Exposure (28 page)

Gloria sipped her champagne. She hadn't enjoyed the musical. She couldn't concentrate and relax because of what she had promised her father. And she was hurt. Once or twice during the performance, she had blinked back angry tears. Her father had been brutal. He had dismissed the idea that she might have anything to offer anyone. The implication was clear. No-one, not even someone he despised as much as Leo, would bother with her for herself.

There must be another motive. She had never felt a stirring of sexual interest in her companion. She liked his quick mind, and shared his penchant for the arts. She liked going to good restaurants and first nights. That's all there had been in it until now. Hurt pride was accompanied by a childish desire to have her own way. And by something else. Her father's angry words whispered in her mind.
All he wants with women is to tie them up and cane their bottoms
… Curiosity uncurled inside her like a worm. What would it feel like? The worm became a pang of sensuality and on an impulse she pushed her leg against him in the darkness. Leo felt the pressure and pressed back. Christ, he said to himself, pretending to concentrate on the spectacle on stage. She's jumping the gun …

In the intimate gloom of Annabel's he turned to her and said, ‘You don't seem on form, Gloria. Anything the matter?' She put down her champagne glass. It was empty and he signalled the waiter to refill it.

‘You mean I've been boring?' It was so quick and defensive that it caught him off guard.

‘God, no, don't be silly. You're never boring. I always enjoy myself so much when I'm with you it makes other women boring. What's the matter? Here … drink that up. Tell me …'

Unlike King, whose teetotalism was famous, Gloria guzzled her wine as greedily as her food. She looked down and then up at him.

‘My father wants me to stop seeing you.'

Leo kept his head. ‘I'm sorry to hear that. Did he say why?'

She would never admit the reason. She said stubbornly, ‘He didn't say. He doesn't give explanations. He just expects people to do what he says.'

‘Even you?' he questioned. ‘I thought you were his favourite.'

‘Oh I am,' she said quickly. ‘He adores me. I adore him. He's wonderful.'

Leo said gently, ‘Can't you make him change his mind? I don't want to stop seeing you, Gloria. I mean it.'

‘I don't want to stop, either,' she admitted. ‘I've had fun. We like the same things …'

He said, ‘What's he got against me – did he say anything to you?' There was a slight glaze over the very pale blue eyes as they considered him. It shocked him for a moment. He had seen that look in women's eyes before. He waited and moved his knee a little till it brushed against hers under the table. She didn't shift away.

‘He said you liked bondage,' she said, and her voice lowered to a breathy whisper. Leo risked everything on his instinct.

‘And if I did,' he said equally low, ‘would that matter to you? I'd never ask you to do anything. Unless you liked the idea …'

‘I don't know,' Gloria went on. She was staring ahead of her into the dimly lit reaches of the room, where couples gyrated to a throbbing disco rhythm. ‘I don't know,' she repeated. ‘I've only done it with girls. I might like it, but I don't know.'

‘Well,' Leo said, ‘you don't have to make any decisions. I'm happy as we are, if that's what you want …' He placed his hand on hers for a moment. She didn't respond but she didn't pull away. ‘Can't you talk your father round?'

‘I don't think so,' Gloria said. ‘He doesn't expect me to argue.'

‘Just do as you're told,' he prompted. ‘That's the trouble, they go on thinking you're still a child. My old Dad was the same. I had quite a hassle, even after I was elected … he was still telling me what to do.' He laughed, indulgent of parental foibles. ‘I don't blame your father, Gloria. I'd be the same if I had a daughter. One thing … how are you going to make decisions in business if you're not allowed to make them in your private life?'

‘I
can
make my own decisions,' she protested. ‘If I do see you – he doesn't have to know.'

‘I don't think that's the way to tackle this,' he disagreed. ‘I don't want you deceiving your old man because of me. I've too much respect for him. Talk to him, Glory. Don't lie about us. Lies always get found out.' She amazed him by laughing.

‘Not if they're clever lies,' she said. ‘Don't pretend to be moral, Leo. It doesn't suit you. What did you call me just now?'

‘Glory,' he said. ‘Sort of pet name. I always give pet names to people I like. Do you mind?'

‘Do you have pet names for your girlfriends?' she asked.

Leo smiled. ‘No,' he said. ‘I told you, only for people I like. Let's have another bottle, shall we? And how about a dance?'

‘I hate dancing,' she said flatly. ‘I haven't any sense of rhythm.'

‘I hated opera,' he pointed out. ‘But I tried it and liked it with you. Come on.'

She was clumsy. And she was right, she had no sense of rhythm, which was odd because she was genuinely musical. She had no confidence in her big body, that was the trouble. She looked awkward and uncomfortable.

He pulled her up against him. She went rigid. Then he took her wrists and held them firmly behind her back as they moved. He felt her relax and he tightened the grip. She started to move with him instead of resisting. Over her shoulder he smiled. Then after a few minutes he brought her back to the table.

‘Well, that wasn't too bad, was it?' he said. ‘You've got a very good sense of rhythm.' She took her place and looked at him.

‘It was all right at the end,' she said.

He drove her home and pulled up outside the Green Street house. ‘How are we going to play this, Glory? I can't call you at home.'

‘I could call you,' she said. ‘I don't know. I'll think about it …'

‘I don't want to cause a row with you and your father.'

‘I'm not worried about that,' Gloria answered. ‘I don't like going behind his back. He wouldn't take it out on me, but you might be in for trouble.'

‘He's not a man to cross, I know that much. But I'll chance it, if you will.'

‘I'll think about it,' she repeated.

She opened the car door and got out. She sounded very matter of fact.

‘We could meet next week,' he suggested. ‘Call me.'

She nodded and turned away. He didn't linger, either. He was used to her abrupt departures. She traded on her graceless manner, copied from her father. As he drove home, Leo had a private bet with himself that, without knowing it, King had given him a key to Gloria. Perversion intrigued her. Imprisoning her arms on the dance floor had turned her on. Oddly enough, he admitted, it had done the same to him. He felt distinctly horny at the thought of that big arrogant bitch lying helpless. He'd read somewhere that women with fixations on Daddy could only get satisfaction from sex by submitting to punishment. It eased the guilt of their subconscious incest. He grinned and switched on the radio. Time would tell.

Julia's mother loved a
post mortem
after a party. Julia's father wanted to go to sleep, but he indulged her. Besides he was interested as much as she was. ‘He's obviously in love with her,' May Hamilton said. ‘And I liked him.'

‘But?' he added, when she paused.

‘He's divorced and he's got grown-up children, and he's quite a bit older …'

‘My dear, you can't have everything. One marriage in three goes down the drain these days. Julia's not likely to find a bachelor unless there's something pretty odd about him. I liked Harris, he's intelligent. You've been hoping she'd settle down with someone for ages, and I think he might just be the one.'

‘Yes, I think so too. It's just that with a daughter I hoped for a nice wedding, you know, darling, all the trimmings. Like we had.'

‘I know,' he smiled in the dark. His wife was a hopeless romantic. She dreamed of Julia floating down the aisle of the local church in a white dress and a virginal veil, with the grandchildren as page and bridesmaid trotting after her. It wouldn't happen like that.

In his way, he was sorry too. ‘Julia's not twenty-one,' he pointed out gently. ‘She's lived her life and she's an independent woman. She was always like that, even as a child. Went her own way, did her own thing. You used to fight with her about it, don't forget. You said it was such a relief dealing with Tom, he was so easy-going. Nothing was ever easy with Julia, and it's not going to change. I only hope she does marry this chap. Most of her generation don't bother – they live together and that's it.'

‘They're afraid of commitment, that's why,' his wife said. She settled down beside him. ‘We weren't,' she added.

‘I know, May, we were all perfect … Come on, let's hope it turns out for the best. I think it will. I think he'll cope with her. Not many men would be able to; now go to sleep, it's late.'

‘It was a lovely day, though,' his wife had the last word. ‘I was so pleased they stayed on to supper instead of going after lunch. They must have enjoyed themselves. Why don't we ask them to come and spend Christmas with us? Darling, don't go to sleep … Wouldn't that be a nice idea?'

‘We're going to your sister,' he mumbled. ‘You promised, you can't put her off.'

May didn't answer. Her spirits were high with the anticipation. A big family gathering would be like the days when their two children were young, before there were other in-laws to be considered. She could ask her sister and her husband to join them instead … She drifted off happily to sleep.

8

‘Janey? Hello there … it's me – Julia. How are you?'

‘Julia, what a lovely surprise. We're fine, how are you? How's the job? May said you were a big noise on the
Herald
now.'

‘Don't take any notice of Mum, she exaggerates,' Julia said. ‘Listen, I've got a week's holiday due, and I wondered if you could stand having me to stay. I'm tired, actually I've been working flat out, and a breath of sea air and a few days with you and David would be heaven …' She paused, praying that her cousins weren't going on another trip, or coming to London to shop before Christmas.

Janey sounded delighted. ‘What a good idea – darling Julia, we'd be thrilled to have you. When do you want to come?'

Julia sighed with relief; her stomach had knotted with tension as she made the call. As she had said to Ben, this trip was crucial … and it had to seem completely unconnected with her work. An innocent holiday with relatives. That's why a hotel wouldn't do. King had used surveillance before, with fatal results for Jean Adams. She and Ben were sure they were still being followed. ‘Would Monday be too soon? I'm desperate for a break.'

‘You sound it,' Janey Peterson remarked. ‘Monday would be lovely. Let us know what time your flight gets in and we'll meet you. David will be thrilled … you're such a favourite of his. Do you want to have a quiet time or shall I organize some jollity? It's up to you.'

‘Whatever you like – so long as there aren't any journalists!'

‘Nobody in your league over here,' her cousin said. ‘I've boasted about you to all my friends for ages … now I can show you off. See you on Monday. Bye, Julia. Bye.'

They had retired to live in Jersey when David Peterson's mother died, leaving him her house. They had been there for two years, and Julia had seen them on trips to London. They declared themselves blissfully happy on the lovely island. David Peterson had been a consultant at one of the big teaching hospitals, and had a thriving practice in Harley Street. He had abandoned what he described as the rat race of the National Health and private medicine in England for a similar job in Jersey. His mother was May Hamilton's sister. He was fifteen years older than Julia and his wife Janey was a bouncy forty year old who was mad on tennis and sailing. They were a warm and friendly couple, and Julia had always got on very well with them. She pushed her hair back, making a mental note to get it cut before she left.

The Petersons knew everyone in Jersey. They were hospitable and popular. Their circle was not confined to the multi-millionaires who settled there for tax reasons. David's mother had been a long-time resident, and her legacy entitled them to move to the island without the stringent financial conditions applied to the super rich. They could get her the introduction she needed. She called through to Ben at his office.

‘I've fixed up to go on Monday,' she said. ‘I'm going up to see Western.'

On the other line Ben said, ‘Don't be surprised when he makes it easy for you. She'll have told him you're on to something.'

‘I don't think so,' Julia bristled in Evelyn's defence. ‘She wouldn't do that …'

Ben didn't answer. He just said, ‘I'm glad you've fixed it, but I wish you'd let me come with you.'

Julia said, ‘No, darling. My mother called this morning. She thinks you're great. So do I.' She hung up and dialled through to Western's private number, and arranged to go up and see him in an hour.

‘I can't see why you need to take time off,' William Western said. ‘All you've done is help Stevens put together a feature on blackmail among MPs that anybody could have written.' He stared at her accusingly.

‘The feature's explosive,' Julia protested. ‘Everyone says so.'

‘I'm the one that matters, and I don't think so,' he snapped. ‘If you hadn't hooked Leo Derwent there'd be no excuse at all.'

‘He's already given us valuable information,' she countered.

‘Nothing I didn't know already,' Western remarked. ‘I knew about the deal King's putting together in the States. Whether he's bringing in that ghastly daughter to take over from him is irrelevant to me. So is the Life Peerage. He's out for my head, and so far nothing's been dug up to stop him. Now you come and ask for a holiday … my wife said you were tired and needed a break. I said it was bloody nonsense.'