Rags to Riches. Nancy Carson

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СКАЧАТЬ piano player, she could feel it coming with the certainty of an express train hurtling down a track to which she was tied and unable to escape. She put her hand over her eyes, and cringed.

      ‘Don’t tell me it’s the pianist, Howard. Please don’t tell me it’s the pianist!’

      He guffawed aloud, his eyes sparkling behind his spectacles with unconcealed delight at Maxine’s gaff. ‘Oh, I’m afraid it is.’

      ‘Oh, God!’ She wanted the ground at her feet to open up and consume her. ‘Me and my big mouth.’

      Still howling with laughter, he touched her forearm and she felt his hand, warm, reassuring as he squeezed it.

      ‘Don’t concern yourself, Maxine,’ he said gently. ‘Old Randolf would be the first to admit he’s no jazz musician. Actually, he’s a church organist, you know. Jolly good he is too, as choirmaster, at playing Wesley and Stainer. Does an intoxicating “All things bright and beautiful”. Took this on as a challenge. For a hoot. A tad out of his depth I think.’

      She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank God for that. I’ve gone all hot.’ Then she chuckled at her faux pas. ‘Maybe I’m too honest.’

      ‘Never ever say that, Maxine. Make thine honesty a vice…Shakespeare…Othello, you know.’

      She shrieked with laughter. ‘Really? Shouldn’t I make it a virtue?’

      He laughed with her at his own gaff.

      ‘So what do you do for a living, Howard, that makes you quote Shakespeare out of context? Are you an English teacher, by any chance?’

      He chortled again and took a mouthful of beer, all the time looking straight into her eyes. She held the glance and recognised an untainted, well-brought-up look.

      ‘I’d rather not say. I don’t want to sound presumptuous, Maxine, but I rather like you and if I tell you what I do for a living you might not wish to be as affable as you are.’

      ‘Affable, am I?’

      ‘Definitely. I find you easy to talk to and hugely amusing. I also find you very direct. I like that. It’s refreshing in a girl…’ He hesitated. ‘On the other hand, we may never meet again, so there’d be no harm in telling you anyway. But, I won’t.’

      She laughed at his indecision or his teasing; she wasn’t sure which it was. ‘God! You’re infuriating. Why won’t you tell me what you do?’

      ‘It’s of no consequence – really…But hey, I am thirsty.’ He took a long quaff from his beer, finishing it off.

      ‘Well, you’re drinking that rather quickly,’ she commented.

      ‘Good God! You’re not in the Band of Hope, are you?’

      ‘Certainly not. More like the band of no hope, me.’ Her tone, she was aware, must have sounded melancholy.

      ‘How can you possibly say that?’ he asked. ‘With all the musical talent you must possess?’

      ‘I wasn’t thinking about musical talent particularly.’

      ‘Oh? What, then?’

      It was her turn to shrug, unsure as to how much she should tell him. ‘Oh…Men. I find men are a pain in the neck…Oh, I don’t mean you, Howard – I don’t know you – but some at any rate. I mean it’s either all or nothing with them. At least that’s my experience – which is a bit limited, I hasten to add – just in case I’ve given you the wrong impression.’

      ‘Is that an engagement ring you’re wearing, Maxine? You must have captured somebody’s heart. But that’s hardly surprising.’

      She brought her hand up so he could inspect the ring in the dimness. He took off his glasses to better see close to and slipped them into the top pocket of his jacket.

      ‘Very impressive,’ he remarked.

      ‘But it’s not an engagement ring, Howard.’

      ‘No? Well that’s a blessing.’

      She explained in some detail about her relationship with Stephen. How he wanted more than she was prepared to give, how she did not enjoy his caresses, even though she liked him as a person; how he’d tried to trap her into saying she would marry him. She was surprised at the consummate ease with which she was pouring out her doubts and fears to Howard, as if they’d been bosom pals always.

      ‘But everyone will think it’s an engagement ring, Maxine, and your Stephen knows that,’ Howard advised her. ‘Don’t you see? I thought it was an engagement ring, actually. Why don’t you wear it on your right hand, if you’re still keen on wearing it? Then there can be no misunderstanding. It tends to put off potential suitors, you know.’

      Maxine looked at him with wide-eyed admiration. ‘Why didn’t I think of that? That’s brilliant, Howard! That’s absolutely brilliant.’

      ‘Here. Let me do it. I’ve never removed a ring from a finger before.’

      She gave him her hand, thinking it a strange thing for him to say. He put his glass down on a nearby table and touched her slender fingers. Deftly, he slid off the ring.

      ‘Now, give me your right hand.’ He put the ring on the third finger. ‘Does it fit?’

      She nodded coyly, aware that her heart was beating fast with the unanticipated intimacy of the moment. To her surprise, being touched by someone who was not Stephen was surprisingly pleasant and, for the first time in her life, Maxine felt that maybe she was not destined to be unresponsive forever. It had to be Stephen. She felt new hope. Physical contact might be pleasurable after all, and she wondered what her reaction would be if Brent touched her.

      ‘There. That’s all there is to it. Problem solved.’

      ‘Thank you.’ She felt herself blush; though in this dim light it barely mattered.

      ‘Is that why you’re here tonight with Brent Shackleton?’

      ‘What do you mean exactly?’

      ‘I mean, are you trying to seek some reason to justify discarding this Stephen?’

      He had a point.

      ‘Maybe. I don’t really know. I hadn’t analysed my motives particularly. Brent’s a fellow musician. A colleague. To tell you the truth I was ready to go home before you came talking to me.’ But suddenly she saw her chance to find out more about Brent. She must sound as casual as she could. ‘Anyway, I don’t really know Brent that well. What can you tell me about him? I’ve seen him with a girl after CBO concerts. A really beautiful girl. Is he married or anything?’

      Howard looked bitterly disappointed. ‘Why don’t you ask him, Maxine?’

      Outside it had started to rain. Maxine had not anticipated rain tonight. She pulled her cardigan over her shoulders and ran behind Brent as they headed for his car. He threw his trombone onto the back seat. Once inside he unlocked the passenger door for her.

      ‘Bloody СКАЧАТЬ