Roumelia Lane - The Scented Hills

by Roumelia Lane

  She waited, listening for sounds from his room, but when lunch time came around it began to look as though she was going to have to battle through another meal downstairs. While she was changing from her travelling clothes into something light just in case, Barry's door opened and she heard him pass, whistling cheerfully as he made his way downstairs. Breathlessly she fled after him, but he had reached the dining room and was strolling in before she could get down to the hall. She pulled herself up hastily, tidying herself up at a wall mirror downstairs, and struggling for composure. There was nothing to do now but try to carry on as normal, at least until she could get Barry on his own. Her eyes looked big and dark in the paleness of her face. She pushed her hair into place and with thudding heart made her way into lunch.

  Neil held her gaze as she took her seat at the table. His night couldn't have been much better than her own. The tanned features were slightly worn-looking. There were lines she hadn't seen before around his mouth. She dragged her gaze away from his and let it rest thankfully on Barry's handsome and undisturbing countenance. She wondered how his evening had gone. It couldn't have been bad, for he was gay and high-spirited and he kept the table alive merely by his presence.

  Madame Devereux, doting as ever where her grandson was concerned, had eyes for no one else. Which made it better for Tessa. She had only Neil to worry about, and she had no intention of letting her gaze wander to meet his again.

  Nicolette's appearances with the different courses seemed endless, but at last everyone was picking shiny black grapes from the beautifully patterned dishes in front of them and Barry was airing his plans for taking himself and Tessa off immediately afterwards. This suited Tessa. She couldn't wait to get away.

  She sat around in the car while Barry got what he wanted from his room, and only started to breathe again when they were shooting off up the drive. It was against her better judgement to talk to Barry about anything serious when he had the wheel of the car in his hand, but today she had no time to wait for the right moment.

  As the nose of the tangerine sports car set towards Juan she plunged straight in with, 'Barry, I've been waiting to talk to you all morning. I'm leaving. I would have gone last night, but there was no way of letting you know.'

  Perhaps Barry didn't trust himself at the wheel either in matters of gravity, for he screeched off on to a side road and pulled up with a lurch that sent them both sprawling. After a few scowling moments when his brain was obviously struggling with the information it had received he said in surly tones, 'I don't dig?'

  Tessa shrugged, looking mildly apologetic. 'I'm sorry if it doesn't fit in with your plans, but I'm leaving. Now. As soon as I've said goodbye to your grandmother.'

  'Oh, I see.' Barry nodded his head with a curling smile. 'You take everything that's going, while it's going, then when you've had enough you just fade out, is that it?'

  Tessa kept her patience. It wasn't difficult for the unhappiness inside her was a stone weight in her emotions. She answered dispiritedly, 'I stayed on because you asked me to, Barry. To give you time to make other arrangements for seeing Elaine, remember?'

  Barry was fiddling with a matchstick from his pocket. He flicked it carelessly out of the car and watching its flight said with idle satisfaction, 'This is the perfect set-up. Why should I change it?'

  Tessa pulled a contradictory smile. 'I wouldn't be too sure,' she replied slowly.

  'What do you mean?' There was no sign of alarm in his tones. He asked the question while indolently stretching his legs.

  'Neil knows there's nothing between us,' Tessa replied evenly.

  'How does he know?' Barry turned to her. 'Have you told him ?'

  'Of course I haven't told him,' she said coldly.

  'Then how does he know?' he taunted like a small boy getting the better of a playmate.

  Tessa shrugged helplessly. How did you explain what you could read in a man's eyes?

  Watching her struggle for words, Barry sneered, 'You'll say anything to chicken out, won't you? Neil might know everything, but he hasn't rumbled me yet.'

  It was true in a way; Tessa drew a weary breath. He knew she didn't love Barry, but he wasn't sure how Barry felt about her, and he wouldn't do anything to hurt him; to protect him maybe, but not to hurt him.

  She said, sinking back into her seat, 'I really didn't come out here for a discussion, Barry, merely to tell you of my plans for leaving. If you'll drive me back I'll pick up my case and be on my way.'

  Barry switched the car on with the same casual air with which he had tossed the matchstick away, and then he swerved and jerked until they were on the main road again. He caught Tessa's enquiring frown when she saw that they were not turning back towards the villa and widened his smile to say smoothly, 'My plans are to see Elaine in Juan, and I always get what I want.'

  To dispense with any further conversation he shot the car forward, shutting off Tessa's breath and leaving her battling with her flying headscarf as they streaked towards Juan-les-Pins. She let him have his way. There wasn't much else she could do. He knew he had her at his mercy until he chose to bring her back to the villa. But he would have to do so some time and then she would waste no time in making a quick exit.

  As the car dropped down towards the jumble of red rooftops and sun-baked streets she was beginning to see now what Neil meant when he had made the joking comment about a live hornet's nest. Barry was a warm lovable boy when he was getting his own way. When he wasn't, he was wild and ruthless.

  The town seemed flattened by the heat. Everyone was either stretched in the shade or sprawled under awnings toying with cooling drinks. Tessa was glad that Barry didn't make for the blinding glare of the beach. He walked instead to where the leafy garden of an exclusive hotel grew down to the edge of the white sand, and wide steps rose gently to a row of open glass doors. Moving out of the sun, Tessa found the inky shadows of palms and dark flowering vine, like slipping into cool silk. She stood with Barry while he greeted and jostled his friends good-humouredly, then her attention was drawn towards the doorway. Elaine, exquisitely attired in ice-blue sun-dress and heavy sunglasses, was stepping slowly down the steps. She lowered a cool smile over the group in front of her, then stopped as though waiting for something to happen. Barry looked up. His eyes kindled excitedly at the sight of her. He took the steps three at a time, but Tessa noticed that the smile on those lovely features didn't actually warm up until he had reached her side.

  Everyone drifted inside and Tessa followed. One of Barry's friends bought her a tall cool drink and she found an armchair and sipped it unhurriedly. The meeting places that Barry and his friends chose, then lounged around in as though they were their own, never ceased to fill her with quiet awe. She gazed now at white quilted walls, red and white leather armchairs and acres of polished tiled floors. People were padding out in the minimum of clothing, and the hotel staff looked hot in high-necked gold-braided jackets and trousers.

  She watched the scene half-heartedly for almost two hours, then rose from her chair. Knowing Barry she could be here for another two hours yet, so she might as well go and freshen up and then take a walk either in the hotel or in the shade outside.

  After some uncertain exploration she found the ladies' powder room in the far corner of the huge lounge. As she might have expected the interior was shiningly elegant in rose pink and silver, with enough mirrors to pave a road. It was while she was going in at the door that she heard the businesslike click-click of slim heels over the polished floor. Without looking she knew beyond a doubt that Elaine was coming up fast behind.

  There was a pointed echoing silence as the two of them entered and stood in the otherwise empty room, then willing herself into action Tessa took a comb from her handbag and proceeded to tidy her hair. She felt a sharp cold gaze on her and then Elaine was saying in high-pitched brittle tones, 'I hear you're thinking of leaving?'

  'Not thinking,' Tessa smiled. 'It's quite definite, I'm afraid.'

  Her words seemed to
hang on the air. Elaine gave no sign that she had heard them, except perhaps in her breathing which appeared to be slightly more rapid. After a long moment, she said in a tight voice, 'Don't you think you might have consulted either Barry or me, before making up your mind?'

  Tessa shrugged, unable to feel anything but the dead weight inside her. 'These things happen,' she said slackly, dropping her comb back into her bag.

  'You mean when you get it into your head to walk out, you don't give a damn for anyone else?'

  Elaine was still breathing quickly and Tessa turned to look at her more closely. She felt vaguely puzzled. She had expected to find her unhappy at the news that she, Tessa, was leaving, but there was something like frustrated anger here, bubbling below the surface.

  Tessa said as apologetically as she could manage, 'I'm sorry if I'm messing things up for you and Barry, but…'

  'Oh, of course you're sorry!' Elaine cracked an icy laugh, tossing her head back and then bringing it forward to slant a smile of contempt over Tessa. 'Don't think I don't know how your homespun little heart leapt when Barry picked on you to come out here.' She walked around her. 'I had to smile when I saw you all big-eyed and open-mouthed at the fish you thought you'd landed.'

  'I keep forgetting Barry's a millionaire,' Tessa said with a small smile.

  'Of course you do.' Elaine swayed close to her, folding her arms. 'And isn't it a pity that he's going to marry me?'

  'Not at all.' Tessa met the veiled grey gaze thoughtfully, then turned away to say listlessly, 'And seeing that it's all settled, you don't need me.'

  Elaine was beside her in one step. 'You know the position between Barry and his guardian,' she said coldly.

  'Maybe the three of you should get together,' Tessa shrugged.

  'I prefer to keep things as they are,' Elaine pulled a smile.

  'Sorry I can't oblige.' Tessa turned her steps towards the door. She had almost reached it when she felt sharp fingernails on her arm and Elaine was jerking her back to say smoulderingly, 'Now listen here, little miss brown owl. Just because you're out of the running it doesn't mean to say you can run out on me. I've worked hard to get this far, and I'm not going to lose everything now.'

  'Everything being Barry and his money?' Tessa said, brushing aside the last wisp of deception between them, and not liking what she saw.

  'What else?' Elaine lifted her slender shoulders and then crooked a glance at Tessa to muse superciliously, 'Don't tell me the same thing hasn't been on your quiet little mind all these weeks?'

  Tessa gritted her teeth on this suggestion. She was getting a little tired of it, from one source and another. Because she didn't answer Elaine seemed to think she had touched on a tender spot. She stayed with it to query with acid humour, 'Jealous, darling, because Barry prefers me to you?' She lowered a gaze of amused pity over Tessa in her simple dress and sandals and turning to smooth a hand down her own perfect form in the full-length mirror she purred, 'I've got something you'll never have, child. Something the men want.'

  'Barry's only a boy,' Tessa said quietly. 'And what about love? Doesn't that come into it?'

  'But of course.' Elaine waved the flashing ring on her finger unashamedly, patted the superb cut of her sun-dress and smiled. 'Love of beautiful things, rich living, endless bank account…'

  'And Barry,' Tessa repeated, watching her, 'doesn't he deserve something?'

  'He'll be getting something, darling,' Elaine cooed, gazing admiringly over her reflection again in the mirror. 'He'll have me for a wife.'

  Tessa watched the preening figure, feeling slightly sick. Poor Barry! He didn't deserve it, but he was so dazzled by Elaine's beauty, no one would ever be able to tell him. Considering she had seen enough, she made for the door and said heavily, 'I know he can't wait for that day, Elaine, but

  I'm glad I won't be around to see it.'

  Elaine dragged her gaze reluctantly from the mirror and flashed sudden fire to warn, 'If you know what's good for you, you'll stay at the villa.'

  'I'm leaving.' Tessa met the furious gaze squarely. 'I've never been more sure of anything in my life!' She held on to the gaze as she went out, and closed the door with the feeling that something would come hurtling against it at any moment.

  She made her way as naturally as she could considering that her legs were shaking from the encounter, back to her armchair and sank down. Some time later when the glare of the sun had diminished and a breeze stirred the giant blossoms in the gardens, she went out to Barry's car to wait.

  His face when he finally appeared was frowning and sour. He dropped into the driving seat and let out a pent-up breath to say tightly, 'Elaine's talking about packing up and moving out.' Tessa was trying to think of a suitable comment when he turned on her to say bitterly, 'She knows you couldn't care less about us. She told me about you treating her like dirt, just because she asked you to stay on.'

  Tessa pulled in a sigh to say calmly, 'Barry, I think I've waited around for you long enough. Would you drive me back to the villa, please?'

  'And watch you walk out on us?'

  'Yes, if that's the way you want to put it,' she replied with some irritation.

  He thrust his foot on the starter and jerking the car forward accused morosely, 'You know if you go I lose Elaine.'

  'Maybe that's the way it has to be.' Tessa lifted her shoulders.

  'Maybe…!' Barry swung the wheel as though it was a spinning top in his hands. As he slewed out on to the road he tacked on with the thoughtful curl of a smile, 'And then again… maybe not!'

  Tessa didn't know what he was muttering about and she didn't much care. She had had a trying day and little or no sleep last night, and the thought of having to go back to the

  Villa Valrose, even though it was only to pick up her case, made her pulses hammer. As they came up to the house after a whirlwind drive she willed herself not to look out for a big tanned figure on the terrace, to evade at all costs the piercing green gaze, if in the event that she did run into Neil before hurrying away.

  Occupied as she was solely with her own escape, the reception waiting for them on the terrace came as a cold hard shock. Nicolette, her correct starched ribbons flying behind her as she ran out, her eyes scaring in fear in her face, poured forth non-stop in French to Barry at the wheel. Tessa saw the colour drop from his face and then he was swinging round to her to say shakily, 'It's Grand'mere. She's had a heart attack!'

  'Oh no!' Tessa looked at him in shocked concern. She found herself being pushed out of the car as he started the engine again. He shouted over the top of the noise, 'The phone has to pick this time of all times to pack up. Maurice has gone for the doctor, but in that old steam engine, he'll be hours.' He slammed the door shut and shot away.

  Tessa swayed on the terrace. Thinking of the slow-moving chauffeur, in the ambling limousine, she knew Barry was right to go for the doctor himself. She watched the vivid car disappear up the drive, then followed the agitated Nicolette inside. She was led by her arm to the darkened drawing room, where the shadowy figures of two servants from the back of the house were fluttering uncertainly. Madame Devereux was propped up in her usual wing chair. In the dim light the silk-clad figure looked very frail, but the face, Tessa thought, looked as serene as ever, though a little pale.

  She was mildly surprised when the transparent eyelids fluttered open and the light of recognition smiled in the faded eyes.

  'Taysa!' Madame Devereux lifted an arm. 'Help me to my room.'

  Tessa looked doubtful. 'Do you think you should?' she asked gently. 'I mean, if you've been ill?'

  'Malade?' The old lady considered for a while, then touched her chest with the suggestion of a twinkle and rose. 'C'est rien… Just a little indigestion,' she smiled. As Nicolette rushed ashen-faced to her side she patted the maid's arm with a soft, 'Chbre Nicolette! Always imagining the worst.' She took Tessa's outstretched arm and kindly but firmly turned away from the worried maid's hold, saying, 'Voila assez. Taysa will look after me now.'


  Walking out of the room, Tessa felt her spirits lift. Madame Devereux's walk was almost as strong as her own, and though she leaned considerably it didn't seem to be so much with weakness as good-humoured irritation at the fluttering anxiety of the servants along the way.

  When they were half-way up the stairs, she asked in strong tones, 'Where is Barry?'

  'He's gone for the doctor,' Tessa replied, amused at her own apologetic tones.

  'Barry has gone for le docteur, Maurice has gone for le docteur…' Madame Devereux lifted her shoulders, twinkling at the shuffling servants below, and finished with a mildly puzzled smile. 'And all for a little estomac derange! Tiens! Now if Neil were here…'

  Tessa moved along towards the bedroom door feeling her heart shoot into her throat. In the commotion of the past ten minutes, she had forgotten her own panic, and the fact that Neil might step out from somewhere at any moment. But when her pulses stopped flying she knew what Madame Devereux meant. If he had been here he would have had the situation completely under control.

  She accompanied the frail figure into the room, and helped where she could to get her settled into bed, chattering lightly about this and that to dispel the gloom that seemed to have dropped over the house. The room too, she thought, could do with a little light and air. She skipped around adjusting the shutters on the balconies so that something of the flowers and gardens could be seen, and playfully tried to coax a bird that was swaying on a climbing vine to hop on to her hand. They were all incredibly tame around the villa, due no doubt to the generous helpings of titbits they received, and one could usually succeed in making friends.

  Propped up against huge pillows watching, Madame Devereux's eyes held an animated light. She patted the place beside her when Tessa turned indoors and twinkled, 'Come and sit here. It's nice to have a young girl to look after me.'