Читать книгу Barbara Taylor Bradford’s 4-Book Collection - Barbara Taylor Bradford - Страница 30

Kim Cunningham, who had a chicken leg halfway to his mouth, put it down, staring at Katharine. ‘What’s so funny?’ he asked, wiping his fingers on a napkin. He picked up his glass of Montrachet and took a sip.

Katharine giggled again, unable to suppress her amusement, her expression merry, her demeanour lighthearted. ‘I was just thinking of your face when you walked in and saw Norman Rook sitting here. You looked as if you’d caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.’

‘What do you mean?’ Kim’s grey eyes flickered with perplexity and a frown creased his brow.

‘As if I was doing something I shouldn’t. Two-timing you perhaps.’ This thought caused her more amusement; her laughter echoed in the stillness of the room and her eyes danced. Katharine’s gaiety was not assumed. It had been engendered by a number of things, chiefly her relief that Terry’s injury was not serious and her gratification that she and Norman had everything under control. Norman was her ally now, would help her to put her plans into effect, and ultimately she would be enabled to keep her commitment to Victor. Hilary was the key, of course.

Conscious of Kim’s eyes on her, Katharine tore her mind away from the film and her involved schemes, and flashed him a smile. She was sitting on a pile of cushions on the floor in front of the glass coffee table, and she tucked her bare feet under her and leaned back on one elbow, emanating insouciance. Then she glanced at Kim, who was seated opposite on the sofa, and reaffirmed with another laugh, ‘Don’t worry, Norman’s no competition for you.’

‘I didn’t think he was,’ Kim responded in his usual good-natured way, laughing with her, fully aware that she was teasing him. ‘He’s hardly Terrence Ogden, my sweet. Actually, I was surprised, that’s all. I just wondered if we’d ever be alone.’

‘Norman’s far too polite to overstay his welcome,’ Katharine murmured and picked up her glass of wine. ‘He was fretting so much, earlier at the theatre, about the damage those idiots did to John’s flat, I couldn’t help taking pity on him. I just had to invite him over to meet you, Kim. I was certain you’d be able to give him a few tips. Thanks for being so helpful.’

‘Oh, it was no trouble,’ Kim answered genially. ‘I told him to give me a buzz tomorrow, and I’ll pass on the names of some dealers in Chinese antiques where I hope Terry will be able to replace those porcelain lamps and some of the other items. The jade pieces are going to be expensive though, I can tell you that right now.’

Katharine nodded. ‘I guessed they would be. Still, Terry does feel he has to make everything right at the flat.’

‘Yes. Yes, I understand,’ Kim remarked. He picked up the chicken leg, bit into it and munched. Between bites, he asked her, ‘Don’t you like the things I brought for our midnight feast? You’re not eating.’

‘Of course I do! I’ve had some chicken, and half a scotch egg. I always have problems eating after the show, you should know that by now. It takes me ages to wind down, and especially tonight.’ She lifted her wine glass again. ‘Terry being out with a sore throat made it doubly tough for me this evening, Kim. Peter Mallory is a bit wooden as an actor. In fact, I more or less had to carry the play.’

‘Yes, so Norman told me, when you were in the bedroom changing. He also mentioned how marvellous your performance was.’ Kim’s admiring eyes swept over her. ‘I must admit, you do look delectable, my pet.’

‘Thank you, kind sir,’ she smiled prettily.

Earlier, after she had introduced Kim and Norman, Katharine had excused herself and left them to talk, hurrying into the bedroom, where she had quickly changed out of her black cashmere sweater and red skirt. She had chosen a long house robe, cut something in the style of the Chinese cheongsam, except that it was much looser and flowing, with long sleeves, wide at the cuffs. Made of brocade, in a clear turquoise embroidered with tiny gold leaves, the shade perfectly matched the colour of her eyes, seemed to emphasize their depth and brilliance and intensity.

Kim thought, as he gazed at her lovingly, that he had never seen her looking more beautiful than she did at this moment. Her exquisite face, with its sculptured features, had a vulnerability, the texture almost translucent, like the most fragile of transparent bone china, and there was a delicate sheen to her skin. Her chestnut hair was hanging loosely around her face in waves and curls and there were tendrils at the temples. Katharine had complained several times of feeling tired, and perhaps she did, but as he carefully scrutinized her Kim could see no trace of weariness in that remarkable face, the most perfect face he had ever beheld.

Kim pulled his eyes away, aware that he was staring at her rudely, and made a show of finishing the chicken leg, although he no longer felt hungry. He drank his wine, poured another glass, and then lit a cigarette, leaning back on the sofa. He had been surprised to see Norman, and even a bit put out at first, miffed really, believing Katharine had invited him to join them for supper. She had quickly made it clear this was not the case and Kim had been able to relax, realizing they would eventually be by themselves. Now he sighed. It seemed to him that they had not had much time alone together lately, and he was not only dismayed about this situation but unusually irritated. There were so many things he wanted to talk to her about … most especially their feelings for each other and the future. He also supposed he ought to discuss her attitude to her career and ask her about her family, certain points Francesca had made to him earlier that evening, albeit in a veiled way, but nonetheless he had received the message loud and clear. Francesca had not wanted to admit it, but he was absolutely convinced their father had been asking probing questions. Somehow I never get the opportunity to talk to Katharine seriously, he said to himself. Perhaps tonight he would.

Katharine broke the silence and his train of thought. ‘If you don’t want anything else to eat, I think I’ll take these dishes away, Kim darling.’ She sat up abruptly as she spoke, and made a move to rise.

‘No. No, I’ll do it,’ Kim cried, stubbing out his cigarette and leaping to his feet. ‘You stay here and take it easy. It won’t take me a minute; I’m a dab hand at this. Francesca’s expert drilling over the years.’ Before she could protest he had gently pushed her against the mound of pillows and was collecting some of the plates of food.

Katharine did as he said, lying back and closing her eyes, endeavouring to relax. But she was finding it difficult to do so, as she had since leaving the theatre. Her brain was far too busy. Deep down in her heart of hearts, she was truly fond of Kim, and cared for him more than she had ever cared for any other man, but at this precise moment she wished he would leave. She knew there was little chance of his doing so, since he seemed intent on dragging out the evening into the early hours. A few seconds before, when she had glanced at the clock on the mantel shelf, she had been startled to see it was turned one-thirty. Oh hell, she thought dismally, he’ll stay for another hour at least, if I know him. She wondered how to get rid of Kim, with tact, and gave up. Whatever she said, he would hang on until the bitter end, as he always did, until she bustled him out firmly, claiming total exhaustion.

Katharine had not had to feign tiredness tonight. She really did feel weary; her back and legs ached, and there was an acute tightness across her shoulders which reached up into the back of her neck. But her mind was alert, as it sifted through the events of the past twelve hours. What an extraordinary day it had been, starting with her curious encounter with Estelle Morgan and finishing with Norman and the problems with Terry. Oh how she wanted to be alone, to concentrate her energies on her next moves, all of which she knew must be foolproof and properly implemented if they were to succeed. Her priority was talking to Victor. In the bedroom, after she had changed into her robe, she had tried to reach him at Claridge’s. There had been no reply from his suite. She had left another message, saying she would ’phone the following morning, realizing it would be extremely awkward speaking in front of Kim, should Victor return her call that night. What she had to convey was confidential. She smiled to herself. Victor was going to be delighted with her. Norman had voiced the opinion that her schemes were too complex and, therefore, dicey. She did not agree.

‘There! I’m all finished,’ Kim exclaimed, bounding back into the living room for the third time. ‘I put the food in the fridge, and stacked the dirty plates in the sink.’

Katharine opened her eyes languorously. ‘Thanks, Kim. That was so sweet of you.’

‘Now, darling, how about a cup of coffee?’

‘No. No thanks. Really.’

‘Then I won’t have any either. We’ll just finish the wine and relax. Shall I put a record on?’ he continued, full of joie de vivre. He headed in the direction of the small built-in cupboard next to the fireplace which housed the record player. ‘I wouldn’t mind a bit of romantic music –’

‘Please, Kim, I’m awfully tired,’ Katharine exclaimed. ‘I can do without music, if you don’t mind.’

‘Oh, sorry,’ he apologized. ‘Well then, let’s sit and talk for a while. It’s ages since I’ve had you to myself.’

Before Katharine had a chance to suggest it was time for him to leave, Kim was lowering himself next to her on the floor. He smiled as he gazed down at her. There was something emphatically feline about her just now, in the way her eyes slanted as they regarded him almost warily, under the long silky black lashes, in the graceful pose she had struck, reclining elegantly on the pillows, her head tilted to one side ever so slightly. All of the niggling questions he had been on the point of asking her immediately fled. His mind went blank as he continued to observe that tantalizing and seductive face. And he was entranced with her, mesmerized.

Kim touched her cheek with his index finger. ‘My dearest, sweetest Katharine,’ he murmured so softly she scarcely heard him, and then, leaning forward, he took her in his arms and kissed her swiftly, catching her offguard. It was a light and tender kiss initially, and Katharine did not struggle, even though she was far too preoccupied for his kisses.

Slowly the pressure of Kim’s mouth increased. He pressed her down into the pillows, his tongue feverishly seeking hers, one hand stroking her neck. A moment later, his other hand was on her breast, warm and gentle as it caressed, and then it strayed down, following the curve of her hip on to her thigh, moving in longer firmer strokes. Kim shifted his body slightly, so that it was partially covering hers, and she felt his hardness through his trousers and the thin silk of her robe and was suddenly aware of the rapid pounding of his heart, his laboured breathing as he paused briefly between his kisses. And those kisses began to increase and intensify in their voluptuousness and force and fervency, his ardour running unchecked.

A mixture of panic and fear assaulted Katharine, and she held her breath, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, seeking a way to make him stop without offending him. She did not want him to continue his lovemaking, and a tremor rippled through her, and then again, and again and again.

Kim, overwhelmed by his strong and deeply-felt emotions, mistook her trembling, believing it to be an echo of his own urgent need … the overwhelming need to possess her fully, to become one with her, to join his body with hers … irrevocably. He had wanted her for so long now, all these endless months, and apparently so had she. Even though she had not really shown it before. Not exactly. Not responsively like this.

His heart, thundering in his chest, was bursting with the purest joy, and he thought: Oh my love my sweet darling love my Katharine my only love. He was burning up with excitement, and he lifted his body so that he was lying on top of her completely. She was so soft and melting under him, and he moulded himself to her legs and her lovely breasts and her stomach. How perfectly she fitted under him and with him. He found her mouth with his own, so hungry and yearning, and crushed his lips to hers. And he thought he was going to explode.

Katharine was trapped unbearably under his weight, unable to move and terrified. I don’t want this. I don’t want it, a voice in her head screamed. I’ve got to make him stop. Oh my God what am I going to do? Now, to her immense horror, that warm and loving hand was touching her bare calf, stroking gently, and rising slowly to her knee under the robe. His hand lingered on her knee and progressed up her leg and then trailed across the inside of her upper thigh, where it lingered again, the tips of his fingers expertly tracing circles on her flesh, almost imperceptibly, so delicate was their touch. Katharine turned her head, trying to breathe, and then she strangled a cry of protest in her throat and she went cold all over. Kim’s hand was drifting across her stomach and moving down, ever so slowly down and she stiffened, holding her body taut.

Although she did not push him away from her, Katharine’s sudden and enormous coldness communicated itself to Kim. He was conscious of the unusual rigidity of her body, no longer pliable and yielding under his, nor quivering under his touch. He pulled his hand away hurriedly, as if he had been scalded, and after a moment he raised himself on one elbow. His eyes were baffled and questioning and he stared into her face, and his own was covered with hurt and confusion.

It took him a short while to recover his equilibrium, to throw off the shock of her emotional withdrawal and physical frigidity. At last he mumbled, his voice choked, ‘What’s wrong?’ And then he flushed deeply. ‘Don’t you want me to kiss you? To touch you? Are you off me?’

‘No. No, it’s not that,’ Katharine began and halted, alarmed by the anger trickling into his eyes. ‘I told you, I’m very tired, Kim, and anyway, I’m not a te –’

‘You don’t have to mention your tiredness again, for God’s sake! You’ve been rubbing it in all evening!’ Kim was beset by a terrible shaking and he jumped up, charged with rage. He reached for the packet of cigarettes on the coffee table, lit one swiftly and then strode over to the fireplace. He turned to face her, and said with unfamiliar coldness, ‘I don’t understand you any more, Katharine. You blow hot and cold at the drop of a hat. And it’s damned unnerving, to say the least!’

‘No, I don’t,’ Katharine said defensively, returning his icy stare. She got to her feet with swiftness, smoothed down her robe and positioned herself on the sofa.

‘Oh yes, you do,’ Kim retorted, his anger unabated. ‘When we’re with other people you’re sweet and loving and flirtatious and encouraging. But when we’re alone you’re as distant as Mount Everest and just as bloody chilly. Tonight I thought you were going to be different. A grave error! My God, you let me kiss you and fondle you, and you didn’t stop me. In fact, you returned my kisses, and, mistakenly it seems, I thought you returned my feelings as well. It certainly appeared so. Then inexplicably you turn into a block of ice,’ he finished furiously, the deep colour darkening on his face. ‘You’re not very fair, Katharine.’

She drew herself up on the sofa with some dignity, and adopted an injured air. ‘I started to say, a moment before, that I’m not a tease –’

‘But you are!’ Kim cut in with a hard laugh. ‘The way you dress and get yourself up, oh so alluringly, and then set out to entice. I’d say you’re a hell of a tease, my dear.’

Katharine glared at him, truly taken aback and also annoyed. ‘In that case, you can say all women are teases, simply because they’re women! What I meant was that I didn’t want to encourage you any more tonight, to get you … well, get you worked up and then leave you frustrated –’

‘But you did exactly that!’ he cried with indignation, interrupting her again. ‘Good Lord, Katharine, I’m not made of iron. I’m a man. How much do you think I can take of this heavy petting … without … fulfilment?’

Katharine leaned forward, a patient expression firmly in place, and said placatingly, with reasonableness, ‘Kim, that’s why I’ve been so very, very careful with you. You just said I’m not fair, but I believe I’ve been exceedingly fair, simply by not allowing our petting ever to go as far as it did tonight. Not ever in the past.’

‘Then why did you permit it this evening?’ he demanded. He was still furious with her, but the shaking had stopped, much to his relief.

This was the first time Kim had been angry or spoken one harsh word to her, and Katharine decided it would be far wiser to smooth his ruffled feathers rather than plunge into a long and complicated discussion about sex. Her eyes and her mouth smiled at him gently. ‘I didn’t really allow it. It just sort of … well … happened, and before I could stop it. I let things get out of hand, I suppose. Perhaps because I am so terribly tired. Not thinking clearly. And despite what you believe, these past few weeks have been difficult for me. I take the screen test very seriously,’ she continued, adopting a different tack to divert him. ‘It has put extra pressures on me. And frankly, today in particular has been quite rough. I had an important lunch, and then Norman dropped the bombshell, about Terry being sick. Also, there was the strain of tonight’s performance, and Norman’s –’

‘It strikes me you’re only tired and feeling the strain when you’re with me. Alone with me. And that’s another thing. Inviting Norman over here to talk about blasted antiques, when you knew we had this very special date! I could have given the same information to you to pass on to him or Terry quite easily, you know. And whilst we’re on the subject of other people, what’s so important about lunch with my sister?’

‘Didn’t Francesca tell you she’s going to adapt a scene from Wuthering Heights? For my screen test?’ she asked, ignoring the comment about Norman and making her voice sweet and melting, hoping to mollify him. She could hardly tell him the real reason for Norman’s presence in the flat, not without breaking a confidence and her promise. And that she would never do.

‘Yes, she did,’ Kim said edgily.

‘It was important to me, even if you don’t see it that way. I’m very grateful for Francesca’s help. And look, I’m sorry I upset you. I am, honestly.’

Kim was silent. He lit another cigarette, and then poured himself a glass of wine, stepping away from the coffee table and Katharine quickly. He positioned himself in front of the fireplace as before, his face set, a small pulse beating in his temple. He was still seething inside. His feelings of hurt, anger and frustration sprang, not unnaturally, from his disappointment, and the belief that she had wilfully led him on, only to finally reject him. Kim Cunningham was not accustomed to being rejected.

On the contrary, until he had met Katharine Tempest, he had been the pursued rather than the pursuer, for like his father, he was irresistibly attractive to women from all walks of life. For a young man not yet twenty-two he was remarkably experienced sexually and had a voracious appetite. Before the advent of Katharine in his life, he had had one involved love affair and a number of liaisons of lesser significance. His only involved relationship, until Katharine, had been with the German princess he had met on a skiing holiday in Königssee, when visiting his cousins Diana and Christian. Astrid, the lady in question, had been seven years his senior, twenty-six at the time, and married. It was the latter reason which had led the Earl to intervene, but only at the request of the irate husband. The prince had not taken too kindly to his younger wife’s dalliance with a nineteen-year-old ‘pup’, as he disparagingly termed Kim. Although the Earl had immediately articulated his annoyance to Kim and insisted the affair end, he had been amused. He was also patently aware it was merely a passing fancy on the part of the princess, who had married a fortune she had no intention of forgoing, and therefore in no way represented a threat to his son.

Kim thought of Astrid now. She had been so warm and loving and passionate, and it was she who had awakened his latent sensuality, the voluptuousness that lay hidden behind his contained and reserved façade. It was Astrid who had imparted her own expertise to him, which in turn had been so appreciated by all of those other young women who had followed in her footsteps. For reasons unknown to himself, and despite his now well-developed needs, Kim had never pressed Katharine into succumbing to his advances, or been sexually aggressive with her. In fact, he had always been extraordinarily restrained. He wondered about this as he continued to ruminate in front of the fire, sipping his drink, and he came to the conclusion that he had been behaving in a way that was quite foreign to his nature. Was that because she herself was always so restrained? No, controlled was a much better word. He was not sure, and he was also puzzled. Why had he invariably handled her with kid gloves?

Watching him intently, Katharine now recognized and with a sense of dismay, that Kim’s anger was not going to dissipate as rapidly as she had anticipated. He had never acted in this manner before, when she had adroitly sidestepped him, slithering out of his embraces, laughing lightly, reproving him, but sweetly so, making plausible excuses. She asked herself if Kim was going to become a problem in the way the others had been a problem, and her heart dropped. She did not relish the idea of having to fight him off physically, which inevitably became ugly and unpleasant. In the past she had always been able to deal with him without affronting him. In her own way Katharine loved Kim, and she had set her heart on marrying him. She was fully aware that she could not afford to hurt him again, not like this, and perhaps lose him in the process, simply because she baulked at lovemaking.

Her eyes rested on him. He looked so handsome in his Anglo-Saxon way, with his pleasant, open and sensitive face and fine eyes and fair hair. Perhaps it was his very Englishness, as well as his refinement and his aristocratic bearing, that was so appealing.

‘Kim …’ she began in her silkiest voice.

‘Yes?’ he responded frostily.

She ignored the tone and gave him a look guaranteed to warm the hardest of hearts. ‘We have tomorrow, darling. I’ll be feeling better by then and –’

‘We don’t have tomorrow,’ he told her peremptorily. ‘I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but I’m afraid my father has cancelled the dinner.’

Surprise registered in Katharine’s eyes and she stared at him. ‘Oh!’ she said after a pause, and then, most carefully, ‘Might I ask the reason why?’ She had not considered the Earl to be an obstacle and this announcement momentarily threw her off balance.

‘The old man had a call from the bailiff at Langley, earlier this evening. Some pipes have burst and ruined parts of the panelling in the Widow’s Gallery where a lot of the family portraits by Gainsborough, Lely and Romney hang. Fortunately, none of the paintings has been damaged, but my father is worried the leak might have spread to other areas underneath the panelling. Areas not visible. We have to get to Langley as quickly as possible. We’re leaving for Yorkshire at the crack of dawn.’

‘Oh Kim, I am sorry! Really and truly,’ Katharine said with absolute sincerity. ‘It must be awfully worrying for your father … and you, too, of course. How awful.’ Disappointed though she was, she forced a smile on to her face. And then she admitted the truth, as she said, ‘I thought perhaps your father didn’t like me, didn’t approve of me.’ Her voice, low and quiet, sounded so plaintive and she was gazing at Kim with such a woebegone expression in her eyes, he was suddenly unable to sustain his anger. His rage fell away as swiftly as it had attacked him.

‘Don’t be a silly goose. He thinks you’re smashing. And so do I. I suppose that’s the root of the problem.’ Kim gave her a gentle smile, quickly replaced by a shamefaced look, and there was an echo of contriteness as he added, ‘Sorry I was so cross. It’s well … as I said, I do adore you, and you’ve kept me at arm’s length for ages.’ He attempted a cheery laugh, not very successfully. ‘Come to think of it, you were much more … responsive, shall we say, when we first met. I expect that’s why I became so furious tonight. You are very baffling, you know.’

Katharine did not answer immediately. She sought a way to appease him further, make amends and bind him to her. Why not tell him the truth. Instantly she changed her mind. Partial truths were infinitely more appropriate, so much easier to deal with, and by everyone. She patted the sofa. ‘Please, Kim, come here. I’d like to explain about tonight. At least try.’

He sat down beside her, and she took his hand in hers, stroking it, playing with his strong fingers absently. ‘I adore you too, you know, as I’ve tried to tell you in different ways lately. And because I care about you, I can’t play games with you. Lead you on, tease you, get you all excited and then turn you down. I think that would be cruel and provocative. That’s why I’ve kept you at a distance.’ She draped her arms around his neck, lightly, loosely, and stared deeply into his eyes. Then she kissed him on the lips, a long slow kiss that was equally as passionate as any he had given her. She drew away and touched his cheek. ‘But despite my strong feelings, I do want to be sure about us and our deepest emotions before taking that last step. I’m not promiscuous, Kim.’

‘Oh, gosh, Katharine, I never thought you were!’ he protested fiercely.

‘My being chaste with you is as difficult for me as it is for you, Kim,’ she told him, bending the truth. ‘When you became so angry a little while ago I couldn’t stand it. I … I …’ Katharine broke off dramatically and dropped her head, and when she raised it tears were welling in her eyes and glistening on her black lashes. ‘I couldn’t bear to lose you, darling. It would break my heart.’ She took a deep breath. The tears spilled over and trickled down her cheeks in little rivulets. ‘So if you still want to … now … I mean …’ She moved closer to him, pressing her body invitingly against his and kissed him deeply, her hands playing with the tendrils of hair on the back of his neck.

Kim was astonished at her sudden reversal, but before he could sort things out in his head, he felt himself being carried along with her, staggered yet again by the extraordinary sexual power she had over him. His heart was hammering, blood rushed up into his face and he was aroused and losing control. And then, just as he was about to sweep her up in his arms and carry her into the bedroom, some deep-rooted instinct told him to resist this impulse.

Gently, and with a great deal of effort, he extracted himself. He held her away from him, his hands firm on her arms. ‘No,’ he said, his voice gruff. ‘You’re only trying to please me. I want it the way you want it. When it’s exactly right for you. When you feel ready. It has to be perfect between us, Katharine …’ He looked down into her face, upturned to his and awash with sweetness and innocence, and his heart tightened. He said impetuously, ‘And that will only be when we’re married.’ He had surprised himself. He had not intended to propose just yet, but now that he had, he was glad. It struck him then that Katharine had always been different from the other women he had known, because she was extra special and important to him. Undoubtedly this was the real reason why he had always treated her so … so … reverently.

Katharine’s heart seemed to soar at his words. For a moment she was speechless, and she simply stared into his eyes, her own still sparkling with tears.

Kim lifted his hand and wiped her cheeks with the tips of his fingers, first one and then the other. ‘There, I’ve said it. Now you know how much I care.’ He smiled a little lopsidedly. ‘I’m in love with you, Katharine.’ His eyes remained on her face. And he waited.

‘I love you, too,’ she whispered finally.

‘And you will marry me, won’t you, darling?’ he asked anxiously, taking her hands in his.

‘Yes,’ Katharine murmured, her eyes sparkling. ‘I want to very much, Kim.’ She bit her lip and said hesitantly, ‘But I also want us to be very sure about each other.’

‘I am sure! Aren’t you?’ he cried nervously.

She nodded, her face radiant. ‘Oh yes, I’m pretty sure I’m sure.’

Kim relaxed. ‘I’ll have to speak to the old man, before we get engaged.’

‘Don’t! At least, not yet.’

‘Why ever not? You said you’d marry me, and I think he ought to be told of my very serious intentions, our intentions!’ he exclaimed excitedly.

‘Yes, he should,’ she agreed, adding in that same beguiling voice, ‘However, perhaps it’s wiser not to spring it on him for the moment. I feel he ought to get better acquainted with me, just as we should get to know each other a bit more intimately –’

‘Splendid idea!’ he cut in, laughing, and breaking the tension between them.

Katharine laughed too. ‘I didn’t mean it that way, you wolf! Look, Kim, we’ve only been dating a few months and a lot of that time you’ve been in Yorkshire. Let’s wait a while before we announce our engagement. Let’s keep our feelings a secret for the moment. Our secret. Promise?’

‘Can’t I tell Francesca?’

Katharine shook her head.

‘All right, I promise.’ He sounded reluctant.

‘How long will you be in Yorkshire this time?’ she asked, adopting her plaintive little girl’s voice and widening her eyes prettily.

‘A few weeks. Which reminds me, getting back to the cancelled dinner. Father is going to ’phone you tomorrow, some time late morning, to apologize, and also to invite you to Langley for a weekend. You will come, won’t you? I think you should see where you’re going to live, and in the not too distant future if I get my way.’

‘Oh yes, Kim! Of course. I’d love it. When does he want me to come for the visit?’

‘Oh any time in the next month. Actually, he’s going to invite Victor and Nicholas Latimer to join us at the same time. He rather liked them, Victor especially. Doris Asternan will be there, and the old man wants to make it a nice, jolly weekend house party. Gus will be able to drive you up together on a Saturday night after the play. Just as you suggested to Victor, if you remember.’

‘Yes,’ Katharine replied in a subdued tone. ‘How kind of your father.’

‘Then it’s settled.’ Kim took her in his arms and held her close to him, stroking her hair. He lifted her face and kissed her, but pulled away after one kiss, suddenly brimming with laughter. ‘I think you’d better throw me out, before I forget I’m a gentleman, and take you up on that tempting offer you made me a few minutes ago.’

Perhaps any other young woman would have agreed at once to become engaged to Kim. He was young, attractive and intrinsically a kind and loving person. He had position, a title in his own right, and was heir to one of the oldest earldoms in England. In short, he was enormously eligible.

But not Katharine. She was far too intelligent and clever and calculating to rush into the engagement without being assured of the Earl’s blessing. She knew instinctively that, whatever Kim’s feelings, the Earl’s total acceptance of her was crucial. Without his approval, consent, and co-operation, there would be no wedding, of that there was no doubt in her mind. Her shrewdness had prompted the suggestion that the Earl become better acquainted with her. She was confident she could charm him, win him over to her side with the greatest of ease, and in the shortest possible time. However, she was also aware that the engagement of the Earl’s only son and heir would be an occasion for celebration and thus entail all manner of social obligations. Distractions of this nature she could not afford at this time. First she must make the film. That was her most vital priority. And so she had demurred, but she did not believe she was taking a gamble. Katharine was eminently sure of herself, and doubly sure of her place in Kim’s affections.

Now, as she sat relaxing in the bath, she smiled. She had not even considered it a gamble when she had offered herself to him a short while ago. She had enough psychological insight into Kim to understand that his sense of honour and decency would ultimately prevent him from accepting her proposition. Very simply put, his conscience would not permit him to take advantage of a virginal girl. The way she had presented it, with tears and hesitancy, had ensured the outcome. She would never have made the offer if she had believed otherwise.

She lifted a shapely leg and rested her foot on the tap, regarding the pink-painted toenail reflectively. It is better to wait a while before announcing our engagement, and later on I’ll convince Kim that I should continue my acting career. Even if he objects at first, I’ll manage to persuade him. Kim will do anything I want, he loves me so much. She smiled again, filled with happiness, and slipped farther down into the water, so that it lapped around her aching neck and shoulders. She made her body go limp, relaxing completely, and closed her eyes, and the wheels turned endlessly in her head.

It had been an incredible day. Even memorable in one sense, because of Kim’s proposal of marriage. Quite involuntarily she thought of her father. How would he react when he discovered she had married an Englishman and a titled one at that? He hated her, so he wouldn’t care. Inwardly she laughed cynically. But he hated the Sassenachs more, and so he would be furious. How he ranted and raved about the English and what they had done to Ireland. She had grown sick and tired of hearing about the ‘ould sod’ during her childhood, the Potato Famine and the cruelty and the injustices. As if he knew anything about the Potato Famine. It had been long before his time, and anyway he had been born in Chicago. Yes, her father would be irate on principle. The thought of his anger pleased her for she was not without spite where he was concerned.

Well, her life was going to be very different soon, with her success and her fame and her money and her title. And Kim of course. A wonderful life. What a terrible mess Terry has made of his life, she thought with a rush of sadness. But she was going to save him. She would soon straighten him out and get his life organized. He would agree to make the film. He had no option really, because of his terrible financial problems.

Hilary. She was the crux of the matter, not only with Terry but with Mark as well. If she agreed to design the costumes, and there was no reason why she shouldn’t jump at the chance, she could undoubtedly be persuaded to exercise her influence over Mark, to prevail upon him to direct Wuthering Heights. Katharine wished she had thought of Hilary Pierce before. If she had, Mark might have been signed up already, and she would have avoided all those sleepless nights worrying about the right approach to make to him. he adored his wife, who was twenty-two years his junior, and would do anything for her. In turn, Hilary would do anything for Terry.

But would she?

This last possibility had not previously occurred to Katharine and she sat up in the bath with a start. Essentially, her schemes revolved around the assumption that Hilary still cared for Terry. But did she really? Estelle had said Hilary had drooled over Terry all night at the Standish party several months ago. Naturally she still cares, Katharine reassured herself. What woman could resist the opportunity to help a former lover save his career and extricate himself from the cluches of another female, in this instance Alexa Garrett, who was very beautiful and consequently a threat to most women. It was too tempting by far. But I’ll have to have a very serious talk with Hilary, explain everything to her, so that she understands all the ramifications, Katharine added to herself. Understands that Mark is the vital factor, that he must agree to be the director, otherwise Victor might not sign her as the costume designer.

Katharine considered Victor Mason now. A bargain had been struck between them. Although it had not been couched in so many words, Katharine knew, nevertheless, that it was a deal. A deal Victor would hold her to, no matter what. His offer had been irresistible. Her screen test in return for Terrence Ogden and Mark Pierce. Delivered to him on a plate. Victor had failed to persuade them to do the film. She had been given the task of doing it for him. He hadn’t even guaranteed her the part. Only the test. And everything hinged on her success with these two. Until Norman had unwittingly presented her with exactly the right tools, she had been frantically seeking ways to make them change their minds.

A smile of triumph flickered on Katharine’s face as she stepped out of the bath and towelled herself dry. ‘They’re both in the bag!’ she said out loud, still thinking of Terry and Mark. She slipped into her nightgown and padded through into the bedroom, where she sat down at the dressing table. She began to brush her hair, briskly at first and then more slowly. Terry was going to be so grateful to her for arranging everything so beautifully for him, and certainly the film would be a boost to his career. He had nothing to worry about any more, not even the damage to the flat. She would handle all that with Kim’s help. And Hilary would be thrilled to work with a world-famous movie star like Victor Mason. What a marvellous credit for her. It would certainly give her the stamp of approval, and lead to other major pictures. Come to think of it, Mark would be delighted too. His last movie had not been all that well received. Even though he might not at first realize it, he actually needed Wuthering Heights. It was going to be an artistic triumph for him. Why, he might even win an Oscar, just as she herself might. As she continued to gaze at herself in the mirror a beatific expression crossed her face and settled there, and she was filled with such enormous self-gratification it bordered on smugness. This new emotion, so suddenly induced, sprang from the genuine conviction that she was being a wonderful friend, loyal and loving and concerned. A Good Samaritan to Terry, a benefactor to Hilary and Mark Pierce. In her eyes, her actions were so unselfish that they were all the more commendable, and would earn her friends’ undying gratitude.

Katharine Tempest had always had the curious knack of justifying everything she did, especially when other people were involved. She usually managed to convince herself, somewhat misguidedly, that she was motivated out of the sheer goodness of her heart and by the selfless desire to help everyone solve their insurmountable problems. She did not seem to comprehend that she was driven chiefly by self-interest and the need to gain her private ends. And so, with blithe indifference to the consequences, and prodded along by her egotism, she constantly meddled in others’ lives. A most dangerous game.

By the time she climbed into bed and snapped out the light, Katharine had become the heroine of the hour, and holding this thought she contentedly fell fast asleep.