Dangerous Enchantment

by Anne Mather

  Samantha rang to tell her that if she was thinking of going with them she should call at the American Embassy and see about a visa. She would also need a smallpox vaccination certificate.

  Julie agreed to see about the documents without much interest. At least it gave her something to do, and delayed the time when she must make the decision one way or the other. If she was going she must tell Paul, and then she must make some effort to buy some suitable clothes. After all, the weather in California was bound to be warm and sunny, and she would not need a lot of winter clothes.

  On the next Saturday afternoon, Julie took a bus to St. John’s Wood. She didn’t know quite what she had in mind, but she felt a compulsion to see again the block of apartments where Manuel lived. It was a bitterly cold afternoon, but as it was fine she didn’t mind. Wrapped in a sheepskin jacket and dark green stretch pants, she looked tall and slim and attractive. Hands thrust into the pockets of her coat, she walked slowly across the stretch of parkland adjoining Lebanon Court. She looked up at the top floor of the building, picking out the windows of the apartment quite easily. It was a gloomy afternoon with the overhang of snow in the air, and there were lights in the penthouse indicating someone’s presence. But whose? Was Manuel there? Was he alone? Or was his daughter with him? Was there any point in being here anyway if she had no intentions of going up?

  She knew that secretly that was what she had intended to do. It had been there at the back of her mind all the time, and she had not wanted to admit it to herself.

  She lit a cigarette and threw the match away, then drew on it deeply. Wouldn’t it be marvellous, she thought dreamily, if Manuel should look out of the window and see me standing here? If he should come down and meet me, and say, Come on up. I’m so glad you came. I’ve wanted to see you!

  After a few moments, she became aware that someone was crossing the grass towards her, and her heart leapt, just to subside again.

  “What are you doing here, miss? This is private land.” It was the commissionaire.

  She flushed awkwardly. “I… er… I was just looking at the apartments. I’m interested in architecture,” she finished lamely.

  “Indeed, miss? Well, it’s a cold afternoon, and I’d advise you to study architecture elsewhere, and on a warmer day, if I was you, miss,” he added sententiously.

  Julie sighed, and cast a longing glance up at those windows, lit so welcomingly. If only she could have seen him!

  She turned and nodding to the commissionaire, she walked across the grass, on to the road and across the car park to where the main road joined the cul-de-sac. Parked on the car-park was a dark green Ferrari.

  With a kind of agonized breathlessness, she turned back and approached the entrance. The commissionaire blocked her way. “Yes, miss?”

  “I want to go up. To Señor Cortez’ apartment, please.”

  The commissionaire’s eyes widened. “No, miss, you know I couldn’t allow that.”

  “Why? Oh, heavens, I know him!”

  “Really, miss?” He sounded disbelieving.

  “Of course. My name is Julie Kennedy. Ring him up. Ask him!”

  The commissionaire studied her thoughtfully. “Very well, I will. Wait here.”

  Leaving Julie outside, he entered his office and she heard him using the inter-com. Her heart was pounding. What if he refused to see her? What then?

  She looked through the swing glass doors. The commissionaire’s office was to one side. If she pushed open the door and ran for one of the lifts he would not have time to stop her. She would be safe inside. With impulsive decision, she did just this, hearing the commissionaire shout angrily as she passed his office, but uncaring of the futility of her action.

  The lift moved up slowly, the first floor, the second floor, then half-way between second and third, it stopped. Oh God, she thought, dejectedly, he’s stopped it. Of course, I never thought of that.

  She waited miserably for the lift to go down again, but surprisingly a few minutes later it began to move up again. Third floor, fourth floor – he was letting her go up. Manuel must have agreed to see her.

  The lift halted at the penthouse floor, and she stepped out. There was the door of the apartment; she knocked.

  Almost immediately the door was opened, but not by Manuel Cortez; the beautiful creature who had accompanied Manuel at London Airport was standing staring appraisingly at her. At close range she was even more lovely, her hair black as night, her skin smooth and creamy, her mature figure pushing voluptuously against the thin folds of the dress she was wearing For a girl of sixteen she was remarkably adult.

  “Yes?” she said now. “The commissionaire said you wished to see my father. Can I help you? I am Pilar Cortez.”

  Julie swallowed hard. “Is… is your father at home?”

  “No, he is in town. Why?”

  Her manner was a little childish, but her eyes fixed on Julie’s face were somehow avid and deliberately insolent.

  Julie linked her fingers. “When will he be back?”

  “In a short time. It is already past the time when he said he would be back, but he is with Dolores Arriviera, and when he is with her he forgets the time.”

  “I see.” Julie took a step backwards. “Thank you, señorita.”

  “No, wait. Do you wish to come in and wait for him?”

  “Thank you, no.” Julie shook her head. “It’s not urgent. Good-bye, señorita.”

  “Who shall I say has called?”

  Julie reached the lift. “No one of importance,” she replied, and stepped inside hurriedly.

  The lift glided down smoothly, much quicker than it had come up. Julie stepped out in the foyer and immediately was confronted by the outraged commissionaire.

  “Was the señorita very angry?” he asked, his voice cold and clipped. “How dare you rush in here without permission?”

  “I’m sorry. I thought… oh, what does it matter?” Julie shook her head. “I’ve said I’m sorry. What more can I say?”

  “A great deal more, miss. Would you care to give me your name? And your address? I intend mentioning this matter to Señor Cortez when he returns.”

  A cold draught suddenly issued across the hall, and Julie shivered. Someone had come in.

  “What do you intend mentioning to me?…Julie!” It was Manuel.

  Julie stared at him as though mesmerized, but the commissionaire was beginning to look uncomfortable.

  “You know this young lady, sir?”

  “Of course.” Manuel shook his head when the commissionaire would have said more. “Later, Curtis, later.” His voice was still cold, Julie noticed. Polite, but cold. “Why are you here, Julie?”

  Julie shook her head. “I… I…oh, Manuel, can we go somewhere and talk, please?”

  Manuel hesitated. “Pilar is in the apartment,” he murmured thoughtfully.

  “I know. I’ve just met her.”

  “Indeed?” Manuel studied her a moment. “There is only the car. It will be cold, but at least we will be alone.”

  “All right.”

  The car was cold, but Manuel started the motor, and said: “Come, I will take you for a drive. The car will warm us then.”

  They drove along the Edgware Road out towards Stanmore and when the heater was fully operable and the car warm and comfortable, he stopped and said:

  “Okay, let’s have it!”

  Julie sighed and looked at him weakly. “I… I know it sounds stupid, but I have to apologize.”

  “There’s no need.”

  “There’s every need. Heavens, I made a complete fool of myself, and I’m sorry. I… I didn’t know about Pilar.”

  “So now you do. And you’ve apologized. Okay, is that it? I accept your apology. Anything else?”

  Julie stared at him. “No. Nothing else.”

  “Good.” He glanced back along the road. It was quite a busy road and he said: “Is there another way back to town, to save us turning?”

  “Yes. Shall I direct you?”
Julie’s body felt frozen despite the heat of the car.

  “If you would,” Manuel nodded. He drew out his cigarette case. “Do you want one?”

  Julie nodded, took a cigarette, and directed the flame of his lighter to its tip. Then she drew deeply on it and sat back in her seat. She had not been aware of it earlier, but she had been sitting forward stiffly.

  Manuel put his cigarette between his lips and loosened the buttons of the thick quilted car coat he was wearing. His hair was tousled a little from the wind when he had been out earlier, and curled in the nape of his neck, Julie had a compelling desire to run her fingers through his hair. She looked away from him with an effort. Had he come straight from Dolores Arriviera’s arms? Julie could not suppress the thought. He was so cool, so detached, she wanted to shock him out of his apathy towards her, but she did not know how to achieve such a thing.

  Unable to prevent the words, she said:

  “Your daughter told me you were with Dolores Arriviera.”

  “Yes,” he said shortly, adjusting the rear-view mirror.

  Julie clenched her fists. “Do you love her?” The words were torn from her.

  Manuel looked sideways at her. “Love? What is love?” He switched on the ignition. “Shall we go?”

  “Manuel!” Julie threw her cigarette out of the window and stared helplessly at him.

  He studied her mockingly. “What is this? Do I sense a feeling of frustration?”

  Julie shivered. “Please, Manuel, don’t tease me! I came to see you because I had to. I couldn’t let it go. …”

  “And now you wish you had,” he remarked shrewdly.

  “Well, no… I mean… yes…at least. …” Julie shook her head. “Weren’t you pleased to see me? Not at all? I mean, don’t you care about me?”

  “What would you like me to answer to that?” Manuel shrugged. “Look, Julie, I don’t make this kind of running. I liked you, I wanted you – I desired you, if you like. But that was all! If you hated me so much you had to throw it in my face, okay.” He spread his hands. “That’s it! It’s over. I don’t need you, honey.”

  “But that night. …”

  “That night I was angry, sure I was really mad. I could have strangled you, but only because my pride was hurt, nothing more.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Julie’s cry was from the heart.

  “Okay, honey. Believe what you want, but don’t expect to weave your fantasies into fact, because it just doesn’t happen! I’m leaving for the States in a week. Good-bye, Julie.” He started the engine resolutely. “Now, which way?”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  JULIE got through the next couple of days with difficulty. She felt numb, unable to assimilate her circumstances, which was just as well, as it happened. She could not believe Manuel could be so cruel, and yet she had witnessed already his treatment of women like Dolores Arriviera.

  He had dropped her at the end of Faulkner Road on Saturday afternoon with a casual farewell, and she had walked home automatically. So she remained until Sunday evening when she finally decided she must shake this depression from her. And the only way she could seriously do that was by agreeing with Samantha’s suggestion to go to the States with them. She still had not completely recovered from her illness, and her appetite was practically non-existent. Fighting off depression had become so natural to her that she thought she would never feel normal again.

  She went round to the Barlows’ flat to tell them of her decision and found Samantha already preparing for the trip.

  “Oh, darling,” she exclaimed when Julie told her of her decision, “I’m so pleased. It will do you the world of good, and who knows who you might meet over there. Maybe a college professor will take a fancy to you. Who knows!”

  Julie smiled wanly. “Just at this moment that seems highly unlikely,” she replied, “but I guess the change of climate might help somewhat.”

  “Of course it will, honey. Ben… Ben! Julie’s going with us after all.”

  Ben expressed his approval, and then he went out for a while and Samantha made them some coffee.

  “Come on,” she said, when they were seated with cigarettes. “What’s on your mind? What brought you to this decision? Did you go see Manuel?”

  Julie sighed. “Yes.” She drew on her cigarette deeply. “He told me in no uncertain terms that I meant nothing to him.”

  “Oh, Julie!”

  “Well, at least he was honest. And now it’s over. That’s it!”

  Samantha nodded. “Perhaps it’s just as well. If you had allowed yourself to submit to him you would have regretted it bitterly. Paul is much more your type, and after this trip is over you can come back and marry him and forget all about sexy Latin-Americans.”

  Julie managed a small smile, but Samantha noticed it did not quite reach her eyes.

  “Now,” she went on, “let’s discuss Tony, shall we? I shall have to give you all the necessary tips about feeding and so on. Actually, he takes a little solid food now, so you’ve quite a lot to learn.”

  Julie smiled at this. “I shall probably make a complete hash of things,” she said. “After all, I’ve never actually handled a baby before.”

  “Oh, it’s simple,” replied Samantha breezily. “Even Ben has got the hang of it. He adores nursing Tony, and I have to bully him into working when Tony is awake.”

  Julie thought again how lucky her friend was. Samantha’s life seemed so uncomplicated compared to her own.

  “By the way,” said Samantha, “did I tell you exactly where we’re going in California?” and as Julie shook her head, she went on: “San Francisco, actually, although I believe both the university and the house which we’ve been granted for the duration of our stay are further along the coast towards Monterey. You’ve heard of Monterey, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, the students at the colleges board there, and the house we’ve been given sounds dreamy. I believe it’s one of these ranch-style dwellings, all on one level, with our own stretch of beach. Just think, Julie, we’ll be able to swim every day.” She patted her already flat tummy appreciatively. “It will help me to get back my figure. Having a baby is all right, but it certainly pulls you out of shape.”

  “You look all right to me,” remarked Julie dryly. “But I agree, it will be wonderful to swim, and in warm water, too.”

  “We’ll come back brown as berries,” chortled Samantha, and then seeing the pain on Julie’s face, she changed the subject.

  When Julie left Samantha’s she felt a little better. Now that she had decided to go it lifted some of the depression. After all, a trip to the States was exciting in itself, and sufficient to arouse Julie from her inertia. There was much to do, and she had only a week to do it in.

  * * *

  She told her parents of her decision when she reached home. Her mother and father were sitting together watching television when she went in, and she broke the news immediately.

  “Good,” said her father at once. “Perhaps it will shake you out of this state of misery you seem to have relapsed into. I don’t know the true cause of it, but I guess it’s something to do with some man or other. Am I right?”

  Julie twisted her hands together. “Yes, you’re right. Mother knows this already.”

  “Yes. I was sure she did. But she hasn’t discussed it with me. Do you want to?”

  “Not really,” said Julie, sighing.

  “Very well, I won’t force you. But what about Paul? Don’t you think it’s about time he was put in the picture?”

  “Of course I do,” said Julie. “But I didn’t decide definitely until today.”

  “But you’ve known about this man longer, haven’t you? What’s wrong? Is he married?”

  Julie stiffened. “No, he’s not married. At least, he was; he’s divorced now.”

  “I see. And doesn’t he want to marry you?”

  “No.”

  Her father shook his head, and her mother touched his arm.

/>   “Joe, darling, leave her alone. Can’t you see she’s tired?”

  Dr. Kennedy stood up and went over to his daughter, and turned her to face him.

  “Julie, we’ve never had any secrets before; can’t you tell us why this man doesn’t want to marry you? Do you love him?”

  “I thought I did. I don’t know now. He… he doesn’t love me.” Her voice broke and she buried her face in her hands.

  Dr. Kennedy drew her against his shoulder, and she cried bitterly, relieving a lot of her tension in the racking sobs. Then, as they subsided, she said quietly:

  “I can’t explain it all, but I don’t exactly blame him. He’s from a very different environment from ours, and his ways are not our ways.”

  “He’s a foreigner, then,” said her mother.

  Julie nodded, and then moved towards the door. “I’ll go to bed now, if you don’t mind. I’ll… I’ll tell Paul tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll be all right.”

  There was only Paul left now, and he would not accept her decision when she told him of it.

  “You can’t be serious!” he exclaimed. “Why, if you go now, it will be April before you return.”

  “That’s right, Paul.”

  “But why? What’s all this about? I thought we loved one another.”

  “Oh, Paul, I tried to make it clear at Christmas that I wasn’t certain any more. Let me go away. It will be for the best.”

  “You’re being mesmerized by this trip,” he accused her hotly. “It’s this trip to California that’s tempting you.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “It is. Samantha ought never to have asked you. You’re no children’s nurse, anyway.”

  “All you say is true, but Samantha didn’t make the decision, I did.”

  “But why? Aren’t you happy at Fordhams?”

  “Of course I am. But when I told the welfare officer this morning that I was leaving, and told him what I intended to do, he told me that if I cared to go and see him when I get back I might get my old job back again.”