‘Why don’t we invite your children to stay for a few days?’ Juliet suggested. It was the end of July and London was teeming with children who had broken up for the summer holidays, paying routine visits with their mothers to dentists and oculists, and getting kitted out with new cricket pads and tennis rackets. So far she’d failed to get pregnant, and the longing she felt for children was making it hard for her to see Louise and Daisy, who was now three months old.
‘I don’t think their mother will let me bring them here. She’s quite bitter that I’ve found such happiness with you.’ Daniel reached out to stroke the back of her hand as she relaxed on a chaise longue in their bedroom.
‘Even though she was the one who wanted the divorce? And now she’s happily remarried?’ Juliet queried.
Daniel frowned, as he studied the carpet at his feet. ‘It’s not as straight-forward as that. My sister has been making mischief.’
Juliet raised her eyebrows. ‘Your sister? What’s it got to do with her?’
‘You’ve never met Esther.’ His deep voice was harsh. ‘She’s seven years older than me and she’s always been eaten up with jealousy. She’s even jealous of people she doesn’t know. Public figures like the Queen, for whom she hasn’t got a good word to say.’
‘Are you being serious?’ Juliet asked incredulously.
Daniel nodded. ‘Deadly serious. She’s not an attractive woman and she’s never married, or even had a boyfriend. When she sees other women who are successful and happy, it seems to do something to her. She remembered seeing photographs of you in magazines when you married Cameron, pictures of you as a rich and beautiful young duchess living in a castle and… I’m afraid, sweetheart, that was that. When she heard you and I were going to marry she went crazy.’
‘Was it she who was responsible for stopping the rest of your family coming to our wedding?’
He nodded again, averting his eyes.
‘Daniel’ – she was on her feet now – ‘what did she say? What could she have said to keep them away, for God’s sake? Why didn’t you tell me about her lies before?’
‘Darling, I didn’t want to upset you, and I didn’t want anything to spoil the best day of our lives; the day we’d both wanted for so long,’ he added, softly.
Juliet reached for a cigarette. ‘I don’t believe this.’ She felt astounded. And hurt, too. Not because Daniel’s sister apparently didn’t like her, but because Daniel had kept something as important as this from her.
‘Has she been writing to you?’ she asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing.
‘Yes.’ He raised his head. ‘How did you know?’
She shrugged and placed the cigarette in her long jade holder, lighting it with a silver table lighter. Her hands were shaking slightly.
‘Darling.’ He reached for her again, but she moved away beyond his reach. ‘Why do her letters make you so angry?’ she asked.
‘Because she says unforgivable things about us.’
‘Such as…?’
Daniel shook his head. ‘They’re not worth repeating.’
‘Not worth…? Although they keep you from having your children to stay? And they cause you distress when you receive them – no, don’t argue, Daniel. And don’t take me for a fool either. Where are these letters?’
‘D’you think I’d keep them? They’re scurrilous, Juliet.’ He was flushed with anger, his fists clenched. ‘I throw them away and do my best to forget about them.’
‘That’s not going to stop her writing,’ Juliet protested, angry now. ‘Daniel, I didn’t think we kept things from each other now we’re married? Look at what happened the last time we stopped communicating? Do you want this to come between us? – You’re going about it the right way if you do.’
Daniel rose and started prowling around their bedroom, picking little ornaments up and putting them down again. ‘You are incredibly rich though, aren’t you?’ he said, almost bitterly.
She stood quite still, her back to the fireplace, which was laid ready to be lit if it got chilly in the evenings.
‘What’s that got to do with it?’ Her voice was dangerously soft.
Daniel shrugged and looked away. ‘My sister is spreading a tissue of lies and she’s convinced the rest of the family that you’re a bad lot, and I’m a gold-digging monster.’ He paused, then continued. ‘Seeing that we’re living in a ten bedroom mansion in Mayfair, they believe her. Let’s face it, I could never provide a home like this on my income, especially as I give Ruth money to support the children.’
Juliet snorted in disgust. ‘So they think you’re a kept man? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Not only is it insulting to both of us, but anyone knowing me would know I can spot a fortune hunter a mile away because I’ve been pursued by them since I was seventeen. Why don’t you tell your sister it’s a damn lie?’
His eyes met hers levelly. ‘I’ve told her until I’m blue in the face, but she refuses to listen. I happen to have ended up with everything she wanted in life, and now she’s determined to try and ruin my happiness. The twisted lies she’s told Ruth have even ruined the basic goodwill I had with Ruth when we got divorced.’
Juliet’s troubled eyes searched his. ‘Does she know we were lovers nine years ago?’
‘She does now, thanks to Esther. According to her, Ruth was forced to build a new life for herself when she found out about us, and that’s why she found someone else to marry. The worst part is the children’s minds have been poisoned, and they too believe that I deserted their mother when the war started.’
‘How ironic, because that’s when we actually broke up… thanks to my stupidity,’ Juliet pointed out regretfully. ‘God, what a mess. We’ve got to sort it out, though. Your children are missing out by not seeing you. And we must put a stop to what your sister has been saying about us.’
His voice raised with impatience. ‘Do you think I haven’t tried? How do you think it makes me feel being referred to as a whore? Don’t you realize that no matter how hard I deny it the fact is I’m living in this bloody great house, with a Rolls Royce parked in front, a butler to answer the door and a wife who is a millionairess!’
Juliet flushed and then the colour drained from her face. ‘Is that what you feel?’
Daniel remained silent, as he stared broodingly out of the window.
‘Is that how you feel?’ she repeated sharply. ‘Times have changed, Daniel. Women found independence during the war. It’s no longer a question of the man being the provider, while the little wifey stays at home, doing the housework. Women are never going to go back to that again. My mother has been a “kept woman”, if you want to use that phrase, all her life; the wives of her generation expected to be supported financially by their husbands, but my generation isn’t like that. If I didn’t have any money, I’d get a job; I wouldn’t expect you to keep me.’
He frowned, his eyes like cold flint, his manner withdrawn. ‘Right now people despise me and I’m not used to that.’
She felt a faint stab of fear which she hid by saying, loftily, ‘I’m the one who should be angry; it makes me look like an ugly woman who could only capture a husband by dangling a great fat cheque book under his nose. I think you’d better get your sister to shut up, and if you don’t, I will.’
With that, she turned and walked swiftly out of the room, terribly afraid that no matter how much they loved each other, her wealth might come between them, because, in truth, she was the one who owned the house, paid the staff and all the outgoings. Even the Rolls that was parked outside was hers.
A little while later, as she sat in the drawing room trying to concentrate on a new novel, she heard Daniel slam out of the house. It was the first fight they’d had since they’d been married, but that wasn’t the point. There was a serious issue between them now, and she had to think of a way of solving it.
‘We’re missing out on so much, Henry,’ Liza wailed, when he returned from London that evening. Heaped on his desk in the library, like ammunition with which she intended to assault him, was a pile of expensive looking invitations, with copper plate printing on stiff white cards.
‘Look at all the parties we’ve been invited to,’ she said accusingly. ‘What was the point of asking everyone to Rosie and Salton’s wedding if we didn’t intend to accept the invitations that were bound to follow?’
‘Darling, I never wanted to ask that number of people in the first place,’ he said mildly, sinking into the worn leather captain’s chair behind his desk.
‘But we did,’ she countered irrationally, ‘and Rosie and Salton are going to everything, while we’re stuck down here. I can’t ask Juliet if we can stay with her again; she’ll think we’re using her house like a hotel. And unfortunately Rosie doesn’t have a spare room, which I think is quite ridiculous for a town house.’
Or extremely sensible, Henry thought privately. Salton had bought them a charming four bedroom house in Halsey Place near Marble Arch, (the wrong side of the park, Liza had sniffed) and Sophia, Jonathan and their nanny each had their own room.
‘We’ve got to get a house, Henry. Get all our lovely stuff out of storage. Establish ourselves in London once more,’ Liza insisted.
Henry looked at his once pretty wife, whose mouth had been so permanently turned down at the corners that two deep wrinkles had formed. ‘Have you forgotten your promise?’
Liza looked flustered. ‘That… that was in the middle of the Blitz… and we have stayed down here for eight years; eight years, Henry! And you know how I hate the country.’ Her voice was tinged with desperation. There were tears in her eyes. ‘Just because I want to return to London doesn’t mean I don’t love you,’ she pleaded. ‘I want both of us to have some fun. We deserve it. The last few years have been so terribly dreary.’
‘The trouble is, I know the sort of house you’d like, and we simply can’t afford it; we couldn’t get the staff nowadays, either.’
Liza said sulkily, ‘Juliet seems to manage all right and she’s got an enormous place.’
‘Juliet’s rich, and contrary to appearances, she and Daniel don’t entertain on a grand scale. Half the rooms are never used. And she mostly has daily help, apart from Dudley. You’d want a cook, a scullery maid, housemaids and parlour maids, a butler…’ Henry’s voice trailed off, weary at the very thought of going back to the sort of life they’d lived before the war.
‘But Henry…’ she burst out, exasperated by his attitude, and frustrated that she was being denied the life she so craved. ‘I’m so unhappy here. I want to see people again, I want to go dining and dancing. I want to wear my pretty clothes and my jewels… and all that’s happening is I’m wasting away in the company of your mother and… and’ – she looked wildly out of the library window at the distant fields beyond the garden – ‘and a lot of cows!’ She jumped to her feet and rushed out of the room, sobbing.
‘I think, my dear,’ Lady Anne said to Henry later that evening as they dined on their own, as Liza had excused herself with a headache, ‘that maybe a compromise could be reached.’
Henry raised his eyebrows. ‘What are you suggesting, Mama?’
‘A flat, my dear, a small but nice flat in a good area. There’s a block of flats in the Brompton Road, opposite Harrods, which are not expensive to rent. You’d probably get one for between three and four hundred pounds a year, and I know, because I have a friend who lives in one of them, that heating and hot water is included in the rent. Wouldn’t that perhaps be the answer? The close proximity of Harrods would surely compensate Liza for not having a house?’ she added drily.
Henry smiled. ‘You heard our little contra temps earlier, then?’
Lady Anne looked him straight in the eye. ‘I think the whole village probably heard it. Liza’s not happy down here, my dear. She was never a country girl, you know. Why not let her have three nights a week in town? It would save you travelling up and down every day, too.’
‘I read the newspapers and work on my papers so I hardly notice the journey,’ he protested.
‘It’s a tiring journey, though, Henry. I think the block is called Princes Court. If you like I’ll ask my friend if any flats are available?’
He sighed inwardly. There seemed no escape, but he knew his mother was right, if he wanted a peaceful life. ‘That would be most kind, Mama. And please don’t mention it to Liza until we know if it’s possible. Then hopefully, I can present it to her as a fait accompli, ruling out the possibility of getting a house.’
Lady Anne gave a roguish smile. ‘I’d love to be a fly on the wall when you tell her!’
Juliet awoke with a start as she felt his naked body pressed close to hers, while his arms enfolded her. His face was buried in her neck and the familiar smell of him sent her senses quickening.
‘Hello,’ she said throatily, placing her hands on either side of his face.
‘I’m sorry, so sorry about being rotten to you.’ His voice was muffled. Then he found her mouth and started kissing her, deeply and thirstily, while she clung to him, wrapping herself around him, wanting to take him inside her so he could assuage her instant burning desire.
‘I love you,’ she whispered, through parted lips, as she arched her back. ‘I want you… I want you now.’
‘Oh, my darling, you can have all of me. I want to fill you with my love,’ Daniel groaned as he started to make love to her with a feverish intensity. ‘You’re my all… you’re everything I ever wanted.’
Juliet felt herself burning up, flames shimmering through her body as she gave herself to him with abandon. Letting him weave the magic she’d experienced when he’d first made love to her all those years ago, when she’d still been a virgin. It was Daniel who had shown her how wonderful lovemaking could be, and his touch was still as tender and exciting. Surrendering to the way his lips and hands were setting her on fire, he brought her slowly and exquisitely to a climax that had her crying out with pleasure. Only then did he lose control, riding her almost roughly, his breath ragged, his thrusts more and more urgent until he suddenly collapsed on top of her with a roar of wonder. It was then that she held him tightly within her as they lay still and breathless, locked in a love so deep Juliet shuddered again and again.
They made love twice more that night, and when she finally got out of bed and drew back the curtains as dawn was breaking, the moon, like a thin wafer of mother-of-pearl was floating above the trees in Hyde Park.
She returned to the silver bed and sat naked on the side, and looked at Daniel, who lay with his hands behind his head, unable to take his eyes off her.
‘We must never lose sight of the fact that we’re together because we’re in love,’ Juliet said softly. ‘Damn other people. Damn what they say. We know the truth and that’s all that matters.’
He nodded, taking her hands in both of his. ‘That is all that matters, and I shall love you for as long as I live.’ Then he dropped back against the pillows, his eyes hardening. ‘I just wish my sister would mind her own bloody business.’
‘How about coming up to join me in London next Wednesday?’ Henry suggested amiably, as he and Liza had a glass of sherry before dinner.
‘What for?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘I thought you’d enjoy it? We could have lunch at Claridge’s if you like, and then perhaps a trip to Harrods to do a little shopping?’
A smile was spreading across her face as if she was a child who’d been promised a treat. Nevertheless, Henry had been so difficult recently, she viewed his offer with mistrust.
‘What’s brought this on, Henry?’
‘I realize you’re very bored down here, so I thought a little trip to town might cheer you up?’
Liza nodded. ‘That would be lovely. I must get my hair done.’ She said no more though, frightened of pushing Henry when he seemed to be in a good mood. If Wednesday went well, she might be able to build on it, letting him see how much fun they could have in town. It was obvious that being stuck at Hammerton’s, day after day, with no light relief, had given him a jaundiced outlook.
She started to pin her hopes on the trip: maybe after a cocktail in the bar at Claridge’s, followed by a delicious lunch, (they were bound to bump into a few friends!) Henry would realize she was right; they were missing out, stuck down at Hartley during the week. It also occurred to Liza that after they’d shopped at Harrods, and Henry had returned to work, she might just drop into a couple of estate agents, before catching the train home. There was no harm in seeing what they had on their books, was there?
After Daniel had left for his office at Millbank, Juliet went to his study, determined to find his sister’s address. She had to put a stop to Esther’s letters once and for all and although she felt guilty about going through his papers, she was not going to let this woman sour their relationship. When he’d said he’d destroyed all her letters, he’d been truthful. All that Juliet could find were the usual bank statements, receipts, the deeds of his Chelsea house which had been bombed, several insurance policies, and receipts from his tailor. There was also a file containing correspondence from his solicitor referring to his divorce and financial obligation to support Sarah, Susan and Leo.
Then she spotted an old address book. Opening the index at the Ls, she quickly found that both Ruth and Esther Lawrence were listed but there was no way of knowing whether Esther’s London address and phone number were still relevant? When had the entry been made? Ruth’s address in Devon was certainly out of date, because Juliet knew she’d moved to Hertfordshire since she’d remarried.
Having copied down Esther’s details, Juliet slipped out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. It wouldn’t do for Dudley to catch her going through Daniel’s things. Hurrying up to her dressing room she touched up her makeup and added a glossy layer of scarlet lipstick to her voluptuous mouth. Then she put on a dark-red coat and a small red hat with a veil.
It was time she paid Esther Lawrence a visit, and she just hoped to God the bitch was at the same address.
After luncheon at Claridge’s, Henry and Liza stepped into a taxi hailed by the commissionaire of the hotel.
‘Brompton Road, please, just opposite Harrods,’ Henry told the driver.
‘Why opposite Harrods?’ Liza queried. ‘It means we’ll have to cross the road?’
He spoke casually. ‘There’s something I want to show you.’
Liza vaguely wondered what shops were opposite Harrods. A dress shop, perhaps? A jeweller?
When they stepped out of the cab, she looked up and down the street while Henry paid the fare.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked.
He took her by the elbow and led her to a twenties-style doorway set under an art deco canopy. Without saying a word, he pushed open the glass door which led to a large lobby, with lifts at the far end.
‘What is this place, Henry? A new store?’
He looked pleased with himself as they stepped into the lift, and he pressed the third floor button. ‘No, it’s not a store.’
‘Then what…? What’s this?’ she asked in bewilderment as he took a front door key from his pocket and handed it to her.
‘It’s the key to number 17, Princes Court; your new London home,’ he said, unable to quench his delight.
‘My…! Oh, my God! Henry! Do you mean it?’ Her hands were shaking as she took the key, and her face had flushed red, her eyes brimming with emotional tears. ‘Truly, Henry. Truly?’
‘Truly, darling. Come along, it’s just here.’ As they stepped out of the lift, he turned left along a wide luxuriously carpeted corridor. Number 17 was the first door on the left.
‘I can’t believe it,’ Liza kept saying, as he showed her around. There was a master bedroom and drawing room leading off a small square hall, and along the corridor, a beige marble bathroom, a dining room, another bedroom, and a kitchen, with its own back door for putting out the rubbish.
‘What do you think?’ he asked. ‘The rooms could do with a coat of paint… that is if we can find anyone to do it, but I think once we get some of our stuff out of storage, it’ll be all right as a pied-a-terre, don’t you?’
Liza clapped her hands together. It wasn’t a grand house, it wasn’t even remotely a grand flat, but the location was fine and that was more important than anything. They could at least have fifteen to twenty people to drinks in the square drawing room, which led on to a miniscule balcony, facing Harrods, and she was sure she could squeeze in eight people for dinner parties. Liza was also relieved to see there was a separate staff lavatory beyond the kitchen.
Henry had obviously made a great effort to get them a place in town and it was a start. Gradually she was sure he’d agree to somewhere bigger. She hadn’t mentioned it yet, but she was determined that Charlotte should come out in two years time and then they’d definitely need a much bigger place.
‘It’s perfect darling!’ she exclaimed, and in a way it was only a small lie. ‘We can make it very cosy, and give intimate parties, which are always so nice.’ She turned to kiss him with gratitude and Henry held her close for a moment, glad she was pleased.
‘Right, then,’ he replied, smiling. ‘Keep the keys so you can get on with planning how you want the place to look.’
Liza held them with reverence as if they’d been the keys to paradise itself. ‘Thank you Henry,’ she said solemnly, desperate to tell Rosie and Juliet the exciting news.
‘I’d better be getting back to the bank,’ Henry said, picking up his bowler hat, gloves and umbrella, which he’d left on a shelf in the hallway.
‘Will you be all right getting to Victoria?’
Liza spoke sturdily. ‘Don’t worry about me, darling, I’ll be absolutely fine.’
Henry was no sooner out the door than she was going from room to room again, making lists with a slim gold pencil in her tiny diary. The thrill of having somewhere to live in London made her hands tremble and her brain buzz with excitement. After eight years of being incarcerated in the country, she was at last about to return to her rightful place at the centre of high society.
The face that stared at her with undisguised hostility was long and narrow, like a keyhole. Dark hooded eyes glittered maliciously and the lips of her thin mouth were pressed together in a hard line.
‘Miss Lawrence?’ Juliet asked unnecessarily, as she stood on the doorstop of an ordinary looking red brick house near the Edgware Road.
She noticed the mean-looking windows were heavily veiled in lace, giving the building an old-fashioned closed-up look.
‘What do you want?’ Esther asked in a harsh voice, her drab black clothes hanging from her bony body like a dusty carapace.
Juliet’s gaze was steady. ‘I think it’s time we talked.’
‘I have nothing to say to you.’ She started to close the door.
Juliet swiftly placed the flat of her hand on the black painted door, forcing it to remain open. ‘But I have a lot to say to you.’ Then using her shoulder, she pushed her way past Esther and strode into the narrow hall, and once inside, swung round to face her sister-in-law.
‘Why are you against us?’ she demanded. ‘Why did you stop Daniel’s family from coming to our wedding?’
Esther raised her chin arrogantly. ‘Daniel has brought shame on the Lawrence family. Until he met you he was a loyal husband and father. Since you bought him with your stinking wealth, he’s deserted the Jewish faith and he cares nothing for his family, so it’s only natural we don’t want to have anything more to do with him.’
‘That’s not true!’ Juliet shot back. ‘He adores his children. He wants them to come and stay with us, he…’
‘Their mother won’t allow them to enter the house of a godless gentile and a rich whore!’ Esther retorted, her face flushed in rage. ‘Haven’t you done enough harm? You’ve ruined one man’s life by marrying him for his dukedom, only to use the fortune he settled on you to destroy Daniel’s life. Have you no shame?’
Juliet blinked, stunned for a moment. ‘You’d better be careful what you say, and what you put in your letters to Daniel, because I shall have you up for slander, libel and defamation of character.’
Esther’s mouth twisted in a sneer. ‘Oh, no doubt you can afford the best lawyers to try and ruin my life too, but you won’t succeed. Every word I’ve said is true! I read the newspapers, you know,’ she added slyly.
Juliet flashed back, ‘And if you believe what you read you’re more stupid than I thought.’ Her aquamarine eyes blazed. ‘Do you really believe that Daniel is the type of man who can be bought?’
Esther didn’t flinch. ‘I know he’s married a scheming adulteress, who’s been involved with more men than he’s got fingers on his hands! I know that his children are hurting, and are ashamed of him. It’s my duty to open his eyes to how he’s been manipulated, seduced into living off the spoils of your first husband. It’s disgusting. You’re ruining his life, and destroying his family. Now get out of my house.’ She flung open the front door and a gust of wind whirled in from the street.
‘You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,’ Juliet said coldly as she swept past the older woman and walked down the front steps.
As she drove home, she felt deeply shaken. Esther had obviously been reading all about her for years, and she knew too much. Juliet felt uneasy. She was never going to be able to defend herself over leaving Cameron Kincardine because it would mean revealing his homosexuality; his over generous divorce settlement had been to buy her silence. As to the other men in her life, they’d been casual affairs, apart from her engagement to Edward Courtney who’d been killed in action.
Casual affairs, she reflected, that looked degenerate in peace time. That even shocked her now, thinking back to those torrid nights of the Blitz when, on her nights off, she slept with various boyfriends. But at the time, when every minute could be your last, when she and Daniel were totally estranged and she thought she’d never see him again, when she was frightened and lonely… yes, there had been a lot of men in her life then, but she’d long since forgiven herself for her sins and as long as Daniel never found out…
She clutched the steering wheel tightly, feeling a frisson of nerves.
God knows how, but Esther seemed to have found out what even Juliet’s family didn’t know; the frantic lifestyle she’d had with Richard, Hugh, Andrew, Steve, Peter… Oh Christ, she couldn’t even remember all their names now. They’d get drunk, have a line of coke, go back to her silver bed as the bombs were dropping all around and the nights were shaking with explosions, passion and the fear of imminent death.
A great weight of guilt suddenly settled on Juliet. She’d told Daniel about getting engaged to poor Edward who’d then been killed; he hadn’t liked it but he’d understood. But he wouldn’t understand about the others.
But had Esther already told him about the others? Was that why he’d been so angry when he’d got her letters? Surely he’d have said something if he’d known? Juliet parked the car round the corner in Green Street and sat for a few minutes, feeling too weak with anxiety to walk the hundred yards back to her house. She was churning inside with shame and misery, terrified of Daniel’s reaction if his sister told him everything.
She’d say it wasn’t true, of course. She’d deny everything, saying how could Esther possibly know how she spent her time off? Anyway, there was nothing wrong in going out to dine and dance with her men friends, was there? Esther had probably seen photographs of her in Tatler and Bystander, with someone in uniform dining at the Dorchester or the Savoy… but they were just friends, weren’t they? Nothing more! Juliet rehearsed in her head what she’d say if Daniel questioned her. What would be the point in confessing? Those mindless liaisons had meant nothing, anyway. She’d always been attractive to men and she’d been desperately lonely at the time with all her family down in the country, and so she’d accepted every invitation, going out with whoever asked her. None of them were like Daniel, for whom she’d pined. None of them did more than offer her lust and that was all she’d wanted from them.
And that had been then, when she’d never in her wildest dreams expected Daniel to come back into her life. When she no longer cared whether she lived or died. When she’d lost her baby daughter and, it seemed, Daniel too.
But this is now and I’m a different person, she reflected, as waves of panic flowed through her, making her legs feel as if they were weighed down by lead, while her heart raced so that she felt sick. Daniel was the only man she’d ever loved and the only man she’d ever wanted. They were so close that when they lay together she could never be sure whether she could feel her heart beating or his. She would do anything to keep him and nothing on God’s earth was going to take him away from her now.
She’d wish Esther dead before that happened, she thought with passion.
She let herself into the empty hall and stood taking off her hat when, with a start, she realized Daniel was standing at the top of the staircase, looking down at her.
The power of his presence was like a body blow and for a moment his black glittering eyes were the eyes of Esther and the grim line of his mouth was like his sister’s mouth. Then he spoke. And his deep voice was like rolling thunder plundering the silence of the house.
‘I hear you’ve been to see my sister.’
‘I just had to come and tell you,’ Liza gushed, plumping herself down on the sofa in Rosie’s drawing room. ‘Isn’t it exciting?’
‘I never thought Daddy would move back to London,’ Rosie agreed. ‘It’ll be wonderful having you up here. You’ll be able to baby-sit for me sometimes, won’t you? When Nanny has her day off?’
Their old nanny had needed no persuasion to return to life in the city. Rosie’s small house was a far cry from the opulence of Green Street, with its many living-in servants, including a nursery maid, but Nanny was desperate to leave Hartley, where she’d complained how she’d hankered for the Odeon Cinema, Lyons Corner House, Selfridges, Woolworths and good solid pavements to walk on instead of twenty acres of mud. Now that Sophia was nine and Jonathan eight, they both went to school, so she didn’t have to work too hard, because Rosie also employed a ‘daily’ as they were called, who did the ‘rough’ work.
Liza looked taken aback by Rosie’s presumption. She certainly wasn’t returning to London in order to help with the grandchildren.
‘Daddy will want me to do things with him,’ she said firmly. ‘You and Salton must come to dinner as soon as we move in. I can’t wait to start entertaining again. Just like in the old days.’
Rosie nodded without enthusiasm and said nothing.
Liza frowned. ‘Is everything all right, darling?’
‘I don’t seem to be able to get pregnant,’ Rosie burst out fretfully.
‘But you’ve only been married seven months. That’s nothing. Don’t you think it’s good for you and Salton to have some time together before you start a family?’
‘Why? I’ve known him for nearly two years now. We’ve had plenty of time to settle down.’
‘Well, I’m sure it will happen,’ Liza pointed out. ‘You’ll just have to be patient.’
Rosie’s eyes brimmed and a tear slid down her cheek. ‘I got pregnant easily enough with Charles, and I do so want another baby.’ She rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand. ‘I don’t know why it hasn’t happened.’
Liza spoke reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry about it. The more you worry the less likely you are to get pregnant. Salton isn’t worried, is he?’
‘He’s never worried about anything,’ Rosie remarked flatly, reaching for her handbag and taking out her gold powder compact. ‘They may call it laid back in the States, but I call it positively laid out. Nothing bothers him,’ she added with a touch of petulance.
‘But that’s nice, isn’t it? You don’t want rows. You don’t want someone who argues with you. I think you’re rather lucky.’
Rosie peered into the little round mirror in the lid, and dabbed her reddened nose with a velvet powder puff. ‘Mummy, it can be quite boring when someone just says “fine” or “great” about everything!’ she complained, looking at the faint bags under her eyes with dissatisfaction.
Liza looked at her anxiously. Rosie couldn’t afford to have another unhappy marriage. Salton was very comfortably off, unlike Charles, and he’d provided a lovely home for Rosie and her children. It crossed Liza’s mind that her daughter had spent the past ten years of her life grumbling about everyone and everything, but then she quickly banished the thought, because she preferred not to know about the unpleasant things in life. It would be too inconvenient for things to go wrong again, she reflected. After all, if one was going to be honest, it was only the death of poor Charlie Padworth that had saved Rosie from eventually getting a divorce. And now that Juliet was happily settled, at last, and so was Louise, that only left Amanda and Charlotte to worry about. Which was quite enough.
‘Why don’t you and Salton go away for a nice weekend somewhere?’ she asked brightly.
‘I don’t see how that’s going to help?’ Rosie remarked peevishly. ‘Do you want some tea?’
‘Just a quick cup perhaps, darling. Then I must catch my train home. Just think! The next time I come to see you “home” for me will be opposite Harrods!’
‘Very convenient,’ Rosie remarked drily as she rose like a weary middle-aged woman.
Liza watched her receding backview with unease. Rosie’s shoulders were slumped forward and she was too thin again. The way she’d looked when she was married to Charles. Comforting herself with the thought that perhaps Rosie was only depressed because she’d failed to conceive, Liza fished in her handbag for a tiny gilt box.
The doctor had prescribed some darling little purple heart-shaped pills to help her through ‘difficult’ moments that were ‘connected to her age’, as he’d delicately described it. She popped one into her mouth now, and swallowed a couple of times. There! Within moments she felt much better. In fact they worked so well she had a good mind to keep on taking them for as long as she could.
Juliet gazed up at Daniel, shocked by the strength of his compelling dominance, as he stood looking down at her with barely suppressed fury. His tall broad-shouldered frame seemed overpowering, his furious dark eyes making her momentarily speechless. She knew she should run up the stairs to face him, but she hesitated. It was as if she were in the grip of his powerful presence and couldn’t move. The silence between them lengthened as he continued to glower down at her. At last she could stand it no more.
‘I wanted to stop your sister making mischief,’ she said in desperation.
‘I don’t need you to fight my battles for me,’ he stormed, his great voice reverberating in the empty hall.
‘But I thought…?’
‘You didn’t think, Juliet. You rushed off in your usual fashion, wanting to take control, as you always do, without thinking of the consequences.’
She’d never seen him so angry, so bitterly passionate about anything before. With an effort she quickly gathered herself together in defence of her actions. ‘Esther has to be stopped from spreading lies and trying to stop you seeing your family,’ she said, taking off her coat and flinging it on the hall chair.
‘My family,’ he roared, ‘are my business! I won’t have you interfering with my affairs.’
Suddenly she felt a burst of rage equal to his. Storming up the stairs she reached his side and glared at him, her eyes glinting dangerously.
‘Don’t you dare talk to me like that,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I was only trying to get her to stop making trouble. Don’t you want to be able to see your children? Why are you letting a bitter old maid ruin everything for you?’
Daniel scowled and gave her a black look. ‘Because it’s got nothing to do with you. That’s why.’
‘It has everything to do with me!’ she exclaimed, gesticulating with her slim hands, her scarlet painted nails flashing. ‘It’s me she hates. Not you. She thinks I’m ruining your life. She blames me for everything. I have to defend myself and I have to stop her trying to drive a wedge between you and the rest of your family.’ And I have to stop her telling you how badly I behaved when we were estranged…
‘Don’t be such a fool!’ Daniel fumed. ‘Can’t you see you’re playing into her hands? By charging round there today you’ve added fuel to the fire?’
Juliet turned angrily away and walked swiftly through the double doors into the drawing room. ‘By going to see her today I’ve been able to warn her that if she writes any more vile letters I shall sue for slander, libel and defamation of character.’ She strode to a side table, and helped herself to a cigarette. Without bothering to put it in a holder, she lit it with shaking hands.
Daniel groaned as if he were in pain. ‘Are you mad?’
‘Not at all,’ she said loftily, raising her chin. ‘I don’t know why you haven’t already taken out an injunction, stopping her from contacting you in the first place? Why have you been letting her get away with it?’
‘For God’s sake…! Do you want our dirty linen washed in public?’
Juliet drew her breath in sharply, and quickly placed her cigarette between her lips again. ‘What dirty linen?’ she asked carefully.
Daniel was staring at her. ‘Think about it,’ he said sternly.
‘I don’t know what you mean?’
He spoke impatiently. ‘I told you the other day. She thinks I married you for your money. She thinks you were the cause of my divorce. She thinks you’re a bad lot because you left your first husband… and we can’t let that get out because you promised Cameron you’d never reveal the truth,’ he added bitterly.
Juliet flushed with relief that that was all Esther seemed to have told him about her.
Daniel continued, ‘You’ve got to leave Esther to me. I forbid you to go anywhere near her again.’
‘Forbid me?’ Juliet cut in, incensed.
‘Yes, forbid you, you stupid fool…’ he began harshly, then stopped as he saw the pain in her eyes, and ran his hand through his thick dark hair in a gesture of desperation. ‘Oh, God, darling… I’m sorry…’
The next moment she was in his arms, and he was holding her so close she could hardly breathe. She clung to him, loving him so much she felt sick with misery at the thought that they’d been fighting.
She gave a dry sob. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you… I love you, Daniel.’
He raised his head and looked up as if asking forgiveness from some deity. Then his mouth sought hers, crushing her to him as he kissed her with feverish intensity.
‘I love you, too. I love you, too,’ he kept repeating, between kisses. ‘I love you more than anything on earth.’
‘I don’t want us to fight,’ she whispered, reaching up and holding his face in the palms of her hands. ‘I’m sorry I made you so angry.’ She started returning his kisses hungrily, until their legs seemed to give way and they were kneeling on the floor, facing each other, swept away on an incoming tide of all consuming desire. Then Daniel was pulling at her skirt, and she was tugging off his jacket and undoing the buttons down the front of his trousers until they were lying on the floor, unable to wait, oblivious of everything around them, wanting only to be joined together as one, as they were always meant to have been, from the beginning.