She looked at him blankly. ‘Your own offer—?’
‘Did it mean so little that you’ve already forgotten it?’ his voice had taken on a harsh note.
‘Oh—you mean dividing my time between designing rugs and taking care of this house?’
‘You’d be much closer to Levin,’ he pointed out.
She shook her head. ‘It’s tempting—but too dangerous. Lola would cut my throat within the first three days. There I’d be, lying dead on the floor and no dinner ready. Nor would you believe that she had done the deed,’ she added flippantly.
He refused to be amused. ‘That’s not your reason for fear,’ he declared in a low voice. ‘You know we’d make love. Every night we’d be in each other’s arms—’
She turned away from him, recognising the truth of his words, yet fearing to unite her thoughts with his; therefore she forced her tone to remain light as she said, ‘Yes—I know. My family would also know and they’d be upset. Your staff would know and I’d feel compromised. Lola would know, and on the fifth of November she’d put a bomb under this house and then the rest of the world would know.’
His exasperation was betrayed by the manner in which he ran long fingers through his hair. ‘For Pete’s sake, can’t you understand what I’m trying to say?’
‘Yes, I can hear it very clearly. It sounds like a de facto relationship to me—’
‘Who said anything about such an arrangement?’ he gritted.
Before anything further could be said Ewen came into the room. ‘I think Amy is tired,’ he said.
‘I’ll come and help her undress,’ Cathie said, then made her way towards the door.
‘Who will help her undress when you’re in Auckland?’ Baird demanded as though producing a trump card.
Cathie turned and smiled at him. ‘Gran will help her. She was once a nurse and will imagine she’s back in her old job again.’
As she went up the stairs Baird’s words shot back into her mind. If he hadn’t meant a de facto relationship, what had he meant? She paused to consider the question, and was almost overwhelmed by the longing to run down and ask him to explain. However, there were two reasons to prevent her from doing so, one being her own pride, and the other being the fact that he would now be with his father.
Later, when she came downstairs after helping Amy to bed, she found Baird and his parents in the lounge discussing factory matters. She sat listening for a short time, then decided that this was tantamount to eavesdropping on private affairs which did not concern her, therefore she said goodnight and went to bed.
Next morning she was in the kitchen when Lola came in to collect the shirt Baird had worn the previous day. But before entering the laundry to snatch up whatever had been left in the clothes basket, the blonde woman brushed past Cathie and went through the house in search of Muriel. She found her in the lounge replacing flowers that had begun to wilt, and when Cathie found it necessary to pass the door she noticed that they were having an earnest discussion.
Muriel saw her and called her into the room. ‘Sit down, Cathie,’ she said in an icy voice. ‘I want to talk to you.’
Cathie sensed trouble, but she entered the room then sat down and waited. At the same time she felt thankful that Amy was still in bed and well away from whatever unpleasantness was looming.
Muriel sat erect in her chair. She came straight to the point, her brown eyes wide with indignation. ‘I must say I’m very disappointed in you, Cathie. I thought you were such a sweet girl.’
Cathie looked at her blankly, then, gathering her wits, she said, ‘I’m sorry you’re disillusioned about me. May I know the reason?’ Not that there was much need to ask, she thought bitterly.
Lola dabbed at her eyes, then her lip quivered as she said tearfully, ‘I’ve told her all about you. I’ve told her how you had the—the temerity to tell Baird I’d been shoplifting—and—and you also hinted that I’d stolen your brooch and earrings. I’ve never been so insulted in all my life,’ she sobbed. ‘But of course it’s all part of your plan to take Baird away from me.’
Cathie had no intention of being cowed, and, recalling words spoken the previous evening, she said, ‘Baird is not yours to be taken away by anyone.’
‘Never mind about that,’ Muriel said impatiently. ‘Now tell me, Cathie, what made you imagine that Lola would steal your brooch and earrings? You must have had something on which to base your suspicions.’
Cathie shrugged. ‘Just the simple fact that the set was in the drawer before she vacuumed. It was not there after she’d vacuumed.’
‘She’s lying, she’s lying,’ Lola wailed.
‘What the hell’s going on?’ Baird’s voice spoke from the doorway.
Muriel looked at him in surprise. ‘I thought you were at the factory. You left ages ago with your father.’
‘Dad’s still there. I had to come home for some machinery brochures. Would somebody enlighten me about this fuss?’
Muriel said with a hint of irritation, ‘Lola has been telling me that Cathie has made her very unhappy.’
‘Oh, yes?’ He came into the room and sat down. ‘Something tells me I’ve heard this story before. Something to do with being light-fingered, isn’t it?’ he queried in a sardonic tone.
‘But—do you believe it?’ his mother persisted.
‘No, of course not. I just think Cathie is mistaken.’
‘Oh, thank you, Baird—thank you,’ Lola cried, voicing her relief, then she turned to Cathie. ‘So—what do you say to that?’
‘If I’m mistaken, I’m sorry,’ Cathie said. ‘But I don’t believe I am,’ she added stubbornly.
‘Spoken like a true redhead,’ Baird drawled.
‘You have a good splash of red in your own hair,’ Cathie retorted. ‘In any case, why should Lola be worried about what I think? Soon I’ll be away from here and working with my previous boss.’
Muriel was interested. ‘Oh? Doing what sort of work?’
‘I’ll be selling antiques,’ Cathie informed her. ‘The lady I worked for had a shop in this town, but she closed it when she remarried and went to live in Auckland. Now she’s offered my old job back to me.’
Lola uttered a squeak of amazement. ‘Are you talking about Mrs Brown who became Mrs Morgan?’
‘Yes, I am,’ Cathie said. ‘Did you know her?’
‘Of course I knew her. She was one of my clients. You must be the girl she sacked—the one she got rid of—’
‘You’re quite wrong!’ Cathie exclaimed angrily.
‘No, I’m not, no, I’m not—you broke a Chinese horse and she kicked you out at once.’ Lola was triumphant.
‘No, no, you’ve got it all wrong,’ Cathie persisted.
‘I have not,’ Lola shouted at her. ‘One day when she came in to have her hair done she was raving mad because the stupid girl working for her had broken a horse, so she kicked you out—ha-ha—she kicked you out—’
‘Shut up, Lola,’ Baird barked, then he turned to Cathie. ‘What happened about the horse? Did you break it?’
‘No, I did not,’ she snapped, making an effort to control her rage. ‘A woman with a small boy came into the shop. The horse was on a shelf, and while his mother’s back was turned he climbed on a chair to try to reach it. He was unable to get a proper grip on it and it fell out of his hand. Two legs were broken. However, the woman paid for it, then took it home for her husband to glue together. Fortunately, it wasn’t terribly expensive.’
‘I don’t believe a word of it,’ Lola sneered. ‘I know she’s lying.’
Muriel spoke sharply. ‘How do you know?’
‘Because Mrs Brown—I mean Mrs Morgan told me. She said she took the girl by the scruff of the neck and threw her out.’ Lola glared at Cathie as though daring her to deny it.
Cathie laughed. ‘And that’s why she’s now offering me a job with her.’ She rose to her feet then stood in the centre of the room to face Baird. ‘OK, you’ve heard her story, and you’ve heard mine. Wh
ich one do you believe?’
He stood up and moved to stand in front of her, then, looking down into the hazel eyes that gazed back at him, he said with firm conviction, ‘I believe you. If Mrs Morgan had thrown you out with the force suggested by Lola, she would never have written that glowing letter.’
Cathie breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you, Baird. If you’d like real proof about this horse affair I can take you to meet the woman whose little boy broke it. She’ll tell you exactly what happened, and she’ll probably show you the horse.’
‘There’s no need for that. I’ve said I believe you. And I’ll tell you something else. Having heard these blatant lies, I’m now having another think about those other accusations you’ve made.’
His words brought Lola to her feet. ‘Are you now declaring you believe everything she has said about me?’ she raged at Baird.
‘I’m definitely wondering about them,’ he admitted in a cool tone.
‘Can’t you see she’s got you mesmerised?’ Lola hissed at him in a fury. ‘OK—from now on you can do your own blasted vacuuming and your own damned washing.’ And with that parting shot she rushed from the room and out of the house, slamming the back door after her.
There was a silence after her departure until Cathie said with regret, ‘I appear to have brought trouble to this house. I’m sorry about that.’
Baird said grimly, ‘On the contrary, you’ve shown us exactly what we have next door. You’ve brought Lola out in her true colours. I trust you’re taking note of it, Mother.’
‘She’s very upset,’ Muriel said thoughtfully. ‘Do you think she’s likely to rush off and do some of her mad things, whatever they are?’
‘As far as I’m concerned she can do any mad thing she likes—just so long as it’s not done in this house,’ Baird declared in a hard voice. ‘Now I must find those brochures and return to the factory, or Dad will think I’m lost.’
Cathie said hastily, ‘And Amy will think I’m lost. She’ll be wondering why I haven’t come to help her get dressed.’ She hastened from the room, thankful to have a reason for dodging a post-mortem with Muriel on Lola’s behaviour. Nor was she quite sure of Muriel’s attitude towards herself, and suddenly Amy’s room seemed like a haven of refuge.
She found her great-aunt sitting up in bed, her back resting against pillows, her blue knitted bed cape keeping her shoulders warm. ‘Are you ready to get up now?’ she asked while removing the breakfast tray.
Amy’s bright blue eyes regarded her with interest. ‘I shall be when I’ve been told what all that fuss was about. I could hear a raised voice. What was the trouble?’
Cathie gave a light laugh then said casually, ‘Oh—that was Lola laying an official complaint at Muriel’s feet. It was about me, of course. And now Muriel can’t makeup her mind about what to believe. She’s regarding me in a very sideways manner.’
Amy was puzzled. ‘Believe about what?’
Cathie sat on the side of the bed and told Amy about what she felt sure she had witnessed in the corner minimarket.
Amy’s eyes widened. ‘You mean she was shoplifting?’
Cathie nodded. ‘When I told Baird he wouldn’t believe it. He was furious with me for even daring to think that his friend of long standing would commit such an act. And later, when my brooch went missing—’
Amy sat bolt upright. ‘Surely—not your lovely orchid—’
Again Cathie nodded, this time miserably. ‘The set disappeared after Lola had vacuumed the bedroom. I’m sure she expected the window cleaner to be blamed. Needless to say Baird was angry with me when I suggested that Lola could have taken it.’
Amy became thoughtful. ‘Do you think that this is what she meant when she said that being upset makes her do mad things?’
‘Yes, I feel sure of it.’
‘Baird needs to see proof of these acts,’ Amy said. ‘He would never condemn Lola on the suspicions of another person, which is all you’ve been able to offer him. What he needs is conclusive evidence.’
Cathie sighed. ‘Only heaven knows how he can be presented with proof to that extent—and in the meantime the lack of it is ruining our relationship. It’s on a downward slide instead of an upward lift.’
‘It’s making you unhappy,’ Amy said, watching the moisture cause a sparkle to creep into Cathie’s hazel eyes.
‘It’s making me thoroughly miserable,’ she admitted. ‘I—I don’t know what to do about it.’ Her eyes then filled up and the tears spilled over as she went on, ‘If it hadn’t been for Mrs Morgan’s letter he’d have believed Lola instead of me over the horse affair.’
‘Horse affair—what on earth was that?’
Cathie recounted the shop incident and Lola’s version of it, then as she finished she said, ‘The sooner I go to Mrs Morgan, the sooner I’ll get Baird out of my mind, if it’s at all possible.’
‘But she doesn’t want you until next month,’ Amy reminded her.
‘Until then the time will be filled in at Levin, and away from here.’ Then her lip trembled as she went on, ‘One thing is quite definite, Amy—Baird doesn’t love me, and I must learn to face up to it.’ She snatched at a tissue on the bedside table and dabbed at her eyes before blowing her nose.
‘I’m not sure that you’re right about that,’ Amy said slowly. ‘I’ve noticed him looking at you with an expression in his eyes that has made me wonder if there isn’t a depth of feeling there.’
Cathie shook her head then declared with conviction, ‘Doubt is the only thing he’d be feeling, Amy. Am I or am I not out to catch him as Lola warned? Are my assertions about her merely a means of driving a wedge between them? Am I in fact the world’s number one liar? Oh, yes, you can put a ring round the word doubt.’
‘Now you listen to me,’ Amy said sternly. ‘When he comes home at lunchtime just be your own sweet self. Don’t dare to mention that girl’s name. Do you understand?’
Cathie nodded, but felt too close to tears to speak. However, she made an effort to prepare a tasty lunch, and despite her low spirits she knew she was looking forward to seeing him during that short period.
But when lunchtime came Baird did not appear. Instead, his father arrived home without him, explaining that as they’d spent so much time among the factory machines Baird had decided to catch up on urgent paperwork in the office. He was having sandwiches sent in.
It sounded a genuine reason for not joining them for lunch, but Cathie was not convinced. Her depression deepened, and she felt sure that she was the reason Baird had remained at the factory. It was his way of telling her that he was no longer interested in the sight of her at his table. Her determined attitude regarding her suspicions had caused an upset in his house, and he was fed up with her. No doubt he was looking forward to her departure.
As Amy had said, he needed proof of Lola’s dishonesty, but that, as far as Cathie could see, would be impossible to obtain. It almost seemed, she thought dismally, as though she had pushed his sympathies towards Lola—as if she herself had lit the spark of his deeper affections for his neighbour.
Ewen’s voice cut into her thoughts. ‘You’re looking very pensive. Almost downcast, in fact.’
She gave a slight start. ‘Am I? I suppose I was thinking it’s a pity that this family gathering has to be so short.’ Which was the truth, because she had no wish to leave Baird’s house.
Muriel said, ‘Unfortunately, Ewen has an important meeting that must be attended, therefore we shall leave tomorrow.’
Cathie said, ‘In that case I’ll repack our clothes this afternoon so that we’re also ready to leave tomorrow.’
‘Only one of my cases has been opened,’ Amy said.
Her words jolted Cathie’s memory, and, looking at Amy she said, ‘Do you realise what’s in your unopened case? Something you’ve forgotten about. Your two old dears.’
Amy’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Thank goodness you remembered them. Would you be a dear and fetch them for me?’
Cathie l
eft the table and ran upstairs to take the two Royal Doulton figurines from the suitcase Amy had not found necessary to open. She carried them downstairs carefully, then handed them to her great-aunt.
Amy passed them to Muriel. ‘For you, my dear,’ she said. ‘A little something from Glengyle.’
Muriel removed the soft bubble wrapping with care, then her mouth opened slightly as she gazed with delight at the balloon seller and the old woman and her cat. ‘Oh, Amy, I adore them,’ she said huskily. ‘You are a dear soul—thank you, thank you.’ She placed them on the mantelpiece, then sat back to admire them.
For the remainder of the afternoon Cathie’s depression continued to wrap itself about her, becoming more intense during the time spent in packing her own and Amy’s suitcases. When she had done all she could she went downstairs and, with her usual speed and efficiency, prepared vegetables and a meat casserole for the evening meal. As she worked she could hear the murmur of voices from Amy and Muriel who sat chatting in the living room, although she was unable to catch anything that was being said.
Late in the afternoon she was in the dining room setting the table for dinner when she heard the men arrive home. She knew that Ewen went to the living room to join Muriel and Amy, and moments later she became aware that Baird stood watching her from the dining room door, his face holding an enigmatic expression.
She felt a wave of apprehension and turned anxious eyes upon him. Was he still annoyed with her? Was he resenting the fact that he’d been proved wrong about Lola? Venturing a remark, she said, ‘We missed you at lunchtime.’
He watched as she placed table napkins beside each setting, then admitted, ‘It was necessary to catch up on matters that had been neglected during the morning. Dad and I had spent time poring over the latest machinery in the brochures I’d brought home, making comparisons with what we already have.’
She felt relieved. Perhaps she hadn’t been the cause of his absence at lunchtime after all.
He caught sight of the two figurines. ‘Ah—Amy’s two old dears. I’d forgotten about them.’ He moved nearer to the mantelpiece to make a closer examination of the perfect Royal Doulton glaze.
Heir to Glengyle Page 16
