Lord of Misrule

by Sally Wentworth

  ‘Certainly not,’ Sebastian answered firmly. ‘You must both be tired after all that shopping. I’ll be two minutes.’

  He was as good as his word, wheeling the hostess-trolley into the dining-room and insisting on serving them himself.

  ‘Mmm, mushrooms,’ Paula drooled when they reached the main course. ‘They’re the only thing I’ve really craved since I’ve been pregnant.’

  Tm afraid Mrs Chivers hasn’t done very many; she must have remembered that Verity doesn’t like them.’ Sebastian served them out, giving Paula most of the dish and only taking a small helping for himself. ‘As you’re eating for two,’ he grinned.

  The food was delicious, better than Mrs Chivers’ usual standard, and Sebastian opened a bottle of wine, which only he and Verity drank, Paula reluctantly sticking to water. After dinner Verity stacked the dishes in the dishwasher and made coffee before going to join the others in the sitting-room. Paula was sitting on the settee with Sebastian beside her as she told him about their trip and showed him a sample of the wallpaper she had finally decided on. They looked comfortable and at ease with one another, Verity thought, as she poured the coffee. A stab of emotion ran through her, so sharp that she spilt the coffee. But it wasn’t jealousy, it was something far deeper than that.

  ‘Here, let me help you.’ Sebastian had seen and came to take the pot from her.

  ‘Thanks. I must be getting clumsy.’

  His eyes flicked to her and he gave her a small wink—and suddenly Verity knew quite definitely how she felt about him. It left her breathless and silent for quite some time, content to listen to Paula chatting away, and only making the effort to speak when she was asked a question.

  After a couple of hours Verity began to think that Paula would never go to bed, but eventually the other girl’s voice slowed and she got up from the settee, rather clumsily for Paula.

  ‘Are you OK? Would you like me to come up with you?’ Verity offered.

  ‘Of course not. I’m fine.’ She said goodnight and left them alone at last.

  Verity, her eyes fastened on her hands in her lap, listened to Paula’s footsteps going rather slowly up the stairs. She felt suddenly shy, like a teenager all over again.

  Sebastian watched her, an amused look in his eyes, but then he said softly, ‘Come here.’

  Her eyes flew to his, her chin immediately coming up in defiance of such an autocratic order, but then she saw the desire darkening his face and the next moment she had gone to him and he was pulling her down on his lap.

  M missed you,” he told her forcefully, his mouth against hers as he ravaged it with small, insidious kisses. ‘Ever since that last time I’ve wanted to kiss you again.’

  Her arms went round his neck and Verity leaned against him, returning his embrace avidly, overpowered by his vehemence.

  But all too soon Sebastian lifted his head, his face taut. ‘Let’s take a walk.’

  But Verity nestled against him. ‘It’s cold outside.’

  He smiled, but, putting his hands round her waist, lifted her to her feet. ‘My mother will be home soon,’ he reminded her.

  So they got their coats and went out into the misty darkness. They stood for a few moments, tasting the

  cold air in their lungs, feeling the dampness of the night clinging to them. Verity pulled her coat closer at the nock and shivered a little, but then Sebastian put his arm round her waist and held her close against his side and her heart filled with eager anticipation.

  ‘I know where we can go.’ Walking quickly, he led her across the lawn to the rose garden, where there was a little wooden arbour covered in climbing roses built in the shelter of the wall, a place that lay in heavy shadow and still smclled of the faint musk of faded flowers. They sat close together to shut out the cold, and Sebastian put his hand on her neck, stroking her chin with his thumb, looking into her face before he bent to touch his lips to hers, softly at first, but then with a growing need that seared her senses. For several minutes there was no time for words, but then Sebastian sighed. ‘I wish it were summer,’ he murmured as he kissed her throat.

  ‘Do you? Why?’

  ‘Because then you wouldn’t have so many clothes on.’ His hands fumbled with the belt of her coat and then moved inside.

  Verity caught her breath, and said unsteadily, ‘I wish it were summer, too, then your hands wouldn’t be so cold.’

  He laughed, and pulled her to him to kiss her deeply, exploring her mouth like a man who had all the time in the world. A quiver of awareness ran through Verity as she leaned against his arm, her mouth open under his, her senses drowning in a long spiral of pleasure and growing excitement. His hand moved up from her waist, found the soft lace of her bra and moved it aside as he began to caress her. His fingers, firm yet gentle, and oh, so knowledgeable,

  Created ripples of desire that spread into waves of heat that made her gasp and move voluptuously under his hand.

  Her reaction could only increase Sebastian’s own hunger, and his mouth grew more demanding as his arm tightened and he held her close against him. And then his mouth left hers as he kissed her eyes, the line of her cheek, her neck. His voice thickening, he murmured her name against the soft skin of her throat, and now his hands were hot, burning hot, as he fondled her. Verity moaned, her body hardening and arching towards him, her senses on fire and a great longing rising deep inside her. She put her hands on either side of his head and could feel the damp sweat of perspiration on his skin as he kissed her again.

  Verity had lost all sense of time and place, and it was Sebastian who eventually drew back. He put up an unsteady hand to push a lock of hair back from bis forehead. ‘Phew! It certainly feels like summer now; I’m burning up.’ He shot his wrist forward to try to see his watch, but it was too dark. ‘I wonder what the time is? Mother should have been home by now.’

  ‘Perhaps she is home,’ Verity suggested.

  ‘I didn’t see any car lights. Did you?’

  ‘No, but then I wasn’t exactly looking out for them.’

  Sebastian laughed softly and nuzzled her ear. ‘No, I have to admit that I had other things on my mind, too.’ But he frowned and drew back. ‘I think we’d better go in and check.’

  They began to walk back to the house, but Verity teased him on the way back, putting her arms round his waist and nibbling at his ear, so that they stopped more than once as Sebastian, goaded, grabbed her and soundly kissed her. It was only as they came round to the front of the house that Verity noticed that the light was on in Paula’s room. ‘I hope she’s all right!’ she exclaimed in concern.

  ‘Probably reading in bed.’

  But their footsteps quickened as they hurried to the door. It was on the latch and Verity pushed it open, filled with a sudden sense of alarm and urgency.

  Paula’s screams filled their ears as soon as they entered the hall. She was on the floor on the landing at the top of the stairs, half lying against the wall, slumped against it and with her arms across her stomach as she cried out in agony.

  ‘Paula!’ Verity flew up the stairs and threw herself down beside the other girl. ‘Oh, darling, what is it? Is it the baby?’

  ‘Help me! Help me!’ Her eyes wild, Paula clutched at Verity and then cried out again as another spasm of pain shot through her.

  Below them, Verity heard Sebastian talking on the phone, and then he came bounding up the stairs. ‘I’ve called an ambulance. Has she told you what’s the matter?’

  ‘No. But feel her head, she’s so hot. And she’s in such pain.’

  Suddenly Paula made terrible choking noises, and Sebastian quickly picked her up and carried her into the bathroom where she was terribly sick, heaving her heart up.

  ‘What is it? What’s the matter with her?’ There was real terror in Verity’s voice as she tried to help.

  ‘I don’t know. Look, she’s shivering now. Get a blanket to put round her.’ Verity yanked one off the bed and Sebastian gently lifted Paula and wrapped her in it, then l
aid her on the bed. She was still groaning, but didn’t seem to be quite so bad now. ‘Will you look after her for a few minutes while I go and put the floodlights on to guide the ambulance?’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ Verity put her arms round Paula and tenderly stroked the hair that was clinging to her damp head. ‘Oh, Paula, what is it? What is it?’

  Perhaps the intensity of her words got through, because Paula opened her eyes and gave a long, whimpering moan. ‘Where were you? I couldn’t find you.’ Tears poured down her cheeks. ‘Oh, Verity, I feel so ill.’

  ‘You’ll be all right. An ambulance is coming. You’ll soon be fine.’ Verity spoke as reassuringly as she could, but she was scared to death, fear for her friend gripping her heart. She rocked her in her arms like a child and made soothing noises, but Paula suddenly began to scream again, throwing herself around on the bed in agony.

  Sebastian came running in and caught hold of Paula, preventing her from falling off the bed and hurting herself. He thrust a radiophone and a small book into Verity’s hands. ‘This is Mother’s address book. I think she’s playing at the Naughtons’ tonight. See if you can get hold of her, will you?’

  Her hands shaking, Verity managed to look up the number, but when she went to use the phone found that it was already switched on. ‘It’s already on. I….‘ She broke off, her mind in a whirl, and hurriedly punched the numbers, waiting impatiently for it to ring. ‘Please, is Maggie there? Yes? No, just tell her to please come home at once. Paula is ill. Yes, we’ve sent for an ambulance. Yes. Thank you.’

  She threw the phone aside as it became evident that Paula was going to be ill again. Sebastian carried her into the bathroom and Verity held her as she retched horribly with nothing left in her stomach. Afterwards Verity gently washed her face, and then glanced up to see Sebastian leaning against the wall, beads of sweat glistening on his face. But he quickly straightened up and said, “The ambulance should be here any minute. I’ll take her downstairs.’

  Lifting Paula, he carried her out on to the landing, but seemed to stagger a little. Catching his arm to steady him. Verity said anxiously, “Are you all right? Is she too heavy for you?’

  ‘No, of course not. I’m fine.’ He tightened his hold and went down the stairs carefully, reaching the hall just as the flashing blue light of the ambulance filled the open doorway.

  The ambulance men were marvellously efficient and had Paula inside the vehicle within seconds.

  ‘You go with her,’ Sebastian said, helping Verity inside. ‘I’ll wait for Mother and follow you in the car.’

  The nearest hospital was al Mclford and at that time of night the roads were almost deserted, but it still seemed like light years before they reached it and Paula was rushed into the casualty department. Verity stood alone, waiting, biting her thumb in nervous dread.

  A sister came hurrying towards her. ‘You came with Mrs Layton, didn’t you?’ And when Verity nodded, ‘Have you been with her all evening? Do you know what she’s eaten?’

  ‘Eaten?’ Verity stared, then pulled herself together. When we were in London, we had lunch in a restaurant.

  We both had salad.’

  ‘And this evening?’ the nurse prompted. ‘Do you know what she had for dinner?’

  ‘Why, yes, we all had the same.’

  ‘You’re sure? You ate exactly the same food as Mrs Layton?’

  ‘Yes. Oh—except for the mushrooms, of course.’

  The nurse put her hand on Verity’s arm. ‘Are you saying that Mrs Layton had mushrooms but you didn’t?’

  ‘Yes. But Sebastian had some.’

  ‘And is he all right?’

  ‘Why, yes, I‘ She broke off, her mind suddenly picturing Sebastian leaning against the wall, and her voice became uncertain. ‘I think he is. Why? Do you think Paula has food poisoning?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘It could be very likely. I’ll go and tell the doctor.”

  She hurried off and Verity sat down on a chair, not knowing if this was good news or bad. She had been so afraid that Paula might be having a miscarriage or have appendicitis or something; compared to them food poisoning seemed almost mild. But then she remembered Paula’s agonised screams and her mind filled with worry again.

  It was almost twenty minutes later before Maggie and Sebastian arrived at the hospital. Verity jumped to her feet and ran to meet them, her eyes going swiftly to Sebastian’s face. He was hiding it well, but one look was enough to confirm her fears; his features were drawn in tightly as he fought to conceal the pain, but there were tell-tale beads of moisture on his lip and his forehead.

  ‘What’s the matter with Paula? Do they know? Have they said anything to you yet?’ Maggie asked at once.

  ‘Nothing definite. But they asked me what we had for dinner. They—they said it could be food poisoning.’ She turned to Sebastian. ‘But the only thing I didn’t have that Paula did was the mushrooms at dinner. But you had those. Are you feeling OK?’

  Maggie’s eyes widened in horror. She looked at Sebastian sharply and then said, ‘He certainly isn’t. Call a nurse, Verity.’

  ‘I’m all right,’ Sebastian began to protest, but was given no chance to go on. Within minutes he, too, had been whisked away by the efficient nurses.

  ‘Sebastian told me what happened, but perhaps you could tell me again,’ Maggie said as they sat down. Verity did so, and Maggie shook her head in disbelief. ‘I just can’t understand it. How could shop-bought mushrooms possibly have made them ill? Unless…’ She fell silent for a moment, a worried frown on her face, then said, ‘I tried to phone the house twice this evening to speak to Sebastian, but I couldn’t get through. Were you using the phone a lot?’

  ‘No, no one made any calls—except when Sebastian rang for the ambulance, of course.’

  ‘No, it would have been before then. How strange.’

  ‘Do you—do you think Paula will be all right?’ Verity asked, wanting to have the dread in her mind comforted away.

  Reaching over, Maggie took hold of her hand and patted it. ‘I’m sure she will. And I’m sure the doctors are ail very experienced and will do their best for her. But as I didn’t see her…’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sure Paula will be all right.’

  The slight emphasis made Verity’s eyes widen. Surely you don’t think she could lose the baby? But she’s six months; if the baby started to come because of this it would still be OK, wouldn’t it? It would still live?’

  Maggie looked at her for a moment, her eyes troubled. ‘We must certainly hope and pray so. If only I’d been there,’ she added with a vexed sigh.

  Verity turned away, feeling sick inside. She hadn’t been there either, when Paula had needed her. The pregnant woman had been left alone in the house while she and Sebastian had been indulging in a spot of lovemaking, in the beginnings of—of what? An affair? Verity buried that thought, unable to think of anything but her own guilt. She should never have left Paula alone; hadn’t she expressly come here to look after her friend until the baby was born?

  The two women sat for what seemed an eternity, not talking much, Maggie apparently busy with her own thoughts and Verity racked by her conscience.

  It was Sebastian who came out first. His face was very pale, his cheeks drawn, but apart from that he seemed perfectly all right. Hope flared in Verity’s heart and she went quickly to him. ‘Is there any news of Paula?’

  ‘I asked, but they’re still working on her, evidently.’ Then he quickly put out his hand and caught her arm. ‘But I’m sure she’ll be all right. I’m over it now.’

  ‘Yes, but you gave Paula most of the mushrooms and you’re not pregnant!’ Verity said in a sudden burst of anger.

  He gave a harsh, mirthless laugh. ‘It’s hardly likely that I would be.’

  Maggie had come up to them and said, ‘Are you really ail right, Sebastian? You look dreadfully pale. You haven’t dismissed yourself against their orders or anything, have you?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ he answered in a
tone that warned her not to fuss. ‘There’s a coffee machine over there; I’ll get you some.’

  He walked away and Maggie looked after him worriedly. ‘I really think he ought to go home and go to bed; he doesn’t look at all well.’

  Belatedly, Verity realised that she hadn’t even asked Sebastian how he was. But she was so worried about Paula, and he had seemed hardly ill at all in comparison. She watched him at the coffee machine and saw him put a hand against it as if to support himself. She took an instinctive step to go to him, but Maggie caught her arm and said, ‘Here’s the doctor.’

  Verity turned quickly, her eyes searching the doctor’s face. ‘Mrs Layton? How is she?’

  His face was grave and Verity’s heart sank, but he said, ‘We have every hope that she will make a full recovery. But she has been very ill.’

  ‘And the baby?’

  He gave an expressive shrug. ‘At the moment she still has it and we’ve managed to sedate her, but it’s still possible that the stomach cramps she’s gone through might bring on a premature labour.’

  ‘When will you know whether it will be all right?’ It was Maggie who asked the question that Verity couldn’t bring herself to voice.

  ‘We want to keep her here for at least a week; if she doesn’t give birth in that time then there’s every chance of her keeping the baby for the natural period.’

  ‘Can I sec her?’ Verity asked anxiously.

  ‘I don’t really think there’s much point. She’s asleep, and it will be much better if you go home and come back tomorrow.’ The doctor glanced at Sebastian who had come up behind them, and his voice hardened. ‘And.vow should definitely be in bed, preferably in a ward here where I can keep an eye on you.’

  But Sebastian merely said, ‘What time tomorrow can we visit Mrs Layton?’

  ‘Any time. I’ve followed your instructions and put her in a private room.’

  The doctor nodded and turned away, but had only gone a few yards when Verity ran after him and caught his sleeve. ‘Just a moment. Please.’ He stopped, looking at her enquiringly, and she said earnestly, ‘Paula—Mrs Layton, she’s a widow. Her husband was killed a few months ago. The baby is all she has now. You will do your best to help her keep it, won’t you?’