by Anne Hampson
‘My lovely Kim,’ he said softly, smiling as the colour tinted her cheeks.
The possessive ... it was always that, but for the first time Kim felt no resentment, no urge to snap out some scathing retort. What was happening to her? Why was she so conscious of the touch of his hand as it held hers?
‘It’s - it’s getting cold,’ she stammered. ‘I think I’ll go in.’ The sun was beginning to drop behind the mountains; their snowy summits became faintly outlined in a mist of gold as the clouds hovered almost motionless about them.
Julian glanced at his watch.
‘The days are lengthening,’ he remarked prosaically, breaking the spell in which Kim felt herself enveloped. ‘Yes, I think you’re right, it is becoming chilly. In any case, it’s time for tea.’ They entered the hall together, and went upstairs. On the landing he took her in his arms and kissed her. It was as if he were compelled to do so. ‘You’ve threatened to leave me,’ he said when he had released her. ‘But somehow I don’t think you will.’ His words startled her, being so unexpected. He seemed so confident and for one alarming moment she wondered if he could possibly have guessed at the change which was slowly taking place in her feelings towards him. No, on the contrary, he was still planning to hold her by other means, hoping that by the time his aunt died Kim would be in a position where she would be wholly dependent upon him. And it wasn’t as if he felt one spark of love for her; his sole reason for wanting to keep her was that she satisfied his desires. Kim tried to swallow the anger which blocked her throat, but it was impossible and her voice was harsh and unnatural when eventually she managed to speak.
‘I’ll leave you — when the time comes - no matter what happens between now and then!’
To her astonishment he flinched at her words, and a muscle moved in his neck as if he too were swallowing hard.
‘We’ll see,’ he responded at last. ‘We’ll see what happens when the time comes.’
Margery’s light steps could be heard on the stairs and, leaving Kim standing there on the landing, Julian went into the sitting-room. After washing her hands in the bathroom Kim went into the kitchen. Margery was already there, filling the electric kettle.
‘I’m absolutely starving,’ Margery exclaimed with a grimace. ‘The air here’s wonderful. Neil will be absolutely delighted with this place.’
Kim began cutting the bread, which Margery had already put out on the board.
‘In three days’ time he’ll be here. I expect you’re excited.’
‘I am.’ Margery’s eyes glowed. ‘It’s awful without him—’ She stopped and laughed self-consciously. ‘You know how you’d feel if you were separated from Julian, so I’ve no need to try and explain.’
A tiny sigh was Kim’s only reaction to that and for a few moments the two girls worked in silence, each busy with her own thoughts. But presently Margery began talking about Julian, and it was soon made clear to Kim that both she and Neil were overwhelmingly grateful for what was being done for them.
‘I don’t dare think about the cost of all this,’ she said, spreading her hands in an all-embracing gesture. ‘I think that, later, we must consider paying him back — at least some of the money.’
‘He seems to be very rich,’ Kim remarked casually. Ever since her marriage she had been curious to know where Julian had obtained his money.
‘He hasn’t talked about himself?’ Margery glanced at her in some considerable surprise. ‘Don’t you know about his uncle in Australia? The one who died and left him a huge fortune?’
Flushing slightly, Kim shook her head.
‘We didn’t know each other very long before our marriage,’ she submitted, half inclined to take Margery into her confidence.
‘I gathered that, because although Mum mentioned that he’d got engaged, she didn’t seem to know very much about you. Of course, I haven’t seen much of her since the accident because at first I was terribly ill myself, and since recovering from the shock I’ve practically lived at the hospital. They let me, you see, because it was thought that Neil — that Neil wouldn’t get better.’ Her voice broke and for a while she was unable to go on. ‘It was love at first sight?’ she asked at last, and Kim wondered how she could lie convincingly.
‘We’re not in love, Margery,’ she owned after a long moment of indecision. ‘Please don’t let Julian know I’ve told you. He’d be furious
with me.’ She was very pale, and her voice was almost inaudible.
‘Not in love?’ Margery stared at her uncomprehendingly. ‘What are you saying, Kim? If you’re not in love, then why did you marry? Oh, but you must be! Julian would never marry unless he were in love!’
A bitter smile curved Kim’s lovely mouth and it brought a frown to Margery’s brow.
‘Neither Julian nor I are in love—’ A slight hesitation and then, ‘We’d known each other just over a week when we married.’
‘But - but....’ Margery was clearly staggered and Kim went on to explain exactly what had happened. The knowledge of Julian’s action left Margery completely speechless. Clearly it was beyond her comprehension that he could be capable of such criminal conduct. Several times she opened her mouth, but closed it again, obviously unable to find anything to say.
‘He wouldn’t do a thing like that,’ she gasped at length. ‘He couldn’t!’ Kim stood in silence for a minute, her heart beating much too rapidly. For she was very much afraid Margery would be unable to remain silent about what she had just heard. Her astonishment was understandable, for she had known only the side of Julian which Kim herself admired, had experienced only his kindness and generosity, She had no knowledge of the savagery of him, of the harshness and the cruelty.
‘You won’t say word to Julian?’ Kim begged, desperately hoping she could extract the promise from her friend.
‘But... Kim....’ Margery shook her head dazedly. ‘It isn’t true - it can’t be! I’ve known Julian for over two years - he lived with us once, for a while, when Mum was ill in hospital, and he’s always been the same — kind and sort of - gentle.’
Gentle? Yes, Kim mused, her lovely eyes assuming a rather dreamy expression. At times he could be infinitely gentle. But at others— Kim shuddered at the memory.
‘It’s quite true, Margery. He wanted me and meant to have me. I had no choice but to marry him—’
‘No, Kim, no!’ Margery protested. ‘I can’t believe it of Julian!’
Kim shrugged and made another effort to extract the premise from Margery.
‘He’ll be so angry if he knows I’ve confided in you like this,’ she
added in some distress. ‘You won’t say anything to him? Promise me.’
‘Yes, of course I’ll promise.’ Margery was still dazed, but she apparently sensed Kim’s fear and she looked straight at her as she spoke. ‘Don’t worry, Kim, I’ll never breathe a word to Julian, never.’ But she shook her head again as if still quite unable to believe what she had just been told.
A short while later they were all in the sitting-room, having afternoon tea, and to Kim’s relief the conversation turned immediately to the alterations and these were discussed throughout the meal.
‘I’ve already ordered the brochures,’ Julian said, looking at Margery. ‘And the advertisements are already sent out to the various newspapers and magazines. We should be receiving bookings shortly.’ He stopped to smile affectionately at her and Margery’s eyes caught Kim’s and the message conveyed was that Margery still could not comprehend Julian’s wickedness in threatening Kim the way he had. ‘If we can get the office finished and made comfortable you can take over, as that side of the business will be yours — or so I should think?’
‘Yes, I’ll take care of all the bookings. What have you put in the brochures, Julian?’
‘Oh, the obvious sort of thing one expects with this type of hotel. Walking, climbing, shooting and fishing. There’ll be the tennis courts and the swimming pool, and indoor recreation, of course.’
‘You could
have excursions once or twice a week to places of interest,’ Kim suggested, anxious to keep the trend of conversation on these lines. ‘There could be runs through the mountains, or to the sea.’
‘A good idea,’ Julian agreed. ‘Yes, we must get in touch with a coach company and ask for suggestions.’
That night, in the privacy of their room, Kim asked Julian how long he expected to remain at Strata Cadilla. He cocked an eyebrow at her phrasing of the question.
‘I? You mean, “we”, don’t you?’ He was already in bed, leaning back comfortably against his pillows, his book lying open on the quilt. Kim was sitting at the dressing-table, brushing her hair. Their eyes met in the mirror and she saw that he was smiling faintly. Was he so confident, then, that he could keep her with him?
‘Where would — we be living — eventually, I mean?’
‘Where would you like to live?’
Kim shook her head. She still wasn’t sure that she would not leave him, eventually. For no matter how her own heart might become involved, Julian could never give her. love. He cared for Vicky, and the fact of Kim’s having been the cause of his losing her would always be between them. It would be folly to remain with Julian under such conditions, and yet.... Kim drew the brush through her hair; the honey-gold mass fell caressingly on to her shoulders. Julian had picked up his book, but Kim saw through the mirror that he was still watching her, and awaiting her reply. A tiny sigh left her lips as she endeavoured to conjure up a picture of what her future would be like if she were to leave her husband and return to the old life of freedom and independence. But could one ever go back? So many times she had heard people say it was quite impossible, that when one tried to go back one invariably met with disappointments, for things were never quite the same.
‘I don’t know where I’d like to live,’ she admitted, turning her head to glance at him as she spoke. ‘I’d prefer the country though - if that’s possible?’
‘We can live anywhere,’ he said, lowering his book again. ‘The flat’s out, of course, because it’s far too small. In any case, we want a house, or a bungalow, whichever you prefer.’
So she was to be given the choice. What did normal married couples experience when setting up home? she wondered, recalling how she herself had derided all girls who were stupid enough to get themselves entangled in the marriage net. She thought of Carole and her excitement when she and her fiance were furnishing the flat.
‘A bungalow would be nice.’ Kim turned to the mirror again, and gave her hair another, unnecessary brushing. ‘It’s less trouble to run than a house.’
He smiled at that, and told her she needn’t think of the work. She would not be expected to slave over the kitchen sink.
‘You shall have whatever help you think necessary,’ he added, and she smiled faintly and said, though with a hint of sarcasm which brought a small frown to his brow,
‘That’s kind of you. I suppose I mustn’t tire myself in any way?’
‘What exactly do you mean by that?’ His voice was crisp, and rather menacingly quiet.
‘I lack finesse, Julian. I wouldn’t know how to put it.’
‘You lack finesse in mentioning it at all,’ came the swift rejoinder, and in spite of herself Kim coloured. ‘You haven’t said where you’d like to live,’ Julian went on, abruptly changing the subject. ‘Think about it and we’ll begin looking for something suitable. This place should be finished shortly; we’ll stay a while just to see Margery and Neil established and then leave them to it. They won’t want me around interfering once they’ve got themselves into a routine.’
The following morning Julian and Kim went to Penmon to visit his aunt; she was growing worse the whole time and even in the few weeks Kim had known her there had been a very noticeable deterioration in her condition. Julian’s face was grave as they left, but in spite of his unhappiness he insisted on taking Kim to the shore, and to the Priory, for he had promised to do so previously, but on that occasion it had rained heavily and they had abandoned the idea. This time the weather was sunny and reasonably warm, and on reaching the Priory they were able to get out of the car and walk about in comfort.
The Priory was founded by St. Seiriol in the sixth century, Julian informed her, and some of this early Saxon structure remained.
‘These are the cloisters - though very little has survived,’ he commented as they wandered about the ruins. ‘Parts of this are Norman,’ he added later as they entered the parish church itself. ‘The font’s very ancient - made from a part of a Saxon cross.’
After a little while they came out into the sunshine again and Julian took Kim to the well, said to have been used by the saint to baptize the converts, but it was now famous as a wishing well.
Taking two pennies from his pocket, Julian handed one to Kim; he tossed the other into the well and stood there watching the widening rings it made.
‘Make your wish,’ he encouraged, as she stood beside him with the penny in her hand. ‘Be very careful, though,’ he added with a touch of humour in his voice. ‘Don’t make a mistake, for whatever you wish will come true.’
‘Nonsense!’ she laughed, looking up at him. They were quite alone, with the fields all around and the blue expanse of sea stretching away to the dark line of the horizon. All was so tranquil, so isolated, and suddenly Kim felt a strange sensation of peace envelop her. Her smile faded and her lovely eyes became serious as she continued to stare up at
Julian, watching his expression, and those attractive little lines which now curved outwards from the corners of his eyes. ‘What did you wish?’ she wanted to know, but Julian shook his head.
‘Some day, perhaps, I shall tell you - but certainly not now. Throw your penny in ... and be careful,’ he said again.
What did he mean? He looked so grave - and yet he could not possibly believe in the power of the well!
Kim threw her penny in and wished. It was a simple wish, but to her amazement it included her husband. ‘Our happiness,’ she whispered, and turned once more to gaze into Julian’s face. Impulsively he bent his head and kissed her on the lips.
‘I wonder if we both wished for the same thing,’ he said, and then laughed as if it were of no importance. Nevertheless, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and it remained there as they took the rough and stony track to the extremity of the island, where they stood looking at the lighthouse and across to Puffin Island, the rocky islet where great numbers of the sea-birds nested.
‘It’s beautiful here,’ Kim said, turning impulsively to him. ‘I’m glad we came today.’
‘So am I,’ he returned in a rather odd tone. ‘I think it’s done us both good.
Something decidedly obscure in that remark, but although Kim tried to fathom her husband’s meaning, she failed completely and at last dismissed the matter from her mind.
CHAPTER EIGHT
SPRING had been unusually mild, and it merged into summer without any apparent change in the weather. But as the sun rose higher and the days lengthened the mountain scene became a miracle of beauty. Forest trees were in full leaf; on the lower slopes golden gorse and bluebells splashed colour over the grassy pastures, while higher up the clefts and ledges of the rocky cliffs were cushioned with moss campion and saxifrage, with Welsh poppies and rare ferns and sedges. Sweet gale grew on the marshy spits and ling on the heathlands. The rough boulders edging the streams were clothed with liver-worts and lichens and even the shifting screes were invaded by the parsley fern.
The first visitors had arrived at the Hotel Strata Cadilla at Easter, even before the alterations were completed, and although maids and porters had been engaged, the clearing up after the workmen was still in progress and as this took up so much of the staff’s time Kim and Margery found themselves doing all sorts of tasks like making beds and waiting on the tables.
This went on until the end of June, when the last of the workmen left and the place was finally cleaned up after them.
‘Thank goodness for that!’ Marg
ery exclaimed, flopping into a chair and smiling across at her husband. ‘I’ve never worked so hard in all my life!’
‘You’re thoroughly enjoying it, though,’ he returned, his voice deep with affection. He and Margery were living downstairs, while Kim and Julian still occupied the original flat. This was to be made into a private suite in a few weeks’ time, when Julian and Kim moved out.
‘You’ll be able to organize yourself a little better now,’ Julian said, looking rather anxiously at Margery’s pale face. ‘The maids will be free to do the work you and Kim have been doing up till now.’ His glance moved to his wife and she smiled at him.
‘I’m not at all tired.’ She anticipated his question, her heart warming at the idea of his anxiety for her. ‘I’ve not been working as hard as Margery today. It was my turn for waiting on at the tables and Margery’s for the kitchen tasks.’
Julian regarded her curiously, wondering, no doubt, at her enthusiasm for work, and her willingness to help all she could.
‘You’re sure you’re not tired?’ he asked and, when she shook her head, ‘Would you like to walk, then?’
‘I’d love it.’ It was a beautiful evening and they went out into the grounds, wandering round among the guests for a while before taking the little secluded pathway leading up into the hills.
‘It’s marvellous - the transformation, I mean,’ Kim declared as they came upon the swimming pool. It was bordered with small trees and bushes, and trailing water-loving plants draped its sides. From a natural rocky ledge an artificial waterfall cascaded down into the pool; this was illuminated at night, as was the lovely fountain rising in the centre of the lily pond.
