real, adult woman, not a drudge, not just an invisible, dowdy spinster.
That he could have fallen in love with her had simply not entered her head and his awkward declaration had taken her unaware. There had been no time to consider, no room for shyness, carried away as they had both been on that tide of passion, though he had been very gentle, in spite of his urgency, and so her virginity had finally been lost with very little discomfort. Before he reluctantly left her they had made love again and Alice had discovered at last what all the fuss was about; and now she sat in the festive hall at Firstone Grange trying to disguise the adoration she felt for him.
Christiane shifted uneasily beside her daughter, this new,serene Alice, glowing with confidence and happiness. What’s happened to her, she frowned? If it was anyone else I’d say there was a man involved, but Alice? As the band reached the end of their last number before the interval Christiane remembered a notion that had occurred to her the previous evening, a way to depress any pretension to independence that Alice might be harbouring. I’ll put a spoke in her wheel, she decided, I’m not having her get any ideas, she’s looking far too pleased with herself.
‘You can order a taxi for eleven tomorrow morning.’ She nudged Alice to make sure her daughter was listening. ‘I’m not really that struck on this place, the Matron thinks a lot of herself so I’m going home.’
She leaned back in her wheelchair waiting for a reaction and was not surprised to see the colour drain out of Alice’s cheeks.
‘No!’ The involuntary protest was explosive and Alice was as surprised as her mother at the force of her speech. ‘No, we’ve paid in advance and it’s too much money to waste. I’m sorry, Mother, but you’ll be staying here over Christmas as we arranged. Besides, I’ve been working nearly full-time lately. We’re very busy, rushed off our feet, so I wouldn’t be able to look after you properly.’
‘Don’t you dare tell me I can’t go back to my own house, madam.’ Christiane spat out the words during an outbreak of chatter and bustle at the beginning of the interval. ‘If you won’t call me a taxi I’ll ring for one myself.’
She wheeled herself away, her forehead creased with angry lines, cursing Alice for that surprising show of strength. In fact she was perfectly comfortable at Firstone Grange and had no intention of passing up such a delicious fount of opportunities to meddle and to annoy. I’ll make her pay, she vowed, and I’m certainly not letting her off the hook. Just let her sweat it out till tomorrow morning, waiting to see if I carry out my threat.
Feeling refreshed, she spotted Ellen Ransom sitting beside Tim Armstrong. Just what I need, she thought, two for the price of one.
Stranded in her chair Alice slumped, trembling with rage and a burning anguish. For a few blissful hours she had almost forgotten about her mother, had spent the day at work exchanging delicious secret smiles with Neil and, when the office was empty, exchanging even more delicious secret kisses. She had felt strong and invincible, able to cope with her mother, able to cope with anything life chose to throw at her. And now— Oh God, she prayed, give me strength. Make her die.
Gemma was as anxious as Alice. Obedient to Ryan’s prompting she had left the back door unlocked while he and Kieran went off to the pub, because he said he would look in later on, ‘to listen to the band, no harm in that, is there?’ What was he up to? Gemma knew his sudden interest in the residents at Firstone Grange had nothing to do with a feeling of festive goodwill. She sighed and hoped Kieran might be able to restrain Ryan, knowing that Kieran, like Gemma herself, was nothing more than his faithful dog.
She straightened up and bustled round the hall collecting empty glasses and neatly avoiding the colonel who was becoming heavily gallant after a couple of glasses
That he could have fallen in love with her had simply not entered her head and his awkward declaration had taken her unaware. There had been no time to consider, no room for shyness, carried away as they had both been on that tide of passion, though he had been very gentle, in spite of his urgency, and so her virginity had finally been lost with very little discomfort. Before he reluctantly left her they had made love again and Alice had discovered at last what all the fuss was about; and now she sat in the festive hall at Firstone Grange trying to disguise the adoration she felt for him.
Christiane shifted uneasily beside her daughter, this new,serene Alice, glowing with confidence and happiness. What’s happened to her, she frowned? If it was anyone else I’d say there was a man involved, but Alice? As the band reached the end of their last number before the interval Christiane remembered a notion that had occurred to her the previous evening, a way to depress any pretension to independence that Alice might be harbouring. I’ll put a spoke in her wheel, she decided, I’m not having her get any ideas, she’s looking far too pleased with herself.
‘You can order a taxi for eleven tomorrow morning.’ She nudged Alice to make sure her daughter was listening. ‘I’m not really that struck on this place, the Matron thinks a lot of herself so I’m going home.’
She leaned back in her wheelchair waiting for a reaction and was not surprised to see the colour drain out of Alice’s cheeks.
‘No!’ The involuntary protest was explosive and Alice was as surprised as her mother at the force of her speech. ‘No, we’ve paid in advance and it’s too much money to waste. I’m sorry, Mother, but you’ll be staying here over Christmas as we arranged. Besides, I’ve been working nearly full-time lately. We’re very busy, rushed off our feet, so I wouldn’t be able to look after you properly.’
‘Don’t you dare tell me I can’t go back to my own house, madam.’ Christiane spat out the words during an outbreak of chatter and bustle at the beginning of the interval. ‘If you won’t call me a taxi I’ll ring for one myself.’
She wheeled herself away, her forehead creased with angry lines, cursing Alice for that surprising show of strength. In fact she was perfectly comfortable at Firstone Grange and had no intention of passing up such a delicious fount of opportunities to meddle and to annoy. I’ll make her pay, she vowed, and I’m certainly not letting her off the hook. Just let her sweat it out till tomorrow morning, waiting to see if I carry out my threat.
Feeling refreshed, she spotted Ellen Ransom sitting beside Tim Armstrong. Just what I need, she thought, two for the price of one.
Stranded in her chair Alice slumped, trembling with rage and a burning anguish. For a few blissful hours she had almost forgotten about her mother, had spent the day at work exchanging delicious secret smiles with Neil and, when the office was empty, exchanging even more delicious secret kisses. She had felt strong and invincible, able to cope with her mother, able to cope with anything life chose to throw at her. And now— Oh God, she prayed, give me strength. Make her die.
Gemma was as anxious as Alice. Obedient to Ryan’s prompting she had left the back door unlocked while he and Kieran went off to the pub, because he said he would look in later on, ‘to listen to the band, no harm in that, is there?’ What was he up to? Gemma knew his sudden interest in the residents at Firstone Grange had nothing to do with a feeling of festive goodwill. She sighed and hoped Kieran might be able to restrain Ryan, knowing that Kieran, like Gemma herself, was nothing more than his faithful dog.
She straightened up and bustled round the hall collecting empty glasses and neatly avoiding the colonel who was becoming heavily gallant after a couple of glasses
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