Weapon of Desire (32 page)

I smile sweetly but something in her comment ignites a
sense of wondering who really is on our side and who can I trust? “I’m sure he is Marie, how are you?”

“I’
m looking forward to a wonderful evening celebrating some amazing people.” She smiles as she looks back at Anthony.

“Marie let me introduce you to everyone.” Anthony can’t help himself pampering around her and showing her off.

The footman returns with their drinks and I swiftly knock back the remainder of my Kir Royale handing him the empty glass. “Another would be perfect, thank you.”

Garner looks unimpressed “Darcey slow down the night is young.”

The hall is gradually filling up with smartly dressed gents and attractive woman in an array of glitzy ball gowns. The footman returns once again with my drink and turns politely to Garner “Colonel would you mind if two journalists joined your table, the media table is full due to late additions?”

“Not at all, the more the merrier!” Garner twists in his seat beside me and says hello to Mum and Lesley opposite as Marie and Anthony still stand talking to Richard. Eventually Anthony returns to sit beside me a
fter pulling out the chair for Marie as she delicately scoops up her long dress to sit next to Garner. 

The
Head Footman stands behind me with the two journalists and I can tell that this isn’t a welcome arrival as I read Mum’s and Garner’s expressions of concern. “Colonel, Ladies, Gentlemen please may I introduce Daniel Frances and Melissa Stone of the East Anglian Daily News who will be joining your table tonight.”

I’
m suddenly frozen to my seat and dare not turn my head. Anthony spins around abruptly with his glass still in his hand. He says nothing as everybody resumes normal polite conversation and Mum glares across to me. Taking a deep breathe I turn slowly and adopt an all is well approach.

“Hello Daniel, Melissa.” I stand to kiss them both on the cheek “Lovely to see you both and what a surprise that you’re joining us this evening.” A side glimpse to Anthony indicates his disdain.
 

He puts down his glass and slowly stands “Daniel” he offers his hand in what seems to be the most awkward unconvincing welcome
I’ve ever seen. 

“Anthony.” Daniel’
s smirk has me nervous as to what he is playing at.

Anthony turns to Melissa withdrawing his hand and leaning forward to kiss her cheek “Hello Melissa.”

“Nice to meet you Anthony.” Melissa is obviously not enjoying this especially as this is the first time I’ve seen her since catching them out. They follow the footman around the table to seats opposite between Marie and Mum as other waiters scurry around setting new places at the table and pouring wine for all.

Anthony and I sit down
and grin as I whisper “thank you for keeping calm.”

He smiles and
firmly grasps my hand for all to see. Bending towards me he murmurs “You’re mine and as long as he gets it we have no issues here tonight.”

Marie and Mum immediately break
the cold atmosphere chatting to Daniel and Melissa. I relax a little knowing that the distance across the table will help maintain limited interaction with them both.

The room is buzzing with excitement as the lulling music helps to ease frictions around our table. Another
Kir Royale later and I feel well and truly oiled and comfortable in my surroundings. I again begin to hum along with the violin chorus as I try to recall the name of the song.

Anthony slides closer and sings in my ear
. Our lips collide and I’m lost in his kiss. Remembering we aren’t alone we pull apart and Anthony turns to talk to Lesley still clutching my hand. I catch Daniel’s glare under the candlelight and have the urge to escape.

“Darcey, I hear you plan to get married at Christmas.” Garner has softened towards our relationship.
 

“Yes that is the plan.” I’
m squirming in my seat as the whole table seems to join the conversation. I look up across to Daniel registering his solemn eyes. I hate doing this to him, I feel as though I’m literally sticking a knife in his stomach.

“Then I want to have lots of babies.” Anthony grins down at me “I’m not getting any younger!”

“One will be enough!” I reply smiling at Mum and Anthony.

“We always talked about lots of kids, didn’t we Darcey?” Daniel cuts through the joviality and the table sinks into silence.

“Daniel you’ll make a great Dad one day but you’re still young and so busy with your career right now. The time will come.” Mum smiles sweetly at him and I know he’ll not try to throw back her kindness.

“Yes Rosemary you’re right I’m still young
, there’s no rush… I can wait.” Daniel grins at Anthony who is button lipped and still firmly holding my hand.

Starters are
placed in front of us and lighter conversation resumes around the table. I discuss Dubai with Colonel Garner as I tuck into my crayfish and lobster bisque.

The remainder of the meal passes quite pleasantly apart from a niggling concern that Daniel is drinking excessively. The Chairman takes to the stage to welcome everybody confirming that the Mayor and other special quests will be joining him shortly to kick off the prestigious event. Waiters
frantically clear away empty plates, cutlery and crystal glasses and I decide this is my opportunity to escape to the Ladies’ room.

Anthony is deep in conversation with Richard and Lesley and
acknowledges my discreet exit as I slip away quietly. Standing at the basins I take a deep breath, wow what an evening this is turning out to be. I roll my neck to release tension and remove my gloves staring down at the nurse’s handiwork. My hands look like a patchwork quilt. The cool water dispels the heat in my palms and I decide to go without the gloves, stowing them away inside my clutch bag.

Exiting the washroom I
bump into Daniel who is leaning against the corridor wall.

“Ah Darcey there you are,
I thought you were trying to avoid talking to me.” Daniel looks heavily under the influence of alcohol and stands directly in my path. “You look absolutely ravishing tonight.”

“Daniel I think you’
ve had enough to drink, remember you’re reporting in your role as a journalist tonight.” I step back as he gets closer.

“
Darcey, don’t worry about me I’m fine.” His hand wanders up to my face to stroke my cheek, “God, I still love you.”

“Daniel please can we not d
o this, I care for you but you’re making it very difficult for me this evening. I just want to enjoy the awards.” I remove his hand from my face and he notices the scars on my palms.

His face becomes distort
and angry “Who the fuck did this to you?”

“Daniel
please don’t make a scene, I’ll talk to you when you’re not drunk.” I try to push by but he grabs my arm.

“Did Anthony do this? I’ll kill him.
” He grips tightly not letting me go.

“Let
go of her arm now.” Anthony stands behind him. “Daniel I suggest you stop this or I’ll have you thrown out and report your behaviour to the newspaper.”

“Did you
do this to Darcey?” Daniel releases my arm.

“O
f course not!” Anthony holds out his hand to lead me away. “Sober up Daniel, I’m warning you!”

Returning to the table Daniel is quiet and
everyone ignores him listening to the Chairman hosting the event.

Proceedings get underway with speeches from various long serving Headteachers or Inspectorate with awards for Excellence in the Arts, Outstanding ICT initiative,
Research Project of the Year, Outstanding Leadership and Development are among many of the titles. Finally it is the award for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Contribution to Education.

Marie takes to
the stage in all her elegance looking confident and relaxed.

“Good E
vening, for many years I’ve felt humbled to work with schools and be involved in numerous fund raising initiatives improving the education and lives of many children.  I’ve seen the courageous work and devotion of tremendous people making a real difference without realising the immensity of their achievement.

Tonight I’
m here with my story of one little girl who grew up with her family in various countries experiencing first-hand the effects of war on children. The disruption and devastation felt when families are torn apart when fathers fail to return home from service. This little girl and her family struggled with military life until their guardian angel showed them the way forward.

Throughout the years a
bond has formed between this strong, young woman and her close friend, together they’ve changed the lives of many military children providing a stable, loving and nurturing environment where they can feel safe and of course be children.

Ladies and Gentleman may I welcome Darcey Brooks and Lesley Pope to the stage for their innovative and entrepreneurial contribution to Education.”
   

My mouth is dry as
the whole table stands to applaud us, Mum and Lesley are hugging and tears are tumbling down their faces. I slowly stand aware of the whole room on their feet and thousands of faces smiling in our direction. Lesley stands and holds out her hand to me as we make our way to the stage. Marie steps back from the podium clapping and grinning affectionately.

Lesley
moves forward to speak “As you can see I’m not the young girl….” The audience laughs and settles back down. “I wouldn’t call myself a guardian angel but when I saw Darcey with her young brothers and a struggling, widowed mother in desperate need for help, how could I turn my back? I suppose I see my reward as watching this beautiful young woman blossom and grow into a successful businesswoman who has in turn helped hundreds of children just like her.

M
ilitary families all over the world are still grieving and hurting but together we’ve tried to make a difference at Dorton Airfield School.” Lesley chokes back tears and holds my hand tightly. “So sorry…. thank you for this recognition which is hugely appreciated but feels as though I’ve not performed a remarkable feat but only my duty as a human being.”

Lesley steps back
as the room erupts into further applauds. I move forwards taking a deep breath and smiling out to the many faces waiting to hear me speak. My original speech is ditched as I begin to speak from my heart.

“Lesley was my guardian angel, I remember Mum crying
for hours and I kept thinking she wasn’t well so I’d try to make her jam sandwiches and tea so that she’d feel better. Nothing worked which was most probably because aged only six, my sandwiches were awful.

Anyway taking control of two troublesome b
rothers, a despairing mother and a little girl who thought she could run the house and make everything ok must’ve been the work of an angel. Lesley managed to stop my Mum crying, taught me to make a decent sandwich and introduced me to my childhood. I’ve a lot to thank Lesley for and I’m sure we wouldn’t be all together today if we’d not met.

I’
m now proud to watch the success of Dorton Airfield as children enjoy their childhood and do what they are supposed to do instead of running a household and keeping the family together. Thank you for this amazing award and hopefully one of our pupils will be on this stage one day for taking our work further. Thank you.”

We leave the stage in floods of tears holding on to one another as
everyone stands at our table to greet us with hugs and kisses. The footman pops the corks on waiting bottles of chilled champagne and Daniel offers his sincere congratulations as Melissa snaps away with her camera.

The final award of the evening is for Lifetime Achievement which is presented to Dr David Finch who campaigned for several causes throughout his career as a Special Needs Teacher, Headteacher and also a Lecturer
in Child Psychology.

Live links
to well-wishers and those he has helped; thank him for his support and hard work. 

As the awards draw to an end a band
begins to play “
what a wonderful world”
with the dance floor beginning to bulge with swaying couples. Anthony pulls me to my feet and tightly enfolds me in his arms “Come and dance with me.”

Following his lead,
I press my face up against his warm chest listening to his heart which seems to be in rhythm with the song. “Darcey you make me so happy, I don’t ever want to lose you.”

“I don’
t intend to go anyway without you, so stop worrying!” I press my lips against his as we are rudely interrupted by Richard and Lesley.

“Come on you two, you’
ve been in each other’s arms all night long.” Richard drags me away with a twirl as Lesley steps in to dance with Anthony. “So when do you fly to Dubai?”

As Richard twirls me again I spy The Chairman
dancing with Mum. “Saturday morning we leave so I’m afraid I won’t see you for a while.”

“I hope I get an invite to the wedding?” He looks down at me with a cheeky smile.