Another Woman (9781468300178)

by Vincenzi, Penny

  And she walked out of the room and out of his life, as he had so often dreamed of her doing, longed for her to do, leaving him utterly chilled, utterly alone.

  Chapter 37

  Theo 2:30pm

  Like Queen Victoria, Theodore Buchan was not interested in the possibilities of defeat; he was reminded of her words to Lord Balfour on the subject that afternoon as he sat in a traffic jam outside Buckingham Palace looking broodingly up at it. He was a great fan of the old Queen; he admired her stubbornness, her shrewdness, her political flair, and above all her preference for conservative principles. He often said he and she would have got on famously; there were those, Harriet amongst them, who observed that the Queen was scarcely likely to have received a man with five wives, let alone got on with him famously, but Theo was quite undeterred by this, explained that he would have won her heart Disraeli-style by making her Empress of his Scottish island and wearing a kilt in the manner of her beloved ghillie, John Brown.

  ‘Theo,’ Harriet had said, ‘not a kilt. Not you.’

  This conversation had led on to a subsequent one of some lewdness, on the subject of what he might have worn under the kilt, and that had led in turn to some fairly intense physical pleasure, as they contemplated together the area under discussion. All this flooded back into his bleak mind, making him first smile and then wince as he remembered Harriet’s most recent assault on his person. It also made him still less interested in the possibility of defeat. He wanted her, he needed her, he loved her; and he was going to have her. It was perfectly simple: merely a matter of patience and logistics. Being strong on logistics he could not see that a great deal of patience should be called for.

  He reached for his car phone, to call his office; the movement hurt his tender balls.

  ‘Bitch,’ he said aloud, ‘bitch.’

  ‘Who, me, Mr Buchan?’ said Myra. ‘What did I do?’

  ‘Nothing, Myra, nothing. Sorry. I’m on my way in.’

  ‘Where are you?’

  ‘In the Mall. Any messages?’

  ‘A few. Mungo called about six times, he wanted to have dinner with you. Hayden Cotton called, can you ring back soonest, he said.’ Myra didn’t like Americans, her clipped upper-class English voice disdainful when she relayed messages, absolutely verbatim, and she spoke to them politely but slightly condescendingly; Theo teased her about it and referred to them in her presence as colonials.

  ‘Mark Protheroe’s rung several times, please ring him, most specifically about CalVin. A Mr Hennessy called, he’s acting for Mrs Buchan, he says, can you call him urgently. James Forrest rang, he wants to see you, maybe this evening. Everything else can wait.’

  ‘Fine. Tell Mungo I’m not sure about dinner, but I’d love to see him and I’ll ring him the minute I’m free. I’ll get the rest when I arrive.’

  He rang off, found himself in another traffic jam in St James’s and rang James.

  ‘James? Theo. You OK? I can’t do dinner, sorry, but –’

  ‘Maggie’s left me,’ said James flatly.

  ‘She’s what?’

  ‘Left me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘She says she hates me.’

  ‘Well, I suppose that could be called a reason,’ said Theo carefully. He eased a cigar out of his top pocket, clipped the end with some difficulty and pushed it into the lighter on the car dashboard.

  ‘It isn’t funny.’

  ‘Of course it isn’t. I’m sorry. Really sorry. Unless it’s what you want, of course …’

  ‘I don’t know what I want,’ said James, and Theo realized he was crying.

  ‘Jamie, what is it? Not Susie?’

  There was a silence; he heard James blowing his nose. ‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘sorry, Theo. No, no, Susie’s fine. False alarm.’

  ‘Rufus?’

  ‘No, not Rufus either.’

  ‘Where – where is Maggie going?’

  ‘Well, she’s talking of buying a flat in London. And then spending a lot of time in Paris, looking after Cressida.’

  ‘Cressida?’ Theo almost drove into a taxi, jammed on his brakes. ‘Sorry,’ he shouted at the cabbie, ‘sorry, mate.’

  ‘Keep your bleeding eyes open,’ said the cabbie equably.

  ‘Theo, what is going on?’ asked James.

  ‘I’m in the car. Almost had an accident. You did say Cressida, James? Really? Have you found her?’

  ‘No. Well, yes, I suppose. She rang Maggie. Told her some extraordinary story and – well, I won’t go into it now.’

  ‘You might as well,’ said Theo, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’

  And he sat there in the midst of the thick Friday afternoon traffic, surrounded by hooting, swearing drivers, a light rain falling now onto the windscreen, listening as James told him Cressida’s story and then, falteringly, clearly upset, Julia’s story. Theo put them together in his mind with Harriet’s story and not for the first time in the past thirty-six hours wondered if he was dreaming.

  ‘Oh, and Theo, did you really ever tell Cressida the full extent of Julia’s father’s wealth? I really had no idea it was such serious money.’

  ‘Yes I did,’ said Theo with a sigh. ‘I didn’t mean to, but she was very good at wheedling information out of one. I told her I’d just seen the old bugger, at a convention in Palm Beach. He’s virtually a recluse these days, but still obsessed with the heart of his business which is computer technology.’

  ‘Well, I’m afraid that rather confirms Julia’s story,’ said James wearily. ‘She said she thought it was you who’d told Cressida.’

  ‘Mea culpa,’ said Theo, ‘I’m sorry, James.’

  There was a silence. Then James said, ‘Well, I don’t suppose it would have made that much difference. She’d have found out somehow. If Julia’s right.’

  ‘I don’t think you should assume that.’

  ‘Maybe not. I’m trying not to.’ There was another silence, then he said, ‘And Maggie’s gone. She wants a divorce.’

  ‘Oh Jamie,’ Theo said finally, as he eased the Bentley into the car park beneath his office, ‘I’m sorry. We seem to have made a bit of a hash of things, you and I. If only we could go back to that weekend in Paris and start again –’

  And as he said that he knew who he could talk to, who would advise him about Harriet.

  Janine had returned to the Basil Street Hotel; she said she was delighted to hear from him, but that she was busy just at the moment and would he like to have tea with her.

  ‘And I am not sure if you have heard the news, chéri. I am engaged to be married.’

  ‘Janine, you’re not, you’re supposed to be keeping yourself for me. Who is the swine?’

  ‘The swine is Merlin. Are you not happy for me?’

  ‘Merlin! The old bugger. Janine, that’s the most wonderful thing I’ve heard for – well, for years. Of course I’m happy for you, very happy, delirious in fact. And him. How amazingly cheering. Whenever did that happen?’

  ‘Rather swiftly. Yesterday. Last night. Merlin took me out to dinner and in between bargaining with the waiters he asked me to marry him. You do not think we are a little old for it?’

  ‘Janine, you are two of the youngest people I know. Give the old boy a hug from me. Will he be there at teatime?’

  ‘No, Theo, he will not. He is going off to some unfortunate travel agency to book our honeymoon trip. We are going to China.’

  ‘China! God, I’m jealous. Terribly jealous. But you did promise to marry me next, you know.’

  ‘Well, I am sorry, Theo, but you are married already, are you not?’

  ‘Not for very much longer, Janine,’ said Theo soberly.

  ‘Oh really? And what have you done to the lovely Sasha?’

  ‘She’s done it to me. Taught me a lesson.’

  ‘Then she is a clever girl,’ said Janine. ‘You are not quick to learn lessons, Theo. But I am sorry if you are upset.’

  ‘I’m not,’ said Theo, ‘but I do need advice.’

>   ‘Then you shall have it. For what it is worth.’

  He put the phone down and sat smiling at it. Nothing, with the exception of hearing Harriet tell him she loved him, could have made him feel more cheerful.

  Hayden Cotton had wanted to confirm that he was not putting any money into Harry’s.

  ‘It’s not the figures. Sure, she’s worked them over a bit, but nothing serious. That’s not really the problem, it’s just that the business is no use to me. Not big enough, and she duplicates what we do. And we’re already strong in the UK. It’s a lot of hassle for no real return. Pity, she’s a bright girl, and a brilliant designer. She just isn’t a businesswoman. I’d like to hire her, but I don’t think she’d come.’

  ‘Hire her as what?’ asked Theo.

  ‘As a designer. I’m thinking of launching a new range. More upmarket. Think of Ralph Lauren. Well, Diffusion Ralph Lauren.’

  ‘What’s Diffusion?’

  ‘Oh, it’s a kind of a budget line for the top designers. Jean Muir does Studio, Lagerfeld does KL, that sort of thing. And then think evening too. Not frocks, exactly, more tailored. Female dinner jackets.’

  ‘Tough one to crack I’d have thought,’ said Theo.

  ‘I know. But it’s there. The potential. And I think she could be my girl.’

  ‘Mm,’ said Theo thoughtfully. ‘Based where?’

  ‘Oh, over here, it would have to be here. I could put together a terrific package for her. But she’s such an independent creature, I really don’t think she’d come.’

  ‘I don’t think she would either,’ said Theo, ‘but it’s exactly right for her. And she’s right for you and the idea. And it could altogether – Actually, Hayden –’

  ‘Yeah?’

  ‘I tell you what would make her come.’

  Michael Hennessy, representing Mrs Sasha Buchan, was humourless, pompous and extremely efficient. Mrs Buchan wanted a divorce, a quick, no-fault divorce, she had no desire to be vindictive, but she said that if Mr Buchan was going to contest it she would tell the press how she had acquired CalVin. Mr Buchan said he had no intention whatsoever of contesting it, and that he was very happy to go along with Mrs Buchan’s request. Mr Hennessy said Mrs Buchan was prepared to be reasonable on the matter of settlement, in fact her demands were extremely modest, she would like a small London house, and a realistic income – ‘The word realistic is of course open to interpretation and discussion,’ said Mr Hennessy. ‘Indeed,’ said Theo – ‘and she would also like you to give bank guarantees as and when required for the business she intends to set up, as an independent financial adviser, and she wants a flat sum, in the region of a hundred thousand pounds, with which to set up the business.’

  ‘The hell she does,’ said Theo. ‘She can find her own banker.’

  ‘She said you might say that, Mr Buchan, and in that eventuality, asked me to remind you again about the matter of the CalVin company.’

  ‘This is blackmail,’ said Theo.

  ‘That is a very serious allegation, Mr Buchan.’

  ‘It’s a statement of fact. But –’ He paused, thinking, then grinned into the phone. ‘OK. Tell her – tell her she can have all that in exchange for a ten per cent share in her company. And a directorship. Strictly non-executive, of course.’

  ‘I will certainly tell her that, Mr Buchan. But I don’t know if Mrs Buchan will agree to it.’

  ‘I think she’ll agree,’ said Theo, ‘she’s a good business-woman, and a good sport. And tell her I’ll throw a copy of the original version of her engagement ring into the melting pot for good measure. On condition she doesn’t sell this one.’

  This obviously defeated Mr Hennessy; Theo bade him good afternoon and put the phone down, smiling. He loved getting the better of lawyers, however briefly.

  He rang Mungo; he was out, Belinda said, showing someone round a new property.

  ‘He’ll be sorry to have missed you, Mr Buchan, he’s been trying to get you all day. Shall I call him on his mobile?’

  ‘Good God, no,’ said Theo, ‘what he’s doing is much more important. Just ask him to call me when he gets back. Tell him I’d love to have dinner with him.’

  ‘Certainly, Mr Buchan.’

  ‘I knew there was someone,’ said Janine, ‘I knew there had to be. She looked so different for a while. She was warmer, softer, she glowed. Sex is very good for the looks, all Frenchwomen know that.’

  ‘Oh, really?’ said Theo. ‘I don’t think it’s ever done a lot for mine.’

  ‘You are not a woman, chéri.’

  ‘That’s true.’

  ‘Besides, I think you are wrong. Anyone can see you are a man of great passion. It shows.’

  ‘Tiens!’ said Theo.

  ‘But of course I did not think it was you. You did well. Nobody knew? Nobody at all?’

  ‘My staff.’

  ‘What, the terrifying Mme Hartman, she knew?’

  ‘She did. And several others. Brian, of course. He spent a lot of time collecting Harriet, driving her to airports, that sort of thing. Various housekeepers. But nobody else – I don’t think. I like running secrets. It appeals to me.’

  ‘And Cressida?’

  ‘Ah,’ said Theo, ‘yes.’

  He had told Janine, because he’d wanted to, because he thought she had earned it, because he trusted her, all the Cressida stories. ‘Which one do you favour, Janine?’

  ‘I agree certainly with the doctor, that she was disturbed. A very difficult personality. She always was. A charming, difficult, disruptive child.’

  ‘I would have thought Harriet was the disruptive one,’ said Theo.

  ‘No, no, not at all. You were all so wrong about that. Harriet suffered greatly from Cressida. She seemed difficult herself, yes, and her parents could never see anything really wrong with Cressida’s behaviour, it was always, every time, a surprise, they would say oh, but she has always been so good, how strange that her teacher should say she is being naughty in the classroom and not working at school, or how can it be, when she is normally so thoughtful and sensible, that she failed to come home until almost half past three? They never put two and three together –’

  ‘Two and two, Janine.’

  ‘Oh, well, whatever. And the squabbling with Harriet, they always thought it was her fault, because Harriet was the one caught shouting, or hitting her, and Cressida would be sitting there crying. I could see Cressida very often started these things, but they would not accept it. She was very good at appearing to be the victim, indeed thinking herself the victim. But she was so loving, so sweet to them, could wrap Maggie especially right round her thumb.’

  ‘Finger.’

  ‘Finger then. One of the reasons I have fallen in love with Merlin, Theo, is that he never corrects my English.’

  ‘Sorry, Janine.’

  ‘And now she is doing it again. She could lie and lie, with those great eyes of hers wide. I often caught her out, I have sharp eyes of my own, but again her parents nearly always believed her. And if they didn’t, then she could turn on the shower and win them round.’

  ‘Oh, really?’ said Theo with a heavy sigh, silently translating shower into tap and thinking that Cressida’s light, cosmetic tears were actually more reminiscent of a shower, and at the end of them she looked as pretty as when she started. Harriet on the other hand cried noisily, heavily and messily and ended up with red eyes, smudged mascara and a runny nose.

  ‘I’m afraid,’ he said, ‘she took me in very thoroughly too. I loved her, loved her company, enjoyed taking her away with me.’

  ‘She had – has great charm,’ said Janine. ‘I enjoyed her company too. In spite of everything. And remembering things you had said to her, which is always enchanting, and making small pretty gestures. She never forgot my birthday, always wrote sweet thankyou notes – she was easy to love. And Harriet – more difficult. She kept you at a distance.’

  ‘Well, I found Harriet very easy to love,’ said Theo mournfully. ‘Dreadfully, danger
ously easy to love. Merlin always adored her,’ he added, ‘never really liked Cressida.’

  ‘Merlin is a man of great perception,’ said Janine with a slight complacency.

  ‘You sound as if you’d been married to him for years and years already,’ said Theo laughing.

  ‘I only wish we had. But I tell you, Theo, I cannot quite accept this story of the belle Julia’s. I do not believe Cressida is so bad as that.’

  ‘Well, whether it was true or not, Julia believed it. Believed Cressida could be bought off. Or at any rate a variation on that theme. James saw the letter. Oh, Janine, I don’t know. Poor old Jamie’s in a terrible state.’

  ‘I know it,’ said Janine, ‘and he has other problems as well, I think. I expect he too will be here before very long.’ She smiled at Theo wryly. ‘He always comes to me when things go wrong for him; when they are right, I do not hear from him. Cressida has much of that quality too, I think. But Theo, you are not here to discuss Cressida or James. What can we do to help you? And Harriet?’

  ‘You don’t think it’s a disgraceful idea then?’ said Theo cautiously.

  ‘Absolutely disgraceful,’ said Janine, smiling again. ‘Unsuitable, impractical, almost incestuous. What her father will have to say I really hate to think. But I cannot think of two people better suited to loving one another. Except for me and Merlin of course. Two delightful surprises in one day. Now let us put ourselves together and think how you can overcome this little temporary problem you have run into.’