a lot,’ smiled Vicky fifteen minutes later as Kim reached across and opened the car door for her to get out. ‘I’ll have to dash, because Stephen’s coming for me in a few minutes, as you know.’
The sky was clear and a full moon rose from behind the hills to flood the landscape with light. Kim found herself humming a little tune as she drove along the country lanes before entering the busier main road leading to the suburb in which her flat was situated. How wonderful to be free! No man to order and command, or to be waiting, scowling because she’d loitered on the way. She could go home at midnight if she wished — she need not go home at all! Freedom! Surely nothing in life was so important as that. Her voice rose and she sang heartily all the way home. Carole was out and Kim settled down by the fire, prepared
for a quiet evening with a book.
She had been reading for about ten minutes when the telephone rang and with a sigh of impatience she rose and went into the hall to answer it. Her body became taut as she listened and the hand holding the receiver trembled slightly. Here was a contingency with which she had not stopped to reckon, although why she could not now understand. It should have been obvious to her that Julian would endeavour to get in touch with her once Vicky had jilted him since, as he had just said, only she could explain how she came to be without her dress. If only she had stopped to think before giving her name. Without that he could never have found her, but, foolishly, she had made it easy for him to obtain her address from the telephone directory. It was most odd, now she came to think of it, that he should have asked her name, just as she was leaving, for there was no reason why he should want it. Could it be that he had anticipated trouble from Vicky? It now seemed feasible, for as Vicky had already hinted at a break he would naturally be on his guard. And from what Vicky had said it was clear that Julian was determined to keep her to her promise. Yes, Kim decided, he had expected trouble, and that was why he’d had the presence of mind to get her name before she left. What a fool she was, thought Kim angrily, for she had known from the first that it would be dangerous to underrate this man’s cleverness.
A pause came at last and Kim said guardedly,
‘This evening? I’m afraid I’m rather busy.’
‘It’s imperative that I see you.’ The tones were curt and clipped, but it was the hint of inflexibility which worried Kim. She had the most disturbing conviction that a meeting with him was inevitable. But what could she say? He was asking her to see both Vicky and her aunt so that everything could be put right! ‘Are you there?’ came the curt inquiry when Kim did not reply.
‘Yes, y-yes, I’m here—’ Lord, what could she do? ‘But I’ve been thinking—’
‘There’s no time to think! I must see you - this evening! Can you be along in half an hour?’
Her eyes flashing, Kim began to say n
o, but something stopped her and she hesitated, frowning. No time ... ? Why the hurry? There was something most odd about the whole affair, now she came to consider it. Julian had rushed poor Vicky from the start. Also, when Vicky had spoken of giving him up he had become violent, threatening her and insisting she marry him immediately. Kim was intrigued, and despite herself a hint of curiosity entered into her. She had always been venturesome - as proved by the way she had plunged headlong into the plan for rescuing her friend from Julian Parnell’s clutches.
‘Perhaps I could see you,’ she began, still in the same guarded tones, ‘tomorrow?’ Tomorrow was Saturday. She would go in the morning - far more prudent to pay her visit in the daytime. ‘If that will suit you?’
‘I shall not be here tomorrow. I’m leaving for Wales tonight.’
‘Oh....’ That explained why he was in such a hurry to see her. He wanted her to put things right with Vicky before his return. Also, if he were going away tonight there would be no danger of his— A rueful smile touched Kim’s lips as she realized that what Vicky had said about him was constantly in her mind. He was a rake, and rakes were to be avoided like the plague. However, his mind tonight must of necessity be occupied with his departure for Wales, so it would be quite safe for her to visit him. An impatient exclamation from the other end of the line had the effect of making her jump. No doubt about it, this man did have the strange power of sending a tingle of apprehension down her spine. However, she was still intrigued, still curious to know why Julian was in such a hurry to marry her friend. Perhaps she would not learn anything at all — but Kim could not resist the opportunity of having a good try. And now that she knew she was safe....
‘I’ll be along in half an hour,’ she promised, but felt she must add, ‘I’m not so sure that I can help you, though.’
‘On the contrary, Miss Mayfield,’ he returned cryptically, ‘you’ll be able to help me a great deal.’
Shrugging, Kim replaced the receiver on its rest. A smile hovered on her lips as she went to fetch her coat. Help him, could she? How little he knew! What would be his reaction, were he ever to discover what she had done? Kim’s smile faded and that tingling sensation fluttered down her spine again.
Nevertheless, she sang softly all the way to his flat. The snow was still about, but the sky was clear and the great round moon spread its light everywhere. What a night for a long run! Often she and Jackie, her former flatmate, would take the car and drive for hours on a night like this. It was such fun, this freedom to do just what one liked. Pity Jackie had fallen ... but perhaps Kim would eventually find someone else to share the flat - when Carole had gone, that was. It would always be like this, of course, because women would allow themselves to be tempted into marriage. Pity, thought Kim, that she couldn’t find someone like herself, someone clever enough to escape the net of marriage.
She parked the car; the headlights reflected back from the wall opposite and Kim glanced at herself in the mirror before turning them off. Her face was flushed and glowing with health, her eyes clear and bright. Her brown hair peeped out from beneath the white fur hood, giving her a pixie-like appearance. Picking up her bag, and the white fur gloves, she slid out of the car and ran up the stone staircase, arriving at the top a little breathless. The door was opened even as she put one slender finger on the bell.
Julian stood looking down at her, his eyes moving slowly from her face to her coat, with its white fur trimmings, and then to her legs and feet, elegantly clad in the boots of soft white kid.
Kim’s flush deepened. Did he examine all women like this? He might be sizing up something he was deciding to buy! Detestable, she thought, but cast him a most enchanting smile as he invited her in.
‘May I take your coat?’ he said with quiet courtesy, and held out his hand for it.
‘Thank you.’ Kim took off her hood, and her coat. Her bag and gloves were already on the chair where she had dropped them and Julian moved them so that she could sit down. Her coat was over his arm.
‘I’ll put your bag and gloves on here,’ he said, placing them on the small table by the wall. Then he went out, presumably to hang up her coat, though he was gone much longer than she expected. She settled in the chair, but in spite of her outward composure her heart was acting rather strangely. She could not forget the way this man looked at her - it had been the same before, she recalled, remembering that she had wished he would not regard her with such apparent interest in his dark eyes. For to her imagination there was desire there, and nothing else. Perhaps it was owing to what Vicky had said, Kim thought, and tried to dismiss the uneasiness that his stare had so quickly produced.
‘Can I get you a drink?’ His voice held the familiar curtness, but he was clearly putting on the charm, she mused, noticing the crinkle of humour at the corners of his eyes, and the rather fascinating smile that hovered about his mouth. He was waiting for her answer and she hesitated. Was it safe to have a drink? But if he were going away....
‘Thank you, I’ll have a sherry, please.’
She watched him move away towards the cocktail cabinet. How strong he seemed, and lithe. There was something majestic in his bearing, too, which was made more impressive by the broad and arrogant set of his shoulders.
Kim’s knowledge of men was slight, though strangely enough she was extremely popular with the men at the office. Her knowledge of this type of man was nil. It would be interesting, therefore, to study him, to try and discover the technique used when trying to make poor Vicky fall in love with him. This faint and almost imperceptible air of boredom ... was that part of his stock-in- trade? Were women attracted by it? And the charming smile ... ? Kim reflected on that, her eyes still on his tall slim figure as he stood by the cocktail cabinet, preparing to lift the lid. Yes, perhaps those silly women would find that smile attractive. As for the crinkly lines of humour round his eyes - well, they also might be an attraction - to the gullible type of woman, that was. As for me, Kim thought, I should strongly suspect him of laughing at me. And that conclusion gave her a little shock - for of course the crinkly lines were there now.
‘May I say how charming you look, sitting there.’ So soft the tone, yet Kim jumped visibly, her colour ebbing as she met his gaze in the mirror. The lid of the cocktail cabinet ... it was turned up and seemed to be resting again the wall.... She saw herself, crossing her legs in order to reveal her underwear ... and she’d done that when Julian was getting the drinks for Vicky and her aunt. She’d deliberately waited until his back was turned. Kim swallowed hard, but the blockage in her throat remained. Fear? She had never known real fear in her life. Tingles of apprehension, yes, they came to everyone, but fear? Was this it?
‘Thank you,’ she murmured, at last, averting her head.
‘You appear to be embarrassed,’ he observed blandly.
‘Can it be that you’re not used to receiving compliments?
But no, that’s not possible. There must be some other reason for that most flattering blush. Tell me, what is it?’ He advanced towards her, holding out her glass. Kim looked up and took it from him with a hand that was far from steady. Julian took it back immediately and placed it on a little table.
This he drew close, smiling at her as he straightened up.
‘I’m not embarrassed,’ she managed, picking up her glass and endeavouring to keep it steady. Kim never drank very much, but she was now heartily wishing she had asked for a whisky! Why hadn’t he closed that lid? Was there something significant about his leaving it open? Kim looked at the mirror and tried to imagine exactly what had happened the other evening. If Julian were standing right in front of it he could not have observed her action. This time he had been at one side ... and Kim was of the firm conviction that he had stood aside deliberately, in order to look at her. But on that other occasion he would surely have been standing right in front—Yes, that was the natural position he would take. Her eyes fluttered across to him; he was sitting opposite to her and as her eyes met his he smiled. She heaved a
great sigh of relief, for nothing could be more reassuring than that smile.
‘And now, Miss Mayfield— Can I call you Kim? As I said the other evening, it’s a very pretty name.’
‘Yes, certainly.’ Kim lowered her eyes again and sipped her drink.
‘And you’ll call me Julian,’ he said, settling back in his chair.
‘Now, regarding my broken engagement of which I spoke on the phone. It resulted from this misunderstanding, and although I did begin to explain, both to my fiancee and her aunt, I realized at once that I wasted my time. The explanation will have to come from you.’
She looked up, and could not help saying,
‘It seems rather odd that your fiancee so easily distrusts you. Have you given her some cause for doing so?’ Julian’s eyes flickered.
‘I suspect, Kim, that you consider me to be a flirt - or worse.’ His glass was lifted to his mouth; he regarded her oddly from over the rim. ‘I wonder how you could have come by an impression like that?’
The liquid seemed to burn right into Kim’s throat. Did he know? Was this a cat and mouse game? Something warned her to take care ... if she hoped to come out of this unscathed.
‘How could I gain such an impression?’ she queried with a laugh. ‘I’m quite sure you’re not a flirt, Mr.—’
‘Julian, if you please.’
She ignored that and went to say she doubted very much being able to help him. If his fiancee would not believe him, then she would not believe Kim, either.
‘Perhaps,’ she added cautiously, ‘she’s regretted becoming engaged and wants to be free.’ Julian’s eyes opened very wide and Kim continued hastily, ‘It’s so easy to make a mistake, you know.’
‘I don’t know. For myself, I would never become engaged unless I knew my own mind, unless I was absolutely sure that the woman I chose for my wife would be suitable for me in every way.’