A Face To Die For (44 page)

I handed him a mug of coffee and he wrapped his hands around it, seeming to gain comfort from the warmth. I continued: 'But you mustn't worry, because grief is naturally consuming you at present. There'll be time later for all the rest, believe me. I'm quite sure little Emma won't hold it against you. She is fully occupied at present just struggling to survive.'

I knew all he needed was reassurance at this stage and time to adjust to things.

Oliver gave me a weak smile over the rim of his mug. 'You're right I suppose. I expect my feelings towards her will be different once she comes home. Oh hell... that brings me to another point. I'm going to need a nanny. An agency is sending several over for me to interview tomorrow.' His eyes instantly took on a look of panic. '
Please
, could you possibly be here to help me choose? The idea's so bloody daunting. How the hell am I going to select exactly the right person, particularly as she'll be needed full time. I'd be so grateful to have your input with the interviews. Can you spare the time?
Please
Annabel?'

'Of course I can,' I answered, laughing gently at his desperate expression. 'I'm no expert mind you, but I'll do my best.' I was glad he wanted my help. Despite my own lack of personal experience, I knew Vanessa would be able to put me wise about which questions to ask and what to look out for in a good nanny. She was currently on her third, and would obviously know the pitfalls to avoid.

*

Later that evening, during a chat with Vanessa, I heard to my delight that at last a man had been charged with my abduction with the children.

'He was apprehended earlier today,' she said. 'By someone making a citizen's arrest as he attempted another kidnapping in, would you believe, the same multi-story car park where he accosted you.'

'Good God!'

'I know! He used exactly the same tactics as he had with you, darling. Anyway, later, under questioning, he confessed to your abduction too,' said Vanessa. 'Inspector Hall said that he works in the kitchens of a transport cafe somewhere near Bagshot and that he has a history of mental disorder. Apparently they've been trying to contact you today to ask you down to do a formal identification.'

'OK, I'll ring them first thing tomorrow. Thank God they've got him. That figures though, about him working in a cafe. He did smell of stale cooking fat.' I shuddered, recalling it. 'I wonder what will happen to him.'

'Well, Rowley thinks there will be a trial. Of course it's too soon yet to know, but you probably won't even be needed to give evidence, since it's extremely likely that his defence will enter a guilty plea. He'll probably get a custodial sentence and be remanded in care to undergo psychiatric treatment, I shouldn't wonder,' said Vanessa.

'Good. Best place for him. I know he didn't actually
hurt
the children or me, but he did knife poor Bob at the garage, and that could have been very nasty. I'm just so glad to know that he's safely under lock and key at last. If he
is
a nut case, then who knows what he's capable of!'

'Or, more to the point, what he could have done to you and the children darling. It simply doesn't bear thinking about!'

‘
I know.’ I shuddered again at the thought.

I went on to ask about the children and, of course, to pick her brains about choosing a nanny for Oliver. Before I rang off I asked what news there was of Alex.

It seemed they hadn't seen a great deal of him recently since he left the Surrey nursing home. As far as she knew he was only very slowly coming to terms with his incapacity, although recently he'd been fitted with a new revolutionary type of artificial leg that afforded him much more mobility. He was apparently now managing quite well in his own ground floor flat in Knightsbridge with the help of a nurse and more recently had returned to take on some part-time duties again in the London Karos offices. This was slowly getting him motivated and feeling useful again.

Over the past year I'd constantly shied away from going to see him. For cowardly reasons really because I still didn't think I could face up to accepting the way he was now; not after how I had known him. I felt awfully guilty about it because, of course, I knew it must have been absolute hell for him. I also felt that after our surprise reunion at Vanessa's, seeing each other again might perhaps be quite unfair on him too. We had, after all, made our peace with each other that weekend and I’d felt it had meant a lot to both of us. I didn't want to risk spoiling things again. And I suppose what I feared most was the possibility of him thinking that now six months grieving period for Luigi had elapsed; I might possibly be even ready to pick up a relationship of some sort again with him. I knew I could never do that and I didn't want to hurt him.

But Vanessa insisted he was anxious to see me. 'Darling, Montpelier Square is only a stone's throw from Beauchamp Place! Do try to pop along some time. He'd so love it.'

'I'll do my best,' I replied reluctantly.

So, the next evening, after finishing at work for the day, I found I could spare an hour so I plucked up courage and wandered across the Brompton Road in the direction of Montpelier Square. I couldn't have timed it better. As I approached the address I'd been given, Alex was just alighting from a taxi.

'Annabel!' he called. 'Great to see you!'

He was still very thin and gaunt but was nonetheless managing extremely well on his pins, with help of only crutches now. He looked cheerful enough and, as he straightened himself up, I leaned forward to kiss him. At this point a pretty young woman rushed out from the building. Alex looked towards her, his eyes lighting up with pleasure.

'Hi, honey!' he called out to her. 'I say, good timing as always, Annabel. I wanted you to meet Jane. Jane, this is Annabel Spencer.'

Smiling, Jane shook my hand. 'I’m so pleased to meet you! So you're the famous fashion designer who broke Alex's heart, are you?' Momentarily I was shocked at the comment but she quickly squeezed my arm. 'Don't worry. I know everything about Alex. After all, I've been his nurse for the past year. He tells me you are the best of friends again now and I'm pleased to hear it.' Her eyes glistened as she looked at him and I noticed his twinkle back. Do I detect a love affair here, I wondered?

We went indoors and we all chatted easily while Jane made some us some tea. Soon it became even more apparent that the pair of them were indeed lovers.

Alex was obviously pleased to see me though. 'I'm glad you’ve come, Annabel. It’s about time too! But I realised how hard it must have been for you after Luigi went. How are you doing? Vanessa tells me you've coped remarkably well, considering the shock it must have been for you.'

'Yes, I suppose I have really. But I wouldn't have been the best of company for you in recent months Alex. I do hope you understood why I've not come before?' Liar, I thought, but it sounded good. He nodded, with a warm glow in his beautiful, dark eyes. Then he looked across at Jane as she began pouring the tea.

'Well, as it happens, you've picked an excellent day to call. I'd like you to be one of the first to know.' He grinned, and I could see the old Alex showing through again. 'Jane and I have just got engaged, so how about joining us tonight for supper?'

I wasn't quite expecting this! I flashed a smile. 'That's brilliant news, Alex. Congratulations. I'm so happy for you.' And I was genuinely pleased, if a little shaken. After all my previous anxiety, it had instantly solved the problem about seeing him again. Things couldn't have worked out better. I knew we could stay good friends forever now.

I explained that unfortunately I could only stay three-quarters of an hour, telling them all about Kate's recent death and how I was needed to help Oliver out. I promised instead to have dinner with them both in a few days’ time.

It was a great relief to know things were working out so well for Alex. He'd had a rough time recovering and what could be better than to have found Florence Nightingale and future wife rolled into one. He and Jane seemed ideally suited and she was obviously well equipped to cope with all his needs, which I imagined would not always be an easy task. But clearly she was more than happy to take him on. The romance, they told me, had blossomed first in hospital.

'So she has seen me at my absolute worst,' chuckled Alex. 'And when I left hospital I soon realised I couldn't live without her. So you moved in here as my nurse and lover, didn't you, honey?' She nodded and he took her hand. As he kissed it their love for each other was clearly evident. This was the best thing that could have happened to him and I had no need to feel guilty any more.

*

March, as usual, turned out to be utterly hectic. Not only did I have the Autumn/Winter collection shows, including the latest
Silk Wrappings
range, but I was introducing the Winter Cruise and
Solar
swimwear ranges too. I wanted to give them a memorable launch and Holly as the new
Silk Wrappings
face was busy on photo shoots and promotional appearances everywhere.

Baby Emma was at last allowed home into the capable arms of her nanny, Sarah Goss, a motherly, middle-aged woman whom Oliver and I had finally chosen from the five applicants the agency had sent along for us to interview.

I liked her personable, confident manner instantly, and she had excellent references from her previous employers in Chiswick, where she had cared for twin boys until they had started full-time education at boarding school. It all seemed a good recommendation to me. Oliver, to my relief, also favoured the older applicant instead of any of the other younger ones.

'Mainly because of her vast experience and warm, ‘mumsy’ appearance,' he said. 'I must be able to trust her.'

I agreed. However, my own reason for selecting her, prompted by Vanessa's advice, was that a younger woman living-in might easily distract Oliver. After all, look what happened to Alex and his nurse! This had to be a consideration, since his grief would eventually fade, and knowing Oliver as well as I did, I expected his masculine instincts would inevitably again come to the fore. Besides, any young woman was bound to find him attractive and my major concern was that Emma's Nanny should give her undivided attention to the infant, not to her father.

Once discharged from hospital, Emma rapidly gained weight and, as I had predicted, Oliver instantly became besotted with his adorable little daughter and it was a joy to witness his pleasure in her at last. I found her enchanting myself, spending more and more of my spare time at their apartment. Between us we lavished the infant with much love and attention.

*

Two months later, the small flat above Oliver's came up for lease. To my surprise Oliver suggested I should consider renting it.

'It would be great! Next best thing to having you living here with us.'

His enthusiasm astounded me because I had feared he might think I was already becoming a little too fond of the baby.

'Well, it
would
be lovely to be so near,' I agreed. 'Are you sure that's what you want though Oliver?'

'No question about it, don't get me wrong though; Sarah does an excellent job but I value your support and friendship equally as much.' Placing his arm around me, he kissed my cheek. 'You and I understand one another so well too. We're comfortable together and I know where I am with you. Emma needs and loves you too and we want you to
continue
to
be an important part of our lives.'

Facing me, he smiled pensively. 'Y'know, I hope you haven’t thought I’ve just made use of you over the past few weeks? You must
never
think that. Okay, I'm the first to admit it… I
did
need you desperately in the beginning. But I also need you just as much now; only it's different. You've become an integral part of our lives for heavens sake! Hell, Annabel, you do understand what I'm trying to say?'

I nodded, speechless, hardly daring to believe what I was hearing. Hearing Oliver telling me he needed me was enough, but to hear him say he considered me so fundamentally important to their lives made my heart leap. My priorities had completely changed since Emma's birth as well and this included being with her and Oliver. I adored the child. Spending time with her in her nursery whenever I could after work had become the highlight of my day.

Their apartment, spacious though it was, only had three bedrooms and with baby and nanny fully ensconced they were all taken up. It was, admittedly, often quite a drag taking myself home to St John's Wood at night once Oliver and I had eaten together, which we now did on a regular basis. To live part of the time just upstairs to them would be fantastic. The cost of renting the flat would be minimal compared to the joy it would give me,
and
so it would seem, to Oliver too.

A week later I took over the flat and moved in some of my belongings. It was tiny, with only one bedroom, and so I could only treat it as simply a place to sleep and hang my clothes when staying in town. But it was ideal for my needs and only about ten minutes away from work.

By now the upstairs studio in Beauchamp Place where I'd lived before had become another workroom and every inch of the premises was now put to good practical use. I had purchased the leasehold from Kate over a year ago and also taken over some rooms a few doors away as extra workrooms and storage. I still employed a good team of outworkers.