Errors of Judgment(77)
‘Come in,’ he said, and she closed the door and followed him into the living room. He permitted a stiff exchange of kisses. ‘What’s this about you and Toby? And why was I the last to know?’
Sarah composed her features into an expression somewhere between sadness and anxiety. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. I think it was because I knew how upset you’d be that I couldn’t face telling you.’
‘Upset about what? You breaking off with Toby, or the fact you’ve taken up with some other man? I simply do not understand you, Sarah. God knows, you were trouble enough when you were a teenager, but behaving like this at your age! You and Toby had everything ahead of you, and now you’re throwing it all away. For what? Explain it to me, because I simply do not understand.’ He sat down in an armchair, crossing his legs and staring at her with angry expectancy.
Sarah leant against the fireplace. ‘I’m not sure what you want me to tell you. It sounds as though you know everything already. I was stupid. I did something idiotic. Toby found out. He’s right not to forgive me.’ Sarah allowed her eyes to brighten with incipient tears, then she looked away.
Sir Vivian looked uncomfortable, and his manner softened. ‘I’m not sure that it’s my place to say anything about your behaviour. You’re a grown woman. I don’t pretend to understand the morals of today’s world.’ He sighed. ‘But if, as you say, it was simply a mistake, and no more, why on earth can’t you and Toby patch things up?’
‘It’s not as simple as that. Things have gone too far.’
‘So it’s true about this man Davies – that you’ve been living with him for the past however many weeks?’
‘Yes.’
‘My God. Poor Toby.’
‘Look, I don’t know how to explain it. When Toby came back from his weekend away – the weekend it happened – I felt I had to tell him. He was so devastated, I couldn’t stay in the flat. I had nowhere else to go, so … well, I was at a low ebb, and when Leo offered—’
‘So it was his idea? Pah! He is clearly a disgusting creature. Another man’s fiancé – unspeakably low behaviour.’ Sir Vivian frowned in disgust. Sarah had undeniably behaved badly, but he couldn’t help feeling that the real culprit in all this was the odious Davies.
‘The blame lies with me,’ said Sarah meekly, and in a manner intended subtly to suggest to her father the exact opposite, that she had in fact been the victim of a callous seduction.
‘Hm. Yes and no,’ replied Sir Vivian. Then he added, ‘You have been foolish beyond belief. Moving into that man’s house has merely compounded the problem. But I don’t see that the damage is irreparable. You and Toby could still—’
‘It’s completely finished, Dad,’ said Sarah quickly. ‘There is absolutely no way we’ll ever put it right. I won’t be marrying Toby.’
There was a long silence. Sir Vivian sighed and said, ‘Sarah, I can’t hide from you the fact that all this makes me profoundly unhappy. Naturally I cherished the prospect of my daughter marrying the son of my oldest and dearest friend. I remember when you and Toby got engaged, thinking that it seemed to be too good to be true.’ He rose from his armchair. ‘I suppose there really is nothing left to say. Obviously it is impossible for you to speak to the Kitterings. I shall have to make what reparations I can.’
Sarah was inclined to observe that it was nothing to do with the bloody Kitterings, that it was between herself and Toby, but she restrained herself. She crossed the room and gave her father a gentle kiss. ‘I’m sorry you’re so disappointed, Dad.’ He made a movement of impatience, refusing to look at her, and she added quietly, ‘I’m pretty miserable myself, in case you hadn’t realised.’
He nodded glumly. Sarah picked up her handbag and let herself out.
Sir Vivian sat back down in his armchair to mull over the whole wretched business. It seemed such a waste, all so unnecessary. Sarah and Toby had been admirably suited. Obviously Sarah must take her share of the blame, but clearly the influence of this odious man Davies lay at the heart of it. He was, if Colin Fryer and others were to be believed, a man of foul perversions. Bisexual, indeed. The world might nowadays smile on such people, but Sir Vivian believed such distorted lusts had to be evidence of deeper corruption. To think he had seen the man’s name in the applications list for the High Court Bench, too. Well, even if he couldn’t salvage the mess of Sarah and Toby’s relationship, there were certainly other things he could attend to. He would make investigations.