by Bill Kitson
‘Yes, I know.’ My reply was curt.
‘I didn’t catch your name when Harriet introduced you,’ Eve said.
‘Adam,’ I told her. As Sammy had said you can’t shorten it more than that.
‘Adam what?’ Eve was no quitter, I’d grant her that.
‘Bailey.’ I wasn’t going to let her off the hook that easily.
‘Pleased to meet you, Adam. And don’t worry, you don’t have to be at all shy with me.’
I looked at her in surprise. ‘Harriet’s my older sister,’ she explained kindly. ‘She likes to manage people. She told me I had to make an effort to ensure you were OK. She said you were really nice but quite shy because of your speech problem. Actually that’s rather strange because looking at you I wouldn’t have put you down as a shy person.’
I looked down the table to where Harriet was watching with what I could only describe as a triumphant smirk on her face. I scowled at her and the smirk became a grin. ‘I’m afraid your sister’s been playing a joke on you. I’m not at all shy. I don’t have a speech problem, so you don’t have to bother trying to be nice to me. After all, it must be quite a strain for you.’ The insult was by no means a subtle one but I was beyond subtlety.
Eve gasped with shock. ‘That was bloody rude,’ she hissed. ‘And I was thinking how nice you looked. When I first saw you I thought I recognized you; thought you looked pleasant. It just shows how wrong you can be.’
‘Not necessarily,’ I told her in as brusque a manner as I could. ‘You may have seen my face on television, or on the cover of one of my books.’ I paused before adding, ‘Or of course you could remember it from when you were riding in my Range Rover this afternoon.’
There was a long painful silence before Eve said in a puzzled tone, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand.’
‘You might get a better grasp of things if you allow people to explain before you go off half-cocked,’ I told her. ‘Take this afternoon, for example. If you’d waited and been a bit less hot-headed I might have had chance to explain that I’d arrived here after a lousy journey, and then; because there was a crisis over transport, I’d turned straight round and driven back to Netherdale to collect you and that fat pillock over there. I might also have had chance to explain that the delay was due to the Range Rover having a puncture halfway between here and Netherdale, which meant I had to change the wheel in a blizzard.’ I paused and added, ‘You would have learned all that this afternoon if you hadn’t been so bloody rude; bloody bad-mannered, bloody arrogant, and bloody ungrateful.’
As a conversation stopper my little speech was a resounding success. Eve turned away and sat with her head down contemplating her plate. I looked at Sammy on my right. ‘Help me out, Sammy,’ I asked her. ‘I’m a stranger in town, who are these guys?’
Sammy grinned. ‘They’re nearly all family,’ she confided. ‘Mummy and Daddy you know, then there are my brother Charlie and my twin sister Becky, Daddy’s cousins and their broods, and my Grandma,’ she gestured to a slim lady on Harriet’s right.’
‘OK, Sammy, that’ll do for now, I’m sure I’ll get introduced properly after dinner. I think I’d probably get indigestion if I tried to remember them all whilst I’m eating.’
As I spoke, I glanced to my left, the movement involuntary. Eve was still staring at her plate and to my horror I saw a tear fall from her cheek onto her napkin. I felt ashamed. I knew I’d gone over the top and let my own temper flow unchecked, much as Eve had earlier. I couldn’t bear the enmity. I touched her arm and whispered, ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said all that, but you made me very angry.’
Eve thrust her chair back and with a sudden movement got up and left the table. She almost collided with the stately figure of the butler, who was entering with the soup. Harriet made to rise and follow her sister but I waved her back to her seat. ‘My job,’ I told her as I followed Eve out of the room.
I caught up with her at the top of the stairs. ‘Eve,’ I called, ‘wait a minute.’
She paused and as I reached her I grasped her arms and turned her to face me. The tears she had shed in the dining hall had become a torrent. I shook her arm slightly. ‘Please don’t cry,’ I pleaded. ‘Look, we got off on the wrong foot, that’s all. You made me angry but I’ve no excuse for saying what I did. Now, how about we call it quits and try again. It is Christmas after all.’
I’m not sure quite what I expected as a response, perhaps it’s as well otherwise I wouldn’t have been on my guard. Eve took a half pace back and swung a resounding slap that was aimed at my face. I saw it coming and blocked it with a hand on her wrist. Immediately, she became a scratching virago. ‘Nobody speaks to me like that,’ she snarled, trying desperately to free herself, but my hold was firm.
I resorted to the only weapon in my armoury. I jerked her roughly towards me and kissed her. She struggled wildly at first, but I was much stronger and she eventually became more quiescent. I should have known better. Suddenly, she was kissing me passionately and I felt the thrill of a woman’s close contact for the first time in years. I closed my eyes. She drew away briefly. The punch was delivered with a strength I didn’t suspect she possessed. The force and the shock sent me backwards.
I staggered winded; the eye she had punched watering slightly. I saw Eve disappear into the nearest bedroom. I reached the door and pushed it open before she had chance to lock it. She turned and I saw the alarm in her eyes. ‘Now can we call it quits?’ I asked.
‘Why should I?’
‘Because if you don’t, I’ll keep you here until you agree and then neither of us will get any dinner. I don’t know about you but I’m famished.’
She looked at me for a long moment. ‘I think you’re going to have a black eye by morning,’ she told me complacently.
I glanced in the mirror briefly and shrugged. ‘Worth it, I reckon.’ I remembered her kiss.
I could tell by the glint in her eyes that she did too. There was another emotion lurking there, but I was unable to recognize it. I waited whilst she tidied her hair and redid her make-up then offered my arm to escort her downstairs.
By the time dinner was over we were, if not the best of pals, at least friendly enough to hold a polite conversation.
Chapter Four
The meal was a protracted one and once it was over the younger children were packed off to bed, no doubt to dream of the presents they would open the next morning. After they had gone I was introduced to some of the other adult members of the party: Tony’s mother Lady Charlotte, his cousins Russell Rowe and Colin Drake, and their wives.
Sammy, who had attached herself to me as personal tutor, guide, and chaperone informed me that the butler, whose name was Rathbone but whom everyone called Ollie, was the only staff member who actually lived in the castle itself. I laboured under the misapprehension that the butler’s nickname was a shortened form of Oliver. It was Boxing Day before I discovered that Mr and Mrs Rathbone senior had given their son the magnificently ridiculous Christian name of Ollerenshaw.
It was Sammy who enlightened me about another of her mother’s practical jokes. ‘So where does Polly live?’ I asked in all innocence.
Sammy looked surprised. ‘In London,’ she told me.
At that point the lady in question entered the room. Gone were the chef’s whites and she looked quite stunning in tan and fawn top and beige slacks. ‘I think Harriet’s been pulling my leg about you,’ I told her.
‘In what way?’
‘She led me to believe you were the castle’s chef,’ I confessed ruefully.
Polly smiled. ‘It wasn’t a total fib,’ she told me. ‘I am a professional chef, just not at the castle. I own several restaurants in London.
‘How do you manage to get time off over Christmas?’
‘Quite simple really. I’m the boss!’
‘So what brings you here and gets you working on Christmas Eve?’ I asked.
‘Harriet and I were at school together and we’ve been friends e
ver since. I was abroad when you and Harriet were at university together, that’s why we never met, but I’ve heard a lot about you.’
‘I remember; Harriet used to get postcards from you, sent from all over the world.’
‘That’s right, so when Harriet learned I was free she invited me for Christmas. I suggested the temporary appointment. Cathy Marsh is Harriet’s regular cook, she lives at the Lodge with her husband and their daughter. Her husband’s Tony’s gardener and their daughter works in the castle as well. I agreed to stand in for Cathy tonight so they could have their Christmas dinner. Cathy will take care of tomorrow’s big meal but a party of this size takes some catering for so I’ll give her a hand.’
Tony had disappeared for the snooker room with his cousins and Beaumont, Eve had already retired to bed pleading a headache, and I was beginning to feel the effects of the day, so I wished my hostess goodnight and went off to my room to complete my unpacking.
I had only been in the room five minutes when there was a knock at the door. It was Lady Charlotte, Tony’s mother. ‘Forgive the intrusion, Adam, but I wanted a word with you in private.’
‘Please, come in, Lady Charlotte. I was only hanging my clothes up.’
‘Can we dispense with the Lady bit, Adam? I’m Charlotte to my friends.’
‘Thank you. So what’s the problem, Charlotte?’
‘That’s the thing, I’m not exactly sure,’ she told me frankly, ‘but I just wanted to talk to you about the reason behind your visit.’
‘You mean the family curse idea?’
‘Yes, to be honest I wasn’t particularly in favour of the idea to begin with, but that was before I met you.’ She smiled disarmingly. ‘It’s always more difficult when you don’t know the person under discussion isn’t it?’
I smiled. ‘Sometimes it can work the other way, but generally I agree.’
‘Anyway, I thought it was a bad idea. To me it seemed like raking over the past to no good end and I was worried what the effect would be on Tony. Well, to be fair, on both Tony and Harriet.’
‘Do you know anything about the supposed family curse?’ I asked.
‘No more than anyone else, ‘Charlotte admitted. ‘I just wanted to be sure that if you did unearth anything startling you would handle it tactfully, if you follow my meaning.’
‘I’ll do my best to, but there’s no guarantee I’ll find anything out; no guarantee there’s anything to be found out,’ I told her.
‘In one sense I hope there is nothing,’ Charlotte agreed, ‘but then again it would be helpful if the whole thing was cleared up once and for all. It’s bad enough having Tony worried sick about it without that being passed onto the children as well. I’m going now, but thanks for listening, Adam. I’m reassured you’ll do the right thing.’
I was still wondering about Charlotte’s motive for the visit five minutes after she had gone. My musings were interrupted by another tap on the door. I opened it to find Harriet standing there. She looked, if not exactly nervous, then certainly a trifle flustered. She walked past me into the room. ‘I just thought I’d come and see if you were comfortable and had everything you need.’
‘Yes thank you, Harriet,’ I sat in one of the armchairs by the window, ‘the room’s very comfortable and I’ve everything I need.’
‘Good, that’s great. Look, I’m sorry for Eve’s behaviour earlier. She isn’t often like that, no matter what Tony says about her. She’s had a rough time recently and she’s always been a bit on the fiery side. What happened between you two when you left the dining room?’
‘Harriet, that’s not really for me to say,’ I replied, diplomatically.
‘Well, whatever it was, you must have made an impression because she was asking all sorts of questions about you later. She didn’t realize you and I had been together once.’
‘Harriet,’ I said gently, ‘what’s the real reason for this visit? You didn’t come here to talk about Eve, did you?’
‘No I don’t suppose I did. To be honest I’m not really sure why I did come,’ her face was suddenly twisted with an emotion I was unable to fathom. ‘The thing is, I thought it would be easy having you here, after all it’s been a long time since we were together, but then when I saw you again I realized it isn’t easy; it isn’t easy at all.’
‘Whose idea was it to invite me?’ I asked, ignoring the pointed message behind her words. There was danger enough in one of us going along that route, far more so if both of us travelled down memory lane.
‘I’m not sure, to be honest,’ Harriet confessed. ‘If I remember rightly, it was a discussion about the family curse one weekend when all the family was here that started it, and someone mentioned your name, that’s all. Tony took up the idea and I went along with it.’
‘Are you and Tony happy?’ I asked bluntly.
‘Oh, yes,’ Harriet responded. ‘At least we were until recently. Tony won’t say anything but I know he’s dreadfully worried about the family curse, and especially now, thinking of what might happen with it being one hundred years since the last time it struck. The legend never used to bother him, but ever since his father died he seems more and more preoccupied with it – even more so at this time of year. Last Christmas was hell for the two of us, and this year we felt we had to do something.’
‘In that case, I think the sooner you leave my bedroom the better it would be for all of us,’ I suggested.
Harriet stared at me and I saw a look in her eyes that was as clear a danger signal as could be. Then it passed and she smiled. ‘Old flames don’t always die, do they?’
‘Not unless someone acts firmly to put them out,’ I replied.
She walked over to the door. I made to open it for her but she stopped me. She kissed me and there was nothing platonic in the kiss. ‘What if we don’t want them put out?’ she whispered; then she was gone.
After Harriet left I thought about what she’d said. Was Tony’s concern a reaction to it being a hundred years since the curse – if one existed – had manifested itself? Or was there a more sinister underlying cause? Could it be that someone had deliberately stoked the fires of his anxiety?
I was still pondering this disturbing notion, and wondering how to set about the task I’d been set, when there was yet another knock at the door. I was beginning to consider suggesting to Tony that he should fit a revolving door to the room. I’m not quite certain who I expected to be standing there, but certainly not the visitor in question.
‘I thought you might like to share a nightcap with me.’ She had a bottle of malt whisky in one hand and a couple of glasses in the other.
I smiled. ‘Why not? It’s like Piccadilly Circus in here anyway, so I couldn’t get to sleep if I tried.’
I opened the door wide and she followed me in, heeling the door neatly to a close. We walked over to the armchairs and she poured us a generous measure each from the bottle. ‘Is this how you wind down after a busy day?’ I asked.
‘Not as a rule,’ Polly said, ‘we’re usually too knackered.’
‘It must be bloody hard work. No wonder you’re so slim.’
She laughed. ‘Skinny, you mean.’
‘No, I certainly wouldn’t call you skinny. All the curves seem to be just in the right places.’
She raised her eyebrows at the compliment. ‘I see; the way to Adam Bailey’s heart is through a glass of malt, is it?’
‘No, not really,’ I smiled.
‘What was the Piccadilly Circus remark all about?’
‘Oh just that you’re the third woman to visit me since I came up to go to bed. I’m thinking of selling tickets for tomorrow night.’
‘Who were the others?’ Polly asked, her tone elaborately casual.
‘Charlotte first, then Harriet.’ I saw no reason to lie.
‘Harriet? That was a bit dangerous, wasn’t it?’
‘I’m sure Tony wouldn’t have minded.’
‘That’s not what I meant and you know it,’ Polly retorted.
‘I mean it’s dangerous enough you just being at the castle in the first place, let alone entertaining Harriet in your bedroom.’
‘You are going to explain that remark, I trust.’
Possibly my tone was colder than I intended for Polly reddened slightly with annoyance. ‘OK since you insist on having it spelt out for you. In the first place I don’t know what your feelings are for Harriet after all this time, but I do know she still finds you very attractive.’
‘Has she said anything to you about that?’
‘No she hasn’t, but I could tell by the way she was looking at you in the sitting room. What about you, are you still carrying a torch for her?’
‘No, Polly, I’m not,’ I replied honestly. ‘I know Harriet’s still a very attractive woman but that’s all over with.’
‘Thank goodness for that,’ she said softly.
I glanced at her and saw again that slightly heightened colour. ‘Leaving that aside,’ she continued, ‘I reckon you were foolish to accept the invitation.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I don’t believe in the family curse business as such, but there are other factors at work here. For one thing, Tony’s a wealthy man, extremely wealthy, and that can breed all sorts of emotions in others around him. Jealousy for one. Think of it this way, suppose the so-called curse was to strike again in a similar way as it has twice already. Who do you think would be the likeliest victims? I suggest it would probably be Harriet and her lover, don’t you?’ She held up a hand to still my protest. ‘I know you’re not lovers, but how do you think your presence here would be viewed by the outside world? It’s no secret that you and Harriet once had a passionate affair. Who would believe there was an innocent purpose behind this visit?’
‘But that’s not true and you know it,’ I protested.
Polly gave me a long pitying look. ‘Do I? Do I really know that? I’m as close to Harriet as anyone apart from Tony but I couldn’t swear hand on heart you aren’t still lovers. The way she speaks about you, the way she looks at you; it could so easily be interpreted that way. Think about it as you would if you were still a reporter. Think about some of the cynics who have to write copy for the gutter press that’s sensational enough to keep their circulation up. What do you think they’d make of this situation? Think about it, then convince me your motives are pure. Didn’t one little corner of your mind think “Well, if I got chance and it was on offer, why not?” Didn’t it?’
