Sinful Nights(81)

A little bit of spoiling once in a while never did anyone any harm.'

It was mid-afternoon before they left the restaurant. Claire had eaten  caviare, and truffles, and vegetables so perfectly fresh that the  flavour had been indescribable. It was a meal she would never forget,  even if it had not marked their wedding ceremony, and she shuddered to  think how much it had all cost.

Feel like a quick trip round the factory before we go back to the hotel, or would you prefer to go straight back?'

I'd like to see round the factory,' Claire told him eagerly. The more  she saw of Jay's work, the more eager she was to see how it was  produced.

Jay's factory was situated in a purpose-built modern building on the  edge of an industrial estate. His small work-force treated Claire  deferentially but with reserve until they realised that she was  genuinely interested in their work, and then it was as though the  floodgates had opened.

These were craftsmen, Claire realised, listening to them-men who took a  pride in what they were doing, and who believed that what they were  creating today would be the heirlooms of tomorrow.

You haven't forgotten that you're taking us to the zoo tomorrow, Mummy,  have you?' demanded Lucy sleepily later on that evening after she and  Heather had been put to bed.

They had all dined together in the suite, and then they had watched television together.

At first Claire had felt uncomfortably aware of her changed status, but  Jay's manner towards her was so calm and matter-of-fact that her tension  had gradually gone. Now she felt pleasantly tired.

I don't know about you, but I feel that an early night is in order,' he  remarked easily when she went back into the sitting-room.    

 



 

I agree, especially bearing in mind tomorrow's trip to the zoo!'

Jay had stood up as she walked into the room, but he made no move towards her as she walked across to her own bedroom.

I'll say goodnight, then,' she said gravely, pausing outside it.

Yes. Sleep well.'

So now she was married, Claire thought flatly as she closed her bedroom  door behind her. What was Jay thinking right now? Was he comparing  tonight to his first wedding night-comparing her to Susie?

Stop it, she chided herself. Jay married you because he doesn't want another relationship like the one he had with Susie.

THEY HAD A FORTNIGHT of relatively uninterrupted peace, with Jay  commuting daily to the factory, and then he came home one night and  announced that he had to go back to the States.

Apparently there are a couple of points in the contract they want to  discuss. I shouldn't be gone for too long. I might even pick up some  additional business! Apparently my client's sister wants to talk to me  about remodelling her indoor swimming pool and its surroundings, using  our stuff. If all goes well I ought to be back by the end of the week.'

They all went with him to the airport to see him off, and then Claire  got a taxi back to Bath. With nearly a whole day to spare, she was  determined to make a start on her plans for the house.

The blue and terracotta colour scheme at the hotel had fired her  imagination, and already she had a few tentative ideas of what she  wanted to do, but first she needed to find someone to help her, and she  remembered seeing a small shop in Bath which had advertised an interior  design service.

She found it easily enough and paused outside to admire the window. A  bolt of material was draped carelessly over a single chair; an  arrangement of toning dried flowers displayed next to it on a  pastel-toned kilim rug.

Feeling slightly apprehensive, Claire went inside, warning Lucy and Heather not to touch anything.

A smiling blonde woman came to serve her. Slightly plump, and in her mid-thirties, she looked as elegant as her window.

It didn't take Claire long to outline her ideas, and within minutes of  being shown wallpaper pattern books and swatches of fabrics, she knew  that she had found someone on her own wavelength.

What I'd really like is for you to come out to the house,' she  confided. I don't want to employ an interior designer as such, because I  want the house to reflect our own taste. I want it to be a home, not a  show place, but I need advice on where I can find the right kind of  decorators-you know the sort of thing.'

Yes, I do, and most of my clients feel the same way that you do. There  is a move away from the very traditional interior design service now, to  one where we work alongside the client.' She picked up a diary. I  could come out on Thursday morning if that's any good.'

That's fine.' Claire gave her directions, and left the shop feeling buoyed up with achievement.

It had occurred to her that since Jay's craftsmen could make panelling  and bookcases, they must also be able to craft kitchen units for her,  and on impulse, instead of going straight home, she asked her taxi  driver to call at the factory on the way.

The foreman remembered her and made her welcome. When Claire explained  what she wanted, he readily agreed that it was something they could do.

Any work in hand would have to take precedence, of course,' Claire  acknowledged, but what I had in mind was something in antique pine?'

You're in luck there. Jay recently bought up some old pine doors from a  demolition site. I'll have to check with him that he doesn't have  something in mind for them, of course.

Hastily concurring with this, Claire left it that once Jay had returned,  and if he was in agreement, someone could come out to the house to  measure up for her kitchen.

She had already decided that in the girls' room she would have fitted  walls and cupboards built which could then be painted and decorated with  stencils, and that in the guest rooms, the same simple type of built-in  furniture could be marbled, dragged or sponged in a variety of paint  finishes to create a very luxurious effect.

The displays in some of the shop windows reminded her that Christmas  wasn't very far away. She already had a fair idea of what both girls  wanted, and she and Jay had already talked over the idea of riding  lessons and then possibly a pony to share if their enthusiasm lasted.

This would be the first Christmas that she had not had to scrimp to buy  Lucy even the simplest present. She glanced down at her daughter's  burnished head. Already she could see the difference in Lucy; she was a  little girl who needed a masculine influence in her life, and she adored  Jay. Heather, too, had blossomed, and now she chattered as happily as  Lucy, as both of them drew her attention to a shop window filled with a  cornucopia of childish delights.    

 



 

The bright sunny day had given way to a frosty evening when they  eventually got back to the house. After supper, when Claire was tidying  up, the phone rang.

When she picked it up and heard Jay's voice, she was almost too stunned  to speak. They chatted for several minutes, mostly about the children,  and even though she had not been expecting the call, when he eventually  rang off she felt curiously bereft.

What would he be doing tonight? Would he be alone in his hotel room, or,  far more likely, would he be out somewhere being wined and dined? And  then afterwards, would he  … ?

Angry with herself, she pushed the thought away. She had no right to  question the very personal side of Jay's life. If he chose to go to bed  with someone that was no concern of hers. So why was there this  unpleasant little ache inside her? Shaking her head, she switched off  the lights and made her way slowly upstairs. The house felt empty  without him. Already she missed him; she missed his company at supper,  missed hearing about his days, missed their chats by the fire after  dinner.

He came back at the end of the week, and the whole house seemed to come  alive. Both little girls flung themselves at him the moment he opened  the door, and Claire saw in the look he gave her over their heads that  he was pleased with the change in Heather.

After dinner he told her about his trip. She learned that in addition to  the contract which was now due to be signed after the New Year, he had  also received commissions from several of his client's friends and from  his sister.

When Claire enthused he frowned.

Yes, it's good for business, but it does mean I'm going to be away quite a lot, although I hope only for the next few weeks.'

Well, the girls will be pleased,' she remarked drily, especially if  you keep spoiling them with presents like those you brought back this  time.'

The huge patchwork dolls Jay had brought back with him from Dallas were  so exquisitely detailed that Claire felt they were more for just looking  at than playing with, and she knew, just from the workmanship, that  they must have been horrendously expensive.

Guilty conscience presents,' he explained, frowning suddenly as he  added, which reminds me.' He got up. I won't be a minute. Wait here.'

He was back almost immediately carrying a large manilla envelope which he gave to her.

Your wedding present,' he told her quietly.

Claire opened it and took out the contents, smoothing them with suddenly  tense fingers. She read through the papers once again and then again  just to make sure she wasn't making any mistakes.

You're paying for the work to be done on the cottage! But it will cost thousands! Jay, you mustn't feel you need to do that  … '