Kim refused to hire a servant. Doing the household chores, she insisted, was one way of occupying herself. When she had time to spare, she would go for long walks along the promenade, and occasionally she drove into town to do the odd bit of shopping. This was how she spent her time during the remainder of the winter, and well into the spring.
Bill arrived one evening and found Kim pacing the living-room floor. 'All alone?' he asked with raised eyebrows.
'No.' She gestured towards the closed door. 'Adam and Ursula are in the study, poring over papers that look terribly complicated, and sound frightening.'
Bill frowned angrily. 'I think it's a damn shame that Adam should treat you like this. You've only been married… how long?'
'Six months,' Kim replied, forcing her unwilling lips into a smile.
'Six months!' he exclaimed, his red hair flaming in the lamplight. 'He behaves as if you've been married for years! Adam has always taken his job seriously, but this time he seems to have gone beyond the limit.'
'Bill, I'm frightened,' Kim admitted suddenly after a brief silence, her hair veiling her troubled expression as she lowered her head. 'There's no one else I can talk to… except you.'
He smiled encouragingly. 'I'm a good listener.'
Kim bit her lip and hesitated briefly. It was difficult to talk about the things that disturbed her deeply, but, despite her stubborn independence, this was a problem she could not solve on her own. 'You must have noticed that the relationship between Ursula and myself is rather strained,' she began tentatively, taking a deep breath before making her next statement. 'Ursula resents the fact that I'm married to Adam. She considers him her property.'
Bill lit a cigarette and blew the smoke towards the ceiling. 'That may be so, but there's absolutely nothing she can do about it, is there?'
'Except to force us apart.'
Bill sustained her troubled glance for a long time before asking quite calmly, 'You're not going to let her succeed, are you?'
Kim sighed dejectedly, letting her hair swing back on to her shoulders. 'I don't see how I'm going to avoid it. She has all the weapons on her side. She spends all day with him at work, and almost every evening. She's beautiful, intelligent, on Adam's wavelength as they say, and she also has the added advantage of once being his… girl-friend.' Kim steadied her trembling lips. 'If this was a competition, then I wouldn't stand a chance, and Ursula's going all out to get him.'
'Adam could have married Ursula if he'd wanted to, but he didn't,' Bill pointed out. 'He married you.'
'You might as well know, Bill, that Adam married me at a time when he thought he no longer had a future as a scientist. He was in a dreadful state when I met him, physically and mentally. He needed help and guidance, and I happened to be the only one who could give it to him. Our marriage started in the most unorthodox fashion, as a business arrangement, until such time that other arrangements could be made.' Kim bit her lip. 'Does this shock you?'
'No, it's typical of Adam.'
'Well, eventually we discovered that we… liked each other enough to make our marriage a real one, and we were happy. But that was at Heron's Bay, without the disturbing influence of Ursula Bennett to bring back memories of what could have been.'
'Has Adam's behaviour towards you changed?'
Kim shook her head firmly. 'No… except that our conversations are now spiced with "Ursula says", and "Ursula suggests".'
Bill scowled down at the remainder of his cigarette before crushing it into an ashtray. 'You shouldn't allow her to take over Adam's life so completely.'
'How do you suggest I prevent it?' Her eyes turned involuntarily towards the study door. 'Ursula has a perfectly valid reason for spending so much time with Adam, and I don't know enough about their work to contradict this.'
'There are other methods of making Adam more aware of you,' Bill stated reflectively. 'You're far too retiring about the whole situation. You should go out and beat her at her own game.'
Kim's lips curled with amusement. 'How?'
'Do you have money of your own?'
'Yes… as well as a generous allowance from Adam which I rarely use. Why?'
'Well, my dear Kim, you're going to go out and buy yourself some stunning clothes. Get rid of your slacks and sweaters, and dowdy little dresses. What you need are some fantastic creations that will do justice to your figure.' Bill's glance swept over her critically. 'The next thing you've got to do is have your hair cut slightly shorter, and styled to suit your new image. Lastly, a visit to a beautician would do wonders. They could tell you what make-up to use, and demonstrate how it should be applied to gain the best results.'
'You make me sound terribly gauche,' Kim laughed self-consciously, but her interest was aroused.
'Heaven help me that I should give you that impression, Kim,' he said quickly, with a seriousness that sat comically on his usually merry face. 'To me you're fine just as you are, but if you're going to wage war against Ursula, then you'll need every weapon you can lay your hands on.'
'What's the use, Bill?' she sighed defeatedly after a brief moment of thought. 'Adam is blind.'
'That's where I come in,' he told her. 'You?'
'Yes, my dear.' His eyes were dancing with merriment. 'I shall start by flashing compliments around when Adam is about, and I shall go quite lyrical in my detailed description of what you're wearing, and so forth. Another thing,' he continued after a brief pause, 'start wearing perfume. Get yourself something with a delicate fragrance that will intrigue Adam, and which is not as overpowering as the kind Ursula normally uses.'
Kim caught her thumbnail between her teeth and considered Bill's suggestions quite seriously. 'You make it all sound so exciting, but will it work?'
Bill raised his hands in the air in mock despair. 'If it doesn't, we could always pretend, as a last resort, that I've been smitten by you. That should make Adam sit up and take notice.'
'Poor Adam,' she said simply, envisaging his confusion if such drastic measures had to be taken.
Bill gazed at her intently. 'You love him very much, don't you?'
'I love him so much that I'm willing to try anything to ensure that Ursula remains in the past,' she admitted with a touch of aggressiveness that surprised even herself.
'Good girl!' he smiled, clasping her hand swiftly. 'Do as I say and leave the rest to Uncle Bill.'
Almost a week had passed before Kim plucked up enough courage to do as Bill had suggested. She was going to make herself as attractive as possible for a man who would never be able to see her. It was both ridiculous and exciting, as well as incredibly sad.
At an exclusive boutique in the city she selected an entire new wardrobe that took her breath away, and made a sizeable dent in her allowance. At this stage, Kim was beyond caring about the final cost of this unusual operation. She had been dazzled by the beauty of those expensive garments which would certainly compare favourably with anything Ursula chose to wear.
Her next stop was at the hairdresser, and she stared in dismay at the ostentatiously dressed man who approached her. Jacques, as he introduced himself in a practised French accent, wore tight-fitting scarlet trousers, a silky lilac shirt, and a yellow scarf tied about his neck. His hair was long, sleek, and well-groomed, and he gestured delicately with his slender hands as he raved about the colour of her hair, but he shook his head sadly at the neglect. Kim's anger rose sharply, but subsided swiftly as he began to explain. He would cut and shape her hair just slightly before the shampoo, after which he would treat her scalp and hair, with something unpronounceable, before styling it in a way she could comfortably manage on her own.
Jacques set to work with the scissors and comb, and followed this up with the shampoo and scalp massage. As the minutes slipped by, a new Kim emerged that made her stare at herself in the mirror with utter amazement. Her hair barely touched her shoulders, the ends curling upwards slightly, and looking soft and bouncy with every movement she made, while in the light overhead it appeared to be em
itting sparks of fire.
'Magnifique!' Jacques exclaimed delightedly as he stood to one side admiring the result. 'Now, I think, I shall send our beautician to Madam.'
Another hour slipped by—an hour in which Kim was instructed in the art of using make-up to its best advantage without appearing unnatural. Kim, quite bedazzled by the stunning results, went home with her newly acquired make-up kit, and a quivering excitement to test Bill and Ursula's reactions.
At home, alone in her bedroom, Kim stared at herself in the mirror once more and could not believe what she saw. She was still not beautiful, she acknowledged to herself, but attractive… yes! Someone Adam need not be ashamed of introducing as his wife. Her hair was lustrous and soft to the touch, her green eyes large and luminous, the naturally thick lashes adding a touch of mystery, and her lips delicately shaded to give a natural effect. The high cheekbones were toned down slightly, no longer giving her that gaunt look she so despised. The final touch of her new appearance was one of the exquisite creations she had bought, and she had to admit that her slender, almost boyish figure appeared alluringly feminine as the soft, apricot-coloured material clung gently to breasts and waist, to hang in cloud-like folds about her shapely legs.
Would Bill approve? she wondered curiously before an agonising realisation overwhelmed her. It was not Bill's approval that she craved, but Adam's! And Adam shall never be able to voice his opinion, or give his approval.
Kim suppressed an involuntary shiver and shook herself free of these disturbing thoughts. After taking a last critical look at herself in the full-length mirror, she went through to Adam's study and telephoned Bill.
'Come over this evening and have dinner with us,' she said without preamble when Bill's voice came over the line. 'Adam and Ursula will be here as well. Adam mentioned this morning that he would be bringing work home.'
'Thank you, Kim. I could do with a decent meal,' he teased.
'Bill… come a little early. I would like your opinion of the new me before they arrive.'
'I'll be there, Kim, and looking forward to it.'
For some time after she had replaced the receiver, Kim sat there in Adam's chair staring thoughtfully at the blotter before her. What was happening to her? She had always been so sure of herself, completely unconcerned about the fact that she was not beautiful. Yet, suddenly, it had become the most important thing in her life to be beautiful and attractive for Adam, something which made little difference to him in his sightless world. He thought her beautiful, but she was not, although she could no longer deny that, with the right clothes and accessories, she was reasonably attractive. Would this be enough to make Ursula admit defeat? Or would it merely make her more determined in her efforts to hold Adam?
Kim sighed heavily as she went through to the kitchen to start the dinner. From the first moment she had heard Ursula's name mentioned, she had been aware of an element of fear. Now, having met her, Ursula had become a threat to her happiness, a threat and a challenge which Kim could not ignore if she wanted to remain Adam's wife.
Shortly before Bill arrived, Kim went through to the bedroom to touch up her make-up and to experiment with the perfume in the fragile-looking bottle. She had hesitated to purchase the perfume because of the shattering price, but she succumbed to the sales lady's persuasive comments that the perfume could very easily have been made specially for her. It was just as well that she had left her allowance practically untouched during the past months, Kim thought nervously, for her shopping expedition that morning had left her with nothing worth mentioning, and she shuddered to think what Adam would have to say about it if he should find out. It had all been fun, but had it been the right thing to do?
The front door bell rang insistently and there was no further time to ponder about the wiseness of her actions. Bill had arrived, and she would soon know whether her efforts had been a success.
'I can't believe it!' Bill exclaimed in surprise as she let him in. He glanced at her critically with narrowed eyes. 'You're beautiful, Kim.'
'Don't flatter me, Bill,' she warned anxiously as she led the way to the living-room. 'Just tell me the truth. I can take it.'
'I've already told you the truth, Kim.'
'But Ursula—'
'Ursula has that cool kind of beauty that intrigues and excites men, but leaves them unconvinced,' he interrupted earnestly, turning Kim to face him. 'Your beauty is warm and vibrant, as well as eye-catching. It also comes from within, with the capacity to make a man wear out the soles of his shoes in the process of gaining your favour. If I were Adam, I would be terrified to lose you.'
'Oh, Bill,' she whispered tremulously, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. 'You sound so convincing.'
'No tears now, or you'll spoil the beautiful job you've done on those fantastic eyes of yours,' he warned quickly, smiling down at her warmly. 'All right?'
'All right,' Kim laughed shakily, pulling herself together drastically.
Bill sniffed appreciatively. 'And I love that perfume. It's, soft and feminine, and it suits you perfectly.'
'That's what the sales lady said,' she said abruptly, regaining her composure and turning towards the kitchen. 'You'd better pour yourself a drink while I see to the dinner. Adam won't be home for a few minutes yet.'
'Can I pour you something as well?'
'I'll have a small sherry, please, Bill.'
Kim took a deep breath to steady her nerves once she reached the kitchen, while Bill found glasses and poured their drinks. It was no use trying to deny that she was terribly nervous. She felt very much like a child dressed up for her first party, and not knowing quite what to expect or how to behave.
'Here's your drink,' said Bill, coming up behind her and handing her the glass of sherry. 'Do you mind if I join you here in the kitchen? The pleasant aroma of the dinner, combined with this drink, is enough to whet my appetite.'
Kim sipped at her drink and placed the glass on the table, staring thoughtfully down into the dark red liquid. 'Bill, there's something else I have always wanted to ask you.'
'Ask away, Kim.'
She chewed nervously at her lip. 'I know that Adam didn't want to see anyone after his accident, but, if Ursula was so keen on him, then why didn't she ever try to visit him?'
'She did see him once while he was in hospital, but she became so tactless and over emotional that Adam refused to see her again.' Bill heaved a sigh. 'As a matter of fact, he left instructions that he wanted to see no one, and none of us have ever dared to thwart his wishes. Not even Ursula.'
'Was she very upset when you told her about me?'
'I thought she was going to burst a blood-vessel!'
His boyish grin told her just how much he had enjoyed passing on that information, and she burst out laughing. She could quite easily visualise Ursula's reaction to the news that the man she wanted belonged to another, and it could not have been a pretty sight, she decided unhappily.
The sound of a key being turned in the lock of the front door drew their attention. 'Kim!'
'That's Adam,' she said unnecessarily, her face sobering instantly as she hurried from the kitchen to greet him. 'Bill is here with me. I invited him to dinner.'
Adam removed his dark glasses before opening his arms, and Kim walked straight into them, receiving his kiss with more enthusiasm than usual because she knew that Ursula was watching. It was only as Adam released her that she glanced surreptitiously in Ursula's direction and noticed the look of utter surprise that kept her adversary immobile and silent.
'There's something different about you,' Adam remarked with a frown, not releasing his hold on her hands.
'I'll say there's something different about her!' Bill exclaimed with more enthusiasm than Kim thought necessary. 'I've never seen Kim look so beautiful, Adam.'
'Really?' There was a faint touch of amusement on Adam's lean face, and Kim felt her cheeks grow hot.
'Yes, old man,' Bill continued, obviously enjoying himself in this new role. 'She's wearing t
he most beautiful silk creation I've ever seen. It clings in all the right places, and the colour is just perfect.'
'Colour?'
'It's a sort of apricot colour, I would say, and it blends with the colour of her hair when the light catches it.'
'For goodness' sake, Bill, you sound like a walking advertisement!' Ursula snapped irritably, recovering from the momentary shock of discovering that Adam's wife presented more danger than she had originally visualised.
Bill drew himself up to his full height, and cast Ursula an indignant glance. 'If Kim were my wife, I would certainly want to advertise the fact. Besides, Adam likes to know occasionally what his wife looks like. Not so, Adam?' he asked confidently, turning back to the tall, lean man who stood listening to this interchange with a deepening amusement.
'I'm much obliged to you, Bill,' said Adam.
'Bill, will you pour them something to drink while I get the dinner on the table?' Kim intervened quickly, managing to release her hands from Adam's before escaping to the kitchen.
It had all been very flattering, but enough was enough. Her cheeks were so hot that it felt as though they were on fire and, taking Ursula's cool and sophisticated behaviour into consideration, it was a sign that she lacked confidence. To thwart Ursula's attempts to ruin her marriage, she would have to display more confidence in herself, Kim told herself angrily, straightening her back in preparation for the continuation of the ensuing battle.
Dinner was not entirely a success that evening. Ursula insisted on claiming Adam's attention on matters which she knew Kim could not contribute to, and Bill was just as persistent at intervening, in order to bring the conversation round to a subject which could involve Kim. It was all very deliberate, and rather unpleasant. The dinner table had become a battle field where cunning played a major role, and Kim sent countless glances in Adam's direction to observe his reactions, but he was either completely oblivious of the various undercurrents, or exceptionally clever at hiding his true feelings.
Where Seagulls Cry Page 10
