by Jenny Lane
‘Have a good time, dear?’ asked Miriam coming out of her room as Tamara reached the landing. She awakened from her reverie with a start. ‘Oh, yes, lovely thank you.’
‘Good. You can tell me all about it in the morning. Did Richard come in with you?’
‘Yes, he’s still downstairs. I think he’s making a phone-call.’
‘At this time of night... It must be important. Well, goodnight then, dear. Glad you enjoyed yourself.’
It was obvious that Richard was phoning Melissa, and she could have wept. What was wrong with her that she could attract men but never hold on to them? Was she such an uninteresting person? One more week, she told herself fiercely as she got ready for bed, and then London here I come. As for Cassie’s notion that Tamara had needed this holiday, then she must have been joking. Tamara was fast beginning to feel that she wouldn’t be able to shake the dust of Tregarth from her heels quickly enough.
NINE
Tamara saw very little of Richard the following day and when she did encounter him he barely spoke to her. She told herself that she could never, in any case, seriously consider becoming involved with someone who had such a mercurial temperament. The weather was particularly unpleasant, and she thought it would be a good thing when she could return home. She had attempted to phone Cassie to let her know of her plans, but had failed to catch her in and so, in the end, she had written to her.
She was curled up on the window seat in the lounge on Friday morning, trying to finish Rebecca, when Richard came hurrying into the room. ‘Tamara, of all the unbelievable luck... that was Oliver on the phone just now.’
Tamara jumped to her feet. ‘Oliver! Richard, you’re teasing me!’
‘I only wish I were, but I’m afraid I’m perfectly serious. It’s just as well we’re the only ones in. I told him you’d gone to the village. Listen – something’s cropped up and the expedition’s finished earlier than planned. It wasn’t too successful from what I can gather... The long and short of it is that Oliver’s decided to come to England after all, Tamara.’
Tamara felt herself trembling. ‘What are we going to do, Richard?’
‘Well, for starters, I suggest you phone Cassie immediately and put her in the picture.’
‘I tried to phone her yesterday... supposing I still can’t contact her – what then? Did Oliver say when he was planning to come?’
Richard shrugged his shoulders. ‘No, but as soon as he can get a flight, I should imagine... What’s the difference in their time? Have you any idea?’
‘They’re roughly five hours behind us, judging from what I remember... Richard, this is dreadful!’
‘Well, if I were you, I’d leave your sister to sort it out – she got you into this mess in the first place.’ It was cold comfort.
Tamara phoned Cassie half a dozen times before she finally succeeded in finding her in. She explained things as briefly as possible. Cassie took the news badly. ‘Tam, this is absolutely devastating. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time. My understudy’s got some kind of throat thing, and I’ve promised Sophie I’ll be able to continue for at least another three weeks. Talk about a coup de théâtre! Oliver really is the giddy limit, and the play’s going so well too... Look, Tam, I’ll simply have to go now... Oh, shoot! This will put me right off my stride for tonight’s performance... Look, I’ll ring back when I’ve thought of something, Tam, I promise.’
‘Right, and it had better be good, Cassie! I don’t want to be landed in the soup... Richard is being decidedly cool towards me at present as it is.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about Richard. He’s a darling really and he’ll rise to the occasion when it comes to it – just you see. Anyway, it’s Olly’s fault. He shouldn’t have been so mean about my acting.’
‘Cassie, everything is all right between you and Oliver, isn’t it? Really all right, I mean?’
‘Yes, of course it is, but, boy, did I need this acting part. I was dying of boredom and now I feel quite rejuvenated.’
‘I can’t say I’d noticed you were in a decline,’ Tamara said coolly.
Cassie laughed. ‘You never did notice things under your very nose, darling... And now, if I don’t go this moment I’ll be late... I’ll get in touch when I’ve thought of something convincing. Bye for now.’
Tamara had just replaced the receiver when Richard opened the door of the study. ‘Any joy?’
‘Well, I managed to catch her in, so that’s something, I suppose.’ She told him what Cassie had said. ‘Richard, when d’you reckon he’ll be here?’ Richard spread his hands expressively.
‘Impossible to say – but in the not too distant future, I expect. Tomorrow some time, perhaps, or Sunday.’
‘Tomorrow! Richard, you’re having me on!’
‘You did ask me! Anyway, it’s not my funeral, I’m afraid, and now I must hurry because I’m taking Mel out to dinner tonight, and we’re visiting friends for drinks first... Look, I’ll leave the telephone number on the pad in case anything unforeseen crops up.’ He looked so stern and suddenly seemed like a complete stranger. Tamara felt utterly miserable.
When Richard had gone out, Tamara paced up and down restlessly, trying to think what to do. She had to have some plan of campaign. Should she confide in the colonel? After all, the worst that could happen would be that he would send her packing, and he surely wouldn’t turn her out that night? Anyway, he wasn’t back yet from his game of golf, and Miriam had gone to a WI meeting.
Cassie could be so maddeningly vague, and if she thought the situation too delicate she would be inclined to ignore it in the hopes that it might resolve itself without any help from her. Tamara remembered her sister of old when she had been in previous scrapes. Why, oh, why had she allowed herself to become involved in this ridiculous escapade in the first place? she wondered for the umpteenth time. It had led to nothing but problems since the outset. It was too late for her to do a classic disappearing act herself back to London and, besides, that would be utter cowardice. She felt obliged to stay and face the music. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the table as she tried to decide what to do. Her eyes suddenly lighted on a postcard she had bought in Tom’s studio, and was using as a bookmarker. Tom would know the answer; she would go to Studio Cottage and talk to him. It was too complicated a situation to explain on the phone and, besides, the colonel might return at any minute.
Grabbing her anorak she set off for the village. At any other time she would have enjoyed the walk, for it was a mild evening although there was quite a breeze blowing up. She felt a sudden pang of nostalgia as she realised that tonight could be the last time she would walk down this lane, for tomorrow she would surely be sent back to London. She felt a surge of nausea at the thought of what would happen when Oliver arrived. She realised that she cared mostly about Richard’s reaction, wondering if he would back her up when the crunch came. Richard was still dating Melissa, in spite of Anne’s little attempt to separate them.
Tamara felt thoroughly depressed. She knew now that she could never love anyone else as she loved Richard, and he would never realise what she felt for him – unless the way she had responded to his kisses had given her away. He would probably consider her a fool if he did discover the truth!
No sooner had Tamara reached Tregarth than she was greeted by a frantically barking Barney who came haring round the corner and refused to stop when she called to him. She had a sudden premonition that something was wrong at the cottage, and raced down the alley after the dog.
As she reached Studio Cottage, she noticed simultaneously the acrid smell of burning and the wide-open front door. Barney’s barking increased and he ran excitedly to and fro. And then she heard Anne shouting from the Studio. To her horror she realised that the Studio was on fire and the girl was trapped inside. She shouted back reassuringly to Anne, telling her not to panic, but the near door was either locked or jammed. Frantically she raced round the building to the other entrance and rattled the handle, but that would n
ot budge either. She suddenly remembered that Tom kept his keys on a board in the kitchen, and running into the cottage, quickly found the one she needed. Barney kept getting under her feet, nearly tripping her up.
Reaching the Studio she fumbled stupidly with the key for what seemed an eternity. Why, oh, why didn’t someone come! She pushed hard against the door and it opened.
It was like a dense fog inside the Studio. Tamara covered her face with her anorak and blindly groped about her. Barney streaked past her, yelping frenziedly, and a moment later Anne fell into her arms.
‘Aunty Cassie – I was so frightened – the door stuck.’
Tamara wasted no time listening to explanations, but bundled Anne outside, shouting to Barney. They stood taking great breaths of the clear night air, choking to clear their lungs.
‘Daddy’s pictures... there are three of his best ones for the exhibition,’ Anne gasped at last. ‘I couldn’t reach them...’
Without another moment’s hesitation, Tamara plunged back into the smoke-filled room. She knew the ones Anne meant, and she realised there wasn’t too much time if she intended to save them, for the whole place could go up in a blaze at any moment. If that happened all those months of work would be thrown away. She managed to locate the paintings, which were stacked on a shelf. She lifted down two, and reached up for the third, balancing precariously on a stool. As she stepped down she missed her footing, the stool spun from under her feet and she fell, striking her head against the corner of a table as she did so... A searing pain engulfed her and she sank into an abyss of blackness.
*
When Tamara opened her eyes it was to find Richard bending anxiously over her. ‘Hello,’ he said gently, ‘how are you feeling?’
She explored her head gingerly. ‘What happened?’
‘You had a bit of an accident – don’t you remember?’ Visions of Tom’s studio, Anne and Barney came floating in disjointed fragments.
‘There was a fire at the Studio – did they... did they?’
‘Yes, they managed to control it before it did too much damage. Anne had just finished ringing for the fire brigade and an ambulance when Tom returned.’
‘Ambulance?’ Tamara looked at him in surprise. ‘Am I in hospital?’
‘Yes, you’re in the cottage hospital – just for the night. You had a nasty bang on your head so they thought it best to keep you in in case of concussion.’
She struggled to a sitting position. ‘Tom’s pictures?’
‘They’re okay, but it was a silly thing to do, Tamara, to go back into that lot... Supposing Tom hadn’t come back at that precise moment?’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘Don’t be cross, Richard.’
Taking her hand he pressed it to his lips. ‘Of course, I’m not cross; it’s just that you’re always thinking of others and never of yourself. You saved Anne’s life, you know.’
She tried to shake her head, but it was throbbing too badly. ‘No, Tom would have come in time and he must have pulled me out.’
‘Yes, he did... Anne wasn’t able to move you, bless her.’
‘Why do I always have to gunge up the works?’
‘I’m not aware that you did on this occasion... Now I suggest that you get some sleep and then, in the morning if you’re well enough, I’ll come and drive you back to Rosemullion House.’
‘Sorry to be a nuisance,’ she muttered, but sleep was fast overtaking her. She was not sure if it was her imagination or if Richard really did stoop down and kiss her... She drifted into a deep and contented sleep.
*
Tamara felt a lot better the next morning, and was eating her breakfast when the sister ushered in a surprise visitor.
‘Cassie! Oh, Cassie, whatever are you doing here!’
Cassie smoothed back her chestnut curls. ‘Richard phoned me, and so I came on the overnight train... I decided that after your accident it wasn’t fair to leave you to cope with Oliver as well... How are you, anyway? I must say you’re looking blooming in spite of everything.’
‘My head’s a bit sore, but, apart from that, I’m okay. I’m to go home this afternoon when the doctor’s seen me.’
Cassie perched elegantly on the edge of the bed. ‘Strictly forbidden, I know, but never mind... I’m so tired I could just swap places with you and, after all, that would solve a few problems, wouldn’t it? Oliver’s likely to walk in at any time, I understand, and then the sparks will fly... Richard is going to try to make the peace with his parents before then.’
‘Where is Richard?’ Tamara asked scooping out the last spoonful of egg.
‘Outside – he’s just fetched me from the station. We stopped off for a bit of breakfast en route and then we drove straight here... The poor darling looks absolutely shattered.’
Tamara was determined not to let her sister know of her feelings for Richard. She crushed a piece of eggshell on the plate.
‘So what will you do about the play?’ Cassie shrugged expressively.
‘If Oliver is in a forgiving frame of mind he might let me return to London for a few more performances, but it’s doubtful... Sophie’s being very understanding, but I don’t like letting her down... Besides, I was enjoying myself.’
‘Sorry, Cassie... I always seem to manage to mess things up.’
‘Hardly your fault, is it, darling? Oliver will be absolutely livid with me, no doubt... I can’t imagine why he had to cut short his wretched trip.’
‘Cassie, are you sure everything’s okay between you and Oliver?’
Cassie examined her nail varnish carefully. ‘Yes, of course, I told you so, didn’t I? It’s just that I crave for a bit of independence and he can’t understand that... Anyway, now I’ve blotted my copybook with my in-laws into the bargain... What are they like, by the way?’
‘Super – you’ll like them, and I’m sure things will work out.’
‘Oh, well, that’s something, anyway... Tell me about this artist fellow Tom – have you fallen for him or something?’
Tamara laughingly denied this, and was in the middle of explaining about the Courtneys when the door opened abruptly and a young man who could have been Richard’s double at first glance stood framed in the doorway.
Cassie jumped to her feet and rushed to his side. ‘Oliver! Oh, Oliver!’ He stared at her incredulously for a moment.
‘Cassie, darling, I thought you’d had an accident.’ His eyes turned from her to Tamara and back again in utter bewilderment. ‘I don’t understand... Mother said you’d spent the night in hospital, but...’
Cassie told him as briefly as possible what had happened and to Tamara’s amazement and great relief he roared with laughter.
‘I think I bit off more than I could chew when I married you, my darling... I’m deeply relieved you’re okay, at any rate.’ He kissed her and Tamara could see how deeply in love they were and knew that all this time she had been worrying for nothing. At last Oliver turned to Tamara, his arm still encircling Cassie’s waist. ‘So you are Tamara... Sorry about your accident – tough luck... And you’ve been at Rosemullion House all this time pretending you were Cassie, eh?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ Tamara said, and she suddenly knew that everything was going to be all right.
There was a great deal of talking after that and, considering all things, Oliver appeared to take it all extremely well. Cassie gave Tamara a thumbs up sign, and Tamara just wished they would go away and leave her in peace, for her head was spinning like a top.
Oliver kissed Cassie for the umpteenth time. ‘She’s certainly resourceful, my wife. Cassie darling, I promise I’ll take you more seriously in future. It’s a pity you had to go to such lengths to prove your point, however, but perhaps it’s just as well I did find out about all this... Of course how exactly I explain all this to the parents I don’t quite know.’
‘Must you, Oliver... Couldn’t I just go back to London until your visit is concluded?’
He kissed her hair. ‘Hardly, my love. Of co
urse your sister mightn’t mind sharing a room with me, but I rather think she might feel that that was carrying sisterliness a bit too far.’
Cassie’s face was a picture, and Tamara had to laugh. Just then Richard poked his head round the door, demanding to know what was happening, and then the sister came to hustle them all away.
In the event, things weren’t that difficult, for Richard smoothed the way, and the colonel and Miriam were so delighted to have both their sons home together that they forgave Cassie for her deception, and even saw the funny side of it. Oliver promised to consider Cassie’s need for independence, instead of treating her like a fragile china doll. As usual, Cassie had got her own way. It was difficult to be cross with her for long and her charm won the day.
*
That afternoon, Tamara was collected from the hospital. She listened to Cassie and Oliver discussing the possibility of opening a small theatre company like the one Sophie had when they eventually moved out of New York. Tamara could see that when they both learnt to be a little more considerate of each other their marriage would be better than before.
Cassie came into Tamara’s room to say goodnight. ‘Thanks, Tam, for all you’ve done. It’s all going to be just perfect and I just wish things could work out as well for you as they have for me. Oliver and I are really very happy and you’ve helped us to be even happier... Oh, Tam, I’m so very sorry about Ian.’
‘Well, you needn’t be – it was a lucky escape,’ Tamara said soberly. ‘I’m just glad I sorted it out once and for all.’
‘And there’s really no other man in your life?’ Cassie had a way of probing until she had unearthed the darkest secret.
‘No,’ Tamara said vehemently. ‘There’s no one else, so you can stop speculating,’ and as she said it her heart ached and she felt a tight knot of misery inside her.