Betrayal (42 page)

Just then she saw Renato Bellini standing in the doorway. He had a statuesque young woman on his arm. She was wearing a dark green taffeta skirt with a basque-style top that showed precisely how well built she was. After a moment's hesitation he bent and murmured in her ear. She nodded and walked away.

Lisa, a glass of champagne in her right hand, watched him cross the room towards her and was overwhelmed by the desire to tell him everything that was happening to her. How frightened she was of Bishop and Louise. How difficult it was to help Jessica, and, worst of all, how she now distrusted her own husband. Instead she tilted up her chin and gave him a brief smile. 'We always seem to meet over food!' 'Indeed! Last time it was breakfast, this time it's dinner. What a pity that we are not together between the courses!'

'Most of the food's in the next room. I only came in here because I was feeling old! The sight of people my own age spraying each other with coloured foam and putting ice cubes down people's backs was somehow terribly depressing.'

'A sign of maturity, not old age. In my country even seven-year olds do not put ice down each other's backs. It would be considered extremely bad behaviour.'

'It is, but somehow it all seemed worse tonight.' 'Your dress is horrible,' he said bluntly.

'I know. I wish I hadn't worn it now! I only put it on to annoy Neal, but since he's taken himself off to the gambling room I might just as well have worn my first choice.'

'What was that?'

'Apparently a tarty little number more suited to a racy actress than the wife of an up-and-coming tycoon!'

'Why so modest? Surely he's an up and coming… what is the expression? Knight of the realm?'

She giggled. 'I think you mean a peer of the realm, but Neal's background isn't likely to elevate him to that status.'

'He hasn't said that he is in line for a knighthood?' 'No. Why should he get a knighthood?'

'For his charitable work and contributions to party funds, or so I am told.'

'That 's ridiculous! Why he's… '

Bellini's eyes sharpened, and he no longer looked lazy and disinterested. 'He is what?'

'I don't know, he's just not… I thought most business tycoons took risks now and again, risks that might not be absolutely acceptable to people in high places.'

She knew something, he thought with surprise. She realised that her husband wasn't all he seemed, but did she know anything else? Did she have any idea of just how far his dubious empire stretched? Did she know about the high class call girls? The crooked casinos? The drugs that were flooding the streets of London? Above all, did she know about the carefully organised robberies that provided his funds?

'He talks to you of such things?'

'Heavens, no! He'd have a fit if he even knew I thought about them. As far as Neal's concerned I'm purely decorative, plus a reliable mother for his son and a good hostess when called upon to fill that role. He never discusses his work with me.'

Bellini was relieved. It made her position safer and saved him the unpleasant task of trying to prise information out of a woman he desired, in the full knowledge that by getting her to talk he would probably be signing her death warrant. He would have done it, but now there was no need and his relief was intense.

'Tell me, how is Jessica?' he asked with a smile. Lisa, forgetful of Neal's instructions, told him.

They were still talking about children in general and autistic ones in particular when he came looking for his wife. For a few moments he stood unnoticed in the doorway. He saw the flush on his wife's cheeks, a flush that made her face even more animated than usual, and noticed how close her arm was to the Italian's. But most of all he noticed the expression on Bellini's face. He recognised the softening of the features, the relaxing of the tight mouth and the warmth and interest in the eyes. Eyes that were normally mocking or indolent but looked upon Neal's wife with what anyone could recognise instantly as love.

His first instinct was to make a speedy exit with Lisa, but then he checked himself. Bellini was becoming a nuisance; perhaps they could use his feelings for Lisa. A few months earlier he wouldn't have considered such action, but he no longer worshipped his wife so blindly. She was turning out too intelligent, too purposeful, and too cold. It was still a difficult decision to make but easier than it would once have been. Finally he walked quietly back to the ballroom and sat talking to a friend for another half hour. Only when he saw the Italian rejoin his girlfriend on the dance floor did he go and fetch his wife. She was delighted that his earlier ill-humor seemed to have entirely disappeared.

Chapter Twenty-Five

They returned to Berkshire next morning, driven again by Steve. Lisa missed Mike's cheerful smile. She was very surprised to find him waiting for them in the grounds of Beckett Lodge, but Neal was plainly expecting him because he left Lisa standing beside their suitcases while he talked lengthily with Mike, who kept glancing across at Lisa during the discussion.

Eventually he returned, asked icily whether or not Steve intended Lisa to carry the cases, then took her by the arm and led her to where Mike stood waiting. 'Darling, I wasn't going to tell you but Mike feels we're more likely to get your full co-operation if we tell you the truth. I'm afraid I've been receiving one or two rather unpleasant threatening letters recently, and the threats are directed against you.'

'Me?'

'Indirectly, of course. I'm the one they're trying to worry, you're simply the lever they're using.'

'Very comforting!'

'Anyway, Mike's been on a refresher course in martial arts and he's going to shadow you from now on. Everywhere you go, he'll go too.'

'What about the ladies' room in Harrods?'

'I'll take my handbag,' said Mike solemnly. She giggled.

'This isn't something to joke about,' said Neal. 'If you do have to use a room where Mike can't see you, then always make sure you note any possible avenues of escape. Windows, fire escapes, that sort of thing.' 'You've been watching the wrong movies!' she quipped, but inside she felt distinctly nervous.

'Better safe than sorry. Now, I wonder where Bishop is?'

He didn't have to wonder for long. No sooner were they inside the front door than Louise came running out of the drawing-room, flinging her arms round her father's neck in an embarrassingly one-sided embrace while Bishop followed a few paces behind.

'It 's horrible abroad!' she complained when Neal finally managed to free himself. 'I can't believe it's only Easter, we seem to have been away for years! I even miss Rebekah,' she added. Lisa saw Bishop smile.

'She didn't miss you!' she told her step-daughter tartly. 'She's a far happier little girl without you constantly picking away at her self-confidence. She starts at Heathlands after Easter, so please don't start telling her horror stories about girls you know who went there.' 'As though I would!' Louise's baby blue eyes were wide with indignation.

'Alexi's very well, thank you for asking,' said Neal, brushing past his daughter on his way upstairs. She flushed, glancing at Bishop who averted his gaze.

'How is Wonderboy?' she asked Lisa. 'Very well.'

'You're looking thin,' she continued. 'I'm surprised Daddy hasn't said anything. He doesn't like scrawny women.'

'Perhaps, unlike some people I could mention, his taste is maturing.'

Bishop shot her a glance of dislike, immediately masked when Rebekah came running in, only to slow as she saw Louise and Bishop with her stepmother.

Lisa held out her arms. 'I wondered where you were. Daddy and I are back for two or three weeks this time.'

'Great! I've been up with Jessica and… '

'You've been where?' Louise's face was twisted with distaste. 'With Jessica. She's very nice if you don't shout at her or touch her. She likes me.'

'Hardly a compliment!' laughed Bishop, and Lisa glared at him. 'I'm well aware of your feelings about Jessica,' she said quietly, her arms round Rebekah's shoulders. 'But if you ever lay a finger on her again, I promise you that I'll…'

'You'll what?' he interrupted. 'Get me thrown out of here? I doubt that very much! Tell your husband? By all means try. He might wonder what she was doing in the dining-room again and dismiss the nurse. So, what will you do, I wonder?'

'I… '

'You see you really have very little power, Mrs Gueras. You might be wise to remember that before you start threatening me again. I have to go now, Louise, there's a meeting in the annexe. I'll pick you up at nine.'

Lisa decided she'd never hated anyone quite so much as Bishop. Even Toby had been preferable to this cold, calculating man who cared for no one but himself and had an uncanny knack of homing in on people's weak spots. 'You must be mad to go out with him,' she told Louise shortly. 'He's a psychopath, ask Carol Blades.'

'Who's she?' demanded Louise, but Lisa had already started up the stairs and her stepdaughter was left to wonder.

During the next week, Lisa was surprised that Neal spent most of his time in the annexe with Bishop, Steve, and assorted visitors who came and went both day and night. If she hadn't been so grateful for the time this gave her to spend with the children she might have queried it more. Instead, she asked no questions and enjoyed herself with Rebekah, Jessica and Alexi.

It was a happy week for Rebekah too. For the first time in her life she had a mother-figure and she responded by becoming far more cheerful and outgoing. Alexi, now just over a year old, was almost on his feet and his smiles and clutching hands were compensation for the unexpected difficulties Lisa was encountering in her marriage.

Jessica's was a different story. Mrs Honeywood was delighted at her progress, and certainly she had improved. She rarely wrecked her surroundings, her vocabulary was increasing and she seemed more able to cope with visits from adults she knew. Regrettably there were new aspects of her behaviour that seemed to Lisa even more bizarre. She'd taken such a dislike to any noise that even the washing machine sent her screaming to her corner, and when the kettle boiled she covered her ears, whimpering like a puppy. She also objected to wearing clothes and was only happy entirely naked, clutching a soft jumper or skirt against her face as a security blanket. While unclothed she would relentlessly seek out water and then splash it happily all over her, laughing aloud at the feel of the liquid on her bare skin.

Janice was losing weight trying to cope with the new problem. Not only did she have to follow Jessica closely all day, but even at night the child had to be watched because she needed so little sleep. For the first time, Lisa was grateful she didn't have to spend all her time with her daughter. She began to understand why so many autistic children went into homes, however unproductive the end result. If she'd been an ordinary mother with two or three other children to look after, life with Jessica would have been impossible.

Eventually, when she and Neal had a rare couple of hours together one afternoon, she asked for extra nursing care at night to let the hard-pressed Janice catch up on her sleep. Neal, his mind full of far more pressing problems, frowned. 'I thought she'd already got you, Rebekah, and Mrs Moneybags to help her. Nurse Anthony's paid enough.'

'It 's Mrs Honeywood, and I don't think money comes into this. If Janice is tired then she can't cope with Jessica in the day. As for Rebekah, she's scarcely trained help, although she is marvellous with Jessica. Why… '

'Very well, but I warn you, my patience is running out. At the rate your daughter's going she'll soon need a house of her own.'

'If she lived in the annexe, perhaps you'd bring your friends into the house and I'd see a little more of you.'

'They're not friends, they're business acquaintances. As for seeing more of me, it's certainly time you saw more of me at night. I don't want Alexi to be an only child. Another son would be most welcome.' 'And worth what?' asked Lisa coldly, well aware that once again Jessica was to be used as blackmail.

He gave a brief and not entirely pleasant smile. 'An extension of time for the treatment? Say another twelve months? I'm sure you'd like her to have a better chance of partial recovery?'

'Suppose I have a daughter?'

'I won't have your head chopped off! Mind you, I don't think I'll extend Jessica's treatment either.'

'Are you serious? I get pregnant but Jessica only benefits if I give you another son? That's not fair.'

'Whoever said anything about fair? I'm not running a boy scout troop!'

Lisa swallowed hard but kept silent. She had no intention of getting pregnant again and thought thankfully of her diaphragm tucked neatly in its plastic box in her bathroom cabinet. At least there were some areas of her life that Neal couldn't control.

At the end of the week all the visitors left and Neal again had time for his family. It rapidly became apparent that the family was both extended and different. Extended because everywhere that Louise went, Bishop went too. Different because Rebekah was cheerful and communicative and even her father responded to her. Only with Bishop was she still sullen. Lisa noticed that she not only refused to speak to him, she also made quite sure that they were never alone in a room together.

When he thought himself unobserved, Bishop's eyes continually followed the child and there was a hint of worry in his expression, although Lisa couldn't believe he cared if one eight-year-old girl didn't like him. He didn't. What he wanted to know was why, and if it put him in danger.

Ruth was much the same as ever. Every spare minute was spent on horseback. She was polite and pleasant to Lisa when they met but not effusive. Neither was she effusive with her father. Lisa thought that in some respects Ruth resented him more now than before, although she didn't know why.

Louise was happy. Happy that at last she had Bishop's attention. Proud of the fact that he admired her looks and her jokes. She never seemed to notice the boredom on his face when she giggled, or the slight twitch of his mouth when she argued with a total lack of logic. On the Sunday morning, Lisa woke to find herself in her husband's arms and it was obvious what he intended. Having gone to bed late the night before she hadn't bothered to put in the diaphragm and she tried to struggle free but the weight of his right arm across her chest kept her pinned to the bed .

'Why the struggle?' he murmured. 'Surely you like being wanted? I thought you might think I'd neglected you this past week.' 'I need to go to the bathroom.'

'I don't think you do. I think you're after that piece of plastic you keep hidden in your cabinet.'

She went stiff with shock and he laughed deep in his chest. 'Surprised? I thought you'd have learnt by now that very little escapes my notice.'

'You've no right to go through my cupboards.'

'I have every right! As a matter of fact I found out by ringing your gynaecologist.'

'How could you? What I tell him is strictly in confidence. He isn't allowed to… '

'I pay his bills and he's sensible enough to know it. Now shut up.' There was no point in fighting him, she knew that. Instead she lay totally inert and let him carry on alone. It was the biggest insult she could offer and she took some satisfaction from his obvious humiliation. Afterwards he rolled away from her and reached for a cigarette. 'Don't ever do that to me again.' 'What?'

'You know perfectly well. I warn you, Lisa, if you ever do, I shall take steps to make you more animated. I've seen for myself how animated you can be!'

'Even you wouldn't bring another man into our sex life.' 'Not even me—that's an interesting remark!'

'I'm getting dressed,' she said and quickly ran a bath as hot as she could bear, hoping to wash away his touch. It hadn't been a rape but she felt as soiled as if he'd been a stranger for there'd been no trace of love or affection. No pretense of either this time. It had simply been sex; sex for a son.

Later she went to look for Rebekah in the garden. As she rounded the corner by the annexe, she bumped into a middle-aged man with greying hair and a tiny white scar on his left cheekbone. He jumped as much as she did and apologised profusely.

'I'm so sorry! I was meant to leave yesterday. Unfortunately it was a case of too much whisky so… '

'You're still here! Did you want to see my husband?' 'You mean you're Mrs Gueras?'

'Yes.'

He went pale. 'No, no really I don't think… I'd rather he didn't know I was here this morning. Not very professional to overstay my welcome!'

It was all the same to her. She didn't have to manage the catering for the annexe but since the man was so worried she promised not to mention their meeting and hurried away. Up in the top window of the annexe, Bishop stood motionless by the glass and wondered if fate had suddenly decided to be kind to him. He hoped that for once he was right.

Eventually Lisa found Rebekah with Ruth at the stables. They were both in riding clothes and looked at Lisa's skirt and jersey in surprise. 'We're all going riding before lunch,' said Ruth. 'Didn't Daddy tell you? That Italian's coming to lunch and he likes to ride.'

'Renato Bellini's coming?'

'Yes,' said Ruth, blushing slightly. 'Daddy told him he could have his pick of the horses. He's got a very good seat,' she added with a laugh.

'How do you know?'

'He nearly made the Italian riding team for the last Olympics.' 'Well, I shan't come with you. I'm terrified of horses. I shall stay with Alexi and enjoy the sun.'

'Darling,' said Neal, having walked silently up behind her, 'that's not very sociable of you. If we're going to spend more time in the country you ought to learn to enjoy riding. I think today's the best day for you to start. Your friend's already here, he's just gone to change. Let me see, I wonder what horse would suit you?'