Sins of Sarah (28 page)

'Uncle Paul?' Nick looked surprised. 'Since when has Paul got so friendly with you?'

'Oh, he's always here,' Charlotte said innocently. 'He and Mummy are working on a book or something. Madeleine will be at the party tonight, why don't you ask her?'

'I might just do that! What a good idea of yours, moppet.' He reached to hug his daughter and Charlotte slid easily onto his knee to hug him back as she always did. It was a comfortable relationship and he relaxed in it for a few moments - until Diana appeared in the doorway, an irritated expression on her face as she viewed the evidence of a warmth that had been denied to her certainly since the row after the premiere, and, if she was really honest, that she had not wanted for years. Now, faced with their obvious camaraderie, she saw red.

'Charlotte! For heaven's sake!' she commented acidly. 'Aren't you a little old for sitting on Daddy's knee? Get off.'

'Don't be ridiculous, Diana,' Nick chided. 'What harm is she doing? Apart from straining my back with her weight?'

'It's hardly decent at her age! What would my mother think? Or yours?' Diana pointed out.

'To hell with them! Sanctimonious old biddies! Did you want me for something?' Nick deliberately hugged Charlotte to reassure her as Diana glared.

'Yes, I did. Would you come and make up a four? The parents want to play bridge, and I have to finish the stuff for tonight. I simply haven't the time.'

Nick groaned. 'Only as long as I don't have to partner your mother! She's really hopeless. Let Alistair keep her in line, he's used to it.' Nick had learnt to play bridge at his own mother's knee, and was an expert player, as she was, when he put his mind to it.

'Promise! Thanks, Nick.' Diana reached over and, surprisingly, dropped a kiss on his cheek. 'I'll make it up to you.'

'You'd better!' he threatened.

'That's more like it!' Charlotte commented. 'It's about time you two did something rather than yell. You've been bitching at each other for weeks now! Even the grannies are beginning to gossip about it!' Nick and Diana looked at each other guiltily over Charlotte's head, and finally Nick smiled. 'I suppose she's right,' he acquiesced, and held out a hand. 'Pax?'

'I guess so.' Diana looked relieved.

'Happy now, Lotts?' Nick ruffled his daughter's curls.

Charlotte pressed her own noisy kiss on his cheek. 'Don't call me Lotts!' she protested. 'It's so babyish!'

'Oh, yes? So what's this, then?' He tipped her off his knee.

'That's different, that's a hug, and I like that anyway.'

'And this?' With a sudden change of direction he scooped Charlotte high up in the air and ran down the stairs with her, amid shrieks of delight from her, ignoring dire warnings from Diana, who followed at a more sedate pace behind them, relieved that the atmosphere had lightened at last.

He managed to keep up his good humour, even after a taut session of bridge, and it lasted all through dinner, but it was with a great sense of release that he set off to deliver Charlotte to a party in nearby Woodstock later that evening, knowing he could ring Sarah from the car in privacy.

She was so pleased to hear him, and his stress melted as he talked to her - for so long that he started to feel chilled in the stationary car. After he rang off, he started the engine, but sat staring out into the already frosted countryside, mulling over the conflicting emotions inside him.

He suddenly realized he had been sitting there for nearly an hour, dreaming in the darkness, and he slammed the car into gear frantically, in a panic to get back, remembering they had guests coming.

'Sorry, darling,' he lied as he rushed in. 'I stopped to help someone.' He realized just how many lies he was telling these days.

Later, circulating amongst the friends and neighbours Diana had invited, he was aware he was operating on autopilot - until he drew the delectable Madeleine aside. Really, he thought, she was far too young and sparky for dull old Paul Miller.

'Why, I'd love to work for you. Nick!' she cried. 'I'm desperate for something to do. Do you want me to come up to London?'

'Possibly,' he said cautiously, thinking how Madeleine would brighten up the office. 'But for the moment it's just this one script - if you can sort out the mess I've made. I'm afraid I'm not exactly gifted with computers!'

'Give me your notes and I'll transfer your stuff onto a disk so that I can take it with me, if you like, then I can do it on my own PC,' she offered.

Relieved to find someone who understood his problems, he sat talking to her for ages, until Diana's mother pointedly suggested he was neglecting his guests. 'Diana can't cope alone all night,' she chided. Nick sighed, but he was anxious to keep the peace, and went back to his duties as host.

* * *

Despite her misgivings, Sarah found she was enjoying her holidays. It was always comfortable staying with George and Maggie, and she adored little Becky, the grandchild her mother had not lived to see. Nick phoned her as often as he could, usually from his mobile when he was walking the dog, so she had very little chance to miss him.

Sarah loved her sister-in-law, but she sometimes found her snobbishness a little hard to take. However, over the holiday she played her part happily enough, knowing what Maggie expected of her. This year she was more of a celebrity than usual to the Campbell friends and neighbours, but was aware that it was the men who were admiring her now, and not just the children.

The relaxing part of it was driving over with Becky to visit Cress and James on Boxing Day at Cress's parent's home just outside Winchester. Cress came from the same kind of middle class home that Sarah did - a large, friendly crowd who had accepted James into their midst without question and took equally to Sarah when she appeared with Becky.

Flying down the steps of the house to meet her. Cress waved her hand to Sarah in excitement. 'Look, Sarah,' she cried. 'Just look!' Delighted, but with a twinge of envy, Sarah took in the aquamarine and diamond ring Cress wore on her engagement finger. 'He asked me on Christmas Eve, on one knee and everything. Oh, I'm so happy, Sarah!' Sarah put aside her feelings of jealousy, and hugged her friend.

'I'm really pleased for you. I'm glad he got his act together at last!'

'It was the novelty of being looked after that did it,' Cress laughed. 'Come on in.' She stayed far later than she had intended, and when James carried a flaked-out Becky to her car, it was eight o'clock. Watching him gently tucking a blanket round her made her smile wistfully. James smiled back at her.

'Kids are great when they're asleep,' he quipped. 'I think I'll only love mine that way!'

'Thinking about them already?' she enquired, eyebrows raised.

'Cress is ... about four so far!'

'That'll certainly ruin your image!'

'Well, as long as it doesn't ruin my figure,' he laughed. 'I think I'm going to love it!' She drove carefully, aware of the sleeping child on the back seat, her head full of her friends' happy plans, and suddenly she began to feel very lonely. It was ridiculous, she told herself firmly. She was going to be a star, with the world opening up at her feet, so why on earth was she crying, and envying two people who wanted to stay at home and have babies?

CHAPTER 17

The only time everyone female agreed on a TV programme over Christmas in the Grey household it was on the Barbara Bentley drama the day after Boxing Day - apart from Diana, who wanted to opt out when she discovered Sarah was in it.

Seeing her in the delicate, clinging Regency costumes, with constant close-ups of her wide, trembling mouth speaking lines that they had laughed over in bed together several times in France, only made Nick feel his usual incredible lust for her, and he wriggled constantly.

Charlotte, tactless as ever, didn't help. 'Isn't she gorgeous, Granddad? You should see her in Daddy's new film, though, without her clothes on! She's got fantastic boobs, hasn't she Daddy?'

'I'm going to strangle her!' Nick hissed at Diana, who, despite herself, began to laugh, as her mother looked askance at both of them.

'Actually, the hero's a bit like you. Daddy,' Charlotte added. 'All black hair and frowning, like you are now.'

'That's it! Fancy a cigar, Alistair?' Nick got up. 'I'm going to have one ... in the study,' he added, as both mothers glared.

'Don't mind if I do.' Alistair Mackenzie joined him with alacrity.

Nick passed the cigars to him, and poured large malts for both of them. It was one of the few things they agreed on. 'Damn pretty girl, that Sarah Campbell.' Alistair drew luxuriantly on his cigar. 'I hear you've been seeing a lot of her recently.'

'No more than the star of any film I've made,' Nick said carefully. 'The papers have gone to town on her a bit, since she came from a children's programme that was very popular.' He was ever wary of Alistair's protective attitude over Diana.

'Saw your new film the other day,' Alistair admitted then, shocking Nick to the core. Alistair never normally took any notice of his work, and the Mackenzies never replied to invitations to showings. 'Popped along one afternoon. Wouldn't say so in front of Dorothy, but young Lotte is right! I must admit, I wouldn't mind a night of her company!' The thought of Sarah in Alistair's arms made Nick want to throw up, but he managed to smile.

'I think she would prove your undoing, Alistair! Poor old Charlie Hastings is finding her a handful, and he's got thirty-odd years on you!'

'Seeing Charlie, is she? I'm glad to hear it - especially after some of the hints in the papers.' 'Never believe gossip in newspapers,' Nick assured him, thankful for Charles's devotion to Sarah. 'Diana and I agree on that score.' '

Time you and Diana got your acts together,' Alistair said, quietly. 'Living like you two do isn't exactly an ideal marriage.'

'My business is in London,' Nick pointed out, 'and Diana's is here. She doesn't have to work. It is her choice. The arrangement suits us, Alistair.'

'It suits you more to the point.'

'I have to work,' Nick told him. It was the same old argument. 'I asked Diana to come back to London five years ago, but she prefers it here. I don't think you'll find her complaining.'

'Unlike her mother.' He gave Nick a conspiratorial wink. 'Who never stops where you are concerned, young man.'

'I haven't been a young man for some years now,' Nick reminded him drily. 'And you may assure Dorothy that Diana and I are fine, thank you.' We are fine, he thought, ruefully, as fine as we'll ever be. But he still wanted Sarah, wanted her even more after seeing the TV play. Cautiously he glanced at his watch. The play would be over soon. Somehow he sat through another half-hour of Alistair's company, then he rose, saying he would walk the dogs. Poor Boots was getting blisters with so much exercise.

Throwing on his Barbour and whistling to Boots and the Mackenzies' retriever, he strode out into the night. The frosty air cleared the cigar smoke from his lungs as he walked down the lane, well away from the house, before he pulled his mobile from his pocket. Thank goodness for modern technology, he thought as he dialled.

Sarah herself answered the call.

.'I lusted after you far too much to watch a great deal of the play. I was giving myself away,' he admitted. 'Do you mind?'

'Not at all. It was total tripe,' she replied cheerfully. 'I hate watching myself anyway, but at least Maggie approved of it! I do miss you. Nick. Seeing the play re-minded me of France.'

'It did me. And I miss you too,' he said softly. 'Look, could you get up to town tomorrow? I have to drive my mother home. I could meet you at your flat for a few hours?'

'What sort of time?' 'About one?' 'I'll be there - somehow. Maggie will go mad if I disappear, but I'll manage,' she promised, feeling the sudden glow of expectation rushing through her. What should have been a fortnight's separation had turned into a week.

Feeling better. Nick turned back to the house after a few more minutes, and went back in to play the host and reassure his parents-in-law that everything between him and Diana was going beautifully.

* * *

The flat was cold when Sarah got in, just before twelve. Shivering, she ran round turning up the heating, even switching on the electric blanket. Since she had raced around that morning helping a harassed Maggie with her dinner party preparations before she went out, she decided to have a bath to get rid of the cooking smells. Maggie had been furious, since she had expected Sarah to look after Becky for the afternoon. She'd been in a bigger state than usual, since she had invited Charles to dinner - to Sarah's fury. Thankfully, George had stepped in. 'I'll take Becky out,' he offered. 'It must be important for Sarah to need to go up to town today.'

Not bothering to dress, she dried her hair quickly, and was just spraying herself with Chanel when she heard Nick's key in the door. With a cry of joy she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck as he lifted her up.

'God! How I've wanted you,' he sighed, and carried her into the bedroom as her hands went to his jacket buttons.

Nick took her cue, and threw off the rest of his clothes, taking her eagerly into his arms and sinking back, only to cry out in astonishment. 'This bloody bed is hot?'