Mistress at a Price (32 page)

‘
Yes, as it happens,
’
Cat said slowly.
‘
My cousin had her wedding reception at one of them
—
a place called Anscote Manor.
’

‘
And?
’

Cat shrugged.
‘
There were a few snags at Reception, but the rest of it seemed lovely. I didn
’
t feel it needed much improvement.
’
Or nothing that we can arrange anyway, she added silently.

‘
Well, the Durant board clearly doesn
’
t agree with you,
’
Andrew said briskly.
‘
Because Anscote Manor
’
s the first on the list for treatment, and I want you to go down there on a preliminary visit next week.
’

Cat listened in dismay. Anscote Manor was number one on her list too, she thought grimly
—
of places to avoid. She couldn
’
t return there with her memories. She just couldn
’
t…

She hesitated.
‘
Couldn
’
t someone else do it? I
—
I do have quite a lot on.
’

‘
You have a reasonable amount,
’
said Andrew.
‘
Spread pretty thinly, and you know it. Cat, we need this contract. It could be so big for us. Besides, they asked for you. Said complimentary things about your work on the London Phoenix last year.
’

‘
The London Phoenix had been a hostel and was practically derelict,
’
Cat pointed out drily.
‘
Simply dynamiting it would have been an improvement.
’

‘
Then this will be a walk in the park,
’
said Andrew, in a voice that suggested further argument was futile. He glanced at his watch.
‘
And shouldn
’
t you be gone by now? I thought you were going to the theatre.
’

Cat chewed her lip, her mind still on Anscote Manor and the inevitable memories it brought to mind.

‘
Yes,
’
she said reluctantly.
‘
I suppose I must.
’

She hadn
’
t brought a change of clothes, so her working gear
—
a plain black suit with a knee-length skirt, and a long-sleeved white blouse
—
would have to do, she thought, as she applied some lipstick in the back of the taxi.

She only just made it. The house lights were already going down as she edged along the row to her stall seat. But it was not too dark to recognise her immediate neighbour and stop dead in her tracks, hardly able to breathe.

‘
Good evening,
’
Liam said courteously.

‘
Is this some sick joke?
’
Cat asked, recovering the power of speech with an effort.

‘
Of course not.
’
There was a touch of impatience in his voice.
‘
You must have known I
’
d be here tonight.
’
He paused.
‘
Is it a problem for you?
’

If she said yes and walked out, then he
’
d know in an instant how much he mattered to her, and any small advantage she
’
d gained from their last meeting would be lost.

On the other hand, the prospect of spending the evening within touching distance of him was a major nightmare, and she was shaking already.

‘
I suggest you sit down,
’
he went on.
‘
The curtain
’
s about to go up, and they
’
ve announced a change in the programme. Mary Fitton
’
s now being played by someone called Jana Leslie.
’

The understudy, Cat thought as she subsided silently into her seat, tucking her elbows in at her sides and keeping her knees primly together to reduce the possibility of contact between them.

Under cover of the applause for the set, she said,
‘
Was this
—
neighbourly touch
—
Vanessa
’
s idea?
’

‘
Well, it certainly wasn
’
t mine,
’
Liam said crushingly, and joined in the clapping for Vanessa
’
s first entrance.
‘
Don
’
t forget, she would see no reason not to put us together,
’
he added drily.

She said almost inaudibly,
‘
I suppose not.
’

As the minutes passed Cat began to relax and start to enjoy the play, almost in spite of herself. She could see exactly why her father and mother had opted to do it, not letting their personal acrimony stand in their way. It was a bold and witty script, and the dialogue fizzed and sparkled. In spite of the emotional turmoil raging inside her, Cat found herself laughing out loud.

Understudy Jana Leslie was a beautiful girl and a natural brunette. If she was nervous at finding herself on stage on opening night she didn
’
t let it show, and she gave an accomplished performance.

‘
I think a star might be born,
’
Liam commented as the curtain descended for the interval.

‘
You could be right.
’
She kept her voice neutral.
‘
Did they say why Sharine wasn
’
t appearing?
’

‘
No,
’
he said.
‘
I suspect the rest of the cast have murdered her and stuffed the body up that huge chimney on the set.
’
He paused.
‘
I
’
ve ordered you a white wine in the bar,
’
he added.
‘
I hope that
’
s what you want?
’

She looked at him incredulously.
‘
You mean you knew I was coming?
’

‘
I certainly hoped you would,
’
he said.
‘
I wouldn
’
t like Vanessa to be disappointed.
’
He gave Cat a steady look.
‘
Are you coming for this drink?
’

‘
No,
’
Cat said.
‘
Thank you. I prefer to stay here.
’

His mouth tightened.
‘
Just as you wish.
’
As he departed he brushed against her slightly, and Cat felt herself flinch.

The auditorium seemed to be emptying fast, few people remaining. As Vanessa and David
’
s daughter, she was going to be conspicuous. She sat for a moment, nerving herself, then rose and followed him.

This was a social occasion and she needed to behave socially, whatever the personal cost.

She caught up with him in the bar.
‘
I
’
m sorry, that was ungracious.
’
She mustered a smile.
‘
I must be tired. It
’
s been a tricky day at work.
’

‘
Well, they happen.
’
He retrieved their drinks and passed Cat
’
s wine to her.

‘
The play
’
s terrific, isn
’
t it?
’
She looked around, nodding.
‘
And they
’
re enjoying it. My parents always said you could judge by the reaction of the interval crowd, and they
’
re all talking and laughing. It
’
s going to be a big success.
’
She took a deep breath.
‘
And Vanessa
’
s brilliant. Will you let her know that I said so, please?
’

‘
Why don
’
t you tell her yourself?
’

She was aware of him watching her over the top of his glass, and flushed.
‘
Because I
’
m not coming to the party.
’

‘
Ah,
’
he said.
‘
Still staying aloof and walking alone. That
’
s what you do best, isn
’
t it, Cat?
’

‘
Even if it were true,
’
she said,
‘
it
’
s no longer your concern. Kindly remember that.
’
She raised her glass.
‘
Happy days.
’

His smile was mocking.
‘
Not to mention nights,
’
he said softly, and drank.

She
’
d used to wonder how it would be to go to the theatre with him
—
have a drink together in public. Well, now she knew, and it was sheer hell.

She put her glass down carefully on a ledge.
‘
I don
’
t think I
’
m thirsty after all,
’
she said.
‘
And I might also give act two a miss. I hope you don
’
t mind.
’

‘
You don
’
t want to find out what happens?
’

‘
I know how it ends,
’
Cat said.
‘
Unhappily, like so many things in life. I
’
m good at endings.
’

As she turned to walk away he put a hand on her arm, halting her.

‘
Cat.
’
His voice had suddenly changed
—
become strained and urgent.
‘
Cat, don
’
t go
—
not like this. We really need to talk.
’

She stepped back, wrenching herself free, disregarding the surprised and inquisitive glances around her.

She said in a low voice which throbbed with anger,
‘
Don
’
t touch me. Do not dare to touch me. Because I
’
m off limits to you, now and always, and all the talking
’
s been done.
’

She paused, lifting her chin.
‘
I really hope that things work out between you and my mother. But please note I
’
m not expecting an invitation to the wedding
—
and just don
’
t ever ask me to call you Father.
’

And she turned and walked away from him, without looking back.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE reviews for the play that week bordered on rapturous, hailing the revival of the old Carlton/Adamson magic. David and Vanessa had a hit on their hands, and Jana Leslie
’
s career was launched.

Cat had to be pleased for all of them. She was only glad that no one had witnessed the other small drama being played out in the bar during the interval.

And it seemed she was not the only member of the family to have suffered a blow to the heart. Her father, too, was on his own again.

It was ironic, she thought. The play was a tremendous success
—
a smash hit completely sold out for months. Yet it was a triumph that had cost David his Sharine.

It had been an acute attack of stage fright on her part that had sent Jana Leslie on in her place that first night, and the understudy had played the role ever since, while Sharine made hysterical scenes, brandishing doctors
’
notes about her emotional state and accusing the entire cast of being against her. And, as Vanessa had tartly commented, if they hadn
’
t been at the start, they certainly were in the end.