Roses and Champagne. Betty Neels

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СКАЧАТЬ away, a matter of ten miles or so, but Virginia was a careless driver.

      Katrina tidied away her paints and brushes and began to wrap up her work. It was still early, so she could drive up to London and hand over her work, have lunch and look for a dress—but that would mean driving back in the evening, not that that worried her, she was a good driver, but suppose Virginia decided to return home earlier? Besides, it left her short of time.

      She was tying the tapes of the portfolio when the door opened and Lucius walked in. She was so surprised to see him that she didn’t say anything at all, but she detected a fine rage under his bland expression. She said good morning in a questioning voice and resisted the urge to back away from him.

      ‘Is it? Where is Virginia, Katrina?’ he asked as he came to a halt in front of her.

      ‘Spending a couple of days with the Turners. Why?’

      ‘Very wise of her.’ His voice was even, but his eyes were grey stones. ‘Do you know what she’s told all our friends and acquaintances? No, I can see you don’t. That I’ve cast her off—her own words—and taken up with you!’

      ‘Me?’ asked Katrina, quite flabbergasted.

      ‘Oh, yes. You see, as she has explained at some length to everyone who would listen, she had no chance against your brains and elegance and—er—knowledge of the world—oh, and I almost forgot—your maturity.’

      Katrina goggled at him. ‘But what nonsense!’ she managed.

      ‘Oh, no, just a clever way of putting things, my dear. When everyone has got over their open-mouthed astonishment and thought about it, they’ll see it for the nonsense it is. In the meantime…’ he managed to smile thinly, ‘I should like to wring her neck!’

      ‘She’s upset,’ said Katrina. ‘She said her heart was broken…’

      ‘And what else, I wonder? That I was an ogre, that I should pay for upsetting her careful plans. You know what she intended to do?’

      ‘No, but she—she did say you would pay for it. I don’t think for one minute that she meant it.’

      He said quite savagely: ‘You walk around with your head in the clouds, painting hobgoblins and flower fairies, you let Virginia trample you underfoot and wheedle you into giving her far too much money. Why in heaven’s name don’t you use some of it on yourself? Buy some clothes suited to your age!’ He saw her colour painfully. ‘Oh, you always look nice, but why think of yourself as a woman, a staid woman at that, who’ll never see forty again? You’re twenty-seven and you look ten years younger than that.’ He laughed softly. ‘And I’m not paying compliments—I know you too well for that.’

      ‘What are you going to do?’ asked Katrina, not liking the sound of that laugh.

      ‘Do? Why, call her bluff, of course. I shall turn my attentions to you, Katie. In due course we shall become engaged, and when you’ve had the time to gather together whatever it is girls gather before they marry, we’ll be wed. Here in Upper Tew.’

      For a big man he was very fast on his feet. Before she could gather her wits to answer such nonsense, he had left her, closing the door very quietly behind him.

      CHAPTER TWO

      ALL IDEA OF going to London gone from her head, Katrina sat down and allowed her chaotic thoughts to settle themselves. They jostled each other around her head, making no sense. Lucius had been joking—or had he? And surely Virginia would not have played such a rotten trick even if she had meant it as a joke. She must have known it was a bad one, sure to misfire. Katrina thanked heaven that their friends, mostly lifelong, would think twice before believing Virginia, or at least they wouldn’t accuse her of lying, merely of exaggerating, and that because her youthful ego had been deflated. And no one, no one at all, would have anything to say against Lucius. She sighed; which meant that Virginia would have to explain. She frowned then. Surely her sister hadn’t said those hurtful things?—as though she had ever made any push to attract Lucius away from Virginia, and she wasn’t brainy or mature or elegant, that had been cruel. All the same, Lucius need not have been quite so angry, and the suggestion he had made had been ridiculous. If he thought he was going to get even with Virginia by playing a silly make-believe game with herself as an unwilling partner he could think again! She finished tying the portfolio and went downstairs.

      In the sitting room Lucius was sitting comfortably, reading The Times. He got up as she stopped just inside the door, taking no notice of her astonished: ‘Well, what are you doing here?’

      ‘I heard you telling Mrs Drake that you intended going up to town with your drawings. I’ll drive you up now; I’ve an appointment for later on this morning, but I’ll pick you up and bring you back any time you like.’

      Katrina said with great dignity: ‘Thank you, Lucius, but I shall drive myself up tomorrow. I’m surprised at you asking.’

      ‘My dear, didn’t I make myself plain? For lack of a better phrase, I intend to court you. I shouldn’t like to make Virginia out to be a liar.’

      ‘And what about me?’ asked Katrina furiously. ‘No one’s asked me if—if I want to be courted.’ She added snappishly: ‘How silly and old-fashioned that sounds!’

      ‘Ah, yes indeed; you must add these to my other shortcomings.’

      ‘Don’t be ridiculous! You’re being tiresome.’

      ‘That too,’ he agreed gravely. ‘How long will it take you to get ready?’

      ‘I’ve just said, I’m going to drive myself…’ She caught his eye, grey and cold and compelling. ‘Very well,’ she said reluctantly, ‘but I don’t want any more of this nonsense. I shall talk to Virginia when she gets back and—and…’ She faltered under his amused stare.

      ‘You haven’t a chance,’ he told her. ‘She’s always made rings round you and always will.’ He nodded gently at her. ‘Go and get ready.’

      Ever since she could remember Katrina had obeyed him unquestioningly, even though at times she hadn’t minced matters if she was annoyed with him. She went back upstairs to her room and changed into a dark grey suit, beautifully cut. It was elegant and in excellent taste, and made her look older than she was. A scarf, plain court shoes and a matching handbag completed her outfit while doing nothing for her at all. She fetched her portfolio and went downstairs to tell Mrs Beecham that she wouldn’t be back until the late afternoon, before going back to the sitting room.

      Lucius eyed her thoughtfully. ‘Going to do any shopping?’ he wanted to know.

      ‘Well, I thought I might look round for a dress for the Hunt Ball. Why do you want to know?’

      He shrugged his shoulders. ‘No reason. Shall we go?’

      He dropped her off at the publishers in Bloomsbury after arranging to meet her for lunch at the Connaught Hotel. ‘I’ll be in the bar at twelve-thirty and wait for you,’ he suggested.

      She stood on the pavement outside the publishers’ office. ‘But will you be ready by then? I could make it later if you like and do some shopping first.’

      He handed her the portfolio. ‘No need, I’ll be there. You can shop after lunch.’

      He СКАЧАТЬ