Dark Summer Dawn (15 page)

'Well, they say there's safety in numbers,' said Lisa with a lightness she did not feel.

Numbers, she thought wearily, remembering the aridity of her life over the past two years. It was almost amusing. She thought of Simon and their cautious, almost negative relationship, and sighed.

Julie was saying, 'Lisa's dragging me round the shops this afternoon to look at wedding dresses.'

'Then I'd better drop you near the shopping centre,' said Dane, finishing the last of his coffee, and signing the bill. 'Are you ready?' He didn't look at Lisa.

'Quite ready,' Julie affirmed, pushing her cup away almost untouched with a little grimace. 'Doesn't this coffee taste bitter?'

Lisa stood alone in the foyer. Julie had gone to the powder room and Dane was fetching his coat from the cloakroom. She didn't hear him approach on the thickly carpeted floor, and she gasped out loud when his hand descended on her shoulder.

He said grimly, 'I'm warning you. Lisa. Play your sordid little games in London if you must, but not here. I won't have any local scandals upsetting my father and clouding my sister's wedding. Is that clearly understood?'

'I understand only too well.' She made no attempt to hide her bitterness, her eyes wary and hostile. His hand fell away from her and she walked towards the swing doors, leading to the car park.

The wind had freshened and flurries of snow were whirling down from the leaden sky. Lisa paused instinctively, as the wind caught her breath, making her draw her coat more closely about her, and slightly off balance, she swayed backwards, colliding with Dane who had followed her out. At the same moment the wind lifted her loose cloud of hair, blowing it back across Dane's face.

For a few seconds he did not move, but stood rigidly, then with a muttered expletive he tore at the soft strands blowing across his mouth and cheek. He was very white, and a muscle was jerking furiously near his jaw.

He said harshly, 'God damn you, Lisa, why did you have to come back into our lives?'

Then he strode away towards the car, leaving her standing there alone in the cold dank wind.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lisa had almost recovered her composure by the time she and Julie reached the bridal department of the large department store which was their first port of call.

Dane had said little as he had driven into the city, beyond tersely telling Julie to get a taxi back to Stonis if the weather became too bad, and he would arrange for her car to be brought back for her. He hadn't said a word to Lisa, or even looked at her, but she had been as conscious of him as if he had taken her in his arms, touched her, kissed her.

Those few seconds when her body had rested against his had been a shattering experience, even though it had been the most fleeting, the most grudging of contacts.

But she mustn't think about that, she told herself, as she looked around her at the satin, the lace, the chiffon—at the wax models with their unrealistic poses and their bright, exaggerated smiles.

I could take the place of any one of them, she thought.

A pleasant middle-aged saleswoman had appeared, and was asking if she could be of assistance.

Julie said, 'I'd like to see a selection of wedding dresses, please. I'm size ten.'

They were shown into a mirrored changing room, and the saleswoman hung up Julie's coat and dress and helped her change her boots for a pair of high-heeled white satin shoes. Then she produced a tape measure.

Julie said rather irritably, 'There's no need for that, surely. I've told you I wear size ten. I always have.'

The saleswoman murmured something deferential about wanting to make sure, and passed the tape measure swiftly and expertly round Julie's bust, waist and hips, then vanished.

'How ridiculous,' said Julie. 'We might look and see if they have any bridesmaids' dresses while we're here. Perhaps something in green.'

'It's supposed to be unlucky,' said Lisa.

'I don't believe in superstition,' Julie said scornfully. 'You can make your own luck.'

At that moment the saleslady returned, together with another assistant, bearing reverently swathed drifts of white in their arms.

'Hm,' Julie eyed them thoughtfully as they were disin turn. 'What do you think, Lisa?'

'The chiffon is charming,' Lisa said consideringly. 'I like the lace too. But I'd keep away from satin, if I were you.'

'I'll try the chiffon,' Julie announced. 'Let me have a closer look at it.' She began to examine the detail on the dress, the soft swathing of the bodice, the tiny pearl buttons that fastened the deep tight-fitting cuffs beneath the billowing sleeves. Then Lisa saw her stiffen, and that dangerous sparkle come into her eyes.

She said, 'I think there's been some mistake. This is a size twelve, and I told you quite distinctly that I was a ten.'

The saleswoman looked apologetic. 'I'm sorry, madam, but I did measure you. I think we all put on a little weight without noticing it in the winter. If you'd just try the dress.'

Julie said between gritted teeth, 'I have not put on any weight. I won't try on a dress which isn't my size. It's just a waste of time. If you won't bring my correct size, just say so, and I'll go elsewhere.'

'It's quite all right, madam.' The saleswoman was flushed, but dignified. 'I'll bring the ten.' She withdrew rather huffily.

Lisa said sharply, 'Julie, for heaven's sake behave yourself! Perhaps your measurements have altered slightly…'

'Of course they haven't,' Julie denied hotly. 'There must be something wrong with her stupid tape measure.'

'Well, I still think it's a pity you didn't let Mrs Lang make your dress. She's a superb fitter and…'

'No!' Julie came perilously near to stamping her foot. 'I won't have her anywhere near me—nosy gossipy woman!'

'Weddings do tend to be rather public affairs,' Lisa reminded her gently.

'Well, mine won't be,' Julie said grimly. She paused, putting a hand to her head. 'It's awfully hot in here. I wish that woman would hurry.'

'You shouldn't be too warm,' Lisa said with a derisive glance at Julie's scanty half-cup bra, and the lace-trimmed waist slip.

'It's just terribly stuffy,' Julie's voice was defensive. 'Don't you feel it?'

'Not particularly.' Lisa turned. 'Oh, here's your dress.'

The saleswoman was smiling again, probably inured to Julie's display of temper by years of bridal tantrums, Lisa thought.

'This is the size ten, madam. Shall we just slip it on? There we are. Now, there's a concealed zip and a row of masking buttons at the back. Let me just…' She tugged at the zip, moving it upwards a few inches. Lisa saw her exchange a speaking glance with her assistant, then apply herself once more to the zip. It was obvious to anyone that the dress was too tight. In fact Lisa doubted whether it would ever fasten without ripping.

She said hastily, 'I think that's enough for my sister to see what the effect would be.'

'It's perfectly delightful,' the saleslady agreed, stepping back. 'And in the right size…'

'This is the right size!' Julie almost raged. 'You haven't even tried to do it up yet. You're just making a fuss because you don't like to be wrong.'

The saleslady's expression said plainly that she didn't consider that it was herself making the fuss, but her voice was smooth and polite. The dress was an expensive model, the fabric was extremely fragile, any undue pressure might prove disastrous.

'Then take it off,' Julie ordered imperiously. 'Take it away—take all of them away. I don't like any of them.'

Lisa was on the point of apologising when a muffled cry from the younger assistant stopped her, and she turned in time to see a very white-faced Julie sway with a hand to her head, then slide noiselessly to the fluffy beige carpet.

They were very kind and competent. Someone brought a glass of water and between them they managed to get Julie on to one of the satin-covered chairs from the showroom. Someone else at Lisa's -request went to order a taxi to take them home.

She herself knelt at Julie's side, holding her hand. At last Julie's eyelids fluttered and a little colour returned to her face.

She said, 'Lisa, I don't want to buy any dresses today. I— I feel so sick.'

'We'll go home,' Lisa said steadily. 'Don't try to talk.' Her mouth felt dry suddenly. She had seen the meaning look the saleslady had just given her assistant and interpreted it without the slightest difficulty.

Julie, she thought wildly. My God, could it be true?

There was no opportunity to talk privately in the taxi, even if Julie had been in any fit state to do so. She was still very pale, and spent most of the journey fuddled into her corner of the rear seat, with her eyes closed.

But when they reached Stoniscliffe there would have to be some sort of confrontation, Lisa thought unhappily.

As the taxi drew up in front of the main door, Mrs Arkwright appeared, looking slightly alarmed.

'Miss Julie! Is anything wrong?'

'Just a slight dizzy spell.' Lisa made her voice sound reassuring. 'Perhaps you'd fill a hot water bottle for her, Mrs Arkwright, while I take her up to her room. Where's Mr Riderwood? I don't want him to be worried.'

'He's having his rest,' Mrs Arkwright returned, her gaze still fixed anxiously on Julie. 'She does look pale. Shall I make some tea for her?'

'Yes, that would be splendid,' said Lisa, wondering whether Julie would complain about its bitterness as she had about the coffee at lunch.

She got Julie up to her room, removed her boots and coaxed her to lie down under the quilt. Mrs Arkwright arrived with the bottle and the tray of tea, and it took all of Lisa's diplomacy to get her out of the room again.

She went and sat on the edge of the bed where Julie was lying with her eyes closed. She said gently but firmly, 'It's time for the truth, Julie. You're pregnant, aren't you?'

Julie's eyes flew open. She said hoarsely, 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'I think you do.' Lisa was relentless. 'It explains everything—your gain in weight, your moods, your lack of appetite, your fainting fit. And of course the great rush to get married. And I suppose why you didn't want Mrs Langthwaite to make your wedding dress. You were afraid she might suspect something.'

'Of course she would. She never misses anything.' Julie's hand clutched at Lisa's. 'And she mustn't know— no one must know. They don't have to. The wedding's so close, and babies—first babies—are premature sometimes, aren't they, Lisa?'

She could hear the frightened voice of a much younger Julie saying, 'There's nothing in the dark, is there, Lisa? There aren't any bogey men who'll come for me if I don't go to sleep?'

'Aren't they?' Julie pleaded again.

Lisa sighed. 'I don't know, darling. Perhaps. And will it really matter, anyway? These things happen, and you and Tony are going to be married. I don't think a great many eyebrows will be raised.'

'But it does matter,' Julie said rapidly, clinging to Lisa's hand. 'I don't want anyone to know.'

Lisa gave her a rueful smile. 'But people do know. I know for one, and of course there's Tony…'

'No,' said Julie.

'I don't understand,' Lisa stared at her.

Julie moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. 'I— I haven't told him.'