Deceit of Angels (39 page)

“I
’m sorry Miss Warren, but we can’t
change the décor.”

The
bride-to-be pursed her lips and quickly glanced round the ballroom.  “Red and
gold isn’t exactly me.”

“We
can offer you the dining room for your reception if you wish.  That has more
muted tones.”

Miss
Warren was still not impressed.  “No, I don’t think so.  It’s far too small.” 
She gave a theatrical sigh.  “I think I’ll choose another venue if you don’t
mind.”

Anna
held the clipboard against her breast.  “Well, that’s your prerogative, of
course,” she smiled politely.

In
the library, Anna threw the paperwork down on her desk and walked over to the
window.  Miss Warren and her intended were just getting into their car arguing
fiercely.  He obviously liked the place, thought Anna with amusement, but she
is much more difficult to please.  Margaret had been so right.  Prospective
brides could be a pain!  Not all of them, of course.  In the week since she had
started the job, she had met one lovely young lady who glowed with enthusiasm. 
Hanging onto her fiancé’s arm, she had
Ooh’d
and
Aha’d
her way
round the Grange, delighted with everything she saw.  And Anna felt more
confident now, adversity had made her stronger, despite her heartbreak and she
was enjoying herself.  She had a few ideas of her own to improve the system. 
She had a good rapport with the registrar and other officials needed to
solemnise a marriage and she had established deals with two good catering
companies.  Irene might be happy to cook for twenty or thirty businessmen, but
two hundred wedding guests filled her with horror.

Anna
smiled as she saw John pulling up in front of the main door and went out to
meet him.  He had just returned from Bishop Sutton after collecting her possessions
and he carried them in, in three cases and four boxes.  She was surprised that
she owned so much, but at least she had some clothes now.  For the last week
she had been washing and wearing the same outfits over and over again.

The
in-house staff had been informed of the situation and their discretion was
promised, with also a reassurance that nothing would reach the ears of the
part-time employees.  Margaret’s speculations about Fran had proved to be
absolutely correct.  She thought it very romantic that Miss should want to hide
from her sweetheart.  It was a lovers’ tiff and nothing more, they all agreed. 
But neither Fran nor John and Irene knew about the baby yet.  Margaret had
suggested that that little morsel of news should remain a secret for as long as
possible.

Anna
had seen Doctor Orchard who had agreed that two positive pregnancy tests were
conclusive and had arranged an appointment for her first visit with the
midwife.  His patient was strong and healthy and he could see no problems
except for the fact it was a pregnancy many years after her last one.

John
had said very little when he had arrived at Bishop Sutton to collect Anna’s
possessions, simply concentrating on the job in hand.  And subtle enquires by
Jason about Anna’s new employment had been met with a noncommittal answer. 
Jason had not been able to bring himself to pack Anna’s clothes and when Mrs
Wilby had kindly offered, he accepted it with relief. 

Now
the bedroom was devoid of all her possessions, Jason had found it difficult to sleep,
tossing and turning until the early hours.  And although she was constantly on
his mind, his pride would not release him from his lonely prison.

A few
days later, Jason was forced to ring Graham to ask for a new PA.  To say that
the financial director was surprised about the change of events was an
understatement.  He didn’t ask any intrusive questions but said that he would
ask around for any volunteers.  On the following Monday morning, Natalie
arrived.

Tall
and wiry and with a dour personality she was, nonetheless, a good worker.  She
and her family had moved into the neighbouring village and she thought it more
convenient to travel the few miles to Bishop Sutton instead of into the city
centre.  However, she only took the job on condition that she worked a strict
nine to five and definitely no weekends.  Jason’s entreaties that lunch was
part of the hospitality of his home was greeted with a grimace and a
reassurance that she was quite happy to sit in the office eating her packed
lunch.

“I’m
surprised she accepts our coffee,” said Mrs Wilby sourly.  “And you couldn’t
buy a smile from her!”

In
many ways, Jason was happy that Natalie kept herself apart from them.  He
didn’t want any gossip to reach her and then be passed on to the staff at the
main office.  There was some advantage in having an aloof PA even if her
coolness seemed to chill the entire house.  Sometimes he would forget that Anna
was gone and would glance across the room expectantly.  And then it was like a
bullet hitting him when he saw Natalie sitting at the computer, instead of
Anna.  He missed her desperately, but even his grief couldn’t heal his wounded
pride or soften his steadily hardening heart.

“What
shall I do with Anna’s things?”  Natalie’s monotone voice broke into his
concentration.

Jason
looked up, puzzled.  “What things?”

“There’s
a few items in the drawers.  Not much, but they’re getting in my way.”

He
gave a sigh.  “Put them in a box and I’ll sort them out later.” 

He
was due to go on a business trip the following morning, the first since the New
Year and he was very relieved to be getting away from the house for a few
days.  Perhaps throwing himself into the ruthless world of negotiating for
contracts would focus his mind and give him an objective to aim for.

Natalie
did as she was instructed and put Anna’s remaining possessions in a box
previously containing stationery and placed it on Jason’s desk.  That evening
after dinner, he returned to the office to finish off for the trip and noticed
the box.  Slowly he went through it, smiling at the objects a woman kept in her
desk drawer.  There was some perfume, lipstick and a comb.  There was hand
cream, a small packet of mints and poignantly, the photo of Anna’s boys that
Natalie had removed from the desk and shoved into the drawer.  The one item
that intrigued him was a diary from the year before.  He didn’t want to pry but
he found himself flicking through the pages of the final few months of 1996. 
Jason knew what he was looking for and the disgust he felt with himself churned
up his stomach and made him feel ill.

He
was relieved to find nothing untoward.  He saw that she had a doctor’s
appointment in early October and there were a few visits to Nigel.  One
appointment that caused him surprise was the one for Sophia Barnes in mid-December. 
It was written in capital letters and underlined.  Jason thought it surprising
that she should be seeing Sophia socially and yet, never mention it to him.  He
smiled, pleased that Anna had found a friend in Sophia and wondered if they
were still in contact.  Perhaps Sophia might know her whereabouts since he knew
Nigel wouldn’t divulge any information like that.

Thoughts
of his mother suddenly came into his head.  She had been very reticent about
Anna’s circumstances and even his offer to send her P45 directly to her new
employer had not fooled her.  She had insisted that it came to the Grange and
she would deal with it.  When it came to his mother, he was sure he sensed a
conspiracy.       

Fran rushed into
the library in a whirl of agitation.  “Madam’s just said that Mr Harrington has
phoned about a visit.  He’s on his way, miss.  So, you’d better hide quick!”

Anna
threw back her head and laughed gleefully.  “There’s no panic.”

But
Fran wouldn’t listen and hurried her out of the room and down to the kitchen. 
It had been agreed that Anna would stay in the apartment when Jason visited,
since John and Irene’s home was one place he never ventured.  At the same time,
it was Fran’s job to run upstairs and lock Anna’s bedroom door.  Not that Margaret
anticipated Jason going into that particular room but she didn’t want to take
any chances.

From
the kitchen, Anna climbed the back stairs up to the apartment that overlooked
the forecourt.  It was a spacious, modern flat and carrying a couple of files of
paperwork, she knew she could spend the next few hours gainfully employed.

His
first visit had been quite harrowing and she had positioned herself so that she
could peek through the curtains as he parked the car.  Her heart sank at the
sight of Hollie jumping out and hurtling into the building, but the glimpse of
Jason set her pulse racing.  She longed to reach out for him and hold him
close, to feel secure and happy in his arms once more.  But then she would
remember the look in his eyes that evening he came back from the club.  It
still haunted her, the way he had backed away from her as though she had been
an object of scorn.

From
then on she had tried to keep away from the window when he visited and
concentrate on her work.  Only once had she weakened and gone to the window,
just as he was leaving.  She had been horrified when he had suddenly glanced up
and she had pulled back abruptly, almost taking the curtain with her.

Anna
was determined that this visit was going to be treated as just routine and settled
herself at the table with the files in front of her.  She started working and
twenty minutes later she heard the familiar crunch of gravel and a car pulling
up in front of the main door.  She struggled with her desire to go to the
window and leaned her elbows on the table to prevent herself moving.  When
everything went quiet she continued working for a further hour. There was
plenty to do, bookings were coming in at a fast rate and the first wedding was
to be held in mid-February.

After
a while, she lifted her head and stretched herself.  It was then that she saw a
small table in the corner that seemed to be covered with shiny bits of metal. 
She decided to give herself a breather and wandered over.  To her surprise she
saw that it was an improvised workbench for making jewellery.

“It’s
my hobby, miss,” said Irene, coming in with a steaming mug of coffee.  “Thought
I’d bring a drink up for you.  No point in you going thirsty.”

Anna
took it from her.  “You make jewellery as a hobby?”

Irene
looked down at the table.  “Done it for years.  I make earrings, pendants and
necklaces.  Some are special jobs for folk in Wedmore, for birthday and
anniversary gifts.  But I do sell them at craft fairs too.”

Seeing
that Anna was showing interest in her pastime, Irene then described how she
made the jewellery using all kinds of stones and mounting them in frames and
attaching chains.  She even brought out a box containing finished products. 
Anna had never seen anything so lovely and wondered if she should buy something
for her sister and mother, or even for herself. 

Suddenly
she had an idea.  “You couldn’t make this into a pendant for me, could you?” 

She
took the coin from her pocket and showed it to her.

“But
it’s a ten pence, miss,” said the cook, looking very bewildered.

Anna
laughed.  “I know, but I wondered if you could make it so I could wear it round
my neck.”

Irene
took the coin in her hand.  “Seems to me this is more than just money.”

Anna
felt embarrassed.  “Yes…Yes it is.  I know it sounds silly but it would mean a
lot to me.”

“I
can put it in a frame and attach a chain.  Would that do?”

“That
would be perfect.”

They
heard voices drifting up from below and Anna wandered to the window keeping
carefully concealed behind the curtain. 

“You
ought to tell him, miss,” said Irene thoughtfully.

“Tell
him what?” said Anna, not taking her eyes off the man getting in the car.

“That
you’re expecting a baby.”

Anna
spun round.  “Expecting a baby!  What makes you think that?”

Irene
gave a knowing smile and tapped her nose.  “Fran said she found ginger biscuits
in your room.  And ginger is a good remedy for sickness.”

“I
like ginger biscuits,” said Anna scornfully.

Irene
shrugged.  “OK, I admit it!  I saw you coming out of the doctors and I knew it
was antenatal day.”

Anna
groaned.  “Oh, Irene, I need to keep it a secret.”

“I
won’t tell, miss.  I won’t even mention it to my husband.  But it’s going to
get very awkward as you get bigger.  Someone in Wedmore is going to notice and
news travels fast round these parts.”

Anna
thought for a moment.  “Then I’ll not go out unless it’s absolutely necessary. 
I shall stay in the Grange and never go further than the grounds.”

“Well,
the grounds are big enough for you to get plenty of fresh air and exercise,”
said Irene pursing her lips.  “But that kind of secret is bound to come out
soon.”

Shaking
her head sadly, Irene took Anna’s empty coffee mug and they both made their way
back down to the kitchen.

The first
wedding at the Grange turned out to be a great success.  The day was beautiful,
crisp and clear with a vivid blue sky.  The bride looked stunning and the groom
looked handsome.  All in all it was a perfect day and when the guests departed
and the staff were clearing up, Anna went to the library feeling satisfied.