From the Torrid Past

by Ann Cristy

  Her warmest moments with Keele were when Sean was with them because both parents doted on the effervescent boy.

  They saw Henry and Adelaide regularly and if she didn't call them to drop by, Keele did. He and Henry had developed a friendly rivalry in sports and often D'Arcy found herself envying Henry when she saw him laughing with Keele.

  She had determined that she would go slowly in doing the house so that the old things that belonged to the Petrakis family and the few Kincaid treasures would meld in a luster of true hominess.

  She finished Keele's study first, amazed at the number of classics that he owned. By the time she had added her own considerable collection of books, the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves looked well stocked. Here and there she placed some of the crystal and porcelain bric-a-brac that Keele told her had belonged to his mother. The salmon and cream colored oriental rugs, which had also belonged to his family, seemed to deepen the patina of the oak paneling. D'Arcy used the splashes of green and blue in the carpets as accent colors around the room. On the floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors she used swagged-back silk sheers in cream that allowed the full light of the sun into the room, also a full vista of the Sound.

  After Keele's study, she turned to the living room. There she adhered to the Federal look, letting the Adams fireplace be the focal point of the room. The blues and creams of the walls and ceiling were enhanced by the blue silk couch with cream throw pillows. Here again oriental rugs were used, with a large oval Kerman in blue and cream laid in front of the fireplace. It was then that Keele announced that it was time they had a party. "The Christmas season is here and we won't be around between Christmas and New Year's because we'll be in Colorado. So..." He shrugged, a muscle jerking at the side of his mouth. His graven face seemed to have taken on a leaner, more taut look since their marriage. Even his body looked more spare, tougher, harder. "If it will be hardship for you, I can get Gerta Olsen to give you some help."

  D'Arcy took a deep breath at the shard of pain. "No. I think I can handle it. Adelaide will help me." She swallowed. "Will you give me a list of the people you would like to invite? I suppose you'll want business associates to come."

  "Yes, but some personal friends, too. I'm sure your list will include Henry and Adelaide so I won't put them on mine, but you might like to invite those women you were so friendly with at the nursery school..." He looked at her for some moments, then turned and left the room. He returned before she could turn away to the material catalogues she was using to find just the right cloth for the chair in Sean's room. "Also, I'll give you the name of the caterer I've always used. Just give him the number of persons and he pretty much does it all."

  "I see." D'Arcy felt hurt that he didn't ask her if she would like to coordinate the event herself, even if reason told her that the number of persons they would invite would demand outside help.

  Mrs. Thomas was a good housekeeper and a fine cook, but her one outstanding feature in D'Arcy's eyes was her affable outlook on a rambunctious boy, a lazy cat, and a pregnant dog. The only time she had really bucked Sean's wishes was when he tried to bring Jockey into the house. Mrs. Thomas had looked at the horse's head at her back door and had calmly led the horse back to the paddock, explaining to Sean that it was his job to wash the horse's tracks from the patio.

  Mrs. Thomas didn't turn a hair about preparing the house for upwards of a hundred guests.

  As the day approached for the party, the house began to hum in overdrive. Sean was given his vacation to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus and he proudly hung his wreath made of colored tissue on the inside of the front door.

  He glared at Mrs. Thomas. "Are you going to take my wreath off the door?"

  "Not me, young sir." Mrs. Thomas winked at D'Arcy.

  "Are you, Mommy?"

  "No, I like it there and it is the first decoration we have put up today. Now how would you like to help Uncle Henry and Toddy put up the outside lights? You would? Good. Get your snowsuit."

  There were only four days to go until the party when Keele announced that he had to fly to Greece on business. "Anna has hit a snag. Besides, she and the Arfoses may be coming here for the Christmas holidays. Perhaps I could convince them to fly back with me and come to the party."

  "I would be happy to see Gregor of course," D'Arcy told him, chin up, seeing the twist to his lips.

  "But not Anna or Elena, eh?"

  "I admit I don't have the warmest feelings toward Elena, but your aunt is your family and of course always welcome in our home. Are you sure you will be able to make it back in time for the party?"

  "Umm?" Keele was stuffing some papers into his briefcase and wasn't looking at her when he answered. "I think so. I'm taking Gerta along with me to facilitate things so I should have no trouble getting back."

  D'Arcy pressed the back of her hand against her mouth and swallowed the gasp of pain at his words.

  Their goodbyes were stiff and stilted in contrast to the warm hugs and laughs between Keele and Sean.

  D'Arcy was glad the flurried last minute details for the party absorbed so much of her time so that she could fall exhausted into the king-sized bed that seemed too big and too empty without that hard body next to her.

  The day of the party all was in readiness. Sean was being read a story by Henry and Adelaide while D'Arcy dressed. The black silk she wore had a crisscross bodice that hugged her breasts and tiny diamante straps on the shoulders. It flared from the hip in crystal pleats, the hem just touching her knee. She wore the sapphire and emerald pendant at her breast and the emerald drop earrings. Her engagement ring gleamed in the light of the Christmas tree that rose two stories in the front hall.

  D'Arcy looked round the hall and saw that a portion of the holly wreath that draped the chandelier was sagging. She looked at her watch, then again at the sagging holly. Under the kitchen stairway was a long, foldable aluminum ladder. It wasn't heavy and D'Arcy had no trouble positioning it under the chandelier. She opened the ladder on the floor and slipped the stabilizers into place to hold it rigid. Then she eased it upward and spread the legs in its triangle stance. She jiggled the ladder, testing its stability, then kicked off her shoes and began a slow climb toward the offending holly drape.

  She reached it, then found that she would have to stand at the very top in order to lift the drape over the edge of the chandelier. In slow motion she stepped to the top then straightened her body. Taking a careful breath she lifted the swag over a segment of crystal. She let her breath go just as a key turned in the front door and it swung open.

  "Good God! What the bloody hell are you doing up there?" Keele yelled.

  D'Arcy turned and the ladder swayed. She tried to correct and her arms flailed the air. "Keele!" she screeched.

  The ladder went the opposite way of D'Arcy's body. She had a moment of horror as she looked up at a crazily swinging chandelier, then she was landing against something hard yet soft. She heard the whoosh of air leaving lungs, then she and Keele were a tangle on the floor, she lying on him.

  She lifted her head from his chest and twisted to look at him. He was lying there shaking his head.

  "Will you tell me... what in hell you think you were doing up there? You could have been killed. Aren't there enough people around this place who could do jobs like that?"

  "Thank you for catching me. Are you hurt, Keele?"

  "No, but I damn well could be. You're not that tiny you know."

  "Ohhh, how like you to say something awful. I said I was sorry. Let me up, you... you cad."

  "Cad? My God, I haven't heard that word since I read Dickens." He laughed, easing upward but not releasing her. Before she could guess his intentions he had gathered her to him and planted a hard kiss on her mouth. His lips were cold and searching, pulling a response from her own mouth. His arms tightened, swinging her over his bent knees.

  "Oh Henry, look at that," Adelaide caroled, leaning over the bannister at the top of the stairs. "Isn't that sweet! Couldn't you find a more
comfortable spot, dear? Come now, do get up, your dress will be mussed."

  Keele heaved himself to his feet, still holding D'Arcy in his arms. His eyes lavaed over her in the revealing silk. "You look like a Christmas candy. I think I'd like a bite," he murmured before releasing her.

  Adelaide and Henry descended the open stairway, looking from the fallen ladder to D'Arcy and Keele.

  "Keele, you don't have much time to get dressed. You have to hurry." D'Arcy felt her breath catch in her throat at the look he was giving her, his hands still massaging her arms. Then she remembered Gerta Olsen and walked toward Henry. The flare of heat in Keele's eyes betrayed his anger, but he turned to take the stairs two at a time, after greeting the Kincaids.

  "I want to say good night to Sean. Perhaps he'll be glad to see me. Then I'll get dressed." His voice faded, as he did, down the hall.

  "I'll put this ladder away. Why was it out here, D'Arcy?"

  D'Arcy fixed a smile to her face and lightly sketched what had happened with the holly to Henry.

  Before Keele returned to them the doorbell was ringing and Mrs. Thomas ushered in the first of the guests. It was fortunate for D'Arcy, since the first people were Athene employees, that Dan and Chris Reardon were also among the first arrivals and Dan was able to make the introductions.

  The caterer had arranged for two liveried waiters who saw to it that the drinks and the canapés were passed. Mrs. Thomas kept a weather eye on both young men.

  Gregor Arfos, his daughter, and Anna Davos arrived before Keele came downstairs again. Gregor's bluff good humor seemed to smooth over the awkwardness.

  "It would seem that your husband isn't very eager to join his wife after a separation of a few days," Elena observed. "I saw Keele in Greece, of course." She smiled at D'Arcy while accepting champagne from the tray.

  "How nice for you." D'Arcy tried to smile at Keele's aunt. "How are you, Madame?"

  "As Keele's wife, you may call me Anna as he does."

  "Perhaps she doesn't want to call you that," Elena interjected. "She probably doesn't even want us here."

  "I would always want Keele's family here." D'Arcy smiled, wanting to upend the champagne on Elena's head.

  "But since you are not family, Elena, D'Arcy may ask you to leave." Gregor boomed a laugh, coming to D'Arcy's side and planting a kiss on her cheek. He met the matching glares of Anna and Elena with a broad wink in D'Arcy's direction.

  As D'Arcy leaned up to kiss .his cheek, she looked past him and saw her old boss at the door, a cigarette-smoking Lena Plantz next to him. She excused herself to the two women but urged Gregor Arfos to accompany her. "Hello Gregson. Lena, how are you. Let me introduce you to Gregor Arfos."

  "You have the same name as mine, eh? That is good. Mine is a Slav name but I am Greek." He crushed Gregson's hand in his, then enveloped Lena in a bear hug.

  Gregson flexed his hand and smiled at the big man. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'm English, but it's a long way back."

  Gregor looked sympathetic. "But that is not too bad. There are some good English, you know. Keele Andreas's mother was English. I was in love with her." He smiled at an open-mouthed Timms, then turned to Lena. "And you, skinny lady, who smokes too much, tell me about you."

  "Well, my mother was a Sephardic Jew, if that helps." She dripped caustic honey at the hulking Greek.

  "Ah, is this true?" Gregor took the cigarette from Lena and placed it on a passing champagne tray, then gripped her arm above the elbow, steering the wide-eyed woman like an ice-breaking barge through the gathering throng of people. "That is most interesting. You will tell me all about yourself." His thundering voice streamed out behind him.

  "He won't eat her or anything, will he?" Gregson asked D'Arcy out of the side of his mouth.

  "I don't think so, but Greeks are unpredictable." D'Arcy laughed.

  "Unpredictable he may be, dumb he ain't," Timms said. He glared at the champagne then asked for a scotch, neat. "He has the largest slice of one of the biggest computer outfits in the world. He has a yacht that looks like the Queen Mary."

  "That would be just about the right size." D'Arcy nodded, gesturing to Mrs. Thomas, then told her to get Gregson his scotch.

  "Well, how does it feel being married to one of the richest men around?" Gregson sniffed the liquor, then took an appreciative swallow.

  "I don't give interviews, but I will answer off the cuff." D'Arcy fixed him with an unsmiling stare.

  Gregson took a deep breath, then exhaled it slowly. "You win. I'm asking as a friend. Are you happy?"

  "I love him." D'Arcy looked up at Gregson, aware he could see the pain in her eyes.

  He patted her shoulder. "Any time you need to, come into the office. You can work, talk, do what you like."

  "My wife won't be working anywhere but in her home." The steel splintered from Keele's mouth as his arm came around her waist, pulling her back to him. "If she wishes to continue with her writing, she will do so here."

  D'Arcy stiffened, trying to edge free of his hold. "I don't think Gregson wants to hear our family squabbles." Even her eyes felt hot, she was so mad at Keele.

  His leonine eyes touched every pore in her face before he looked up at Gregson again. "She's quite beautiful when she's angry, isn't she? And she is very angry now." Keele gave an exaggerated sigh. "I suppose I had better prepare myself for fireworks after the guests leave." He leaned down and gave her furious mouth a quick peck, then gravitated toward some people.

  "Wow," Gregson said mildly. "He really makes it plain, doesn't he? D'Arce, my love, you have a tiger by the tail."

  "A lion, not a tiger," she muttered into her champagne glass. "And don't call me D'Arce."

  Someone spoke to Gregson and he turned away.

  Before D'Arcy could move to speak to Jimmy's parents, Jan and Cliff Sturmer, Elena was in front of her. "Tell me, who is that woman who is climbing all over my father. I do not like such bold women," Elena hissed, her eyes like onyx.

  D'Arcy followed her gaze to see Lena pressed against the wall, a laughing Gregor leaning over her with both hands pressed on either side of the woman's head. "Ah... somehow I think your father will survive her clutches." D'Arcy ignored Elena's glare, watching the threesome that had come into the lounge.

  Marianne Bolle didn't exactly hang on Philo Hudson's arm, but her silver lame dress looked in danger of leaving her body if she didn't soon stand more erect.

  D'Arcy gave a gulp of relief as Steve Linnett came up on Gerta Olsen's side. At least there would be one friendly face in that group.

  "Mrs. Olsen, Mrs. Bolle, welcome to our home. Mr. Hudson. Hello, Steve, how are you?" D'Arcy felt comforted when Steve put his arms around her and kissed her cheek.

  Then Keele was at her side and the two women in front of her lit like torches.

  D'Arcy looked behind her when the quartet she had hired began to play. She could see them through the open doors to the solarium and hoped that they would be warm enough out there in the glass-enclosed room. She tried to pull free of Keele's arm to go and inquire when his arm tightened.

  "Where are you going?" he whispered into her hair.

  She tried to fight that snaky feeling of weakness that his look always engendered in her body. "I want to ask the musicians if they will be warm enough in the solarium."

  "I would think the sun shields that we installed should keep the room warm, but I'll come with you and ask them. We should have the first dance together anyway."

  She reveled in the warm hand at her waist but since it gave her a feeling of breathlessness, she was glad when Keele inquired after the comfort of the musicians.

  When he swept her into his arms, she cocked her head at the song they were playing. "Stardust," he mumbled into her hair. "Remember we danced to it in Las Vegas."

  "I remember." She lifted both her hands to clasp them round his neck, not wanting to think of anything but being in Keele's arms.

  "You look so beautiful tonight, wife. I wanted you to wear what I brought you f
rom Athens tonight but I was delayed in traffic from the airport and you were all dressed." He pulled back from her a fraction. "And then you came flying through the air to greet me. ! forgot everything after that."

  "I'll look at the gift tonight after our guests have gone." D'Arcy drowned in liquid gold as he looked down at her. "You should have kept it for Christmas, then you wouldn't have had to buy me anything else."

  His hands tightened. "Don't take my fun away from me. Buying for you is one of the things I most enjoy."

  "Do you?" D'Arcy was barely breathing, she was sure.

  "Yes, my dove, I do." Keele leaned down and brushed her mouth with his. "Let's send them home early."

  "Really, Keele, you are such a poor host." Marianne spoke at their side. She looked at D'Arcy and held up her glass. "I am having a difficult time getting a drink. Do you think I could have one?"

  "We have waiters for that, Marianne." Keele's voice was hard.

  D'Arcy eased back from her husband's warm frame. "That's all right. I'll get it for you, Mrs. Bolle." And then I'll dump it down that deep cleavage, D'Arcy thought with satisfaction.

  Her fingernails were digging into her palms as she turned away, not wanting to watch the silver lame melt against Keele's black silk tuxedo.

  Adelaide came up to her, her face alight. "Dear, Sean is awake. I told him a story and he's very good, but he would like you to tuck him in again."

  "Of course," D'Arcy said, putting Marianne's glass on a passing tray and forgetting about it. "I'll go right up."

  It was a relief to leave the noise of the party and enter the quiet wing of the house where Sean was sleeping. Susan Wiggan, the girl that she had hired to stay in Sean's wing while the party was on, smiled at her and yawned.