Crimson (3 page)

“I’ll never get the hang of this thing.” She pressed a button. The line went dead.

“Hell, I’m hopeless with machinery.” Annabel noticed that Clare looked anxious.

“Sorry, Clare. Are you expecting a cal lT “Not really. Well, perhaps … I thought that Clare pushed dark strands of hair from her forehead. She suddenly burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Annabel scrambled from her mattress and ran to her sister, embracing her, pulling her close.

“What’s up, darling?. I knew something was wrong! Otherwise you wouldn’t have lugged Josh and his nanny all the way from California. Tell me. Why hasn’t he telephoned?”

Gradually Clare’s sobbing subsided. In a tone filled with angry indignation, unlike her normal soft voice, she told Annabel of the row. Clare had gone to the beach for the day, accompanied by Josh and his nanny. She returned early because of period cramps, and in her bedroom she found a thin, tanned woman lying naked beside her husband. A bitter scene ensued. Clare stormed to her dressing and started to pack. She heard his car spray gravel outside her window as it took off, too fast. Kneeling by her suitcase, Clare wept until another car arrived and Josh and his nanny clattered, laughing, into the house. At that moment, Annabel had telephoned from New York.

“Then you told me about Gran’s stroke,” snuffled Clare.

“Poor darling,” Annabel murmured, stroking Clare’s long, dark hair.

“He’s so clever at sidetracking. He makes me look like an overemotional idiot, when all the time he’s in the wrong.” With the back of her hand, Clare wiped tears away. She had always told herself that despite his casual promiscuity, her husband loved her in a special way, that he would never abandon their real love or jeopardize their son’s happiness. She told herself he was only asserting his male prowess with those other women, and he wouldn’t ever take one of them seriously. But then, that day, Clare had suddenly found that she could bear no more humiliation. So she had left him.

In the late-afternoon Provenqal sunshine, Annabel silently hugged Clare and waited.

Eventually Clare continued, “I didn want the usual reconciliation scene, the usual flowers, the usual promises and then the usual pain next time. Suddenly I simply didn’t care what happened to him.” She hugged her sister.

“Oh Annabel, you won’t tell anyone, will you?” “Have I ever told your secrets? But if you’ve really walked out for good, everyone will have to know sometime. Are you sure you’re going to…”

“Get a divorce? Yes. Absolutely. I don’t want Josh growing up to be like his father.”

“Well, don’t let Gran know, at least not yet. You know it’ll upset her. In fact, don’t tell anyone until you’re sure you’re sure.”

As Annabel comforted her sister, a maid approached.

Speaking in French, she said, “The pool telephone malfunctions. New York awaits Miss Annabel.”

“I’ll take it in my bedroom,” Annabel said, jumping up with almost childish enthusiasm. She ran upstairs to her pale pink apartment, which overlooked the cobbled entrance courtyard and the church beyond it.

“Darling? At last! What’s your new sT Annabel could hear background sounds from the New York TV station for which her husband was a news anchorman. He was one of eleven reporters, only three of whom appeared as on-air newscasters.

“Local or national, angel? It’s eleven in the morning and sticky hot in New York. Yesterday Martin Luther King called for an end to the Vietnam War, but it looks as if Johnson will order more troops in. My lead story for this evening?. Kennedy’s original view of Vietnam as a quick in-and-out operation might end in world war.” Annabel could imagine his teasing smile.

“I hope your news is less alarming.”

Annabel told her husband about Elinor’s return to consciousness.

“That’s wonderful, angel. When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know. When Gran’s better. Does it mat terT Her husband hesitated.

“Sidney wants to talk to us.”

“Why?” Sidney was their accountant, and the sound of his name instantly set off alarm bells.

“I’ve decided to go after a better job.”

Annabel could hear the lack of selfconfidence in her husband’s voice. She said, “But you love your “It’s a little earlier than I planned to make my move, but that’s not so terrible. We’re sinking deeper into debt each day, and we have to find some way to shore up our finances.”

Annabel said miserably, “Oh darling, I’m so sorry. I was the one who insisted on the new duplex. It never crossed my mind that Avanti might not renew my contract.” She gave a shaky laugh-“I know I’m twenty-five, but that’s not old. Not in the normal world. Only for a model.”

“Avanti still might renew your contract. We don’t know.”

“I wish they’d make their damned minds up,” Annabel said.

“I could kick myself for buying that apartment! I can’t think why I was so extravagant.” I I “You bought it to give me the right background. You said, “A good picture needs a good frame,”” he reminded her.

“You said in order to get into the Mike Wallace league, I have to look as if I am already in it.”

“Absolutely. And you will be.” Annabel cheered up. Her husband had the same quick, hard intelligence as Mike Wallace: he could be just as probing and provoking when interviewing. He could also produce the sort of insistent question that turned a news interview into a psychodrama. And he had the voice.

“Darling,” she went on, “you’re one of the best newsmen on television. And remember, you’re only twenty-nine years old. Mike Wallace was thirty-eight before he got his break on Night Beat. Plus I love you.”

“And I love you. In the meantime, angel, don’t take all the blame for the apartment. Remember, New York is a town about showing you can make it, making it, and then showing you’ve made it. Who knows, the apartment may help land my new job.”

Annabel laughed.

“Well, if you don’t get your job and I don’t get mine, we’ll just have to sell the place and rent, like the rest of New York. It really doesn’t matter where we live. We’ll still have each other.” Strapped into the noisy helicopter, Miranda tucked an unruly strand of marmalade-coloured hair behind her intercom headset as she looked out at the sullen, grey English

04ann el belawi “We left Lmdon at two-durtyso well get so: Saracen by,seven,m sood time for dinner.” Miranda kept her voice as low as possible, her tone steady and deliberate; she spoke that way because she found that it commanded attention. She pressed her face against the tough plastic bubble that enveloped them.

“I do so wish that Gran would let me learn to fly. Couldn’t you persuade her?” Miranda then remembered that this might not be necessary. It was so hard to reconcile herself to the reality of her grandmother’s illness. She bit her lip and willed the tears away.

Sitting next to her, Adam Grant shook his head. He was tall, dark, and brown-eyed, with firm-hewn features and a cynical air of assurance. Miranda thought he looked like one of those almost perfect men drawn in magazine advertisements for cashmere sweaters, or that he might have fallen from the pages of one of Gran’s romantic novels.

Adam’s father, Joe Grant, had been Elinor’s longtime legal adviser and close friend. After his death, five years before, Elinor’s business affairs had gradually been passed to Adam, who also worked for the family legal firm of Swithin, Timmins and Grant.

Adam had asked Miranda for a lift in’ the Bell because this was one of the rare occasions when all three sisters would be at Saracen. Having them together like this would provide him with the opportunity to discuss, gently but firmly and as unemotionally as possible, what would happen should Elinor die intestate. Despite her dual US and British citizenship, Elinor was resident in France, and the French tax authorities considered theirs to be the controlling law for her entire estate. Once again Adam regretted that he had been unable to persuade Elinor to make a will, because there were always complications when anyone died intestate. Perhaps he should have been more insistent, “eed, partly because she had correctly Iso he had never before seen Mir . her emotions.

-nd kerchief from his navy “diranda gulped.

“Can the floored his faint ‘it. which edy 0 to VI know what you’re thinking. You’re think’-s Miranda burst into tears. oug It steps Cd Zran busin Last part-ti k sheet “You she did 0 interesti 5 ate as n 0 “Z was Ocs. 0 what of Looki thinking bodies w wasn’t voluptuous, but it was perfect: her breasts were small, high, and rounded; her waist was neat, her stomach flat. And when she walked, her long, slim legs moved in a graceful stalk. In addition, Miranda was always appropriately dressed for the occasion: that grey silk suit, simple but feminine, had been perfect for this morning’s monthly office meeting.

Miranda shrugged her shoulders and decided to change the subject. She switched off the intercom to the pilot so that he couldn’t hear what she was saying.

“Adam, I’m not entirely happy about Ned Sinclair.”

“I think he’s settled down very fast.” Adam had poached their new financial director from a rival cosmetics manufacturer.

“He asked me one or two unnecessary questions about our future plans.

It bothers me, although perhaps I’ve Channel below.

“We left London at two-thirty her beauty to Saracen by seven in good time for kept her voice as low as possible, all shops.” Adam’s deliberate; she spoke that way bsh away an irritation. commanded attention. She preAad been when he was at tough plastic bubble that er flopped over his left temple that Gran would let me le IWfing, seemingly innocent charm. her?” Apetition because we think along Miranda then ren p4he’ll be international before I am. I sary. It was so hyrised to hear that Ned has approached grandmother away. in it occurred to Adam that Miranda had inSitti any of Elinor’s characteristics: her intuition and tall, ility to act on it, her stubborn’determination, and c r guts.

He smiled.

“I’ll run a check on Ned. You could be international if only you would agree to franchise.”

“I won’t franchise because I don’t want to lose control of my business! However tight the contracts are, you lose control once you do. Others might not want to work as hard as we do, and they may not have such high standards of presentation. So please forget it.”

“If you won’t franchise, then you’ll have to put up with being short of money,” Adam said firmly, looking at her from large-lidded dark eyes.

“What would you do for a lot of money, Miranda?”

“What wouldn’t I do for a lot of money!” Miranda laughed.

“I wonder,” Adam said thoughtfully.

“Oh, you’re so resolute, so determined.” Miranda smiled.

“I can’t think why we seem to be on an endless financial at thi e for all shops sh away an away Si’ti ar tall, ility I c r guts.

TT,.. il,., tightrope.”

“Because you want to expand faster than we can afford.” Adam spoke laconically. He shrugged his shoulders.

“But who knows what lies ahead…” rethinking. You’re thinkow dare he’I know what You” “that if Gran dies. Miranda burst into tears.

Adam was astonished, partly because she had correctly guessed his thoughts. Also he had never before seen Miranda cry. She rarely showed her emotions.

He pulled a Paisley silk handkerchief from his navy blazer and silently handed it to her.

“Damn, I’ve lost a contact lens,” Miranda gulped.

“Can you see it on my skirt? Or has it fallen to the fl oorT “Keep still. I can see it on your lap.”

As Adam leaned over her, Miranda inhaled his faint musky scent. Adam moved in a miasma of sexuality, which he seemed not to notice although it was as definite as warm breath. She thought he smelled a bit like a well groomed horse. Close up, his odour reminded her of expensive leather. This subtle erotic scent contradicted Adam’s careful lawyer’s demeanour, his understated Savile Row suits and shirts, his horned-rimmed glasses.

Miranda knew that Adam had a devastating effect on women. She had first observed it on a shared family holiday in St-Tropez, twelve years ago. Miranda, only twelve at the time, had noticed that even the grumpy old French housekeeper happily danced attendance on twenty-three-year-old Miranda knew why Adam had never made a serious pass her or her sisters. To have done so would have been 11 Unprofessional and might have adversely affected his job.

“Additionally, all three sisters, while acknowledging his ctiveness, had grown up thinking of Adam as a young -wWttra He in turn had always regarded them as children, to their indignation at the time.

ta Now, as Adam carefully placed the con ct lens in the nrpahn of Miranda’s hand, she reminded herself that he was ”’,jrot her uncle. Then she pushed this thought to the back of her head and told herself

jokin y to k her hands off the gI eep staff. Turning away from Adam to reinsert her lens, Miranda also reminded herself that at the moment she hadn’t time for a lover. In this respect she was unusual; the Pill was now readily available and every liberated girl was on it, whether or not her mother knew. Increasingly a woman was expected to jump into bed after the first date something that didn’t suit Miranda, who felt only anxiety when in bed with a man whom she didn’t know well and therefore didn’t trust. At this point in her young life, there had been only one man who made her feel secure.

Adam said, “Even if it distresses you, there’s something I feel we should discuss before reaching Saracen; it’s your grandmother’s will. She hasn’t yet made one, but we have discussed the matter.” Clearly worried, Adam was silent for a moment, then continued in a low voice: “For me, this is a difficult dilemma: do I stick to my standards of professional discretion, or do I break my client’s confidence in order to do what’s best for her and those she loves? Does the end justify the means? Would Elinor my client, my friend and benefactor allow it? That’s what, I can’t decide. Because I know that Elinor would want whatever is most advantageous to all her granddaughters.”

“I’d advise you not to break your client’s confidence,” Miranda said, “but be sensible and tell me what the hell this is about.”

“Without breaking Elinor’s confidence, I can tell you that although she intends to leave the bulk of her fortune to you three sisters, various methods of controlling the money have been considered.”