A Face To Die For (13 page)

'I say, Annabel, you won't go all judgmental on us, will you, please? It was so unfortunate you walking in at that moment, but...’

'Yes, you
could
say that! I might have been anyone, you know,' I snapped. Then, eying their discomposure and unable to contain my giggles any longer, I burst out laughing.

'Annabel, don't!' cried Lynda. 'I feel so embarrassed. You're not angry?'

Edward continued to stand transfixed and speechless; his face a perfect picture of humiliation at being caught
in
flagrante delicto
.

'Why should I be? You two can make love wherever you want. It's your affair. But
not
in
here
again, please. No, I'd be the last to pour cold water on anyone's love life. Mind you I was mighty tempted to get a large bucket of it a few moments ago!'

Finally we all laughed; Edward too, although he was still clearly flustered… but then who was I to preach? Alex and I had made love in some pretty unconventional places.

They enquired after my mother and I filled them in. Edward then disappeared back to the main Courtney salon and Lynda and I were able to talk more easily and more frankly.

'Well, you're a dark horse!' I exploded finally. 'I'd no idea you even
fancied
Edward? Isn't he a bit old for you?'

'Actually I didn't realise I fancied him myself until a few day's ago. And no, he's not that old... twelve years difference, that's all. We get along really well. In your absence he's hardly been out of here; using any excuse he could to check everything was all right, if you know what I mean?'

I grinned, raising my eyebrows. 'I can imagine, but how the hell did you end up together on my office floor? No, on second thoughts, don't answer that. Best I don't know.'

Lynda nodded mutely, then… 'I've finished with Terry you know? He's off to Cyprus for two years and we haven't been getting on for some time now. Anyway Edward's really anxious to help me with my career...' She stopped abruptly. 'I'll go and make a cuppa, shall I?'

'Good idea.'

That last bit; about Edward helping her with her career, told me quite a bit. I liked Lynda and we worked well together, but I'd always sensed she coveted my position at Courtney's. Crikey, was she perhaps working towards that end? It seemed to me that having a relationship with Edward was a damn good start in the right direction.

Later, after a cup of tea and a chat about business I called a taxi to go home. I suddenly felt unbearably tired. The long train journey from North Wales plus all the anxiety of the past few days had finally caught up with me. I now wanted more than anything to get back to Eaton Square.

Cleo greeted me in her usual feline way. Alex hadn't abandoned her as he might have done at any other time. The girl in the flat above had agreed to feed her until one of us got back. Alex was obviously still in Athens. Cleo looked fine, anyway.

I was putting my things away and running a bath when Alex phoned.

'When are you returning?' I asked, after telling him briefly how Mum was.

'There are still some problems, but I should be back by tomorrow evening at the latest.'

I was relieved. I desperately wanted two things, a long hot soak in the bath and Alex home as soon as possible.

Later as I lay wallowing in a relaxing bubble bath, I thought about walking in on Edward and Lynda that afternoon. The incongruity of them humping away behind my desk on the office carpet still tickled me no end.

Fancy, Lynda and Edward of all people! They were the last two I would have ever linked romantically. Nonetheless, my amusement soon became intermingled with thoughts of how vulnerable it could make me in my job. Up to now I'd always thought of Lynda as my staunch ally; especially when there was any discord between Edward and me. Where would her loyalties lie now?

I needed to discuss it with someone. So I rang Vanessa, now living in Chelsea. She and Rowley had moved there after their honeymoon; their house was close to the office of the small law firm where Rowley worked.

Rowley answered the phone in his precise cut glass accent. After the usual pleasantries he passed me over to Vanessa.

'Of course, darling, come on over. Rowley's off out soon with some rugger pals. I'll be on my own. It'll be super to see you.'

We hadn't spoken for well over a week as she'd given up her job at Courtney's. Nearly five months pregnant now, she was over all the sickness business, which had inconveniently plagued her earlier on, and whilst it had been at its worst she'd been a bit out of circulation.

'Good. By the way, I haven't eaten, so why don't I pick up a Chinese meal for us both?' I said.

'Er, no thanks; not for me. I can't stomach anything like that. It gives me violent indigestion, I’m afraid. But do get yourself some.'

'Sorry, I hadn't thought. Are you sure? I'm starving, and that little Chinese takeaway around the corner from you is so good. I just fancied some sweet and sour, that's all...'

'It's fine, Annabel, honestly. I've already had a light supper, anyway. You go ahead and get what you want.'

'Right. See you later…'

*

While I made short work of my Chicken Chop Suey and Sweet and Sour prawn balls with egg fried rice, I filled Vanessa in on the latest happenings; about Mum's operation, the sale of Philip's restaurants and, of course, the news about Edward and Lynda.

She was as surprised and amused as I had been.

'I don't believe it!' she giggled. 'I'll bet Edward was in a frightful tiz wasn't he, when you found them?'

'You might say that. Oh Vanessa, it was a scream! Can't you just picture it? I didn't know where to look! I reckon our Edward's a bit of a dark horse, you know. Still waters, and all that. Anyway, I never believed all that celibacy rubbish he talked about, did you?’

Vanessa shrugged.’ Who knows, he could be really hot stuff in the sack!'

I pulled a face. '
And
on my office floor too, by the look of things!'

'There too,' quipped Vanessa. 'I say, darling,
anyone
could have walked in! Good job it was only you. Actually, I called in myself, a couple of days ago. No sign of any rumpy pumpy then. Zoe was modelling for a buyer and everything was perfectly in order.'

I turned more serious. 'Tell me, would you think Lynda's relationship with Edward could mean my job might be at risk? I know Lynda would love to have it, you see.'

Vanessa looked thoughtful. 'No, shouldn't think so. Mind you, I suppose it depends how serious they get.'

I explained to her how Lynda had always backed me to the hilt over any disagreements with Edward in the past, and how I was now worried where her loyalty might rest. 'Could make things a bit tricky for me, don't you think? You know how obstinate Edward can be at times. For instance, we'd never have shortened skirts if he'd had it his way. Lynda supported me whole-heartedly over that.'

'Yes, I know she did. Well, you know what the answer is, don't you, darling? I don't know why you haven't done it before.'

'What?'

'Leave. Set up you own business.'

'Oh, Vanessa, I'd love to. But the problem is money, or rather the lack of it.' I got up and started to clear away the food cartons.

Vanessa, with coffee pot poised, looked up at me. 'Why don't you ask Alex to back you?'

I went into the kitchen to throw the cartons in the waste bin, and allow myself time to contemplate my answer. To accept backing or even a loan from Alex would be against all my principles.

I returned and sat down. 'No, I don't think that's a good idea. He’s known all along it's what I'd like to do, yet he's never offered and I certainly don't want to ask him. Anyway, I'd much rather avoid that sort of obligation to him. Don't ask me why, but I'd prefer to do it quite independently. My relationship with Alex is too unorthodox. He has a wife and, let's face it; I shouldn't really exist as far as he’s concerned.'

'I know what you mean, darling, but his marriage to Susannah has to be on borrowed time. They're hardly ever together. Mummy says poor little Nikolas barely knows who his parents are, he sees so little of them.' Vanessa huffed as she heaved her feet up onto the sofa.

This was my chance to suss things out with her; to ask about Susannah and Mel and find out what she might know about their friendship?

'You know, of course, that Susannah bought some
Miss Courtney
from me while you were off swanning round the Greek Islands?'

Vanessa nodded with a snigger. 'That must have been fun for you, darling. Didn't you feel awkward about it?'

I screwed up my nose and shrugged. 'It wasn't too bad, and Lynda went with me to the hotel to help. Do you know Mel, her secretary?

'Yes, vaguely. Nice girl. Why?'

'What do you know about her? You see, I was frankly rather surprised how close she and Susannah seem to be.'

Vanessa looked blankly at me. 'Are they? Still, as her secretary, she must spend a great deal of time with her ... and if they get on well then it follows, I suppose, that they've become close friends.'

'But they appear to be
very
close friends, Vanessa. Closer than is normal I'd say. 'I leaned forward. 'The coincidence is that Lynda knows Mel from schooldays; they went to the same school in Berkshire but in different years.'

'Really? And what does Lynda say about her then?' Vanessa's eyes searched mine, full of intense curiosity now.

I wasn't sure at this point how much to divulge. Best to keep to the basic details, and see how she interpreted them. 'Well, it seems she was expelled for having a lesbian relationship with the games mistress.'

'Bloody hell!' Vanessa gawped at me, and then giggled. 'So now you're wondering if she and Susannah are having one too.'

'Exactly!'

'I say, darling, wouldn't that be a turn up for the books? Have you any hard facts, though?’ She obviously thought much the same way I did.

I pulled a face. 'No, I’m afraid not. Apart from what Lynda's told me, that is. Apparently it created a huge scandal in the school at the time. Well, you can imagine it would, can't you? Do you think Alex is aware of anything like that? I mean, do you think it could be the reason why they lead such separate lives?' Vanessa looked blankly into space. I continued. 'They barely saw each another when she was over here for your wedding you know? Yet she and Mel were hardly apart. By the way, why didn't Mel attend your wedding?'

'She was sent an invitation but declined because of some other family commitments here. I suppose it was rather strange really, when you think of it.' Vanessa frowned and seemed to be weighing things up.

'I haven't had the chance to approach Alex about it yet. Do you think I should?'

'Don't see why not. When does he get back?'

'Tomorrow. I'd also love to know whether Susannah knows about Alex and me. If she does, then the lesbian angle is the most plausible answer to why she doesn't mind or care.'

'Mmm,' Vanessa looked thoughtful.

'What about your parents? I often wonder if they know Alex has a lover here. Your father for instance when he comes over, must suspect Alex has someone, surely?'

'Oh, don't you worry about Papa, darling. He has a woman he sees regularly here himself,' countered Vanessa.

Oh my God! Like father, like son, I thought. I should have known.

*

The following morning I did some early shopping, and then I went to Vidal Sassoon’s to have my hair styled into a short sculpted bob and tinted copper. I'd decided it was high time I made more of a statement with my appearance. I'd always admired Mary Quant's chic cut, and variations of it had recently become the
'in'
look. The shade I picked, a bit like a highly polished conker, suited my pale colouring well.

I'd given little thought to what Alex might think of it; I'd never felt obliged to dress or do my hair to please him anyway; a legacy I suppose from the early days in our relationship.

As I arrived home at around lunchtime the phone was ringing. Depositing my purchases, I answered it. It was Alex.

'At last! I've been trying to get you all morning!' God, he sounded tetchy.

'Sorry, but how was I to know? I've only been to the shops and the hairdressers. What's the urgency?' I replied, sharply.

'I’m afraid I shan't be back for a few more days yet, honey. I have to fly straight back to New York tonight. There’s a business crisis. Our company shares have plummeted on Wall Street and look like probably doing the same in London on Monday.'

'Oh,' I managed to say, before he cut back in.

'We're trying to salvage what we can, but we may have to wind things up over there; the cruise company anyway. There's a possibility of a take-over; but I can't say anything at this stage. In any event, things are not good. We may just be able to save the Karos-Intersea Ferry business. Look honey, I can't talk now ... it’s all a mess and it’ll take too long to explain things. Just take it from me, I have
big
problems.'