‘What?’ Toni gasped indignantly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, darling, surely you don’t expect me to believe you’re as innocent as that Juliet, of course. What better smokescreen than a widower’s child? There’s always been surmise about Valmont. Ever since his wife died.’
‘How dare she?’ Toni’s eyes glinted with fury. ‘I disliked Mrs. Sandanna the first time I set eyes on her and I don’t know how you can count her as one of your friends. It’s nothing to do with her how much time I spend with Juliet. Or Justin Valmont.’
Marise sighed. ‘My dear, it’s no use thinking you can spit back. We’ve all suffered at one time or another. Unfortunately Irene and her husband have more money and influence on the island than the rest of us put together. Except Valmont. It’s just a pity she gives the biggest and best parties and doesn’t always use her own scratching post when she sharpens her claws.’ Marise paused, her eyes bright and hard. ‘And it’s unfortunate that she had her own daughter lined up for the Valmont stakes but he didn’t choose to play the field, and that’s why Lucy flounced off to Cape Town.’
Toni went to her bed and sank down on it, her expression so distressed that Marise crossed to her side and said with rough sympathy: ‘You don’t want to let it worry you, but it would be better in the long run if you didn’t see quite so much of Justin Valmont, or his daughter.’
‘Why not? He’s free, and I’m free. Why should people gossip? It’s no business of theirs.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Marise looked troubled. ‘But I can’t see anything coming of this. Take my advice and don’t get any more involved with Valmont.’
Toni looked up at her stepmother and shook her head. ‘I’m going to marry him,’ she said simply.
The stupefied expression still lurked in Marise’s eyes next morning, telling Toni all too clearly that she had actually made that rash announcement the previous night.
Justin Valmont’s proposal had not been a dream! But now, in the cold sanity of day, it took on the aspect of a crazy fantasy. How could she marry him? She didn’t love him; he didn’t love her. Whatever had possessed him to make that wild proposition? For that was what it was; a proposition of partnership, not a proposal of marriage.
A solution to your problem ... you asked my help ... I’m offering it... the only solution I have ...
A cold finger touched her heart. What was he thinking this morning? Was he reliving those strange timeless moments? Remembering those words spoken in the moonlit shadows of the grove? Was he — regretting ...?
‘That’s the third time you’ve sugared your coffee. You must be in love, even though you don’t look it.’
Toni’s eyes focused on the reality of Norene regarding her with unalloyed interest across the table. ‘Or is it delayed shock?’ her stepsister asked cynically.
Norene would never know how accurate was her careless assessment, Toni thought, taking a mouthful of her coffee and making an involuntary grimace. She pushed the cup aside, and Norene laughed outright. ‘Congrats — weddings seem to be in the air. But you needn’t have been so cagey about the way things were going. What sort of a ring are you having?’
Ring! Toni looked blankly about her. ‘I don’t know yet. I—’
‘Have a solitaire,’ Marise advised. The stupefied expression had gone and her eyes gleamed with excitement. ‘This is all terribly exciting. Just wait until Irene Sandanna hears about this! When is it going to be?’
Toni swallowed hard. For Irene Sandanna and her bitchy gossip she no longer cared a whit; at the moment she could see no further than the immediate future and the implication of Marise’s question. She said slowly, ‘I don’t know. It’s too early. I haven’t even—’
Yes, of course, it all happened so suddenly.’ Marise sat up sharply, alight with the glow of a sudden idea. ‘Darling, we might be able to make it a double event. Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Do you think Justin would like that idea?’
Toni’s hands clenched in her lap and she felt herself panicking. She knew little of Justin, but what she did know told her that Marise’s suggestion would meet with little approval, if not dislike.
‘Still, we can think about that later. We’ll have to have another party. I wonder what they’ll all say.’ Satisfaction sat smugly on Marise’s musing smile and Toni’s panic flared.
‘No,’ she exclaimed, ‘not yet. Please don’t say anything to anyone just yet. I mean—’ She saw her stepmother’s smile fade and Norene’s sudden frown. ‘I haven’t given him my answer,’ she said desperately.
‘Not...?’
Norene was the first to recover. “You mean you’re keeping Valmont on a string? Well!’ she gave Toni a long, considering stare, ‘so that’s how you’re playing it. You surprise me. You’re not the naive little innocent I imagined.’ She stood up and moved towards the door. ‘Be careful, sweetie, if you want him don’t risk playing him too long. You never know ...’
Toni wandered restlessly out on to the veranda and leaned against the rail. If only she could think sanely; decide. But nothing would come except the mental picture of Justin Valmont’s profile etched against the night sky as he carried her from the grove. A profile as strong and compelling as the arms which had borne her so effortlessly, yet with a tenderness realized only now in retrospect ...
‘Not going to church this morning?’
At her stepmother’s voice Toni stiffened and gave a small exclamation. She had completely forgotten that it was Sunday. She glanced at her watch and exclaimed again with dismay; she would be terribly late.
Then a sudden realization checked her hurried movement indoors. Justin invariably took Juliet to the morning service at the little white church on the hill overlooking Port. If she went she would see him, have to talk to him ... She looked down at the spray of blossom she had absently plucked and winced as her fingers clenched on a sharp spike. She couldn’t face Justin. What would she say to him? What would he expect her to say? Had he really meant that proposal? Did he ... ?
The agonized questions were reflected in her pale taut features and Marise said rather anxiously: ‘You look a bit off colour today, dear. I should give church a miss today. We had such a late night last night.’ She yawned. ‘I feel half dead.’
Toni hesitated, it was true; she did feel desperately tired and a little shivery, despite the hot sun flooding across the veranda. She said slowly, ‘So do I, and it is a bit late for church.’ Despising herself for the feeling of relief at temporary escape, she went into the room and tucked the spray of blossom into a bowl.
‘It’s the excitement.’ Marise yawned and collapsed into a chair. ‘I think I’ll have a siesta this afternoon or I’ll never stay awake tonight. We’re going over to Kit’s place tonight, just for a quiet evening.’
She studied the silent girl for a moment and a thoughtful look narrowed her eyes. She said suddenly: ‘Toni, you’re not thinking of rushing into this just because of Kit and me? You don’t feel you’ve got to ...’ She stopped and gestured vaguely. ‘It just occurred to me about you. But it needn’t make any difference, I’m sure. Of course we’ll be selling this place and moving into Kit’s, and Norene will be coming with us until she marries. I don’t think it’ll be long before she does. Is that what’s worrying you, dear? I mean if you’re not sure about Justin ... ’
For a moment Toni stared at her stepmother and reproached herself for the occasions when she had misjudged Marise. She was genuinely concerned, even though her perception had produced an answer not strictly accurate.
‘Because I’m sure we can fix something up for you, dear,’ Marise went on. ‘You don’t have to feel you’ve got to get married to get out
of our way.’
‘I know that - you’ve been very kind and I hope you’ll be very happy with Kit,’ she said tremulously, ‘but I wouldn’t dream of making my home with you. It would be most unfair and selfish to expect it.’
‘Nonsense!’ Marise smiled, but nevertheless betrayed a hint of relief. ‘Tha
t’s settled, then. Oh, I think I’ll make some tea. I could do with a cuppa ... ’
The day dragged on and tension continued to hold Toni taut as a bowstring as she tried to envisage the meeting she was beginning to dread. How did one meet and answer a man who could see marriage in the light of an arrangement to be broken by mutual consent?
But there was no word or sign of Justin as the hours slowly passed and no sound of childish laughter as she walked along the deserted beach at sundown. She lingered in the grove as the shadows deepened and looked up the path that led to Villa Mimosa, then slowly retraced her steps home.
A sense strangely like disappointment sighed through her as she let herself into the empty villa. Its loneliness seemed to await like a tangible thing, a vacuum into which crystallized all the indecision she was powerless to resolve. Of course Justin would not approach her. He would await her move. He had told her to forget it ... Perhaps he already regretted a quixotic action rashly taken when the hours of night induced the unwariness of fatigue ...
She opened the lounge door and groped for the light-switch, then blinked and shook her head impatiently; Marise had left the table lamp burning, probably forgotten ...
‘Justin!’ She froze into immobility.
The tall figure at the window turned sharply at her startled cry and came quickly towards her. ‘Toni, I’m sorry. Did I frighten you? I was watching for you.’
‘I - I came up the path and in at the side door.’ Her eyes still bright with surprise, she came slowly into the room. ‘I didn’t think you would come,’ she said without thinking.
‘Marise told me to wait. She said you wouldn’t be very long.’ One hand in his pocket, he appeared casual and relaxed. ‘You weren’t at the service this morning. Too tired?’
She nodded, and he said lightly: ‘Juliet missed you.’
‘Did she?’ She looked down, instantly noting the phrasing. Juliet had missed her. Only Juliet? ‘I was too late. Will you have a drink, Justin?’
‘No, thank you. I must get back.’
She set the decanter back on the tray. ‘Have you left her alone?’
He shook his head. ‘Roger is with her — Roger Drew, my assistant,’ he explained. ‘He’s just got back from leave and came over this afternoon. Which is why your small playmate hasn’t rooted you out today.’
‘Oh!’ There had been a discernible note of dry amusement in his
voice.
‘It happens to be Ellie and Tom’s day off, so I must get back and see the minx off to bed, but I wondered if you’d like to come over and meet Roger. However, if you’re tired ...’ He let the pause lengthen, his gaze cool on her
‘No, I’m not a bit tired. I’d love to,’ she heard herself say with a readiness that surprised her.
He smiled for the first time since she had entered. ‘No transport, mind. I walked over.’
‘I’d prefer to walk. It’s a lovely evening.’
His glance fell to her bare arms and throat in the slip of a dress she was wearing, and he gestured: ‘You’d better take a wrap. There’s a breeze springing up.’
‘Yes.’ A little breathlessly she hurried to her room and snatched up a light jacket and her handbag, thrusting them carelessly under one arm as she went back to him. ‘I’d better make sure everything is locked.’ She dropped bag and jacket and started towards the window, but Justin moved smoothly before her.
‘All secure. Ready?’ He picked up her jacket and put it over his arm and handed her the bag.
It was too early for moonrise and the darkness seemed intense to Toni’s eyes for the first few moments of the journey along the quiet road. Perhaps sensing this, Justin tucked a protective hand under her elbow and kept his strides short and leisurely. The breeze was cool and refreshing, bringing a sweet drifting scent of verbena and mingling with a sharper tang which tantalized with its elusive familiarity until she realized it was the lotion Justin used after shaving.
The sense of intimacy and a subtly changed note in their relationship seemed heightened by the silence of the night and the steady grip of warm fingers on her arm. They tightened momentarily and relaxed, then fell away as the high hedge curved away round the opening of the track to the villa.
He flicked on the beam of a small pocket torch and took her arm again. ‘Perhaps I should have brought the car. This is a bit uneven for walking comfortably at night.’
Watching the dark little pits and hillocks bobbing ahead in the circle of yellow light, she felt herself drawn close into the warmth of his gentle courtesy. He could make her feel small and feminine and protected. Gone entirely now, and difficult to believe in, was the cool, aloof disapproval of those early encounters. He had accepted her. But this disarming care was part of his charm, she reminded herself. A dangerously attractive charm of which she was just beginning to realize the potency as the soft glow from the lantern over the gate lighted his features and the sudden curving of his mouth into a smile. Which was the real Justin Valmont?
The exuberant greeting from Juliet swept away the moment of wondering. Proudly she dragged her father and Toni into the dining-room and indicated the table. She said accusingly: ‘I thought you were never coming back. It’s all ready. Uncle Roger has been helping me.’
Toni looked at the fair-haired young man who was surreptitiously exchanging the sweet spoons and soup spoons of the settings for four. He met her gaze and grinned. ‘I’m not very good at this, I’m afraid. Have we got it all right?’
Justin’s hand was partly covering his mouth but his eyes were perfectly grave as they surveyed the ringed napkins, the flowers, the battery of wine glasses, the huge bowl of salad amid various other edibles and the array of silver cutlery. ‘Quite a banquet. It looks marvellous. But, Juliet, you know we usually just have sandwiches and pot luck on Ellie’s day off.’
‘Yes, but we’ve got guests, Daddy. I’ll bring in the soup.’
‘I’ll help you,’ Toni offered.
‘Oh, no,’ Juliet said firmly, obviously conscious of her position as hostess, ‘you’re a guest. Come on, Uncle Roger.’
‘But poor old Roger evidently isn’t,’ Justin smiled in a wry aside as the pair disappeared kitchenwards. ‘He’s a nice boy. Takes his work seriously. I hope he decides to stay on when his two-year term is up next January. However, he’s come back an engaged man. It’ll depend on how his girl feels about coming out here to—’ He stopped abruptly as Juliet and Roger returned bearing a tureen of soup.
‘We opened two tins in case one wasn’t enough,’ said Juliet, sitting down and surveying her handiwork with open satisfaction.
‘You’ve still got your apron on,’ Roger reminded her teasingly, at which she giggled and became a little girl again.
Roger Drew was light-hearted and boyishly unassuming, and very easy to talk to. He looked young, about nineteen or twenty, Toni guessed, and she was a little surprised to discover he was almost twenty-four. It was an enjoyable meal, the time passing quickly, and afterwards they all helped to clear away, making a tedious task into a gay chore.
Toni spread the drying cloths over the towel rail, and Roger looked regretfully at his watch while Justin said firmly to the fourth member of the party: ‘Bed! This minute.’
‘Is it really that late, Daddy?’ Juliet pulled a face.
‘Only about two hours - if Gran knew what was going on she would take the next plane out to put us in order.’
‘She’s scared of flying - Oh!’ Juliet’s squeal turned to gurgles as Justin swung her into a fireman’s lift and bore her unceremoniously towards the bathroom. ‘Ten minutes - or you’ll be flying somewhere.’
‘She’s a nice child,’ Roger remarked, shouldering into his jacket. ‘My elder sister has two horrors. They’re forever whining and snarling.’ He hesitated. ‘Can I give you a lift?’
‘No.’ Justin rejoined them. ‘I’ll run Toni back later, as soon as we’ve settled the imp.’
‘Oh, yes, of course.’ Roger glanced from Toni to his boss. ‘I�
��ll be getting along then. I’ve enjoyed my first day back immensely.’
He moved along the hall and Toni was aware of Justin at her shoulder as the young man bade them good night and departed. There was almost a note of finality in the way Justin closed the door and swung to face her. ‘Will you excuse me while I see to Juliet? Or,’ he raised his brows, ‘will you do the tucking in while I fix a couple of drinks?’
For long moments she stayed silent. Somehow she knew instantly that in her response to the casually phrased question lay a symbolic choice of acceptance or rejection. Quite steadily she said: ‘You fix the drinks,’ and went to Juliet.
Some five minutes later the small pyjama-clad figure scrambled into bed and subsided with a large sigh. ‘Uncle Roger has a boat. He’s going to take me out sailing on Tuesday. Wouldn’t it be super if you could come as well? Shall I ask him?’
‘Perhaps another time,’ Toni smiled. ‘That was a wonderful dinner you made tonight, pet.’
‘Oh,’ airily, ‘Ellie left most of it ready in the fridge. Is Daddy coming to say good night?’
‘Yes.’ Toni bent to kiss her and received a hug. ‘I’ll tell him now. Good night, Juliet.’
‘I’m here.’ Justin brushed past her into the circle of light by the bed, and Toni slipped quietly from the room. Slowly she went back to the lounge and was staring down at the two glasses of golden wine side by side on the small table, when Justin re-entered.
He came to her side and said quietly: ‘You’ve decided, haven’t you?’
There was no need of words. Question and answer were perfectly clear in the stillness between two unwavering gazes. Slowly she broke the link of eyes and inclined her head.
For a moment Justin did not move. Then he reached for her hand and raised it to his lips.
‘When?’ he asked.
The characteristic directness of the question threw her off keel immediately. The making of the decision itself had filled her horizon to the exclusion of everything which lay beyond. Now, the following morning, the dreamlike, ordained quality of that unspoken toast drunk the previous evening and his calm, almost casual air as he drove her home suddenly dissolved into a renewal of panic.
The Whispering Grove Page 10