Secrets After Dark (30 page)

Inside a man in a dark tailcoat is standing behind an old-fashioned desk. ‘How can I help you, madam?’ he asks in a very posh voice.

‘I’m here to see Andrei Dubrovski. He’s expecting me.’

His face changes and he becomes instantly more obsequious.
I don’t know why I’m not used to this by now.
‘Yes, madam. Of course. He’s in the Blue Room. I’ll show you there at once.’

We walk up a vast sweeping staircase, carpeted in crimson and dominated by an enormous oil portrait of some grim-faced nineteenth-century nabob staring down disapprovingly. At the top of the stairs we walk along a wide corridor, passing drawing rooms and reading rooms, all lavishly furnished and decorated with crystal chandeliers, oil paintings and gilt cornicing, where elderly gentlemen sit in leather armchairs reading newspapers. The man stops outside a door and knocks. It is opened a moment later by the familiar figure of Andrei’s bodyguard.

‘A young lady to see Mr Dubrovski,’ explains my guide.

The guard looks at me as if he’s never seen me before, although I smile in a friendly way, then gives a nod and stands back to let me in.

The Blue Room lives up to its name: its walls are lined with patterned blue silk, it’s carpeted with a huge blue-and-gold Persian rug, and furnished with chairs upholstered in blue damask. The effect is relieved by a large wooden desk, and portraits of old, important-looking men from the last two hundred years break up the blue walls. Andrei is dressed in a well-cut black suit, standing behind the desk at the window with his back to me, looking down on Pall Mall below while talking rapidly in Russian. I wait quietly, gazing around at the room and taking it in, until he’s finished. After about five minutes of waiting, I’m relieved to see him put his phone down and turn to face me.

‘Beth. Good. You’re here.’ He doesn’t smile. His craggy face is as impassive as it was when I first met him. With a jolt, I realise that the Andrei I know now is very different to the one I met back in France in what seems like an age ago. He’s more human, for one thing. I’ve seen him laughing, eating, partying and even fresh from his bed after romping with Anna. But all that’s gone. He’s back to the domineering tyrant I first encountered. I feel a sudden pang of regret that it’s going to end like this. I realise that for a while we were almost friends.
I suppose that’s why I felt able to talk to him the way I did. Barriers were down. Well, they’re back up now, that’s for sure.

‘I’ve got your report,’ I say, taking it out of my bag and putting in on the desk. ‘Just as you wanted. It catalogues your Albany collection and gives descriptions and current market values. I’ll provide the hanging plan separately, if that’s all right.’

‘Fine.’ He glances without interest at the report. ‘I’ll read it later. I’m sure it’s all in order. I trust you to do a good job.’

‘Thank you.’ My voice is cold. In fact, the whole atmosphere is so icy I want to put a scarf and mittens on.

Andrei speaks in Russian to the bodyguard standing at the door, who immediately exits, leaving us alone together.

‘Sit.’ Andrei gestures to the chair in front of the desk. I’m irritated by the peremptory tone.
I wish he’d stop giving me orders like this. I’m not his slave.

I smile inwardly.
There are times when I don’t mind being a slave, and taking orders. But not from Dubrovski. No way.

But there’s no point arguing with him. I sit down. Everything in me is expecting him to say that no one talks to him the way I did and that I’m fired this minute. I half hope that this is going to happen. Then I could walk away from all this and back to Mark, and Dominic and I could go public about our relationship.

He sits down himself in the chair behind the desk and stares at me, pressing his fingertips together. At last he says, ‘Beth, I’ve been thinking about what you said to me. I’m very hurt by the suggestion that you think I would drug you, presumably to take advantage of you.’

‘I’m sorry. I withdraw it,’ I say. As soon as he speaks, I can’t help believing him. ‘Perhaps you’re right and I was drunk. It certainly seems to be the most likely explanation.’

‘I hope so. You didn’t seem to be so drunk that you didn’t know what you were doing, but you’re not a great drinker, are you?’ He smiles at me. ‘Not like us Russians. You certainly were tipsy, though, and enough to go out like a light very quickly.’

‘When you found me in the cave,’ I say.

‘Yes. When I found you in the cave.’

There is a long, pregnant pause as we stare at each other. I can’t read his expression but his blue eyes bore into me as though we share some kind of connection, something deep and profound. I’m seized by a desire to blurt out the question – so did we have sex or not? But I push it out of my mind.
Dominic. It was Dominic. It had to be.

Then I realise that I’ve never asked Dominic why he left me alone, presumably passed out, in a passageway in the catacombs for Andrei to discover. Why would he do that?

I’m suddenly terrified that Andrei’s going to say something that will shake up my world and turn everything upside down, and I start to talk very quickly.

‘I’ve prepared the plan for hanging in the apartment, would you like to approve it before I go ahead and arrange it? I think you’ll be happy with it, but if you’re not, it will be very easy to change it—’

Andrei shakes his head. ‘I don’t think so. Just go ahead and do what you think is right. Like I said, I trust you.’ He stands up and walks slowly around behind the desk, his hands linked behind his back. He’s frowning, making his rugged features even more stern and imposing. ‘I can tell that for some reason you have taken against me. I hoped that when I’d put your silly ideas about being drugged from your mind, you would soften a little. But it seems not. I’m sorry for that. Your work for me is almost done and no doubt you’ll be pleased to return to Mark.’ He turns and looks directly at me. ‘I have to take a trip to Russia at the end of this week. Mark is going to come with me, to have the Fra Angelico checked by an expert at the Hermitage. I wonder if you would like to accompany us – I can arrange for you to have a private tour of the museum with an expert guide. I’m sure you’d like that. Perhaps it would help convince you that my motives are good ones.’

I gape at him.
The Hermitage museum? That would be amazing...
I’ve always longed to visit that stunning treasure trove. Most of the great art museums of the world are still on my list to visit and the Hermitage is at the top
... but I can’t. By the end of the week, the deal will be done, Dominic will have resigned and I’ll be at his side. Andrei won’t want me then. He probably won’t even want to see me again...

‘Well?’ he says. ‘Will you come?’

‘You’re very kind, Andrei, but—’

An expression of astonishment crosses his face. ‘You’re going to say no?’

‘I can’t accept. I just can’t. I can’t explain why, and I have to ask you not to press me on it. It’s a wonderful offer, but... no, thank you.’ I stand up as well, and we face each other across the desk. He leans forward, putting his hands on the polished surface and glowering at me over it.

‘You puzzle me,’ he says in a kind of low growl. ‘Why don’t you want what I can offer you?’

‘I told you, I can’t explain my reasons. But one thing is for sure: the moment I took anything you want to give me, you wouldn’t be puzzled any longer. You’d see me for what I am – an ordinary girl, who doesn’t fit into your world. The thing that you can’t understand is that I don’t want to.’ I smile at him. ‘I want us to be friends, Andrei, I truly do. And I want you to be happy with my work. If there’s nothing else, then I’ll go. And your pictures will be up within a day or two. Goodbye, Andrei.’

He says nothing but watches me as I turn, walk across the room to the door. My hand on the handle, I turn back for a moment.

‘Thank you for the offer,’ I say softly. ‘I’ll always appreciate it, even if I can’t accept it.’

Then I leave.

On the way out of the club I call Dominic on my mobile but he doesn’t answer. I don’t leave a message. He’s busy. It’s only a few more days and then I’ll be able to have him all to myself.

When I get home, I’m exhausted but there’s just time to get to kick-boxing class, although I have to go alone as there’s no sign of Laura. As I’m changing my phone chirrups to let me know that a text has arrived. It’s Laura, telling me she won’t make the class because she’s been kept late. I do the class on my own, and afterwards the calm that follows a good workout descends, and I feel a lot better. But it’s almost 10 p.m. by the time she finally gets in. She drops her briefcase in the hall and comes to flop on the sofa next to me.

‘Hi,’ I smile. ‘There’s some dinner for you if you want. Just some pasta and sauce in the pan, but you’re welcome to it.’

‘Anything as long as the minimum of work is required,’ she says in a tired voice. ‘I’m bushed. I’m sorry I missed the class tonight. How was Sid?’

‘Don’t worry about it, it happens. Sid was great, a total tyrant but great. You get out of your work things and I’ll heat the food up,’ I say, getting up and going through to the kitchen. She soon joins me, in her baggy check trousers and a comfy old T-shirt she likes to wear around the house.

‘It smells good,’ she says, smiling and looking a bit more relaxed. ‘Your pasta is always yummy.’

‘Thanks. You look like you need a hot meal.’

‘Yeah.’ She nods. ‘It’s tough in the office. They might pay well but they certainly make sure they get their money’s worth. Old Booth had me checking and double-checking proposals and reports until my eyes were crossed. How are you? I haven’t seen much of you lately. One or other of us always seems to be out somewere, whether work or play.’

‘I’m fine.’ I get the Parmesan out of the fridge so I can grate a good helping over Laura’s pasta. ‘I’m not going to see much of Dominic this week, so we’ll have a chance to catch up. He’s working on this big deal, but once it’s over we might go away for a while, just a little break somewhere quiet and romantic. Doesn’t that sound lovely?’ There’s a silence in response, and I look over at Laura who has a wistful expression.

‘Sure. It sounds great. It’s just...’ She looks a little sad, standing there, twisting her ponytail round her fingers in that habit she has. ‘I guess that you’re going to be spending more and more time with Dominic, aren’t you?’

‘I hope so...’ I say slowly. I know what she’s getting at. The two-single-girls-in-the-big-city scenario is not working out like we’d both envisaged.

‘Should I be looking for a new flatmate?’ she asks in a small voice.

‘Oh honey.’ I put down the cheese and go over and hug her, then stand back so I can look into her big grey eyes. ‘It’s nowhere near that serious yet. Really! I promise. But I guess I will be seeing him when I can...’ I feel my loyalties divided. I can’t make promises I won’t keep and yet I also love spending time with Laura and don’t want to lose our closeness. I remember our plans for a trip together. ‘But I meant it about New York! We will definitely do that, I promise, just you and me. No Dominic.’

‘I’m really happy for you, Beth,’ she says hastily. ‘I think it’s great that you and Dominic are taking your relationship so seriously and that it’s moving forward so fast. And I’m really excited about a trip for the two of us to New York. But speaking very selfishly, I’m going to miss having you around just day to day.’

‘I’m sorry, Laura.’ I feel like a heel for making my friend feel lonely when I’m supposed to be her flatmate.

She laughs. ‘Don’t be sorry! Why should you be? You’re madly in love and you want to be with him every minute you can. That’s natural. But just one thing...’

‘What?’ I feel so guilty that I’d do anything for her. I wish I could magic another Dominic out of the air for her, so we could be happy together.

‘Can I be bridesmaid?’ she asks cheekily, and when I start to stammer and flush, she says, ‘Only kidding. Now are you going to hand over that pasta or not? I’m starving.’

Chapter Seventeen

I’m glad Andrei isn’t here to watch as the men start banging nails into his very expensive polished wooden wall panels, and hope to God I’ve got it right.

Mark gave my layouts the seal of approval after I emailed them over to him, so I’m confident that it’s going to work, but I won’t know for sure until it’s all up. Mark also asked me to drop by and see him the following day, and I’m looking forward to telling him that the hanging is complete.

‘Okay, that’s great,’ I say to the workmen. ‘Now let’s hang that Stubbs over there – I want it in the middle and that group of sketches hung on either side, the way you can see it here on the layout.’

Just then my phone buzzes to let me know that a text has arrived. It’s from Dominic.

Come outside.

I leave the men to it, and go to the front door. I open it and step into the hall. There’s no one in the stairwell. I look up the stone staircase with its black iron handrail to the upper floors but it’s all quiet. I go out on to the covered walk but it’s also deserted. Even the workmen, who are sometimes about cleaning and maintaining everything so the place keeps its immaculate looks, are nowhere to be seen. My phone buzzes again.

Come downstairs.

I go back into the stairwell and to the top of the flight that leads down to the dark lower level. I can’t see Dominic there either, but I go slowly down, descending into the shadows. I am in a long arched passageway beneath the building that stretches the entire length of it.