Reluctant Relation (7 page)

“We’re near enough the same build.” Felicity measured her with a considering glance. “And Cecile can make any minor alterations. There’s no need to look so dazed.” She gave a good-humored little laugh. “A large wardrobe is part of my
stock-in-trade, and it’s easy enough for me to fix you up. It would be rather fun,” she added. “You’re quite good-looking, really.”

The “really” was her inoffensive way of saying that she didn’t think Meg had made the most of herself up to now. Or so Meg judged. As it was not humanly possible not to be slightly piqued by the implication, the temptation to accept immediately became irresistible.

“Miss Manners, if you really mean it—”

“Of course I do. And I wish you’d call me Felicity. It’s so difficult to relax when someone calls me Miss Manners. I feel I’m still on the set.”

“Very well, then,” Meg said shyly. “And will you please call me Meg? I’m terribly thrilled at the thought of wearing a movie star’s dress. Particularly in front of Claire,” she added, half to herself.

“Claire?” Felicity raised her eyebrows inquiringly.

“Claire is Meg’s excessively pretty and smart young stepmother, who probably tends to make any other woman feel dowdy when she’s around,” explained Dick, with astounding comprehension.

“How did you know?” Meg looked at him and laughed in shamefaced way.

“By using that bit of worldly acumen without which I should hardly be able to make my way in the competitive and back-scratching world to which I belong,” he assured her with a shrug. “But by the time Felicity has fitted you out, you’ll stand up to any competition, I’m sure.”

“Yes, indeed!” Felicity seemed quite charmed at the prospect. “After dinner ... are you staying to dinner, Dick?”

“Most certainly. I want to see the results of the transformation act too.”

“Very well.” His sister laughed. “After dinner, Meg, you and I will go upstairs and have a look at my wardrobe and see what would suit you.”

“It’s extraordinarily kind of you and—”

“It’s not really. It amuses me, too,” Felicity explained, with engaging candor. “Then on the
night ... T
uesday, did you say, Dick? ... Cecile shall do your hair, and I’ll make you up. Not that you need much make-up, with that pretty coloring of yours. But you need your best points brought out. We all do,” Felicity added generously. “It’s going to be fun!”

Her enjoyment was infectious, and Meg was touched that anyone should take so much interest in her appearance. There had never been anyone in her restricted circle to enter so heartily into her personal affairs. Her mother had died when she was a schoolgirl, and although her father loved her dearly, his uncritical assumption that she looked nice in anything was not calculated to make her excited about what she wore.

Claire could have filled the gap, but Claire was not exactly a gap-filler, particularly where other people’s interests were concerned. The kindly, amused interest of Felicity and her brother had a heart-warming effect on Meg that made her excited in a sense she had not experienced before.

So that when, after dinner, Felicity said, “Come upstairs now, and let me see about you,” Meg accompanied her with alacrity.

Felicity’s bedroom was the largest in the house, and all along one wall were built-in cupboards. These she flung open with gay abandon, and disclosed to Meg’s dazzled gaze a bewildering array of dresses, coats and suits.

“It’s possible—” Felicity turned and studied Meg with frank but curiously inoffensive attention “—that you could wear something really brilliant and eye-catching. Do you ever wear scarlet or aquamarine or emerald—anything like that?”

Meg shook her head. “I thought,” she explained diffidently, “that I was more the pastel type.”

“Not for the next 30 years,” Felicity assured her firmly. “With your lovely skin, and that contrast of fair hair and dark eyes, you could be quite dramatic.”

Meg was not sure she wanted to be “quite dramatic,” so she was relieved to hear Felicity murmur, “Nothing too sophisticated, or she won’t feel at ease,” as she ran her hand expertly along the dress rail.

For a moment the hand hovered over a streak of peacock blue which made Meg catch her breath, then traveled on and came to rest on a dress of thick ivory brocade.

With a quick turn of her wrist, Felicity lifted the dress out, and as she did so, Meg saw that the lovely shallow neckline was edged with shimmering, multi-colored rhinestones. It was, quite certainly, the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

“This,” said Felicity with simple finality, “is you.”

“Miss Manners ...
Felicity! ...
I never wore anything like that in my life!” gasped Meg.

“There always has to be a first time,” replied Felicity, evidently charmed to be playing Fairy Godmother to this appreciative Cinderella. “Although it’s gorgeous, it’s an easy dress to wear. Come, try it on.”

In a daze, Meg slipped out of her conventional dress, and stood there, shivering slightly, in her slip.

“Are you cold?” Felicity looked surprised.

“No. Excited,” Meg said, and Felicity laughed as she lifted the wonderful dress over Meg’s head, settled it lightly on her shoulders and zipped it up.

Then she stood back and exclaimed, “It could have been made for you! Even more ... it could have been designed for you! Just look at yourself in the mirror.”

Meg turned slowly and surveyed herself. For a moment or two astonishment and delight held her absolutely silent. She even held her breath, because she could hardly believe that the dazzling figure facing her was really herself. Then she slowly expelled her breath on a long sigh of enchantment. Her red mouth curved in a smile, the color swept into her cheeks, her eyes shone, and she said, almost in a whisper, “I can’t believe it!”

Felicity laughed, in a pleased and satisfied way, and said, “Come and sit down here at my dressing table. I want to alter your hair a little.”

Meg obeyed, as she would have obeyed almost any instruction Felicity cared to give her at that moment. Flinging a wrap around her, Felicity began to comb her hair back from her forehead and away from her wellshaped ears.

“Cecile’s better at this than I am,” she explained rapidly. “But this will give the general idea. Now come down and show Dick.” But, even as she spoke, her brother knocked on the door and called, “How much longer are you going to be? I should be going.”

“
You can come in,” Felicity told him. And, like an actress taking her cue, Meg turned instinctively towards the door as Dick Manners entered.

He stopped dead. Then he said slowly, “Turn around and let me see you from all angles.”

Laughing, and deliciously excited, she turned slowly for his inspection. As she faced him again, he said, “My dear, you are a beauty. And, what is doubly intriguing, an unsuspected beauty.” To her surprise and amusement, he took her hand and kissed it lightly. Then, as he raised his head, he looked straight at her, and she could not remember that any man had looked at her quite like that before.

“It’s the dress, of course,” she told herself, as he was bidding his sister goodnight. But again she felt that strange little shiver of excitement run through her.

Then Dick was gone, and Felicity was unzipping the wonderful dress and saying kindly, “I’m so glad it fits you so well. There isn’t a thing to alter.”

“I simply don’t know how to thank you,” Meg exclaimed. “To lend me a dress at all would be kind ... but to lend me this ... this incredibly beautiful
thing ...
It’s like a dream! I don’t think anyone’s ever been so kind to me before, and I’ve only known you a few days!”

“I don’t think that has anything to do with it.” Felicity spoke sincerely. “There are people I’ve known for years, and I wouldn’t lend them a handkerchief if I could help it.”

M
eg laughed. But she lightly touched Felicity’s hand, as she handed back the dress.

“You can’t explain it away,” she said. “It’s absolutely sweet of you. I only wish there were something I could do for you in return.”

“Do
you? ...
really?” Felicity paused, in the act of putting the dress on its hanger.

“Why, of course.” Meg looked surprised. “If there is anything.”

“There is, as a matter of fact. That’s one reason I want you to look especially nice on Tuesday.” She paused for a moment, and
Meg felt a small, inexplicable chill. “It isn’t much, really.” Felicity smiled engagingly. “It’s just that on Tuesday I want to spend most of the evening with someone I find very interesting, and I’d be glad if you would take Leigh Sontigan off my hands.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“
Take Leigh Sontigan off your hands?” repeated Meg, and she stared at her lovely employer in some dismay. “What do you mean?”

“I intend to arrange for my producer to be at this ball. And, as I shall undoubtedly want to dance and spend most of my evening with him, I’d be glad to have you ... take Leigh off my hands.” She seemed unable to find other words to describe what she meant.

“You
mean ...
act especially nice to him and try to get his attention, so he won’t notice that you’re spending most of your time with someone else?”

“Yes. That’s it exactly!” Felicity was pleased to have her own intentions so clearly defined.

“But I don’t know if I can. He isn’t particularly interested in me, for one thing, and for another—”

“He will be, when he sees you in that dress,” Felicity declared confidently.

“Not necessarily. A man who is especially interested in one woman doesn’t switch to another just because she happens to be wearing a beautiful dress. He’s quite ... devoted to you, isn’t he?”

“Well, he’s got to get over that,” was the impatient reply. “I don’t want him any more.” Felicity made this statement with a finality that roused a reluctant sympathy for Leigh in Meg’s mind. “He’ll just have to find some distraction elsewhere. And if you’ll undertake to supply that, Meg, it will make my evening a whole lot easier and more pleasant.”

It was, of course, almost the last thing Meg would have chosen to do. She had gone to some pains to put off Leigh’s friendly approach and now she was being asked to reverse her attitude completely. On the other hand, as Felicity had said, it was not such a big favor to do in return for the loan of the lovely dress. She looked doubtfully at Felicity.

“If I say I’ll do my best—”

“Oh, thank you! You are a good, co-operative girl,” exclaimed Felicity, without giving Meg a chance to express any qualifications. “I knew you would. After all, Leigh’s very pleasant company for an evening. You’ll probably have a lovely time.”

“I was going to say,” insisted Meg firmly, “that although I’ll do my best, I can’t guarantee that I can hold his attention. He might get bored with me and then—”

“He won’t get bored with you, my dear. You’re not the boring kind,” Felicity asserted, with a certainty which Meg found gratifying. “If you weren’t so basically nice, you’d be faintly enigmatic.”

“Enigmatic!” Meg had never heard of herself in that category. “In what possible way?”

“The literal way,” Felicity explained. “One doesn’t really know quite what to make of you. Even Dick says that.”

“But I’m quite ordinary and straightforward,” Meg protested. “There’s nothing of the mystery woman about me.”

“N ... no. Not mysterious,” Felicity conceded. “Perhaps ‘intriguing’ is more the word. Possibly it’s your very simplicity which makes you intriguing. That in itself is novel in our world. I’m sure Leigh would agree. Especially when he sees you in that dress.”

“But,” Meg pointed out, “Leigh doesn’t really belong to what you call ‘your world,’ does he?”

“Not really, no. That’s true. I forget that sometimes,” Felicity admitted thoughtfully. “I often forgot it when he and I were—” she broke off, without completing the sentence. She gave a nostalgic little sigh, then shook her head and exclaimed impatiently, “It would never have worked, anyway. He and I are too different. But it’s a pity. He’s a very attractive person to have around ... don’t you think so?”

“Y-es.”

Felicity laughed at the doubtful tone.

“You don’t think so?” she said.

“I can see that he would be very attractive to some people.” Meg agreed. “The doubt in my mind was whether he would ever be the sort of person one ‘had around.’ I can’t see him playing a passive role.”

“No. That was part of the trouble too,” Felicity declared. Then with one of her unexpected flashes of self-knowledge, she added, “There’s only one leading role in my circle and that’s mine. There isn’t room for any other big personality.”

Meg laughed at such candor, but she said, quite sincerely; “Isn’t that a little dull sometimes?”

“Dull, Meg?” Felicity looked at her incredulously. “Dull to be the center of things? I told you you were an unusual girl. What on earth do you mean by that?”

“Well—” Meg was faintly flustered “—if there were a man in my life
—
”

“Is there one?” interjected Felicity, with curiosity.

“Oh, no. But if there were, I don’t think I’d want the leading role all the time. I think it’s more ... enjoyable to let him have it. It’s
more ...
I don’t know quite how to
put it ...
in the nature of things, I suppose.”

Felicity gave her a long, reflective stare. Then
she
said, “Leigh Sontigan should suit you perfectly.”

“Oh, but he doesn’t!” Meg protested. “I don’t really like him.”

“Are you sure?” Felicity smiled suddenly, in that half roguish
,
wholly endearing way which made her look, for a moment, like Pearl.

“Of course I’m sure.” Meg spoke with more emphasis than was necessary.

“Well, how interesting,” Felicity said. And no amount of questioning would make her enlarge on this cryptic observation.

The next few days passed uneventfully for Meg. Pearl needed to rest and take things very quietly, so she and Meg spent a great deal of time in the garden, relaxing in the warm September sunshine, reading, or playing quiet games.

Pearl was excited that Meg was to go to the Northern Charities Ball with her mother and uncle.

Good-humoredly, Felicity let her inspect the dress which she was lending to Meg, Pearl pronounced it perfect for the occasion, and insisted on gathering the necessary evening bag, gloves and wrap to accompany the dress.

All these Felicity was willing and able to supply. The only thing which Meg had to find for herself was a pair of evening slippers
.
And, since she had to take Pearl into Newcastle on Monday for a check-up, it was agreed that this last purchase be carried out then.

Meg’s father telephoned on Sunday evening to ask if there were any chance of seeing his daughter, and Meg arranged with him that he pick up Pearl and herself and drive them into Newcastle the following day.

“I’m afraid Claire won’t be available,” he explained regretfully over the telephone. “She’s off on some shopping spree in connection with this charity affair.”

“That’s all right.” Meg tried, not quite successfully, to keep the happy lilt out of her voice. “Pearl and I will be pleased to have you to ourselves.”

And well pleased they were. From the first moment, Dr. Greenway, who had always been particularly popular with his own child patients, established friendly relations with Pearl. Meg noticed that the child not only responded delightedly to his special brand of humor, but was also reassured by the calm sense of security he imported.

He was a great support and comfort during the session at the hospital, and after that they all went shopping for Meg’s evening shoes. Combined efforts and considerable generosity on her father’s part, produced the perfect shoes for the occasion. Then they happily went to have tea.

“You’ll be s’prised when you see Meg at the ball,” Pearl could not resist saying as she bit into her third cake. She’s got a marvelous dress.”

“I’m sure she has,” Dr. Greenway said good-humoredly. “Is it one I know?”

Pearl and Meg exchanged a glance of delicious conspiracy. Then Meg said, “No. You don’t know it.”

But Pearl cried, “Don’t tell him any more! Don’t tell him any more.” Dr. Greenway pretended to be overcome by curiosity and interest, but he didn’t learn any more about the dress, even on the long drive home.

“She’s a charming child,” Dr. Greenway said to Meg when Pearl, having hugged and thanked him, had run on ahead into the house. “How long do you intend to stay and look after her?”

“I don’t really know.” Meg looked a little surprised. “I haven’t done any future planning. It’s pleasant sort of holiday job, at the moment. Any definite decisions can wait until I see what develops.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” her father agreed. “It was
just ...
Claire was asking me how long you intended to stay in the north, and I told her I had no idea.”

“You can tell her I have no idea either,” Meg said. Then she kissed her father and followed Pearl into the house, thinking to herself,
Why the sudden interest in my future plans? Claire never asked me what I proposed, to do when she made it clear I wasn’t welcome in my own home. It’s no loving concern on my behalf that set her questioning Father, I’m sure!

The next evening Pearl was as excited as if she was going to the ball herself. She hovered around while Meg and Felicity dressed, and she got in Cecile’s way so much that even that devoted creature exasperatedly told her to sit down and just watch.

“But you will do Meg’s hair the way Mommy says, won’t you?” Pearl pleaded anxiously. “Doesn’t she look lovely?”

“Mademoiselle looks as she should look,” returned Cecile.

“I expect someone will fall in love with you, Meg. Perhaps more than one person. Would you like that?” Pearl inquired.

“No. One at a time is quite enough to manage,” Meg replied. At which Cecile gave a cynical little cackle and observed that a little rivalry was all right among
les messieurs.

“I know what I wish,” exclaimed Pearl suddenly. Then she clapped her hand over her mouth. “No, it’s unlucky to say, isn’t it?”

“Very unlucky,” declared Meg firmly, feeling she had enough to do to carry out Felicity’s wishes without hearing about Pearl’s.

Just as Cecile put the last touch to Meg’s hair, Felicity swept in, resplendent in the peacock blue dress and her mink jacket. On her arm she carried what might be described as a lesser fur wrap, but one which was, nevertheless, much more sumptuous than anything Meg had ever worn before.

“Here you are, my dear.” Felicity handed over the wrap. “Yes, yes, Cecile, that was just what I meant. You see the difference it makes?”

Everyone agreed that they saw the difference “it” made, and then a voice was heard calling from below, “Are you two girls ready? Your chauffeur is here.”

“That must be Dick,” Felicity exclaimed. “Run down and talk to him for a few moments, Meg. I want Cecile to fix this bracelet for me.”

So Meg slipped on her fur wrap and ran downstairs, to find Leigh Sontigan waiting in the drawing room.

“Why, hello...” She paused in the doorway, a little put out to find that it was not Dick who was there, then even more annoyed when she remembered the role assigned to her for the evening.

“Hello!” he returned and came slowly toward her. "My dear Meg ... you look stunning!”

“Oh, thank you.” She laughed and flushed. “It’s ... it’s the dress, you know. Felicity lent it to me. It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

“Wonderful,” he agreed. “But it’s not only the dress itself. It’s the way you wear it too. Like ... I don’t know ... like Cinderella on her way to the ball, I suppose, corny as it sounds.”

“I feel like Cinderella on her way to the ball,” she admitted, and she smiled at him ... for himself more than for the fact that she was supposed to capture his attention for the evening. “I just hope there’s not too much reaction when midnight strikes.”

“Midnight,” he reminded her, “is a long way off. Quite a lot can happen before then, as Cinderella discovered.”

Again she laughed and flushed a little, though she was not quite sure why. Then Felicity came down, followed by Pearl, who welcomed Leigh more effusively than her mother did.

“I thought Dick was picking us up,” observed Felicity, as she absently offered Leigh her cheek to kiss.

“He had to see someone from the local press at the last minute,” Leigh explained. “So I was assigned the very welcome task of collecting you both instead.”

“He could have phoned Max.” Felicity shrugged slightly.

“Max?” Leigh raised inquiring eyebrows.

“Max Trenton, our new assistant producer. Some relations of his live in one of the stately homes near here, and he’s staying with them at the moment. He’s coming to the ball, in any case.”

Felicity supplied this information airily, but Meg saw Leigh give her a reflective glance from slightly narrowed eyes, and she thought the significance of it was not lost on him.

This, she supposed, was the moment when she was expected to distract his thoughts. So she touched his arm lightly and said, “Shall we go?”

To her surprise, he looked faintly startled. But whether it was because he had forgotten she was there or because of the intimacy of the gesture, she was not quite sure.

“Yes,” he said shortly. “Let’s go.”

They said good night to Pearl and Cecile, and went out. Just as they reached the gate, however, an elegant, low-slung car drove up and a tall, lanky man with expressive hands and somewhat untidy dark hair emerged.

“Max!” exclaimed Felicity with unmistakable pleasure. “I thought you weren’t going to be able to make it until much later.”

“I got through sooner than I expected, and thought I might be useful with the car. However—”

“Yes, indeed,” Felicity assured him, before anyone could suggest that his services were superfluous. “You can take me, and Leigh will take Meg. That way we can both spread out our finery and arrive unwrinkled.”

Felicity slipped gracefully into Max Trenton’s gay contraption, while Leigh opened the door of his car for Meg.