Presently he returned, staggering a little and giving mock groans at the weight of Tessa’s case. ‘I had a right to-do convincing a woman in your compartment that I wasn’t pinching your property. She was most suspicious.’
‘I’d better go and explain.’ Tessa got up.
‘Why bother?’
‘Yes, Dennis.’ Gently she disengaged herself from his restraining hand. ‘It was kind of her to bother, and you might have been a sneak thief.’
‘Go on. If it’ll make you happy.’ His smile was lazy.
Later, they relaxed, closing their eyes and allowing the motion of the train to lull them into a pleasant sense of timelessness.
‘Tessa?’
‘Yes.’ She did not turn her head.
‘What happened the night we got cut off on the phone?’
She glanced sideways, but his eyes were closed. ‘I’d forgotten that I hadn’t seen you since then.’
‘I meant what I said,’ Dennis said quietly. ‘I was sorry about that night at the Silver Birch. I should have chosen Miranda—she would have socked me one and brought me to my senses.’
‘It’s over now,’ Tessa said uncomfortably. ‘Forget it.’
‘But what about the phone call?’ he persisted. ‘Something happened then, didn’t it, Tessa? Indirectly I may have been responsible. I mean if I hadn’t rung you at that particular time.’
‘How could you have been responsible, stupid? I was interrupted—that’s how I cut you off.’ Tessa paused. ‘Can’t we leave it at that?’
A faint smile curled the corners of his mouth. ‘Very well, my sweet. But I’d like you to know that I’ve straightened one little matter out for you—the least I could do after my lapse from grace. It was a long shot,’ he added thoughtfully, ‘but it came off.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You didn’t want to discuss the matter.’ He was smiling openly now. ‘Robbing me of my little triumph!’
Knowing that he had aroused her curiosity, he turned and rubbed her cheek. ‘Trust a woman. She sheers off a subject and refuses to be drawn. But try intriguing her a little and see how she changes her mind. You’d better close your eyes and stop worrying. We’ve hours to go yet.’ He lowered his voice. ‘If only we had the place to ourselves I could make love to you.’
Tessa met the disapproving stare of a grim-faced elderly woman sitting opposite, and felt a blush stain her cheeks.
Dennis winked as she hastily averted her face, and whispered, ‘Never mind old prunes and prisms—she’s probably frustrated. Suppose you make yourself comfy.’
His shoulder was comfy, Tessa found, and his arm gentle as he drew her against him, staring defiantly at the grim lady as he did so.
Dennis has changed, she thought sleepily as she closed her eyes. I don t feel that I have to be on guard against him all the time. Or have I changed, she wondered, in accepting more casually the different facets in relationships between men and women?
It seemed hours later when she was aroused by the murmur of voices and tramp of feet in the corridor. She sat upright, stretching cramped limbs, and rubbed at the misted window.
‘It’s almost dark. Where are we, Dennis?’
‘Stuck, I think. We’ve been stationary quite a time, while you’ve been snoring.’ He ignored her indignant protest. ‘Stay here. I’ll try and find out what’s happening.’
Tessa huddled into her coat. A fine rain had started to fall and a chill dampness permeated the train. The unexpected hold-up had broken the barriers of reserve among the other passengers and united them in mutual indignation.
Dennis came back, accompanied by a red-faced man who had sat next to the grim lady.
‘Disgraceful,’ he was saying. ‘How do they expect people to make their connections?’
Dennis shrugged. ‘I’m afraid we’re here for a bit. There’s a breakdown on the line a couple of miles ahead.’
Tessa looked worried. ‘We should have been nearly home by now.’
‘Cheer up.’ Dennis took her arm. ‘They’re serving tea and coffee in the diner. We may as well have some.’ He noticed her growing dismay as she glanced at her watch, and squeezed her arm reassuringly.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll get you home safely if Nick gets fed-up with waiting—I presume he’s meeting you.’
Tessa shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I told him I would get a taxi.’
At last the train shuddered and the grind of the wheels vibrated under their feet. ‘Thank goodness!’ Dennis took her cup from her, and stood back to allow her to precede him.
‘Tessa? Promise me something?’
‘Depends what it is.’
‘Still the same Miss Cautious.’ He grinned. ‘Come out with me one night next week. We’ll have a meal and dance. Please—then I’ll know I’ve been forgiven.’
‘Very well, Dennis. Thank you.’ She tried to keep doubt out of her voice, hoping that this proposed date would not end like the last one.
‘I’ve a special reason for asking,’ he added, ‘but I’m not telling you just yet.’
‘Oh.’ Tessa watched the secretive smile playing round Dennis’s mouth and wondered what he meant by a special reason. They lapsed into silence, watching the illusion of the lights flying and bobbing past in the darkness outside.
The strokes of midnight were booming as they drew into Marchfield station. Rain jingled on the glass-paned canopy above the platform and coursed in oily rivulets down the sides of the carriages. Dennis handed out the cases and jumped down, adroitly catching the eye of Marchfield’s porter, who stared somnolently at the alighting passengers. Dennis slipped something into the rough palm and deposited his burden on the trolley.
‘Got your ticket ready?’ He turned to Tessa and piloted her towards the barrier. His superior height enabled him to see past the trickle of people filing through the narrow opening, and Tessa could not know what devil possessed him to suddenly put an arm round her shoulder and his lips close to her ear as they emerged at the other side.
She looked up to answer his trite remark, and stopped abruptly, automatically moving away from him as she saw the tall figure waiting under the portico.
Nicholas nodded briefly to Dennis’s casual smile and looked into Tessa’s face. His mouth tightened, and she saw his eyes, shadowed under the brim of his hat, grow cold.
‘I’ll look after Tessa.’ His tone was curt. ‘Where’s your case?’
Tessa turned, and found the porter hovering behind her, a faint gleam of interest dawning on his countenance as he sensed a situation.
Nicholas took her case and with a muttered, ‘Goodnight, Gerard,’ strode through the portico. Tessa looked helplessly at Dennis, her expression troubled.
‘Not to worry,’ he whispered. ‘I’ll ring you tomorrow.’ He gave her a gentle push. ‘Better get a move on. Old Nick’s in a haughty mood tonight.’
She gave a faint smile as she bade him goodnight and hurried after Nicholas. He had started the car and the engine was purring smoothly as she climbed in beside him. Without speaking, he moved off, and she stole a sidelong look, trying to pierce the dividing darkness.
Apparently intent on the road, if he sensed her glance he gave no sign. A smile tinged with bitterness touched Tessa’s mouth as she recalled Jane’s advice. This was definitely not the time to try putting it into practice. Even the Dutch uncle indulgence was missing tonight—with a vengeance! Then a sudden indignation that he could so easily cause her to feel like a guilty child stiffened into a determination to challenge his chilly reserve.
‘Nicholas.’ She took a deep breath and hoped her voice would not quiver. ‘The train being late wasn’t my fault.’
He said, ‘You know perfectly well that I wouldn’t blame you for something beyond your control. Nor,’ his tone sounded sarcastic, ‘for inadvertently causing me concern and wasting an evening.’
She sought for reassurance somewhere in his words and could find none at all. Her mouth compressed and she said bitterly, �
�So you greet me with a stony silence and—and a brow like thunder—’
‘Stop using ridiculous clichés, Tessa.’
He twisted round to face her and pulled off his driving gloves.
‘What do you expect from me? The kind of attentions I’ve no doubt Dennis Gerard can supply?’ He leaned across her and thrust the gloves into the recess below the dashboard.
‘Well, Tessa?’ His mouth was sardonic and his eyes grim. ‘Cold comfort after your cosy little train journey?’
‘That’s a hateful insinuation,’ she flashed.
‘Is it?’ He raised his brows with the mocking lilt she knew so well. ‘It seems no time since you were running away from him.’
She turned away, unable to bear his nearness and the sense of shame that he should castigate her thus.
‘It wasn’t like that at all—oh, you’ll never understand!’ she cried despairingly, fumbling with the door catch in her effort to escape.
‘On the contrary.’ He handed her the handbag she had dropped in her confusion. ‘I do understand— perfectly.’
CHAPTER X
Tessa spanned her slim brocaded waist and pirouetted in front of the long mirror. Foaming nylon skirts frothed round her legs as she spun, and the light danced in rainbow sparks from the crystal necklace at her throat. She glanced at the tiny diamante wristwatch that had been a birthday gift from her mother and took a last look at her reflection before moving to the door.
At the top of the stairs she paused, then, unconsciously imitating Angie’s flawless stage technique, descended lightly and surefootedly without a single downward glance.
‘An excellent entrance.’
She stopped. From the study doorway Nicholas regarded her with enigmatic eyes. His gaze betrayed neither appreciation nor disapproval as it moved slowly over the smooth shining hair, the bare slender shoulders, and the cool virginal whiteness of her ensemble, coming finally to rest on the corsage Dennis had sent.
She felt her colour deepen under his cool scrutiny. Had she overdone the eye-shadow? Was the new coral lipstick just a shade too vivid?
Then he gave a slight smile and said abruptly: ‘You’ll do.’
Her soft sigh of disappointment was almost audible. Then she noticed that he was wearing a dinner jacket, and wondered where he was going tonight, and with whom. Wishing that Dennis would hurry up, she said tritely, ‘Has it stopped raining?’
‘Yes—fortunately for the finery.’
His tone did not seem to invite light conversation, and she wandered to the window, saying over her shoulder as she parted the curtains: ‘If you’re in a hurry to get away, you needn’t wait to see me off the premises, Nicholas.’
‘I’m in no hurry,’ he responded. ‘By the way, Tessa, I’ll be bringing you home tonight.’
‘You!’ She stared, the curtain falling back in place. ‘But—’
‘Yes.’
‘But I don’t even know where we’re going.’ Her hands fluttered, and he smiled.
‘I do. But it would hardly be fair to spoil Gerard’s secret.’ Nicholas was imperturbable. ‘Nevertheless, you will come home with me. I leave it to you what excuse you make.’
‘But I can’t! It’s not done,’ she protested wildly.
‘There’s Gerard’s car.’ He cut short her protests and went to the door. ‘Off you go. And don’t drink too much champagne. It’ll be flowing tonight, and I’ve no wish to carry you home.’
Tessa reached the door as Dennis bounded up the steps. His admiring glance did much to dispel the filing of youthfulness that Nicholas evoked. Solemnly Dennis crooked his arm, and equally solemnly she took it, while Nicholas watched from the shadows of the hall.
Dennis seemed unusually quiet as he drove. Apart from complimenting her on her appearance, he said little to allay her curiosity. Seven o’clock chimed as they neared their destination, and Tessa’s puzzlement increased when Dennis stopped the car with sharp decisive movements and turned towards her.
‘On tonight, and quite a lot of other nights, depends my future,’ he said seriously, his demeanour utterly in contrast to his normal carefree manner. ‘Come on, Tessa, we’re here.’
He indicated an unobtrusive entrance at the side of a millinery shop with one lone hat in its window. Twinges of doubt and the beginning of unease caught at Tessa. Where did this staircase lead? And why was it so quiet? No sounds of music, or the comings and goings one expected at places of entertainment. Then she remembered that Nicholas apparently knew what it was all about.
At the head of the stairs she was confronted by a wide corridor with several doors and a high Regency archway at the far end.
‘Straight through,” Dennis directed, and she walked under the arch to an opaque glass door and pushed it open.
Light and colour seemed to burst forth around her.
A gleaming maple floor stretched ahead, reflecting the soft colours of the candelabra above and the shaded lights wall brackets. Down one side of the long room were alcoves with snowy covered tables, and at the far end a dais held music stands and instruments behind banked flowers and greenery. The decor was dominated by blue and silver, and from the centre of the domed ceiling hung a crystal chandelier.
‘The Sapphire Caprice,’ Dennis said proudly.
Tessa had not got over her surprise. ‘But where’s everybody?’
‘Coming soon, I hope,’ said Dennis with mock alarm. ‘Else I’m bankrupt.’
‘You mean...’
‘Yes. This is my new venture.’ He drew her towards a chair. ‘I’m in partnership with two other men. My father advanced me part of my share in the investment and I scraped together every bean I could lay my hands on. We’d thought for a while that everyone didn’t want cellars with candles stuck in Chianti bottles—and there will be no coloured water sold at an exorbitant price for the sake of a dubious thrill. Instead of a beat group we’re having a small orchestra, we’ve found an excellent chef, and we hope to attract an adult clientele, and particularly overseas visitors.’
‘I never dreamed of anything like this,’ Tessa breathed.
‘I’ll show you round.’ Dennis led her to the kitchen, where everything was clinically clean, then to the lounge where drinks were served, and pointed out the powder room, the coffee and soft drinks bar, and finally opened a small door. ‘An honour awaits you there,’ he said mysteriously.
‘See that switch with the blue circle chalked round it? Put it on.’
Tessa peered into the dark little cubbyhole and wrinkled her nose.
‘Go on,’ Dennis prompted. ‘I’m not going to lock you in.’
Hesitantly, she pressed down the blue chalked switch as if she feared something might explode at any moment.
‘Now come to the window,’ Dennis directed.
Tessa did so, and began to laugh. Above and below, a glare of blue neon winked, shining out over the street and reflecting on the buildings opposite.
‘You’ve opened the Sapphire Caprice,’ he grinned.
‘Oh, Dennis!’ Impulsively she hugged him. ‘I do wish you luck. And I’m thrilled to be your guest of honour. I—I—’ She broke off, happy yet puzzled that he should have chosen her.
The ballroom, which had been empty when they arrived, was sparklingly alive a short time later. The bright hues of gowns mingled with the black and white of dinner dress, and the glitter of jewels swirled into a kaleidoscope of colour. Suddenly it seemed that the Sapphire Caprice had become filled with that strange evanescent will-o’-the-wisp, success.
‘You’ll have to forgive me for leaving you from time to time tonight,’ Dennis said as they left the floor and returned to their table. ‘I’ve various duties I’ll have to attend to, and some duty dances with my partners’ wives. But here’s someone I think you know.’
He beckoned to a tall, thin young man whose fair tousled hair and hollow-planed features were at once startlingly familiar. He was looking at Tessa, recognition dawning in his eyes, as intently as she was staring at him.
>
‘Coleridge Redpath, our decor expert,’ Dennis announced, while Tessa and the young man broke into simultaneous laughter.
‘You designed the sets for Veil of Stars—’
‘You were a skinny schoolgirl who—’
‘—and you were furious on the first night because one of the special lighting effects went wrong.’
‘—you were weeping buckets because the bouquet you’d ordered for your mother hadn’t turned up.’
‘Remember when...?’
Raising whimsical brows, Dennis watched them drift on to the floor before he turned to the waiter who was drawing him aside.
‘You’ll be joining your mother in America soon, I expect,’ Col said suddenly, stumbling and stopping to apologize.
‘Me? America?’ Tessa also stopped, staring at him. ‘But Angie’s coming home next month.’
Col looked down at her, his face puzzled. ‘But I heard—’ He hesitated nervously. ‘Let’s sit this out. I’m hopeless at this lark.’
Suddenly oblivious of the music and gaiety around her, Tessa allowed him to lead her back to their table.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked anxiously. ‘What have you heard?’
‘Well,’ he hedged, ‘you know how rumours fly in the theatre world. Somebody said that Angie was going back in the spring—to stay.’
‘To stay!’ Tessa whispered, gripping her glass tightly.
Col patted her shoulder. ‘Drink up, and don’t look so scared. The grapevine must have got it wrong. If anyone would know of Angie’s plans it would be you.’
‘I’m not sure of that,’ she said, unable to accept his assurance.
‘Not sure of what?’ Dennis had approached unheard behind them. ‘This is supposed to be a celebration.’ He refilled Tessa’s glass and glowered at Col. ‘If this is the effect you have on Tessa, my boy. I’m going to remove her.’
She forced a smile, and raised her glass with a semblance of gaiety. Inwardly her thoughts were whirling. Angie’s letters, now she came to think of it, had been stilted of late, and the intervals between them longer. Almost as though there was something she wished to impart and was unsure how to begin. It was quite possible a new contract had been offered her. In that event, I would have to join her, Tessa mused. I can’t stay with Nicholas indefinitely. I suppose I’m lucky, her thought flew off on another tangent. Most girls would envy me. But Angie can’t make me go. I have to make something of my life, not just drift after her.
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