Arian (36 page)

Gerald returned to the kitchen and closed the door behind him. Arian would sleep for a while and in the meantime, he would just take a look at her books; there were bound to be one or two little items there to interest him.

After a time, he put the books away and, well satisfied, looked around him. Perhaps it would be a good idea to straighten the place up a bit. It was like a pig sty; as she’d said, the village girl hadn’t put herself out to clean the place properly. Arian clearly couldn’t cope, that’s what happened when she was without him. The thought gave him an immense feeling of satisfaction.

A little while later, a cheerful fire roared in the grate and the table was scrubbed and covered neatly with a cloth. The brasses shone and Gerald settled back into his chair with a glow of pride. He seemed to be getting what he wanted out of life – money, position and a beautiful wife. If he played his cards right, he would even have a son, that would be the one thing to make his happiness complete.

Oh, there had been difficulties on the way. He’d needed to leave Arian for a time in order to consolidate his financial position but then most men went away on business. His mouth curved into a smile. That his business included sleeping with Sarah Frogmore was his burden but some things just had to be done, some sacrifices made. Arian would understand that, in time. There was no need for her to be jealous, no need at all. Sleeping with Sarah was a chore, nothing more.

It was a few hours later when he heard footsteps on the stairs and Arian appeared, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She looked around her and took in the neatness of the room with surprise.

‘What’s happened to the place?’ She sank into a chair and Gerald rose at once and made her a hot cup of tea. She took it with gratitude, her eyes soft as they looked up at him. It was the first sign of warmth he’d ever had from her.

‘I’m not entirely useless in the kitchen, you see.’

‘Thank you for your kindness, it’s very much appreciated.’ Arian’s face clouded. ‘That doesn’t mean I want you back, Gerald. You do understand it’s over, don’t you?’

‘You’re not well, I
do
understand that. All these business worries are too much for you, but then you brought it all on yourself Arian, too much expenditure and not enough income – that way leads to disaster. I could always help you out.’

It pained him to rub salt into her wounds but then it was necessary for she must be made to realize that she needed him.

She shook her head. ‘I’ll manage, Gerald.’

He doubted it. She looked as though she was about to faint. Gerald hardened his heart.

‘I’ll be off then, I’ll call again in a few days’ time, see how you are. Take care, Arian.’

He walked away without glancing back over his shoulder but he knew he had left Arian feeling weak and indecisive and with too much on her hands. She was a woman of spirit but she was not as self-sufficient as she believed. She was too worn down by worries about the business and her health hadn’t been too good since she’d suffered the miscarriage.

It was much later when he returned to Sarah’s house and he found that her dinner party was in full swing. In his anxiety to advance his plans for Arian’s future, he had quite forgotten about it.

The actual meal was over and the guests were assembled in the music room. Calvin Temple was seated in the big chair near the pianoforte and he seemed quite at ease. His eyes, though, were guarded as he saw Gerald but he didn’t move.

The other guests were people Gerald knew only by sight; Sarah’s father, John Miller and his wife Emily, the old ‘Aunt’ Sarah had employed and one or two other guests who seemed to Gerald to have come simply to make up the numbers, none of them prominent citizens in any way.

‘I’m sorry I’m late, Mrs Frogmore,’ he said, formally bending over Sarah’s hand. ‘But I have been working hard on your behalf.’ It didn’t do to allow too much of his private life to show in public – that was one dictum he always followed.

‘I’m pleased you’re here, Simples.’ Sarah was in high spirits. ‘I wanted to introduce you to my guests as both my wonderful house steward and the financial genius you are.’ A strained silence followed her words and Sarah rushed on, ‘Lord Temple has been entertaining us with such beautiful music,’ Sarah said. ‘He really is the most talented man. He does so many things well.’

Gerald caught something in the tone of Sarah’s voice that warned him he would have to tread carefully, at least for a while longer. Sarah and Calvin Temple had, obviously, been lovers at some time and she was issuing a warning that it was a relationship easily renewed.

Even while Gerald joined in the small, polite conversations and laughed in all the right places, he was showing by touches of his hand and by meaningful glances that Sarah was, for the moment at least, his property.

In response, she sparkled even more than usual, her eyes bright, her skin flushed. She even seemed desirable. Gerald made up his mind that for tonight, the comfort of his own room would be forgone in favour of Sarah’s bed. He must make sure that he pleased her, at least for as long as it took to make Arian beg for his help. The thought filled him with such pleasure that he felt quite generous towards Sarah and actually squeezed her hand in full view of Temple who appeared not to notice.

‘Naughty boy,’ Sarah whispered in Gerald’s ear, ‘I’ll make you pay for that later, mind.’

‘I can’t wait,’ Gerald said and if there was irony in his voice, Sarah was too happy to notice.

At last the guests had gone and they were alone. Gerald took Sarah in his arms and drew her close. ‘I’ve been all sorts of a bastard lately,’ he said, looking down at her, ‘but I can’t help being moody when I’m worried about money.’ That was inspired, for Sarah immediately loosened his hold, went to her desk and took out a bag of chinking sovereigns.

‘Never worry about money, my darling,’ she hugged him. ‘I have enough for both of us. Come on, let’s go on up to bed.’

He concealed his irritation. If only, once in a while, she would be a little subtle about her desires, it would be so refreshing.

Still, he was out to charm her, he reminded himself and so he threw some cushions down on the floor and pressed her down against them.

‘I want to make love to you here, in the firelight,’ he said softly, his lips pressing against the warmth of her neck. She sighed happily.

‘That’s one thing I like about you, Gerald,’ she whispered pressing his hand to her breast. ‘You are so daring, so greedy for my love that you can’t wait.’

He surpassed himself that night. True, he pretended it was Arian beneath him, although Sarah’s loud moans detracted from that fantasy for Arian never made a sound while he took her, but he had achieved what he wanted by convincing Sarah his moods had passed for, afterwards, she turned to him and looked him full in the face, her eyes soft and dreamy.

‘I think I must make you an allowance, all legal-like,’ she said in a whisper. ‘I don’t want you to worry about money, not ever again. It must not be allowed to come between us.’

He was so pleased that he felt himself becoming aroused once more and Sarah’s look of joy was the seal of approval on their pact.

Eline sat opposite Arian studying her carefully, concern for her mounting. Gone was the light from her eyes and even Arian’s silver-gold hair seemed to lack lustre.

The chatter of the tea-rooms ebbed and flowed around them and Arian sat listlessly in her chair, hands folded in her lap, subservient, as though awaiting instructions. She presented a picture of a supplicant rather than the eager-for-success business woman she was.

‘More tea?’ Eline asked over the noise of tinkling tea cups and the conversational tone of the ladies on the next table.

‘Yes, please,’ Arian said, but it was as though she couldn’t really care less either way.

Eline put down the pot and leaned forward. ‘Arian, what is wrong with you?’ The question was blunt and Arian’s eyes flickered on Eline’s face for a moment before looking away.

‘Nothing’s wrong. What should be wrong?’ She didn’t even sound defensive, Eline thought worriedly, just hopeless.

‘Something is
very
wrong,’ Eline persisted. ‘Your husband, is he all right? He’s not sick or something, is he?’

Arian’s eyes slid away from her. ‘No, it’s not Gerald’s health. He’s all right, he always is.’

Eline reached out and touched her hand. ‘Come on, we’ll go into the foyer. There are some comfortable chairs there and it’s not so crowded, we can talk then.’

Arian followed her from the room and obediently took a seat beside Eline, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, the knuckles gleaming white, revealing how tense she was.

‘Tell me,’ demanded Eline and Arian shook her head in silence for a moment. Then she seemed to gather her courage and, slowly, she began to talk.

‘There is something wrong,’ she spoke with great difficulty, ‘something very wrong.’ She took a ragged breath. ‘Gerald has bought up my debts. I discovered it only this morning when I got a letter from him demanding payment.’

‘Your husband is demanding payment from you?’ Eline couldn’t conceal her sense of shock. ‘But he’s responsible for your debts, isn’t he?’

Arian shrugged. She was under a tremendous strain, that much was clear.

‘He’s walked out on you, hasn’t he?’ Eline probed gently.

Arian nodded. ‘In a way, I suppose you could say that but, in any case, I don’t love him and I don’t want him near me.’

‘I knew it.’ Eline sighed. The man was taking his revenge for something Arian had done, some injustice, real or imagined. ‘Gerald Simples is trying to do to you just what Calvin did to me. Your husband wants to ruin you financially.’

Arian didn’t reply and Eline tried to reassure her. ‘Don’t worry about the business. I’ll help out all I can, me and Will are doing quite nicely now.’

‘I don’t care any more about the business. What’s the point in even trying? I’m a failure, Eline. Whatever I do goes wrong.’

‘Don’t be so downcast, it’s not like you,’ Eline spoke softly. ‘I think you must have gone back to work too soon after you … you lost your baby. You’ve haven’t been yourself for some time. Come on, cheer up. Nothing will seem as bad once you feel well again.’

Eline sought for the right words. She didn’t know what to say to take the look of hopelessness from Arian’s face. It was obvious that whatever she said to the contrary, the break-up of her marriage had left her bereft. All Eline could do now was to offer practical suggestions.

‘Would it help if I took over your business commitments for the time being?’ She knew that Arian had let matters slide almost beyond redemption. Orders had not been filled, people waited in vain for deliveries and the complaints had been flowing in.

‘I suppose so,’ Arian said quietly. ‘But I don’t want to get you involved. Why should you take on my troubles?’

‘It will give you time to take stock.’ Eline smiled encouragingly. ‘Make it up with your husband – you’re obviously unhappy as things are.’

Arian shook her head. ‘I don’t want anything to do with Gerald, not now, not ever.’

‘Sometimes,’ Eline began cautiously, ‘it’s hard to get things like this into perspective. Give yourself a chance to think about it all calmly. Forget business, leave all that to me. Rest is what you need, a good rest.’

Arian shook her head. Her lips trembled and she looked so vulnerable that Eline wanted to take her in her arms and hug her. Instead, she spoke firmly.

‘You’ll be all right, Arian. You have more courage than most women I know. Look, why not see a doctor? Perhaps it would help if you had some sort of medicine, a pick-me-up. You’re far too pale.’

Arian looked up. ‘Can a doctor put me out of Gerald’s reach?’

Eline tried again. ‘Come home with me for a bit, then. Stay for as long as you like, William wouldn’t mind.’

Arian shook her head. ‘No, there’s no point.’ She swallowed hard. ‘But I will accept your offer to take over the business. Perhaps Gerald will be more reasonable about the debts if he’s dealing with you and Will instead of me.’

‘Right, we’ll take a cab to your house and I’ll collect all your books and things. I’ll get down to sorting things out right away.’ Eline was relieved to be able to do something positive. She led the way outside and saw Arian blink a little in the sudden light.

Eline glanced covertly at Arian. She was so pale, her skin was almost translucent. She might not admit it but her husband had hurt her more than she realized.

When they arrived at the small whitewashed house, Arian went through the kitchen and into the room at the back of the house. Eline followed her, biting her lip worriedly.

‘Here’s all the information you’ll need about the business. It bears out all that I’ve told you. Take it, it’s no good to me.’

‘Arian,’ Eline said doubtfully, ‘you won’t do anything silly, will you?’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Arian didn’t meet her eyes. ‘I’m just so tired, that’s all, and with you taking all this off my hands I’ll be able to rest.’

‘Well don’t worry about anything, not even your husband. He’ll come round, you’ll make up with him, you’ll see.’

‘I’ll manage all right without him.’ Arian spoke with a touch of her old spirit and Eline smiled.

‘That’s better, that’s the Arian I know. You see, you’ll be all right, just give it time.’

‘Time, yes.’ Arian sank into a chair and closed her eyes. ‘Time, there’s so much of it.’

‘Where is your husband now?’ Eline asked. ‘I mean, where exactly is he staying?’

‘With Sarah Frogmore in her fine mansion, of course,’ Arian said quietly. ‘She’s welcome to him.’

That was as may be, Eline thought, it was probably bravado talking, but in any case Gerald Simples should be with his wife. She needed him right at this moment and Eline was inclined to be the one to tell him so.

A sudden sense of resolution swept over her. There
was
one thing more she could do, she could speak to Gerald, tell him how ill Arian was.

‘I’m going now but you know where to find me if you need me. I’m sure everything is going to be just fine. Indeed, I mean to see that it is.’ She left Arian seated in a chair in the kitchen, her head back, her eyes closed. She hated leaving her alone but it wouldn’t be for long, not if Eline had her way.