Tempestuous Affair

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Sorry?’ she frowned, having lost him along the way somewhere.

  ‘Judi wanted to call you and tell you the good news, but I persuaded her it would be more fun this way. Change your clothes, put on your make-up, do whatever you have to do to be ready to drive down to see Judi in ten minutes.’

  Lindsay shook her head. ‘I’m sure you don’t want me around when you give Judi her ring.’

  ‘I want the whole family there,’ he told her confidently. ‘You’re all invited out to dinner.’ He glanced at the plain gold watch on his wrist. ‘And if you don’t hurry up we’ll be late. I told Judi we would be there by eight o’clock.’

  ‘She does know about all this then?’

  ‘Of course she knows—I just told you I proposed to her, she accepted, and—’

  ‘I meant the dinner party,’ Lindsay cut in derisively.

  ‘Judi is organising it. Although if her rather sceptical young sister doesn’t hurry herself the party is going to be minus one—and I don’t mean me,’ he looked at her pointedly beneath lowered lashes.

  ‘Okay, I’m going,’ she laughed. ‘I have a feeling poor Judi doesn’t quite know how forceful her husband is going to be,’ she couldn’t resist adding mockingly.

  Not that Judi looked as if she cared how forceful he was when they arrived a short time later, launching herself into Malcolm’s waiting arms, oblivious of everyone else, and Lindsay wisely moved quietly into the house to give them a few minutes’ privacy.

  It was a happy evening for all of them, Judi glowingly happy as the emerald and diamond ring glittered on her left hand, Malcolm looking for all the world as if he had been given a far greater treasure than any jewel in the world, Mike thinking it great that his sister was marrying such a man, and even their mother seeming proud as the wedding was discussed for Christmas.

  The family party continued when they got back to the house, Lindsay and Malcolm finally deciding to stay the night and drive back to town early the next morning. Which was exactly what they did, arriving back in London at seven o’clock, which gave Lindsay plenty of time to get ready for work.

  The dinner party the evening before, and talking softly to Judi long after everyone else was asleep, had helped take her mind off the fact that she left the studio today. Although she was very aware of it as she prepared for her last day of working for Joel, applying her make-up carefully, her hair newly washed and gleaming, the simply cut black dress she wore giving her a look of extreme elegance.

  Not that Joel seemed aware of her appearance when he arrived shortly after she did, not even seeming to notice her presence there at all, let alone acknowledge the fact that he had been in her apartment the evening before.

  Well, that suited her just fine. She wanted to keep everything between them impersonal until the very last minute she left here. Judi and Malcolm’s uncomplicated happiness in each other the evening before had shown her how futile her own aspirations for Joel and herself had been.

  But her desire not to be alone with him again seemed fated to be unsuccessful when he invited her out to lunch later that morning.

  ‘I’d rather not,’ she refused as gracefully as she could in front of Shirley, knowing that if they had been alone she would have flatly refused him. He probably knew it too!

  ‘It’s your last day, Lindsay,’ he encouraged softly. ‘Surely you wouldn’t deny your boss the privilege of buying you lunch as a thank-you for all the work you’ve done for me the last year?’

  He had put her in an awkward position in front of the other woman, and this time she was sure he knew it. ‘When you put it like that …’

  ‘I do,’ he said with satisfaction.

  ‘… then I’m sure Shirley and I would love to go to lunch with you,’ she finished sweetly.

  ‘Oh, but—’

  ‘Wouldn’t we, Shirley?’ she interrupted the other girl’s refusal.

  Shirley looked disconcerted. ‘I’m sure Joel would rather it were just the two of you.’

  Lindsay looked at him challengingly. ‘Would you?’

  The look he gave her spoke volumes, although as she had already known, he couldn’t say too much in front of his new secretary. ‘Of course not,’ he said smoothly. ‘The more the merrier. Perhaps you could confirm the reservation at the Ritz,’ he instructed Lindsay distantly.

  ‘The Ritz!’ Shirley repeated excitedly once Joel had returned to his studio. ‘I’ve only ever looked inside the door before. Have you ever been there?’

  On an occasion Lindsay would rather forget, along with everything else about Joel Sutherland. They had been at the Ritz the night he had asked her to move in with him, and the two of them had made it into a night of celebration once she had agreed. She had a feeling Joel had chosen that particular restaurant on purpose.

  ‘Once,’ she answered abruptly.

  ‘Is it as fantastic as they say?’ Shirley seemed not to notice her lack of enthusiasm.

  ‘Yes,’ she bit out, picking up the telephone. ‘I’d better confirm the reservation.’

  She was more than relieved that she had thought to include Shirley once she got through to the restaurant and was told Mr Sutherland already had a secluded table for two booked, knowing that Joel had intended it to be so much more than a thank-you lunch from a boss to his secretary, and she changed the reservation to three. And she had another reason to be grateful Shirley would be present at the luncheon, having a feeling Joel was going to give her the piece of jewellery then that he and his wife had picked out for her together!

  CHAPTER NINE

  SHIRLEY was suitably impressed by the inside of the Ritz, revelling in the attentive service, seeming unaware of the tension that was so tangible to Lindsay. To all intents and purposes Joel was being the perfect host to them both, attentive to their every need, but Lindsay was very much aware of his brooding glance as it remained fixed on her.

  When Shirley excused herself to go to the powder-room Lindsay knew the silence between Joel and herself would finally be broken.

  ‘Inviting Shirley along for lunch wasn’t fair, Lindsay,’ he told her softly.

  She looked across at him with challenging green eyes. ‘Not fair to whom?’

  ‘To her, of course.’ His hand moved to cover hers as it rested on the table-top, refusing to release her as she tried in vain to pull away.

  She shrugged. ‘She’s having a wonderful time.’

  He nodded. ‘But sensing more and more every moment that she’s an unwanted third.’

  ‘As far as I’m concerned that’s you!’ She glared at him.

  ‘Did you have a nice evening yesterday after I’d gone?’ he rasped suddenly.

  Her expression softened slightly as she thought of the previous evening. ‘Very nice.’

  ‘Where did you go?’

  She looked up at him sharply. ‘What makes you think we went anywhere?’

  ‘I telephoned your flat at eleven-thirty, and there was no answer,’ he revealed grimly.

  ‘Then I obviously did go out.’ Her sarcasm was obvious.

  His hand tightened on hers. ‘I also tried again at twelve o’clock, twelve-thirty, one o’clock—! Where the hell were you?’ he demanded to know fiercely.

  His hand was crushing hers until she almost cried out with the pain, but she refused to even wince. ‘We went out to dinner, and by that time it was so late I didn’t bother to go home.’

  ‘Didn’t bother—? Where could you have gone to have dinner that it was too late to drive home?’

  ‘Cambridgeshire,’ she told him pointedly.

  His hand relaxed slightly on hers, as if realising he must be hurting her. ‘You went to your mother’s house,’ he realised raggedly.

  ‘After dinner,’ she nodded.

  Joel’s mouth was taut with tension. ‘I take it your family approve of Malcolm?’

  ‘Wholeheartedly!’

  He released her hand with an uneven sigh. ‘Then he has it all, doesn’t he—you and family approval.’

&n
bsp; Her eyes flashed her anger. ‘You could have had them too once, but making an impression on my family never interested you!’

  ‘Surely you can understand why now?’ he rasped. ‘I’ve made too much of a mess of my life to want to drag you down into it on a permanent basis.’

  ‘Meeting my family wouldn’t have committed you to anything!’ Lindsay snapped.

  ‘Does it commit Malcolm to anything?’

  She was breathing heavily in her agitation, wanting to hurt him as he continued to hurt her. ‘The wedding is planned for Christmas,’ she told him abruptly.

  Joel’s hand fell away from her completely, his face white and haggard. ‘You’re going to marry him?’

  ‘I—’

  ‘Even the Ladies is fantastic!’ Shirley told them breathlessly as she sat down.

  Joel seemed too shaken to answer her, so it was left up to Lindsay to do so. ‘It is very nice here, but if we’re all finished now …’ she added pointedly, not wanting to prolong this any longer than necessary, not really sure, when it came down to it, if she could actually have lied and told Joel she was going to marry Malcolm. She hoped she hadn’t been reduced to that!

  ‘Yes, it is getting late,’ giggled Shirley, having imbibed a little too much of the excellent wine.

  Their host still seemed lost in thought. ‘Joel?’ Lindsay prompted him.

  ‘Yes,’ he said abruptly, signalling for the bill. ‘Damn, I almost forgot,’ he muttered as he reached into his inside pocket for his wallet, and taking out a long thin jewellery case instead. ‘This is for you, Lindsay,’ he told her huskily, holding out the case.

  It was the moment she had been dreading, and her hand shook slightly as she took the velvet case, knowing by Shirley’s excited expression that she at least was looking forward to seeing what was inside.

  Nestled against the black velvet was a golden charm bracelet, containing about twenty charms. Lindsay’s quick glance took in a typewriter and a camera, not wanting to see what else there was on it, knowing that the charms were too personal to their past relationship, and that Joel had chosen them with Marilyn Sutherland, his wife.

  ‘It’s lovely, thank you,’ she accepted raggedly, closing the box with a firm snap.

  ‘Aren’t you going to wear it now?’ Shirley looked disappointed.

  She shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t want to lose one of the charms before I’ve had time to have them put on properly.’

  ‘They’re already soldered on, if that’s what you’re worried about,’ Joel told her abruptly.

  ‘Oh.’ Guilty colour darkened her cheeks, knowing it would feel like a manacle about her wrist if she had to wear the bracelet. ‘Well, it might be a little awkward to type in it,’ she excused awkwardly.

  Joel’s expression was harsh as he guessed her reluctance to wear the gift. ‘I don’t expect you to work on your last afternoon.’

  She couldn’t imagine what else he expected her to do! Besides, the time would drag by too slowly if she just sat around doing nothing. ‘I’d prefer to finish off my work before I leave,’ she told him abruptly.

  He looked for a moment as if he might argue with that, and then he shrugged. ‘We may as well get back, then.’

  ‘Isn’t it a beautiful bracelet?’ Shirley sighed her admiration once they were back at the studio.

  ‘Very nice.’ And Lindsay doubted she would ever look at it again! ‘Play your cards right and you could get one just like it when you leave,’ she teased lightly.

  ‘Peter would probably wonder what I’d done to earn—Oh!’ Shirley broke off awkwardly, her face full of contrition. ‘I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.’

  ‘I know you didn’t,’ Lindsay sympathised with the girl’s embarrassment, although she was also a little shaken by it.

  ‘I’m sure Joel only bought you the bracelet in appreciation for all the work you’ve done for him.’ Shirley tried to make good her slip of the tongue.

  ‘I’m sure he did too,’ Lindsay nodded. ‘She had known the other girl must be wondering at her reason for leaving such a well paid and interesting job, she would wonder herself if the positions were reversed, and it didn’t surprise her that Shirley’s fervent imagination had come up with such an answer. Especially as it was the true one.

  In the end her final parting from Joel came as something of an anti-climax after weeks of waiting for it to happen, Joel having to leave for a business appointment shortly before four, stopping briefly in front of her desk to say a terse goodbye.

  As she watched him leave she had great difficulty in holding back the tears, and she left at five o’clock with another headache due to suppressed grief, saying her goodbye to Shirley with real regret. As soon as she reached her flat she opened the bottom drawer of her dressing-table, moving the sweaters aside to push the jewellery case to the back of the drawer, never wanting to see the bracelet again.

  * * *

  Kay Adams was like a whirlwind to work for. The salon was extremely busy, even more so than usual with the new autumn collection to prepare for.

  Lindsay loved the place and the people from the first day she walked in, and now, after five weeks, she couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She didn’t even have time to think of Joel, so engrossed was she in the work, often staying late into the evenings to help Kay, her duties including so much more than secretarial ones.

  If that meant her social life was down to nil she didn’t particularly care, having no interest in seeing anyone for the moment anyway. And if she didn’t have the time so much the better.

  After months of hard work the day to show the Collection finally arrived, and helping out behind the scenes Lindsay was caught up in the excitement of it all.

  ‘Go and sit out front for the second half of the show,’ Kay encouraged her, a slightly plump blonde who nevertheless always managed to look elegant, ‘and let me know the audience reaction.’

  ‘They love it and you know it,’ Lindsay laughed, feeling as elated as everyone else involved in presenting the Collection, was sure it was already a success.

  ‘I’d still like to know what’s being said.’ Kay pushed her towards the side door. ‘Go on, I’ve had a seat kept for you near the front.’

  Lindsay sat down among the glittering audience, recognising several titled ladies, a few actresses, and several other elegantly attired women who definitely acted as if they were ‘someone’ even if they weren’t.

  ‘Fantastic, isn’t it?’ said an excited voice behind her.

  She turned sharply. ‘Cally!’ she recognised with pleasure. ‘I haven’t seen you in weeks.’

  ‘It’s months, actually,’ Cally rebuked dryly. ‘I know you’ve been avoiding me.’

  Lindsay blushed her guilt, having refused several dinner invitations from the other woman in the last few weeks. ‘I’ve been very busy,’ she excused herself.

  Cally nodded. ‘Joel told me you were working here,’ she smiled. ‘Do you like it?’

  ‘Can’t you tell?’ grinned Lindsay, refusing to let even a mention of Joel ruin this day for her.

  ‘Kay is very talented, isn’t she?’ Cally acknowledged.

  ‘And nice with it.’

  ‘Nicer to work for than Joel?’ the other woman asked lightly.

  This time a shadow did pass over Lindsay’s face, although it was quickly erased. ‘Infinitely,’ she replied with feeling. ‘Now tell me what you really think of the Collection,’ she changed the subject.

  That it was a success she never doubted, the enthusiastic comments of those around her quickly confirming it, so much so that within a few minutes she made her excuses to Cally and returned to tell Kay of her triumph.

  But the work was still far from over, seemingly hundreds of newspapers wanting to take photographs of the models in different outfits before they could even begin the long process of clearing up.

  ‘And not one of them will do justice to all my hard work,’ muttered Kay as the photographers crowded the changing rooms. ‘Insensitive
clods!’

  ‘They’re all professionals,’ Lindsay replied absently, intent on finding all the accessories that had been thrown off with more haste than care as each model hurried to change into her next outfit.

  ‘I need a specialist, not a professional.’ Kay watched the photographers worriedly. ‘Thank God I have Joel to do the magazine photographs for me. Now there’s a man who can appreciate style.’

  Lindsay gave up looking for the left shoe to go with the right one she held in her hand. ‘Joel?’ she repeated woodenly.

  ‘Your ex-employer, love,’ Kay answered vaguely. ‘I’ll just go and rescue my models, and then I have to meet with some buyers for a late dinner.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘I’m afraid it’s all far from over,’ Kay sighed, not noticing Lindsay’s distraction. ‘I’ll be up most of the night talking to buyers, and we still have another show for tomorrow to do.’ She rushed off, dispersing the photographers, while Lindsay and the other assistants went through the inventory late into the evening to make sure everything was prepared for the next day.

  It wasn’t until Lindsay fell exhausted into bed shortly after midnight that she gave any more thought to what Kay had said about Joel. Not that she needed to worry too much about seeing Joel again herself; although she had helped out with the show she was actually only Kay’s secretary and need have no contact with the official photographers of the Collection.

  The next day was just as hectic as the previous one had been, and Lindsay could only wonder where Kay got her energy from when she had been up talking to buyers until the early hours of the morning.

  ‘Necessity,’ she smiled when Lindsay mentioned it to her. ‘If no one buys I go out of business. I—Oh no!’ she groaned, looking past Lindsay. ‘She’s all I need right now!’

  Lindsay turned to view the cause of her employer’s displeasure, recognising Marilyn Sutherland instantly. The other woman looked as beautiful as ever; the autumn weather was not really cold enough for the silver-coloured fur coat she wore, although there could be no doubting the effect it made against her dark hair.

  ‘Kay!’ she purred recognition of the older woman. ‘And Lindsay,’ she looked at her with glittering green eyes. ‘You’re looking well,’ she said as if she hadn’t expected it to be so.