The Good Life (38 page)

Because of Billy, of course. Billy couldn't allow his daughter to live in sin no matter who her lover was. For it to be Perry would violate his most deep-seated instincts about what was decent and permissible. Bet knew nothing of this and continued to tease him into relaxing his vigilance. It was difficult to remain as inflexible as he knew he should be when his own inclinations were on her side. On late nights after festive parties, it required a superhuman effort of will to let her go.

He was creeping out of Bet's cabin wearing his dressing gown early one morning when Sylvain emerged from around the staircase, grinning at him. Perry's heart gave a leap of alarm, but he went on to his own cabin with Sylvain at his heels.

They entered, and Sylvain closed the door behind them. Caught. He wasn't surprised. He wondered if he should offer the sailor some money to forestall his going to Billy for a reward.

“You're having an affair with Miss Bettina,” Sylvain said with an ingratiating smile. “She's a pretty girl. Wouldn't you like to share her? I think she would enjoy it.”

Perry breathed deeply and warned himself to go slow. He didn't want him as an enemy. “Don't annoy me,” he said evenly. “You won't be around long if you do.”

“What's wrong? Aren't you my friend? I know lots of men who share girls with their friends. It's good. It's fun for everybody.”

“Listen,” Perry said, mastering his first wave of anger. He supposed it was the sort of thing sailors would do with their casual girls. He was indignant over Bet's being placed in that category. “If you try anything with Miss Bettina, you'll regret it.”

Sylvain's smile faded. “I doubt it. The boss wouldn't like to hear about his daughter. I know quite a lot about him that he wouldn't want his daughter to know. I don't go in for blackmail, but I can take care of myself. You understand?”

Perry saw the menace in the handsome face and was acutely aware of Billy's vulnerability. Was blackmail commonplace to the rich? Was Billy used to dealing with it? His fists slowly relaxed as he realized that he was getting into something that might be dangerous.

“Okay,” he said. “What good would it do you to tell Mr. Vernon? He'll pay attention if I tell him you deserve a big present at the end of the trip. I'm sorry if I sounded like I could have you fired if I felt like it. Why should I want to do that? Forget it. Let's all just relax.” He forced himself to smile and pat Sylvain's shoulder. “You don't need my help to get a girl.”

The tactic seemed to work. He saw his adversary hesitate for a wary moment, and then his suspicions passed, and he smiled without calculation. “Don't worry. I can keep a secret.”

To demonstrate that he wasn't worried about getting caught, Perry added, “She's much more scared of what her mother may hear than of her father.”

Sylvain stopped at the door and looked back with a confident smile. “Her mother lives at the Lombardy Hotel, 111 East 56th Street in New York.” He left with an irritating little swagger, closing the door gently behind him.

Perry fell into bed with a sigh. Settling the mounting score with his fists would have given him some satisfaction, but the privileged didn't go in for rough stuff. Seeming to bargain for Bet made him feel dirty, however.

No more nocturnal visits. They were just a reminder to Sylvain of what he was missing. Perry thought he understood how the sailor's mind worked. He felt he had a right to what others had. If nobody was having Bet, he might well give up. So nobody was going to have her on the boat. Perry was responsible for her. He was also responsible now for handling Sylvain tactfully so that he wouldn't become an active danger. Bet complicated life.

They were invited for drinks by the heir to the Swedish throne, who was an old friend of Billy's and had an inconspicuous villa on the sea near Saint-Maxime. He was staying incognito with a mistress, and he called himself Mr. Augustus. Perry noticed him here and there, a very fit-looking, personable man with a hearty, self-confident manner. Perry guessed he was about forty. His party was small, and before it was over he was in hot pursuit of Bet. The mistress looked in a murderous mood. Perry thought Mr. Augustus was too old to be taken seriously.

“Did Augustus ask you for dinner?” Billy asked Bet in the car on the way home.

“Yes, day after tomorrow,” Bet replied. “I think that's when we're supposed to go to the Courtlands', but I've never been invited out by royalty before. I thought I should say yes.”

“He very correctly asked me if he could invite you. I told him that American girls decided such things for themselves but that I never let you go anywhere unchaperoned. He assured me that it would be a very respectable gathering with three other couples. Your mother will be delirious with joy.”

“Yes. I accepted for her, really.” Bet made a little face and shrugged. “He said he'd send an aide to fetch me.”

Perry remained silent, resigning himself to not being consulted. The life she had been intended to lead would inevitably take her away from him. He couldn't compete with royalty. In spite of his resentment, he was dazzled for her.

Missing her at dinner with the Courtlands was like a sickness; its violence shocked him. Trevor looked as if he were yearning to offer comfort, but Perry wanted Bet.

He shared a couple of calming pipes with Billy when they got home and began to see some point in the drug. It didn't take his thoughts off Bet, but it did make those thoughts less tormenting.

He was back on deck when she returned. It wasn't late by local standards, not yet 1 o'clock. He hurried her forward to get away from Sylvain's watchful eyes, and they sank onto the cushions where they usually sunbathed. They were immediately clasped in a long kiss of reunion. It was a bit risky with so many lights around, but he didn't think anybody could see much more than their dark shapes.

“I didn't know I'd be so miserable without you,” he said when they broke apart.

“Did you miss me, darling? How adorable of you. You know I hated it. Was dinner nice?”

“Nothing's much of anything without you. Trevor was sweet.”

“I'm sure he loved having you all to himself. Mine was a bit stodgy. I do believe Augustus is quite mad about me.”

“That doesn't surprise me. What about his lady friend?”

“She wasn't there. She'd gone away somewhere. He asked me to come again at the end of the week.”

“Are you going?”

“Well, it's rather a lark. Aiming at a throne puts fortune hunting in a different class. Mummy would never forgive me if I missed the chance of being the queen of Sweden.”

“That
is
something to think about. I wish you'd pick a country that sounds like more fun.”

“Oh, there's nothing wrong with Sweden. A bit cold May be, but I'd have lovely furs.”

“Isn't that where they have daylight all night and everybody commits suicide?”

“Don't be depressing, or I won't invite you to my coronation. Actually, I think they drink.”

“Will you wear a fur-lined crown?”

“Of course. With ear flaps.”

They laughed and hugged and kissed some more. “If I give up my throne, will you come to bed with me?” she asked.

“Sylvain is still prowling. Please, honey. It's out of the question.”

She made an exasperated sound in her throat. “There's only one thing to do with you, Mr. Langham.” She made a protracted attempt at opening his pants. He held her wrists to prevent her from freeing his erection completely from the cover of clothes. “My royal scepter,” she murmured with a giggle as she dropped over it and made love to it with her mouth.

“God, honey,” he muttered, feeling his will weakening.

He forced himself to remain alert for danger. The dark was almost complete enough for safety. No light fell directly on them. They could undoubtedly be seen from the covered deck, but nobody could see what they were doing without coming to look. Even Sylvain wasn't likely to do that.

Ecstasy was beginning to grip him. She wanted him enough to take risks. She was his girl. He couldn't resist. “God, what bliss. You're making me come,” he murmured. He'd kill her if she ever did this for anybody else.

Her second dinner with her royal suitor fell on one of the few evenings when Billy had made no plans for them, and Perry decided to leave it at that. They agreed that it would be a pleasant change to relax in private. Perry had to admit to himself that the thought of sharing a couple of pipes with Billy counted in his decision. He really didn't want to get hooked on the stuff, but in an almost unnoticeable way it made him feel good, able to ride above life's little trials — such as missing Bet.

Bet was picked up by what she called an aide, as she had been the first time, and she went off looking beautiful and full of mischief.

As he lingered with Billy over an elaborate dinner on deck, Perry began to get restless for the pipe. He hadn't expected to miss her as much as he had the first time, but he did, May be even more. He was crazy. She was leading her own life as he'd known she would. She might not seriously hope to become the queen of Sweden, but he wouldn't be surprised if she made an all-out try.

That damn gadget Monique had given her was too convenient for her own good. He began to get angry with Bet for imagined wrongs. He was letting her dominate his life. The hell with her. A pipe with Billy would smooth everything out. Next time he would plan a gay evening for himself.

The two pipes, which was all he allowed himself, helped a great deal, but he was still restless. Billy was in the mood to smoke longer, but he didn't protest when Perry said that he thought he should stick to the limit.

When Billy started a fresh pipe, Perry said good night and returned to the deck. He asked Sylvain for a drink and took it to the stern and leaned against the rail, watching the activities on the port. It wasn't too early to begin to hope for Bet's return.

He sipped his drink, grateful that the awful yearning tension in his body had been eased. He could wait. He wished he didn't have to wait with Sylvain. If he didn't talk to him, he might take offense, but he didn't want to talk to the son of a bitch. Trevor knew about Bet's date and had said he might stop by. Perry hesitated to encourage the boy for fear of misunderstandings, but Perry would be glad to see him now. He couldn't stand with his back turned to Sylvain much longer.

Perry saw a small roadster slowly weaving its way through the strollers, but the light wasn't right for him to see if it was Trevor's blue one. It continued on its halting course along the quay until it was abreast of the yacht. Trevor was at the wheel. They waved cheerily.

“Can I come aboard?” he called.

“Come on,” Perry called back.

Trevor pulled the car out of the traffic's flow and parked haphazardly, then crossed to the gangplank. He came loping up, and Perry threw an arm around him to welcome him. He liked the way his young body felt, boyish and slightly immature but well-built.

“Is Bet back?” he asked.

“Not yet,” Perry replied.” She should be soon. Come keep me company. Have a drink.”

“I wouldn't say no if it's no trouble.”

Sylvain brought them drinks, and they sat. Trevor never flirted. He simply looked at Perry with his big soft eyes brimming with acquiescence. His blond head was a treat. He had a delicately chiseled nose and sculptured lips and the incredibly long lashes that made his eyes shadowy pools of invitation.

“I hope you don't mind my coming,” Trevor said. “Tell me to go when you feel like it.”

“I've been hoping for you. I wanted some company.”

A charming flush suffused Trevor's cheeks, and he looked pleased. “Really? That's super. I can't imagine your being alone for long. You're so sexy. Everybody says so, even my parents.”

Perry chuckled. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

“Don't pay any attention. I have the most embarrassing tendency to say anything that comes into my head with you. I wish I'd had the chance to show you my house the other night, but I didn't dare take you away from the others.”

“You have a house?”

“It's part of the property, but it's completely separate. It's mine. It's just a little gardener's cottage, but I love it. I thought we might go this evening, but if you're waiting for Bet, I daresay we should make it some other time.”

“I don't know. It's about midnight? She might be another hour, even more. Do you want to take me and bring me back, or should I use my car?”

“Oh, no. It's my show. I want to take you. Would you really like it?”

“I'd love it.”

“Super.”

It was time for a show of independence. Let her wonder what he was up to. She might share the misery he went through. He took a swallow of his drink and smiled at Trevor, touched by his devoted eyes. He wished Bet looked at him like that. “You ready? We better go before she gets here.”

“I'm over the moon. My parents are off playing bridge somewhere. They'll be sorry they missed you, but my house is so cut off from the main house that they won't know you've been there until I tell them. You'll see.”

They finished their drinks and stood. “Tell Miss Bettina I'll be back soon if she comes,” Perry said to Sylvain as they left.

They were soon on winding country roads that seemed to be leading out toward the end of the peninsula. Perry didn't think he'd come this way before, but Trevor obviously knew where he was going. Perry could feel his working up to something.

“Do you mind if we talk about things?” Trevor blurted after a few moments of silence.

“Not at all. What about?”

“Well, about me. About Bet. I'm frightfully keen on her but not in that way, if you know what I mean. I didn't tell you quite everything about that night we went swimming. To be perfectly frank, I've never been attracted to girls. That night, for some reason, I thought I might be. I don't want to sound caddish, but I had the feeling she was willing. I made sure she knew what I wanted — it wasn't an accident — but the minute she touched me, it was finished. I had to tell you. I'd have taken her behind your back if I could have. It was jolly dishonest to tell you a bit of what happened without telling you that.”