The Price of Desire (17 page)

‘I wouldn't miss it,' said James. ‘And I have a couple of friends I'd like to bring with me, if that's okay.'

‘Of course, of course, the more the merrier. As long as they understand the rules of engagement.'

‘No problem; they know the meaning of discretion,' said James. ‘I think it'll be beneficial for both of us. They have some very specific needs and may be able to put some interesting business your way.'

‘Well in that case they are more than welcome. In fact I have something very special coming up soon. I'll make sure my wife sends you the details.'

‘Will Georgie be there?' James asked, obviously trying to sound casual, but failing.

‘I can do better than that.'

Their voices dropped to a hush. Georgie knew they continued to talk but she couldn't make out any of the words. She was just about to walk back in when the voices resumed at their normal volume.

‘Are you crazy?' James exclaimed. ‘You know who her father is?'

‘Don't worry, I've got it all under control. It will be worth the risk once you see what I have in store for her.'

Georgie opened the door and nearly walked straight into them both.

‘I'm turning in now, Georgie,' James said, taking her hand and kissing it gently. ‘It was lovely to meet you. Goodnight, Gideon.' A look passed between them and he walked past her and up the stairs without looking back.

‘I had better get going too,' Georgie said to Gideon, once they were alone.

His face dropped a little. ‘You're welcome to stay. I was hoping you would.'

‘I really must get back, I have to be up early in the morning,' she lied.

‘Well, it was really nice to see you. I'm sure our paths will cross again very soon.'

Georgie stepped closer and kissed him on the cheek. She could still smell the sex on him. They said goodnight at the door and she stepped out into the cold. Glancing at her watch she saw it was only a couple of minutes to two.

She had to hurry before Bunnie and Richard came charging in and blowing her carefully constructed facade. Driving down the gravel driveway and out of the gates she turned right and saw the headlights of their car waiting for her. She felt a rush of warmth towards them and flashed her lights as she passed, and they followed her back to the Manor.

 

‘So what happened?' demanded Bunnie, once they had settled in and been served steaming Irish coffee by Nurse. Georgie winced; the older woman did not look happy at the late night request, and she knew she'd pay for it later.

She told them everything, except the actual details of their threesome. She didn't think it relevant and even though she had enjoyed it she still felt used, like she had just been an icebreaker, an excuse for some guy on guy action. She did tell them about the overheard conversation between Gideon and James, and the three agreed that although intriguing it didn't really tell them anything.

She had let them down again. She had let her emotions overwhelm her and it was Lily who was paying the price. Georgie could see by her friends' expressions that they were disappointed at the lack of any new information. She too had felt like they were on the cusp of something, but she had to admit that now they appeared to be at a dead end. She would have to call her parents and tell them they had failed to find her sister, and worse, that because of her foolish behaviour she had wasted precious hours the police could have spent looking for her.

‘I think we should sleep on it,' said Richard, draining the last of his cup.

‘Good idea, I'm exhausted,' Bunnie agreed, getting up. ‘Do you mind if I stay here again tonight? I'm too tired to drive home.'

‘No problem,' said Georgie, remaining seated. She wasn't even slightly sleepy. She listened to the other two as they walked upstairs, and then the house fell silent. She didn't know how long she sat there in the quiet of the old house, but eventually when she couldn't take sitting alone with her thoughts any longer, she heaved a sigh and dragged herself upstairs to bed.

 

Georgie felt like she had only been asleep a few minutes when Nurse came in to wake her up.

‘Are you all right, Georgina?' Nurse asked as Georgie struggled to regain consciousness. It took her a few seconds to register her surroundings. She felt groggy and her head was pounding. She tried to sit up but Nurse eased her back down.

‘You don't look very well to me. I think you should try and get some rest. I heard you crying out in your sleep.'

Georgie blushed. She may have cried out in her sleep but she didn't think it was a nightmare. Her dreams had been full of erotic images, her mind trying to make sense of recent experiences.

‘What time is it?' she asked.

‘It's ten-thirty. I thought I'd let you sleep in.'

Georgie sat up, this time resisting Nurse's insistence that she didn't. ‘Are Bunnie and Richard up yet?'

‘Your cousin has been up for hours. I don't think he's had much sleep either. Bunnie's still in bed, I think. Shall I go and wake her?'

‘Yes please, Nurse. We need to decide what we're going to tell my parents.'

Nurse didn't reply. She sat on the edge of the bed looking at Georgie. Her usually hard features softened and Georgie felt a rush of emotion for the woman who had looked after her for all these years.

‘Well if you're sure,' the woman said, returning to her usual brisk manner, and she left the bedroom to rouse Bunnie.

Georgie sat and let the memories of the last few days wash over her, her thoughts fragmented and jumbled. She fought to make sense of them but couldn't seem to grasp a single one. The rain outside tapped lightly on the window, mirroring her mood. She needed the advice of her friends on the next course of action. Maybe talking things through with them would help sort out her own emotions.

She kept her mind focused on Lily as she headed downstairs, but there were nagging thoughts in the back of her mind. Even now she prayed her sister would walk in through the front door, safe and happy and with some perfectly acceptable reason for her disappearance. But Georgie knew this was just wishful thinking. Her sister had never been away without telling someone for a night, let alone four days. Lily was in trouble, there was no doubt about it, but for some strange reason Georgie was sure she was still close.

She had never spent much time in the village before, but there was definitely something strange going on. The people she'd come across so far, for example, were like none she had ever met before. They seemed so strange, bizarre. Was the village really teaming with horny housewives and randy husbands indulging in swinging orgies whilst carrying on their apparently perfectly respectable lives? And it felt like they all knew something she didn't, like she was the victim of some elaborate practical joke.

Stop being so stupid, she chided herself. It was all getting too much for her. She hadn't slept properly for days and she was under extraordinary stress. There was no big conspiracy, no one was out to get her, the villagers were not all in on some devious plan against her and her family. Stupid, stupid, stupid! She should just come clean with her parents - well not everything, of course; there were some things they didn't need to know.

They should call the police. What was she thinking, trying to deal with it on her own? She had been such a fool. She walked to the conservatory with her mind made up. It was her fault and she was old enough to own up to her mistakes and take responsibility for her actions.

Richard had already finished breakfast, but Nurse was right; he looked as washed out as Georgie felt. She doubted he had slept much, and felt comforted that he was going through it with her and sharing her pain. It gave her the strength to do what she had to do and confess her error of judgement to her parents. As she sat down at the table Richard looked up wearily and tried a smile.

‘Have some coffee,' he said, passing her the jug.

‘You look how I feel,' she said, gratefully pouring herself a cup of the steaming black liquid. This time he managed his smile and Georgie felt her mood lift slightly.

‘You look beautiful as always, Lady Georgina,' he said, in his smoothest voice.

‘Thank you.'

‘You're welcome.'

‘No, I mean thank you for being here for me. I don't know how I'd have coped over the last couple of days if it hadn't been for you and Bunnie.'

‘Of course, I'm here,' said Richard. He got up and walked round the table to her, taking her hand. ‘You and Lily are like sisters to me. I'd do anything for either of you. And I promised your parents I'd look after you while they're away.'

He lowered his head and gently kissed the back of her hand. Georgie gasped, and Richard looked at her without releasing her hand, holding her gaze. She felt her breath catch in her throat, feeling frozen and vulnerable by his close proximity.

‘Morning,' Bunnie called as she entered the room, totally unaware of what she'd walked in on. For the second time in twenty-four hours Georgie had been closer to her cousin than she should have been, but before her blush had time to fully blossom Nurse appeared at the doorway.

‘You have a visitor, Georgina,' she announced.

Georgie turned, surprised. ‘Oh, I'm not expecting anyone. Who is it?'

‘She wouldn't give a name, but said it's urgent and important she speaks with you. She seems very distraught.'

‘Okay, send her in please.' Georgie turned back to Bunnie and Richard and shrugged.

After a minute or two Nurse returned, followed by a slender blonde in a pale blue dress. Georgie studied her for a moment, but didn't recognise her.

‘Thank you, Nurse, that will be all,' she said. ‘Can I help you?' Georgie asked the woman uncertainly.

‘I'm sorry for just turning up like this, but I didn't know what else to do,' the stranger replied. ‘Can I talk to you in private?'

‘Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of them,' she said, gesturing to Richard and Bunnie. The woman looked like she was about to burst into tears and she was visibly shaking. Georgie suddenly felt sorry for her. ‘Come and sit down,' she said gently, and pulled up a chair. ‘It's okay, anything you say will be in complete confidence, I promise. Bunnie, pour her a cup of coffee, or would you like something stronger?'

‘Coffee's fine, thanks,' said the stranger. They all looked at her expectantly. She took a deep breath. ‘I... I think my husband had something to do with your sister's disappearance.'

There was a stunned silence, the woman looked white and Georgie thought she might actually be sick.

‘Would you like to elaborate on that?' asked Richard.

The woman slumped visibly in her chair, a resigned look on her face, like she had given up, tears in her eyes as she went on.

‘My name is Jemima Greenacre. I live in Coxham Marsh with my husband. I heard your sister is missing; everyone in the village has been talking about it. On the night she disappeared my husband didn't come home.' She faltered.

‘Well that doesn't necessarily mean he had anything to do with anything,' Bunnie interjected cautiously.

‘You don't understand,' Jemima protested desperately. ‘Ever since he agreed to go into business with Gideon Lachlan I've known something was wrong. He's a changed man.'

As soon as Gideon's name was mentioned Georgie's interest peaked. She thought he might be involved, but as yet she didn't have any proof linking him to Lily.

‘What kind of business does he have with Gideon?' she asked sceptically, not wanting to get her hopes up.

‘I don't know, he won't tell me,' Jemima said, shaking her head slowly. ‘But it's making them a lot of money very quickly. Whatever it is, I don't think it's legal. He gets angry if I ask him about it. He was always so open with me before, we used to talk about everything, until recently. Now he's like a different man.' She took a few shuddering breaths.

‘He took me to a couple of Gideon's parties in the beginning and made me do things I didn't want to do. After I told him I didn't want to go to any more he got really angry and said I'd let him down and that as his wife I should do what's expected of me. I've never seen him like that before, he was so aggressive. I was really scared. He hasn't made me go to one since but I know he still goes without me. I know what happens there, but what can I do? He hardly even speaks to me any more.' She paused for a moment; she looked so sad and lonely.

Bunnie put a hand on her leg. ‘I'm sorry,' she said softly.

Jemima reached down for her handbag beside the chair. She rummaged around in it for a second; Georgie thought she was looking for some tissues, but out of it she pulled a silver charm bracelet which Georgie recognised straightaway. She had bought it for Lily on her tenth birthday, and every year she would buy her a new charm to put on it.

‘Where did you find that?' Georgie asked, taking it. Her hand shook as she held it.

‘I found it in my husband's pocket, the day after your sister went missing... sorry,' she tailed off.