Paper Doll (15 page)

‘I don’t know any younger men, except for Martin Lee-Trafford. He can be awfully prickly sometimes, and doesn’t seem at all interested in women. Did you know he was engaged before the war? He gave his lady friend her freedom because he was sick. I had to practically chisel that information from him.’

‘Martin is discreet about his personal life. Actually he’s a fine young man . . . if a little troubled, and one day it’s possible that he might get over that. I like Lee-Trafford enormously, but I don’t think it would be wise for either of you to fall in love. What about the crowd of people you used to go out with . . . Irene someone and her friends?’

‘Oh . . . them. After New Year the friendship faded away, and our mutual friends went with her. I called her a couple of times and left a message with the maid, but Irene never got back to me. She’s awfully popular.’

‘From what I’ve heard about them they were a fast crowd anyway, not at all suitable for you to mix with. Good friends should last you for life.’

Colour seeped under her skin as she remembered New Year’s Eve. She’d been such a fool. Thank goodness her exploit hadn’t got back to her father.

Two hours later Benjamin remembered his letters and reached out for them. The first was a regretful letter from the bank informing him that they could no longer service his overdraft, and advising him to clear the outstanding debt as soon as possible. The second was an overdue account.

How the hell had he got himself into such a mess with his finances?

His chin sunk on his chest. Perhaps he should sell to Latham Miller after all. He cursed. Latham was astute – he’d force the price down just because he’d refused his former offer.

The third envelope just had his name on it, written in pencil. It had been spelled wrongly.

Dear Mr Howerd

As Benjamin read the rest of the note a band seemed to tighten around his chest.
‘Julia . . . dear God!
’ he whispered, and perspiration flooded his body. His fingers clawed at his shirt collar as he tried to loosen the buttons so he could get some air.

He mustn’t panic. He mustn’t! It was all lies of course. His daughter wouldn’t do anything like that. He’d sell the business to Latham, and take her away to live by the seaside, where nobody would know her.

The band around his chest tightened and he tried to stand. It turned into a relentless pain that spread into every nook and cranny of his upper body. Dropping to his knees, slowly he began to crawl through his pain towards the emergency button . . .

T
he restaurant in Soho was well appointed and discreetly hidden behind a curtained window. Latham was obviously a regular patron, since the waiter recognized him on sight. So did one or two of the other patrons.

They were shown to a small table in the shadows with a view of the room and a flickering candle in a red vase.

‘What would you like, my dear?’

She scrutinized the menu, trying to find something that wasn’t too fattening.

She’d learned that Latham liked plain, solid meals without too much fuss attached to them. He made up his mind quickly, and gazed up at the waiter. ‘Peppered lamb cutlets, steamed vegetables, and chocolate mousse.’

‘I’ll have that too, only without the pepper. I’ll have Lemon Sorbet for afterwards.’

‘We’ll have a half bottle of burgundy to go with the main meal;
Côte de Nuit?’

The waiter nodded. ‘Naturally, sir.’

They’d reached the coffee stage when the waiter approached them. ‘There’s a telephone call for your companion, sir. The caller said it was urgent.’

Julia’s face paled as a feeling of dread washed over her. ‘Will you take it for me, Latham?’

‘Of course.’

His back was towards her so she couldn’t see his face. The call was brief. He hung up, paid the bill and strode towards her, his grave face causing her to rise from her seat. ‘It was the porter at your building; your father’s been taken ill.’

‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘He doesn’t know. Your father managed to get to the emergency bell, and the porter let himself in with his master key and found him on the floor. He rang for an ambulance. While they were waiting your father managed to tell him where we were and asked him to call you.’

‘Then he can’t be too bad if he could still talk. Perhaps it was just a faint.’

His glance met hers; his voice calmed her. ‘Yes, I expect you’re right. He’s been taken to St Thomas’s in Lambeth Palace road. I’ve asked the waiter to fetch your coat from the cloakroom. Come now and wait in the lobby while I get the car,’ and his hand slid under her elbow and she was guided expertly and without fuss through the other diners.

Latham was so very capable that it was easy to allow him to take over – easier for her to believe that her dear, lovable father had experienced a faint. He would be sitting up in bed with an abashed smile on his face and would say: Stop worrying about nothing, Julia my dear. I’m fine.

There were several forms to be filled in, giving permission for this and that.

‘When can I see my father?’ Julia said to the nurse with some impatience.

‘You must come back tomorrow at visiting hours.’

Latham took the woman aside and had a conversation with her.

‘I’ll go and ask the ward sister,’ she said and smiled at him.

Still, it was another half an hour before they got to see him. He was in a private room. Face grey, he was propped against the pillows, his breathing harsh.

‘Mr Howard is medicated and needs to rest but you can stay for five minutes. Try not to agitate or upset him in any way.’

As if she would. Taking his hand in hers she whispered, ‘Oh . . . Daddy . . . you will get better . . . you must.’

‘Julia, is that you?’ he whispered, and his eyes flickered open.

She kissed his cheek. ‘I’m here, Daddy . . . I love you. I can’t leave you for five minutes without you getting into trouble, can I?’

‘I’m sorry my love. It was just a faint and I’ll be better after a few days’ rest. Is that Latham with you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Come closer, the pair of you.’ His voice strengthened. ‘Latham . . . if anything happens to me, promise you’ll look after my Julia.’

‘I will, sir . . . if she’ll allow me to.’

‘Julia . . . I want you to accept Latham’s offer of marriage. If I die you’ll need him to sort out my business affairs, and he can look after you in the way you’re used to, so I won’t have to worry.’

Although she wanted to smile at the absurdity of his words a knife twisted in her gut. ‘You’re not dying . . . don’t even say such a horrible thing. It was just a faint, you said. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?’

He sighed. ‘For once in your life will you do as I ask without arguing? You need a husband and Latham is in a position to protect you.’

It seemed like an odd thing to say, but she decided to humour him. ‘I’m going to look after you when you come home . . . but all right, I’ll wed Latham, as long as you can live with us. You need someone to keep an eye on you. Is that acceptable to you, Latham?’

‘Yes . . . I can get a special licence.’

‘And Latham,’ Benjamin said tiredly, ‘I’ve been thinking it over, and have decided you can have the factory at the price I first offered, except without the conditions attached to it.’

‘I accept,’ he said, and despite the situation of her acceptance of his proposal, he gave an ironic-looking smile. It was restrained though, as if it were a smudged copy of the smile of triumph he really wanted to give.

A nurse came in and bustled about, straightening the sheets. ‘You must go now; Mr Howard needs to rest. Come at visiting hours tomorrow.’

‘Leave me now, my love. I’m tired.’

She gave him another kiss. ‘Have a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow, Daddy; I’ll bring your slippers and pyjamas, and your wash bag.’

‘You do that.’

His hand came down on Latham’s wrist. ‘You go on, Julia, I want to speak to Latham privately for a moment.’

She had no choice but to leave them together, and said to the nurse on the way out, ‘May I speak to the doctor?’

‘He’s gone home; he needs his rest too. No doubt he’ll speak to you in the morning after rounds.’

‘Will my father be all right? What’s wrong with him?’

‘That’s not for me to say, Miss. The doctor will talk to you tomorrow. In the meantime he needs a good night’s sleep, and I’m just about to give him some medication.’

‘He isn’t going to die, is he?’

Sympathy came into her eyes then. ‘Good gracious no! He’s in no immediate danger, but he does need to rest. Oh, good, here comes your gentleman friend. Do try not to worry, my dear.’

Easier said than done, she thought, and said, ‘He’s my fiancé; we’ve just become engaged.’

‘Congratulations.’

And that was that. Now she’d said it out loud and committed herself, her being engaged to Latham didn’t sound quite so strange.

It had been raining outside, and the air smelled fresh. Light spilled prettily in wet runnels of multi-coloured water across the pavement. The tide was out and the Thames river mud sent a pungent odour of rotting vegetables and other shudderable substances into the night air.

‘What did my father want to talk to you in private for?’

Latham gave a faint smile. ‘I thought you’d ask. It was just business things. I told him they can be dealt with when he’s a little better. You know, he’d be better off recovering at my house in Surrey. I could hire a nurse while he recuperates. We could even get married there, in the little village church, before I go to France on business. He’d like that.’

The image of her father looking so tired and grey had impressed itself on Julia. She stopped being brave and allowed tears to flood her face. ‘He looked so old.’

Latham pulled her into his arms and held her close. ‘He’ll be all right. He’ll have the best of attention, I promise. Just leave everything to me.’

‘Why are you so good to me, Latham?’

‘Because I love you,’ he said, and handed her his handkerchief. When she’d dried her eyes he slid his hand inside his coat and brought out a ring box. ‘I’ve been carrying this around waiting for the moment when you’d say yes. I wish the circumstances had been better. I do hope you like it.’

How could anyone not like an emerald embedded in diamonds? she thought when he slipped it on her finger. But then, how could an emerald set in diamonds feel like a manacle on her finger?

Latham took Julia back home, where he thanked the porter and slipped him a tip. ‘Miss Howard has had a shock and I’ll be staying a little while to keep her company,’ he said.

He made some coffee, added a good dash of brandy to it and took it to where she was seated. ‘Sip this slowly. It will help to relax you.’ He removed her shoes and placed her feet on an ottoman. ‘It’s been quite a night.’

She sipped the brandy, her hands curved around the cup, and her eyes closed.

The piece of crumpled paper he must find and keep from her was near her father’s chair. Latham picked it up, read the first few words then pushed it into his pocket. The content was exactly as Benjamin had described it.

‘You did look after her at that party, didn’t you, Latham?’ Ben had said at the hospital.

‘Of course I did. Take my word for it; the letter is malicious lies. Julia was with me from midnight on, and in plain sight before that.’

‘Julia mustn’t see it. Find it before she does, and destroy it. I think I dropped it on the floor.’

Latham smiled to himself. The wily old bird had taken advantage of the situation to get the price he’d wanted for the factory by making his daughter part of the bargain. Only Latham didn’t intend to destroy the letter; he intended to find the person who’d written it. He crossed to where Julia sat and took the cup from her hands. Taking her chin in his finger and thumb he gently kissed her tender mouth. She gave a bit of a sigh and her eyes opened. Her mouth twisted into a smile. ‘Do you want to make love to me, Latham?’

So it had come down to gratitude. ‘Always . . . Is that what you want?’

‘It’s about time somebody did. I need something to stop me from thinking of my father.’

Not gratitude then, but a distraction. He’d thought he had thick skin, but she’d managed to leave a sting embedded there. ‘Perhaps you’d prefer a performing seal?’

‘You haven’t got one, and your elves and fairies live in a Sussex copse. Did I make that sound like you were only a distraction? How horrid of me. I didn’t mean to.’

‘It was
horrid
of you, but I’m not too proud to dismiss your offer out of hand because of it, despite the motivation.’ He reached out and touched her breast through the fabric of her tunic, caressing it with his thumb. The nubs hardened and surprise filled her eyes.

‘You do realize that I’m a complete novice at this?’ she said.

‘Of course you are.’ He wouldn’t be marrying her if she wasn’t, though she wouldn’t be a novice after he’d finished with her, and this time she wouldn’t escape. He kissed the other nipple and when she gave a little shiver he laughed and scooped her up in his arms. ‘In which direction is your bedroom?’

The little carriage clock on Julia’s dressing table gave a muted chime. One a.m. A faint cool breeze came through the window and her body prickled with goose-bumps. She was aware of herself as she’d never been aware before.

Latham had broken her gently, but there was a dull ache where he’d thrust away most of his energy after the foreplay. Although she didn’t love him, her body had needs, and as they lay together in her bed, he had tickled her just where she needed it most. His member came erect and he kissed her. ‘Tell me what you want.’

‘I’m not sure . . . I don’t know.’

‘Then I’ll have to guess.’

His guess was to eventually please himself. When he began to caress her she pushed against his hand. As she enjoyed the sensation he grew rigid against her buttocks. He was bigger than she imagined a man could be.

He turned her towards him then rolled on to his back and sat her across his thighs. ‘Take me in your hands, Julia. Play with me.’

His skin was silky soft and taut, ridged along the length of him, and she felt shy. ‘I can’t . . . not yet.’ She suddenly remembered. ‘We haven’t got . . .
protection
.’