Betrayal (30 page)

He'd failed on both counts, and possibly put them both into danger as well. Altogether a very poor night's work. He decided to call in on the Honourable Melissa Fitzroy who gave the best head he'd found in England and never attempted to make conversation either before or after. It wouldn't help repair the damage he'd done but it might make him feel better physically.

Inside the red Mini, Mike watched the Ferrari speed away into the night and glanced at the dashboard clock. The Italian hadn't stayed long. For all Mike knew he hadn't even called on Lisa. One front door looked very like another in the mews. He didn't log the incident and quite deliberately saved both Lisa and Bellini from reprisals while inadvertently opening the door for the terrible bloodbath that their meeting was destined to set underway.

If when Neal returned from Sicily he was surprised by the warmth of Lisa's welcome, he put it down to her new-found sense of security and congratulated himself on having had Naomi murdered. At last he was going to have a wife who did him credit and appreciated the lifestyle he had to offer her. He didn't delude himself into thinking she loved him, but with the arrogance of all men who've succeeded in life he was certain that this would only be a matter of time.

On the day that their engagement was announced in The Times, Lisa was astonished to discover that her telephone never stopped ringing. Reporters asked questions about the date, venue and guest list for the wedding, and more personal ones about rumours that she was expecting Neal's child.

Eventually, on Neal's advice, she took the phone off the hook and waited for the end of the day when it had been decided that she would move into the Grosvenor House and stay until she was finally Neal's wife.

Unfortunately, as a result of being frustrated by the removal of the phone, reporters and photographers then descended on the mews. Lisa, peeping out from behind her bedroom curtains, was amazed by the number of people gathered outside her tiny cottage, and for the first time began to understand that Neal was more important than she'd realised.

She didn't answer the door and instructed Janice to keep all curtains closed, but when the nurse had to take in milk, Jessica—disturbed by the noise from outside and her mother's unrest—managed to dash out through the opening and ran straight through the assembled members of the press corps.

Totally unaware of the existence of any child, let alone a handicapped one, the press were at first delighted by this beautiful little girl and took endless photos as the women among them tried to talk to her. Panic-stricken, Jessica began to scream. Then she spun round and round, chanting, 'Bloody hell! Bloody hell!' at the top of her voice before noticing that she was still trapped. Driven to absolute frenzy by the noise and the flashlights she ran to the nearest puddle, threw herself down in it, splashed the water around and began to strip. Then, entirely nude and covered in filthy rainwater, she started laughing madly.

By the time Nurse Anthony got to her it was too late and the following day it was Jessica's photograph that was on the front of several of the tabloids, along with so-called expert's guesses on what was the matter with her and whether her behaviour had been caused by maternal neglect due to Lisa's active social life.

Stunned by the cruelty of the allegations, she rang Neal at home. She expected understanding and support; instead she got a tirade of abuse directed at her and Janice, and when she became tearful he shouted at her to shut up before finally promising to call in before he began work.

When he arrived he had himself under better control, but the sight of the photographers and the reality of Jessica climbing on to the mantelpiece and diving headlong off it onto the floor, stimulated a fresh outburst. 'I won't have it!' he shouted at a shaking Lisa. 'Look at her! She's like an animal. I thought you were providing structured discipline?' he continued, turning his fury on Janice.

'She doesn't understand about social behaviour, sir.'

'Then she damned well isn't going to live in society until she does! Lisa, this has to stop. I know you wanted her to, stay here but it's out of the question now the press has found her. She has to go into a home. I'll find a good one and we'll take her there ourselves.'

'I don't want her in a home! I've told you and told you that. She'll regress without proper care.'

'YOU think she can get worse than this?'

Lisa's head was pounding. The baby she was carrying seemed suddenly to have doubled its weight and she was no longer able to pretend she wasn't pregnant. 'Don't talk about her like that! I thought you understood.'

'The only thing I understand is that she's caused enough gossip to ruin our wedding day. One of my P.R. men will issue a statement explaining that she's autistic and has been awaiting a vacancy in a special home. He'll stress how hard you've tried to keep her with you but add that in view of the forthcoming child… '

'I didn't think we were going to mention that.'

'Jessica's forced me to change my plans. I think an unborn baby will provide a very legitimate reason for her going away without its reflecting badly on us. If you could manage a few tears when we take her, so much the better.'

' You bastard!' she screamed, picking up one of the Meissen figures and hurling it at his head. 'This isn't some Walt Disney weepie, you know, this is Jessica's life we're talking about. How dare you suggest that I cry to order? What kind of a man are you anyway? Autism isn't leprosy. She isn't contagious or dangerous, she's just a very bewildered little girl who can't cope with real life.'

'Which is why she has to be removed from it. Look, darling,' his voice softened. 'I know what this must be like for you but do you really want her turned into some kind of freak show? That's what would happen, you know. The Press never give up. They'll keep people hanging around here, hoping for a dramatic picture of a tantrum or panic. Don't you think it's kinder to let her go and live with other children who are like her?'

'No, I don't. Anyway, it isn't easy to find places for autistic children.'

'I don't think I'll find that a problem.' 'I want her to stay here.'

'I thought you wanted to marry me.' His voice was dangerously low.

'I do.'

'Then I think you might consider me a little.'

'She isn't your child. Why should her behaviour reflect on you?' 'You're her mother, you're also carrying my child. They might wonder at my choice.'

'Well, bloody well let them! If that's what's worrying you, don't bother marrying me. If you're so worried about what the gutter press have to say…'

'I am marrying you and that child is going into a home.' Lisa had never heard him use that tone of voice before and she felt a flicker of fear, especially when she saw the set of his features and the total absence of feeling in his eyes. 'Now get some things together and I'll take you to the Grosvenor House. You were meant to go there last night. We'll return for Jessica as soon as I've made suitable arrangements for her, but I think it's better if you make the initial break now.'

'Let me stay until she has to leave!'

'You're getting far too upset. It's bad for the baby.'

'I'm not!' she shouted, and promptly burst into tears. Unlike Renato Bellini, Neal didn't attempt to comfort her. Instead he issued instructions to the nurse before standing by the door, watching his future wife sob uncontrollably.

When Janice came back with an overnight case, Lisa felt as though her chest was going to burst from the force of the emotion she was feeling but she swallowed hard and walked over to Jessica, trying to kiss the rigid little figure goodbye. Jessica turned her head away and put out both hands as though to ward her mother off.

'It isn't for long,' whispered Lisa. 'I'm only going now so that I can give you a real chance later on.' She didn't think for one moment that Jessica understood; she only hoped that the tone of her voice would offer some reassurance.

'Let's go,' said Neal, glancing quickly outside to make sure Bishop had kept the mews clear of newsmen. Lisa kissed Janice, whose eyes were also full of tears, and then quickly walked out of the cottage.

'It really is for the best, darling,' Neal assured her as they drove through London. 'I had to be firm for your own good.'

'That's all right,' said Lisa calmly. 'After all, it isn't for long.' 'What do you mean?'

'You gave me your word that she could come home once we had a son, remember?'

'I don't think… '

'Yes you did, Neal. I've told a lot of people about your generous offer. They all think you're wonderful,' she lied.

His face relaxed slightly. 'Of course! The upstairs floor, wasn't it?' 'That's right.'

'Now,' he said softly, putting an arm round her shoulders. 'Now we'd better start talking about our wedding plans.'

They were married, just as Bellini had predicted, at Chelsea Register Office, followed by a blessing at Chelsea Old Church. At the Claridges reception the guests drifted around, the elegant Chanel, Dior and St Laurent dresses competing with the bold Bruce Oldfields, Emanuels and Anouska Hempels.

The women were so busy smiling their practised smiles, heads lifted and tilted at the most becoming angles, that none of them even realised the bride and groom were no longer there. The men, less plastic then their wives or mistresses because in men of their social standing signs of maturity were both necessary and attractive, being mistakenly taken for indications of intelligence and wealth, did notice; they envied the groom. Naturally none of them voiced their envy for fear their comments might get back to him.

Lisa lay naked on the vast circular bed of their suite and watched her husband undressing, noticing with frightening detachment that his body was still firm and well-muscled, aided by regular sessions in a gymnasium. He looked at least twelve years younger than his fifty-four.

As he moved naked towards the bed she felt one brief moment of panic, acutely aware that now there could be no going back. She was committed to this man, literally until death. Death. Naomi. Kay. The words and images ran together in her mind and her panic increased. Only when he lay beside her, twisting her round to face him, did the panic ease. Slowly he closed one hand over her left breast. His thumb rotated lightly round the nipple while his other hand strayed down his wife's rib cage, over her hip bones and then gently but insistently between her thighs.

As he lowered his mouth to her right breast and grazed his teeth across the swollen and sensitive surface, Lisa wondered if she would ever learn to respond to him as he deserved. The touch of his thumb on her nipple was beginning to irritate her and when she did open herself to his hand she knew that she was dry and totally unaroused.

Naturally Neal knew too, but he had anticipated his wife's usual inability to relax during lovemaking and was confident that in time she would allow herself pleasure again. Until she did he would make the best of the situation. After all, she was his and that was what he'd wanted. That and an heir.

He began to kiss her throat and ears, his tongue insistently probing and licking around the most sensitive areas until he felt her begin to move, her body gradually becoming more restless on the silk sheets. His right hand tightened on her breasts, but that was a mistake and she stiffened. At once he loosened his grip. There were so many things he couldn't do; so many things that still brought panic into her eyes, that sometimes he despaired of ever getting it right.

Lisa, her eyes wide open and her body refusing to relax, wished that he'd get on with it. She didn't mind that her pleasure was only slight. He was the one who had the right to physical satisfaction. That had been part of the bargain. Unspoken, and left out of the long, complicated prenuptial agreement but clearly understood. She shifted her body, trying to indicate that he should enter her.

Neal felt a twinge of irritation. This was their wedding day. He could get nonreciprocating satisfaction from numerous women, and for years had been getting it from his late wife. He didn't want to repeat that pattern today of all days.