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Suddenly, the swing doors of the apartment building opened again, and a tall figure emerged, dressed in a thick fur-collared overcoat. It was Dominic Halstad, and Susan groaned inwardly. This would really settle things. David hated seeming at a disadvantage.
Dominic merely nodded to them and walked across to a dark-green Mercedes saloon that was parked just ahead of them.
David straightened up and looked at Susan. ‘Shall I ask him if he will give you a lift?’ he asked abruptly.
‘No, of course not. I'll wait and go with you. We'll get away soon.'
David looked relieved. ‘I'm sorry I bellowed at you,’ he said awkwardly. ‘I'm a bad-tempered cuss.'
‘Don't be silly,’ said Susan, smiling. ‘Just hurry up and let's get going.'
Dominic Halstad had now opened the boot of his car and was producing a coil of plastic-covered rope which he brought to David, saying casually:
‘Would a tow be of any use?'
David lifted his head. ‘Why … yes, it would. It's just the battery, I think. It's a bit flat.
‘Okay. You fasten your end and I'll fasten mine. Give me a blast on your horn when you start up, right?'
‘Right.'
David hastily tied the tope to his car, while Dominic co
It only took a couple of hundred yards before David's engine fired and he tooted his horn to tell Dominic Halstad that he could continue under his own power.
The cars halted, the rope was put away and Dominic raised his hand in farewell, before re-entering his car and driving away.
‘Good chap!’ remarked David warmly. ‘Not many men in his position would have been so helpful.'
‘No,’ agreed Susan. ‘He didn't waste any time either.'
David nodded, and putting the car into gear they drove on to Susan's flat.
After arranging to spend the following day with David, Susan left him to enter the flat, which seemed very lonely tonight, knowing that Delia would not be returning.
She made herself a cup of cocoa, and carried it into the bedroom to drink while she undressed. But once in bed sleep was far from soon in coming. Her thoughts were too chaotic to allow her any peaceful rest, and restlessly she switched on the light again and reached for a half-finished novel she was réading.
As she read the words, however, they meant little to her. She found her mind drifting off at a tangent, and she found herself wondering again where Dominic Halstad's wife could be. He had not mentioned her and neither had Amanda.
Amanda had mentioned the life Dominic led as being unsuitable for a child and that could only mean one thing, surely! It was very puzzling.
Susan felt suddenly angry. It was not like her to indulge in idle speculation about anybody, least of all a man who could not possibly be of any importance in her life.
CHAPTER THREE
THE following week passed uneventfully until Friday. Delia had arrived back from Bristol full of excitement. Alan's parents had been dears, and had made her feel completely at home.
‘I'm sure everything is going to turn out right for us,’ she exclaimed on Monday morning while they were having their breakfast. ‘Alan was marvellous to me and I really felt as though his parents liked me.'
‘And why shouldn't they?’ demanded Susan. ‘You're a very likeable person.'
Delia sighed. ‘Yes, but I mean, really liked me. You know … as a daughter-in-law. I'm sure Alan is going to ask me to marry him. Oh, Susan, wouldn't it be divine?'
Susan herself felt rather envious. If only David's mother had been like that, warm and welcoming. But she was glad for Delia's sake as Delia always seemed afraid that people would not like her.
When she arrived at the apartment on Friday morning, Amanda was not seated at her desk as usual. She always did her correspondence first thing in the morning, and Susan was surprised.
‘I've arrived,’ she called, before walking over to a radiator and warming her cold fingers.
She had not done much typing this week, apart from Amanda's letters, as Amanda had not yet begun a new novel and there was nothing else for her to do. They had spent most of the week driving in Amanda's car, sometimes with Susan at the wheel and sometimes with Sarah's husband, Bill, driving them. Bill had a regular job but acted as chauffeur for Amanda when she required him.
Amanda appeared just then from her bedroom and said, ‘Hello, dear. I'm glad you're early. We've got a lot to do. Now, how would you like a trip to Paris?'
‘Paris?’ echoed Susan blankly.
‘Yes, darling. Both of us, of course.'
‘But when?’ Susan was puzzled.
‘Well, darling, we'll fly out this afternoon, spend the weekend in Paris and return home on Monday.'
Susan was still uncomprehending, and Amanda smiled. ‘You know I had di
‘Yes.’ Amanda had had di
‘Well,’ continued Amanda, ‘Jon is flying out to his aunt's today, to spend a week or so with her. Fay, Dom's sister, is married to a French count. They have a château near Fontainebleau, and although Jon is quite capable of conducting himself there, Dom has to be very careful that he's properly chaperoned.'
‘Why?'
‘Well, occasionally there've been threats of kidnapping and so on, and a man as powerful as Dominic is bound to have enemies, don't you agree?'
‘But he has no bodyguard.'
‘No, I know. But that's not to say he shouldn't have. At any rate, Dom is rather a different kettle of fish. We're only concerned with Jon here. Well, what do you think?'
Susan sighed. ‘I don't know what to think.'
‘Why? Don't you find the prospect of a trip to France stimulating?'
‘Of course, I do. It's just … well … it is the weekend, isn't it? And David is bound to expect me to spend my free time with him. I know he usually works on Saturdays, but there's all day Sunday —'
Amanda shrugged impatiently. ‘It's only one day, Susan. Anyway, think it over for a few minutes while I go and help Sarah with my packing, and you can let me know your decision when I return.’ She felt the coffee percolator on a nearby table and continued, ‘The coffee is lovely and hot. Help yourself. I won't be long.'
Susan poured a cup of coffee, and sank weakly down on to a low chair. Here was her opportunity to get to know Dominic Halstad's son, at least. The prospect was exciting, and she felt her pulse leaping at the thoughts that invaded her head. It was all too tempting and Amanda was well aware of it.
Susan bit her lip hard. But what about David? Truthfully, he would only have one day to fill in, and anyway, last Sunday had been spent mainly in Medlar Grove and she could not face another day there in a hurry.
His mother had found fault with everything she had done, and as David spent most of the day working in the minute garden at the back of the old house, she had not seen much of him. Surely he would not mind if she went away, just this once, when he seemed to find plenty with which to fill time.
When Amanda returned, Susan said, ‘I'd like to come. But what about reservations and things?'
Amanda smiled. ‘They're already made. Dominic arranged it all last night.'
‘You were sure I'd agree,’ murmured Susan dryly.