The Golden Anklet

by Beverly Hansford

  Gerald gave a little laugh. ‘It keeps us old men busy and the brain working,’ he remarked.

  ‘It keeps him out of my way as well,’ added Anna. She suddenly changed the subject. ‘Now, anybody want more coffee?’

  After that the conversation strayed away from family history and Jane’s problem. Eric had learnt that Bob was a photographer, and it turned out that that was another of Eric’s interests. He asked Bob’s opinion of a new camera he intended to buy.

  At last the conversation wound down. Eric looked at his watch and said he must be going. This was the signal for Jane and Bob to depart. Thanking their hosts, and in particular Eric for his interest in Jane’s affairs, they returned to Jane’s apartment.

  As soon as they were in the hallway and Jane had closed the outer door, Bob placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her towards him. ‘Darling, you’re disappointed with tonight’s results aren’t you?’ he asked gently.

  Jane looked at him, her face sombre. She nodded. ‘Just a little bit.’

  He put his arm around her and led her slowly into the lounge. As soon as they had sat down on the settee, Jane added to her previous statement.

  ‘It was super that Gerald contacted Eric and really nice of Eric to come and see me, but in spite of what he said I still feel in limbo. I still don’t know what my real name is.’

  ‘I know. It must be pretty frustrating and worrying, but I’m convinced there’s an answer somewhere.’

  Jane gave a little sigh. ‘It’s just this feeling that every door seems to get slammed in my face. We get one lead that seems as if it might have the answer, and then it just produces another query.’

  Bob drew her towards himself. ‘Unfortunately, that’s family history. But we’ll find out who you really are in the end. I’m sure we will.’

  Jane forced a grin. ‘I’m being a bit of a misery, aren’t I?’

  ‘No. Just concerned.’ Bob gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  Immediately she relaxed. She suddenly looked at him rather coyly. ‘I’ve got my dress for next Friday,’ she announced proudly.

  ‘Let’s see it,’ demanded Bob.

  Jane thought for a second, a frown on her face. Suddenly she jumped up and headed for the bedroom. ‘You can have a sneak preview and that’s all,’ she announced over her shoulder. Two minutes later she reappeared, carrying the dress by the hanger.

  Smiling broadly, she held it against herself. ‘I’m not going to let you see me wearing it until the actual night,’ she replied in answer to Bob’s quizzical look.

  ‘Spoilsport,’ he said, with a grin.

  ‘What do you think? Do you like it?’

  ‘I think it looks fantastic. I can’t wait to see you wearing it.’ Bob sounded as if he meant it.

  ‘I’m really looking forward to Friday,’ said Jane. ‘I haven’t been to anything like that for years.’

  ‘The hotel’s all booked. I’ll give you all the details and I’ll meet you there.’

  ‘I’m going to take at least an afternoon off work so that I’m nice and fresh.’

  She started to carry the dress back to the bedroom. Something was worrying her.

  ‘There’s just one thing,’ she announced, concern in her voice.

  Bob looked at her enquiringly. ‘What’s that?’ he asked.

  She looked slightly anxious. ‘Shoes. I’ve not been able to find any anywhere. I thought about silver, but the only ones I’ve come across have been sandals, and I didn’t really want sandals.’

  She was already in the bedroom before she finished speaking. A few seconds later she returned with a pair of silver shoes.

  ‘I’ve got these, but they’re a bit old now.’ She displayed the shoes for Bob to see. The next instant she was trying them on. ‘What do you think?’ she asked, looking down at the shoes and then enquiringly at Bob.

  ‘I think they’ll be OK if you can’t get exactly what you want,’ he replied.

  ‘I suppose so.’ As an afterthought Jane added, ‘Perhaps it’s just me who had set my heart on a new pair.’

  Bob smiled at her. ‘You look nice in anything,’ he said.

  ‘Flatterer,’ Jane retorted, making a face at him.

  The next second he ducked as she hurled a nearby cushion at him.

  Chapter 21

  The new week started badly for Jane. On the Monday morning she was dismayed when she arrived at the station to discover that her train had been cancelled. It followed that the next one was packed, and she had to stand all the way to her destination. On top of that, she eventually arrived at work to learn from Margaret that Amy had rung in to advise that she was sick and would not be coming in. This was a blow because Amy had been working on a project that had a deadline that day and Jane had to reschedule her own work to incorporate Amy’s.

  Fortunately the extra workload did not dampen her enjoyment at looking back over the events of the weekend. In spite of the disappointment of not learning any more about her past from the meeting with Eric, after her initial reaction she had become more philosophical about the whole thing and had settled down to enjoy the rest of the weekend with Bob.

  They were now completely comfortable with each other’s company. When Bob had found the nude photograph, she had at first been a bit embarrassed, but then she suddenly realised that she didn’t mind him seeing it at all. In fact, she was rather proud of it. After all, she reasoned, Bob had held her naked in his arms on more than one occasion now and she had been happy about that. She had been quite at ease answering his questions about the photograph. In Bob she felt that she had at last found another soulmate after losing Graham, and although they had not discussed their future in any detail, there now seemed to be an understanding between them that said it all.

  Perhaps the only minor obstacle was that she could not be certain if she was who her documents said she was. As far as she was concerned it was a constant worry and a stumbling block in her relationship with Bob. On one occasion she had almost revealed this in a joke when they had been discussing her past in a light-hearted way:

  ‘We can’t get married yet, because I don’t know who I am. We could both be accused of something or other and end up in prison.’

  Bob’s reaction had as always been down-to-earth and completely spontaneous. ‘I’ll ensure that I get a lighter sentence as the more innocent party and then I can visit you in prison,’ he had replied gravely, hiding his humour.

  It was his upbeat attitude that helped Jane through her despondency when she was failing to make any definite headway in finding out who she really was.

  *

  She worked hard that Monday, not taking any lunch break and working right through to well after her normal finishing time. Her only sustenance had been a sandwich brought in to her by Margaret, and endless cups of tea and coffee. When she got home she was worn out and she had a headache. Even preparing a meal for herself was quite an effort. Gone were her plans to spend some time on the computer playing with the hardly used family history program and doing another search for Ruth Ashington. By half past nine she was in bed asleep.

  She felt a bit better when she woke up the next morning. Monday’s grey sky had been replaced by bright sunshine. It was pleasant walking to the station and also comforting to find her train running as normal and having a more relaxing journey to work. When she arrived at the office, any apprehension about the day was lifted still further. Amy appeared to have made a miraculous recovery and was at her desk drinking a cup of tea.

  Jane greeted her. ‘Morning, Amy. Are you feeling better?’

  Amy went into a long, detailed account of her sickness and finished by asked Jane if she could get her a mug of tea. Jane readily accepted the offer and then turned her attention to the pile of work on her desk.

  During the afternoon her spirits were lifted still further. She had taken a slightly extended lunch break and managed to squeeze in some much-needed shopping for cosmetics. When she returned to the office Margaret greeted her with excit
ement.

  ‘Jane, while you were out a courier left something for you.’ She dived under her desk and produced an intriguing rectangular parcel. ‘It’s not very heavy,’ she announced, handing it to Jane.

  ‘It looks like a pair of shoes.’ Amy had suddenly appeared.

  Jane looked at the handwriting on the label. She recognised it immediately. It was Bob’s. But what could he have sent her?

  ‘Are you going to open it?’ Olive from advertising was also taking an interest in what was going on.

  Jane could see that her audience were not going to be satisfied or disperse until she had opened the parcel. Besides, her own curiosity equalled theirs.

  Carefully, she tore off the brown paper wrapping. What looked like a new shoebox appeared. She placed it on a nearby chair and lifted the lid. When she pulled aside the tissue paper covering the contents, a squeal of delight came from her colleagues. Comments and questions were directed thick and fast at her.

  ‘It is a pair of shoes.’

  ‘Where did they come from?’

  ‘Try them on.’

  Jane took a shoe out of its tissue-paper packing. It was a silver high-heeled court shoe with a dainty filigree bow on the front. She held it up to show her admiring audience.

  ‘They’re beautiful.’

  ‘Where did you get them? I’ve never seen any like that.’

  ‘Are they for the dinner dance you’re going to?’

  Jane continued to be bombarded with questions. Then Amy spotted something else in the box.

  ‘Look, Jane. There’s something in with them.’

  Jane looked in the box and sure enough there was an envelope tucked in. She took it out and opened it. Her colleagues waited expectantly.

  The envelope contained a pretty card with flowers on it. Jane read the simple message inside in Bob’s handwriting: ‘And Cinderella shall go to the ball.’

  She felt obliged to show the card to the others. Reading it brought further questions from her audience. Who had sent her the shoes? Was it anybody they knew? Where exactly was she going?

  Jane answered as truthfully but as vaguely as she could. Just at present she didn’t want to advertise the fact that she was in a serious relationship. She merely explained that her boyfriend was taking her to a dinner dance and that she had had problems obtaining a pair of shoes to go with the dress she had bought.

  ‘Are you going to try them on?’ It was Amy again.

  Jane obediently slipped off one shoe and tried on the silver one she held in her hand. It fitted perfectly and she was relieved to discover that though the heel was high it was of a practical height to be comfortable, and sensible for dancing.

  ‘How does your man know your size?’ asked Olive.

  Jane had no idea. As far as she could remember she hadn’t mentioned her shoe size to Bob.

  ‘If a man’s bought them you’d better try the other one on as well,’ said Olive.

  ‘My other half wouldn’t have a clue what size shoes I take,’ muttered Margaret.

  Jane tried the second shoe on. It fitted just as well as the first one. She was then expected to model her new accessory for her admirers. She walked up and down, turning her feet and pointing her toes to display the shoes.

  The show was brought to an abrupt halt. A sound alerted the four of them to the entrance door. Annette had just returned from her lunch break. She eyed them all in silence, taking in every detail, and then she quickly continued to her office without comment.

  Everybody quickly dispersed. Margaret hurried to the reception desk, Amy to hers, and Olive to the advertising department. Jane took a more leisurely pace. She took off the shoes, replaced them in the box with the envelope and slipped on her other shoes again.

  She couldn’t wait to get home and phone Bob. She had to be patient until she thought he might be back, which made the time seem to drag. Eventually, relaxing on the settee, she dialled his number on her mobile. She could hear the phone ringing at the other end.

  ‘Bob Harker.’

  ‘Bob, it’s Jane. I’ve got your lovely present. I’m over the moon! Thank you.’

  She heard a chuckle at the other end, and then, ‘Great. Do they fit OK?’

  ‘Of course they do. How did you know my size?’

  ‘Ah. Secret.’

  It was Jane’s turn to give a little laugh. ‘OK. But I’m intrigued where you got them. I searched and couldn’t find anything like them.’

  There was another chuckle from Bob. ‘That’s a secret as well. But it needed a bit of inside knowledge.’

  Jane was about to answer in the same vein, but Bob spoke again.

  ‘I’ve got another surprise for you.’

  ‘Oooh. What is it?’ Jane responded eagerly.

  ‘That’s a secret as well. I’m going to tell you on Friday.’

  ‘Oh, no. You’re horrid to me. I’m already eaten up with excitement.’

  He laughed. ‘I’m looking forward to it as well. I haven’t done anything like it for years.’

  ‘I’ll make sure you enjoy it,’ quipped Jane. She added wickedly, ‘You don’t know me when I taste the high life.’

  ‘I can handle you,’ laughed Bob.

  Their conversation gradually became more serious. Bob wanted to know whether Jane had had any luck contacting Mrs Marshall, and the question immediately brought her back down to earth when she had to admit that she had been so busy the last two days that she hadn’t managed to try phoning again. She made a mental note to do so the next day.

  At last Jane confessed that she hadn’t done the washing up yet, and Bob admitted that he hadn’t had his evening meal. It was the signal for them to end their conversation.

  *

  The Wednesday morning proved to be even more exhilarating for Jane. She arrived at the station before her usual time and caught an earlier train. It was less crowded, and she wondered whether it might be a good idea to catch this one in future. No one else was at the office when she arrived, and she had to use her keys to get in. She made herself a cup of tea and was already hard at work at her desk when a surprised Margaret arrived. It was Margaret who usually got there first as she lived much closer to the office than everybody else.

  ‘Good morning, Jane. Gosh, you’re here early,’ she said.

  Jane nodded. ‘Good morning, Margaret. Yes. I caught a different train.’

  Margaret disappeared to make herself a drink, and Jane got back to work. She still had a bit of a backlog from Monday because of Amy’s day off sick.

  It was mid-morning when she suddenly remembered her intention to try and phone Mrs Marshall again. She was about to do so when the internal phone buzzed. That could only be one person, she thought. She was correct in her assumption. As soon as she put the receiver to her ear, Annette’s voice came over.

  ‘Good morning, Jane. Are you free for a few minutes?’

  ‘Good morning, Annette. Yes, of course. Shall I come up now?’

  ‘Yes, that will be fine.’

  ‘I’ll be right up.’

  Jane replaced the handset, stifling a sigh. Usually a meeting with Annette meant more work or an alteration to work already done. And she had been getting on so well that morning!

  Grabbing her notepad, she made her way upstairs and tapped on Annette’s office door before opening it.

  ‘Ah, Jane. Come in and sit down.’

  Annette was sitting at her desk, the current issue of Discerning Woman open in front of her. She looked up as Jane sat down opposite her. ‘Would you like a coffee?’ she asked.

  ‘That would be nice. Can I get you one?’ enquired Jane politely. She didn’t really want any coffee herself, but thought it diplomatic to accept the offer. Annette had her own coffee machine in her office for entertaining visitors. Jane was about to get up, but Annette immediately jumped up and waved a hand for her to remain seated.

  ‘No, no. You sit there and relax. I’ll get it. Milk and sugar?’

  It was unusual for Annette to offer her
staff a cup of coffee from her machine, let alone serve them. Jane immediately started to wonder what she had up her sleeve.

  Annette returned with two cups of coffee. She handed one to Jane and then, placing the other on the desk in front of her, she settled back in her plush chair. Jane waited.

  Eventually, Annette glanced down at the magazine in front of her and then immediately at Jane. ‘I think last month’s issue was really good. That feature that you did on Gilli Jameson was quite impressive.’

  ‘I’m glad it turned out well,’ responded Jane, sipping her coffee. Gilli Jameson was an author whose work Jane and Amy had showcased for the magazine.

  Annette picked up her cup and looked at Jane again. Suddenly she volunteered another snippet of information.

  ‘I had a meeting with Olgans on Monday.’

  She paused for a second, taking a sip of her coffee and seemingly slowly relishing the taste. Jane waited, wondering what was going to come next. Olgans was the company that owned Discerning Woman and a few other magazines.

  Annette was taking her time. After what seemed an age to Jane, she added to her original comment. ‘Olgans are very pleased with the way things are going. Sales and our circulation have continued to rise.’

  ‘That’s nice to hear,’ agreed Jane politely. It was rare for staff below Annette to hear comments from Olgans unless some changes were afoot.

  Annette had more to say. ‘It all started with that article on Angus Pike. Circulation has been increasing steadily every month since.’

  ‘I’m glad it went down well after the struggle we had to get the interview with him,’ replied Jane.

  ‘That was really thanks to your perseverance and hard work.’ Annette paused and studied Jane for a second. Then, before Jane could answer she continued. ‘You seemed to get on well with Angus Pike. He had quite a high regard for you.’ She studied Jane again, at the same time drinking her coffee.

  Jane’s spontaneous reaction was to give a little laugh. ‘Perhaps because he wanted me to model for him,’ she remarked dryly.

  ‘Did you? Or are you going to?’