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Then she turned to Susan. ‘There are just a few letters to answer, and afterwards I think we'll take a ride into the country. It will make a nice change for both of us.'
While they were smoking cigarettes and drinking some of the continental coffee Sarah had prepared so expertly, Amanda said, ‘By the way, what did you think of Dominic Halstad?'
‘I don't really know,’ replied Susan, flushing. ‘He … well … he didn't tell me who he was, and I'm afraid I was rather abrupt with him. I treated him like an eager reporter trying to get an inside story.'
Amanda laughed. ‘Oh, don't worry about that. I expect he was quite amused. He's used to people hanging on his every word. Do him good to meet someone who didn't treat him like the purple emperor.'
‘He did say he was a very good friend of yours.'
‘So he is, girl.’ Amanda nodded thoughtfully. ‘You know it was he who persuaded his father to publish my first novel. They weren't very inspiring stories in those days, but Dominic thought I had promise and persuaded his father to think so, too. Of course, I've known Dominic for years. Long before I took up writing, in fact. His mother and mine were great friends, and when we were children we used to play together. I was seven years older than Dom, but he led me a terrible life.’ She chuckled reminiscently.
‘I see.’ That accounted for the familiar way he had spoken of her. ‘He hasn't been here before, has he?'
‘No, he's been abroad for quite a long time,’ replied Amanda. ‘He seems to do a lot of his work in America, or so I believe; at any rate I haven't seen him for a couple of years or so.'
‘He seems very young,’ murmured Susan, drawing deeply on her cigarette. ‘But he must be nearly forty.'
‘He is, darling. But I agree, he doesn't look his age, which is remarkable in the circumstances.'
‘What circumstances?’ Susan was curious.
‘Oh, the problems he has had to face with Veronica.'
‘Veronica? Oh, is she his wife?'
‘That's right.’ Amanda sounded bitter. ‘Regrettably.'
Susan stubbed out her cigarette. ‘Why so? Are they divorced?'
‘No. Nothing so simple.’ She smiled, a little forcedly, and then said, ‘Well, let's get on.'
Susan picked up her notebook, but as she did so she wondered why Amanda seemed so reluctant to talk about Dominic Halstad's wife. There seemed to be a mystery about the whole affair, but she respected Amanda's confidence and firmly tried to push all thoughts of the Halstad mеnage from her mind.
But it was not so easy as she thought, and she found her mind twisting back over all that had been said, trying to find some reason for Amanda's oblique comments.
But it was no use. She did not know sufficient about them to be able to form any opinion, and it seemed unlikely that Dominic Halstad should have any problems that he could not handle, when she considered his immense wealth and personal charm.
They lunched at the apartment and afterwards drove out of town in Amanda's Rolls-Royce, Susan acting as chauffeuse. They stopped at a small country pub for a drink, and relaxed in the garden of the inn, sitting at rustic tables on wooden forms.
It was all very olde-worlde and Susan liked it.
‘I'm having dinner with Dominic this evening,’ remarked Amanda suddenly. ‘At least, I should say he's having dinner with me. He's coming to the apartment.'
‘Alone?’ Susan was intrigued. Where was his wife?
‘Yes. Alone. Why? Would you and David like to make up a foursome?'
‘Oh, really … I … of course we wouldn't intrude …’ Susan felt embarrassed.
‘You wouldn't be intruding,’ replied Amanda easily. ‘It's a grand idea. Why didn't I think of it before?'
Susan's nerves felt as taut as violin strings, and she inwardly rated herself for feeling this way at the mere mention of that man's name.
‘I don't think David would want to come,’ she murmured truthfully.
‘Oh, never mind what that young man says. Would you like to come?'
‘I … I suppose so.'
Amanda screwed her nose up, and looked rather cynical. ‘I must say your enthusiasm is overwhelming,’ she remarked dryly.
Susan giggled. ‘I'm sorry, Amanda. Of course, I'd like to come, but you know what David is.'
‘I know,’ said Amanda. ‘Why don't you give him a ring? I expect he'll be working as usual today, won't he? Tell him Dom is coming. I guarantee he won't refuse.'
‘Perhaps you're right,’ agreed Susan, sighing. ‘All right. I'll go and see if I can use the phone here.'
The bartender was quite willing that she should use the phone behind the bar and in no time at all her call was ringing in David's office. Although occasionally she did contact David in this way, it was only very occasionally as he did not like her ringing him during office hours. Thus it was that when David answered and found it was Susan he was rather irritable.
‘What is it?’ he asked brusquely. ‘I'm very busy, Susan. Is it urgent?'
‘Not exactly, darling, but Amanda has invited us to the apartment for dinner this evening and I didn't want to accept until I was sure you would want to go.'
‘I see.’ David did not sound enthusiastic, but, thought Susan impatiently, he expected her to visit his mother's whenever he saw fit, so why should he object on the rare occasions when she asked him to go somewhere that she wanted? After all, Amanda was the nearest person to a mother she was ever likely to have.
‘It will make a change,’ she said, annoyed to find that her voice was persuasive. ‘Will you go?'
David hesitated and then said, ‘Do I take it Amanda will be alone? Or will there be other guests?'
‘One other guest, Dominic Halstad,’ said Susan quickly.
‘Dominic Halstad!’ David sounded astonished now. ‘Really?'
‘Yes, really.’ Susan felt angry. As Amanda had said, the name had caused an immediate and favourable reaction.
‘Well, in that case, I think we might go. It sounds interesting. Is he a friend of Amanda's?'
‘Yes. Right. What time will you pick me up?'
Susan was glad when she replaced the receiver. She had been conscious of having the attention of the bartender while she was making the call and she hoped she had not sounded too pleading. Thanking him, she returned to Amanda.
‘Well?’ said Amanda at once. ‘What's the verdict?'
‘As soon as I mentioned Mr. Halstad's name, it worked like a charm.’ Susan sighed. ‘I don't know why you and David are so antipathetic to one another.'
The last time David and Susan had dined at the apartment, Amanda and David had spent the whole evening arguing over contemporary painting. Amanda was a devotee of modern art, whereas David could not stand it and, unlike Amanda, he did not think everyone should have their own opinion. He had inherited from his mother the idea that he was right and everyone else must be wrong.
‘That young man annoys me,’ said Amanda, ‘and he knows it. He is also jealous of my monopolizing your time. Are all young men today so sure of themselves?'
‘Being sure of himself is the last description I would have applied to David,’ said Susan in surprise. ‘With me he seems anything but positive. He allows his mother to walk all over him, and me too for that matter. It's infuriating.'
‘Well, I should imagine that's why he is the way he is,’ remarked Amanda. ‘At home he's been repressed and dominated by his mother, that's why when he's with you he tries to dominate you. To prove to himself that he's not a mouse.'
Susan laughed. ‘The amateur psychiatrist, Miss Amanda Blake!'
Amanda grinned. ‘All right, all right, you laugh. But I'm right. I'm sure of it. What happened to his father?'
‘Oh, he died years ago.'
‘Probably bullied to death, if you ask me,’ said Amanda shrewdly. ‘From what you've said, his mother sounds a tyrant.'
Susan sighed. ‘Maybe it's my fault. I let her get away with too much. I think that's David's dilemma too. After his father died she turned to him more and more and consequently today things are worse than ever. She needs a daughter-in-law who is as tough as she is and who will answer her back and not allow her to get her own way.'
Amanda frowned. ‘That was an ambiguous remark. Do I take it you're having doubts as to whether you'll be her daughter-in-law?'
Susan flushed. ‘Oh, no! No!’ She lit a cigarette hastily, with hands that were not quite steady. ‘It's just that sometimes I wish I were more like that.'
‘Is that so?’ Amanda looked sceptical, and Susan wondered whether the remark she had made had indeed been triggered by some subconscious desire to be free of the Chalmers family once and for all.
But, she told herself desperately, she did love David, and that was all that mattered. Once they were married she would feel differently about everything. Once they were settled in a home of their own, and perhaps with a family, too, she would find her fears had merely been will-o'-the-wisps, without any substance or foundation. For once she was married to David, she felt sure she would be able to handle his mother in a more positive way.
That evening she dressed with care for their dinner engagement. She wore a dress of heavy black silk which clung to the slender lines of her figure, revealing the curve of her breast and the lithe smoothness of her hips. With it she wore a dark red cape and she was ready and waiting when David arrived at seven-fifteen. He, too, looked smart in a dinner jacket and Susan wondered what he had told his mother about this evening.
He looked very impressed when he saw Susan and said, ‘I'm quite looking forward to this evening. Halstad is a very influential man. He may be able to put some work our way.'
Susan stared at him. ‘What on earth has a pressman in common with an architect?'
‘Well, nothing really, my dear, but Halstad doesn't only dabble in things literary. He has interests all over the world. Why, Mathews was only saying this afternoon what an opportunity this was …'
Susan gasped. Mathews was the head partner in the firm and a man she both disliked and despised. A married man, he spent his free time at night clubs and strip-shows, taking up with different women to the shame and embarrassment of his wife, caring nothing for his three children, other than that they be provided with a paid education and adequately provided with the material comforts his money could buy. On the rare occasions when he had encountered Susan he had treated her like another of his conquests and she had been horrified that David had done nothing and said nothing to prevent her discomfort.
‘If you think this evening is going to be turned into a business meeting, you're mistaken,’ she exclaimed hotly. ‘Amanda has invited us and you will kindly remember that and give her the consideration she deserves. I will not have you introducing work into the conversation. Good heavens, Dominic Halstad isn't interested in Mathews, Mathews, Graham and Chalmers!'
David looked taken aback. ‘I say, Susan, don't get on your high horse, old girl. I'm only thinking of us, you know.'
‘Are you? Are you?’ Susan buttoned her cape. ‘Anyway, remember what I've said, and try to be a little more friendly towards Amanda. She's been very kind to me, and I'm very fond of her.'
‘All right, Susan, I get the message,’ said David, becoming a little annoyed now. ‘I don't know why you think I would say anything out of place. I'm sure I have as much discretion as the next man.'
Susan smiled at this and wished wryly that it was true.
They arrived at Amanda's apartment at about seven-forty-five. Sarah admitted them and they removed their coats in the hallway before entering the large lounge.
This room extended the length of the apartment block and was divided by a librenza into two parts; one used for dining and the other as the lounge. It was tastefully decorated with furniture which was neither modern nor old-fashioned. Amanda was not interested in collectors’ items and yet there were several good pieces of Sheraton and Chippendale which looked rather out of place beside the Formica-topped occasional table and stereophonic radiogram.
Dominic Halstad was seated on the low couch near the pseudo-log fire, the diffused lighting darkening his already tanned skin and giving him a faintly foreign air. He was sitting forward glancing at the draft of Amanda's latest novel, and he looked at home and very relaxed.
He rose to his feet immediately at their entrance, and smiled. Susan was acutely aware of how her nerves had tensed again, and of how her spine tingled in a most unusual manner. The colour mounted in her cheeks and she was glad that David's eyes were not on her at that moment.
But David himself was walking towards the other man, holding out his hand and saying, ‘You must be Mr. Halstad. My name is Chalmers, sir. I'm very pleased to meet you.'
Feeling she was neglecting her duties, Susan hastily joined them and made unnecessary introductions. She felt aware that Dominic Halstad was rather amused by her, and she felt annoyed and altogether uncomfortable.
After they were seated, Dominic said, ‘Amanda is fussing over the dinner in the kitchen, so can I provide you with a drink? What would you like, Susan?'
Susan shrugged. ‘A Martini, perhaps,’ she murmured. ‘Thank you.'
‘How about you, Chalmers?'
David bit his lip. ‘I … well … perhaps the same for me, sir.'
Dominic raised his dark eyebrows and walked indolently across to the cocktail cabinet. Susan glanced at David and he shrugged his shoulders defensively. He had never accepted a drink in her presence before.
Dominic returned with two Martinis and a Scotch with ice for himself. After handing them their drinks he seated himself opposite them in a low armchair and said:
‘I understand you're engaged. When do you intend getting married?'
‘In October,’ replied David swiftly. ‘We're saving up for a house.'
Susan glanced at David. So they were going to have their own house. She wondered whether he had told his mother so definitely. It did not seem likely. It was probably simply bravado away from her domineering attitude.
‘Very good. There are some pleasant new developments on the outskirts of the city. I've noticed quite a number of changes since my return.'
‘You've been abroad?’ David was interested.
‘Yes. I only returned this week.'
‘Really. Where have you been?'
Susan glanced at the kitchen door, and wondered whether she could make some excuse and go and talk to Amanda in the kitchen. For some reason, Dominic Halstad's presence overpowered her and she found she could not look away from his compelling gaze.
Amanda emerged from the kitchen at that moment, as though in answer to Susan's unspoken prayer, and said:
‘Hullo, there. How are you, David?’ She smiled round. ‘I see you've all been provided with drinks. Good. I thought Dom would look after you.'
The two men, who had risen at her entrance, reseated themselves as Amanda took the chair beside Susan. Then Dominic got up again, and grinned.
‘I suppose I ought to offer you a drink,’ he remarked laughingly. ‘After all, it's your apartment and your liquor.'
‘That's right, darling. I'll have a whisky, please, with a little ginger.'
David looked disapprovingly at Susan, and she shrugged almost imperceptibly. Martinis were one thing. Strong stuff like Scotch was for men, not for women!
They lit cigarettes, although Dominic Halstad produced a case of cigars and preferred to have one of them. David refused a cigarette but accepted a cigar, and Susan felt an uncontrollable fit of giggles assailing her. Surely David, who did not smoke, was not going to attempt to smoke a cigar!
But David allowed Dominic Halstad to light his cigar and drew back, puffing furiously.
Susan looked away from him, and turned to Amanda in order to stop herself from laughing, while Dominic Halstad lay back in his seat, an amused expression on his face.
