by Susan Lewis
Putting her head down, Susannah covered her face with her hands. She took a breath, but it shot out in a gale of mirth. She couldn’t believe she was doing this right in the middle of an audition, but as horrifying as it was, she couldn’t stop.
Finally Marlene sent Ben out of the room and Alex, one of the producers, got up to take his place.
Jackie-the-impassioned was ready to go again.
‘Oh God, not you again,’ Alex sneered.
‘Yes, it’s me,’ she seethed. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I needed some …’ She could go no further. She was going to laugh again, and now Alex was right on the brink too.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Susannah cried, dabbing her eyes. ‘I don’t know why … I’m … Oh God, perhaps I’d better leave. I …’
‘You’re doing fine,’ Michael Grafton told her evenly.
When she dared to look at him she saw straight away that he was having trouble containing himself too, and so was everyone else – with the exception of Marlene.
‘Honestly, I wanted to die,’ she told Alan later, when he came to Covent Garden to take her for lunch. ‘Everyone was falling apart, though God knows why, and that bloody woman kept glaring at me like some Victorian schoolmarm, making it a thousand times worse. If she’d laughed too I swear I’d have been able to stop, but her face didn’t even crack.’
‘So how have you left it?’ he asked, standing aside for her to go down the steps to Joe Allen’s ahead of him.
‘God knows. If it’s up to her I won’t even make it as far as the screen test, that much was plain to see. Michael Grafton was a bit more encouraging as I left, though. He told me not to worry, everyone corpses sometime in their lives – but why did it have to happen to me in an audition?’
Apparently amused by it himself, Alan said, ‘Well, at least they’ll remember you, and people like to laugh. It’s got to be better than making them cringe, or tear their hair out, or fall asleep. Table for three, Cunningham,’ he told the receptionist who came to greet them.
‘Three?’ Susannah said, turning to him in surprise.
‘Patsy just called. She’s taking a later train back to Paris, so she’s going to join us.’
Susannah’s eyes lit up. ‘Fantastic. It was horrible missing out on the dinner last night, so this’ll make up for it.’
After they were seated and had checked the menus which were chalked up on huge boards around the walls, Alan poured them both some water from the bottle he’d ordered and touched his glass to hers. ‘Cheers,’ he said, ‘here’s to corpsing and still getting a screen test. When will you know?’
‘Next week, apparently, but I honestly don’t think I should hold my breath. Apart from totally cocking it up at the end, I need to be able to ride a horse, and the closest I remember ever being to one was taking Neve to a Changing of the Guard when she was five.’
‘Won’t they provide lessons?’
‘If the part were big enough I’m sure they would, but it’s only four episodes, so they won’t go to the expense.’
‘You never know. Did you find out any more about the actual programme yet? I know Dorothy told you it was supposed to be quite upscale and lavish, but what does that mean exactly?’
‘It’s set in a riding stables – or equestrian centre, was how one of them put it – so it sounds as though they’re trying to distance themselves from the “working-class” type soaps that are all over the screen. The problem is, it’s being shot in Derbyshire, so I’d have to be away for at least part of the week. On the other hand, it’s only for a month, so that should be OK, provided Neve doesn’t mind staying with Lola.’
He was nodding gravely. ‘Perhaps they could both come and stay at the house every now and again to give Lola a bit of a break and let me take over some of the fussing and cooking,’ he said.
‘I’m sure they’d love that, considering how much you spoil them already. Ah, here’s Pats. In here,’ she cried, waving through one of the brick arches.
‘So how did it go?’ Pats immediately demanded as she embraced her. ‘Don’t tell me, you blew them away.’
‘Wait till you hear,’ Alan warned drily as she turned to hug him.
Quickly Susannah described again the embarrassment of how the audition had ended, while Alan ordered some wine.
‘I was just saying when you arrived,’ Susannah went on, ‘that there’s not much going for me really, I can’t ride, it’s all being shot in Derbyshire, and apparently there’s some nudity required.’
Alan’s face darkened. ‘You didn’t mention that,’ he said. ‘What kind of nudity?’
Susannah almost laughed. ‘I think there’s only one kind, isn’t there? But it’s going out before nine, so they won’t be allowed to actually show anything. I guess what they’re after is bare backs and legs, which’ll mean having to be undressed in front of the crew.’
Alan looked at Patsy. ‘I’m not sure I like the sound of that,’ he said.
Patsy pulled a face. ‘Models spend half their time in the nude for photo shoots,’ she told him, ‘but you never see the naughty bits in the end result.’
‘Which is fine for them, but the idea of Susannah exposing herself on a film set full of men …’
‘Excuse me, since when did I disappear?’ Susannah interrupted. ‘Stop talking about me as if I weren’t here, and let’s be reasonable about this. No one is less happy about being undressed in public than I am, and since I almost certainly won’t get the part after this morning’s debacle, I think we might as well let the subject drop.’
Patsy regarded her closely. ‘Are you going to mind very much if you don’t get it?’ she asked.
Susannah had to nod. ‘Just to do something would be wonderful,’ she admitted, feeling her heart churning with disappointment already, ‘but to be in a brand-new series at a time when the ratings are almost bound to be high … It could easily lead to other parts, and before you know it my career might be taking off again.’
‘So what you’re saying,’ Alan came in, ‘is that if you do get it, you’ll agree to the nudity, even though you don’t want to do it?’
‘I’d have to,’ Susannah told him, ‘or they wouldn’t take me, and it’s not as though it won’t be discreet or …’
‘I’m sorry, but I fail to see what’s discreet about being on a bed, or in a barn, or wherever you’re supposed to be, with no clothes on.’
‘Oh, come on, you’re being deliberately difficult,’ Susannah protested. ‘The set will be closed, meaning only essential crew will be there, and a dresser’s bound to be on hand with a robe as soon as the camera stops.’
He looked at Patsy again. ‘Am I being hopelessly Victorian about this?’ he asked her. ‘I am, aren’t I?’
Patsy nodded.
‘It’s just the thought of anyone else seeing you the way only I should,’ he said to Susannah, ‘well, frankly, I don’t like it, but …’ he threw out his hands, ‘far be it from me to stand in the way of your comeback. If that’s how it has to be, then that’s how it has to be, just please don’t try and tell me that those men won’t be turned on by seeing you in the nude, because they’re not dead, and I’m not stupid. And if any one of them tries to lay a finger on you, make sure you tell them I can be pretty lethal when my dander is up.’
Laughing, Susannah put a hand on his arm. ‘You’re stumbling into some pretty dreadful double entendres, so let’s do as I said and forget it for now.’
He was laughing too as he squeezed her hand. ‘I know when I’m beaten,’ he said, ‘so OK, let’s talk about something else, such as a date for you and Neve to move in? I thought the weekend after next would give you time to pack and sort out what furniture you might want to bring with you.’
Blinking rapidly, Susannah glanced at Patsy and shrugged as she laughed. ‘Why not that soon?’ she said. ‘Because if I do, by some miracle, get the part, we’d at least have had some time to settle in before I start. However, we still need to sort out what’s going to happen to my house,
and we won’t have a clear idea about that until I’ve spoken to Duncan.’
‘Have you arranged to see him yet?’ Patsy asked.
Susannah pulled a face. ‘Sunday at his brother’s,’ she replied.
Patsy turned to Alan. ‘Are you going too?’
‘We’re still discussing that,’ he answered. ‘I want to, in case he starts putting on pressure, but Susannah thinks my presence could inflame things.’
‘Well, I guess you both have a point, but if Duncan’s going to have his slimy brother there, I think Alan should go with you,’ Pats said to Susannah. ‘Ah, great, here’s our wine,’ she said as the waiter set the glasses down. ‘OK, let’s drink a toast to Lady Godiva,’ she announced mischievously once they were all holding their glasses.
Susannah wrinkled her nose.
‘Horsewoman, nudity, long blonde hair,’ Patsy expanded.
Susannah groaned. ‘Very funny. Actually, I think we should drink to Michael Grafton, because if I’ve still got any chance of getting that part, I know it’ll be thanks to him.’
‘Because he thinks you’re a good actress, or because he wants to see you with nothing on?’ Alan enquired mildly.
Susannah flushed.
‘I’m sorry,’ he jumped in hastily. ‘That came out totally the wrong way. It was supposed to be a joke … Pats, help me out here. She’s really mad and I’m starting to get scared.’
At that Susannah had to laugh, and after allowing him to give her a quick kiss of apology she turned to Pats, as Pats said, ‘OK, I have to ask about Neve. I had a text from her earlier telling me that the samples I gave her were brilliant and she’s already tried some and it was really embarrassing. So, is anyone able to explain that?’
Susannah was at a loss, but Alan was starting to look amused.
‘I think I can,’ he said. ‘I woke up around one o’clock this morning thinking I heard a noise downstairs so I went down to investigate, and lo and behold, there was her ladyship, in the bath, trying out some of the bubbly stuff you’d given her.’
‘Didn’t she have the door closed?’ Susannah said, aghast. ‘She’s got to get used to having a man around.’
‘It was almost closed,’ he assured her, ‘but because I saw the light on I blundered straight in, expecting to find a burglar having a pee, or trying to make good his escape. I never dreamt I’d be confronted by a little nymphet having a soak. So I don’t mind telling you, she’s not the only one who was embarrassed.’
As they all laughed, Patsy’s mobile started to ring, and seeing it was Fronk she said, ‘Believe me, until you’ve met this man you don’t know the meaning of embarrassing,’ and excusing herself she took the phone outside in the hope of achieving better reception.
‘I’m really sorry about Neve,’ Susannah said, slipping a hand into Alan’s. ‘I’ll have a word with her and tell her to take better care next time.’
‘If I were you I’d just leave it,’ he advised. ‘It was obviously an accident, so it’s best forgotten.’
It was Sunday afternoon and Susannah was sitting in the passenger seat of Alan’s car, staring up at one of the swanky apartment blocks that comprised the ultra-modern and uber-rich residences of London’s Canary Wharf. It was many years since she’d last been here, and given the choice she’d never have come again, but she’d decided it was important to show Duncan – and Hugh, since he was the one pulling the strings – that she wasn’t afraid to face them. She had right on her side – a truism that bolstered her considerably – and it was time they found out that they’d be making a big mistake if they thought they could intimidate her over the house or indeed anything else.
‘It’ll be fine,’ Neve assured her, leaning her elbows on the backs of the two front seats. ‘Alan and I will be here, in the car, if you want to make a quick getaway – just don’t jump because we didn’t bring a trampoline.’
‘That wasn’t funny,’ Susannah told her.
‘Only because you’re uptight – not that I’m blaming you. If it was my husband and he’d behaved the way Dad has, I’d want to take out a contract on him, but we can’t afford it, so we have to do it this way.’
Blinking, Susannah said, ‘Are you my daughter?’ not entirely sure she was joking.
Alan squeezed her hand. ‘I’m still willing to come in with you,’ he said softly. ‘Just say the word and we can park the car and madam here …’
‘Oh thanks,’ Neve snorted, sitting back in her seat and folding her arms. ‘I’ve got to be parked now, have I?’
‘Neve, you’re not helping,’ Susannah told her. ‘This is not about …’ Realising what she was about to say, she stopped and glanced at Alan.
‘Me?’ Neve finished for her. ‘Hello, but I think it is.’
‘Please stop,’ Susannah said. ‘I’m tired after working last night, uptight as you said, and I can’t think straight while you’re behaving like this.’
‘So it’s my fault …’
‘Neve,’ Alan said gently, ‘we can have a chat after Mum’s gone in, let’s give her our support now.’
Susannah’s eyes returned to where the sun was glinting off the windows, about twenty-four floors up. If anyone were watching it would be impossible to make out who was in the car that had drawn up in the street below, unless they had binoculars, which knowing Hugh, he probably did.
‘OK, here goes,’ she said, and opening the car door she got out in a surge of resolve.
‘Good luck,’ Alan said.
Neve remained silent, clearly still sulking because she’d been told off, though Susannah sensed that on a much deeper level she had all kinds of issues incubating away about her father, which was why Susannah was allowing her some slack today.
Reaching the large plate-glass doors of the block she found Hugh’s buzzer and gave it a short, sharp blast. As she waited she turned back towards the car, vaguely registering the flowery scent of blossom as it swept down from the nearby trees as though to sweeten the acrid mix of salty riverbank debris and traffic fumes. She noticed Neve had moved from the back to the passenger seat, and gave a small wave in return as Alan held up a hand of encouragement.
Suddenly the doors clicked and shifted, and began sliding apart to allow her entry into a marble lobby where a security guard was stationed behind a wave-like counter top. He barely looked up as she passed, apparently far too engrossed in the match he was watching to be interested in guests who’d been given access from someone within.
The rise to the twenty-fourth floor was swift and seemed almost motionless, which added to the surreal sense of performing a walk-through with no lines or action, only moves to various positions.
She found Hugh’s front door ajar, so stepped through and instantly baulked at the familiar scent of his aftershave mingling with marijuana that tried to tug her back through the years.
‘We’re in here,’ Hugh shouted, apparently hearing her footsteps clip on the marble floor.
Passing three doors that she knew were bedrooms, she walked down the hall into a sitting room where wall-to-wall picture windows offered a magnificent view of the river, right along to Tower Bridge. Standing in front of them was a short, wiry figure that she knew to be Duncan, but with the light behind him she was unable to make out his features right away.
‘Susie,’ he said, coming forward to hug her.
She flinched at the name and stepped back from the embrace. Now he was visible she could see his prison pallor, grey and pinched, and how all the vibrancy and charm had been drained from his once confident smile. His eyes were puffy and shadowed, and deeply lined, and his posture seemed awkward, almost diminished, as though he’d withdrawn into himself, like a mollusc into a shell.
‘How are you?’ he asked, coming no closer.
‘Fine. Don’t you think it would have been wiser to take a pass on the drugs today?’ she said bitterly.
His eyes went to his brother in an accusatory way. ‘I’m clean,’ he told her.
‘Susie, gorgeous as ever,’
Hugh gushed, coming out from behind the bar to try his own luck at embracing her.
Her hands went up, and he stopped, apparently more amused than offended by the contempt in her eyes.
‘Shall we sit down?’ Duncan suggested, making a jerky sort of gesture towards one of the sofas.
Staying on her feet, Susannah said, ‘Why does your brother have to be here? Aren’t you capable of speaking for yourself?’
‘Oh come on,’ Hugh said affably, ‘you know very well what a softie he is. If I don’t protect his interests he’s going to end up with nothing.’
Susannah’s upper lip curled. ‘Maybe you don’t consider his daughter one of his interests, but I do,’ she said scathingly. ‘Now either make yourself scarce, or I’m walking out of here and we’ll let the proper authorities, and lawyers, deal with it all.’
‘Susie, he’s only trying to help,’ Duncan said gently. ‘I’m still getting used to being out …’
‘Oh grow up,’ she snapped. ‘You might have paid for your drug crime, but you haven’t even begun to pay for how grossly you’ve neglected your daughter. I can sue you for back maintenance, I suppose you realise that? So whatever money you might make in the future, you’ll always be in debt to me and Neve …’
‘Susie, if you’re so hell-bent on involving bureaucrats and barristers, what are you doing here?’ Hugh enquired pleasantly.
‘I’m here,’ she fumed, keeping her eyes on Duncan, ‘to tell you that I am prepared to forgo any claim on whatever income you might make in the years ahead if you will agree to do the same regarding the house. Sign it over to me, and we’ll be quits.’
‘Hang on,’ Hugh chipped in with a spurious laugh, ‘that house is worth half a million quid, you can’t expect him to just walk away from that.’
‘Correction, it’s worth closer to four hundred thousand, and if I’m forced to sell and give half to him after the mortgage is paid off, with the way the market is now I’ll never be able to buy anywhere else in the same area, and that’s where Neve needs to be.’
‘But it’s his house, so he has to have something out of it.’
