Virginia shrugged. She was frowning. When she frowned, all the fine lines on her face sprang into relief and she no longer looked so young. “I suppose you might as well know. We’re not on the best of terms at the moment. We have a running row going on, no harsh words, but a certain frigid politeness.”
“But…” Noel was forgotten and Alexa filled with apprehension. She had never heard Virginia speak about Fa in that cold tone of voice, could not remember them ever having quarrelled. Virginia adored him, fell in with all his plans, agreed with everything he suggested. There had never been anything but loving accord, every evidence of physical affection, and always — even from behind closed doors — much laughter and chat when they were together. They never seemed to run out of things to talk about, and the stability of their marriage was one of the reasons Alexa returned home to Balnaid whenever she could grab a holiday. She liked to be with them. The very thought of their falling out, not speaking, not loving, was unendurable. Perhaps they would never love again. Perhaps they would divorce…“…I can’t bear it. What’s happened?”
Virginia, seeing all the joy flow from Alexa’s face, felt guilty and knew she had said too much. It was just that, talking about Noel, she had forgotten that Alexa was her stepdaughter and had allowed herself to speak bluntly and coldly about her problems, as though confiding in some old and intimate friend. A contemporary. But Alexa was not a contemporary.
She said quickly, “Don’t look so horrified. It’s not as bad as that. It’s just that Edmund is insisting on sending Henry to boarding school and I don’t want him to go. He’s only eight, and I think he’s too young. Edmund has always known how I feel, but he settled it all without consulting me and I was very hurt. It’s got to a pitch where we can’t even talk about it. The subject is never mentioned. We’ve both dug our toes in and that seems to be it. Which is one of the reasons I took Henry away to Devon. He knows he’s got to go away to school, and he knows that we’re angry with each other. For his sake I try to have fun with him, and do things with him the way I always have. And I would never dream of saying a word to him against Edmund. You know how he adores his father. But it’s not easy.”
“Oh, poor little Henry.”
“I know. I thought maybe a day or two with Vi would make things better for him. You know what buddies they are. So I made the excuse of a new dress and seeing you, and came to London for a few days. I don’t really need a new dress, but I’ve seen you, and the way things have turned out, that’s made it worthwhile.”
“But you’ve still got to go home to Balnaid.”
“Yes. But perhaps things will be better.”
“I am sorry. But I do understand. I know how Fa can be once he’s made up his mind about something. Like a brick wall. It’s the way he works. I suppose it’s one of the reasons that he’s been so successful. But it’s not easy if you’re on the other side of the fence and you’ve got a point of view of your own.”
“That’s right. I sometimes think he would be a little more human if, just once in his life, he made a real cock-up of something. Then he could admit to the possibility of being mistaken. But he never has and he never does.”
In total agreement, they gazed at each other glumly. Then Alexa said, without much conviction, “Perhaps Henry will love school, once he gets there.”
“Oh, I hope so much that he will. For all our sakes. For Henry’s sake in particular, I’d be grateful to be proved wrong. But I’m terribly afraid that he’ll hate it.”
“And you…? Oh, Virginia. I can’t imagine you without Henry.”
“That’s the trouble. Neither can I.”
She reached for another cigarette and Alexa decided that the time had come to take some positive action.
She said, “Let’s have a drink. After all this, I think we could both do with one. What for you? A Scotch?”
Virginia looked at her watch. “I should go. Felicity’s expecting me for dinner.”
“There’s heaps of time. And you must stay and meet Noel. He won’t be long now. Now that you know about him, please don’t go. And it’ll make it much easier for you, telling Fa, if you’ve met Noel and can say how much you like him.”
Virginia smiled. Alexa was twenty-one and now a woman of some experience but still wondrously naïve.
“All right. But don’t make it too strong.”
Noel had bought the flowers from a street vendor near the office. Carnations and sweet peas and a misting of gypsophila. He had not intended to buy flowers but had seen them as he passed, thought about Alexa, and then gone back to take a second look. The flowerlady was anxious to be home and let him have two bunches for the price of one. Two bunches made a good show.
Nowadays, living in Ovington Street, he walked home from the office each evening. It gave him the chance to stretch his legs and yet was not too great a distance to be tiring at the end of a day’s work. It was pleasant to turn in at the end of the street and know that this was where he now belonged.
Domesticity with Alexa, he had discovered, had many advantages, for she had proved to be not only a charming, compliant lover but the most undemanding of companions. At first Noel had harboured fears that she might become possessive, and jealous of any time that he spent away from her. He had suffered such resentments before, and had ended up feeling as though he had a millstone hanging round his neck. But Alexa was different, generous and understanding about evenings when he was committed to giving dinner to some overseas client, or the regular twice-weekly games of squash at his club.
Now, he knew that when he opened the blue front door she would be there, waiting for the sound of his key in the door, running up the stairs from the basement to greet him. He would relax with a drink, take a shower, eat an excellent dinner; later, watch the news, perhaps, or listen to some music. And, finally, bear Alexa off to bed.
His pace quickened. He took the steps in a single stride, juggling with the flowers in order to reach into his trouser pocket for his doorkey. The door, well-oiled, swung silently inwards, and he heard at once the voices from beyond the open drawing-room door. Alexa apparently had a caller. Which was unusual because ever since Noel had moved into Ovington Street, she had firmly kept all visitors at bay.
“…I wish you’d stay for dinner,” she was saying. He closed the door, being careful to make no sound. “Can’t you ring Felicity and make some excuse?”
The hall table was piled with some person’s expensive-looking shopping. He put his briefcase down on the floor.
“No, it would be too rude.” A female visitor. He paused for a second to check on his appearance, sagging at the knees in front of the oval mirror, smoothing back his hair with his hand.
“It’s grilled trout and almonds…”
He went through the open door. Alexa was on the sofa with her back to him, but her visitor saw him at once, and their eyes met across the room. She had the most astonishingly blue eyes that he had ever seen, and their bright glitter was cool as a challenge.
She said, “Hi!”
Alexa, alerted, sprang up. “Noel. I never heard you come in.” She looked rosy and faintly grubby but very sweet. He gave her the flowers and stooped to kiss the top of her head.
“You were talking too hard,” he told her, and turned to the guest, who was now on her feet, a tall and stunning blonde, wearing a slender black dress and a huge black velvet bow at the back of her head. “How do you do. I’m Noel Keeling.”
“Virginia Aird.” Her handshake was firm and friendly and, it occurred to him, at variance with the light in those brilliant eyes. He knew then that Alexa had been confiding, and that this glamorous creature was totally au fait with their situation. It was up to him to carry it off.
“And you’re…?”
“My stepmother, Noel.” Alexa spoke quickly, which meant that she was a little agitated and somewhat out of her social depth. “She’s just down from Scotland to do some shopping. She dropped in out of the blue. It was the most lovely surprise. Oh, what gorgeo
us flowers. You are dear.” She buried her nose in them and sniffed luxuriously. “Why do carnations always make me think of bread sauce?”
Noel smiled at Virginia. “She’s got a one-track mind. Food.”
“I’ll go quickly and put them in water. We’re having a drink, Noel.”
“So I see.”
“Do you want one?”
“Yes, of course, but don’t worry, I’ll help myself.”
She left them, bearing her bouquet, headed for the kitchen. Alone with Virginia, Noel turned to her. “Do sit down again. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She did so, arranging her long limbs with some grace. “Tell me, when did you come to London? And how long are you staying?”
Virginia explained. A spur-of-the-moment decision, an invitation from an old friend. Her voice was deep, with the attractive trace of an American accent. She had tried to get in touch with Alexa by telephone but had not been successful. Finally, she had just come round and taken Alexa by surprise.
As she told him all this, Noel fixed his drink. Now he brought it back to where she sat, and settled himself in the chair facing her. She had, he noticed, exceptional legs.
“And when are you going back to Scotland?”
“Oh, tomorrow, maybe. Or the day after.”
“I heard Alexa inviting you to dinner. I wish you’d stay.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’m already committed. I shall have to go very soon, but Alexa wanted me to be here when you got home.” Her eyes were bright as sapphires, unblinking. “She wanted me to meet you.” She was splendidly direct, with no beating about the bush. He decided to meet her challenge head-on.
“I imagine that she’s explained the situation to you.”
“Yes, she has. I am entirely in the picture.”
“I’m glad. It will make things much easier for all of us.”
“Have they been difficult?”
“Not at all. But I think her conscience was troubling her.”
“Her conscience has always troubled her.”
“She’s been a little worried about her family.”
“Her family mean a lot to her. She’s had a strange upbringing. It’s left her in some ways quite mature, and in others still childlike.”
Noel wondered at her saying this. She must realise, surely, that he had already found that out for himself. He said, “She didn’t want anybody hurt.”
“She’s asked me to tell her father.”
“I think that’s a splendid idea. I have been urging her to do so.” He smiled. “Do you imagine that he will appear at our door with a horsewhip?”
“I shouldn’t think so.” Virginia reached for her handbag, took a cigarette and lit it with a gold lighter. “He’s not a man who gives way to his emotions. But I think that, as soon as possible, you should make his acquaintance.”
“It was never I who balked at the idea.”
She eyed him through the drifting smoke of her cigarette. “I think it would be best if you were to come to Balnaid. Then we would all be around you, and Alexa would have a little moral support.”
He realised that he was being invited to stay. In that solid old Edwardian house with the dogs and the conservatory and the country all around. Alexa had spoken to him, with great enthusiasm and at some length, of the joys of Balnaid. The garden, the picnics, the small brother, the grandmother, the old nanny. He had shown polite interest but not much more. It did not sound like a place where amusing things might happen, and Noel’s greatest horror was to be trapped, a guest in another person’s house, and bored.
But now, faced by Virginia Aird, he found his preconceptions of Balnaid doing a swift about-turn. For this elegant and sophisticated woman, with her mesmerising eyes and her charming suggestion of a transatlantic drawl, could never be dull. Perceptive enough to leave you alone with The Times, if that was what you wanted, but still the sort of hostess who could, on the spur of the moment, think up some new and amusing ploy or ask a party of entertaining friends round for an impromptu drink. His imagination moved on to other delights. There would probably be some fishing. And shooting, too. Although that wouldn’t be much use to Noel because he had never shot. Nevertheless…
He said, “How very kind of you to invite me.”
“It would be best if we kept it very casual…as though, for some reason, you were coming anyway.” She thought about this, and then her face lit up with bright inspiration. “Of course. The Steyntons’ dance. What could be more natural than that? I know Alexa is in two minds about coming, but…”
“She said she wouldn’t go without me and of course I haven’t had an invitation.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll have a word with Verena Steynton. There are never enough men at these affairs. She’ll be delighted.”
“You may have to persuade Alexa.”
As he said this, Alexa came back into the room, bearing a pink-and-white jug in which she had loosely arranged Noel’s offering. “Are you talking about me behind my back?” She put the jug on the table behind the sofa. “Don’t those look lovely? You are kind, Noel. It makes me feel special, being brought flowers.” She fiddled with a stray carnation, and then abandoned the arrangement and returned to her seat in the corner of the sofa. “Persuade Alexa to do what?”
“Come to the Steyntons’ dance,” said Virginia, “and bring Noel with you. I’ll fix an invitation for him. And stay with us at Balnaid.”
“But perhaps Noel doesn’t want to go.”
“I never said I didn’t want to go.”
“You did so!” Alexa was indignant. “The morning the invitation came you said tribal dances were scarcely your scene. I thought that was the end of the matter.”
“We never really discussed it.”
“You mean you would come?”
“If you want me to, of course.”
Alexa shook her head in disbelief. “But Noel, it will be tribal dances. Reels and things. Could you bear that? It’s no fun if you can’t do them.”
“I’m not totally unexperienced. That year I fished in Sutherland, there was a hooley in the hotel one evening and we all leapt around like savages, and as far as I remember, I leapt with the best of them. A couple of whiskies are all I need to lose my inhibitions.”
Virginia laughed. “Well, if it all becomes too much for the poor man, I’m sure there’ll be a nightclub or a disco, so he can go and smooch in there.” She stubbed out her cigarette. “What do you say, Alexa?”
“There doesn’t seem to be much for me to say. Between the two of you, you’ve fixed the whole thing up.”
“In that case, that’s our little dilemma solved.”
“What little dilemma?”
“Noel, casually, meeting Edmund.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Don’t look so miserable. It’s the perfect plan.” She glanced at the clock, laid down her glass. “I must go.”
Noel got to his feet. “Can I drive you somewhere?”
“No. You’re sweet, but if you could find me a taxi, that would be great…”
While he was gone on this errand, Virginia put her shoes back on, checked on her beautiful hairdo, reached for her scarlet jacket. Fastening the buttons, she caught Alexa’s anxious gaze and smiled encouragingly.
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll make it okay for you before you’ve even set foot in the house.”
“But you and Fa. You won’t still be having a row, will you? I couldn’t bear it if there was a hateful atmosphere and the two of you being angry with each other.”
“No, of course not. Forget that. I shouldn’t have told you in the first place. We’ll have a great time. And your being there will cheer me up after poor Henry’s gone to school.”
“Poor little boy. I can’t bear to think about it.”
“Like I said, neither can I. However, there doesn’t seem to be much either of us can do about it.” They kissed. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Thank you for coming. And for being so marvellous. You�
��you do like him, don’t you, Virginia?”
“I think he’s dishy. You’ll answer the invitation now?”
“Of course.”
“And, Alexa, buy yourself a peachy new dress.”
16
Thursday the Twenty-fifth
Edmund Aird drove his BMW into the car-park of Edinburgh airport just as the seven o’clock shuttle from London drifted down out of the clouds and lined up for landing. Unhurriedly, he found a slot for himself, got out of the car and locked the door, watching, as he did so, the approach of the plane. He had timed things exactly, and this gave him much satisfaction. Standing around and waiting, for anything or anybody, filled him with impatience. Every moment of time was precious, and to fill in so much as five minutes kicking his heels and doing nothing caused him considerable frustration and anguish.
He walked through the car-park, crossed the road, entered the terminal. The aircraft, with Virginia on board, had landed. A number of people stood around, come to meet friends or relations. They were a mixed bunch and appeared to be either in a state of wild excitement or total unconcern. A young mother with three small children milling noisily around her knees lost her patience and slapped one of them. The child roared in indignation. The carousel began to move. Edmund stood jingling the loose change in his trouser pocket.
“Edmund.”
He turned to see a man he met most days lunching at the New Club. “Hello, there.”
“Who are you meeting?”
“Virginia.”
“I’ve come to pick up my daughter and her two children. They’re coming to stay for a week. There’s some wedding on and the wee girl’s going to be bridesmaid. At least the plane’s on time. I caught the three o’clock shuttle from Heathrow last week and we didn’t take off until half past five.”
“I know. It’s hell, isn’t it?”
The doors at the top of the stairway had opened, the first trickle of passengers started to descend. Some searched for the one who had come to meet them; some looked lost and anxious, laden by too much hand-luggage. There was the usual proportion of businessmen returning from London conferences and meetings, complete with briefcases, umbrellas, folded newspapers. One, quite unselfconsciously, bore a sheaf of red roses.
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