Once Bitten

by Oliver, Marina

  In the end she chose black trousers. They would fit in anywhere. They were of a silky material, and there was a subdued gleam from them. She matched them with a loose multi-coloured top, also in a silky material, and fastened a necklace of black beads which nicely filled in the rather low neckline.

  She was just slipping on black flat pumps when she heard the front door slam, and Justin came bounding up the stairs.

  'Hi, sorry I'm late,' he called. 'I'll be ready in ten minutes.'

  When she heard the shower in his en suite start she doubted this, and went downstairs to read the newspaper she hadn't got round to. But she'd barely read the headlines before he was standing in the doorway to the lounge. Judy swallowed a gasp of admiration. He wore chinos and a black shirt, he smelled of something tangy, and his hair was slicked back, still wet from the shower.

  'Sorry to have been late. I hope you're not too hungry? But we'll be there in minutes. You look good enough to eat, and I'm told their food is delicious.'

  Somewhat breathless, Judy followed him out of the front door. When he strode past his car she felt a pang of disappointment. She'd been looking forward to a drive in such an expensive, luxurious car. He turned towards the exit of the Close, tucked her hand under his arm, and asked how her day had been.

  'Did you meet the teacher again?' he asked.

  'I went out earlier today,' Judy said, then felt the colour rise in her cheeks as he grinned down at her.

  'No wish for chat about schools now you've finished teaching?' he asked. 'Or didn't Mr Tibbetts appeal to you?'

  'I wanted a walk before lunch! Besides, he's married, and anyway, it's nothing to do with you!'

  'Of course not,' he replied, his lips twitching, and Judy felt a fool for reacting as she had.

  'Did you find a flat?' she asked hurriedly.

  'Nothing I liked, but unless you want to kick me out there's plenty of time, and enough choice. Here we are.'

  He turned into a low doorway, and Judy realised it was a small village pub. She hadn't been this way before, hadn't know it was there, but had time to admire the small mullioned windows and thatched roof before she was in a narrow stone-flagged passageway, the walls of which were covered in old-fashioned prints of country scenes.

  The passageway led to a large room, the ceiling crossed with heavy black oak beams and supported by sturdy rough-hewn pillars. To one side were small tables and plain chairs, occupied mostly by elderly men. To the other side were tables laid with gleaming cloths and wine glasses, mostly occupied with youngish couples.

  A smiling girl with long, bright red curly hair came towards them.

  'Mr Danby? Your table's ready.'

  She led the way towards what Judy thought must be one of the best tables, near a window overlooking the road outside, and partly secluded by some large potted palms. He must have booked early to get such a good table. The menus were not long, but Judy saw that the one she was handed had no prices against the dishes. This was something she had never before experienced, though one of her girlfriends had told her about it when she'd been taken to one of Manchester's best and most expensive restaurants. This wasn't exactly a village pub, it was on the outskirts of a large town. Perhaps it had stars or the sort of awards given by the food critics. She decided to enjoy herself.

  *

  She was very different from Fay, Justin decided, in looks and in her sparky spirit. Fay was gentle, and though talented, normally rather quiet, permitting Paul to hog the limelight. Yet there was a certain reserve in Judy, and when she thought she was not observed, a rather sad look in her eyes. He suspected she had been badly hurt at some time.

  While they were ordering he managed to watch her unobtrusively. She seemed to have very decided likes, and no hesitation in asking the waitress to explain what was in the different sauces. Most of his former girlfriends would have pretended they knew, wanting to appear more sophisticated than they were.

  What was he thinking, comparing Judy, met by accident, to girlfriends? She just happened to be his cousin's sister-in-law.

  As they sipped their wine she asked him if he had enjoyed working in Oman.

  'Is the art there Moorish? I love the Arab art in southern Spain, the wonderful patterns, and the delicate architecture.'

  'You've seen that visiting your parents?'

  'Yes. Fay told me it influenced her attitude to design.'

  'Oman has a fascinating history, but in the past few decades, it has leapt from the traditional ways into a modern, exciting state with good roads and international hotels. It's a wealthy society, and the people are tolerant.'

  'I'd love to travel. Perhaps, if my business is successful, I'll be able to afford it.'

  'There are many Indians living there. I think all the stallholders in the Old Muttrah Souk in Muscat are Indians. You can find almost anything there, traditional things like sheesha pipes and silver to perfumes and modern clothing. What I like best are the wonderful fabrics.'

  'Indian ones?'

  'Yes, and others. If I'd had a girl friend I'd have been tempted to bring back some of those.'

  He paused, and thrust unwelcome memories of Barbara aside. Fortunately their starters came then, and afterwards he was able to change the subject and talk about the interior, the desert and the ancient forts he'd found time to visit.

  'Next time I go there I'll spend more time exploring, perhaps visit some of the other Gulf states,' he said. 'Now, that's enough about me. Tell me about your school. Was it one of these huge comprehensives? Was there much of the discipline problems we hear so much about?'

  'Fairly big. It wasn't nearly so bad as the papers sometimes try to make out. But teaching art was perhaps easier than some subjects. Most of the children enjoyed doing something creative.'

  'You clearly liked them, but you said the teachers were sometimes difficult. One teacher in especial, or most of them?'

  Judy blushed. He found it endearingly young of her, different from her normally feisty attitude.

  'Most of them were OK,' she said hurriedly. 'I suppose in any organisation there will be some people we don't get on with. Don't you find it so? Is your firm a large one?'

  There was something here, she was so eager to change the subject. Well, he had no wish to upset her.

  'Medium, but I'm out of the office a good deal of the time, so I don't have a lot to do with them. Let's have another bottle of wine. We don't have to drive home.'

  *

  Judy was enjoying herself, when she didn't have to talk about school, with its reminders of Mark. It was a long time since she had been out with an attractive man. When he'd intimated he had no girlfriend she'd felt her heart give a little jump. No girlfriend? It seemed impossible, for such an attractive man. Then she told herself to be sensible. If he were involved with Fay he would not admit it. Even if he were not she didn't want any more romantic problems after Mark.

  She brought her attention back to what he was saying about Oman, and tried to ask intelligent questions.

  'These fabrics, are they for saris? If you say the stallholders come from India.'

  'A lot would be perfect for saris, but there are different national dresses which vary in the different areas. The women have very colourful, highly decorated dresses worn over sirwal, trousers, and a headdress called the lihaf. They wear gold and silver jewellery, and wooden platform shoes called qurhaf. The men wear a collarless gown with long sleeves called the dishdasha, and a turban.'

  'It sounds fascinating. Are the other Gulf states similar?'

  'In some ways.'

  Judy sighed. 'I'd love to go there, and to India. Have you been there?'

  He appeared to hesitate, before nodding.

  'I went there for a short time when I'd finished in Oman.'

  He seemed about to say more, then began to comment on the food. What had happened? Why, when he had been so expansive about Oman, did he clam up when India was mentioned?

  'Do you have to go back to Oman? To supervise the building?' />
  'I shall go back when that is finished, for a final check.'

  'And Fay? Does she have to visit for her design?'

  'No, she is not doing the design on this house. My client wanted traditional Omani design, and has a local man to do that side of it. I suspect he was also chary of employing a woman. Arab men can be old fashioned in that way.'

  He seemed able to talk naturally about Fay, and Judy began to wonder if her suspicions were baseless.

  *

  Why was she so jumpy, Justin wondered, and so reluctant to talk about her school? There had been a rather bleak look in her eyes, and she seemed anxious to change the subject whenever school was mentioned. Well, it wasn't his business, but she was paler than she ought to have been, as though she never spent time out of doors, and he felt an uncharacteristic urge to protect her from whatever bothered her. Maybe she would open up when she came to trust him. If she preferred to keep off the subject he wouldn't push her. Then he wondered why he should care. He had no desire to get involved with another woman so soon after Barbara had flung his ring back, but Judy looked unhappy when she was not talking, rather like the dogs when they were disappointed not to be going for a walk.

  He was planning to move out, he reminded himself, and would probably not see her again when he found an apartment. Ought he to change his mind? Would it help her if he stayed in the house, or would his presence add to whatever it was that bothered her? He would wait and see, give it a few days more, and not hurry to find a temporary apartment.

  He asked about her card designs, and she became animated.

  'I like doing animals, especially cats,' she said, and the enthusiasm made her eyes sparkle. 'Sometimes people send me photographs of their pets and ask me to design cards including them. Some want plain portraits, but others ask me for cartoons, which is more fun for me, especially if the owners tell me about the tricks the pets get up to.' She grinned. 'There was one Persian cat who pulled down the loose cushions on the sofa to use as his bed. And one who could open the fridge door. Then there was the Shetland pony who was small enough to get under the bars of the paddock and came into the kitchen.'

  'Can I see some of them? I'm not going out until later in the afternoon tomorrow. I have some letters to write.'

  As they walked back to the house he casually slipped his arm round her waist, and though he felt her stiffen she did not draw away. Turning into the Close they almost tripped over Ken Tibbetts and his dogs, who were on extending leads.

  'Oh, sorry, there's not usually anyone about at this time of night,' he apologised. 'Why, it's Judy, isn't it? And? Sorry, old chap, we haven't met, have we?'

  His words were slurred, and as he came closer to peer up into Justin's face the beer fumes drifted towards them. Justin drew back.

  'Justin Danby, Paul's cousin,' he said curtly.

  'Ken Tibbetts, a neighbour. I met the little lady yesterday, didn't realise she had company. You must both come and have a drink with me and the wife soon. I'll be in touch.'

  He pulled the dogs away and walked slowly round the corner in the direction of the pub. Justin glanced after him.

  'Heading for the Green Man, by the looks of it. He's already had enough. Didn't you say he taught games?'

  'That's what he told me.'

  'I somehow don't see him as the star of the local rugby team. But I suppose you don't have to be good to teach it.'

  They reached home, and Judy said she would make herself a cup of tea, and did he want one?

  'Please. I'll just go up and check my emails,' he said.

  Judy was sitting at the table in the kitchen when he went back a few minutes later.

  'I have to leave early in the morning,' he said. 'Something has come up at the office, and even though I'm technically on holiday I have to go up for a meeting. I'll try not to wake you. I've no idea when I'll be back, so shall we be independent for dinner? I see there are plenty of freezer meals.'

  It was annoying. The senior partner who had contacted him hadn't said why he was wanted, but it must be serious for him to be called to a meeting so abruptly. When Judy said she'd take her tea upstairs he just nodded.

  'Thanks for a lovely evening,' she said, and before he could reply had gone.

  *

  Judy woke up to the sound of angry voices outside her open bedroom window. One of them, she was sure, belonged to Justin. Her room overlooked the road, so she struggled out of bed and went to check. A huge pantechnicon was drawn up in the road, partially blocking their drive, and it was clear Justin couldn't get his car out. He was gesticulating to one of the men from the furniture van, who was pointing back to where other men were carrying a large wardrobe from the house next door.

  Justin, throwing some angry words over his shoulder, came back into the house and Judy heard him running up the stairs. He knocked on her door and she barely had time to struggle into a robe before he opened it and poked his head inside.

  'Judy, can I borrow your car keys? If I move your car out I can juggle mine around.'

  'Sure, help yourself. They're in my bag, on the hall table. Do you want me to come and help?'

  He glanced at the flimsy robe which barely reached her knees, and grinned.

  'With those macho men next door? I think you'd better not. Thanks.'

  He was gone before the blush that stained her cheeks had time to emerge.

  Fay hadn't mentioned her neighbours were moving, and Ken hadn't said anything about them, now she came to think of it. Which was odd, he'd said a lot about most of the residents of the Close. There had been no estate agent's board outside, either. She watched Justin back her car onto the road, then manoeuvre his in the small space. He clearly knew the car, going to within an inch of the house and the furniture van as he twisted the wheels until he could back it onto the road.

  He drove her car back onto the drive, and by the time he came to return her keys she was waiting for him at the front door.

  'Thanks. Take care now. I'll see you sometime.'

  To her surprise and confusion he dropped a swift kiss on her nose, turned and ran for his car. One of the furniture removers whistled, and Judy realised she had not fastened up the robe, and the oversize tee shirt she slept in was visible. She backed inside, furious with herself, and determined to keep out of their way. The dogs were clamouring to be let out, but they would have to be content with the garden until she felt able to face the furniture men. With any luck they would be gone by lunchtime.

  After a couple of hours, finding she was unable to concentrate, she decided she needed to bank her cheques to keep her account in the black. She would take the dogs with her, find a bank, grab something to eat, and go on to the other side of town where there was a large area of woodland open to walkers. By the time she came back the furniture men would, she hoped, be gone.

  *

  When she got back there was a different pantechnicon outside the house, still partly blocking her driveway, but this time furniture was being carried in. Judy managed to squeeze her car behind it, leaving space for Justin to park alongside if the van was still there when he got home.

  She fixed herself a meal, checked her emails, then went to bed. The long walk with the dogs had made her tired, and she decided an early night of pampering, a leisurely soak in the bath followed by watching the small television in her room for an hour, would make her ready for work tomorrow. She needed to look through the preliminary designs she had roughed out and decide which to finish first.

  Judy was almost asleep when she heard the low rumble of Justin's car, and the sweep of his headlights crossed the ceiling. She glanced at the clock. It was after midnight. Surely he hadn't been in work meetings all evening? Perhaps he'd taken someone out to dinner in London, a colleague, or a girl friend. A twinge of regret, even of jealousy, astonished her until she recalled he'd mentioned he had no girl friend. She'd had enough of men, she reminded herself, had finished with Mark, and wanted nothing romantic in her life for a very long time to come. Yet here she
was fantasising about the first good looking man she had met.

  Turning over and burying her face in the pillow she told herself to be sensible, but all desire to sleep had gone. She listened for Justin coming up the stairs, but it was some time before she heard his footsteps. Had he been having a late meal, or a drink? In which case he probably hadn't been out to dinner in London. Smiling, she sank into sleep. Perhaps he would tell her in the morning.

  *

  Judy was up early, and working on her designs, but Justin didn't surface until mid-morning. She heard him clattering round in the kitchen, and wondered whether she ought to join him. Before she could decide he had brought her a mug of coffee.

  'I hope I'm not disturbing you?'

  'No, I'm ready for a break. Good day yesterday?'

  'It's a matter of something I need to sort out, a simple design I left a junior to do while I was away, which he managed to make a hash of. It will only take a couple of days, I hope, but I have to go and inspect the site to make sure we have made the right corrections. I hope I didn't disturb you last night? I was rather late back. I went to collect some stuff I'd left with a friend, and we got talking. You know how it is.'

  Judy wondered, fleetingly, whether the friend was male or female, then told herself not to be stupid. What did it matter to her?

  'I didn't bother to unload them last night, didn't want to risk waking you or the neighbours with car doors slamming. I'll do it now. Were the furniture men there long?'

  'I went out, took the dogs for a long tramp. Someone has already moved in.'

  'Have you seen them?'

  'No, and I remembered Ken Tibbetts didn't mention anyone was moving, which seemed out of character for him.'

  Justin grinned. 'He'll no doubt be hosting a welcome party so he can find out all about them.' He drained his mug. 'I'd better start.'

  'Can I help?'

  He shook his head. 'Thanks, but there's only a couple of boxes and a few bags. I can manage those.'