Secrets After Dark

by Sadie Matthews

  He’s watching my face closely. ‘Does that help?’

  I nod, trying to blank the pictures from my mind. With those few words, a line has been crossed between us. I feel as though he has pulled me into an intimacy with him that I cannot retreat from.

  ‘Good. Show me later what you have bought. Ask Marcia for a credit card.’

  Thirty minutes later, armed with a matt-black credit card, I’m walking under the covered walkway towards the back entrance of Albany.

  This is too weird. I shake my head disbelievingly. How have I ended up doing this?

  I let myself out with the card key Marcia gave me and emerge by Savile Row with its ranks of gentlemen’s tailors. Bond Street stretches away to my left and I head that way. I already know that window fronts along there glitter with astonishing gems. I’ve often wondered if there are enough wealthy people in the world to keep so many jewellers in business but there must be, as the emeralds, diamonds and rubies keep sparkling away in their multi-thousand-pound settings.

  I walk past a few, looking at the red satin cushions with their treasures displayed behind the reinforced glass. They twinkle alluringly but somehow I’m not attracted to them. Then, further along, I see a different kind of place, its windows packed with antique jewels of all descriptions, from fat ropes of creamy pearls to diamond tiaras, as well as signet rings, cufflinks, ornate silver frames and more. It’s like a proverbial Aladdin’s cave, or the haul from a Spanish treasure ship. I go to the window and look more closely. Here the jewels nestle on dark blue velvet or in vintage cream-satin-lined cases. This is more the kind of thing I like.

  And Andrei sent me because he likes my taste, after all...

  A uniformed guard stands at the door. He opens it politely as I approach, perhaps wondering if I’m really the sort of person who will be buying much in this shop, though he doesn’t show it on his face. I go up to the nearest counter where a slightly bored-looking young man in a black tailcoat is rearranging a display of diamond rings.

  ‘Yes, madam?’ he says, a touch of dismissal in his voice. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Perhaps you can. I’m looking for something on behalf of Andrei Dubrovski—’

  The change is rapid and remarkable. The assistant becomes instantly alert and full of eagerness to help me. ‘Oh, madam, please, this way. Let me show you to a table, I’m sure I can bring you some pieces you’ll be interested in...’

  Within moments, I’m in a position of honour, assistants scurrying everywhere to bring me trays of jewels to examine, and I’m having a ball. I’m surrounded by a fortune, but the prettiest fortune I will ever see: necklaces, earrings, brooches, cameos, vintage Tiffany, Cartier, Victorian parures, delicate Regency tiaras. It’s all gorgeous.

  I survey everything, holding some of the sparkling items up to the light, or against my skin to see the effect. What on earth does Andrei want me to get?

  I’m deliberating over rings and earrings when one of the older assistants brings out a battered red velvet case. He places it in front of me, saying reverently, ‘Perhaps Mr Dubrovski might find this to his taste.’

  The case is opened and inside is a beautiful enamelled bracelet, edged with tiny diamonds that glitter icily under the electric lights. The inside glows with burnished gold. The bracelet is clearly old but the enamel – cream and turquoise, rosy pink and dark blue – is still bright. It’s a splendid thing, and I’m instantly enraptured. ‘This is wonderful!’

  ‘It’s particularly valuable,’ says the older assistant gravely, ‘because it was the property of Grand Duchess Olga, the sister of Tsar Nicholas II. She managed to take it with her when she and her mother escaped the Revolution for a safe haven in Denmark. As we know, her brother and his family were not so lucky.’

  I draw in a breath. This was the property of the Russian royal family, the doomed Romanovs who ruled for a thousand years before their bloody slaughter put an end to their dynasty. I have a flashback to that image of Andrei, the Moscow ruffian from the back streets, taking possession of his Russian countess. She’s gasping in pleasure. The bracelet he’s given her is now on her wrist. She’s wrapping her arms around him, pulling him deeper inside her, and the bracelet is pressed against his broad back, its diamonds leaving little imprints on his back...

  ‘Yes. This is it. I’ll take this.’ Something occurs to me. ‘How much is it?’

  The assistant names the sum. I try not to gasp but it’s significantly more than my annual salary. I don’t think, though, that Dubrovski would blink at it. Then I remember – he wanted me to get two things. My eyes are drawn to a pair of dark ruby earrings set in white gold. There’s something about their depth and lustre than keeps me coming back to them. They’re evidently old, perhaps Victorian, and very beautiful. ‘I’ll take these too.’ I hand over the black credit card and ask them to deliver. I don’t particularly want to walk the streets of London carrying quite so much of value on me.

  Mission accomplished.

  Later, when I’m back in the study, Andrei comes in. I look up, surprised.

  ‘I’ve just seen the package that arrived from the jeweller.’ He stares at me and for a moment I think he’s going to bawl me out for choosing badly or spending too much. Then he says, ‘Well done. It’s what I expected from you.’

  ‘The bracelet has a Romanov connection,’ I say, ridiculously pleased that he approves. ‘I thought it was... appropriate.’

  His eyes glitter with amusement, reminding me of some of the aquamarines I saw earlier. ‘It is exactly right.’ He turns to go. ‘By the way, there is something for you on your desk in the office.’

  He’s gone before I have time to ask him what it is or who it’s from. Curious, I get up and walk through to the office. Marcia’s desk is empty. In fact, it’s tidied and arranged as though she’s gone for the day. On the opposite desk is a packet wrapped in dark green paper and tied with a green silk bow. A tiny card, monogrammed with an A, is tucked under the silk, and I take it out. It reads Thank you.

  Puzzled, I pull the bow and it slips lightly apart, then lift the lid of the box. Inside is a small box and my heart beats faster as I take it out and press the tiny clasp that opens the lid. I already know what will be inside.

  The ruby earrings glint up at me, dark and rich as vintage port.

  Oh my goodness... I feel dizzy. I know exactly how much these cost. There’s no way I can accept them. But they’re beautiful, whispers a little voice inside my head. You love them.

  I swiftly knock down the wicked little voice. Just because things are beautiful doesn’t mean you can have them. Everything Andrei owns is expensive, and lots of it is gorgeous. That doesn’t make any of it mine.

  I’m glad that Marcia isn’t there to see this extremely expensive gift. I head out, looking for Andrei, the box in my hand to return to him, but there is no sign of him.

  ‘The boss has gone out,’ Sri tells me when I find her in the drawing room. ‘Not back till tonight.’

  ‘Where’s Marcia?’ I ask. Everyone seems to have vanished. It’s just Sri and me.

  Sri shrugs and goes back to the dusting.

  I slip the earrings into my pocket and go back to the study.

  Laura’s eyes are like saucers when I show her the contents of the little box that evening.

  ‘He gave these to you?’ she says, incredulous.

  I nod.

  ‘Uh oh.’ She looks worried. ‘No one gives a gift like this without expecting something in return, surely.’

  I sigh, not knowing what to say. If it were anyone other than Andrei, I would agree. A gift of expensive jewellery is usually an unmistakeable signal. But in Andrei’s world... well, I can’t be sure. By his standards, these earrings might not seem so expensive. But I can’t really take the risk. ‘I know. I’m going to return them.’

  ‘Is he coming on to you?’ Laura looks less worried and more angry now. ‘Because if he’s being a scumbag boss who thinks he can take advantage of you, buy you with a few trinkets, well.
..’

  ‘That’s the thing.’ I sit back on the sofa, confused. ‘I don’t think it’s like that. Besides, he got me to buy his mistress or girlfriend or whoever a gift at the same time. So he’s clearly in a relationship. It’s a mystery.’ I look over at my friend, who is visibly fired up and protective. ‘Listen, don’t worry. I can look after myself, really. I’m going to give them back.’

  Laura nods and says, ‘I think that’s the best idea. And keep your distance. If you think you’re being harassed, for goodness’ sake, you must tell Mark or someone. What does Dominic think about all this? He must be furious.’

  ‘He’s gone AWOL again. I’ve no idea where he is or when I’m going to see him.’

  ‘You should let him know that he needs to get back here right away. And you need to make sure Dubrovski knows you’re a taken woman, so he can’t get the wrong idea.’

  I nod again. Laura is right, of course. The rubies glow at me from their box.

  Tomorrow they go back.

  In the morning, I’m all ready to make my speech to Andrei. I’ve been planning it in my head on my way to work. I’ve got the box in my pocket.

  The bodyguard opens the door to me, so I know Andrei is there and sure enough he comes barrelling out of the dining room. ‘Ah, Beth, you’ve arrived.’

  ‘Andrei,’ I begin, ‘I need to talk to you about the gift you left for me. Of course I’m very touched that you—’

  I stop because he is paying not a blind bit of notice but has walked off towards the office, leaving me talking to thin air. I go after him, the box in my hand.

  ‘Andrei, I must talk to you about the—’

  ‘Marcia isn’t here.’ He cuts across me as though I’m not speaking at all. ‘Her mother is ill, she’s gone to be with her. I need you to do me a favour. Can you do some research in here today and answer the phones? Of course, I wouldn’t normally ask such a thing of you, but I’ve got important calls coming through that I mustn’t miss. Someone is coming to fill Marcia’s shoes but they won’t be here till tomorrow. Can you do that for me?’

  He barely waits for a reply, and I give up trying to deliver my speech, and put the jewel box back in my pocket. I’ll have to wait till later. Andrei is bending over a notepad on the desk and scribbling some names. ‘Now, here are the people I must talk to. Come and interrupt me at all costs if they call.’ He rips off the piece of paper and hands it to me. ‘Thank you, Beth, I appreciate it. Now, I’ve got some calls to make myself. I’ll be in the study, so you won’t be able to work there today anyway.’

  With that, he walks out of the office, leaving me open-mouthed in his wake. It’s only when Sri comes in to ask me if I want some coffee that I glance down at the list. My hands start to tremble. The first name on it is Dominic’s.

  After that, I’m a mess. I can’t concentrate at all. All I can do is wait for Marcia’s phone to ring, while I pretend that I’m doing research into some of the artworks. When it finally does, I jump violently, then move like lightning and scoop it up before the first ring is over.

  ‘Yes, hello?’ I gasp.

  ‘Marcia? Is that you?’ It’s a very posh woman’s voice on the other end of the line.

  Disappointment floods through me. I’ve keyed myself up so much, I’ve begun to believe that when the phone rang it would definitely be Dominic. I hate the woman on the end of the line for not being him. ‘No, Marcia’s not here. I’m standing in. Who’s calling please?’ I scrabble for the piece of paper with the names on it.

  ‘It’s Kitty Gould. Can I speak to Andrei?’

  I scan the paper. Kitty Gould’s name is not on it. ‘I’m afraid he’s tied up right now. Can I give him a message?’

  ‘Just tell him that I’ve emailed through all the details for the party. He’ll have them as we speak. I’m looking forward to seeing him there.’

  ‘The party. I understand.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Kitty Gould rings off.

  I stare at the phone, my heart rate returning to normal.

  At this rate, it’s going to be a very adrenalin-filled morning...

  During the morning the phone has rung several times, and I’ve had to go into the study to alert Andrei that people he wants to speak to have called, but none of them is Dominic.

  I feel frustrated suddenly. Why does he think he can treat me like this? Coming back into my life and then vanishing again? I thought he wanted to be with me, to be close to me, and yet he hasn’t contacted me for days. What is his game? Can he really be too busy to send a text?

  At lunchtime, Andrei and I eat together in the dining room, though he spends a good deal of it on the phone, shovelling in mouthfuls between sentences or sometimes in the middle of one. When he is finally off his cell phone, I remember the call from that morning.

  ‘Did you get an email from a woman called Kitty Gould?’ I ask. ‘It’s about a party apparently. She says the details you need are in it.’

  Andrei goes still for a moment, then his gaze fixes on me. ‘The party.’

  ‘That’s right. Do you know what she means?’

  ‘Oh yes. The party is tonight.’

  ‘Tonight?’ I raise my eyebrows. That seems very short notice for giving the details of an event.

  He stares at me again and then says, ‘Perhaps you would like to come with me.’

  ‘Oh.’ He’s taken me by surprise again. Is he ever going to stop doing that? ‘Well...’

  ‘Let me rephrase that. I would like you to come with me. I think you would enjoy it. It will be very lavish, a sight worth seeing.’ He gives me that impassive expression. ‘You can wear the earrings.’

  I blush violently. I’ve forgotten all about the rubies and now I look rude for not mentioning them. ‘I... I... thank you, Andrei, it’s amazingly generous but I can’t accept them.’

  ‘Why not?’ he shoots back, frowning.

  ‘Because they’re too much... too expensive... and, well, I hardly know you...’

  He waves a dismissive hand. ‘Of course you can accept them, don’t be a fool. If you think I want them back, you’re quite wrong.’

  ‘You have to take them,’ I say more strongly. ‘You can give them to your mistress, I’m sure she’ll like them.’ That treacherous picture of him fucking her comes back into my mind but this time Andrei’s Russian girl has dark red jewels glinting in her ears as she throws her head back in ecstasy.

  ‘My mistress?’ His eyes sparkle a little dangerously. ‘How very old-fashioned you sound. I don’t want to hear another word about those earrings. Give them away yourself if you don’t want them.’ He sits back in his chair, as if to indicate that discussion about the rubies is finished. ‘Now, are you going to come to this party with me? I don’t think it’s the kind of party Mark would take you to – and you should seize the opportunities when you get them.’

  I’m still reeling at the idea that he doesn’t mind if I give away thousands of pounds worth of rubies. I’ll leave them here when I go. That’s how I’ll get round it.

  His phone goes and he picks it up. ‘Yes? Ah, Dominic, at last.’

  My stomach does a violent somersault and the blood drains from my face – at least, I think it does. I don’t know if I’ve turned pale but that’s what it feels like. Hidden under the table, my fists clench into tight balls. Dominic is on the other end of the line! I also feel wounded – he can obviously get access to a phone when he needs it.

  Andrei is listening intently to whatever Dominic is saying, and I’m tormented that I cannot make out anything or even hear the buzz of his voice. ‘I see. Yes. Will you be at the party later? Uh huh. Well, Harvey is on call with the car if you need it. And Anna?’ There’s a pause while he listens and then he laughs. I’ve never heard him laugh before: it’s a harsh, grating sound in that rough voice of his, and it sounds as though it’s not a thing he uses often. ‘Yes, she is. I expect she’ll be feeling wild tonight. She always does when we make a lot of money.’ He’s smiling down the phone. It’s always odd to see that
broad mouth with the jutting lower lip stretch into a smile. ‘Good. Then I’ll see you later.’ He rings off and looks back at me, still smiling. When he sees my expression, he says, ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing,’ I say quickly. ‘Nothing at all.’ There’s a small pause and then I say as naturally as possible, ‘That was Dominic Stone? The man I met at the monastery?’

  Andrei nods. ‘Ringing with some excellent news about an iron ore mine I own in Siberia. The Chinese have bought all the ore we can produce for the next two years. I’m very pleased. Dominic has been freezing his arse off there in the middle of nowhere.’ He laughs again. ‘But he’ll be well rewarded. So. Are you coming to this party?’

  The idea that Dominic will be there fills me with excitement, but I try to look nonchalant. ‘You know, Andrei, you’re right, it sounds like it might be fun. I’d like to come.’

  He gives another of those inscrutable looks. ‘Good. We’ll need something for you to wear. Call Harrods and ask them to send a selection of evening dresses in your size. Ask for black, I think that will suit you best. Nothing too huge, it’s not a ball. But sophisticated.’

  With that, he gets up from the table and strides out of the room, leaving me staring after him. Life around Andrei Dubrovski is certainly unpredictable. But it is also exciting, and tonight is the first possible chance I’ve had to see Dominic again since Croatia.

  I can’t turn that down. I have to go.

  Chapter Nine

  Four hours later, to my astonishment, I am sitting beside Andrei in a beautiful grey Bentley convertible, admiring its polished wood dashboard and feeling the great engine purr beneath me. I’m wearing a stunning evening gown, one of many sent in tissue-lined boxes in a green Harrods van, along with shoes and bags. I spent a happy hour in the guest bedroom, unpacking the treasures within and trying them on: gorgeous creations in silk, tulle, organza, satin and any manner of luxurious fabrics, some sparkling with glitter, sequins and jewels, others adorned with frills or ruffles, some kept elegantly plain. I’ve never seen designer dresses up close and they are amazing. They look gossamer light but within they are carefully constructed to shape and flatter the body; the materials are sumptuous, the embroidery exquisite, and the workmanship magnificent. No wonder they cost thousands, with their hand-sewn embellishments and attention to every tiny detail. I love them all, even if I feel that some of them, with huge sweeping skirts or great frills at the shoulder, are a little much for me to carry off.