Roses and Champagne

‘All I hurt was her vanity and her pride.’ He was staring down at her and the nasty little smile was there again. ‘But have it your own way, my dear, although you’re greatly mistaken.’

She didn’t avoid his look. She said steadily: ‘You have a lot of women friends—oh, I’m not curious, but people gossip, you know. That makes it so much worse, because Virginia is so young and you’ve known her since she was a baby.’

His voice was silky. ‘And yet far better able to face the world and its wicked ways than you, Katie. We’ve had pleasant times together, haven’t we? But in future I’ll remember what you’ve said.’ He smiled gently. ‘I’m sure Mr Moffat is dying to talk to you again—such a nice quiet, well brought up young woman—and so correctly dressed.’ The silky voice bit into her. ‘You should change your style, Katrina, you’re not thirty yet.’ He moved aside to make room for Mr Moffat and she watched him go across the room to Mrs Drake. He looked handsome in his dinner jacket and his height and size made him noticeable wherever he was. She smiled politely at her companion and wondered miserably what it would be like to treat Lucius as a mere acquaintance when they met.

Dinner was a cheerful meal, since everyone there knew everyone else, and afterwards they sat around and talked for an hour or so until old Lady Ryder announced that she must go home, which was the signal for everyone else to do the same.

Katrina said her goodbyes, kissing the ladies and being kissed by the men, even Lucius, who brushed her cheek lightly and held her hand in an impersonal clasp and made some laughing remark about seeing her soon. And of course he’d been quite right to do it; in a day or two everyone would have heard that he and Virginia had broken up, but until then no one needed to know. She had felt mean listening to kind Mrs Drake’s concern for Virginia’s cold, and then seethed as she caught Lucius’s cynical look as he overheard. The comfortable, dependable man she had known all her life had changed into a remote, mocking stranger with cold eyes.

Driving back, she debated as to whether he was hiding a broken heart under that deadpan face, and if so what she could do about it.

Nothing; one didn’t interfere with other people’s lives even with the best of intentions, although she could wheedle Virginia into telling her what had happened. She would have to wait for the right moment, of course.

Which came a good deal sooner than she had expected. She was in the house, sitting at the kitchen table drinking the hot chocolate Mrs Beecham had left out, when she heard the front door open and close, and a moment later her sister came into the kitchen.

‘Hullo,’ said Katrina. ‘Did you lock up?’

Virginia gave her a dreamy look. ‘No, was I supposed to?’

Katrina got up. ‘Never mind, I’ll do it. There’s loads of chocolate if you’d like a cup.’

‘After two bottles of champagne? You must be joking! Did you have a very dull evening?’

‘I enjoyed it.’ Katrina spoke over her shoulder on the way to the hall and the front door. When she got back, Virginia was curled up in Mrs Beecham’s chair by the Aga.

‘Was Lucius there?’ she asked.

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Did you talk to him?’

‘Yes—not much, though.’

‘No one knew? That he’d jilted me?’

‘No, Virginia—did he jilt you? Had he asked you to marry him? And had you said yes?’

Virginia closed her eyes and yawned. ‘What a lot of questions! Aren’t you being a bit nosey, darling?’ She went on softly: ‘He’s made a fool of me, and he’s going to pay for it.’

Katrina took her cup to the sink. ‘How can you talk like that when you expected to marry him? You must have loved—still love—him.’

Her sister got up and strolled to the door. ‘Darling, you’re the wee-est bit behind the times—in fact, it’s the sort of thing Mummy might have said; or even Nanny. I can see I must update you.’ She smiled seraphically. ‘I shall have to think of something.’ She blew a kiss. ‘Goodnight, Katie.’

Katrina went to bed presently, but not to sleep. Virginia had made a remarkably quick recovery from her broken heart; on the other hand, she was probably hiding her real feelings under a cheerful exterior. It was natural enough that she should be angry with Lucius, especially as he was so annoyingly cheerful about the whole thing. It was to be hoped that when their feelings had cooled, they could settle down again. Virginia was very young, she was bound to fall in love again. Katrina fell into an uneasy sleep and woke late, the remnants of a dream provokingly not to be recalled filling her head. It had been as nasty a dream as possible, of that she was sure.

It was strange not seeing Lucius. He had been in the habit of strolling in at least once each day, to offer lifts, or go riding, or just to sit for half an hour and talk. He was a good landlord and the estate, although not large, took up a good deal of his day, and twice a week he drove up to London where he was a partner in a large accountants firm. Katrina had got into the habit of giving him little commissions—something special from Fortnum and Mason, an order for the wine merchants, a query on a Harrods account, and besides that, getting a lift whenever she wanted one. She busied herself with her painting, glad she had a deadline to meet and no time for idling. She would take her work up to the publishers at the end of the week and see if she could find a dress for the Hunt Ball.

Virginia had gone up to London and come back with a ravishing ball gown which had cost a staggering sum of money, and now that important matter had been settled, she spent a good deal of her time with her various friends. Katrina had been surprised that no one had said anything about her sister and Lucius, but then she hadn’t been out very much, giving the excuse that she had to finish her work and was pushed for time. Now she was just about finished, and since Virginia had phoned to say that she was going to stay a night or two with Emily and Patricia, it left her free to do as she wanted. It would do poor little Virginia good to stay with her friends; she had gone over for lunch, and as she had often stopped the night, Katrina had welcomed it. Besides, the roads could be treacherous now that the weather was turning really wintry. The Turners didn’t live all that far away, a matter of ten miles or so, but Virginia was a careless driver.

Katrina tidied away her paints and brushes and began to wrap up her work. It was still early, so she could drive up to London and hand over her work, have lunch and look for a dress—but that would mean driving back in the evening, not that that worried her, she was a good driver, but suppose Virginia decided to return home earlier? Besides, it left her short of time.

She was tying the tapes of the portfolio when the door opened and Lucius walked in. She was so surprised to see him that she didn’t say anything at all, but she detected a fine rage under his bland expression. She said good morning in a questioning voice and resisted the urge to back away from him.

‘Is it? Where is Virginia, Katrina?’ he asked as he came to a halt in front of her.

‘Spending a couple of days with the Turners. Why?’

‘Very wise of her.’ His voice was even, but his eyes were grey stones. ‘Do you know what she’s told all our friends and acquaintances? No, I can see you don’t. That I’ve cast her off—her own words—and taken up with you!’

‘Me?’ asked Katrina, quite flabbergasted.

‘Oh, yes. You see, as she has explained at some length to everyone who would listen, she had no chance against your brains and elegance and—er—knowledge of the world—oh, and I almost forgot—your maturity.’

Katrina goggled at him. ‘But what nonsense!’ she managed.

‘Oh, no, just a clever way of putting things, my dear. When everyone has got over their open-mouthed astonishment and thought about it, they’ll see it for the nonsense it is. In the meantime…’ he managed to smile thinly, ‘I should like to wring her neck!’

‘She’s upset,’ said Katrina. ‘She said her heart was broken…’

‘And what else, I wonder? That I was an ogre, that I should pay for upsetting her careful plans. You know what she intended to do?’

‘No, but she—she did say you would pay for it. I don’t think for one minute that she meant it.’

He said quite savagely: ‘You walk around with your head in the clouds, painting hobgoblins and flower fairies, you let Virginia trample you underfoot and wheedle you into giving her far too much money. Why in heaven’s name don’t you use some of it on yourself? Buy some clothes suited to your age!’ He saw her colour painfully. ‘Oh, you always look nice, but why think of yourself as a woman, a staid woman at that, who’ll never see forty again? You’re twenty-seven and you look ten years younger than that.’ He laughed softly. ‘And I’m not paying compliments—I know you too well for that.’

‘What are you going to do?’ asked Katrina, not liking the sound of that laugh.

‘Do? Why, call her bluff, of course. I shall turn my attentions to you, Katie. In due course we shall become engaged, and when you’ve had the time to gather together whatever it is girls gather before they marry, we’ll be wed. Here in Upper Tew.’

For a big man he was very fast on his feet. Before she could gather her wits to answer such nonsense, he had left her, closing the door very quietly behind him.

CHAPTER TWO

ALL IDEA OF going to London gone from her head, Katrina sat down and allowed her chaotic thoughts to settle themselves. They jostled each other around her head, making no sense. Lucius had been joking—or had he? And surely Virginia would not have played such a rotten trick even if she had meant it as a joke. She must have known it was a bad one, sure to misfire. Katrina thanked heaven that their friends, mostly lifelong, would think twice before believing Virginia, or at least they wouldn’t accuse her of lying, merely of exaggerating, and that because her youthful ego had been deflated. And no one, no one at all, would have anything to say against Lucius. She sighed; which meant that Virginia would have to explain. She frowned then. Surely her sister hadn’t said those hurtful things?—as though she had ever made any push to attract Lucius away from Virginia, and she wasn’t brainy or mature or elegant, that had been cruel. All the same, Lucius need not have been quite so angry, and the suggestion he had made had been ridiculous. If he thought he was going to get even with Virginia by playing a silly make-believe game with herself as an unwilling partner he could think again! She finished tying the portfolio and went downstairs.

In the sitting room Lucius was sitting comfortably, reading The Times. He got up as she stopped just inside the door, taking no notice of her astonished: ‘Well, what are you doing here?’

‘I heard you telling Mrs Drake that you intended going up to town with your drawings. I’ll drive you up now; I’ve an appointment for later on this morning, but I’ll pick you up and bring you back any time you like.’

Katrina said with great dignity: ‘Thank you, Lucius, but I shall drive myself up tomorrow. I’m surprised at you asking.’

‘My dear, didn’t I make myself plain? For lack of a better phrase, I intend to court you. I shouldn’t like to make Virginia out to be a liar.’

‘And what about me?’ asked Katrina furiously. ‘No one’s asked me if—if I want to be courted.’ She added snappishly: ‘How silly and old-fashioned that sounds!’

‘Ah, yes indeed; you must add these to my other shortcomings.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! You’re being tiresome.’

‘That too,’ he agreed gravely. ‘How long will it take you to get ready?’

‘I’ve just said, I’m going to drive myself…’ She caught his eye, grey and cold and compelling. ‘Very well,’ she said reluctantly, ‘but I don’t want any more of this nonsense. I shall talk to Virginia when she gets back and—and…’ She faltered under his amused stare.

‘You haven’t a chance,’ he told her. ‘She’s always made rings round you and always will.’ He nodded gently at her. ‘Go and get ready.’

Ever since she could remember Katrina had obeyed him unquestioningly, even though at times she hadn’t minced matters if she was annoyed with him. She went back upstairs to her room and changed into a dark grey suit, beautifully cut. It was elegant and in excellent taste, and made her look older than she was. A scarf, plain court shoes and a matching handbag completed her outfit while doing nothing for her at all. She fetched her portfolio and went downstairs to tell Mrs Beecham that she wouldn’t be back until the late afternoon, before going back to the sitting room.

Lucius eyed her thoughtfully. ‘Going to do any shopping?’ he wanted to know.

‘Well, I thought I might look round for a dress for the Hunt Ball. Why do you want to know?’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘No reason. Shall we go?’

He dropped her off at the publishers in Bloomsbury after arranging to meet her for lunch at the Connaught Hotel. ‘I’ll be in the bar at twelve-thirty and wait for you,’ he suggested.

She stood on the pavement outside the publishers’ office. ‘But will you be ready by then? I could make it later if you like and do some shopping first.’

He handed her the portfolio. ‘No need, I’ll be there. You can shop after lunch.’

He waited until she had gone inside and then got back into the car and drove off. Katrina watched him go through the glass doors. It was strange to think that despite all the happenings of the last few days, she felt exactly the same about him as she had always done—a friend, someone to be depended upon, who always knew what to do. As she gave her name to the receptionist she decided that the best plan would be to ignore their extraordinary conversation of that morning; she would have it out with Virginia, persuade her to tell everyone that she had been joking, and everything would be just as it had been. Or would it be? She had no chance to ponder the matter before she was ushered upstairs to the publishers’ office.

She wasn’t there long. The illustrations were approved, she was asked if she would undertake another commission for a jacket cover, given coffee, promised a cheque within a few days, and took her departure. She had to walk a little way before she could get a taxi and the traffic was heavy. She got to the Connaught ten minutes late, to find Lucius sitting in the bar with no sign of impatience.

She sat down opposite him and took off her gloves. ‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘I couldn’t find a taxi. Have you been waiting long?’

‘A few minutes. What will you drink?’

Over their drinks they talked without saying much. Katrina felt awkward; it hadn’t been so bad in the car, sitting beside him while they carried on desultory conversation, but now with him opposite her, his grey eyes friendly, she had the absurd wish to ask his advice about what she should do. However, she didn’t. She told him about her new commission, enlarging upon the weather, which was chilly, and agreed nervously when he suggested that they might lunch without further delay.

She discovered that she was hungry once they were seated, to Lucius’s suggestion that they might try the smoked trout she agreed immediately, and then went on to boeuf Stroganoff and ruche glacée. It was over their coffee that Lucius suggested that as he was free for the afternoon he might accompany her on her shopping expedition.

‘You’d be bored stiff,’ said Katrina forthrightly.

‘No, I won’t. We’ll leave the car here and walk.’

‘But I thought of going to Harrods or Liberty’s.’

‘Let’s try Bond Street and Sloane Street first.’

They were on the steps of the hotel when she said: ‘Look, you’ll hate it—tagging from shop to shop, and I never go to boutiques…’

He took her arm and began walking her along the pavement. ‘Why not?’

‘I’m not that sort of girl—I mean, I’m not smart or pretty.’ She added pettishly: ‘And for heaven’s sake, why do you ask? You’ve known it for years.’

‘I know a couple of shops where I’m sure you’ll see you’re mistaken.’

She stopped walking to look up at him. She didn’t mind in the least that he hadn’t denied her lack of good looks, during all their years of friendship he had never made any bones about that, but she was curious about something else. ‘How do you know about boutiques?’ she wanted to know.

Lucius chuckled. ‘Don’t be so inquisitive, Katie.’ He walked her on again and presently stopped before an elegant plate glass window, sheltering a vase of flowers, a gossamer scarf over a little gilt chair, and a black dress, displayed on an impossibly slim plaster model.

‘That’s a nice little chair,’ observed Katrina, who was interested in furniture.

‘Charming, but you can’t wear that to the Hunt Ball,’ he said as he opened the door and swept her inside.

Dove grey velvet, more little chairs, delicate lights and an elegant creature in black crêpe left Katrina without words. But it was obvious that Lucius had no intention of helping her. She asked to see some evening dresses and shot him a smouldering look.

The saleslady smiled with quite a human warmth. ‘For yourself, of course, madam. Had you any particular colour in mind?’

Lucius had made himself comfortable, on a button-backed sofa in one corner. ‘Green,’ he suggested. ‘That bright peacock green-blue—taffeta, if you’ve got such a thing.’

Katrina went and sat beside him on the sofa. ‘I never wear bright colours,’ she hissed.

‘That’s the trouble, my dear.’ He turned to look at the saleslady, followed by another one, bearing an armful of all the colours of the rainbow. ‘Try them all on.’

‘Size twelve?’ fluted the saleslady. ‘Madam has a slim figure, and of course we can do any alterations necessary.’ She signed to the other girl, who held a patterned organza creation in shades of green. It had a full skirt and a frill around its low neckline. ‘Or this,’ she coaxed, and displayed a rose taffeta with long tight sleeves and a square neck. ‘Or perhaps this is the colour?’

She was a good saleswoman; she had merely whetted Katrina’s appetite with the first two; the third was exactly what Lucius had suggested—taffeta in a rich green shot through with blue with short billowing sleeves, a tiny bodice and wide skirts. ‘Try them all on, madam,’ she begged again.

Katrina didn’t look at Lucius. He really had a nerve, bulldozing her into coming into a shop like this in the first place, sitting there like a possessive husband! She wasn’t going to buy anything, just to teach him a lesson, but since she was there, she might just try them on…

The organza was charming, not at all her usual sort of dress, and it certainly did something for her, Without asking the saleslady swept back the silk curtains and invited her to show herself to Sir, and since there was not any way out of that, she did so, rather shyly.

‘Very nice.’ He studied her for such a long time that she frowned a little and went back into the dressing room, where she tried the pink, which was even prettier.

‘I like that,’ declared Lucius, ‘but let’s see that green thing first.’

The green thing was exactly right, although so different to her other evening gowns that she hardly recognised herself. Lucius took his time looking her over. ‘That’s the one,’ he said finally. ‘I like the neck.’

Katrina pinkened. The neck was low, not at all the kind of thing she usually wore—now Virginia would look gorgeous in it…

‘Madam has splendid shoulders and a very pretty bustline,’ observed the saleslady. ‘If I might say so, the dress is just right for her.’

Katrina kept her eyes on the silk wallpaper above Lucius’s head. ‘I’m not sure…’ she began.

‘Have it, Katie, and the pink one as well.’

She was quite out of her depth. Years of going to one of the better stores and choosing the unobtrusive clothes which she had always believed helped her to be a little less plain hadn’t prepared her for this. Now she was landed with two eyecatching dresses she might never wear. She changed back into her well cut suit, tidied her hair, and, once more the self-possessed young woman, went back into the shop to find the dresses already packed and Lucius putting away his cheque book. It was hardly the place to argue. She waited until they were out of the shop before she started.

‘There was no need for you to pay. I’ve plenty of money of my own. Whatever did the woman think?’

He took her reluctant arm. ‘I’ve never minded what people think. In any case, why are you fussing about it? You can give me a cheque later.’

‘I’ve no idea how much they were—and what on earth shall I do with two dresses? I’m not even sure that I’ll wear one of them.’

‘You’ll wear the green thing to the Hunt Ball, and the pink will come in handy when we go dancing.’ He glanced down at her. ‘Have you forgotten that we’re walking out?’

‘We’re not—I won’t…I shall speak to Virginia when she gets home!’

‘So you said,’ Lucius had stopped before another shop window. ‘Now, that’s nice,’ he pointed out the brown velvet suit draped over a stand, its matching blouse in a deep cream silk cast negligently by it.

Katrina took a look. ‘Chanel,’ she observed. ‘It’ll be hundreds of pounds.’

‘You said only a few minutes ago that you had plenty of money.’ He added smoothly: ‘Dressed in that you’d easily get the better of Virginia. Buy it.’

Katrina, who had had no intention of buying anything else, found herself in the shop, trying on the suit which was a perfect fit, and since she might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb, trying the blouse as well, writing a cheque for a heart-stopping sum, and walking out of the shop again. Outside she said firmly: ‘I’m not buying another thing—I could have got two good tweed outfits for that money…’

‘So you could, but think how nice you look in that coat and skirt. Worth every penny. I like the little jacket; as that other woman said, you have a very pretty bosom, you should show it off more.’

Katrina gasped. ‘Well, really, Lucius, whatever will you say next.’

‘Well, surely we’ve known each other long enough for me to make a few brotherly remarks without you coming over all modest?’ A gleam came into his eye. ‘Why, I remember—let me see, I must have been about twelve and you five—we went swimming in the river, and you without a stitch on.’

Katrina let out a gurgle of laughter. ‘Oh, I remember—Nanny gave me such a ticking off and a good smacking.’

‘And I had a painful interview with Father in the study.’

‘We deserved it, I suppose—it was March, wasn’t it? We could have died of cold.’

They had tea in a small tea-room, waited upon by a refined young lady in a chintz overall; China tea and mammoth eclairs. Katrina, about to start on her second cake, arrested her fork in mid-air when Lucius said:

‘You’ll get fat, Katie.’

She looked at him in horror. ‘No—am I fat now? Even a little plump?’

‘Just right—don’t for God’s sake go on a diet, though—skinny women have no charm.’

Katrina took a good bite. ‘Oh, good—all the same, I must remember to weigh myself sometimes.’ She smiled at him across the little table. ‘What a strange day it’s been; like a dream.’

‘Every second of it true, Katrina. Who is taking you to the Hunt Ball?’

‘Well, several men have offered…’

‘But you’ve not accepted?’

‘No.’

‘Then you’ll come with me. You were coming to the dinner party first anyway, weren’t you?’

‘Yes, but what about Virginia? I mean, won’t you feel—well, awkward?’

He gave her a cool stare. ‘Why should I? There’ll be a dozen of us there anyway, and she and I are bound to meet again, you know.’

‘Yes, but after the things she said…’

‘Silly, childish nonsense. Shall I send the car for you or will you drive over?’

‘I’ll drive.’

He nodded. ‘You can leave the car at my place and pick it up later.’

They walked back presently and got into the car and began the drive home. ‘Doing anything this evening?’ asked Lucius idly.

‘No—I don’t expect Virginia until tomorrow. I’ll sketch some ideas for the book jacket.’