Second Best Wife

by Isobel Chace

  A fleeting smile crossed Celine's face. 'Missing William already?'

  Georgina nodded. 'I only fight with him when he's here, but I can't settle to anything with him gone. Silly, isn't it?'

  'You're in love with him,' Celine sighed. 'You're lucky!'

  'Lucky!' Georgina stared at her. The tears came rushing into her eyes. 'He doesn't love me. He never will. He married me because he thought my sister Jennifer preferred someone else. He wanted to protect her from me!'

  'Why?'

  'He thinks I bully her into doing things she doesn't want to—that I broke up her romance with him. She wrote him a letter, you see, saying she'd changed her mind and wanted him after all. She gave it to me to give him on the plane, only inside it was written as if she'd wanted him to receive it before the wedding., If he'd had it then he wouldn't have married me.'

  Celine shrugged. 'He doesn't seem to hold it against you. Anyway, why should you care? I wouldn't if I were married to Stuart. I wouldn't care about anything else.'

  'Not with Jennifer on her way here?' Georgina said dryly.

  Celine looked muddled and frowned. Georgina, looking up at that moment, caught her breath afresh at the younger girl's shining beauty, a beauty which was enhanced rather than otherwise by her supreme indifference to the effect it had on those about her.

  'I always thought,' Celine began in puzzled tones, 'that everyone loved the people who are close to them. Everyone else, that is. I didn't love my mother, I hardly ever saw her. She was always out with some man or other.

  I loved Miss Campbell even less. I'm not sure about my father. I think I did love him— I liked him a lot when he had time for me. I've always felt guilty that I didn't love my mother and she died. But you don't love Jennifer, do you?'

  Georgina had always pretended to herself that she did. 'I'm sure I do! I don't like her, but I'm sure I must love her!'

  'Because she's your sister?'

  'Well, yes,' Georgina admitted. 'I've never thought of doing anything else.'

  Celine struggled within herself to find the words to explain something else she didn't understand. 'Stuart says I don't know how I feel about him either!' she blurted out. 'He's going to give me time to find my feet. Oh, Georgie, how can I all by myself? I've been alone so long!'

  Georgina felt as helpless as her charge. 'Perhaps he's worried that you need someone, but not him in particular,' she suggested hopefully. 'You don't know many other men, after all.'

  'I don't have to!' Celine maintained stubbornly. 'I want Stuart now. He says we both have to be free in case we find we prefer someone else, just as if his saying that makes any difference to how I feel about him. I'll never be free — even if I wanted to be! But he doesn't need me in the same way. He might find someone else and I think I'd die if he did!'

  'Have you told him that?'

  Celine shook her head. 'He may be afraid because I'm not —not normal. He wouldn't tell me so, though, would he? He wouldn't want to hurt my feelings. There must be hundreds of ordinary girls he could marry. I'm frightened he doesn't want me. That's why you're lucky to be married to William. You'll always be a part of him even if he does prefer your sister. I'd rather share Stuart than not have him at all.'

  Georgina wondered if she could ever be as self-sacrificing, but she already knew that she couldn't. She wanted the whole loaf! For others half a loaf might be better than no bread at all, but it wasn't for her, not if Jennifer had the other half. Not if Jennifer had a single slice, come to that!

  'I think you're completely normal,' she said aloud. 'And you have a much nicer nature than I have. I want what I want, much more than I want what William wants! '

  For once Celine looked the older of the two. 'Because they're the same thing, Georgie. Otherwise you wouldn't. He can't want Jennifer very badly or he wouldn't have married you. I daresay he doesn't really love either of you, but he's married to you. I'd give anything to be married to Stuart!'

  And she began to look so miserable again that Georgina felt quite cheerful about her own chances with William by comparison. William would be coming home to her that evening and she could hardly wait. All would be well, she thought, just as long as William went on coming home. While he did that, they were a team, and the longer a team stayed in harness the more difficult it was to destroy the partnership.

  The two girls decided to make Georgina a new dress after lunch. Celine had supplied the material, a beautiful batik cotton which she had bought for herself in Nuwara Eliya, but which she had afterwards had thought was too definite a colour for her fair beauty.

  'I like it,' she said indifferently when Georgina said she should keep it for herself, .'but I'll never wear it. Not that shade of green with my hair!'

  'Perhaps not,' Georgina decided. She couldn't help fingering the thick cotton to examine the pattern more closely. The amount of work that had gone into dyeing the pattern was frightening. She could imagine how long it had taken waxing the area that was not to be dyed any particular colour, and then waxing it again for the next colour, and so on until the whole design was complete. 'I'll get you another dress length when I go with William to the site. We learned to do this sort of thing in college, but I can't say my efforts were as fine as this.'

  'You should see some of the wall-hangings!' Celine enthused. 'They're real works of art! I wanted to buy one, but Miss Campbell wouldn't let me. She doesn't like beautiful things.'

  Georgina laughed. 'She's so terribly ugly herself, isn't she? I mean not just ugly in a bearable way, but she's made herself ugly. Poor thing, one has to feel sorry for her for having to live with herself!'

  Celine averted her face so that Georgina couldn't see her expression. 'I had to live with her for years. I still can't believe she's gone.' She hesitated. ‘I don't believe she started the fire herself, you know, though William thinks she might have done. I think she made that man come and dance outside the window to frighten Mother, though. Afterwards she made him come again and frighten me. She'll never let me go if she can help it.'

  Georgina felt a strange disquiet settle over her own spirits. ‘William won't allow her to have anything more to do with you.'

  ‘No,' Celine agreed. ‘Not if he can help it. But if I were married to Stuart no one would have to keep her away, would they? I feel safe with Stuart.'

  Georgina put out an impulsive hand, grasping the other girl's arm. ‘She won't come back here, darling. William is a dangerous man when he's crossed — as I have reason to know! She wouldn't risk another brush with him.'

  Celine shrugged off her hand, spreading the material on the floor of the sitting-room. ‘She would, you know,' she said quietly. ‘She has great faith in her own powers —and so have I!'

  ‘Her powers?'

  Celine twisted her lips into the semblance of a smile. ‘She found out about them when she was a child. They work too. That's why she kept me alive, because one day I'd add to her powers. She was always telling me so. Otherwise I could have died with my mother and welcome!'

  ‘But that's horrible!' Georgina protested, wondering if she or William would ever know what Celine had suffered at that terrible woman's hands.

  ‘That's Miss Campbell,' said Celine.

  The light was fading from the sky when the sound of a car coming up the drive made Georgina dash to the front door. She didn't care if William did laugh at her, she had to welcome him home in person and, besides, she wanted to tell him about Miss Campbell. But it was not the jeep that William was using that edged its way forward through the trees. This was a saloon car and it hooted at every bend in the way of every Sinhalese driver. A stunning disappointment welled up inside her. She had been so sure it would be William at last, and it wasn't. On the contrary, there was nobody else it could be but Jennifer.

  The car drew up beside the front door and Georgina went out to meet her, forcing a smile of welcome on to her lips. Jennifer, elegant and imperious, emerged from the car and smoothed down her skirt with a much-ringed hand. She held up the rings be
neath Georgina's nose and

  laughed.

  'I bought them on the way here. Sapphires are two a penny out here and I never could resist them!'

  Georgina felt at a loss. Her eyes gravitated to the car again just in time to see another figure getting out of the back on the far side.

  'You're not alone?'

  'No. Isn't it a giggle?' Jennifer giggled charmingly. 'Miss Campbell is my travelling companion while I'm in Sri Lanka. I found her all alone in Kandy and we decided to go on together.'

  'I know Miss Campbell,' Georgina said huskily.

  'That's right, she does,' Miss Campbell agreed complacently. 'I'm back, just like the proverbial bad penny! You can't keep a good man down, can you? And how are we getting on with my poor little Celine, Georgie Porgie — no, I have to say Mrs. Ayres, don't I? Managed nicely without me, have you?'

  Jennifer's tinkling laugh ran through the dusk of the evening. 'Oh, Georgie! Has that unfortunate rhyme followed you out here too? Shall I speak to William about it on your behalf?'

  'No, thank you,' said Georgina, and she led the way, slowly and reluctantly, into the bungalow and the brightness of the electric lights.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Georgina's heart ached in sympathy when she saw William's weary, resigned face. 'I was hoping you'd be home earlier,' she said.

  He pushed the curl off her forehead with an impatient hand. 'Don't start on me now, Georgie, there's a dear. It's been one hell of a day! I should have gone down there earlier and seen how things were g°mg—'

  'It hasn't been much of a day here either,' she interrupted him. 'Oh, William, Miss Campbell is here! Jennifer arrived too. Miss Campbell is her new travelling companion.'

  'Is she, though? I can't say I admire her taste.'

  'No,' she muttered darkly. 'And that isn't all! Jennifer likes her!' William gave her a look of exasperated amusement. 'If she didn't, she wouldn't have brought her with her. Oh well, I don't suppose it matters really, and quite honestly, at the moment I'm too tired to care about who we have in the house! I'll have something to eat and go straight to bed. Don't worry about disturbing me, my dear. I'll sleep in the other room.'

  He couldn't have hurt her more if he had struck her.

  'Must you?' she asked tremulously. 'I —I — '

  'You don't have to pretend, Georgina. You'll be glad to have your bed to yourself for a night, won't you? It'd be different if we were going to make love, but I'm pooped. I could sleep for a week!' Georgina threaded her fingers together in a nervous gesture. 'Is it always going to be like this?'

  'I hope not!'

  'It isn't because Jennifer is here?'

  His eyes narrowed. 'How could it be? I haven't seen her yet. Come on, out with it! What's niggling you about Jennie now?'

  Georgina gulped. 'I just thought — ' She took a deep breath to give herself courage. 'She's here now. I just thought you might not want me because she's under the same roof.' 'Georgie dear, I'm tired! Haven't I given you sufficient proof this last week that I want you? Jennifer won't make any difference to that! But not tonight, sweetheart. Okay?'

  She nodded, unconvinced. 'What am I to do about Miss Campbell?'

  His irritation surfaced again. 'Does it matter? She won't be able to do much harm in a few hours, will she? I'll have a word with her before I leave for work tomorrow.'

  Georgina's gaze caught and held him. 'I'm frightened of her,' she confessed. 'Celine says she has powers and that she'll never let her go because of them. I think I believe her.'

  'Rubbish, sweetheart. What powers can she possibly have?'

  'I don't know. But she said she'd be back and here she is!'

  'Thanks to Jennifer!'

  'Yes, but she managed to persuade her to bring her. Jennifer isn't very biddable about that sort of thing. She hasn't much time for her own sex at the best of times, but someone as ugly and unpleasant as Miss Campbell? How did she manage it?'

  'Not by witchcraft! I expect Jennifer took pity on her because she's ugly and unfortunate in her manner. She always had a kind heart.' Georgina compressed her lips into a straight line, telling herself it would be folly to pursue the matter further. Besides, what did she expect William to do? He looked tireder than she had ever seen him, and her conscience smote her. He had his own worries, couldn't she cope with the ones that Miss Campbell's presence had brought them? What kind of a wife was she, anyhow, to badger him now when she could see for herself how exhausted he was?

  'William—'

  He looked an enquiry. 'I'd rather you slept in my room with me. I won't bother you—'

  But he shook his head. 'Nothing doing, my sweet. I know you better than that! Of course you'd bother me!' He laughed without any amusement. 'Get someone to bring me some sandwiches, will you? And keep Jennifer out of my hair until tomorrow. Can you do that?' She looked down, veiling her eyes with her lashes. 'I'll bring you

  the sandwiches myself. Sleep well, William.'

  He tipped up her face and kissed her on the lips. 'Thank you, Georgie. Could you believe they were using the wrong core to pack the base of that dam? It will all have to come out again. That'll teach me for allowing you to distract me from the task in hand!' He kissed her again. 'If you think it's hot up here, you should try a day out in the sun down there. No, on second thoughts, you'd better not. I like you cool and fresh and sweet-smelling! I must smell like a Turkish bath!'

  She rubbed her hand against his chest, smiling. 'I don't mind,' she said. 'You could smell like a pig for all I care!'

  He smiled genuinely then and delivered a slap on her behind. 'Who'd have thought you'd turn out to be such a sexy piece?' he teased her. 'See that you only show that side of yourself to me, Georgie Porgie, or it'll be you who sports the next black eye!'

  'I'm not afraid!' she sang out, dancing out of his reach. 'Last time it was I who got through your defences! You never know when I might do so again!'

  'Oh, Georgina!' He shook his head at her. 'What an appetite for doing battle you have! Don't you ever give up? You must know by now that I'm the natural victor between us.'

  She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. 'Prove it,' she challenged him.

  He took a step towards her. 'With pleasure! But not now, Georgie! You have our guests to consider, and I have some sleep to catch up on. But one day soon I'll make you cry uncle, and I'll enjoy every minute of it!'

  She thought she would too, but not with Jennifer, the true love of his life, in the same house. Her pleasure in the cut and thrust between them fell away from her and thoughts of her sister and Miss Campbell came crowding back into her mind.

  'I wish they hadn't come!' she said out loud.

  His eyes were kind, but very, very tired. 'Cheer up, they won't stay for ever.' He turned away from her, going through the bathroom to his own bedroom. Halfway there, he turned and spoke again: 'Keep Celine out of Miss Campbell's way, won't you, Georgie? I couldn't stand her screaming her head off in the middle of the night tonight —'

  'Then you do think she might get at her?' Georgina demanded.

  'I think she may try if it's made easy enough for her. It's up to you to keep them apart. Jennifer will help you, if you explain things to her properly. She brought her here, after all!'

  It was strange how obtuse the most intelligent of men could be, Georgina thought to herself, trying not to wince physically as he shut the door behind him. It did hurt, though. She had been looking forward to his homecoming all day, longing for his company, and now to be deprived of it made her want to cry. Nor were Jennifer and Miss Campbell the substitutes she would have chosen to sit opposite her at the dinner table. And what about Celine? Could she be persuaded to have her meal in her room?

  Georgina sighed, deciding that wouldn't do either. She had to see Miss Campbell some time if she was staying in the same house; it might as well be in company, when Jennifer and she were there to protect her.

  When she went in search of the younger girl, however, she was nowhere to be found. Only Jenni
fer was in the sitting-room, smoking a cigarette in one of the longest holders Georgina had ever seen. This was a new affectation and one that wouldn't last long, judging by the ham-fisted way Jennifer chose to wield it, swirling it about her head.

  'Aren't I to be allowed to see William?' she greeted Georgina in her usual sarcastic style. She seldom bothered to charm her own family unless she wanted something from them.

  'Not tonight. He started work today and things haven't been going well without him. He's very tired and he's gone straight to bed.'

  'How boring!'

  Georgina kept a stern check on her temper. 'He came out here to work,' she said mildly. 'He likes these Commonwealth projects and he wants it to be a success.'

  'More likely it's a good excuse to get away from you, Georgie. All men get tired of fighting with you sooner or later, don't they? I could name quite a few who turned from you to me with obvious relief. You never learn, do you, my pet?'

  'You were welcome to all of them,' Georgina replied mildly.

  'And William?'

  'I'm married to William.'

  'But for how long? You don't flatter yourself that you'll be able to keep him, do you?' She looked smug. 'Didn't you guess that I came out here to retrieve my property from your ungentle hands? I want William, and I'm going to have him. I made a mistake sending you to tell him about Duncan. I thought he'd give you beans for your trouble, not marry you instead of me! Why didn't he? Not that it matters! He won't stay with you for a moment longer than he has to, not when he knows that I'm available. He's in love with me, remember?'

  Georgina tried to keep calm. 'I wonder if he is,' she observed. 'He doesn't seem overjoyed by your arrival, does he?'

  'Only because he's afraid of what will happen when we meet,' Jennifer claimed with such certainty that Georgina could feel herself being pushed into believing her. She wished she had a similar confidence in herself to sustain her.

  She changed the subject. 'Did you know Miss Campbell used to look after William's ward, Celine?' she asked.

  'Oh yes. She told me at once. You weren't very clever there, my dear Georgie. She considers you an enemy, and the Miss Campbells of this world know how to deal with their enemies.'