Camellia

by Lesley Pearse

  A cold chill ran down his spine. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Mel was still in the car, then read through the story as fast as he could, his heart thumping.

  'Can I help you, sir?' the woman behind the counter called out, but he ignored her and continued to read on.

  All week he had prevented Mel from seeing the news on television and even buying a paper, by pretending he wanted to cut them off from reality. As his daily phone calls to Magnus had revealed there had been no more sightings of Manning since that night in Wales before they left, he had been lulled into a false sense of security.

  The previous afternoon a widow in her early sixties had been shot in the shoulder at an isolated house some ten miles from Bristol. She was discovered by the evening paperboy, lying outside by an old shed. She regained consciousness when the ambulance arrived and was able to tell the police that a man had come to her door demanding that she give him the keys to her car. She had handed them over, guessing that this was the man she'd read about in the papers, but he took all the money in her handbag, ripped out her telephone and shot her anyway. She was trying to get help when she collapsed outside. If it hadn't been for the paperboy she would have bled to death by morning.

  Nick's head spun. He didn't know what to do for the best. If he insisted on taking Mel back to Lyme Regis she would be instantly suspicious. Yet how could he risk taking her back to Oaklands?

  He paid for his petrol and the chocolate. As he came out of the shop and saw Mel's note on the windscreen, and her grinning face behind it, he was stumped. She was so happy. How could he dash it all by telling her about Manning?

  Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself he walked back to the car. 'So you'll marry me?' he said, forcing himself to smile and look normal. 'Well, that's worthy of another celebration. Let's turn round and go back to Lyme Regis?'

  'Don't be so ridiculous,' she laughed gleefully, ruffling his hair. 'Your film's on TV tonight. Magnus would be savage if he couldn't watch it with us.'

  Nick went cold all over, immediately guessing why she'd insisted on having her hair done that morning, and why she'd bought a new dress earlier in the week. Magnus had arranged a surprise party.

  Nick had a straight choice: either tell the truth and see the anxiety and fear come back in her eyes, not to mention disappointing all the guests, or say nothing and go home and just hope the police would be extra vigilant tonight.

  'If you insist on going back for tonight, will you at least promise you'll come to London with me tomorrow morning,' he asked. 'I want to buy you a lovely ring.'

  'That sounds like a pretty good deal,' she grinned. 'We can have champagne tonight at Oaklands and I can buy some new clothes in London too.'

  Mel dropped off to sleep soon after leaving the garage. Nick was glad: it freed him from being forced to make bright conversation. He slowed down, trying to think of some plan. Could he pretend to break down? But he knew that wouldn't work. If she'd promised Magnus they would be back this evening, she'd insist they got there somehow.

  Manning was bound to know Delinquents was on TV tonight. He might also guess there would be some sort of celebration at Oaklands, and that Mel might be there. But surely no man on the run would risk turning up in a place that the police would be certain to be watching? Perhaps it was really the safest place for her to be.

  It was pitch dark when Mel woke up, dark hedges lining the road. 'Where are we?' she asked. Looking at her watch she saw it was half past six.

  When he didn't answer she glanced sideways at Nick. He looked a bit strained.

  'Are you all right? Shall I drive for a bit?' she asked. 'Or are you having second thoughts about marrying me?'

  'Of course not,' he scoffed. 'I was just wondering if Dad would let me share your bed tonight'

  'You aren't going to ask him?' she giggled. 'I'd die with embarrassment.'

  'Well, he knows we haven't been just holding hands all week,' Nick retorted.

  As they drove through Bath just after seven it seemed to Nick that there was an unusually heavy police presence. He spotted four Panda cars in the space of five minutes, and he had a feeling they were doing more than just watching out for drunken hooligans on a Friday night.

  As they approached the driveway into Oaklands, Nick saw two more Panda cars parked up on opposite sides of the road, some thirty yards apart. Two uniformed men were standing by the gates, clearly on guard.

  'What's going on?' Mel asked, leaning forward in her seat.

  Nick thought quickly. 'I expect Magnus has invited Helena tonight and asked them to make sure no fans get in. Unless of course it's got around what a sensation I am,' he added, hoping that would distract her.

  As he slowed right down to turn into the drive, the two men stepped out in front of the car flashing torches.

  Nick opened the window and stuck his head out. 'I'm Nicholas Osbourne,' he called out. 'With Camellia Norton. Do we have to advance and be recognised?' He offered up a silent frantic prayer that the police wouldn't say anything to alarm Mel.

  'You're okay sir.' The policemen backed away, signalling him on. 'We were briefed you were coming. Drive on in.'

  'That's a bit heavy,' Mel said suspiciously, turning in her seat to look at Nick as he drove up the drive. 'Are you sure you aren't keeping something back from me?'

  Nick was very glad it was so dark, not only because she couldn't see his face, but because by turning to him she'd missed the two policemen on foot with a dog in the woods to her right.

  'I suspect it's you keeping things back,' he said glibly. 'Who else is coming tonight aside from Helena? And why did you get your hair done today?'

  'I didn't know Helena was coming tonight until you told me. And I got my hair done for your benefit,' she said sweetly.

  Nick thought she was almost as good a liar as himself.

  The floodlighting around the house was on. Nick hoped Mel had forgotten that Magnus normally only used the front lights during the autumn and winter. 'Good God! It's busy tonight,' he exclaimed, feigning astonishment at the number of parked cars. 'I just hope Dad doesn't rope us two into serving behind the bar?'

  Magnus must have been looking out for them, as he opened the front door the moment they got out the car. In the light from the porch he could well have been mistaken for a film star himself. He was wearing a dinner jacket and bow tie and his white hair was slicked back.

  'You're looking very dapper, Dad,' Nick called out, taking Mel's arm and moving her swiftly towards the safety of the house. 'I would have thought with all these cars out here you could afford a doorman!'

  'I heard you driving in,' Magnus said, coming forward and clamping his arm round Mel's shoulder protectively. Nick saw him glance nervously back into the shadows. 'It's cold out here, let's get you inside.'

  Nick noticed how quickly Magnus shut the door and his distracted manner, but Mel was equally distracted, looking towards the sound of voices coming from behind the closed bar door.

  'Welcome home.' Magnus kissed Mel's cheek and slapped his son on the shoulder. 'I'm afraid I've got a few pressing things to do before I can relax with you and hear about your holiday. Why don't you nip upstairs and change? By the time you've done that I'll be free and we can have a drink together before the film starts.'

  Mel began to walk towards the stairs, but she looked back over her shoulder and grinned at Nick. 'You see!' she said. 1 knew he wouldn't approve of your jeans.'

  Magnus waited a second until she'd turned onto the stairs, and caught hold of his son's arm. 'For the first time in my life I hoped you'd be feckless and not turn up tonight,' he said in a low voice. 'Manning shot a woman not fifteen miles from here yesterday.'

  'I know, Dad,' Nick whispered. 'We were on the way back when I saw it in a paper. Without telling Mel the truth there was no alternative but to come here. I'll take her to London first thing in the morning.'

  'I suppose too you've guessed about the party?'

  Nick nodded. 'Yes, it dawned on me when she wa
s so anxious to get back. But Mel doesn't know I've twigged, so I'll fake surprise, for her benefit.' He looked towards the closed bar door. 'I take it they are all in there waiting?'

  'There wasn't time to stop them coming,' Magnus sighed deeply, putting one hand up to his head as if the weight of so much responsibility was too much for him. 'But I've done everything possible to make it secure. I cancelled all bookings, closed the club until further notice, and the police are patrolling the grounds. I've even put a double bed in Mel's room so she's got you for protection during the night. As long as everyone stays inside and keeps the windows and doors closed, she will be safe. I don't really believe he'd risk coming here tonight, but I can't help wondering if we should warn her though.'

  'No, Dad,' Nick put his arm across his father's shoulders. 'She's so happy and secure right now, we can't shatter that for her. We'll make sure someone's with her at all times. The police are outside. Tell everyone else to be vigilant, but not to say anything to her. Let's make this the happy carefree party she's expecting, for her sake.'

  He picked up their cases and raced up the stairs to find Mel standing in her room looking in astonishment at the double divan which had replaced her old single one.

  'Dad just told me,' Nick said. 'He said he needed all the other rooms tonight, but I suspect he just didn't want us creeping along passages.'

  'Shame we can't christen it immediately,' she giggled, flinging off her clothes. 'But the film starts in just over half an hour and I'm dying for a drink. But bless Magnus – I didn't fancy sleeping alone again.'

  Ten minutes later they came back down the stairs – Mel in her slinky long cream dress, Nick in a navy-blue suit and striped tie.

  As Nick opened the door to the bar, a barrage of party poppers erupted, smothering him in paper streamers.

  Mel stood back shaking with laughter. Nick was transfixed, eyes wide with shock, mouth hanging open.

  'What the Dickens is going on,' he gasped, seeing at least thirty of his family and friends dressed up and grinning at him. 'I don't believe this!'

  If Magnus had once doubted his son's ability to be a convincing actor, Nick's display of feigned amazement put him straight. Everyone, including Mel, was taken in.

  Again and again this week Magnus had been tempted to abandon the idea of the party and not just because of Edward Manning. Everyone, family, friends and staff were intensely curious about Mel – why she'd left Oaklands, why Manning had tried to kill her, what her connection with Helena was. On top of that Magnus knew they were also all wondering where he came into the story – how he knew Sir Miles Hamilton and Helena and why the police had questioned them all. A few moments ago when he'd warned everyone to say nothing to Mel about Manning or the police presence outside, it created even greater confusion.

  Magnus was at heart an honest man, and he would have found it more comfortable to tell the truth than lie or evade the issue. But he was only one of the supporting cast in this drama, and unless Helena and Miles were prepared publicly to reveal their relationship to Mel, he couldn't offer a plausible explanation about any of it, to anyone.

  Sophie and Stephen were both bristling with indignation, convinced they were the only people being kept in the dark. Joan and Antoine were a little hurt he couldn't take them into his confidence and he knew the rest of his staff were whispering about this mystery together.

  Glancing about him Magnus saw it in all their faces. Sophie had made a great effort with her appearance tonight: she'd had her dark hair put up in a French pleat at the hairdressers, with make-up and her black cocktail dress she was, if not glamorous, at least sophisticated. But though she was smiling and chatting to everyone, every now and again she'd glance balefully in Magnus's direction. Stephen was very smart in a dark lounge suit, a full glass in his hand, June, his wife by his side, but he appeared to be studying Miles and Helena as if trying to work it all out. Even Joan and Antoine, although clearly touched that they'd been included tonight, looked slightly strained.

  But Magnus knew he had to put all this out of his mind. The party was for Nick, and what counted tonight was his youngest son's happiness.

  'I'm as proud as punch of you.' He took a step closer to Nick putting one hand on his shoulder, his voice gruff with emotion. 'This is my way of showing it.'

  'Oh Dad, you silly sod,' Nick hugged his father tightly. 'Am I really going to be put through watching it with all of you?'

  'You just wait till you see the size of the television I hired for the night,' Magnus said. 'Now how about some large drinks before we go into the private cinema in the dining room?'

  Mel was so busy watching Nick's face, she didn't notice Helena come through from the back of the crowd to stand by her side.

  'You look wonderful, Camellia. I hope you feel as happy and well as you look.'

  Mel turned her head in surprise at the now familiar husky voice.

  Helena looked like a film star tonight, in a floor-length blue and green chiffon low-cut gown, with wide, almost mediaeval sleeves. Diamonds sparkled at her throat, wrist and ears, and her dark curls cascaded onto her shoulders. The glamour threw Mel, bringing back an unexpected twinge of resentment.

  'I'm fine now, thank you,' she said.

  A fleeting look of hurt in the woman's velvety dark eyes immediately shamed her for giving such a stilted, cold reply.

  'I'm sorry, that came out all wrong/ she added quickly. 'I think I meant past hurts don't matter any more. Tonight and all the tomorrows are what count.'

  'A commendable sentiment,' Miles's deep gravelly voice came from her right. He pushed his way past a couple of Nick's actor friends. 'And my dear, you look ravishing.'

  'And so do you, Smiley,' she said, reaching out to touch his waistcoat. It was red silk, embroidered with gold thread and she had the oddest feeling he'd put it on for her benefit. 'This is absolutely spectacular.'

  She knew in that instant she'd made amends to both of them by using Helena's pet name for him. Delighted smiles passed between them.

  'It has been said, that a man of my age should wear more discreet clothes,' Miles said with a rumble of laughter in his voice. 'But I have always maintained that if everyone was to dress as they feel, we'd all understand one another a great deal more quickly.'

  'Then I should be wearing red,' Mel admitted. 'That's my favourite colour. What would that say about me?'

  'Ah, ha!' he exclaimed. 'Red signifies a huntress. But as you chose cream tonight that suggests to me that you have found what you were looking for. Am I right?'

  Mel looked from Miles to Helena. She sensed that they were both still uneasy. This was all new for them too.

  It was a strange moment. The room was filled with Nick's family and friends. To them, aside from Nick and Magnus, she was merely an ex-employee turned girlfriend - a curiosity perhaps, because of the recent events, but nothing more.

  Mel was aware her idea of family life was distorted. She'd only really ever observed it as an interested outsider – sometimes with yearning, but more often with cynicism. She had the choice now either to claim these two strangers as her family and be prepared for the difficulties which would come with it, or to back away politely and keep the independence she valued. It wasn't easy. She wasn't sure she could ever be what they wanted, and once she'd committed herself she would have to stick by her decision.

  'Yes. I have found what I was looking for,' she said carefully. 'Me.'

  Miles looked a little perplexed, but Helena's eyes showed true understanding. She lifted one hand and caressed Mel's cheek, her tender gesture showing that she knew Mel had placed a foundation stone on which all three of them could build.

  Magnus elbowed his way through the crowd with a tray of drinks. 'Nick told me you'd like gin and tonic,' he said, handing a glass to Mel. 'Brandy for Miles, lemonade for Helena and whisky for me. I need it too. If I ever get the idea of throwing another surprise party, lock me up until the madness has passed.'

  'It was worth it though, wasn't it?' Mel sa
id. 'I've never seen Nick look so surprised. I thought he'd guessed when he saw the police on the gate. Are they really necessary? I mean do you get followed by fans much, Helena?'

  Helena had to think quickly. People did turn up on the film set every day, but the real draw was Rupert Henderson, her young co-star. 'It isn't me people are likely to chase after, but Nick,' she said with a wide smile. 'There was a great deal in the local papers about him while you were away, and Magnus has had his hands full for the last two days with people wandering into the grounds hoping to see him. After tonight it will probably be worse.'

  Magnus shot her a look of gratitude. 'Speaking of Nick's film, it's about time we all went in and took our seats,' he said. He put his arm around Mel. 'And I haven't even had time to tell you how gorgeous you look tonight, or ask about your foot.'

  'The foot's all better, and I'm glad I look human again. But you haven't told me what's happened about Edward? And where's Con? He said he was going to come.'

  'Con couldn't find anyone to stand in for him tonight,' Magnus replied, glad that as usual she'd strung all her questions together. 'But he said he'd come down – if not this coming Sunday, the next. I think he's finding it a bit of a struggle without you. Now let's get Nick and get in the dining room. We can do all the chatting after the film.'

  The dining room had been turned into a cinema, with the biggest television Mel had ever seen put up on a table. Magnus had replaced the dining tables and chairs with the more comfortable wicker armchairs and settees from the orangery. Nick, Mel, Helena and Magnus took the biggest settee right in the front, with Miles in a chair next to them. The rest of the party gathered to both sides and behind them.

  'I'll bring round the ices,' Nick joked, a little embarrassed to find himself the focal point of the whole evening. But he was glad to discover that he had at least drawn all the guests' attention away from what was going on outside. He'd peeped out through the curtains just before coming in here and he'd seen the police patrolling the grounds with torches.