Sea Gem (12 page)

Mary was pleasantly astonished. What exactly she had expected from her quiet groom she hadn’t known but Duret’s careful foreplay suddenly aroused her to a pitch which made her gasp
with excitement. When he moved over her, she was more than ready and his drive, hard and eager, pierced her quickly. He brought her to a fine pitch and they consummated their marriage in mutual
agreement and pleasure.

Afterwards they lay on their sides, simply smiling at each other in the moonlight, then they drifted into sleep. Mary awoke with a violent start. The bed writhed with movement and the howl was
almost bestial in its anguish. With a lurching heart she sat up abruptly, her bemused wits struggling to understand the crescendo of awful sounds.

She leaped from the bed and stared with horror. The sheets had apexed to a cone and underneath Duret twisted and writhed while maniacal shrieks cut at her nerves. In a flash, Mary understood and
her heart went out to him and his anguish. She jumped forward, pulled the sheet away and flung her arms around her husband as he lay in the foetal position, tears streaming down his face, his
breath coming in great, gasping howls.

‘Duret! Duret’ Mary cried and hugged him savagely. He turned and burrowed his wet face between her breasts as great shudders rippled through him. Mary murmured soothing sounds,
struggling to hold his paroxysms, cursing herself for forgetting to give him his tablet. She was appalled at his terrible fear.

Her heart swelled. He needed her comfort badly after his shocking experience and great tenderness rose for him. With her natural honesty she knew she could never love him as she did Victor
but—Victor le Page was self-sufficient. He needed no one. Duret did.

“I did the right thing, after all,” she told herself gently. “I love you, Victor. I probably always will but you’ll find someone else. My life is worth more to
Duret!”

He lay in her arms and looked up with harrowed eyes. ‘It comes on me suddenly,’ he groaned miserably. ‘I get no warning when everything goes black and I feel as if I am
suffocating.’

‘Ssh!’ she babied. ‘You are safe with me always. It’s my fault. I forgot to give you your pill.’

‘Fine man I am to you!’ he muttered between clenched teeth as tears soaked his cheeks. He wiped them away with the back of one hand.

‘You’re man enough for me—husband,’ she whispered to him, kissing him firmly, striving to pass on her natural strength. ‘Together we’ll beat it!’ she
promised.

‘Oh Mary! I’m a lucky man to get you. The best thing I ever did was to enlist, come to England and meet you,’ he paused then his eyes went a little narrow with apprehension.
‘There’s never been anyone else, has there?’

Mary did not hesitate. ‘How could there be? What a silly question. Of course not, Duret!’ she lied evenly. Then she kissed him again and self-doubt died. ‘Come on! Now
let’s get to sleep. We’ve a lot of walking and exploring to do this week!’

Mary sat in the cottage’s front room. It was as comfortable as if Tante had always lived here instead of a bare week.

‘Goodness me!’ she exclaimed. ‘You have moved everything quickly!’

Louise glanced around, satisfied and smug. ‘Thanks to Sam and some other helpers. The house is yours now to do exactly as you wish and I have left the Green Bed for you. I’m getting
a new one,’ she paused eyeing the young wife. ‘How was Duret’s health?’ she asked quietly.

Mary explained about their first night. ‘Since then I have made sure he takes those pills and there’s not been any repeat but—’ She hesitated. ‘He’s not very
confident. I think it is going to take time for him to return to normal.’

Louise said nothing but looked thoughtfully out of the window. Would Duret ever be that, she wondered unhappily? Shell shock was something terrible and, from her investigations, not fully
understood by the doctors. Thank God, Mary was strong and unflappable. Now she must take the second planned step.

Standing up, Louise nodded at Mary to come with her. She went down the short corridor leading to the kitchen door. Directly to one side Louise had hung a seascape of waves breaking viciously
over a set of craggy rocks. The colours were a combination of blues and greys and it was the one picture Mary had never liked. It was too cold and cruel for her taste. Louise carefully lifted the
picture down and turned the back towards Mary. There was a strip of black tape from one side of the picture to the other.

‘Half of the diamonds are hidden here under this tape,’ she explained. ‘Sam is the only other person who knows apart from us two. Duret is
not
to be told. Remember,
these make our nest egg. Now the other diamonds are hidden at the house. You’ll find the rest in that small upstairs room in the sewing machine. They are taped underneath and are hidden
except from close examination because the tape is as black as the machine’s underside.’

Mary nodded soberly. She felt proud to share the responsibility of their knowledge and to know Tante trusted her. She certainly agreed with this being kept from her husband. He might have an
attack somewhere, and blurt everything out to a stranger.

Louise took her arm and led her back to the lounge. As Mary sat down, she sensed a wariness in Tante and wondered what was coming now.

‘Le Page came back two days ago,’ Louise said bluntly.

‘What!’ Mary gasped. ‘I thought he was going to be away for a few more weeks!’

‘So did I!’ Tante said grimly. ‘But it seems tongues clack on other islands as well as this one. Somehow he had heard about your marriage. He came storming up to the house,
demanding to see you.’

‘Oh no!’ Mary groaned. She could see it all so plainly. Victor in a frustrated, embittered rage going bull-headed into battle. ‘Where were you?’ she asked sharply.

‘Down here, fortunately. Sam dealt with him. I don’t know exactly what was said. Sam wouldn’t tell me. The long and short of it is that le Page was in a very savage, totally
unreasonable mood. He left uttering dire threats against Duret.’

Mary closed her eyes, able to picture it all. Her heart started a wild beat and her lips compressed.

‘I’ll have to see him,’ she said flatly.

Louise eyed her. ‘I’m thinking of having a word with the Parish Constable.’

‘No!’ Mary said quickly, shaking her head. ‘That would be the worst thing you could do. You would only make him worse. Much better for me to see him personally.’

Louise was not keen on this idea. ‘He might be violent,’ she began.

‘Not with me,’ Mary replied confidently.

‘And if Duret found out—?’

‘Well, I’ll have to make sure he doesn’t!’

Louise’s lips went tight. She regretted she had sent that note to Duret with Sam. That had been a mistake but she had thought it was for the best at the time. Knowing how slow Duret was,
Louise had imagined him dithering and hesitating over a proposal. Duret must never know about le Page.

‘Where and when?’ Louise asked anxiously.

Mary considered. ‘Somewhere a bit distant where Duret cannot come upon me accidentally.’

Louise nodded thoughtfully, that certainly made sense and, on the day of the meeting, she would keep Duret well and truly occupied.

‘Jerbourg Point!’ she snapped suddenly. ‘I’ll explain how to get there on your cycle and we’ll tell Duret you have an appointment with a dressmaker in St Peter
Port. Also I’ll have him up here moving the furniture around. I’ll say I want to try other positions as the rooms are that much smaller than up at the house.’

Mary nodded slowly. ‘How do we let Victor know?’

‘Leave that part to me. I’ll make an appointment for you in about three days’ time for the afternoon.’ She looked at Mary, deep unease touching her heart. What if the old
magic between these two was still present? Louise eyed the young wife who was lost in thought, contemplating the empty fire grate. Mary had made her vows. She was honest and straight, surely she
would not cheat Duret at this late stage of the game? She was well aware that Duret must cut a poor figure against le Page but she knew this proposed meeting was unavoidable. Without it, le Page
would only keep coming to Cobo looking for Mary and would, one day, meet Duret. Louise’s expression became grim. She knew only too well who would be the loser.

Mary looked at her suddenly. Her blue eyes were wide but her stare almost cold and calculating.

‘I am no cheat,’ she said slowly, ‘so stop thinking what is in you mind, Tante. Credit me with a little decent honesty!’

Louise flinched. She had never been so addressed. Her cheeks pinked with a red spot in their centre and her nostrils flared but Mary held eye contact, cool and unblinking.

‘It’s quite possible when I see Victor the old magic will still be between us but—’ She indicated her left hand. ‘I’m another man’s wife now. He will be
made to understand that. He will not be allowed to hector me. Neither, I might add, will anyone else!’ she said firmly.

Louise bristled. ‘Meaning me?’

‘Yes!’

‘Well!’ Louise snorted, almost disbelieving her ears. ‘I’m not used to being spoken to in such a manner!’

Mary did not blink but held the older woman’s eyes in a steady stare. ‘I’m a wife now with status and responsibility. No one will dictate to me.’

‘Mary!’ Louise protested, for the first time feeling deflated and hurt.

‘I am not joking, Tante!’ Mary emphasised. She stood up slowly, still holding Louise in an unblinking stare. ‘I’ll have no interference in my marriage from anyone.
I’ll make my own mistakes and learn from them alone. I’m the mistress up at the house now,’ she said firmly. ‘I’ll handle Victor in my own way!’

As she saw genuine hurt appear in Louise’s eyes, Mary let herself soften a bit. She had made her point, now she could afford to be charitable.

‘However, there will come days when I will wish to discuss problems and I hope I’ll always be able to come here to you,’ she said gently.

Louise’s face was cold and frigid but gradually her lips twitched, her eyebrows lifted and a gleam of admiration came into her eyes.

‘It’s a long time since anyone had the guts to put me in my place like that but, of course, you are quite right. I’ll retire down here to be a counsellor—when
required!’ she added quickly. ‘I’ll not interfere. I promise!’

Mary leaned forward and kissed one leathery cheek. ‘You are my friend,’ she reinforced firmly.

* * *

Mary arrived well before the appointed time. She didn’t know the way and had decided it was prudent to explore; also she wanted time in which to compose herself. There had
been a little difficulty with Duret who had wanted to drive her into town, wait while she shopped, then take her for lunch.

Thankfully Tante had handled that beautifully. ‘Oh no, you are not going, my lad,’ she told Duret with cool firmness. ‘I need your strong muscles this afternoon and Mary does
not want you mooning around outside a dress shop. She wants to take her time selecting materials. Indeed, she might not see what she wants and will have to go back another day.’ Tante had
flashed a sharp look at Mary who understood in a second. Here was the excuse for returning without buying anything. ‘And furthermore,’ Tante had continued with a full head of steam,
‘you can’t drive the cob. He needs new shoes and I’m going to arrange for Sam to take him to the farrier!’

Duret had been inclined to sulk but he had not quite dared to disobey his grandmère. Mary had used her guile by winking at him and nodding at the heavy dresser.

‘Help her or she’ll only try and struggle on her own,’ she whispered and, appealed to by his adorable wife, Duret had capitulated without further fuss.

Sam took the cob to be shod and Mary slipped away on the cycle, repeating the directions given by Tante. Under other circumstances, she would have enjoyed the ride. The weather was like a summer
day; the sun brilliant without a breath of wind and cycling was easy. The tide was high and the views gorgeous when she spotted the correct lane and turned inland.

Mary had dressed with care and thought. She had examined her growing wardrobe and, after much pondering, chose a gay, floral skirt which was a mixture of brightly coloured daisies, a white
short-sleeved blouse with dainty ruffles at the neck and cream flat-heeled shoes. The cycle had been fitted with a small front basket pannier and in this she carried her handkerchief and purse. She
felt good and knew she looked it.

She wore only the lightest touch of lipstick which complemented the tan she had acquired on breezy Sark. Her hair, kept cropped short, fluttered in the breeze of her passage and she cycled
energetically as if by using up physical energy she could combat the screwing tension in her stomach.

Mary knew she was apprehensive but, at the same time, she was excited at the thought of seeing Victor again, which prodded guilt to rise in her heart. How was it possible for her to feel such
anticipation when she was happily married?

She braked to a halt at Jerbourg Point which was a headland jutting into the sea. It was high and after she had parked her cycle, she walked to the edge and looked down. Way below the sea
writhed as the tide began its turn with tiny frills of white on the waves. There was a thin, narrow path descending steeply, flanked on either side by scrubby bushes and she guessed it would be a
real scramble to go down this.

Louise had explained the significance of this place. From it, on a clear day like today, it was possible to see all the other islands. Mary easily picked out nearby Herm then, turning as
advised, she was able to recognise Jersey. By looking in the other direction she was just able to pick out the thin shadow which marked Alderney. It was a beautiful spot and she was quite
alone.

Now and again, she flashed a look backwards at the lane wondering when he would come. There was no doubt in her mind that he would. Then she saw a figure cycling purposefully up the lane. It was
a man and, as he neared, she swallowed with fresh nerves.

He wore dark trousers and a similar jacket with a grey shirt and a tie that flapped loose. She saw his features were noncommittal though his eyes held hers as he dismounted, removed his cycle
clips and put his vehicle against hers.