Daring Masquerade

by Margaret Tanner

  She devoured a huge multi-colored lollipop on a stick, a bag of peanuts and ice cream, while Ross ate an ice cream.

  "How you could eat all that rubbish?" he scolded with a grin.

  "I've been greedy, I know," she admitted, discarding a half-eaten toffee apple. "If I eat another thing, I think I'll burst."

  "I should think so. You'll make yourself ill," he warned, pretending to be severe.

  "Gil would have loved the circus," she said as they strolled back to the hotel. "Once when we were young the circus came to town. We both wanted to go but Dad said he couldn't afford to take us."

  "Jack took me once," he mused. "Eric was only a toddler at the time. It was a raggedy flea-bitten affair. Terrible really. The animals were mistreated, half-starved, poor creatures."

  "Oh, no." She clutched his arm. "I didn't think about the cruelty involved."

  "Jack went berserk when some kid lifted up one of the pony's fancy coverings and we saw open sores on the poor creatures back. There was just about a riot, the police arrived and arrested the ring master."

  "What happened to the animals?" Worry sharpened her voice.

  "The authorities took them away to be properly cared for."

  "I'm glad." She clung to his arm. "I can't stand cruelty to animals."

  "Me either, but there's a lot of cruelty around unfortunately, it's so unnecessary."

  "Dad used to tell us some of the cruel tactics used by the horse breakers on some of the big cattle stations he worked on."

  "There's no cruelty on my place. If I see a man mistreating animals he's instantly dismissed," Ross declared fiercely. "Jack's the same."

  By the time they got back to the hotel, she felt exhausted and queasy in the stomach.

  "Are you all right?" he asked. "You've gone as white as a ghost."

  "I don't feel so good. Serves me right for being greedy." She just made it to the bathroom before being violently ill.

  "Lie down for an hour or so, there's plenty of time before we need to go down for dinner."

  "No dinner for me," she moaned, wiping her face on a damp towel. "If I never see food again it will be too soon, but I do feel weary." In fact, she felt exhausted. They had walked a long way, but she was used to hard work and considered herself fit. Being pregnant might explain it.

  "Do you think you'll be up to going to the theater tonight? We have to go home tomorrow on the lunchtime train."

  "Of course. I'm not going to miss out on Oliver Twist."

  She started undoing the buttons on her dress.

  "Do you want me to stay up here with you?"

  She knew he only asked as a matter of courtesy.

  "No thanks, you go downstairs. You might find some other poor lonely soul to share dinner with. Come up for me later."

  "All right, I'll see about getting tickets for the theater first. I'll need to organize for Jack to pick us up from the train too."

  He brushed a kiss across her lips, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You could lie down here with me."

  "You're a brazen hussy," he declared with a grin, "but you wouldn't get any rest if I joined you."

  "I want you to."

  "Later." He disentangled his arms.

  As soon as he left, she took off her clothes and without bothering to put on a nightgown slipped between the cool sheets.

  * * *

  Ross strode downstairs. In the foyer a porter scurried up to him.

  "Good afternoon, Mr. Calvert. There's a phone message for you at reception."

  "All right, thank you."

  Hope there's nothing wrong at home. He marched over to the counter.

  "You have a message for Ross Calvert?"

  "Yes sir, here it is."

  The man handed him a piece of paper with a phone number written on it. The message read. Call Virginia, it's urgent. His heart slammed against his ribs. Surely Clyde hadn't hurt her?

  In the corner of the foyer stood a private telephone booth and he hurried over to it wondering why Virginia needed him so urgently.

  "Good afternoon," the husky female voice answered.

  "Is that you, Virginia? What's wrong?" He tried to dampen down the surge of excitement coursing through him.

  "Ross, darling, there's nothing wrong," she purred. "I thought we might have dinner together. I'm up the street from you at the Federal Hotel."

  "Where's Clyde?"

  "Off on business. I'm all alone, desperate for company and you were the only person I could think of."

  What a blatant lie. Virginia knew plenty of people in Melbourne.

  "I don't know, there's Harry," he protested feebly, knowing full well he wanted to see her. No harm having dinner together. Harry had suggested he find someone lonely to eat with. Virginia's soft breath floating down the phone line escalated his heartbeat, stirred his manhood. This is an act of madness, the voice of sanity screamed out a warning, but he ignored it.

  "All right, Harry's not feeling well and decided to miss dinner anyway. Give me ten minutes. I want to see about getting tickets to see Oliver Twist tonight. I promised I'd take her."

  "They've been sold out for a week or more. I wanted to go myself. Come up to my suite, we can have something sent up to us."

  "In the dining room, Virginia."

  "Oh, but it's so much more private in my suite."

  "For God's sake," he exploded. "We're both married, it wouldn't be right. The dining room or nothing."

  "All right, darling, if you insist. I'll wait for you in the lounge." The line went dead.

  He dialed the number of the local pub and organized for someone to go to Devil's Ridge with a message for Jack to meet them at the train station. He would have liked to freshen up a little before meeting Virginia, but decided not to go back upstairs in case he disturbed Harry. He flirted with danger, walked a tightrope to disaster but somehow could not stop himself. It wasn't disloyal having dinner with an old friend.

  "You're a weak bastard," he muttered as he stepped out of the Grand Hotel and headed to the new Federal Hotel a few doors away.

  Resplendent in the latest fashion, a pale yellow floating affair that emphasized her huge almond-shaped eyes and flawless olive skin, Virginia waited for him in the private lounge. There was something almost oriental about her tonight. Like a swarm of bees, excitement swirled around in the pit of his stomach. If he had any brains he would turn tail and run for his life while he still could.

  "Ross, darling," she whispered in a husky voice that had haunted his dreams for months.

  He was lost.

  She glided up to him and put her arms around his neck to draw his mouth towards her lush red lips.

  He jerked his head back. "No, I'm a married man."

  She gave a tinkling laugh. "And I'm a married woman. No reason why we can't have a little fun together though."

  "Dinner is all I agreed to."

  "Oh, pooh. You can be so stuffy sometimes, Ross."

  Virginia had arranged for a table to be set up for them in a secluded corner. He knew he shouldn't be here. It was disloyal to Harry. A betrayal of his marriage vows.

  "Won't Clyde be upset if he finds out you're dining with another man?" he asked as he pulled a chair out for her.

  "No. Why should he? He's got a mistress."

  "Has he?" Ross was shocked. "I'm sorry." He picked up her hand. "I really am."

  "He's had her for years, wasn't classy enough for him to offer marriage, though."

  The large diamond ring on Virginia's finger dug into his palm and he loosened his grip.

  "I was a fool to have broken it off with you," she said.

  "Well, it's water under the bridge now. Let's order, I'm hungry." He was hungry all right, starving in fact, but not for food. His gaze lingered on her breasts, revealed by her low cut gown. For God's sake, what was wrong with him? While his wife lay sick in their honeymoon bed, he lusted after another woman. What kind of despicable creature was he?

  They started with leek and potato so
up. It might well have been muddy water for all the taste it had. Guilt robbed him of his appetite.

  "Clyde is going to re-open the timber mill near Ashborne."

  "What! Most of the accessible timber has already been logged."

  "There's plenty of timber around. He's won special permission to log on crown land. There are thousands of acres at the back of your place."

  "He sure as hell isn't coming through my property."

  "The government needs timber for the war effort. Think of the jobs it will create."

  "He won't be going through my land."

  "Sh, don't get angry." She touched her fingers to his lips. "Sarah tells me you'll be leaving for overseas soon."

  "Probably. The Medical Board has passed me fit."

  "I'll be so worried about you."

  "Like last time?" he said, not even trying to hide the bitterness in his voice.

  "I acted like a fool. I still love you. Why shouldn't we have some happiness together before you go?"

  "We're both married."

  "Do you still want me?"

  He hesitated.

  "Do you, Ross?"

  "Yes," he whispered huskily.

  Virginia smiled. "I know you do, my darling. I've always been able to read you like a book." She ran her tongue seductively across her upper lip. "Let's go upstairs."

  "I can't." He groaned. "What about Harry?"

  "She won't know."

  "It wouldn't be right. I'd know, and I couldn't live with myself if I betrayed her."

  "You're always so moral."

  "Please, I only agreed to dinner."

  You shouldn't even have done that. He hated the fact he still wanted Virginia. Even having dinner with her was wrong and Harry would be upset if she found out about it. Any woman would be.

  The roast pheasant, normally one of his favorite dishes, was tainted with guilt. Even the expensive imported wine left a bitter taste on his palate.

  He refused dessert, but Virginia ordered Peach Melba, and he watched as she languidly spooned it into her mouth. When some juice dripped on to her lip, and she put her tongue out to catch it, he stifled a groan.

  After coffee, he refused her offer of a stroll outside.

  "I have to be getting back. If Harry wakes up, she'll be wondering where I am."

  "Oh, my darling. When will I see you again?" she asked tremulously.

  "I don't know. We're returning home tomorrow then I'll be off to France. I'll send you a post card from Paris."

  "Send it care of Sarah, she always knows where to find me."

  "Goodbye, Virginia."

  "Goodbye." She kissed him on the lips. "Good luck."

  * * *

  Harry and Ross caught a midday train home. The seats in the first class carriage were upholstered in black leather, the walls decorated with cedar paneling, beveled mirrors and pictures of Victorian tourist attractions. She wanted to hang her head out the window as they steamed away from Melbourne, but couldn't risk getting a cinder in her eye.

  "I haven't seen you in uniform yet. I'm sure you'll be handsome." Her gaze went to his army kit bag.

  "They re-issued me with everything. I virtually had only the clothes I wore when I left Gallipoli, and they were filthy and ripped."

  Jack waited on the station for them. He clapped Ross on the back. "Good to have you home, boy."

  "Thanks, good to be back."

  "How's young Harry?" Jack asked, thinking how pretty and ladylike she looked in a white two piece suit with a straw hat perched on her wild curls.

  "I'm good." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek in an impromptu, touching gesture of affection.

  She does look well, there's something special about her, an inner glow I hadn't noticed before.

  "Good honeymoon, my dear?"

  "Yes. Ross took me to so many places. The Botanical Gardens and the shops in Collins Street. I've bought some lovely clothes. We had the best time, didn't we?" She chatted happily, apparently oblivious to the fact Ross barely spoke at all.

  What the hell was wrong with him? Jack watched him out of the corner of one eye. He certainly did not have the look of a man coming back from his honeymoon.

  "I bought you a present, Jack, and one for Mrs. Bates too."

  "You shouldn't have worried about a couple of old fogies like us." He spoilt his nonchalant act by adding. "What did you get me?"

  "It's a surprise." She laughed. "We went to the circus, too."

  "I can't abide circuses."

  "Ross told me what happened when you took him, about the neglected horses."

  "A bloody disgrace."

  "It must have been terrible, but this circus was all right, wasn't it, Ross?"

  "Yes," he answered absently.

  "Heard talk they might be re-opening the mill. Some bloody millionaire called Clyde Bromley's behind it. Received special permission from the government to log crown land," Jack growled.

  "Wonder how much it cost him?" Ross sneered.

  "They can't access it without crossing your land," Jack went on.

  "They'll get permission over my dead body," Ross vowed. "The place will be ruined. They'll clog up the creeks, ruin my grazing land with their timber tracks and the noise will be unbearable. I'm relying on you, Jack, when I'm away. It doesn't matter how much money they offer you, tell them to go to hell."

  "I will, but if the government legislates."

  "This is my land, they're not getting access."

  As they drove into the front yard, Mrs. Bates waited on the verandah. Ross lifted Harry down and turned to greet the old woman who slowly walked towards them.

  "How's my best girl?" He engulfed her in a bear hug.

  "I'm well, the kettle's on ready for you. Hello, Miss Harry, did you have a good time in Melbourne?"

  "Yes, lovely thank you, but I'm glad to be home."

  Jack helped Ross bring their luggage up on to the verandah as Mrs. Bates disappeared inside. Harry hovered near the doorway waiting for Ross to carry her across the threshold, but he just pushed the door open and held it back for her.

  "Come on, I want to get out of these city clothes."

  "You're supposed to carry your bride across the threshold," Jack said.

  "What!"

  "It doesn't matter." Harry pushed past him and entered the hallway, trying to blink back hurt tears. She couldn't understand herself. She normally wasn't a weepy, sort of a person.

  "You bloody fool," she heard Jack say.

  "I forgot. It's not important."

  Harry stumbled into the kitchen to give Mrs. Bates a hand. Her head throbbed and the queasy feeling returned to her stomach.

  They set up the food trolley with cups and saucers. She poured the tea while Mrs. Bates' arthritic hands fumbled with the lid of the shortbread tin. Without a word, Harry removed the lid and handed the tin back.

  "Don't tell the men, will you? My hands aren't always this bad."

  "I know, good and bad days, eh?" she soothed.

  The house had recently been dusted, Harry saw at a glance, but the windows needed cleaning, as did the stove. A huge bowl of roses stood on the hallstand, but the kitchen floor needed a good scrub.

  "Things take me a bit longer to do now," the old woman apologized.

  "It will be easier now I'm here. We can share the work."

  "Jack suggested we try getting a maid."

  "What do we need a maid for?" Harry asked. "Once Ross goes to the army there'll only be me here. You wouldn't want to share your domain with some other woman. The two of us can easily keep this place going between us."

  "Of course we can, Miss Harry." Mrs. Bates beamed.

  "There's one thing, though." Harry came to a sudden stop outside the sitting room door. "You'll have to move back inside the homestead."

  "I couldn't. It wouldn't be right."

  "Please, Mrs. Bates, as a special favor to me. I'll be frightened here on my own," she lied.

  "All right, there are two rooms at
the back I can use."

  "Good, it's all settled."

  As Harry pushed the door open Jack exploded. "For God's sake. Are you mad?"

  "Nothing happened."

  Their entry cut off the conversation.

  "Ah, have you got my shortbread, Mrs. Bates?"

  "Of course, Mr. Ross, you know I always keep some on hand for you."

  Harry poured the tea, ushered the old woman to the most comfortable chair, and handed out the cups.

  "Ross, after you leave, Mrs. Bates has decided to move in here with me."

  "Oh?"

  "I know it's ridiculous, my being scared of staying in the homestead on my own, but I can't help it."

  "It's a good idea. We don't want you being scared, young Harry." Jack's eyes twinkled.

  "It's decent of you to agree to move in, Mrs. Bates." Ross gave Harry a wink. "I've been worried about Harry staying on her own. Maybe I should employ a maid."

  "No, we've already discussed the situation." Harry went over and sat on the couch next to him. "We're going to share the workload. We don't want another woman here."

  "Well, if that's what you want, but if it gets too much for you, bury your stubborn pride and get someone in to help."

  "All right, I will."

  He drained his cup and stood up. "I'll get changed into my work clothes, then Jack and I will head off for a while."

  "Could I come?"

  "No, you unpack and discuss the housekeeping arrangements with Mrs. Bates."

  He dismissed her so carelessly she fumed.

  When he left the room she excused herself and followed him upstairs to the main bedroom. An enormous double bed with an ornate carved bed head matched the dresser. The mirror frame was oval shaped, with beveled edges and scrolled carving. The deep blue curtains matched the quilt and bolsters, everything being of solid good quality.

  "What's wrong with you?" she burst out. "You've practically ignored me since yesterday afternoon."

  "I've got a lot on my mind. I didn't mean to ignore you."

  "Please." She walked up to him. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing. We'll talk later. I've got things to do with Jack."

  "I'd like to come." She ran a finger gently across the faded scar on his cheek

  "No, but we could go for a ride tomorrow."

  "Up to the outstation and stay the night?"