Victoria resumed her relaxed stance, nestling into the corner of the sofa, and swinging her legs up. ‘You must feel Lacey and Todd’s loss deeply.’
Tommy gave a sharp, dismissive shake of his head. ‘I’ve told you. It wasn’t about me. Like the night on the beach wasn’t about you.’
A few days ago, Victoria would have believed that. Now, she had to pretend. ‘I won’t be making that mistake again.’ She leaned in, and lowered her voice. ‘And after what you told me, I don’t feel the least bit guilty for taking advantage of Chris.’ She tapped the side of her nose, hoping she was convincing enough to draw Tommy in. His sly smile gave her the confirmation she required.
He put his leg down, turned to Victoria, and rested his hand on her foot. ‘You and me both.’
If he didn’t remove his sweaty fingers from her ankle in two seconds … She forced a smile.
‘Mrs Noble?’ Rick, in his lanky, self-conscious, teenage way, entered the room and addressed Victoria without looking in her direction.
Grateful for the interruption, she took her feet off the sofa, and stood. ‘Rick, please call me Victoria.’ She excused herself from Tommy’s company, hooked her arm through Rick’s, and marched him out of the room. Once in the safety of the conservatory, she set him free and apologised for their rapid exit.
Rick smiled. ‘It’s okay. Dad sent me to tell you we’ve finished the dishes. I think he wanted to know what you were doing.’
Victoria attempted to return the smile. ‘Well, thank you. Where is he?’
‘In the kitchen showing Seth his cell phone.’ He paused, as a thoughtful expression worked its way from his eyes to his mouth. ‘Actually, I think Seth is showing Dad.’
‘Really? At four?’
‘Hey. Todd and I knew how to access games on the Internet by that age. Anyway, Seth’s like his mom.’ The sloppy grin Tommy had stolen was back. ‘Come on.’
Victoria accepted the arm he offered, and they walked together into the kitchen. Seth was sitting on Chris’s lap, huddled into him. Their heads were locked together over a mobile phone.
‘Not again.’ Chris peered over his shoulder. ‘Your son’s a master at noughts and crosses.’ He tickled Seth’s ribs.
Seth giggled. Seth giggled. Its beauty floored Victoria, temporarily knocking the last few minutes from her mind. Thank goodness she was holding onto Rick.
‘I won.’ Seth picked up the phone, clambered off Chris, and showed the screen to Victoria. ‘Look.’
Letting go of Rick, Victoria knelt, cradled Seth’s willing hand in hers, and admired his win. It was hard concentrating on the game, when what she wanted was to hug Seth and thank him for making her feel special. ‘Wow! Well done,’ she said, enlarging her eyes so her delight was visible. ‘Did you enjoy playing?’ He nodded. ‘Perhaps we can do it tomorrow?’
‘Okay.’ Seth returned to the table, waited for Chris to lift him up, and engaged him in another round.
With her insides fluttering, Victoria took a steadying breath and occupied herself by boiling the kettle. ‘Cup of tea?’ She pitched the offer into the air.
‘No thanks, Mrs Noble,’ Rick said. ‘I’m off to bed. Gonna watch a movie.’
‘You can watch one down here.’ Chris broke away from his game and linked his fingers across Seth’s stomach. ‘Don’t hide yourself in your room.’
‘I’m not hiding. See you in the morning. Night, Seth. Mrs Noble.’
‘Sleep well, Rick.’ Victoria waved her good night as Rick left the kitchen.
‘Oh, no. Again?’
She swivelled round at Chris’s exclamation to find Seth beaming and holding his hands aloft.
‘Is this going to happen when I play you?’ Victoria said.
‘Yes.’ Seth lowered his arms and attempted to stifle a yawn. ‘Show me another game, please.’ His words were stilted by the broken intakes of breath.
Chris looked to Victoria, and she gave a subtle shake of her head.
‘No more tonight, thanks, Seth. My pride won’t stand another beating.’ Chris palmed his phone and slid it into his top pocket. ‘Are you ready for your first night in your new bed?’
Seth hopped down. ‘Yes. Rick gave me Spider to cuddle.’
‘Spider?’ Victoria threw an inquisitive glance at Chris, who looked confused by her son’s comment.
‘Spider? Black, fluffy, a leg for each eye. About this big?’
Victoria estimated the distance between Chris’s hands to be eight inches. ‘He’s not real, is he?’ Seth had an unsettling fondness for spiders, but he’d not yet got round to requesting one for a pet. Victoria recoiled at the thought.
‘Don’t panic. He’s a soft toy. The boys had one each. Rick’s been guardian of them since …’ Chris swept his arm across the table, but then said nothing further.
‘Since Todd died.’ Seth’s direct statement smacked both adults off balance. It took Victoria seconds to regain her equilibrium, but Chris appeared to be rocking in the wind for several heartbeats. ‘Rick told me,’ Seth continued. ‘I don’t mind Spider has seven legs.’
Victoria kept watch on Chris. His eyes hadn’t glazed, so she didn’t think he was experiencing a flashback. She laid a cautious hand on him.
It revived him and he looked at Seth. ‘Seven legs? You have Todd’s Spider?’
‘Yes. Rick said Todd would be pleased.’
‘Is that okay?’ The situation was uncomfortable for Victoria. She admired and loved Rick for having the courage to part with his brother’s treasured possession, but she didn’t want it upsetting Chris. And then there was Seth’s fallout should Spider be taken away.
Chris reached up and patted her fingers. ‘It’s fine. I couldn’t think of a better keeper. It’s Rick’s decision, and I think it’s the right one.’ He smiled at Seth. ‘Todd cut the leg off with a penknife. He did it so he knew which spider was his. Brutal.’
Seth reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a spindly, fuzzy, black worm. ‘Rick gave me the leg. Look.’
‘Huh. He kept it. I thought that went years ago.’ Chris held out his hand, requesting permission to inspect the limb. Seth passed it across. ‘Would you look at that? I had no idea.’ He returned it to Seth’s waiting palm. ‘We could sew it back on, if you like.’
‘No, thank you. I like seven. I have seven favourite colours, and seven crisps I like, and seven friends.’
‘Seven legs it is, then.’ Chris gave a nod of acceptance to Victoria. ‘Funny boys.’
She removed her hand and opened the annexe door. ‘It’s gone seven now, Seth, so it’s time for bed. Bring the leg.’
‘Things you never thought you’d say,’ Chris murmured, pushing back his seat. ‘Hey bud, are you too big for a night time hug?’ He opened out his arms, and with no hesitation, Seth hurled himself into them. ‘You are such an excellent hugger. Have you been practising?’ Chris ducked to see Seth’s face. ‘He’s smiling,’ he said, glancing up at Victoria. ‘And so are you.’
She was. She couldn’t stop herself. The sight of the man she loved embracing her son sent a million sensations flitting round her body.
‘Time for bed.’ Chris patted Seth’s back and presented him to Victoria. ‘I’ll finish making your drink. It’ll be ready when you get back.’
She thanked him as she marshalled Seth down the steps and into the annexe. Assuming she’d be gone for a mere few minutes, she pushed the door to, not bothering to close it. She sighed with relief as Seth entered the bathroom with no resistance.
‘Is Spider snuggling in with you tonight?’ She squeezed toothpaste onto Seth’s brush and showed him her teeth, hoping he’d do the same. He nodded, but his mouth remained closed. Victoria didn’t want to fight. ‘Would you like to brush your teeth?’
‘Yes, please.’
Victoria sat
on the lid of the toilet, as Seth viewed himself in the mirror, diligently cleaning each tooth. At the point he had more paste on his mouth than in, Victoria rinsed out his flannel and passed it to him. ‘Excellent job. Show me how well you can wash your face.’
He responded to the instruction, putting his brush on the basin, spreading the cloth over his hand, and scrubbing his cheeks and chin. He was good. Thorough. Victoria approved and applauded his effort, not understanding what had urged her to hand him the responsibility. She hadn’t given it any thought; it had simply happened. Maternal instinct.
She caught her reflection, peeking from behind Seth’s golden curls. She was smiling. Again.
After the necessary toileting and hand washing, they moved to the bedroom, and Seth climbed under his duvet. With Spider tucked under his arm, and the leg clutched in his hand, he blinked several times, each longer than the one before, until finally, his eyes closed.
‘Night, Seth,’ Victoria whispered. ‘Love you.’
‘Night,’ he whispered back.
She stared in wonder at her son. Christmas was over, but Seth wishing her a goodnight was the perfect gift.
‘I’ve decided to stay another week.’ Tommy’s voice echoed from the castle kitchen through to the annexe.
Victoria cursed under her breath. For a few minutes, she had nothing else on her mind but Seth. Now it was flooded with thoughts of Tommy with Lacey, and questions as to how Victoria was going to break the news to Chris. She revelled in one last glimpse of Seth, and then exited his room.
If Tommy was true to his word, another week would give her the chance to get to London and dig around in his past. There had to be something he was hiding. She crept closer to the internal door, and waited.
‘I had a long chat with Vicky, and it’s worth my while hanging around. I know she wants me, and I reckon she’s one hot shag. What do you think, Chris?’
‘I think you’re a disgrace and the sooner you leave the better. I’m telling Rick everything tomorrow, so why don’t you just piss off?’
Tommy’s caustic laugh corroded Victoria’s insides. Vile, repulsive, repellent man.
‘She won’t sleep with you,’ Tommy said. ‘I’m going to tell her about Lacey’s HIV. She’ll want nothing to do with you then. In fact, when this whole story explodes, no one will want anything to do with you. Not even your own son. So. We’re good for another week, yeah? Mate?’
Victoria, not daring to breathe, strained to hear what was happening. Footsteps were shambling away from her. Hopefully Tommy’s.
She jumped back when her door was knocked.
‘Did you catch that?’ A mug of tea appeared, followed by Chris. ‘I’ll carry it through to the lounge.’
‘Let’s go to my kitchen,’ Victoria said, aware she had a tricky conversation ahead. ‘It’s further away from Seth.’
Closing the door, Chris obliged and followed Victoria the length of the hallway. ‘Why does Tommy think he’s got a chance with you?’ He placed the mug on the small table, sat opposite Victoria, and narrowed his eyes.
‘He was winding you up.’ She sipped her tea, waiting for a reaction, but Chris sealed his lips and said nothing. ‘Looks like it worked.’ She could see he was agitated, but that was understandable with someone as nasty as Tommy skulking around the place.
‘What did you talk about in the living room?’ Chris reclined, crossed his ankles, and linked his fingers behind his neck.
If it was an attempt to appear unbothered, it had failed. The rhythmic bouncing of his foot gave him away.
Victoria tapped the side of her mug, while she decided how best to answer. ‘I wondered what took him to Hollywood.’ Her reply was deliberately vague. She ran the risk of alienating Chris by keeping her plan to herself, but by revealing it, she suspected he would vehemently object, and insist she dropped the whole idea. She’d have to disclose her part in EweSpeak, too. She was convinced he wasn’t ready to hear that yet. There was also the matter of Tommy’s fling with Lacey. She had no idea how to broach that subject.
‘Why?’ Chris’s relaxed posture transformed into a defensive one, as he pulled in tight to the table, and folded his arms. ‘What’s the sudden interest?’
‘Why the sudden interrogation?’
Chris was brooding now. His dark brow was low, and his usually pliable lips were thin and hard. Victoria held herself together, so his razor-sharp look didn’t dissect her.
‘Because you’re the reason he’s staying,’ he said.
‘As I understand it, I’m also the reason he’s given you a few extra days grace.’
Chris shoved back his chair, scrambled to his feet, and jabbed at the table. ‘That’s prolonged my agony, not reduced it.’
Victoria winced. Of course it had. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, concentrating on a bubble floating in her tea. ‘I didn’t mean to encourage him.’ She looped her thumb through her mug, approached the sink and chided herself. Although her intentions were honourable, she’d managed to cause Chris more pain and anguish. Worse still, she had no guarantee her actions would provide a positive outcome. She could make his and Rick’s situation a hundred times worse.
She rinsed out the cup and placed it on the draining board. It glinted under the fluorescent strip-light. I’ll have to come clean, she thought, blinking at the white mug imprint behind her eyes. Drawing strength from a deep breath, she turned and found Chris staring at her. She pulled at her collar. ‘I have to tell you something.’
The fire of suspicion blazed in his eyes. ‘Go on.’
Scalded by his glare, Victoria retreated, and gave herself a moment to recover. If she told him everything now, their bright, new beginning could burst into flames, burn out, and leave nothing but ashes. Ashes she’d have to bury. Next to her past.
She opened her mouth not knowing what was going to come out. ‘I have to go to London tomorrow.’
Her words dowsed the fire, and Chris frowned. ‘Is that it?’
Victoria nodded. That was it. ‘I need to sort out my flat, collect a few things, and pay the bills.’ She’d tell him the truth once she’d investigated Tommy. If she found damning evidence – information that would send Tommy running, then everything would be okay.
‘It’s a bit sudden.’
‘I’d like Seth to see his cousins.’
‘He saw them at Christmas.’
‘Am I missing something?’ Victoria reclined against the counter.
Chris shrugged. ‘I thought with this afternoon …’ He trailed off. ‘I thought wrong.’ He pulled a face, shoved his chair under the table, and slunk into the hallway. ‘See you when you get back, then.’
The door clicked shut.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘This office could do with some colour.’ Sitting at her EweSpeak desk, Victoria cast a critical eye over the room. ‘How long since it was decorated?’
Juliette laughed. ‘We had it done last year, but you insisted on keeping it white.’
‘Must have been a phase I was going through. Anyway, where’s Annabel?’
‘She’s having lunch with her agent. It could go on a bit. Did you need to see her about something specific?’
‘I wanted to thank her for stepping in.’ Victoria looked at Juliette, who was perched on the corner of her desk. ‘Do you think it’s going to work?’
Without missing a beat, Juliette said, ‘Oh, yes. She’s amazing. Such a quick learner. And she doesn’t take prisoners. I’ll miss her when she goes to Japan.’
Ah. Japan. ‘Would you like me to cover those months?’ Victoria offered because Juliette was her sister, and no other reason. EweSpeak wasn’t the driving force behind her decisions as it once was. ‘I could work remotely from the castle. I don’t mind.’
‘Yes, you do.’ Juliette patted Victoria’s hand. ‘Besides, I think
you’ve enough going on without worrying about this place.’
‘It’s you I’m worried about.’
‘No need. I’m having a ball.’
There was a definite glow to Juliette.
‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’
‘Goodness, no.’ Juliette fanned herself with her hand. ‘Four’s enough.’
‘So, you’re just enjoying life?’
Juliette eased off the desk, and faced Victoria. ‘Getting rid of those board members has made such a difference to this place. Everyone’s happy. And Annabel’s made a huge impact on the staff.’ She stopped and backed away, as Victoria raised an eyebrow.
‘So what you’re saying is Annabel’s more fun than stuffy, intense Victoria?’
Juliette fiddled with her wedding ring, and then produced a hesitant nod.
Victoria couldn’t maintain her stern expression any longer, and she released the smile and the emotions she’d held back. ‘It is such a relief to hear you say that.’ She watched as her sister gave quiet thanks. ‘You’re the human element of this company, Joo. You made it the success it is, and I’m glad things are working out.’ She left her seat and invited a surprised Juliette in for a hug.
‘We made it a success, Victoria, and I’ll miss working with you. We’ve been partners a long time.’
‘We’ve been sisters longer.’
They broke away from the embrace, and smiled at one another.
‘You’re doing the right thing, you know that?’
Victoria nodded. ‘I feel it.’
With Juliette out for a late lunch, Victoria made good progress on researching Tommy Stone. The trouble was, the more she learned, the more there was to uncover. He had a trail as long as the Cotswolds Way. The most interesting fact that one of her British contacts unearthed was Tommy’s real name.
As the door to the office opened, Victoria switched off her monitor. There was no need to involve Juliette.
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