Roberta Leigh - In Name Only

by Roberta Leigh

  'I'am not denying that," he said grudgingly. "If that's all she was it wouldn't be so bad. Many men have married clothes-horses and been perfectly happy with them! But she's got her eye on the main chance."

  "What's wrong with that? You wouldn't have much respect for her if she were a fool."

  "She doesn't love Nicholas," came the blunt answer.

  Jane clenched her hands. "How can you be so sure?"

  "Instinct. Damn it, I'm a good enough judge of character to know what motivates a person, and these two women are motivated by money."

  "Don't you think you're being unfair? Most women are interested in security. Miss Sheridan is a beautiful girl and if she had just been interested in money, I'm sure she could have got married many times before."

  Far from mollifying Sir Angus, Jane's remark only angered him more. "She never hooked the big fish she wanted, and now she's got Nicholas dangling from the line she doesn't intend to let him go.”

  Because she so desperately agreed with Sir Angus, Jane was determined to appear as unbiased as possible. "It isn't right to judge anyone on hearsay."

  "What makes you think it's hearsay?" Sir Angus grimaced as he saw Jane's look of surprise. "I've made a few enquiries of my own and nothing I've learned has made me change my mind. The girl was engaged twice and both times they were broken off because she met someone with more money. The last fellow was that nickel heir, but then there was some trouble with his Company, his shares touched bottom and his loving fiancée departed." He banged his hand down on his desk. "That's when my fool of a son stepped into the picture."

  Jane looked down at the carpet, hearing Sir Angus pacing the floor and muttering to himself. No matter how much she might agree with what he said it was impossible for her

  to say, so, and as though suddenly realising it, he stopped pacing, came over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

  "Forgive me, Jane. This is just as bad for you."

  "I want Nicholas to be happy," she said quickly, "and if he's in love-" >

  "Love my foot!" Sir Angus exploded. "He's infatuated. I said as much to him last night. Have an affair with the girl if you want to, I said to him, but don't be stupid enough to marry her."

  "I shouldn't think that pleased him."

  "It didn't. He accused me of not having any moral standards ! But it's a sight more moral to have an affair and get it out of your system than to marry someone and eventually get divorced."

  Hearing the word "marry" filled Jane with such desolation that she was incapable of speech and Sir Angus, about to go on, suddenly stopped and looked at her. "Jane, my dear, if there was anything I could do to help… any way that I could make Nicholas see sense…"

  "Please," she said faintly, "you mustn't talk like that. I knew from the very beginning that I was being stupid. I've nothing in common with Nicholas. Had it not been for his accident we'd never have even met."

  "But you did meet," Sir Angus growled, "and you do have a great deal in common. If only he were not blinded by this ridiculous infatuation."

  "Do you think we could change the subject?" Jane asked faintly. "I honestly don't think I can bear it any more."

  Sir Angus squeezed her shoulder. "Take the rest of the day off. I'm sure you don't feel like working and neither do I."

  "But you've got a meeting tomorrow and-" '

  "Go off," he reiterated. "Buy yourself a hat or whatever women do at times like this."

  Faced with some unexpected hours of freedom, Jane went back to her flat. She had taken it immediately her job with Sir Angus had been confirmed, and looking round the small, brightly furnished living-room she was struck by how lifeless it was. And yet why should it have any life when most of her spare time in the past year had been spent at Orme Square and when all her waking thoughts had been centred on Nicholas? She sank down in a chair and buried her head in her hands. What a fool she had been to believe she could hold his interest once he had completely recovered. What a stupid, arrogant fool!

  Once before - when she had first realised she loved Nicholas-she had told Sir Angus she wanted to leave, but he had made her promise she would stay with him as long as he needed her and now, although she found the promise required every ounce of her will-power to carry out, she could not retract on it. However she cut down considerably on her visits to Orme Square and only went there when she was certain Nicholas was out.

  Realising the effort she was making to build her own life again, Sir Angus was careful not to mention his son's name and only did so when business demands made it unavoidable. Jane frequently saw Nicholas in the office and he was as friendly and responsive to her as he had always been, making her even more aware that his interest in her, even at its highest, had been nothing other than brotherly affection.

  But despite her efforts to think in terms of other men, Jane found it impossible for no one had Nicholas's personality. Yet how unfair it was to compare him with the boys she was now meeting, boys who were still trying to achieve a success which Nicholas would inherit by right of birth alone. Indeed she tried to whip herself into some feeling of dislike for him because of this, but it was a dislike based upon a false premise, for she knew that no matter where he had been born, Nicholas had the intelligence and fighting spirit to have built his own success.

  She did not know the relationship between Sir Angus and Nicholas, for after his first outburst about Carole Sheridan, Sir Angus had made no further comment and the only time he had ever spoken to Jane in a personal way was when he had unexpectedly taken her to dinner at the Savoy.

  "I know you don't like coming back to the house," he had said by way of explanation, "but I feel lonely tonight, Jane, and I need your company."

  During the meal he had surprised her by talking about his late wife and his relations, and she was amused at the description of his cousins and his one remaining sister. "I'd like you to meet Agatha," he had said, "but she doesn't come to London much since her husband died. They were a devoted couple."

  "Haven't you any other close relatives you could see? It seems incredible that a man in your position has to take me oat."

  "What could be nicer than an old man taking out his young and pretty secretary?" Sir Angus said with unusual jocularity. "Why, if I didn't have a group of newspapers of my own I bet you'd find your name linked with mine in the gossip columns!"

  Scarlet-faced, she had tried to laugh off the remark, and this had made Sir Angus even more mischievous. Although she knew it was at her expense, she was pleased that for a few hours at least he did not appear to be brooding over the way his son's future was shaping. However, in this she was wrong, for as they were sipping coffee he suddenly spoke of Nicholas, his words clear indication that his son's intentions were causing him continual sorrow.

  "I suppose I could tolerate it more easily if I thought I'd be here to help him when the whole thing crashes around his head," Sir Angus had said sadly. "But by the time he'll have realised his mistake I'll be long since dead."

  "You mustn't talk like that. You're still young and-"

  "I'm an old man, Jane, and I'm not sorry. My only regret is for you and that I can't do anything to help you."

  "Just knowing you has been wonderful," she had said, "But you must promise not to talk about dying, that really makes me cross."

  "Cross or not, even you can't turn back the dock." They were words that Jane remembered one Sunday morning a month later when she walked into the kitchen of her parents' home and was handed a newspaper by her father. Quickly she followed his glance down to the headlines.

  PRESS KING DIES SUDDENLY.

  The heavy black type stared up at her and she leaned shakily against the table. When Sir Angus had taken her out to dinner at the Savoy had he had a premise that he was nearing the end of his life? Somehow she felt that he had and she wished she had not laughed away his fears.

  "I'm glad he died quickly," she said huskily. "He would have wanted it this way."

  "And now Nicholas has all the respo
nsibility," her mother said. "Do you think you should go to him?"

  "He won't need me." Jane kept her voice matter-of-fact, and intercepting a warning frown that passed from her father to her mother, she said quickly: "Anyway, he's with Carole Sheridan." She went over to the sink and filled the kettle with water, glad that it gave her an opportunity of hiding her face from her parents. "It might affect their engagement plans, though. I doubt if Nicholas will want to announce it for another few months."

  "So you really think he'll marry her?" Mrs. Roberts asked.

  "Of course." Jane still busied herself unnecessarily with the kettle. "She's beautiful, you know. Not that I've seen her personally, but I've seen lots of her photographs."

  "Will you be staying on now that Sir Angus has died?"

  The question came from her father and knowing it was the only way he could think of to change the subject, she turned and flashed him a grateful smile. "I doubt it. Just long enough to clear things up so that Nicholas can take over, then perhaps I'll get a job abroad. I wanted to do so several months ago, but I promised Sir Angus I wouldn't leave him."

  "Abroad!" her mother exclaimed. "What a lovely idea. It'll be good for you to travel."

  Angus Hamilton's death was a nine days' wonder and stories of his successful career filled the front pages of every newspaper, together with assessments - both critical and appraising - of the son who would now be taking his place. It was this last part which Jane found the most difficult to bear and each time she saw photographs or watched a television interview with Nicholas, she knew that the only way she could achieve any peace of mind was to go to a country where there would be no reminders of him whatsoever. Yet there were still too many things to clear up in her present job and she went daily to the office, anxious to put everything in order for Nicholas before she left.

  A week after the funeral she received a letter from Sir Angus's lawyer, asking her to attend the reading of the will which would be taking place on the coming Wednesday at the Orme Square house. It would mean having to meet Nicholas on a social level instead of just the occasional glimpse she had had of him in the office since his father's death, but she could see no way out and reluctantly dropped the lawyer a note to say she would be available.

  CHAPTER IV

  Fitful May sunlight flickered through the long windows of the drawing-room in Orme Square and burnished the pale blonde hair of the pretty young girl sitting curled up in a corner of the settee and looking with large limpid eyes at Nicholas.

  "I know well have to get married very quietly," she said in a husky voice, "but there's no reason why we can't tell your close relatives while they're here. The moment the will's been read they'll be dashing back to their farms or castles!"

  Nicholas nodded agreement, too absorbed in the lovely picture Carole Sheridan made to bother over much with what she was saying. Incredible to think he had only known her so short a time and that it was only sheer chance that had enabled them to meet. He tried to imagine his life without her and knew that until she was his wife he would have no peace of mind. Used though he was to beautiful women, he could never look at her without being astounded by her loveliness and grace. She was incapable of making a jarring movement and walked with the ease of a ballet dancer. She had a dancer's figure too, slim yet curved, with shapely legs and a beautiful line to her neck and shoulders. But it was always to her face that he was drawn, with its slanting green eyes framed by absurdly long dark lashes, and the Cupid's bow mouth above the dimpled chin. Yet despite her perfect features she was no Dresden figurine, but a responsive, passionate girl who made no pretence about wanting ! ini as much as he wanted her.

  "It doesn't seem right that we should have to get married quietly," he said. "You should have a big wedding in

  Westminster, and your photograph in every newspaper."

  "I'll be happy as long as my photograph is on your bedside table," Carole answered in her soft, husky voice. "Darling Nicky, don't you know how much I love you?"

  "I can't quite believe it."

  She gave a delicate laugh. "Before I met you - when I used to see your photographs in the paper -1 always thought you must be so conceited!"

  "I probably am," he said, "but not where you're concerned."

  Wishing she were able to blush at will, Carole lowered her head demurely, though in the main it was to hide the look of triumph in her eyes. What fools men were! They could be intelligent and astute in business, yet when it came to love they were slaves of their own sexual drives. It was a good thing women were generally more practical, particularly herself, she thought, remembering the effort she and her parents had always had to make in order to maintain their place in a society they could not afford.

  Retired from the army because of his health, Colonel Sheridan would have been happy to spend his remaining years in a small cottage with a large garden, but his wife, looking at her baby daughter and thinking of the future, had cajoled him into taking a flat in Kensington which, by dint of enormous struggle, they had managed to maintain. Nothing had been spared in giving Carole the most expensive education and grooming her - like a well-bred colt -for the marriage stakes.

  From the time she was old enough to think for herself, Carole had known that the recovery of the family fortunes rested with her, and because she was even more ambitious and mercenary than her mother, she had planned each move in her future like a general planning a battle. And now the battle was won, or at least it would be before the month was out when she became Nicholas's wife. What did it matter to her whether the ceremony took place in a cathedral or a register office, as long as she had his wedding ring on her finger and his bank account at her command ?

  The entry of Devons, the butler, interrupted her reverie and she pretended not to listen as he told Nicholas that everybody was now waiting in the library.

  "I'll come in right away," Nicholas said, and came over to Carole. "Come on, darling. Let's get it over with."

  She tilted her head and looked at him, her long blonde hair splaying out like a golden web across the dark green brocade of the settee. "Are you sure you want me to come? I mean it will be so personal and -"

  "Don't be ridiculous," he interrupted. "I've no secrets from you." He pulled her to her feet. "I'd like to be sure you had no secrets from me."

  She rubbed against him like a kitten. "My only secret is what my wedding dress is going to look like! Otherwise you know everything about me."

  He made a move as though to take her in his arms and then, remembering what lay ahead, he drew back. "Enchantress," he said huskily. "Come on."

  Jane was standing by the library window when Nicholas and Carole came in, hand in hand. He had already seen his relatives, but he had not yet spoken to Jane, other than a brief word at the funeral, and he came over to her now, his eyes warm and friendly. "You're looking pale," he said softly. "Haven't you been well?"

  "I'm fine." She found it difficult to talk and she moistened her lips. "It's just the atmosphere here. I keep remembering your father and…"

  "He died quickly," Nicholas said. "Remember that, and don't be unhappy for him."

  Behind them the lawyer coughed and Nicholas with a murmured apology moved back to a more central position. "We're ready, Mr. Trupp," he said. "Please begin."

  In an expressionless voice Mr. Trupp read out the legacies and fife annuities left to Sir Angus's various relations, employees and personal servants, and Jane, watching the faces of the people around her, knew that if he might not always have been diplomatic during his lifetime, in his death Sir Angus had made sure of trying to please everyone. It was only when she became aware of a couple of servants looking in her direction that she realised her own name had not yet been mentioned, and she felt herself turning red, and wondered whether Mr. Trupp had made a mistake in asking her to be here. It seemed her assumption was correct, for as the thought entered her mind Mr. Trupp suddenly stopped speaking and placed the will down on the desk.

  "That's all, ladies and gentl
emen. The rest I would prefer to read in private to Mr. Hamilton."

  There was a slight murmur and the scraping of chairs as everyone stood up and started to file out.

  "Not you, Miss Roberts," Mr. Trupp called. "I'd like you to remain."

  Once more there were glances in her direction, and colouring even more fiercely, she returned to her original place by the window. The door closed and she was alone in the library with the lawyer, Nicholas and Carole. Against her will, she had to admit how lovely the girl was to look at, but staring closely at her Jane could see arrogance in the way she stood and petulance in the curve of the lower lip. Yet was the girl as mercenary and hard as Sir Angus had said? Had he not judged her too harshly because he had been annoyed with Nicholas for not wanting to marry Jane herself? It was a question Jane could not answer and she pushed it away from her mind, forcing herself to think only of the present.

  "Do go on, Mr. Trupp," Nicholas was saying impatiently. "I know what my own position is, my father told me several months ago."

  "Yes, quite." The lawyer's tone as flustered and he picked tip the documents on the desk and rushed them. "But there's a bit more to it than that, Mr. Hamilton, and I really would prefer to read it in private to you and Miss Roberts."

  "If you mean you'd like me to go," Carole Sheridan said in her most innocent voice, "then of course I will."

  "No, you won't," Nicholas said, and looked at the lawyer. "I don't have any- secrets from Miss Sheridan." Then by way of explanation, he added: "We'll be getting married at the end of the month."

  "Yes, yes." If anything, Mr. Trupp looked even more flustered, though this in no way seemed to prevent him from repeating his original request. "But I really would prefer to have you and Miss Roberts alone. It's a matter of form, Mr. Hamilton… I don't mean to be rude, as I'm sure Miss Sheridan realises, but___"

  With a melting glance at Nicholas, Carole waited to hear no more and gracefully went out, leaving Nicholas to look at Mr. Trupp with ill-disguised irritation.

  As the door closed the lawyer lost his sense of embarrassment and picking up the will, he started to read it. After the first few sentences Jane was too astounded to absorb the rest with any degree of accuracy; all she knew was that �Sir Angus had placed her in the most unpleasant and difficult position of her life and that �Nicholas - if his expression were anydüng to go by - had turned from a friend into a mortal enemy.