by Susan Lewis
‘Tell me, has she ever had a steady boyfriend?’ Yvonne wondered. ‘I never seem to see her with the same man twice.’
‘That’s the way Danny likes it.’ Sarah shrugged, leaning across to the fruit bowl and taking an apple.
Yvonne watched her for a moment, taking in her round, turquoise blue eyes, her pink cheeks and smiling lips. It was hard to be objective about your sister, but Yvonne really did think that Sarah was quite special. She might not be as beautiful and sensuous as Danny, or as striking as Louisa, but she had a certain something all of her own, something quite indefinable and totally unique, that Yvonne was amazed men didn’t find irresistible.
As Sarah started to grin Yvonne realized that as usual her mind had been read, so instead of asking the question on the tip of her tongue, she waited for Sarah to answer it.
‘My turn will come,’ Sarah told her, crunching into the apple.
‘I know it will,’ Yvonne said spiritedly. ‘I have no doubt about that. But I was thinking, maybe you’re just not going to the right places.’
‘Got anywhere in mind?’
‘How would I know? I’m too long married and too long off the scene. What about Danny, she’s never short of a man, where does she find them?’
‘Where Danny’s concerned they just materialize,’ Sarah said, sticking a finger in her mouth to dislodge a piece of apple. ‘She uses ’em, abuses ’em and then waits for them to come back for more, which generally they do. Do you know, she has the most varied and fascinating sex life of anyone I know. She said I could watch one time if I was around, don’t you think that’s mightily obliging of her?’
Yvonne sighed, shaking her head in quiet exasperation. ‘Sarah, this is me you’re talking to,’ she scolded, ‘so don’t let’s get into this trying to pretend you’re a pervert act.’
‘Who’s pretending?’
‘You, so stop it. It might amuse your friends, but it doesn’t amuse me.’
‘That’s because you’ve got the sense of humour of a cod.’
‘Can’t we talk sensibly about this?’
‘No, because there is nothing sensible about three years of celibacy.’
‘Exactly. So isn’t it about time …?’
‘Yvie, don’t preach. I know you mean well, but it’s been a long time since you were single and you never were at my age.’
‘Sorry. It’s just that I’m concerned.’
Yvonne put down her cup and reached for her bag. ‘Where are you meeting Louisa?’ she said. ‘Can I drop you anywhere?’
‘No, it’s OK. She’s coming to pick me up, then I expect we’ll hit McDonalds or Burger King or Belly Busters or somewhere even more decadent.’
‘Well, say hello to her for me and tell her … Well, I don’t suppose I can give a message of condolence because I don’t imagine I’m supposed to know anything. So tell her she’s welcome any time. It’s always lovely to see her.’
‘And Danny?’ Sarah grinned mischievously.
Yvonne’s blue eyes narrowed slightly as she looked into Sarah’s. ‘Of course and Danny,’ she said. ‘Why do you say it like that?’
Sarah’s mouth tilted at one corner. ‘Maybe because you never seem too comfortable around Danny,’ she answered.
‘Don’t I?’ Yvonne shrugged.
‘No, you don’t.’
‘Well, maybe that’s because I’m never too sure where the actress stops and the person begins.’
Sarah laughed. ‘I don’t think even Danny knows that,’ she said. ‘And that’s what makes her so utterly wonderful and so completely exhilarating to be around.’
Danielle Spencer’s entrance did not go unnoticed, but then Danny’s entrances rarely did. And Quaglino’s in St James’s, the in-spot of the moment, was the perfect place for making a glorious, Hollywood entrance. For, with its wide, sweeping staircase leading down to the hub of glitzy, deliciously rich and exclusive clientele, its glittering mirrors, gleaming brass rails and shiny marble floors, it was straight out of a Busby Berkeley extravaganza.
Danny’s lazy, cat eyes were scanning the tables as she sauntered down the stairs in a black lace dress that clung lovingly to her breasts, not quite revealing them, but offering tantalizing glimpses of the smooth, succulent flesh beneath. Her full, sensuous lips were curved in a satisfied smile, her night-black hair cascaded in rich glossy curls around her bewitchingly beautiful face and down the exquisite length of her back. Spotting Sarah and Louisa she waved, tossed back her hair and allowed a waiter to lead her to them, stopping en route to greet those she knew.
‘You look stunning,’ Louisa said, as Danny sat down, putting her purse on the table and stealing a quick glance at herself in the mirror behind Sarah.
‘Do I?’ Danny smiled. ‘Thank you. As a matter of fact, so do you. Abortion obviously suits you.’
Sarah choked on her wine as the smile drained from Louisa’s face. ‘Then I must remember to get one every year,’ she said waspishly.
Danny looked at her long and hard. Louisa stared back, her angry, brown eyes challenging Danny to say more.
‘Why did you do it?’ Danny demanded. ‘Why didn’t you wait at least until you’d spoken to one of us? And why the hell didn’t you tell Simon?’
‘I’ve been through all that with Sarah, I’m sure she’s already told you, so I’m not making any more excuses for myself to you,’ Louisa retorted. Her eyes were shining with resentment, but both Sarah and Danny could see how hurt she was.
Danny’s face softened. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you, but I want to be sure that you really know what you’ve done.’
‘Of course I know what I’ve done,’ Louisa snapped. ‘Do you take me for an idiot or something?’
‘Not an idiot, no,’ Danny answered smoothly. ‘But I have to confess that I’m surprised at how philosophical Sarah tells me you’re being about it all. Personally, I thought you’d have gone to pieces.’
‘Then excuse me for disappointing you,’ Louisa said through her teeth.
‘Oh, I’m not disappointed,’ Danny corrected. ‘Quite the reverse, because as it so happens I think you did the right thing. I just want to be sure that you do too.’
‘Well I do, so shall we change the subject?’
‘Not yet. Have you spoken to Simon?’
‘Not about the baby, no.’
‘Do you want him back?’
‘No.’
‘Is that truth or pride talking?’
‘Both.’
‘So what are you going to do with yourself?’
‘The same as I always do with myself. I’m going to work.’
‘Work as opposed to hide?’
‘For God’s sake Danny!’ Sarah cried. ‘Give her a break will you? She’s upset enough without you adding to it.’
‘I’m not adding to it,’ Danny responded, ‘I’m just getting things clear in my mind before I tell you what I propose we all do.’
‘And exactly what would that be?’ Sarah remarked sourly.
Danny’s eyes started to sparkle and, getting up from her chair, she went to put her arms around Louisa. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said with feeling. ‘Really I am. I’m sorry about Simon, about the baby and about the way I just spoke to you. I know I’m a bitch, but I was hurt that you didn’t discuss it with me first. I really care about you and I can’t bear to think of you being unhappy or taking such big decisions all on your own.’
‘I’m not a child,’ Louisa said, returning the embrace.
‘But you’re so vulnerable at the moment and I’m worried about you.’
‘There’s no need. I’m fine. I’m upset about what happened, I’m not proud of what I did, but it’s done now. There’s no going back and even if I could I’m not sure I’d want to.’
Danny looked at Sarah and Sarah shrugged as if to say, ‘I told you’.
‘Well,’ Danny said, sitting down again, ‘just so long as you really are all right. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me honestly and tr
uthfully that you are?’ she challenged.
Sarah thought if it were her Danny was asking she’d poke her in the eye, but Louisa’s tolerance of Danny’s outrageous condescension always had been a mystery to Sarah.
‘I’m all right,’ Louisa smiled, holding Danny’s eyes. ‘I swear it. Simon isn’t the man for me, I know that now. I think I’ve known it for a long time, but I was either too busy or too afraid to face it. So what’s happened is for the best. I miss him, of course, but I’ll get over it.’
‘Of course you will,’ Danny confirmed, squeezing her hand. ‘And the right man is out there somewhere, just you wait and see.’
‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ Sarah commented.
Louisa burst out laughing and Danny turned her incredible violet eyes on Sarah and said, ‘There’s one out there for you too, you know.’
‘Why do I have this overwhelming urge to slap you?’ Sarah smiled sweetly.
Danny laughed. Sarah took the wine from the silver bucket and topped up their glasses. By the time she’d finished they were all laughing.
‘You are the most condescending, conceited, self-centred, interfering, pompous bitch I know,’ Sarah stated.
‘But?’ Danny prompted.
‘No buts. That’s it. You’re appalling and you know it.’
Danny laughed again, picked up her glass and proposed a toast. ‘To us,’ she said, watching her reflection.
Sarah and Louisa waited for her eyes to come back to them. ‘To us,’ they chorused.
A waiter arrived to take their order. They weren’t ready, so with an apologetic hand on his arm Danny asked him if he would mind coming back in a few minutes. Transfixed by her eyes, he said that he would but remained right where he was. Danny smiled then turned away, and seeming to break free of his trance the waiter left.
‘How do you do that?’ Sarah grumbled. ‘The last time a man looked at me like that he was about to take my teeth out.’
‘Oh, it’s quite easy when you know how,’ Danny said breezily.
Sarah eyed her nastily, her top lip curling, making Danny laugh.
‘So,’ Danny said, ‘let’s decide what we’re going to eat and then I’ll tell you what I’ve arranged for us all.’
They didn’t take long to make up their minds, they’d been there plenty of times before and knew the menu. The smitten waiter returned, looked mildly crushed when Louisa gave the order, then went away again.
‘So come on then, out with it,’ Sarah demanded. ‘What have you got up your sleeve now?’
‘We,’ Danny said, her eyes moving between them, ‘are going to spend the entire summer in the south of France!’
Sarah and Louisa looked at each other incredulously. ‘We are?’ Sarah said.
‘We are,’ Danny confirmed. ‘My aunt Rebecca has a villa down there that we can use for as long as we like. It’ll be a great place for you to recover, Louisa, and to write. The light down there is just perfect for your photography, Sarah, and I reckon we could all do with a holiday.’
Again Sarah and Louisa looked at each other.
‘Sounds like a good idea to me,’ Sarah said encouragingly.
Louisa turned back to Danny, shaking her head as she started to laugh. ‘You’re unbelievable, do you know that?’ she said.
‘Does that mean you like the idea?’
‘I love the idea! I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than spend three months with you two just lazing around in the sun, and if it weren’t for the fact that I have to use all my available funds to buy Simon out of the flat I’d be there like a shot.’
‘But it’s not going to cost you a bean,’ Danny protested. ‘Rebecca doesn’t want rent from us.’ Rebecca didn’t, but she had suggested that they might like to pay the maid and gardener who came in on a daily basis, though Louisa didn’t need to know that.
‘We’ll still need to live,’ Louisa said, ‘and with no money coming in …’
‘OK. How about I lend you the money?’ Danny offered.
‘I can’t let you do that,’ Louisa said, laughing.
‘Why ever not? She can afford it,’ Sarah declared.
‘I know and don’t think I’m not touched by the offer because I am. It’s just that it wouldn’t feel right. But why don’t you two go anyway? You’ll have a wonderful time and maybe I could join you for a couple of weeks or something.’
Danny looked at Sarah and both shook their heads. The real purpose of going, and they both knew it, was to give Louisa a treat.
‘It won’t be the same without you,’ Sarah said.
‘Of course it will,’ Louisa smiled. ‘You’ll be so busy having a good time you won’t even notice I’m not there.’
‘Look, we want you to come,’ Danny said, ‘and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get you there, so stop being churlish and say thank you very much for arranging it Danny, I’d love to come and I’ll worry about the money later.’
‘Thank you very much for arranging it, Danny,’ Louisa echoed, ‘I’d love to come and I’ll worry about the money when I’m there.’
‘Brilliant!’ Sarah cried. ‘The whole summer?’ she added, frowning. ‘The entire three or whatever months?’
Louisa shrugged. ‘If I can find someone to rent my flat while I’m away, then why not? Yes, the whole summer.’
‘My, you’re a hard one to persuade,’ Danny commented.
Louisa laughed. ‘But I’m not taking any money from you,’ she said. ‘From either of you. I’ll find a way of managing, even if it means cleaning up after you both and doing all the cooking.’
‘Oh, God spare us,’ Sarah groaned. ‘I’ve tried your cooking and I’d happily pay you not to inflict it on us. And anyway, money can’t be so tight that you have to take up charring.’
‘I’m afraid it is,’ Louisa grimaced. ‘Simon and I never put aside a penny between us. We blew the whole lot on fast cars and fast living, so I won’t only have to borrow to keep the flat on, I’ll have to borrow to eat. Which is why I was offering to do the housework. You buy, I’ll cook and clean.’
‘Like Cinderella?’ Sarah said.
Danny’s eyes widened. ‘I resent that,’ she retorted. ‘It casts me in the role of an ugly sister.’
‘You’ll be stupendous,’ Sarah assured her.
‘We’re going to share everything,’ Danny said, tearing her narrowed eyes from Sarah. ‘And there’s a maid who comes in every day, so you don’t have to humble yourself for your food,’ she told Louisa. ‘You’ll have enough for that, I’m sure. You would if you were in London, so what’s the difference?’
‘None, I suppose,’ Louisa shrugged.
‘So that’s settled then,’ Danny said, raising her glass. ‘Let’s drink to three months of pure decadence on the Côte d’Azur.’
‘Decadence?’ Sarah said rapturously, clasping a hand to her breasts. ‘You didn’t mention anything about decadence. Oh the sublime vision of it. When shall we go? My libido is telling me soon, very soon.’
‘To Sarah’s libido,’ Danny laughed.
Louisa clinked her glass against the others’. It was a wonderful idea and she knew they were doing it for her more than themselves, but … But what? Why should she have any doubts when neither Sarah nor Danny did, except of course it was going to be difficult affording it. Sarah and Danny would inevitably want to hit all the high spots and she just didn’t have the resources for it. But what the hell? She wanted to go, wanted more than anything to get away from London for a while and where better than the south of France to try to sort out the mess her life, or more particularly her emotions, seemed to be in? She was missing Simon terribly, had been tempted so many times to pick up the phone and call him, to plead with him to come back, but it wouldn’t serve any purpose, if anything it would only make matters worse. Besides, Simon was no magician, he couldn’t make the guilt go away any more than she could. Only time could do that. And maybe, getting away and living another life, at least for a while, might help her to c
ome to terms with everything.
She started to laugh at the excitement stirring inside her and at the way Danny was bantering with Sarah. It was strange the way she sometimes felt when watching them like this, as though she was somehow on the outside looking in. She knew of course that was the last thing they’d want her to feel, but she couldn’t help it. She was very different from both Danny and Sarah, whose love of noisy, outrageous, unexpurgated and unwholesome fun was an integral and wonderful part of their extrovert natures. Not that Louisa didn’t join in, for most of the time she loved the parties and the glitz and crazy, impulsive and outlandish things they did. But there were also times when she felt totally at odds with who and what she was, as though, despite the way she looked and what she did, she didn’t quite belong in the glittering hype and glamour of showbiz. She was, by nature, much quieter than Sarah or Danny, less confident and not always comfortable around a lot of people. And as much as she adored Danny for her incredible generosity, there were perhaps too many occasions when Danny’s sophistication and autocratic manner made her feel hopelessly naive. But right at that moment she just wanted to hug Danny for the way she had stepped in and organized everything in a way that was so wonderfully typical.
‘Oh shut up,’ Sarah was laughing as Danny teased her.
‘Seriously, I promise you,’ Danny went on, ‘as soon as this poor, unsuspecting, devastatingly handsome Frenchman, whoever he is, finds out you’re in the vicinity he’s going to be fighting his way through the forests of the Riviera brandishing the key to that old chastity belt of yours.’
‘Then let’s just hope it hasn’t gone rusty,’ Sarah commented dryly, making them all laugh. ‘Or horror of all horrors, he doesn’t throw it away once he claps eyes on you.’
‘That of course is a possibility,’ Danny admitted, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. ‘And of course there’s always the gorgeous Louisa to contend with. I can see …’
‘Oh no, no,’ Louisa laughed, holding up her hands. ‘I might be prepared to break the bank for this trip, but I’m definitely not putting my heart in any more jeopardy. All I want now is plenty of sun, beaucoup de vin and lashings of inspiration to get something new off the ground. The romance is all yours.’
