Last Resort

by Susan Lewis

  ‘It’s been a team effort,’ he grinned, evidently receiving the message.

  ‘Do you mind if Penny and I have a little chat on our own?’ Sylvia said.

  ‘Carry on,’ David answered. ‘But beware, anything she tells you about me is only going to be half the truth. The other half is she’s as crazy about me as I am about her.’

  ‘Get lost, will you,’ Penny muttered; then, turning a smile back to Sylvia, she suggested they stroll over to the other end of the pool, where it was relatively quiet.

  ‘It seems to be turning out well for you down here,’ Sylvia remarked, raising her voice as they passed in front of the band, who were becoming decidely more lively as the evening wore on. ‘Better than you’d hoped, I think?’

  ‘Yes, I think you could say that,’ Penny confirmed, smiling at a group of guests.

  Sylvia waited until there was no longer any need to shout. ‘So you’re glad you came?’ she said.

  ‘Very.’

  ‘And you want to stay?’

  ‘Yes, I want to stay.’

  ‘Good,’ Sylvia said, smiling. ‘That was what I hoped you’d say. Have you made many friends?’

  ‘There hasn’t been a lot of time,’ Penny grimaced as they parted a moment to walk either side of a palm. ‘But yes, I’ve made a few.’

  Sylvia nodded and treated Penny to one of her famous silences, which Penny knew she was supposed to fill but didn’t.

  ‘Is there anything you would like to discuss with me?’ Sylvia offered.

  Penny thought for a moment. ‘No,’ she said. ‘No, I don’t think so. Everything’s running pretty smoothly. Hectically, actually, but it’s all under control.’

  ‘And your relationship with David is good?’ Sylvia said, stopping and turning to face her.

  ‘Very good. We get along like a cat and dog on fire.’ She plastered an instant smile to her face. ‘What I mean, of course, is we get along just fine.’

  ‘He’s very complimentary about you. In fact, so much so that I was wondering if maybe something wasn’t developing between you. Something of a . . . more personal nature?’

  What was going on here? Penny was thinking to herself. Why was everyone so intent on telling her that she and David were becoming an item? In fact, it was beginning to feel like there was some kind of conspiracy to push them together. ‘No,’ she said, ‘there is nothing of any nature at all between David and me, other than professional.’

  Sylvia’s face lost its intensity. ‘Well, that’s a relief,’ she smiled.

  Penny blinked, not sure whether she liked that response. ‘A relief?’ she repeated.

  Sylvia thought for a moment. ‘Well, maybe relief’s not quite the right word,’ she confessed.

  Penny was tempted to invite her to try another, but refrained. She’d just seen Esther Delaney beetling up the drive in a flurry of fringes and feathers and wanted to get away as quickly as she could.

  ‘What I suppose I was trying to say,’ Sylvia went on, ‘is that I don’t want you to end up being hurt, and I’m afraid my godson has something of a reputation as a heartbreaker.’

  ‘Don’t worry, his secret’s safe with me,’ Penny whispered.

  Sylvia gave a splutter of laughter.

  ‘So has that got everything cleared up for you?’ Penny said cheerfully. ‘I’m not in love with David and neither am I ever likely to be in love with David.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Sylvia smiled, ‘because I would hate you to come back to London for the wrong reasons. It suits you down here, you’re looking radiant, and one issue does not a magazine make. Now, I can see that you’re dying to go and talk to someone, so off you go. I’ll catch up with you again before I leave.’

  Penny was about to depart, when curiosity got the better of her and she turned back. ‘Will you answer me something, Sylvia?’ she said. ‘Why am I getting the impression that everyone, David included, seems to think I’m falling for him, when as far as I’m aware I’ve never done a single thing to make anyone think that?’

  Sylvia chuckled. ‘My dear, you told me yourself on the way in from the airport that you’ve been suffering from sleepless nights, bad moods, an inability to concentrate, loss of appetite . . . Which, to me, all sound like symptoms of unrequited love. And David, well, I’d say he was the obvious choice, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘No, actually, I wouldn’t,’ Penny responded. ‘And what they are symptoms of is overwork. However, just to set your mind completely at rest, I will tell you that there is someone, but it certainly isn’t David.’

  Sylvia’s eyes remained on hers, glimmering with affection. ‘I wonder,’ she said.

  ‘Then don’t, because it’s not.’ Penny smiled. ‘And since Monsieur Villers appears to be on his way to join us, I’ll leave you to grill him on how he feels about me.’

  Sylvia was still laughing softly to herself as David handed her a fresh glass of champagne. ‘I am really very fond of that girl,’ she told him. ‘Very fond indeed.’

  ‘You and me both,’ he said, turning to watch Penny disappear into the crowd.

  Sylvia’s eyebrows lifted as she cast him a sidelong glance.

  He laughed. ‘Don’t worry, she’s safe.’

  ‘Were you anyone else, David, I’d believe you.’

  ‘Were I anyone else,’ he replied, smiling, ‘there wouldn’t be a problem.’

  ‘How true that is,’ she sighed. ‘Does she have any idea yet of the real reason for this magazine?’

  ‘She doesn’t seem to have. Sure, she’s asked a few questions here and there when things haven’t seemed quite right, but on the whole she seems satisfied with the answers I give.’

  ‘Which are?’

  ‘Vague. But, like I told you, she’s been preoccupied with something lately. Did you manage to get to the bottom of it?’

  ‘Not really. She says there is someone, but she didn’t say who. However, she was quite insistent it wasn’t you.’

  ‘That must have pleased you,’ he remarked.

  ‘I won’t deny it,’ she responded. ‘Did you seriously think it might be you, or were you just teasing her?’

  ‘A bit of both,’ he confessed. ‘So, now we’ve got that cleared up, how about we go have ourselves a good time?’ he grinned, taking her by the arm.

  ‘We still have a lot to discuss, David,’ she said, gently removing her arm.

  ‘But not here,’ he said firmly.

  ‘Maybe not here. But I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon. I’d like you to come to my hotel in the morning.’

  ‘I’ll be there,’ he told her. ‘But no more about Penny, OK?’

  ‘Maybe not about her, but definitely about the silly creature with the dreadful bosoms you’ve got staying here. Who on earth is she and what is she doing here?’

  ‘Cassandra?’ he laughed. ‘Cassandra is here for several reasons, not least of which was to bring me a message from my darling wife.’

  ‘And what does Gabriella have to say?’

  ‘Why don’t we save that for the morning?’ he suggested. ‘I’m in the mood for a-moving and a-grooving right now,’ and, clasping her much more firmly by the arm, he steered her towards the patio area that had been cleared for dancing.

  As Sylvia followed him through the group of youngsters who were throwing themselves about wildly to the beat she caught a glimpse of Penny, who was talking to a rather awful-looking man who bore the most unfortunate resemblance to a slimline hippopotamus. Probably one of the local traders, Sylvia decided, unable to imagine why Penny had seemed in such a hurry to go and talk to him. It didn’t occur to her that it might be the man Penny was getting involved with until she caught David glowering in their direction. Well, there was no accounting for taste, Sylvia thought, though some people really did push the limits. However, Penny’s new beau was Penny’s business and Sylvia was the last person to interfere. What she was unsure of, though, was whether she could say the same for David. It was Sylvia’s guess that he hadn’t been in the least bit pr
epared to discover that Penny was involved with someone and, now that he had, he wasn’t liking it one bit. Yet surely David wouldn’t see that great oaf as real competition? However, whether he did or he didn’t was irrelevant, for romantic entanglements of any substance at this time in his life were very definitely a taboo for David and well he knew it. He might not like it, but he would just have to live with it, because if he didn’t that wife of his was going to make him a whole lot sorrier than any man deserved to be.

  Around eleven o’clock the older people and those who had long journeys home started to say their goodbyes. Everyone had had a wonderful time, wouldn’t have missed it for the world, and each, to a man and woman, wished Penny great success. Penny smiled politely, made all the right noises and waved them off. She wished they would all go, that they would just get out of here and leave her alone. She couldn’t stand this seesaw of emotions, couldn’t bear this waiting game any longer. Esther had dropped in, told Wally that she’d be back in an hour and had now been gone for over two. And now the only thing keeping Penny from screaming with frustration or doing the unthinkable and going in search of the old woman, was the faint hope that Esther would reappear when most had gone, when it would be safer for Christian to come.

  Marielle, Penny could see, was in her element over there, sucking up to the stars, while Sammy and her friends were getting louder and drunker by the minute. David, who was not a bad dancer, had hardly left the floor this past hour and he, too, appeared to have had more than his fair share of champagne. How easy he always seemed to find it to enjoy himself, to let himself go and pull everyone else into that heady aura of recklessness that surrounded him. And if Marielle had been put out about Cassandra, she certainly didn’t appear to be any longer, for she’d just shimmied her way on to the dance floor and was shaking herself at David so exaggeratedly he was in danger of having his brains bashed in by her boobs. What was it about him that made women throw their tits at him? Couldn’t they see what idiots they were making of themselves? Oh God, she seethed inwardly as David, Cassandra, Marielle, Smithy and heaven only knew who else started stripping off ready to jump in the pool.

  What’s the matter with you, Penny Moon? she asked herself sharply. They’re just having a good time. In fact, everyone was except her and she only had herself to blame.

  But the instant she saw Esther coming up the drive her stony face was transformed into one of welcome. She all but ran across the lawn to greet the old lady, who, to Penny’s dismay as she drew closer, looked more agitated than she had ever seen her.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Penny asked, fighting to control her irritation.

  ‘No, no! Everything’s under control,’ Esther assured her, standing on tiptoe to peer past her. ‘Oh, gosh, here comes Wally.’

  Penny turned to watch him barrelling in their direction, willing him to drop dead on the spot.

  ‘I really must talk to him in private a minute, dear,’ Esther said. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Penny assured her, minding terribly. She desperately wanted to know what was going on, for it was evident something was, but she could hardly come right out and ask, especially when Wally looked as though he’d just swallowed a porcupine. Boy, was he angry! So angry, in fact, that Penny was somewhat reluctant to leave Esther alone with him.

  ‘It’s all right, dear,’ Esther whispered, seeming to sense her dilemma. ‘I’ll come and find you as soon as I’ve spoken to him.’

  It was some ten minutes later that Esther found Penny chatting with Sammy and Pauline Fields by the summer kitchen. Tapping Penny’s elbow, she asked if she could have a quiet word.

  ‘Of course,’ Penny said and, moving a few paces away, she added, ‘What on earth is going on?’

  ‘I’m afraid Christian’s not coming,’ Esther told her. ‘Says he’s frightfully sorry, but something came up at the last minute, you see. Such a busy man, you understand.’

  Despite the crushing disappointment Penny could sense there was more to it. ‘I want the truth, Esther,’ she said, more sharply than she’d intended. ‘Whatever it is, I want to hear it.’

  ‘Oh dear,’ Esther replied, looking troubled. Then, glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot she said, ‘Wally found out, I’m afraid . . . I’m in awfully hot water. Everyone’s angry with me and I really didn’t mean any harm. But you see . . .’ She stopped as David went past them into the house, Cassandra and the others in noisy pursuit. Esther’s eyes followed him; then, turning back to Penny, she said, ‘He’s your boss, isn’t he? Very good-looking young man . . .’

  ‘Yes, yes, I know,’ Penny said impatiently. ‘But go on. You were saying that everyone’s angry with you . . .’

  Esther frowned, obviously having lost her thread. ‘Oh, yes, yes,’ she said. ‘Oh my, what a day it’s been. He was going to come, right up until five o’clock he was going to come, but then he told Wally and Wally said not to trust you, which I think is frightfully unjust of him, but then the other one turned up and the next thing I knew Christian had booked himself on the next plane to Paris.’

  ‘Which other one?’ Penny asked, frowning.

  ‘Our other employer,’ Esther answered. ‘Wally had told him that Christian was intending to come here and they had an awful fight about it. It’s because you’re a journalist, you see, dear. And Christian couldn’t go against him—’

  ‘Who is he? This other employer of yours?’ Penny interrupted. ‘You’ve never mentioned him before.’

  ‘He . . . Oh dear . . . I’m afraid I don’t know his name. We don’t see him very often. But listen, dear, I have a message for you from Christian. He said to tell you that this evening wouldn’t have worked out, but that he will call you again soon and . . .’

  An explosion of laughter from the door drowned her voice and David came out holding up some sort of nobbly object, challenging Penny to tell him what it was.

  Penny looked at it, looked at David, looked at all the stupid, sniggering faces around him, and suddenly she couldn’t take any more. ‘Why are you doing this?’ she yelled at him. ‘Why can’t you just leave me alone! I’m sick to death of you poking fun at me, making me look small, giving everyone else a laugh at my expense. I’ve got feelings, David! I know that might come as a surprise to you, but I have. And I just can’t take any more.’

  David’s face had paled. ‘Hey, hey,’ he said. ‘What is all this? It was just a joke, Pen . . .’

  ‘That’s it, a joke. That’s what I am to you, isn’t it, one great, big, fat joke? Hah, hah, everyone, Penny the Joke. Let’s all go have a laugh at Penny, why not? Well, I’m not putting up with it any more. Let’s present a united front, you said, let’s pretend we can stand the sight of each other. I did my bit, David . . .’

  ‘Penny, for God’s sake,’ he cried, ‘I don’t even know what the damned thing is. Someone tell me, for Christ’s sake! What the hell is this thing?’

  ‘It’s Penny’s anti-cellulite glove,’ Marielle gladly informed everyone. Not an anti-cellulite glove, but Penny’s anti-cellulite glove.

  ‘Oh Christ,’ David groaned. ‘Look, Pen, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I swear I wouldn’t have done it . . . I just picked it up in the bathroom . . .’

  ‘What the hell were you doing in my bathroom?’ she yelled. ‘You had no right to be in there.’

  ‘There was someone in mine,’ he shouted back.

  ‘Oh God, I can’t stand this,’ Penny cried. ‘I hate you, David Villers. I can’t stand you. No, don’t,’ she said, shrugging Sammy and Pauline off as they attempted to put their arms around her. ‘He’s had it coming and now he’s going to get it. You’ve made a fool out of me once too often, David, but this is the last time.’ Dimly she was aware of him staring oddly at Esther Delaney, as if trying to locate the real reason for the outburst, but she was too blinded by rage now to register anything beyond the way he was still standing there holding that glove. ‘If you don’t move out tomorrow,’ she seethed, ‘then I will. I don’t want to
be under the same roof as you, I don’t want you anywhere near me. I’ve had you up to here, David.’

  ‘Penny,’ he said helplessly. ‘I’ve never seen one of these things before. If I had . . .’

  ‘No, well, you wouldn’t have, would you, because you don’t go out with fat women, do you? Wrestling with sex-starved Sumos isn’t your scene.’

  ‘Penny, just calm down,’ he said. ‘You’re getting this way out of proportion.’

  ‘But everything to do with me is out of proportion, David,’ she screamed. ‘Or hadn’t you noticed?’

  ‘No, as a matter of fact—’

  ‘Like hell you hadn’t,’ she raged, cutting him off. ‘Well, I might be a great big fat waste of time to you, but—’

  ‘OK, time out!’ he barked, his eyes flashing with temper. ‘I want to talk to you now, in private.’

  ‘Well, I don’t want to talk to you,’ she yelled. ‘I just want you to get out of my life and go somewhere where I’ll never have to see you again,’ and unable to disguise the fact that she had started to cry, she pushed past him, ran through the house and up the stairs to her bedroom.

  A few minutes later there was a tap on the door.

  ‘Go away!’ she shouted.

  ‘It’s me,’ Sammy said, putting her head in.

  Penny looked at her in the mirror; then, swivelling round on the dressing-table stool, she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue and held out a hand. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, as Sammy came to kneel in front of her. ‘I made a right fool of myself, didn’t I?’

  ‘Not really,’ Sammy comforted her.

  ‘You’re just trying to be nice,’ Penny smiled through her tears. ‘Where’s David?’

  ‘Seeing everyone off.’

  ‘Is he mad?’

  ‘Hard to tell. What made you go at him like that? It left us all speechless.’

  For a moment Penny was tempted to tell her about Christian Mureau, but in truth she was so ashamed of the effect he was having on her she didn’t want anyone, not even Sammy, to know. ‘I don’t know,’ she sighed, wiping the back of her hand over her cheeks. ‘Maybe I’ve just had too much to drink.’ Groaning, she put her head in her hands. ‘Of all the things for him to have picked up . . .’