“Thanks for the warning, Miles, but I can handle Ma. It’s true, I have been a bit down for some time now. But I’m coming out of it, I promise.”
“What’s been wrong with you, for God’s sake?
I’ve been worried to death.”
“Women. Bloody women. That’s all.”
“What women?”
“Not really women, but
woman
. Margot Saunders, to be precise. She’s tried to create problems for me since we broke off—since I broke off with her, I should say.”
“Do you mean she’s been pursuing you?”
Gideon was silent for a second, then he explained in a low voice, “
Fatal Attraction
kind of pestering.
You did see that film, didn’t you?”
“Yes. But look here, you don’t have a wife, and—”
Power of a Woman / 207
“I know,” Gideon cut in. “But she hasn’t stopped harassing me, and she’s been quite—” There was a pause before he finished in a mutter. “Quite perni-cious, in a way.”
“Odd word to use, but I know what you mean.
Anyway, brother of mine, one must never forget that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
Miles looked at Gideon closely, his eyes narrowing, as he continued. “So, she’s giving you a hard time. What can I do to help?”
“Nothing, but thanks for offering. Actually, she’s going to go away like a good girl and not give me any further trouble.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She promised.”
“And you believe her?”
“Oh, yes.” Observing the doubtful look on his brother’s face, Gideon added, “Take my word for it; she won’t create any more problems.”
“I believe you. Mind telling me how you accomplished this feat?” Miles raised a brow, his eyes suddenly quizzical.
“I said I’d tell Jack Bellanger all about it, about her behavior…her following me, harassing me, virtually stalking me. And it put the fear of God into her. I mean, what socially prominent young deb wants to see her name splattered all over the
Daily
Mail
and in such a way? And in the most widely read gossip column?”
“She really believed you’d do it?”
208 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
“Oh, yes, she’s met Jack with me, knows we all went to Eton together, and that we’re very close friends. You know Margot’s pretty frightened of the Fleet Street boys, ever since that awful scandal involving her brother. She’s never recovered from the press coverage. She thought it was diabolical, and her mother had a nervous breakdown.”
“Very clever of you, Gid. And when did you accomplish all this?”
“Don’t look so suspicious.” Gideon laughed. “I’ve told you the truth. And I accomplished it about a week ago.”
“Then why did you look so down in the dumps yesterday, when you had lunch with Ma and Chloe?”
“She told you that? Ma, I mean.”
“Yep, she did.”
Gideon sighed, decided not to answer his brother’s question. Instead, he asked, “I wonder when the bangers and mash are coming? I’m famished.”
“So am I, and any minute now, I’m sure. Bruno did say they were very busy today when I called to make the reservation. And you’ve only got to look around to see that the place is jammed. He did us a favor, pulled a table out of thin air for us, actually.”
“I know.” Gideon stared off into space for a split second, thinking of his dilemma. Then, brushing it aside, he attempted to reassure his brother. “Listen, Miles, I’m all right now, really I Power of a Woman / 209
am. It’s been a bad couple of months, I admit that.
But Margot is well and truly disposed of, and I know my life’s going to be easier.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Miles took a swallow of his red wine, and there was a slight hesitation as he murmured, “Mind if I ask you something?”
“No, go ahead.”
“Why
did
you break off with Margot? I for one thought it was the real thing at last.”
“So did I. In the beginning. And for quite a while.
And that’s why I broke it off. Because it wasn’t.”
“I see.” Miles leaned back against the banquette, toyed with the bread roll.
“And what about you and Allison Grainger? You haven’t mentioned her lately.”
“Same as you, old chap. Not the real thing. She’s a lovely girl, and I still see her occasionally, but on a much more casual basis than before. I’m easing my way out of the relationship, in fact.”
“Not to change the subject, Miles, but I was a bit surprised when Ma told me at lunch yesterday that Nigel showed up in New York just after the auction at Sotheby’s.”
“I was too. What do you make of it, Gid?”
Gideon shrugged, stared at his brother.
They exchanged long, pointed looks.
Finally Gideon said, “I don’t know
what
to make of it. He never told me he was going to New York.
But on the other hand, why would he? He’s a bit of a funny bugger these days. Bad tempered, 210 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
more impatient than ever.” Gideon shook his head and finished, “And very secretive.”
“Ma thinks he’s plotting against her,” Miles volunteered.
“She told me.”
“Were you able to confirm Ma’s suspicions?”
“How could I? I don’t know a damn thing, and I hardly ever see him at Jardine’s. Listen, I’m sure nobody else knows anything. And in any case, Nigel’s always played everything close to the vest.
If
he is plotting, then only Nigel knows he is.”
“You’re right,” Miles agreed. “I wish I’d had a chance to see him; I might have been able to make a judgment, even found something out just chatting with him, drawing him out. But since I’ve been back in London I haven’t had time to come over to Jardine’s.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll see him on Christmas Day with Tamara and the kids.”
Miles did not hide his surprise. “He usually takes Tamara and the kids to see her parents in Paris for Christmas. Why the change of plans, do you know?”
“Her father has been ill. Very ill. He had a heart attack. Anyway, her parents decided to go to Marti-nique or St. Barts, somewhere like that, for the Christmas holidays, part of his recuperation, I suppose.”
“So we’re stuck with Nigel.”
“Only too true. But there’s Tamara, our beautiful little Russian.”
Power of a Woman / 211
“Oh, here’s our sausage and mash,” Miles said.
“About bloody time, too,” Gideon muttered.
Miles had to laugh. “We haven’t been waiting all that long, Gid. You should have ordered something first if you were so hungry, potted shrimps or smoked salmon.”
“Leave me alone,” Gideon grumbled, and made a sour face. Then he winked at his twin. “I’m only kidding; you know how I like to grouse.”
“Only too well.”
They ate in silence for a while, but at one moment Miles glanced at his brother, his face serious. “All joking aside, Gideon, do you really think you’re finished with this Margot business? Has she really gone away? And for good?”
“I’m certain of it. And it’s a weight off my mind, I can tell you. It’s been depressing me for ages. She really did behave in the most impossible way. Made my life miserable.”
“I wish you’d told me; maybe I could have helped.”
“Perhaps I should have.”
“What’s a twin for, if not to stand by your side and do battle with you? I’d expect it of you, you know.”
Gideon smiled. “And I’d be right there for you, count on that.”
Miles studied him for a moment, then said, “You don’t know how happy it makes me to see you smile, Gid, to hear the lightness in your voice again.”
212 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
Gideon nodded. “She really was rather a nuisance, Miles.”
“It’s rotten luck that you had to go through all that.”
“Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s over.” As these words left his mouth, Gideon prayed that this was true.
Miles said, “What about Chloe? Is she going to be a nuisance to you at the store?”
“Oh, no, not at all. She’s okay, you know, a good kid, and she’s going to come in for only a few hours a day, until she goes back to New York with Ma in January.”
“I’m glad Ma decided to let her hang around Jardine’s. It was a very smart move on our mother’s part, and it might make Chloe change her mind about working there after she graduates.”
“I hope so, for Ma’s sake. She really doesn’t want this at all. In fact, she’s dead set against it.”
“I know, and she’s being a very good sport. Do you realize how lucky we are to have a mother like Stevie Jardine?”
“I most certainly do!” Gideon exclaimed. “There’s no one like Ma. She’s the best there is.”
Miles nodded, and, changing the subject, he said in a quiet voice, “I just want to add this to our previous conversation. Promise you’ll confide in me, let me help you, if ever you’re in trouble in the future.”
Gideon only nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He wondered if this was the right time to Power of a Woman / 213
unburden himself further to Miles. Don’t do it, a small voice at the back of his mind warned. It’s too dangerous. And so Gideon remained silent, concentrated on his food. For the next few minutes he was afraid even to look at his brother in case he gave himself away or blurted out what must be left unsaid.
Gideon Jardine sat in the study of his flat in Cadogan Square, his mind awash with troubling thoughts. It had turned seven, and he knew he ought to be dressing for the dinner he had been invited to by close friends; he was already running late. Suddenly his energy had ebbed away, and he felt an odd kind of lassitude settling over him.
Only one table lamp was turned on, and the light in the room was dim, but even this was too bright for him. Rising, he went and turned off the lamp, then lay down on the sofa under the window, stretching out his long legs, easing his back into the cushions.
The darkness soothed him. Everything was quiet in the flat. The only sounds came from the ticking of the carriage clock on the mantelpiece, the faint buzz of the traffic outside, the hiss of wheels travel-ing on wet roads on this damp night.
He was glad he had seen Miles for lunch today, and also relieved that he had confided in his brother.
He had told Miles the truth…for the most part anyway.
214 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
Margot had not wanted their relationship to end, and she had striven hard to hold on to him, her demeanor growing uglier in the process. But there was no way for him to stay with a woman he did not love.
It was also true that she had begun to harass him, stalk him, phone him endlessly at work and here at home. She had made his life hell for weeks, until, as a last resort—when reasoning with her had proved to be fruitless—he had threatened her with Jack Bellanger.
Of course, it had worked. She loathed the tabloid press, the entire press corps in actuality, because, she said, they had crucified her brother and destroyed her mother. In all likelihood they probably had, but who could blame them really? They were only doing their jobs, and Julian Saunders had left himself wide open to become their target because of his extraordinary financial chicanery in the City.
He felt sorry for the mother, though, an innocent victim.
Gideon knew he would never forget the expression of mingled disbelief and horror on Margot’s face, and the way she had recoiled when he had said he planned to tell his good old chum Jack about the problems he was having with her.
When he had first thought of this as a means of combating her intrusive and frightening behavior, Gideon had instantly dismissed it from his mind, had backed away from it, loath to do that to her. In the end, though, he had come to realize Power of a Woman / 215
that he had no choice. Threatening her with the press was his only weapon; he had to think of himself, defend himself.
Margot had become so obnoxious, she was verging on the deranged, and it had crossed his mind several times that she might do him bodily harm.
He was only twenty-seven, and he did not want to die needlessly at the hands of a crazed young woman.
There was another thing, something Margot had seen, and which he could hardly bear to think about, because it made him vulnerable to her. On the other hand, he felt reasonably sure that with Jack Bellanger hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles, he was safe.
Gideon was unable to keep his eyes open; he felt his lids drooping, and he began to doze. Images of Margot danced in his head, and a remembrance of their last evening together seemed suddenly trapped under his lids.
Instantly, he snapped his eyes open, not wanting to think about it. Still, the memory insinuated itself into his consciousness once again, as it frequently did.
That night…more than three months ago now…they had gone out to dinner and then later in the privacy of her flat, he had realized he could not stay. He wanted to leave at once, go home to his own bed. He was not only exhausted, but worried about an old, old friendship that had spiraled out of hand and out of control in the past few weeks.
216 / Barbara Taylor Bradford
Margot had forced the issue, and, of course, it hadn’t worked. Put simply, he had been unable to perform.
At first, Margot had been sweet, loving, and very understanding. And then unexpectedly, as he was dressing, she had turned on him with a vengeance, angry and vehement in her condemnation of him, which had been venomous.
“You’re impotent with me because of
her!
” she had cried. “I knew you’d be unfaithful to me because of your reputation as a womanizer. But I hadn’t realized that it would be quite so soon!”
Stunned by her words, by the seed of truth in them, he had stood gaping at her, cringing inside at the use of the word
impotent
. And he had continued to stand there speechlessly, suddenly afraid to say a single word, knowing that somehow she would use it to her advantage and against him.
When she repeated her accusation about there being another woman in his life, he had swiftly denied that there was anyone else.
“But I saw you with her,” she had shot back, dropping her bomb on him.
Aghast though he had been, he had managed to keep a poker face, and he had kept his mouth well and truly shut as well. It was as if he had known then that she was going to be trouble; he hadn’t realized just how much trouble.