by Roberta Kray
Lita thought of the three letters she’d written, none of which he’d replied to. ‘So why now?’
Before he had a chance to reply, the waitress came with her coffee and put the cup down on the table. Lita thanked her and then turned her attention back to Jude. ‘Why now?’ she asked again.
‘I wanted to check you were okay, see for myself. But then I got here and started wondering if it was a bad idea, if maybe you wouldn’t want to see me. I mean, why would you? I suppose I got cold feet. So I stopped off to grab a coffee while I thought about it. To be honest, I was on the verge of going home when I saw you walking past.’
It made Lita’s stomach flip to think that he could have turned around and gone away without her even knowing he’d been here. ‘Why wouldn’t I want to see you?’
‘It was bad all that stuff that happened back then, your mum and everything. I should have been there for you and I wasn’t. I only ever thought about Jude Rule.’
‘Not always,’ she said. ‘Don’t beat yourself up about it. You had your own problems to deal with. Anyway, it was a long time ago. It’s in the past.’
‘Do you really mean that?’
‘Of course. It’s forgotten. Water under the bridge. We were just kids back then.’
Jude smiled at her. ‘Thanks. You’re a star. But at least let me do something to make it up to you. How about dinner tonight? I noticed a nice little restaurant down the road. I could book a table. What do you say?’
Lita’s heart skipped a beat. Was he asking her on a date? Well, perhaps not exactly, but sometimes one thing led to another and… Suddenly, she remembered where she was supposed to be this evening. ‘Oh, I can’t,’ she said, disappointment sweeping through her. ‘I’m sorry. There’s a party at the house and… But why don’t you come to that? Yes, say you will. Would you like to?’
Jude pulled a face. ‘I wouldn’t want to gatecrash.’
‘You wouldn’t be. Lots of people are going to be there. One more isn’t going to make a difference. And anyway, I’m inviting you. You can come as my guest.’
Jude hesitated as though this hadn’t been exactly what he’d had in mind. ‘I’m not sure.’
Lita, who couldn’t bear the thought of losing him so soon after he’d walked back into her life, tried a different tack. ‘Do you know Mal’s wife is an actress? Esther Gray. She won an Oscar once. You’ve probably heard of her. Are you still into films?’
‘Yeah, that’s what I write about mainly. And I’m working on a screenplay too.’
‘There you go. You’ll love it! The party’s going to be full of movie people. You can’t possibly miss out on an opportunity like this.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘It starts at seven. It’s early, but some people have to work in the morning so… Do you know where the house is?’
Jude nodded. ‘I looked up the address on the map. Will I be able to park there?’
‘Yes, that’s fine. I’ll leave your name at the gate. You won’t have a problem.’ Lita glanced at his jeans and T-shirt. ‘It’s going to be kind of dressy, though,’ she said. ‘Not black tie but… Will you be able to find a jacket by this evening? Or I could ask Mal if he could lend you one. You’re about the same height. He wouldn’t mind.’
‘Don’t worry. I’m sure I can find something to make me look respectable.’
Lita took a few sips of the coffee, licking the froth off her lips with the tip of her tongue. There were so many more things she wanted to ask, questions tumbling through her head at a hundred miles an hour, but she didn’t need to ask all of them now. She had the whole evening to get her answers. Just the thought of it gave her a warm glow. She stared across the table at Jude and smiled. Suddenly that picture of her perfect man was starting to look a little clearer.
39
Lita rummaged through the wardrobe, dismissing one garment after another. She had no idea exactly what she was looking for, but was certain she’d know it when she saw it. She paused when she came to the little black dress, always a safe option when it came to parties, but then moved on. She wasn’t after safe. She wanted something more glamorous, more seductive, something to remind Jude Rule she wasn’t a child any more.
The thought of him made her hands shake and her heart beat faster. And okay, maybe he had only come here to salve his conscience, but that still meant he’d been thinking about her. This was enough to give her hope. She must have been on his mind, and that made her happy. Of course, she had often thought about him too. Did she believe in fate? Well, today she did.
Lita’s fingers made contact with dark red silk. She pulled the dress from the wardrobe, pulled it over her head and looked in the mirror. It had been an impulse buy, something she’d spotted in a sale but never worn since its purchase six months earlier. Although simple, it was sophisticated too. The silk was soft and clingy, the neckline low-cut enough to show off some cleavage without making her look cheap. She gazed at her reflection and gave a nod. Yes, this was the one.
It was almost seven by the time Lita had brushed her hair until it shone and put on her make-up. She sprayed Chanel No. 5 on her neck and wrists. Finally, she took the ruby necklace Mal had bought her for her eighteenth birthday out of the box and fastened it around her neck. Would she do? She cast one last critical eye at her reflection, wondering if the lipstick she’d been put on was the right shade. But it was too late to do anything about it now. As she left the bedroom, she could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach.
Theresa was standing at the bottom of the stairs with a tray of drinks in her hand. Her eyebrows went up as she saw Lita. ‘Well, someone’s looking fabulous.’
‘I like to make the effort.’
‘So what’s his name?’
Lita feigned innocence. ‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’
‘Hey, this is me you’re talking to. Spill!’
‘Jude,’ Lita said, liking the sound of his name on her lips. ‘Jude Rule. But he’s just an old friend, no one special.’
‘Yeah, right. Not special at all.’
‘Just someone I know from when I lived in London.’
Mrs Gough walked past and glared at them. ‘By the door, Theresa. You’re supposed to be standing by the door.’
‘Yes, Mrs Gough. I’m on my way.’ She glanced at Lita and grinned. ‘See you later. Good luck.’
It wasn’t long before the house started filling up. The guests poured in and the noise level quickly rose: the sound of voices, of laughter, and the chink of champagne glasses. She could hear the rhythmic beat of the swing band playing in the garden. Lita stayed in the main reception room, chatting to anyone, killing time while she waited for Jude to arrive. She tried not to glance at her watch more than once a minute.
By twenty past seven, she was starting to wonder if he’d had second thoughts. By seven-thirty she’d convinced herself he wasn’t coming. Perhaps he wasn’t a party person. Perhaps he didn’t like crowds. She sipped on her champagne, wishing she hadn’t refused his invitation to dinner. But then, just as she was beginning to despair, as all hope was ebbing away, she felt a small nudge to her elbow and turned to find Jude standing right behind her.
‘Lolly Bruce!’ He looked her up and down, smiling widely. ‘How amazing do you look?’
Lita gazed back at him, her eyes drinking him in. He was wearing a stylish dark suit and tie, and his hair was slicked back. He seemed utterly familiar and yet a stranger at the same time. As she pulled in a breath, she managed to say, ‘You don’t look so bad yourself.’
Jude gave a mock casual shrug. ‘Oh, this old thing? It’s just something I found in the back of the wardrobe.’
Lita laughed, at the same time wondering whether he’d driven back to London or had already had the suit with him when he’d turned up at West Henby this morning. Something he’d intended to impress her with when he took her out to dinner? The idea gave her a warm feeling inside. ‘You do know that no one calls me Lolly any more? I’m
Lita now.’
‘Lita,’ he repeated. ‘Okay. That’s nice.’
‘Let’s find you a drink. And are you hungry? There’s food next door.’
‘Starving,’ he said. ‘Lead the way.’
Lita took Jude through to the room where a hot and cold buffet had been laid out. Jude filled his plate, but she was too excited and nervous to eat much. She found a few dainty sandwiches, something she could force down, and asked, ‘Shall we go into the garden?’
The evening air retained the day’s heat. The sun was low now and the air smelled of dust and grass and perfume. It was busy outside and all the chairs had been taken. Jude took off his jacket and laid it on the lawn for her.
‘Sit on this,’ he said. ‘You don’t want to spoil your dress.’
For the next hour they talked non-stop, an easy exchange without any awkward silences. She learned about his writing and she told him about school and her own hopes for the future. It all felt so natural, the years apart just melting away. While they chatted, Jude’s gaze roamed over the garden, his eyes widening as he spotted a famous actor or a director he admired.
‘God, you’re so lucky living here.’
Lita wasn’t sure if he meant the house or the people who were currently occupying it. She suspected the latter. Not wanting to spoil his enjoyment, she kept her personal opinion of the guests to herself. Most, she thought, were shallow and bitchy with icy hearts and brittle egos. When she looked into their eyes, she saw a kind of blankness – or maybe that was just the booze in them.
It was after eight when Esther came into the crowded garden and immediately everyone turned to stare. She looked stunning in a sparkling ivory gown. Her fair hair was piled on top of her head, her skin was the colour of honey, and a diamond necklace adorned her long swan-like neck. In a matter of seconds, she was surrounded and disappeared from view.
‘That’s her, isn’t it?’ Jude whispered, his voice filled with awe. ‘That’s Esther Gray.’
Lita nodded. ‘Yes, that’s her.’
He peered over, trying to catch another glimpse. ‘She’s very beautiful. What’s she like? As a person, I mean.’
Lita could have told him the truth, but she bit her tongue. She knew that wasn’t what Jude wanted to hear. Instead she went down the diplomatic road. ‘You know, I hardly get to see her these days. She’s very busy. She’s always away filming.’
If Jude noticed the evasion, he didn’t comment on it. ‘She’s an incredible actress. Have you seen Dark Places?’
Lita shook her head.
‘You should,’ he said. ‘It’s a classic. It’s up there with the best.’
Lita, who only wanted to please him, asked, ‘Would you like me to introduce you?’
Jude’s eyes lit up. ‘Seriously? Would you do that?’
‘Of course.’ But then as soon as she’d said it, she wondered if it was a big mistake. What if Esther was vile to him? Or just plain dismissive? It would spoil the whole evening, ruin it completely. And it might even colour the way he felt about her. The more she thought about it, the more uncertain she became.
He must have seen her hesitation because he quickly said, ‘I’ll understand if you’d rather not. I don’t mind. You must get sick of people asking. Don’t worry about it.’
But she could see his disappointment and couldn’t bear to be the cause of it. ‘No, it’s not that, not at all. I was just thinking we should wait a while, pick a moment when there aren’t so many people around. That way you can have a proper chat.’
‘I don’t want to be annoying.’
‘Why should you be?’
Jude pulled a face. ‘It’s a private party. She won’t want to talk to a fan.’
‘You’re not a fan. Well, not just a fan.’ Lita was still trying to reassure him when she saw Esther leave the group of people she’d been standing with and start walking towards them. A young man was tagging along beside her. Jude leapt to his feet, and Lita had no choice but to stand up too.
Esther leaned down and, rather surprisingly, kissed her on the cheek. ‘Lita, darling, are you having a lovely time? And who’s this? I don’t think we’ve been introduced.’
‘This is Jude,’ Lita said. ‘He’s a friend from London. He’s a writer.’
‘How interesting,’ Esther said. ‘I just adore writers!’
Jude shook her hand. ‘A struggling one, I’m afraid, but I have had some of my work published.’
‘How wonderful! You must tell me all about it.’ Esther turned to Lita, still smiling. ‘Could you be a dear and try to find Mal? Mr Trent here wants a word. He was around earlier but he seems to have gone missing. He’s probably hiding out in the library or the den. You know what he’s like.’
Lita glanced at Jude, not wanting to leave him, but he was completely oblivious. He had eyes only for Esther.
‘Don’t worry about your friend. I’ll take good care of him until you get back.’
Lita, unable to refuse, gave a nod. ‘All right.’ She gazed at Trent, a rather plain and undistinguished looking man. ‘This way,’ she said abruptly.
‘Thank you.’
Lita glanced over her shoulder as she led him through the crowd in the garden and back towards the house. Esther had slipped her arm through Jude’s and the two of them were talking, their heads close together, as they strolled across the lawn. She supposed she should be glad – Jude must be overjoyed at meeting a real-life film star – but she didn’t trust Esther. A spasm of alarm passed through her. Esther could be sly and scheming and was more than capable of putting the knife in. What if she said something to turn Jude against her?
‘I’m sorry to be a bother,’ Trent said.
‘You’re not,’ she lied.
‘Mr Fury didn’t mention anything about a party.’ He made a gesture towards the clothes he was wearing, a pair of jeans and a dark blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. ‘As you can see, I didn’t come dressed for the occasion.’
Lita scanned the faces as they walked, hoping to catch sight of Mal. The sooner she found him, the sooner she could get back to Jude. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘When I called, he just said to come to the house at eight o’clock.’
‘He won’t care what you’re wearing.’ Lita, who had her mind on other things, presumed he was a dealer, something to do with clocks or watches. She wasn’t sure why she jumped to that conclusion, but couldn’t imagine any other reason for his meeting with Mal. ‘He won’t mind in the slightest.’
Lita stopped at the top of the steps and gazed out across the garden, partly looking for Mal but mainly trying to spot Jude and Esther. She drew a blank. There were too many guests, a noisy shifting mass of silk and glitter. The band was taking a break, and the sound of chatter and laughter filled the air.
Trent placed his hands on the wooden rail and leaned forward a little. ‘All the beautiful people,’ he murmured.
Lita glanced at him, catching the sarcasm in his tone. ‘You don’t approve.’
‘Don’t take any notice of me. I can be a churlish sod when I put my mind to it.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘And even when I don’t, to be honest.’
She gave a shrug. ‘I can’t see him. We’d better try inside.’
But Trent kept on leaning on the balcony, kept on staring out. ‘It’s a far cry from Kellston.’
