Rivals (19 page)

    had omitted to say she was so beautiful, and wonderfully dressed this evening in a dark-red smoking jacket and black tie with a wing collar, her hair sleeked back to show off her smooth white forehead and thick black brows. She looked straight through Taggie, and, having no coat to take, stalked past her into the drawing-room. She was shortly followed by Tony and Monica. Tony'd been away at a conference, and for once, because he was cleaning up Corinium's act, hadn't taken Cameron with him.

    Now he was unflatteringly unpleased to see her. The big smile he switched on like a light bulb switched off as though there'd been a mega powercut. He always felt twitchy when Cameron and Monica were in the same room, and, even worse,

    Cameron, it seemed, had been invited for Rupert, his old rival. And there was Declan's bloody signature tune blaring out. He was still extremely off Declan, but his hopes of having a good bitch about him this evening had been foiled by the presence of Declan's stupid daughter.

    'This music is wonderful,' exclaimed Monica. 'Come and see it in action,' said Freddie, bearing her off to witness the electronic wizardry in his study. 'Have you got any Wagner?' said Monica. Next moment, to Valerie's horror. Siegfried's funeral march pounded deafeningly through the house. 'What the hell are you doing here?' hissed Tony to

    Cameron.

    'I was asked,' said Cameron coldly.

    'We must be very careful.'

    'Of course,' said Cameron, holding her glass out to Reg for an instant refill. 'We mustn't jeopardize the franchise.' Valerie was telling Paul about the house: 'We replaced those dreary old mullioned windows with picture windows.' 'How on earth did you get planning permission?' said Paul in horror. 'I thought this was a listed building.' 'Grade 1,' said Valerie smugly. 'Fred-Fred has friends in high places.'

    'Please God, don't let the sauce curdle,' prayed Taggie in the kitchen as she added egg yolks and vinegar. 'Door, love,' said Reg, giving her a pinch on the bottom. 'You look much the sexiest of the lot.' It was Lizzie and James, who'd plainly had a row because of Lizzie's catastrophic navigation. James loved making an entrance, but not arriving half an hour after his boss, who was looking bootfaced and standing as far away from Cameron as possible talking to Paul Stratton. James immediately gravitated towards Sarah and thought how nice it was to see Cameron out of her depth socially, and for once rather insecure. Lizzie, who looked awful (she'd worked too late on her novel again and had not had time to wash her hair), had brought some bantams' eggs for Freddie and Valerie, and was thrilled to see Taggie: 'I know it'll all be delicious; don't worry.' Valerie looked at her watch yet again: quarter past nine and no Rupert.

    'Doesn't matter,' said Freddie, filling up everyone's glasses. 'Nice to relax on a Friday." 'Freddie's equipment is quite staggering,' said Monica returning from the study.

    Sarah caught Lizzie's eye and giggled.

    Mashing the potatoes in the kitchen, Taggie was going frantic. Everything would be ruined unless they ate soon. 'Off you go,' said Reg, as the doorbell rang.

    Crimson with rage and embarrassment, bending her legs to make her maid's dress look longer, Taggie answered the door. Grinning, Rupert walked into the hall. 'Called any good fire engines lately?" 'Would you like to take off your coat?" said Taggie stiffly.

    'I'd much rather take off your dress,' said Rupert. 'You look like the object of all red-blooded men's fantasies. I'm late. I'd better go and make my peace.' Valerie hid her rage less well than Taggie: 'Rupert, where have you been?'

    Cameron choked on her champagne. Having never actually met Rupert and having been poisoned by Tony's almostpathological jealousy, she'd expected him to just be another loud-mouthed, upper-class English shit. In the flesh he was glorious, and much more American-looking than English. Having apologized to Valerie, Rupert turned to kiss Monica.

    'You haven't met Cavendish Cook, have you, Rupert?' said Monica.

    'How do you do, sir," said Rupert, admiring Cameron's smoking jacket.

    'Cavendish works for Tony," went on Monica. 'I gather you won another prize last week, Cavendish; jolly good show. I meant to watch the programme last summer, but unfortunately they were doing Meistersinger on BBC 2 the same night, and I was videoing that as well as watching it.' James was in ecstasy -Cavendish Cook! There were some advantages in Monica's addiction to BBC 2 after all.

    Seeing Sharon sneaking through the hall towards the kitchen, Valerie gave an eldritch screech.

    'Sharon, Sharon, come in here and give Auntie Monica some nibbles. She keeps sloping off to watch "Dynasty ",' she added to Monica. 'I won't have my kids watching soaps.' 'Oh I love "Dynasty",' said Monica, smiling at Sharon. 'Do tell me whether Blake and Crystal have made it up.'

    Rupert walked over to James, who was still talking to Sarah.

    'That was a bloody good interview you did with the PM,' he said. 'And she thought you were marvellous. Asked me for your address so she could write to you.' James, who'd always hated Rupert, melted faster than a snowball in the microwave. Then Rupert turned to Sarah, kissing her white shoulder. 'Evening, my darling, that's an incredibly sexy dress, I don't know why you bother to wear any clothes at all. Bloody cold outside. I think it's going to snow.' 'I can never get home if it snows,' grumbled James. 'I'm thinking of installing a put-you-up in my office.'

    Seeing Tony was still talking to Paul, Rupert said: 'Tony Baddingham's got a put-you-down in his office.'

    Cameron laughed.

    James, who was not going to be egged on to bitching about Tony in front of Cameron, said, 'I always feel Tony is much maligned.' 'I entirely agree,' said Rupert, draining his whisky, 'but not nearly enough.'

    Sitting next to Rupert at dinner, Sarah found herself talking gibberish. The awful thing about adultery, she thought, was that one had to remember in public that one hadn't heard things that one's lover had told one in private. 'I saw your "Behind Every Famous Man" interview with James,' said Rupert, as he unfolded his napkin. 'Very good. Were you nervous?' 'Desperately,' said Sarah, blushing.

    As they had discussed the whole thing and how ghastly James had been at length in bed yesterday afternoon, and because, under the table, Rupert's hand was already creeping up between the slit in her skirt, Sarah found it impossible not to giggle. 'I think I've found you a horse,' went on Rupert, giving her his blank, blue-eyed stare. Then he solemnly proceeded to describe it down to its last fetlock. As he'd also given her the same details yesterday, she found it even more difficult to keep a straight face, particularly as Paul, pretending to listen to Valerie, had ears on elastic trying to hear what they were saying. Fortunately, distraction was provided by Taggie bringing round the fish mousse. Not remembering her left from her right, having served Monica, she moved backwards to serve James. 'Clockwise,' screeched Valerie.

    There was another awful moment for Taggie when she saw Rupert and Lizzie having hysterics over the menu.

    'Gingered French peasant, cravat sauce and deser chateau," translated Rupert.

    'Our hostess's French is slightly Stratford atte Bowe,' whis pered Lizzie.'What's that?' said Valerie sharply from the other end of the table.

    For a second Lizzie caught Taggie's anguished eye, and instantly identified the author of the menu: 'Just saying how good your French is,' she said to Valerie. Valerie nodded smugly: 'Crusty bread anyone?" she cried waving the basket. 'I will not have white bread in this house.' 'I love it,' said Freddie wistfully.

    'So do I,' said Rupert. 'I'll send you a loaf for Christmas.'

    Sitting opposite Tony, trying desperately not to catch his eye, Cameron longed to be able to sparkle and scintillate, but how could she with Paul Stratton on one side, watching his wife like a warder and James on the other talking about himself?

    'How's your series on "Caring for the Elderly" getting on?' she asked.

    James brightened. 'We think we've found a presenter at last a

    Mrs Didbody. She's a seventy-five-year-old coloured lady, a widow with a daughter of fifty. Which makes her a single parent,' added James triumphantly. 'A real franchise grabber,' said Cameron, who was watching Rupert. He was easily the most attractive man she'd seen since she came to England, probably ever. It was a combination of elegance, deadpan arrogance, and a total inability to resist stirring things up. He was plainly having it off with Sarah Stratton. 'What exactly are electronics?' Monica was saying to Freddie in her piercing voice. 'What exactly d'you do?' Cameron saw a look of fury on Tony's face, but Freddie seemed delighted by her interest.

    'I make everythink really: videos, televisions, synthesizers, compact disks, floppy disks, silicon chips.' 'I always muddle up silicon with cellulite,' said Monica.

    'With my computers,' went on Freddie proudly, 'scientists on the ground can place satellites in orbit. All satellites now carry my computers on board.' 'Good heavens," said Monica. She could see now how useful Freddie'd be to Tony.

    Tony was not enjoying himself. It was one of life's ironies, he thought, that at dinners like this Monica always sat next to all the brilliant achieving men, who usually didn't interest her at all (although she did seem to be having fun with Freddie), and he got stuck with their unachieving wives. Lizzie Vereker on his left looked a complete mess. 'That was delicious,' she said taking another piece of bread to wipe up the last vestiges of prawn sauce. 'Did you make it?' she asked Valerie slyly. 'Yes,' said Valerie, as Taggie was out of the room.

    'How's Archie?' Lizzie asked Tony.

    'Doing Business Studies for A-levels,' said Tony with a grin, 'which he thinks allows him to tell me exactly where I'm going wrong in running Corinium." The only time he's nice, thought Lizzie, is when he talks about his children.

    'Sharon is doing The Dream for her O-levels,' said Valerie, ringing a bell.

    Taggie, who was chopping parsley for the courgettes, threw down the knife and ran into the dining-room, tugging down her horribly short dress. 'Can you clear away the appetizer, Agatha,' said Valerie.

    Returning to the kitchen with the plates, Taggie found Reg the butler, very drunk now, carving the pheasants. She wished he wouldn't cut quite such huge slices, there might not be enough to go round. 'Tender as a woman's kiss,' said Reg, helping himself to a slice. 'You're another Mrs Beeton, Agatha." 'Oh, it does look yummy. Can I have a bit?' said fat Sharon.

    'Have some later,' said Taggie, as she poured the sauce over, and scattered parsley over the courgettes. 'I must take it in.' 'I'll take round the courgettes," said Sharon, who wanted to gaze at Rupert.

    Taggie took the pheasant round the right way this time.

    She noticed Rupert still had his hand inside Sarah's slit skirt, the revolting man, but had to remove it to help himself to pheasant. Was she imagining it or was he deliberately rubbing his black elbow against her breast as he did so? When she took round the potatoes, she stood as far away as possible, arching over him like a street light. As she moved down the other side of the table, his wicked dissipated blue eyes seemed to follow her, making her even more hot and bothered. Reg was taking round the Mouton Cadet now, and had reached Valerie.

    'We had Sharon in 1972,' she was telling Paul, 'and we were married in, er…'

    'Watch it,' said Reg, giving her a great nudge.

    Rupert grinned broadly. Sarah and Lizzie giggled.

    Valerie, knowing one must behave with dignity at all times, ignored the innuendo. 'That will be all, Reginald and Agatha. I'll ring if anyone wants second helpings.'

    'We're televising Midnight Mass at Cotchester Cathedral this year,' said Tony as he put his knife and fork together. 'I'm reading the first lesson. Are you reading the second?' he asked Paul, knowing he wasn't.

    'No,' said Paul, looking very put out. 'We'll be away.' 'I wonder who is reading it then,' said Tony. 'I am,' said Rupert.

    'You said you were going skiing,' said an unguarded Sarah. 'I mean,' she added, looking thoroughly flustered, 'you said you'd be away at Christmas.' There was an awkward pause. 'This pheasant is wonderful,' said Lizzie. 'I'll give you the recipe if you like,' said Valerie. 'Don't pick your bones, Fred-Fred,' she snapped, then stopped hastily as she saw that Rupert was picking his.

    All the same, it was going wonderfully well, reflected Valerie later, as Taggie cleared away the cheese board. Everyone was talking like mad and seemed to enjoy the novelty of the men moving two places on. It was a good thing Rupert was sitting next to Cameron now, who'd seemed rather out of it earlier. In five minutes, Taggie would bring on the moated castle.

    Turning to Cameron, Rupert thought how different she was to Sarah, as lean and hungry as Sarah was replete and voluptuous.

    'I'm dying to have a pee,' he murmured, 'just for an excuse to prowl round and see what a ghastly cock-up our hostess has made of a once-ravishing house. I used to come to children's parties here.'

    'I can't imagine you as a kid.'

    'I always cheated at doctors and nurses.'

    Across the table, he noticed Sarah deliberately flirting with James, to make him jealous perhaps or to put Paul off the scent.