Barbara Taylor Bradford’s 4-Book Collection. Barbara Taylor Bradford
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idea,’ Kim said. He beamed at them both and hurried across the room, rattling the bottle in the silver bucket as he attacked the cork. ‘I think I need a cloth to grip this better,’ he said and went out to the kitchen.
Apart from her physical beauty and unquestionable talent, Katharine possessed that most essential and desirable of all human ingredients, the quality of natural charm, and it was a charm so powerful it was at once dangerous and devastating in its potency. Seating herself on the sofa, Katharine looked across at Francesca and the full force of that charm was now levelled with great concentration in her direction. Katharine smiled. It was her most dazzling smile, guaranteed to disarm, ensnare and enchant.
She said: ‘It’s very nice of you to make supper for us, especially at this late hour. That’s the only problem with being an actress, my world is topsy turvy, and my social life begins when everyone is going to bed.’ She laughed her spiralling laugh. ‘It’s a terrible imposition on my non-theatrical friends, I’m afraid, having to entertain me in the wee small hours. If they want to see me, that is. Sometimes they don’t, and I can’t say I blame them. Not everyone wants to be carousing at midnight, sometimes even later than that!’
‘Oh, I don’t mind, really I don’t,’ Francesca was quick to say. ‘And at least it’s Sunday tomorrow. We can all sleep late.’
Katharine turned and glanced around the room. She was conscious of the beauty of the setting, with its gleaming antiques, the objects of art and the fine paintings. The coral walls gave it a roseate cast, this ambience further enhanced by the lamplight and the fire glowing in the grate. Katharine thought of her little birdcage of a flat, in comparison so sparse and utilitarian. But there was not a shred of envy in her. She was reminded instead of another room, from the happy time of her childhood, before her mother had fallen ill, when her life had been joyous, filled with love and tenderness. It was so very long ago now it might have been a lovely dream, yet Katharine knew otherwise. And it seemed to her that this elegant drawing room in London was just as safe as that other room had been, for it gave her a similar sense of permanence and security. She felt protected from the harsh world that existed beyond these walls. Unexpectedly, she experienced a feeling of longing she did not fully comprehend.
‘How beautiful this room is, Francesca. It’s so gracious, and I love a fire on a nasty wintry night.’ A wistful expression flickered briefly on her face, and there was a small silence before she added quietly, ‘It’s so friendly and inviting.’
‘And comforting too,’ Francesca suggested in a tone that was full of understanding.
Their eyes met and inwardly they assessed each other. Neither Katharine nor Francesca knew it but something very special was beginning between them. A bond was being forged, and it would prove to be a bond so strong and enduring it would resist all outside forces and influences for well over a decade. And when it was finally broken, both of them would be devastated.
But now, this night, they simply knew they liked each other, although they did not, as yet, reveal this. The prolonged silence continued to drift between them, but there were no feelings of awkwardness and they went on appraising each other quite overtly.
Finally a sweet smile floated on to Katharine’s face. ‘And do you know something, Francesca? I even like a fire in summer,’ she began. ‘It’s –’
‘Absolutely necessary in this bloody awful climate,’ cried Kim, as he strode into the room. ‘And especially at Langley. No wonder the ancestors trudged around in that ghastly armour. It was undoubtedly the only way they could keep warm.’
The mood of quiet introspection was broken, and Francesca and Katharine glanced at each other in amusement. Then Katharine said, ‘By the way, it’s very good of you to include Victor Mason, Francesca. I’m sure you’ll like him. He’s not a bit like one would expect. He’s … he’s …’ She stopped, sought the appropriate word and finished, ‘Well, he’s certainly very different.’
‘I’ve never met a film star before, so I don’t know what to expect,’ Francesca admitted with a shy smile. ‘To tell you the truth, I haven’t seen many of his films. Maybe two or three at the most, and certainly nothing lately. How terrible. I do feel at such a disadvantage.’
‘Oh, heavens, you don’t have to worry about that!’ Katharine exclaimed. ‘I think Victor is relieved when he doesn’t have to discuss his movies or his career. And he’s one of the few actors I know who doesn’t want to talk about himself endlessly. Thank goodness he’s not having a love affair with himself, like some performers I know. We can be a pretty boring narcissistic breed at times.’ She twisted the gold signet ring on her little finger absently, wondering what had happened to Victor. He should have been here by now.
‘Have you known him long?’ Francesca asked.
Katharine crossed her legs and smoothed her dress. ‘No, only a few months. Sometimes I think he’s rather a lonely man.’ Her face became still and contemplative and she stared into the blazing fire, lost for a moment in her wandering thoughts.
Francesca could not help noticing this change and it disturbed her. At some time in her life she has been touched by a terrible sadness, she thought. It runs deep in her. This notion at once seemed so ridiculous, so far-fetched, Francesca immediately pushed it away. But she did consider Katharine’s remark about Victor Mason rather odd, in view of his fame. She was wondering how best to respond to it, when Kim saved her the trouble.
‘Champagne!’ he proclaimed, handing them each a crystal flute. He retrieved his own glass from the chest, proposed a toast and hovered over Katharine. His eyes hardly left her face, and Francesca well knew the reason why. She was finding it difficult to tear her own gaze away, was in danger of staring as rudely as she had done initially. Suddenly more than conscious of this, she focused her attention on Kim, who was now standing behind the sofa, intent on Katharine.
Meeting his sister’s direct look, he said, ‘I’ve decided to stay in town next week. I can drive back to Langley with the old man at the weekend. I’ll leave you the Mini, old thing.’
‘Is Father coming up to London? He didn’t mention it to me, when we spoke yesterday. How odd,’ Francesca said.
Kim chortled. ‘You know how vague he is. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s forgotten about it himself. But he has to come up to see Marcus, something about the trust, I believe. Anyway, he’s supposed to arrive late tomorrow evening.’
‘In that case you’d better ring him up first thing in the morning and remind him,’ Francesca instructed. ‘And thanks for offering the Mini. I can use it.’ She shook her head in mock bewilderment, and looked at Katharine. ‘Kim saying Daddy is vague is like the pot calling the kettle black. He’s equally bad at times. He’s been here since Thursday and he didn’t even bother to tell me of Daddy’s plans. Men are so thoughtless.’
‘It’s congenital,’ Katharine declared. She had been listening carefully and, never one to miss an opportunity which would work to her advantage, she seized the one which had just presented itself. She leaned forward eagerly, her face lighting up, her wistfulness completely dispelled. ‘I would love you to come to the play with your father, while he’s in town, Francesca. In fact, I’d like you all to be my guests.’ She glanced over her shoulder at Kim. ‘I’ll get house seats for you. Oh, do come! Please! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Kim told me you’re interested in history.’
‘Why, yes, I am. And how very generous of you to invite us,’ said Francesca, touched by Katharine’s thoughtfulness. ‘I would adore to see it.’ Her eyes shone with warmth, but a note of caution crept into her voice as she added, ‘I’m sure Daddy would too. I’ll certainly ask him.’ She halted, contemplating her father’s reaction to Katharine. He could not fail to like her. She had a natural sweetness and lovely manners, and was so obviously a properly brought up young woman, as well as being such a beauty. But liking her did not necessarily guarantee his full approbation, or his acceptance of her as a wife for Kim. Daddy is out of date, Francesca thought with a spurt of exasperation. Katharine might very well be perfect for Kim, just what he needs. She became aware of