Rachel Lindsay - Love and Lucy Granger

by Rachel Lindsay

  ' So you're Paul's fiance^,' Sandra Pearce's drawl was even more pronounced. ' I wasn't quite sure.'

  ' You must be blind, then,' Barry said rudely. ' Lucy's picture's been in every single paper for the last month.'

  ' But I've been in Sweden,' the woman said sweetly, and I didn't know Paul was engaged until he told me.' She looked at Lucy.. ' I met him in Stockholm a couple of days ago.'

  Lucy's heart thumped unpleasantly. Had Paul known Sandra was going to be there? Had their meeting been prearranged ? Instantly she dismissed her fears as ridiculous. Why should Paul want to meet someone he no longer cared for? With an effort she kept her expression blank,, aware of the brown eyes watching her maliciously.

  ' Paul must have been surprised to see you,' Barry said artlessly. 'The last time your name cropped up we heard you were in Bolivia with a tin tycoon.'

  'Your information's old, darling,' Sandra drawled. 'But just to set your mind at rest, my meeting with Paul was an accident.'

  ' I never thought otherwise.' Barry's voice was bland, and Lucy, realizing the purpose of his conversation, could have hugged him.

  ' You must come and have lunch with me,' Sandra Pearce was speaking again, this time to Lucy. ' May I ring you in a day or two ?'

  ' I in going back to Charters tomorrow.'

  Brown eyes widened. 'You're living at Charters already?'

  'Yes.'

  The woman laughed delicately. ' Paul hasn't changed, has he? He never did learn to wait for his cake I Still, I'm sure we'll be meeting again.' With a wave of her hand she departed and Barry sat down.

  Lucy picked up her fork, but made no effort to eat. There was no mistaking the meaning of the last sally, and with burning embarrassment she wondered whether other people thought the same. Tears of mortification filled her eyes and she blinked them rapidly.

  ' Don't let that little vixen worry you,' Barry said. 'She's furious she couldn't get Paul back when she wanted him.'

  Lucy stared at the tablecloth. 'She can be very insulting.'

  'Don't let her last parting shot bother you. That was the bitterness of gall talking 1'

  Lucy sighed. ' I suppose I'm silly to be annoyed by it.'

  'You're not a bit silly,' Barry grinned. 'You're just old-fashioned 1'

  ' Old-fashioned and jealous,' she admitted. ' I can't bear to think of Paul with any other woman except myself.'

  ' I'm sure he never pretended he was a monk before he met you.'

  'Of course not. It's just that it was bad enough thinking of an imaginary female, but now I've met Mrs Pearce…'

  ' You should be even less jealous. Do you think Paul could look at her when he's got you?'

  ' She's very lovely.'

  ' If Paul had only been looking for beauty he could have married a hundred times. Don't you know why he chose you ?' Barry leaned across the table and caught her hand. ' Because you've got heart, Lucy, and it shines out of your eyes.'

  She coloured. ' That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me.'

  ' I could have said many other nice things if I'd had the chance.' He withdrew his hand from hers. ' Paul's the luckiest man alive.'

  She knew he meant what he said, and warmed by his sincerity, Sandra Pearce faded from her mind.

  But back again at Charters, idling away the third week of Paul's absence, her fears returned. Paul loved her now, but how would he feel when the first flush of passion was over? Would a more lasting relationship take its place or was he the sort of man who would always want the excitement of .another conquest?

  Logic told her she was being ridiculous. Paul was too fastidious a man to want a relationship that was merely sexual. Indeed, if that had been the case he would not have asked her to marry him.

  ' I'm a fool,' she told herself, yet she knew her fears would only disappear when she was held in his arms again. If only she were his wife already! But there were still two months to go. Suddenly it seemed as if it were a lifetime away, and she was desperately afraid something would happen to prevent their marriage.

  In the days ahead she made an effort to banish her despondency, but it remained with her continually, a dark fear that robbed the spring days of some of their brightness, and filled her nights with troubled dreams.

  CHAPTER IX

  Good Friday when it arrived was particularly good for Lucy, for it brought Paul's return from Sweden. Miss Adams, Paul's super-efficient secretary, telephoned to let her know the fame his plane was due to arrive, and also to tell her that Smithers' Catering Firm would be arriving at Charters on Saturday to prepare for the Easter Ball to be held there on Monday.

  It was the first intimation of a party that Lucy had received and sensing this, Miss Adams explained she had been given strict instructions not to mention it until today.

  ' Mr. Harjow didn't want you or any of the family to be worried by the arrangements.'

  ' But Monday I' Lucy gasped. There'll be so much to do. How many people are coming?'

  'Four hundred. I believe Mr Harlow intends opening the big ballroom. Mr Smithers will be in charge of all the arrangements.' The secretary's voice was calm and unflustered. ' I assure you, Miss Granger, you have nothing to worry about.'

  ' I don't see how any firm can get everything done in a couple of days.'

  'Mr Smithers' firm can. Mr Harlow doesn't like Charters being disorganized for long, so Mr Smithers brings in triple the number of work people and staff. They'll bring down everything that's required—including the food—and they'll set up the floral decorations in the ballroom first thing on Monday morning.'

  With Miss Adams's assurances still ringing in her head, Lucy replaced the telephone. There was a great deal to be said for having a party so efficiently organized that there was nothing left to do except attend it. But on the other hand it precluded that special excitement which came from preparing a party oneself. More than ever she felt like a guest at Charters, and she looked down at the emerald on her hand for reassurance. It glowed up at her, reminding her of the man who had placed it there, yet somehow not giving her the comfort she had expected. ' Paul's been away too long,' she thought. ' It will be better when I see him again.'

  Although he had not asked her to meet him, she decided to go to the airport, tactfully persuading Aunt Beatrice not to accompany her.

  It was a beautiful spring day and she wore the very first gift he had bought her: the cashmere coat from Japan. How little she had realized when she had accepted it that a few months later she would be engaged to marry him.

  Arriving at the airport she found that Paul's plane had been delayed and she went on to the roof of the main building to await its arrival. High above the tarmac it was windier and the breeze made nonsense of her hair, blowing away the curls but blowing colour into her cheeks. She was glad of the warmth of her coat and snuggled into.it, enjoying the thought that soon she would be enveloped in Paul's arms.

  With growing excitement she watched the planes arrive and it seemed a never-ending wait until she saw a graceful Comet glide down from the watery blue sky and land a couple of hundred yards away.

  ' BEA announce the arrival of Flight A43 from Stockholm.'

  Paul's flight. Lucy leaned eagerly against the railings, watching impatiently as two trucks made their way towards the rear of the plane and a flight of steps was wheeled towards the front and placed against the door. Then the passengers began to descend. Small, dark anonymous figures that only grew into men and women as they approached nearer. None of the men resembled Paul and her excitement began to abate. Had he missed the plane ? Had another appointment made it impossible for him to leave? The thought of another weekend without him was intolerable, and she was debating whether or not to put in a call to his hotel in Stockholm to see if he was still there, when she saw him walking across the tarmac with the Captain. Trust Paul to leave the plane with so illustrious a member! She laughed in sheer delight and sped down the stairs to wait in the lofty-ceilinged Arrivals Hall.

  It was filled with people,
most of them leaving to spend Easter in a warmer clime, and she kept on anxious eye on the door marked Eight in case Paul came out and left without seeing her. It seemed an endless time before she glimpsed him talking to a Customs officer while his bag was marked with chalk. Then he was striding towards the door. He looked paler than she had remembered, or perhaps it was because he was wearing a dark suit and coat. Perhaps too it was because she had not seen him for so long. But whatever the reason, she felt she was looking at a stranger. She moistened dry lips and pushed her way through the crowds towards him.

  'Paul!' she called. 'Paul!'

  ' Lucy, I didn't expect you here.'

  As she lifted her arms to hold him he drew back slightly, and some of her joy evaporated.

  ' Did you—did you have a good flight?'

  ' It was excellent.' He made no attempt to kiss her and she felt as though her body had turned to lead, making it difficult for her to walk or smile.

  ' How about a kiss for your fiancee?' a hoarse voice asked, and Lucy swung round to see a burly, red-faced man waving a camera in front of them.

  ' Not on this occasion,' Paul said crisply.

  ' Be a sport, Mr Harlow. We could do with your fiancee to liven up our front' cover.

  ' I've no doubt you could,' Paul said drily, ' but my fiancee and I happen to be private citizens, not film stars acting a part for your readers' benefit.'

  Grasping Lucy firmly by the elbow, Paul steered her swiftly towards the escalator and down to their waiting car.

  It . was not until, the Rolls was purring steadily away from the airport that Paul spoke.

  ' One day I'll lose my temper with a photographer and smash his camera in his face.'

  ' They're only doing their job.'

  ' That's difficult to remember when they start prying into your private life.' He caught her hand so tightly that she winced. ' You've no idea how much I wanted to kiss you when you came running towards me. But I could see that swine hovering in the background and I knew what would happen. By tomorrow morning we'd have been plastered on the front page of every tabloid in the country!'

  Lucy's happiness returned. ' Is that why you didn't kiss me?'

  Paul understood her question instantly, and with a murmur of tenderness put his hands on the side of her face. ' Did you think I'd stopped loving you ?'

  ' I wasn't sure.'

  ' Perhaps this will satisfy you.'

  His kiss was fierce and demanding, telling her in a way she understood that their parting had not been easy for him either.

  ' I've missed you so much,' he murmured against her hair. ' There were times when I nearly rang and asked you to come and stay with me.'

  ' Why didn't you?'

  ' I was afraid. . If we'd been together in a hotel do you think we'd have been able to say goodnight and go to our respective rooms?'

  She lifted her lids and stared into his .eyes, glorying in the passion she saw in them. ' No,' she answered truthfully. ' I don't, but I wouldn't have cared.'

  ' Well, I would. You're one of the few women entitled to wear white at their wedding and I'm not going to do anything to spoil it!'

  Laughing, she drew away from him and smoothed her hair. ' How old-fashioned you are I'

  ' Do you mind?'

  ' No. I like it. It makes me feel you're not just in love with me because of—because of '

  ' Because of .your body? Darling Lucy, I'd be a liar if I didn't say I want to. possess you. But the physical side of our marriage will only be a part of our intimacy. True intimacy comes from a meeting of the minds, not just the body, and you're the one woman who has made me feel completely whole.'

  Happiness sang inside her like a bird and she nestled against him and closed her eyes. Excitement had made the previous night a sleepless one, and now she was content to rest against him and savour the pleasure of his homecoming.

  It was not until the following afternoon when they were walking alone together round the estate, that she told him of her meeting with Sandra Pearce.

  ' I won't ask you what you thought of her,' Paul said as he stopped to re-light his cigar. ' Other women never like Sandra.'

  ' I can understand why,' Lucy replied. ' She's a man's woman. The sort no other woman would trust with her husband.'

  ' You needn't worry about me on that score.'

  ' You've already had her,' Lucy said, and was mortified with herself the moment she had spoken, for Paul threw back his head and shouted with laughter. It was so rare that he laughed heartily that she enjoyed watching him even though she knew he was laughing at her and not with her.

  ' Lovely Lucy I' he exclaimed when he was finally able to speak. ' You look like an angel, but you've a tongue like steel.' He caught her hand and swung it backwards and forwards as they continued to walk. ' You cut a person down to size better than anyone else I know. You even make me feel unimportant.'

  'I don't believe that!'

  ' It's true. You look at me with those innocent eyes of yours and I feel you're judging me—and finding me falling short of what you expect.'

  His voice was faintly mocking, and had she not known him so well she would have thought he was joking. But now she was able to recognize signs which told her he was serious: the telltale pulse throbbing at his left temple, the extreme pallor of his skin and the faint, almost imperceptible tremor of his hands. ' Signs worth a fortune to any of his business rivals,' she thought with amusement, and made up her mind to tell him so. But not now. Now there were other things she had to say.

  ' You're wrong if you think I'm looking at you and judging you,' she said. ' The expression in my eyes is fear—not of you, but of myself.'

  'What are you afraid of?'

  ' ' Letting you down.'

  ' You'll never do that. You're everything I've ever wanted.'

  ' And you are everything I've ever wanted.'

  ' Am I ?' His grip tightened. ' Money and power aren't important to you, Lucy, and sometimes I think I've nothing else to offer.'

  ' Oh, darling!' She stopped walking and put her hands on his jacket. ' For someone so important you've a ridiculous inferiority complex. If you had no money and no power whatever you'd still be miles ahead of any other man I've ever met. Do you really think it's only your money that makes women want you?'

  He pulled her into his arms. ' You're wonderful for my ego. Oh, Lucy, I'm counting the days until you're my wife.'

  ' Can't we get married by special licence ?' she pleaded. ' Then I can go with you to America.'

  ' I don't have to go abroad again.'

  ' That's wonderful. When did you know?'

  ' This morning.'

  She leaned back so that she could look at him. ' Even so, there's no reason for us to wait till June.'

  ' We can't get married before.'

  ' Because you want to be alone with me for a month? But that's so silly,' she protested. ' If we marry now we can still be alone in June.'

  ' There's another reason,' he said slowly. ' Cindy.'

  ' What has she got to do with it?'

  ' I'm making her wait for her happiness, and—I—I feel I should wait too.'

  Lucy Stared at him in astonishment. ' But that's ridiculous. You could just as easily say we can't get married, until she does.'

  ' I've thought of that too,' he admitted.

  ' Then what made you set June for our wedding date?'

  she said crossly. ' Won't your guilt make you put it off again?'

  ' I'm hoping that by June I'll have made up my mind about Murray.'

  ' So that's why you wanted a long engagement. It wasn't just because of your business commitments?'

  ' It was partly that, but mainly because of Cindy.'

  Lucy's anger evaporated. She had always known Paul cared for his sister, but not until this moment had she realized how guilty he must feel at depriving the girl of her happiness.

  'You still don't like Murray, do you?' she said.

  ' No. I try, believe me I do, but I can't warm up
to the man. I keep hoping Cindy will wake up and see him for what he is.'

  ' And if she doesn't?'

  He shrugged, and taking some matches out of his pocket, re-lit his cigar again.

  ' I'll have to smoke cigars,' she said lightly. ' They're a wonderful standby when you don't want to answer any more questions.'

  ' Now, now, don't cut me with that tongue of yours,' he chided, and tucking her arm through his, started to walk once more.

  The weekend flew by, and though the main rooms in the house were full of decorators and caterers, the family were seemingly unperturbed by the vast number of guests due to arrive for the Ball on Easter Monday. Lucy was the only person filled with anxiety. She would be meeting many of Paul's business friends for the first time, and she knew she would be on trial. Yet she was reluctant to confide her fears to anyone, particularly Paul, and as the evening of the party arrived her tension exploded into an overwhelming attack of nerves that made it impossible for her to leave the sanctuary of her bedroom. Downstairs she could hear the sounds of the orchestra and the continual purring of cars as they swept up the driveway, but still she paced the floor, unable to find the courage to face the curious eyes of strangers.

  ' Lucy, are you ready yet?' Paul's voice outside her door brought her to a trembling halt and she clasped her hands together, wondering whether to pretend she was not there.

  ' Lucy!' he called again, ' are you there?'

  Realizing the futility of pretence, she moved across the carpet and opened the door. The lights in her room were brighter than those in the corridor and as she stood on the threshold she was outlined with a pink radiance that emphasized the lovely contours of her body and made a gilded nimbus of her hair.

  For a long moment Paul looked at her in silence. ' How beautiful you are,' he said quietly and, leaning forward, gently kissed her brow.

  The unexpected tenderness of the gesture brought tears to her eyes and she blinked them away quickly. But not before he had seen them.

  ' Lucy, you're crying. What's wrong?'

  ' Nothing.; Just nerves.'

  ^You're not usually the nervy type,' he replied. ' Has anything upset you?'