Deceit of Angels

by Julia Bell

  “Some experiment,” said Jason, smiling. He added, “So, what do you want to do next?”

  “I need a little time to work things out.”

  “Take all the time you need. I want us to be together, but only when you wish it too. I want you to be comfortable with the situation.”

  “How long are you prepared to wait?” she giggled and then became more serious. “Life can be so complicated. I’ll be glad when the boys have left for university, then I know I’ll feel more settled. My ties with my husband will be finished.”

  He gave a sigh as he thought this over. The morning was almost gone. “Then I’ll leave the decision to you. Come on, Anna, let’s go home for Mother’s birthday lunch. Shall I drive?”

  “Certainly not! This is my car!” As they changed places, Anna flung her arms round his neck and kissed him full on the lips.

  It had been the most wonderful birthday of Anna’s life. Not only because of Jason’s gift of the car, but also the tremendous relief at confessing her dark and dismal secret. Knowing he understood and still loved her, filled her with joy. As she drove back for lunch, she felt as though a hundred years of guilt had slipped from her shoulders. Jason clicked on the radio and they sang along to the songs.

  She parked in the drive and with their arms round each other; they strolled through the main entrance and into the large hall. They could hear laughter coming from the parlour and the clinking of glasses.

  “I think Mother is serving cocktails before lunch. Would you like to try one?” Jason cast her a mischievous sidelong glance. “Or you can have lemonade if you’re worried about getting tipsy.” She gave him a withering look and he gave her a quick kiss. “Come and meet our lunch guests.”

  They entered the parlour and were greeted by Margaret, who had been waiting to introduce Anna to the motley group of people from Wedmore Village and surrounding neighbourhood. Taking her arm and whisking her away, she guided her round the room for ten minutes, intent on getting her acquainted with everyone. At the end, Anna’s head buzzed with all the names she had heard and her hand ached from the force of so much shaking. By the time she had circled the room, she was relieved to be back where Jason waited with a cocktail for her.

  “Goodness me!” she exclaimed with delight, “they all seem to be clergymen and generals and judges and lady this or that!”

  Jason chuckled. “Mother does have rather influential friends.” He pointed towards a stout gentleman with a white beard. “That’s Doctor Orchard. He’s been the family doctor for as long as I can remember.”

  Suddenly another guest swept into the room, causing all eyes to turn in her direction. Her head crowned with thick, black hair, her face enhanced with dark, seductive eyes, it was little wonder she immediately became the focus of attention. Anna’s gaze took in the stylish clothes definitely bought at only the top fashion houses in Milan and London. Tall and slender, with an elegant walk, she moved with the confident air of someone who knew she had the power to dominate.

  Seeing Jason, she glided towards him. “Jason, it’s been ages since I last spoke with you!”

  Anna noticed he had become uncomfortable.

  “Oh, hello Deborah. Didn’t know you were coming today. May I introduce you to Anna Stevens? Anna, this is Deborah Gilbert-Hines, an old friend of the family.”

  Deborah held out a limp hand and Anna took it politely, knowing she was being scrutinised from head to toe.

  “Hi there. You’re Jason’s new secretary or something aren’t you? I love the way he brings his employees to the Grange on special occasions.” Anna cast him an incredulous look of amusement, but her smile faded as she saw his black, thunderous expression. He didn’t answer. Deborah continued, “You don’t mind if I take him away from you for a few moments, do you? I’ve something I must discuss with him!”

  Without waiting for a reply, she manoeuvred Jason to the corner of the room and they became absorbed in forceful conversation.

  Margaret had seen all this happen and came to Anna’s side. “Oh dear, I don’t think it was a good idea to invite that woman, but I wanted to invite her mother and it seemed impolite not to invite the daughter too.”

  Anna swallowed a lump in her throat. “Were they ever serious? They’re talking as if they know each other very well.”

  “My dear, Deborah is the sort of woman men always fall madly in love with. She’s already had two husbands.”

  “Perhaps she’s looking for a third.”

  “You mean Jason? That was over long ago, I assure you. We did think there was something there to be honest, but it was just after Kiera had left and I think he was on the rebound.”

  “She has the same kind of beauty as Kiera. Dark and sensual.”

  The description caused Margaret to laugh. “Now, come with me. I want to introduce you to Doctor Orchard. You’ll find him a lovely man and so interesting.” She guided Anna over to the gentleman with a white beard. “Colin, this is the young lady I told you about. This is her first visit to the Grange. Will you take care of her, while I sort out my other guests?”

  Anna tried to concentrate on the conversation, but found her eyes drifting frequently to the corner, where Jason was still engrossed with Deborah. There was something very familiar about this woman in the way she held herself and the cut of her clothes. Anna wondered if she had met her before. Suddenly, she remembered the woman at Kiera’s funeral, the one standing outside the crematorium wearing a large hat and sunglasses. If it was the same woman then had she been there for Kiera’s sake or Jason’s? The thought made her bite her lip anxiously. The morning had turned out so wonderful, surely it wasn’t going to be spoilt. Not now, Anna groaned to herself in despair, not after all we’ve been through.

  “Colin, you’ve had a call from Mrs Turner,” came a voice from Anna’s right-hand side. Anna turned to see a tall, lean woman with rather protruding teeth. “I’m sorry to butt in. I’m Sarah, Colin’s wife. And you’re Anna, Jason’s new secretary?” They shook hands and she turned to her husband once more. “It seems Mrs Turner’s mother has taken a turn for the worse.”

  “Oh dear, I did expect this,” said the doctor. He smiled ruefully. “Looks like my lunch will have to be kept warm as is often the case.”

  “Shall I come with you?” said his wife.

  “No, no, not necessary.” He kissed her warmly on the cheek. “See you later.”

  “I really hoped he would have a day free from patients,” said Sarah wistfully, watching him leave the room.

  “The trials and tribulations of being a doctor,” smiled Anna.

  “Not to mention a doctor’s wife,” nodded Sarah.

  Jason appeared and placed his arm round Anna’s waist. Sarah said a brief ‘hello’ to him and then moved on to talk to another guest.

  “Sorry to leave you like that. Mother says she loved our gift. But I told her it was your idea.”

  “Oh, Jason, we decided together. You thought of lunch and a shopping trip to Harrods and I suggested including tickets for a West End show!”

  “Well, she was delighted with it and she’s looking forward to going with Sarah Orchard, they’ve been friends for years.”

  Anna paused a moment before saying, “Have you finished speaking to Deborah?”

  Her strained voice told him everything and he sighed. “That woman is evil and I rue the day I ever set eyes on her!”

  “Margaret said you had a thing about her once.”

  “Mother told you that, did she? Well, yes, I did go out with her when I was at university. After Kiera left, we started seeing each other again. But then I realised what a fool I was and finished it.”

  “Did you ever think of marrying her?”

  “Everyone seemed to expect it. Said we made a lovely couple, or some such rot. However, I knew she was a leech. Takes a man for everything he has. There’s no giving, with a woman like Deborah. You know she’s had two husbands already?” Anna nodded. “One is now bankrupt and the other is in a psychiatric hospita
l.”

  “But that might not have been Deborah’s fault!”

  “Anna, you’re too understanding. Anyway, I don’t want to spoil the day by discussing that dreadful woman.”

  The gong sounded for lunch.

  The table looked marvellous, gleaming with bright silver cutlery and cut glass goblets. Flowers and candles decorated the centre making the whole array a dazzling invitation.

  Jason took Anna’s hand. “I sit at one end and Mother at the other. And you’re sitting next to me.”

  The diners took their seats and the first course was served. Anna felt relieved to see that Deborah was down at the far end of the table, which meant there was no danger of having to make conversation with her. She felt uneasy in her presence and for some inexplicable reason, she knew it was more than the fact she was Jason’s former lover.

  Anna turned her attention back to Jason who was engrossed in conversation with a certain Lady Manville who had been seated on the other side of him. She smiled to herself at how the elderly woman would often reach across and pat his hand.

  She caught Anna’s eye. “I’ve known this boy since he was born, my dear. He’s a credit to his mother and late father and I’m so delighted to see that he has such a charming young lady in his life.”

  Jason nodded. “I can’t believe my luck, Lady Manville. Anna arrived just when I needed her. Perhaps it was our destiny to meet since she travelled a fair distance to come and work for me.”

  “Only three hours by train, Jason,” said Anna, laughing.

  “It still meant a complete change for you. A different life.” He winked at her. “And a life that I hope will bring you a great deal of happiness.”

  “Yes, I hope so too,” she whispered.

  Lady Manville watched them for a few seconds, her brow creased in a frown. “My dear, I was told that your husband died? And you nursed him for many years?”

  Anna took a large gulp of wine to steady her nerves. “I was married…for quite a long time. My husband…”

  Jason interrupted her. “Lady Manville, I don’t think Anna wants to be reminded of what she’s been through. Not today of all days,” he said kindly.

  “Of course not. Oh dear, how unfeeling of me. Do forgive me, my dear.”

  “It’s OK,” said Anna. “It’s all in the past.”

  She glanced uneasily at Jason and tried to smile. She had told the most terrible lies about her husband and the day of reckoning would come sooner or later. How was she going to explain everything? Suddenly, she felt tempted to tell Lady Manville that she wasn’t a widow at all. She wanted to stand up and tell everyone, to clear the air and set everything straight. But in her mind’s eye she saw the horror on the faces of Margaret, Ben and Mrs Wilby as they learnt the truth. But worst of all, was that she knew Deborah would lap it up. She would enjoy seeing Jason’s new girlfriend falling from grace. Anna pressed her lips together and slipped her hand under the table, caressing Jason’s leg. And when he reached to squeeze her fingers in response, she took in a huge breath and smiled.

  Margaret rising to her feet and banging a spoon on the table, interrupted everyone’s conversation.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention please.” Having assured herself that all were listening, Margaret continued. “I’d like to thank you all for coming to my birthday lunch and I do hope you’ve enjoyed yourself as much as I have. Goodness, am I really seventy? The staff have worked very hard and I’m sure you’ll agree with me when I say they have surpassed themselves in making this a wonderful day for me.” Everyone clapped and cheered. She went on, “As you know the village is holding a special fete today in honour of my birthday and some of you have expressed a wish to attend. So if those of you who would like to go would assemble in the drive after lunch, we can all go together.”

  “Would you like to go?” Anna whispered to Jason.

  “I’ve got other plans for us,” he whispered back.

  “What are they?”

  “Wait and see,” he smiled.

  She grimaced and glanced down the table. Deborah’s hostile eyes met hers and she shivered.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  After lunch, the guests milled about, some taking the opportunity of thanking Margaret, before starting their journeys home. The rest collected together for the excursion to the village fete. Jason disappeared upstairs. Anna went to find her jacket from where she had placed it after returning from their trip to the lake.

  While she was slipping it on, Deborah walked through the hall, her expression breaking into a sardonic smile when she saw Anna. Her voice resonated off the oak-panelled walls like gunfire.

  “Are you going to the fete?”

  Anna shook her head. “Jason has something special planned for us but I don’t know what it is.”

  Deborah pursed her lips. “Yes, I remember his surprises. Watch yourself with a man like Jason, you might find yourself out of your depth.”

  Her advice was not well-intentioned and anger boiled up in the depths of Anna’s stomach. She was tempted to answer with an equally vindictive retort and opened her mouth to speak. But then she remembered her father telling her that dignity is always maintained with silence and pressed her lips together. But she couldn’t help raising her index fingers and putting them in the sign of a cross as Deborah disappeared through the door.

  “What are you doing?” said Jason, grinning. He had just appeared at the bottom of the stairs and had witnessed Anna’s strange action.

  “Just warding off the evil eye,” laughed Anna. He shook his head in exasperation, knowing exactly what she meant. She noticed he was carrying a bag containing golfing irons. “We’re going to play this afternoon?” she said in amazement. “Is there time? The party’s at eight.”

  “I’m sure there’ll be time. For half a round at least. And if I’m on top form, we should be lucky enough to get round the entire course.” He didn’t notice Anna’s smug smile.

  His mother appeared hauling along another bag of clubs. Jason hurried across and took them from her.

  “I think these should be OK for you, dear. They’ve served me well for many a year,” said Margaret.

  Anna smiled and took out one of the irons. She balanced it in her hands and then took a firm swing at an invisible ball.

  “These will be wonderful. I should be able to do them justice.”

  Jason took the bags out to the Volvo and put them in the boot. Within minutes they were on their way to the golf club, a distance of about eight miles. They didn’t speak for several minutes, until Anna decided to bring up the subject of his former lover.

  “I don’t think Deborah likes me and I can’t work out why. I’ve hardly spoken to her since we met.”

  Jason sighed. “She thinks you’ve come between us.”

  “Oh, no, have I?”

  “No, you haven’t! There was nothing there, for you to come between. That’s why she cornered me in the parlour before lunch. She wanted to know why I wasn’t answering her e-mails or returning her phone calls. I told her it was because I wasn’t interested in her and hadn’t been for the last ten months.”

  “Did you love her, when you were interested in her?”

  “If you’re asking if I enjoyed sleeping with her, the answer is yes.”

  “You’re very honest with your answers.”

  “In this instance, it’s better to be honest. Besides if we’re to have any kind of relationship, then it’s better if we know the truth about each other.”

  “She’s very beautiful.”

  “Now what are you trying to say?”

  “Oh, that you’re able to make comparisons. I just wondered what score out of ten I would get from you.”

  He smiled at the idea. “I don’t give scores to the women I’ve slept with.”

  “Have there been many?” she asked quietly.

  Jason’s smile faded as he pulled the car over to the side of the road, stopped and pulled on the handbrake. Anna glanced out of the side win
dow. She shouldn’t have asked him that, but she had felt compelled to know.

  Jason touched her cheek gently. “What’s this all about?”

  She turned to face him and was surprised to see his concerned expression. “Sorry, I had no right to ask you that.”

  He pursed his lips. “I disagree. Why shouldn’t you know how many women I’ve slept with.” He thought for a moment. “Well, I did have a few girlfriends before I married, but I don’t think it was excessive. I was totally faithful to Kiera while we were living as man and wife, then I had a brief affair with Deborah after my wife left. I didn’t keep count, but at a rough estimate I should say about seven, no perhaps eight relationships in all and that includes my wife and Deborah. Now, does that put your mind at rest?”

  Anna felt uncomfortable. “Thank you for telling me, but it’s none of my business who you’ve been out with in the past.” She grimaced. “Except you can make comparisons. If Deborah and your wife are anything to go by, you’ve chosen some very beautiful women to share your life.”

  Jason smiled, aware that Anna didn’t realise what she had just said. He decided to have some fun at her expense. “Oh, and you can’t understand why I’ve now chosen a plain Jane? Well, I guess I’ll just have to grin and bear it.” She widened her eyes in surprise and he continued, “Anna, I’m not making any comparisons. Deborah might be beautiful, but she’s rotten to the core. I shouldn’t have got mixed up with her in the first place. And as for Kiera, I had a few years of happiness and then it evaporated. You’ve given me more joy and contentment in two months than I’ve known for a long time. You’ve helped me through a very difficult time and I love you for it.” He grinned cheekily. “And the minute I get the chance, I’ll show you how much!”

  “If last night’s anything to go by, you might have a difficult job.”

  “Last night was different. You had a great deal on your mind, but now you’ve unburdened yourself from your guilty secret, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be very happy. Come here, you silly girl.” He enclosed her in a warm embrace.