Devil in Disguise (28 page)

‘I
can’t have some great heifer like you charging around the place. Think of my knick-knacks.
We’re going to slim you down.’

Molly
sat up in bed, staring at her in disbelief: where had this martinet come from?
Up until now, the old lady had always been contained and polite. But she wasn’t
done yet.

‘You
will have a bath because you stink of grief and sorrow and female hormones,”
she announced. ‘Wash them all away. And a
cold
bath to toughen you up
and shock your mind and body out of their self—indulgence.’

At this
Molly gasped. ‘But I’m recovering from a broken heart!’

‘Well,
you are the one who announced herself fit and ready to return to normal life,
my dear,’ said Lilia, reasonably, tugging the bedclothes away from Molly, like
a magician whipping a tablecloth from under a fully set table. ‘We’ll see about
that, won’t we? Get up. We are already behind schedule.’

With
that, she marched out of the room, shutting the door so firmly behind her that
Molly jumped.

She
stared at the door in disbelief, then swung her legs over the side of the bed
and pushed her palms across her forehead until they met at the back of her
neck. Whatever was going on with Lilia, the line of least resistance was to
humour her and do as ordered until she found out what on earth the old woman
was going on about.

She
staggered into the bathroom and found the bath waiting for her, full to the
brim and stone cold. Perhaps she should just swish the water around and pretend
to Lilia that she had got into it? No. Lilia would know, she was sure. I don’t
particularly want to get in there, she thought, but she felt programmed somehow
by Lilia’s instructions and unable to resist. She felt a stimulating mix of
trepidation and wonderment. Gingerly she lowered herself into the tub. Sitting
down was the worst bit, feeling the spikes of icy water reach slowly into every
bodily nook and cranny. She didn’t know whether to scream with laughter or
shock. In the end,’ when she finally opened her mouth no sound came out.

After
staying submerged for just a minute,’ Molly got out and towelled herself dry.
Immediately she felt warm and energised. She caught a glimpse of her body in
the mirror and stopped to have a look. Daniel had liked its generous curves,
but maybe Lilia was right. A diet wouldn’t do her any harm. Perhaps a new look
would help the fresh start she was hoping for.

When
she entered the kitchen, she half expected to find the old, smiling, kind Lilia
there, stirring some warming porridge on the stove, and saying what a joke it
had all been. But, no, it was still the new severe Lilia, barking at her to sit
down.

On the
plate in front of her sat an orange, an apple and a banana.

‘Eat
them all up,” said Lilia. ‘The peel is optional, in the case of the banana and
the orange.’

Molly
was hungry and fancied her usual muesli and maybe some toast, but did as she
was told. Lilia stood and watched her consume every mouthful, even offering her
another cup of coffee if she wished. ‘The caffeine will be effective in pulling
you out of your sluggish state. We want to get your heart rate going. It is all
for your own benefit. You will thank me one day.’

The
coffee had indeed woken Molly up, and she found her voice at last. ‘But,’
Lilia, I don’t understand why you’re behaving like this. I’m a grown woman, not
some skivvy from the village that you can order around.’

Lilia
shook her head. ‘You are far from that. I understand you better than you think.
I have your interests at heart.’

‘Then
why are you bullying me and ordering me about?’

Lilia
sat down on the chair opposite Molly’s, clasped her hands together and stared
intently into Molly’s eyes. ‘Listen to me. You are special. Circumstances and
Fate have thrown us together and I have a vision, my dear. A vision of your
future. So far you have lived a very dull and unspectacular life. With my help
that can change. I can transform you. Your love was sprung and shot that
fateful night, thanks to Daniel and Simon and their uncontrollable lust. If we
are to derive some benefit from the situation then it is this: now you can join
the ranks of the unlovable. We are the successful people in this world. We see
things with a cold heart and we are all the better for it. We get on in life,
live in nice houses and drive big cars. We are fearless.’

Molly
frowned. ‘I don’t think I agree. Of course we can recover from sadness and
heartbreak. Things can mend, can’t they?’

‘Only
if you let them!’ exclaimed Lilia. ‘Now is your moment. Let these events change
your life. What is the point of letting the wound heal and carrying on as
before, on the same dreary treadmill of life?’

‘But
I’ll learn from what has happened, won’t I? I’ll be older and wiser next time,’
reasoned Molly.

‘Of
course you will. Such fighting talk! But under my steady guidance, I am giving
you a makeover. A new look: slimmer, trimmer, wiser and more feline.’

‘What
do you have in mind?’ said Molly, intrigued despite herself.

‘Just
imagine you have been put in hospital or sectioned for a few weeks. I will make
all your decisions for you.’

‘I
don’t know. It’s a bit weird.’

‘You
can trust me. I will remould you. We will have acting classes and singing
instruction, exercise with Heathcliff and a strict diet.’

‘Are
you a teacher, then?’

‘When I
choose to be. If I spot a special talent. I see great things ahead for you.
Just let me show you a brighter future.’

‘You
sound like Mystic Meg.’

‘Take
me seriously, Molly. You are at a crossroads in your life. This way stardom,
that way oblivion. Which are you going to choose?’

‘You
mean — you want to make me a star?’

Lilia
nodded, her eyes glinting. ‘A great singing star — rich, famous, a living
legend. The usual thing.’

Molly couldn’t
deny this sounded appealing. ‘So     hat happens if I stay here?’

‘I
become your guide and mentor. I will make a timetable of recovery and
transformation. I don’t like to boast but Kate O’Mara passed through my hands
once. She was a little minx at the time, but I could see the potential. Look at
her now.’

‘Gosh,’
said Molly, impressed. ‘But I have no money.’

‘Neither
did Kate. I never charge. She pebble-dashed the house for me in gratitude. You
will help me with Joey for a while. In return I will take you to the heights of
greatness!’ Lilia leant forward, her usually milky green eyes suddenly like
steel. She licked her lips. ‘Will you do it, Molly? Give yourself to me for six
months — that is all I ask. Then you can return to your ordinary life if you
wish. Do everything I ask. Become my creature. I promise you will not regret
it.’

Molly
bit her lip. The offer was tempting. Even the biggest stars in the world had to
be discovered by someone — she couldn’t just ask for a recording contract and
expect to sell a million records overnight. Lilia must believe in her, she must
really think she had the talent — and Lilia had been the first person to give
credence to Molly’s own certainty that she had a gift. So far her career had consisted
of glorified pub singing and a few third-rate tours of badly staged musicals.
It was a big leap from there to successful solo artist. Furthermore she wasn’t
getting any younger, and plenty of big stars were still in their teens. Lilia
was offering her a chance. The worst that could happen was she’d waste six
precious months. But she had nowhere to go, no home to return to. Why not
embrace the idea and see what the outcome would be?

She
took a deep breath. ‘Yes, Lilia,’ she said firmly. ‘You have a deal.’

‘Yes?’
said Lilia, excitedly, clapping her hands.

‘I am
yours for six months to do with as you please.’

‘I am
delighted! You won’t regret it.’ Lilia reached a bony hand across the kitchen
table. ‘Let’s shake on it!’

Molly’s
fleshy hand moved to meet Lilia’s and the two women looked fondly into each
other’s eyes.

‘I
can’t wait,’ said Molly.

‘Good,’
said Lilia, ‘because we are already behind schedule.’

The lessons began as soon
as Molly had finished getting Joey ready and put him in his usual seat in the
sitting room. Lilia stood by the fireplace, looking stern, and when Joey was
settled, she frowned at Molly. ‘We will begin with some vocal exercises. Let me
hear you hum.’

Molly
did a bit of
The Mikado.

‘Not
bad, but your tone is too clean, too musical theatre. We need to dirty you up a
little.’

‘Dirty
me up?’ Molly echoed, feeling worried. ‘You mean, sing something more
risqué?’

‘Oh,
no, something quite different.’ Lilia went to the shelf to pick up something,
then turned back to her. ‘Here,’ she said, handing her pupil a lighter and a
packet of French cigarettes. ‘Gauloises. I started to smoke these when I was on
a tour of Syria. After a few packets, my voice developed a charming crack. You
need to find that husky quality.’

‘But I
don’t smoke,’ declared Molly, moving away from the proffered packet as if it
was going to bite her. ‘I think smoking’s disgusting.’

‘Yes,
but that is exactly what you need. There’s a whiff of Julie Andrews about you,
and we don’t want that.’ Lilia took a cigarette from the packet and handed it to
her. ‘Pop it between your lips like a good girl.’

Molly
stared at it,’ repelled.

‘You
want to be a star, don’t you?’ snapped Lilia.

‘Yes,
but …’

‘You
said you’d do anything I asked. You promised! Remember?’

Molly
nodded and did as she was told.

Lilia picked
up a box of matches and struck one. ‘Suck!’ she said, bringing the flame to the
tip of the Gauloise.

Molly
tried, but the smoke tasted bitter and it was hot in her mouth. She
involuntarily blew it out, coughed and spluttered noisily, handing the cigarette
hurriedly back to Lilia as if it were a loathsome living creature. Her eyes
watered and her face reddened. ‘Ugh! Yuck! No, thank you,’ Lilia. That’s
horrible, that is.’

Lilia
rolled her eyes. ‘We must persist. Take a few breaths and try again. Maria
Callas smoked cigars and she sang like an angel.’

Molly
took the cigarette back and gingerly put it to her lips.

‘Gently
this time,’ instructed Lilia.

Molly
screwed up her face as if she were about to take some unpleasant medicine.

‘That’s
it. Be brave,’ encouraged Lilia.

Molly
drew gently on the Gauloise, inhaling until the acrid smoke was deep in her
lungs.

‘Now
blow it out gently and smoothly. Good!’ said Lilia, as Molly successfully
completed the exhalation with just a small series of gunshot coughs.

‘You
see?’ said Lilia, congratulating her pupil. ‘That wasn’t too bad, was it?’

Molly’s
voice sounded like a strangled ferret’s. ‘I feel a bit sick.’

‘That
is a natural enough reaction,” said Lilia, ‘but only temporary. We will start
with five cigarettes a day, and build to forty. Once the addiction takes hold,
you will thank me. And your voice, my dear, will benefit enormously. This is a
most exciting development.’

‘My
head’s spinning,’ said Molly, in a gruffer rasp this time,’ rubbing her throat.

‘You
see? You already sound far more Fenella Fielding. Congratulations.’

‘Lilia—’

‘This
is, however, a no-smoking house, and I must ask you to take your filthy habit
into the garden. There is a flowerpot full of sand that you may use as an
ashtray.’

‘Right,’
said Molly.

‘Next,
brandy — or, more specifically, Courvoisier.’ Lilia opened the ornate Chinese
cabinet that stood by the piano and lifted out a bottle, which she then
presented. She held it by the neck between the finger and thumb of one hand,
while resting the base on the open palm of the other. ‘Beryl Reid swore by it.
It will, with time, add texture and resonance to the timbre of your singing.’
Lilia lifted a cut-glass brandy balloon from inside the cabinet and poured a
healthy measure. ‘Just like the cigarette, it will burn your throat and make
you feel queasy to begin with.’