Summer Storm

by Letitia Healy

  As she grew stronger, her anxiety to get back to the house on the ridge, to see Simon again, became overwhelming, and yet she was reluctant to hurt John's feelings by showing that anxiety.

  However, at the end of ten days when the doctor told her that she was completely recovered and at liberty to do whatever she pleased, she decided that she must leave. She brought the subject up as gently as she could at dinner that night and was surprised at John's philosophical acceptance of the fact. "I knew you couldn't stay forever. Having you here as long as I have has been something I could hardly have hoped for. I'm only sorry that it had to happen as a result of an accident to you. But it's not as if you were going very far away," he said cheerfully. "Perhaps you will do me the honour of having dinner with me from time to time."

  "Of course I will, John," Jane answered. "I only wish I knew some way to thank you for all you've done for me."

  "Your presence has been thanks enough," he answered gravely.

  David came in the Rolls to take her home. As they were saying goodbye to John in the driveway, Jane reached over impulsively and kissed him on the cheek and then turned quickly and got into the car. He seemed stunned by the gesture but said nothing, only raised his hand in a wave as they pulled away.

  Jane's feelings were mixed as they pulled up beside the house on the ridge. She had been sure that Simon would come to get her, even though she had heard nothing from him since the day after her accident. She knew that she had hurt his feelings by urging him not to take the time from his book to visit her, but it was unlike him to bear a grudge and he must have known that she had only been thinking of his own good.

  He would be waiting inside to greet her, she was sure, but when she and David entered the house, only Mrs. Armitage stood in the hall. She greeted Jane with a hug. "Oh, my dear, I'm so glad to see you back. Mrs. Morgan has been phoning me with daily reports on your progress, but still we've been so worried about you."

  She took Jane's bag from David. "I'll put this in your room. Why don't you go and say hello to everyone? They're all out at the pool."

  Jane really didn't feel like saying hello to anyone. Simon, of course, would be in his study and she really didn't think that the others cared one way or the other whether she was home. However, she didn't want to seem rude, so she and David went through the dining room and out to the patio. Everyone was indeed there, including Simon. He and Mona were in the pool, laughing and splashing each other. When they noticed Bill and Anna waving at Jane and David they turned. Mona ignored them, but Simon said jovially, "Well, the invalid is back. Welcome home." And then turning to Mona, "Come on, three laps of the pool—I'll race you."

  Jane hadn't expected anything like this. Coldness, remoteness, anger, but not indifference. She turned blindly, her eyes filled with tears and felt David's hand on her arm guiding her inside. "I'll help you to your room," he said kindly.

  "No, thank you, David. I'll be all right. I'm just a little tired. I think I'll rest for a while."

  When she reached her room she threw herself on the bed and gave way to sobbing. How could she have been so blind as to think that Simon loved her? How could she hope to compete with a woman as beautiful and glamorous as Mona? And yet, those moments of passion that they had shared, was that all it was, just passion? When she. had had her accident, he had sat beside her bed all night and had been genuinely concerned, she could swear to it. It was all too confusing and she was too tired to try to sort it all out. She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew someone was knocking on her door. She called out groggily for whoever it was to come in. It was Mrs. Armitage and she was shocked when she saw Jane lying on the bed fully clothed. She took one look at the puffy eyes and said, "Oh, Jane, you poor child. I should have been here to help you get undressed and into bed properly, but I declare, that bunch have me run off my feet. Come now, child, let me help you. Mr. Wade left instructions that you were to have a tray in your room. It's been a long, tiring day for you. They're all going to the Culloden Inn for dinner, thank goodness. It might give me time to catch my breath."

  So, she was to be deserted by everyone, even David, Jane thought and then she told herself not to be foolish, she was starting to feel sorry for herself. When Mrs. Armitage had gone to prepare her dinner tray, Jane took a shower and got into a nightgown and housecoat and stretched out on the chaise longue. When there was a knock at the door Jane called out, "Come in, Mrs. Armitage." The door opened and David stuck his head inside. "I'm not Mrs. Armitage. Can I still come in?"

  "Of course, David," Jane answered. "I've been sent to bed—at least it wasn't without my supper."

  David looked at her shrewdly. "Do I detect a note of rebellion in your voice?"

  "No, of course not," Jane answered. "It's probably a good idea, I'm just tired of being confined I guess, and when Mrs. Armitage told me you were all going out to dinner and I was staying behind, I began to feel like the little girl who wasn't invited to the party."

  "Well, if you haven't been invited to the party, I don't want to go. I'll stay with you," David said.

  "Oh, no David, don't do that," Jane protested. "I'm afraid I've been badly spoiled the last ten days and it's time I came down to earth. I'll be perfectly fine here. I'll catch up on some of the reading you brought me when I was at John's, and Mrs. Armitage will be here if I need anything. Besides, I must get to bed early. I want to get back to work tomorrow."

  "Isn't that rushing things a little?" David asked.

  "Not at all. The doctor said that I'm fit for anything, and I've been away from it far too long."

  "Well, Simon isn't exactly keeping his nose to the grindstone these days," David said.

  Jane's eyes filled with tears and she turned her head away, hoping that David hadn't noticed. But he had and in one long stride he was beside her, sitting facing her on the chaise longue. He reached out and took her in his arms, tenderly. His voice was husky as he said, "I warned you that the next time I kissed you, I'd mean it. Well, this is the next time." His kiss was full of tenderness and longing and Jane wished that she could respond with more fervor, but, she asked herself with a kind of despair, after Simon would all men seem lacking?

  There was a kind of muffled gasp at the door, which David had left open. David let Jane go and they both turned towards the door where Simon stood, a derisive smile on his face. Jane thought that she had never seen his eyes so dark and piercing, and despite his tan, his face was chalk white.

  His voice was cold when he spoke. "Well, Jane, I'm glad to see that you have recovered completely. David, we're waiting for you." He stood there until David rose, muttering an embarrassed "goodbye" to Jane and after David had left the room he turned again and looked at Jane, with a look so full of disdain that it brought a moan from her. Then he turned and was gone.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Jane arrived in Simon's study for work the next day he looked up at her in surprise.

  "There was no necessity for you to come back to work so soon," he said gruffly.

  "I'm perfectly all right," Jane answered quietly and sat down at her desk.

  Those were the only words that passed between them the whole morning. When it was time for lunch, Jane left the study quietly and went to her room where Mrs. Armitage had left a tray. She was surprised to see that beside the tray Mrs. Armitage had placed a letter addressed to her. It was the first time that she had received any mail since she had come to the house on the ridge. After all, there were very few people who knew her address. She tore open the envelope and glanced first at the signature. It was from the professor who had rented her house. She read the letter through quickly and gave a soft cry of dismay. It stated that he had purchased a house and would therefore be vacating hers at the end of the next week, although of course he would pay full rent for the current month.

  Jane had never been much of a businesswoman and hadn't asked the professor to sign a lease. It just hadn't occurred to her that something like this would happen. Now she would h
ave all the bother of trying to rent to someone else, and she wasn't sure that she wanted to rent to someone that she didn't know. There was nothing of great value in the house, but there were many mementos of her life with her father and it would break her heart if they were damaged. At any other time she would have discussed the problem with Simon, but she could hardly do so now when he was barely speaking to her. She knew instinctively that David wouldn't be of much help with this kind of problem. Then she thought of John. Of course, he was the ideal person to help her.

  There was a telephone extension on a small table in the hall outside her room and she went immediately and dialed John's number. Mrs. Morgan answered and when Jane asked for John Baxter she replied, "Oh, I'm sorry miss. He was called away suddenly this morning. He flew to Virginia, some kind of trouble in the stables there I think. He said he'd be gone about a week. Is it urgent? I could give you his number there."

  Jane was surprised at the feeling of desolation that swept over her when she heard this. She hadn't realized how much her ten days at John's house had schooled her to depend upon him.

  "No, that's all right, Mrs. Morgan. It can wait," she said and hung up.

  She picked at her lunch. Suddenly she had no appetite, and at one o'clock returned to Simon's study.

  The afternoon was a repetition of the morning. Not a word passed between herself and Simon as they sat quietly working. The sounds of merriment from the pool sounded even louder in the silence.

  Just before five o'clock, Jane found that she needed some information from one of the books in Simon's library. She stood up quickly to get it, and found to her consternation that the room was suddenly spinning around her, faster and faster and darkness was closing in upon her. She reached blindly for the corner of her desk, when two strong arms were around her and Simon's voice, gentle and full of tenderness was saying, "It's all right… I've got you, just lean on me… It's all right." Then Jane felt herself being lifted in his arms. Somehow he managed to carry her down the spiral staircase and then along the corridor to her room, where he placed her gently on the bed. He sat beside her, and as she opened her eyes she caught the expression of profound tenderness on his chiselled, brown face.

  "I told you you shouldn't have come back to work so soon," he said gently.

  Jane felt her heart turn over. She longed to reach up and touch his beloved face, to pull his head down until his lips rested on hers. She could still feel the strength of his arms around her as he had caught her and carried her, and she longed to feel them again, but how could she when she had seen the cold derision on his face when he had walked in and seen David kissing her, how could she after his prolonged silence of today? And so she answered simply, "I don't think it was entirely because of my accident that I fainted. I didn't eat much lunch, so it was probably a combination of the two."

  "Well, whatever it is, you're not to work tomorrow. Get undressed and get into bed now, and I'll have Mrs. Armitage bring you a tray." The prospect of another lonely meal, of not seeing Simon again for another evening and another day, combined with her weakness was too much for Jane and she felt the tears rolling silently down her cheeks.

  "What is it, Jane?" Simon asked in a tone of anguish.

  "Oh, I guess I'm just tired of being an invalid and of being cooped up in my room," she answered, attempting to smile.

  Simon smiled. "Well, if that's all it is, I'll make you a promise. Mona wants to give a party next weekend. I wasn't going to allow you to attend, because I didn't think you'd be strong enough, but perhaps I was wrong, perhaps what you need is a little fun. If you behave yourself and rest tonight and tomorrow, then we'll expect you to attend."

  Jane wanted to tell him that one of Mona's parties was not the reward she would like. She would like Mona and the rest of them to go. She would like to go back to those idyllic days before they had arrived, those days when she and Simon had been so close, but instead she just smiled and said, "All right, I'll behave."

  As he rose he said, "I'm going to call John Baxter and invite him too." Without thinking, Jane said, "Oh, but he's away for at least a week."

  He turned to her and asked sharply, "How do you know?"

  "Why… why, I called him at noon… I wanted to ask his advice about something," Jane answered.

  Simon's face darkened and he answered shortly, "I see. I'll have Mrs. Armitage bring you a dinner tray," and then he was gone.

  Jane did as she had been instructed and stayed in her room that night and the next day. She had no visitors. She guessed that David was still embarrassed about the incident that had happened in her room, the day she had returned from the Baxter's, and was reluctant to visit her there again. As for Simon, she hadn't really expected him to come.

  When she did return to work, she found the household in such an uproar over the planned party that very little was being done. Simon was away from his study most of the time, huddling with Mona over guest lists, or running errands to Oban or Culloden and once to Toronto. Mrs. Armitage was frantically trying to hire extra help, despite the fact that the food and drink was being handled by a caterer from Toronto.

  Jane's heart ached as she watched Simon and Mona, their heads together, laughing, obviously happy in each other's company. She saw little of David too. He had also been recruited to run errands.

  The day of the party was perfect, dry and very warm. The house swarmed with a small army recruited by Mrs. Armitage to vacuum, dust, polish and clean every corner of the house; florists arranged mountains of blooms in the house, and around the patio which had been covered with a flooring for dancing.

  Jane finally gave up her attempt to work and retired to the peace and quiet of her room. Her head ached from the concussion and her spirits were low. She would have liked to have had a new dress for the party, but hadn't wanted to take the time from work to go shopping, considering the amount of time she had lost because of her accident. She decided that she had no choice, she'd have to wear the black dress that she had worn the night of her first dinner with Simon. The caftan was the only other suitable dress she owned and she had worn it so often that she was tired of it.

  When she had bathed and dressed and arranged her hair she turned and surveyed herself in the mirror. She was not encouraged by what she saw. Her skin still retained the pallor of illness and her tired eyes seemed twice as large as usual. She had lost weight and it showed in her face, the pale skin seemed stretched too tightly over the high cheekbones. In her depressed state she didn't realize that the whole effect was almost heartbreakingly ethereal.

  Mona had asked her to come down early in order to help with any last minute details that might have been overlooked. No one was around as she descended the spiral staircase and she went on into the living room. The last rays of the sun lit the room like a flame. Simon was standing in his favorite spot, by the sliding glass door at the front of the house gazing out over the hills. He must have heard her and he turned. At that moment, the sun sank and as Jane stood in the doorway she was bathed in that strange, bluish light that heralds the onset of twilight. It intensified her fragility, her air of vulnerability. Simon made a strangled moan as he saw her and then uttered her name as if it were wrenched from him. He took a step towards her, one arm outstretched, like a blind man feeling his way.

  At that moment, Mona entered from the dining room. She glanced at Jane and said absently, "My, don't we look sexy." Turning to Simon she said, "Simon be a dear and check out the bar for me. I don't think they have enough Scotch. Everyone drinks Scotch and I'll swear they haven't as many bottles as we ordered."

  She was wearing a red satin Halston gown, in the style that had become her trademark, a simple, fluid, strapless sheath that clung to her small, perfect body. Without a word, Simon left the room, and Mona turned to Jane.

  "I want you to stand at the door as the guests arrive. If any of them have wraps, I want you to show them to the small bedroom at the end of the hall. There's a maid there who will take care of them." She turned on her he
el and walked towards the kitchen.

  Jane had been too surprised to say anything. No one had intimated to her that she would be anything but a guest at the party. Now, it seemed that she was to be a kind of glorified servant. She didn't mind that part of it, but if she had had any choice she would have preferred working in the kitchen or somewhere behind the scenes. Greeting people that she had never met would be quite a challenge to her natural shyness. When she heard the first car pull up outside, she had an overwhelming impulse to run and hide in her room.

  She needn't have worried. Most people hadn't worn wraps, it was far too warm. A few women wore shawls and these she directed to the bedroom at the back of the house. But most of the guests ignored her completely. They wanted to meet Mona Moore and David Webber and were not in the least interested in her.

  She had been standing at the door for almost an hour when David appeared at her elbow. "What on earth are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere for you."

  "Oh, Mona made me official greeter," Jane answered with a smile.

  "That witch," David said vehemently, "all she wanted to do was cut down on the competition. I'll find someone to take over."

  He was back in moments with a uniformed maid and before Jane knew what had happened he had hurried her out to the patio and they were dancing, or attempting to, on the small dance floor that had been set up. It was very crowded and after the first dance was over David said, "I don't know about you, but that's too much like rush hour traffic. Let's get a drink and find a quiet place to sit." Jane agreed gratefully. She was still a little shaky and after standing at the door for an hour, was anxious to sit down.