by Anne Hampson
‘You deserve everything you’re going to get. You’ve upset my entire plans.’
So he must have loved Vicky. And Kim concluded that he had been so disillusioned by his fiancee’s action that he no longer wanted to marry her.
‘I’m so sorry ...’ Kim tailed off, for mere apologies seemed so inadequate.
‘Perhaps,’ he remarked, lifting his foot for a second as he realized he was doing over eighty, ‘you may not come to regard it
as a punishment. You might actually enjoy it.’
‘You’re detestable!’ she cried, her face flaming. ‘I shall hate every minute I’m with you - and I’ll let you see it!’
Julian’s laugh filled the car, a grating heartless laugh that made her want to strike him. But almost at once he stopped and there was nothing more than a hint of impatience in his voice as he -said,
‘Let’s cut out the melodrama, shall we, Kim? There’s a box of chocolates on the shelf there - I couldn’t know your favourites, of course, so I bought one of the most popular selections.’
‘Are you going to take me back?’ she demanded, trying to regain her calm. ‘I’ll smash the windows or — or something!’ ‘Don’t act like an hysterical schoolgirl,’ he snapped. ‘If you don’t want the chocolates then sit back and relax—’
‘Relax! How can I—?’
‘Do as you’re told.’
‘I shan’t!’ Her nerves were quivering and her eyes were bright with tears. ‘I c-can’t relax.’
‘Kim,’ he said softly, ‘I advise you to start obeying me right away, because if you don’t I’m going to have to teach you ... and my lessons, you’ll soon discover, will be far from pleasant.’
CHAPTER FOUR
THE motorway had been left long ago, and they were driving westwards, through a bleak and sombre mountain pass. The moon was now obscured by cloud and a dripping mist clung to the snow-covered mountain peaks. Kim shivered and gathered her coat more tightly about her.
‘Are you cold?’ Faint surprise in Julian’s voice, for the heater was more than adequate.
Kim shook her head dumbly. It was not the cold that made her shiver, but the knowledge that they must by now be nearing the end of their journey. It had taken hours and hours, but Kim felt it was years since she had left her own cosy fireside, and her book. Realizing that Julian would not have noticed her negative gesture, she said bleakly,
‘No, I’m not cold.’
‘What’s the matter with you, then? You might just as well accept the situation and throw off that dejection.’ Fear and hopelessness gave way to anger. Her eyes flashed fire.
‘You’re ridiculous! No decent woman would accept the situation. I feel more like throwing myself out of the car!’ Julian made no comment and she added challengingly, ‘Aren’t you afraid?’
‘You’re not the type to do that,’ he replied calmly, ‘Besides, you haven’t yet given up hope. For the past couple of hours your brain’s been working overtime trying to devise a means of escape.’
‘Obviously I’m hoping to get away from you before—’ She broke off and Julian gave an amused laugh. But immediately his attention was on his driving. The road was narrow and precipitous and he had to slow down to a crawl; and in spite of his confidence as to her not jumping out of the car he was on the alert.
‘You’d better produce something more efficient than the stupid little plot you thought up to ruin my plans,’ he said, resuming the conversation at last. Kim made no reply and he went on, ‘I should give your brain a rest if I were you. There’s no possible chance of escape.’
There must be, she told herself vehemently. She would find a way to thwart his wicked intentions.
But Julian was right, she had been racking her brains for the past two hours — and not the hint of solution to her plight had emerged. Perhaps, she thought desperately, the time had come to plead with him. She loathed the idea of humbling herself, but she must do something.
‘I’ve admitted I did wrong, and I’ve said I’m sorry. Won’t you please let me go?’
‘Sorry? We always are, aren’t we, when the reckoning comes? What made you do it?’
The brilliant headlights picked out a gigantic cleft in the towering desolate landscape. Kim glanced around; out of the headlights’ glare there were only shadows and in her overwrought state she had the impression of one abyss after another falling away below her as the car continued its perilous ascent. ‘I’ve explained,’ she sighed. ‘I felt Vicky needed help.’
‘You saw yourself as the rescuing heroine, is that it?’ His brakes screeched as he came unexpectedly on a hairpin bend. ‘What did she tell you to make you so convinced she needed rescuing?’ he asked when they were on the straight again.
‘She told me—’ Kim broke off, straining her eyes to pick out what appeared to be a building, set on a mountain ledge. Was that it? It couldn’t be! Even the monks wouldn’t live up there, right in the clouds ... but yes, that was just the sort of place the monks would choose. ‘She told me that you were violent at times, and threatening. She was dreadfully afraid of you, and I thought -well, she’s my friend and I felt I must help her.’ Vicky had also said, recollected Kim, trembling, that Julian could murder her up there in the monastery and no one would ever know.
‘I’m surprised, to say the least, since you appear to be a sensible girl. However, you did elect to meddle, and now you see where it’s landed you. Will it teach you a lesson?’ he added in some amusement.
‘I’ll never interfere in other people’s affairs again as long as I live,’ she vowed with fervour, her eyes still on the black outline of the building ahead. ‘Are — are we nearly there?’ she
faltered.
‘We’ll be there in another ten or fifteen minutes. That’ s it, up there - but the road’s so steep and winding that it’s impossible to move at much more than ten miles an hour.’
Ten or fifteen minutes — and then what? Kim cast him a sideways glance from under her lashes. In the darkness his profile seemed harsh and more merciless than ever. But it was his air of superiority, of gravity and culture which caught Kim’s attention and suddenly set her thinking about matters other than her own dangerous position. Everything about him contrasted so strongly with Vicky’s frivolous character, and on sudden impulse she said,
‘Can I ask you a question?’
‘Certainly.’
‘It’s very personal.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘Do you love Vicky? I mean, did you really want to marry her?’
‘I really wanted to marry her,’ he replied, and Kim knew he spoke the truth.
‘But you don’t want to marry her now? That’s what you said a while ago.’
‘I don’t want to marry her now.’
Kim shook her head in bewilderment.
‘You can’t stop loving her just like that ... or can you? I’ve never been in love,’ she confessed, ‘so I wouldn’t know.’
‘Never been in love?’ Kim sensed the raising of his brows. ‘And how old are you, Kim?’
‘Twenty-three.’
Julian slowed down again as the rocky path became even more boulder-strewn. Not a road for this type of vehicle, evidently, thought Kim, wondering how Julian had come to discover the monastery in the first place.
‘Tell me about yourself?’ he invited, in a slightly softer tone. ‘Your work — everything.’
She hesitated, and then began to tell him about herself, for she couldn’t bear to sit there in silence, watching that grey and dismal building looming closer and closer with every minute
that passed.
‘Your father’s living in Canada,’ Julian commented when at last she paused. ‘Had you no wish to go out there with him?’
‘I didn’t get on very well with his new wife,’ she explained, ‘and in any case I’ve a good job and didn’t want to leave it.’
What would happen to her job now? Kim’s thoughts had been so chaotic that she hadn’t even given that a thought. ‘They’r
e going to miss me at work,’ she added, and Julian merely said that, first thing on Monday morning, her employer would be informed that she would not be going in.
‘Not that it matters,’ he added, ‘because you won’t be going back.’
‘Wh-what do you mean?’ Kim’s throat contracted and she felt the last hint of colour, drain from her face.
‘By the time I’ve finished with you your boss will have found someone else to take your place.’ The final bend was reached and gingerly he swung the great car round it. ‘Well, Kim, here we are
— home at last.’
She said nothing, for her throat was tight with fear. But she mustn’t panic, not at this time, for now she might have an opportunity of escape.
As Julian drove through the gateway Kim had an impression of rusty wrought-iron and weathered stone walls. The path to the building was strewn with weeds and even a small tree was picked out in the headlights. It scraped the bumper and slid along under the car. The mountain summits all around were covered with snow and as she got out of the car Kim felt the icy wind cut right through her clothes. Should she run? Julian read her thoughts and took her arm in a firm and hurtful grip.
‘Is there any electricity?’ she faltered. What a prosaic question at a time like this! but Kim had to hear herself speak.
‘Don’t be silly.’ He had left the headlights on and they illuminated the front of the building. Kim had the perplexing vision of decayed archways and hideous gargoyles, of high barred windows with rotting sills. Lichen-clad steps led up to a weather-bleached door and from the pediment above grotesque carvings leered down at her. All around were gaunt misshapen trees and pounding in her ears was the echoing roar of some raging torrent far below. ‘It’s called Strata Cadilla — if you’re interested,’ he added, laughing. How could he laugh? she wondered, for he too had left a comfortable flat. He must be mad, she concluded; no man in his right mind would come to a place like this, on such a night, suffering discomforts himself just for the satisfaction of revenge.
Julian propelled her towards the steps and instinctively she began to resist. His hands became like vices as they pinned her arms, and Kim’s struggles ceased.
‘If you try to escape,’ Julian said softly, ‘I’ll show you just how rough I can be.’ Once inside the hall he closed the door and locked it. Then he released her and, groping about, he found what he wanted. The powerful electric torch lit the room and Kim gasped. Dust everywhere, and great cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and festooning the rusty ironwork edging the staircase. There were a bewildering number of doors, but Julian’s lamp came to rest on the one to Kim’s left. It was open and Kim stared in. ‘The chapel,’ Julian informed her, and something in his tone made her look swiftly up at him. But his face was impassive as he moved towards the stairs.
‘I’m not going up there,’ she said as he turned, shining the torch on her and obviously waiting for her to follow him.
‘It’s much more comfortable,’ he assured her, and then with a faint smile, ‘I’ve had one or two of the rooms put into some sort of order.’
‘Then it’s a pity you didn’t begin down here, and get the grime removed!’
‘Very housewifely talk,’ he approved. ‘Tomorrow you shall make a start on it.’ He advanced towards her and his hand shot out. Kim was pulled resistingly towards the stairs. ‘I’m in no mood for tantrums, Kim,’ he warned softly. ‘Are you coming up or do I carry you?’
She followed him up the wide staircase, feeling choked by the dust and smell of decay. All the while she was glancing down, noting the doors in the great hall below. There must be one through which she could escape. For the present, though, she decided to remain docile, appearing to accept the situation. That would allay his suspicions and then he might become careless.
Reaching a door at the far end of the landing, Julian stopped and, opening it, he switched on the light.
‘Electricity!’ Kim blinked and turned her head to look at him. ‘You said there wasn’t any.’ Even as she spoke she gasped, for she had never expected anything like this. She walked across the thickly-carpeted floor and stood in the centre of the room, forgetful of everything else in her surprise. She glanced up to the ornate ceiling and then to the walls, covered with fine tapestries. The couch and chairs were old, but exquisitely upholstered and comfortable; the rest of the furniture was antique, in keeping with the room itself. ‘It’s lovely,’ Kim said, turning, and then, in puzzlement, ‘The radiators...?’
‘Oil - but I’ve only had these few rooms heated as yet.’
‘And the electricity - why did you say there wasn’t any?’
‘I didn’t - I merely said don’t be silly.’ He came towards her, a smile softening his dark features. ‘There isn’t a supply here,’ he said. ‘This comes from batteries, though I’m negotiating for a mains supply.’
‘Are you going to live here?’ she asked curiously.
‘We are going to live here — for the present, that is.’ He turned to the door. ‘The kitchen and bathroom are across the landing, and the bedroom’s here.’ A quiver of amusement came to his lips and his eyes laughed at her. Kim flushed, but retained her docile pose as she moved with him into the next room. He would have to leave her soon, for he had left the car headlights on. Then she could do something about finding a way out of this place.
‘It’s very pretty,’ she said, amazed at her cool demeanour. ‘A woman must have planned it.’ The colour scheme was pale lilac, with curtains and carpet matching.
Most of the furniture was modern, although the bed was in fact a four-poster. Its luxurious hangings were in quilted satin and of a slightly deeper shade than the curtains.
‘Several women were working here,’ he said, ‘and several men, for it was all done in a great hurry. Plans are afoot for the renovation of the place, but I hadn’t reckoned on its being occupied yet, so when I decided to bring you here I had to have everything done in a rush. It’s taken only four days, but these rooms were in a much better condition than the rest of the place. You see, only three monks lived here at the end, and they occupied these rooms. When the eldest died the other two left, and that’s how the place came to be sold.’ A pause and then, ‘I expect you think I’m quite out of my mind buying a place like this?’
‘I don’t know.... I suppose it would make a good hotel.’ She turned, rather quickly, not realizing he was standing so close, and her hand touched his. She snatched it away and went on, ‘But if you’re rich already why bother?’
‘Who says I’m rich?’
‘Vicky gave me that impression.’ She turned back into the room and her eyes flickered over the contents appreciatively. ‘It must have cost a lot of money to do this ... and so quickly. You must have had dozens of people working on it.’
‘I expect there were a fair number,’ he returned thoughtfully. ‘There must have been. Come and look at the bathroom.’
That too was in exquisite taste, with mirrors and glass shelves and even a tall palm tree growing in an ornamental bowl and spreading over the pink and gold bath. The kitchen was a dream and again Kim gasped.
‘I see what you’ve done. You’ve used the whole of this part to make a flat—’ She broke off, her eyes on the closed door opposite the sitting-room. ‘No, you haven’t used it all, have you?’
Julian made no reply, merely turning into the sitting-room again.
‘I’m going to lock you in, Kim, because I know very well you’re bent on escape.’ He stood holding the door, waiting for her to go in, and Kim had no alternative but to do so. ‘Apart from anything else, it’s for your own safety. There’s a blizzard blowing up; we’re a long way from any other habitation and these mountains are treacherous. You could easily perish from exposure.’ He stared gravely down at her and a puzzled light entered her eyes. True, he naturally did not want to lose her at this stage ... but somehow Kim felt sure his concern was for her alone - that it had nothing whatever to do with his own intentions.
The key turne
d in the lock; Kim moved over to the window, drawing aside the heavy velvet curtains. The window was barred, as she had guessed it would be. Her heart sank and a terrible hopelessness engulfed her. Until this moment, despite her fear, she had managed to retain a spark of optimism, but now it flickered out. There was no escape; her life was ruined, and all because of her own foolish impetuosity.
She sat down on the couch, still in her outdoor things, and her eyes lighted on the pretty silver gilt wall clock above the bureau. Half past three! But of course it must be, for it was after nine when they set out, and the latter part of the journey had been monotonously slow.
Her eyes moved to the door as the key snicked in the lock again. Julian’s hair was sprinkled with snow. He brushed a hand through it and then stifled a yawn.
‘I’ve put our suitcases in the bedroom,’ he said, smiling down at her. ‘Take off your coat and I’ll hang it in the wardrobe for you.’
Kim stared up at him.
‘Our suitcases?’
‘I’m sure you’ll find everything you need.’
‘You — you actually went into shops and bought - bought clothes for me?’ Kim gasped, eyeing him with acute disdain.
‘I did choose the sweaters and things myself,’ he owned. ‘As for the trousseau bits and pieces, they were a sort of bargain bundle, already made up and boxed discreetly. It’s a new idea which the manager of a local store thought up for the benefit of shy men.’ He was laughing at her and Kim scowled at him.
‘I wouldn’t put you in the category of shy men!’ she flashed, and Julian laughed outright. Kim clenched her fists. ‘You can take your bargain bundle and your sweaters back, because I shan’t be wearing them!’
‘You’ll do as you’re told, my dear,’ he said, the laugh dying on his lips. ‘Take off your coat.’
Kim obeyed and he took her hood and coat from her, putting them over his arm.
‘You’re very tired, and so am I after all that driving. It’s time we turned in - unless you want a drink of anything?’ he added as an afterthought.