Judy swallowed a smile. Mark earned a good salary as a deputy head of a large school, but he'd always been rather a cheapskate. He was being sensible, careful, saving up to get married, he usually explained, but he had been living in a much cheaper flat than he could have afforded before he met Judy and decided she was the one he meant to marry.
'Come over and have a drink with us, old man,' Ken said. 'We can sort it all out in the morning.'
*
'Tell me,' Justin said.
They were sitting in the kitchen, and Justin had poured her a glass of brandy. She was still shivering, and he wanted to put his hands round that wretched man's neck and throttle him for distressing her so.
Judy tried to smile, and he thought she was being remarkably gallant.
'He was engaged to you?' he prodded gently.
'For two years. We taught in the same school, and had apartments in the same block. I was so thankful Fay offered me the chance to get away for a few weeks, because I was always meeting him, either by accident or because he watched me all the time. He managed to appear every time I had been out. I could never be sure I wouldn't meet him, and now he knows I'm here. What shall I do?'
'I'm here with you. He won't get past me, and we can make sure you're never alone until he gives up and goes away.'
'But you'll be moving out when you find a flat.'
'No, I've decided to stay. There isn't much point in renting for such a short time, if we can tolerate one another.'
The look of relief on her face told him how thankful she was. She must be truly frightened of the wretched man. So this was apparently what had been making her look unhappy.
'He hated it when I broke the engagement,' she said quietly. 'It was his pride, mostly, for he thought all women would do what he wanted.'
'Why did you? Break it off, I mean.'
Judy sighed. 'He can't resist making new conquests. A year ago, I discovered he was going around with one of the other staff at the school. Luckily she got a job abroad, and I forgave him. But recently I've seen him with someone else, he quite openly takes her to restaurants and other places, and once I saw them kissing. This time I said I was finished. He didn't want to accept it.'
'He'll have to. Don't worry, Judy, he'll give up. Meanwhile, perhaps we ought to put on a little display. Show him you have another interest.'
'You mean... What do you mean?'
He grinned at her look of suspicion.
'If he believes you have a new boyfriend, such as me, would he give up?'
Judy blushed, and he felt like catching her into his arms and kissing her. That, however, would probably frighten her, which was the last thing he wished to do. Was it just the contrast between her and Sadie that made him feel this way? He would no more try to kiss Sadie than he would a crocodile.
Judy was shaking her head.
'It would make him more competitive,' she said.
'We'll try it, nevertheless. Ken told Sadie he was arranging a welcome party for her, and incidentally, I gathered, also for us, at the weekend. A barbecue if the weather holds. If Mark is still here we'll put on a show for him.'
'And all the neighbours!'
'They don't matter. We'll be gone soon.'
Judy hesitated. 'What about Sadie?' she asked.
He laughed. 'Sadie? Do you think we could persuade her to vamp him?'
'Vamp?' Judy laughed too. 'I don't think I've ever heard anyone use that word. Did she try to vamp you?'
He grinned, thankful to see the colour back in her cheeks.
'It suits the luscious Sadie. I think it's natural for her to come on to any man she meets, but for your information she didn't get anywhere with me. I get rather tired of the constant flirting and innuendo, and I don't like women who are so blatant.'
Judy, he was amused to see, was blushing.
'Did – did you have a good meal?' she asked.
'The food was delicious, the company less attractive.'
He could see she didn't totally believe him, but at least she was looking more cheerful as she said goodnight and went up to bed.
*
Judy was reluctant to go to Ken's barbecue. The weather was hot and sunny, she had not seen Mark's car anywhere near the Close for the past few days, and finally she allowed Justin to persuade her she really ought not to reject Ken's friendly overture.
'Mark must have gone back to Manchester,' he said. 'If you want me to, I'll ask Ken whether he is invited.'
Judy was appalled. She was certain Ken would know all about her relationship with Mark, and to make an issue of this would cause it to look more important than she wished. Ken had only met Mark casually, at some conference, and probably wouldn't be very interested in him.
'No. No, of course not! I told Ken, that night, we were no longer engaged, so surely he won't have asked him. Besides, it's been three days now, and Mark would have been round here every day if he were still in the area. He must have gone back home.'
She chose a cotton skirt in a deep hyacinth blue, and a lacy white blouse. The only sun hat she possessed was ancient, so she rifled Fay's wardrobe and discovered a pretty flowered one with a large floppy brim.
As they crossed the grass in the centre of the Close towards Ken's house, Sadie came after them. She was wearing white shorts, cut high on the legs and low in the waist, and had a man's white shirt with the tails tied up in front, leaving, Judy thought in disgust, acres of tanned midriff bare. Her sandals were just one thin strap, and impossibly high heels. Which, Judy concluded, gave her every excuse to hang on to any man in her vicinity.
'Let me go in with you,' she said, clutching Justin's arm. 'I hate going into a room where there are lots of strangers, and so far you and Ken are the only people I've met.'
Unlikely, Judy thought. Sadie would relish making an entrance. Ken's house was adorned with balloons, and a huge cardboard arrow pointed to the side gate. The sound of laughter met them as they walked into the garden, and Judy blinked. Surely there could not be so many people living in the few houses in the Close? She tried a quick sum. Twelve houses, say an average of two people per house, two dozen residents. Yet there seemed to be twice that number milling round on the lawn.
A slight, pretty woman came towards them. She could only have been in her thirties, but her hair was silver.
'Come along in. You must be our new neighbours. I'm Magda. Welcome to the Close. You're Justin, but which of you is Fay's sister? Neither of you look like her.'
Sadie was looking rather startled at this.
'I'm nothing to do with Fay,' she said hurriedly. 'I've just moved in next door to Justin. I'm Sadie Flynn. So kind of you and Ken to give us this party. I can see we're all going to be great friends.'
Magda glanced at Judy and gave her a slight smile.
'Come and meet some of the other neighbours, then. Help yourselves to drinks and nibbles. Ken's doing his bit at the barbecue, but I can assure you all the meat has been cooked inside the house. I never trust these fancy gadgets to do it properly. All burnt on the outside and raw in the middle. I let Ken do the finishing touches, put a few burnt flakes to make the sausages look authentic.'
'I think Ken is under control,' Justin murmured, putting an arm round Judy's waist and steering her towards a trestle which held glasses and drink. 'What would you like, beer or wine? Or I see there is fruit juice.'
'Wine please.'
Judy turned round, glass in hand, and almost dropped it. Coming out of the house, through French windows that led into a sitting room, was Mark.
Justin had seen him too. He pulled Judy close to him.
'Right, this is where we win our Oscars. Smile, look up at me, adoringly, pretend you haven't seen him. I can see the chap Paul left his key with. I'm taking you to meet him. Don't worry, I'm not leaving your side, and Mark won't have the gall to create a fuss at someone else's party.'
*
The next few hours had been torture, Judy decided as she collapsed into bed. Mark had spent the enti
re afternoon glaring at them, following them round as they talked with other people. Ken, she had discovered, was one of the world's most gregarious people. As well as all the neighbours he had invited several teachers from his school, members of the local rugger club, Magda's partners from the accountancy firm where she worked, and fellow dog walkers. At least the numbers made it easy for Justin to steer her from one group to another without having to notice Mark.
There had been no chance to ask Ken where Mark was staying, but Justin tried to persuade her, as they walked home across the green, still with arms entwined, that their exhibition must have made him realise she meant what she said, their engagement was over.
To make certain, he had paused on the doorstep and pulled her into his arms and bent to kiss her.
'Try to look as though you are enjoying it,' he said, his lips just millimetres away from hers.
If only she were not, Judy thought, surrendering to the moment. Of course he was acting, putting on a display in case Mark was still watching them. She didn't want any more complications in her life, and surely he didn't, either. They'd only met a week ago. Was it so short a time?
Eventually they moved inside the house and Justin let her go rather abruptly.
'I have to go to see this project tomorrow morning,' he said, sounding rather curt. 'It's just a flying visit, I'll be back by lunch time. Will you be OK, or do you want to come with me? You can keep the chain on the door, in case Mark tries to see you. I'll walk the dogs before I leave, and you can let them out into the garden. The side gate is locked, I checked. Then we can take them out together in the afternoon.'
He refused dinner, saying he had eaten far too many of Ken's burgers and sausages, and would take some coffee to his room where he had work to do.
Judy couldn't settle. Why was Mark still around? Why could he not accept it was all over between them? Did Ken have anything to do with encouraging him? And why had she felt it was so right to have Justin's arms round her, and his lips on hers? She could not be falling for him. She would not allow herself to fall for him. She needed to concentrate on building up her business, not getting involved with another man, however kind and attractive he seemed.
Eventually she fell asleep, waking late the next morning. Justin's car was gone. After she showered and dressed in her usual track suit she began to hang up the clothes she had worn the previous day, which she had just dropped onto a chair when she went to bed. Finally she picked up Fay's sun hat and went into the master bedroom to replace it. As she reached up to place it on the wardrobe shelf she dislodged another, winter hat of fake fur. She wasn't tall enough to put both back, so fetched the dressing table stool and climbed up on it. Then, inside the winter hat she felt something stiff, and as she turned over the hat a card fell out onto the floor, open so that both the front picture and the back of the card were visible.
It was clearly a Valentine card. Hearts were overlapping, speared with arrows, and on the back a large scrawled initial in scarlet felt tip. Judy blinked, but it was still there, a large, confident 'J'.
She had begun to dismiss her suspicions about Justin and her sister. Her main emotion, as she picked up the card and hastily stuffed it back inside the hat, was, she realised, anger. And, a small insistent inner voice told her, hurt and disappointment on her own account.
***
Chapter 4
Judy couldn't force herself to concentrate on work. She made herself coffee and a sandwich, and took her lunch outside. It was a gloriously sunny day, and she sat on the patio, the dogs sprawled at her feet, trying to forget what she had seen by reading a book.
The words swam before her eyes. She had begun to trust Justin, to believe her suspicions about him and Fay were wild and silly speculations with no basis in fact. Now she was horribly unsure. Had she been a fool, beguiled by a handsome face and pleasant manner? Why would Fay hide the Valentine card? Who could 'J' be if not Justin? For her own peace of mind she needed to know.
She could not ask Justin. 'Oh, by the way, did you send Fay a Valentine card?' He would naturally deny it. And how could she explain she had seen a card which had clearly been hidden? She had not deliberately betrayed her sister's trust by ferreting in her belongings. Seeing the card had been an accident, and she could not mention it either to Justin or Fay herself. So how could she discover the truth?
The short answer was she could not. She sighed. In that case she would have to treat Justin more carefully, not fall for his undoubted charm and apparent care for her. She was grateful to him for protecting her from Mark, but that kiss yesterday had been more than she'd expected when he suggested they pretended to be a couple to drive Mark away. It had felt real, nothing like a stage kiss, the ones she had received when she had been acting in her college drama group productions. It had lasted for too long, and his lips had moved seductively against hers, while he had pulled her close against him. He must have felt her heart beating, twice as fast as normal, and her face had felt hot when they finally broke apart. She had been flushed, she knew, and tempted for a mad moment to believe it was for real. How was she to treat him now?
Her musings were interrupted by Buster suddenly springing to his feet and barking loudly. Judy looked round in panic. Had Mark somehow found his way into the garden? Buster raced to the dividing wall separating the gardens, and Judy saw Sadie's head as she looked over the wall. Her hair today was piled on top of her head and secured with a bright emerald green scarf, the ends of which floated down past her shoulders.
'On your own?' Sadie asked, and Judy writhed inwardly at the falsely sympathetic tone of voice.
'Yes,' she replied curtly. She wasn't feeling neighbourly.
'Poor you. Oh do shut up, you noisy dog.'
'He's being a guard dog,' Judy said. 'Buster, come here! Down boy!'
Giving her what Judy thought was a resentful look, Buster complied, and flopped down again at Judy's feet.
'Did you enjoy that tedious party?' Sadie asked. 'I really had hoped for more interesting people to talk to, but they are all so provincial!'
Even if she thought it, saying it to her was hardly tactful.
'We are in the provinces, I suppose,' Judy said, 'so what do you expect?'
Sadie pouted. 'At least one kindred spirit. But all they could talk about was the iniquities of the local council, the fortunes of the cricket club, and people I didn't know. Not a single one had any interest in what was going on in the wider world.'
'Politics? International relations?' Judy was surprised. She hadn't thought Sadie would be interested either.
'Heavens, no! Art, the theatre, films, music.'
'Then why did you come to live in such a provincial place? I'd have thought London more your scene.'
'Oh, it is! But there were reasons, family reasons, why I had to be in this area. But tell me about your boyfriend. He's such a handsome fellow, not someone I expected to find in such a backwater.'
For a moment Judy thought she meant Justin, then she realised Sadie was referring to Mark. She had to put right this impression straight away.
'Mark and I were engaged for two years, but I broke it off.'
'But isn't he a teacher?'
What on earth had that to do with it?
'Is that a reason for staying engaged to someone?'
Sadie laughed. 'It would have been so suitable, both of you teachers.'
Just what did she mean by that cryptic remark? Judy did not want to find out, as she suspected she would not appreciate Sadie's thinking.
'I'm no longer a teacher. And it's time I got back to work.'
She gathered up her plate and mug, her discarded book, and smiled sweetly at Sadie as she went towards the house. At least the woman hadn't tried to find out about Justin, which Judy would have found much more trying.
*
As he drove back home Justin hoped Judy had had the sense to wait for him before venturing out of the house. Mark had been casting her some very dirty looks at the barbecue, and no doubt would,
if he had the chance, continue to pester her with arguments. He realised he cared enough for her to want to spare her such aggravation.
The project he had been visiting, a new sports and leisure complex, supposedly for a quick, routine inspection, had developed problems, and it had taken him hours to sort them out. He was far later coming home than he had expected, and Judy might have given up on him and taken out the dogs.
As he drove he tried to analyse his feelings for Judy. She was pretty, but didn't seem to realise it. She didn't bother to try and make an impression, which was refreshing after Barbara. He found her interesting, ambitious with her plans to start her own business, and somehow vulnerable. His protective instincts had been aroused, but their pretence of being a couple the previous day, and the kiss he had demanded when they reached the house, had changed that, to his dismay.
For years he had avoided serious relationships. Girls had come, and when they showed signs of wanting a more permanent commitment, girls had swiftly gone. Some of his closest friendships had been with married women, who could be friends without any romantic attachment. If they did indicate they wanted something more they were discarded as swiftly as the others. Until he met Barbara he had not wanted marriage, settling down to routine family life. And when he had finally decided he had a girl he could spend the rest of his life with, she had proved false.
His judgement was faulty, and he now had no confidence in it. He had no intention of falling into such a trap again, yet Judy was different from other women. That kiss, which he had suggested as a ploy to put Mark off the scent, had proved a disastrous mistake. Something had happened, some chemistry had surfaced between them, and he had felt Judy's response, doubtful at first, then accepting. He must be careful not to hurt her, imply anything he was incapable of offering. She was already in a fragile emotional state, not yet recovered from Mark's betrayal.
As he pulled into the driveway the door of Sadie's house opened, and she emerged, dressed in the briefest of brief shorts and a skimpy vest top, and carrying a gardening trug and a pair of what looked like brand new gardening gloves.
Once Bitten Page 5
