DANGEROUS OBSESSION
by
Maria Barrett


Last printing: 05/27/02
`;27.' Also by Maria Barreft in Warner paperback:
Dangerous Obsession
First published in Great Britain in 1994
by Warner Books



The moral right of the author has been asserted. All characters in this
publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or
dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission
in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of
binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a
similar condition including this condition being imposed on the
subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the-British Library.

ISBN: 0-2643- 7515 0693 1

Typeset by M Rules Printed
and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ud, St Ives p1c: Warner Books A
Division of Little, Brown and Company UK Limited Brettenharn House
Lancaster Place London we2E 7EN

Acknowledgements I would like to thank
the following people: Nancy Redfern, consultant anaesthetist at the RVI,
Newcastle, for her medical advice, Rebecca Whitfield for her advice on
fashion, Anthony Franzolin from the New York City Police Department,
Andrew Roz Joyner and the Lishman family for their friendship 300 miles
from home, and finally Jules, for pretty much everything. MB. FOR MY
PARENTS, WITH LOVE Contents Prologue FRANCESCA - 1989 Part I Part 11
ENZO - Rome 1990 PATRICK " 1992 FRANCESCA - 1992

Prologue

THE WIND WAS FIERCE. it blew across the southern Italian hillside in icy
gusts, pulling back the fragile, stripped branches of the olive trees,
,4 sleetin the rain against the desiccated landscape. It -9 Whipped
through the graveyard of the church of San Nicola, crushing the early
spring flowers and making the small group of mourners shiver painfully '
rest grant to them, oh Lord, and let perpetual , RV,, light shine upon
them.' The small crowd bowed their heads as the coffin was 7, lowered
into the grave. ' they rest in peace.' X Jhey did the same as the tiny
olive-wood box was laid alongside it. The little girl began to cry. '
the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Each person blessed
himself and in the respectful silence that followed, the child's small,
wracking sobs rang out on 511, the hillside as the wind carried them
through the air; an aching, pitiful sound. '! '." "Leno, come away now,
we are waiting.' The elderly priest touched the young man arm and felt
him flinch at the contact. ', Leno.' But he continued to stare at the
open grave and the two coffins splattered with sodden earth. The priest
glanced back at the little girl-, standing alone

by the church: her bare legs red and sore where the hard sleet had
chapped painfully against the skin, her slight frame trembling in the
force of the wind. He pulled the long black skirt of his cassock around
him. ', Francesca is waiting. Please. Leave Elizabeth now, let her go.
Come with me to Francesca." He touched him again, pulling gently on his
arm. ' touch me, you ... !'The young man swung round and the priest
caught the full force of his anger. ' Francesca! ... Go! ... Just go,
leave me alone with my wife.' He moved aggressively away from the
priest, face into the freezing, harsh wind. ' Elizabeth is dead, Leno,
please. Come away from the grave.' Ilr ' The young man turned back and
spat the word out. ', Elizabeth is not dead, not to me, never!'He
watched the priests face closely, as if waiting for disagreement, then
he saw him glance over his shoulder at the little girl. ' shouted. ' is
dead! Take her out of my sight!' He started violently towards her, his
face contorted with anger. '! Stop there!' The priest's voice was clear
and sharp. The young man stopped. ' God's name! What are you doing,
Leno?" He looked back at the priest, suddenly confused. ' ...' His, pain
and grief were open and raw and he hung his head. '.'The priest moved
towards him. ' is your daughter. Please, you have been so hard on her.
She is only a child, a blameless child, and she needs you, she has no
one else.' He looked into the face of the young man.

"Please, Leno.' ' . The young man clenched -his fist. ' cannot ... ' He
turned away. -,he killed my wife, my son ..

His voice was cold. ' ... cannot love her." I'Leno" The priest was angry
suddenly, ' virus killed Elizabeth! Your son lived only a few days, but
it is not Francesca's fault - all children are ill! God chooses who he
takes. In the name of Christ, what has happened to you?' ' was
Francesca's virus.' The voice was bitter now, uncompromising. ', Leno.'
The priest hung his head. It was always the same argument, the same
ending. It was Leno's final word and Father Angelo knew it.

He shook his head, blessed himself and asked silently for God's help. He
had made a promise to the dying woman, several promises, in fact, and he
did not know how he was going to keep them. The young man burned with
anger; what if the flame never went out? He was too old to carry such a
burden.

I He looked back at the little girl, silent now in her anguish, an'd
sighed heavily He would have to try, for her sake, to comfort her as
best he could, soften her life. What a life, he thought sadly, God help
her.

Then, shivering in the wind, he turned and walked hopelessly back to
Francesca and left Leno Niccoli bitter in his grief, a tall, dark
figure, alone, on the hillside, in the sleeting, raging wind.

The woman stood away from the gathering, a tall figure in her black
cashmere coat and silk headscarf, her head covered against the soft
Irish rain. She held her hands in her pockets and looked at no one. Her
young brother stood at her side and as the people moved away, she
remained, dryeyed, looking down at the open grave. Finally, when the .
had cleared, she turned to leave. '?" She took in the well-dressed
middle-aged man who had Maria Barrett d at her brother. , his hand on
her arm, then glance Will you wait for me in the car, Paddyt ', of
course.'Her brother looked inquiringly at her but her face was blank,
Slowly he walked away. ' didn't think you'd come, Maggie.'The man spoke
with the soft brogue of the south. ' your old da would have been an
embarrassment to you." 11 came.' ', I'm glad you did. You look good,
Maggie me girl. And the boy's done well. Was that a Trinity College
scarf I saw him wearin'T '.' Maggie did not want to speak. She stood
with her face turned away.

The man tightened his grip on her arm. ' you be staying long' '!' She
made to pull away from him. ' the matter, Maggie? Don't be so cold with
me now, girl! You never used to be." Her anger flared instantly and she
turned towards him. ''s because ...'She stopped, suddenly. ' you had to
be, eht The man released her arm, Noifre a beautiful woman, Maggie.
You've done well for yourself, I admire that. But then I knew you had
guts, I knew that right from the first time.' He moved closer to her and
lowered his voice. ' would have looked after you, you know. if you
hadn't gone off to London like that." She shook her head slowly. ' yout
' ly, owl A I would. He shrugged. ' that's in the past n and it's more
the present I was after talking about.' ' yest ' father was a gambler,
Maggie, a true Tisket to the last." She looked away again.'How much did
he owe youtshe asked coldly.

The man just smiled. ' wasn't really the money I was after. I remember
that you always knew how to pay off your old da'  debts, didn't you,
Maggiet She moved back a- pace, suddenly shocked. She stared at his face
and a look of loathing came over her own. ' me how much he owed you,
Michael, and I will see to it that you're paid.' She made to walk past
him. ' a bit above yourself, have you, Maggiet His. voice sank to a
hiss. '11 end up like all the Deviins, you will, nothing but grief!
You're good for nothing, the lot of YOU!, I "Don't you believe it,
Michael Finney' she said defiantly. ' just wait and see what happens to
the Devlin family!' she held her head up and walked past him, through
the gate and away from the church.

Wait and see, 6,Maggiethe called after her. Wait and see? Oh, III do
that, don't you worry! But I won't get nothing for me pains. I know
that, Maggie, along with the rest of County Clare!'And against the
hushed patter of the rain, he began to laugh. A taunting, ridiculing
laugh.

Part I Francesca - 1989 CHAPTER One FRANCESCA WOKE AT SIX, AS she always
did, to the pale morning light creeping into the room through the uneven
slats in the old wooden shutters. She climbed quickly out of bed, pulled
on a tatty, faded cardigan against the chill of the dawn and crossed to
the window. She threw open the shutters.

The sky outside was a wide, bleached blue, but the narrow streets of
Mitanova were cool and cloaked in shadow, shivering, waiting for the
warm spring sunshine. She breathed in the sharp smell of the new day and
stood, perfectly still for a few moments, listening for sounds of
movement from her father's room next door. There was nothing.

Hastily, she washed her face and hands in icy water from the bowl on the
table, splashed her chest and arms, then dressed, trembling from the
cold and damp on her skin. She bent to fasten her sandals.

Dressed and ready, she walked silently to the door, eased it open and
walked into the small living room she and her father shared above the
print shop. Again, she stood perfectly still and listened for sounds
from her father's room: silence.

She crossed quickly to the stove, shovelled more coal into it and filled
the coffee pot with water. Then she tiptoed to the door of her father's
room and inched it open. He was not there. Turning back, she began to
sing, a high, joyful tune that she had heard in church, but she sang it
quietly, under her breath, afraid to let it out.

Maria Barreu She carried on singing as she swept the small room, made
her coffee, and washed the floor. The light from the sun, low in the
deepening blue sky, fell in a slant across the room and illuminated her
as she worked. She hurried through her tasks, careful, but eager to be
out, before the sun flooded the sky and brought Mitanova to life.

Finally, she was satisfied: the room was scrupulously clean and tidy.
She gathered up her bag, her books, her cardigan and some bread for
breakfast, then crossed silently to the door. She pulled it open,
stepped out onto the top of the stairs - then heard the painful crack of
her father's body as he stumbled and fell heavily against the door. She
froze.

Trying to think quickly, she edged back a pace to look for somewhere to
hide, but he had seen her already. He was at the foot of the stairs and
he shouted up at her drunkenly, swaying and lunging his fist in the air.
She could feel his violence from twenty yards away and her fear rose.

Easing her body along the wall, she managed to slide into the room,
pressing herself into a comer. She closed her eyes, listened to his
footsteps, and waited for the blow.

Stumbling appallingly, her father struggled into the room, knocking over
a small table and a bowl of fruit. He didn't even see her. He cursed and
kicked an apple viciously across the room, then staggered blindly to his
bedroom, banged open the door and fell onto the bed, wine-stained and
dishevelled, reeking of urine and alcohol.

francesca watched him for a moment, then picked up her bag, hugged it to
her chest and ran down the stairs, out of the print shop, into the cool
morning air. She sprinted, as fast as she could go, not daring to slow,
not until she was streets and streets away from her home.

By the time she reached the church square, Francesca had forgotten her
fear. The sun had climbed in the sky and the 12 shadows had begun to
disappear, leaving the square warm and filled with light. She took off
her cardigan and sat on the bench in front of the church for a few
minutes, enjoying the warmth on her bare arms, tilting her face up to
the sun. Then she heard the church clock chime the half-hour and,
hurrying across the square to the Presbytery, she lifted the latch on
the door and let herself in. Father Angelo called out to her. '!
Francesca! Is that you, my childt She walked along the darkened passage
to the old prieses study and pushed open the half-closed door. ',
Father, it's me.' She crossed to him and kissed him lightly on the cheek
as he sat reading the paper.

He patted her hand and looked up at her. Her long dark hair fell over
her shoulders, thick and glossy, and she smiled at him with her funny
half-smile, slightly reserved, selfcontained. She smelled of the
-morning air and at seventeen; she was so young and fresh and beautiful
that just the sight of her made him feel good. ' how are you this
morning, Fra, icesca? Have you brought your books to read to met ''m
fine, Father.' She frowned. ' yes, I have brought my books.' ' girl.' He
shook his finger at her. ''s no point in frowning, little one, you must
practise your English every day, or it goes bad. Every day, you
understandt She nodded. ' day'Then she smiled, opened up her bag and put
the books on the desk. They went through the same ritual every morning.
' time is the boy coming in to lay out Communion?' ' past eight.
Terrible child that he is. I will have to do it all myself after he has
finished, but ...' Father Angelo shrugged and looked down at his watch.
' will give us an hour until then. Come.' He pulled up a chair alongside
1-3 Maria Barrett him. ' and sit here and let me hear your beautiful
English voice." Francesca laughed. ', you are so like your mother,
Francesca. You are more English than Italian, I tell you, a rose. You
are-a rose." He kissed his fingers and she turned to him, the light in
her sharp green eyes clear and bright. She was indeed like her mother,
he thought, so much the same it was little wonder Leno resented her. Ah,
pity she didn't have her mother's influence too, maybe she might have
been able to rid the brute of some of his shameful, drunken violence. '
shall I read, Fathert Father Angelo looked up from his thoughts. ', er,
you choose, my child.' ' Rossetti then,' she said, and picked up the
leather-bound book, opening it at the first page. Elizabeth Cameron, she
read quietly to herself, the inscription on the inside leaf, in her
mother's hand. Elizabeth Cameron.

"Love, strong as Death, is deacl.

Come, let us make his bed Among the dyingflowers ..

Almost an hour later, Father Angelo looked across at Francesca and
waited for her to finish the last poem in the book of verse. Her English
was near perfect, and he smiled at the precise diction.

Old Mrs. Mcbride was a thorough teacher, he thought, God rest her soul,
and his mind wandered off over their years of friendship as Francesca
read on. Daphne Mcbride had been a good ally to him; a knowing
confidante to an old priest tired of his responsibilities to the cloth.
And she'd taught the girl well. No, more than that, she had taught her
brilliantly; just the sound, of Francesca's voice made him 14
Dangeroutobsession picture n E gland and the pale watercolours on Daphne
walls. These things were important. After all, Francesca was half
English. '? You're not listening to ine!" He focused back on the room
again; his mind wandered too often recently ', Francesca my child, I am
sorry What did you say to Met ' I make us some coffee?' ' yes, coffee,
that would be nice. I had better go over the church and check on that
boy, see if h8 remembered ' -Ao wake up in time. You go on into the
kitchen, child, I'll be with you in a few moments." Francesca tucked the
slim volume of verse, along with other books, into her bag. She stood up
and helped father Angelo to his feet. "Mind the kitchen now, Francesca,
you know that Signora Franelli doesift like anyone in her office!'He
smiled and held up his hands. ' mio, give me strength, that woman!"
Francesca smiled and accompanied the elderly priest to e door. She could
just picture the gnarled old spinster flying Father Angelo in his own
home. ' love her really, Father,' she said, laughing. ', yes, of course
I do.' He rolled his eyes. ' you in a ute., And, waving briefly, he
disappeared out into the square, small, dark figure in the sunlight, the
long black skirts of is cassock sweeping over the stones as he hurried
across to -'the church.

Francesca carried on down the darkened, musty passage the kitchen at the
back of the house and began to make e coffee.

15 Mana Barrett- It was just after nine when Francesca left the
Presbytery, Father Angelo had already left for Mass but she stayed
behind to clear away their coffee cups and tidy his studyshe wanted to
save him the wrath of Signora Franelli.

She heard the last of the hourly chimes from the church clock as she
crossed the square and looked up at the belfry as the bells began to
ring for the first Mass of the day. A small crowd of old women moved
together inside the church, huddled and whispering, shrouded in black,
then the square was deserted.

She listened for the silence of the beginning of the Mass, then slung
her, bag over her shoulder and strode across the square, away from the
church, downtowards the coastal road and the blue, glistening sea.

The steep rocky slope was still in shadow when Francesca climbed down
from the road onto it. The coarse grass at the top of the rocks was damp
and slippery but she was slow and precise in her footing - she knew her
way perfectly.

Below her she could see the white of the sand and the deep blue of the
sea, the sunlight dancing in diamond patterns on the water; her heart
quickened. This was her beach. her secret place, undiscovered and
unseen. These were her stolen moments of peace.

jumping down lightly onto the sand, she left hardly a footprint. She
bent and unfastened her sandals, enjoying the warm, soft sand between
her toes, and then stood, surveying the land. The light from the sun was
reflected off the water, warming the air, and she could taste the salt
of the sea on her lips.

Quickly she crossed to a rock and began to undress, neatly folding her
clothes, laying her sandals on top of the little pile. She crossed her
arms overher naked breasts and walked slowly down w the edge of the-
water.

16 Dangzrout Obsession looking out to sea, with the whole sky, the sun
and the ,'Vclear blue water entirely hers she stood for a moment, then '
with the joy of it, Q ran headlong into the waves.

from a ridge on the cliffs, hidden above the beach, Vincenzo Mondello
watched. Lying on his stomach, the ache in his mo grom al st painful in
its intensity, he watched, his eyes scanning the water for the shape of
her as she dived down under the surface of the water and came up gasping
for air.

He watched as she swam to a shallow part of the beach stood up, waist
high in the sea, laughing as the waves over her naked, lithe body, her
long, dark hair wet and clinging in heavy strands to the shape of her
breasts. ,,'She ran out of the surf along the beach, her long strides nd
ty" se ing the sea foam high up into the air, and he rolled over 4,pnto
his back, shielding his eyes from the sun, his mind ' and writhing with
images of her. C", She was like a child, innocent and unashamed, as
natural ' her beauty as the sea and the sky, alive and free. She was e
most beautiful thing Vincenzo had ever seen.

he moved his hand down his body, he listened to. the und of her running
through the waves, and the moment J touched himself he knew once again
that he could not t any longer. It was always the same, for years it had
the same. P Francesca,' he murmured. The images came thick and as he
began to Velease the power inside him and his d swam with every
exquisite stroke of his hand. She nged to him, he took her and
controlled her, and in the pths of his soul and the darkness of his
mind, her beauty spirit were all entirely his.

Francesca walked slowly back to her clothes, letting the rm breeze dry
the salt. water on: her skin, she heard the Matia Barrett cry of a gull
overhead. The boats were in with the catch, and she had to go home.
-Dressing quickly, she picked up her bag and her shoes and carried them
to the edge of the rocks. She looked back at her beach, but it seemed
less inviting now. The fear of going home tainted everything. Slipping
on her sandals, she securedher bag across her b6dy, then began to climb
up the steep rocky cliff, back to the coastal road.

Wi6a heavy heart, she reached the top, looked around to make sure she
had not been seen, then wandered slowly off towards the village, to
another hard and lonely day Only Enzo Mondello watched her go.

CHAPTER Two "4W'j, OM THE COASTAL ROAD, As he climbed up towar the R ds
5 g?,@,i@state, Vincenzo Mondello could see the expanse of land t
belonged to his family. The hillside that rose up steeply to the small
town of tanova was cut by the road and layered with grapevines 4aised
high on arbours, the fruit of the land, the Mondello Ith. His eye
followed the land up, to the whitewashed and stered buildings of the
town, sheltered away from the ep of the wind as it blew in off the
Adriatic. Then up to the further hills of vines, inland, to the bulk of
his Is land: the vintage grapes. He loved to look as far as eye could
see, to think of that land as his, and to pretend t he was master of all
he surveyed. But as he began the trudge up to the small winding road t
would lead him home, he thought grudgingly of the ahead, of his labour
out in the sun with the other I, orkers, of their coarse conversation
and laughter. He ught about the sweat, the rank smell of it, mixed with
heavy odour of the earth and the acid sap of the vines, he thought about
the pain in his back, the cuts on his The reality was harsh. None of it
was his. He was the ddle brother of three and, at twenty-two, he was
master nothing. AD-Droaching the house, he could see Giovanni, his older
ther, in the courtyard in front of it. He was drinking a 19 Mariti
Barrett glass of wine with his coffee and chewing noisily on a crust of
bread. '! Enzo! Where've, you beent Giovanni called out to him, throwing
the remains of his bread down on the ground and kicking it away. ''s
late, you should have been out helping in the fields hours ago!" Enzo
shrugged. As he came closer he could smell his brother: he was still
drunk from last night. ', you've been out all night too, eht Giovanni
slapped Enzo hard on the back and laughed. ' and change, Enzo, get out
to the vines - it should take your mind off your cock for a while, huht
He laughed again and poured the last of his wine out on the ground. '
piss, that stuff.' He spat on the red stain by his feet. ' piss! Vadala
thinks he's got a good grape. Ha!' He looked across at his younger
brother. ' up, Enzo, for God's sake!' Then-he turned and went back into
the house, calling for the housekeeper to make him more coffee.

Enzo stood where he was and watched his brother disappear into the
darkened' interior of the house. He could hear the slur of his Words,
his drunkenness barely concealed, and his face twisted suddenly with
anger. '!'he spat, and went inside to change.

The morning was long and the heat intense for a sprin g day. By the time
the foreman called lunch, Enzo was red and sweating, the skin on his
lean, muscled forearms zore from the sun as it burned, darkening it to a
deep, olive brown. He stood straight and looked down at the vine he was
working on. The tips of his fingers bled where the wood had cut into the
flesh so- he sucked them, cleaning out the cuts.

Picking up his jacket"he made his way to the end of the row and spoke
briefly to'the foreman. Lunch would take 20

ral hours, out of the heat of the midday sun. He was thirsty and hungry
and he wanted to be home, in the pri ,'i'-i! vacy of his own room. He
wanted to think about Francesca.

The walk back to the house took Enzo some time. The air was
uncomfortably warm and dry and he could feel thle sweat on his skin,
irritating him. In the courtyard in ' of the big stone farmhouse he saw
Giuseppe, his brother, sitting on the doorstep, washing grapes -."AT,
younger r lunc 0, look what I got in the village!' Beppe held up a all
unch of imported grapes for Enzo to see, and u e zo smiled distractedly,
his mind full of Francesca. "'Good lad Beppe!' he said, going to step
past him. ' -,.,sure they re really clean now, won't yout But Beppe
laughed delightedly and held up the fruit in. ''re nearly clean already,
Enzol See!' E o bent, to inspect the grapes as Giovanni came up and him.
He suddenly felt the sharp point of his er's boot in his back. '!' But
he fell forward and the s were knocked out of his hand. Beppe scrabbled
on efloor to retrieve them, gritty and dusty fronf the Enzo spun round.
', there's no need ... He pped. Giovanni had already gone into the cool
of the use: any pandering to Beppe made him sick. The A, gest Mondello
brother was a small and beautiful boy of teen, with the mind of a
six-year-old. Beppe dropped the grapes back into the bowl of water put
his face in his hands, and as Enzo ruffled his hair mfortingly, he let
out a low, frustrated cry. Enzo shook his d and followed Giovanni
inside.

21 "Maridbarrett The rooms in the house were cool, and dark, the blinds
drawn against the sun. The dining room was set for lunch, its table
heavy with food. Enzo took a chunk of bread from the basket and wandered
upstairs to his room. He wanted quiet, he wanted to be alone with his
image of Francesca. ', Enzo!" Enzo stopped at the. top of the stairs and
looked back at Giovanni. ' down here!' his brother shouted. ' spend too
much time sulking on your own! Lunch is ready' So Enzo turned, angry and
resentful, and made his way down to the dining room. Giovanni had seated
himself and poured a tumbler of wine from a bottle on the table. He
slopped it onto the white tablecloth, as he overfilled the glass. ' a
seat, brother,' he said, a peculiar smile on his face. Erizo took his
place. ' have some business in the vil-o lage this afternoon, and I'd
like you to stay around the house and watch the office for me.'All
right?' Enzo nodded and Giovanni stood upl. crossing to the door and
shouting out, '! Lunch!" Then he sat back down again, unfolded his
napkin, and tucked it into the neck- of, his shirt,. his large belly
only half covered by it. He took a, chunk of bread and scooped some
pickle onto it, chewing with his mouth open. ' thought you might be
interested in my business, Enzo,'. He spat some of the crumbs from his
mouthful as he spoke, ' all, it's you who's always telling me I need a
wife.' He laughed loudly as Enzols surprise registered. '! Interested
you now, haven't IT But Enzo, turned his face away. ' promise you,
Giovanni,' he answered coldly, ' you might be able to get for a wife
would not interest me in- the slightest.' '?' Giovanni continued to
smile.

22 es, really!' Enzo retorted. Giovanni put down his fork and looked
across at his 55'brother. Enzo's habitual coldness irritated him but he
was f -satisf eeling too self ied today to rise to the bait. ' why don't
you just wait and see, little brotherthe taunted, and reached for the
wine. ' think you might be .11i",-,';nterested in this one!'And then he
laughed at Enzols stony "klice as the housekeeper shuffled into the
room, followed by El Akppe. ' has the atmosphere of death in here!'she
remarked, ' a heavy bowl of steaming pasta on the table and set- the

"Aling Beppe into his seat. She tutted irritably when nei rof 2,,the
brothers stood to help her but she was used to their ,,"rudeness, and
without further comment, she began to serve

"Ahe food. The meat was finished in silent hostility.

i, Giovanni went upstairs to his bedroom after lunch. Usually @-,he
would sleep off his lunchtime excesses in the cool comfort of his room
before he tackled the afternoons work, but , he had important business.
He had a visit to make.

Sweating heavily and full from his lunch, he changed out his overalls
into his Sunday suit, pulling the tight, ""uncomfortable nylon of his
shirt over the swell of his belly and forcing the zip and button on his
fly He belched loudly, then, his stomach settled, he tugged on his
jacket and Slipped his feet into imitation leather loafers. He wouldn't
ther with a tie, his neck was too fat for his collar and he bted if he
could get it done up. Almost ready, he glanced at himself in the mirror,
spat in palms to slick back his hair and picked a bit of meat out f his
teeth with his thumbnail. He turned, buttoned -1hrough his jacket and
left the room.

Enzo was counting stock when he heard the sound of diesel engine on the
Mercedes starting up. Unable to 23 Maria Barrett contain his curiosity,
he walked across to the door of the storeroom and glanced through a gap
in the wood. Giovanni was inside the car.

He watched his brother, red in the face and sweating, yank the gears
into reverse and manoeuvre the car out of the wooden shed. Moments
later, he yanked again, and shifted the car into first. He held up his
hand in a half-wave to Enzo and the sleeve of his Sunday suit was
clearly visible. Enzo was puzzled. Giovanni pulled the wheel of the
battered old Mercedes round and the car chugged off down the sweep of
the drive. Enzo turned away, resentful of his own interest.

In Mitanova, Giovanni parked the car in a small alleyway close to the
Niccoli print shop and climbed out. He smoothed the crumpled fabric of
his suit and again wiped his brow on his handkerchief. He was unused to
wearing a suit and he was sweating profusely in it. Self-conscious and
uncomfortable, he made his way up to the print shop, entering quietly
and standing for several minutes before coughing to attract Francescas
attention.

Francesca was working on the portrait of a small child in the village
when she heard Giovanni's guttural sound. She was deep in concentration
and she looked up startled, not aware that anyone had come in. She
placed the worked plate on the table and stood up, going through to the
front of the shop. ' I help yout she asked, looking briefly at Giovanni,
before turning to busy herself with a stack of Easter cards on display.
Her father had told her never to appear too anxious to serve and this
fierce instruction, coupled with her shyness, had made her uneasy with
people in the shop. She fiddled nervously. ', actually, you can.'
Giovanni stared at the back of' 24

her, the fullness of her body just apparent under the blue cotton of her
dress. He swallowed hard, feeling his excitement rise.

He cleared his throat. ' father said that I could come in today to see
you. I have something to ask you." She turned back, surprised. ' Yes,
you.' He moved forward. ' father has given me permission to ask you to
come out with me.' Giovanni tried to smile but he was unused to
pleasantries and the smile was false and lewd. ' I've come to ask you to
come out to dinner with me, tomorrow evening." Francesca stood where she
was and looked incredulously across at the young man in front of her.
Giovanni Mondello. She knew him by sight, knew of his reputation in the
village, and of Father Angelo's opinion, but she had never spoken to him
before; the idea repulsed her. She shook her head and turned away from
his intrusive gaze. ''m sure you must be mistaken,' she said quietly. '
father never.'.. I'm sure you must be mistaken." Giovanni smiled again,
this time openly, a conceited gnin. ', I'm not mistaken.' Then he
laughed and, unable to find his handkerchief, wiped his face on the
sleeve of his jacket. ' father did give me permission, but he was drunk
last night. I bet he forgot to tell you! Probably hasn't even rolled out
of bed yet? Hav Heinched closer to Francesca. ''ll remember our words,
though.' Giovanni knew that Leno's debt was far too high this time for
him to forget them. He leaned forward. ' gave me his blessing,
Francesca." She could smell the stale wine on his breath. ''m really not
sure if .. Giovanni touched her cheek with a hot, damp finger. ' -course
you're not, pretty one, I wouldn't like it any way.'He pinched the flesh
on her face and then let his 25 Maria Barrett hand drop down to his
side, brushing past her breast. She moved back a pace, repulsed. ' ask
your father, Francesca, check up on me if you like, and I will call for
you tomorrow night at seven.' He turned towards the door and she saw the
faint dark line of sweat on the back of his jacket. He opened the door.
' then, at seven." She looked at him blank-faced, unable to answer.
Moments later, he was gone.

Running to the door, she fastened it after him and turned, sinking back
against the glass. She felt sick with apprehension. Her father had never
let her go out with anyone. But Giovanni Mondello? He was disgusting, a
fat, clumsy thug, a drinker and a gambler. She rubbed at the patch of
skin on her face where he had touched her and shivered. She couldn't
believe it, it made no sense.

But, as she heard the heavy creak of her father's footsteps on the floor
overhead, and waited for the harsh sound of his voice, she knew that
very little made sense in her life. She jumped when he shouted. '!
Francesca?' ', Papa?' She hurried towards the stairs. ' Mondello been
yett She swallowed. ' ...'her voice came out as a whisper and she saw
the dark shadow of her father's bulk at the top of the stairs. ' did you
sayt He held onto the wall and swayed slightly. ', he ...' She cleared
her throat. ' was here a few minutes ago ...'She stopped. ' said I was
to go out with him ... tomorrow.' ' Leno Niccoli turned back into the
little room. ''s what you'll do,' he said over his shoulder. He couldwt
bear the sight of his daughter, so earnest and hum- 26
Dangerous'Dbsessio ble; she nauseated him. He shut the door to the
stairs on her and the small passage was suddenly in darkness.-4Francesca
backed away into the shop. She leaned against the desk for support and
closed her eyes. The thought of Mondello revolted her, but fear of her
father was stronger than any other feeling, 27 CHAPTER Three THE SQUARE
WAS STILL WARm at five. Leno Niccoli crossed it to the small caft
opposite the church, the late afternoon sun on his back and the light
reflected off the pale stone underfoot in his eyes. His head hurt and he
resented the spring heat; there was no joy in it for him. He walked
silently past the small group of old men sitting out in the sun and
entered the cafe. He went quickly up to the bar. His mouth was dry and
he needed a drink. '.'The owner of the cafe greeted him bluntly He was
not welcome here and he knew it; that made it all the more satisfying. '
bottle of brandy, please." The owner looked at him and shook his head.
', Leno, I'm not serving you., He moved back slightly. Leno Niccoli made
him nervous: he was trouble, violent trouble.

Leno shrugged. He took out a wad of tire from his pocket and placed, it
on the bar. ' much do I owe you, Marottat The bar owner glanced down at
the money ' hundred and twenty thousand lire.' He watched the money, as
if he expected it to vanish any minute. ' yours, Niccolit Leno nodded.
He took several notes from the stack and placed them on the bar. '
bottle of brandy, please.' He walked across to a side table and sat
down. He had paid his debt here now; Marotta 28 Dangerous Obsession
could bring it over. It was time he was treated with a little respect.

Alone for a while, Francesca sat in her room by the open window and
listened to the vibrant sounds of the street below. She loved them: they
made up for the silence in her life. The last of the light lingered,
falling across the bare wooden floor in a thin slice, its warmth
comforting in the dull, shabby room.

On her lap she held a small blue box tied with a white ribbon, and she
ran her finger over an dover the smooth marbled card of it as if
touching something precious. She took off the lid and took out the
mementoes of her mother.

The collection was small'and worn, a few black-and white snaps, a letter,
and a tiny pencil sketch drawn by her father, a portrait of her mother.
It was exquisite. She took it out of the box and looked down at it, the
fine, sensitive lines of it, the beauty of the face so obviously drawn
with intense love. She read the inscription and closed her, eyes. '
Elizabeth on the birth of our darling daughter, Francesca. I love you
both, Leno." She whispered the words over an dover; she wanted so much
to believe in them. For years she had kept them close to her heart,
desperate, in the hard, violent face of the truth, to have something to
give her hope. Her father had once loved her, and blindly. she went dn
trusting that somehow, m some way, he still did.

She placed the drawing back in the box and took out the photographs,
torn and tattered, black and white, smiling, laughing faces. Her father,
painting in his studio in Rome; the new print shop. in Mitanova; her
mother, tall, fair and English, serene and lovely, cool, even. in the
heat of the southern Italian sun. She saw herself, a child, loved and
adored, and it made no sense to her at all. She ached at the -29 Matia
Barreu loss of it all. Then suddenly, looking up, she heard the noise of
her father's footsteps in the street below. Her heart stopped.

He staggered and must have fallen because she heard a crashing and then
shouting, the shrill, angry cry of a womaws voice. He swore and spat and
again she heard the shouting. Minutes later, the door of the shop opened
and he stumbled inside. She panicked, jumped up suddenly and the box
fell to the floor, its contents scattering. She knelt to pick them up
but she was not quick enough. '! Francesca! Where the hell are yout Her
father flung open the door of her room and stood, dark and menacing,
glowering down at her. ' in Christ's name are you ... THe caught a
glimpse of the portrait on the floor. ''s this ... THe crossed the room
in a flash and bent, seizing Francesca's wrist. She cried out in pain. '
that here!' He wrenched her arm, twisting it. ' -it! What is itt She
held the portrait tight in her fist, wincing at the pain. As he twisted
her arm, he leaned down towards her and she could smell the brandy on
his breath. ' it to me, you little bitch!' At last he pulled it free,
ripping the comer. Francesca cried out helplessly. ' did you get this,
you thief?'He pushed her away and looked down at the floor. ' else have
you stolen from met He had begun to shout. ' me! What else is theret
Trembling, she collected the small pile of things together and handed
them over. She hung her head, afraid to look at him.

And then suddenly he hit her, hard across the cheek, and she fell back.
The pain in his face was ghastly. ' dare you touch thes@ things? How
dare you! Get up!'He dragged her to her feet. ' up and get dressed!', He
30 Dang . pulled her towards the door and she stumbled. Still holding her
possessions, he hauled her out of her room. '! Here's where these belong
He opened the lid of the stove and held the photographs over the fire.
'! No!' Francesca lunged forward but Leno held her arm painfully. ',
Papa! Please don'tv He threw the things into the stove. ', Papa!' She
tried to hold back the tears.

A bright flame licked the opening of the stove and her fragile memories
burned. ', Francesca - they're my memories, they donl belong to you and
I ...'He had begun to shake. ' ... I cawt stand the sight of them!' He
dropped her arm. ' get dressed. Get ready for Mondello.' He looked
across at her, his eyes hard and dark. Wear that dress I left out for
you, and try to make yourself look attractive. Youre a mess, you don't
even look your age.' He stared at her for a moment, and then he walked
through to his room and slammed the door. She heard him slump down on
his bed and then the loud, droning noise of the television.

Determined not to cry, she took a jug of water from the side and went
through to change.

At exactly seven that evening, Giov anni Mondello rang the bell of the
print shop and stood outside, smoothing the crumpled front of his jacket
down over his swelling belly. He looked up at the scruffy building and
felt a smug sense of satisfaction: any girl would be pleased to swap
this for his house; Francesca had a lot to be grateful for.

He waited for a couple of minutes and then rang again, more insistently
this time. He was impatient, a Mondello was never kept waiting. And
besides, he was doing Niccoli a big favour: he was due some
consideration.

A few moments later, he heard light footsteps on the I stairs and wiped
his oily forehead quickly with the palm of ' hand. He saw Francesca
through the plate glass as she hurried across to the door to unlock it
and smiled at her through the window. She nodded in reply. ',
Giovanni.'. She pulled open the door and he stepped inside. , ' evening,
Francesca.' He bowed, in what he considered to be a gesture of infinite
grace, and glanced down at her bare legs below the short hem of her
skirt.

Francesca pulled her dress down shyly and moved awayhe made her feel
very uncomfortable. ' you don't mind waiting, I'll just go and get my
bag, she said, trying to cover the dress with her bare arms, pulling
them tight around her. She turned towards the stairs. ''s no need,'
Giovanni said sharply ''ll pay for everything.' She glanced back and saw
him look long and hard at the full curve of her breasts above the tight
low neckline of the dress.. He moved towards her, his excitement high,
and put his sweaty hand on the bare skin of her shoulder. ' on, let's
not waste any more time,' he said., He smiled and opened the door,
waiting for her to pass close to him. ' evening is all ours,' he
commented, theheat of his breath touching her cheek-And I'm, hoping we
can really get to know each other.' Francesca nodded and shuddered in
the cool night air.

It took nearly an hour to drive to Barletta. It was the first main town
they came to along the coast and Giovanni knew it well - he gambled.
there-He drove to the Via Sipontina and swung the Mercedes carelessly up
onto the pavement, tooting his horn at some children, frightening them
out of the way He had booked a table at Baccals, Leaning over Francesca,
he opened her door for her, brushing his bodyz 32 Dangerous Obseision,
up against her, and then clambered out of the car, pullirig his jacket
over the seat of his trousers, which was shiny from sweat and wear. '
restaurant is the best, Francesca,'he said. ' know my way around the
menu like an expert. Come, it's over here." She followed him, pulling
down her dress and tucking her arms around her to hide her appearance.
She had never been to a restaurant and her nerves flared, making her
seem gauche and ill at ease. She stood behind Giovanni as he spoke to
the patron and then trailed him to their table. She felt wrong, wrong
and embarrassed.

When they arrived at their table Giovanni called loudly across the
restaurant. '! Waiter!'Several heads turned to see the commotion and
-the waiter came straight over. '?, ' table is too open, waiter, we'd
like something more intimate.' Giovanni smiled knowingly and the waite r
glanced at Francesca, took in the tight red dress, then smiled back. '
course, signore,'he said. ' me, please.' He led the way across the floor
to a table hidden away in a small dark comer. ',' Giovanni said. He
slipped ten thousand lire into the waiter's top pocket and winked. '
bottle of your house wine, please, and some water for Signorina Niccoh."
The waiter moved off. ', and we'll call you when we're ready'He glanced
at Francesca. ''d like to be left alone, we have some important things
to discuss.' The waiter nodded knowingly and Francesca glanced down,
embarrassed. ' here, Francesca,' Giovanni said, pointing to the tight
space in the comer. He sat himself down without waiting for her.

33 -Mana Barrat - Move a little closer.' He picked up his napkin and
wiped his face with it while he waited for her to adjust her seat ''s
better." His close proximity heightened her anxiety He smelled faintly
unpleasant and she could see the sweat on his forehead. ', Francesca,- I
know that you're impressed by this place but I don't want you to think
that I come to restaurants every night of the week. Oh no! I do have
money, admittedly, quite a bit of money, but I'm not a spendthrift. No,
tonight is special. I have something to tell you that I thought deserved
the right setting. Something important.' He placed his hand over hers on
the table. ', I might as well get down to business before the meal
arrives - I like to concentrate on eating when the food comes, you
know.' He ran his tongue over his teeth under his lip, clearing the spit
from his mouth. ', your father has assured me that you are a good girl,
you work hard and you cook well. This I'm pleased about, I like my food,
you see.' He smiled, patting his belly. ' you're pretty too, I wasn't
expecting that. Not that I'd have any old dog. No, no, don't get me
wrong, I'm as fussy as the next man, but you have ...' he rubbed his
thumb over her hand and pinched the flesh, ' attributes that surprised
me.' His hand crept up her arm and she looked down at it, horrified. She
pulled away from him. ', too. I like thad' He laughed and dropped his
hand. ', I've offered your father eight million lire for your hand in
marriage and he has accepted. He is somewhat in debt to me at the moment
and I've also agreed to cancel the outstanding sums. In fact, I've
already made him an advance payment." He looked across at Francesca
face. She was staring at him with open shock.

34 Dangerous Obsession "Now, Francesca, I know it a lot of money, but I
think that you will be worth it in the long run. Look here ...'He took a
notebook out of his pocket and opened it at a pagee full of
calculations. He began to run his finger down a column of figures. '!'
Francesca stood up. ' is impossible! It can't be true!' She looked down
at Giovanni, fat and repulsive, and began to tremble. ', you've made a
mistake, Signore Mondello! You must have!' She started to move away from
the table. ' must go home, I must speak to my fatheff People in the
restaurant had begun to stare as she spoke. Her voice was high and
shrill, full of panic. ' down and shut up!' Giovanni snarled, grabbing
her arm.

She did as she was told. She recognised the violence in his voice and it
chilled her to the core. ' listen to me, Francesca! The deal is made,
your father owes me a hell of a lot of money and he can't pay it, it's
as simple as that. We agreed on a price and he's already taken half the
money. As far as I'm concerned, thatis as good as a contract and if he
breaks that contract, I'll come down on him like a ton of bricks. You do
understand that, dont yout He still held her arm and she felt the
pressure of his nails dig into her flesh. ' wouldn't want your father to
get into trouble, would you? Or yourself, for that mattert Silently she
shobk her head; she was trapped. She felt his fingers relax their grip
and stroke where they'd hurt. She couldn't bear to look at him. ' girl.'
He pressed his leg against hers and his other hand moved under the table
to her thigh. ' you just sit here quietly and enjoy your meal. We have a
lot of things to talk about, Francesca." 35 Maria Barrett She felt his
hot, sweaty fingers on her bare skin and choked back the tears. She felt
sick. ' ''s more like it.' He smiled as the tip of his thumb stroked
the. edge of her panties.

I ' father said you were a good girl." It was after midnight when
Francesca rang the bell of the shop and waited for her father to let her
in. There was a sharp chill in the night air and she shivered in the red
dress, rubbing her arms to keep warm. She was weary and wretched; she
felt defeated, lost.

On her shoulder there was the beginnings of a small bruise where
Giovanni had held her down as he kissed her; the strap of her dress was
torn and her hair dishevelled. She slumped against the shop front, her
whole body heavy and numb, aching with misery. , heard her father
stumble down the stairs and the lights in the shop came on. She
shuddered in the glare, not wanting to be seen. As he opened the door,
she tried to slip past him, her head hanging down, her arms wrapped
round her body, shivering and pathetic. '!' He caught her as she went
past. He seemed to want to look at her, to further her humiliation. '
Mondellor got, What he wanted then.' He flicked her shoulder with his
finger and she winced at the pain. ' do you think of your future husband
then? Huh? You like him, I think.' He ran his hand over her tangled
hair. ' by this. Eht He looked down at her face and for a moment he
softened. ' will make a good wife, Francesca,'he said quietly.

And suddenly she broke down. It was his softness that shattered her. '
Papa!' she cried. ', please say it's not true, please.' All her strength
had dissolved and she began to 36 Dangerous Obsession weep, tears
streaming down her face. ' cannot marry this man, please, Papa, I cannot
love, him!' She reached out to touch her father. ' don't make me marry
him, Papa, Please! Say it's not true!" But as she looked up at him, her
hand outstretched, she saw a look of such violent hatred in his face
that she started physically and moved back. ''s true, Francesca,' he
said, his voice harsh. ' care no othing for you, I might as well be rid
of you. At least I got a good price!' He moved towards her and she
cowered under his height. ' good are you to me, eh?'He caught her hair.
Why should I be reminded, every minute of every day, what you did to me,
how you killed the only two things I ever loveff He pulled her hair and
she cried out.

Why?' He leaned close to her and spat the question. '? Tell me!' ''t say
that to me, Papa!' she cried. ''t!' ' not? I hate you!' He yanked her
hair back so that he could see her face. ' eyes, your skin, even the
smell of you reminds me of her, of what you murdereff ', Papa, please!"
He let her go suddenly and she slumped to the floor. ' out of my sight!'
he shouted. ' hate you, I caret wait to be rid of you! Marry Mondello,
do something for once, to atone for your terrible crime!" And, turning
his back on her, he walked across to the stairs and left her weeping
bitterly on the floor.

37 CHAPTER Four FATHER ANGELO HURRIED ALONG THE street, head down the
long black skirts of his cassock billowing out 1;;i"n him. It was
mid-morning in Mitanova. The sun was warm and the women of the village
were outside their houses, washing and chattering, preparing food. He
hardly saw anything. He merely nodded in reply to greetings called out
to him as he rushed- towards the Via Diomede.

Finally reaching the print shop, halfway along the street, he rang the
bell loudly and called out for Francesca. He had no fear of Leno's rage
this morning; his concernwas too great to consider Niccoli. Something
had happened to Francesca and he had to know what it was. I He waited
for several minutes and then he called again. The rooms above the shop
were dark and closed and his anxiety increased. '! Are you there?'He
tried the door of the shop, rattling the handle noisily, and found that
it swung open under his touch. Hevent inside. '!';, Slowly, he crossed
to the staim and began to make his way up. The passage was dark but, the
door at the top was half open and he could see the faint glow of an
electric light. He carried on, calling out quietly to Francesca as he
climbed.

At the top, he pushed open the door and stepped into the small living
room. It was empty of people, everything in its place, scrupulously
clean and tidy. The light came from 38 Dangemus Obsession Francesca's
room and he walked across and knocked IW on the door. He waited for an
answer but none came, s Io, carefully and noiselessly, he eased the door
open and peered inside.

There he saw Francesca. She was kneeling on the floor, folding her few
items of clothing and packing them into a small cardboard box. She
looked small and frail; her body seemed without form, as if she had no
life left inside her. ' She turned her face and Father Angelo saw the
red, ugly swelling of her weeping, the pain in her eyes. She looked at
him helplessly for a few moments and then turned back to her task. He
walked across to her and placed his hand on her head, gently stroking
her hair. ' poor child, I had prayed it wasn't true.' He felt her
tremble and he bent and pulled her to her feet. He held her and she wept
silently, the sobs strangled in her throat, a testimony to all her years
of hidden sorrow.

When she was quiet, he led her to the chair and sat her down. He faced
her, and held out his handkerchief. ' you tell me why, Francesca7 Why7'
She hung her head, twisting the handkerchief between her fingers. '
Mondello came this morning, I knew something had happened to you. I knew
that you could not accept such a man of your own free will.' He knelt
and took her hands in his own, stilling them. ' me, child, what is it?
Why have you agreed to marry Mondellot Finally she looked up. Why nott
she asked quietly, Father Angelo stood straight. He walked to the window
and threw open the shutters, letting the harsh morning 39 Maria Barrett
flood into the ro6m. Francesca put her hand up to shield her face. '!.'
He answered. ' whole life ahead of you! Look at the day, Francesca,
bright and new! What about all that? What about your drawing, all your
beautiful work, your dreams to go to England? And the language, all that
Mrs. Mcbride, taught you, all those lessons? You've learned so much!' He
faced her but he could see that she was not listening to him. ' She
glanced up. She was looking at him but her eyes were strangely
withdrawn, as if the girl he knew had retreated, had somehow ceased to
exist. ' always knew, didn't youtshe said. ''s why you have looked after
me, because you knew about it, you tried to stop it hurting me." He was
confused. What do you mean? What is "it "T ' thought it was the drink
that did it, I thought .. ' is "it"? What do you meant ' hatred of me,'
she said. It was a statement of fact, without resentment or self-pity. '
has hated me all my life.' ', Francesca!' Father Angelo wanted to go to
her, to touch her, but as he moved forward she flinched and he stopped
dead. ' is grief, not hatredi'he whispered. ',' she said calmly. ' is
hatred. I have seen it, and I have felt it.' She rubbed at the mark on
her wrist. ' know, I always believed that he never meant it when he hurt
me. It didn't matter, you see, the bruises and the pain, not if he loved
me. They were bearable if he loved1me, evenjust a scrap." Father Angelo
looked away. To hear her speak like this was beyond bearing. ', please.
Don't say such things, please.' ' am not afraid of the truth, Father,
and I am not afraid 40 Dangerous Obsession of Mondello.' She shrugged. '
should I care? I haw, nothing here, he even destroyed my photographs, my
memories. What can Giovanni Mondello do that has not been done to me
alreadyt ', my dear, sweet child.' He felt helpless, she was like-. a
small puppy that had been kicked so often that it had not the strength
to get up. it just lay and waited for the next blow. ', will you promise
me something?.' He crossed to her and placed his hand on her shoulder,
looking down at her face. She avoided his gaze. '. Promise me that if
ever you want anything, anything at all, you will come to me.' He tilted
her chin up and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were blank and he
could see his own reflection in them. ' me." She closed her eyes and for
a moment he thought she would break. But she sat perfectly still, hardly
breathing, and then she said, ' promise." It was late in the morning
when Giovanni returned. to the house, in his cheap Sunday suit, crumpled
and baggy from the previous two days'wear. He had been to see the priest
and then to the bank. He parked the Mercedes carelessly in the courtyard
and climbed out, calling loudly for the housekeeper. He was flushed with
the heat of his excitement. ' He took off his jacket and wiped his palm
under his armpits to dry off some of the sweat. '? Helloo! Signora!' He
wandered into the house and continued calling for her.

Enzo watched him from behind the door of the side barn. He had not been
to work that morning, he had been waiting for Giovanni. His brother was
up to something and he wanted to find out what it was. He pulled open
the door 41 Maria Barrett out into the sunshine. He could hear Giovanni
in in the house and suspicious envy flooded his He followed his brother
inside. '! Enzo!' Giovanni had just finished his telephone call and he
swallowed the last gulp of his brandy as he put the receiver down. ''re
back early' Enzo -shrugged. He didn't see why he had to make excuses to
his brother.

Unexpectealy, Giovanni smiled. ', well, couldn't wait to congratulate
me, huht He watched the confusion on Enzols face with delight. ' am
getting married, little brotheff he announced, and slapped Enzo hard on
the back. He began to laugh. ' thought that would surprise you! Pleased
for me, are you, eht He pinched Enzo. '? Little brother ... eh? ... eht
Enzo pulled back abruptly ' offi' he shouted. He rubbed his arm. ', in a
bad temper again, are we?' Giovanni had stopped smiling. ''d better
learn some manners, Enzo, for my new bride.' He walked away, through to
the dining room, and poured himself another brandy. Enzo followed. He
didn't want to ask, but he couldn't stop himself. ' is it thent He
watched Giovanni turn and waited for the answer. He saw a slow, leering
smile come over his brother33 lips. It was a moment that he would
remember all his life. ' Niccoli,' Giovanni replied.

For a split second Enzo saw nothing. His mind filled with a deep, dark,
red as the shock and anger washed over him. And then, he saw Francesca.

Her naked body was in front of him, so close and so real that he almost
reached out to touch her, his excitement instant and powerful. But she
laughed at him, ridiculing 42 Dangerous'Obsession him, making him feel
small and then suddenly, she disappeared. Giovanni stood before -him,
fat and repulsive, laughing and sneering. ''s the matter, little
brother? A touch of jealousy, maybet He poked Enzo hard in the ribs.
''ve seenmy future wife then, have yout He turned to walk aw ay,
stilllaughing. ' The shout came from deep within Enzo as he lunged
forward and grabbed Giovanni from behind. He pulled him back. ' could
she marry someone like yout he shouted. '? Tell me! Howt He was shaking
Giovanni, his rage out of control.

But -the blow.. was quick, hard and vicious. It knocked him sideways. '
... ? How ... T Giovanni towered over him, his hand raised. He paused,
and in that instant his violence died. His hand dropped to his side. '
up!' he growled.

Enzo scrambled to his feet. ''t you ever ...'Giovanni stopped and took a
breath. ''t you ever insult me like that again! Dyou understandt He
stared at Enzo. ' you understandt He moved towards his brother and En2b
nodded. It wasn't the first time Giovanni had hit him. He knew better
than to argue back. '.' Giovanni stepped back a pace. ' get out of my
sight!" Enzo turned to go. ', and Enzot ' looked back, trying to conceal
a sudden surge of hatred. ' own this vineyard. just you remember thad'
43 CHAPTER Five AT SEVEN-THIRTY ON THE FOLLOWING Friday morning,
Giovanni barged into his brother's room. He crossed to the window,
opened the shutters, squinting at the glare, and then turned towards
Enzo's bed. ' up!'he ordered. '!" Enzo rolled over and put his hand up
to his eyes to keep out the sunlight. He saw Giovanni. ' the hell ... T,
' said, get up!'Giovanni stood looking down at him and scowled. ' should
ITEnzo closed his eyes. ' told you, I'm not coming.' He turned onto his
side, away from Giovanni. ' you are.' Giovanni walked -over to the bed
and pulled off the covers. ', get up. Father Angelo just rang me and
told me Leno Niccoli has disappeared." Enzo still lay there. '?' '
you're coming to my wedding, whether you like it or not. Francesca has
no one else, She needs to be collected and brought to the church and she
needs someone to give her away. You!' He poked Enzo in the back. ' it?"
Enzo sat up. He looked up at Giovanni and enjoyed the look of panic he
saw. ' if I refuse?" Giovanni shook his head. ' a question of family
honour, Enzo,' he said coldly. ''m not going to be made a fool of by
that swine. You won't refuse.- Understand?' And then he turned and
crossed the room. He glanced back from the door. ', can't you be
pleasant, eh? just for one day7 It is my wedding day' 44 Dangerow
obsmion Enzo felt a piercing stab of jealousy and hatred. Ifeah , all
right,' he answered as evenly as he could, but his heart raged with
bitterness.

Giovanni left the room and Enzo listened to his clumsy, heavy footsteps
along the passage. Moments later, he hurled the glass from his bedside
violently at the wall and watched as it smashed and shattered into a
thousand tiny pieces.

The print shop on the Via Diomede was empty and closed up when Enzo
arrived at ten that morning. He glanced up at the building and saw just
one light on, in a room at the front. The rest of the place looked
deserted. Knocking loudly, he called up at the lighted window and
waited. Edgily, he turned away from the building to look down the street
and began to whistle. When he turned back, several minutes later,
Francesca was standing inside the shop, silently waiting. She made him
jump.

Unlocking the door, she pulled it open and stepped outside. Close up to
her, in the bright morning sunshine, Enzo saw how her hair gleamed and
her skin flushed with embarrassment and nervousness. The pale blue
starched cotton of her dress smelled fresh and clean and her bare legs
and arms were covered in fine pale hair. She looked like a child to him,
more innocent and more beautiful than he had ever imagined her.

They looked at each other for a moment, without speaking, and then he
held out his arm for her. ' brother is waiting for you,'he said quietly.
The touch of her hand on his arm filled him with confusion and he felt
unsteady. The excitement of her pulsed powerfully through him, its
intensity making him nauseous. ' ...' His voice failed him and he
cleared his throat painfully. ' you readyt She nodded.

45 Maria. Rarrett Where are your thingst ' Father Angelo's.' He glanced
behind him at the shop, wanting to prolong the moment, not knowing what
to do. Then he saw that she was watching him uneasily.

We should go,' he said. Tes.' She seemed cold and emotionless. Only her
trembling hands gave her away He tucked her arm in his and finally they
moved off down the street. Several of the women watched them go from the
open front doors and the balcony windows in the Via Diomede, but none of
them called out their congratulations.

Francesca Niccoli went to her own wedding sad and alone and the people
of Mitanova watched on in perverse silence.

When the dusk of the evening came, Francesca was relieved: the day had
been almost unbearable. She sat on the front step of the house with
Beppe and watched the sun drop in the sky, taking with it the heat, and
leaving the air cool and thin. The light gradually faded and the
darkness spread, pressing the land into shadows. She listened to the
hush all around her and wished it was in her heart. She could not still
the fear Giovanni aroused inside her.

The farmhouse behind her was dark and lifeless. Her husband had. been
gone for hours and she waited, as she had been told to do, not knowing-
where he was or why he had gone. The meal that had been prepared for
them lay cold and uneaten on the dining-room table and her small, tatty
pile of things sat, still unpacked, in the hall. He had simply brought
her back after the wedding, taken her luggage into the house and then
driven off with Enzo.

46 Dangewtis Obs6sim I-laughing, he had told her to be ready for him
whefihe returned, but the thought of it terrified and repulsed her. So
she just sat where she was; afraid, but strangely resolute. She knew
that despite what she had to face, even if her courage failed her, her
will would not.

it was nearly midnight. The surrounding silence had lulled her and when
she heard the noise of the Mercedes' diesel engine, Francesca started.

Giovanni swung the big black car carelessly into the courtyard and
yanked on the handbrake. The car shuddered to a halt. Unsteadily, he
climbed out and slammed the door shut, looking over at Francesca.

What are you doing still upt He moved forward and his shadow in the
moonlight loomed over her, menacingly huge. ' told you to be ready for
me." Francesca glanced across at him. He was drunk, but he held it well.
' ... I didn't know what you meant,' she hed.

Giovanni smiled. ' upstairs and get yourself ready for bed,'he answered.
''ll be up in a few minutes." But she sat where she was, too frightened
to move. ' on" he persisted. ' will show you where to go; I've moved us
into Mamma's old room, the bed is bigger.' He touched her cheek with his
hot, fat finger and his hands smelled stale. She recoiled and he saw her
repulsion and fear. His goo6 humour vanished. ' up and go with Beppe! Go
on, before I lose my patience." She scrambled to her feet, moving back,
away from him. He reached out and took hold of her shoulder.

Trancescap He squeezed it and leaned close. '!' His eyes were hard and
glazed and she saw a harsh excitement in them. His hand moved up to her
neck and stroked the 47 -Maria Barrea beneath her hair; his quickened
breath touched her cheek. ', go.',He dropped his hand down to his
crotch. ' on:' He fiddled with his fly. ' won't be long." She struggled
with her disgust for several moments and then she looked towards Beppe,
who was inside the hall. She was blocked between the two. Turning
towards the house, she took a deep breath and struggled to control her
trembling. ' up!'he growled.

She stepped inside the dark, empty house and followed Beppe up the
stairs.

Enzo walked up the long drive, nearing the house, his solitary figure
weaving amongst the shadows of the trees. He had left Giovanni to walk
back alone, unable to stand the thought of seeing Francesca, of watching
her go up to her wedding night with his brother. Unable to bear his
intense and writhing jealousy.

He listened to the dark silence as he walked. It calmed him and filled
his mind. Yes, the silence was good; it was all around him, clear and
sharp, making his footsteps and even his breathing an. intrusion. Enzo
felt like the only person alive in the night.

And then suddenly, he heard the cry. It rang out into the clear air,
painful and echoing, an eerie, almost animal sound, shocked and
desperate. He stopped and listened hard. Moments later, it came again.
Only this time it was weaker, defeated, and in an instant he knew what
it was. He covered his face with his hands and tried to block out the
terrible images of Francesca that ran through his mind. He sank to the
ground, - Curling himself up against the pain, he rocked back and forth,
his voice humming one tone, his head buried in his 48: Dangerous Mush
arms. She was his, she belonged to him. But still he could hear it. The
quiet sobbing went on and on, driving him insane. There was no escape
from it.

On it went, until it overwhelmed him and filled him with a rage so
suffocating that he struggled for breath. On and on, until it existed
only in his head, where it would remain forever, shattering all his
rational thought, and con- trolling his life.

49 CHAPTER I six THE WARMTH OF APRIL CONTINUED into May and the days in
Apulia grew longer and hotter. Already the soil was beginning to crack,
dry and hard underfoot, and the vines needed constant attention. The
fatigue of the unexpectedly hot weather began to take its toll and
patience weakened.

Leno Niccoli was found, washed up on the beach, bloated and half eaten
away by the sea, a bottle of brandy in his pocket, almost empty. The
village gossiped for a while and speculation fuelled the interest, but
an inquest decided he had fallen from the cliffs, drunk and incapable. A
death by drowning.

To Francesca, the weary tolerance of it all was natural. She was
bitterly unhappy but she was resigned to this; she was frightened and
alone but she had never known anything else. She accepted a life that
she could not change; she had no other choice. And going about her daily
tasks silently and carefully, she watched her husband meticulously and
charted the course of her life through his violent mood swings and bouts
of drinking. She managed all right, escaped some of the humiliation, and
she found a friend in Beppe.

In the space of one short month, Francesca Mondello grew up.

It was dinner time and Giovanni sat at the head of the table, looking
across at his wife as she collected the soup bowls, her head bent and
silent, hardly glancing at him. He 50 Dangerous Obsession watched her,
resenting the droop of her shoulders, the cool, wary expression in her
eyes and the thin line of her mouth. She never smiled, never laughed,
she was tense and rigid under him and she flinched at his touch.'She
tried to hide it but he knew; he knew her type.

She was useless, dull and frigid, she was worth only the money he had
saved on the housekeeper. She was a disappointment to him. He had hardly
touched her the past month. it wasn't worth the bother. it infuriated
him, every time he saw her pitiful expression, that he still had to pay
for any decent pleasure. He took a gulp of his wine and called across
the table to her. She looked up nervously. ' up with the food, will yout
He saw her -glance sidelong at Beppe, who jumped up and took the bowls
from her, carrying them out to the kitchen. Their silent communication
angered him. They were always at it, talking, whispering together. She
paid more attention to that dimwit of a boy than she did to her husband,
but he noticed, oh yes, he noticed. '! Come here!" She turned from the
door and hesitated. ' dinner ... "Come here, I said.'He put down his
glass and moved his chair back. His belly hung over the belt of his
trousers and his shirt was sweat-stained. He held out his arms.

She crossed the room and stood before him. She could not bring herself
to move forward into his embrace. She had to wait for him to pull her;
it was the only way. She stared down at the ground, fighting back the
revulsion that rose in her throat. ' ...' He put one hand up to her
breast and cupped it, squeezing roughly, then pulled her close with his
other hand. He wanted a little affection; he was entitled to it. She
swallowed hard and bit the inside of her lip.

51 Mariabarrett sus! Canl you at'least show a little pleasuret Giovanni
pushed her back roughly and she cracked her hip on the side of the
table. -She cried out briefly but he lifted his hand threateningly ' the
hell ... T Enzo stood in the door and glared at his brother. Francesca
edged back as Giovanni looked over her shoulder and instantly dropped
his hand. Enzo came into the room. ''t you leave the poor girl alone for
five minutes?'He took Francesca's arm and she buckled slightly under his
touch. He could feel her pulse just beneath the surface of her skin and
the sudden contact with her inflamed him. ' hell Giovanni hated the
sight of her weakness; his anger suddenly erupted. '! Get on with the
dinneffhe shouted, ' you, Enzo, can mind your own business!" Francesca
turned quickly towards the kitchen and met Enzo's stare fleetingly; he
saw the relief in her eyes and perceived in that moment a world of
communication between them. ', Giovanni ... I ...' Enzo moved only
fractionally as she went past and the touch of her body was so close
that it was almost a caress. He felt it, she had wanted him to feel it!
' whaff Giovanni said icily and Enzo glanced up quickly at his brother.
Giovanni's face had hardened with resentment..He shrugged. Nothing,' he
said quietly. '.' He took his-place at the table and waited for
Francesca to come back in with the dinner. He ached to see her face
again, to see her eyes; he had to know that what he had just experienced
was right. ' the hell is that stupid boyt Giovanni couldn't sit still;
he stood and crossed to the door. '! For Christ sake, Beppe! Come back
to'the table!' His lip curled as 52 Dangerous Obsession Beppe came
running from the kitchen and he smacked him hard across the head. Beppe
whimpered and began to cry. I. They're always together,' Giovanni
muttered, '! Whispering in comers ... laughing at me His voice trailed
away. '! Giovanni, I don't think..

But Giovanni cut him short. ' don't think whatt he snarled. ' the hell
would you know anywayt Enzo looked away before answering and saw
Francesca come into the room. Again she met his eye and he was sure he
saw the briefest flicker of a smile. He kept quiet. A smile, it was a
private communication between them. A smile! So what he had perceived
earlier was right! Maybe Giovanni's jealous ranting wasn't so stupid
after all?

An idea began to form in his head, the smallest flicker of hope. Could
he have Francesca? Had she begun to want him, to need him, the one
person who truly loved her amongst the tangle of violence and abuse? He
hardly dared think of it, but ... He watched her as she served the food,
then looked around the table at Beppe, merely a child, a useless,
srxivelling child, and then at the fat, grotesque shape of Giovanni. Was
it really so impossible? He had seen the look of revulsion in her eyes
for Giovanni; he had seen her flinch at his touch. And tonight he had
felt her body, felt the warmth of it, the beating of her pulse,
quickened at his touch. And why shouldn't it be so? The flicker of hope
flared and a small flame began to bum.

He had wanted her for so long that the feelings raged in his body; they
made him ache and cry out in the night. Why shouldn't she feel the same?
These things happened. Love does not choose indiscriminately, he
thought, there is a purpose in everything we do. He watched Francesca
Closely for as long as he dared. She seemed to speak to him 53 Maria
Barrett.

with every movement,: with every breath: it was as if her body silently
communed with his.

It wasn't the first time, either, oh no, he had noticed it before,
whenever he helped her, whenever he was close to her. H, e had sened it,
felt it deep inside him, thinking that maybe it was him, all him. But
perhaps it wasn't, perhaps tonight she wanted him to see how it really
was? She had given him a sign; she had needed him to know. And now he
did, he could see it all. Tonight, all of it finally began to make
sense.

Giovanni spoke to him and he started. ' wife would like to know what you
want to eat,'he said, his voice drawling nastily over the word wife.

Enzo saw Francesca shudder and his heart soared. ' much,'he
answered;'I'm not hungry, I'll help myself.'How could he eat? He was too
churned up to eat. ' you won't.' Giovanni prodded Francesca. ' him meat
and potatoes, and some aubergine. Beppe, give Enzo the bread.' ' I told
you,, I'm not hungry' ' is my house, Enzo, and if I say you'll eat,
you'll eat! Understandt Enzo bit back his retort and nodded. From now on
he would have to be careful. ',' Giovanni said. ' work hard to put food
on this table and I want it finished. Now eat!' He smiled, a
conceited,,triumphant smile, pleased with his own power, and Enzo bent
his head to the plate of food in front of him.

Smile all you want, Giovanni, he thought, because tonight'l just
discovered I have more than you think. Little Enzo is not so small in
someone else's eyes. Silently, he began to eat.

Later that night Enzo sat out in the courtyard for a long time after
dinner. The air was humid and warm and Giovanni 54 Dangerous Obsession
was asleep in the front room, the heavy slumber of a surfeit of food and
drink making him snore, his body lifeless and spent in greed. He was
unconscious to Enzo's waiting.

The sounds of Francesca in the kitchen ceased after ten. She had washed
and tidied, prepared for the morning, and now she crept out by the back
door of the house for a moment's peace and to look up at the sky with
its thick blanket of stars. Enzo came round the side of the house and up
behind her without making a noise. ' ...'He placed his hand on her
shoulder and she jumped, spinning round. '! 1...'She looked away for a
moment. ' thought you were Giovanni.' Her heart throbbed in her chest
and she took a breath to try and dispel her dread.

Enzo saw it and said, ''re scared of him, aren't you?' He could feel
that she longed for him to know it, to be there to calm the fear. Only
she was too frightened to say. She didn't answer him and he knew that she
was scared to. He pressed his . down into the flesh of her shoulder. He
had to ask, he needed to know. ' don't you leave him?' He heard her
catch her breath and his spirits soared. She was waiting for him, if
only she would just turn to him. ' could, you know, if . But he didn't
finish his sentence.

She moved away from him, as frightened of him as she was of Giovanni,
sickened by the whole thing. She couldn't answer, she didn't have the
strength. ', please ...' She turned her back on him completely and he
couldn't see the revulsion in her eyes. He thought that he had spoken
too soon; she needed time to work it out. He heard the weakness of her
voice, though, and in his mind he heard a plea, a need, and he imagined
it as intense as his own. ' ... Francesca ...'He stopped again, only
this time because he heard a movement from inside the house. He 55 11 -
."7 7 7 Maria Barrett d away from her and stared for a last moment at
the droop of her shoulders. There was no time to say any more. He had
sensed her want; that was enough. He knew now what to do. Seconds later,
just before Giovanni appeared, he was gone.

What are you doing?' Giovanni stood in the kitchen, looking out. '..

He stepped forward. Well, come inside. I want to go to bed and I have to
lock up." Francesca scurried past him and headed off towards the stairs.
' sure you're ready for me,' Giovanni called after her.

She didny answer. She ran up, fear and loathing foremost in her mind,
and he stayed to lock the door and switch off the lights in the kitchen,
then followed her silently up the stairs.

56 CHAPTER Seven GIOVANNI STOOD AT THE EDGE of the field that Enzo was
working in and wiped the sweat off his brow onto his shirtsleeve. It was
hot, midday, and the sun burned high in the sky. The ground seemed to
have shrunk; the earth was like dust, grey ash. He wondered how much
longer the heat could last.

It had been the driest April for years, the hottest May. He glanced up
at the sky. No sign of rain, absolutely nothing. Everywhere was barren,
his sky, his land, his wife. just the thought of her-filled him with
anger - frigid bitch. He kicked a lump of soil by his foot and it
dispersed into sand, dry, useless, barren sand.

Putting his arm up to shield his eyes from the sun, he looked across at
Enzo as he worked on the land. He was bent double, working on the vines,
the bare skin on his back burned dark brown by the sun, the sweat of his
labour visible as a dirty film clinging to his body. He worked hard and
Giovanni was pleased.

Enzo had changed, he reckoned; in the past few weeks he had calmed, he
was even friendly. He seemed to understand Giovanni's problems, his
work, his marriage. He was like a brother should be - he listened, took
stock; he helped out. Perhaps he's beginning to grow up, Giovanni
thought, making his way across the field. Perhaps.. Enzo looked up and
saw Giovanni as he came towards him. He lumbered heavily in the heat and
on the uneven 57 Maria Barrett gtound and it satisfied Enzo to see him
as such, uncomfortable, ill at ease. He stood straight and waved at his
brother. '! Giovanni! What are you doing out here, in this heat.

Giovanni reached him sweating and short of breath. ' has to chip in,' he
said and looked down at the new vine Enzo had been working on. ' bad,
eht Enzo patted him on the back. ' too bad.'He followed Giovanni's gaze.
' need rain.' He shrugged. ''ll man- age.' He could sense his brother's
worry The more he worried, the more he took it out on Francesca. She
would turn away soon, she had to. ' wanna eatt Enzols glance indicated a
basket in the shadow of one of the bigger vines and Giovanni looked up,
surprised. It wasn't like Enzo to offer.

He nodded. ', I'd like that.' '.' Enzo wiped his hands on a piece of rag
and picked up the basket of food. He carried it over to the end of the
row of vines, with Giovanni following, and found a patch of shade. He
sat down. Everything he did and said was carefully measured, thought
out. He couldn't let Giovanni suspect. ' wife makes a good lunch.' He
uncovered the food and began to spread it out. ''s a good wife, eht
Giovanni said nothing. He picked up the bottle of wine and took a swig,
then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Enzo watched him out of the comer of
his eye, seeing Giovanni tense and aggressive. He decided to test the
ground. ''re happy, eh? A married man! And Francesca has settled well;
she seems content." Giovanni nodded and started on the food. He didn7t
want to talk - he had nothing good to say. But Enzo felt perversely
triumphant. He enjoyed Giovannfs misery - he'd had enough of it himself
over the years - and he wanted to 58 Dangerms, obsession go on; he
couldn't help himself. ''s a relief she takes 9DOd, care of Beppe, ch?
They understand each other!' But the moment it was out he saw Giovanni's
face change. A sharp needle point of spite had gone in, it was patently
visible in the older man's expression, and for the first time in his
life, Enzo experienced the thrill of malice.

I I Giovanni stopped chewing. ' do you mean, they understand each
other?' He sat perfectly still and waited for Enzo to speak. ' mean . -
.' Enzo stopped, Ordinarily he would have simply corrected the comment
but something in Giovanni's response prevented him. If he suspected
Beppe, then why not use that? Jealousy was a powerful tool, he knew that
only too well. Glancing away for a minute, Enzo made his decision,
although he really had no choice. He was too far gone in his obsession
for Francesca now to do anything else. The thought of having her had
begun to control his every waking moment. ',' he said eventually. He saw
Giovanni's face settle into resentment and still he kept quiet. "You
think they're closet Giovanni snapped. Enzo shrugged. '!' Giovanni took
another gulp from the hot- the of wine and stood up. '! Where're you
going? What about luncht Enzo looked up at the huge, menacing bulk of
his brother and felt strangely unthreatened. ''m not hungry'Giovanni
said.-He held onto the bottle and turned towards the fields. ''ll see
you for dinner tonight - don't be latev And without another word, he
strode off.

The sun rose in southern Italy at five, It came up from out of the sea,
a globe of deep orange, and as it rose in the sky it changed to gold,
and then to a brilliant burning yellow, 59 Maria Barrett w . the sea and
the sky and the land with its bright, radiant light.

Francesca woke early, nearly always before Giovanni, who drank so
heavily before he came to bed that invariably he slept on, long after
she had risen and dressed. And it was in these early hours, on her own,
that she liked to think, not about who she was or how she lived, but
about who she could be, about a life and a world that had never existed
for her but was still as real and as believable as if it had.

She drew it all, this fantasy, in dazzling colour and perfect line on
the pages of her small private book. She created , for the pain and
anger she felt, and she tried to make beauty out of the ugliness of her
life. She poured light into her work from an existence that was lived in
darkness and she found her escape from the terrible harsh reality that
was really hers. She thought about her father often, about his
disappearance, but not as the cowardly, pathetic running away that it
was, but as a gesture of great courage: a whole fantastic story woven
around- him that helped her accept that she was so finally and totally
alone.

Her life was desperate and painful but she lived it by believing in
something else, in something better, in something that, sadly, could
exist only inside her head.

Sunday morning, and Francesca woke early and looked across at the window
and the sky outside, trying to let her mind drift, to let her
imagination take over and to blot out any memory of the previous night.

She failed. In the past week, every day her escape had slipped further
and further away from her, as Giovanni became more aggressive and she
became more frightened and confused. She did not know what to do.

Moving slightly in the bed, she attempted to relieve the 60 Dangerous
-Obse-zion pressure on her thigh and on her spine. They ached painfully
where she had stumbled under Giovanni's blows and she felt it through
her whole body. She put her arm outside the covers to loosen them,
shifting across. It Was bruised from the wrist to the shoulder. The
movement woke Giovanni and she froze.. ' the ... THe opened his eyes,
looking blearily over at his wife. ' God's sake, go back to sleep, can't
yout He turned away from her onto his side. ' keep still,' he mumbled. '
I'll..

She heard his breathing slow and thicken, and, as carefully as she
could, she eased herself out of bed and began to cross the room to her
clothes. He stirred and she jumped. But within seconds he was snoring,
so she was momentarily safe.

Dressing silently, she crept to the wardrobe and peered inside for the
book she kept hidden in amongst her clothes, then she padded to the
bedroom door and inched it open. She slipped noiselessly out onto the
landing and made her way along to the stairs. She was eager to get as
far away from him as she could, to be alone and to find her own private
world.

She descended quickly, walked through to the back of the house and
unbolted the kitchen door. She welcomed the cool morning air on her face
and stepped outside, hurrying off in the direction of the fields.

Francesca had been walking for some distance before she realised she was
being followed. She had been trying to daydream, half thinking herself
into another world, when she heard the tiniest crack of a dry twig as it
snapped. It made her jump and she spun round. She stood still and
listened hard. Nothing.

She walked on a bit further, trying to pull together the threads of her
fantasy, but now she was tense, the image 61 Maria Barreu n work, and
her mind settled into its habitual wary state.

She strained to listen, telling herself she was a fool as she did so,
but she could hear nothing, just the quickened beat of her own heart.
She attempted to hum but she could remember no tunes: since she had
married it seemed that all song had left her body She walked on in
nervous silence.

Then suddenly she heard the footstep. it was loud and heavy and she
stopped dead, holding her breath. Someone was behind her. Very slowly,
she turned her head, fists clenched at her side, ready to hit out.
Suddenly she screamed.

There was nothing there. Turning back, she looked ahead, and moments
later, she started to run, her hair streaming out behind her and her
arms and legs moving together as she sprinted, with all her energy,
down- to the road and back towards the precarious safety of the
farmhouse.

Giovanni watched her go and swore at his own ineptitude. Where she had
been headed he would never know now, but she was going somewhere, that
was for certain. The bitch ' Next time he would ... He snapped the
branch off a vine. The next time he would find out where it was and go
after her. She would have no secrets from him. She was his wife and she
owed him respect!

He looked at his watch and saw that it was just after six. It was too
early to start the day and he was too wound up to go back to bed. He
felt in his trouser pocket for his wallet. if he walked cross country,
he could be in Mitanova in half an hour and he knew from experience that
at least one of the girls would still be up with a client. It was worth
a try. It was about time he got, a little decent pleasure, even if he
did have to pay for it.

62 Dangetbas Obsegslon Francesca was in the kitchen preparingthe Sunday
meal' when Giovanni returned to the house. It was near one o'clock. She
heard him- enter- and go up to their room, his steps heavy on the
stairs. She cared little where he had been but the sound of his tread
unnerved her, it was all too familiar.

She continued what she was doing and listened to him upstairs, her whole
body tense. She knew the noise of his step; she knew she had heard it
that morning. She stood still, shocked and afraid. Why should Giovanni
follow her? Why? Minutes later, the floor above her was silent.

Moving across to the oven, she opened it and bent to take out a steaming
dish of baked pasta. She needed to be busy, to put the fear from her
mind. The dish bubbled and the heat of it came through the cloth she was
holding. Her fingers burned. ' The voice, caught her by surprise. She
jumped and spun round, and as she did so, the cloth slipped and she lost
her footing. The boiling plate of pasta fell from her hands and smashed
to the floor. It spilt out over her foot, scalding the bare skin und her
sandals. She screamed. '! What the hell ... ?" Giovanni leaped back,
away from the mess, and his hand went up automatically in the air. He
hit her across the face. ' stupid, clumsy bitch!' He moved forward to
hit her again, but then stopped mid-motion.

She had fallen back against the side, her face white with the shock of
the bum, and she was'shaking violently. '! Quick! Come here!' Giovanni
was suddenly frightened by the course of his own actions. He shouted
behind him to his brother and moved to Francesca to hold her up. Beppe
appeared at the back door. ', take hold of Francesca. Quickly!" 63
Glovanni passed her over and rushed to the sink, filling a bowl with
cold water. He took it to Francesca and bent to bathe her foot. ' your
leg up,' he commanded. ' on, I can't help you unless you let me.' His
voice was sharp and hard. Beppe, holding Francesca's hand, began to cry.
' God sake, shut up Beppe! U not you that6 hurd' Giovanni looked up. He
saw Francesca's head on his young brother's shoulder and the way Beppe
stroked her hand. He looked down again, sick with jealousy He handled
Francesca's foot more roughly than he should have and she flinched. '
still!" Minutes later, he was finished. The jealousy burned in his mind.
He took some ointment out of the drawer and threw it on the table. '!
Beppe, you can put this on. It seems my wife prefers your touch.' -
Francesca glanced up. Giovanni's face was cold and angry and the feeling
of fear and confusion deepened. She started to say something, to
explain, but her voice failed her.

Her silence angered him further. Without another word, Giovanni stormed
out of the kitchen.

"Hey! Giovanni!' Enzo was crossing the courtyard to the house when he
saw his brother . '. Whereve you been?'Giovanni stopped. He could not
think straight; he ' dizzy with the intensity of his emotion.

Enzo shrugged. just, out, that6 all.,' Well, you should tell me when
you're just out!'Giovanni: began to walk away. ' deserve a little
respect round here!" Whoa! Giovanni! Waid' Enzo caught his brother's
arm.

Dangerous Obsession Something had happened; he had to know what. Wha, s
up? This isn't like you!" Giovanni shook his head, as if trying to clear
it. ','he said. ' Francesca. I ...' He broke off and looked away. For
the second time in ten days Enzo had the chance to stop what he could
plainly see was happening. He ignored it. ', Giovanni,' he said, ' ...'
But he paused, for just long enough to spur Giovanni on. ' whatt
Giovanni faced him. "You what, Enzo?' ', nothine.'Enzo held his hands up
in a gesture of despair. ', Giovanni, stop jumping to conclusiosl' He
shook his head in disbelief and all the time he was thinking, this is my
chance, this is what I've waited so long for. I can turn her against
him, I know I can. It was a chance he just had to take. ' what I said
last night to some people in the cafe,' he lied. ''re friends, I said, a
brother and sister relationship, that's all." Giovanni rose instantly to
the bait. ' d'you mean, you said to some people?" Enzo shifted on his
feet uncomfortably. ' night ... it's nothing, really' ' dyou
mean?'Giovanni demanded.'Tell me, Enzo, what people? What have they been
saying about me?' ' said ...' Enzo stopped. He was on -the verge of
something truly destructive but he couldn7t stop. ', its just gossip,
idle gossip.' ' doril care! Tell me what's been said!' ', OK! Some of
the village have seen Francesca and Beppe together - they talk, that1s
a1lv He knew the power of intimation. ' talk, tongues wagging. I told
them as much and I put them right. That's it! OU He looked straight at
Giovanni..'OK?" But Giovanni seemed not to have heard., '! 0KT 65 Maria
Barrett Giovanni started. '? Oh, yeah, I suppose so.' He looked away
into the distance, his mind in chaos. What talk, he kept thinking, whose
tongues wagging7 He couldnl think clearly; all he could see were the
faces of the villagers, laughing, sneering. He moved off towards the
fields. '! Giovanni!' Enzo called after him. ' about lunch?' But he
continued on, away from the house, as far away from her as he could.
get. The very thought of her' made him feel sick. '! Giovanni!' Enzo
called again. But it was pointless; his brother didn't even, hear.
Giovanni had taken the last step towards jealousy, the step that would
finally take him right over the edge.

66 CHAPTER Eight IT WAS EARLY IN THE morning, mid-week, and the weather
was oppressively hot, even now at the beginning of the day. Giovanni was
unable to sleep.'Watching the light, he listened to his wife's gentle
breathing beside him and resented her peace - his own mind was in
turmoil. He decided to get up.

Reaching over, he pushed Francesca roughly in the back before he climbed
out of bed. ''m getting up,' he said. ''ll need some breakfast." -She
lay on her side as he started to dress, not wanting to look at him. He
crossed back to the bed and pushed her again. ' you hear met Tes.' She
waited until he had gone to the bathroom and then she rose, dressed
quickly and hurried downstairs, out of his sight.

Several minutes later, he joined her in the kitchen. She handed him a
coffee and busied herself cutting bread.

What are you doing todayt She looked up. He had never asked her before
what she was going to do. He sounded suspicious. ' ... I ... I have to
make some sauce clean . , .' She did not know how to answer.

He finished his coffee. ''ll be out all day. Is my lunch readyt She
hurried to the fridge and took out a few final things and placed them in
the basket. She held it out to him. '." 67 Maria Barrett -1 He took it
and looked at her. She immediately looked away; even his eyes frightened
her recently. Without another word, he picked up his bottle of wine and
walked out of the house.

Enzo saw him go. He had been hanging round outside for hours, careful
not to be seen: he didn't want to arouse suspicion. He walked into the
house and through to the kitchen where he knew Francesca would be
working. She saw him come in and stopped what she was doing. ',
Enzo.'She was edgy in his presence but he couldn't see it. He mistook it
for excitement. She glanced nervously at the door. ' just missed
Giovanni,' she told him. ' IT He walked further into the room. He had
planned it all so meticulously, but if if was to work he had to appear
casual. He picked up an orange from the bowl and sat on the edge of the
table to peel it. "fes.' She hated his close proximity. ' ... he would
have liked to see you.' ', well, never mind.' He stopped what he was
doing and glanced up at her. ', Francesca, could you do me a favour
todayt He put the fruit down. ''s just that I need some things from the
village and I haven't time to go myself.' He avoided her eye at this
point. He was so desperate for her to agree that he dared not look at
her. She had to agree. Giovanni had to see her with Beppe; it would
finish their marriage for good, he knew it would. ' you go for met ''m
... not ...'-There was something aggressive in his manner, something
that unnerved her. ' don't know ...' ' could give you some money to buy
Beppe a drink. He'd like that!'Enzo dug in his pocket. ', I've got a
liste" He held a piece of paper out to her and some lire. '? I've so
much work to do." 68 Dangerous Obsession Grudgingly she took them and
turned away. ' right.' she answered. '! Thanks a lot!' He jumped down
off the table And headed towards the door. ' ought to go before it gets
too hot,' he said over his shoulder. She nodded. ' again then.' He
smiled. It was probably the first time ever he had openly smiled at her
and it made her uneasy Moments later, he had gone.

Francesca took Beppe's hand as they climbed down off the bus and crossed
the main street in the village. He was easily led and he liked to have
his hand held, especially by Francesca. They went into the shop to buy
the things for Enzo and several minutes later came out with a small
package which Francesca let Beppe carry. They headed off towards the
church square and the cafe to buy the drink that Enzo had promised them.

They were halfway across the square when Father Angelo saw them. He
hardly recognised Francesca. It was Beppe he saw first, then, looking
closely with his glasses on, he saw that Francesca was with the boy. He
jumped up and ' called to them from the open window of his study. They
stopped Iand he hurried out to meet them. ,! Francesca!' He embraced
her. She felt stiff and tense. ' rnio! And Beppe too! You've grown,
young man!' Father Angelo turned his attention to Beppe but he could see
Francesca out of the comer of his eye. She was pulling the sleeve of her
cardigan down to cover the bruises on her forearm and she fiddled
nervously. He turned back to her. ' how are you, little one?' He was
smiling but the shock of her state had hit him hard. She was pale and
thin, and her eyes were dull and sad. He reached out to touch her arm
but she moved away, as if frightened of contact.

69 -Mark Barwt t m me, rce a fi Father,' she said. Tine.' She tried to
fo smile. "I haven't seen you for a long time. Your husband doesn't come
to Mass." She looked down. '.' ', well.' He did not want to chastise
her. He changed the subject. ' Beppe, how do you like having my
Francesca as a sistert Beppe blushed. ' ... I love Francesca ... But ...
but she's not yours,' he blurted out.

Father Angelo began to laugh. ' course she's not,' he answered. ' course
she's not.' And Francesca finally smiled. Father Angelo seized the
opportunity to speak. ' you sure you're all right, Francesca? You look
so ... sounhappy' it was a mistake, she clammed up. ''m fine, really.
just a bit fired, that's all.' She took Beppe's hand. ' have to go, I'm
afraid. I promised Beppe a drink at the caft and we caift be late back.
It was nice to see you. ' ', yes, of course, you must go.' He. had been
too intrusive. ' ever you ...'He hesitated. Unable to stop himself, he
put his arms round her and hugged her close.. He expected her to pull
away, but. she clung to him and he wished to God he was not so helpless.
' ever you need me,'he said quietly. He released her and looked at
Beppe. ' your drink now, young man." He stood and watched them walk off
towards the cafd and thought that despite Mondello's insistence that his
wife be left to settle in, he would wander up to the estate at the end
of the week. A bit of interference never did a bully any harm.

Enzo saw Giovanni working long before he let himself be seen. He had
waited back at the house until he saw Francesca leave for the village,
then he'd set off for the fields.

70 Dangenws Obsession and Giovanni. He reckoned they'd be there by now
so, he stood and thought carefully about what he was going to say, how
to phrase it, then called out to the foreman for instructions, knowing
that Giovanni would look up at the sound of his, voice. He was right. '!
Where've you been?'Giovanni was in ill humour, having to work out in the
intense heat. J thought you were working the other side of the hillt '
was, earlier, but I forgot my lunch. I had to go back for it and I
reckoned it'd be better if I worked here before lunch - I'd only waste
time walking back over the hill.' ', you're right. Jesus, this heat is
killing!' ' is. I could have done without the bloody walk back to the
house, and it was locked up when I got there!" Giovanni stopped working.
He looked up. '?' ', I think Francesca took Beppe into town.' In that
moment Giovanni's face changed. He made no attempt to veil the
irritation in his eyes and his lip curled with resentment. ' never said
she was going.' '? Perhaps she didn't think,' Enzo answered. He
hesitated for a split second before adding, ' often go, or so people
say. It's no big deal.' He shrugged and began to turn away. ' the hell
do you meant Giovanni grabbed him suddenly by the shoulder. ' often?
Whent He had begun to shout but he didn't realise. ' the time I'm
working out here! Working in this fucking heat and she's out and ...'He
stopped, breathing hard. Then he let Enzo, go and dropped his tool down
onto the ground. He started to walk away. '' Enzo ran after him. Where
are you going? Hey! Waid' But he knew exactly where his brother was goi.
ng - any attempt to stop him was merely pretence. He dropped back after
struggling to keep up and stood watching 71 Maria Barrett Giovannit
great bulk stride over the hard, dry ground. He allowed himself the
smallest feeling of satisfaction. Not long to wait now, he thought, not
long at all.

The cafd was busy. It was nearing midday and several people had stopped
in for a drink on their way home for lunch. Francesca and Beppe sat
outside, watching the small crowd come and go, a drink in front of each
of them, and they sipped slowly, enjoying the treat of being out.

Every so often Francesca would look across at Beppe, as he sipped and
then checked carefully the level of his drink. He was a beautiful young
boy, she thought, more so for his simple, childish mind and gentle ways.
She smiled across at him and he caught her eye and grinned. ''ve nearly
finished my whole drink, Francesca.'He held the glass up for her to see.
' know,'she said gently. ''re a good boy' She reached out to pat him on
the arm, leaning across the table, It was then that Giovanni grabbed her
from behind. Vvwnching her arm back, he heard her scream but it did not
register. ' on! Try to touch him now, you conniving little bitch!' He
was breathing hard and fast and the blood roared in his ears. He yanked
her to her feet where he could see her properly, see the deceit on her
face. Then he hit her full force across the mouth, knocking her down to
the ground.

Again he yanked her to her feet, pulling her roughly as she stumbled. He
hit her once more, this time hard across the face, a face he had come to
hate and suspect, and she fell back against the table. He lunged forward
and seized her shoulders, shaking her violently and knocking her spine
against the hard edge of the table. ' me!'he shouted. ' me the truth!"
She was crying but she would not answer him. Her silence enraged him. He
raised his arm and flung it at her, fist 72 Dangerous Obsetsion
clenched, and she staggered back under the folce of it, hit the edge of
the table and fell heavily to the ground. Somewhere in her vague
consciousness, she could hear shouting and Beppes terrible childlike
screaming. She looked up fiercely at Giovanni and the hate blazed in her
eyes. The last thing she remembered was the force of his foot as he
kicked her in the stomach and the frightening, searing pain.

"For Christ's sake! What are you doing?' Father Angelo voice roared from
thirty feet away, all the wrath of God in his anger. ' off hell he
shouted. ' away from her! Now!' He ran across the square, shoving
Giovanni, a man twice his size, out of the way, and bent to Francesca as
she began to come round.

Giovanni stood motionless, momentarily dazed and confused by his
violence. ' some towels!' The priest looked up at the small crowd from
the bar. ''t just stand there like idiots, go! Get some water! Towels!"
People began to hurry into the bar, one of the men stepped forward and
knelt next to Father Angelo. ''s, a bit late now!' he said sharply. He
lifted Francesca's head and cradled it in his lap. ' should have helped
her five minutes ago.' He took a towel from one of the women and dipped
it in cold water. He held it against the gash on Francesca's shoulder. '
her be." He looked up. Giovanni towered over him, blocking out the
light. His eyes were hard and unrepentant. ' her,' he said again. ''ll
deal with her.' ''t be stupid, man! She needs help!' Father Angelo
continued to bathe the cut.

Giovanni moved forward a pace. ' said leave her' His 73 "'T" __ - Maria
Barrett voice was harsh and controlled. ' is my wife and 1,11 help her
if she needs it." Father Angelo stopped what he was doing, He was not
afraid of Mondello, but he knew that Francesca would suffer for his,
interference. He looked down at her and touched her hair. ' you all
right, bambinat he whispered.

She answered him with her eyes. He had to do as Mondello said; it
was-what she wanted. Gently he helped her to sit up and then called
across to Beppe. ' me to get her to her feet." Beppe hesitated, glancing
nervously at his brother. ' him,'Giovanni ordered. He ran across to
Francesca and helped Father Angelo lift her up. She stood unsteadily and
her courage made Father Angelo want to weep. ' you, Father,'Giovanni
said. ' wife is fine now.' He did not look at the old priest as he
spoke, but turned away from the scene and looked across the square. ',
help Francesca to the car.' He glanced back. He felt no pity, no
remorse, and still no peace of mind. just the jealousy. it raged on.

He began to walk away and Father Angelo watched helpless as Francesca,
propped up by Beppe, struggled to follow him, her head held high and the
brutality of her humiliation covered by pride.

It was dark when she woke. The shutters were open and she could see the
night sky outside, a cold dark blue, fathomless and endless.

She moved, and felt the painful tear of her skin where the dried blood
from her cut had stuck to the sheet. She eased herself gently up the bed
and sat back against the headboard, touching the wound with her fingers
and winc- 74 Dangerous, Obsession ing at the pain. She had to bathe it,
clean it. It could become infected in the heat.

Slowly she shifted her legs to the edge of the bed and let them dangle
for a moment to gather the strength to lift herself up. Every part of
her hurt, but her mind was numb. She remembered very little, just the
crawling into bed, and the inescapable ache that seeped through her
whole body.

She put her feet down onto the ground and stood, gripping the bed for
support, dizzy and faint. She sat until it passed and minutes later
tried to stand again. Finally, she made it to the bathroom.

Once there, she sat on the edge of the bath and filled the small sink
with warm water. She took off her slip arid, shivering, she bent to the
basin and began to wipe thegash with a wet towel. She caught a glimpse
of herself in the mirror as she did so and saw a tired and desperate
face, and she knew then that she no longer cared. She had nothing left,
no imagination, no escape and no strength to live.

Enzo approached the house unseen from the fields. The night was
unusually black but he stepped deftly through the shadows. He knew his
way.

Entering the courtyard, he saw to his surprise that the lights in the
house were out. It was peculiarly silent and as he called out he got no
reply. Alarmed, he went through the open front door and called again.

Beppe appeared from the darkness of the kitchen. It was obvious he had
been crying. ' Enzo took hold of his shoulders. ' is it? has something
happenedt He began to feel afraid.

Beppe snivelled. ' ... Giovanni, he hit her, she's ...'His tears started
again. ''s whaff Enzo's voicewas high with panic. ''s what, Beppe?
What?" 75 Maria Barrett But Beppe, confused and frightened, could not
answer. Enzo dropped his shoulders and ran to the stairs. His fear
escalated. He could see a light on up there and he called out to
Francesca. No reply He shouted out again and started to run up.

He found her in the bathroom. ' my Godphe stood in the doorway and
looked down at her. The shock hit him and he was unable to move. What
has he ... THis voice broke.

Her body was discoloured, covered with angry red welts and ugly swollen
bruises; the gash on her shoulder was raw and open. He moved into the
room and put his hand out to her. ''t ... touch me, please ...'She did
not look at him.

He stepped back. He could see her eyes in the mirror, dull and blank
except for the fear, which lurked dark and desperate behind the veil.
The fear and the hatred. He felt tears of anger and shame in the back of
his throat. ' ... I ...'He could not speak. He covered his face with his
hands. ', God I ...'He had never, in all his wild scheming manipulation,
thought that Giovanni would do this. Never!

At last, Francesca looked up. She did not care what he felt, what he
saw. ' Beppe for me, please,' she said quietly She needed help.

He stood for a moment, paralysed by the terrible sight of -her. And then
he turned, her image seared on his memory, and he ran, guilty and
afraid, along the passage, down the stairs, calling out. to Beppe, and
finally into the black, night air, desperate for the darkness to hide
his misery and shame.

He was still running when he saw the headlights of the car. He stopped,
breathing hard, and listened for the sound of 76 Dangerow-Obsion an
engine, his heart pounding so hard in his chest that his whole body
seemed to throb. Moments later, he recognised it. Giovanni! He saw a
fleeting image of Francesca and Beppe in his mind's eye and then he
turned round and sprinted, as fast as his body would go, back to the
house and back to Francesca.

Beppe touched the bruising on Francesca's back gently and carefully with
the ointment and she flinched. He drew back. He was so frightened by the
state of her that she had to talk to him every second, telling him over
an dover what to do. Again she reassured him and he continued but she
did not know if she had the strength to keep on, She dropped her head
forward and closed her eyes, exhausted by the pain.

it was then that she heard it. The car swung into the courtyard and
screeched to a halt. The door slammed. She froze, Beppe's hand on her
naked back, and waited for another sound. There was nothing, silence.
Frightening, deafening silence.

Suddenly Giovanni smashed into the room. The noise was terrible and the
massive, terrifying bulk of him filled her vision. She screamed. it all
happened in a few blurred seconds.

He pushed Beppe away, and she saw him fall, knocking his head on the
cistern. She tried to move but she was paralysed. She caught sight of
Giovanni for a moment before she felt his hands round her neck. His face
swam before her eyes as she struggled to pull him off. The breath caught
in her throat and she heard the shrill roaring of blood in her ears. Her
lungs burned and the pain in her chest seemed to take her over. She
could see herself, quite dearly, about to die, and she was vaguely
conscious that she felt nothing, nothing except relief. She closed her
eyes.

A split second later, she felt warmth.

77 Maria Barrett The pain had gone and a, strange warmth washed over
her, wet and flowing, like bath water. The grip around her throat
loosened and she wondered briefly if she had died.

She opened her eyes. And then she started to scream. The full weight of
her husband fell onto her and she staggered back as the blood washed
over her, pouring torrent-like from the slit in his throat. His eyes
were open, glassy and unseeing as they stared at her, inches away from
her face, and she could smell his blood, taste it on her lips. It was
everywhere, a sea of warm, pungent red. She could hear someone screaming
but she did not know it was her.

A hand covered her mouth. ' it! Francesca! Stop id' The body was pulled
away from her and slumped to the ground. She stared wild-eyed down at
it, the blood still pouring from the slit. The hand forced her mouth
closed and the screams died in her throat. '!' She tore her eyes away
from the dead body and Enzo looked at her, his eyes fierce. ', listen!
You've got to listen to me!" She was shaking uncontrollably and she
could not register Enzols face. He slapped her cheek. '! Look at me!
Listen!' He took his hand away and gripped her shoulders. She looked up
at him. ' that all you were wearing in here?'He indicated the slip,
soaked in deep, red blood.

She nodded. '.' He turned and took a towel from the rail, moving towards
her. ' listen to me, Francesca. You've got to do asl say You're in a lot
of trouble and you must listen to me.

Do you understandt She shook her head, confused. ''s dead.' He glanced
down at the knife by her 78 Datgerous Obsession feet. ''ve from to
protect you. Now, you must listen and do what I say Please, Francesca.
Is that cleart This time she nodded. She was too shocked to think. '.'
He opened the towel and wrapped it round her. He lifted her up, across
Giovanni's body and into his arms. Tucking the towel round her to stop
any blood dripping from her, he turned and carried her out of the
bathroom and into the passage. '!' She looked back and saw Beppe on the
floor, covered in blood. She struggled. ' Beppe!' Enzo held her tighter
and carried on to the stairs. ' isn't time.' Carefully, he descended and
walked through the house to the back. The door was open and he stepped
out into the night, taking her round the side of the house and into the
dark empty storeroom.

He switched on the electric light. Placing her on the ground, he crossed
to an old tin bath in the comer, of the barn and dragged it over to where
she was standing, next to the cold water tap. He turned on the tap and
began to fill the bath. ' in it,' he said quietly. He reached for the
towel. and gently pulled it away from her body. ' on, we need to wash
you." She did as she was told and Enzo bent and filled a small bowl with
water. He held it up and poured it over Francesca's bloodstained chest.
She started at the cold and looked away, embarrassed, as Enzo ran his
hands over her breasts. to clean them. The shape and feel of her was
just as he had always imagined. He saw no blood and no bruises or marks;
he saw his Francesca, naked and wet, and he bathed her with an almost
chaste reverence.

When he was finished, he wrapped her in his jacket and lifted her into
his arms again. She was dazed and numb. He carried her back to the house
and up to her room, passing 79 Maria Barrau the bathroom and covering
her view. He laid her down on the bed and released her. ', I want you to
stay here, and not come out. Do you understandt She nodded blankly. '
must try and sleep and, whatever you do, you must stay here.' He bent
and kissed her mouth.

She felt nothing. He stood and crossed to the door, glancing back ' her.
She had turned onto her side and lay, curled up, her eyes closed, like a
child, vulnerable and exposed.

Only a few more hours, he thought, gazing down at her, and she would be
his. He, turned and closed the door behind him, turning the key in the
lock. Only a few more hours to wait.

80-1 CHAPTER Nine FRANCESCA DRIFTED IN AND OUT of consciousness for some
time before she properly woke. She could see light - it flashed, a
strange blue-white brilliance - and she could hear voices, but they made
no sense. Everything in her mind was covered in a dark red film; nothing
was clear. She was frightened.

And then finally, the knocking brought her round. She opened her eyes
and sat bolt upright. The reality hit her. ' Mondello? Signora Mondellot
The voices behind the door were loud and insistent, calling, banging.
She could hear urgent whispering. '? Are you all right? Are you in
there?'She pressed herself against the headboard, unable to move,
willing them to disappear. Then she heard Enzo voice. ', it me, Enzo.'
She started. ', open the door for us, please. Don't be afraid, come on
now, open the door." She closed her eyes to try and blank out the voice
but the image behind them was so terrifying that she blinked them open
instantly ' She remembered the knife at her feet, the blood, so much
blood. ', what's happ---2 Her voice broke and she began to cry. What had
he done? ''s all right, Francesca. There's been an accident. Beppe and
... and Giovannu Beppe? Beppe? Once more she heard the loud, urgent
whispering. She was confused, afraid. Enzo started to speak again and
she stopped weeping and strained to listen.

811 -Maria Barrett "Please, Francesca, just open the door. The police
are here, they need to see that you're all right." She recognised the
command in his voice. She had heard it before, earlier that night, and
automatically she responded to it.

Slowly, she eased herself out of bed and reached painfully for her
dressing gown, pulling it tight around her to cover her bruising. She
crossed to the door and bent to pick up the key from the floor, where it
had been pushed under the gap. She turned it in the lock and pulled open
the door. '? I ..

All the lights in the hall and on the landing blazed and the glare
knocked her back. The place was full of people. She put her hand up to
shield her eyes and several of the officers tutted as the neck of her
dressing gown gaped open and the ugly, painful gash on her shoulder
became visible.

Enzo stepped forward and put his arm round her. ' told you she was in a
bit of-a state. Beppe was there when it happened, that's all I know'He
hugged her to him. ' then I found him ...'His voice broke.

Francesca had begun to shake. '? And then you found him what ...
TShelooked up at Enzo in panic. One of the officers shook his head. '
Mondello, there's been a terrible accident.' He moved to her and took
her arm, leading her back into the bedroom. Enzo hung his head, too
upset to speak.

The officer helped her to a chair and then knelt in front of her. ''m
sorry, Signora, but your husband ...' He stopped and swallowed hard. '
husband is dead. His brother found him in the bathroom, earlier
tonight.' - "But ...'She shook her head, dazed. ' ... that not right ...
It can't be.,.. It ...' She broke off. This made no sense; she couldn't
think suaight. But she glanced up and 82 Dangerous Obsession saw Enzo's
face over the young officer's shoulder. His eyes burned into hers for a
split second and then he turned away She had been silenced. ' seems,'
the officer went on quietly, ' Signore Mondello's youngest brother
Giuseppe is responsible.' He, held her hands to try to comfort her. '
was found at the scene of death, confused and crying ... He ... he was
holding the knife." Francesca hung her head. What had he done? What had
Enzo done to Beppe? Poor, childish Beppe? She felt the grip of Enzo's
hand on her shoulder as the young officer stood up. ,'m so sorry Signora
...'He did not know what to say in such a difficult situation. ' a
terrible night this is,' he murmured and moved away Enzo increased the
pressure on Francesca with his fingertips and she nodded silently. ',
I'm afraid that you will have to speak to my superior, just to answer a
few questions. It's a mere formality, you understand?'Again she nodded.

She seemed broken, he thought, by her grief and Ahe shock of it all. '
won't take long.' He glanced at Enzo before turning towards the door. '
have already seen Detective Sergeant Lagana, haven't you, Signore
Mondellot ', I spoke to him earlier.' , '. Then there is nothing further
you can do, except wait.' He glanced once more at Francesca. She looked
so frail and ill ... ' there anyone you can telephonet he asked. ' to
come over, maybe, and help Signora Mondello for a few days, until you
get over the worst of iff '!' Enzo shrugged quickly; he had spoken too
abruptly. ' mean ... we would rather be left alone, I think, at a time
like this.' He covered himself well.

83 Maria Baiw4t "Of course, of course.' The young officer finally turned
away and, not knowing what else to do, moved out into the corridor and
left them alone.

Enzo bent to Francesca's ear. ' long now,' he whispered, insistently '
you will be mine.' His grip tightened and the warmth of his breath
touched her neck. Despite the heat of the night, she hugged her arms
around her and pulled her dressing gown in closer. She heard the echo of
his words in her mind and shivered.

It was nearly light by the time the house was cleared and the remainder
of the police had gone. Enzo stood out in the courtyard and watched the
night fade as the last car left and the silence of the estate was
restored. He looked up at the dawning of the new day and felt
triumphant. He felt as if he controlled it, the end and the beginning,
all of it, it was all within his grasp. He knew that after what he had
done tonight, the waiting was finally-over. Francesca was his. And
allowing himself a small smile, he turned and walked back inside the
house.

I Francesca heard him from her room. She sat in the same chair she had
sat in for the past three hours and she listened to his footsteps on the
stairs, along the corridor and finally outside her door. She looked up
at him as he entered. She knew what was about to happen and she neither
thought nor cared. She just waited Silently, he moved across to her and
lifted her to her feet. She made no attempt to resist. He slipped his
hands down to the tie on her robe and- loosened it, his arms encir-
cling her naked body underneath and his hands running the 4ength of her.
He pulled her close to him, caressing her back, and bent his head to her
neck, kissing her, his lips, hungry for her skin. He moved his mouth
down to her 84- Dangerous Obsession breasts and his hands round onto her
hips, to her thighs, his' fingers eager, excited. He pushed the robe
from her body and lifted her, carrying her naked to the bed, Gioyanrws
bed, and laid her down, gazing at her as her long dark hair famed out
over the crumpled white sheet. She closed her eyes in numb anticipation.

Unfastening his trousers, he moved over her, parting her with his knees,
and holding himself above her so that he could look down at her face and
see his dreams, a thousand times dreamed, lived out, made real, and felt
in his blood and in the heat of his loins.

He entered Francesca and saw her eyelids flutter' momenta rily as she
felt a vague warmth and relief that he had not hurt her, before her mind
closed off to him and an all-consuming emptiness swamped her.

The day was full when she woke. The light streamed into the room and
Enzo lay beside her, looking at her, his eyes dark and possessive, his
body hot and close. She inched away from him.

Trancesca?'She turned. ' here.'He put his hand on her bare shoulder and
stroked her neck with his fingertips. He bent and kissed her. ' you know
how long I've wanted yout He felt powerful this morning; he wanted her
to know the extent of his passion. ' years,, he said. ' years, I've
wanted you, thought about having you.' He smiled briefly His fingers
slid up to her face and then her mouth as he stroked. ' did it all for
you, you know, all of it." She started. ' do you mean?' ' mean
everything.' He bent and kissed the side of her face. ' should never
have had you - you belonged to me.' He looked into the deep green of her
eyes..You always belonged to me, even when he ... when you..

85 Uaria Barrett, Then suddenly, he. pulled her to him and buried his
face ' her hair. ', my darling" he whispered fiercely. ' are mine now,
completely mine. I did it all fori you, all the lies,' all of id' But
she pulled away. A feeling of suffocating panic rose in her chest. '
what Enzo? Did whatt The light swiftly left his eyes and his expression
hard-. ened. He was suddenly defensive. ' what I had to, to get you away
from him." She watched his face, a terrible idea forming. ' you make
Giovanni hate met she asked slowly. But he didn't have to answer, she,
saw a fleeting look of triumph pass over his face and in that instant
she knew. She backed away from him, shocked and confused.

11 told you,' he said, holding onto her arm. ' did what I had to.' ' you
made Giovanni hate me,' she repeated. Tou, you did this to met It was
just a murmur; the truth was so appalling that she hardlydared speak it.
Then the memory flooded her mind, bright and clear. ' killed him,' she
whispered.

But Enzo grabbed her wrist in panic. ''ll never prove thad' he -spat. '
weren't there, remember. Think what you told the police!" She looked at
him for a moment, the pain in her wrist hardly registering, then she
looked down at her battered and bruised body ' was you you did this to
me, you killed him,' she murmured, over an dover. ' was you ... YOU ...
you!' And then she began to tremble, but not with fear. For the first
time in years she shook with anger, a bitter, burning rage. She swung
her legs over the side of the bed, broke free of him, and stood up. '
could yout. Her eyes were wild, the green in them burning angry and
defiant. She brought her arms down on 86 Dangemus Obsession 'm and hit
out, with all her energy and force. ' could you!' she screamed, flaying
at him savagely with her fists. ' bastard! How--2 But Enzo lunged
forward and grabbed her round the waist, dragging her back down to the
bed. The fire in her inflamed him even though she struggled wildly,
screaming abuse at him. He held her in his grip, filled with a deep
excitement, and pinned her writhing body down with his legs. He moved
his hands up to her face to hold it steady and then closed his mouth
over hers, forcing his tongue inside it. Moments later he felt her
yield, her mouth opened and she was his. His triumph was complete.

A short time later, Francesca lay under him and felt his heartbeat
against her chest; it had slowed and his body was limp, spent. She
stayed still, she let him stroke her hair and silently she burned. She
burned with an indignation and rage so fierce that it almost took her
breath away It was a fire deep down in the pit of her belly and its
flames licked her inside. At last she knew - she knew that no matter how
hard Enzo tried to control her, the fire had started, she was alive
again, and the fear was dead.

Enzo was obsessed, he was mad, desperate to control her beyond all
reason, and Francesca knew one thing as she lay there - she knew that
she had to get away from him. His obsession would destroy her if she
stayed. Its evil had already destroyed him; it would ruin all that he
touched. There was no other choice: it was the only way out and she
prayed for the courage to succeed.

After a while Enzo lifted himself up and looked down at her. He could
see a light in her eyes that had not burned there before and he smiled,
a lazy, sardonic smile. ', you liked it, my Francesca. I knew that you
would.' He rolled 87 77","
Maria Barrett off her and sat up. She covered herself with the sheet.
''t., He tugged it away again. ' like to look at YOU.' She let it drop.
She would play his games, only for as long as it took. ''s better.' He
moved over and stood up. ', I have to go out this morning, up the coast
to see about Giovanni's funeral arrangements." She lay perfectly still
and held her breath, afraid that if he turned and looked at her he would
see the sudden flash of excitement in her eyes. She could hardly believe
that her chance had come so quickly. He began to dress with his back to
her, and she watched him, all the time the throb of freedom pounding in
her chest. ' you be all right?' He looked over his shoulder. ', fine.'
She avoided his eye, not wanting him to see how she felt. ' long will
you be gonet she asked. ' don't know, several hours, maybe even the
whole morning. You just can't tell how long these things take.' He
shrugged. '!' Crossing back to the bed, he bent his head to her chest
and kissed her breast. She tried not to flinch. ''ll miss me,' he said
arrogantly.

She remained inert, repulsed by his touch. ' can tell.' He straightened.
''ll see you later, my darling. I'll be as quick as I can." She nodded
as he walked to the door, not looking at him, so frightened that he
would change his mind. He opened the door, looked back at her and then
stepped out into the passage, closing it firmly behind him. She listened
to the click of it and breathed a sigh of relief. He turned the key in
the lock.

Minutes later, she jumped out of bed and ran to the window, peering out
onto the courtyard from behind a gap in the shutter. Her body was still
stiff and sore but the pain didra matter: her fear and her excitement
dullef it, made it 88 Dangerous Obsession bearable. She watched Enzo
climb into the Mercedes, start it up and move off, down the drive and to
the entrance of the estate.

She watched the long black shape of the car as it moved onto the coastal
road and finally disappeared from view into the dazzling, intense
sunshine. She heard the sound of the diesel engine fade into the
distance and then she threw open the shutters and ran back to the bed.
She had only a few hours.

Opening the drawer in the bedside table, she rummaged around, looking
for Giovanni's wallet. She found it and took all there was in it: two
hundred thousand lire. She moved across to the wardrobe and surveyed her
small collection of clothes that hung in a row beside Giovanni's Sunday
suit, tatty and pathetic. She took the dress, her trousers and one of
Giovanni's thick sweaters, bundling them all into a small plastic bag.
She found her book and turned back to the bed.

Pulling on a skirt and shirt, she located her sandals and fastened them.
She had begun to feel faint and sick, so she sat for a minute and took a
deep breath, the panic still coursing through her veins. Moments later
she stood up; there was no time to waste.

Picking up her bag, she went across to the window that looked out over
the courtyard. The small flat roof of the front bay window was directly
below. She yanked the window wide open, dropped her bag out and watched
it fall heavily to the ground. It landed hard on the stone, but she had
no time to worry about that.

Fasing her leg outside, she sat on the window-ledge and got a feel of
the height. She swung the other leg over, wincing at the pain of
stretching, and let both legs dangle for a moment while she gathered her
courage. It was a twelvefoot drop down onto the roof below. Then slowly
she turned herself round, gripping the ledge with her fingers, 89 Maria
Barrett and finally let herself drop, her arms straightening with the
weight and her body dangling six foot above the small roof. Seconds
later, she let go.

She landed painfully and fell back, crying out in pain. Momentarily
stunned, she struggled to stand, holding onto the wall. The image of
Enzo's body, his face twisted in orgasm, came into her mind and she
fought back the panic. She had to go on.

Moving to the edge of the small roof, she glanced down at the final drop
and saw her freedom. It was so close. She sat down, let her legs drop
onto the window-ledge and eased her body down, gripping with only one
arm. Finally, she jumped to the ground.

She was safe. Running over to her bag, she gathered it up and slung it
over her good shoulder, supporting the sore one with her free hand. She
turned towards the fields, empty of workers as a mark of respect to
Giovanni, and saw her way clear.

Careless of the pain, she ran. The taste of liberty was so sweet and so
strong, the feeling of it so exhilarating and the anger so terrible at
what she was leaving behind, that she sprinted up over the hot and
sweltering hillside, as fast as her legs could carry her, through the
vineyards, down into the valley and on towards the village.

She ran for her life. And she knew, with the know ' of one condemned,
that this was her only chance.

Father Angelo was in the cool of his study, the blmds drawn against the
bright morning sunlight. He was on the telephone to the Police
Commissioner.

The situation was better than he had expected. Beppe could not be tried
for murder due to diminished responsibility and the worst that could
happen would be a corrective institution. Better than Mondello looking
after 90 Danewus Oession him, he thought - he had always argued that the
boy needed proper care.

He was anxious to get the Commissioner off the phone. All he could think
about was Francesca. He was exhausted - he'd been up since the early
hours with Beppe at the station - but he could not rest, not until he'd
seen Francesca. He drummed his fingertips lightly on the desk, waiting
for the man to finish his lengthy sentence.

He heard a tap on his study door. ', come,' he called out. ' me a
moment, Commissioner, there's someone at the door of my study'He placed
his hand over the mouthpiece and called out again. ' in!" Francesca
opened the door and stepped into the study. ' mio,'he whispered. ' dear
child!' He held out his hand to her. ', quickly, come and sit.'He went
back to the Commissioner on the line. ', I'm afraid I must go. One of my
elderly parishioners has just come in for confession. I do apologise. I
will ring you later this afternoon. Yes, yes, I'll do that. Thank you
for your help. Goodbye now." He finished hurriedly and replaced the
receiver. Standing up, he moved to Francesca, and embraced her. She came
into his arms, stiff and terise. She felt so thin and frail that he was
afraid she might snap.

She pulled back and looked up at his face. ', I She did not know what to
say She had been so brave and strong and now she was afraid that all her
courage would fail her. She began to panic.

He watched her face and her eyes for a moment and then he said: ' you
have. something to tell me, child, something about Giovanni's deatht He
couldsense her fear and confusion and guilt. He had seen it all his
life, the expression of guilt, and he knew it at first glance. ' is 9L
Marla Barrett iff he asked softly. ' me and I will try to help." Moments
later, she started to cry. The fear, the shock and the terrible violence
took hold of her, and she could not stop. She wept, great wracking sobs,
tears she had kept inside her for far too long.

As she cried she told him about Giovanni, about the murder and about
Enzo - she couldn't stop herself. She talked fearfully of his control
and his obsession, knowing that it was this that terrified her more than
anything. '.' She had quietened and Father Angelo stroked her hair. ', I
understand, and you are right.'He looked down at her face. ' must leave,
and you must go now, before he comes back-You will go secretly, so that
he will never, ever find you." He released her and crossed to his desk.
', dry your eyes and go upstairs and wash your face.' She looked edgy.
''s all right, Signora Franelli is not here, she has gone to the
market.'He pulled open the drawer and took out a key ' on!' he said. ',
I have things to sort out here if we are to get you away. Go, we may not
have much time." She turned and hurried out of the room and up the
stairs.

Glancing quickly across at the door, he took the key and went over to
the bureau against the wall, pulling it away, and bending to the small
safe he had hidden behind there. He turned the key in the lock.

Taking out a leather wallet, he closed the safe, secured the bureau back
in its place and carried the wallet over to his desk. He opened it and
looked down at the papers, the things he had kept for so many years, the
promises he had made to Elizabeth. They were Francesca's heritage, her
escape.

He began to go through them, to check they were in order, and then he
picked up the telephone and dialled the 92 Dangerous Obsession number of
a friend down the coast at Taranto. A friend who sent a twice-weekly
delivery to Venice which travelled up the Adriatic coast. He made the
connection, found there was a lorry that had just left Bari and asked
his friend to contact the driver on his radio. He waited, listening to
the blur of voices over the CB in the background, and several minutes
later he was told that the driver would stop for them on the road just
past Mitanova. They had little over an hour. Father Angelo hung up and
blessed himself: Francesca was on her way.

Next he went to a painting of the Madonna that hung behind his desk. He
removed it from the wall and laid it flat, slipping his paperknife
around the edge and easing the back of the painting off. In between the
back and the canvas there was a brown envelope. He took it out and
opened it, counting the notes inside. There was just enough to pay for a
sea crossing. Again he blessed himself and hurriedly replaced the
painting. God was on his side.

He picked up the telephone once more and, leafing through his address
book, he found the number he wanted in Chiavenna, high up in the
mountains, near the Swiss border. He dialled, then waited patiently
while the line rang, knowing that the Sisters of Clare rarely received
calls and would take a long time to answer.

Finally he was through. He spoke to Mother Superior and arrangements
were made, with few questions asked. He knew that Francesca would be
safe there: he would trust the order with his heart. Indeed, that was
what he was doing. From Chiavenna, she could travel into Switzerland,
down to France and finally go across to England. He glanced at his watch
and went to the doorof his study. I '!' He kept his voice down to a loud
whisper. ', hurry! Everything is ready, you have to leave soon." 93,
Maria Barrett She appeared at the top of the stairs. She seemed merely a
shadow of the girl he had known three months ago. Her face was drawn and
sad, the bruising on it ugly and sore; she was stooped, as if the weight
of the burden she carried had defeated her. But as she came down towards
him, he saw that her eyes were alive - they burned; almost emerald
green, and the fear he had so often seen had left them. ', we must talk,
I must explain some things to you.' He held out his hand and led her
back to the study Seating her at his desk, he gave her the wallet and
she took out a small, dark blue book with a gold Royal coat of arms on
it, a British passport. ', that is yours,' he said. ' mother applied for
it just before she died, she wanted you to have British citizenship, it
was important to her. As your guardian, I have kept it in order. It
entitles you to go to England to live.' ''re my guardiant She glanced
up. ' never knew.' ', your mother was dying, -she asked me to sign the
papers in confidence, she ... she did- not want your father to know."
Francesca swallowed hard. ' he hate me even thent she whispered. '! No,
it's not that, it's just that yqur mother wanted to keep it between
ourselves ... She ...'He stopped. She was right and he did not know what
to say. ' see.' ' asked me to find someone to teach you English and to
keep your things in order. She hoped you might want to go to England one
day' Francesca looked down at the passport. ' haven't you told me any of
this beforet ' I promised your mother that I would wait until you came
to me. She wanted you to, settle here, Francesca, withyour father, she.
didn't want me to interfere with that." 94 Jangtrm Obletsion He
shrugged. ' had thought of telling you many times-, but your mother had
no relations that I knew of, only her parents, and they died shortly
before her. I didn't know what it would achieve to tell you." She held
the passport in her fingers. ' what will happen to me now, if I go to
Englandt ' have someone there I can contact, someone who I'm sure will
help you. He's a good man, I've met him. He's the nephew of the late
Mrs. Mcbride.' He blessed himself and murmured, ' rest her soul.' '
see.' She looked up again. ', I don't know what to say. I'm scared and
... and I'm not even sure I'm doing the right thing ... and then, then I
think of Beppe ... and ... Enzo ...'She broke off, as if just saying his
name frightened her. ' of no one, Francesca! Think of yourself!' He
moved across to her and took her hands. ' will be safe, I promise you
that, but you, You must go. You must escape Enzo, you must!' He dropped
her hands as the church clock struck the half-hour. ', John Mcbride will
look after you, I know he will. Your English is near perfect, and you
have a British passport.' He stood up and took, the envelope from the
desk. ' is a good chance, little one, you have to take id' He hurried
over to the window. ' we must go! There is no time left and we must be
there when the lorry arrives." Peering round the blinds, he looked out
onto the church square and saw a small crowd of people. It was not safe.
' will have to go out the back way' he said. ' no one will see us. We
can go cross country to the coast road.' He glanced across at her. ' you
readyt She nodded. ', I'm ready' '. I'll explain the rest of my
arrangements on the 95 Maria Barrett way' He saw her gaze around his
study, taking in every last detail. ' may not be forever,' he said
quietly She shrugged and smiled, a sad, half-smile. ', it may not.' But
neither of them believed what they said. It was forever, of course it
was forever. He took her hand and led her out of the room. Francesca
Mondello had ceased to exist and Francesca Cameron was now in her place.

It was dark when Enzo finally came out of the house, a suffocating,
thick blackness that felt as if it was choking him. Hot and close. He
walked into the courtyard and looked out over the Mondello land: acres
and acres of vines, all his, every last clump of dry, hard, burned
earth, and then he slumped down onto his knees and buried his head in
his hands. It was nothing, it meant nothing. She. had gone. '!' he cried
out. ' are yout His whole body ached for her, a desperate, searing pain.
'? In God's name, where?'And then he began to cry. Harsh, dry sobs that
came up from the pit of his stomach as if he were retching on his own
grief. ' will find you!' he screamed into the silence. His face twisted
in agony and he fell forward. ' will find y-ou,'he moaned, seeing her
body writhing in the dark space of his mind. ' will find you!" CHAPTER
Ten Motcom Park, Motcom, North Yorkshire LADY MARGARET SMITH-COLYNE
MOVED her thigh an inch or so to the right - it allowed Richard better
access. She was lying on her stomach, her head resting on her folded
arms, tnd tilted to the side. Her eyes were closed, and her long red
hair, bright and glossy in the soft glow of the lamp, fell Slightly over
her face. She had raised her bottom, its white, almost translucent skin
turning pink as Richard worked away at it, gently kissing and nibbling
the round cur, e of her cheek, edging his mouth provocatively down to
where he knew she liked it best. She moaned softly and wriggled a little
higher. ', darling that's . She sighed. ohhhh ..

She had moved up onto all fours and knelt forward, holding onto the pole
of the four-poster bed for support. ', Richard darling ... hmmmm ... yes
... " Suddenly he stopped. ' ... ?' She glanced behind her and smiled at
what she saw. ' ... Darling ...' He was ready. Reaching back, she
touched him and guided him towards her, hearing the quickness of his
breath and the short sharp moan. She gripped the pole with both hands
now and closed her eyes as his fingers found the heavy, warm flesh of
her breasts. ', darling ... yes .'she murmured, and slowly the bed began
to shake. I .96- 97 -_Maria "Raimt "God, darling, that was wonderful!'
Lady Margaret rolled away from -him and reached to the bedside table for
her -cigarettes. She put two between her lips and lit them both, handing
one to Richard. She turned onto her back and lay against the pillows,
holding the cigarette, and Richard, at arm's length.

He lay on his side and watched her. She was large and voluptuous, her
skin pinkish white, Irish in its fairness, and her curves full and
heavy. She was beautiful in a haughty, rather grand way and her public
face gave no hint of the abandonment she enjoyed from her pleasures.

Lady Margaret Smith-Colyne was a tough and arrogant character in society
but she loved to be dominated in bed ' She was like a different person
between the sheets, and it. was this that excited Richard Brachen more
than anything he had known for years.

He trailed a finger over her thigh. ', Richard. Not again, not now'-Lady
Margaret leaned over and stubbed out her, cigarette in the ashtray by
her side. ', perhaps.' She swung her long legs over the side of the bed
and stood up. ' said he would call and let me know when he is due to
arrive back tomorrow. I must be up and around when he does.' She smiled.
', don't be such a greedy boy!" He reached a hand out and slapped her
bottom. The flesh wobbled. '!" John, John, John,'he teased. Tou live in
constant fear of Mcbride, but h6 only your husband's man.'He reached
-out again but she moved away quickly '! We worry more about being
caught by him than we do Henry!" She looked at him from across the room.
He had a splendid physique, strong and lean, a deep ridge of muscle 98
Dangerous Obsession running the length of his torso, ending at his
pelvis. She glanced down at his amazing size. She was using him for his
contacts - politics was a cliquey world - but the fact that he was so
good in bed was quite a bonus! ' wouldn't mind, but John is such an
unpleasant bugger, the dour old Scot!'he went on. ' really don't know
why you can't persuade old Henry to get rid of him.' He looked up and
saw her staring at him. ' could have as much of this as we wanted then.'
He knelt up, glanced down at his rapidly increasing size and grinned. '
over here and see what fun we could have.' He took himself in his hands
and watched her face. Seconds later, she padded across the room and
bent, the soft warmth of her mouth closing over him. ',' he said,
running his hand through her hair. ' needs dull old Johnt it was an hour
before Lady Margaret made it to the shower: Richard was practically
insatiable. When finally he'd had his fill, she lay back to get her
breath, flushed and perspiring, and took a long, satisfied drag of the
cigarette he passed to her. ' don't really have to get up, do you,
Margarett Richard was comfortable in the big four-poster bed; he could
have stayed there all afternoon. ', sorry' She passed him back the
cigarette and stood up.

He rolled over petulantly ' John!' She smiled. ''s all about
appearances, Richard. Besides, if John found out, he's so puritanical,
he'd probably tell Henry and that would be it.' She clicked her fingers.
', Lady Margaret Smith-Colyne.'She crossed to the dressing table and
picked up her silver-backed brush, gently stroking it through her hair.

99 Marld Barrett "How would you like a new wifet She glanced at him over
her shoulder in the mirror. '!' She started to laugh. ' thought
terrifies you as much as it does me!'She put the brush down. ', at the
end of the week, we'll be in Scotland, you in your house and me in mine.
All I'll have is one hired little nanny to help with the girls and
you'll have your dear old couple who turn a blind eye to all your rude
comings and goings." Bending her head forward to twist her hair into a
knot, she gave him a perfect view of her well-curved bottom. ' can have
me as much as you want then,' she said through a mouthful of pins. Then
she stood straight and walked across to the bathroom. ' you can cope,
that is.' She wiggled her hips and went through to shower, leaving the
echo of her laughter behind her.

John Mcbride stood in a line of people waiting for passengers to
disembark from the ferry and held his name board up nervously with both
hands. He was waiting for Francesca Cameron.- In the top pocket of his
jacket, he had a letter from Father Angelo, a letter he ' read so many
times in the week since he received it, that he knew it off by heart. It
was a letter that still caused him distress, even though he had done
what he could in the circumstances, given that he was a middle-aged man
in service, and in no position to take on that kind'of responsibility.
He had sorted it out, quickly and efficiently, with the minimum of fuss.

He had organised the girl somewhere to live, with friends in Newcastle,
arranged for some money to be transferred from his-deposit account to
tide her over until she found a job and taken time off work to settle
her in. He had done everything he could think of, and yet, he didnl feel
quite 1-00 Dangerous Obsesson t about it. He was unable to say why, but
he was not quite comfortable with his impeccable arrangements.

However, he tried not to think about it..He was not a sentimental man
and the sooner everything was sorted out, and he was on his way back to
Yorkshire, the better. He just wanted to be done with it.

Looking up, he saw a trickle of foot passengers start to disembark and
he held his board up a little higher, scanningthe crowd for his ward. He
had no idea what to expect so he concentrated hard, peering through his
glasses at the sea of faces.

A few moments later, he spotted her. He put his hand up to wave and
called out to attract her attention. She turned towards him and
recognised her name. She was the most haunting young girl he had ever
seen.

She smiled shyly and began to walk towards him. He watched her, tall and
thin, her hair cropped short, her clothes a drab collection of cast-offs
that hung shapelessly from her frame, and he thought she was beautiful.
He could not see how, really, but he simply could not take his eyes from
her face. She looked lost and alone, broken almost, and yet as she drew
nearer, he could see her eyes: they were sharp and green, the sort of
green that Indian emeralds were, solid and intense. They were bright and
trusting and full of hope. ' Cameron?" Tes.' They stood facing each
other for several moments, John unsure of what to do next. Her eyes, he
thought - there was nothing veiled in them, he could see every emotion
reflected. Then he saw the anxiety. it flickered briefly in the green
and he remembered that she was only just a young woman, a child at
heart. He stepped forward and, a little clumsy from lack of experience,
he hugged her close.

101 Barrett "Welcome to England, Francesca,' he said. ' am so pleased
that you are here." She drew back and looked up at him, uncertain. '
you, are you really?' He swallowed hard. Newcastle, the place to live,
the money; they all began to slip away from him. She was vulnerable and
she needed him; he had to respond. ', yes I am,'he said. And suddenly he
smiled, a waim, genuine smile, surprising himself with it. ',' he added.
Then, picking up her bag, he placed his arm protectively around her
shoulder and without another thought, led her off towards the car. His
decision had been made.

However, driving up the Al, back to Yorkshire, John began to wonder just
what he was going to do next. He had never made an impulsive decision in
his life before and although he did not regret it, he hadn't a clue how
to progress. He had nothing worked out, and for a military man who lived
by strategic planning, this was quite extraordinary. He was not a man to
leave things to chance but, in -the circumstances, he could not see what
else he could do. The idea worried him incessantly as he drove.

Johnt Francesca had been silent for most of the journey and he jumped at
the sound of her voice. He had almost forgotten she was there. He turned
and glanced quickly -at her.

IHmmm?, ' know, Father Angelo, he promised me that you would look after
ine.' Francesca spoke quietly, tripping slightly over her accent.,She
stole a look at John's profile and then she went on. ' I wasn't so sure,
I mean ...' She stopped and looked down at her hands.- She held the
bruised wrist, now only faintly discoloured, with her fingers 102
Dangerous Obsession wrapped tightly round it. ' mean, I never thought
... after all that's happened ...'Again she stopped. She was struggling
with her English and her shyness and she did not know how to explain her
thanks. '. it's that ... I never believed that you would, really' I John
dared not took at her. Her words touched him in away he did not
understand and he was nervous of that. He knew very little about her,
except that she had suffered and that Father Angelo trusted him to take
care of her. He was not at all sure why this meant so much to him. ' are
very kind, John." He coughed uncomfortably. He was unused to sentiment
and it embarrassed him. ','he said'Not really, I ...'He coughed again to
clear his throat. ' just want everything to turn out for the best,
that's all.' He reached over and patted her hand, a little
selfconsciously. He was drawn to her, he wanted to touch her, to
reassure her, but his lack of experience overwhelmed him and he kept his
distance. ' will not let you down,' she said quietly.

He saw her out of the comer of his eye, staring straight ahead, her face
set and her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. She was so
determined, and so sad, that his heart went out to her. ', of course you
won't,' he answered. Nor I you, he thought, though he did not have the
courage to say it.

And they drove on in silence, stopping only once to call Lady Margaret
and the friends they would not be going to see in Newcastle.

Lady Margaret sat in the drawing room at Motcomb Park in an extremely
foul temper. She smoked a cigarette and stared out of the window,
kicking the toe of her Kurt Geiger court shoe against the leg of Lord
Henry's favourite Sheraton side 103 Maria Barrett table. She flicked her
ash into a small Royal Doulton dish that she balanced on her knee. '
John,' she muttered under her breath. ' Milly' She took a long drag of
the cigarette and blew the smoke slowly out of the side of her mouth.

As ifjohn's phone call earlier wasn't enough, she thought angrily, she
now had Milly on her way home, sent back from a friends house with
wretched chickenpox, and to top it all, Mrs. bloody Brown on the phone
to the agency, blowing the whole thing, apparently by mistake!

Lady Margaret stubbed the cigarette out, grinding it into the saucer.
She had not been expecting John until tomorrow morning, and his
extraordinary change of plan was really most inconvenient. The dinner
with Richard had had to be cancelled - she had ushered him out of the
house in five minutes flat and her one night, tonight, of glorious
nonstop sex had been indefinitely postponed. She needed it too; she
wanted Richard pliable by the time they got to the Highlands, if they
ever got to the bloody Highlands. ' Milly'she said again. She stood and
walked over to the window. Why in God's name did the child have to
develop the pox this week? She could at least have waited until they got
to Scotland, then the agency girl could have done absolutely nothing
about it.

It had been raining all day, a dull, grey drizzle, and I-ady Margaret
looked out at the gardens, sodden and miserable. After tea, she decided,
she would ring round some other agencies and see if she couldn't replace
the girl. She just had to go to Scotl and; she had been planning it for
weeks. Besides, she deserved a fortnight alone with Richard; what with
the children, Henry and dour old John snooping round the place, it was
about time she had a little fun.

John turned off the Al at Bedale and drove cross country in 104
Dangerouobswion the direction of the A19 and the Vale of Pickering. The
village of Motcom, where they were headed, lay nestled into the
Hambleton Hills. With its houses of grey York stone, weatherworn and
covered in lichen, it swept gently up to the edge of the Smith-Colyne
estate and the entrance to Motcom Park.

It was a small place, one of a group of villages clustered together
within a ten-mile radius of each other. It had a post office, with a
shop attached, a bed and breakfast for the summer trade and two pubs,
each at separate ends of the village. People kept themselves to
themselves in Motcom: they noticed the comings and goings but little was
said. It was rural and private and for Lady Margaret Smith-Colyne,
deadly boring.

Lady Margaret was down in the village at the post office when she saw
John's car drive past, on his way back to the estate. She had been
talking to the Post Mistress, explaining her dilemma in great and
exaggerated detail. She had rather hoped that the daughter of the
establishment, just turned sixteen, would be offered for employment, but
was disgruntled to find that she had already gone to France on a school
exchange trip.

The post office had been Lady Margaret's last resort and she took the
disappointment badly She couldn't help commenting, out of sheer
frustration-and anger of course, that French seemed hardly necessary for
a girl who would probably never leave Motcom. But the Post Mistress just
folded her, arms and nodded; her fit of pique was ignored.

Driving the Range Rover back up to the estate, she won- dered what had
brought John back so early to Motcom. He rarely changed his plans once
made, in fact, she had never known him to do so before. She smiled to
herself as she drove through the gates and up towards the house. Perhaps
there is a woman involved, she thought, swinging the car to 105 Maria
Barreu a halt in front of the house. Doubtful, though, she decided,
climbing out of the driver! s seat and jumping down, doubtful in the
extreme. Still, now he was back, she could at least hand the whole
problem of the girl nanny over to him. Dull and boring he might be, but
when it came to it, he was bloody efficient.

John parked his immaculate 1963 Austin Rover in the small courtyard at
the back of the house, reversing perfectly into his space, and turned to
Francesca. ', here we are.'He smiled.

She nodded. '1s get your things out then and we'll take you through to
the kitchen to meet Mrs. Brown." She sat where she was, looking round
her at the extensive outbuildings that housed the kitchen, utility room
and office, along with the small apartments for Job n and Mrs. Brown.
They were all one storey high, attached to the side of the house, and in
the same warm grey stone. Above them she could see the roof and the back
facade of Motcom Park, an imposing eighteenth-century Georgian hall,
built by Bourchier and set in two hundred acres of parkland. It was
simply the most splendid thing she had ever set eyes on. ' who lives
heretshe murmured.

John smiled at her awe. ' and Lady Smith-Colyne, it! s their family
home.' He had forgotten, having lived there for so long, just how
beautiful the building was, ' on, there'll be plenty of chance to look
round later.' He was eager to go in, to get the introduction to Mrs.
Brown over with and to face Lady Margaret. He hated to prolong
uncertainties.

Francesca unfastened her seat belt and began to climb 106 Danger=,
ISUession 0ut of the car. John came round immediately to help her., '
you,' she said, surprised. She was so unused to kindness that for a
moment just the offer of his hand overwhelmed her and she hesitated,
feeling gauche and inexperienced. She took it and struggled clumsily out
of the car, painfully shy of him. He looked down, embarrass4,- catching,
sight of the faint bruising on her arms, and thought: What in God's name
happened to her? Shel, so young, just a child, to be damaged in this way
He stared, shocked at the bruised, marked skin, and Francesca hurriedly
pulled down the sleeve of her cardigan. She dropped his hand an. d movea
away. He had stood too close to her, she needed the distance.

Whatever it was, he thought sadly, it was obviously still painful to her
and she did not want him to know. He shrugged and reached into the car
for her bag. ' on,' he said quietly, and silently they went inside the
house.

"John!" Dora Brown had glanced up from her pudding basin on hearing a
noise at the door and was amazed to see John walk into her kitchen. '
goodness me' What a surprise' What on earth are you doing back from ...
THe was followed in by Francesca and Dora stopped mid-sentence. ', let
me introduce you to my ward,'John said quickly ' young girl I was
telling. you about.' Remember?" Dora wiped her floury hands on her apron
and Francesca stepped forward. She could plainly see Johifs discomfort
and the girl was trembling with nerves.

.'Oh yes, yes of course!' She moved over to Francesca and covered her
surprise, taking her hand and holding-it warmly Something had definitely
gone awry, she thought, 107 Maria Barrett but John would explain it all
later. The girl was a strangelooking thing, obviously shy, and so thin
you could feel her bones. Perhaps John would explain that as well. '
Lady Margaret didn't tell you I'd rung then, Dorat ' she heck!' Dora had
crossed to the sink and was filling the kettle. John ushered Francesca
to a chair at the table. ' Ladyship has one of the worst tempers I've
seen on ' for years!' She spoke to them over her shoulder. ''s gone down
with the chickenpox and when I came in this afternoon, from me morning
off, I'm greeted "with this news and told she's on her way home from her
friend's because of it and could I-make sure her room's ready!'She
plugged the kettle in and switched it on, tutting irritably. ' if it
ever iswt, I ask you,'she muttered. Turning, she gave them her full
attention and folded her arms across her ample bosom. ', then the agency
rings, you know, the one she's using for the trip to Scotland.
Theywanted to send a girl over today to meet Milly and Sophie and I told
them not to because Milly had the pox and it's very catching in the
first week.' The kettle boiled and she reached up for the teapot. ',
then they ring back and say that they can't send a girl to Scotland, in
light of the illness, and they'll refund the money Quite right too, in
my opinion, but Lady M. throws a wobbly! Goes right over the top, if you
ask me. The agency's got a right to protect them girls - they shouldn't
be exposed to children with catching illnesses!' Dora stopped her
monologue to finish making the tea. She brought the pot over to the
table while John fetched the cups and milk. ', what is Lady Margaret
going to dot ' knows! She isn't speaking to me, so I certainly won't!'
She snorted and began to pour.

John's discomfort deepened. He had always found Lady 108 Dangerous
Obsession Margaret difficult, even in the best of moods. ' suppose I'd
better go through and tell her that Francesca will be staying with us
for a while." Dora raised an eyebrow, then she glanced across at
Francesca who had flushed deeb red with embarrassment. ''ll be cream
itself, John, don't you worry!' Dora patted Francesca's hand. She looked
so nervous that Dora thought she might cry ''ll ask you to find her a
nanny and you're to say that you'll do everything you can. She won't
utter a whisper." John smiled. '. Brown, you're a cunning old devil! And
where do you suppose I'm going to get a nanny froint ' cares, so long as
you look as if you're, trying!" She stood up and bustled over to the
fridge. She was a large woman whose skirt and nylon slip rustled when
she walked. She pulled open the door and bent to take out a joint of
gammon.

I ' while you're gone, I'm going to make Francesca a nice ham
sandwich.'She glanced over her shoulder. ' that suit, loviet ', please.'
' so.' Dora threw John a withering look. ' bet you never even stopped
for a bite to eat on the way, did you?, ' course not, Dora!'John said
irritably, turning towards the door. ' know how I hate to waste time!"
Dora smiled. This was more like her John. She waited until he'd
disappeared out into the main house and then carried the gammon over to
the table. '!, she said conspiratorially to Francesca, and began to
slice the meat.

"Ah! John! Come in, come in!' Lady Margaret was flicking through a copy
of Harpers Queen and had just spoked a 109 Maria Barma photograph of
herself in Jennifer Diary. It put her in better humour. ' change of plan
then, Johnt She dropped the magazine down onto the sofa beside her,
while John stood uneasily just inside the room. ''re back much earlier
than expected.' "fes, yes I am. Things didn't quite work out the way I
had thought they might.' I ' know the feeling! I suppose Mrs. Brown has
already told you that I am now minus my help for the trip to Scotland?'
', she did mention.. ' bet she did! I tore her off a strip, I have to
confess, but I'm bloody furious and the girls will be bitterly disap-..
pointed if they can't go on Friday. I just don't see how I can manage on
my own at Lairbeck.' She shrugged. ' course Lord Henry will be very
upset; he knows how much we were all looking forward to it. Still ... "
John waited patiently for the next comment, knowing she was building up
to it. He watched her fiddle with the magazine for a few moments and
then she said, a little too casually, ' don't suppose there's anything
you might be able to do, is there, John?' She looked directly at him,
for the first time since he had come into the room. ' know how
marvelous you are at fixing things, and I really would be most awfully
gruteful." She was an attractive woman, he thought, particularly when
she smiled. Shame it wasn't very often. ''m sure I can try, Lady
Margaret. I can't promise anything, but I'll put my mind to it.' ',
John, would you really? How sweet of you.' She picked up her cigarettes
and drew one out of the packet, tapping the end lightly on the box, a
habit John found ridiculous with filtered cigarettes. She lit it and
inhaled 110 Dangerous Obsesgon deeply. ' there anything else, Johnt She
-had picked up themagazine and held it on her lap, waiting to open it.
', there is actually I wanted to let you know that I have a guest
staying, and to check that's all right with you and Lord Henry' ', I
can't vouch for my husband,' she paused strategically. All part of
letting me know my place, thought John. Then she added: ' I'm quite
happy for you to have a guest. A relation is it?' ', not exactly., She
raised an eyebrow'. ' have been asked to take care of a young woman from
Italy, a ward I suppose you would call her.' ' see.' She waited for more
information but she wasn't going to get it. She had given permission and
that was all John needed. ', well, if thatis all" Lady Margaret?'He
shifted impatiently from one foot to the other. ', yes John, of course."
He turned towards the door. ', by the way, how old is this girw she
called after him and he swung round. ' seventeen or eighteen, I think.'
' she spe'ak English?, ', yes, she'll not be any trouble, she speaks
perfect English.' '. Thank you, John." Udy Margaret.' He nodded and
before she could ask him anything further, quickly left the room.

John headed back to the kitchen, irritated, with himself and with Lady
Margaret. She was never overtly rude to him but she was so superior, and
it annoyed him even further that he stood there and took it. He should
have said something years ago, made his position clear with her when she
Ill Mari Barmu first arrived. It was too late now - she dominated the
place and he was getting on. He couldn't take the chance of offending
her, his whole life was Motcom Park. So he just put his head down and
ignored her, never answered back - it wasn't worth the aggravation. But
more fool you, a little voice in the back of his head cried, more fool
you.

Opening the door to the, part of the house that was his own, John
breathed in the warmth and the smells of a living, working kitchen and
felt better. He made his way towards the women and heard the echo of
girlish laughter along the passage, something he hadn't heard for a very
long while. He pushed open the door and Dora looked up at him from
across the room, her eyes streaming from laughter. ', John! Come and
have a look at thisp She put her handkerchief up to the comer of her eye
and wiped away a tear. Her large, ruddy face was round and creased with
smiling and the laughter still glistened in her eyes.

He bent his head and saw Francesca giggling and kneeling on the floor
with the string of Dora apron in her hand, and the fat, lazy, old black
cat chasing it as she wiggled it, threw it up in the air, trailed it
out, and then drew it back in before he had a chance to claw it. His
portly, overindulged body flopped heavily as he tried to prance, his
belly hitting the floor before any other part of him. He behaved like a
kitten half his weight and twice his energy and the two women giggled
mercilessly at every undignified movement.

John started to laugh., just the sight of Francesca, her sadness
abandoned for the moment, was enough to fill him with pleasure, but the
sound of her happiness as well suddenly dissolved all his doubts and
uncertainties. For the first time in years, he felt as if he'd done
something worthwhile.

The feeling was good.

Dangerous Obsmim she looked up at him and her eyes flashed, a bright,
vibrant green. Her whole face changed when she laughed: it softened, all
the features fell into place and she was beautiful, the sort of
beautiful that was complex, difficult to describe. He remembered that on
the quayside he had won- dered why he found her so lovely. He could see
it now, and he was proud. That feeling too, was good.

He caught Dora's eye. The addition of youth and laughter to our lives is
a good thing, her glance told him and he smiled in reply. She was right,
he thought, even a dour old Scot could see that.

And, a short while later, when Francesca had gone through to the spare
room to unpack her things, Dora said as much to John. They had lived
together as friends for nearly ten years. Their relationship was easy
but not communicative: John was a man who kept his feelings close; quiet
and unassuming, he rarely spoke about himself. Now, he felt the need to
share something with Dora, to explain, as if talking it through with her
would help him to understand it himself.

They sat over another pot of tea and he told her about Father Angelo,
his kindness to Johrils aunt, and his trust in John to help someone he
had described as a'lost child'. ' had it all planned out you see, Dora,'
he said. ' know, like I told you. I'd arranged with that friend of mine
from the regiment and his wife, Tom and Grace, that is, to take
Francesca in for a couple of months, see to it that she was all right,
help her get a job. Tom's very good like that, very caring.' He drank
the last of his tea and Dora mechanically poured him another cup. '
thought, Newcastle is a big city' He took a gulp. ' too far away, she'll
be fine.'He stopped. ' when I saw her, Dora, well, I just knew that I
couldn't leave her on-her own.

113 Mitha Barrea She was so lost and 1 alone, so vulnerable.' He paused
thoughtfully ', vulnerable, that6 the word, and I thought, this girl
needs some help, she really does. Simple as that, I suppose., Dora
nodded but kept quiet. She didn't know what to say ' know, Dora, when I
saw her come off the boat, she looked so brave, shoulders up, head high.
She had this bright smile fixed on her face, and yet I could see the
fear, I could feel it. It like her sadness; it an aura, it's all around
her and ... I don't know, it makes me want to hug her in close, you
know? To make it go away' Dora glanced down at her red, chapped hands in
her lap. This was the most John had ever said to her in years and
although she wasn't surprised at his sensitivity, having always
suspected it was there, she did wonder why he'd kept it so tightly
bottled up all these years. ''s a good feeling to have. John.' she said
simply. ' itt '. She needs you, it's only right you should help.' She
drank the last of her tea. What else can I say, she thought the girl's
obviously had trouble and who am I to give her any more? ' think I've
done the right thing then?'He needed her reassurance. ', I do,'she said
firmly and then smiled, ', a bit ofyoun . laughter around the place will
do us old fogies the world of good." He smiled back. ', perhaps you're
right there, Dora.' ' about what?' Lady Margaret stood in the doorway of
the kitchen and smiled. Both employees looked up, startled by the
intrusion; Lady Margaret never came into the kitchen. ', I am sorry' she
said pointedly ' I inter-; rupted somethine." 114 Dangerous Obsession
No, of course not, Lady Margaret.' John stood up , ', if you'd like to.
Can we offer you some tea?' ', thank you, John.' She acted as if Mrs.
Brown was not in the room. ' wondered if I might have a word?" Of
course.' He held his ground: he was not going to "scurry after her into
the main house, not this time. ' is it you wantt ' ' paused for a
moment. ' girl you men- ell ... tioned, your "ward "T '?, ''ve been on
the phone to Lord Henry, and he's come up with the most splendid idea!
1, well he really, thought that, if she was agreeable, your girl could
come up. to Scotland with me on Friday It would be the most perfect
solution to our problem!" Well now, I don't think that Francesca-' ' did
say she spoke Englisht '.' ' she's over sixteent ', but--2 ' don't see
there's any problem then, John.' She spoke a little more sharply than
she intended. John was such an old woman, it really irritated her. '
Lord Henry said, she might as well make herself useful if she's going to
be staying. if I have to feed and look after her, I can just as easily
do that in Scotland as down here in Yorkshire. Wouldn't you agree?

John saw Dora out of the comer of his eye. She was looking up at the
ceiling with exa'speration and it gave him an unexpected courage. ',
actually, Lady Margaret, I wouldn't agree.' He caught the full force of
her icy glare and his courage momentarily faltered. ' see, Francesca,
that's my ward, she's very shy 115 -Marla Barrett, and not terribly
experience He spoke quickly, unused to disagreeing. ''s come from a
remote part of Italy, you see, and I just don't think she's up to going
off on her own. I don't think she has the confidence and-' ' nonsense,
Johnp Lady Margaret could see the answer to her, dilemma slipping away
from her. ' be brief. We're talking about a family holiday to Scotland
here, not a round-the-world trip!' ' know, Lady Margaret, but it's just
that-' ', for goodness' sake, John! Why don't you just ask Francesca
whether she would like to go or nott She folded her arms and stood, feet
slightly apart, balanced and ready to do battle. ''ll wait while you
call her. It would be nice to be introduced, after all.' ', of course.'
He coughed but he wasn't put off, for the first time in years he'd
argued back. Well, he did have Francesca to think of. ''ll go and find
her,'he said. But, he thought, if she doesn't want to go, and the
decision is entirely hers, then I'm sure as 411 not going to make her.
Francesca has suffered enough, be decided with a wry touch of humour,
without two weeks on her own with Lady Smith-Colyne.

Minutes later, he reappeared, followed by Francesca, and Lady Margaret
administered an enormous smile, the sort she kept for people she wanted
to please. Uh-oh, thought Dora, the poor, unsuspecting mite doesn't
stand a chance. ', Francesca!' Lady Margaret stepped forward. ' nice to
meet you. John has told me so much about you and we are delighted to
-have you as his guest at Motcom.' She took Francesca hand and shook it
warmly, the honey dripping off her words., '. you been unpacking? You
probably don't have any of the right kinds of clothes for this beastly
climate, you poor thing!' She led Francesca over to the table.

116 Dangerous Obsession ow, my dear, come and sit down because I have
someing to ask you, a small favour that would practically save life!'
She ignored John's scowl and sat Francesca opposite her. Francesca had
not spoken a word.

What a funny-looking thing, she thought briefly, before -launching into
her next sentence; so quiet and shy, a real if and stray Where on earth
did John find her? ', I wanted to ask you to help me out. As I said it's
a small favour and I feel sure that you'll be only too ba t do so once
you know whafs involved, and how ppy 0 ,,-,,much it means to all of us,
of course.' She dazzled momen-, Itarily with her smile and then
continued to speak, "addressing herself to the spot slightly above
Francesca's head. ', without boring you wit h too many details, myself
and the girls, Sophie and Milly, are due to go up to Scotland at the end
of the week for our annual holiday. We were meant to have a young girl
with us to look after the children and generally help me out, but,
unfortunately, she is unable to come, and..

Dora glanced at John. ' you mention that Milly has the chickenpox?' he
asked. ''s one of the details and its infectious, of course, Francesca.'
', thank you, John, you're quite right, it is slightly infectious.' Lady
Margaret glared at him. ', you would like me to come to Scotland with
you and help you to look after the children. Is that rightt Everyone
suddenly looked at Francesca. It was the first time she had spoken and
they had, almost forgotten she was there. ', that's right!'Lady Margaret
sensed victory. Of course the girl wanted to go. John was such an old
fusspot, he knew nothing about young people. Us just a month, and Lord
Henry and I thought that you might enjoy seeing 117 Maria Bamea
something of Scotland while you have the chance. U a beautiful country'
Francesca glanced up atjohn. She could feel the undercurrents of tension
in the room and she did not know what to do. Did he want her to go? She
was, after all, being asked by his employer. She hesitated for a moment.
He must want to please Lady Margaret and he had seemed edgy when she
asked - perhaps he was afraid that Francesca would refuse. She caught
his eye. ' course it is entirely up to you, Francesca,' he said. ' you
don't feel ready to go off on your own, then you must say so. He kept
his voice level, when really he wanted to shout: Oh! For goodness' sake,
Lady Margaret, think of someone other than yourself for once!

Francesca nodded.-John wanted her to go, she could tell by the tone of
his voice, as if he were warning her somehow I must do as he wants, she
thought. I am used to my own company, it will not be so bad. ' Margaret,
I will be happy to go with you to Scotland,'she said quickly ' you sure,
Francesca?'John moved across to the table, surprised. ' course she's
sure!' Lady Margaret answered abruptly and then smiled instantly to
cover her rudeness. ' girn not an idiot, John!' she laughed. ', no of
course not.' He was embarrassed by her and she knew it. She rose and
smiled down at Francesca. ' leave early Friday morning, Francesca. I'm
so pleased you've agreed to join us and I'm sure you'll have a lovely
time.' ' heck she will,' Dora muttered under her breath. ' beg your
pardon, Mrs. Brownt ' said, I bet she will, maam. Scotland's a beautiful
coun-.

Dangerous Obsession te ri Yes, qui ght, Mrs. Brown.' Lady Margaret knew
exactly what Dora had said, but was in no position to cause a scene in
front of the girl. She must not be put off. ' you'd like to come through
when the girls come home, Francesca, I'll introduce you. Milly will be
straight s Irs to bed, of course, but I'm sure you can spend some e t
her there, reading or something.' She turned to e room is ready, Mrs.
Brownt es, dy Margaret.' Dora bit her tongue. oo ! See you later then,
Francesca. John, you'll bring her through, will yout He nodded. And with
a flutter of her hand, Lady Margaret bade them goodbye and disappeared
through to ,'R the main part of the house.

655 ''s that then,' said Dora and stood to dear away the tea things. '
always gets her own way in the end." try., 118 119 CHAPTER Eleven FRIDAY
MORNING CAME BEFORE ANY of them knew it, except for John. Milly had been
in bed since she was sent home from her friend Kitty Larson's house. She
knew very little about the preparations for Scotland, her days passed in
a sickly blur. For the other members of the household, there were things
to be packed, remembered, organised and sorted, and for Lady Margaret
there was a hurried trip to London while Lord Henry was in Geneva on
business, to purchase some exotic essentials that would make her illicit
two weeks with Richard all the more memorable.

John watched it all with a sinking heart. He took Francesca to be kitted
out at his gentleman outfitters in York with thick sweaters and corduroy
trousers, walking boots and a Barbour. He noticed that Lady Margaret had
left off her list anything that might make the girl look feminine or
attractive.

He was not happy about the trip to Scotland. He knew that Francesca
would be too much on her own and it worried him. She had been happy
enough at Motcom the past few days - he had been watching her closely
But every now. and then, he would catch a glimpse of pain and fear in
her eyes, emotion raw and exposed, as if it lay so close to the surface
that even the merest scratch could bring it through. When he saw it, he
wanted to hold her like a child and soothe it away It was a strange
feeling for him: he was needed and that made it all the more difficult
for him to let her go. She looked to him for guidance, needing his reas-
120 Dangerous Obsasion surance and his confidence, and it brought out
the best in him. To be wanted had been sorely missing in his life.

But Friday morning arrived and John was up early, as the light crept
over the estate and the dew lay thick on the ground. He could not sleep
and he had a great number of things to do; at least that wa6 what he
told himself. He made tea and sat at the kitchen table by the warmth of
the Aga and began to go through the list Lady Margaret had prepared for
him-, she liked to leave all the final details to someone else.

I He was checking off the luggage he had packed the night before when he
heard the door quietly open. He looked up and Francesca stood at the
door, dressed and ready to go. '! What are you doing up so early?' '
could not sleep.' She shrugged and came into the room. ' think that I am
nervous." John smiled. Her English was so good that often he almost
forgot she was Italian, and then, like now, her words would trip over a
sentence and she would sound so funny, out of character, as if she was
joking. ' and sit down. I'll make you some tea." She pulled a face and
again he smiled. ', sorry, coffee then.' He walked over to the kettle
and filled it at the sink. ' clothes look a little big on you, I think,
Francesca.' The sweater he had chosen for her was the smallest the
outfitters stocked but it still swamped her. She pulled it up and he saw
that the corduroy trousers she wore were gathered in and secured with a
big brown belt they were at least three sizes too big. ' my!'John
exclaimed and then typically said: ', I suppose you will always grow
into them." And suddenly they both started to laugh. It was one of those
moments when two people unexpectedly realise they are friends and this
friendship is sealed with laughter.

121 Maria Barrett ,so then, John, it'll be just the two of us for a
while, eh?' John was standing looking at the packed car when a strong
voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up as Dora's footsteps clicked
on the stone of the courtyard. She carried a huge basket stuffed with
food and brought it round to the passenger door of 1he Range Rover,
handing it over so he could slot it in behind the seat. ' the two of
us,' he agreed. He looked at his handiwork: everything was neatly packed
away into the car. ''ll miss the girl,' she remarked and John nodded.
Since that first day he had not spoken to her again about his feelings,
but she had seen a change in him so sudden and so noticeable that it
took her aback. The warming of the stone, she thought, the girn done
that. He had softened, smiled more, and once or twice she had even heard
him laughing. just once or twice. ''s so funnyt He untied the green
cotton apron he wore, folded it into a neat square and glanced at Dora,
who stood, arms folded across her ample bosom, grinning in a private,
knowing way. ' I smiling I didn't realise.' ', you were,'John said
peevishly. ''She shrugged and began to make her way back to the kitchen.
''ll get Francesca,' she called. ' Royal Highness will want to leave
soon.' ' do that.' He watched her go and found himself refolding the
apron, over an dover into a tiny creased square. Now the car was packed,
he wasn't sure what to do with himself next. Normally he would have got
on with the day's tasks, let the family depart under their own steam,
but not this morning - he didn't want to miss anything this morning.

Dora called to him from the kitchen doorway. She had 122 Dangerous
Obsession en im standing by the car fiddling with his apron. ' ink I
might go round the front to see them off, John.', He raised a quizzical
eyebrow. the ' for her Ladyship's sake!' she laughed. ''t be da .1 want
to wave Francesca off.' And in the back of his mind, the familiar retort
came to him:'We don't want to be wasting time now, Dora.' But he didn't
say it, instead he just smiled and answered: ' think I'll join you." Now
there's a change, she thought, and she smiled again to herself before
turning back into the kitchen. There's a change indeed! Francesca was
settled in the front seat, Milly directly behind her within reach, in
case she threw up. To compound the misery oif the chickenpox, the poor
child now seemed to have developed an upset stomach as well. ', can't
stop every time the child feels sick!' Lady Margaret had said and handed
Francesca a clump of plastic bags. She had told Richard she would be
there for dinner and she had no intention of cancelling the arrangement
this time, ' you have everything you might want on a long j our- they
now, Frantescat Dora leaned into the Range Rover behind Francesca and
tucked Milly's blanket tighter round her, ruffling her hair
affectionately ' course she does, Mrs. Brown! It's only Scotland, for
God's sake!' Lady Margaret climbed into the driver's seat and reached
for her seat belt. Her manner quite plainly indicated that Dora had not
yet been forgiven. ' you, Dora,' Francesca said quietly. She caught Mrs.
Brown's eye and they smiled at each other. John came round to the front
of the car. ' I that's just about everything in now, Lady Margaret.
You're all ready for the off." 123 I Mari4 Barrett I "Thank you,
John.'She switched on the engine. ' you'd ring us when you get there,'
he said to Francesca. She nodded and he heard Lady Margaret sigh
irritably. He stood back and went to slam the door shut.

Johnt He stopped. Francesca put her hand out and touched his arm: it was
the first time she had done so. She smiled and was about to say
something when Lady Margaret switched on the windscreen wipers and
squirted the screen with soapy water. She tested the horn loudly ' then,
we're ready,'she said. ', yes, right.'John jumped back, and,
embarrassed, closed the door without looking further at Francesca. He
walked across to Dora and stood by her side to wave the family off. '
then!' Lady Margaret called out of the window as she put the car into
gear and the wheels crunched on the gravel. '!" John and Dora watched
the Range Rover as it travelled down to the gates and disappeared out
onto the main road. They could just see Francesca turn and wave and Lady
Margaret's leather-gloved hand raised in salute out of the driver's side
window, then, moments later, the car had gone. ', that's us on our tod
for now.' Dora dropped her hand down into the pocket of her apron. ''ve
got so used to her, I don't know what we'll say to each other.' ',
Dora!' John spoke abruptly and turned towards the house. ''s plenty of
work to be done; we've no time for sentimentality' ' not,' she answered.
But she knew John Mcbride better than that. He'll miss her more than I
will, she thought, the dry old stick.

124 Dangerous Obsession _Uirbeck House, between Duiar and Cromdale in
the Grampian region, was the Scottish home of the Smithcolyne family. An
ugly, grey granite building in Gothic style, it lay tucked in amongst
the natural woodland of the Spey Valley and had views over acres and
acres of prime sporting land: the Smith-Colyne Scottish estate.

I The surrounding country possessed a rare and subtle charm, spreading
from the mild, open pastures in the valley of the River Spey, out into
the Cromdale Hills and the Grampian Mountains, and a wilder, more
majestic scenery of snowy hilltops disappearing into bands of sweeping
cloud. it was an area of huge sporting estates owned by rich, absentee
landlords and run by their Scottish employees.

Lairbeck House was reached via a small road that turned off the A95 and
led up towards the Cromdale Hills. It could be seen from here, its cold,
grey bulk and two towers rising up against a backdrop of hills that,
deceiving to the eye, looked as if they lay directly behind. In front,
woolly sheep grazed the open land that ran into natural woodland and a
few- trees hid most of the buildings facade, a tribute to Pugin's
fervour for the Gothic style.

Lady Margaret made the turning off the main road and heaved an enormous
sigh of relief. She had been driving for near on seven hours with only
one short break in Aberdeen, to eat the lunch Dora had packed and to let
Francesca dispose of three full plastic bags.

She drove the two miles along the borders of the Smithcolyne estate and
finally turned into the grounds of the house. It was just after five pm
and the northern light was still cold and clear. ' is Lairbeck,
Francesca,' Lady Margaret announced as they approached the house, and
slowed the car so that they could gaze fully on the size and dimensions
of it. In all 125 Maria Barrett honesty, she hated the place. It was
draughty and cold, the plumbing was archaic and the comfort minimal, but
she liked to show it off - it was another testimony to her wealth and
position. ''m sure you'll be very comfortable here.'A blatant lie, bilt
a necessary one. She swung the car into the wide stone drive in front of
the house and stopped, yanking on the handbrake. ', girls! Here we are!'
She turned in her seat and looked behind her at Sophie and Milly ' on
now, let's get our things together, shall wet Unclipping the seat belt,
she jumped down from the car and stretched her long limbs. God, she
needed a bath, and a drink, and later, one of Richard's long, slow
screws. She glanced down at the swell of her breasts as she stretched
her arms over her head. ' on, girls!' she shouted. ' haven't got all
day"

Francesca helped the girls out of the car while tady Margaret went
across to talk to an elderly couple who had just come out of the house.
Milly stood forlornly, a blanket wrapped round her, a pillow in her
hand, and waited for her mother to remember she was ill. Francesca put
her hand on the little girl's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. ', girls!
Francesca! Come over here and say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie, will
you, pleaset Francesca led the girls over. ' Sophie, you remember Mr.
and Mrs. Mackenzie, don't yout They both nodded. ' this is Francesca, my
help. Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie look after the house for us, Francesca.
They will be here over the next month taking care of things.' Francesca
shook hands but neither one smiled. '. well, if you could take the girls
in, Francesca, Mrs. Mackenzie will show you their rooms.' Lady Margaret
turned away from the small group on the steps of the house 126 Dangerous
Obsession and looked towards the car. ''d like to get unpacked as
quickly as possible please, Mr. Mackenzie. I have an invitation for
dinner this evening.' She turned back. ' should be leaving about seven,
so Francesca, you can either eat with the girls or Mrs. Mackenzie will
leave you something cold to have later. Is that all right with you, Mrs.
Mackenziet The elderly woman nodded. '! Let's get going then.' She
smiled and led the way into the house. ', by the way'she said from the
doorway to the drawing room. ' you've done the girls' tea, you and Mr.
Mackenzie can take the rest of the evening off, Mrs. ,. And don't bother
to make a fire just for Francesca, I'm sure she'll be warm enough.'
Glancing over at Francesca, she asked: ''t you, deart And without
waiting for an answer, disappeared into the drawing room to pour herself
, large glass of Strathspey malt.

Later that, evening, Francesca heard Lady Margaret call to her from the
oak-panelled hallway, on her way out to dinner. She hurried from Milly's
room down the passage to the stairs, hoping to catch her employer, but
she was too late. All she caught was the lingering scent of Guerlain,
heavy in the air, and the echo of light, expectant footsteps across the
drive to the Range Rover. The car engine was started and the Range Rover
gone before she even had a chance to descend the stairs. '!' She stood
looking down at the huge, draughty hallway and caught the glass eye of
one of the stags heads stuffed and mounted on the wall. ' don't know
what you're looking at,' she said irritably and drew her arms in around
her. Even in the thick Shetland wool sweater she wore she felt cold and
she thought she could see her breath in the damp, chilled air.

Coming downstairs, she peered into the drawing room 127 Maria Barreu on
her way through to the kitchen. it was an enormous room, high-ceilinged
and stuffed with heavy furniture. There was none of the Georgian grace
of Motcom; the feet was masculine and somewhat functional. Thick
tapestry drapes hung at the windows, a large, worn Bijar Persian carpet
covered the stone floor and the sofas were draped with heavy tartan
blankets and big tapestry cushions. it was a comfortable room but still
it felt cold. She picked Udy Margaret empty whisky glass off the side
table and took it with her through to the kitchen.

Making herself a coffee, Francesca listened to the echo of her movements
in the ancient stone silence, every sound seeming louder than it really
was in the empty stillness" of the house. She could see the shadow of
the mountains as the sun sank and disappeared behind them, leaving the
sky the colour of dying embers edged with ash. She could feel the
isolation: it was everywhere, around her and inside her, it was in the
echo of her footsteps and in the plaintive howl of the wind outside.

She was alone and was glad of it. There was nothing new in solitude, she
had known it all her life, only now there was no fear, no dread, or
pain. It was a blank loneliness, her memories locked securely away and
her emotions hidden. All she felt was an overwhelming sense of numbness
and relief. She had closed herself up and withdrawn from the world.

128 CHAPTER Twelve LADY MARGARET WOKE EARLY. ste lay under the warmth of
the quilt and looked around at her bedroom. It had taken years, years of
subtle bullying to get it the way she wanted it. ' house is a hunting
lodge,' Lord Henry had said time and time again. ''ll not have it
fancified.' ' I won't come,' she had answered finally and promptly
withdrew her favours. The following month builders were called in from
Aberdeen and it had been modelled to her specifications. It was the only
truly comfortable room in the house.

She stretched lazily. The cold, north light was warmed by the apricot of
the drapes as it filtered into the room. Her whole body felt good, it
tingled with remembered pleasure and the faint traces of Richars mouth
on her skin. Two weeks, she thought, two weeks of being made love to by
a man ten years my junior, two weeks of moaning for him to stop.
Delicious! And something to show at the end of it, the beginnings of a
political career for Patrick maybe? Or if not, at least a few
well-earried connections.

She wondered briefly if the Italian girl would make a nuisance of
herself - she might have some archaic Catholic views on morality.
Unlikely, she decided. Francesca can hardly answer me without blushing
and quaking in those ridiculous boots John bought her, let alone
interfere with my private life. She had nothing to worry about there,
and the dear old Mackenzie couple were so silent as to be pracfically
struck dumb. So, she was quite safe from their verbal interference or
from any gossip to Henry.

129 Maria Barrett And with that settled in her mind, and the glorious
prospect of thirteen more nights of glorious sex before Henry arrived in
Scotland, she climbed out of bed and went through to shower and dress
for a day's stalking on Richard's estate.

Francesca was already up and dressed when Lady Margaret came in to see
the girls. She had run a bath, waited fifteen minutes for it to fill and
than lacked the courage to get into it, the water being lukewarm and the
bathroom freezing. In the end, she had splashed herself clean and
hurriedly dressed, pulling on two sweaters and an extra tee shirt
underneath her Viyella shirt. She still felt icy Once ready, she walked
briskly along the passage to the girls' room, knowing that'Mrs.
Mackenzie had put a small electric heater in there to keep the chill off
Milly, She opened the door and breathed in the warm air with relief.

Sophie was already up, standing at the window in her nightie and
counting the sheep in the field. At just five, she could only count up
to ten, and so kept starting from one every time she got stuck. '!' She
turned from the window and ran across the room, hugging Francesca's
knees. ' we go out to see the sheep today? Can we? Can wet Francesca
removed her short arms and held her hands. ' ...' Sophies face fell and
she laughed. ' course we can, Sophie. But. we have to make sure Milly is
all right before we do. OKTShe crossed to the seven-year-old's bed and
felt her forehead. ', Milly, how are you feeling this morning?'she said
softly and bent to kiss Milly's cheek. ' right. I suppose.' ''ll be much
better off if we don't fuss!' Lady Margaret walked straight into the
room and made them all jump. She crossed to the window and flung it
open. ', it like 130 Dangenws Obsession ,-i6ven in here!' She turned and
looked down at Milly on't get better if you don't get some fresh air you
know.'Then she glanced at Francesca. ' hate fuss, Francesca. They don't
like to be mollycoddled." She came and sat on the edge of Milly's bed.
', I am off early this morning for a day's stalking, and am leaving you
two girls completely in the charge of Francesca.' She looked sternly at
Sophie and Milly ' want you to be good, d'you understand?. I don't want
to hear tonight that you've been playing up.' She smiled. ' I'm sure I
won't." Leaning forward, she brushed Millys forehead with her lips and
then stood. ', be sweet for Francesca, and I'll see you tonight.' Sophie
held her arms out and Lady Margaret bent to give her a quick hug. ''t
mess Mummy's hair now, darling.' She kissed her and let her go. ', could
I have a word outside pleaset Glancing briefly over her shoulder, she
blew a kiss. '-bye, girls. Be good.' Francesca followed her out of the
room. ', Francesca, I'm not at all sure what time I'll be back tonight.
I didn't want to say in front of the girls, but I might not be in till
very late, it all just depends.' She smoothed her tweed skirt down over
her hips. ' if you'd feed them and put them to bed, then Mrs. Mackenzie
won't have to bother to come back this evening. All rightt Francesca
nodded. '.' Lady Margaret peered closely at her face. ' should get out
today, dear. It's a nice day, for Scotland anyway, the air would do you
good.' ', thank you.' ' at all. Look, I must be off.' She started
towards the stairs. ' you tonight,' she called over her shoulder, and
holding onto the banister, ran lightly down the stairs, picked up her
keys from the hall table and threw her jacket 131 Maria Barrett over'her
shoulders. She was gone and Francesca hadn't even said goodbye.

The morning flew by Lady Margaret was right, the day was fine, the
clouds swept over a pale blue sky and the sun shone in between them.
Everything was green, shades and shades of varying green, from the dark
brownish-green lowlands of the mountains, to the blue-green of the gorse
and the bright, verdant green of the fields. Strathspey basked in the
fickle sunshine and Francesca was surprised at its beauty.

She looked out at the land from the window in the girls' room and
watched the patterns made by the ever changing sky, clouds chased by the
wind across the sun, diffusing the light and scattering the shadows. It
was constantly altering - the light, the colour, the movement of the
trees - the land seemed to have a life of its own; it mesmerised her.
Then suddenly she felt Sophie tug on her arm. ', you've been sitting
there for ages, why don't you come and play with just Sophie pulled her
shirt. ' on, come and buy something in our shop." Francesca blinked,
turning away from the glare and took a few moments to clear her vision.
''m sorry Sophie, I was dreaming. What did you say" She glanced down at
her watch. ' my goodness! It's almost lunch-time!' She had completely
lost track of time. ' must have been sitting here for hours!' ' you.'
Sophie took her hand. ''m starving,' she announced, and then. ' whad'
Francesca shrugged. ''-been sick!" Mrs. Mackenzie was down in the
kitchen when Francesca went for a bowl and some water. She moved
silently around the room in her floral housecoat, grey hair scraped
severely 132 -Dargerous Obsession her face into a bun, the line of her
mouth grimly set and her house shoes shuffling over the stone floor.
''ll be wantin' fud then, Missiet Francesca turned from the sink. It
took her several seconds to interpret the question. Mrs. Mackenzie held
up the knife she was using to chop with. ', yes please, and , for
Sophie.' She filled the bowl -and looked around for a cloth. ' don't
think Milly will eat, she has been sick again.' ' darn't surprise me.
The bairn should have the doctor out, she looks reet poorly ta mae.' I
'.' Francesca found a cloth and made for the door. She hadn't understood
a word of Mrs. Mackenzies's observation. ''ve a note from Lady Margrit.
She tells mae ta leave some fird for yae this evenin', is that reett
Francesca stopped and turned. She held her breath and decided she had
two options: to shake her head or to nod. She nodded. ' I p, ripare a
wee pot for yae or wud yae rather do yaeself something?" Again she
nodded, she was completely lost. What, leave it for yaeself?' .. I "Reet
yae are.' Mrs. Mackenzie went back to the chopping and Francesca heaved
a sigh of relief. She was painfully embarrassed and it was solace to her
that Mrs. Mackenzie was not a woman of great conversation.

The mess cleared up and the children fed, an hour later Mrs. Mackenzie
sat down on an easy chair in the kitchen and Francesca went upstairs to
the girls. Sophie was boisterous - she had been inside too long and she
needed to run around. Francesca decided to take her out; the weather was
still fine and they both needed air.

133 Maria Barrett "Milly, will you be all right if we leave you for a
while?' ' so.' Milly felt rotten. She wanted to say, ', stay here with
me!' but her mother had taught her never to make a fuss. ' think I need
a sleep,'she added more kindly. Francesca was the nicest nanny they had
ever had, and far nicer than Mummy was most of the time. '. Mrs.
Mackenzie is downstairs in case you need anything. She'll come up in a
little while to check you're all right. I'll run down and fetch some
water for you and then we'll be off. We won't be gone for long - we'll
be back before you open your eyes again!" Milly almost smiled. Well, she
would have done if she wasn't feeling so sick again.

Francesca went for the water and minutes later reappeared and placed it
beside Milly's bed. She bent, kissed her forehead and crossed to the
window to draw the blind. ' you in a while, Milly' she whispered, and
taking Sophie by the hand, she led her tiptoeing to the door and outside
into the passage.

Together they padded down the stairs to the hall where Francesca found
Sophie's coat, fastened her into it, tying her scarf, and pulled on her
own jacket. Then, before the sunshine disappeared, they rushed outside
and ran across the fields, out towards the hills with the warm sun on
their faces and the wind in their hair, They walked, holding hands,
Sophie surprisingly quick on her feet, and said hello to the sheep. Then
they headed onwards and upwards, lured by the thought of being high up
and able to survey everything around them. They sang, Francesca told
rhymes in Italian and Sophie counted from one to ten over an dover as
she numbered the bright purple flowers of the thistles in their path.
Before long, they were some way from the house, the gradient had
steepened and they could look down on the sheep, small, grubby blobs 134
Dangerous Obsession over the field. The wind was stronger up higher - it
whipped their cheeks and flailed the Ion Ig strands of , h ophies air
around her face. She stood, her tiny frame d-on into the breeze, arms
out wide, and laughed joy kusl- the full force of the wind swept over
her, pushing y as er backwards and into Francesca's arms.

They had been out for an hour, but the time went with speed of the wind.
Francesca was conscious of Milly and -,knew they could not be out too
long. It had grown cooler, ,,the clouds had massed together and blocked
out the sun ,"'and the wind became sharper without the sunshine behind
-,,it. She told Sophie that they should start to head back.

it took longer to walk down from the hillside than it "'had to walk up,
or it felt that way The sky had darkened -quite suddenly and it seemed
to get lower, to close in on k"them, the air thickening with moisture
and the wind increasing. It was no longer fun; it blew hard and fierce
against them and made walking difficult.

Francesca: began to feel panic. She was unused to the swift change of
the elements; they overwhelmed her and frightened her. She glanced down
at Sophie, stalwart in her determination to be brave, and saw that her
little hands Were white from clenching her fists.

Then it started to rain. A huge bolt of lightning ripped through the
sky, everything cruelly lit for a split second with its weird electric
light, and moments later, thunder tore down from the mountain, roaring,
as if the earth had a voice, an angry, violent voice. Francesca jumped
and Sophie screamed. A torrent of water followed. '! Here! Quickly!'
Francesca bent to the child and picked her up. She was small and light
for five. Her arms went around Francesca's neck and she clung on,
burying her face and gripping with all the force of her small. childish
135 Maria Barreu hands. Heavy, painful sheets of rain battered down from
the dark, menacing sky and drenched them in minutes. The thunder roared
again. ''s all right, Sophie,' Francesca murmured. ' on to me, don't
worry, little one.' She could feel the child shaking. ' on tight!'And
then she started to run, hugging Sophie in close to her with the rain
pouring down in leaden, icy blasts, making her face and hands sting
terribly as she ran headlong into it.

Patrick Devlin stood at the kitchen window of Lairbeck and looked out at
the wide expanse of land behind the house that led up towards the hills
and their wild, rocky scenery. It was feral and terrifying in the
ravages of the thunderstorm and he scanned the scene, searching
anxiously for two figures. The rain pelted down, banging against the
glass, and the wind howled, the chill of it coming in off the window. At
last he spotted them.

They came out of the cover of the trees, a tall, thin young girl,
carrying Sophie and running, scared and unsteady, headlong into the
elements, racing towards the house. He rushed to the door, unbolted it
and pulled it open, sprinting across the back fields and up towards the
hills, calling out to them and waving his arms to attract their
attention.

Francesca saw him some while before she heard him: his voice was
helpless against the noise of the storm. She looked up from watching her
footing to see how far they had to go and caught sight of a figure
coming towards them, shouting, his words dying on the wind, and waving
his arms. Peering through the sluicing rain, she ran on, startled and
confused by his appearance, and then, not concentrating, she lost her
footing. Her ankle went over and the pain shot through her leg. She
stumbled for several yards, des- 136 Dangerous Obsession P11 ly trying
to regain her balance, holding onto Sophie ...... th all her might, but
she was unable to control her body. $'he fell forwards, turning sideways
to protect Sophie from impact and closing her eyes in grim expectation
of the n t caught her just as she toppled.

oal' He held onto her tightly, surprised at her light- topped her fall.
She slumped against him and he a s he o hie from her arms, letting her
collapse forward ond ta ing her weight. He propped Sophie up onto his
hip, ' --held her secure with one arm, and with the other, he tucked
1-"Francesca under his shoulder and supported her, trying to ",',,help
her to walk. But against the beating wind and rain, it A as virtually
impossible.

He stopped and faced her. ' you all right? Can you Her face was white
with shock and pain. She shook her 31"-head. AMR, Al '. Wait here!'
Hurriedly, he put Sophie down on the and pulled off his Barbour,
wrapping it round Francesca. ''ll run home with Sophie,' he shouted. '
come back for you. Just stay here, all right? Cover yourself up and wait
for me.' He picked Sophie up again and began to run. She watched him,
moving easily and athletically down the slope towards the house, and
tucked her arms around her, sinking to the ground because her legs could
no longer hold her up.

It seemed like forever on the side of the hill in the sleetingrain, but
it was actually only a few minutes. Patrick deposited Sophie in the
warmth of the kitchen and, without stopping, ran out again into the
storm for Francesca. When >- he reached her, he bent, scooped her up,
holding her across AU his arms, and turned back to the house. He held
her tightly and ran, his grip firm but gentle, his head bent forward
over 137 Maria Barrett her, to try to shield her face from the terrible
wind and rain.

Within minutes they were back into the warm, dry safety of the kitchen.
' God! What a storm!' Patrick, breathing heavily, carried, Francesca
over to a chair by the Aga and lowered her gently onto it. He raised her
leg and placed it on another chair, slipping a cushion under the ankle.
She was shivering, drenched through, and she dripped a pool of water
slowly onto the stone floor. '?'He tijrned to his niece. ' here,
sweetheart.' He picked her up and hugged her, taking a couple of minutes
to get his breath. Then he said: ''m going to take Sophie up and get her
into a hot bath. Will you be all right here for a while? I really ought
to see to that ankle of yours before you start moving around on it."
Francesca nodded. '.' He reached for a towel drying on the stove and
passed it to her. '!' he said. ''re dripping!'And then he smiled. It was
the most charming smile Francesca had ever seen.

"See you in a few minutes,' he said, and stopped at the door. He knew
who she was - Milly had told him - but he realised she must have no idea
about him. ', by the way,' he said. ''m Patrick Devlin, Lady Margaret's.
brother.' He laughed. ''d never know though, would you?'And leaving the
warmth of this behind, he left the room and Francesca heard him talking
quietly and kindly to Sophie all the way up the stairs.

When Sophie was warm and dressed, Patrick brought her back down to the
kitchen and, sat her on the edge of the table.

138 Dangerous Obswion ,P', Willy is delighted with the story of the
storm rescue,'he said t Francesca as he filled a towel with ice from
the. freezer. ' wants you to go up and show her your swollen ankle."
Francesca smiled. ' child!' He carried the ice-pack across and knelt to
unfasten Francesca's boot. ' elegant footwear!' Ee heaved the heavy
leather walking shoe off as gently as he ' and peeled away her sock. The
ankle was badly swollen and he was surprised at her courage. ', this
will hurt for a moment.' He placed the ice on the swelling and she
gasped. ' you.' Holding it in position, he glanced up at her face for
the first time.

What a startling-looking girl, he thought, studying her features. She
was beautiful, but he couldn't quite see how. Her eyes were lovely,
bright sharp green, framed with the longest black lashes he had ever
seen. It must be her eyes, he decided, or maybe the shape of her face,
he just wasn't sure. Looking down at her foot once more, he removed the
ice-pack and checked the swelling. ' seems to have eased a little. Dyou
think you can stand on itt She nodded. '. If I help you up the stairs
and run a bath for you, can you manage to get in and out on your ownt
She sat silently for a few moments and then said shyly: ' do not think I
need a bath, I am warm enough now.' '!' He was surprised at her voice -
it was not at all what he had expected. Milly had said she was Italian
but her voice had only a trace of an accent, the merest soft lilt. Nou
must have a bath,' he said. ''ll never get properly warm if you don't.'
', really, I do not need one.'She turned away from his gaze, flushing at
its intensity.

139 Maria Barrett , on a minute!'He stood. ' room has Maggie, I mean, my
sister put you int ' room on the side of the house, under the tower.'She
looked up. ' With that crusty old bathroom down the corridor? No bloody
wonder you don't want to have a bath! It freezing up there!' He looked
down at her and shook his head. Suddenly they both smiled. ' you what,
I'll help you upstairs and you can use the bathroom next to the room I'm
in. It's the most comfortable bathroom by far.' ' you.' Again she
blushed, this time at his kindness. ' later on, if you pack your things
up, I'll move them down to the first floor just along from me and find
you a heater for the room.' '.. " ' nothing! You can't possibly spend
the next few weeks freezing up there! Besides, we'll tell Lady Margaret
there was no alternative - you can't climb the stairs, it's as simple as
that.' He held a hand out for her and she took it, casing herself with
his help out of the chair. She hopped precariously on one leg, trying to
balance, and then he picked her up and held her in his arms. ' on, Soph,
look sharp! Open the door for us please.' Sophie jumped down, and ran
across to the door. She held it and her uncle passed through carrying
Francesca, who looked both embarrassed and alarmed at her extraordinary
predicament.

Some time later, feeling warm for the first time since she had arrived
in Scotland, Francesca made her way slowly down to the study, holding
tightly onto the banister and hobbling as best she could-She knocked on
the door and 140 Dangerous Obseumion, trick jumped up to open it for
her, helping her to abig leather sofa and settling her next to Milly who
sat, wrapped in blankets and looking the most cheerful Francesca had
seen her for days.

ou should have shouted for me,' he said, finding her a tstool. He lifted
her ankle onto it and pulled up the hem her trousers to see the injury.
' think we'll bandage that -',with some anti-inflammatory cream on
firsl' He smiled at 4he alarmed look on Francesca's face. ' me,' he said
quietly, and both girls suddenly chorused: ''M A DOCTOR" and broke into
peals of hysterical laughter.

once her foot was bandaged, Francesca lay back against the padded
comfort of the sofa and relaxed. The study was -warm, a fire blazed in
the grate and the reds and golds in the room held the heat, glowing in
the soft light of the table lamps. The atmosphere between Patrick and
his nieces was one of childish frivolity, telling jokes and swapping
vastly exaggerated stories, in between bouts of excited girlish
laughter. Francesca sat and watched it all. She was not confident enough
to join in, but was happy to be on the edge of such a scene.

Yet every now and then she would find Patrick staring at her, when the
girls were talking and didn't need his attention. It unnerved her. He
seemed to be searching her face for something, something that puzzled
him, and each time she caught his glance she would turn away, frightened
of his scrutiny. She did not want to be fathomed, she had too much to
hide.

Patrick could see her distance, he could see her sadness, so well
covered. There was something poignant about her, something wise and
knowing and complicated, and yet she was fresh, as fresh and as innocent
as a child. it fascinated him, that and her extraordinary beauty. He
felt as if he could not leave her alone, could not stop looking at her
141 Mana Barrett n6uwanting to talk to her. She hardly answered him,
blushing and tripping over her words, but that only made her more
charming, more elusive - and that made Patrick more eager.

He listened to the girls, joined in the fun but his mind was on
Francesca. He was enchanted by her. The time passed in a kind of blur.
He found he was conscious of nothing but the room and his gaze,
curiously drawn, time and time again, to the young girl with the intense
green eyes.

And so the remainder of the afternoon slipped away Warm and comfortable,
the girls became sleepy, the jokes died down and the laughter faded.
Patrick talked less and an intimate silence descended. Milly dozed,
Sophie looked through a much-loved picture book and Francesca watched
the flames in the fire. There was ' noise save the cry of the wind and
the constant tap of the rain against the window.

"Well I never! What on earth is going on heret Lady Margaret walked into
the study, switching on the overhead light, and the room was suddenly
flooded with a bright electric glare. Everyone visibly jumped. ' Lord!
Patrick! What the hell are you doing heret She stood in the entrance to
the room and looked, across at her younger brother, Then she smiled. She
always did at the sight of Patrick. ' didn't you tell me you were
coming? How did you get here - your cars not outsidet '! One question at
a time, please!' He stood and she crossed the room to him, embracing him
and then standing back to look at his face. ' look well, a bit tired
maybe, but quite well." He laughed at her maternal tone. ' you, and so
do YOU." She laughed and kissed him, then she turned away. ', girls, I
might have known who'd have Milly out of 142 Dangerous Obserion and the
pair of you drinking whisky in Daddy's study!' ey led. ' on now,'she
said. ' think it's time you nt up.' ' no, let us stay up a bit longer,
pleeeease,' Milly ined. ', you certainly seem betteff Lady Margaret
crossed her eldest daughter and bent to kiss her forehead. '111 tell
what, girls, if Francesca takes you up and you get ready @'Jor bed, then
your uncle can bring you both a tray up and read you a story' She looked
at Sophie. ' does that sound?" But both girls were disappointed; they
had been fine until their mother came home. Lady Margaret clapped her
,'hands. ' on now! Up, up!" Francesca moved her foot off the stool and
eased herself ",-,up, holding onto the sofa. She put her bandaged foot
down and found it was not as painful as she had expected. ', my dear!'
Lady Margaret cried. ' have you donet She spoke a little sharply - the
last thing she needed was a crippled nanny ts a sprained ankle,
Maggie,'Patrick said quickly. ' in the call of duty' stood. ' is fine,
thank you. Nothing at all.' Francesca Relieved it was manageable, Lady
Margaret allowed Francesca some sympathy ', you poor thing!' she
murmured. ' will you copet It was, of course, a rhetorical question.
Patrick stepped forward. ' I helpt ', no thank you.' Francesca flushed.
' on, Sophie, Milly' Both girls stood up at her request and trailed
behind her to the door. ' we have to ... T Milly asked. '.' Lady
Margaret would stand no nonsense. ' on, chop-chop!" 143 Maria Barrett
And grudgingly, they followed Francesca out into the hall and slowly up
the stairs to their room.

"Phew!- Children!' Lady Margaret crossed to the door and clicked it
firmly shut. She turned towards Patrick. ' don't know, Maggs,'he said.
''re very lucky - they're lovely girls.' ', I suppose so.' She sighed.
'?' ', yes please.' ''s some of Henry's Islay Jura here, somewhere.' She
had bent and was rummaging through a collection of bottles in the
cabinet. Patrick noticed the label on her jersey showing. ''s the latest
then, Maggiet She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. ' don't
know what you meaff ' ' on, your sweater's on inside out.' ' Lord!' ''
She stood straight, holding a bottle of whisky. ' Brachen,' she said and
walked across to the side table to pour them both a glass.

Patrick remained silent: they had-argued about this too many times in
the past, he was weary of it. - "As long as you know what you're doing,
Margaret." She turned from the table. ''t I alwayst He shrugged. '' she
said, coming over with his drink, ''s not serious, it's very discreet
and no one will get hurt. All rightt Again he shrugged. ', at least that
saves me giving you any blarney about dinner tonight. I won't be in, but
Mrs. M. has left lots in the larder. You don't mind, do yout '.'Actually
he was relieved. It would give him time to think about Francesca. ', how
long are you staying?' Lady Margaret plonked 144 Dangerous Obsession If
down on the sofa and looked at him. ' can stay as long as you like, you
know that.' ' thanks Maggie. I'm not really sure at the moment. Vve taen
three weeks' leave from the hospital, and I might cgo to Edinburgh to
see some friends for a few days. I think "'41 just wait and see.' '.
Henry's not up until the middle of the month, for the glorious twelfth,
of course!' She smiled. ' and go as you please, there's plenty of sport
here or on Richard's ate I "Great, thanks.' ', darling bro, I must go
and get myself changed. It absolutely pissed down this afternoon and we
got caught. I Smell. like an old mutton and I can't sit here drinking
with this pong!' She snorted. ''ll take my drink up, I think. See you
later maybet ' don't know, I might get an early night.' '. Whatever.'
She stood and blew him a kiss. ', darling. Ea t and sleep well; you know
where the cellar is.' And with a brief wave, she crossed the room and
left.

He splayed his legs out, cradled his whisky in his, hands and lay back
in the warmth of the fire.

He had been there some while when he woke. He heard vague noises in the
back of the house from the kitchen, adjacent to the study, and stood up
to go and investigate. He had no idea of the time - his watch had got
wet bathing Sophie - but the sky outside had darkened completely and he
guessed it was well into the evening. Crossing to the window, he drew
the drapes and then went through to the hall, along the passage and into
the back of the house. He followed the noises to the kitchen. '.' He had
cheated. Creaking open the door to the kitchen, he had stood for several
minutes watching 145 Maria Barrett F wl'cesca as she moved around the
room preparing food. She was humming, very low, barely audibly, and her
movements were easy and graceful. Unwatched, even with a bad ankle, she
had a natural poise.

She spun round; he had staftled her. '! Hello.' Stopping what she was
doing. it took her a few moments to control the fear in her heart:
Enzols legacy ''m sorry, I made you jump.' '." He came into the room and
pulled out a chair at the long, scrubbed oak refectory table. ' you all
rightt '.' ' time is it? I must have fallen asleep." Francesca glanced
up at the station clock on the opposite wall. He followed her gaze. '! I
must have gone out like a fight!' It was nine o'clock. ' happened to the
girls'story and suppert J took it up and I told them that you were
asleep.' ' you.' He was surprised, he could not remember anyone so
undemanding. ' they awful about itt She smiled and he saw how it lit up
her whole face. She was lovely, so gentle and unassuming. ', I told them
that if you slept now, you would wake earlier tomorrow and they would
have longer to play with you then." He laughed. ' they buy thatt ' yes,
they are very fair children.' ', they are.' He watched her as she went
back to her task. ' are you cookine.' ' ...'She stopped. ' cannot
remember the word for it. In Italian, brasato di manzo. Meat, with
vegetables.' '! A stew.' He could see as she moved that her ankle was
sore. He went over and stood beside her. ' know, this is something that
I rarely tell people, but 146 Dangervus Obsession speciality is stews.'
He smiled and watched her face ;,fiange as she understood and smiled
back. ', why don't _",you go and rest that ankle of yours and talk me
through ing the dinnert She was not sure that he wasn't teasing so she
stayed where she was, not wanting to make a I of herself if he was. Go
on" he said. ' don't try to pretend that your ankle all right. I know
these things-' I, in a doctor,' she interrupted and they both laughed.
She moved across to the table and sat. He was right, her !-,"ankle had
really started to hurt. ', Francesca,'he said as he began to chop. ' me
all ',,Obout yourself, and Italy and what you are doing with my ,'s
children in Scotland. I want to know absolutely -,tverything." But,
later, after they had eaten, he realised that in fact he ,,knew
absolutely nothing. He had done all of the talking and found, in the
relaxed warmth of her company, that he had spoken in a way he would
never usually have done. He had told her about his childhood in Ireland,
about his father and the old man's slow death from alcohol. He had
explained how much he owed Lady Margaret, how she had always looked
after him, paid for his education and been more like a mother to him
than a sister. Then he had gone on about his days at medical school,
about his hopes and dreams, and she had listened to it all, content to
let him tell her as little or as much as he wanted to. She wanted
nothing from him. At thirty-three, with dark Irish looks, an innate
charm, connections and a future, that was something quite different for
a man like Patrick Devlin.

He was used to rich, vapid beauties, interested in what he could give
and in taking all they could get. He took as 147 Maria Barrett well, it
wasn't all one'sided, but he never seemed left with' much at the end.

Looking across at Francesca, tracing the grooves of wood in the table
with her finger, Patrick wondered just what it was about her that
intrigued him. She was tired, he could see that, she had stayed up to
listen to him and her face was white and drawn. She was still lovely,
though. He reached out and stopped the movement of her finger with his
hand. The sudden physical contact made her jump. ''He looked away,
embarrassed. ' look tired,'he said. ' should go to bed, your room's
ready' ''s OK. I must clear first.' '.' he stood. ''ll clear, you go to
bed.' Standing above her, he could see her fierce determination to stay
awake and she looked like a child to him. ' on! You've done quite enough
tonight, listening to me drone on for hours!' Then he smiled. ', go."
Francesca stared up at him; she had never met anyone like him. '? It's
all right to leave thist '." She did not know what to say It was so rare
that anyone had done anything for her that she felt strange, at a loss
to know what to do or say She looked down at her hands in her lap,
feeling painfully shy and ill at ease, and then she stood, murmured her
thanks and hobbled across the room to the door. Within seconds she had
gone.

Patrick watched her close the door quietly behind her, went back to his
clearing and found himself curiously disappointed to be finally alone.

148 CHAPTER Thirteen WAS SEVEN AM, THE air was sharp, but the sky was
the rest lest blue and the sun was high, already warm d beginning to dry
the fresh morning dew on the fields. t promised to be a glorious summer
day.

As quietly as she could, Lady Margaret opened the back r at Lairbeck and
crept into the house. She eased her "hoes off by the step and walked in
stockinged feet through ki chen and silently out into the hall. She
slipped her dscarf off and left it in its usual place over the banister,
en she stole up the stairs and along the carpeted passage her room,
gently clicking the door open and closing it st as quietly behind her.
She crossed to the bed, dropped r shoes down on the floor and slipped
off her coat. She ",,.,was completely naked underneath. walk Ir over to
the mirror, she looked at her reflection d trailed her hand down from
her breast to her hips and t en er thighs. She ran her fingers where
Richard's had een just a n hour ago and felt the same wonderful flush of
citement. She had been up all night. They had talked made love
continuously; they had swum naked together in the freezing water of the
river, clinging onto each other in the icy flow. He took her on the wet
grass, the 1 hard, cold ground under her making her climax sudden and
quick. And then he had told her about his house party, and her final
orgasm had been her best.

She turned away from the mirror and reached for a hair tie from her
dressing table. She fastened it in her hair and 149 Maria Barrett
.Padded through to the bathroom, picking up a thick white towel from the
rail and flinging it over the top of the shower cubicle. Turning on the
hot water, she stepped into the shower and let it course down over her
body, gently soaping herself and thinking about how to proceed, as
cleverly and as carefully as she could.

By the time she had dried herself and smoothed a liberal amount of
Guerlain body lotion into her skin, she had decided on the best way
forward. it would have to be a dinner at the house, there was no other
option,. and preferably on the weekend of Henry's arrival, to add a bit
of aristocratic clout. She would only invite the most influential
members of Richard's house party, of course, and maybe a couple of close
family friends.

She was taking a chance, she knew that, inviting Richard to Lairbeck
when Henry was present. He liked to take risks, silly, dangerous risks.
But she also knew that she would never get Patrick onto the Brachen
estate. Two cabinet ministers and a leading Tory MP were -an opportunity
she could not afford to pass up. Not if she was going to eventually get
what she wanted.

And why else, she thought, spraying Guerlain scent over her breasts,
apart from a big cock and enormous staying power, would I put up with an
arsehole like Richard Brachen? There's more to life than sex. Being
married to' Lord Henry Smith-Colyne, a man twenty years her senior, and
worthmore than the national debt, she knew this only too well.

Patrick heard the faint click of his bedroom door and smelled her before
he opened his eyes. She crept across to the window and reached up to
open the drapes. ''t you dare!' He called gruffly from under the covers.

She turned and laughed. J knew you were awake - I 150 Dangerous
Obsession Idn't have attempted to open the curtains if you were asleep,
my darling Patrick!' Tiar!'He pulled the covers down to his nose and
smiled. '! What a whiff! It's a bit early for perfume, isn't itt ' lady
always wears scent, Paddy!' Lady Margaret came to the edge of his bed
and sat herself down. ', don't be grumpy, I've hardly seen you for
days.' ' fault is thatt ,. Point taken. I have rather neglected you,
haven't I? I hope the girls haven't been too much of a nuisance." He
smiled. ', of course not. I love ' dearly, you know that.' ' in. You
should get married and have a family of your own, Patrick, instead of
stealing mine every time you're here." Funnily enough, for the first
time in his life, Patrick had begun to think the same thing the past few
days. He pulled himself up the bed and his sister handed him a couple of
pillows. He propped them behind him and lay back to look at her. ', to
what do I owe this pleasure, Maggie? Early mom- ing visiting is not your
usual thing.' ', you're quite right, there was something I wanted to
talk to you about." He folded his arms behind his head and settled
himself. ', my dear, fire away I'm listening.' But, as his sister began
to talk, Patrick was not listening. He was not yet fully awake and his
mind drifted lazily back over the past ten days and the hours and hours
he had spent with Francesca. Francesca, Francesca. Even her name was
wonderful to him, it was like a whisper, a munnur on his breath.

She was the strangest, most captivating girl he had ever met. She was so
natural and free, laughing and roaming 151 Maria Barreu across the
fields in the wind and the rain, like a child, full of joy at the beauty
of the sky and the land. He loved that part of her and envied it: it was
everything he wanted to be himself. He loved to watch her draw as well -
her exquisite tiny sketches of him and the girls, capturing in five
minutes the essence of their characters, making them all laugh with her
frown of concentration and the lower half of her lip stuck out
petulantly as she worked. The patterns too: the colour and life in them
were like the colour and life she made him feel; their exuberance was
his and it was as if she was able somehow to put down on paper all that
was wonderful in the world around them. It amazed him and it filled him
with inspiration.

And then suddenly, just when he thought he knew her, just when it all
seemed so wonderful, she would close up, her abandonment to joy would
disappear and she would become dark and silent, withdrawn and alone. He
could see the pain in her eyes but had no idea why, he could only guess
at the turmoil inside her. It was weird, difficult and complicated,
somethingsecret and unknown, a part of her he couldn't have, might never
have, and that fascinated him. He was used to having it all. '!' Lady
Margaret poked him hard in the ribs. ', did you hear met '?' He looked
blankly at his sister. ' asked you if you think it a good idea?" what
is?, ' God!' She cuffed him on the top of the head. ' and I ar '
thinking of giving a large dinner a week on Saturday for a few people
who're up for the shooting. I asked you if you thought it was a good
idea.' ', whatever you want, Maggie.' '! You will still be around, I
take it, I'll need you to liven things up a bit.'She fiddled with the
edge of his blan- 152 Dangerous Obsession as she spoke, and he noticed.,
It was a sum -sign -she was. !-being entirely honest. ' the only reason
you want me there, Maggie? I might go to Edinburgh then, you see.' ',
Paddy! You can't go then!' ', thought there was something else.' '' she
said quietly, unsure of his reaction, ''m . to invite a few people who
are staying at Richard's - ,,Charles Hewitt and John Anderson are there
at the moment., Patrick moved his hands from behind his head, altering
his relaxed attitude. ' other cabinet ministers up your sleeve,
Margaretthe said sarcastically.

IL k, Paddy, there's no need to be like that! These people could be
useful to you, I'm only trying to help!' ' He clinibed out of bed and
strode across the room in his shorts, pulling on his towelling robe. He
was angry with her for interfering again but he couldn't keep down his ,
at the mention of such political power. He turned. ', I've told you
before, if I do this, I want to do it on my own! A career in politics is
too important to me just to end up as "jobs for the boys'T She watched
him carefully He was cool but she could see the excitement underneath.
''s interferine.'she asked. ' you have to do is meet these people.'-She
stood. ' never know, Paddy, when you might come across them again. A
previous introduction is always useful.' ', Maggie.' He sighed. ' you
think it's important, I'll come.' He crossed back to the bed. ' that's
all, right? I don't want any favours doing. The only person who will
decide on a political career for me, Margaret, is me. Do I make myself
cleart She smiled, she couldn't help herself. At least she'd got 153
Maria, Rarrett him in the right place at the right time. He hadnl got a
clue, of course, that the whole world was run on favours. ' make
yourself quite clear, Patrick darling,'she said. ' I do wish you
wouldn't be so damn grumpy about id' She reached up and kissed his
cheek. ' child!" He smiled back. She was incorrigible, she always got
her own way ', now that's settled, I'll leave you to go back to bed '! I
have to be up anyway, we're taking the girls on a picnic today' She
raised an eyebrow. ' ', we. Francesca and me. Francesca is the Italian
girl you brought up here to look after Milly and Sophie, remember?' '.
There's no need to be sarcastic.' She eyed him suspiciously for a few
moments. No, she decided quickly, he couldn't possibly be interested in
the nanny, she was far too skinny, a real waif and stray and not his
type at all. ', have a nice day then,' she said and turned towards the
door. ' may see you later, I'm not sure.' '." She blew him a kiss. '
darling.'And wafting her scent in the air with her hand, she disappeared
out into the passage and along to the stairs, humming merrily as she
went.

By the time Patrick had dressed, the morning was well underway The sun
had climbed, the blue of the sky deepened and the dew evaporated into
the warm, dry air. He looked out, delighted at the day for their picnic,
and grabbed his things from the chair, stuffing them into a small
rucksack and making his way downstairs.

Francesca was already in the kitchen. She sat at the table in a pair of
white cotton shorts he had lent her, pulled in tight with her old brown
leather belt, and an oversize white 1 54 Dangerous Obsession ',-,Shirt
on top. Her long, tanned legs were tucked up der her and she was
carefully placing the things Mrs. ckenzie had made for their lunch into
a huge wicker ket. She looked up as he came in. ' Good morning.' He
walked over to the sink to rill the We and touched her lightly on the
shoulder as he passed.

smiled. She liked him to touch her: she felt no threat m his
physicality, just warmth and comfort, the feelings f friendship. ' have
made you some coffee,' she said. She glanced k at him. ' is on the
stove. Here!' She stood and reached R r the pot on top of the Aga. As
she uncurled, she minded Patrick of a long, sleek cat. ' want milk?' He
took the cup she handed to him and sat down oppore her. ' Mrs. M. made
us anything nicet He rifled in , basket and looked at a couple of
things, lifting lids off ntainers and, dipping his finger into one to
taste the conts. ''tv She laughed and moved the basket away. He pulled a
face. ', by the way, where are the girls?' uch as he loved Sophie and
Milly, Patrick had found that he past couple of days he'd almost
forgotten they were ere. He looked across at Francesca as she rolled the
cutz I tery into napkins, her dark head bent, and he thought how
",-quiet and still she was, how serene. She glanced up and ,"flushed at
his stare. K.', ' are outside,' she said quickly ' their fishing ;,'nets
and buckets.' She bent her head again to avoid his ,.

Damn, he thought, I've embarrassed her. I should leave her alone. ', I'd
better go and jolly them along,' he said d stood, draining his coffee
cup. ', delicious coffe e.' He saw her smile. She was like the rarest,
most delicate 155 Maria Barrett flower - she reacted to warmth with the
tiniest unfurling ooff her bud, almost imperceptible, except to someone
who ... He stopped his mind right there. He was being foolish,
unrealistic.

Is everything readyt ', a few more minutes.' '. I'll bring them in once
we've sorted their equipment.' He smiled, crossed to the door and then
stopped. ' your foot all right this morning?' He still worried about her
injury, suspecting that it probably hurt more than she admitted to., '.'
She finally looked up. He was so kind. ' is fine,' she said. ' you.' And
the bud opened out a tiny bit further.

The spot by the river was perfect. Patrick had forged on ahead to choose
it while the girls walked slowly behind with Francesca, Sophie too small
to go any faster and Milly not strong enough yet. He carried most of
their things and had looked so funny by the time they had loaded him up,
with basket, rugs, rucksack,, buckets, nets, spare clothes and drink,
that the girls fell about giggling and kept calling him donkey As he
lumbered ahead of them he would Eeehaw every now and then and send all
three into fits of uncontrollable laughter: Laying out the rugs, Patrick
organised a shady spot for Milly under a tree and found a nook in the
river-bank Where he could safely lay the drinks to cool them in the
water. He placed the basket at the base of the tree out of the sun,
lined the nets and buckets up at the water's edge and had it all ready
by the time the girls reached him. ', votre picnic!'he announced. ''s
brilliant, Uncle Paddy!' Milly said and followed Sophie over to the edge
of the river.

156 Dangerous Obsession Francesca sat down on one of the rugs and
crossed her long legs. Patrick watched her. She looked extraordinary in
the sun: tanned and dappled with light, her skin seemed golden, the
colour of. honey He turned away from her to the water and reached for a
bottle. He was staring again, he had to stop it. ' you like a drink?' he
asked. She nodded and he found a beaker to pour the lemonade. '." She
took the drink and smiled up at him. ' you,' she murmured. Everything
was perfect. No, she thought, it was more than that, it was better than
anything she had ever known before. She was happy, and it filled her
mind, her heart and her soul. It was new for her, thrilling, and
consuming, and it was the first time she could ever remember being glad
she was alive.

The rest of the morning turned out better than they had hoped. The wind
dropped to a faint breeze, the sun took the temperature up into the
seventies and everyone Ianguished in the warm summer air. Lunch was
eaten in the shade, all the home-made lemonade drunk and Mrs.
Mackenzie's food gobbled down. Milly fell asleep and Patrick lay and
watched Francesca on the slope of the riverbank with Sophie as they
fished things out of the waters of the Spey She tried to explain each
new treasure that went into the bucket and he found himself smiling as
she struggled to find the English for the obscure collection of things
Sophie would insist on keeping.

Patrick was happy Really happy, though, like he was when he was a boy It
was a complete and uncomplicated happiness and it made him feel young,
as if he had his whole life to look forward to, and not that he had
lived too' much of it already He had forgotten his pain, the pain he 157
Maria Barrett had carried around with him for years, the pain of his
father's alcoholism and his slow, agonising death. He could not remember
a time in his life like this. it was as if Scotland had seeped some
magic into his soul, a magic he saw all around him, in the land and the
sky and in the vibrant green of Francess eyes. ' Paddy! Uncle Paddy!'
Sophie ran across to him and held a dripping bucket out for him to see
what she had. The icy water dripped on his bare arms. ', Uncle Paddy!
I've got a whole load of things to take back and put in the bath.' ',
lucky you, Soph!' He glanced at Francesca and they both laughed.

Running back to the water, Sophie edged down the slope to where she had
been standing, holding the bucket high and squatting to see what else
she could find. Francesca moved away and sat down on the grassy bank. '
look tired,' he called and she turned towards him, putting her hand up
to shield the glare. '! I've seen a fishie!' Sophie shrieked delightedly
', Chesca! Look!' Sophie had edged nearer the river's edge and was
peering down into the water, one arm outstretched with her bucket, the
other pointing at what she had seen. Francesca looked back momentarily.
' wonder if I can..

She disappeared. ' my God! Sophiet Francesca jumped up and ran down the
slope. Sophie was screaming, her arms and legs flailing, her head only
just above the freezing water. The river's current swept swiftly
downstream, pulling the small child with it. ' God! Sophie! KEEP YOUR
HEAD UP!' Francesca shouted. ''T PANIC!' Seconds later, she dived in.

The water was even more icy than she had expected.

158 Dangerous Obsession e gasped and the breath caught in'the back of
her throat. , pull was strong and her body was dragged several yards ,
she recovered enough to resist, then she started to -swim. '! SWIM!' she
shouted. She was closer now, -within reach, and she could see Sophie's
face, deathly white k" with panic. '!' She put her hand out and felt for
-Sophie's leg. ' on now, Sophie, try and come towards me,' she
encouraged. ' on.' But she had no idea if Sophie could hear her - she
was splashing and fighting wildly to stay above water, blind with fear.

In the background, Francesca was conscious of Patrick's voice. He seemed
to be shouting something but she had no idea what. She was swimming so
hard against the current and reaching with all her might for the child
that she could focus on nothing else. Finally, using the last of her
strength, she pushed herself forward and managed to reach Sophie. '!
It's me, don't panic! Come on, relax towards me.' She pulled her close,
held her chin up out of the water and started to swim for the bank. ''s
all right,' she murmured over an dover. ''s all right now' Patrick was
at the water's edge when she reached the bank. He bent down and grabbed
her arm, heaving her and Sophie out of the water in one go. He hugged
them both to him for a moment and then Sophie began to cry, great
howling sobs that racked her tiny frame. ', come on Soph, it's all
right,'he whispered. ''re safe now. Come on, don't cry' She held out her
arms for him and he took her from Francesca, holding her head into his
chest and smoothing her wet hair with his hand. '!'He bent, still
holding Sophie, and lifted a blanket from the ground, placing it round
Francesca's shoulders. She was shaking. ''ll dry Sophie off.' He moved
across to the rug and sat 159 Maria Barrett down, cradling Sophie in his
arms. Glancing up atfrancesca he asked softly: ' you 0KT She nodded. '
God,' he murmured, and turning away from him, Francesca dropped her head
down and silently started to cry.

When Sophie was quiet, he managed to get her out of her wet things and
into a dry tee shirt and knickers. He wrapped a rug round her, making
her feel important, and looked towards Francesca. She was sitting on the
riverbank, turned away from him and shivering, despite the sun's warmth.
He stood and crossed to her. ''re frozen.' He touched her cheek with his
fingertip and the skin was damp and cold. ' on, you need to get out of
those wet clothes. I've got a spare pair of swimming shorts in my bag.'
He went to the rucksack and took out his shorts, then he pulled his tee
shirt over his head and handed them both to her. ' quickly now, before
you get chilled." She held the clothes and avoided his gaze. She did not
want him to see her tear-stained face. ' you,' she mumbled and stood,
dropping the blanket down onto the ground.

And as she did so, Patrick caught the grace and beauty of her whole
body, perfectly visible through the transparent wet cotton of her
clothes. He could see the full, round curve of her breasts through the
fabric of her bra, the dark circle of her nipples and thetaut line of
her stomach down to her hips. He swallowed hard and turned away. His
excitement was so intense, and so sudden that it took him by surprise.
He walked over to the rug and sat down, acutely aware of Francesca
changing behind him. ' Paddy, is Chesca all right?' Sophie was sleepy,
after the shock. He stroked her forehead. ', of course she
is.'Absentmindedly, he looked behind 160 Dangerous Obsession G1 ' as he
spoke and it was then that he saw the marks. had lifted her teeshirt
over her head and she had her back to him, a back covered with the
remains of some vicious bruising and a gash that ran down from her
shoul- ,-der. She had been beaten, violently, and Patrick turned away
disgust. Why? He sat stunned for several minutes, unable to ",think
clearly Why would anyone ... ? The idea of violence to her filled him
with an overpowering nausea and the shock of it left him cold. He
struggled with his feelings, not sure what he felt, or why, and then
suddenly he realised that he was angry, angry that he knew nothing about
her, angry "that she could be hurt. He was angry at his own helplessness
and he wanted to protect her.

When she had finished dressing, Francesca came back to the rugs and sat
down. Milly and Sophie had fallen asleep, exhausted after the
excitement. Francesca curled her knees up and hugged them, still cold,
and then rested her head on them, looking at Patrick. He was picking at
the grass and she could watch his face without him knowing. She had done
this often the past few days, going over every, tiny detail: the colour
of his eyes, the line of his jaw, each fine wrinkle on his skin. She had
memorised his face and she could bring it to mind any time, in perfect
and exact formation. Now she saw that his face was sombre. ' is the
matter?'she asked. ', I'm fine.' He didn't look up at her and she looked
away It was one of the things he loved about her, she never kept on, she
would accept his answer and leave it at that. Simple, and undemanding.
'?" She turned back. He had to ask her, he couldn't leave it, it was
important. ' are the marks on your back from? What happened to 161 Maria
Barrett you before you came to Englandt But as soon as he said it he
knew he should not have. Her face altered, no, not really her face, he
thought later, but her eyes. The colour in them died somehow and he saw
the pain. Raw and open, like a wound, and then the veil came down, a
blank, empty veil siiiothering the green, and finally he saw nothing,
nothing but his own reflection. She said not a word.

Trancescat He reached out to her but she flinched. ', tell me, what is
itt But she felt. betrayed. A part of her that she had to keep private
had-been trespassed. It was her secret and she would never let it out.
Never.

Trancescat She ignored him. ' Christ's sake, Francesca! Answer me!' '!'
She stood. ' me alone!' He stared at her back and thought: this is
ludicrous, why am I so upset? What is happening? I am a grown man acting
like a child. Then he knew he would have to get away from her, sort
himself out. He suddenly just wanted to be away from her to escape the
feelings she had evoked in him. He said: ', Francesca, I'm sorry' He
didn't know what else to say, but she shrugged and kept her back to him.
' think I should get away for a few days,' he continued, more to himself
than to her. ' need some time alone, a bit of space.' I'll go to
Edinburgh, he concluded in his mind.

She turned back. ',' she said quietly. ' that is what you want.' But her
mind was in turmoil; the thought of him leaving was like a physical
blow. ', I'll leave tonight.' He reached out and touched Sophie on the
shoulder to wake her and then Milly ' on girls,' he said gently ''s time
to head back.' He looked up at Francesca but she had -already started to
collect the things together. He sighed wearily, feeling foolish and con-
162 Dangerous Obsession fused. How had all this come out of one
beautiful, sunny afternoon? He had no idea: it was something that he was
unable to work out. Patrick Devlin, paediatric consultant, was an expert
on all kinds of emotion and pain, but sadly, not his own. He had never
been in love before. ' you ready, Francescat He could not look at her,
although he longed to. '' The spot by the river looked less idyllic now
and he wondered why they had stopped there. ' on then, girls,' he said,
picking up the bundle of things to carry back. ' picnic is over." But as
he said it, he wished he hadn't. The words seemed to mean so much more
than just a plain statement of fact.

163 CHAPTER Fourteen IT WAS THURSDAY AND PATRICK had been gone for two
days. He had telephoned from Edinburgh and Francesca had heard the call,
but Lady Margaret passed on no message. Not that she expected one, but
she did wonder about him, and she thought about him, involuntarily,
whenever her mind was free to wander.

She missed him, and that was natural, she told herself - he had been her
constant companion for the past ten days. But she knew her heart was
heavier and the time seemed longer, more wearing. She hardly noticed the
sun and the pale blue sky; she heard the chant of the breeze through the
leafy branches of the trees but it was no longer magical, unique; it was
merely a noise.

And the girls felt it too. Sensitive to moods, they had blossomed in the
warmth of Patrick's affection for Francesca, unaware that they were part
of something special. Now he had gone, they were fractious and
argumentative and Francesca was less patient. The sparkle had gone from
their holiday, and they missed the enchantment of love.

Francesca had left the girls to play in the long, lawned garden of the
house, while she wandered through to the kitchen to arrange some food
for their lunch with Mrs. Mackenzie. The day was warm and the three of
them had been out all morning, at the far end of the garden, where the
cultivated met the wild, looking for toadstools, and fairies underneath.

164 Dangerous Obw Walking into the hot, bread-scented kitchen,-she saw
Lady Margaret seated at the table with Mrs. Mackenzie. Surrounded by a
pile of glossy-looking cookery books, she was busily writing a list.
Francesca was surprised: this was .."the first time she had seen Lady
Margaret at home during the day ', Francesca!' Lady Margaret looked up
and smiled..1ord Henry was due up at Lairbeck that evening and she
needed to put things onto a more familiar footing with her namy It had
to look as if she had spent much of her time at home and Francesca was a
key element in achieving that. -NOU look well,' she said. ' do believe
the Scottish air suits You.'Again she smiled, while Mrs. Mackenzie sat
beside her ipompletely straight-faced. ' on in. I'm compiling a menu for
Saturday night, with Mrs. Mackenzie's help." Francesca nodded and
crossed to the table. As she pulled Out a chair and sat down, Mrs.
Mackenzie gave her a look 4which was theclosest she ever got to a smile.
' bairns'll want fud then, hinny?' ' please, Mrs. Mackenzie.' Francesca
only understood half the sentence but it was enough. Patrick had
painstakingly taught her some of the dialect and, recognising one or two
words, she could make out the gist of what was being said. ' girls can
wait five minutes, Mrs. Mackenzie,' Lady Margaret said shortly ' must
organise this menu so that I can order the food at the shop.' ', ma'am."
Francesca listened to the conversation for a few minutes and felt
embarrassed, just watching and listening. She was ignored and felt
intrusive. ' think I will come back in a few minutes,'she said quietly
and stood to leave.

65 -Maria Barrett Lady Margaret looked up a second time. ' no, dear!'
she said quickly. ''t leave yeff She could sense Francesca's
embarrassment in her presence and knew it had to be relieved. Henry
would notice straight away: he was very perceptive.

Francesca hesitated. She was uncomfortable and she wanted to be outside
with the children. ' might find it interesting,' Lady Margaret
continued. ' you'll know what to expect. You will be one of the guests,
after all.' Damn! She hadn't planned to invite the girl, in desperation
it just slipped out. Oh, well, she thought, it should make Francesca
warm to her and it would certainly show Henry how considerate she was.

But a slow and painful blush spread over Francesca's face, from her neck
to the roots of her hair. She was silent for a few moments and then, her
voice wavering with emotion, she said: ' no, Lady Margaret, I couldn't
possibly!" Lady Margaret sighed irritably. She was losing patience with
trying to be nice. She couldn't believe the girl would have the nerve to
refuse. '!' she said brusquely. ' course you can. Don't fuss, dear,
everyone will love you." She couldn't care"less, frankly, if they did or
didn't, as long as her presence reflected well on Lady Margaret. She
went to open another recipe book and noticed Francesca's ago Inised
face. ' is the mattert she asked none too kindly ' ...'Francesca found
it difficult to speak. ', er ... really don't think I can come ... 1,
er..

"Come on, spit it ouff ', I don't have anything to wear, you see, not to
a party' She looked down at her hands.

Lady Margaret felt momentarily ashamed of herself. ' dear, I am sorry, I
never thought.' She tapped her fingertips lightly on the open pages of
the book, then she suddenly 166 Dangerous Obsession an idea. ' tell you
whad'she said, warming to her flash inspiration. ' are a few old things
of mine up in one the cupboards upstairs. You could try a couple of
dresses.

we could get the lady in the village to take one in.' She !,miled
triumphantly ' does that soundt very kind of you." 11 ... er ... it is
', it's the least I can do.' That much was true.

with her generosity, she knew that once Henry -m,.saw how much trouble
she had gone to he would automat- 1,,'Acally assume the best. The reward
far surpassed the effort. ' we're at it,' she continued, quite taken
with her K!, own kindness,'I could make an appointment with the hair-
for you." 10 1-2 h no, ''t be silly! It'll be fun.' Francesca blushed
again and put her hand up to her ' hair' She had hardly touched or
looked at it since the day in

"Ahe convent when they had cropped it short. She had ' her beautiful,
long, dark hair fall to the floor in great clumps and thought, I must
not care, it is vain to care. But she had kept a strand and held it in
the dark solitude of her cell, weeping for the loss of it. ''d look nice
if they restyled your hair,' Lady Margaret said, implying quite
obviously that she didn't already. ', I-' '! That's settled then. Once
I've done the menu with Mrs. Mackenzie, I I go up and sort through some
dresses, then call t resser.' She made a note of it on her list. '
right, Francescat ' yes, thank you.' '. You needn't stay if you don't
want to.' Now she had the girl's confidence no further effort need be
made. ''m sure Milly and Sophie will need pacifying if their lunch is to
be late." 167 Maria Barrett "Yes.' '.' There was a momentary,
uncomfortable silence as Francesca struggled to find the right words to
convey her thanks, until I-ady Margaret put her out of her misery. '
won't keep you then.' '.' Embarrassed, Francesca hurried out of the
kitchen.

Patrick drove the Range Rover along the A9 towards Strathspey with only
half his attention on the road. The drive from Edinburgh had taken the
whole afternoon and he was tired. His mind had become clouded the closer
he got to Lairbeck, and his concentration had dwindled. All he could
think about was Francesca.

The past four days away from her had been dull and motionless, as if he
only half existed. He kept apologising to his friends for his lack of
form. He had desperately wanted to get away from her and yet as soon as
he had left, he could not wait to get back. But he was no clearer in his
mind about her.

He told himself time and time again that he was tired and lonely and
that Lairbeck was a sanctuary for him. All his feelings for Francesca
were connected to this. He had felt better over the ten days he had
shared with her than he had done for years but he convinced himself that
it was the complete rest and the tranquillity of Scotland that had done
it.

And yet, as he approached the road to Lairbeck, she filled his mind; his
whole body seemed more alive at the thought of her. Of course I am going
to think about her, he argued reasonably to calm his feelings, I've
spent more time with her than I have with anybody in the past few years.
Of course I will be pleased to see her. But somewhere locked away in his
heart was the feeling it was more than that, 168 Dangerous Obsessimt
-much, much more, only he was much too afraid to admit it. She was
young, a girl from out of nowhere, and he knew that the opposition to
how he felt would almost be greater than the feeling itself.

He tried to put her out of his mind as he drove on and to think about
the dinner that Margaret had arratiged. But, as he watched the sky over
the hills with the light slowly seeping out of it, he felt a strange
intensity of emotion and a curious elation at the glory of the sun
sinking down behind the wild and craggy backdrop. He felt all the colour
and wild euphoria of love; he just didn't know it.

Finally, Patrick pulled up in front of Lairbeck House. He switched off
the engine and sat for a few moments, leaning back in the seat and
stretching his arms above his head. He could feel the impact of the
drive in his legs and his spine but his tiredness had suddenly
disappeared. He was excited, relieved, happy and filled with an unusual
boyish delight at being back. He unclipped his seat belt and looked up
at the ugly, grey granite building just as, the door burst open and
Milly came running out, fast followed by Sophie, both shouting and
waving in a race across to the car. '!' He swung open the door and they
both clambered up to hug him. ' it, girls!' He laughed. ''ll suffocate
me.' ' Paddy, guess what? Guess whatt ' said I could tell him, Milly!'
Sophie pulled at Milly -sleeve. ' promised!' '! Let me out of here!'The
girls had started to struggle, both trying to get close to him. He swung
his legs out and climbed out of the car. ' me whatt He reached across
for his bag from the passenger seat. ' on then, Sophie. If you
must!'Milly pulled a face ang tucked her hands on her hips.

169 Maria Barreu Uncle Paddy, Francesca is at the hairdressers,' Sophie
blurted out. ' took her there and she has a lovely white dress that she
showed us and ... OUCH! ... That hurd' Milly withdrew her fingers and
saw the nasty red mark she had left on Sophi6 arm. ' was my bit,' she
said. ' was supposed to say thad' Patrick dropped his bag down and took
Sophie's arm, kissing the sore spot. ''t pinch, Milly' he said. ''s not
nice.' Then he took both girls' hands. ' about you tell me all the
details then, Milly, now I know the storylinet And together, all three
of them walked into the house, Milly exaggerating wildly on the details
of their information as they went.

"Patrick! Come on in, old boy!' Lord Henry was at the side table in the
study pouring himself a malt when Patrick came into the hall. He left
the drinks and came across, taking Patrick hand and shaking it warmly '
look well, quite tanned in fact. Ha! Wouldn't think it was Scotland, eh?
You look as if you've been to the old Costa Brava!' He laughed loudly
and looked over Patrick shoulder at his daughters. ' in, girls! No
mischief out there in the hall, I want you where I can see you.' He went
back to the decanter and poured Patrick a glass. ''s gawn and, left me
in charge.' He laughed again. ' they'll get away with murder.' Sophie
had crossed to him and he put an arm around her. ''t it, Soph? Eh?"
Patrick smiled and took the drink Lord Henry held out for him. ', Henry'
He was fond of his brother-in-law, sometimes more so than of his sister.
''s taken the Italian girl, what's her namet '.'Just saying her name
felt good. ', that's it, Francesca. Well, Margaret's taken her down 170
Dangerous Obsession to the hairdresser's. Seems they've become quite
friendly over the past ten days or so. Bit of a softie at heart, your
sister.' '.' ', she seems to have taken the girl under her wing anyway.
She's coming to the dinner tonight.' ' reallyt This was a surprise.
Patrick knew it was very unusual for his sister to act entirely out of
charity. ' yes! You know Margaret, once she takes to someone, that's it!
I gather the girl's become almost one of the family' ', yes, of course.'
Patrick wondered just what his sister was up to. ' surprising, really
It's lonely for Margaret up here with only the girls for company. Seems
to have done her the world of good having someone young about the place.
She hasn't been bored at all this time round." Patrick nodded and sipped
his whisky silently. So that was what she was up to - Francesca was the
perfect alibi. He dared notsay another word, he was too angry to keep it
to himself. Sometimes, he thought coldly, just sometimes, Lady Margaret
Smith-Colyne, his darling sister, was just a little too, clever for her
own good.

Francesca stood in her room and listened to the sound of Patrick's
footsteps on the stairs as he went down. She was dressed and ready but
her nerve failed her and she was unable to call out to him as he
passed'her door.

Turning back to the window, she looked down at the light that shone out
over the lawn from the windows of the drawing room and dining room. She
could see shadows pass across it as people moved in and out and she
wished she could watch it all from there, behind the glass, safe and
alone.

She started as someone knocked on her door.

171 Maria Barrett, Hurrying across the room, she glanced in the mirror
above the washbasin and stopped for a moment as she caught her
reflection: it was the first time she had looked at herself since
getting ready. Her hair had been cut properly and styled to suit her. It
was still short but the rough, blunt shape of it had gone and it shone,
dark and soft around her '.

Lady Margaret had insisted on make-up, just a little, to take away the
plainness of the dress, she said. But she had no idea that when
Francesca put it on, the cream silk dress would fall perfectly to the
curves of her body, its long line emphasising her lithe, slim form and
the pale, creamy white making her lightly tanned, olive skin look
translucent, glowing. She had no idea that the make-up would heighten
the extraordinary beauty that was naturally there and turn Francesca
from the scrawny child she always saw her as into the woman who appeared
that night. That shock was yet to come.

The knock came again and staqled Francesca. She put her hand up to her
hair, to reassure herself it was real, and then continued to the door.
Shyly she pulled it open and there she saw Patrick, standing smiling in
the passage, waiting to take her downstairs to the party But his smile
froze as she pulled the door wide and he took in the whole of the image
before him. He felt his heart stop and all the blood in his veins stand
still for the briefest snatch of a second. And then he realised, with
the full force of someone who has never, ever felt anything like it
before, that he loved this girl, and that he loved her with an
all-consurning passion, a passion that was in his mind, his heart and
deep, deep down in his soul.

They stood for several moments and then he moved forward and put his
hands on her shoulders. He bent his head and kissed her. It was easy and
natural and she tasted sweet, 172 Dangerous Obsmion i" of toothpaste.
Her lips were soft and full and when he'stood back and looked at her
fare he saw that the green in her eyes burned bright and intense, the
colour of emeralds. ' should go down." They smiled at each other but
stood where they were, neither wanting to break the spell. Lady Margaret
called up the stairs: ', is Francesca readyt He rolled his eyes and
turned towards the stairs. ',' he called back and bent to kiss her
again. ' on,'he said quietly, and, tucking her hand in his, he walked
with her to the stairs and then separated as they went down.

The room was full, and although there were only twenty-six for dinner,
to Francesca it seemed like a huge crowd. She stood at the edge of the
drawing room and watched Patrick across a sea of faces as Lady Margaret
introduced him to a small group of people. She saw him smile, politely
and formally, not like the way he smiled at her, and she watched the way
his skin crinkled around the eyes, and thought how strong and sensitive
his face was. She had missed him, she knew that now, she had missed him
more than anything ever before and now, the mere sight of him across the
room filled her with joy ', you look lovely!" She started from her
reverie and turned. Lord Henry smiled at her. He was sincere in his
compliment, she did indeed look lovely He had seen her walk in and
thought, that girl has something special, and it made him feel young
just to look at her. ' hardly recognised you out of those baggy
shorts,'he said. ' that enormous brown belt you wear to keep them up!"
She smiled. Yes, he thought again, she definitely has something 173 Ma?
ia Harreu special- When she smiles it makes her whole face change. ' do
you think of Scotland then?'He motioned to the waiter to refill their
glasses. ''s rather beautiful, eh?" Yes, it is -really beautiful,
especially when the sun shines.' -Doesn't happen very often I'm afraid,
me dear.' He took a g6lp of champagne. ''s the only problem. But not all
bad, though - means the grockles don't come up here in their droves
looking for fish and chips and a deck chair on the side of the road.
Eh?' He laughed and she did too, knowing that was polite, although she
didn't quite understand the joke: she was beginning to get to grips with
Mrs. Mackenzie impenetrable dialect, but Lord Henry vernac- ular posed a
new set of problems. ', I suppose it's time for dinner, the gong'll go
any minute.'He pulled the cuff of his evening shirt up to look at his
Rolex. ' God. I'm starvinw.' ' wonder where I am sitting.' Francesca
glanced ner- vously round the unfamiliar faces. Lord Henry touched her
arm. ' is where being the host really comes into its own, my dear,'he
said. ' have cleverly arranged it so that you are sitting next to rne!"
She looked up, surprised. He winked. ' ssssh! I did it rather
surreptitiously, moving name cards around and stuff. You won't tell
anyone, will you?" She took the arm he offered. ', I won't tell
anyone,'she answered, and smiling, caught Patricks eye across the room.
She was so very good at keeping secrets.

"Well!- My darling Patrick, you never cease to surprise me!' Lady
Margaret came back into the drawing room from the hall in her stockinged
feet, carrying her Bruno Magh gold strappy shoes in one hand and holding
the hem of her dress 174 Dangerow Obsession up with the other. ' God
those beastly people have gone! Now I can find out exactly what you said
to Charles." She slumped down on the sofa in front of the fire and
wriggled her toes in the warmth. There were just the two of them left
and she was dying to know what he'd said to the eminent cabinet
minister. She had been out of earshot and habeen bursting with curiosity
ever since.

IS 7' She looked poiatedly at her brother. She had a right 0. to know. '
what, Maggie?'Patrick drained his glass and placed it on the floor by
his feet. ''m tired, I think I'll go up.' ' no you don'd' She reached a
foot across to him and ran her toe up his lower leg. ' on, tell me what
you said. From what I could gather, he was bloody impressed! I never
knew you had such strong views on the NHS!" Pa nick held her foot. ''s
hard not to when you work for the organisation, Maggie.' He was tired,
it was true, but he was also bored with politics - they had dominated the
evening. And, from the moment she had left, all he could think about was
Francesca. He just wanted to be alone, to let his mind run free with
images and dreams of her. ', you are a bore, little brotheff Lady
Margaret stood up. Patrick had already done exactly as she'd wanted
tonight; she did not want to push him too far. ' know you in this mood,
I won't be able to get a thing out of you! I suppose it'll have to wait
until the morning then.' She sighed theatrically and bent to kiss the
top of his head. ' you weren't so good-looking, Paddy, I could get
really quit pissed off.' She smiled and, leaving her shoes where they
were, walked noiselessly across the room and out into the hall. He heard
her double-check the big front door was locked and then climb the stairs
to bed.

For a long time he sat and stared at the fire. He could hear the slow
tick of the clock on the mantelpiece but was 175 Maria Barreu unaware of
time. He watched the flames, smoked a cigarette and felt as if time was
suspended and that he was waiting, waiting for the world to start
turning again.

And when finally he heard a noise, he knew it was her. He stood and
quietly made his way to the kitchen, aware that events had moved beyond
his control, that it was all just meant to be. Trancescat She stood by
the window looking out at the lightening sky and half turned when he
whispered her name. She knew. Moving across to her, he turned her to him
and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertip. Her face was wet and he
bent to kiss away the salty tears. He could feel the frantic beat of her
heart and thought that he had never been so close to anyone. Carefully,
he picked her up and carried her, her head against his chest, out of the
kitchen and back to the drawing room. '.' He placed her on her feet in
front of the fire. She had begun to shake. ', don't.' He wrapped his
arms around her to stop the shivering. ', don't.' He held her for some
time and then finally drew back, tilting her face up so as to see her
eyes. ' darling Francesca,' he murmured. He touched her lips with his
own, lightly, gently and felt her sigh. Then he saw her eyes, for one
singular moment, burning with a bright, green fire and he was lost. His
passion consumed him and his love overwhelmed him.

Hungrily he sought her lips again, this time to taste her, opening her
mouth with his tongue, wanting to be inside her, part of her. And she
met him, her own passion surprising her, filling her, overtaking her. He
pulled her to the floor.

Moving over her, Patrick ran his mouth down her neck to her shoulder and
kissed the warm, scented skin. She was naked underneath her robe and he
eased it open, look- 176 Dangerous Obsession ing down at her body before
he bent his head to caress her. He felt the silk of her thighs, the
small swell of her belly and then her breasts, hearing her moan softly
as his fingers traced the curve of them to her nipple.

He pulled back and knelt up, watching her face. as she unfastened his
shirt and moved her hands to his groin. She touched him and he groaned
out loud. He wanted her, wanted to be part of her body - so much that he
could wait no longer.

Moments later, they were skin to skin and he could feel the heat of her.
Rolling over, he lifted her up onto him, holding, her hips with his
hands and sensing her whole body shudder as she cried out. He put his
hands up to her face, traced the outline of it and closed his eyes. It
was the most perfect moment and he wanted to seal it in his memory
forever.

When it was over, he held her. She leaned her head down onto his chest
and he stroked her back, tracing the outline of her spine with his
fingers. He could feel her breath on his neck and her heartbeat next to
his own., ' you all rightt he whispered. '." He could hardly hear her
and he wondered if it was all real. ' love you,' he said. He stroked her
hair. ' have never felt like this before.' And he meant it. '-" But she
put her finger up to his lips to quieten him. It was too much, she did
not understand half of it and she did not want to try. Not now, not yet.
just the relief of being able to feel was sufficient. He had banished
the dark fear inside her and that was all she needed. She had never been
loved before and she had no reason to think there should be anything
more. It was everything, for now at least. ''re cold,'he said after a
while; she was trembling. He 177 Maria Barrett moved very slightly and
reached for his shirt to wrap around her. ' bettert She nodded and
uncurled her body from him, lying in his arms, the shirt around her. The
fire was warm and she could smell his skin, his hair; it was a strong
masculine smell and it surrounded her, filled her senses, excited her.
She was safe with him, warm and secure, and she knew, looking down at
the flush of love over her body, that she was finally complete.

178 CHAPTER Fifteen THE NEXT WEEK PASSED IN A blur for Francesca and
Patrick. And later, when he thought back on it, all he could remember
was a feeling of completeness, a sense of all-consuming happiness. Yet
he knew he had to go back to London. i He had booked three weeks off
from the hospital but had never thought he would stay in Scotland that
long. The days with Francesca just seemed to slip away The realisation
and consummation of their love made time seem unreal, as if it had no
boundaries or had ceased to exist. Even the weather had an eerie
calmness: the days were settled and warm, the sun high in the sky.
Complete happiness made them blind, and when they finally looked up,
there were only three days left. , From the night of the party they had
spent every moment together. it was no different to before, except that
now they had a freedom with each other that came from the security of
being loved. They talked and laughed, ran with the children in the
glorious sunshine and shared the secrets of their hearts and minds. All
except one. I Behind the waimth and joy of loving, Francesca carried her
dark and frightening past locked away in her soul, and her pain shut
deep down in her heart. That, she was unable to tell him. He loved her
and had opened her up in a way she would never have believed possible
but she could not unburden herself to him. She just could not do it. She
was so afraid of it, so ashamed of it that she could not see how anyone
could accept it, even someone who loved her. So It 179 Maria Barrett
stayed in her heart and it lurked, like an evil shadow, one pace back
from the radiance of their love.

She tried to let love fill her days and light up her soul, and hoped
silently that one day it would banish the darkness. She glowed with a
rare feeling of happiness and of being loved and for now, nothing else
mattered.

And in a way she was right. The wide, open lands gave Francesca and
Patrick a heady liberty and Lady Smithcolyne was far too preoccupied
with her husband to notice anything around her. She left her brother to
his own devices, as she had done all through his stay. It was impossible
for her to imagine that he could fall in love - she had never seen
Francesca as anything other than ' help' and Lady Margaret was arrogant
and foolish enough to think that she and her brother Patrick were in a
station far above the realms of ordinary people. She had forgotten her
own past and she had forgotten that love crosses all boundaries.

It was a warm, cloudy afternoon, the first without sunshine for some
time. The cloud was heavy; it seemed to press down, locking in the
warmth and moisture, making the atmosphere close and almost oppressive.
The lowland hills of Cromdale had changed in the greyer light, their
colours; becoming muted, duller, more brown and earthy. The higher
climbs were darker in the distance, more forbidding. They overshadowed
everything.

Patrick and Francesca walked together across the foothills of the
mountains. The girls had run on ahead and they walked close, not
touching but -within inches of each other. Every now and then as they
talked, he would touch her arm or tap her jokingly, pull her to him for
a couple of seconds. Any kind of contact was good, just the proximity of
her made him feel whole. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving her.

180 Dangerous Obsession And yet he couldet tell her this. He had worked
it all out in his mind, that their separation would be only for a few
weeks and after that he would send for her to come and live with him in
London. But he found it almost impossible to say The days and nights
drifted by and the intensity of their love seemed to him unreal,
something way beyond the mundaneness of plans and decisions. He was
naive enough to think that nothing could go wrong and for the moment he
was so bewitched by being in love that he was unable to break the spell.
He said nothing to Francesca, except that he loved her, and he thought
that this was enough.

That same night, the weather broke. The wind howled across the land,
bringing with it a torrent of rain that beat against the windows and
flooded the dry, hard ground. The warmth vanished and everything became
cold and damp, dark and dismal, the grey granite chilled and clammy to
the touch.

Patrick made a huge fire in the drawing room. He and Francesca were
alone and once the girls had gone to bed, he laid a pile of cushions in
front of it on a bed of thick tartan blankets and drew the curtains,
closing out the cold.

The change in the weather had unnerved him. It signifled the end of his
time in Scotland, but it seemed more than that: its sudden harshness and
violence was eerie, like a strange, foreboding sign.

He turned away from the window and listened to the whip of the wind in
the trees outside, a painful, horrible sound. It sounded as if the
branches were screaming. ', are you all right?" He started. Francesca
walked into the room and stoo4 at the edge. it was a habit she had - she
always waited to be 181 . Maria Barrett sure before she came fully into
a room. He looked across at her and thought how lovely she was. ', I'm
fine,' he answered and then crossed to her. There was something about
her reticence -that made him want to take her in his arms, to hold her.
He hugged her close to him and stroked the length of her back. ''re
cold,'he whispered, moving his face back so that he could see her eyes.
' you're happy' The green was dark and velvety and the lashes were black
against the colour. '.' He bent to kiss her face and warm her skin with
his breath. ''t be cold, come to me." She smiled and he knew that she
felt as he did, he could feel it. He had to talk to her, to tell her,
tonight. He had to warn her that it would be hard, that there would be
much opposition and that they would need to be strong, to stand
together, to face it together. He wanted to say that sometimes it scared
him, that he wasn't sure he had the strength to do it even, but he knew
he couldn't. She would never understand the hold Margaret had over him
and he wasn't even sure if he understood it himself. ', I've got
something to tell you. We need to talk ...'She stopped his words with
her mouth. He broke free. ', Francesca, I have to say ... " But again
she silenced him. Placing a finger on his lips, she stood back a pace
and looked up at his face. She had never known anything like this
before: it was as if the energy of life flowed between them, as if they
were the world. There was nothing else that existed except this, this
moment of pure love. Slowly she unbuttoned her shirt and he watched, a
sudden and powerful excitement rising in him.

She slipped the shirt off her shoulders and unfastened her trousers,
letting them drop to the floor and stepping away from them. She wore
nothing underneath. Her body 182 Dangerow Obsession was so beautiful,
long and lithe, her breasts full and high. He reached a hand out and
touched the tawny skin. ', Francesca, you are so ...'But he didn't
finish. She stepped towards him and kissed his mouth, her body an inch
away from him. She slipped her hands down to him and her fingers found
his response. Moments later, he pulled her hard towards him and found
her tongue with his own. His need of her was deeper and more intense
than he had ever felt and it burned inside him. He held her face and
kissed her as all the time she pressed her hips into him, moving against
him, her body on fire.

Finally, he freed himself and picked her up, drawing her legs up and
around his body, holding her underneath. She clasped her hands around
his neck, tilting her head back and pushing her hips forward. Slowly, as
he stood and held her, they began to move together, their bodies locked
and their passionate, united image reflected in the soft light of the
mirror above the fireplace.

Later, as they lay together, naked in the warmth of the fire, Patrick
knew that tonight had been different from. other nights: there had been
an abandoned and fierce passion in Francesca, and in himself. There was
an emotion there that had shocked him in its power and strength, an
emotion that had almost frightened him. He loved her, more than anything
he had ever loved before, and the very idea of that filled him with awe
and trepidation.

But for Francesca, loving Patrick was simple and com- plete. Her
experience had only ever been of fear and pain and now the joy of his
love, and her happiness in it, filled her. It was so new and so
incredible that she had no thought to question it.

Turning towards her, Patrick touched the scar on her shoulder, lightly,
with his fingertip. He had always wanted 183 Maria Barrett to know,
right from the beginning. He bent his head andd kissed it. ' is it the
asked gently He wanted all of her, even the secrets of her heart. ' it
is, you can tell me, I promise' He pulled back to look at her. ' to me,'
he whispered. '." Francesca met his eyes: they were clear and loving.
She could no longer hide it from him. He could see into her soul; he
possessed her completely. She had to tell him the truth - there could be
nothing but the truth between them, not now, not after tonight. She
would trust him with her life; indeed, that was what she was doing. ''s
a scar from my husband,'she said quietly. ' beat me.'She felt Patrick's
body tense for a moment and she held her breath. He was still, silent
for some time and then he moved away from her and rolled onto his side.
He sat up and looked down at her. She could see the shock in his eyes.

J think you had better tell me,' he said. '.' He had never imagined she
was married, never dreamed, never thought ... He looked away; he. hardly
knew her at all. Glancing back, he saw that she too had sat up and she
wrapped the rug round her shoulders, her long bare legs tucked up under
her. He could see the warm orange light of the fire on her skin, it made
it glow Her face was in shadow, sculpted by the light and dark.
Trancesca.' He reached out to touch the beautiful tawny skin and she
looked at him. Nothing had changed, whatever her past, nothing could
change the way he felt. He would have to try to understand, that was
what loving someone was all about, wasn't it? A momentary spark of doubt
ignited in his mind and then extinguished itself. He moved over to her
and eased her closer. ' will understand,'he put his arms around her, '
you tell me the truth." She closed her eyes, warm and secure in his
embrace. Of course he would understand. ' right,' she whispered.

184 Dangirous Obsession ..,"'And slowly, the words painful to speak, she
told him the story of her bloody and violent past.

it was late when finally she was quiet, and the fire had begun to die in
the grate. Patrick was tired. He felt the burden of what she had told
him heavy in his heart and he needed to sleep, to put it out of his
head, to think about it tomorrow. ''s go up,' he said quietly He did not
want to leave her; he wanted to be wrapped in the sheets with her, to
comfort her and for her to comfort him.

She moved away from him. ' go up,' she answered wearily ''ll stay and
tidy' She was always conscious of Lady Margaret, of not being caught.
She would not sleep with him. ', not tonight, leave it. Come up with
me.' He leaned forward and kissed the hollow of her neck. ' Francesca,
come to bed with me, I want to wake up with you.' He had wanted to say J
can't bear to be alone, not if I have to face'what you have just told
me,' but he didn't. He just said '' once again and she rolled towards
him, unable to refuse him anything. He ran his hand the length of her
body and caressed her back. ' on then,'he murmured. His excitement rose
suddenly and he knelt up and pulled her up with him. ' bed.' He wrapped
a rug round her and picked her up, kissing her as he did so. ' bed,'he
whispered once more and she shivered, despite the sudden rush of heat
through her body it was seven am and Lady Margaret was in a deep,
dreamless sleep. It had been a late night - she and Lord Henry had been
out until one - and she had fallen exhausted into bed. The interruption
in her slumber took some time to penetrate and when finally she heard
the shrill ring of the telephone by the side of her bed, she woke foggy
and 185 Maria Barrett confused, fumbling in the dark for the receiver
and swearing loudly when she dropped it. '!' Her voice was slurred and
hoarse with sleep. ' Margaret Smith-Colynet ', speaking.' She didn't
recognise the voice.

I I ..Hello, sorry to wake you so early. This is Charles Hewitt. Lady
Margaret sat up instantly. '!' A call from a cabinet minister deserved a
little charm, even in the middle of the night. ' nice! What on earth is
the time?, she switched on the bedside lamp and looked down at her
watch, blinkirig at the light. ' God! It must be some- thing importand'
She laughed and then thought to keep her voice down - she did not want
to wake Lord Henry in the next room. ' is quite important. Can I be
frank with you, Lady Margareff ', of course. I'm on my own. What's the
problemt ' really a problem, at least not from your point of view
anyway. You mentioned to me when we last met that your brother, Patrick,
was interested in a political career? Is that rightr ', yes it is!' She
felt a shock of excitement in the pit of her stomach. '! I'll be brief
then, Lady Margaret. One of our better known members has been involved
in somewhat of a scandal with young boys. His career is over, of course,
and we need to find a strong and sympathetic candidate to replace him.
It a safe seat, naturally, but the story's about to break in the
national press and I want someone lined up ready, someone squeaky clean,
and someone on the right side of the fence.' ' see.'She was trying to
sound calm but she could hardly think straight. Was he suggesting
Patrick? '! With the current lack of confidence in the 186 Dangerous
Ob=ion government's NHS policies, we thought a medical man would just
fit the bill. I've taken the liberty of already men-' tioning your
brother's name to one or two of my colleagues. They're impressed, Lady
Margaret, and we'd like to see him in London this afternoon; that's why
I'm telephoning ssoo early. I hope that's going to be possiblet Lady
Margaret swallowed. ', yes of course that's possible. He can fly down
this morning.' '!' She heard him talk over his shoulder to someone and
the blood thundered in her veins. She could virtually hear the thud of
her heart in her chest. ' say it's a safe seat? And you want Patrick for
iff She wanted to hear him say it, to be quite certain. ', that's
correct. He'll have to stand for selection, of course, but that's pretty
much a foregone conclusion, I'm glad to say The job's there, it's really
just picking the right man for it and we want someone young and dynamic,
someone with a future. It's a good seat from which to build a career,
Lady Margaret, for the right candidate. That is what you were interested
in, was it not?' ', I was.' She could hardly believe she had come this
dose. She could sense her triumph, smell it. '. I think you and I
understand each other quite well, Lady Margaret, don't yout The
implication of this sentence was quite clear. A favour is never given
freely She smiled. ', Charles, I do.' ' we might have lunch the next
time you're in London? You must come down to visit your brothert '.' She
stretched her arms over her head and glanced down at the heavy curve of
her breasts. Her nipples had hardened. ' would be delightful,' she said
softly. Power turned her on, more so than money these days. ''s a date
then. I'll await your call.' ', of course." 187 Maria Barrett "Good. I
will tell my colleagues to expect Patrick this afternoon at the House
... around what timet ' should think by four, Charles, allowing for
travel delays.' ' four then. I'm sorry to have woken you, Lady
Margaret.' ', don't worry' She dropped her voice a note. ''m glad you
did.' And without a goodbye, she replaced the receiver and lay back
against the headboard for a few moments to let the flush of excitement
spread through her entire body Minutes later, she swung her legs over
the side of the bed and stood up. She was now wide awake. She would have
to go and tell Patrick, get him up, discuss the whole thing. This was an
opportunity not to be taken lightly She would have to work on him, she
knew that, but she couldn't foresee any real problem. Not once he knew
he was really in with a chance, that it was his for the taking.

She crossed the room and threw her silk wrap on, tying it loosely.
Finding her mules, she slipped them on and quietly clicked her bedroom
door open, then stepped out into the passage. She did not want to wake
Henry - this was between her and Patrick, a family thing. Noiselessly,
she walked along to the small flight of stairs that separated her and
Henry's rooms from the rest of the house and made her way down to the
next floor. She hurried to Patrick's room, silently eased the door open
and walked halfway across to his bed. She stopped dead in her tracks.

The curtains were open and the morning light struggled into the room
through the heavy blanket of cloud across the sky. It was just enough to
see the two figures, their bodies curled together in sleep, their
fingers entwined. Francesca was tucked into the curve of Patrick's body
and slept like a 188 Dangerous Obsession child, content and at peace.
Patrick held her, even in sleep, as he would something precious.

Lady Margaret's breath caught in the back of her throat and she put her
hand up to her mouth. it was not the sight of their nakedness or sex
that shocked her but the terrible truth of their love. It was so obvious
that it made her feel physically sick and she felt the shattering of a
thousand dreams. Her anger broke. '! What the bloody heck do you think
you are doingt she shouted. She couldn't stop herself Patrick woke in a
panic. He heard her voice and then he -opened his eyes to see his
sister, her face twisted with rage. ' Jesus!' He sat up instantly,
covering Francesca with the sheet, trying to shield her. ' the hell are
you doing in heret He lost his temper. ' out, Margaret! Go on, get oud'
But she stood where she was. Her initial anger had turned and she was
suddenly calm, in control. ' is my house, remember, Patrick. If anyone
should get out it will be you, not me." Francesca had woken and sat up,
confused and frightened. ''t worry, it's all right,'he murmured. ' it
bloody well isn't all right!' Lady Margaret said icily ' suggest you get
up, Patrick. NOW. I came in here to speak to you about something
important, and I would like to see you downstairs.' Still she stood
across the room, glaring at them. ' you hear me, Patrick?' ' Christ's
sake, Margaret! Of course I bloody heard you! Who do you think you aret
' am your sister and this girl's employer.' Her lower lip curled
slightly in a sneer. ' get up, Paddy I won't ask you again. She turned
to the door. ' will see you in the drawing room in five minutes.'And
with that, she walked out of the 189 Maria Barrett room, leaving the
door open behind her so that they could hear her footsteps along the
passage and all the way down the stairs.

Patrick looked down at Francesca. Her face was white with tension and
for a moment he hated his sister for that. ', I'd better go.' He bent
and kissed her forehead. ' won't be long, I promise." She nodded and
watched him as he climbed out of bed and pulled on some clothes. ' is
all I damn well need, a bloody great row with Margared' He buttoned his
shirt and crossed to the door, muttering more to himself than to
Francesca. ', what a fiasco!' And forgetting even to glance at her
again, he left the room and hurried down the stairs, still only half
awake and seething with anger.

Lady Margaret stood at the window in the drawing room and looked out at
the lawns behind the house. They were sodden, a dull, dark green, under
a rolling grey sky. She smoked a cigarette, inhaling deeply, letting the
smoke fill her lungs, and then blowing it out again in a thin trail that
curled up an dover the top of her head.

She turned when Patrick entered the room. ' in and sit down, Paddy' Her
tone was icy, the anger tightly controlled. ''m not a child, Maggie.'
'?" He came in and stood by the fireplace. ', what- did you have to say
to me that was so important?' I ' things first, Paddy' She stubbed her
cigarette out into the small ashtray she was holding. ''d like to know
what the hell you think you are doing?' ' don't think that's any of your
business.' His reply was sharp and angry. ', for God's sake! Grow
up!'She came across the room.

190 Dangerous Obsession "I happen to think that you fucking my staff is
my business! it's my house and that young girl is my employee!' ' for
much longer, she isn't!' ' the hell is that supposed to meant He sighed,
suddenly weary. He didn't have the stomach for this, it was too early
and it was too damn personal. ', carry we drop it? I'm sorry I upset you
but I really don't want to discuss it. Not now.' He reached for one of
her cigarettes and lit it, throwing the match into the fire grate. ' did
you want to talk to me aboutt Lady Margaret looked at her brother's
face. It was closed, his expression blank. She wondered if she had
pushed him too far. Picking up her cigarettes, she lit another and sat
on the edge of the sofa. She couldn't afford to waste time.

J had a call this morning from Charles Hewitt,'she said. ' told me that
there is a safe seat coming up for re-election and he wants you to
stand.' She flicked her ash and looked up at Patrick. ''d like you to go
down to London today to be interviewed, although apparently it's a
pretty sure thing.' She took a long drag and then added: ' told him
you'd be there." Patrick stared at her for several moments. She was so
arrogant, he thought briefly, poised on the edge of the sofa in her
silk, smoking and talking about his life with such assurance. ' said
you'd fly down from Aberdeen this morning,' she finished. ' did whatt
His mouth was a thin, tight, angry line. ''t you think you should have
asked me first if that was convenient?' ''t itt Her tone was openly
sarcastic. ' else did you have plannedt ''s none of your business!" 191
Maria Barrett, "Oh, grow up, Paddy! I've worked damn hard to make. this
happen and you think it about as important as fucking some teenage tart!
Spare me, please!' ' dare you talk about Francesca like thad' He had
begun to shout now, too wound up to stop himself. ' what the hell do you
mean, you've "worked damn hard to make this happen"? I thought I told
you I didn't want any favours!' ' favours!'she cried. ' else do you
think you'd get a seat? By magict ' you fixed the whole thingt He was
incredulous. ' or less. Is that a problem? It's never been one before!'
'! That's it! I don't have to stay and listen to this!' He strode over
to the door. ' right where you are!' She shouted so loud that he stopped
dead. Slowly he turned. ' are going down to London this morning,
Patrick! I have said that you will be there and damn it, you will!" He
stared at her open-mouthed. ' no! You can forget id'he said coldly. '
told you, I will not be bullieff ' are going!' She stood and walked over
to the fireplace. ' know the score, Paddy,' she said icily. ' always
have.' Her voice was hard, matter-of-fact. ''ve never made any secret of
my ambitions for you - I've always made it quite clear what's expected
of you.' She looked at him. ' want this political career as much as I
do, Paddy. And you owe it to me.' ' owe it to yout He could not believe
he had heard her right. ' do I owe?' He came back into the room, feeling
confused, disorientated. ' have paid for everything, Paddy, everything!
Your-education, your degree, your flat in London while you were at
Charing Cross. Everything! And I've always made it quite 192 Dangerous
Obsasion clear - all the way through I said I wanted you to go into
politics., ', but when I was ready. I thought-' ' thought what? Did you
think that I should just do it? For the love of Patrick? That I could
wait forevert '! I thought ..

She snorted. ' that I would marry aman twenty years my senior in order
to finance you and just sit around lovingly, waiting until you were
ready to play politics? Or not, as the case may be? That I'd watch you
turn down any opportunity on a whim? On a good fuck?' She almost smiled.
' on, Patrick!'But her voice was bitter now and he winced at what he
could hear in it. He hung his '. ' cannot be exactly what you want me to
be, Margaret,' he said quietly. ' have to be myself.' ' can be anything
you want to be, Patrick. You are a Devlin and it's up to you to prove
that the family is worth something!' , ' God! Good old Irish family
pride, eh, Maggiet His sadness was touched with cynicism. It all seemed
so ridiculous. ' it really mean that much to you?' ' yes,' she murmured.
' means that much to me.' She suddenly remembered all her father's debts
and the only way she had known how to discharge them. She remembered the
contempt on the men's faces, nameless faces, when they handed over the
money to her for their pleasure. She shuddered and took a breath. '
course, you do realise who owns the leasehold on your flat in Holland
Park, don't you, Paddy? And the estate in Ireland? Preserved at the
great expense of my husband for your children. How much does a
consultant in the NHS earn. nowadayst ','he said coldly. ' I didn't know
you better, I'd take that as some kind of threat." 193 Maria Barrett 'it
will only be a threat if it has to be, Patrick!' And he saw the hard,
cold determination in her eyes. Finally he snapped.

- ' no!'he roared. ' have no right to do this to me! I couldn't give a
shit about the flat or the estate. And I won't be blackmailed, Margared'
He headed towards the door. ''m getting out of here now! Before I do
something I regret! Oh, and find yourself another nanny as well -
Frances coming with me." But Lady Margaret lunged forward and grabbed
him by the arm. ''re going nowhere, Paddy!' She gripped his shirt and
her fingers pinched his skin hard. ' will leave that little tart alone!'
I order you to do as I say! If you don't I will ruin her. God damn it! I
will make you and her sufleff He started to move to the door. ' you hear
me? Stay here! I order you to-2 ' met Her words incensed him and he lost
control. Blindly, he raised his right hand and pushed his sister back
with all his might. He had to break, free, to get away from her. He
watched motionless as she fell and crashed heavily into the edge of the
sofa. She slumped to the floor. ' the hell? ... MARGARET!' Lord Henry
ran. into the room and bent over his wife. He looked up at Patrick. '
out of my house! NOW! Get oud' Patrick stood, terrified by his own
actions, and then turned and rushed out into the hall, pulling open the
heavy oak door and slamming it hard behind him. Lady Margaret cried out
but he was gone.

Still seething, he strode across the fields beside the house and out
onto the open land towards the mountains. He could think of nothing -
his mind was blank save for the pain and anger and the deep shame at
striking his sister.

Lady Margaret lay where she was for several minutes while 194 Dangerous
Obsession Lord Henry went to get her some water. She was not hurt, just
shocked and, for the first time in her life, afraid that she was about
to fail, to fail in the only thing that had ever really mattered to her.

I have not done all this to let him walk out now, she thought, I will
not let go. Pulling herself up, she slumped back on the sofa and waited
for Lord Henry to come back. She needed him, she could not do it without
him.

Francesca would have to go, she knew that, and she would have to go now,
before Patrick came back. If she was out of the way then at least he
would be easier to handle. Lady Margaret reached for her third cigarette
of the morning and lit it quickly, snapping her lighter shut. '! Are you
all right, darling?' Lord Henry carried the water across to her and
placed it by her side. She nodded weakly ''s more shock than anything,'
she murmured. never seen Patrick behave that way before." He took her
hand and comforted her. ' on earth was it all aboutt She sucked in her
breath and a small sob escaped her. ' it easy, darling, don't upset
yourself' He was trying his hardest to comfort her but to his horror she
started to cry. The tears came easily and freely - she was well
practised. ' will have to go, Henry' she sobbed. ' can't have it going
on in front of the children. I just don't know how he could have let it
happen." Lord Henry patted his wife's hand uncomfortably He abhorred
scenes and the sight of her tears threw him right off balance. ' has let
what happen? Now, Margaret, take it easy and try to explain to me
exactly what has been going on.' ' has been sleeping with the narmy!'
she said. Shock tactics always worked best with Henry.

195 Maria Barrett "Good God!' ' our rooll'she continued. ' in front of
the girls!' He shook his head. ' don't believe id' he muttered. ', you
should believe it, Henry!' Her tears turned instantly to anger; she knew
exactly how to play him. ' saw them myself this morning. It was
disgusting!' She shuddered. ' damn it, you're right! She'll have to go!'
Lord Henry stood. ' shall go up right now and tell her that she must be
out by the end of the week. No excuses! She's oud' But Lady Margaret
restrained him, her hand on his arm. She had other plans. She looked up
at him and shook her head. ' has to go now, Henry. I'm sorry, but I
really can't tolerate this kind of thing.' ', I know you're upset but I
can't turn the poor girl out at seven-thirty in the morning, whatever
she's done.' He took her hand and held it in his own. ' now, let's be
reasonable-' '!' She pulled her hand away and willed on a fresh bout of
tears. ' Henry, if you'd seen them! just think of the girls!" Lord Henry
felt his strength ebb away with the flow of his wife's tears. ', I
really don't think--2 ', Henry! She really must go now, she has to!" He
could see her hysteria rising again and he just hadn't the stomach for
it. ' right, Margaret,' he said wearily. ' you say so.' '! I do say so!'
Then she softened. ' could catch a train from Aberdeen, Henry. You
wouldn't mind driving her there, would you?' She stood and faced him,
fingering the edge of his dressing gown. ',' she murmured. ', my love,
of course not.' He put his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
Anything for peace. ''ll go and speak to her now,' he said.

196 Dangerous Obsession She looked lovingly at him. ' don't you go and
dress a nd I'll speak to hert He raised an eyebrow. ' wouldn't mind?'
The idea of dismissals unnerved him - he would much rather his wife did
it.

She shook her head. ' know you hate scenes,' she said. ', I feel much
better now.' She kissed her finger and held it to his lips. ''re so
sweet to me, Henry. Thank YOU- He shrugged and moved towards the door. '
her I'll be ready in ten minutes,' he said.

She nodded, and smiling briefly, collected up her cigarette and followed
her husband out of the room.

Francesca was dressed and seated by the window in her room when she
heard the knock at the door. She called out and was not surprised to see
Lady Margaret step into the room - she had been expecting some kind of
reprisal.

She stood immediately, her hands trembling, and faced her employer. ', I
am afraid that you will have to leave our employment.' Lady Margaret was
brutally short. ' sooner this happens the better. Lord Henry will be
ready to drive you to Aberdeen in ten minutes. I'd like you to be packed
and out of here by then.' She stood, steely-mouthed, and looked at
Francesca. Little slut, she thought, and it showed in her face.

Francesca saw the look and felt the shock of the words hit the pit of
her stomach. She caught her breath. ' ... THer voice was just a whisper.
', now. I'm sorry, but it is no more than you deserve.' ' ... Pa-2 Lady
Margaret cut her off mid-sentence. ' can forget that right now!' she
snapped. ' brother has already left.

197 Maria Barrett He is highly embarrassed and has asked me to deal with
the situation." Francesca put her hand up to her mouth. ' ... I .. She
didn't believe it, it wasn't true. '! I'm sorry, but there is very
little I can say, I'm arfaid. It is not the first time this sort of
thing has happened, unfortunately. My brother is very irresponsible in
his relationships." Francesca felt her throat constrict and she had to
struggle to breathe. Her hands were trembling so badly that she clenched
them by her side. Lady Margaret was lying, she had to be. He loved her,
he had told her he did. ''m sorry, Francesca, but I shall have to ask
you to pack right away. If you don't mind, I'll stand here while you
do.' Time was moving on. Lady Margaret had no idea how long Patrick
would be gone. ' please ... I ...' It couldn't be true, it couldn't be.
Francesca clung helplessly to her hope.

Lady Margaret lost patience. ' what, dear girl? You surely didn't think
that my brother took you seriously, did you? Come now, do let's be
reasonable. Patrick has- his career to think of. He is moving into
politics and he knows as well as I do that he needs the right sort of
person beside him. You surely didn't expect ...'Lady Margaret's eyes
were as hard as ctjt ice. ' dear, we know absolutely nothing about you!
Nothing. You have no background, no money, and no prospects. God knows
where you came from ...' She stared hard. ' what violence and ugliness
you left behind!" Francesca's hand went automatically to her shoulder.
She felt naked, exposed. She had told him everything, everything!

Tes, I have seen the bruises,' Lady Margaret said. ' all have.' Then she
turned to the drawer and pulled it open.

198 Dangerous Obsession "Francesca, please, get on with your packing.
Lord Henry does not like to be kept waiting, and there is really very
little more to say on the matter. Patrick has been foolish and he has
led you on. I'm sorry, but that's the hard fact of it. It's not the
first time and I'm sure it won't be the last!'And she stood "her arms
folded, and waited for Francesca to begin her packing.

Racked with a terrible humiliation, Francesca moved slowly and silently
round the room, collecting her meagre things and placing them in her
small brown leather bag. It took only minutes, and as she did it, she
was almost blind with the pain. She saw nothing, her mind and body
completely numb. '.' Lady Margaret waited for the click of the bag being
shut before she opened the door. ' you're ready now, we'll go.' She held
it open for Francesca and turned away as she passed. She could see the
tight control of grief on the young girl's face and she did not want to
confront it up close. She followed Francesca down the stairs to Lord
Henry waiting in the hall and all the time her heart hammered hard in
her chest lest Patrick should suddenly walk in.

She stood on the bottom stair and watched her husband take Francesca's
pitiful little bag from her and open the front door.

Francesca turned as Lord Henry walked out of the house. ' I say goodbye
to the childrent Her voice was strong but Lady Margaret glimpsed her
tears. They angered her. ',' she said coldly. ''m sorry' Francesca
turned back, picked up her coat and, head held high, walked outside to
the car. Minutes later, she was gone.

It was only fierce pride that had stopped her from 199 Maria Bamu
breaking down and begging to be allowed to stay. She sat in the car and
gripped her bag on her lap, the pain and shame so intense that she
thought she might faint. She looked out at Scotland as they headed up
over the Cromdale hills and scattered her sacred and happy memories out
over the wet and weeping landscape. She was too shocked to speak. It was
over, and so, she felt at this moment, was her life.

lady Margaret sat down on the stairs and rubbed her hands wearily over
her face. She heard the noise of the car engine as it disappeared up the
drive, out onto the main road and away from the house. Gradually it
faded and there was nothing, nothing but the sound of her heartbeat
finally beginning to slow. She looked up.

Half of it was over; half of that morning's terror had gone. She had
removed the threat. Now she had to convince Patrick, make him see what
could be achieved, make him want what she wanted. She was almost there.

And for as long as she could remember she had wanted it, wanted Patrick
to be someone, wanted the power attached to that, the glory. it would
make up for the past, she knew that, for the shame of her father and for
the things she had had to do for money. It was her vengeance, to be
above, recrimination, to be powerful enough not to care. And she would
have it, she had come this far, she was not going to stop now.

Patrick walked slowly back to the house. He had been gone for
severathours. The walk had done him good but he still didn't understand
his actions. He was confused, ashamed of himself, but he was angry too,
and shocked. He had lost control, something that had never happened
before, and the humiliation of that was crippling.

Entering the house, he silently crossed the hall and made 200 Dangerous
Obsession way to the stairs. He needed to see Francesca; he needed her
support. '!" He turned and his sister came out of the drawing room.
There was an angry red mark on the side of her face where he had struck
her and her eye had swollen. Patrick flinched at the sight of her. ',
I'm sorry' he said dismally, ' should never have struck you.' He could
not look at her, he was too ashamed, and he turned round to continue up
the stairs. ', she's gone, if that's where you're headed." He stopped.
'?' Slowly he looked round. ' do you mean, gonet ' left several hours
ago with Henry. She's gone back to Motcom Park. From there, I don't know
where she'll go.' She put her hand up and painfully touched her wound,
reminding him, making him suffer for it.

He stared long and hard at her and then he slumped down and put his head
in his hands. ', Margaret,' he murmured. ' have you done?' ' have done
what is best for you, Patrick, like I ' always have.' khe walked over
and knelt in front of him. ' love you, Paddy, you know that,'she said
quietly ', not like this you don't.' He swallowed back his pain. ''ll
ring John, ask him to keep her there until I arrive.' ',' she said. '
won't ring John.' She put her hand over his. ' will go down to London to
see Charles Hewitt.' ' ... please, don't do this to me.' He closed his
eyes but all he could see was Margaret's face and the terrible mark of
his violence against her. He felt weak and confused.

She stood and wrapped her arms around him, cradling him to her. ',
Paddy, you are such a fool,'she whispered.

201 Maria-Barrett "Donl you see? That girl is just a child, a mixed-up,
helpless child. You wanted to protect her, to look after her. You have
always been the same.' '! 1...' ' are ...' She paused. ' kind and so
loving.' She kissed the top of his head. ' knew that, and so do 1. How
old is she, Paddy? No more than sixteen? Seventeen? And where does she
come from? Can you take the burden of what violence she left behind? Can
yout He drew back and looked up at her. He remembered the shock of last
night, all that Francesca had told him. ' child,' she said again. ',
don't ruin your life for a romantic notion. How long have you known her?
What - two weeks, three? It's infatuation, Patrick, can't you see itt He
shook his head. ', it's more than that, Maggie.' ' it? You forget, I
know you, sometimes better than you know yourself. You are not in love,
Patrick, trust me. You were vulnerable, that's all, you needed
affection, you always have done. It was a weakness, an unguarded moment.
Daddy was weak too - he let his infatuation with drink ruin our lives.
You know that, dowt yout And all the time she spoke, her voice soothed
him, her hands gently stroked his hair. ', have I not always looked
after yout There was a soft Irish lilt to her voice and he was reminded
of his childhood. ''t V He nodded. ' go to London today. Do it for me,
Paddy, will you? Please." He felt as if he had no strength left; he was
powerless in her hands. She had always been there, all his life,
shaping, moulding, making things right for him. Could he stand alone?
Did he have the courage? He just didn't know. ' if I don'tt he asked
quietly.

202 Dangerous Obsession "But you will, Paddy, you will.' She touched her
face again, once more reminding him of what she had suffered today and
always, for him. ''ll do it for me, and for yourself." He looked across
at her. ', I don't know, I ...' He -tried to think. What if he did go?
Could he have this opportunity and Francesca too? He could ring her from
London, tell her to wait for him, explain- it all. ' ... I ...' He
stopped as she put a finger to his lips. ', Paddy Go for me today, just
this once more, trust me.' Her voice was so soft that he felt the caress
of it, the warm, safe caress of it. He was confused, walking a thin line
way up above the rocks. He didn't know what love was, he had always been
balanced, on the ground. What if he fell? She had moved her finger and
gently stroked his cheek, as she used to when he was a boy. He looked up
at her facl. ', Maggie,' he murmured. What else could he do? He
desperately wanted this chance, he just didn't want to have to make a
choice.

A few moments later he answered Margaret. ' ri,'he said, ''ll go.' And,
as he did so, he swallowed back an aching sense of loss, still unsure of
what he was doing, and hoped to God that Francesca would understand. He
had never had the strength to fight Margaret, and especially not now,
not when what she offered him was so enticing.

203 CHAPTER Sixteen THE TRAIN AT YORK was late. John sat in his car in a
limited waiting-time space and kept careful watch on the time. He would
go and check developments in five minutes.

Drumming his fingers on the dashboard, he thought constantly about the
telephone call from Lady Margaret and tried to puzzle out what on earth
had gone wrong. She had been curt, almost to the point of rudeness, on
the line, but that was something he was used to. He was pretty sure it
was more than that: she had sounded panicked and secretive, as if she
was doing something underhand, had something to hide. Not that he had
ever trusted her. John knew full well what she got up to, he was just
too much of a gentleman ever to mention it, to anyone.

What on earth induced me to take all this on? he thought. I should have
stuck to my original plan, I should never have got involved. Irate
telephone calls and angry dismissals, now probably pain and
embarrassment at having to ask the girl to leave Motcom. Oh dear, he
sighed, what a mess!

But just as he thought this, he also looked down at his watch and
realised with a jolt that he had been sitting there for over twenty
minutes. He climbed hurriedly out of the car and dashed back into the
station, jogging along to the platform where her train was due. He hated
the idea that she might have come in with no one to meet her.

Francesca was waiting for the train to pull to a halt. She 204 Dangerous
obsession stood by the doors in the carriage and gripped her small
leather bag with both hands. It stopped them from trembling. She had no
idea what to expect, but she braced herself for the worst.

She was pale and exhausted, having cried all the way from Aberdeen to
Edinburgh. She had locked herself into the small lavatory, sat down with
her head in er hands and sobbed, the shame and bitter grief wracking her
body. When finally she looked up, her face was red and swollen, she was
relieved, but the pain was still there. She had wept nothifig away.

Now, as she stood, her mind was blank but a terrible fear was lodged in
the pit of her stomach, the fear that she had been punished for what she
had done, for Giovanni's soul. If she was castigated now by John, sent
away, she would have to face it, but the loneliness suddenly seemed
unbearable after the happiness of the past few weeks.

Finally, the train stopped and Francesca stepped down onto the platform,
pivoting to close the door behind her and holding the bag with one hand.
She felt physically sick with nerves. Turning back, she looked up and
saw John. ', Francesca,' he said quietly. Then he leaned forward and
took her bag, placing it on the ground beside ' him. He saw her face and
gently put his arms around her. ', my dear, what has been happening?' he
whispered as he held her. ' on now, child, there's no reason to cry'And
in the middle of platform three, amidst the'bustle of crowds rushing for
trains, he stood and hugged her and felt her pain as a father would have
done.

In the car, heading back onto the motorway, Francesca was silent and
withdrawn, peering out of the window, mindlessly watching the passing
scenes. ' am sorry,' was all'she had said to him. ' did not
understand.." 205 Maria Barrett And John hadn't the heart to question
her further. He felt that all the anguish she had carried with her since
she arrived in England had suddenly come to the surface and that if he
bent her, in any way at all, she would break.

So they drove on in silence and he tried to quiet the questions that
rose in his mind. He would have to ask her at some point, he knew that,
but now was not the time. Now, he would just have to comfort her; she
needed him far too much for him to let her down.

Much later, when they were back at the house, John, knew he could no
longer put off what needed to be asked. There were decisions to be made
and the phone calls from Lady Margaret and Lord Henry worried him. There
was too much insistence that she should go for him to be able to ignore
it further. He had to act - he hated himself for doing so but there was
no other choice.

He went to Francesca's room and called her, then went back to the
kitchen to wait for her. She appeared a few minutes later and he asked
her to sit with him at the table.

He watched her face for a few moments and then looked down. ' have had
another call from Scotland, Francesca, from Lord Henry' He stopped. '
has once again said that you must leave Motcom and ...'He paused a
second time. ', I feel that I have to ask you why. I'm sorry, but I must
know what has happened.'He looked up at her. ', try and explain."
Francesca sat motionless and stared down at her hands. She could still
see the faint shadows of the bruising on her wrist and traced the marks
with her fingertip. Her past. She was silent, not knowing where to
start, wrought by the confusion of it all. Finally, she swallowed hard
and stilled her hands. ' have never known, you see,' she whispered, ' it
was like ... to be happy' She stopped and glanced 206 Dangerous
Obsession at him, the pain in her eyes raw. No one ever loved me
before,' she said simply ' is why I was so foolish. It ,,overwhelmed me,
I had no idea that ...'She stopped again. She had no idea that love
could be as painful as hate and worse, because the pain was from the
inside. To be loved had been so incredible, so honest and complete that
she had never dreamed it could deceive and hurt with lies grid shame. '
have always been alone,'she said and put her . on her heart. ' here.'
And then, in a muddled and distressed way, she began to tell him the
truth. Everything, the whole truth. She had nothing left to lose; she
could not be hurt any more.

,For a long time afterwards, John sat alone in the dark and thought
about what she had said. The enormity of her burden was almost too great
for him to comprehend, the violence and misery of her life too terrible.
He thought about that bastard Devlin leading heron, using her, and the
whole thing made him sick. If he ever got hold of the little shit he'd
knock the bloody daylights out of him.

He swore silently and stood up from the table to go. to bed. He was
tired, and he was shocked'- it was all too much to take in. He had no
idea what to do. He would have to put off any decision until the
morning. Crossing to the sink, he rinsed his coffee cup and turned to
look for the towel to dry it, but as he did so, he heard the door click
open and he twisted round, trying to make out the figure in the dark.
'!' He was relieved - the noise had unnerved him. He walked towards her
and then stopped halfway She stood by the door in the clothes she had
arrived in and held the old, battered bag containing her meagre
possessions. She was dressed and ready to leave. ' ', where are you
going?' he asked quietly He 207 Maria Barrett stepped a pace forward and
saw her face. It was ashen, her eyes dark and swollen. ',' he said sadly
''t leave without talking to me.' And he reached for her bag, taking it
and placing it on the table. Silently she began to cry again. For one so
strong all her life, it seemed now love had broken her she would never,
never mend again. ', Francesca.' For the second time that day he put his
arms round her and hugged her close. The feel of her body against him, a
child, desperate and needing him, made his heart ache. He knew in that
moment what he had to do. She is so sad and lost, he thought, as he
soothed her weeping, she must have someone to take care of her.

And it was then that he really made up his mind, and once he had, he
knew there would be no turning back. It has to be me, he thought,
stroking her hair and listening to the sound of her pitiful, painful
sobs. I must help her, she has no one else but me. This poor child has
suffered too much already; without me she may never recover. He glanced
down at her. The feeling of being so essential to her and of being so
needed was like a warmth in his veins - it dulled the fear of such an
enormous, unexpected decision and it gave him hope. His decision was so
clear and so final that he knew in his heart it had to be right.

When Dora came back from her three days with her sister in Harrogate,
John met her at the local station in the next village to Motcom. He was
there on the platform when her train pulled in and she knew immediately
that something was wrong. It was a totally uncustomary gesture on his
part. ' shouldn't have bothered, John,' she said when she saw him. '
could have easily caught a taxi.' She was prickly with him; his
appearance unnerved her. ' bother, Dora.' He carried her bag for her and
stored it in the boot of the car before opening the door for her.

208 Dangerous Obsession She climbed in, fastened her seat belt and then.
came straight to the point as John got in beside her. ''s all right, I
know somethings wrong. You might as well tell me now, John, get it over
with.' She folded her hands in her lap and waited for him to speak.

He smiled. ''re a canny woman, Dora.' ''t change the subject.' ' Kight
then.' He turned to face her. ''ve decided to , Motcom Park, to go on my
own.' ', I see.' She stared straight ahead. They had been at Motcom
together too many years for her to be able to take the news lightly She
took a breath. ' this something to do with the girl, John, with
Francescat ', as a matter of fact it is." She continued to gaze away
from him. J thought so.' John placed his hand on her arm. ', Dora, this
wasn't an easy decision to make." She dropped her eyes down to her hands
in her lap. ', Fm sure it wasn't.' Then she fumbled in her pocket for a
handkerchief. ''m sorry John-' She blew her nose, struggling to compose
herself. ' just so unexpected ... 1-2 She stopped and John sat
uncomfortably for a few moments, not knowing what to say '!' After a
minute or so, Dora blew her nose again. She had regained control of
herself and she sniffed, dabbing at her eyes. ''s quite a shock you
know!' She smiled, covering her embarrassment. ', I know. I'm sorry'
Then she faced him for the first time. ' you know what you're doing,
Johnt ' I do. Believe me, I've given it a lot of thought.' He shook his
head. He had done nothing but think about it over the last twenty-four
hours - he was exhausted from thinking about it.

209 Maria Barrett "Well, I suppose you'd better tell me why, then, if
you've made up your mind, that is.' '.' He turned to her and she
thought: he has changed, even in a few days he has changed, he looks
tired and ... She searched -her mind for the right word. He looks more
of a person, as if the polish has been worn off, the veneer stripped. He
looks real, she thought and - happy. Yes, that was it, he looked happy!
For the first time, since she had known him, John was content, and, for
the briefest moment, she envied him that. ' has been asked to leave
Motcom,' he said. ' I've decided to go with her. There was some sort of
thing with Lady Margaret's brother in Scotland, a minor indiscretion by
all accounts, but they want her out. I can't let her go alone. So I've
decided to take early retirement and try to set up on my own.' ', John!
That sounds terribly rash to me. Are you quite sure this is the right
thing to dot Dora's voice was shocked and hurt. ' you should take -some
time to think it over properly, a week at least.' ' mind's made up,
Dora. Besides, I've already informed Lord Henry. He's coming down at the
weekend to speak to me and to finalise the details.' ''s happy to let
you got She was incredulous. ' nott ' course, Dora. I am only an
employee.' ' John--2 Dora put her hand on his arm. ' whole life has been
Motcom. Why now, why with this girl?" John hesitated before he spoke. He
was not sure that Dora would understand and he had always found it
impossible to explain his feelings. He cleared his throat. ' needs me,
Dora. After all the years of working for the family, of picking up the
discarded pieces of their lives, now I've a chance to find a life of my
own. Oh, I'm not kid- 210 Dangerous Obsession far ding myself, it could
all go wrong and I could end up far worse off than I am now, but at
least I'll have tried. I'll have done what I thought was right.
Francesca just won't survive on her own - she's no more than a child and
she desperately needs someone to look after her. For the first time in
my life, I'm really important to someone, I have a sense of purpose, a
responsibility'He shrugged. ' probably sounds very foolish, but it means
a hell of a lot to me.' He looked at her and Dora could see the hope in
his eyes. ' needs me, Dora,' he said again. J can't let her down. You do
understand that, don't yout And Dora' thought about her own life, how
lonely she sometimes felt and how she missed being loved. ' yes, my dear
John, I understand.' Then she bent towards him and kissed his cheek. It
was the only time she had ever done so in their ten years of friendship.
' I'm glad for you,'she said. ' wish you all the luck in the world.' '
was nothing more she could add.

211 ""71 CHAPTER Seventeen MANY YEARS LATER, WHEN FRANCESCA looked back
on it, she was unable to recall any of the details of her last few days
at Motcom Park. All she remembered was a numbness, and a terrible
crushing grief that drained her body of every last bit of strength and
life. She had loved, with all her heart, and she had trusted, trusted in
Patrick and believed completely in the happiness he brought to her life.
He had let her down, dropped her from an appalling height, knowing all
the time that she was not good enough for him and leaving his sister to
tell her the truth.

She had no idea that he had rung, that he had tried to contact her, to
at least lessen the pain. But John had been dismissive, angry and
defiant. ' doesn't want to speak to you,'he had said coldly ' her alone!
Haven't you done enough alreadyt And Patrick had hung up, afraid of his
own emotions, and guilty that he was letting his sister dominate his
life.

So Francesca clung to John in those days, when the night seemed endless,
just interminable darkness, and the sins of the past haunted her. She
never left him, needing his physical presence, his constant reassurance.
He was her anchor to sanity.

And John knew. He knew the burden she had carried for so long and he
knew that she had finally broken under the strain.. She had broken
because of love and he was filled with a seething, burning anger on her
behalf. He would 212 Dangerous Obsessw"ngladly have killed Patrick
Devlin, if he thought that it would give his child some peace.

His child. He had come to look upon her as his child, as someone so
close and precious to him that he felt as if she were his blood, a part
of him. And, as he moved quickly And surely, creating a new life for
them, he realised that he did it with the fierce determination that an
animal has to protect its own. To protect and survive.

So the days passed quickly as John drove to and from Newcastle, where he
had decided to settle, and searched for a small house for them to-live
in. He packed up his things and made arrangements for them to be moved,
saw to the financial details and finally ended his life at Motcom Park
with an abrupt interview in Lord Henry's study "So you've made up your
mind then, have you, Johnt Lord Henry took no pains to cover his
disapproval. ' think this is the way forward, do yout John shrugged. '
is the best solution as far as I can see it,' he answered. ', who am I
to argue thent He stood at the fireplace and looked across at his man.
He was bloody furious about the whole business if the truth be known. '
I can do to change your mindt He knew what John's answer would be,
bloody fool. Nol sir. I'm sorry' ' right. No point in wasting any more
time then. It's Just the matter of your pension that we have to sort
out.' '., And that was it. Twenty years of service with Lord Henry
Smith-Colyne over in five minutes. John knew he should have expected it,
but it was worse than he could have imagined.

Lord Henry crossed to his desk and took out his cheque 213 Maria Barrett
book. He wrote a cheque, signed it with his usual flourish and walked
round to hand it over. John took it and folded it away ', John, I er .
Lord Henry put his hands in his pockets rather embarrassed, and leaned
back against the edge of the desk. ' shall miss you,' he said and
cleared his throat. ''m er - sorry about all this bloody business. If
you ever need advice, help of any kind, please, you will let me knowt
John nodded. Lord Henry held out his hand. ' know I don't approve of
what you're doing, John. I won't pretend to think it's a good idea, but
good luck anyway, I wish you well." John smiled, for the first time
since he entered the study ' you,' he said, and releasing Lord Henry's
hand, he crossed the large, oak-panelled study for the last time, opened
the door and quietly left the room.

Outside he stopped and took a deep breath, more moved than he had
realised. He took the cheque out of his pocket to tuck it safely into
his wallet and dropped it clumsily onto the floor. His fingers were
trembling. But as he bent and picked it up, he turned it over in his
hands and saw that it was for double the amount he had saved. It was
twice his pension. He swallowed hard and stood looking down at the
cheque. Then he tucked it away and carried on through the house to the
kitchen. That part of his life was over now and he had been properly
paid for it.

The following morning he and Francesca left Motcom for good. They drove
away in the pristine '63 Rover, John's belongings having preceded them,
and headed down the long oak-lined drive of the park to the main road.

John glanced behind him before he pulled out into the 214 W, Dangerous
Obsession U Motcom in ic and saw the full Georgian splendour of the
bright September morning. He smiled. No regrets, he thought, strange
after so long. Then he indicated right, pulled away from the gates and
accelerated off, leaving the house and park behind him.

215

CHAPTER Eighteen Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne JOHN HAD FOUND A SMALL
mid-Victorian terraced house in a residential area just outside
Newcastle city centre. It was sandwiched between two larger houses, a
rickety grey brick cottage with a white wooden Gothic porch over the
front door and a rambling rose climbing over it, glorious in late-summer
bloom. It was neglected and run-down but as soon as he saw it he fell in
love with it. It was a rough-cut gem, bright and unique, just lying
amongst the dull, smooth stones around it.

It had a garden at the front: twenty feet of tangled weeds and overgrown
grass bounded by a fence with honeysuckle trailing over it, and a path,
trodden through the rank vegetation to the front door. The sash windows
were large, their wood slightly rotten from lack of care, and the front
door, was painted a garish turquoise.

Inside the rooms were small but adequate: one long, narrow room at the
front, knocked through from two, and a kitchen out the back. The
original fireplaces remained, along with a huge stone sink in the
kitchen and racks and racks of oak wood shelves. Best of all, on the end
wall was an old nineteen-fifties range, an oil-burning Aga.

Upstairs were two small bedrooms and a classic Edwardian bathroom that a
previous owner had tried to rip out. It had obviously proved too much
because he had given up halfway through and left the wide square sink
and 216 Dangen7us Obsession ' with their curved chromium-plated- taps
and enough of the tiles for them to be able to match them. He had ripped
up the floor, though, and lined the boards with a Jurid patterned lino
in shiny orange and black.

But it was home, and for John it was his first. Despite all the flaws
and all the hard work he knew it would involve, he looked on it with
elation and pride. It was his, his to share with Francesca, his own tiny
piece of England.

They moved into the house two weeks after leaving Motcom Park. The
legalities were a matter of course - Lord Henry's solicitor had rushed
things through for them - and John collected the keys from the agent's
on the third Monday in September. He held them in his hand and thought:
fifty-five and my first home. Better late than never. And he stood
outside the estate agent's and laughed. Who would have imagined that I
would be doing this?

Francesca had not seen the house before they moved into it. John had
wanted to keep it a secret, desperate not to disappoint her lest
anything should go wrong. And, although her name was on the contract,
she had merely signed where John indicated and thought no more about it.

She had been so tired since they left Motcom, her weight dropping and
her energy drained, that John worried con- stantly about her. Every day
to get up was an effort, and the hours she was awake she longed for the
dark, heavy relief of sleep. Her mind was blank and he could see her
existing in a sort of half-state, alive but not aware of the life she
was living He pinned all his hopes on the house. Father Angelo Q told
him that she had a fierce will to survive, and he could sense that she
also had a tremendous strength, deep down inside her, to fight back. He
was giving her the chance to live for something, to see a way out. He
was offering her a future. He just prayed that she would take it.

217 Maria Barreu The morning of the move he still did not tell her. Full
of childish excitement, he wanted it to be a surprise. He arrived back
from the agent's, took her by the hand and led her out to the car. ''ve
got something to show you,' he said, opening the car door for her. '
important.' He started the engine, put the car in gear and Francesca
sneaked a glance across at him, his face bright with enthusiasm. She was
intrigued: something about his manner had pierced through her outer
shell and she found herself smiling at the tuneless notes he
unconsciously hummed. His glee was infectious.

He took her round the long way, through the tree-lined streets
ofjesmond, past the pretty Victorian houses and the cricket ground, and
finally to Marston Avenue, a long, wide road that ran down towards the
Dene and the deep green expanse of park.

It was a warm Indian summer day, with the ever present north-eastern
breeze blowing through the leafy green branches of the trees and
scattering patterns of shadow across the road. The light was clear and
bright and when John drew up in front of the house, it had lit the flame
red of the roses on the grey brick and made their colour look like fire.
',' he said as he drew in alongside the kerb and switched off the
engine. He sat and stared up at their home. ' is what I wanted to show
you.' ' houset ', this house." Francesca climbed out of the car. She
stood on the pavement in the sunlight and looked at the old grey stone
cottage with its jumble of a garden and its bright turquoise front door.
She smiled. Walking up to the wooden latch gate, she stood and snapped a
small twig off the honey- 218 Y Dangerous Obsession 4tickle that grew
over the fence, putting it up to her nose and breathing in its sweet,
heady scent.

It's lovely' she murmured. John placed a hand on her he came up behind
her. H' stood and followed shoulder as e owed her gaz . ''s yours,
Francesca,' he said quietly. ' home." She spun round to face him. ' For
the first time in weeks her eyes seemed to come alive and the green of
them deepened. ', it's yours, and mine, our home.' He looked down for a
moment. ' you like it?" And then he felt himself swept up on a wave of
emotion as Francesca threw her arms around him and hugged him. He saw
her face, that peculiar smile of hers that transformed it and made it
beautiful, and her eyes, dazzling green, bright with excitement, their
terrible blankness vanished. ' it really mine? Really7 I mean my homet
She spoke so fast that she tripped over her accent. She stopped suddenly
and took a deep breath. She could hardly believe John had done this for
her. He had taken her in, helped her and cared for her. He given her the
chance of a new life. ' is really minet ', it is really yours, really,
your home.'John laughed, but the relief in his heart made him want to
cry. She had come to life again. ' signed the papers, remembert She
shook her head and then it dawned on her what he had been doing and she
threw her arms around him again. ''s really minet she whispered.

He held her tight. '-huh.' ' you, John,' she said softly. ' will try to
make you so proud of me.'What was past was past, she would accept it and
get on with her life. ' you,' she whispered again.

John stood back, momentarily embarrassed by his own 219 Maria Barrett
emotion, and looked up at the cottage. ' may not thank me in a week's
time,'he said gloomily ' your hair is full of grit and grime and you
haven't had a bath for days!' But ' laughed and followed his gaze. '!'
she answered. ' is the best thing ... " And then suddenly she stepped
aside, moved past him and opened the gate. ' my God!'she exclaimed from
two steps inside the garden, her hands in the air in a typically Italian
gesture. ' had better get started right away!' She glanced over her
shoulder at him, her look deadly serious. ' first thing we must do is
paint the front door.'And she pulled a face. ' people, really! What a
truly horrible colour it is!" And John, unable to help himself, let out
a long, loud peal of laughter.

So they began work on the house by painting the front door. They filled
the cracks in the wood, stripped back the layers of dirt and tarnish
from the brass knocker and letter box and painted the door, a deep, dark
glossy green. it was the first step.

Inside the house, they cleaned and sorted, swept and polished and it
took only a matter of days before their home was habitable. Dora had
sorted out a bundle of old linen which she sent up from Motcom and John
had his picnic hamper to tide them over with cutlery and china. They had
everything they needed and they settled in, warmed their house with a
bottle of wine and started to lay the foundations of their new life.

The week after they settled, John began the long and arduous process of
looking for a job. He had worked his finances out with great care. He
had spent most of his savings on the house, but he knew that they could
last a couple of months if they had to, providing they were careful. He
220 Dangerous Obsession ded to find work though, as much for his own
morale as for the money, and he set about it in the meticulous way he
'-Aid everything, scouring the situations vacant columns in :.,Jhe local
papers and borrowing a typewriter to type up his details.

He had gauged that it would probably take him several w1eks to find
something he liked but he was prepared to sit it, out until he did. So
he duly sent off letters to the local companies that interested him,
answered the adverts that he "Iiked, put his name down at the employment
office and '@soent countless hours sorting through possible job
opportunities.

Francesca watched him over the next two weeks with ' heart full of hope.
She had taken on the responsibility of the house and while John looked
for work, she stripped , and woodwork, sanded, cleaned, washed and
painted..$ he toiled endlessly, finding relief in the physicality of the
,,work, needing to bury herself in it.

She was determined to forget, to make John proud, and she tackled the
work with gusto, labouring long into the night, searching out bargains,
sewing, painting and pouring all the love she had to give into the
rickety little house. She wanted to make it into the best house ever,
into a home they could both be proud of.

And as she tried to do so, John found that she had an innate sense of
style, painting the walls a clean, bright white and sanding the
floorboards, polishing them up to a deep oak shine. At the windows she
hung lengths of Victorian lace that she had found rummaging around in
the local church jumble sale, and she scattered heaps of beautifully
patterned cushions over the high old Chesterfield sofa she had picked up
in a sale room. The kitchen she painted yellow. Finding a massed
assortment of glass jars, she filled and arranged them on the oak
shelves, then hung 221 Maria Barrett up her strings of onions and garlic
and her bunches of dried herbs.

Finally, for the bedrooms, she found a pair of Victorian brass
bedsteads, probably from the servants' quarters in one of the large 61d
houses, and she put one in each room, investing in feather pillows from
Bainbridge and two blue and white striped, duck-down quilts. She covered
small round tables in the same stripe and placed a square of white
antique lace over the top. She blacked the iron fireplaces, polished the
floors and lastly laid a rug in each room, faded, muted Indian carpets
in blues and deep reds that she had cleaned and repaired after finding
them abandoned, wet and dismal, in a skip behind Holly Avenue.

By the middle of October, the house was as finished as they could
afford. it was comfortable, stylish, polished and clean. John had cut
back the garden, ready for Francesca to plant, but the weather had
turned very cold very quickly and the ground frost made it impossible to
dig the earth. They decided to leave it until spring.

But there was also one other reason to postpone any more improvements:
John had begun to worry about his finances. In all the time that
Francesca spent on the house, John had searched relentlessly for work.
His great plans to take only something that he was really keen on faded
to something that he quite liked and eventually to anything he could
get.

Time and time again he was told that they were looking for someone
younger, that he did not have the right experience or that he was
under-qualified for the job. Most of the time, however, the answer's he
received merely informed him that the position had already been filled.

No explanation and no hope. He knew that they had enouglf money, but by
now it was only just enough. He found his prospects becoming increas-
222 Dangerous Obsession y bleak and their bright new future together
began to look precarious. He told nothing of this to Francesca. He
worried alone, the fear of failure gnawing away at him like a
persistent, troubling ulcer.

Francesca was aware of everything he suffered, though - she was far more
perceptive than he realised. She watched him, as she used to watch her
father, silently and unseen, and she was anxious for him, she wanted to
help. She knew that she had kept the business of living too distant for
too long; burying herself in the work of the house, she had withdrawn
from the world. She had done what she needed to, and the house had given
her the strength to come through the pain, the will to survive. It was
time to start her, life again.

Without telling John, within a few days of finishing the house,
Francesca made the decision to look for a job.

She had no idea what she wanted to do but she read through the local
paper as John had done and- on the last page found a small, elaborate
advert for the '-Right Employment Agency'. She made a note of the
number, and the following morning, when John had gone to the library,
she telephoned to make an'appointment. She was told to come in later
that afternoon.

Ringing off, she sat for a moment, dazed by such a quick response, then
she jumped up, overwhelmed with nerves, and rushed upstairs to try to
find something suitable to wear.

By the time John returned from the library it was lunchtime and
Francesca was sitting at the kitchen table, dressed in her only skirt,
one of the thick, checked Viyella shirts John had bought her for
Scotland, thick black wool tights and ' flat brown lace-up shoes. She
looked like a respectable middle-aged spinster from Surrey, reading the
free paper and drumming her fingers nervously on the 223 Maria Barrett
table-top. His black and brown tweed jacket hung over the back of the
chair behind her with one of his bright silk handkerchiefs in the breast
pocket. ' me! Are you going somewhere?' He crossed to her and kissed the
top of her head before pulling out a chair opposite her. He forced back
the smile that her rather old-fashioned appearance evoked. ', you may
borrow my jacket.' He leaned over and readjusted the handkerchief. ' on
then, tell me! I'm dying of curiosity herej where are you off to?"
Francesca bit her lip and then took a deep breath. ' rang an agency this
morning for a job and they asked me to come in this afternoon for an
interview.' She had removed her hands from the table and picked
anxiously at her nails. Then she looked up at him. ', John, I donl know
why I did it! I wanted to help you and I thought it was such a good idea
UP until now. But what am I going to say? I really don't think I can go.
Perhaps I can ring up and say I'm not very wellt John reached out and
placed his. hand over hers, stopping the nervous agitation of it. He
squeezed her fingers and smiled. ', you cawt ring up and say that.
You'll just have to go., She pulled her hand away and stood up. He could
see he had upset her but he had to be firm. She had made a move to be
independent and he was not going to let her back out halfway through. It
was important, she was ready to start a life of her own, she just needed
a little push. ''ll be fine, Francesca,' he said gently ' is nothing to
worry about, really. Come on, sit down and let's go through what you're
likely to be asked. There won't be anything you can't cope with, I
promise you." She frowned and he said again: ' on, I' '11 pretend to be
the interviewer and ask the questions and you can answer them. OK7' 224
Dangerous Obsession She nodded and reluctantly sat back down. '!' he
began in a high-pitched Scottish accent. He crossed his legs, toes
pointed, touched his hair and pursed his lips. ' what sort tai job were
ye after, Miss. Camerooont And Francesca suddenly laughed. She relaxed
back in her chair, folded her arms and they continued in high spirits
with the interview.

But, two hours later, as she waited in the glossy reception of the
Start-Right Employment Agency, Francesca had forgotten everything she
had rehearsed with John. She sat, once she had filled in the application
forrus, hands clenched in her lap, ankles neatly crossed the way she had
seen in a magazine and a grim, set expression on her face. She had heard
the girls on the desk snigger as she went through to sit down and was
painfully aware that she wasn't dressed right, in her dull,
unfashionable clothes.

She stared at a framed Cecil Beaton print on the wall opposite and
gritted her teeth while her hopes of a job faded with every minute that
ticked by '! Miss. Cameront Francesca started and blinked rapidly
several times to clear her vision. '.' She looked towards the door where
a short, smartly dressed, middle-aged woman stood, holding a clipboard
and smiling, the sort of smile that primary school teachers wear. ''m
Marjorie Davidson,' the woman said Her glasses were perched on the tip
of her nose and she peered over the top of them'at Francesca. Oh my God,
Marjorie thought, what on earth is the dear gifl wearing? She smiled
again to cover her distaste. ' you'd like to follow me, would you, deart
Her voice was modulated north-east, toned 225 Maria Barrett down to suit
the more executive client; she'd worked very hard on it.

Francesca stood, tried to pull up the wrinkles in her tights without
being seen and crossed to the door, following the woman out into the
corridor. ' see here that you can speak Italian,' Ms. Davidson said over
her shoulder. ' giorno!' Her accent was so exaggerated that she rolled
her R for several seconds before adding on the rest of the word. '
giorno. Come stat ', yes, quite. Very nice, dear.' Ms. Davidson's
Italian stretched to good morning and Valpolicella only ' nice indeed,'
she said again and stopped at a door marked ' Room'. She wrote something
on th paper on her clipboard and opened the door, ushering Francesca
inside. ' take a seat. Can I get you some tea? Coffeet She waited for
the briefest second. '? Oh good, I do hate wasting time.'She came in and
closed the door behind her. ', let's have a look at this form, shall wet
She sat down opposite Francesca, crossed her legs and touched her hair,
just as John had imitated. ,, let me see ...'She looked down at the
clipboard. ','she said, after a few minutes, and then, '-huh.' She
tapped her toe on the floor and after what seemed like an hour to
Francesca, but was in fact only a few minutes, she finally looked up
again. ' you've no recognisable qualifications thent Francesca swallowed
and then shook her head. ' father wanted me to leave school to help him
run the shop,' she said, her voice tapering off at the end to just above
a whisper. , Ms. Davidson readjusted her glasses and stared, ' left
school at fifteen, to help my father in the shop," 226 Dangerous
Obsession sea said again, only a fraction louder. ' see. And skills?
Have you any commercial skills? cesca shook her head. What about
experiencet It was clear Ms. Davidson was beginning to lose her
patience. ' put down here, running a. shop, what exactly did that
involvet Francesca had lost her nerve. She was completely intimidated by
the whole interview and all she could do was look fearfully at the
smart, sophisticated woman and shrug. All- her knowledge of printing and
design flew out of her mind and all she could whisper was: ' don't know,
really' She looked away, hot and tearful with embarrassment. She had
made a terrible mistake, an awful, humiliating mistake. She had nothing
to offer. Nothing. Ms. Davidson waited for several minutes, the tap of
her toe sharp on the polished pine floor, then she decided to be
generous - it'd been a quiet afternoon anyway. ' see all kinds of people
here, you know, Francesca, but they must have something to offer a
prospective employer. You do understand thatt She pursed her lips and
waited for Francesca to nod. '. Now, is there anything you can think of
that might interest one of our clients, a talent perhaps, something
you're-good at, a skill, like organising, for instancet She knew she was
being patronising, but really, the girl was a complete waste of time!
',' Francesca murmured faintly '? Do speak up, dead' '.' '. Yes, quite.'
She made a note of it. '.' Then, after only a few seconds, she looked
up. ', to be quite honest with you, Francesca, there is absolutely
nothing I can offer you, I'm sorry' Francesca nodded. She seems struck
dumb, Marjorie thought briefly, 227 Maria Barrett nodding like that all
the time. ' dont you go away and think about what you want to do, and
then maybe try to get on a training scheme? Hmmm? Or perhaps try for
some qualifications. Hmmm? I really think that would be the most
sensible thing to do, don't yout Once more Francesca nodded. Oh, for
goodness' sake, Mal orie thought, I really must get the girls on the
desk to weed ' out. ' think perhaps it was a tiny bit premature to come
in today, Francesca. If I were you, I should leave contacting any other
agencies until you've got something behind you. That make senset For the
last time, Francesca nodded and Ms. Davidson stood up, left the
clipboard on the chair and began to move towards the door. Francesca
followed, her tights hopelessly wrinkled and beyond rescue. ' to meet
you, Francesca.' She held out a long, slim hand with scarlet-tipped
fingers and Francesca took it.

At least her handshake's firm, Marjorie thought. She couldn't stand wet,
limp handshakes. ' then,' she said quickly ' good luck.' ' you.'
Francesca went to turn the wrong way down the corridor. '.' ''s to your
left.' ', yes, thank you.' And blushing almost crimson, she headed off
towards the reception and the way out.

Down on the pavement, the freezing air hit Francesca's face with sudden
impact and cooled the burning of her cheeks. She stood for a moment, bit
back the tears of humiliation and then turned up the collar on John's
jacket and pulled it in tight around her. She headed off towards the bus
stop and felt the first icy drops of rain on her face 228 Dangerous
Obsession orie Davidson walked slowly back to her office countng, with
quiet deliberation, from orie to ten. She always did this when
irritated.

She sat down in her leather swivel chair and looked at the pile of
administration on her desk, which seemed to have grown in the past
twenty-five minutes. What a hopekss case, she thought, a waste of my
time. and hers. She sighed heavily and stood, crossing to the window.
Young people today haven't got a clue, they're all instant gratification
- none of them have the staying power that I had at their age.

She looked out at the freezing grey drizzle and remembered herself at
seventeen, determined, no, more than that, she thought, passionate to
succeed. I had nothing to start with, nothing but poverty and ignorance;
I lied my way into my first job, but boy oh boy, once I'd got it there
was no stopping me.

She smiled and thought back twenty odd years. All she'd needed was a
chance, that one opportunity, and from there on in, it had been clear,
all the way to the winning post.

From her comer office in Ridly Place, Majorie could see the main road
and the empty space outside Luckies where great crowds of students
gathered in the summer. She could see the cathedral and the traffic and
the bustle of Newcastle city centre. She loved her view - it was right
in the middle of things - and as she stood and surveyed it all, she felt
as she always did, that she'd made it, And that was a bloody marvelous
feeling.

Today it was crowded; Friday afternoon and everyone knocking off early
They stood at the bus stop with huge bags of shopping from the Green
Market and something new to wear for tonight, a long queue of people who
had trudged through the sleeting rain to work and back again.

She looked at them all from the warmth and comfort of 229 Maria Barrett
her office and thought how glad she was not to be out there. She
surveyed all their miserable faces, peering through her glasses, and
right at the end of the queue, she, saw Francesca Cameron.

The girl was out, way beyond the shelter and the rain had soaked her
through, making her look even more dull and drab. She was obviously
shivering in the cold, the ridiculous outsize jacket pulled in tight
around her, her hands tucked up the sleeves. Oh dear, Marjorie thought,
she looks like a drowned rat. And then, quite suddenly, and for no
reason at all, she remembered the very first interview she had attended,
for a job in a shop down on Grey Street.

She had been caught in -a shower on her way there, a really heavy
downpour that had drenched her right through and made the dye on her
cheap wool jacket run so that her hands were streaked with black and the
cotton skirt she wore was ruined. She smiled. She remembered she had
backcombed her hair and. lacquered it heavily to keep it in place. By
the time she arrived at the shop it looked like a bird's nest, all
matted and sodden and smelling foul. She hadn't had the nerve to go in,
she had simply looked at herself in the plate-glass window, turned round
and gone back home. She cried all the way on the bus.

God, it was hard getting started, she thought. if it hadn't been for
Tommy, giving me that first chance ... She smiled again at the memory of
her friend and then, in a sudden moment of impetuous decision, she
crossed to the coatrack in the comer of the room, pulled on her overcoat
and grabbed an umbrella. She was out of the door of the office, down the
stairs and into the street before she had a chance to question what she
was doing.

230 Dangerous Obsession 141ancesca had lost sensation in her toes. Her
feet were so cold that it felt as if they were no longer there, just big
icy flesh on the end of her legs. Her teeth were

"Unips of chattering and her head ached with the tension in her jaw. She
stared down at the ground and tried to think of something warm. '?" She
looked up, thinking she heard her name but imme- ,,.,diately looked down
again, she must have been imagining it. '!" She looked up a second time
and felt a hand on her sleeve. She saw Ms. Davidson from the agency
standing in front of her, in a long, cerise, wool swing coat with a
cerise and white umbrella over her head. ', I ...'She didn't know what
to say, the sight was so s rpnsing u : and so dazzling against the drab
grey of the wet street that all she could do was stare. ', Francesca. I
think I may have a job for you, or an interview at least.' ', er ...
really?' She was too taken aback to think straight. ', it's a sort of
general assistant job, for a fashion studio on the Quayside. Would you
be interestedt ', yes! Yes, I would!' Francesca clasped her hands
together. ', if you'll come back to my office for a few minutes, I'll
tell you all about it. All right?' ', yes of course!' And then she
smiled, for the first time since meeting Ms. Davidson, and Majorie saw
her face light up and suddenly change to something really quite
beautiful. I ' on then,' Ms. Davidson said. The rain continued to pour.
' under my umbrella, you must be freezing!" 231 Maria Barrett Francesca
stepped forward and the cerise was reflected onto her skin, making her
feel instantly warmer. ' a terrible day!' Maorie commented as they made
their way back to Ridly Place. But Francesca just shrugged. She didn't
mind the rain at all. Not now, anyway.

CHAPTER Nineteen 232 THE MONDAY MORNING FOLLOWING HER interview with
Majorie Davidson, Francesca found herself at eight-thirty, bleary-eyed,
and sick with nerves, on a bus that was headed town. She, had an
appointment with David Yates at nine Getting off at the Odeon, she
crossed into Grey Street, ,,walked down past the Theatre Royal and onto
Dean Street, @:the road that led down to the Quayside. She wore exactly
"what she had on Friday, the jacket smelling faintly from its and her
shoes half a size smaller, having shrunk in rain. They pinched painfully
as she walked. Over an dover as she strode, she repeated the answers
that Malorie had given her and tried to imagine what David would look
like. Majorie-had told her practically t in ut she had found some of his
clothes in Vogue and he in love with them instantly They were elegant
and i ine, always simple but the line of them seemed to e a life of its
own: it caressed the models in the pho- He must be terribly smart and
sophisticated, she thought, conjuring up images of a tall, blond
gentleman in a cream linen suit. She saw him with a panama. hat in his
hand, greeting her with a long, manicured hand, and giggled at the
image. Minutes later she was at the comer of Dean Street and she
followed the road round to the left, and then on into Queen Street,
looking up at the buildings for the brass name-plate of the David Yates
Studio.

233 Maria Barrett She found it on the comer and saw that the windows
overlooked the Tyne and the series of bridges over the river. It all
looked so terribly glamorous that she was suddenly filled with
overwhelming awe and excitement. She rang the buzzer, her heart
pounding, said her name into the speaker panel-and pushed the door open
when she heard it unlock. She stepped inside, into a small square space
about four foot by four, directly in front of a dark and narrow flight
of steep stairs. She blinked to adjust her eyes to the lack of light. '
on up! Tirst floor, pet!' The accent was broad Geordie, yelled against
the buzz of music from the radio, She began to climb, holding onto the
wobbly banister and trying to avoid brushing John's jacket against the
large patches of damp on the wall. ' Y are. Go on thro', pet, Dave's
waitin'fo'ya in the studio.' The girl on the desk smiled as she said
this and motioned with her hand towards the door that Francesca should
go through. As she did so the mass of bangles on her arms, the
chandeliers of beads at her ears and the heavy silver necklace around
her neck all jangled at once in a tinkling, chinking melody ' you,'
Francesca said. ' bother, Go on, but watch out fer yeselv - he's in a
right bloody mood this morning!" Francesca pushed open the double doors
of the studio and walked into the room.

It was a massive space, like a warehouse, with a huge bank of windows
along one side and a high, metal-beamed ceiling from which hung canopies
of lights. Francesca blinked again, this time trying to adjust to the
glare. '!' She heard a shout from the other end of the studio. ' must be
the girl from the agency' She turned her head towards the voice and saw
a tall, thin man with incredibly 234 Dangerous Obsession limbs and a
wave of dark hair that receded slighti, h forehead and was brushed back
into a short, glossy an tied with a leather thong. He wore khaki
corntrousers . th what seemed like hundreds of pockets all the full, and
enormous brown hiking boots laced up with purple laces. His shirt was
checked, faded cotton and as he strode towards her, he pulled out a lime
green baseball . from one of his pockets and slipped it on. "I Don't
like strangers looking at me bald patch.' he said with a north London
accent on reaching her. ' we 90 and sit somewheret She nodded,
completely amazed and utterly disappointed. No linen suit and certainly
no panama. '.' He removed a pile of fabric from a canvas direc- I tors
chair and motioned for her to sit down. Pulling up a stool, he perched
on the edge and looked her up and down, hdin top to toe. I ''re not into
fashion then.' He reached across and felt the sleeve' of her jacket, '
fabnc, though.' '.' she cleared her throat and tried again. ' you." He
smiled. ' at all. Now, what did the old dragon at the agency tell you?
Nothing, probably Still, I can't blame her. Where shall I start?' He
pulled a tom and crumpled handkerchief out of another pocket and blew
his nose before continuing. ''s better. Now, where was I? Oh yes, I
don't want any fashion groupies. I've had two already - they get bored
with the nitty gritty and piss off without a word. They get in the
bloody way is well! The job's not great, I won't lie to you, but the
perks are good. You'll have to clear up, make tea, go out for pastries,
clean the loo, all that kind of shit. The moneys OK, seventy-five quid a
week, plus bus fares, and you can have any odd bits of fabric lying
around and some of the clothes the models don't want. That's about it, I
think.' He folded his arms and 235 Maria Barrat leaned back, staring at
her again. After several minutes of scrutiny, he said; ' you like the
sound of it, you can start this morning, All rightt He began to stand
up. ' ... 1_2 ''ll need to change - you can't work in my studio dressed
like that. There's a bin of odd stuff over there, you can help
yourself.' Turning away from her, he suddenly remembered something and
looked back over his shoulder. ' told me all about you but she probably
didn't say a word about me. I'm a pig to work for, so stay out of my way
All rightt He saw the look of alarm on Francesca's face and as he walked
away, he had his first good laugh for days.

Still a little dazed, Francesca stood up and walked towards the huge
cardboard box that David Yates had pointed to. She glanced behind her
before she bent, and saw that the five or so people in the studio were
all occupied and nobody was watching her. She knelt down, leaned into
the box and began to have a good old rummage round.

Half an hour later, she had pressed the clothes she had chosen, changed
into them and was heading out towards the reception to see if the girl
on the desk knew what she should do next when she heard the unmistakable
shout of David Yates. '! Girl from the agencyt She turned and saw him in
the comer of the studio that was occupied with two high drawing tables
and surrounded with big screens covered in swatches of fabric and sheets
of rough designs. He was beckoning to her.

She changed direction and began to walk across the huge space, noticing
for the first time the ordered chaos that seemed to fill every square
inch of the studio. She smiled at a-couple of girls standing by a rack
of clothes and squeezed past a long table where an elderly woman was
cutting out 236 Dangerous Obsession from a roll of cloth. The floor was
covered with _ of material, pins, waste paper and general dirt and s
j'he bent to pick up a dressmaker's chalk that she had almost on,
slipping it into her pocket. ' you are. Took your time, didn't yout
David Yates sat at his drawing table and scribbled colour onto a design
with some thick felt-tipped pens. He finally looked up after finishing
the sketch. ' nice. The ugly duckling emerges as a swan." Francesca
looked down self-consciously at the tight J black canvas jodhpurs she
had chosen and the ' red ool shirt. ' need some shoes, those brown
things look ghastly What size are yout Dave could see that the girl he
had just Jemployed was a potential beauty and anything with style and
grace pleased him. ' doesn't matter, just ask Tilly on "the desk to ring
Cable and Co. for a pair of black cropped riding boots. Tell her your
size and they'll send them over. All rightt Francesca nodded. She could
hardly believe this was .-happening to her. ' forgot your name,' he
said. He had started another drawing and spoke to her without looking at
her. J can't keep calling you "girl from the agency".' '.' '. Francesca,
go downstairs into the junk cupboard and bring up all the dummies down
there. All rightt He didn't wait for her answer. ' can get the key from
Tilly' ' Mr.-2 '!'he barked and she jumped. ' only person that calls me

"Mr. Yates" is my bank manager and he's an arse- hole. All rightt He
still didn't look at her; he w,-,.s drawing the long line of a dress
with a heavy black pen. '. Dave." 237 Maria Barrett "Good.' And
Francesca realised that seconds later he had completely forgotten she
was there.

By the time the lunch-hour arrived Francesca's back ached, her legs
ached and her feet were hot, sweaty and sore inside her new leather
boots. She had walked up and down the stairs fourteen times carrying the
dummies up to the studio and ten times carrying the ones he didn't want
back down again. She had swept the floor twice, seeming never to be able
to clear the dirt up completely, and had produced t, twenty-seven cups of
coffee for six people, most of which had been only half drunk.

Dave had dismissed her for lunch at half past two, having forgotten that
she existed up until then, and she had hurried out of the studio, down
the dark narrow stairs and onto the street, relieved to be away from the
shouting and the constant. noise that the business of creation produced.

But the lunch-hour went tooquickly and before she knew it Francesca was
back in the studio. All afternoon she worked, cleaning the little
kitchen that everyone used to cook and make drinks in until it gleamed,
folding and tidying the piles of discarded fabric, making endless tea,
running out for biscuits and sweeping the floor for the third time that
day At the end of the afternoon, Francesca sat down for the first time
that day and wondered just where the time had gone. It had rushed by in
a flash. She glanced at the clock on the opposite wall, discovered it
was after six and then realised that she hadn't eaten all day. She was
ravenously hungry and felt a low, determined rumble in the pit of her
stomach. ', Francesca!" She looked up and saw Evelyn Wardly, the
tailoress, leav- 238 Dangerous Obsession Tilly. She waved and smiled and
realised that she one of the last people left in the studio. She bent
and tubbed her toes inside the new boots and wondered :4.. 7whether it
would be all right if she left. '!" jumping up quickly, she forgot the
ache in her toes hurried across the studio to where Dave was still
working.

She spoke quietly in his presence, awed by him and even a touch afraid.

Tou still here?' He kept his head down as he growled the question.
Francesca swallowed hard. ' ... I-" He looked up. ' whatt She shrugged,
tongue-tied. you me dear, should get yourself home, put your sore
",little feet in some hot water and mustard and tomorrow ""don't wait for
me to remember that you're still here. All ght? just piss off when
you've done the work." She nodded and hot with embarrassment, turned to
"Oh, and Francesca?' She glanced back. ' were bloody marvelous today'
Thanks.' And with--out a smile, he put his head down again and continued
vith his work. She crept across the studio, collected up her @:'things
and silently left the building.

Outside, in the cold night air, she gave a whoop of excitement and,
despite the discomfort of her boots, ran all the way to the bus stop
with a smile of pure elation on her face.

John was in the small yellow kitchen when she came in after seven. He
had made a start on the supper.

239 Maria Barrett "Hi.' She rushed into the room bringing in a breath of
cold air with her and bent down to kiss him on the cheek. '!' He turned
his head to look at her as she took off his jacket and neatly smoothed
out its creases before hanging it in the under-stair cupboard. ' on!
Don't keep me in suspense any longer! Sit down here and tell me all
about id' She had rung him at lunch-time to tell him she'd got the job
and he could tell now, by the flush of excitement on her cheeks, that
the first day had gone well. ' want to know everything,' he said. '
little detail." She laughed and pulled out a chair, sitting down with
him at the table. ''s new!' He reached out and touched the red wool
shirt and she beamed. ' you got clothes as well as a jobt ' yes! John,
you wouldn't believe it! I nearly fell off my chair when he told me I'd
got the job. He just said: if you like the sound of it you can start
this morning! And I couldn't believe it! He never asked me any of the
questions I thought he would and then he said if I worked there I would
have to find something to wear and I chose what I've got on and then he
said I should have some boots to go with it and Tilly, she's the girl on
the desk, she's got masses of long blonde hair and she wears, hundreds
of beads and bracelets and things, well, Tilly rang this shop and they
sent a pair over for me, in my size! just like thad' She stopped,
momentarily out of breath and bent to rub her aching toes inside her
boots. ' is,' she said, without realising how comical it was, ' boots
are absolutely killing me." Later, after supper, when he had heard
everything, John made a fire up for Francesca in the front room, sat her
feet 240 Dangerous Obsession R, bowl of steaming hot mustard water and
stood alone in .:,the kitchen finishing the washing up. He enjoyed the
lvoment peace after the nonstop chatter of the evening - it , him chance
to think.

As he meticulously dried and put away, however, he felt an odd sense of
despondency, a nagging feeling that he had ... gomehow failed. It
depressed him and made him feel old. lk . that it was because he had not
yet found himsilf a job, although he was sure that he would. And yet, as
-he listened to the silence of the little house, he knew that it mas
probably more than that. He felt alone and, for the first -time since he
had left Motcom, he wondered if he had made the right decision.

Francesca has found her independence, he thought, and .:.as she grows,
she will no longer need me. I'll be a friend to ', of course, but I
won't be essential. It is only right, I know that, and yet I just can't
stop the terrible ache in my heart every time I think about it. ' dried
his hands, folded the towel and wandered

"Ahrough to the sitting room to see if she was all right. He .,stopped
at the door when he caught sight of her, feet still in the bowl, but her
head dropped back, her eyes closed and East asleep. He padded silently.
into the room, gently lifted her feet onto the towel, covered them and
went to fetch a rug.

Minutes later, when he returned, she had curled herself Up onto the
sofa, crossed her arms around her and was breathing deeply and slowly,
lost in a world of dreams. He tucked the blanket round her, removed the
bowl and began to walk back to the kitchen. ' He stopped and turned.
Francesca had opened her eyes ,,:,,and smiled at him, a crooked
half-smile, half awake, half asleep.

241 Maria Barreu "Thank you,'she murmured. She sighed and settled back
down to sleep. ', and I love you, too." It was only a faint whisper but
he heard it. He smiled and continued back to the kitchen, realising
somehow that whatever he felt, it was the complications of life that
made it worth living.

242 CHAPTER Twenty ININGS FOR JOHN AND FRANCESCA settled down over the
few weeks into a routine that seemed to suit them libth.

Francesca worked hard at the studio - she was always up : out early,
often in late - and John kept the house run- his efficient and ordered
way They managed on ca's money: their needs were simple and their .
.,..,;expenses mostly food. They ate together every evening in small,
bright, warm kitchen, and afterwards Francesca ould spend her time
sitting at the old oak table drawing ning, something she hadn't done for
many d desig -,'.mnths, while John struggled with the Times
crossword..""'-'Trhey talked and shared the day over these hobbies and
"."their friiendship strengthened and blossomed.

Each day Francesca rose at seven in order to be at the -ttudio by eight.
She made herself coffee, fiddled about with the odd assortment of
clothes she had found at David Yates, '! order to get the right look,
and then dressed carefully, checking herself once briefly in the mirror
before she left the house.

On the way jo work she ate an apple and bought the Daily Mail which she
had taken to reading avidly Once she at the studid, she began her chores
straight away lone and with the radio blaring, she would clean and A M
weep tidy and fold, check everything was out that was ded for the day
and finally make a huge pot of dark, ming fresh coffee, that smelled
delicious all the way 243 Mana Barrett up the stairs andenticed people
earlier and earlier into work.

"Yo, Francesca! How ya doing?" It was the beginning of the week and
Francesca had just finished mopping the floor when Matt, David Yates'
textile designer, came tramping into the studio in wet, muddy baseball
boots. He squelched all over the floor. ' shit. Sorry' He pulled a
helpless face and then shrugged, continuing across the length of the
studio to his drawing board and leaving a trail of mud behind him.

Francesca held her breath and counted to ten in Italian. It took her
longer than in English now and gave her more of a chance to calm down.
There was something she couldn't quite like about Matt Baker - he was
very charming and all that but for some reason she just didn't trust
him.

She looked up, startled out of her irritation as Tilly came rushing into
the studio. Tilly rushed everywhere, bangles and beads jangling
musically, her mane of teased gold hair flying out behind her and the
scent of gardenia like a heavy cloud above her head. ' my God! I canna
believe it! I've gone an' forgotten to book the models for this
afternoon! I only remembered on the bus on me way home last night, like.
What the friggin' hell am I gonna do? He'll bloomin'kill us.'She said
all this in a frenzied rushjull Geordie and hopping anxiously from one
foot to the other. Her hair this morning looked even more dishevelled
than it usually did, as if she had just literally got out of bed. ' God,
Francesca! He'll kill us!'she wailed again.

Francesca leaned on her mop and thought hard. Tilly was right about that
one, Dave was likely to kill her when he found out. He was right in the
middle of the collection for London Fashion Week and his stress level
had gone 244 Dangerous Obsession the roof. All it took this past week
was one small and he exploded like a volcano. J d't know what I in gonna
do! You've gotta help us on rancesca.

k, Tilly, calm down!' But Francesca had begun to ..herself - Tilly's
mood was infectious. ' you tried T agencies. leah I have. I've been on
the phone since seven this K. Well .'Francesca tried to think. Dave
wanted six that afternoon for the first fitting of his designs. It't
matter what they looked like from what she could ther, as long as they
were the right shape. And that meant 4e,4iine at least and not more than
seven stone.

else uses models round here? Anyone you can ring 4helpt illy shook her
head. ' canl think of anyone." God.' sentiments exactly!'Tilly slumped
down onto one of y.

odd chairs lying around and put her head in her hands. looked like a
schoolgirl in her grey tunic and black ts, desolately waiting outside
the Headmaster's study.

05.; '!' Francesca suddenly said aloud.

What7' '! We could try to find some girls in one of the schools.' She
was delighted with her flash of inspirabut to her amazement Tilly burst
out laughing. ', Francesca! How many five-foot-nine schoolgirls am a
find by this afternoon?' She wiped her eyes on the of her hand as she
stopped laughing and Francesca ised she was perilously close to crying.
' well, it was a try. Thanks, Francesca.' Tilly stood up and turned rds
the reception desk. ey, Tilly! You seen that number anywhere of the 245
Maria Barrett student up at the college who came in yesterday7' Matt
shouted above the din of the radio and Tilly shrugged. Then suddenly,
she spun round, clapped her hands together and shrieked. ''re bloody
marvelous, you arep She swamped Frahcesca in a fog of perfume and hair
and hugged her tight. ' marvelous!' '? What have I saidt '! The fashion
students up at the college have a list of '. ' they can't afford
models!' She looked across at Matt. ''ve got the number of the college
on me desk, Matt! I'm just gonna ring ' now. Any messaget '. Just pass
the number on when you've finished.' ', will do!' She looked back at
Francesca. ' a lot, Francesca.'Then she smiled. ''s a hell of a
mouthful, ya know. I think I'll call ya Frunkie.' She laughed gaily. '
me hero, Frank Bruno!' And delighted with herself, she hurried back to
her desk to ring the college, the hair and the trinkets all moving at
the same-time in one mass of noise and colour. Francesca watched, dazed
by the speed and intensity of the encounter. ','she said aloud, and
deciding she quite liked it, she put the mop in the bucket and began to
tackle the mess Matt had left on the floor.

Mopping the floor was the last bit of sanity Francesca experienced that
day. No sooner had she put her bucket away than the studio burst into
life and she was hit with the full force of last-minute preparations for
the first fittings of the collection. Everywhere, everyone seemed to be
working twice their normal speed.

To begin with, the cutting tables were cleared, and great lengths of
cloth were piled onto Francesca's outstretched arms so high that she
could barely see over the top. She was 246 Dangerous Obsession six foot
of space and had to measure each length, it neatly and then label it,
stacking the newly made pile --'6h one of the long racks of shelves
against the back wall.

The floor was swept again, and the rails of half-finished were wheeled
into the centre of the studio where everyone could see them and take
them to work on. Boxes shoes were delivered from Freeze and Stable and
Co., ..,.hats from Marian Dash, a new young designer who was :'.-Aowing
with David Yates for the first time, and bags from Galeria 2 1. The
once-cleared cutting tables were now . with all the accessories.. Next,
Francesca collected the army of dummies that she had carried'up that
first day, fifteen in all, and each one heavier than the next. She gave
them all names, to relieve the boredom of trudging up and down to the
storeroom, and provided the one comic moment of the morning when she
dumped Loma-May on the studio floor and told her: .'Stay there, while I
move these boxes out of the way' She had not noticed that the radio had
been turned off for a minute while Dave was speaking and everyone in the
studio heard her talking to the dummy. She got a tumultuous round of
applause ... By midday, most-of the preparations were over and the look
of the first fitting was beginning to take shape. Tilly's me '' had
stuck and all morning Francesca had round in all directions as ''just
seemed to roll off the tongue and was so easy to shout above the din of
the riadlio. She hadn't stopped, no one had. Despite the intense work of
the past few weeks there still seemed to be so much to do: last-minute
alterations, re-cuts, trimming and hem-tining. Even though the clothes
were still in the first stages, the had to look complete for Dave to be
able to judge properly At half past twelve, the morning was declared
officially 247 Maria Barreu over and Dave announced that everyone would
be eating takeaway pizza for lunch, courtesy of David Yates. A cheer
went up and Francesca collected orders, phoned them through and ran out
to Marco Polo in Dean Street to pick up the eleven boxes.

There were six permanent staff altogether at David Yates: Tilly, who
worked on the reception and did all the secretarial and admin; Evelyn
and Cherry, the two tailors; Matt, the textile designer; Francesca, girl
Friday; and Pete Walker, business manager. in the few short weeks that
Francesca had worked there, however, she had only seen Pete Walker
twice. She had no idea what he did exactly but whenever he was around he
gave the air of being someone very important indeed.

For the first fitting of the collection there were also four extra
people in the studio to help out, mainly students from the college who
wanted the experience and didny mind lending their services for an
extremely cheap rate. Altogether this made eleven, extra large with all
the toppings, pizzas to carry back and it was as much as Francesca could
do to get them back in one piece.

Lunch over, the boxes were cleared away just in time for the models to
arrive: six lanky, giggling schoolgirls aged between fourteen and
sixteen and who looked about twenty-two. They shuffled in, momentarily
embarrassed, and stood while Dave looked them over and decided who
should try on what. Then he sent them over to the comer of the studio,
screened to make, a dressing room, and the rail of clothes was wheeled
across. The afternoon gruelling work began.

Francesca spent the next three hours behind the screens with Tilly,
dressing and undressing the long, thin, undeveloped forms of the
schoolgirl models. She styled hair, rummaged through boxes to find the
right sort of shoe or 248 Dangerous Obsession t on jewellery, took it
off, buttoned, zipped, unbuted unzipped, squeezed, pinned, tucked, and
tried, 11 this, to catch some of what was going on on the r side of the
screens. It was the most exciting and fasw.. uting thing she had ever
known.

ow and then, in a momentary lull, she would round the screen and listen
to Dave talking to Evelyn about the cut of a coat or a jacket, drawing
in erry on it where he thought it should change, or pinning ke the shape
right, explaining what he meant by the She hung on every word he said to
Matt about the gn ts, no ting what colours he thought worked and how the
s ould fit in with the line and feel of the garment. re embered her own
designs at home, her own expe- t rinting, and wished she could write it
all down, nce op in case she forgot even one of the essential and
inspirj g comments. Francesca totally lost trackof time, so absorbed was
she k' She hardly noticed the fatigue of constantly e wor di d
straightening, of lifting and carrying or of the ing an se concentration
it took to remove a garment that had n altered by Dave, so as not to
move a pin or brush .... y any of the markings he'd made. By the time
the last ems it were seen, and finally removed from the girls, she
@,-,._,,.-.,vaznaged to glance up at the clock on the wall and realised
a jolt that it was after six. The lights in the studio blazed and the
sky outside wore a thick blanket of dark- "Itess yet she had no
recollection of just when the day had .1aded and the evening begun. It
had all passed in a blur.

She helped the last two young girls dress - they were both stiff and
aching from standing for so long - and then ,',.!,she stood and rubbed
her own back, noticing for the first that it really was quite sore. '?"
249 Maria Barrett She popped her head round the screen. ' '! You look
like the Punch- and Judy show from behind there! Come out, for God's
sake!" She scurried round to where Dave was perched on the edge of the
cutting table. ''s better, now I can see you.' He smiled at the look of
embarrassment on her face. ''s all right, you're one of those women who
were meant to be seen. Don't look so mortified by the idea!" She nodded,
wishing she could say something witty in reply. ', Frankie, I know that
you've worked unbelievably hard today and you must be knackered, but
...' He shrugged apologetically ''m going to have to ask you if you'd
mind staying behind for a while tonight to clear up the debris of today
and have it ready for us to start work on the alterations tomorrow." She
felt a sinking feeling of disappointment at his request but she covered
it as best she could. ' know, it's a bummer! I'm sorry, but Matt has
been banging on about starting straight away in the morning and I'm
inclined to agree with him. If we don't clear tonight, most of
tomorrow'll be gone by the time -you get round everyone mess and then
we'll be a day out of sync. I just can't afford the time, I'm afraid,
there's so much bloody alteration to do.' He reached out and patted her
shoulder. ''m sorry, Frankie,' he said again and then he stood up, took
his baseball cap off and rubbed his forehead. ' don't mind too much, do
you?" She managed to shake her head convincingly '. I'd ask one or two
of them to stay and help but I think I'd have a mutiny on my hands if I
did.' He walked across the studio to his drawing table and picked up a
pile 250 Dangerous Obsession oving them into his case. Francesca watched
gris sh pack up and get ready to leave, finally pulling on his r jacket
and readjusting the cap.

ies going to stay behind and clean up, everyone," 4houted. ' make sure
your spaces are clear for her and -0 your cups and rubbish out to the
kitchen. All right?" d out into the middle of the studio and shouted to

"Ike '?' , ,4i:she had already turned away and gone back behind the d
1.1901cen to start clearing up. '?" he said and she "izing for a taxi
when you're finished, J.f. d when she saw his head over the top of the
screen.

rightt s iled. Yes, thanks.' aved, and shouting out cheerio, he strode
through t io and minutes later was gone.

t f the staff followed Dave within the next twenty minand Francesca
watched them go, calling out her dbyes from the muddle behind the
screen. Matt was only one who stayed late. He seemed to be occupied in
drawin area and Francesca didn't like to disturb him.

9 o she tidied and cleaned everything except that part of e studio and
kept herself busy for the best part of two tours. V;, When finally he
did leave, he called out to her in the Ritchen but disappeared before
she had a chance to come bye. He seemed to be in an awful hurry out and
say good d she could hear his footsteps rushing across the studio then
racing down the stairs. She shrugged, dried her ds and decided to tackle
the drawing area before she find in the kitchen. it was the last part of
the studio she to do. Wandering over to it, she stood for a while
looking at the 251 Maria Barrett designs on the boards, noticing the
changes that had been made that afternoon, leaning in closer to read
some of the notes scribbled along the edges of them. She went on past
the boards to the tables and looked at some of the new designs that Dave
had already begun. She traced his strong, bold lines with her fingers,
awed at the beauty and creativity of such work. She imagined herself
drawing like that and felt an urge to sit down there and then and try
out his pens. She picked up one of the drawings and looked more closely
at it. She never heard Matt come in to collect something he had
forgotten. ' the hell are you doingt She jumped and dropped the drawing
down onto the desk. Her heart froze. ' ... I ... " He stood across from
her and glared. ''re snooping, that's what you're doing!'His face was
hard and malicious as if he'd caught a thief.

J wasn't ... I ... I was just looking!' Francesca felt the swell of
tears in the back of her throat and she was crimson, her face burning.
'! You were snooping!' ' wasn'd Really ... I ...'Her eyes filled. ', for
God's sake! just put the drawing down, finish what you were doing and
piss off out of here!" She stood, her legs trembling, and began to make
her way past him. She kept her head down and the tears spilled from her
lids, splashing onto her cheeks. Halfway across the studio, she heard
him pull open a drawer in the cabinet, take something out and then
stride over to the doors, yank them open and hurry off down the stairs.
She stopped, listened to his footsteps recede and then looked up and
wiped her face with the back of her hand. He had gone.

Immediately she collected her coat; afraid and upset, she 252 Dangerous
Obsession want to stay there a moment longer. She felt humilongly
accused, but she didn't have the confidence b rush t off. She hurried
across to the door, pulling her t on as she walked, worrying all the
time about what Id say to Dave and suddenly desperate to be out of ou e
incident had thoroughly upset her. She flicked switches on the panel,
put out the huge banks of light Od opened the double doors, stepping
through them and ..,@.Iodang them behind her. Then, buttoning her coat
on the Francesca hurried down the stairs and minutes later, the
building, sprinting as fast as she could up Dean '" treet to the bus
stop. She was completely unaware that Dave had seen her a table by the
huge plate-glass window in Wings and attention. He turned to bang on the
glass to attract her when she didn't hear him and went back to his
drink. "lie couldn't help wondering, though, just what exactly had ASM
gtt,,4-.Vut the wind up her like that and made her run like a mad oman
away from the studio.

a ... h wasn't until two days later, on the Wednesday of "th t :;week
that Francesca came to realise the full implications of -:.the fear and
upset she had experienced the night of the first fittings. And when she
did, when the event was finally overed, she felt as if her bright new
world had sud- 4enly collapsed.

She went into work as usual, leaving the house at seven- and arriving at
the studio at eight o'clock. She took off er coat, fetched all her
cleaning equipment and began the , for the day. She hummed as she did
so. She was happy d she fitted in here. She worked hard, and, despite
still ing tired much of the time, she loved every minute of working for
David Yates.

She was halfway through the jobs when she looked u, 253 Maria Barrett
purely by chance, and saw that Dave had arrived. He sat, perched on the
edge of the table, as he always did, and watched her. He had been there
for some time. Francesca blushed and stopped what she was doing. ',' she
said quietly. ' morning.' He chewed the inside of his lip and continued
to watch her.

She began to feel uncomfortable. ' you like some coffee? I can make it
in a minute.' '. No thank you, Francesca.' He jumped off the table and
walked across to her. Her discomfort turned to unease.

The truth was Dave was still undecided about what to do. He had heard
Matt's story and he had to agree that she seemed the most likely person,
and there was the desperate run from the studio on the Monday night, but
there was also something that didn't add up about it all. Somehow he
just couldn't see Francesca stealing. Intuition, attraction to her
maybe? Whatever it was, he couldn't quite believe it was her. "You like
it here, don't you Frankiet He looked into her face. It was clear and
bright and her eyes were the most perfect green. ', I do.' She smiled
shyly.

Her face was so beautiful when she smiled. Trankie, I have something to
ask you.' He continued to stare hard at her. ' you stayed late on Monday
night, is it true that Matt caught you going over some of my designst He
kept his gaze on her face and his heart dropped when he saw the flash of
panic in her eyes. Guilt and panic. ' ... I . She stopped and swallowed.
' mean, no ... I ... " Dave sighed and looked away. ' thing is that I
found a whole stack of work missing 254 - Dangerous Obsession afternoon.
It was work that hardly needed aher- "Inished designs, and when I spoke
to Matt, he told "She had to break off again, she was too dis- '' I t to
go on. k, Francesca, let's try to be reasonable about this, we? I need
those'designs, they are half, no, threerwrs Of my collection. Matt needs
those designs, a lot of U U., my lines. If you'll just give them TI? are
his fabrics in or tell me who you sold them to, then I won't take any
further.' He looked back at her and saw the utter .-0 ry on her face.
Nou're a good kid, I'm sure it was just a stupid mistake.

tell me where they are." Francesca shook her head. She could not believe
this happening. ' haven't got your designs,' she whispered. Mever took
them, I don't know where they are.' '! I'm not going to piss about with
you! Imant t work back and I can damn well tell by your face that k it!'
He was angry now and his voice boomed out her, making her cower. ''ll
give you till the end of the ek to consider and then I shall go to the
police!' It was illy who'd convinced him to wait a few days. ' I make
elf cleart She bit back the tears for the second time that week and
stared down at the ground. He reached out and shook her aim. ' I make
myself clear, I saidt Tes.' A small sob escaped her and she knew that if
she didn't leave now she would start to weep bitterly and she would not
be able to stop. ' your things and get out of here!' Dave was as much
"disappointed as angry. He had really begun to like the girl. ' on!' He
could see that she was upset but it only added 255 Maria Barrett to his
conviction that she was guilty. She sure as hell didn't look as if she
had nothing to hide. ' want the work by Friday morning,' he said before
she opened the doors to leave. ' Friday! All right?" He didn't wait to
see her go. He walked across the studio and sat down at his drawing
table, dropping his head in his hands. What a fiasco! He was so pissed
off he could hardly think.

Francesca sat on a freezing cold wooden bench in Jesmond Dene and
wondered how she was going to tell John. She had been there for hours,
afraid to go home, too ashamed to face him. She had let him down again,
that was all she kept thinking, he had done everything for her and she
had let him down. The horror and humiliation of what had happened seemed
almost too much to bear. She had been called a thief. They all thought
she was dishonest and what if John thought the same? She didn't have the
courage to face him, she just didn't. So she sat on in the icy rain and
thought that perhaps she did not deserve happiness, that perhaps the
punishment for Giovanni's death would be with her forever.

She was still there when John found her, much, much later that
afternoon. it had grown dark, the night closing in around her and the
damp seeping into her bones, the cold chilling her flesh. He found her
after searching for over two hours. Told by the studio when he rang that
she had been dismissed, he had walked her route to and from the
Quayside, scoured the local area, and realised finally that in her
distress she would probably seek solitude and somewhere to hide. it was
then that he went to the park.

Trancescat She looked up blankly at him, hardly surprised that he had
found her. He bent and took her freezing fingers in his own, putting
them up to the warmth of his lips.

256 Dangerous Obsession "Idn't ome home,'she said. ' didn't know what you
say' ouldn't say anything, I trust you.' He rubbed her w t6lds; the skin
felt like wax.

how can you trust me, after all that you know about just do that's all.
It part of ...'He coughed, not sure to say the next bit. ' part of
caring for someone,' he -.tt,:iwd quietly. ',I thought you might not
care for me if I keep letting you i4wn.' She hung her head, not wanting
to look at him.

He tilted her face up. ' haven't let me, or anyy down. D'you understand
that? I know you didn't do She avoided his gaze. ' ..

buts. And as for caring ...'He gently pulled her to feet and caught her
as her knees buckled under her. ' seas gang dry,' he said, holding her
close. He could We that she perately needed his reassurance. ' matter
des ti, NIiat OK7 Till all the seas gang dry' And she fell against him,
all her strength drained away. felt the trembling in her body and
tightened his grip round her. Then, as tenderly as he could, he moved
away ightly, wrapped his overcoat around her and slowly, his secure
around her, they began the long walk home.

257 CHAPTER Twenty-one FOR THE WHOLE OF THE next day Francesca stayed in
her room. She felt too despondent and miserable to go out. John left her
alone, sure that if he gave her enough space to think she would
eventually come to the right decision about going to see Dave and
telling him what she had told John. But he did not know that she lay and
stared at the piles of drawings and designs she had done in the past
months and saw them as testimony to the failure of her bright new
beginning. He did not hear her silently weep over them with tears of
frustration and resentment.

He had tried to talk to her, but to no avail. He wished that she would
let him explain to David Yates, all the business about Matt Baker being
in the studio as well, rifling through the cabinets, leaving in a
terrible rush, but she resolutely refused. She seemed to take the whole
thing as some kind of punishment and even when Tilly came round, voicing
her doubts, she remained silent, stalwart in her misery. John did not
understand it. He worried and fretted, and all Thursday night lay awake
wondering what he could do. By the first light of morning he had made
his decision. He would talk to her, he would try to understand how she
felt.

Rising early, he washed and dressed with special care, knowing that he
would be going out later that morning. Now he had made up his mind, the
conclusion only seemed more and more appropriate as. he went along.
There was nothing else for it, he thought, he would speak to her this
258 Dangerous Obsession and even if she wouldn't, he would put an end to
r1diculous accusation once and for all.

ssing the landing, he drew the curtains across the U stair window and
stood on the top step, looking out cold grey sky and listening for the
sound of Francesca ping. it was then that he heard the noises. flurrying
over to the door of Francesca's room, he put his W"w to i an NZ t d
listened more closely The noises were of rip- g paper, and he could
smell something ... He sniffed H could smell burning. Turrun the handle,
he tried the door. It was locked.

9 '!' He tried again, rattling the handle. '! t are you doing in theret
The smell increased. She was f ,,--_,aking a are in the small Victorian
grate. '! That $f,,'ihimney hasn't been swept! Francesca! Open the door!

44.vow!' He began to panic. The chimney for both bedrooms pba not been
swept for years; it could so easily catch light.

d fact it was almost certain to.

or od' sake, Francesca! Open the bloody door!' sin atience and fuelled
by his panic, John leaned his out er against the door and shoved hard,
trying to budge ge e loc . Nothing happened. Standing back, he turned
his shoulder towards the door again and this time pushed forward into
it, using all his strength against it.

jesus!' His shoulder cracked against the door and sudxlenly it flew
open. John was instantly propelled inside the Toom. ' my God!
Francesca!' He rushed over to her as she knelt in front of the small
Victorian fireplace with a pile of her beautifully coloured designs and
sketches, ripping them into tiny pieces, one by one, to add to the small
fire she had made in the grate. W '" ' it! Francesca, stop it!' He
pulled the pile away from her and grabbed the drawing already in her
hands.

259 Maria Barrett Put it down,' he shouted. ' being such a fool V She
looked up at him, as if broken from a trance, and shook her head. He
threw the drawings on the bed and ran out to the bathroom for water.
Moments later he doused the fire and it sizzled and hissed, dying almost
instantly, and a black, sooty smoke rose and billowed into the room.
Francesca started to cough. As she spluttered her eyes watered, the
tears streaming down her face, and she realised she was crying and how
ridiculous it must all look. She let John take her hand and lead her out
of the room onto the landing where she stood, weeping and watching the
white and blue room fill with thick smoke.

John opened the windows in the bedroom and the bathroom and then on the
stairs. He came back to her and watched as the room began to clear and
the horrible smell died away. His heart was still pounding from the
thought that the whole house might have gone up in flames.

Finally he turned to Francesca. ' want you to get yourself dressed now,
in the bathroom, while I wait here. All rightt She nodded. She had been
a fool, a complete idiot, she knew that, but laying in the dawn light,
looking at the pieces of work that she had laboured over and loved, had
filled her with such anger and frustration that she had had to destroy
them. They were just another reminder of the happiness that had been
snatched away from her.

Padding barefoot into the room, she glanced only once at the drawings
while she picked up her clothes and then she walked through to the
bathroom, closed the door and John heard the sound of her dressing.
Minutes later she emerged washed and dressed and John took her
downstairs. ' down, Francesca.'They were in the long, narrow sitting
room. The lamp was on and John had lit the small electric fire to take
the chill off the room. Outside the sky 260 Dangerous Obsession and
grey, the wind swept down the road and the the autumn leaves blew with
it, propelled along with iles of dirt on each powerful gust. cesca sat
on the edge of the sofa and picked at the r of one of the tapestry
cushions. She did not want to atjohn. -,Trancesca, I have something to
say to you. It is somethat I will only say once and something that
perhaps ishould have said a while ago. But ...' He shrugged. ' n1 want
to interfere. Now, I feel I must.' She kept her head down. Vould you
look at me please, Francescat Ni, She tilted her face up and caught his
eye. -7hank you.' He took a breath. ', I'm sorry but can't go on. I have
tried to be patient with you, I have d to understand, but I have to
admit that I don't. I don't : and I don't sympathise. I know that the
disp issal from David Yates was hard, I know that you must be t, but you
can't just hideaway, take the blame for someg you didn't do and accept
it for no reason that I can see her than self-pity!' He stopped at this
point; he knew he unded hard but she needed a jolt. She bit her lip but
said nothing. ', the world will always be tough, but you're strong and
you can survive. What I want to know is when i@,are you going to start
fighting back? Hmmm? When will K, Iil @You learn to change what isn't
right for you, what you find N', unacceptable? You can't just take
everything that gets dealt ",out to you, and not even argue! It's not
right. And it cerm, tainly isn't healthy' He walked across to her and
sat on the ,";edge of the armchair facing her. ' at -you, Francesca,
you're tired, awdous, upset.' He took her hand. ' hate to see t, you
like this. You've got to learn to stand up for yourself, to do things
like go to David Yates and tell him the truth. You 261 Maria Barrett
can't always let everyone beat you, you mustn't.'He stroked her long,
thin fingers with his own. ' can't help feeling,' he said quietly, ' you
take it all as some kind of punishment, as if it was meant to happen."
She pulled her hand away and turned her head so that he could not see
the expression in her eyes. She had told him everything that night at
Motcom, but she had not admitted her own feeling of guilt. She just
couldn't. not then, not ever. ' don't understand,' she said coldly '!
Yes, I do understand! Guilt and blame, that's what I understand!" She
looked back at him the moment he said those words. ' see, I know. But I
don't think it's right, to go on and on and on, blaming yourself,
suffering for it.' ' would you knowt She was angry now - he had touched
the raw nerve. ' would you know what it's liket ' don't,' he said simply
' amalmost forty years older than you and I don't even pretend to know
what it feels like, what you've suffered. I do know, though, that you
cannot go on thinking that whatever happens to you is a punishment, some
sort of bizarre sign from God. Guilt is very hard to live with,
Francesca. It will destroy you if you let it.' ', I won't let id' She
stood up and moved angrily away from him. ', listen to me.' His voice
was quieter now, softer. ', just listen to me.' He looked at her back
and saw her shoulders relax slightly. ' are good things that come out of
bad, you know, sometimes. Sometimes things that you never expected can
happen, but you have to give them a chance. There is new life, even
after disappointment and grief - if you fight for it, that is." 262
Dangerous Obsession med back to him. ' if I don't want to fightt KA, en
you might as well give up now. You almost have ' saw her eyes flicker
when he said that, he knew He stood up and walked towards the door. Very
qui- . opened it and left the room. She didn't say a word to .a- long
time Francesca stood at the window and looked the little piece of garden
that was hers, its patch of dug earth, the bush she had planted last
weekend, lit with the small amount of money she had saved David Yates.
She looked at the rickety fence, her fence, s fence and the gate, not
painted yet but primed, ready I. ts coat of deep, glossy green. Out of
bad things come sometimes. e thought about Giovanni, for the first time
in many and then she thought about Patrick. From vioe and murder had
come love - no matter how brief, it love. And out of deceit and
disappointment had come home and security and John. She blew on the
glass where it steamed up, she drew a heart, her heart, and was about to
add the tear through the middle that she ys did when she stopped and
left it complete. John was right. She had been happy, content at David
tes, she had begun to see a future. It was in her hands, Wle had the
chance to change the situation if she wanted to.

2... ' she had to do was go and speak to him, explain what .1 ,,..bad
hamened. if he didn't believe her ... She bit her lip iously. If he
doesn't believe me, she thought deternedly, then at least I will have
tried. Change what isn't t, John said, change what I can't accept. She
turned y from the window and took a deep breath. Well, that's t I must
do!

263 Mana Barrett John?' She stood at the door of the kitchen with her
coat and beret on.

He turned, took off his reading glasses and looked at her. ,'m going to
see Dave,' she said. ' think you're right, I should tell him what
happened with Matt." John stood up. ' I come with yout When he had woken
this morning he had not expected to say what he had earlier and, just
then, sitting alone in the kitchen, he wondered if he hadn't gone too
far. Now he knew he had done right. ' you be all right on your ownt ',
I'll be fine.' Her tone was strong and defiant. Then she smiled and
added: ''m pretty scared, though." John smiled back. ''t be. I've every
confidence in you., '.' She turned and her stomach lurched with nerves.
She felt suddenly very sick.

John you do think-T ', I do. Go on now.' He walked her to the front door
and opened it. ' ' hell!' he said.

She nodded, tightened her coat around her, pulled her beret down over
her ears and without thinking any further about it, stepped out into the
thick, damp early-morning air and made her way down towards the bus stop.

Dave was curled up on a roll of very expensive cashmere and lambswool
mix when he heard the persistent buzzer for the front door. But it took
him quite some time to gain consciousness, remember where he was and
finally to raise his head up and open his eyes. A painful and revolting
ordeal. ', shit!' He put his hand tip to his head and held his temples
for a moment, which throbbed with a heavy, aching 264 Dangerous
Obsession the hell ... THe continued to hold his head t fully upright
but very slowly, his stomach inching rds his mouth and threatening to
spill out its con- groaned, stood, and immediately threw up into a black
metallic wastepaper bin, retching for several Utes while the buzzing
continued aggressively around That over and feeling slightly better, he
staggered over to I_R . panel, carrying the bin,. and released the main
door, A. staggered back across to the leather sofa in one comer 5; the
studio and lay down on it, wondering why he, hadn't that last night. A
vague memory of anger and frustrarose in his mind and then faded again,
swamped by the rrible nausea in his stomach. He had no idea how he had
onto the roll of fabric on the cutting table; he was just ankful that he
hadn't rolled off it and broken his back in WI. e middle of the night ...
i He heard the doors of the studio open and he held up a nd to wave. '
here,'he warbled. The hand fell limply to his side ain. Christ, he felt
ill. ', Davet Francesca had crept over the floor of the '.,19udio, too
nervous to allow her boots to make any noise. ,'..She Stood looking down
at Dave, his face unshaven, his ,:,.:hair frizzed and messy and his
clothes crumpled and dirty The whole place stank of booze. She knew the
smell better than any other.

Davet She said again, this time more quietly as her Inerve began to fail
her. '?' He removed his arm from across his eyes and pened them slowly
to look at whoever was interrupting his '. He saw Francesca, in hercoat
and black beret, and in an instant the whole of the previous night came
back to him.

265 Maria Barrett Jesus frigging Christ!' He sat up suddenly and
Francesca jumped back. ' God, sorry! I didn't mean to-' He stood and
clapped a hand over his mouth. "Scuse me,'he mumbled and turning,
leaning over the metallic bin at his side, he vomited once again. ' ...
Shid' He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt and slumped down
onto the sofa again. ', I'm sorry; it disgusting!' He took a couple of
deep breaths. ', am I glad to see you.' Resting his head against the
back of the sofa, he closed his eyes for a moment, swallowing painfully
' owe you an apology, Francesca. Boy oh boy, do I owe you an apology!
I've been one hell of an arsehole, I can tell you. An Al frigging jerv
He wiped his brow. ' don't suppose you'd be kind enough to grab me
something for my headache would yout She nodded. ' a glass of water? My
mouth tastes like a parrot's arse!" Francesca returned five mintites
later with the water, a cold damp cloth, the spare toothbrush she knew
Dave kept in the kitchen drawer, pills, liver salts and a large black
plastic bin liner to put over the offending wastepaper bin. One-thing
she certainly knew was how to deal with the results of a heavy night's
drinking.

Dave had his eyes closed as she placed the things down on a chair in
front of him. He opened one halfway and smiled. ' God' Am I seeing
things7 I think it's an angel' Shelaughed. ' sounds good, Frankie! I
could use a little laughter.' He opened both eyes and sat forward,
reaching for the toothbrush. She had even brought a bowl for him to
rinse in. ' you ever a trainee nurse by any chancet 266 Dangerous
Obsession .'She realised he was joking and looked away :. Then she said:
' `;27.' father was an alcoholic.' trided so simple put like that. only she
knew how h it took to admit. m sorry -C, F..Yes well..

Iave got on with the business of cleaning his teeth and ing, his face.
He swallowed down three aspirins and d up a large glass of liver salts
before drinking them in one. '' He shivered. ' scourge of the masses! If
I told N V ', ,, that I drink only once a year, on the anniversary of my
1, , ' r Mitzvahl then perhaps you'd know why I feel so bloody He put
the glass down, rubbed his hand over his i, r and looked directly at
Francesca. ', Frankie." She shrugged, embarrassed at his gaze.

suppose I'd better tell you what's been going on. It's a 11 of a stor
that's for sure! Oh, I forgot to ask, what are u doing heret She took a
big breath. 1, er, came to tell you about the 7, . night the drawings
were stolen.' She sounded much more . than she felt. ' thought I should
say something about-" About Matt. Yeah, I know. The little bastard
stitched me vp good and proper!' Dave took out his cigarettes and lit
Vne up. The first drag made him shudder but the nicotine was good, he
needed it. ' know of course that I'm fin-ished!' He laughed ironically.
' raving little queen - in Ais first job as a textile designer - managed
to bugger my business manager and run off with my collection. Pretty
impressive, huht Francesca sat stunned. ' do you rneant ' mean, darling
Frankie, that in the past year, Matt has been bumming round with my
business manager, getting 267 Maria Barreu me to sign all sorts of
things that I couldn't have given a toss about because I was too wrapped
up in the sodding work, and then he runs off with Pete Walker, sets up
his own label, his own fucking label, for Christ's sake! And uses all of
my designs to launch it with! Ha! If I didn't want to kill the little
shit I'd have to admire him for sheer bloody r "But how can he do that?
I thought the designs were yourst ' no, apparently not! I signed a
little piece of paper that handed all creative rights over to my partner
and business manager. I never even saw the bit of paper, let alone
-remember signing it!" He stopped and stubbed the cigarette out,
grinding it underfoot on the polished wood floor. Then he put his hands
up to his face and ran them over the tired, sagging flesh. He looked up
briefly at the beautiful teenage girl opposite him and saw all his
failure in her bright young face. Years of work and sweat down the
toilet! His collection was finished and in this climate he'd never
recover. ' He removed his hands. ' fancy a drink?' But Francesca sat
perfectly still and just stared at him. Somewhere in the pit of her
stomach a knot had formed, , a fist, hard and strong inside her. Her
mind was perfectly clear, strangely clear, and focused and determined.
','she said. ' don't want a drink, and nor do you.' She sat with her
hands folded in her lap and continued to look at him. ''re going to
redesign your collection,' she went on, quite calmly, as if it were a
simple statement of fact. ' have, what, six weeks? If we take on an
extra tailor and someone to trim, it can be done. Not easily, but it can
be done." He looked at her suddenly as if she had gone mad. ' must be
frigging joking!' he said and laughed. ', I can't possibly turn out that
kind of work in six weeks! And who's the "we" by the way?" 268 Dangerous
Obsession me, and you, and everybody in the company. And not joking,"
I'm really grateful for you being here and listening all that, but
Frankie, be serious! This isn't time for wild tasies - what in God's
name do you know about fash- - or textiles, for instance? I can't turn
out a collection ithout a fabric designer - and printine. What about
print- ? Matt took care of all that shit, and his designs were iwgic,
they-" od as you thought. You advised They were never as go ;!him, you
told him what colours worked, what patterns 4'.Jooked best for what
lines. Don't you remembert ', but---- ' I know as much about printing as
anyone, I've done

"At for years, in Italy! And I can de sign, I'll show you!' Francesca
could hardly believe these words were coming out of her mouth. She
couldn't stop herself, they poured out along with all her fierce
determination and strength.

just have. a look at my designs,' she said. ' took at r":,them, and if
you don't like them, then maybe I was wrong about all this. It won't do
any harm to look, will itt Dave watched her face as she spoke. Her eyes
burned with passion - it was like the sun blazing into the green of an
emerald - and she looked so full of hope. He took a breath. Maybe she
was right, maybe he could do it. it wouldn't hurt him to have a look at
her work anyway, and even if it wasn't any good, maybe she could help
him sort the mess out here and he could get on with the work. She had a
hell of a lot of spunk, that was for sure. ',' he said. ' you want me to
look at your work, I'll look.' He saw her face light up with that
peculiar smile of hers. ' won't make any promises, though. Remember
that, won't yout ', yes, of course!" 269 Maria Barrett "Look, can you
ring round everyone and tell them the studio's closed for the day? I
need to go home and have a shower and a shave and then you can bring
your stuff round. All rightt ', that's fine.' ' numbers are in the book
in Tilly's drawer and you'll have to do it now or else they'll all be on
their way.' He stood, a little shakily, and smoothed back the wave of
hair with his hand. ''ll leave you in charge and expect you at my place
about, what time? Elevent She looked up at the clock, it was eight
forty-five. ', eleven.' That should give her enough time to get home and
collect up her stuff. ' house is one of the mews houses in Brandling
Village, past the school, number ten. Can you find it all right?' '
problem.' '!' He made a move towards the door and then on impulse turned
back to her. ' Have you had some sort of religious conversion? I've
never seen you like this, ever!" She laughed. ', I'm just taking the
chance John told me about.' ' He looked confused.

She shrugged and smiled. ' really' He felt too awful to pursue the
matter. ' you at eleven then,' he said, turning back to the doors and
taking the offending wastepaper bin with him. ', see you!' She watched
him go and then stood up and suddenly gave a yell of delight. Gathering
up her coat and beret, she went through to Tilly's desk and found the
book with all the numbers in. She sat down and began to dial the first
one. She listened to the sound of the ringing 270 Dangerous Obsession P:
someone on the line. Out of bad then the click of good, sometimes, she
thought.

was amazed when, later that morning, Francesca ran the house, calling
out to him as she did so, then up to .:.Toom and down again in five
minutes flat. She stood in the doorway of the kitchen and he saw the
clutch ngs in her hand. '-".Frn off to show Dave my work,' she s-aid
quickly ' se is in. Brandling Village, I shouldn't be long!' turned
towards the front door and John called her , What happened this
morning?' "'Oh, John, it's so long I can't tell you now, Dave's expectme
at eleven. I'll come straight home and give you all e details when I'm
finished.' He looked at her. This was a different Francesca to the
seemed infinitely, ie that had gone out that morning. She ronger, more
confident. '. Off you go! I'll see you later.' She waved and hurried out
of the front door, slamming carelessly behind her in the rush. This was
certainly a dif- ":ierent Francesca, he decided, getting up to check she
hadn't ' anything with the bang., Who knew what would en next?

'd Yates' house was a small mews house in one of the ost exclusive parts
of Newcastle. It was between two other painted white with a glossy black
front door and a ay tree outside it, in a dark Italian terra cotta pot
that ncesca noticed was discreetly chained to the wall. You .'t leave
your washing out in Newcastle. She banged the heavy brass knocker and
stood back '.."aiting for the front door to open. She straightened her
271 Maiia Barret beret and turned the collar of her coat up. She wanted
to look her best when he saw her. '! Frankie!' She looked behind her,
confused for a moment. '! Up here!" She glanced up. Dave was hanging out
of the bathroom window, shivering at the cold rain against his bare
chest. '! Catch!'He threw a key down to her. ' yourself in, will you, I
haven't finished in the shower yet.' She bent and picked up the key,
then looked up at the window again. He had closed it tight and gone back
inside. She let herself into the house and realised in the warmth just
how wet she was.

Pulling off her beret, she hung it on one of the brass coat hooks in the
entrance porch and then took off her coat, placing that on top. She
wandered into the hall and on through to the sitting room.

The house had been completely converted, she could see that at first
glance. The small narrow facade outside gave no indication of the airy
space within, with its light Scandinavian pine floors, cream walls and
huge open sitting room. She stood just inside the door and thought,
hmmmm, this is the house of a designer, and then smiled at how much she
had learned since she started at David Yates.

The sitting room was sparsely furnished - just two big gold brocade
sofas with high straight sides and huge feather cushions, a long dark
wood Regency table along one wall that had a. pile of antique books on
it and a bronze figure, which she later found out was Art Deco by
Ferdinand Preiss. The fireplace had no surround; it was simply a space
carved in the chimneypiece, painted cream with a heavy black iron grate
in the bottom. To one side of that was a collection of what looked like
antique earthenware pots, all varying heights and shapes, perfectly
arranged, and finally, on either side of the chimney in the alcove, sat
a pair of 272 Dangerous Obsession mahogany sabre-legged chairs, both
upholstered in tk gold velvet. Tou like itt Francesca jumped. She had
forgotten that Dave was irs and she had been staring quite intently at.
the room, g in every last detail. sh, yes, I ...'She stuttered with
embarrassment.

0 on in and sit down. Dyou. want a coffeet She looked r her shoulder at
him as he jumped down from the last pulling his sweatshirt over his
head. She noticed how Jwown the skin was on his stomach and how it
stretched ti over the muscle.

es, er, thanks.' She went into the room and e nervously on the edge of
the sofa. She was still lutc in her work.

a t your work?' Dave came through the connecting hway from the kitchen.
Nes.' ' I seet She suddenly felt ridiculous. Looking at this glorious K,
room, its perfect shape and detail, she regretted that she had P","ever
asked him to look at her designs. How could someone with this expert eye
ever see anything in her pathetic little sketches7 She kept hold of the
drawings and looked down at the floor. ' on, let me have a look!' He
smiled, recognising her sudden anxiety J won't say anything too wicked,
I promise.' He crossed to her and she held out the pile of work. ', I'll
take it into the kitchen, spread it out on the table there and have a
glance through while I'm making the coffee. That way neither of us will
be embarrassed. Right?" She nodded. The confidence of that morning had
corn- pletely deserted her. ' a CD on if you want. I won't be long.' He
273 Maria Barrett disappeared with the pile of work and Francesca
glanced about her for the stereo. ''s out in the hall,' he shouted. '
the under-stair cupboard.' She wondered if he could read her mind. '
hate the sight of all things practical!' She stood up and went to see if
she could find it.

Dave sat in the kitchen at the long marble-topped table with Francesca's
pile of work spread out in front of him and an A4 drawing pad on his
knee. Behind him the coffee pot on the hob bubbled and hissed away, the
smell of burned coffee filling the air. He was completely oblivious to
it. His mind buzzed and his fingers worked, quickly and deftly, the
lines and shapes fitting together on the pages of his pad, as he
scribbled endless variations, notes, ideas, and brilliant design after
brilliant design.

The fabric designs he had before him were far better than anything he
had seen for years and they outshone Matt by a million miles. They were
breathtaking, real talent, the sort of talent that comes along once in a
lifetime, and Dave sat mesmerised by them, -filled with inspiration and
the joyous knowledge that he had discovered something magnificent.

Meanwhile, Francesca remained in the sitting room, listening to the
mellow, upbeat sound of Black Box and tapping her toe anxiously to the
beat of the music. She didn't know what to do.

Dave had been in the kitchen for twenty minutes now and she could smell
the coffee, its aroma becoming more and more acrid as it burned on the
stove. He had not uttered a word. Several times she had decided to get
up and go in to see what he thought, but her courage had faded as soon
as she stood up and she'd sat back down again instantly, pretending to
herself that she was involved in the music.

274 Dangerous Obsession ally, she could stand it no longer; the suspense
was king her feel sick. She stood purposefully, bit her lip mlx',,
strode across thesitting 17001-11 to the arch. just as she did so Dave
was coming out of the kitchen and they collided head on. '!' ', shit!
Sorry!' He caught her as she was about to top- off if e two steps down
to the kitchen and they swayed A i. precariousiv for a moment. '!' They
regained their balance and Dave kept hold of her. He looked down at her
face, young and eager -rified, all at once. ', my darling sind hopeful
and tet Frankie,'he said gently,'arc a star!'And then, unable to stop
,,-C--,-:,himself he bent forward and kissed her, long and hard on the
li ps.

She p t I ulled back suddenly, her checks hot and Hushed.

01,: -She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

-ou like my drawings?' ', I don't "like" your drawings, I absolutely
frigging I r drawings! They are fantastic!'l le bent and kissed ove YOU
A her again. ' are morethan faritaslic, thevare incredible!" tie started
to laugh. 1--rankie, I'll be honest, I never even dreamed YOU COUICI
design like that, never in a million years' Never in a trillion,
squillion years!'He took her hand and led her into the kitchcn. ', you,
little Frank, are going to sit there and tell me exactly what y? u know
about printing and then we are 4F.. going to work out just how we can get
this thing off the grouncl.' Wi ' thing?' She had begun to feel dizzy She
wasn't :51 J.

sure whether it was the excitement or the shock of the kiss V or the
terrible smell of the coffee. ' new David Yates collection! I lere!' He
pulled out a chair. '!" 275 Maria Barrett She meekly did as she was
told. ', Davet '-huh?' He was leafing through the work again. ''s just
one thing before we start.' He glanced up. What's thatt ' you think you
could turn that coffee off? I think it must be done by now." John looked
at his watch for the fourth time that hour and wondered what he should
do. He had called the studio twice, got no reply and then tried to find
David Yates'number in the telephone directory - it was ex-directory, He
drummed his fingertips on the kitchen table where he was unsuccessfully
trying to do the crossword and thought that perhaps he should try the
studio one more time, It was beginning to grow dark and he was worried
about Francesca.

It was just then that he heard the faint sound of voices at the front
door and the sound of the key in the lock. He hurried through the hall
to the front door.

John!' A wet and smiling Francesca stood on the step and behind her was
a tall, dark-haired man in an American baseball cap and a brown leather
RAF flying jacket. ', this is Dave Yates.' She, moved aside and John
took in the full appearance of Francesca's former employer. They shook
hands and John ushered them in. He was not impressed. As he took Dave's
jacket, he noticed the scruffy ponytail at the back of his head and held
down the disapproving tut that came automatically to his lips. ', come
in.' He led the way into the front room. ' you like a drink?" Dave shook
his head. ' all the same, but I had a bit too much last night.' He
smiled but John only nodded, straight-faced. Dave sensed his hostility.
', John, I'm sorry about barging in on you like this 276 Dangerous
Obsession t, to talk to you about something.' Dave cleared at nervously
' from bringing Francesca home of course.' of course.'John stood his
ground, his lips in a tight thought: I must be frigging mad! He'll never
agree, matter what Francesca said. And then: Do I want him miserable old
Scot? till he went on: J think I had better explain briefly t's been
going on the last few days at my company and I'll tell you why I'm
here.' ..,Jotin nodded. "..Firstly, the business of the drawings that
were taken my studio. I know how worrying it must have been for and I
can only apologise for the terrible mistake I made. explained it all to
Francesca and I think she underds, but it wasn't until last night that I
found out the th, you see, and I'd been led to believe that Francesca
responsible. Anyway'he took a deep breath, ' draw- if you can believe
this, had been taken by my textile igner, as Francesca suspected, and he
has, God knows ow, managed to stitch me up, along with my so-called
iness manager, so that my whole collection is now corn- letely out of my
hands." John sat down. ' dear, I'm sorry about that.' ', well, so was I
until this morning.' Dave glanced at -rancesca at this point and she
blushed. ' thing is, I've cided to start all over again.' John raised an
eyebrow. ' sounds like an awful lot of ork! Francesca mentioned to me
what was involved the rst time round.' P ' is!' Dave came forward and
sat down opposite John.

o most people, it probably sounds pretty impossible and'd have thought
so myself until Francesca showed me her 277 Maria Barrett --work. But
when I saw it, I knew I couldril turn down this chance. She has a real
talent, John! Her colour, feel of the fabric, design, pattern,
everything, it's miles better than anyone out there already. With her on
my team I'm sure this could be a major collection, and if not, it can
only get betteff He stopped, suddenly aware of John's silence. ' of this
is bullshit,' he said quietly ' canl afford to lose this collection, my
whole company could go under if I did.'Then he stood up, moving to the
fireplace. ' I wanted to ask you, John, was if you would consider coming
in with me and running the studiot He paused for a moment but he did not
look at John. He wasn't at all sure what his reaction would be. ' of the
problem before, you see, was that I didn't have time to look after the
admin. I let things get on top of me and that's how I lost so much, I
guess.' Dave looked at John now. He could see the hostility had been
dropped and it gave him confidence to go on. ' told me that you're used
to running things, accounts, admin and staff. I need someone I can
trust. I need someone who'll leave me free to do the work I'm good at.
D'you understandt John returned Dave's direct stare. ', I understand.
But I'm not at all sure that you are talking to the right person, Mr.
Yates---: '.' '. I know nothing about fashion design, or clothes or
commerce, and to be quite frank, I really don't think that I would be
suitable.' , John!' Francesca burst out. ' would be brilliant!' ',
please!' ', really, John, you would be!' He smiled finally at her blind
confidence in him and it broke the ice. Everyone smiled.

278 Dangerous Obsession perhaps you could tell me a little more about
the ess, about your suppliers, retail outlets, that kind of Wng ' of
course.' He grinned. ', I've got some of the .,','--',':'.bminess files
in the car. I was rather hoping you might to look at them. Shall I get
themt on and get them.' He suddenly felt John laughed. ', go f great new
scheme and his adrenaline began to a -ilow, As Dave crossed to the door
he said: ' have the feeling Aiat this is going to take quite some time.
Am I rightt Dave nodded. ' then, perhaps you would like to join us for s
upper, '7, Dave nodded again and smiled. The miserable old Scot
beginning to cheer. He glanced at Francesca and she  0 a schoolgirl. '
you, John,' he answered.

inned, like love to stay for supper.' And he went out to fetch the
counts.

ter, when dinner had been eaten and all the arguments d and discussed,
John finally lifted his glass to drink a st to the new David Yates and
Francesca Cameron Coliection, managed by John Mcbride. They drank to it.

it was the beginning of something new, a chance that had be taken, and
as she sipped the wine and looked over the .-:top of her glass at John
and Dave Yates discussing their luture Francesca knew that it had to be
right. She was P, filled with a fierce determination to make it so, to
put her heart and soul into it, and to prove that she could change V,
-her own life. Out of bad things come good, sometimes, ohn had said, and
you have to give these things a chance. ' was right. Out of bad things
come good, sometimes - if have the wisdom to look for them, that is.

279 CHAPTER Twenty-two THE FOLLOWING DAY WAS A Saturday but to
Francesca, Johnand Dave this made no absolutely difference - it was
business as usual. It was by now well into November and there were just
six weeks to go before everything had to be ready London Fashion Week
was at the beginning of February and the collection had to be ready for
the end of December. There was PR to organise: press packs, a photo
shoot, and Dave had already booked office space in Covent Garden for the
week after Olympia, so that buyers could view the collection. It felt,
waking up on that first morning, as if there was not even a minute to
waste.

Dave had ended up staying the night on Friday. They had talked for
hours, long and hard, discussing ideas and making notes, all three fired
by a zealous enthusiasm. By the time John cleared away the coffee
things, it was the early hours of the morning and it seemed easiest to
throw a blanket onto the couch for Dave, sleep for a few hours and then
start all over again in the morning. There was so much to be done.

Francesca woke at eight, knowing she was the first up. She padded
downstairs in her robe and bare feet to make the coffee, trying to be as
quiet as she could but feeling the whole time as if she could sing at
the top of her voice, shout, bang all the pots and pans, and laugh with
excitement. She crept into the kitchen, though, silently drew back the
little patterned curtain and crossed to the sink to fill the coffee pot,
keeping the tap on trickle so as not to make any 280 Dangerous Obsession
She turned to put the coffee into it, reaching out to, 4,ritch on the
ring of the electric hob, and, as she did so, she caught sight of Dave
in the doorway standing barechested, in a pair of'checked boxer shorts,
and watching her with a funny smile on his face. ' a very attractive
dressing gown.' '! I ... Dora gave it to me.' Francesca looked down at
huge, faded towelling robe. She had pulled it in tight twith the belt
but it was still heaps too big and made her look like a little old bag
lady ', my darling Frank, is Dora? And does she not like YOU or
something?" Francesca smiled. ' are horrible!' I told you so, the first
day you came into my den.' He walked into the kitchen and came to stand
by the Aga, which was giving out a steady heat. He folded his arms
across his chest and leaned back against the front of it, warming his
bottom.

Francesca looked away from him and tried to concentrate on the coffee.
His body was long and lean, much more muscled than she had thought it
would be, and his skin was nutty brown, not tanned as such, just dark,
the colour of roasted almonds. He looked ruffled, slept in, his hair was
loose and she realised it was thick and wavy, cut to just beneath his
ears. ' up with that coffee, will you?'He was looking up at the rows of
glass jars on the shelves when he said this and she glanced at him out
of the comer of her eye. His cornment irritated her and she frowned. '
one thing you're going to have to get used to, working closely with me,'
he continued, still looking up at the shelves, ' that I can't stand
waiting for anything!' She inoved away frbm him and held down an angry
retort. ' she looked round a minute or so later, to find the 281 Maria
Barrett -cups, she saw him doubled over with silent laughter. ',
Frankie,' he sniggered. ' are so easy to wind up" And, still convulsed,
he staggered out of the kitchen to find his clothes.

The three of them had breakfast in the kitchen and then, leaving the
mess for later, they left for the studio in Dave's car. There was a sort
of unspoken agreement between them that for the. next few days they
would do everything together and the only thing that mattered was the
work. By the time the team arrived on Monday morning, Dave wanted to be
sure they all had something to look forward to, that David Yates had a
future. He felt a tremendous loyalty to his staff and saving the company
was as much for them as for himself.

Arriving at the studio, Dave parked down on the Quayside by Hanrahans
and unlocked the main door of the building, answering John's questions
about leases and property values in that area of town. He led them up
the long and narrow staircase and John made a note of the damp patches
in his book. Opening the door of the studio, Dave switched on the panel
of lights and the huge warehouse space was instantly illuminated. John
stood with Francesca in the doorway and looked at what lay before him.
He was filled With pride. I will make this place run like clockwork, he
thought; we will make David Yates into one of the best labels in the UK.
'! Come on in! John, we hang the coats over there, kitchen on your left,
lavs on the right and the storeroom is down a flight.' Dave had already
taken off his jacket and was walking across to his drawing table. ' a
good poke around while I get myself sorted and find Frankie some space
over there. Make a note of anything you want to ask and give us a shout
when you've finished. All right?" 282 Dangerous Obsession nodded, took
off his coat and went to hang it up. csca trailed behind Dave to the
drawing tables ... "Vere, Frankie! Catch!' Dave threw her a baseball
cap, le,.with a white and gold golfing badge on it. ' it on." pulled a
puzzled face and then slipped the cap onto ead.

0! Pull it forward a bit, and adjust the peak.' She did as told. at' Now
at least you look the part.'He smiled.'Come r ere h and start clearing
that arsehole's rubbish off the 19. ow, to cover with anything you rd
will you? It's yours n even pictures of Jason Donovan, if you want!' A
tt 2 -$1;.At e even I , they took a coffee break. Francesca and Dave A.,
been working steadily for two hours, both completely ,,A' nt totally
absorbed in the drawings. They had agreed on kicoiourway before they
started and Dave had given esca a short brief to stick to. He wanted
designs for jz daytime, informal, for a line that was loose-but
tailored.

was working along a completely new train of thought, ic-cut wool blazers
with silk sarong skirts and loose ama trousers, pencil-cut wool
trousers, with long silk cs and turbans. it was the simple and the
ornate, the Pan cut and the flowing; both had to work, and both had
connect perfectly. Francesca knew exactly what he meant. As he drew the
lines, she filled in the forms. She J, '91,: igned great swirls of muted
colour, in mauve and deep im ij . with black and indigo slashes. She
drew intricate pat- "terris of squares, reminisc ent of Paul Klee, the
colour as '.2, "brillianfly matched as his, all seeming to glow
individually -10 -brid yet merge together to form a coherent whole. She
used in on one colour, a crimson or a gold, and she @!ixed shade after
shade of this colour, each one just a frac- t until she had found a
whole spectrum of hues '.Uon d i ffe re n one tint. She worked almost
nonstop from the Maria Barrett moment they arrived and when it was time
to take a break, Dave had to literally drag her away from her drawing
board. ', John? What horrors did you find to torment me witht Dave.
carried the bag of cappuccino coffees that had just been delivered from
Marco Polo over to the sofa. He took out the steaming plastic cups and
handed them round. ' morning I've had this kind of dread that you'd find
something nasty in the comer and walk out disgusted!' He laughed and
poured two sachets of sugar into his coffee, stirring it with the end of
the pencil he drew out from behind his ear. ', actually I did!' ' shiff
', but I decided to stay' Dave laughed again. ', tell me what you
found.' '.'John opened his notebook. ', the damp. I need to see a copy
of the lease agreement, but I'm pretty sure the landlord has to fix
that. If he doesn't then you can get a reduction on the rent, argue
something like unfit working conditions. Second, I noticed when we came
in that the heating was on full blast. Do you have some kind of timer
switcht Dave shrugged. '. If not, we'll get one - it should save a lot
of money on heating bills. Third, leftover fabric. What happens to itt
Again Dave shrugged. ', it could be measured and sold as remnants.
Longer lengths can go to the college maybe, for the fashion department -
it could bring in a fair amount. Fourthly, accessories. You should have
some kind of promotional deal going with all the people who provide the
accessories.' ' do, they give them for free.' ' they should! How many
times have you been in one 284 Dangerous Obsession magazines in the past
twelve months? say or the Facet Irancesca looked up at Johns sudden
knowledge of style fashion and. smiled. dunno, six, maybe seven times.'
"Rightf And every time you've used Marian Dash hats or s, it's free
advertising for them. These people e shoe for that kind of thing Id
normally pay through the nose they get it free off your back.' A never
thought of it like that." this Pete Walker chappie did! I wouldni be o,
but I bet rised if there wasn't something going on that front h his
pocket.'John smiled, pleased with himself. ig t into pretty sure we can
organise some kind of deal with 4V of the accessory suppliers - they use
your garments their adverts, that kind of thing, and probably a
sub-itantia sum as well.' '' That just never occurred tome.' ',' John
said. '..

And so i t went on. in thirty minutes John highlighted ten ints that
needed immediate action and Dave sat there '. He was relieved that John
was so thorough but Wbe was also livid that he'd let himself be stitched
up for so long just because of his own ignorance. He felt the pangs of

"Ielf-pity at ever having come across bastards like Walker ' Baker, and
then he glanced across at Francesca and ,;..-,saw his future in her
face. The self-pity evaporated and a steely determination took its
place. ' right then, if that's all, John, I think I'll get back to rk.'
He stood, his fingers itching to get back to the drawboard. ' is one
more thing.' '-huht ' wanted your permission to ring my old employer for
285 Maria Barrett the name of his solicitor. I think we need a good
legal firm on our side right from the beginning." Dave was staring out
of the window and John waited patiently for his reply. ' He looked back.
'? What? Oh, sorry' ' solicitort ', of course, John.' He turned and then
looked over his shoulder. ', you're in charge now, John,' he said. '
trust your judgement. Do whatever you think is right." And he went back
to his designs, leaving those words hanging in the air. For John, they
were the best words he could have heard.

On Sunday evening, at eleven-fifteen, Francesca and Dave sat down
together on the leather sofa and went over their work to finalise the
details. in front of them, they had the first drafts of the collection.

John made what felt like the, hundredth pot of coffee of the day, handed
out the cups and sat opposite them on one of the director's chairs,
sipping and watching the two of them talk it through. He was exhausted
himself, tying up all the loose ends, going over the accounts with a
fine-tooth comb, analysing the expenditure for the coming months. It was
going to be tight, he knew that, very tight, but he didn't want to say
anything about that, not yet anyway He would worry about the business
while Dave and Francesca worried about the work. When everything was in
place, though, if the collection worked, then David Yates could be back
in the black by the third month of next year and from then on it would
be head down and fast forward.

He looked across at Francesca and could see how tired she was. Her face
was drained of colour and she had faint shadows under her eyes from lack
of sleep. But he could 286 Dangerous Obsession see how alive she was,
how vibrant, and he could see the work inspired her. She spoke about it
with a connce he never knew she possessed, with a knowledge assurance,
as if at last she had found out who she was "k, irid now felt certain
and comfortable in this new identity. Dave watched her too. He could see
such a startling dif- ce in er, from the shy, nervous girl who had
walked t is studio just four weeks ago, into this sparkling, ani- beside
him who made him glow just sitting t creature to er. The glimpses he had
caught of her face when she smiled before, of its beauty and life, gave
no real indi- of how she looked now. She was radiant, her eyes burned
and the smile, so forceful in its loveliness, was all the time, behind
her eyes and on her lips. He was -drawn to this passion, he wanted to
touch her, to check she was real, and as he looked at the work she had
produced in just twenty-four hours he wanted to kiss her, overwhelmed
with the absolute enormity of her talent. ', I think, my darling
Frankie, that just about wraps it up!' He turned the last sketch over
and stretched out his legs. ' don't know about you two, but I am fucking
knackered!" John coughed. '' This had been the pattern of the past two
days: every time Dave swore, John coughed or tutted and Dave apologised.
It seemed to work quite well for both of them. ' look tired Frankie.'
Dave reached out and brushed h' the lock of hair t at had fallen over
her forehead. She was growing it and it hung in varying lengths, getting
in her way and not long enough yet to tie back or style.

She nodded. ' you think we have everything ready for Evelyn and Cherry
to start on tomorrowt She turned back to one of Dave's designs. '.
They'll get on with the paper patterns while you 287 Maria Barrett start
work on the printing. I've rung Charlie, by the way - W the technician
at the print studio - and told him to expect you tomorrow at eight."
Francesca pulled a face. '-oi, not fed up with it already? It was your
idea, you know.' Dave smiled and pulled his cap down the way Francesca
was wearing hers. ' can design the whole collection,' he said, sotto
voce. ' you and me, in one afternoon!" Francesca started to laugh and
slapped him on the thigh.

11, in just tired, that's all!' ' course you are. So get your things
together and piss off home! And take that miserable old Scot with you as
well." John smiled. ' on, Francesca.' He couldn't bring himself to call
her Frankie. ''s right, let's get off now." She stood. She was nervous
about the morning, a new studio to visit, different print equipment. She
wasn't sure how she would cope. She hovered uneasily, wondering if she
should say something. ' is a nice old bugger,' Dav6 said, getting to his
feet and stretching. ''ll show you how everything works and give you all
the help you need. He's rather partial to attractive women, is our
Charlie." Francesca smiled up at him. He always seemed to know what she
was thinking. ' on, go home, Frankie and Mcbride.' Dave bent and kissed
Francesca on the top of her head. ' some beauty sleep, not that you need
it.' He turned to John. ' was Francesca I was talking about, not you.
You could use all the help you can ged' He laughed. ' you decided what
you're going to say in the morning?' ' much. If you still think I should
tell the staff, that is.

"It's a good way to start, John - let them know who's in 288 Dangerous
Obsession right from the word go!' He held ouf his hand, sudly serious.
', John. I mean, for everything you've ..done.' John was touched. Dave
was tough on the outside but . decent underneath, if only he'd get
himself a good :.,haircut. lie smiled. ' you tomorrow then. Ready,
.;rancesca?' Francesca had collected up her drawings and was scrabbling
around in her rucksack for the car keys John had given her. She found
them and held them up. '' she said, and linking his arm, she walked with
John across the studio and out through the double doors to the
staircase.

- ' must ring that chap that Lord Henry recommended to me in the
morning,'John said as they began to descend the stairs. ' something
sorted about this damp.' He ran his finger over the damp patch and
tutted. ' chap was thatt ' works for Lord Henry's legal firm and
although Lord fienry hasn't used him, he has a good reputation,
apparently.' ' really? What's his namet John thought for a moment. He
was tired and couldn't remember it offhand. ', Brachen somebody,' he
said. ''s it, Richard Brachen." Francesca stopped. ' odd,' she said. '
don't know why but that name sounds terribly familiar." John shrugged.
''re all called Richard or James or Michael, solicitors. It probably
just sounds like something else you've heard." She sm iled. '' she
answered, and letting it go out of her mind, she carried on down the
stairs.

Francesca stood straight and lifted the length of fabric from , print
table, gently holding it aloft to check the colour 289 Ma? ia Barnett
before taking it over to the drying rack and clipping it into place. She
stepped back a pace and took a long, hard look at it, running her eye
over the intricate shapes of the pattern, and peering closely at how the
dye had taken to the fabric and how the colour was now beginning to
match that of her design. Satisfied, she moved back to the print table
and removed the screen ready for cleaning. This was the part of the job
that most people hated but for Francesca there was satisfaction in it:
the final chore of a day's work, it meant the completion of the task
well done.

She doused the screen with turps, scrubbed off the ink and wiped it
clean. She repeated this several times until the mesh was spotless, then
focused in on the table and did the same thing. It took nearly an hour,
the smell was disgusting and by the time she had finished the bin was
full of . inky paper. She placed it with the others to be collected in
the morning and took off her rubber gloves, breathing a sigh of relief.
Moving back over to the drying rack, she took another look at the seven
lengths of fabric that hung there, all in various stages of completion.

It was now Thursday and she had printed a different colour each day so
far. For some of the designs, this meant they now had four colours and
were starting to take shape; for others, the crimson she had been
working with today was the first or second dye and they were still in
their early stages. She was working systematically, printing all the
base colours in the designs first and building on top of these. It was
painstaking work, but she loved it. She spent every waking moment at the
print studio and when she was there she was so absorbed in her work that
Charlie had to practically drag her away to get her to eat.

Gazing up at the designs, her mind buzzing with ideas, Francesca -stood,
leaning back against the edge of the print table and rubbing her fingers
thoughtfully back and forth 290 Dangerous Obsession !,her chin. She ran
her hand through her hair, swept the persistent lock that kept falling
forward into her ' and tutted irritably to herself. She was so
preoccupied with thought that she didn't hear Dave come into the studio.
nor had she any idea that he stood watching her, for quite some time,
before he made his presence known ... It was the first time Dave had
seen Francesca for days xnd once again he was fascinated by the change
in her. Even in his short separation from her she had grown. She seemed
more self-contained than shy now, more confident and her face was even
lovelier than he remembered. Her body looked different too, fuller, more
womanly, and she held it differently - she stood straighter and looked
taller. He smiled to himself If anyone could hear his thoughts, they
would say he was smitten, had a bad case of the huts. Mind you, he
thought, letting his eyes run the length of her, no one could blame him
if he had.

He walked right into the studio and silently came to stand beside her,
waiting for her to turn and spot him. He glanced sidelong at her face
and saw that where she had rubbed her chin it was covered in ink and in
brushing back her hair she had plastered her forehead with it as well.
He burst out laughing. '! My goodness!' Francesca visibly jumped and put
her hand up to her pounding heart. ' scared the hell out of me!' ,
sorry,' he managed to say when he had stopped laughing. He pulled his
face straight and saw that he really had frightened her. ''he said
again. ', I didn't mean to upset you." She shrugged and tried to calm
the panic in her chest. ''s all right,'she answered, quietly ', it's not
all right. Here.'He took her hand and led her over to the workbench.
''ve got ink all over your face," 291 Maria Bamu he said gently. ' there
and I'll get a hanky and clean it off for you.' He bent and found a box
of tissues under the bench, then he went to the sink, filled a cup with
water, picked up the soap and came back to her.

He smiled, still finding her appearance terribly funny. ' on earth did
you manage to get it all over your mush? Huht He sat her on the edge of
the bench and leaned over her, dipping a tissue into the water, rubbing
some soap onto it. He put it up to her cheek. She flinched. '! Hold
still! I can't do it if you jog about all the time now, can IT He buffed
her skin and looked at the tissue. '! It's everywhere! Here.' He wetted
another tissue and tried the patch above her eye, by her hairline. He
glanced down at her face as he did so and saw she had both eyes shut and
was perched, rather impatiently and irritably, waiting to be cleaned,
like a child with a dirty face. He stared at the shape of her face for a
second and inadvertently his hand slipped and dug her in the eye. '!'
She leaped up in pain and put her hand to her eye. She caught him on the
chin with the top of her head as she did so and their faces bumped
together. Suddenly, without thinking what he was doing, Dave cupped her
face with his hands and guided her lips to his own. He kissed her and
held her still until he could feel her respond. He let her come up for
air. ,, I ..., He kissed the comer of her mouth. -You what?' ' don't
know.' Francesca was disorientated, confused. She was surprised by the
kiss and even more surprised at how nice it was. Her body was sending
out strange signals and her face flushed with the frantic beat of her
heart.

Trankiet She pulled back and tilted her face up. '?' He slipped his
hands down her back and kissed her 292 Dangerous Obsession in. ' you!'
But this time the kiss was different, rting her lips with his own, he
darted his tongue inside and tasted the sweet warmth of her mouth. He
heard her gasp and try to pull away but he held her firm. She relaxed,
and moments later, kissed him back. Her head was swimming, it had
disowned her body, and as his mouth travelled down her face to her neck
and his fingers slipped inside the hem of her shirt she felt completely
. control. She wanted to call out but he pressed against her and it felt
so good that she was unable to utter a word. Within seconds, he had
unfastened the buttons on her shirt and his lips had moved down to kiss
the hollow of tier neck. She gasped, loving the feel of the cool air on
. skin, and her fingers were tangled in his hair. He lifted her onto the
bench. Her shirt fell off her shoulders and her breasts were visible
through the thin chiffon of her camisole, the nipples hard. She leaned
back against the bench, tier whole weight pressed back and the hard
shape of her bag digging into her back. Seconds later, her rape alarm
went off. '! Fuck!' Dave sprung back and the piercing scream of the
alarm enveloped them, deafening and shocking. He put his hands up to his
ears and screamed at her: ' the fucking hell is thad' Francesca knew
exactly what it was. John had bought it for her the day she started
work. She leaped up and spun round, knowing that she must have set it
off with her bottom. Reality hit her with a sudden blow and she
scrabbled to pull her shirt together and find her bag. She had to get
out ofthere! jumping down off the bench, it took seconds for her to get
herself together. She held her shirt with both hands, gripped the bag to
her chest and with the alarm still screaming, she flew out of the
studio.

Dave, was left standing there, stunned and dazed with the 293 Maria
Barrett -taste of her on his lips and the annoying problem of a rockhard
erection. ' damn and shit!'He strode to the door but he knew she had
gone. The noise had stopped and the pavement outside was deserted. She
could run like hell, he thought, adjusting his shorts to accommodate his
size. ' damn and shit!'he said again, and stepped outside, slamming the
door shut behind him.

Exactly the same expletives were uttered at exactly the same time but
three hundred miles away, in a flat in Mayfair, by Lady Margaret
Smith-Colyne. The only difference was, these words were uttered very
faintly, under her breath, and Charles, concentrating only on himself,
was completely oblivious to them. She couldn't afford to be interrupted,
not the first time, so she let the telephone ring on.

"How about this thent he said at last.

She glanced over her shoulder at him and saw that he had finally managed
something reasonably impressive. She purred and smiled.

Standing, legs apart with her back to him, Udy Margaret presented him
with the naked curve of her full, milkyskinned bottom. Since her thighs
were encased in black shiny leather boots and her mid-section was laced
into a black leather corset, it was the only part of her flesh that
could be seen from the back.

At the front, however, her large, creamy breasts hung over the top of
the corset and rubbed up against the marble of the fireplace where her
hands were bound with the silk of Charles Hewitt's Old Etonian tie. She
moved her hips provocatively and pretended to struggle with her bondage.
She heard Charles' breathing quicken. ' over here, darling,' she
whispered.

He crossed the room and she saw his reflection in the 294 Dangerous
Obsession rror above the mantelpiece. He was flushed and sweating held
his stomach in so that it didn't roll over the top of' the leather
jockstrap he wore. He slipped the pouch down , moved towards the swell
of her rump. ', that's good Suddenly, without warning, he took her and
she gasped, mainly with surprise, but then managed to remember to ,,moan
loudly. She thought about where she was and caught a glimpse in the
mirror of the face she had seen so often in the circles of power. Her
excitement rose and, wriggling her hips, she leaned forward, closed her
eyes and verbally gave it her all.

It was over in a matter of minutes and Lady Margaret breathed a sigh of
relief. She felt Charles attempt a second go and for one tricky moment
was unsure of quite what to do. Then, right on cue, the telephone rang
for the second time. Thank God, she thought, raising her eyes upwards to
heaven, saved by the bell. I Padding naked across to the side table,
Lady Margaret wriggled her hands out of the silk tie and picked up the
receiver, crooking it between her head and should er.

Charles discreetly left the room to dress. '.' ' '.' She had begun to
loosen the corset as she spoke and breathed a sigh when her chest was
able to expand freely. ', it's Richard.' '. Hello, Richard.' She was
only just able to keep the irritation out of her voice. She had not
called Richard Brachen for over a month - she had no use for him now. '
can I do for yout She remembered giving him the Mayfair number right
back at the beginning and realised now it was a mistake. Charles would
not like it at all.

295 Maria Barrett "More what I can do for you, Lady M.'Richard could
hear the slowed, throaty tone of her voice and knew what she'd been up
to. He felt himself harden. ' have rather an interesting snippet of
information for you, involving your husband's man, John Mcbride.
Remember him?" Tes.' She refused to give anything away. ' ' it also
involves that young girl, what was her name? The beautiful Italian one
who had that thing with Patrick. What was her name?' ' right, you've
made your point.' Anything about Francesca was useful, Richard knew
that. He could see just as clearly as she did that Patrick wasn't paying
enough attention to his sister, Penny. Perhaps a little information
would act as an insurance policy. ''m interested in what you have to say
Do you want to meeff '. At the Savoy, the American bar." She glanced
over her shoulder at Charles as he came back into the room fully
dressed. Richard never left after just one fuck.

What time?' It was just after mne.

'rwenty minutes.' ', give me half an hour.'She needed to shower. '
right, half an hour.' ''ll see you then,' she said, lowering her voice
to a whisper so that Charles couldn't hear. She went to hang up. ',
Margareff Test ''t bother to dress.' He laughed and the line went dead.

Exactly thirty minutes later, Lady Margaret walked into the American bar
at the Savoy and thehead waiter showed her to Richard's table. She had a
long, pale fawn cashmere over- coat on, black stockings, high heels and
a fawn and black 296 Dangerous Obsession scarf at her throat. The waiter
went to take her coati ', thank you. I'll leave it on.' Richard smiled.
' what is this informationt She lit a cigarette as he poured her glass
of champagne. ' we celebrating' ' of.' ', may I ask?" He reached over
and ran his finger along her cheek. ' renewal of our relationship.' ''re
very confident.' '. John Mcbride rang me earlier this week and asked me
if I would consider acting for him in a new business venture. Well, not
new as such. He has gone into business with David Yates, the fashion
designer." Lady Margaret sat back and looked at Richard. She knew he
wasn't lying - he was too transparent to be able to lie well. ' she
asked. ', David Yates is designing a new collection with a partner. John
wants me to take care of the legal side, copyright, et cetera. The
partner is a young Italian girl, Francesca Cameron.' Richard smiled, he
could not help himself. Lady Margaret's face had changed, literally in
that second. - ' She eyed him suspiciously. ', do you suppose, a
seventeen-year-old schoolgirl knows about fashiont He shrugged. ' idea.
Apparently something, though. David Yates has a good reputation; he
wouldn't risk it on a no-hoper." Lady Margaret ground her cigarette out
into the ashtray. ' you given your answer yeff ', that rather depends on
you.' And for the first time since she arrived, Lady Margaret smiled.
',' she said. ' think I may have underestimated you.' She picked up her
glass and took a sip. ' will keep 297 Maria Barrett me informed about
everything7'Whatever he could tell her would be serviceable. Information
was power. ' that I am party to, of course.' ' course.' She crossed her
leg and the coat fell open. He could just see her stocking top. ' we
drink up and leavet He signalled to the waiter. ''s no need to drink up.
I'll have them send it up.' He stood and held out his hand. ' on.' He
was rock-hard. ' favour deserves another. Don't you think?" She smiled
and got to her feet. '' she answered.

298 CHAPTER Twenty-three OVER THE NEXT MONTH, WORK at the David Yates
studio went on almost nonstop around the clock and everyone involved,
even down to the new girl Fridayjohn had hired, was passionate about the
Cameron Yates collection. It was new, dynamic, and breathtaking; it was
!;uperb, they all knew it. And, as it began to take shape, after that
first week when Francesca made her trial prints and Dave cut the paper
patterns, each person in the company became more and more committed to
the work. Spurred on by John, who somehow made the studio run like
clockwork, they forgot Christmas, which sparkled around them, glittering
in the shop windows and audible in the drinking crowds down on the
Quayside, and they worked to ever tightening deadlines, knowing it had
to be finished by the end of December. Somehow, this time round, nothing
else mattered.

Once Francesca's prints had been made up and altered wherever needed,
they were sent out to a big textile com- pany over in Sunflerland to be
printed off on rolls of good quality Italian silk. She had finished ten
designs but was still working on the last two by mid-December. She had
sent off two per week to the factory to be fully printed off since she
started; these were all back, only the final pair remained to be done.
Her work had been never-ending: the trial screen prints, the altering of
colours, shapes and patterns until the design was just right. Dave was
amazed at her tenacity.

Wherever he felt a change was needed, he had bluntly 299 Maria Barrett
said so and Francesca had simply gone back to the drawing board,
produced a variation and started work on it straight away Most other
designers would have argued and whined but she seemed to know
instinctively what he meant. Each time she went away to make changes,
she came back with something he would have chosen himself. It awed and
inspired him and his own work flourished under her influence.

The designs that Dave produced for this collection, he knew, were
amongst his best ever. Perhaps it was Francesca, perhaps it was knowing
that his company depended on it, but whatever it was, he didn't analyse
it, he just got on with the work, designing long and hard, working
through the night and putting every ounce of his creativity into it. The
wools arrived in great lengths from Scotland in a dazzling array of
colours and he directed their cutting with a thrill and confidence he
had not felt since his very first collection. He knew his line
perfectly, he knew his shape and his look and he was convinced that when
they put it all together for the first fitting it would work. It would
do more than work, he thought, it would frigging make love.

As the third week in December began, and Christmas was just a few days
away, the collection was in its final stages, ready for the first
fitting. Everyone in the studio-felt excited, anticipation seemed to
hang in the air along with a wonderful feeling of exhilaration, as if
they knew it would be good. This time, for the first fitting, everything
had been organised properly: the models had been booked and John had
insisted on a decent space in one of the huge, airy suites in the
Swallow Hotel in the city centre. He had done a deal with the hotel,
promised to do the final shoot for the press pack there if they lent him
the space, and they were only too happy to do so. He wanted to make sure
the stu- 300 Dangerous Obsession was left untouched so that any work to
be done could e tackled straight away and he felt it was important to
see clothes in the right setting. He had organised with the management
for a catwalk to set up so the models could strut and turn, swirl and ve
the clothes. He reckoned that this way everyone Id get some kind of feel
for the final show mi'London, an .,;idea of what music would fit, and of
how the line-up should be organised. They were running out of time and
the more ..they could do at once the better. But there was also one
iextra reason for booking the smart hotel space. The whole team would be
present and John wanted to thank them for all their hard work.

He had ordered a Chinese feast of dim sum, chilli king prawns and
sizzling chicken to be delivered from The Golden Goose in Stowell
Street, along with several bottles of hot saki, chopsticks, and tiny
china cups to drink out of. He had asked for a huge Norwegian Christmas
tree to be set up and decorated with white candles and tartan ribbons
and he went to the Body Shop and had baskets made up and tied with huge
red bows, one for each member of the staff. John r knew that morale was
high at David Yates, but he also-knew that if he was going to have to
ask them to work over Christmas, and he though the ', then he needed to
make sure that everyone, even Elaine, their resident gofer, knew how
much it was appreciated.

it was the Wednesday before the final fitting and Francesca was up
early, sitting in bed looking at the last two swatches that the textile
company had sent through the previous night. it was the first hour she
had had to herself for weeks and she took her time going over the
colours and the pattern, checking that it all matched, enjoying the
solitude and the moment's peace. She could hear John moving 301 Maria
Barrett around downstairs, sorting out his files and accounts for his
meeting with the bank. He was tense, she could tell from his rushed
movements. She wondered about it for a minute and then climbed out of
bed, going over to the top of the stairs.

John?'She heard him come out into the narrow hall. ' you all right? Can
I get you some coffee or something?" He smiled up at her. ', you go on
back to your work, I'm fine.' He didnl want to say anything to anyone,
not until he had met with the bank. It was his problem, anyway - he was
supposed to be managing the business. ''m off now to the studio - I have
to collect some files before I go to the bank. I'll see you later." She
nodded, pulling her dressing gown in tighter. it was cold - the ground
was frozen outside and the little house was chilly '!' she called and
went back into her room to dress. The luxury of being in bed was spoiled
now because she was too cold to enjoy it.

Laying out her clothes, Francesca thought about what she would wear and
tried several combinations before deciding on the outfit. Finally, she
put on a short pleated tartan skirt, in bright blues, greens and black,
with black opaque tights and one of David Yates' black knitted silk
sweaters.

The jumper had a high neck and was tight fitting in the body and
sleeves. It emphasised her slimness and the length of her body. She
tried on a pair of black high heels but thought that they made her look
too tall, so she changed them for a pair of black suede loafers,
narrow-toed with a gold buckle, one of the promotion pairs from Freeze.
She added gold earrings, a bright blue and green square of silk tied as
a bandanna in her hair - one of her own prints - and she was ready She
looked at her face, newly washed and tingling, and brushed a sprinkling
of translucent powder onto her cheeks. As she left the room, she
wondered what 302 Dangervus Obsezion Id say this morning about her
appearance. The past two weeks, she had wondered this every mornik1g as
she laid out her clothes, brushed her hair or looked at her face in the
mirror. Recently he had made her more aware of herself than she had ever
been. She could sense -him watching her as she worked, or looking at her
as she crossed the studio. It unnerved her, but it also excited her;
-,-.V made her body feel strong and powerful; it made her feel Abve.
They had never spoken about the night in the print studio, but they were
both conscious of it - it was there -between them, the energy of
physical attraction, and it iwde their work connect, sizzle with
excitement.

Leaving the house at her usual time, Francesca -slung her bag over her
shoulder and set off towards Osborne Road and the Metro, stopping at the
newsagent's on the way to .-buy her morning paper. She picked up the
Mail, tucked it under her arm without looking at it and paid, continuing
on her way to the station. On the platform, she finally opened Out the
paper while she waited for the train and looked down at the front page.
She glimpsed the photograph and a searing ache went through her. She
closed er eyes, oblivious to'everything but the pain. ' you all right,
pett She felt a hand at her elbow. ', yes I'm fine.' She opened her eyes
and looked up at the lady in front of her. She felt disorientated,
slightly sick and her hands were trembling. ' look pretty pale to me.
Would you like to sit downt ', honestly, I'm fine.' She was abrupt; she
couldn't think straight. ' right, pet, whatever ya. say' The lady moved
off and Francesca called after her: ' anyway!' The lady turned and
smiled then continued down the platform.

303 Maria Barrett Francesca reached down for the paper. In her confusion
and shock she had dropped it on the ground. She saw the picture again,
and the same pain went through her heart.

Looking up at her from the front page was the face of Patrick Devlin,
smiling and waving at a crowd. The headline read: Leading Light In Tory
By-Election.

She stared down at it, the memory of him so strong that just a
photograph, black and white and slightly blurred, could evoke the touch
of his mouth on her skin, the warmth of his smile, his laughter, so
relaxed and spontaneous that it sounded like a boy's. She remembered
everything about him and what she could not remember she had drawn: a
sketch of him asleep, of him throwing Sophie up into the air, of him
holding both children and smiling at the comfort of the embrace. She had
captured every detail of him; she had the whole of him locked away in
her heart, and bound up with her fears and her love. But now, at just a
glimpse of him, of his life, it all came to the surface and it hurt more
than she ever thought it could.

Blindly she staggered to a bench and sat down, clutching the paper, the
image of his face fresh in her mind. She sat there for some time. The
train came and went and she heard nothing but the words inside her own
head. I am being stupid, she told herself. It is over, it is in the
past. And yet, despite all she had done in the last few months and
despite how she had grown and changed, just the sight of him made her
want to weep. I should hate him, she thought angrily, but she didn't. '
ypurself together,' she muttered fiercely under her breath and then
suddenly, she smiled. That was one of John's expressions. The thought of
John made her feel instantly better. Getting to her feet, she took a
deep breath and shook her head to try and clear her mind. It must just
be the shock, she told herself, pushing back all the crowd- 304
Dangerous Obsession io . It reminds me, that's all, it brings back bad
es. Then she folded the newspaper and dumped it vely in the nearest
rubbish bin. Still not quite cond, she held her head up and said to
herself. I am my woman; I will not let Patrick Devlin ruin my life! d
she stepped forward as the train approached, feeling cold gust of air on
her face as it blew down the tunnel, g her cheeks and sweeping into her
mind, forcing the shock of his image. Moments later, she climbed o the
train, took her seat and glanced at her reflection in glass of the
window opposite. Again she took a deep ath ' calming herself and pulling
the threads of her selffidence together. I hax1p changed and I have
grown, she said silently to the e in the glass. I will choose my own
destiny, love whom M please, and be my own person. Isn1 that what John
said?

hange what I can't accept? Nothing will interfere with _11hat. ',' she
said quietly, thrusting everything that rt deep down inside her. '."
Walking into the studio half an hour later, as always the first there,
Francesca crossed to her space and took off her coat, throwing it over
the back of her chair. She was thirsty and before she did anything.
else, she needed a coffee. Going through to the kitchen, she filled the
pot with water, added the coffee grinds and turned on the heat on the
stove. She found herself a cup, put a big spoonful of sugar in the
bottom and waited for the coffee to boil, flicking through a Vogue as
she did so. When it was ready, she poured the thick black coffee into
her cup and turned to leave the kitchen. ' must have been a heavy night
last night.' Dave blocked her path as he stood in the doorway. ' the
look of the coffee, that is." 305 Maria Barrett She shrugged and took a
sip of the scalding liquid, looking at him over the rim of her cup. He
was leaning against the doorframe. His hair was loose for once and she
noticedhe had had it cut. it was dark and glossy and as he ran his hand
through it, sweeping it back off his face, she suddenly rerhembered her
own fingers tangled in its length. She blushed. '-thoughts, Frankiet He
stood where he was, just smiling, and she wondered again if he could
read her mind. ' course nod' '. Can I have a sip of your coffee, by the
wayt She held out the cup and he took it. She noticed his lips briefly
as he put the cup to his mouth and took a gulp. '. Delicious.' He held
it out for her. '." She took it back and swallowed another mouthful,
aware of the faint, exciting smell of his cologne on the cup. She saw
that he was watching her. ' you all right this morning?' He kept his
eyes on her face as he asked. '.'She avoided his stare. '1hy?, ', I
don't know, you look a bit ...' He scratched his chin. ' bit
preoccupied. As if there were something on your mind.' He wanted to add:
''s kind of sexy' but he didn't dare. '! Of course nod' She laughed
falsely and went to step ast him. It was the first time they had been
alone since the night, in the print studio and she suddenly felt
unnerved, excited, unsafe. I will love whom I please, she thought
briefly. He touched her arm as she passed. ', have dinner with me
tonightt He had no idea why he asked. He had told himself time and time
again to leave well alone but it just slipped out. She looked so intense
this morning, as if all the passion that she locked up had risen too
close to the surface and she was struggling to 306 Dangerous Obsession
The thought of it gave him a raging hard-on.

glanced down at his fingers on her arm. They were -and masculine and his
scent was warm and heady. , to choose, oh how she wanted to be free to ,
course she would go. She was young and indet and she found him very
attractive. ' answered. ' will have dinner with you.' Then -looked up at
him and saw his tongue dart over his she could hear him breathing. ' she
asked. y house? I'll cook." I'd like that.' She could not believe she
was saying words. What have I got to lose? she thought. he sound of
Tilly in the studio broke the moment n them and Dave dropped his hand
away from her She squeezed past him. Halfway across the studio she d
back. ' timet she called. e shrugged. ', eight-thirty7 You can come
straight here if you like, I'll give you a lift.' POK' She liked that
idea better, it gave her less time to k about it. Turning away again,
she carried on over to space. She heard Dave shout at Tilly but she
switched -the radio and his voice was drowned by the noise of the sat in
the outer office of a suite belonging to Mr. W c royd, the business
development manager of Dave's k k, and stared up at the glossy
photographs of manufacnng and commerce in progress, all funded by this
rticular division of the bank. His eye was constantly -6, ra to the
photo of Dave, in the middle of a crowd, Whine the fashion award he had
won four years ago and ' beneath his name written up in lights: David
Yates.

gave John hope. David Yates was one of the success 307 Maria Barrett,
stories, one of the bank's true prot !-s. Applied for funding in 1982,
expanded 1985, award-winning 1987 and always in the public eye. Surely
this would help? He tapped his toe lightly against the leg of his chair
and continued to wait. ', Mr. Mcbride. Sorry to have kept you waiting so
long.' Ackroyd came into the room, carrying his file. ' come this way'
He led the way back into the inner office and John followed. He waited
for Ackroyd to speak.

Ur Mcbride, I have been on the phone all this time to our venture
capital advisors down in London and unfortunately I have to tell you
that we are unable to do much more for you. I'm sorry, truly I am, but
with the current economic situation we have a much tighter loan policy
operating and we simply cannot extend you any more credit." John was
silent for a moment; he had been expecting this. They had already been
through the whole argument but he felt he should give it one more try.
He leaned forward in his chair and quietly said: '. Ackroyd, I
understand the bank's policy but it is hardly the fault of my company
that two of our biggest retailers have gone under. Surely we cannot be
held responsible for that? And we have the prospect of a brand new
collection!" 11 know that, Mr. Mcbride, but it's a fact of life that the
chances of ever getting the money owed to you when a company has gone
into receivership are very small. You are way down on that list of
creditors and the bank has already done as much for you as we are able
to. I'm sure this new collection is very good and I don't doubt the
skills of Mr. Yates, but it is just too much of a risk for us at the
moment. I'm sorry. I wish you every success with the venture." John
snorted and shook his head. Ackroyd could see his anger barely hidden
beneath the surface. ', let's be reasonable,' he said. ' understand your
308 Dangerous Obsession 1,Mr. Mcbride, believe me I do. But we are up to
our nit on your company and to be blunt, we simply can- 6rd to keep
giving out large sums of money, larly to a new business manager, with no
track W this kind of venture, and an unknown, inexperi- signer.' He
shrugged. ''s a very depressed market You must know as well as I do how
fickle the business is." 0 remained coldly silent. kroyd tried to
placate him. ' are suffering in the too, you know.' this point John
exploded. ' what, Mr. Ackroyd, am sed to do? You won't lend me the money
and I canany further without extra funding.' kroyd fiddled awkwardly
with his pen. ' are loan companies who would probably be in a position
Ip, or there is the option of remortgaging your prop- o, I can't do
that.' John shook his head. He had no tion of putting the house up for
collateral and he knew type of loan sharks Ackroyd was talking about -
no der he looked so shifty Thank you all the same, Mr. Ackroyd, but I
don't think t sort of advice applies to a reputable company. I will try
0 er bank.'John stood to leave. He was angry but he that Ackroyd had
little to do with the decision: he was st the man on the dud end of the
arrangement. ' u for your time,' he said, picking up his files. Ackroyd
held out his hand and John took it. ' luck, Mr. Mcbride. I'm sorry we
can't help, truly I "Yes, thanks.'John turned and silently left the
rocm. He alked out into the corridor and did something he rarely id: he
swore.

309 Maria Barrett "Shid'he said aloud and then carried on down to the
lifts.

Instead of going straight to the studio, as he would normally have done,
John went home to Marston Avenue for some peace and quiet. He needed to
think things through. Although he had told Ackroyd he would go to
another bank, he was pretty sure that the answer would be the same
whoever he chose to talk to. Ackroyd was right: he had no credibility in
the business world; he was inexperienced and too old for the job -
shame, he was damn good at it.

Sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, John decided to ring
Richard Brachen to discuss the situation with him. He didn't know if
Brachen would be able to help but he had said to call any time John felt
there was a problem that needed advice. Taking the telephone off the
wall, John looked up Brachen's number in his diary and dialled London.
'? Er, Richard Brachen, please. Er, yes, my name is Mcbride, John
Mcbride. Thank you.'The switchboard put him through. ', Richard
Brachen's secretary' ', hello, is it possible to speak to Mr. Brachent '
I ask who's calling?. I "Yes, certainly It's John Mcbride.' ' moment,
Mr. Mcbride, he's on the other line at the moment, can I ask you to
waitt ' course.' The faintest of clicks sounded and John listened to the
silence of an empty line.

Richard Brachen's secretary stood up and popped her head round the door
of his office. ', there's a Mr. Mcbride on line two for you." Richard
Brachen nodded and she disappeared. He con- tinued with his call on line
one. ' Lord! He must be bloody psychic, that man!

310 Dangerous Obsession think he knows we were just talking about, him?'
' be ridiculous, Richard!' Lady Margaret laughed the other end of the
line. ' me back if its anything teresting, will yout ' course.' He
pressed the button and Lady Margaret instantly cut off. ' him through
please, Sally'John e on the line. '!' ', Richard.' What can I do for
yout "a ', Richard, I wonder if I might ask a little advice, :'regarding
finance for the companyt ' course. Anything you like.' And John told him
the story of the failed retailers, the debt that had just come to light
and the need for extra funding. He told him about the bank, about the
urgency of ,.:the loan to fund the show at Olympia and about his
inexperience as a business manager, as if Brachen didn't already know.
All the -way through his dialogue Brachen listened attentively and
commented every now and then; all the way through he had a faint
peculiar smile on his lips.

Minutes after he had put the phone down to John ,"Mcbride, he redialled
Motcom and waited for Lady Margaret to be called to the phone. His smile
had widened. ' '? You sound pretty jolly!' ' am. Listen, wopld you be
able to raise sixty to eighty thousand pounds ia cash in the next week?"
She laughed. ''s a ludicrously large sum, Richard! Why, may I ask?' '
return for a fair proportion of the collateral of David Yates, the
fashion company' ' Lord!' '! I think I may just have done you a pretty
big 311 Maria Barrett 'favour, Margared' Richard sat back in his chair
and drew pound signs on his blotter as he spoke. ' Mcbride just rang me
with a finance problem. It's a long story and I won't bore you with it -
bankrupt creditors et cetera - but he needs funding, to the tune of
sixty thou'. He can't proceed without it - the bank's refused to extend
his loan facility and he has a collection to produce.' ' you suret '
course I'm sure, why would he lie to me, for God's sake? I'm his bloody
solicitoff ' he'd never let me loan him money, Richard! He would be
highly suspicious of my motives, after all the business with the Italian
girl.' Lady Margaret found it very difficult to use Francesca's name. '
you surprisedt Richard smiled. ' are your motives, Margaret?' ' of your
bloody business!' She only had one, and that was Patrick. He was on the
way up and no one was going to ruin that for him. His pining for
Francesca was pathetic; it was blocking the path to Penny Brachen, both
she and Richard knew that. And marriage to Penny, in Lady Margaret's
eyes, was an almost perfect match for Patrick. Penny was the ideal
politician's wife, well connected, immensely rich and easily dominated.
Yes, she thought, it was about time she upped her insurance, a stake in
David Yates was worth an awful lot more than the sixty thousand she
would be paying for it. ''re quite right, Margaret,' Richard said, ' is
none of my business.' He could afford to be deferential. Richard knew
exactly what Lady Margaret was up to, and with Patrick's recent, albeit
rather forced, interest in Penny, anything she did to secure Devlin's
future could only bode well for his sister. Richard wanted Penny
married: she had big problems that only he knew about and he wasn't sure
she 312 Dangerous Obsesswn cope much longer on her own. ', whatever r
reasons, Margaret,' he continued, ' wouldn't have "',know anything about
you. I'd tell him it was a consor- looking to make an investment through
a nominee mpany ;"Really? Would that work, d'you think? John is pretty
wd, you know.' Not that shrewd!' She was so bloody patronising at -'OK.
I think I could raise the money relatively easily - a number of shares I
could get rid of without Henry owing too much about it all. But do you
really think it ould work?'Control, that was what mattered. Patrick was
the brink of success and if she had ' little power to play th ... ', it
would. In fact, John is all set to come down to see e this afternoon. I
said I might be able to help and he said I had anyone interested, he'd
get the next train out of, ewcastle.' C. ', Richard, you clever thing,
you! Presumably I could ave you to work out all the details, make it
look goodt ' course.' '' She smiled and knew that Richard could sense
her pleasure. ' like I might have to come down to London myself tonight.
Doesn't iff ' you like.' He hated himself for reacting as he did but even
the sound of her excitement over the telephone drove him mad. ', I
like!' Her laugh fluttered down the line and he could hear her
breathing. He imagined her mouth close to the receiver and reached down
to his crotch. Seconds later, the line went dead. He started as his
secretary came into the office. 4 "Richard, you have a client in
reception, a Mr. Frosome." 313 Maria Barrett 10h God, yes!' She always
did this to him - he forgot everything, it was as if he was obsessed. '
him I'll be down in five minutes, will you, Sal? I've got to go to the
loo.' '--2 She stopped. He had zipped past her, out of the office and
along the corridor to the Gents before she had time to reply ' problem,
Richard. Thank you, Sally'she finished and made her way down to the
lifts.

But Richard Brachen was more than five minutes. He knew what pleasures
he had in store that night if things went well with Mcbride and he
needed to get rid of his excess excitement. Margaret certainly knew how
to repay a favour and that required extraordinary staying power.

Later that evening, at the same time that John got on the train at
King's Cross, after his meeting with Richard Brachen, Francesca slipped
into the passenger seat of Dave's Golf GTi and fastened her seat belt.
She waited for him to come round to the driver's side and fiddled with
the stereo to find some music: he always had the most complicated of
sound systems. ''s here.' Dave leaned into the car and pressed a button
on the dashboard, lighting up the stereo. INXS came blaring out of the
speakers and Francesca jumped. ',Oops! Sorry!' He turned the volume down
and slid into his seat. ''s some tapes in the glove compartment if you
don't like this.' He started the engine and Francesca rummaged through a
pile of unboxed tapes to find something she liked. She picked out
Themesfrom Walt Disney, held it up for him and he changed the tape. ''m
the King of the Swingers' flooded into the car and they both smiled.

Pulling off, Dave headed up Dean Street and towards the A167 and
Jesmond. ' want to stop for a drink somewhere before we go home for
supper?" Francesca looked out at the late-night shoppers, strug- 314
Dangerous Obsession ",home with their packed carrier bags. ', I dowt
think it'll probably be packed in town.' '.'Th ey drove on in silence,
and Dave whistled quitly to the tune on the tape. It was dark and warm
in the car , he could see Francesca's face in shadow, lit every now then
by the lights from the street. She was staring ahead again he could
sense her intensity, just as he had that ming- it fascinated him; it was
like a magnet that drew m to her and made his whole body tense with
excite- t. ' all right?' He turned off the main road into Jesmond.
Ifes.' She wasn't lying, but she wasn't being exactly honst either. She
was feeling confident and free and she was 1111"Ll", Ahinking: I know
what I am doing, I know how I feet. And there was the tiniest of echoes
in the very back of her mind that said: ' no you don'd' She ignored it
and turned to smile at him as they swung left into Brandling Village and
pulled into the narrow side lane that led to his house. Dave -,stopped
the ' and switched off the engine. The music

"Aied instantly and she began to climb out of the car. '.' He touched
her shoulder. '?' She -looked back at him and he bent his head to kiss
her. It was a short kiss and she felt a tiny thrill in the pit of her
stomach. But the echo sounded again and she thought for the briefest
second: do I really know what I'm doing? She kissed him back, determined
that she did. ' taste wonderful,' he said and kissed the tip of her
nose. He climbed out of the car, coming round to open the passenger door
for her. ' you hungry?' ' of." He held her hand and fumbled with his
keys to open the front door. Finally managing it, he led her inside the
house and pushed the door closed with his foot. ', let me get you a
drink. What would you liket 315 Maria Barrett "Water? Orange juice?
Anything, really' Ugh! I've got some wine, I'll get you a glass of that.
OKT He headed off to the kitchen, then called out: ' want to have a
showert ' thanks." He came into the sitting room carrying a large globe
of cut glass filled with a dark red wine. ' if I do? I feel pretty
shitty after a hard day at the office, dear." She smiled. ', of course
not.' '! If you sit here and drink your wine, I'll be ten minutes, and
then I'll cook you the most delicious chicken chasseur.' ' wilit ', not
actually cook it, just sort of warm it through. At least, that's what
Cherry told me to do on the phone this afternoon. But I will make the
salad. I am an expert at opening the Marks Spencer's bag and shuffling
it round in a bowl with some dressing!" She laughed and took a sip of
the wine. ''ll be down before you finish the glass.' He walked across
the room. ' you in a minute,' and seconds later she was left alone.

For some time Francesca sat and sipped the w ine, staring at the calm
and ordered sequence of the room. Everything was in its place and was
perfectly suited for that place; everything fitted together. She
recognised the same quality in the room that she saw in Dave's work: it
was classic, beautifully defined and yet there was a hint of quirkiness,
always something unusual. Standing up and crossing the floor, she looked
more closely at the prints on the far wall and, with a blush, suddenly
realised that she had pinpointed the touch of quirkiness in the room.
From afar she had seen the small pictures as abstracts, moving shapes in
grey and brown tones; nearer, she saw they were finely 316 Dangerous
Obsession figures entwined, skin and hair tan drawn erotic sketches,
gled to get tier. She took a large gulp of her wine and peered a little
closer; the signature was D. Yates.

Standing back Francesca felt a strange excitement she felt a warmth and
intimacy with the figures. Images of a long, lithe body, dark-skinned
and muscled, ran through her mind and she recognised the male torso in
the draw- :. She caught her breath, shocked at her response, and moved
away from the wall. She turned and finished her wine in one swallow. The
soft velvety taste of it made her shiver.

In the centre of the room, she stood for a moment, poised, holding her
glass and running her fingers involuntarily along the long thick stem.
She was not thinking; she was I istening to the rhythm of her body, a
body she wanted to control, to direct and to tell to love where she
pleased. She felt suddenly confident, as if she could do anything,
anything at all. And in that instant she rashly made her decision. She
placed the glass carefully on the table by the sofa, slipped off her
shoes and quietly climbed the stairs in her stockinged feet.

In the rnain bedroom she could hear the gush of ' water in the shower
and feel the dampness of the steam that crept underneath the door. She
recognised the same warm, heady cologne she had smelled that morning.
Silently, she pulled tier sweater over her head, unfastened her skirt
and slipped off her tights. The cotton body she wore underneath was
already damp as she peeled it down over her chest, find then her hips.
She opened the bathroom door, all thought emptied from her mind, and
crossed to the shower-. Sliding back the glass panel, she stepped
inside.

Dave felt her before he saw her. She seemed to step through the steam
and he felt the shock of her body against his own, the firm, long line
of her and the fullness of her 317 Maria Barrett breasts. His breath
caught in the back of his throat and his arms went around her, pulling
her close. He looked down through the torrent of water at her.

Jesus, Frankie!' She silenced him with her mouth. His own'body was
slippery from the soap and her hands slithered along his spine and down
to his buttocks. Her lips opened his as the water poured down over their
faces and into their mouths, in a glorious, hot stream. He edged her
back against the wall and bent his head to her breasts, licking the wet
skin, drinking the water as it flowed down over her-nipples. He heard
her moan as she reached for him. He lifted his head to hear her, the
sound of her voice almost more exciting than the touch of her body.

Suddenly he leaped back. '? Who the hell is that He yanked back the
glass door and in an instant had stomped out of the shower. He grabbed a
towel to cover his dying erection and stood, panting heavily. Francesca
stumbled out after him, as if woken from a dream, and the water gushed
down behind her. ' the hell is Patrick? he asked insistently, towering
above her, his face like thunder. ' my God! I ... I can't believe it ...
I ...' Francesca stood wet and naked before him and in spite of his
anger just the sight of her inflamed him. ' ... I don't know what
...'Dave was almost menacing in his fury. ' just don't know ...'
Suddenly she burst into tears. Sobbing, she ran past him out of the
bathroom. '!' He heard her struggling with her clothes in the next room
and crossed to the shower to turn off the water. He took a warm towel
off the heated towel rail and followed her through to the bedroom.

Trankie, here.' He moved over to her and put the towel around her. She
was shivering and had put her hand through her tights in her hurry to
get them on. Herjumper 318 Dangerous Obsmion c on her head and she
looked so young and ridicut he pulled her to him, hugged her and started
to h, Dave, I'm so sorry, I '.' I le rubbed her back and then walked her
over to "it bed and sat her down. ', do you want to start nt Ei'l. She
shook her head. She couldn't, she didn't dare. ' you want to talk about
it?'Again she shook her head. '. I shall leave you to get dressed and go
down and i. start doing magical things with the supper.' He stood up.
X'Soeeing as I can't do magical things with you, that is." He smiled.
His anger and frustration had vanished. I'm ably better off not getting
too close to her anyway, he I ... ought. He got the feeling that with
Frankie it could so easj, be more than just a damn good screw, and he
didn't nt to take that kind of risk. Better just frieni ds, he recked,
far better that way ' you in a few minutest He grabbed his robe from the
ck of the door and turned to leave. -Davet ' He looked at her from the
doorway. ''s nothing to do with you.' She stopped. She didn't w what it
was, why she couldn't get Patrick out of her kead. ' mean ... you made
me feel really wonderful.' She '. ' should bloody well hope so,'he
answered, grinning. ' , medals for this sport!'And he walked out,
diplomati- Ily leaving her alone to dress. Francesca sat on the bed,
huddled in the thick white wel and buried her head in her hands,
desperate with miliation and shame. She had made the most terrible, .
fool of herself She would never be able to face Dave 319 Maria Barrett
"Why, shethought miserably, why7 I have tried so hard to forget Patrick.
I have willed myself to forget him, forced him deep down into my heart,
and yet somehow I cry out for him, my body yearns for him and
unconsciously I need him, like a drug. Why, damn it, why7 She felt the
warmth of her tears splash down onto her bare thigh and brushed them
away. ' thought you could change everything, Francesca,' she whispered
bitterly ' changed nothing, not even the secrets of your own heart."
Having thought better of leaving Francesca alone, a few moments later
Dave came back to the bedroom and stood silently in the open doorway,
watching her cry He felt completely helpless, embarrassed by her grief,
and thought that he would like to get hold of the bloke that had made
her feel like this and kill him. He moved to leave, unsure of what to
do, but she looked up and saw him standing there. ' have made such a
fool of my elf,' she whispered. ' must hate me.' '!' He crossed to her
and sat on the bed. ' things happen, Frankie,' he said gently. ' I could
never hate you - we, re friends, remembert He stopped, looked away for a
moment and then continued: ' know, sometimes we think we want one person
when all the time it's someone else. It's like a safety valve, lets out
all that emotion.' He picked up her hand and turned it over, running his
finger across the- palm. He saw for the first time the faint scars on
her wrist where she usually wore her watch and turned away to hide his
shock. ' can't change some things, you know, Frankie,' he said gently, '
of the things inside you, some of the scars. You just have to learn to
accept them, to live with them.' He touched the marking on her wrist. '
he do this to yout 320 Dangerous Obsession @She shook her head. '. All
he did was love mea think t hurts more.' ' you ever tell him about itt
', there's no point. He knew, but I wasn't good enough , him, you see.'
The way she said it made him want to , her like a child, it was so
simple and hopeless. ''ve ed to work it out and I think ...'She paused
and took a th. ' think he might have wanted me if I'd been differt, if
I'd been good enough.' ' Frankie.' He kissed her hand. ' were good
Weriough, you've always been good enough and you always be. And as for
now, you are about to be a star, my dar- "W1 Frankie, shooting across
the sky and blinding us all Wi th your light.' He smiled. ' shall look
up at you in a few ,4,weeks' time and have stardust in my eyes!" 4',
Finally she smiled back. ' you, Dave." He shrugged. ' whatt F ' ...' She
should have said, for making me see that ! I can't have it all my own
way, that some things I ,,"can't change. But she didn't, she hadn't
quite worked it all ' yet. ' being you,' she answered and he rolled his
eyes, smiled and said: ' lot of good it did me, huh?'"

321 CHAPTER Twenty-four AS THE FINAL FEW-WEEKS slipped away after
Christmas and the first fitting was over with, the show at Olympia
emerged out of the distance as much more of a reality and Dave's
prophecy for Francesca seemed ever more likely She was on her way to
becoming a star. Everyone could see it: the collection was the best they
had ever produced and her flair for colour, her feel for fabric and
design showed the mark of a true artist. But she was totally oblivious
to it.

The level of excitement rose day by day as the preparations for the show
began in earnest. The photo shoot took place, with the best photographer
John could afford, and the pictures were stunning. The press pack was
designed, the releases were written and Francesca and Dave were
photographed together for the front of the folder. They were laughing in
the picture and they looked good together, an attractive and
well-matched pair. The Cameron Yates collection looked set to succeed.

This was the general opinion and there was little to deter everyone from
accepting it. John had secured his finance from Richard Brachen for
twenty-five per cent Of the shares in David Yates - a little over the
odds, he privately thought, but who was he to argue? They needed the
finance and they'd be sunk without it. Besides, Richard had organised a
good deal for John. He told him he had written a release clause into the
contract for David Yates, and negotiated a reasonable rate of interest
on the loan. John could not have asked for more. With Richard explain-
3"

Dangerous Obsession the legal details to him personally, all he had to
do sign on the dotted line and not bother with pages of $mall print.
With a collection to direct and produce, it was great weight off his
mind to know that he had someone could trust. For Francesca, those weeks
after the night with Dave 2 d in a flurry of work, and through that,
through their -hange of ideas and dedicated commitment, she coped th her
shame and embarrassment and found, much to surprise, that they actually
drew closer together and ,,"became greater friends. The physical
attraction between In was still there, only now they knew how to deal
with Dave knew that Francesca needed more than he was pable of giving
and that he wasn't the right person anyy, But nevertheless, he adored
her. He could see the love d respect she had for John and found himself
hoping, aite extraordinarily, that she might feel the same about one day
inally, the morning of the departure to London arrived the David Yates
studio was in a frenzy of excited activevery inch of space in the studio
was taken up with in various stages of packing, with shoes, hats, and
,:boxes of jewellery, and each person involved with the col- @.lection
seenied to be running in all directions, fiddling, finishing and.
panicking in the usual fashionable way Francesca sjt with Dave on the
big black leather sofa and watched it all while he went over their
schedule of Jnterviews with the media the next day - who she would be
seeing, what to expect and, most importantly, what she should say She
nodded and made the odd noise but her '"mind was focused on the clothes,
checking how they were ing packed, seeing that the right accessories
were going in th them. She wasn't really interested in the promotional
5_4 323 Maria Barrett side of London Fashion Week; she just wanted to
show the clothes, sell the collection and move on to the next one. Her
fingers were already itching to get back to the drawing board.

Dave tapped her on the thigh and she jumped. ' you listening to met She
smiled sheepishly ' be honest with you, no.' '! We've got the most
important interview first, bloody Sod's law, and you, my girl, have got
to know what you're going to say You won't have time to rehearse on some
of the lesser trade mags; you have to be word-perfect first time round.
I don't want us to fuck up here, Frankie! All rightt She had never seen
him so uptight; he was much worse than the last time round. ' right,'
she said. ''m sorry, what is it we have to sayt ''s all here in note
form, and I'll go over it again. This bloke at Fashion Review is pretty
much queen bee, and also one hell of a bitch. He'll give you a right
pasting, I guarantee, so try to listen this time.' ', OK! I'm
listening!" Dave went through the interview for the second time and
began to feel a little more relaxed as Francesca reacted well to the
questions he fired at her. After his coaching she was going to sound as
good as she looked and he knew, as most designers did, how important it
was to be the darling of the press.

By lunch-time, most of the clothes had been packed and the studio was
beginning to look empty and slightly forlorn, with mounds of disused
tissue paper and plastic wrappings all over the place and the remains of
the last-minute work discarded on tables and chairs. Evelyn and Cherry
had finished for the day, all the trimming and detail on the clothes 324
'bangerous Obsession plete and only Tilly continued to work, finalising
and bossing the men who moved the great ilac of clothes down the stairs
and out to the van.

Elaine sat and waited for everyone to depart, then she Ould start to
clear up the mess. Jt was twelve-thirty when John called the team
together. Mas due to leave with Francesca and Dave on the two ock train
from Newcastle Central and he wanted one meeting before he left. He
turned off the radio and ted across the studio floor for everyone to
pull up a ir over by the black sofa and then he went to his office and
picked up a file from his desk. He had agreed his a with Dave a couple
of days earlier and his last task for show had been to put his thoughts
into action. '. Everyone presentt He looked around -at Tilly, lyn,
Cherry, Elaine, Francesca and Dave. ','he said d felt a surge of pride
at his staff. He smiled. ' you all know, the first showing of the new
Cameron ates collection will be in two days' time at Olympia." ryone
groaned loudly at this obvious remark and John Id up his hand to quieten
them. ' right, all right! Bunch smart alecs! What you probably don't
know, however, is t I have a small envelope for each of you to say how
uch we - Dave, Francesca and myself - appreciate your rd work in putting
this collection together and how much are indebted to you for its
quality and finish.' He moved rward and handed round the small brown
envelopes. urmurs of thanks went through the group. ' we have hasn't
been customary in this company before, but we done felt it should be.
You've all been involved in making the col- tion; you should have the
chance to- see it as everyone does.' ' what?'Tillys voice was sharp with
excitement as she re open her envelope. ' don't believe it!' She leaped
up 325 Maria Barrett threw her arms round John. He coughed back a
mouthful of hair and she stood back laughing. '' brilliant, this is,
friggin' brilliant!' ', John!' Evelyn had opened her envelope. ''ve
never been to London, I mean, not to stay in a posh hotel an' all." The
rustling of paper continued and everyone found their train tickets and a
glossy leaflet on one of the smaller THF hotels in London. ' have
organised an overnight stay in the hotel you see in the brochure,'John
said. ' you have complementary tickets for the show - out front, or in
the back with the three of us, it's up to you.' He smiled. ' hope you'll
all be able to make it.' I ' bed' Elaine's voice boomed and everyone
burst out laughing. '! That's settled then!" Dave stood up and looked
across at John. It was time they were moving. ', 1 think it's time we
made tracks, everybody,'John said.

Dave pulled Francesca to her feet and put his arm round her. ',
everyone,' he said. ', er ...' He paused self-consciously ' don't know
how I would have survived all this without you.' He smiled. ', John,
Tilly, Evelyn, Cherry and Elaine. If this collection makes it, it's
because of you.' His voice trembled momentarily and Tilly swallowed back
a -tear. ''re the best, all of you. Thank you.' He shrugged and Tilly
jumped up again, hugging both him and Francesca. '! We're offl' There
was a general movement then and everyone wanted to kiss Dave and
Francesca and hug them and wish them luck, and John embraced all the
girls, feeling slightly ill at ease but smiling through it nevertheless.

326 Dangerous Obsession _P, WI right? Is that everyone kissed?' They all
laughed.

e on then, let's get going!' Dave, John and Francesca walked to the
door, collecting the coats and b i fcases on the way, and the team moved
with ethern, in a mass, all chattering about London and wishing in luck
for the next day of interviews. The mood was h and full of emotion.
Finally they were ready to leave a last round of hugs was made with
Tilly openly wiping 4way the tears. ' all!' John called. He ushered Dave
and rancesca down the stairs as the others stood in a small d at the
top, waving and calling out. ' luck!' Tilly cried as they made it out of
the door. er voice was bright and clear. ' luck!'she called again er
""and h cry, joyous and exhilarating, sent them on their ter that
afternoon, as they arrived at the hotel in London, Dave thought he could
use a little of the luck i ly had called out to them. He was feelin
decidedly on 9 4 ge.

Eddy Mars had called and left a message that he would ",'.-have to
cancel their meeting at Fashion Review as he had designer to see
urgently across town and could they meet later at the Ritz, in time for
cocktails? Sure, Dave thought, pompous little jerk, and guess who'll be
buying all Ahe drinks at the bloody Ritz, for Christ's sake!

Even so, he called Paul Smith and asked for a suit to be sent over with
a shirt and tie. He reckoned he could get away with his black desert
boots at the Ritz, but only just. '-,,Whatever Eddy Mars asked, he
thought, the designers did. ,'He was not worth jerking around with,
unless you were ,','into that kind of thing, of course. Dave, smiled. '
we should know aboutt John met him V 327 Maria Barrett halfway across
the lobby of the hotel on his way back from the phones. ' ' were
smiling.' ', no, nothing much.' Dave looked around him. ''s Frankiet ''s
gone over to South Molton Street, to some place called Molton Browner,
to have her hair done; styled or something, she said. She got a freebie
from a magazine, I believe. And she wants to have a look at Browns' and
just wander round a bit, I think. She's pretty nervous about this
interview thing.' '!' Dave looked at his watch. ' hope she's not too
long, I don't want to be late for Mars.' ' it really that important,
this interviewt ' it this way, John, I've known Eddy Mars wipe designers
off the face of the earth because he didn't like the colour of their
socks." Johnlaughed. ''m not joking.' Dave walked across to the lifts.
''s gay as well,'he called as the lift arrived. ' I'm a hundred and ten
per cent hetero. The- two don't mix in my book.' Dave stepped inside the
lift. ''m counting on Frankie to charm him,' he said as the lift doors
closed. ', if only she were a boy!' He shrugged and disappeared from
sight.

Francesca put her hand up to her hair as she crossed to the door of her
room and wondered for the hundredth time if she had done the right
thing. She glanced down at her clothes, flicked a speck of fluff off her
skirt and pulled open the door. Dave was standing there, half turned
away and chewing a fingernail. '!' He spun round when he heard her and
stopped dead. ' shit, what have you done to your hairt 328 Dangerous
Obsession My hair?'Her hand fluttered nervously around her nick ere the
stylist's slick, geometric bob ended in a straight held together with
what looked like glue. It was parted d drawn horribly down one side of
her face; it made her 4'ok like a particularly vicious vampire. ''t you
like itt He stood where he was for a moment and stared hard at r head,
then shook his head. Moving quickly forward, he b d be her hand and
strode past her into the bedroom, pulling her behind him. ''t say a
word,' he muttered. ' let me deal with it.' He yanked her into the
bathroom, turned on the shower full pelt and dunked her head under it. '
''s on the side,' she answered, throwing a towel over her shoulders. She
was near to tears and had to swallow hard while he scrubbed her scalp,
rinsed and dumped a towel onto her head. He rubbed hard. '!' Her eyes
were watering. ' quiet.'He led her back to the bedroom and found the
hairdryer in the drawer. ' forward." She did as he asked and he turned
the dryer on, running his fingers through her hair as he blasted it,
scrunching the roots in his hand and pushing it back from her forehead.
Five or so minutes later he was finished. '. Stand straight and hand me
the comb.' He walked round her, carefully combing through some of the
top strands to give it a slightly more groomed effect. '! Grab your coat
and let's go. We're late!" Francesca ran to the bed, picked up her jacket
and managed to sneak a glance in the mirror on the way to the door. Her
hair was almost back to normal, full and slightly wavy, swept back off
her face and emphasising its shape. She took a second glance, relieved
at what Dave had done, and then hurried out of the room to his waiting
figure in the corridor. ' look wonderful,'she said, looking at the suit
and tie.

329 Ma? ia Barrett "Don't take the piss,' he growled and pushed her
inside the lift.

Eddy Mars was already at the bar in the Ritz when Dave and Francesca
arrived. He was on his second pink gin and nqt in good fiumour. He could
not abide paying for his own drinks. Seeing Dave Yates come in, he
jumped elegantly off his stool and waved at them to join him. He had
trained with the Royal Ballet and every movement he made was long and
graceful; the wafting of arms, the tilt of his head were all postured to
a turn. '!' His handshake was quick and limp and he stood back to
admire. ' look wonderful! So masculine, darling! Hmmm.' He fingered
Dave's lapel. ' Smith. Divine colour.' He completely ignored Francesca.
' you. Eddy, can I intro--2 ', definitely, but let you get me a drink
first! I'm parched.' He motioned to the waiter. ' pink gins - you will
drink gin, won't you, Dave? Not too effete for you? Hmmm?'He laughed,
showing immaculate white teeth. ', and an orange juice please.' Dave
spoke to the waiter directly while Eddy leaned back on the edge of his
stool and turned away from Francesca. He pulled up a stool for Dave. ',
tell me all about this collection, darling.' Eddy took his gin, sipped
and then ran his tongue over his teeth. ', sure. Eddy, can I introduce
Francesca Cameron? She's my new partner' Dave found Francesca a seat.

Eddy Mars finally turned to Francesca. ' nice,' he said and looked away
to a face he recognised just coming into the bar. ''s Tom Vance, from
the Beeb.' He leaned closer to Dave. ' out of the closet last week. No
wonder his suit looks so bloody crumpled!' He laughed loudly and Dave
smiled politely He'd heard the same joke the last time. He decided to
get down to budness.

330 Dangerous Obsession collection was designed by Francesca and myself.
- cesca was responsible for all the textile design.' ' Eddy glanced a
little sneeringly at Francesca pursed his lips. ' think I'm going to buy
that one, do Dave my sweett He turned away to ignore Francesca the
second time.

nsed. ', obviously, or I wouldn't have said it.' W, Dave te Vell,
darling, you must have lost more than just a few ,-signs when Matt
walked out on you, that's all I can He tells me that your young lady
here used to be geni dogs body before she became the greatest show on
"What the fuck is that supposed to meant Dave raised voice and Francesca
put her hand on his arm. ', Dave sweetie, there's no need to get shirty!
I have n generous enough to give you my time, for which you re late, I
might add. The least you can do is cut the bullit and tell it to me
straight. Don't insult me, Dave etie - I've already had an interview
with Matt Baker, so ow all the gossip and I'm here to see you, not some
eap little floozie you're sleeping with. Oh, divine collec- by the way,
Matt's, I had a sneak preview. Very like own work, I'd say' ' yeaht ',
absolutely! Matt tells me you're all washed out, ave, inspirationless.
Hanging your hopes on your cock!" smiled nastily ' didn't believe him,
of course. I said: tt darling, I won't believe you till I've seen Dave
myself! he insults me by bringing a schoolgirl for drinks, well n I
might just.. Dave kept his temper just long enough to stand up, posi- 1
on himself and then slam a right hook into Eddy Mars' e. He watched the
fashion editor of Fashion Review topple -kwards off the stool, a look of
shock and horror on his 331 Maria Barrett face, and then slump down
against the bar with the pink gin glass still ' his hand and its
contents spilled rather embarrassingly over the front of his crotch.
Dave was so angry it didn't even register what he had done. ' on,
Frankie!'He took Francesca hand and pulled her away from the body,
seething with rage. ' man's an arsehole!' he shouted. And they left the
bar, only five minutes after entering it, leaving Eddy Mars to pay for
the drinks.

Outside on the pavement, the sharp, ice-cold February air hit Dave full
in the face and brought him instantly round to his senses. He stopped
dead, screwed his face up and put his hands to his head. ' ... Jesus
Christ! How the hell did I do thatt Francesca stood and faced him. She
was almost speechless. ' don't know! After everything you've said
about.. ', I know!' Dave snarled. He was livid with himself and was
taking it out on her. ' don't need you to tell me how important Eddy
Mars is!'He began walking away from her towards the tube, striding
ahead, angry and defiant. Francesca called out to him. '? Dave!' She ran
to catch him up. ''s no need to be horrible to me!' she said, hurrying
alongside him, flushed and out of breath. He stopped and looked at her.
' God! I'm sorry Frankie. What a bloody fool I've made of myself' He
shook his head and sigbed heavily, his breath forming a thin cloud of
steam in the freezing air. ' just don't know'what came over me.' He
shoved his hands deep down into his jacket pockets and looked down
miserably at the ground. He knew exactly what had come over him - pride,
idiotic foolish pride. He'd let himself be wound up by a jumped-up
little jerk. He looked up. ' is,' he said 332 Dangerous Obsession ly, '
can't even begin to contemplate what damage e done." The following
morning, when Dave woke with a sore head and looked at the remains of
his mini bar by the side of the -bed, he somehow knew, instinctively,
what damage he had Aone. lie had a ghastly premonition of what was to
come. Sitting up, He belched loudly and was heavingly sick. ' sh iff
The scene in the Ritz came back to him, as it had done all night, and he
put his hands to his aching head wondering how the hell he could have
been so bloody stupid. Wharnming Eddy Mars was the most idiotic thing he
had ever clone. Whether the bastard deserved it or not was Irrelevant.
lie knew, along with the rest of the fashion world, that nobody offended
Eddy Mars, let alone smacked the bugger in the face! Racked with
remorse, he looked at his watch and picked up the phone to dial the
Fashion Review offices. The bloke was a jerk but an apology was in p
order John was'right about that, if they wanted to have any show left,
that was. He dialled the number. ' Eddy Mars please. Thank you. Yes,
Eddy Mars please. Oh, I see. When was this? Ah, right. No, no message,
jus wi h him a speedy recovery' Dave replaced the is receiver and looked
at his right fist. ' shit,'he said again and slumped back on the
pillows. That was it, he'd blown it! Mars was off sick with a suspected
broken jaw and they ight as well pack up the clothes and head back to
,'Newcastle. There'd be no show after Mars got round the .",'Press; or
rather, thought Dave ironically, there would be a prob ably the best of
the week, but no one would R : UP to It, not once the word was out. The
phone went the side o his bed and he rolled over to answer it. , ', it's
John.' '. Give me the bad news." 333 Maria Barrett "It worse than you
thought actually. The Face called at eight this morning to cancel, The
Times at eight-fifteen, eand I just put the phone down to the Mail. You
are b Ing scrubbed out of diaries as quickly as BT can put the calls
through.' '!' ' have a feeling, Dave, that prayer could be the only wa,
out.' ' funny!' ''s not meant to be!'John was angry. ''ve got one more
interview to go and I'll be amazed if they don't ring to cancel. You'd
better start praying.' '!' '. If I wasn't so much of a gentleman I'd
have said that myself!' ', John, I told you last night, the bloke was
insulting - rude, and bloody insulting! I admit it was pretty frigging
stupid to hit him but I have to say he deserved it.' ' right!' They had
been over that ground last night. John was tired and worried and he
couldn't be bothered with right and wrong this morning. ''s done now
anyway' he said. ' suggest you get yourself dressed and down here to
reception and we'll go through who we can call to rustle up some
support. Let's just try to remedy the situation instead of arguing about
it, shall wet '. I'll be down in about ten minutes.' Dave hung up and
climbed out of bed. He scooped the empty miniatures into the bin and
went through to the bathroom. John was right. They would have to try and
sort this mess out, and with a whole load of luck they could just do it!
A few calls to some of Dave's old mates in the rag mag business might
bring in some support - that was what friends were for, wasn't it? But
Dave knew as well as anybody that the results would be pretty bloody
paltry, particularly after the promise 334 Dangerous obsession W all the
press interest in his new prodigy, Francesca, Cameron - He glanced at
his pallid face in the mirror and it seemed to slump before his eyes.
OK, it was paltry, he thought, but it was something. It was a hope,
however small. And it was the only thing that kept them going through a
miserable and desperate day By seven o'clock that evening, they had
called everyone Dave knew and no one was available to interview them, or
was even interested for that matter, in the story of the new -Cameron
Yates collection. All previously arranged appointments had been
cancelled. In fact they had called everyone in the business and just two
unknown trade magazines were vaguely interested - but only if they could
think up an industrial slant to the story. The press had totally blocked
' them out.

Dave sat in the lobby of the hotel with Francesca and John and realised
for the last time just how damn stupid he had been. Wasn't it him who'd
been banging on about the importance of Eddy Mars for weeks? God! What a
sodding joke! The man was malicious in the extreme and Dave had known
it, more than anyone else, and still he had thumped him! He sat and
stared down at the patterned carpet, counting the squares and diamonds
and feeling more wretched than he had ever done in his life before, '
suppose that's everyone on the list?'John said, interrupting the
miserable silence. He folded the paper he held in his hand and chucked
it onto the coffee table.

Iyu P., ', there's nothing more we can do then.' '.' ', for God's sake,
man! Stop acting so morose! It's done, and bloody moping won't help!"
Dave looked up, surprised at John's tone. He thought about arguing and
saying it made him feel a whole lot 335 Maria Barrett' better but he
could see the strain on John's face and he knew that if he went down he
took John and Frankie with him. It made him suddenly very humble and so
he shrugged and said: ' know, I'm sorry, John.' And then he smiled. He
uncurled his long legs from the chair and tapped Francesca on the leg
with his toe. She looked up from her sketchbook. ' suggest we go out for
a drink and something to eat and try to forget all about this shitty
business. Frankiet ', fine.' She was trying to keep as quiet and calm as
she could. She trusted John and he had told her that he didn't think the
situation was actually as bad as it looked today. He was lying, but he
felt there was no point in adding to her worry and stress. ,?, ', it was
nicely put, but actually I don't really feel up to it tonight. I think
I'll just get room service.' '.' Dave stood up. ', this isn't my part of
town, being a norf London boy, but I'll see what I can do. Get your bag
and we'll hit the nightspots of Pimlico. Let's get drunk, all rightt
Francesca got to her feet and stretched. '.' She ran her fingers through
her hair and pushed the sleeves of her jacket up her arms. The silk suit
she wore was crushed from sitting so long but it looked better that way,
natural chic. She bent and picked up her bag. ', we'll see you later. We
won't be long.' ', fine.' He looked up at Francesca and smiled, but the
smile belied his frustration and worry. They had to succeed tomorrow,
they just had to. The trouble was, he just couldn? t think what the hell
he could do now to make any difference. If the press didn't turn up
tomorrow and the show wasn't reviewed, there would be no buyers and no
finance. All the hard work and effort and inspiration and 336 Dangerous
Obsmion down the drain. All that, along with David Yates the' company
and David Yates the designer. It just wasn't fair! I '? I said we'll be
back around nine-ish.' Dave had his combat jacket on and was digging in
the pockets for his handkerchilf. He found it and blew his nose. ' you
later then.' ', fine. See you later.' He blew Francma a kiss and watched
them leave the hotel. They looked good together, he thought; they were
good together, they made a superb team. I-le sighed and stood wearily He
was hoping against hope. Itjust wasn't fair.

Patrick Devlin sat in the saloon bar of the Dirty Duck in Vincent
Square, one of the back streets of Westminster that bordered on Pimlico,
and tucked int6 his pie and chips. He had been in the House, all day and
was in for a late-night sitting by the looks of things, so he'd taken an
hour out to eat in one of'the pubs not frequented by politicians. He had
a copy of the Lancet propped up against an empty beer glass and read
while he chewed, oblivious to the noise around him.

Francesca [Ollowed Dave into the pub they had finally managed to find,
after walking for nearly an hour, and sat down on a bar stool, slipping
off her suede loafers and rubbing her toes with her hand. She didn't
bother to glance round the bar - all pubs looked the same to her - she
just sat and squeezed some life back into her feet while Dave read the ,
out loud and argued the merits of sausages over a Cornish pasty to her.

And that was how Patrick first saw her, her head bent, her thick, glossy
hair falling over. her face and one long, curved leg out straight on the
bar stool opposite while she rubbed her foot with her hand. He had
looked up briefly to 337 Maria Barrett A, ttract the barmaid's attention
and seen her. He started physically, recognising her instantly, despite
how her hair had grown, and felt a hot rush of blood to his head. He sat
for several minutes, not knowing what to do, the intensity of his
emotions throwing him into confusion. He stared, unable to take his eyes
off her, just the sight of her overwhelming him with acute memories and
a suffocating sense of loss.

Then he stood, moved clumsily round his table and hurried across to the
Gents. He needed air, some time to think. He pushed the door open and
escaped out into the cold passage, holding onto the wall and feeling his
heart pound against his chest, the throb so strong that it rose up into
his throat and made him swallow painfully Jesus, what was he doing? He
had begun to sweat and he fumbled in his pocket for a handkerchief. He
wiped his forehead, took a deep breath and stood straight, carrying on
outside to the beer garden.

Out in the cold air, he again took several breaths and his body began to
calm. it was dark, empty; the wet tables were piled to one side up
against the fence and the chairs had been packed away It was silent and
cold after the noise and warmth of the pub and he sat down on an icy
stone bench by the door, leaning his head wearily back against the chill
brick wall. He closed his-eyes. The shock of seeing her had brought it
all back to him, all the stupidity of his action, the shame and guilt,
the hopelessness and grief, and most of all the wretchedness at his own
pathetic weakness. it made him feel sick to think of it.

He had known as soon as he left her that he had made a mistake. Oh God,
what a mistake! But he had underestimated Margaret's strength, her
domination and power. He had tried, to look for Francesca, but Margaret
had threatened, cajoled and blackmailed, and in the end he hadn't the
338 Dangerous Obsession strength to fight her any more. You'll forget
her, she had' said - he almost laughed out loud at the thought of it!
Now, here he was, frightened to go back in and face the woman he loved.
Jesus! Forget her? He felt the familiar ache in the pit of his stomach
and almost welcomed it. Forget her!

He opened his eyes and looked around him. How could he forget when the
very sight of her made him ache for her? And what did that say about the
past five months, about Penny Brachen and Margaret's schemes? He knew in
his heart that they no longer held any sense for him, that Penny had
slipped from his consciousness: she had simply ceased to exist. His
life, politics, Margaret, Penny ., every part of it had vanished from
view. All he could see was Francesca. Francesca. He said her name again
and again in his mind. It was beautiful; it was the one word he said in
his dreams. Francesca. She was more real to him now than anything he had
ever known in his life before.

He stood up and swallowed hard. He would have to go to her, there was
nothing else but that, not when his whole body told him the truth. He
turned back towards the pub. Forget her? How could he ever have imagined
he could d do that, when one glimpse made everything in his world seem
pointless without her?

Standing across the bar, Patrick watched her for a few minutes, the tilt
of her head, her smile, the same natural grace that he had first noticed
about her. He smiled when she laughed at something her friend had said,
feeling the warmth of it from twenty. yards across the room. He walked
over to her, unable to stay away a moment longer, and stood behind her.
He coughed and then he said her name. Trancescat He wanted to reach out
and touch her hair. He remembered its thick silkiness. Trancescat She
turned.

339 Maria Barrett She had heard his voice and known it was him before
she saw him. She had felt it in her heart, that instant recognition of
someone loved and cherished. For one split second she had sat perfectly
still and the past five months - all the pain and humiliation - had
disappeared; she was simply here, with him. And then suddenly the moment
vanished and she remembered. She turned and saw his face and she
remembered, everything. The hurt crowded her mind and the pain was as
fresh and raw as if it had happened yesterday, filling her with rage. He
saw her face, the anger in her eyes, and he went to touch her, not
believing it, but she flinched and dropped her glass. It smashed down on
the floor. ''d' She slid off the stool and backed away from him. ''t
touch me! just She moved towards Dave for protection. ''d' ', please!'
He reached out. God, he should have known, blundering up to her like
that, insensitive fool. She backed away again, instinctively, like a
frightened animal, and he grabbed hold of her arm impulsively, desperate
to get through to her. ', please!' ' off me!' she cried, yanking her arm
free. She turned towards the door. She had to get away from him. ',
Francesca!' Patrick went after her and caught her as she fled out into
the street. All he knew was he had to hold her, speak to her. He gripped
her arm tighter but it only incensed her further and she struggled
against him, trying to pull free. She kicked him in the shin and he
released her with the shock of the pain. '! Shit!' She made a run for
it. But he was quicker than she was. He seized her before she got very
far and pulled her in close to him. '!' She fought violently ' it!
Francesca, for God's sake, stop iw He held her tighter. She was almost
340 Dangerous Obsession ook hysterical. ' it!' He grabbed her shoulders
and shook her to her senses. Almost immediately she calmed and stopped
struggling. She stood still, half in his embrace, and stared, down at
the ground, her eyes bright with tears. ' to me, Francesca, please! Will
you just listent He had his arms around her again and clutched her to
him so that she couldn't move away The feel of her body was so powerful
that it made him almost dizzy ', I love you!' he said, over an dover. '
love you, please believe me, I love you." Dave had come out onto the
pavement. The whole scene had happened so quickly that he'd not known
what to do. He heard Patrick's words and turned to go back inside; he
shouldn't be there, they hadn't even seen him. He disappeared back into
the pub and watched from behind the glass to check she was all right. ',
will you just listen to me, pleaset Patrick still held her even though
she was still. He couldn't let her go. '? just listen, just talk to me.
Please." Finally she nodded. She was in turmoil; it was easier to agree.
He let go his grip slightly and looked down at her face. He knew it so
well; he had carried the memory of it in his mind for months. He put his
finger under her chin and tilted it up. She flinched. ' don't want to
talk about what happened,'she said defiantly. ' now. I can't.' '.' He
could not see her eyes, the eyes that gave everything away. ' we go
insidet He didn't care what happened now, he had her close to him, that
was all that mattered. He felt alive again for the first time since she
had gone. ' right,'she answered wearily He led her back into the pub and
over to the bar. He did not touch her but the 341 Maria Barrett strength
of her physical presence pulled him to her. They approached Dave and
Patrick held out his hand. ' Devlin,' he said.

Dave started at the name. He knew, of course he knew, -who else could it
have been? ' Yates,' he answered and looked closely at Patrick's face.
The two men shook hands without much warmth and then Patrick turned back
to Francesca. ' you live around here, Francescat ', we live in
Newcastle.' She didn't qualify the '' and Patrick experienced a jolt of
shock. He swallowed hard. ' and I work together.' Dave had picked up on
his response - the emotion was so intense he could almost see it and he
felt momentarily sorry for the bloke. ''re in London to show a
collection at London Fashion Week,' he said. ', actually - that's if
anyone turns up for id' ' see.'Patrick's relief was apparent. ' do you
mean, if anyone turns up for itt ', we've had a bit of a problem with
the press. I got into a ruckus with a right dickhead from Fashion
Review, more bloody fool me, but the word's out to blackball us.
Bleeding arsehole!' Dave took a sip of his pint and realised that
Patrick wasn't really listening to him. He was watching Francesca. '
work in fashiont He had turned to her but still she wouldn't look at
him. She just nodded and gazed away. Her heart and her head were
spinning in opposite directions; she didn't know what to think or feel.
''s only the most brilliant thing to hit the scene since Coco Chanew
Dave interrupted. He could see Francesca's distress and squeezed her
arm. He wondered if they should leave but Devlin seemed so desperate, so
eager. ', I mean that! I'm not just joking,' he continued, to cover the
tense silence. ''s why the whole thing pisses me off so 342 Dangerous
Obsession I This could be the best collection of the week and, if no one
bloody turns up to see it we've wasted our sodding time. We might just
as well have stayed in Newcastle!' His voice had risen without him
realising it and someone looked over. '!' The face turned away again. '
they really not turn up? This "dickhead", does he have that much
influencet ''s not so much that, it's more a case of himbeing in the
know, if you see what I mean.' Patrick shook his head. Well, during
London Fashion Week there are literally hundreds of designers all
scrabbling round for a piece of the action from the press and even
though I'm well known, I've never had the sort of clout ' someone like
... Conran, or Katherine Hamnett. The press turn up to all the big
shows, see, and select the smaller ones by word of mouth recommendation.
And that usually comes hotfoot from. the doyen of fashion, our friend
Eddy Mars!' ' dear. I see.' ', oh frigging dear all right! If Eddy Mars
puts the word out that we're a bunch of crap then no one bothers with
us. He had the first interview with us and he's obviously told them
we're not worth the effort. No problem, they just slot in another
designer for that time and we'reforgotten.' He clicked his fingers in
the air. ' like that! Fashion is a shitty business, Patrick - it's here
today and gone tomorrow, that's the nature of the work.' Dave took a
gulp of his beer, dry-mouthed after his rhetoric. '' he shrugged. ''m
desperately hoping it's not as bad as I make out but it has been a
bloody awful day!" Patrick nodded. ' like it! Is there anything I can do
to helpt '7 You're not a journalist, are yout ', I'm in politics." Dave
saw Francesca tense at this remark. Patrick said: ' 343 Maria Barrett
used to be in medicine and I let my sister talk me into a political
career. The opportunity arose and I took it. It was a mistake, really, I
don't like it much.' He addressed the comment to Dave but it was clearly
meant for Francesca.

Dave felt again that he shouldn't be there, that he was somehow
intruding on something highly personal and emotional. ' donl know what
happened,' Patrick said quietly He looked at Francesca and this time she
met his eye. ' don't know how I could have been so stupid, or why. I've
never stop regretting that day, never, not one second since it
happened." And Francesca looked down again for what ' like ages, then
she spoke. ', I want to go now.' Her voice was like a childs, all choked
and high. She couldn't face any more. ','she said. '! Right, fine!' Dave
hurriedly picked up his jacket and pulled it on. He moved quickly
towards her, worried and concerned, but she didn't look up. He shrugged
at Patrick - there didn't seem much more he could say - and Patrick
stood aside. He knew he had to let her go - what else could he do?

Putting his arm round Francesca, Dave led her towards the door. All the
time her face was averted from Patrick's gaze, her body held straight
and tense. And when they stepped outside she just seemed to slump
against him as if all her strength had gone. Dave swayed slightly as he
tried to hold her steady. '! It's all right, hold on.' He put both arms
around her and his heart went out to her. All the times he had thought
how old and wise and strong she was for her age, and now, she seemed
more like a child to him than he could ever have imagined. Slowly they
began to walk off. He dared not look at her, or back at the devastated
face of the man in the bar. But he could feel the shudder of 344
Dangerous Obsession V""', sobs against his body and thought that he
would never understand this extraordinary woman.

Patrick sat in his small office at the house and waited for his
colleague to clear his desk and leave. The need to be alone was almost
unbearable. He watched the second hand tick round on the clock, trying
to focus on something other than-the pain in his heart until finally the
colleague left and the emptiness of the space surrounded him. He felt
shocked and confused. Nothing mattered to him now, nothing but
Francesca. His mind was blank, his relationship with Penny had ceased to
exist, he could hardly remember it. All he could see was Francesca.
Every time he closed his eyes, Francesca.

How stupid he had been to imagine that he could walk back into her life
and expect her to forgive him, to love him without question, or anger or
recrimination. He had been a fool to think that she would even
understand. Jesus, he wasn't sure he understood it himself! All that
time wasted, all those futile months doing something he didn't believe
in. And for what? For Margaret and the legacy of a drunken father, for
trying to make up for the past. it didn't work, he knew that. The past
is always with us.

He put his head in his hands and thought once again about what he had
decided to do. He had to convince her, to show her that nothing else
mattered, nothing but her. It was a good bargain, a fair exchange; a
hefty piece of his life for Francesca's future. If it worked, that Was.

Flicking through his address book, he found the number of an old
schoolfriend and dialled the Kensington exchange. He waited for the
ringing tone and then heard Suzie's voice on the line. ', Suzie? It's
Patrick Devlin.' '! How are yout 345 Maria Barrett "Fine, yout ', very
well. I read from Oh's paper that you've been gadding about with
Richard Brachen's sister! Is she really as rich as they say she 1st '
really gadding, Suzie.' He felt instantly constricted by this
conversation. He wanted to shout: ' wasn't my idea, it was bloody
Margared' But he just took a breath and thought: it'll all be out soon
enough. ' a couple of evenings out, nothing more. Is Oh theret ', of
course.' She sounded surprised at his tone: usually he would enjoy a
gossip with her. ''ll just get him. Bye, Paddy' '. Bye.' He waited for
Oliver Pearce to come to the phone. '. Hello, it's Patrick.' '. How are
yout '. You? ... Good! Look, Oh, it seems I've got a bit of business
for you, if you're interested.' ' yes? What sort of business?' ', it's
to do with the paper, really. I had one of your editors on the phone a
few weeks back wanting an interview, an "exclusive", I think she called
it, and well, I've rather changed my mind about doing it.' ' reallyt
Oliver Pearce smiled on the other end of the line. ' why do I get the '
that it's not quite that simple? You could have rung her directly, you
know.' ', I'm aware of that. It's just that what I've got to say is
somewhat, how shall I put it ... er ... sensational, and I was hoping to
get something in return for it. Strike a deal, so to speak.' ', I see.
And what exactly is the 44 sensational" we're talking about, Patrick?
Strictly confidentially, of course.' ''s a love affair. Mine, to be
exact.' ' Brachent 346 Dangerous Obsession "No, not Penny Brachen. A
young girl, a fashion designer.' '! Can you give me any more details?
That sounds like quite a story!' ' is. But no, no details, not until
we've discussed the terms.' ' right, Paddy, I'm interested. Terms?
What's the feet ''s no money involved, Oh. I'd like a favour. I'd like
coverage of this girl's show tomorrow at Olympia.' ' that all? Aren't
you selling yourself a bit short? If what you've got to say is that
newsworthy?' ', I'd like you to organise as much support as you can. You
have friends in, the business and I'd like you to ring a few. I want a
good review, from everyone." Oliver Pearce snorted. ' on, Paddy!
Coverage I can arrange ... maybe, but opinions? No way! You know I can't
guarantee that sort of thing, at least not on any other paper. I have to
say, that's rather an unreasonable demand.' ' right. Coverage then. From
all the press.' ' ''s it! That's what I want. Do we have a dealt Oliver
looked at his watch. It was after eleven but he was interested - it
could be a hell of a scoop! ', I'm not entirely convinced. How about me
coming to the House for a brief chat, in say, twenty minutes? I'd like
to know a bit more." -1 1 Patrick hesitatek What did he have to lose? He
had nothing without her. ' right,' he said. ' minutes.' And he hung up.

Standing, he felt in his pocket for his wallet and decided to go to the
bar for a drink. He turned towards the door just as the telephone rang.
He knew it would be Margaret- she always rang on a late-night sitting -
and he waited, listening to the shrill bleep and then the click of his
answerphone.

347 Maria Barrett His own voice came on and he moved towards the door.
He didn't want to speak to his sister; he didn't even want to hear the
sound of her voice. Not now, not when he knew that whar he was doing
would destroy her. He stepped out into the passage and clicked the door
shut behind him. I have to do it, he thought, I have to. But he really
wasn't thinking straight; he was too much in love to realise just what
and who he was taking on.

348 CHAPTER Twenty-five THE FOLLOWING MORNING JOHN was down in the hotel
Jobby when he saw Francesca. He was checking the arrangements for the
team that night and turned from the reception desk to see her come out
of the lift. ' on a moment please, miss.' He hurried across the lobby
towards her. '!' He took her arm. What the matter, are you all rightt
She was deathly pale and looked unwell, as if she had not slept all
night.

She nodded and managed to smile. She did not want to tell John about
last night, about seeing Patrick and all that it meant for her: it would
make him anxious and he had enough to worry about. But she could not get
it out of her mind, the confusion and the hurt, all the betrayal and
loneliness and yet, the strangest spark of joy, right down in the pit of
her stomach, at having seen him again. ''m a little nervous,' she said
to John. ' today, that's all." He bent and kissed her cheek. ' will be
fine,' he told her. ' you will be wonderful.' He took her arm. He was
worried sick himself but she needed his confidence. ', you go on in and
have some breakfast and I'll join you when I've checked everything for
tonight.' They walked across the lobby together. ' you sure you're all
rightt He was so comforting and warm that she almost told him then how
frightened she was and how much just seeing Patrick had hurt her. But
she merely smiled, brighter this time, and said: ''m fine, really, John.
Don't worry.'6he loved John and she knew him better than he realised. He
'349 Maria Barrett was anxious already and she could not add to it, no
matter how troubled her own mind. ' you in there,'she said and squeezed
his hand, walking into the dining room alone.

The three of them ate breakfast together that morning, chatting to fill
the void of excitement and anticipation, and trying to cover their
intense nerves and expectation of disappointment. It was a quick meal.
There were things to be done at Olympia, and they were up and out of the
hotel by eight-thirty. They took a black cab across town to Kensington,
loaded down with boxes of press packs and the emergency kit bag, stuffed
full with scissors, threads, odd bits of trim, buttons, pins, tape,
elastic and glue. If anything went wrong it could be mended or if
needed, stuck into place.

The space they had booked. for the show was already busy by the time
they arrived, teeming with people and crammed with clothes. They met up
with the three professional dressers John had hired and Dave started to
go through the collection with them to make sure they knew what they
were doing, while Francesca checked the racks of clothes and John ticked
off his list of accessories. By the time that was finally sorted there
were just two hours to go before the show.

The models arrived, along with the hairdresser and a couple of odd
people who could only be described as hangers-on. Everyone was
introduced and briefed, and the full preparations for the show ground
into motion. Within fifteen minutes the whole scene was one of organised
chaos and the Cameron Yates collection was underway.

By two o'clock, with only thirty minutes to go, the lights had been
trained onto the catwalk, music was being played over the speakers and
the chairs had been lined up, each one with a programme and press pack
on top of it. The 350 Dangerous Obsession backstage had increased'as the
dressers went their clothes order again with Dave and the models began
to psych themselves up to perform. The team had arrived and sat out the
back watching and longing to interfere. Soon, re were just fifteen
minutes to 90. ' does it look?' Dave glanced up at John as he came nd
from the front. He shrugged and Dave jumped up.

7, John nodded. Dave walked out past the screens onto the catwalk and
looked at the rows of empty chairs. He felt a moment of panic and utter
despair, then the bitter ache of disappointment. I knew it was too good
to be true, he thought, to find Frankie, to create so brilliantly, to
have such a collection against all odds. Something had to go wrong, it
had to. He put his hands in his pockets and turned back. I'll have to
cancel, he -decided; we can't show to nobody! '!'He turned. ''s leaving
it a bit late, arenl theyt Sophie Enson from the Telegraph walked up to
the catwalk and Dave hurried across to her. He crouched down and leaned
forward to shake her hand. ' to seeyou, Sophie!" He was grinning from
ear to ear and shaking her hand vigorously in both of his. It must have
been the most effiisive greeting she had had in years.

They turned as two more reporters came in, one with a photographer.
Sophie Enson smiled at one of them and looked back at Dave. ' heard
Northern Life are coming down with a camera crew It must really be
something, this show!' She laughed. ' will be livid when he finds out
that he got it wrong!" Dave laughed with her and mumbled something about
everyone making mistakes, as he squatted down and watched the chairs
fill up, almost miraculously He spotted 351 Maria Barrett Mariel Higson
from The -Firnes and a photographer from the Mail, and glimpsed the
commotion outside caused by a cameraman and sound technician, barging
through the queue with their equipment.

He jumped up. ' you later, Sophie. Come on through when we've finished -
I'd like you to meet my partner.' ' to.' She took her seat and opened
the press pack as the noise out the front began to rise and Dave hurried
through to the scene behind the screens. '! Frankie! John!' He found
them both together stitching one of the models into a halter-neck top.
John held it while Francesca sewed. ' and have a look out front! Go on!
I'll do this, just go! Now!' He took the fabric out of John's hands and
the needle from Francesca. They exchanged glances and Francesca followed
John round the side to look at the gathering crowd. They were back in a
few minutes. ' don't bloody believe it! What the hell happened? There's
even a camera crew out theye!'John had started to laugh, his eyes
filling with tears, and Francesca went across to hug him. ' God for
that, Francesca,'he murmured. ' God for that.' He wiped his face with
his handkerchief and then smiled at Dave. ' suggest you find that
terrible baggy suit you had on the other night, Dave my lad, because
you're not going out front to take your cheers in that scruffy old
thing!" Dave burst into laughter and whacked John on the back. ''s just
wait and see if they cheer, shall wet ', they'll cheer,'John answered. '
guarantee it. They'll cheer all night if we let '!" And he was right.
The first of the collection went out and the camera flashes went off,
the music throbbed, the models spun and moved, creating a whirl of
colour and shape, 352 Dangerous Obsession the clothes trumpeted their
splendour. The applause rang through the room. The second part of the
collection vient out as the first models came in and the dressers deftly
stripped, redressed, rearranged, pinned and tucked, pushing the first
models out with the third part of the collection as the second lot of
models came in. The music changed, the lights altered and the clothes,
layers and layers of colour, brilliant and strong, strutted up the
catwalk. The applause thundered. And so it went on.

1. journalists left for brief minutes to make calls to sum- mon their
photographers and the room began to pulse with excitement as the
collection became more and more dazzling. People stood at the back,
trying to inch into the room to catch a glimpse of the clothes, cameras
juggled for space and the noise grew as the climax of the show
approached.

The evening wear came on, swathes of velvet, perfectly cut and hung on
the long shapes of the models and hand painted with eighteenth-century
designs, or embroidered in gold and silver thread. Then shifts of the
finest silk chiffon, almost completely sheer, showing beautifully beaded
corsets underneath and silk stockings held up with embroi- dered garters
and diamantd suspenders. The crowd roared..Finally the wedding dress. A
single model walked out onto the catwalk, no groom, no attendants, no
fuss. The lights cut and a single beam lit her from underneath. The
music stopped and a gasp echoed in the silence.

She wore a long white silk chiffon dress that was threaded through with
thin strands of silver and fell from her shoulders in one cascade of
what looked like shimmering water. Her hair glistened with drops of
silver, long and fiall, so pale it was almost white, and her feet were
hidden in silver slippers, their long thongs of silver tied round her
ankles and up her calves. She was motionless for half a minute with a
wind -machine rustling the folds of fabric, 353 Maria Barrett rebounding
the light off it. And then suddenly the catwalk lit up and all hell was
let loose.

Purcell's trumpet fanfare blasted out, a shower of white rose petals
fell down over the bride and the crowd and the catwalk instantly filled
with all the models from the show. The music changed again and everyone
was bopping and moving on the catwalk when a cloud of multicoloured
balloons floated down from the ceiling, all with the designers' tag on
them and the address of the Covent Garden offices for that week. A great
cheer went up.

Whoa! Frankie! That's our cue!' Dave yelled above the cheer of the crowd
and threw his arms round Francesca. She was laughing and crying with
excitement as he pulled her forward and out from behind the screens.
They walked out onto the catwalk and the cheer rose even louder.
Surrounded by the models, they walked the length of the catwalk, camera
lights flashing, and took a bow at the front. Dave swung Francesca round
into the glare of a flashlight and said in her ear: ' one's for Eddy
Mars!' and hugged her tight, laughing all'the time. He looked behind him
and shouted for someone to go and get John but John would not come out
without the team, and minutes later, they all stood there, Tilly,
Evelyn, Cherry and Elaine, holding hands and laughing as the applause
rang out. It was a hard-earned moment of glory and by their faces in the
heat and glare of the spotlights, it was worth every exhausting second.

Patrick stood at the far end of the room and waited for the last of the
crowd to wander away or out to the back to try to get an interview with
Dave Yates and his new star Francesca Cameron. He caught glimpses of
Francesca every now and then as the screens were moved away, her face
alive with excitement, answering questions, or talking through some 354
Dangerous Obsession on an item with a journalist. He saw John also,
amongst a group of what he assumed to be buyers, and thought how much
the man had changed, how much more assured he looked, how relaxed.

He was hidden in the back by the shadows of the lights , the catwalk,
and he could see and hear undisturbed. tie watched Francesca, and saw
that she had grown, that her confidence shone and that Dave was right,
she was truly talented. As she disappeared from view he thought: she
,-deserves all the attention she gets; I was right to do what I did. ',
Patrick." He glanced to his left suddenly and realised that he had en
staring so hard for her figure in the distance that he had not seen her
approach. She stood slightly away from ,, as if wary of coming any
closer, and fiddled with her fingers, looking down at her hands. '
didn't think you could see me, from the glare of the lights.' He wanted
to take her hands and quieten them, putting her fingers to his lips, but
he dared not touch her. He remained quite still and kept his distance.
', I could see you.' She glanced up at him momentarily His face was so
painfully familiar to her that she looked away again. ',' he said to
fill the silence. ' was right. You're very talented; you deserve
success.' ' you.' This time she turned back and looked at him, meeting
his gaze. ' think you had something to do with this today. The press
turning up. Did yout He shrugged. ' dyou ask?' ' told Dave they'd had a
call this morning from their editor. Orders from above.' ', 1--- He
stopped because she was smiling, her whole face lit up in that peculiar
fashion, and his heart ached at 355 Maria Barrett the sight of it. '
you,' she said. We would have gone under without this.' ' wanted to
help.' ', you did.'She began to turn away. ' She stood with her back to
him, desperate to turn round but unable to. From the first moment she
had seen him she had experienced it, the awesome, smarting desire to run
to him, to be in his arms, enveloped in that glorious feeling of love,
even if just for a second, to have it once again. But she couldn't; she
was too afraid of it. So she stood her ground, the pain of it forcing
her back. ', will you see me? Pleaset She didn't answer. ', just for an
hour, for a walk in the park, anything, I don't care, but I have to talk
to you. I have to explain, make you see how much I love you!' He moved
towards her but she turned and he stopped. ', Francescat She looked at
him and knew then that she could not refuse. How could she refuse when
her whole body responded to him, to the sound of his voice? ', all
right, tomorrow. just for an hour.'She started to walk away before he
could say any more. ' what time? Where?" She looked back. ' breakfast.
I'll meet you outside my hotel, in Warwick Square.'And then she
continued to walk away He had helped her, she owed it to him, just an
hour, to give him the chance to speak.

But as she felt his eyes on her back she knew, deep in her heart, it
would be more than that. Some things you can't change, Dave had said,
some things deep inside. And despite the heat, she shivered and hugged
her arms around her. That thought filled her with both terrible fear and
joyous hope.

356 Dangerous Obsession n kisse franc d esca for the second time that
morning in the hotel lobby and stood back to look closely at her face.
It was flushed and her eyes were a bright, vibrant green, yet she was
quiet and restrained, nervous about something. It bothered him. ' you
sure you don't want to come to the '?' ''m sure.' She longed to tell him
why not, but she was ,,'afraid that he would question her and she would
not be able to answer reasonably Seeing Patrick was unwise, she C', knew
that, but she could not stop herself. ' right, I'll catch up with you
later, then. Tell Dave I've , gone, will yout ' course." Where did he
get to last night? He vanished after dinner.' ' think he had a date with
one of the models.' '.' John tried to cover his relief. He had long had
a sneaking suspicion that Dave had designs on Francesca, and had feared
that this might damage their working relationship. Furthermore, he was
determined that she should not be hurt again. ', tell him to meet me
there when he gets up.' He picked up his briefcase. ' me luck,
Francesca!' ' don't need it, John. But good luck anyway' She smiled and
he left the hotel, waving as he went. Minutes later Dave came in, still
in the Paul Smith suit he had worn the night before. ', Frankie my
love.' He hugged her. ' John all right? I just saw him on the pavement
getting into a taxi and he gave me a very disapproving look." Francesca
laughed. ' doesn't really understand you. I think he's a bit shocked.'
'!' Dave held both hands up. ' is an old girlfriend, we go back a long
way' Francesca kissed him on the cheek. ' don't have to explain it to
me." 357 Maria Barrett He shrugged. J saw Patrick Devlin walking into
Warwick Square, by the way' '.' She blushed and Dave looked down at her.
''s all right,'he said. ' don't have to explain it tome either.' He
patted her arm. ' careful though, Frankie, hmmm? Politics is a tough
game." She didn't really know what he meant by that and she resented his
tone. ' know what I'm doing,' she answered tartly. ', sure.' He smiled,
somewhat half-heartedly, ' on then, don't keep the man waiting.'And she
waved and disappeared out of the double doors. Dave worried for a moment
about her and wondered if he should tell John. Then he decided it was
none of his business. Francesca was young, but she sometimes shocked him
with her peculiar strength and wisdom. She probably did know what she
was doing. She had done so far; why question it now?

Patrick was striding towards the hotel, -the Times under his arm and his
black cashmere overcoat buttoned through against. the cold. It was a
typical February day: the air was foggy and a c hill wind whipped
against his face. He saw Francesca come out of the glass doors and
shiver in the freezing air before looking around her and seeing him
along the pavement. She started towards him.

She was dressed in a long navy overcoat that was fitted to the waist and
then flared out into a full swing skirt. it had brass buttons and a
high. neck and on her feet she wore lowheeled leather boots that laced
up over her ankle to mid-calf, making her look almost Edwardian. '.'
They met halfway down Warwick Square. He wanted to kiss her but she
turned her face to look up at the grey sky. ''s a terrible day'she said.

358 Dangerous Obsession Shall we go to the park? Or would you rather
have 4 coffee sornewheret ', the park is fine.' She did not want to sit
and face ' in a restaurant, not yet. She needed time to find out how she
felt..Stjames's?" She nodded. ' we get a taxit ', let's walk.' '.' So
they turned and headed down to Belgrave Road, then through St. George's
Square and on towards the river. As they walked, they kept their
distance, Francesca looking , ahead most of the time while Patrick
chatted casu- ,,ally and pointed things out to her along thethames. He
knew she was evaluating him; he knew he was being tested. lie wanted to
hold her and say that for him it was as if the past few months had never
existed, that it was the same, that he knew from the first moment he saw
her again that he loved her. But he didn't push her. She needed time and
he had to give it to her. She would work it out for herself, he knew she
would.

As they walked, Francesca thought how much she still , the sound of his
voice, how warm and gravelly it was, and how it hadn't changed, not at
all. As he talked, managing to make even the most boring detail sound
interesting, she found herself relaxing with him and laughing at his
comments. She found herself looking at him every now and then, to check
it was all real, and then meeting the warm gaze of his eyes and smiling
in answer to his own smile. She found herself caught up in the embrace
of love, its comfort and joy making the grey of the morning disappear,
and flooding her heart with light. The pain of the past vanished and the
elation of the present took hold.

359 Maria Barrett Some way along the river, he took her hand and dug it
into the warmth of his pocket. His fingers were just as she recalled
them, long and slim, the skin on them fine and almost polished. She did
not pull away The action was so natural that it somehow felt right.
instead, she moved closer to him, leaning very slightly against his arm,
and her hair brushed against his face when the wind blew from across the
river. There was an ease about them; they were two people wrapped up in
each other, in a private, radiant world of their own.

They walked on, up past Parliament Square, Patrick dropping her hand to
point out his tiny office in the great Gothic government building, and
on to Birdcage Walk on the edge of St. James's Square. The traffic
roared past them, the fog thickened and people hurried in both
directions, emphasising their luxury of just strolling. They walked
closely now, unable to stop their bodies from touching, and they talked
more quietly, their heads bent together. They were oblivious to the
world.

The women's editor of Oliver Pearce's paper came out of the stuffy
office on Old Queen Street and took a great gulp of cold air. She was in
a bad mood. The story she had been pursuing had amounted to nothing much
and she had just wasted forty-five minutes of her valuable time. She
looked across the road in both directions for a cab and then walked
round the comer into Birdcage Walk. She stood on the edge of the
pavement, ready to hail one when it arrived, and spotted what looked
like a familiar figure in-the distance.

She pulled her glasses out of her bag and slipped them on. She was an
expert at recognising a face, even at a distance, and as the couple
turned, she saw straight away who it was. Instantly her mood changed.
Stepping back into a doorway, she took out her mobile phone and dialled
the 360 Dan gerous Obsession ce, exci tedly watching the couple in the
distance. What bloody luck, she thought, the promise of a sensational
scoop and photographs to go with it! What bloody luck!

She got through after several rings. ', hi. It me. Can you send Steve
down to St. James's Park right away? Tell him I may have a bit of a
scoop and ask him to meet me in Birdcage Walk, at the entrance to the
park. Yeah. What? OK.' She waited for a minute and then her secretary
came back on the line. ' course tell him to bring his bloody camera! Why
else would I need a photographer, for Christ's saket She clicked the
button down on the phone and shoved it back in her bag. Jesus, that girl
was an idiot! She lit up a cigarette and made her way up the street to
the park entrance to wait for the photographer. Devlin and his woman had
disappeared but they'd be in the park somewhere, probably feeding the
ducks, she thought, sneeringly "So then what did he sayt Patrick held
Francesca's hand across the table and squeezed it. He was grinning at
her story of the birth of the Cameron Yates collection. They sat outside
the cafe in the park, in the fog.

She laughed and told him and he said: ' God, Francesca!' And thought how
much she had grown. In a few short months she was hardly recognisable as
the shy, timid girl he had met in Scotland. And yet she still retained
her naivety and her innocence; she was a beguiling mixture, now more
than ever, of the woman and the girl. He longed for both of them. ' we
got They had finished their coffee but she shrugged. He stood up and
walked round to her, bending to -hug her. She felt the same as he did,
he could sense it. ' shall we do now thent ' don't mind. Anything." 361
Maria Barrett He pulled her to her fiet and close to him, tightening his
hug and feeling the length of her body against his own. ', Francesca,'
he whispered into her perfumed hair. ' have missed you.' He squeezed her
tight and then lifted her off her feet. She laughed and the echo of it
cut through the fog. He lowered her face level with his own and found
her mouth. Still holding her above the ground, he kissed her and her
hair fell forward and covered their faces. He let her slide down his
body until her feet were on the ground and then he tangled his fingers
in her hair, pulled it back and kissed her face, moving his lips over
her eyes, her cheeks, her mouth.

And from the edge of the caft's garden area, hidden from view, the
automatic lens of the Pentax clicked and whirred away.

Later on in the closing afternoon, Francesca sat inside the glass
covering of a sightseeing boat and looked out at Patrick as he stood in
the icy drizzle watching the banks of the Thames from the water. They
were the only couple on the boat, along with a family of Americans, who
shivered in their waterproofs and snapped hopelessly at the buildings
through the misty rain.

She wondered at the extraordinary happiness she -felt, at the
completeness. She had no desire to question it. It engulfed her, filling
her and making her see everything in a new, clearer light. It had
brought her alive; the past had just slipped away, out of her reach, and
she had no use for it. None of it mattered now; she could think only of
him.

Patrick saw her and beckoned to her to join him. She stood and walked
out into the freezing rain to the edge of the boat. He opened his coat
and pulled her inside against the warmth of his body. ' fit with me,'he
said.

362 "Dangerous Obsession She put her arms around him and thought how
right he wa.

They were nearing Westminster Pier to dock and the reflection of the
Houses of Parliament fell across the water. Patrick knew how worthless
all that was for him; he knew there was no going back after today. I '
you like to come and see my new house, Francesca? I think you'd like
it.' '.' She rested her head on his chest and her answer was m ffied. '
you suret It pained him to think that she might not be interested. He
wanted her to see everything about him, to know everything.

She glanced up, catching his tone. ' course.' '.' They wobbled slightly
as the boat docked and then he led her off onto the Embankment. The
lights had come on and an orange glow shone through the darkening mist.
He held her hand as they walked up onto the road. ''ll take a cab. I
think it's going to pour any minute.' ', let's walk. I love walking
through London.' ' in the. raint She smiled and her whole face was
radiant. ', even in the rain." And that was exactly what they did.
Halfway along Millbank, Patrick's forecast proved right and the fine
drizzle turned into a steady downpour. They carried on walking. They
followed the river along Grosvenor Road, the rain coming down at a
steady pace, until they made it to the Chelsea part, of the Embankment.
Then it began to pelt ,. ' God!' Patrick put his head down and held
Francesca tightly. ' live just up there on the right,' he 363 Maria
Barrett shouted through the noise of the gushing water. ' on, let's
run!" Together they ran along the main road, the cars splashing up
puddles of filthy water and the rain stinging their eyes. Patrick led
her into Swan Walk and finally stopped outside a black glossed front
door. He fumbled in his pocket for his keys while Francesca stood beside
him. Finding them at last, he opened the door and pulled her inside,
then banged the door shut behind him. ' God! That was unbelievable!'They
stood in the hall, dripping great pools of water over the floor. '! Take
off your coat, it's drenched." Francesca unfastened the buttons and
opened the over- coat. Her clothes underneath - a knitted silk shirt and
a short wool skirt - were wet through and clung to her body Droplets of
water ran down her neck to the open front of her shirt, and her hair was
plastered to her head.

Patrick moved forward. Within seconds, he had her face in his hands and
was kissing her, his mouth open, caressing every inch of skin, his hands
moving down over the wet clothes. He was senseless, overpowered by the
incredible passion that rose up and swamped him. He pushed her back
against the wall as she struggled to pull him free of his coat. She felt
it too and was unable to stop her body; it ached for him. She found his
shirt and her fingers ripped the buttons, needing to get to his skin. He
had moved his mouth down over her breasts and his hands lifted her
skirt, making her cry out when they touched the bare skin at the top of
her stockings- She had opened his shirt and was biting the skin on his
neck while her hands unfastened his trousers. He moved away and knelt,
putting his mouth to the top of her thighs, but she moaned and pulled
him up by his hair so that he 364 Dangerous Obsession was against her.
He pressed her back into the walli undressed her with one hand, then
lifted her hips, holding her secure with the weight of his body Her head
was thrown back and she was breathing in short gasps as she pushed her
hips towards him. ' love you,' he said fiercely and she cried out. '
love you,' he said again. ' love you, I love you.'And he kept on saying
it, with the rhythm of their ., until he could no longer speak and their
cries sounded out in the silence, together.

The hall seemed cold when they finally stopped breathing hard and their
bodies calmed. Francesca had been carried out of time, oblivious to the
world, but as her senses steadied, she gradually became aware of her
surroundings.

They were in a long, Victorian entrance hall with a black and white
marble floor and a round, highly polished, walnut William IV table in
the centre. The wall light in the porch ht half the floor with its glow
but the rest of the house was dark. What they had done suddenly seemed
illicit. Patrick was smiling. ' are you smiling att '.' He kissed her. '
need to get you into a bath and we should turn on some lights and make
it feel as if I actually live here.' He released her, kissed her face
gently and moved away Francesca adjusted her clothes as he switched on
some lights. He came back to her. ''t do that.' '?' ''t make it look as
if nothing happened.' He pulled her shirt out as he kissed her mouth. '
look glorious, all damp and messed up.' '!" He laughed. ' on upstairs..
You need a bath, or you'll get cold.' I le led her up the first flight
of stairs to a bathroom At the end of the house, turning on the light in
the passage 365 Maria Barrett but leaving the bathroom in shadow. He
half closed the door, letting the light from outside just filter in,
enough to see her, and then sat her on the edge of the bath, a huge
white Victorian tub with high brass taps in the centre. He turned on the
taps, sprinkling some oil, from a Penhaligan's glass bottle into the
bath, and hot water gushed out.

Francesca sat and watched him as he pulled his tipped shirt, over his
head and ran his fingers through his damp hair. He was beautiful, she
thought, strong and powerful, warm and gentle. He was all things for
her; he was complete. '.' He bent and went to kiss her. '.' He stopped
and looked at her. ' and sit down." He glanced behind him at the wicker
chair and then back at her. ' on,' she said. Her voice was a soft
whisper and yet it controlled him. He moved and sat down opposite her,
his excitement flaring in that one moment.

She stood and, very slowly, unbuttoned her shirt, peeling it off her
shoulders and leaving her lace bra underneath. She eased the straps
down, watching his face, and then the fine lace of the bra, revealing
her breasts, full and pink-tipped. She saw his face change. She unhooked
it and it fell to the floor. Next she unzipped the back of her skirt,
let it slide down over her hips and stood in just her black stockings
and boots.

She ran her hands down over her breasts to her hips and then her thighs,
the thrill of showing her body in this way, the slow revelation of it,
making her movements more and more erotic. Patrick sat completely still
and silent. just the quickness of his breath revealed his desire.

Lastly, she put one foot up on the edge of the bath, leaned forward, her
breasts touching her thigh, and unlaced 366 romms 0 ession er boot,
kicking it gently off. She did the same with the other boot and then
stood straight. She moved across to Patrick. ' God, Francesca ...'She
bent her head and found his mouth. His hands went around her thighs, his
fingers touc ing the silky film of stocking. He pulled her down onto his
lap, wound his hands in her hair and watched her face as slowly she
began to move.

"Thank God for big baths.'He still had his hands in her hair but his
head was back against the chair and his body was limp. She lifted her
head from his shoulder and smiled. ' you want to turn off the taps or
shall IT Nou can.'She moved and lifted her body up and off him. He eased
himself out of the chair and across to the bath. ''s a bathrobe in my
bedroom,' he said over his shoulder. ''s the second door along.' He was
testing the water so she picked up his shirt, pulled it over her head
and wandered out onto the landing and into the bedroom. She "switched on
the main light and looked around for the towelling robe.

The bedroom was big and had a masculine feel, decorated in yellow and
cream stripes with Georgian mahogany miture. She liked it -it was just
as she would have imaghaed it to be. She saw a collection of photographs
on the chest and curiously walked over to have a look. There was one of
Patrick as a boy, one of Lady Margaret's wedding ,-and a recent one, of
what looked like a tennis party at Motcom. Patrick was standing next to
a brown-haired girl d d his arm around her waist. They, and everyone
else the picture, were laughing, as if the photographer had t said
something funny. Francesca crossed to the bed. She could see another
picre by the bedside in a large silver frame and she wanted to 367 Maria
Barrett sneak a look at that as well. She picked it up. She caught her
breath and thought for a moment that someone had suddenly turned out the
light in the room. But then she blinked and the picture came into focus
again. The grief of it doubled her over.

For that minute, as she stood crippled by pain, looking down into the
smiling faces of the brown-haired girl and Patrick, she felt that time
was suspended and that she hung there, locked into a black nightmare of
realisation that shocked her to the core.

She was horrified but she could not take her eyes off the image, the
smiling, happy, united image. It seemed to draw her in, like a
whirlpool, pulling her down, her mind swirling in confusion, down and
down in a spiral. The girl wore a ring, a large emerald with a cluster
of diamonds around it, and it shone out, as radiant as her face. It was
the only light Francesca could see, a flashing, spinning light.

Slumping down onto the bed, she covered her face with her trembling
hands, desperate for the image to go away, but it burned there in her
mind. The bright light shone out of the photograph and the smiles mocked
her, sneering and malicious. She dropped the photograph to the floor and
cried out. I "Francescat Patrick came into the room. ''s wrong7' He was
naked but for a towel round his waist and his body seemed to taunt her.

She stood up, unable to look at him. She felt violated, as if she had
shown him her soul and he had laughed and scorned her for it. She felt
dirty and used. ' Something about her frightened him. He could sense
fear and pain. It was like a barrier across the room. ', what is itt She
wanted to sink to her knees and crawl pitifully from the roord but her
pride would not let her. She had to face 368 Dangerous Obsession him.
Digging her nails into the palm of her clenched fist, she faced him and
said: ' must go now' The words came out cold and hard, and later, she
wondered how that could have happened, knowing that she was so fragile
at that moment, so frighteningly weak, that she should have screamed in
pain, like a broken animal. ' do you mean, you have to go nowt Patrick
stayed across the room. The scent of her anger and fear was so strong it
scared him. ''ve done what I came to do, and now it's over I have to
go.' She saw his face, the flicker of pain in his eyes, and it gave her
strength to know she could hurt him as he hurt her. He was a liar, a
cheat, but she could lie too. ' what you-' He swallowed painfully ' you
came to do?' '. You owed me one, Patrick, it was nothing more.' She
glanced down at the picture on the floor. It sneered up at her. ' had to
know that it didn't mean anything but .. She shrugged. ' whaff His voice
was hoarse with emotion and anger. ' fucking." He looked for a moment as
if she had slapped him. Then he turned away. She moved across the room
and tried to get past him. '!' He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
', Francesca! No!' She struggled. ' don't believe you, I can'd I saw
your eyes, I felt you!' ' off me!' she screamed. She yanked her arm back
but he held onto it and pushed her up against the doorframe.. ' me,'he
said fiercely ' me you dowt love me!' His face was an inch from her own
and she smelled the faint scent of sex on his skin. She saw the
brown-haired girl in his eyes and his deceit made her feel sick. Z 369
Maria Barreu "No,' she said. ' don't love you!' Suddenly he let her go.
He slumped back against the wall and put his hands up to his face. The
very charade of it angered her. ' don't love you,' she said nastily, '
you're a good fuck, Patrick!' She walked past him into the bathroom and
pulled on her skirt and boots, gathering up the rest of her clothes in a
bundle. The very thought of their sex disgusted her. His lies hung in
the air around her and she had to get out. She came out onto the landing
but she could not look at him - she was afraid to. ' won't let you go,'
he said as she went past him to the stairs. She said nothing. Lies, she
thought, lies, lies, lies. He pulled her shoulder back. ' won't let you
go, damn it! I'll come after you, Francesca!" She jerked herself free
and made for the stairs. The faces in the picture flashed before her
eyes and, not realising what she was doing, she started to run,
desperate to get away from him. Frightened, by the power of his
deception. ''ll come after you! I know you love me, Francesca!' he
shouted behind her, the force of his voice making her weak.

She grabbed her coat from the hall and ran to the front door. ''ll come
for you! he yelled as she ran out into the street. ''ll come after you!
I won't let you go!" She ran, as fast as she could, through the pelting
rain, past the cars, the streetlamps, along the river, until the blood
roared in her ears and her chest heaved with the effort. Finally she
stopped, miles away from Patrick, and leaned against the cold brick of a
building, her whole body shaking in reaction to the force of her
emotion. She put her face up to the rain, closed her eyes and
desperately began to sob.

370 CHAPTER Twenty-six LADY MARGARET AND LORD HENRY Sat in the drawing
room at Motcom on one of the rare evenings they were together and played
a game of backgammon. The fire was beginning to die down in the grate as
the game entered its final stages and Lord Henry was nearing the end of
his nightcap. It was after ten and they played in companionable silence,
relaxed and winding down ready for bed. The telephone rang. ' Lord! Who
would be ringing at this time of nightt Lord Henry always associated
late-night telephone calls with trouble. In his book people should only
call after ten in the morning and before seven at night: any other time
was a gross intrusion on one's private life. ''t worry, I'll get
it.'Their new man. had the night off Lady Margaret stood up and walked
out into the chill of the hall to answer the call. ' Margarett ',
speaking.' ' evening, it's Charles Hewitt.' ', Charlps' How are yo UT '
in padicularly good humour, I'm afraid, Lady Margaret.' '? Why is that
It really irritated her the way he insisted on using her title. It was
prudent, she knew that, but it irritated her nevertheless. She wanted it
to be seen that she was on first-name terms with the Foreign Secretary;
she'd earned that honour. ''ve had a call from Chris O'Leary, the
newspaper 371 Maria Barrett Magnate. Apparently your brother has been
making deals with one of the tabloids. I've been on the phone to the
editor of the paper involved for the past hour trying to put the whol e-
ruddy mess right!' ' do you mean, "making deals "T She was confused.
What the hell was Charles on about? Patrick hadn't said anything about
it to her. ', he promised them an exclusive on his relationship with a
young girl called Francesca Cameron in return for the paper rallying
round the troops to review this girl's fashion show. I gather that name
will ring a few bells, Lady Margaret? Personally I think the idiot's
taken leave of his bloody senses!'.

Lady Margaret fumbled behind her for a chair. She slumped down onto it
and sat stunned for several seconds. She was so angry she could hardly
think. ' situation at present is that I've managed to negotiate with the
paper to scrap all ideas of a story and O'Leary put his word in. But
that doesn't take care of Patrick. I don't know what the hell he's
playing at, Lady Margaret, but I suggest that you find out pretty damn
quick!' ', of course.' Her head was dizzy with rage. ''t you tell me
last time we met that Patrick had become engagedt ', sort of, yes.' She
been pushing him for weeks to get a move on with Penny Brachen. She
should have pushed harder. Jesus! Francesca Cameron! ', the sooner an
announcement is made, the better! The last thing the party needs is
another scandal. I'd urge you to convince him of the advantages of a
nice solid wife behind him, Lady Margaret, if he wants to stay in the
job, that is!' ', of course.' She instantly felt panic. Was that a
threat?

372 Dangerous Obsession "And by the way, if anything should be said, I'd
play up the thing about the family, the girl being an ex-employee. That
way we pass off the connection reasonably neatly. is that all rightt
Lady Margaret held the receiver very tightly. ', I .. She had never told
Charles about Francesca Camerows position with the family His knowledge
came from another source. Christ, what else did he know? ' you think,
Charles,'she said quietly ' think you should keep a tight reign on your
brother, Lady Margaret. We don't need a cock-happy MP!' ', Charles.' She
glanced over her shoulder to check she had closed the sitting-room door.
''ll come straight down to London to talk to him. Do you want to meet up
for lunch tomorrowt 11 can't, I'm afraid.' J see.'A sign of disapproval.
some other time, Lady Margaret.' ', some -other time.' And without
another word, he rang off. Lady Margaret remained in the hall by the
telephone and tried to think rationally about what she had to do -next.
There was no time for games now. She would tell it to him straight and
God damn it he would listen! She bloody well meant it this time, no idle
threats! He might not care about ruining his career but she did! She
would have her pound of flesh off Patrick - she'd paid for it and she
would damn well have it! She stood and called out to Lord Henry. ', I'm
afraid I have to go down to London tonight.' Charles had stopped the
story for now but there was no time to waste. -She heard Lord Henry
groan as she went into the room.

He will have to be patient, she thought angrily, goijig to 373 Maria
Barrett the bureau for the car key, just like I have been all these
years.

John was in his dressing gown when he received the call from reception.
Patrick Devlin in the lobby? it must be some mistake. He hadn't seen or
heard of Patrick Devlin for months, not since Motcom. No mistake, the
girl assured him. Please could he come down to see Mr. Devlin. He
dressed hurriedly and left the room. The call had given him a sick
feeling in the pit of his stomach.

John!' Patrick crossed the lobby They stood uncomfortably for several
minutes and then shook hands, awkwardly, Patrick was unsure where to
start. ' you want to sit down?' ', thank you.'All the old feelings of
protectiveness for Francesca rose in John's chest. He was still angry
with Devlin and resented his appearance. ' is it you want, Patrick?"
Patrick met John with. the same bluntness. He saw no point in wasting
time. ''ve come to talk to you about Francesca,' he said. ' Francesca
and me." John face remained impassive but resentment overwhelmed him. '
must be joking, Devlin! You get me out of bed to tell me thad'John
snorted. ' makes you think, after all these months, that she, or 1, for
that matter, would have anything to do with yout ''ve seen her, John,
today' Patrick saw John face alter. ' didn't tell yout '.' That fact
made him even more angry. she is her own person, Patrick! She doesn't
have to tell me everything!' ' know, I know' Patrick looked away. This
was far harder than he had imagined. It had never occurred to him that
he would have to face John anger. ', I met Francesca the Dangerous
Obsession r night, in Pimlico, and then I came to the show. We met up
again today' He sighed. ', I'm finding this very hard-' ' bet you are!'
' ...'Patrick put his hand out and touched John's arm. ', will you just
listen to me for a moment? I know you must dislike me, resent me,
whatever, but I need to talk to you. Please, will you just listen to met
John looked down at the hand and then at Patrick's face. He could see
the distress but it didn't soften him. ' right,'he answered grudgingly.
''ll give you five minutes.' They walked over to the seating area. ' is
it you want to sayt Patrick took a breath and looked straight at John. '
has been one of the best days of my life, and one of the worst. I have
realised today what an almighty mistake I made in Scotland this summer.
I realised it as soon as I saw Francesca actually, and now I've got to
tell her.' He hesitated for a moment and then continued. ' love
Francesca, and I think she loves me. She ran out on me tonight - it was
a Uplid Misunderstanding St. - and I have to see her, I have to explain
it to her. 1. thought, maybe He stopped. ' thought maybe you might be
able to help." John looked carefully again at Patrick's face in the
harsh electric light of the hotel foyer and thought he looked haggard
and old. More than that, he looked bereft. ' don't think she had
forgiven you, Patrick,' he said. His loyalty was to'Francesca; he felt
loath to say any more. ' you talk to her for me? Tell her that I love
hert Patrick was desperate. ' don't know' ' you at least think about
it?" John thought back for a moment to all the pain and -Anguish
Francesca had suffered in her short lifetime before 375 Maria Barrett he
answered. ' will think about it, if youll do something for me.' Patrick
looked up hopefully '!' ' you really think about how much you love hert
'-'John held up his hand to silence him. ', I know you have already
thought about it but I want you to go home and think about it some more.
Really think it through, Patrick. Think about how much you would be
prepared to give up for this girl and what sort of difference she will
make to your life. If, in the morning, the answer is everything, then
come back and I will try to talk to her for you." Patrick remained
silent. ' don't want her to be hurt again, you see,'John said. ' won't
let her be hurt again.' '.' Patrick understood that. ' I will be back in
the morning." John shrugged. ' hope so.' He held out his hand and they
shook. ' you,' Patrick said. ' me tomorrow.' Patrick turned and left
the, hotel.

Lady Margaret swung the Range Rover into Swan Walk from Royal Hospital
Road and pulled up slowly outside Patrick's house. She switched off the
engine and sat for several minutes in the front seat of the car,
illuminated by the . light from the streetlamp, and let her body relax
after the stress of the drive. it was two am. Then she collected up her
jacket from the passenger seat, reached into the back for her bag and
climbed out of the car. The house was dark but she had her key Ringing
on the bell, she rummaged in her bag for the key and found it just as a
light came on upstairs. She turned it in the - lock and walked into the
large, open hallway, 376 Dangerous Obsession switched on some lamps,
then walked straight through to the kitchen to make some coffee. She
heard Patrick upstairs and composed herself for him. '! Good God! What
are you doing heret He stood in the doorway in his bathrobe and blinked
at the bright light of the kitchen. ' you all right? Is something ' at
Motcom?' ', I'm fine and no, nothing is wrong at Motcom.' She crossed to
him and kissed his cheek without much warmth. ' on into the sitting
room, Patrick. I'll bring you some coffee in. We need to talk.' ' do you
mean, we need to talk?" She had returned to the coffee and spoke to him
over her shoulder. ' had a call from Charles Hewitt earlier this
evening. He suggested you and I talk a few things through.' She turned.
', do go and sit down, Patrick - you're making me nervous hovering
around like that! I'll tell you what this is all about in a minute, but
I need a drink first, it's been a long drive." Patrick went through to
the sitting room and switched on one of the lamps. It was chilly in
there and he suddenly resented the size of the room. Swan Walk had -been
Margaret's choice - somewhere you can entertain, she had said, somewhere
closer to the House for you. She had decorated it and loaned him the
money for it, but looking at it now, he didn't think it would suit
Francesca. Perhaps, if he stayed in politics, they would move up to his
constituency. She would probably like it in the country.

Lady Margaret came in with a tray and placed it on the coffee table. She
poured milk into Patrick's cup, handed it across to him and then dealt
with her own. She took a large gulp of dark, aromatic coffee and put the
cup carefully by her feet. '?' Patrick watched her movements, slow and
377

Maria Barrett deliberate, and waited for her to say what she had driven
two hundred miles to say. ', what is the truth in the story you were
planning to tell the Mail, about you and Francesca Carneront II beg
yourpardon?' ' Mail, Patrick! It seems they were about to do an
exclusive on you, photographs and all!' ' the hell ...' '!' Lady
Margaret pulled a long cigarette out of a box and lit it. She looked
across at her brother. ''d like to know what the hell you think you're
doing?' '!' Patrick was stunned. Free bloody press? The only person that
knew was Oh and his women's page editor. ' Christ! How the hell did you
find outt He stood up and reached for Lady Margaret's cigarettes,
lighting one up quickly and moving across the room to the window. He
looked out, too angry to speak. ,'I hardly think that's importand' Lady
Margaret stared at his back. ' asked you a question, Patrick, about
Francesca. You didn't answer me!' ' don't think it's any of your
business!" Lady Margaret stood up. ' unfortunately that's where you're
wrong! It is my business, like it or not! When the Foreign Secretary
rings me at ten o'clock at night to tell me to put you straight on a few
things then I'd say it's pretty well as much my business as yours!' She
stubbed out her cigarette, grinding it into the ashtray. ''t yout
Patrick turned. ' answer is still no. My private life is my own affair.'
' is, it's not private, is it, Patrick? Not when you make stupid deals
with old school chums in return for a national exclusive! It's not
bloody private at all!' She threw up her hands. ' in God's name were you
thinking about? Answer me that! Are you really out to destroy 378
Dangerous Obsession 7, hing we've worked for? Haven't you any pride?' '
I think I've heard that word from you before, haven't I? Look where it
got me last time! And in answer to your question, no, I'm not out to
destroy everything you've d for; I was thinking about the truth, that's
all. I love worke R Francesca, I want to marry her. I made a big mistake
walk- g out on her, I know that now. I love her and she means ';re to me
than anything else.' Lady Margaret stood perfectly still and averted her
eyes from Patrick's face. The very earnestness of his look made !,z-: '
feel sick. ' tell me, what would you know about love ..... and marriage,
Patrick?' she asked coldly. ' much as the next man!' He sighed wearily '
it really matter? I love Francesca, it's right for us. Can't you thatt
11,11 tell you what I understand, Patrick!' Her voice rose
IRV,--',suddenly in anger. ' understand that you have a cheap lit- ,
affair with a nubile eighteen-year-old and think it's love!

quite pathetic, you lusting all over her like an old man ready to throw
in everything for it. You do realise that career will be over if you
continue this fairy tale? Who -do you think will take you seriously? A
man who can't ";',iirk past his cock!" That's enough, Margared' She
shook her head. ' no it isn't! I haven't finished yet! f-"I've Lot a
hell of a lot more to say before I'm finished!" He began to walk towards
the door. ' you can bloody well stay and listen to it, Patrick! This
time there won't be any kind words and pleading. This V" time I mean
business!" Unmoved by her anger, he stood and thought for a few moments.
If he left now the rift would be so much harder to -al but if he stayed
then he would lose his temper and would both say things that were better
left unsaid.

379 Maria Barrett "Sit-down, Patrick! Sit down and listen!' He stared at
her. ''t order me around, Margaret,'he said icily ''m not going to fight
about this." And suddenly she nodded. ''re right,'she answered. We dont.
have to fight.' She lit another cigarette. ' fought about it once before
and I told you that I was only doing what I thought was best for you.'
She held the cigarette close to her face and the smoke curled up over
her lips. ' I have done has been for you. I hope you understand that.' '
understand it, Margaret.' But he wasn't sure if he did, and he wasn't at
all sure any more if she knew the difference between what was best for
him and what was best for herself. ', I'm glad you do.' She took a
breath. ' I own a large percentage of the David Yates fashion company,
not a controlling interest but one big enough to make things very
difficult indeed for that company. And, if I felt it was necessary, that
is exactly what I'd do! It would be a shame, wouldn't it? After such a
well-reviewed show and particularly as they are struggling somewhat to
survive in the current climate. I think it would be right to say that if
I caused trouble, I could very probably finish them. A great shame, I'd
say!" Patrick, stared at her in complete horror, momentarily confused
with shock. He thought that maybe she had gone mad, but then he saw her
eyes and saw that it wasn't madness at all, it was ambition, pure,
unyielding ambition. She stared coldly at him. ' wonder if Francesca
Cameron would thank you for ruining what could be a truly glittering
career, Patrick?' She took a last drag of the cigarette and stubbed it
out. What do you think?' She blew the smoke out in a thick grey cloud. '
the company were to fold due to an exorbitant rate on their 380
Dangerous Obsession or constant stalling over decisions by a director,
or even a takeover? Do you think Francesca would blame you if she knew
you could have stopped all that but didn't?' Lady Margaret watched
Patrickls face as a look of bitter dis- ', appointment came over it. She
swallowed hard. She did not want him to hate her but she had to go on;
she had to take that risk. ' your idyllic love survive disillusionment
and resentment? Would Francesca forgive you, do you think?" 41, But
Patrick could not find the strength to answer her. e enormity of her
selfish ambition shocked him so deeply he could hardly speak. '?' he
whispered. ' ",Vould you do this?'It was beyond his comprehension how
anyone could hate so much, or scheme such evil. That it is own sister
made him want to weep. W ' don't want to, Paddy' she said. ' will only
do what I Ve to." 4But whyt ,'7 -,'Because I will not stand by and see
you ruin your life,' snapped. ''s why! You have far too much to lose!'
"But I don't care, caret you see that? She is the only thing t's
important. I would give up everything for her. rything!' Lady Margaret
felt as if she'd been slapped in the face. After all her sacrifice,
after everything she had done for n", "Wrn everything, he would give it
all up for that worthless trol op, in it for everything she could get? '
my dead body!' she muttered fiercely. ' was that?' ' said, over my dead
body! You will give up nothing, Patrick' Do you bear me? Nothing!' '
will do as I please! You just caret get that into your d can you? That I
in a free agent, that I am old enough make my own choices!

381 Maria Barreu "All right!' she shouted. ' ahead, make your own
choices! But don't come running to me when it all collapses down around
your ears, will you? She was livid at Patrick's stupidity ' can have
that girl, if that's what you really want, but mark my words, I will
ruin her! I will do everything in my power to do it. Everything! You
have a brilliant career ahead of you but if you want to throw it all
away then there is nothing I can do to stop you. But you will throw me
and the family away as well. I will not stand by and see you destroy
your life!' ' why? Why can I not have it all with Francesca?, '
Francescat Lady Margaret laughed viciously ' a teenage bimbo in your
constituency? A girl who came from nowhere, marked and bruised? She has
a past, Patrick! A violent past, any fool could see that. Are you really
naive enough to think that people won't pro Oh, they'll pry all right!
There's a can of worms just waiting to be opened and the gutter press
will be falling over each other in the rush to prise off the lid! And
what about ' Hewitt? Do you think he'll back your career after you've
embarrassed the government and yourself with this sordid little affair?
Oh, for God's sake!' She snatched up her bag and dug into it for a
tissue, tears of anger and frustration streaming down her cheeks. ',
please.' Patrick put his hand on her shoulder. k "No.' She shrugged him
off. ' won't listen to your whingeing and whining! You must make your
choice!' She wiped her face. ' if you choose Francesca, Patrick, then
think very seriously about the consequences. I will be the first to find
out what violent and terrible past she has hidden and mark my words, I
will ' her pay for it! I will never let it rest! Never!' She shoved the
tissue back in the bag and turned to face him. ' is not just your life
any 382 Dangerous Obsession T, it. am; you owe too much to too many
people. Think about thad' She walked past him to the door. I ' about
what you take on if you go with her, and then pray that you, and she,
have the strength to endure id' She spat the words at him and then left
the room, slamming the door behind her.

@Ntrick stood up and drew back the curtains as the light broke over the
city and the orange streetlamps flickered fleetingly, before going out.
He looked up at the sky, heavy and thick with dirty rain as it
lightened, almost impercep- :, with the dawn, and then across the street
at the parked car opposite with two men in it. They had been there all
night.. He turned away and went over to the bureau, taking up several
sheets of half-written paper and placing them in a large glass ashtray
He found Lady Margaret's lighter and clicked it open, holding the flame
against the comer of the first sheet. It'caught light instantly, then
spread to the other sheets, and within seconds the fire had burned
through the paper and the letters had gone. All that rernained of his
useless and wretched words of explanation to Francesca was a small shred
of thick black ash.

He went upstairs and entered the guest bedroom. Lady Margaret was still
awake. ','he said. ' you promise me that if I give up Francesca you will
leave her alone?'There was no emotion in his voice he was numb and cold
to the core.

She turned her head towards him. ' you marry Penny Brachen, yes." He
gripped the door handle. His whole body was suddenly filled with a
terrible ache, the dull pain of loss. This was his lot, the price he had
to pay to love Francesca, the price of her past and his future. He
looked at his sister and 383 Maria Barrett she was more alien to him
than he could ever have imagined possible. ' me your word that you will
never harm her,' he said. ' her nor the company, and ... I'll do
whatever you want." A smile hovered in her eyes but she kept it from her
lips. ' have my word,' she answered. ' see her again and I will break
her.' She turned away again and closed her eyes. Patrick walked silently
from the room.

Exactly three weeks laterjohn stood in the sitting room of the small
terraced house in Marston Avenue, studying the handwritten white card.
it had been addressed to him but the words in it were for Francesca. He
did not know what to do. He gazed out of the window at the patch of
front garden, newly dug and planted, and felt the force of her pain in
the dark, churned earth. She had worked to the point of exhaustion,
struggling with the ground as she struggled with her hurt and
humiliation, tiring herself too much even to weep. She had wanted to
batter her body, to numb it, but she could not escape the suffering,
that he knew.

Now, as he waited for her to come home, he worried about her physical
state. It seemed to him that she had no strength left, that something
inside her had used up her spint and left her weak and defenceless. She
was drained; the shadow of what she felt hovered over her, like a dark
angel. He turned as the front door slammed. '?" She came into the room.
Her face was deathly pale but for two spots of high colour on her
cheeks, like the flush of a fever, and her eyes burned unnaturally
bright. ' have you been? I've been worried about you.' He tucked the
card into his pocket. ' had to go to the doctor's,' she answered. She
fumbled 384 Dangerous Obsession with the buttons on her coat for a
moment and then looked up at him. ','she said quietly, ', m pregnant."
The stark honesty of the words stunned him. It took several minutes
before they made sense and he stood, gazing blankly at her, not knowing
what to say or do. Finally he walked across to her and held out his
arms. She moved into his ernbrace and the comfort of his body was such a
relief after the hours and days of lonely torment.

a ''h, I will you dot he asked, still holding her. She shook her head.
It was a baby conceived in love, a child created through a passion and
feeling so strong that the memory of it made her weak. Nothing, no
deceit or lies, could Lake that away ' want to keep the baby,' she
whispered.

He touched her hair. His life, so barren and useless, a life almost
over, had suddenly found purpose, had begun again. She had clone this
for him and now she would give him the gift of a child. Not his, but a
part of her, and in loving her as he did, thus a part of him. '. must do
whatever you feel is right,'he said. ' I will support you." He thought
of the card in his pocket and of Patrick's words, so simple and so
desperate. I cannot love her without hurting her, he had said, and I
would rather give my life ihan cause her any more pain. Tell her, if
ever she should ask'to look at the words of Corinthians 13.7: Love bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
She lives on in my heart, and without her my life will never be
complete.

385 -Part H . i Enzo - Rome 1990 CHAPTER Twenty-seven dark, black al THE
NIGHTNIARE CAME AGAIN. IT Was most, and he was walking across the fields
with the night sounds than he ever remembered them. He knew he was more
eerie being followed. It was a sensation of fear, a slow, agonising
fear, creeping up his spine, and he recognised it, he knew what would
happen next. Suddenly an owl screamed and he spun round. A knife went up
to his throat and the bulk Of his brother overpowered him. His heart was
pounding so s he fast he thought it would explode in his chest and a
ppened his mouth to scream nothing came out, no words, no breath,
nothing. He looked down and he was covered in own blood, flowing, full
and thick and red, down blood his r his chest to a pool on the floor.
Giovanni No!' He went to reach for his brother's nds but his strength
had gone. ' ... !'he cried. ' ... Francesca ... Save me!" 6.- lie woke
up. ' I Jesus Christ! Shut the hell up, will yout ' it, for God's sake!'
The chorus of voices rang out into the still, putrid air of the room and
he rolled over onto his side, curling his knees up shivering and
sweating. He thought he might be sick. Y. pl-Uistening to the heavy
breathing of the other men in the ouse, he stared at the black space,
eyes wide open, id that if he shut them the nightmare would return. So
Enzo Mondello lay, locked in the terror of his 391 Maria Barrett
memories, and watched for the first signs of light at the boarded-up
window and waited for the horror of the night to pass.

"Hey, Enzo! You want a cigarettet Enzo looked up from the pavement and
leaned on his brush for a minute. ''ll give you twenty for a piece of
that tight little arse you got there!'A round of laughter rang out
across the street and he put his head down to carry on sweeping. 4 ''s
the matter, Enzo? Country boy doesn't like my jokes, huht The fat man in
charge of the bins laughed and showed a mouth full of dirty, discoloured
teeth but Enzo swept on and ignored him. The laughter finally died away
and the men continued with their tasks.

Sweeping hard, Enzo felt the blisters on his hands, the coarse wood of
the broom handle rubbing up against the sores, making them weep. They
were painful to touch. but he didn't care; he thought of nothing, cared
for nothing. Not since Francesca left had he cared. He had sold the farm
for a paltry sum just to be rid of it, to be free. Free to rind her.
That was all he wanted, to find her and to get her back. So, he did the
work, his back ached and the grime and filth of the city seeped into his
pores, into the creases of his skin and under his nails. He sweated,
dirty, oily sweat, day after day, toiling for nothing but the few lire
in his pocket, and he waited. He waited for the right time to move on,
to find Francesca somehow.

Some time later, looking up a second time from the road, Enzo heard a
commotion at the far end of the street and put his hand up to his eyes
to shield them from the sun. All the men had stopped working and he
followed their gaze in the direction of the brawl. He saw a car,
casually parked on the pavement, and a young girl with a man beside it.
She was 392 Dangerous Obsession shouting and pulling at t ' man, not
letting him get back into the car, blocking his way and yelling abuse at
him. Some of the street workers had begun to laugh as she bullied him
for more money and he pushed her away, embayrassed by the scene.

The man, tiring of the argument, glanced behind him briefly and saw that
he was being watched by a crowd of smiling street workers. He caught the
arrogant sneer on one of the men's faces and his attitude suddenly
changed. His temper snapped. ' off me, you stupid bitch!'he shouted.
''ve had all you're worth!' He shoved the young girl violently away, and
she stumbled back, nearly losing her balance. Some of the men watching
jeered. She came back at him, arms flailing, and hit him with both fists
on his chest. Egged on by the jeering, e grabbed one of her arms and
wrenched it back, making her scream with pain. ' off me, you filthy
whore!' He pushed her again and she fell. Turning away from him, she
began to cry and it was then that Enzo caught a glimpse of her face. He
froze for a split second and then he screamed. '!' He dropped the broom
and ran up the street.

just as the man was about to get into his car, Enzo pounced, his solid,
muscled body powerful with anger. The man stumbled back in shock. Enzo
grabbed the man by the throat, dragged him down onto the bonnet of the
car and hooked his arm in a stranglehold. The man began to choke. His
body struggled wildly against Enzos hold but he was no match for the
fit, tense body of a street worker. His face, grotesque in agony, was
crimson, swollen with the air forced down inside his lungs, his eyes
bulging with ierror. '! Get him off the bastard!' Two men suddenly
dragged Enzo back and gripped his arms. His hold loosened.

393 Maria Barrett "Jesus, he almost killed him!' Voices, everywhere,
inside his head, on the street. He dropped his hands and put them up to
his face. The man fell forward to the ground, panting and gasping for
air. ' back, give him some air!' ' Christ, he's still breathing!" Enzo
slumped down beside the girl. Her weeping body was huddled on the
ground; her arm hung painful and limp. He could see now that she wasn't
Francesca and he dropped his head, a bitter disappointment stabbing his
chest as he struggled for breath. '!' The man towered over Enzo,
kneeling on the ground. ' son of a bitch! You nearly killed me!" Enzo
did not look up; he had no life left inside him. It wasn't Francesca;
that was all that mattered.

The man kicked him but he took the blow. ''ll have you arrested! You
bastard!' He went to kick again but Enzo moved suddenly and he hastened
back. He ran to the car and pulled open the door. ' filthy bastard!' he
shouted from inside the car, starting up the engine and swearing blindly
He shook his fist at Enzo, revving the accelerator and yelling again out
of the window. ' filthy, dirty bastard!' He screeched off the pavement,
narrowly missing Enzo and the girl, and roared off down the street. His
engine screamed in the distance and then there was silence. A tense,
uncomfortable silence. The men stood around for a few minutes, not
knowing what to do, and then the fat man spoke: ' him,'he said and the
small crowd of workers backed away He looked down at Enzo. ''re
fired!'He spat on the pavement and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. J
don't want to see your miserable face again. Right?'And he turned and
followed the others, who had started to move off down the street.

394 Dangerous Obsession For some time Enzo knelt beside the girl. She
was silent, rocking back and forth, her mouth clenched and her face
ashen with pain. He could hear the faint whimper of her when the pain
was too much, like a dog who'd been kicked and beaten, and he had the
urge to hit her himself, his bitter disappointment having turned quickly
to rage. Instead he tried to ignore her as she scrabbled for her bag. '
...'Her voice was no more than a hoarse whisper. She pushed the bag
towards him with her good arm, every slight movement agony Enzo looked
up. ' it ...'She could hardly speak. He pulled the bag towards him,
opened it and found a wad of lire stuffed inside. He took it out to
count it: it was more than he earned in a week. He glanced over at the
girl. She was young, no more than fifteen, he reckoned, and she was
pretty, but dirty from the scuffle and her features were blurred by
pain. Her eyes'were blank as she looked at him and he thought she was
near to passing out. He took the wad of cash and pushed it down into his
back pocket. ',' he said. It would tide him over, at least until he
found another job. He stood, and looked back at her, preparing to leave.
Suddenly he felt guilty He moved across to her and attempted to lift her
to her feet. ', hold onto me.' He couldn't leave her there, much as he
wantrd to. He held her round the waist as, she cradled her arm. What's
your addresst She made no reply Her legs were unsteady and she leaned
against him for support. He bent and picked her up, carrying her across
his arms. '! Signoret He crossed to a paper seller just setting up for
the evening editions. ' know where this girl comes fromt The
newspaperman looked at Enzo and then at the 395 Maria Barrett young
prostitute he carried in his arms. He knew her - she was from a small
brothel in the area. ' her to the Via Varese,'. he said. ''s off the Via
Palestro, it's not far." Enzo nodded. He had been working round there
the day before and he knew it vaguely The girl murmured something
unintelligible, looking up at him with blank eyes, and seconds later she
passed out. The weight of her was like lead in his arms. He nodded to
the newspaper seller to thank him and set off in the direction the man
had pointed out.

Some time later, now holding the girl up as they walked, Enzo located
the address she had given him. They stopped outside a three-storey
dilapidated pink stone building on the Via Varese and he stepped forward
to ring on the bell. The door was eventually opened by a tall,
attractive woman, who came out of the house and took the girl from him,
supporting her with both arms. She nodded to him silently in greeting
and he nodded back. She turned to lead the girl inside the house and
then glanced over her shoulder, looking Enzo up and down. ' inside,
please,' she said. He was surprised at her voice - there was no trace of
an accent. ' you could wait until I have taken care of Sofiat '.' Enzo
pulled back his shoulders and as the woman turned again to the girl, he
followed her through the heavy oak double doors. ', could you show
Signore, er .. ', Enzo Mondello.' ' you, Signore Mondello to the
reception rooms while I take Sofia upstairs to her roornt Enzo found
himself in a long, leafy courtyard with a vine-covered portico and
several doors leading off it. One of the doors opened and a small,
squat, elderly lady draped in the customary widow's black came out. She
nodded in his 396 Dangerous Obsession T tion and he stood and watched
the younger Woman lead the girl through another door and disappear out
of sight.

is way, please.'The old woman led him back through door she had stepped
out of, along a darkened pase ay to a further door. He was amazed: the
whole place ed to be a labyrinth of passages and doors. In here,
signore, please.' She swung open the last door Enzo entered a long,
darkened room, elaborately V, pe in reds and golds with high gilt
mirrors, two or ee low ornately padded and buttoned ottomans and a ndful
of chairs scattered around. It smelled musty, of old garette smoke and
spirits; it also smelled very slightly of ,'.body odour, the distinctive
scent of sex. With the door closn-: , tightly behind him, Enzo stood in
the centre of the and took a good look round, fascinated by the seducn
of the place. He must have stood there for more than ":'A d he didn't
hear the door open again. minutes an ' Mondellot He started and looked
round. The tall, attractive woman had entered and he eyed her
suspiciously She walked ',,Aowards him, the silk of her dress swishing
very slightly as moved. ' you like a drink?'she asked coolly. ' thanks.'
He was embarrassed. His clothes were soiled and he knew he smelled of
the dosshouse; he was out of R" place here and he couldn't wait to get
away. He shifted his , uneasily from foot to foot and waited. ' you
would like to sit down, Signore Mondellot '.,",She gestured to a sofa
and walked across to it herself. She sat and patted the space beside
her, looking directly at Enzo. He could see she was sizing him up. He
crossed to her, holding out his chest, and sat down awkwardly on the
edge of the seat, again conscious of how filthy he was, 397 Maria
Barrett "Please, make yourself comfortable,' She smiled and he could see
the straight white line of her teeth, expensive teeth, lips lined in
crimson. She had a hard face, well made up, the lines expertly covered,
but it was a cold, aging face, and her hair, swept back off it and
twisted into a high chignon at the back of her head, emphasised this. '
Mondello,' she said carefully, ' has told me what you did for her this
afternoon and I am very grateful.' She paused. She had known the moment
she saw him just how useful he could be; she had a sixth sense for this
kind of thing. But she had to play it carefully, ex4ctly the right
balance between kindness and control. ' realise that her money is
missing and I presume she has paid you for your helpt Enzo nodded. This
one was no fool. He dug his hand warily down into his pocket and held
the wad of tire. '. I am afraid, Signore Mondello, that the young girls
who work for me will still take their chances on the street every now
and then.' She shrugged. ', I don't know. I have a good establishment
here, there is no need for them to ...' She stopped, as if exasperated
by the whole thing, and smoothed her skirt with her elegant fingers. '
Mondello, Sofia has told me that you were, how shall I put it, quick and
er, aggressive today in helping her.' She looked at him appraising his
square shoulders, his heavy muscled frame. ' can believe that." Enzo
shuffled self-consciously on the sofa and she knew that she'd calculated
him well. Not stupid, but malleable. ' have a proposition to put to you,
signore, if you would be so kind as to listen to me for a few minutes."
The way she spoke was so controlled, confident and quietly aggressive
that it unnerved him; he had never come across a woman like this before.
But despite -this he stayed seated. He had nothing to lose by listening,
did he? He nodded again and she went on.

398 1 M Dangerous Obsession ellen t. It is with regard to my business
here.' She gestured with her hands to include the whole room. '
entertainments business.' """-Enzo kept quiet. He knew exactly what went
on here but it wasn't like any whorehouse he had ever been in. ' see we
understand each other; I shall come straight to -the point then. I am
looking for a man to help out in my establishment, someone to look after
the girls, to keep an eye on things for me.' She stopped. In truth she
was looking for much more than that; she had ideas and it was as if Enzo
Mondello had fallen into her lap, a gift from the gods. She licked the
crimson lips. ' - I may call you Enzot He nodded. Tnzol the work is
easy, very low key I need someone ,"Who could ensure that nothing gets
out of hand at any Tomt. Someone who could, how shall I phrase it? Who
"could protect my interests if the need arose. Do you under- d thatt
Enzo was'aware that all the time she spoke the woman watching him
closely. She did it in a very casual, under- '_tated way, but he knew
and he found it vaguely exciting..Apart from the girls on the street,
she was the first woman He, had come intocontact with since Francesca
had left, the rs rea woman, not so t, I me hasty scuffle in the dark of
a ,,Oadk alley He was wary of her but already he didn't want to ":kave;
she fascinated him. ' sort of payment are we talking aboutt he asked ,
He felt the need to assert himself, although he knew his self-control
was slipping away just the closeness of her trought back a powerful
ache, a sense of physical loss that Ao amount of cheap thrills could
replace. ' and keep - I'd like you to live in. And, say, one thousand
lire a week, with a three-month trial 399 Maria Barrett Enzo pretended
to think about it for a few minutes-, he'd have stayed for much less.
Besides, he had nothing to leave for, not yet, not until he'd found
Francesca. ''d have to collect my things,' he said, thinking he needed
to make one or two demands. ' I don't know how long it would be for."
The woman nodded. It would be for as long as he was useful to her. '
course. Understood.' She stood. ' must get you some new clothes, Enzo,
from the market in Via Sannio. You can take my card - most of them know
me there and you'll be able to put some things on my credit." Quickly
Enzo stood as well. He felt foolish sitting on the sofa while she
towered above him. ', that concludes our business, I think.' She held
out her hand and Enzo hastily took it. He desperately wanted to touch
her. ' am sure we will have a good working relationship." He nodded and
held her fingers a moment too long. He thought he saw a brief smile
flicker in her eyes but it was gone before he had the chance to be sure.
',' she said crisply, dropping her hand by her side. She had been in the
business long enough to be able almost to smell sexual excitement. It
amused her. Perhaps Enzo Mondello would prove useful in more ways than
one ... ' of the younger girls live with me here,' she explained
quickly, ' most of my girls arrive for work at six. We eat mid-afternoon
- although some of my more regular customers occasionally like to use us
in the daytime - and you will find that Carla has the meal ready after
three. It is up to you whether you want to eat with us or not, but I
would like you dressed and ready for work by five-thirty. We are mainly
an evening establishment: we tend to entertain business clients after
dinner, gentlemen wanting somewhere to drink late at night, that sort of
thing.

400 rous obsession Dange Ily the hours begin around six or seven. Does
this tyo odded. n oo I don't think I have anything else that I need to
ou I will see you tonight thent es, er Enzo tried to think of something
to say, , but he couldn't. ti gr to detain her a moment long of the
rooms on the top arla will show you to one or.

oor. She held es.' e watched her walk towards the d rsel ead tilted up,
not her h f ell, her body straight, ht just slightly aloof, ug Y, i A X;,
She paused at the door. ' the way, my name is me to the Villa Isabella.'
And bella.' She smiled. ' another word, just the soft rustle of silk,
she left room.

e time and stared Enzo stood where he was for quite som :'after
Isabella. He could smell her, the warm female smell he , longed for all
these nights, and it made him dizzy. He hi h nds up to his face and
closed his eyes. He could is a F esca in his mind, naked, running in the
warm ranc Wr Sun towards the sea. It was the same image, over an dover W
the same obsessive craving for her, the same violent ,"A ee Z e snapped
open his eyes and sniffed the air. Isabella's rfu e hung, heavy and
cloying in the musty atmosphere f the room, and Enzo inhaled deeply,
breathing it in. It cite im, reminded him of his own power. Of how he
had Francesca and could have her again. It filled him with strength.

Looking up sharply as the door opened, he saw the old woman Carla and
nodded as she gesticulated for him to follow her 11 thoughts of
Francesca disappeared; his mind A was clear. He took one last glance
roun d the room and 401 Maria Barrett walked across, stepping out into
the darkened passage behind Carla. He stood a little taller and squared
his shoulders.

Enzo -had no idea how long he was going to stay here - that all dep6nded
on Francesca - but he did know that for The time being he had landed on
his feet. He sniffed at Isabella's perfume again - it seemed to be
everywhere - and slowly followed Carla up to his new room.

CHAPTER Twenty-eight 402 Y.,",-IENZO SAT IN THE SMAL L dark space behind
the two-way mirror and stared blankly at the scene in the next room for
a f, ew moments. A girl was stripping slowly and carefully to a small
audience of men, her body swaying in time to the music, its rounded
curves lit by the dull orange glow of the lamps.

Other girls sat around, several of them in just underwear :'and silk
robes, some quite ornately dressed, but all with clients, all paid for.
In the comer, on the chaise, the initial 1UStling and murmuring of sex
had begun but Enzo wasn't ",i '4iterested; he'd seen it all the night
before and the night that. The novelty had worn off. AS he sat, he pared
away at a piece of wood with his _'...-@knife, skinning the bark off,
gently shaping it with the ', swift movements of his hand. It was an
anx10US pastime, his eyes flicking rapidly from the scene behind the
tnirror to the motion of his fingers and then back again. He on edge. He
had been there too long, locked up for the t t ree days in the Villa
Isabella, and his mind burned t i ages of Francesca. He needed to be
free; he needed out on the streets where he had some hope of finding r.
e constant buzz of women and sex was beginning to ve im. insane.

,,-Isabella walked along the darkened corridor towards the room where
Enzo sat, her mind made up. She had tched him carefully the past few
days, seen his anxiety, 403 Maria Barrett his obsessive paranoia around
the girls, and she knew she could use it. Isabella had been in. the game
for far too long not to know a secret when she saw one and Enzo Mondello
had a secret, of that she was certain. What it was she hadn't the
slightest inkling, but she would find out; tonight she'd find out. She
couldn't keep Carlotti waiting for his answer -any longer; she wanted in
on the deal and she needed to confirm it. Enzo was her man but she had
to have a tool to control him with. That was another thing she'd learned
over the years: no one did anything for nothing. She needed something to
manipulate him with.

Reaching the small space where Enzo sat, Isabella opened the door and
motioned to him to leave and join her in the corridor. She waited in the
semi-darkness for him and then turned on her heel as he came out. He
followed her along the corridor and into one of the private
entertainment rooms, a lavishly furnished bedroom hung with mirrors on
the walls and ceiling and a large blank cinema screen opposite the bed.
S he stood and waited for Enzo to enter, then she shut the door and
turned to him. She noticed a flicker of excitement in his eyes and it
made her want to smile. Perhaps it was going to be much easier than she
thought. ', you can take the rest of the night off,'she said. ''m sure
you must have things you want to do and I apologise for not being able
to spare you the past'few nights.' She shrugged. ''ve been so busy.' She
watched his face as she spoke and saw a keenness there that she hadn't
seen before, a different kind of excitement. ''s not much else for you
to do so why don't you go nowt Enzo nodded. He was still holding the
piece of wood and the knife and he glanced down for a moment before
shoving them both into his pocket; Isabella made him very aware of
himself and he was embarrassed at what he'd been 404 Dangerous Obsession
pass the time. He turned, catching sight of her to t one of the mirrors
as he did so, and felt a sud c ion in . hardening of his body He flushed
and lengthened his de. At the door he looked over his shoulder. I don't
know what time I'll be back,' he said. ' miy be JLit all night." She
shrugged. ' long as you're here for work tomorrow h He nodded, hesitated
for a moment, then left the room.

liked the smell of her, the feminine scent, and yet he 1C I.

wait to get away from her. It confused him, unsethim. It made him want
Francesca all the more. Hurrying along the passage, Enzo found his way
out the courtyard and went up to his room for some .-'$;Z@4ftoney He
checked his belongings, the small bag with his - 0; ;-i4A - ,-.,vwash
things, his odd bits of clothes and the envelope con- is :@Agirung hi
photographs and his press cutting. He also n '','W,,'Idiecked his
wallet: the money was all there. He knew it was F-W,,:,upid
this'constant checking, but he trust ed no one. that everything was in
order, he grabbed his new

"Pcket off the bed and walked down to the courtyard again. It was a
clear night, the warmth of spring was in the air jknd the sky was
stagelit by a full moon. Enzo made his f the building, conscious that he
hadny been seen, u way out o V ond headed up the street. It felt good to
be out, to be on his own again. He took a deep breath and looked up at
the sky. Somewhere under the same sky Francesca was waitin for 9 him,
somewhere. For nearly a year he'd been looking for ' but he would find
her, he knew that he would find her.

e elonged to him, she was part of him, in his mind, in is body; she was
his. And Enzo knew that no matter how it took, he would find her.

Ila watched him go from a darkened window at the top 405 Maria Barrett
of the house. She saw him stride off purposefully and followed his
figure under the streetlamps until it disappeared from view. Then she
moved away, walked out of the attic room and made her way to Enzos
bedroom. She was looking for a way to keep him there, a way to get him
to work for her, and she was sure that she was going to find it -
Entering his room, Isabella left her key in the lock and switched on the
overhead light. She was surprised at how neat it was. The only things
visible were a shabby pile of folded clothes, a wash bag and the two new
shirts he had bought for work. She crossed to the bedside table and
pulled open the drawer. Sitting down on the bed, she took out a small
brown envelope and emptied its contents in front of her. Two photographs
fell out, a worn piece of newsprint and some sketches. She leafed
through what was there, picked up the photographs and saw a pretty young
girl in a blue cotton dress and a family snap of what looked like three
brothers. Next she glanced at the sketches, both finely drawn, one of a
young boy, the other of a house, both looked to be pages ripped from a
book. Finally she read the scrap of newspaper and almost instantly the
other bits Of paper took on a whole new meaning. She smiled, gaiherld
everything up and stood, smoothing the cover on the bed where she'd sat.
Isabella was pleased; she had her secret.

Leaving the roorri as immaculate as she'd found it, Isabella locked the
door behind her, still clutching the envelope, and made her way down to
her sitting room and the small, secret safe that only she knew was
hidden behind a mirror. She placed Erizos history inside and closed it,
turning the dial to lock it. Now all she had to do was wait. It didn't
matter what time Enzo came back, she was in no hurry, not now she knew
she had him. But the one thing she did have to do was call Carlotti. She
wanted him to know that she had her man and that the real business could
406 Dangerous Obsession any time he was ready She was in the big time
now before too long she would be making enough money to t was just light
by the time Enzo made his way back to the la Isabella. He had kept to
his habit of waiting for the Y-morning papers and had scoured them for
any news '. Disappointed, as usual, he had drunk two or s-0g: "ibree
brandies in an all-night cafe and swallowed back some 1offee before He
was able to face returning. At least he could some sleep at the brothel,
not like working the streets '4'14here he'd have to go straight out
again, dog tired and frusted, angry at another wasted night. He wa ked
up the Via Varese to the three-storeyed builda d n entered The
courtyard. It was silent, the business for e-night over and the girls
sleeping it off. He stopped and ened to the sound of the birds, high up
on the roofs of .11ITKI ecity, and then started across to his corridor.
It had 41 e chill and he shivered.

nzo.

e turned; Isabella was standing in the entrance to her nt and she
beckoned to him. ' we vate a artme talk?' gli His pulse suddenly
quickened and he nodded. She went ide and he followed, sniffing the air
for her lingering rfume. Inside her small sitting room, she moved across
to a sofa 1"', . sat, waiting f4 him to join her. She was calm, in con-
",,',1Tol; she had to be. For the past few hours Isabella had Z'Ahought
the whole thing through and she knew exactly what she wanted from Enzo
Mondello. She wanted more than just the business; she wanted him. Enzo
was right for her for the moment anyway, and she needed the sex. it
"".+ad been too long; she was always so careful. But now she Iad it all
under one roof-, she had him cornered and she was 407 Maria Barreu going
to use him. She was going to squeeze him dry.

As Enzo sat next to her she could smell him, his response to her, his
need of a woman, and it made her feel good. She put her hand on his
thigh and a sharp spasm shot through the muscle. She smiled. ', I have a
little business proposition to put to you" she said coolly ''s something
I've been thinking of for some time.' She looked at him. ' I haven't
been able to find the right person to manage it." He kept quiet. He was
tired and just the closeness of her was making him ache. He was
frustrated, angry wit h Francesca, with another futile night, and his
whole body was tense. ', I am moving into the drugs business with in,
associates,'she said quietly. ' you are going to work for me., Enzo sat
up straight. ' a minute ... I-' He stopped as her hand moved along his
thigh up towards his groin. He had hardened. ', Isabella, I ...'He
edged away, despite the sudden heat in his veins. He wasn't stupid.
Drugs in this city were run by the Mafia, everybody knew that. He wasn't
going to get involved in that one, no way! He knew how drug runners
ended up. Shit, he read the newspapers' Standing, he backed away from
Isabella. ''m sorry,'he said, ' I don't do drugs. It's too dangerous."
Isabella shrugged. ' think you'll do them for me, Enzo.' He narrowed his
eyes, suddenly suspicious. ' yeah?' Isabella crossed her legs and the
split in her dress revealed the top of her thigh. ' went up to your room
while you were out. I have your little brown envelope in my safe, Enzo,
in case you want to know where it is." Enzo froze. ' don't know the full
story yet,' she went on, watching his face. ' I will. It was some sort
of family trauma, was 408 Dangerous Obsession Rape?' She ran her tongue
over the crimson ".and smiled. ' were in love with the girl, I'm sure of
t.: I wonder what happened to her? With her husband thought.. I'd have
isabe a ga ped at the force of Enzos grip, momentarily s by surprise.
But she was no strang@r to violence. ng e h r knee up, she jabbed him in
the groin and e d he fell back, dropping to the floor in agony.

as She d, rubbing tier shoulder where he had held her and ing down at
him as he groaned.

I you ever'- she tapped him with the sharp point of shoe -'ever touch me
like that again. Now get up!' .,';44v Enzo rolled over and stared up at
her, his eyes glazed. It k some time before he could focus properly,
then he led to his knees and faced her. ' have nothing on he said
hoarsely. '.' She ised an eyebrow but didn't answer. Slowly, Enzo to his
feet, still slightly bent from the pain in his groin, d Isabella put her
hand out to touch his face. He hed. ' job isn't difficult,'she said
gently ' pick up the 6'r gs, you distribute them to my contacts.' She
shrugged. ts all. Nothing more.' Her hand was still close to his and she
trailed a finger along his cheek, down to the .,A:iolid muscle of his
neck. He knew that he could have A-04pbbed the hand and crushed it in
his fingers; he could .:J4Ar.',have ripped tier arm from its socket,
made her scream 3W .4,81under his force. But he did nothing. There was
something li;6 So po, e rful, so mesmerising in her touch, that it
rendered ',him helpless. ' here,'she murmured.

Instinctively he moved towards her. The hand on his '0.F, A"1YWck inched
caressingly down over his chest to his waist d he drew in his breath.
She ran her finger inside the 409 Maria Barrett waist of his trousers
and then slipped it down to touch him. He shuddered. It had been too
long, too long without that feeling, that deep, physical ache, and his
mind was filled with a desire so strong that it overwhelmed all other
thoughts.

Isabella moved closer. The tips of her nails touched his hard, smooth
flesh as she put her other hand up to his hair. Dragging his face
towards her own, she parted her mouth and darted her tongue over the
hard, dry line of his lips. Then she kissed him. She felt the
involuntary convulsion that ran through his whole body and she knew that
he was hers. She had been right. It was all so much easier than she had
originally thought.

410 CHAPTER Twenty-nine E WAS I I IT WAS mid-July and the streets were
bak- the of the buildings warm to touch, night and e sto here was no
wind; the air was still and choked with fumes of a thousand cars,
Everyone sweated. The windows of the house on the Via Varese were con-
closed, the shutters tightly shut. The rooms Wriained dim and in shadow
but nothing seemed to beat : stifling heat. In the day the girls lolled
around the court- sunbathing or in the shade of the leafy vines that the
portico leading off it; at night they worked ".:.:'Uthargically, their
make-up running and dark stains of t showing through on their clothes.
No one slept for ng. The nights were hot and close; the mosquitoes bit
sucked and all the dawri brought was the rising of '' ther fiery red
sun.

:',it was the end of a Sunday night, Monday morning really, ; Enzo walked
the rooms of the house checking that .,"things were in order. He had
picked up the drugs as Isabella ;.,Ihad told him to, put them in the
safe, and now he wan- .:dered from room to room in the dark, close air;
anything to .'Avoid having to go up to Isabella, to go to her bed. He
knew he couldn't sleep. He rarely had the last few weeks - the
nightmares had returned. For the first few months he had been with
Isabella he thought he had lescaped: there had been no dreams, his mind
blank and , in sleep. But not now. It was the heat. It reminded 411
Maria Barreu him and he woke, sweating and afraid, wanting Francesca so
much that it hurt.

Switching off the lights as he went, Enzo finished his tour of the house
and strayed out into the courtyard where he stood for a while, hating
himself, hating his pitiful situation and dreading going up to Isabella.
It was silent everywhere and the air smelled warm and dirty, clinging to
his skin.

Finally, he crossed to Isabella's part of the house. Making his way up
to her room, he unbuttoned his shirt and stopped outside to take off his
new suede loafers. He left them by the door and walked quietly into the
bedroom. ''ve you beent The room was dark and Enzo could just make out
the shape of Isabella in the bed, her naked body only half covered by
the sheet. '.' He had hoped she would be asleep. He was tired; he
couldn't face her. Every time he touched her now it repulsed him. She
was suffocating him with her dorninating, controlling lust. He couldn't
stand it; it was driving him insane. ' to sleep,' he said. ''ll be a
while." He crossed to the small sofa and sat down, taking up a magazine.
He could feel her eyes on him but he, switched on a dim reading light,
opened the journal and started to read. ' you pick up the stufft He
didn't look up. ', it's in the safe.' He heard her sigh and turn over.
He had done what she wanted; perhaps she'd leave him alone for tonight.
Minutes later, the regular deep breathing of sleep was audible and he
switched off the lamp, relieved. He put his feet up on the sofa and
closed his eyes. He knew he wouldn't sleep but he needed to rest. he
needed to think about how to get away.

The room was light. The morning sun had found its way in through the
gaps in the shutters and the air was warm, 412 Dangerous Qbsession
opened his eyes and re-alised he must have slept could hear Isabella in
the bathroom ... @!-Swingiingy his legs down onto the floor, he put his
head in hands and rubbed his face. He felt sick and tired, the damp on
the back of his neck. His eyes stayed open, onto the floor, the sound of
Isabella behind him painful. Finally, he stood up. ing to the bed, he
took his wallet from the side and shoved it into his pocket. He saw the
small vial of nitrite by the side of the bed and swallowed down the that
rose in the back of his throat. She had wanted him It t - drugged and
frenzied, she would have taunted oa ed him to a climax. Thank God he had
escaped it. I c walked out of the room, down the stairs and the
courtyard. He was out into the street before "."0, Ila even knew he was
awake. He rolled up the sleeves of his new white silk shirt, ,.,4'Ag his
h ds in his pockets and wandered off in the an .-.Aftction of the Via
Palestro. He needed time to think, to himself before going back to
Isabella, and walking streets early in the morning was the best way for
him do it. At the corner of Via Vincenza he turned and walked up
:;,i;'.4-p, The main road. The air was already warm, still and noise-
There was hardly any traffic, just the odd car and ',',A;.ooter that
broke the silence with a piercing. whine. He Iked on. A.

e H had thought, months ago when Isabella first took t hat he could
forget, that he could escape the torment 0 f h the past few years. But
now he knew that Francesca was .011- ,,:",.,inside his head again and he
couldn't escape it. She was a @4wt of him, deep down in his
subconscious, and she kept and on and on, invading his dreams,
shattering his '0 ,.-,,Omghts, torturing him, Every way he, turned she
was 413 Maria Barrett there - her image, her voice; even the air seemed
to have the caress of her touch.

But he was doing all right. For the first time in his life, Enzo
Mondello was doing all right, Even though Isabella used him he had
managed to make himself a bit of money off the back of her little deals,
from drugs and girls off the premises. If Isabella knew ... He shuddered
and dismissed the thought. She wouldn't find out; she couldn't control
all of him'. Enzo still had his mind, and his mind was free of her; his
mind belonged to Francesca.

Walking on towards the caft, Enzo let all the images he kept inside his
head pass before his eyes. He didn't see the grimy pavement or the
dilapidated, faded buildings; he saw Francesca, always naked, always
free, sometimes hard and writhing under him, sometimes soft and pliable
on top of him. He wrapped himself up in his warped obsession, and where
he was, what he was doing were nothing to him, not compared to what he
would do when he found her.

And he would find her. That was the only certainty in his life. He had
no idea how, or when, but he knew he would find her. ' she is,' he
murmured, ' will find her.' The thought of that left him weak with
desperation.

He stopped at the cafe; he needed a drink. He sat at the long,
marble-topped bar and read a paper while Marco poured him a large
measure of brandy and prepared the coffee filter. The clatter of cups
and glasses and the whir of the machine were the only noises in the
deserted cafe. Marco's was open all hours, but it was often empty in the
early hours except for Enzo and a few shift workers. He liked that; it
meant he could have some privacy. ', Enzo!" Enzo looked up as a young
man slapped him on the back. He glanced over his shoulder. '. Come sta?
Pepe was a desk clerk at one of Rome's 414 Dangerous Obsession poisive
hotels; he brought the odd bit of private Enzo way. Mainly drugs. good
Enzol Pretty goodl'He sat on a stool next to coffee please, Marco.'
,,drank half of his small black coffee and turned to just finished work?"
Pepe took out his cigarettes and offered one to came straight over; I
thought I might find you here. ' Some business for you, Enzo." 5h yeaht
Enzo glanced uneasily over his shoulder and Aid off the stool. Everyone
knew Isabella; he couldn't careful ''s move to somewhere more
comfortable, wet He led the way to a small table and pulled up a Pepe
did the same., an American. Loaded.' Pepe grinned. ' weird A woman - she
wants two girls and a gram." 0 looked across at Marco who was drying
glasses lowered his voice. ' Isabella had it in the housesafe and he
could probably make a bit of money for If here.

No shit, though, she'll pay over the odds.' ' K.' This was a good deal,
too good to pass up. Enzo ned he might just be able to do it; tell
Isabella one take one and a half. If the American was greedy he Isell
her the lot and pocket the, extra profit. And from t Pepe said, Enzo
guessed she could well be greedy told her tonightt ', she wants it about
eleven, after dinner." is shet t room "Fifteen.' Enzo noted down the
number on an old slip of paper korn his wallet. ' got a deposit?' '. 120
thou. Here.'Pepe. took a, plastic bag out of his ' pocket and pulled the
wad of notes out, peeling off 415 ria Barrett Enzot, advance. ''m on
duty tonight. Come in the back entrance, -through, the service doors.
One of my boys will meet you- there at eleven. OKT Enzo nodded. ' told
her the rate?' ''s all taken care of, Enzo!' Pepe was cocky. Enzols
wariness irritated him. He stood up and drained his cup. ' you later."
Teah, ciao.' Enzo watched Pepe leave the bar and then glanced over at
Marco again before he went back to the paper. Pepe could be careless -
he was too young - but this was a good deal. He could charge over the
odds for the girls, keep the change and with half a gram of coke lifted
from Isabella as well Enzo would have a nice little packet to put away.
Something for Francesca, he thought, as he finished his brandy and stood
up to leave.

He didn't want to stay away from the house too long now. He couldn't
afford to put Isabella in a bad mood.

"Isabella looked up from her paper as Enzo walked into the bedroom. She
was back in bed, propped up by several plump pillows, naked to the waist
with the sheet covering her lower half and the newspaper on her lap. The
shutters were half open and the room was lit by a bedside lamp. ' have
you beent She placed the paper on the bed beside her and studied Enzo
for a few moments. He had been easier to-dominate than she had ever
anticipated, far, far easier. And yet in the past few weeks she had
sensed that he had begun to slip away from her. She didn't like that. She
did not want to lose him. He had been much more useful than she'd
imagined. He dealt drugs for her, did the picking up and the carrying,
all the dirty work, while she grabbed the big fat profits. And it was
all from an arm's length. No, she didn't want to lose Enzo Mondello; he
was a valuable asset. ' went for a walk,' he answered. ' at the caft."
Dangerous Obsession d him as he took off his shirt and dropped it iki
the floor. I ie took care of her other needs as well, and .'-W. Ahe
sight of his hard, lean body started a familiar ache in her "Come
here,'she-said. :1, He turned and swallowed, avoiding her gaze. ' have
to fi t,' he replied, walking towards the bathroom. r irs -,',-,,'No you
don't." Enzo stopped. He could hear the thickened tone of her :_.,.'Wce
neavy with desire. He glanced over his shoulder at lisabella, we have
some business tonight. Over at the Romani. An American, wants two girls
and a gram of ke' She raised an eyebrow and moved her leg so that the
fell away ' ' IT deliver,'he said. She nodded and he breathed a sigh of
relief. He walked ;.-6ck to the bed, knowing that it would be foolish to
upset r now. He sat and watched as she picked up the amyl ' vial and
fingered it. ' off your trousers,'she said, nning a sharp red nail the
length of his torso to his belt. t out e a shame to waste this, wouldn't
it?" e no ded and stood. He could see the hard look of ontrol in her
eyes and it sickened him. Still he unfastened t users and let her pull
his hips towards her mouth, ate ina her face. He had to watch her face.
If he let her go of his vision for even one moment he would be
toryv.4nented b Francesca. And only he knew the pain of that y
..,Vision, the terrible exquisite pain.

44,@.At eleven that night Enzo tapped on the service entrance ' and
waited for one of Pepe's boys. He was always care- .'A: -ful at the
Hotel Romani. The. place. was hot on rules, security men everywhere.
Several minutes later, the door 417 ? matiabarrw_ IVas opened by a boy
in a smart dark green uniform, no more than fourteen and already on the
make. Enzo slipped him twenty thousand lire and ushered his girls
inside. ' know the suite number?'The boy tucked the money hastily away.
', it's the penthouse.' .'Use the service lift, then. It brings you out
on the back staircase." I ' know, I know, I've been here before!' The
boy's cal in authority irritated Enzo. ' on.' He led the girls along the
passageway to the lift and pressed the call button. ' little shit!' One
of the girls smiled.

On the seventh floor they stepped out onto the back staircase and turned
towards thedouble doors that led into the corridor. Enzo pushed them
open, checked it was clear and walked through. The girls followed him.
He found the suite and knocked lightly on the door. ' The voice called
out from behind the door, a ., lazy voice. ' service.' ''s open, come on
in!" Enzo turned the handle and opened the door. He found himself in a
suite overlooking the whole city and it took him several moments to
adjust to the size of the room. The curtains were open and the panoramic
view over Rome, I it up against the thick black night sky, was
incredible. ' like the view, huht He tore his gaze away from the, window
and took in a tall, thin woman, sitting at a. small table draped with a
white linen cloth, holding a half-eaten langoustine in her fingers. She
was watching his face closely. Marianne Hart had been waiting for Enzo
Mondello. She had paid a good deposit for him and she damn well hoped he
was up to Pepe's recom-' mendation. Biting into the pink flesh of the
prawn, she 418 Dangerous Obsession the shell onto her plate and motioned
to him to ' in,'she said through a mouthful of food. ' look.' Her
Italian was understandable but the accent . with the characteristic
American twang. ' you speak English?' Enzo shrugged. ' little. I prefer
Italian.' ';:,.:,Yeah, sweetie, don't we all.'She said this in English
and ed at Enzols lack of understanding. Enzo resented the vate joke. '.
Italian it is.' She took up another Ianqwtme and began to crack the
shell with long, sharp red Is. ' the girls in. D'you have the stuff?'
'.' Enzo looked behind him and nodded; the girls me into the room. He
closed the door. z"..:., Marianne stood, licked her fingers and looked
at Enzo.

didn't seem interested at all in the girls. ' down,'she '.'D' ouvvant a
drink?" y '. The girls only drink champagne.' h yeah? A small racket
going with Pepe, huht She iled. ' you want champagne, phone down for it.
I uldn't give a shit what you drink. But I prefer my coke on own. Order
me up some mineral water as well, will yout Enzo nodded to one of the
girls and she went to the one. '?'The woman came over to the sofa where
Enzo and 4, ria were sitting. She sat on the ann of a Louis IV repro-
ction chair and crossed her legs. Enzo took a good look at her. i'-. She
was in her early thirties, he guessed, not much Xe unger than Isabella,
but it was difficult to tell. She was ic looking, timeless, with her
long, straight blonde hair @:,'-.nd thin, lean limbs. Her face was
flawless, with high V., .-.rheekbones, a long, sculpted nose, even lips
and immacu- Ine white teeth. The perfect American specimen: cool, rich
Wihd arrogant.

419 Maria Barrett Tou think I look very American,' she said. ' very
rich., Enzo. started. She continued to watch him with col d slightly
watery eyes and it unnerved him. How the hell did she know what he was
thinking? ''s OK. I'm psychic,' she said, almost in answer to his
thoughts. He narrowed his eyes. ' know all about you,'she continued.
This much was true. Pepe had passed on his sparse knowledge of Enzo,
gossip mainly, but he had told her just enough. He had told her how
easily the woman it the brothel dominated him, how he had some kind of
secret that she held him with. Enzo was Marianne's perfect man; she was
really going to enjoy herself tonight. ' Mondello, from southern Italy.
That right?" Enzo laughed to cover his anxiety. Jesus, this one was
really strange! He glanced away as Etta came back to the sofa and said:
' drink's on its way' '.' The woman flicked a long strand of hair coolly
over her shoulder and Enzo realised that he had an erection. He was
shocked by it. ' you going to stay, Enzo?'Again she watched for his
reaction. One of Marianne's pastimes was playing mind games, but it was
always with people she reckoned she could control. She loved to tease
and manipulate, coaxing out small secrets, fears and anxieties, and then
tauntincy and torturing with her knowledge. It was a glorious, heady
sensation of power and she could tell at a glance that Enzo was ripe for
her game. ' did you know my namet Enzo was guarded. This was beginning
to piss him off. ' told you, I'm psychic.' Marianne could see she was
easing into a stronger position. It reminded her of a game of chess. J
know everything about you,'she said. Sofia giggled but Enzo pinched her
arm and she shut up, He ignored the Dangerous Obsession tion. The
thought of staying excited him but he I for sale. Well are you
staying7'Maria=6 eyes flicked down to his crection, obvious in his
trousers, and then back to his face.

N ' answered sharply, suddenly angered by her arro- o, '61.7 ..

7;-,Wce. ''m not part of the arrangement." -W'She raised an eyebrow and
moved oer to the winet, Aow She stood with her back to him. ' thought
you were.' A. ress she wore was tight, black cotton lycra, which e lun
to the shape of her muscled arse. She looked back at j% zo over her
shoulder. It was as if the girls were no longer the om. ' would have
thought it would make a change fuc for some hard cash, instead of bed
and board at the orehouse.'She laughed, a knowing, taunting iaugh, and
his ears. She was psychic; she knew his mind. rang in !,Suddenly
confused, lie stood up. She had disorientated. him V i. with her knowing
comments and her sneering look. N 1, ' have to go,'he mumbled. He had to
get away. God, this s mad! She was playing with his head. g oman wa She
turned.'Back to earn your keeptagain she laughed, w loud, tormenting
laugh. ' that what you came to Rome r, Enzo? Huh? Is that what you
wanted? To play pimp in OF' r,'--tv two-bit brothelt She had moved
another piece - she was M ...,going in for the kill. She wanted him
rough; she wanted angry and wound up: that was the way she liked it. '
10 Huhtshe taunted. She could feel she had him.

He shook his head, more confused. '!'he hissed. He ''t understand - what
did she know? He was so used to being dominated that he was no longer
sure of his own .." V ...,.Mind. He swung dangerously between reality
and fantasy, Funages of Francesca dancing before his eyes. Could she see
into his mind? lie looked across at her, trying to make sense of what she
was saying. Her face blurred and became some- ng else, and all the time
she laughed. He could heat her 420 421 Mana, Barrett, voice - taunting
him, goading him. Push, push, push. What the hell did she know? ' know
why you came to Rome, Enzo baby, and it wasn't to end up in Isabella's
bed, was W' Suddenly he snapped. ' it! Stop id' He rushed at her and
grasped her shoulders' shaking her hard, rattling her thin frame. He had
to shut her up! Still she laughed. Then he slapped her with the palm of
his hand across her cheek and knocked her back. '? Enzot He spun round
and knocked Etta away. ' out! Go on! Get out, leave us alone!" She
scrambled back and grabbed Sofia by the arm. They ran out of the room,
slamming the door behind them. All he could see was red, the red in his
nightmare and the laughter driving through his brain. He slapped her
again. ' up! Shut up!' , ' onj' she muttered fiercely ' on, make me!' .
suddenly heard Francesca's voice. It was like with Isabella, only this
time it felt real, painfully real. ' me!' she moaned. ' on!' She had
begun to quiver with excitement. ' on, Enzo, give it to me! Make me
quied' The heat flowed between her legs at his violence. ' on,' she
urged.

It was Francesca voice, the laughter, the words, the red blood, all
spinning in his mind. He had to have her. He lost control.

Gripping her neck, he ripped the top of her dress down over her
shoulders with one hand, pushing her down onto the floor, stumbling down
on top of her, He fumbled with his flies, desperate to have her, his
whole body raging with , and lust. He forced her open. ' on,'she cried,
Francesca's voice. ' on! Do it! As hard as you can, baby! I know you
need id' He thrust 422 Dangerous Obsession her and she screamed. His
mind went blank and his y took possession of his soul.

oman lay panting on the carpet as Jesus Christ!' The w o rolled off her.
He was breathin hard and the sweat ' down his face. She was sated. He
was an animal and she d it Looking over at him she said: ' remind you of
her, e i.

on't I?

The image before his eyes vanished. They changed, came veiled, then he
turned away. ' He suddenly alised where he was and felt sick and
confused, as if his and was playing horrible tricks on him. ' don't know
who you mean.' He inched away from her, frightened by the intensity of
the images he had just seen. She glimpsed that ziear.

She had heard the name under his breath, through his clenched teeth as
he rammed into her. ',' she said. She knew she had stumbled on something
really strange, something much deeper and more intense than the normal
11.: petty human fears. It fascinated her, excited her and intrigued
her. She wanted more. ',' she said again.

6 E o glanced nervously back. Just the sound of her name unnerved him.
''s all right,'Marianne soothed. ' know everything. I can feel it.'
sometimes she forgot all the digging and poking around, the scheming and
manipulating. Sometimes she really did believe she knew it all, believed
that she felt it. ' as I knew about you in that brothel,' she lied.

Enzo pulled up his pants. ' She scared him and he felt weird. Scared,
but excited and relieved, all at once. Did 4 Ae really know? He stood up
and walked across to the where the food was. What else did she know? He
picked up a langoustine and pulled the head off, biting the flesh.
Marianne sat up. ' res the coket 423 Maria Barrett "In my jacket
pocket.' ' it, will yout She was looking down at the marks Enzo had made
on her breasts. ''s a razor blade in the bathroom, and a mirror.' She
had no embarrassment about telling him what to do. She was so cool, so
much in control. She looked up. ', please.' Not surprisingly, he did as
she asked; he was used to being told what to do. He brought the things
from the bath - room and laid them out on the coffee table. His head was
spinning and he found it difficult to see straight. ' the coke, will
you? I have to go and change.' She stood up and covered her chest with
the torn dress. She stepped past Enzo to the bedroom. ' me a shout when
it's ready' He watched her go and then he spread out a small amount of
cocaine on the glass and meticulous[y began to cut it with the razor
blade.

Five minutes later, he had finished and there was no sign of her. He
stood up, wandered through to the bedroom and saw her lying on the bed,
reading Vanity Fair. She didn't even took up as he entered. ''ve done
the coke,' he said. He wanted her to look at him, to acknowledge him. ',
fine. Bring it in, will yout Still she didn't look up.

His temper sparked. He stood angrily by the door, unsure of whether to
do as she said or just walk out. But he couldn't forget what had just
happened. Images of the past burned inside him. He went and fetched the
cocaine. ' name's Marianne.' The woman had cleared a space on the
bedside table for the mirror. ' don't like to snort without being
introduced.' She waited for Enzo to put the glass down and then climbed
off the bed and knelt down with her face just above the table-top. She
took a hundred dollar bill out of the drawer and rolled it up tightly
','she said and bent her head to draw up the drug.

424 Dangerous Obsession later she sat back and sniffed furiously '.' She
moved away from the table as Enzo took her place. He had never done
cocaine. Isabella used amyl nitrite -to heighten her climax but she
didn't waste expensive drugs. Enzo bent his head and sniffed through the
rolled hundred-dollar bill. '!' Marianne sat back on the floor against
the bed..'That good stuff.' Her nose and eyes had reddened and ..'The
blinked continuously .. E sat back on his heels and drew breath in
through his nose. The rush hit him almost instantly; he had never
experienced anything like it. '! Shid' Marianne laughed.

He turned to her and her face was sneering. He felt suddenly unbalanced
and confused. She laughed even louder. He could see her in front of him
and yet she didn't seem to exist. It was like a nightmare - the
laughter, the tormenting ughter. ',' she murmured. She could tell Enzo
wasn't used to the high and she knew how to play it. She wanted to pick
at the sore she'd found, make it bleed. ' ...' She watched his face and
felt a thrill at the change in it, at her power to do this. She felt
huge, larger than life, as if she could control everything and
everyone., She moved towards him and whispered in his ear. ' know all
about you and Francesca,' she said. The shiver in his body Was like a
thrill up her spine. ' know because I am Francesca." She gasped as his
hand caught her hair and wrenched her head forward. His eyes were manic,
altered and clouded, unseeing. He covered her mouth with his own and
pulled her violently down onto him. She was Francesca; she had changed
him, incensed him, overpowered him. She laughed with the thrill of her
control, wrapped her fingers tightly in his hair and maliciously dug 425
Maria Barrett her nails hard into his scalp. The feeling of power was
exquisite.

Enzo woke. up with the dawn. He was in the bed, covered -by the
counterpane, and he was alone, still half dressed. He sat up and looked
around the room. Marianne was nowhere to be seen. Climbing out, he
stretched and looked around for his, trousers, buttoning his shirt as he
did so. He felt good, sore and stiff but good. He had slept, a deep,
blank and numbing sleep, and the anger had gone. Walking through to the
bathroom, he splashed some cold water on his face and rinsed his n-wuth.
He looked up at the sound of Marianne's voice from behind him. ' sleep
all rightt '.' He saw her reflection in the mirror. She was as
immaculate as the moment he had entered the room the previous night. She
made him feel dirty and insignificant. ' friends of mine are going up
into the hills today for a picnic. You want to comet She picked at her
nail as she spoke, only half interested in his answer.

Her coldness inflamed him. He wanted to take her there and then, make
her moan for him to 90 with her. But he reac ed for a towel to dry his
face. ',' he said. , yourself If you come, can you bring some more
stuff?' She turned and walked out of the bathroom. ' time are you
leaving?' He followed her and hung behind her, waiting for her answer.

She smiled. '. Come here first if you want.' He nodded and she went
through to the sitting room. Again Enzo followed. ''s some money in the
drawer. Take it-if you want.'She lay down on the sofa and Enzo saw that
only one thin line of coke was left on the glass. He went to the drawer,
found the money and slipped it into his 426 Dangerous, Obsession He
wanted to count it but he knew she would sneer for doing so..

R might see you later.' He crossed to the door and waited, ""w, hat he
didn't kno.

whenever.'She had crossed her arm over her eyes knew he was dismissed.
Quietly, he opened the door pped out into the corridor.

rapped lightly on the door of room fifteen and waited witionne to call
out to him. He had rung five minutes r and been told to come straight
up. ,,1colne in. opened the door and walked into the suite. in the
bedroom.' king the sitting room quickly, he saw the remaining grains of
coke on the mirror and the discarded him- Ilar bill. He crossed to the
table and pocketed it. he went through to the bedroom. Marianne was on P
bed.

U did well, Pepe,' she said, He could tell she was still as a kite. '
bit of Italian rough was everything you he'd be!' She laughed and
crossed her long, thin legs. wore a short silk shift and with her knees
bent he could -:right between her legs. She knew he could. ' fact, I've
quite a fancy to himl He's a tiny bit deeper than your meat loap'She
flicked her hair back. ' kept it up hours.' Pepe laughed; the woman was
mad. ' where's my tipt -four tip?' She stretched her arms above her
head.

my tipt He was smiling at her and laughed again she brought a tight roll
of hundred-dollar bills out behind her head. Is three enough?' . is
fine, thanks." 427 Maria Barrett "Good.'She held the roll in her fingers
and then brought her hand down between her legs and smiled. ' and get
them,' she said and relaxed back as Pepe moved towards her, the smile
fixed grimly on his face.

Enzo walked into Isabella's bedroom and switched on the main lights,
regardless of her sleeping form on the bed; he didn't want to scrabble
around in the dark to find his clothes. In the last six hours he had
changed - he no longer cared what she said, what she did. In the last
six hours Isabella had lost her control. Someone else had it.

He heard her moan at the brightness of the lights as she opened her
eyes, then she sat up abruptly. ' the hell have you beent Her voice was
tight with anger; she knew exactly where he had been. The girls had told
her everything. ' your own business,'he answered, pulling a shirt off
its hanger. He found a clean pair of trousers and some underwear and
made for the bathroom. He went inside and slammed the door behind him.
Isabella jumped out of bed, furious at his behaviour, and ran across to
the door, banging violently on it with her fist. ', come out of there!'
she shouted. ''t think you can just come and go as you like!'She banged
harder. ''t think that you can humiliate me in front of my girls!' She
kicked the door with fury and stood back, her chest heaving. J know all
about you, Enzo Mondello! All your grimy lit I t the secrets, and I
won't let you treat me like this!' Suddenly Enzo swung the door open and
grabbed her arm, yanking her forward. The violence of the action shocked
her into silence for a moment. ' don't know anything about me!' he
roared. '! Dyou hear met He let go of her and shoved her back. The
thought of her knowing about Francesca, know- 428 Dangerous Obscssion
about what had just happened, incensed him. He had at ral someone who
understood, who knew, and that w sacred to him. Isabella stumbled and
knocked herself on the dressing e. She saw Enzo's face change and was
suddenly frighted; she remembered the newspaper cuttings. Hastily, she
ked away, realising that she might be about to lose him. brought things
into sharp focus. ', Enzo, I don't d where you go, darling,' she said
softly, ' what you I I know.'She edged forward to him. ' right? , ong as
mmmt She put a finger up to his cheek. '?' Suddenly Enzo grabbed her
wrist and held it, twisting it fully. He wanted no more of her. In the.
drug-warped te of his mind all he could see was Francesca, Marianne's e
blurring with hers into one. erotic vision. He dropped Wbellas arm
abruptly .'I'm leaving,'he said. ' on." Isabella caught her breath. '
you can't!' she cried. T ow too much about .. The slap was hard and
sharp as it. cut across her mouth nd cheek. She staggered under the
force of it for a moment, then looked up, horrified. '! You bastard!"
slumped back, clutching her face. ' on, go then!'she iscreamed. ' back
on the streets!' She turned away and ted the blood in her mouth. ''ll
never find her,' she "hissed viciously. ' Enzo walked across the room,
leaving her hunched over, er lip already beginning to swell. He gathered
up his ings, the few items of clothing she had bought him, and stuffed
them into a bag. He felt strong, stronger than he had ,,# one for
months, aching to get back to Marianne, to rancesca. He was desperate
for another taste of the drug t had made him come alive. Pulling open
the door, he steppedout into Isabella's 429 Maria Barrett private
corridor then stopped. He glanced back. ' keys to your safe,' he
demanded. ' are theyt Isabella ignored him. He looked at the bedside
table and saw the drawer where she kept all her valuables. Dropping his
bag, he strode over to it just as Isabella, realising what he was doing,
lunged forward to stop him. They collided and he knocked her out of the
way ' ... !' He raised his hand and she cowered on the floor. Yanking
open the drawer, he took out the keys and stuffed them into his pocket.
He didn't look down at her again. He was out of the room and into the
silence of the early-morning courtyard before she had found the strength
to raise herself up and call for help. By the time Carla reached her,
Enzo had emptied both safes and was gone.

430 CHAPTER Thirty WEEKS LATER, ENZO WALKED along the Via Sistina rds
the Spanish Steps and the Hotel Romani, carelessly ing shoulders with
the crowds of tourists on the paveas he went. Several shouted at him but
he couldn't Jess; he hardly felt the knocks. He had been out roamthe
streets, unaware of what he was doing. He was tired, he needed another
hit. --",,In the past two days, the weather had cooled slightly, Six or
seven degrees from the high nineties, and a blew through the city
clearing the air and dispersing -clouds of bilious fumes that hung over
certain areas. o walked with his jacket on, for the first time in weeks.
felt neither hot nor cold, just shivery, as he began to down from his
high. He wanted to get back - to e, to his drug and to his visions of
Francesca. e had been with Marianne only two weeks but it felt forever.
He could hardly remember what it was like out her. It was weird - he was
disorientated the whole his mind mng through the past and present, never
ng what was real or imagined. He was either high, usly, powerfully high,
or down, tired, angry and viodesperate only to get back up again. But
whatever his of mind, she controlled him. He had simply given up ress
for another. y Marianne was a different kind of mistress, far more r and
dangerous than Isabella had ever been, because the controlled his mind.
She whispered things to 431 44aria Barrett him, while he slept,
insinuated things while he lay with her, fed him cocaine, day after day,
night after night. And all the time he thought about Francesca, dreamed
about her, wild, frightening, beautiful dreams. She was within his
reach, he knew it, Marianne could feel it. The -waiting would soon be
over, of that he was certain, because Marianne had told him so.

Climbing the Spanish Steps up to the entrance of the hotel, Enzo stopped
for a moment, suddenly short of breath. He slumped down onto a step and
sat for a while with his head in his hands. He had a horrible sense of
confusion, of not knowing what he was doing. He felt in his pocket for
the small cellophane packet. It was still there-, he had nothing to
worry about. Trying to relax, he looked up and suddenly the panic hit
him.

Standing, he turned towards the hotel and began to run up the steps. He
had to get back, to Marianne, to safety. His head spun and his mouth was
painfi illy dry, but he knew he had to get back. Knocking a youxig child
out of the way, he stumbled to the top of the steps, followed by screams
and protests, and ran round to the back entrance of the hotel. He yanked
the door open and fell inside, slamming it behind him and leaning up
against it, his heart pounding, the blood roaring in his. ears. The
panic swept through his body and he stood, shaking and sick, seeing and
hearing nothing, only the images inside his own head.

His chest heaved and he coughed up the phlegrn in his lungs, spitting it
out into the palm of his hand and fumbling in his pocket for a scrap to
wipe it on. Slowly his body began to calm. After some time, he managed
to stand straight and turn towards the back staircase, the panic now
only coming in waves. Finally, he made his way up to the second floor.

He had no key to the room, but it was rarely locked 432 Dan grints
Vbsnion en she was there. Enzo tried the handle and it turned. He walked
into Marianne's suite and began to unbutton his k stained shirt as he
walked towards the bedroom. He felt p:,much better, secure and safe. He
stopped halfway across the "Marianne?'The suite was strangely empty.
Then- were no clothes discarded over the furniture ' magazines; the car-
' bags from the Piazza'di Spagna had gone. He hurried -Ihwugh to the
bedroom. ' All visible signs of occupation had gone from there too. He
ran into the bath- o .4\11arianne?'He was shouting how, his voice high
and t. He flung open the cupboards to look for her thin gs. ey were
empty. '! Marianne!'He ran back to the bedroom and began pulling open
drawers,, cu cards, flinging his pb own clothes around desperately. '?"
lie spun round. ' the hell ... P The next thing Pepe knew he was
choking, Enzo held im in a grip up against the wall, his hands like a
vice Rvound his throat. Where is she?'he shouted." Where is shet ,:.Pepe
struggled to breathe, feeling the heat explode in his .1ungs. His eyes
bulged as he tried to struggle Against Enzo ,'.yage. Then suddenly Enzo
let go and he slumped down the '. wall to the floor. He gasped for
breath. ' Christ!'He could hardly speak. ' ... I ... " But Enzo had
turned away and was imnging his hands. "It was as if Pepe didnl exist.
It took several minutes for Pepe gain control of his breathing; his
throat was bruised and w. Finally he got up onto his knees and then his
feet, olding onto the wall for support' ''re fucking crazy, Enzo!' He
held his neck as he ke. ''re fucking paranoid, that's what you are,
filcking 433 Maria Barreu paranoid!' He leaned back against the wall. '6
down in the lobby, waiting for you." Enzo looked up. His eyes were red,
drawn down into the hollows of his face, and Pepe saw the confusion of
cocaine in them. Enzo didn't know what was happening. Thank Christ, Pepe
thought, that I escaped that mad American bitch. He backed out of the
room, his eyes on Enzo. ' coke's eating your head, man!' He spoke from
the safety of the next room. ' and the American." Enzo looked across at
him. Pepe's words hadn't even registered. ' her I have to change,' he
said. ''ll be there in five minutes." Pepe nodded, and without turning,
he backed out of the suite and closed the door on Enzo Mondello. He'd
tell her to wait, and as far as he was concerned, the two crazies
deserved each other.

Enzo had taken a line, then showered and thrown his things into a bag.
He felt a whole lot better. Walking out of the suite, he turned towards
the back staircase and then suddenly changed his mind. He walked to the
main lifts, called them and went down to the lobby as if he were a
paying guest. He saw Marianne's Vuitton luggage and walked towards it
but there was no sign of her. ' He looked in the direction of the voice.
It was Marianne's voice. ', over here." A woman came towards him, a
woman with long, thick dark hair, hair the colour of Francesca; she was
tall too, and long-limbed like Francesca. Enzo blinked and tried to
refocus his eyes. The woman kissed him and he flinched. ', my darting!
You don't recognise me!'Marianne ran 434 Dangerou's Obsession d down
over Enzo back to his bottom and began to .'Don't you like my wig?, o
shook his head. The image of Francesca was comiand going in surges in
his mind. Her laughter was him dizzy. She took his arm. me on now,
darling, we have to go.' was dazed, confused. ' are we going?' nanne
leaned close to him and put her mouth to his 5he loved the tease of it
all, he was so deliciously easy ' you have your passport?' e nodded en
we're going to America, to find Francesca.' felt him shiver when she
whispered the name, as he did, and it thrilled her. ',' she whispered
an dover ' are going to find Francesca.' This was than all the money she
could spend. He had told her hing; high as a kite, he had let it all go.
She would this game long and hard; it would take months for her of it. '
is waiting for you there,' she murd. And, taking his hand, she led him
out to the waiting 435 Patrick - 1992 CHAPTER Thirty-one NEWLY APPOINTED
JUNIOR MINISTER in the Foreign sat in the study of his constituency
house in Little ly, West Sussex with a copy of his wife's Vogue magain
front of him on the desk. it was open at page e, and an article on the
rising success of Francesca eron and David Yates stared up at him, with
glossy r photographs of the designers by Terry O'Neill, ed, chic images.
He ran his finger over the face of sea Cameron and traced the outline of
it, then he up and walked across to the bureau to take out his He
brought it to the desk. Sitting down, he gazed at the re again, unable
to take his eyes off her face. For k Devlin it was almost too much to
bear. wasn't the first time he had seen pictures of her. He file for the
cuttings he had collected over the past two it gave him some consolation
to know that she was so ssful, to know that achievement and
acknowledgeof her talent came out of his pain and grief. But it was
wnsolation for the days and nights that he had longed r, for the
terrible effort of trying to love Penny and for

"Nuer hopelessness of what his marriage had become. consolation indeed.
t a day had passed in the previous two years that k had not thought of
Francesca, had not wondered she was, or what she was doing. And despite
the despite the acute pressure of his own meteoric rise to the memories
of her did not fade: the touch of her 439 Maria Barrett skin, the feel
of her hair against Ihis cheek and the sound of her voice. There was not
a day when he had not wanted to talk to her, to tell her about Penny, to
unburden himself and have her forgiveness and understanding. Not one
single day Sometimes he wondered if it was his own sorrow that made his
time with her seem so intense, so heightened an emotional experience.
But then he would take out the file and look at her, the soft features
of her face, the brilliant green of her eyes, and he would manage to
feel close to her, even through the false and distant medium of a
photograph. He would feel so close that he could imagine exactly what
she would say and how she would humble him with her wisdom. My father
was an alcoholic, she had told him, and I had to try to love him more
because of it, not less. And yet with all his education, experience and
knowledge he had not been able to achieve that sort of wisdom. He did
not love Penny and he had not been able to do anything but live the lie
he had created for liftyiself, pretending to a woman who veered
dangerously from one emotional abyss to another, and making a sham of
his life.

Looking up from the photograph, Patrick noticed how sunny it was.
outside and the brightness of the light cheered him. He reached for his
scissors and carefully cut out the pages of the article on Francesca. He
slipped the sheets into the file with the other cuttings and closed the
magazine. Enough, he thought, enough of my self-pity for one day He
stood and -replaced the file in the bureau, locking the drawer, and then
pulled open the door to the study Holding the magazine he crossed the
hall to the sitting room and slipped the Vogue back into its place in
the pile. He walked over to the window and looked out at the garden, its
long, profuse and leafy greenness dappled with sunlight. He saw Penny
down at the bottom cutting roses, 440 Dangerous Obsession ves, 14 vered
with outsize cotton gardening glo "by her feet. She was absorbed in what
she was d looked completely content. He sighed. She course, but he
didn't want to think of that today; er was only possible by living each
day as it about to turn away when she glanced up and x4. watching her.
She stood straight, rubbed her then waved at him, taking off her
gardening @,and placing her hands on her swollen belly. She : the garden
towards him and he thought how A her face was and how pregnancy suited
her; it only im more bitter about the way she really was. had tried, God
knew how he had tried. That first "'t-he had found her, drunk and
bitter, violently abusive, tried to understand, tried to help, tried so
hard to her more, as Francesca would have done. But in the the abuse,
the violence and the hysteria had worn him down, exhausted what little
feeling he had for her left nothing, except guilt that he was not
capable of givmore. Pity, yes, he was capable of that, and care and si
g, but not love. Love was for someone else and he ted Margaret bitterly
for that fact. Opening the French windows, Patrick stepped out onto
patio and walked down the slope of lawn to meet Penny lfway She was
seven and a half months pregnant and SO r it had been a struggle all
through. There had been no ills and no drink, she promised him that, but
her only emotional crutch had been him and there were times when ' had
used and abused him so desperately that he felt as , he had no strength
left to go on. But the thought of their baby kept him alive in hope;
that baby made it all worthwhile. With new life come new beginnings, he
thought, a chance to live again.

441 "Maria Barrett "Darling!' Penny reached out her hands and Patrick
took them. ' you finished your work so soont He smiled. ' quite. I saw
the sunshine and thought I'd have a break for a few minutes." She
laughed, the same light, carefree laugh that had so deceived him in the
early days. ' will never be a proper minister if you don't do your
homework, Paddy!" How lighthearted her conversation is when she is well,
he thought; how little I really knew when I married her. ' look awfully
cross all of a sudden, darling.' She reached up and touched his cheek
with her finger and then let her hand drop away, as if she had lost
interest in the action. ', do you like my rosest She held out the trug
which she carried over her arm and glanced fleetingly up at his face. It
was one of her habits, changing the subject when she felt like it,
unable to focus for any length of time. ', wonderful.' ''re for tonight,
for the table.' '' J am a good wife to you, aren't 1, Paddyt Her face
was suddenly serious, her voice slightly agitated. '.' He smiled, a
safe, reassuring smile. ' try to be.' ' know you do.' He bent and kissed
her forehead. ' think I might go up for my rest now. I feel quite tired,
I think it's the warmth.' ' you finished the roses?' ' ', do you have
enough for the tablet ', I don't know'She glanced over her shoulder.
''ll ask Mrs. Dunn to arrange them for me - she'll know if there's
enough. I really am quite tired." Ts, I'm sure you are. Here, let me.'
He took the trug from her and she smiled.

442 Dangerous Obsession "Do you want to come up for my restt ', I .'He
saw the flicker of anguish in her eyes and stopped. She had been
reasonably balanced for some time ,, and he was trying to do everything
he could to keep r that way. ' well, why not? I'm sure I can afford to
take If an hour off my parliamentary duties!' She laughed, the anguish
completely vanished. He just touldn't tell which way she would go next.
''ll ask Mrs. Dunn to hold all your calls then.' '. I mean, don't do
that, someone might have to get rough.' He needed the interruption of
calls. Just lying -,and comforting her stifled him. ' can wait.' ' if
someone has to cancel tonight?' ' God! They can't! I ...'She instantly
panicked. '! Please.' He helher shoulders. ''m sure they won't, please,
don't panic, it's just a bare possibility' oh, I ..., ''ll tell Mr.'s
Dunn to hold the calls. You're right, they can it.' He saw the relief in
her eyes and silently cursed his ,,sister. She had bullied Penny into
this dinner tonight and he . she couldn't cope. There seemed to be no
end to ,,Margaret's malice; she would sacrifice anyone for her own ins.
''m sure everything will be just great tonight, hon- estly We'll go up
and rest now and you're not to think , it again. 0KT Penny nodded. '.
You go on up, and I'lljoin you in a few minutes.' He dropped his hands
and she turned towards the French "windows. He watched her go and- waved
as she glanced eback from the house. Then he let out a heavy, irritated
sigh "and walked down to the rose bushes to collect up her things.

443 Maria Barrett Around six o'clock Patrick got up from his desk and
wandered through from his study to the dining room. He saw that Mrs.
Dunn had finished off what Penny had started earlier that day and the
table was set, the flowers arranged and the wine laid out on the
sideboard ready for him to decant. He took in the details of the room
and then crossed to the table to check the name cards were in the right
order. ' everything all right, Mr. Devlint He turned and saw the
housekeeper in the doorway. ', yes thank you, Mrs. Dunn, it all looks
very nice indeed." She smiled her acknowledgement. ' Mrs. Devlin still
sleeping' Tes.' He had left Penny to rest after only ten minutes with
her. She slept very heavily in the afternoons and didn't even stir as he
closed the door behind him and went on down to his study ' suppose I had
better wake her. Could you make some tea for us, pleaset - ' course.'
Mrs. Dunn turned immediately and left as silently as she had arrived,
her soft-soled shoes noiseless on the stone floors. Patrick left the
dining room and made his way upstairs to the main bedroom where Penny
slept.

"Oh, hello! I thought you were still asleep.' Patrick came into the room
and looked across at Penny who sat, in her bra and slip, staring at her
reflection in her dressing-table mirror. The bed was littered with
clothes, carelessly flung down, and the floor with umpteen pairs of
shoes. It looked a mess, an aggressive, bad-tempered chaos.

Tennyt He walked further in, closing the door behind him. She didn't
answer. '? Are you all right?" in front of her on the dressing table was
a pile of discarded jewellery, and the contents of her make-up bag were
dumped in a heap, lipsticks, powders, pencils, all messy 444 A, 6'
Dangerous Obwsion spilt onto the warm, highly polished Regency walnut
"Pennyt He crossed to her, his pulse quickening. ' 40 Pennyt Suddenly
she jumped up and spun round, knocking the 11 stool she had been sitting
on over and kicking it out e way. , fits!' she cried. '!' Her eyes were
wild her face crumpled in rage and misery. ''m a fat cow!' shouted. '
fat, ugly cow!' She started to weep, with h, angry sobs. ' hate this
baby! Look at me!' Her voice risen to screaming pitch and the tears
coursed down face, red and swollen with frustration. ' hate this baby!
you hear me? I hate it! Hate id' She began to punch her ch, her mouth
shrivelled up in pain. ' hate it!' She nched harder. ' HATE id' '!'
Patrick was across the room and had grabbed arms, pinning them back hard
before he realised what was doing. She cried out in pain but he held her
fast, his digging into her skin, so tight was his grip. ''T! r God's
sake!' He was breathing fast, the blood rushing in s ears and his whole
body pulsing with fear. Tennyl '!' He swallowed painfully and tried to
calm himself.

could feel her confusion but stronger than that he could I his own fear,
the tight, paralysing fear for his child. He k several deep reaths as
Penny sobbed in front of him. didn't - tat to do, his mind veering
violently ween fury and pity Finally, after several minutes, he pped her
arms and let her go. She slumped down onto r knees and continued to sob.
' God, no!' He looked down at her and the fury evapted. He bent. ',
here. Please. Come on, let me help up.' He lifted her to her feet and
steered her towards the d. He sat her down and tried to comfo, rt her,
placing his 445 Maria Barrett arm uneasily round her shoulder. ', Penny,
don't,'he murmured.

She shrugged him off. ' know that you find me repulsive,' she said
through her tears. ' know you do ...' Her sobs had quietened and she was
no longer angry, just childlike and pathetic. ''m disgusting. That's why
you won't sleep with me, isn't itt He sighed and sat down beside her,
taking her hand and holding it, despite her efforts to pull it back. ',
we've talked about this before,' he began. ' asked me if you were
keeping me awake and I said yes. It was you who suggested I sleep in the
other room.'She had stopped weeping and her body was calmer. ' you don't
look, disgusting; you look lovely I've told you a hundred times how
beautiful you look now, haven't IT She kept her head down, the odd tear
splashing onto the thin nylon of her slip. ', listen to me now.' He
turned to her and tilted her face up so that he could see her eyes. Her
skin was red and blotchy, swollen around her eyes and mouth, and she
tried to put her hand up to cover her face. He eased it away ', the most
important thing in our life right now is that baby You do understand
that, don't you? It's your responsibility and we must try to bring it
into the world unharmed.' Even as he talked he could feel the fear
rising in his chest again. He was pretty sure that she hadn't done any
damage with her punches of fury but just the thought of what she might
have done made him feel physically sick. ', you must never hit yourself
like that, no matter how frustrated you might feel.' He heard his voice
rise and harden and he cursed himself-, he was unable to keep the anger
out of it. Quietly she began to sob again.

446 Dangerous Obsession I'm not trying to. tell you, off, really I'm
not. I'm trying to help-" You don't understand! How can yout No you're
not! "'I do, honestly' don'd U me that has to carry this horrible lump
all day and all night; it me that feels sick and disting all the time,
it's me that . She stood up and d away from him, still crying. From the
window, she and said: ' don't even want to touch me any re!

stood up and walked over to her. Gently, he put arms around her. ' on
now, Penny, sssh.' He stroked her back. ' t not true, he murmured, '
know it isn't.' He felt her ax, and after a while the crying ceased. it
always ended this, always. She had never enjoyed making love with im,
lying unresponsive and cold under him, but she ed it for her security
and self-esteem. She was like an ill rson enduring treatment in the
knowledge that it would e her feel better. She looked up at him and he
kissed tenderly on the lips. ' do still want me, don't yout she
whispered. ' course I do,'he lied. He felt for her hand and then led r
over to the bed. She sat and waited for him to undress r. ' course I
do,' he said again as he held her. ' course p.'Another guilty lie.

lfway through the dinner that night, Patrick glanced the table at Penny
and saw the flush of excitement on r cheeks. She was involved in a
conversation with the Health Minister and Charles Hewitt and her voice
was r and confident as she argued a point. He looked away in before he
caught her eye; he did not want to be drawn their circle. It was
extraordinary, he thought, how well 447 Maria Barrett and normal she
could appear, even bright and sparkling, and ironic how quick her
recovery had been from the trauma of the early evening. He glanced back
briefly and checked her glass. Mineral water; at least that was
consistent.

Catching Mrs. Durmi  eye, Patrick could see that she was ready to serve
the coffee. Penny was not very adept at those sorts of things so he
nodded to her and announced that coffee would be served in the sitting
room. Then he stood and excused himself to fetch his cigars. The general
conversation continued around the table as he left the room.

Crossing the hall to the study, Patrick realised in the sudden quietness
that he was really quite tired. He was glad to be free of the chatter of
politics, the gossip and backbiting, for a few minutes. He listened to
the odd comfortable creak of his wonderful old house and went on through
to his study, relieved to be alone. He poured himself a whisky from a
bottle he kept locked in the bureau, and sat down at his desk. No one
should miss him for at least ten minutes or SO.

Lady Margaret walked across the hall to her brother study and stopped
Mrs. Dunn on the way. ' the coffee for a few minutes, will you, Mrs.
Dunnt ' Mr. Devlin said to--2 ' know what Mr. Devlin said, only I think
it would be better if you held it back for ten minutes. All rightt Lady
Margaret's voice was sharp; she was irritated. Patrick really had no
idea, she thought as she carried on to the study. Serving coffee
straight after dinner; everyone would have violent indigestion!

Pushing open the door to the study, she didn't bother to knock and walked
straight into the room. She stopped short. ' met Patrick glared across
at her. ''t we 448 Dangerous Obsesson brought up to knock before we
enter a room?' on't be sarcastic, Paddy!' Lady Margaret crossed to the
and glanced at the bottle. ' IT If you insist.' He let her find a glass
and pour her own , continuing to sip his in silence. She pulled up a
chair sat down. ffladdy' she began softly, ' think we need to talk.'
Alooked at her. ' yest Swallowing his drink down e, he reached over and
poured himself another. Her nce annoyed him and he made no pretence of
coverthat fact. :'How is Pennyt Lady Margaret decided to change the ect,
to start on something neutral. "'She's coping. Just.' he looks well
tonight." t's what you think!' Lady Margaret sighed heavily ', Paddy,
can't we stop is? Can't we sit down and just talk for once, like we tot
at aboutt He was deliberately antagonistic, refusing her an inch. '
anything, I don't know! There's no friendship een us any. more, no
companionship.' trick stood up. ' you really surprised?' He began to his
way to the door. She had ruined his peace; he t as well get back to the
dinner. ddy, waid' She turned to look at him. '! Yes, I am .. Whyt e
spun round. ', Margaret, you really are a joke! ? You're actually
surprised and you want to know THis voice was bitter and sneering. '
trace of feel- 1. had for you died a long time ago. As to why, I think .
work that one out for yourself, can't you? After all been said between
just 449 Maria Barrett "But Paddy ' what? I'm civil to you; I jump when
you say jump, and I've got you the kind of powerful friends you always
wanted. There are no buts, Margaret.' He shrugged. The bitterness had
gone; his voice was now resigned and sad. He turned back to the door. '
the light off when you've finished,' he said, and silently left the
room.

Penny reached the bottom stair without wobbling, her step faltering only
slightly when her foot touched the floor. She gripped the banister and
straightened herself. Breathing into her hand, she sniffed to check her
breath and then crossed the hall to Patrick's study, her nightdress
sweeping the floor as she went. She knocked lightly and waited for him
to call out, then she entered. '! I thought you were in bed!" She stood
in the doorway. ', I ...' She smiled tentatively.1 thought you might
want to come up with me.' . He stood up. ' on in, sit down, you'll get
cold in just that thin thing.' ', I'm fine. Are you coming up?, I've
sent Mrs. Dunn home to bed.' ', she looks tired..Penny, you go on up,
I'll be with . a bit later. I've still got some work to do." She held
onto the doorframe, feeling slightly dizzy ''t you do it in the mqrningt
He needed some time alone. He couldn't face another forced love scene. '
I do it now,'he said, trying to placate her, ''ll have more free time
tomorrow to spend with you.' He smiled. ' fairt She nodded. ', fine.' It
sounded like another excuse to her. She looked down at the big fat lump.
''ll see you in the morning then.' She waited for him to come across to
kiss her but he stayed where he was. ' night." .450 Dangerous Obsession
He smiled. ' night, Permy' She could hear the relief in his voice.
Closing the door behind her, she padded across the hall and held on
tight to ',,the banister to make it up the stairs.

Back in her bedroom, she locked the door and sat down on the bed, lying
back against the pillows and putting her feet up. She knew that Patrick
would sleep in the spare om tonight and that she was alone. She reached
across to e bedside table and picked up the bottle of mineral water,
unscrewing the cap and putting it to her lips. She took a big ,,gulp and
felt the warm, consoling sensation of the vodka in 41her stomach. The
bottle dropped onto her lap.

Closing her eyes, she imagined herself slim and beauti- in black velvet,
her hair piled up on her head and the diamonds at her throat. She was
laughing, spinning Vound and round and everyone was clapping as she
danced. She took another swig. It was Patrick she was dancing with;
.1no, it was her father or maybe even Richard. Whoever it he loved
her,'and she felt warm and secure and loved eve one. She smiled and took
another gulp.

ineral water, she thought, looking at the label on the the, how clever
of me! She was feeling drunk now, warm d relaxed for the first time,
that night, and she began to iggle as she read the words. But her vision
was blurred - had been drinking all night. After only a minute or so, e
gave up and took another gulp, letting the bottle drop to the bed beside
her. She was sleepy, languid and cont, locked safe and secure in her
room. Funny this baby n't kick, she thought, closing her eyes again and
letting mind drift away. She pulled the counterpane around her turned
over onto her side. Perhaps it can't be bothered, e thought, just like
me. She shut her eyes tighter to try to block out the image of trick
that had suddenly come into her mind, then a deep, 451 Maria Barreu
heavy blackness swamped her brain and the-smiling, pitying face of her
husband disappeared. Instantly she lost consciousness and seconds later,
she was enveloped in a heavy, dr4nken sleep, an all-cleansing,
all-embracing nothingness.

45 2 CHAPTER Thirty-two E GLORIOUS JULY WEATHER HAD lasted about two
days to Patrick's summer recess and then the rain set in, chil- the air
and making everything damp and clammy to the ch. It poured, in long,
drenching bouts, the sky thick grey, huge gusts of wind moving the great
plains of d slowly across the country, soaking the land. August, d the
English summer had properly arrived.

trick drove up the gravel drive of Long Wind House and ed in front of
the garage. He rushed into the house_ ering his head with his briefcase,
then took off his our in the hall, shaking the rain from it and calling
t to Penny. There was no response, so he walked through the kitchen and
found Mrs. Dunn there alone and prepar- thelunch..,'Hello! Where's Mrs.
Devlin?' She turned from the sink. ', hello, Mr. Devlin. Mrs. in has
gone out to lunch with a friend. She said she'd back this afternoon
about four-ish. Would you like some h?, "Nes, please, whatever there
is.' He crossed to the fridge took out a carton of orange juice. ' want
somet ,,Mrs. Dunn smiled. ', thank you.' Patrick poured two glasses,
handed one to Mrs. Dunn pulled out a chair to sit at the table. He felt
the need to , and Mrs. Dunn was always quite content to listen, t. e
Penny.

453 Maria-Barrett Tou know, this hospital closure is really going to
take up much more. of my time than I'd thought.'He sighed. ' are a lot
of very angry people out there. The problem is that we have a cottage
hospital here that is really just that, I'm afraid. All right, it serves
the basic needs of the local community, but it's a constant drain on the
District Health Authority's finances and it simply doesn't have the
resources to cope with emergencies, or the staff, for that matter.' He
shrugged. ''s very hard to argue one way or another, though. I can see
how much people rely on the hospital but I can also see that anything
major has to be sent over to Crawley General because the Morton just
can't cope - and that's not good enough. What a situation!' He swallowed
down his orange juice. ' Penny say who she was going out with, by the
wayt ', I'm sorry she didn't." Patrick nodded. ' well.' He stood up. '
think I might go and start some letters on this before lunch. Do you
think you could bring me something through on a tray seeing as I'm
eating alonet Mrs. Dunn smiled. ' course. It should be ready in about
ten minutes.' '.' He walked to the kitchen door. He was strrangely
restless today. Perhaps it was the meeting that had upset him - local
feeling was running high on the issue, but he felt on edge, not quite
sure whether he wanted to stay and talk to Mrs. Dunn, or go to his
study. ' there any messages for me this morning?' he asked, hanging
around to waste time. ' my! I completely forgot! A delivery came from
John Lewis earlier this morning. Lsent the packages upstairs to the
small bedroom. I'm sorry, I meant to tell you when you came in. I hope
that's all rightt ', that's fine.' Patrick felt an immediate lifting of
his 454 Dangerous Obsession "In fact, it's gread' It had to be the
things they'd ordered for the nursery. He beamed at Mrs. Dunn, unable to
conceal his excitement. ' I change that request to something upstairst '
course!' Mrs. Dunn smiled back. She found Patrick Devlin's delight in
the preparations for his first child really really most endearing. ' on
up and I'll bring it to you when it ready-' '.'And with all thoughts of
the hospital, all worries about local feeling suddenly much less
important, he hurried out into the hall and ran up the stairs, two at a
time, and along to the back bedroom and the boxes from John Lewis, the
first real things they had bought for their child.

Inside the small nursery the three large cardboard packages sat in the
middle of the floor, wrapped and tied with the traditional green and
white JLP paper. The cot had f arrived, flat packed and stood up against
the wall, ready to be assembled. Patrick tore off the paper and pulled
out the Jeaflet and instructions, sinking down onto the floor to read
.,them, and glancing up briefly to count the packs, making sure
everything had arrived. Then he checked the delivery notes on the other
three boxes and went along to his bedroom to find a penknife. He cut
carefully down the lengths of tape, pulled open the top of each box and
took out the contents, spreading them out over the floor and laughing at
himself, thirty-five years old and acting like a teenager. He surveyed
everything they had bought and decided there and then how he was going
to spend the rest of the day He would get the nursery ready and surprise
Penny when she came home., Looking up at the clean white walls of the
nursery, he tried to imagine the border, along with the pictures and all
','the shapes in bright primary colours, they had bought. He sized up
the room, decided on the border first, pictures 455 Maria Barrea ,and
shapes next and finally the cot. He walked out of the room, carrying the
tub of glue, reading the instructions as he went and leaving the nursery
floor littered with discarded packaging and all the bits and pieces. He
would change, eat some lunch and then get started. He smiled and felt
all the earlier restlessness disappear; preparing the house for their
baby filled him with an enormous sense of pleasure and purpose.

Standing in the centre of the bedroom he occasionally shared with Penny,
Patrick suddenly realised that he had no idea where he had put his old
trousers and sweater after the move to Long Wind House and that he would
probably have to scrabble around in the backs of wardrobes to try to
find them. He dropped the pot of fixative down onto the bed and decided
to start with their joint cupboard in the bedroom. If they weren't
there, he would no doubt have to search everywhere, as Penny had the
oddest habit of putting things in places one would never expect them to
be. He crossed to the wardrobe, pulled back the rail of clothes and
began to hunt.

Some fifteen minutes later, he still hadn't found them. He had been
through the joint wardrobe, his own, Penny's, the wardrobe in the spare
bedroom and was now about to tackle the small cupboard built under the
stairs on the firstfloor landing. Mrs. Dunn had brought his lunch up on
a tray but Patrick was so irritated by the search that he had forgotten
it and left it to go cold and congeal nastily on the plate, while he
muttered furiously to himself and ransacked the cupboards.

Kneeling on the floor, he opened the last small cupboard door and shined
his torch inside the dark narrow space. He bent his head and peered
inside, following the beam of light, and saw a large box, a plastic bag
and a bundle of what looked like clothes. At last, he thought. God knows
why she put them in here!

456 Dangerous Obsession He pulled out the box, rattling its contents as
he did so, , dragged it onto the carpet in order to get a better look at
the bundle of clothes. It was then that he heard the distinctive chink
of glass. Puzzled, he sat back, opened the top of the box and looked
inside. Vodka. A case of vodka, four ;. bottles, seven empties. An
alcoholic's supply He stared uncomprehendingly at the bottles and then
suddenly the terrible reality of what they meant hit him. The evidence
of what she had done to their baby almost doubled him over with grief.
He turned away, unable to look any more, sickened to the heart. He
experienced a pain of bitter disappointment, of guilt, and then a huge
and violent fury. A fury so strong and powerful that he thought for a
few minutes it would choke him. How could she? The bitch, he kept
repeating, again and again, the stupid, stupid bitch!

He felt crushed by this anger, as if it pressed out every last ounce of
life he had inside him. He knew what alcoholism did to the foetus.
Taking a deep breath, he willed himself to be calm, fighting down the
rage, wanting to hit out at something. And yet all the time he knew she
couldn't help it, he knew she was ill.

over an dover he kept trying to calm himself, to think straight. How
long had it been going on? How much of it had she drunk? When? Why? His
mind spun with unanswered questions and a voice cried out, echoing round
and round in his brain, desperate to be heard. My baby, it said, my
baby, my baby Finally, through a wall of fear and pain, he managed to
bring himself round, to scramble to his feet and make it to the
bathroom. There, he was violently sick.

Slumping down onto the floor and resting his aching head against the
cold enamel of the bath, Patrick tried to think 457 Maria Barrett ,back,
to decipher when and how it had happened. He remembered certain things,
the heaviness of her sleep, an almost. coma-like state in the
afternoons, her inability to concentrate on anything, the rages, the
days of blankness and lethargy. He remembered the vast amount of time he
had left her on her own, or just ignored her because the very thought of
her exhausted him. He remembered his need to work, to bury himself and
to try to forget, and he knew then how and when and why. He remembered
it all, and felt, with an awful, guilty clarity that it was as much his
own fault as hers.

He pulled himself up and bent over the sink, running the cold water tap
and splashing his face over an dover until he felt some feeling and
sense come back. Then he dried himself and walked slowly back to the
bedroom, sitting down on the big double bed that they so rarely shared.
He picked up a photograph in a silver frame, laid it on his lap and
looked down at it. He unscrewed the top on the bottle of mineral water
and took a big thirsty gulp. '! Shit!" The shock of the burning liquid
in his throat make him choke it up instantly and he spat out a mouthful
of vodka, the rest searing the back of his throat and burning down into
his stomach, making his eyes water and his throat constrict. He coughed
violently, spluttering for several minutes and struggling for breath.
Finally he managed to recover himself, wiping his face with his
handkerchief. He stood up and the photograph crashed to the floor. ',
fucking bitch!' he shouted, his voice hoarse with tears. He grabbed the
glass bottle and flung it across the room, smashing it on the wall
opposite. The splinters of glass sprayed out for several yards and the
clear, lethal liquid ran down the expensive wallpaper, He swallowed
hard, fighting back the rage and tears, then turned and left 458
Dangerm, Obsession room, the stench of alcohol sickeningly strong in his
trils.

"Penny drove along the narrow, winding road towards Little Horsley with
her headlamps on full beam and the rain pelt- g down onto the
windscreen, making visibility almost ssible. She leaned forward in the
driver's seat and tried to concentrate, the fuzz of several
late-afternoon vodkas heavy in her head and the dark shadows of the road
deceiving. She felt a little dizzy again, and short of breath. She
needed to lie down and the sooner she got home the better.

She had lunched with a couple of old schoolfriends, carefully lacing her
drinks throughout the afternoon, making sure she averted her breath
every time sh6 spoke and refusing to kiss anyone when she left, feigning
a cold. She hated lunching out and only went when she absolutely had io.
She had grown used to eating alone - food on a tray in her room, the
radio for company and the afternoons warm..

and secure, a few drinks and a comforting sleep. She had drunk far too
mu. h this afternoon, she knew that, but she had felt bored and left
out, and it was her only consolation. just a few more miles, she thought
with relief, and I'll be home in my room, tucked up under the covers,
safe and warm with my own special brand of mineral water. She put her
foot down on the accelerator and increased her speed.

Tatrick heard the sharp scream of brakes and the long drag of rubber on
tarmac as Penny screeched the car to a halt and then yanked it into
reverse, having overshot the drive. He ran to the bedroom window to see
that she was all right and saw her lose her balance ever so slightly as
she climbed out of the car to pull open the gates. The anger he had been
trying to control all afternoon suddenly rose to the surface and he
turned away disgusted. He walked down the 459 Maria Barrett sti6 and
into the hall, switching on the overhead lights as well as the lamps and
leaned against the wall, waiting for her to come in. He wanted to be in
a position to see her face properly He heard her fumble with the lock
and then the door swung open. '! Hello!' Penny stood in the doorway and
blinked at the bright light. ' thought you were Mrs. Dunn, clearing up
or something.' She came on into the house and avoided Patrick by
crossing to the cupboard and taking off her coat, her movements careful
and controlled. ' are all these lights on for, Patrick?' She finished
putting her coat away and turned. Jt a terrible waste of electricity'
She went to the switch and clicked the overhead light off. ''s better.'
She smiled nervously, feeling a little more at ease in the dimmer light.
' think I might go straight up for my rest, darting, if you don't mind.
I'm awfully tired, it's been rather a long, day' She walked towards the
stairs concentrating hard on keeping her movements steady '", She
stopped, not wanting to turn, simply eager to get upstairs to her room.
', come here please." She looked back over her shoulder; Patrick's face
was grim and she suddenly felt frightened. '?' she asked, trying to
sound light. She cleared her throat. ' really is time for my rest, you
know' ', I know, but just for once it can wait.' His voice was cool,
much, much cooler than usual. The fear deepened. ', I need to talk to
you.' He was keeping a tight rein on his emotions, sure that if he let
them slip he might lose control completely ''s go in-to the sitting
room, please." She faced him now and saw that his eyes were dark and
cold. She shivered. ', I'm going up to my room.' She 460 Dangerous.
Obsession couldn't face him; she didn't have the strength. She turned
and continued on to the stairs. ' nothing to drink up there, Penny' he
said quietly. ''ve cleared the house." She stopped. Instinctively her
hand went to the wall for support and she sagged, as if someone had
taken the air out of her. She looked down at the floor and the blood
rushed in her-ears. She wasn't sure if it was the shock of being found
out or the terrible need for a drink that made her feel so dizzy, so
desperate. She held onto the solid wall and swallowed hard. ' had no
right to ...'she whispered. ' had every right to! God damn it, Penny!
What the hell-T He broke off. He was trembling and he had to clasp his
hands together to control them. She won't understand, he kept thinking,
you must try to be kind, you must try to help her. He moved forward a
pace. '? Look at me, please." She lifted, her head. ', you have to stop,
you need help. You have to think of the baby' Suddenly her head jerked
back. ' baby!' she cried. ' baby, the baby, the baby! That it, isn't it?
Fuck me, fuck Penny! it's the baby you want! It's all you've ever
wanted! This!' She punched her stomach. ' ... this thing in here!' She
was crying now, and shouting. ''ve never wanted me! Never! All you want
is this!' Again she punched herself and Patrick lunged forward towards
her. "Get off me!' she screamed. She ran up the stairs. ' know! I know
about her!' She lost her footing slightly and gripped the wall.
Patrick's whole body froze- with fear. She turned halfway up to look at
him. She was sobbing uncontrollably ''ve always known! Always! All those
things hidden in your study, magazines and pictures ... and Richard said
...'She broke off, momentarily unable to go on, and Patrick 461 Maria
Barrett watched helplessly Then she carried on: ''ve never loved me ...
I was second-best ... I had the money!'And she put her hands up to her
face as her body heaved with great wracking sobs. Patrick inched forward
and held out his hand to her. ', please. Please, don't.'All his anger
had vanished; he was frightened as he looked up at her. She swayed
precariously on the stairs, sobbing desperately. He stretched his
fingers to touch her. If only I can touch her, he thought, to get
through. He felt the cold, clammy skin of her leg through her thin
tights. ''d Don't you ... !'She dropped her hands and yelled at him as
she felt his touch. ''t!' She kicked out violently Suddenly she lost her
balance and screamed. The next moment she fell.

She was half a flight of steep steps above him and he had no chance to
catch her. She fell awkwardly, plummeting forward onto her stomach,
tumbling down, her body like a rag doll. She hit the wall with her arms,
knocking her face on the banister. He put out both arms to try to grab
her but he couldn't. He watched helplessly as she smashed to the ground
and lay, shocked, eyes wide open looking up at him.

Then she began to whimper. He ran to her and knelt by her side. ' God,
Penny!' She was crying, in a small, terrified way, the sound half
strangled in her throat. Her eyes remained wide open, staring, blank
with pain. ''s the pain? Penny?" He took her wrist and felt the pulse,
then he slipped his hands down between her legs. She was bleeding. ',
it's all right now, come on, it's all right.' He took off his sweater
and covered her with it and then ran to the study for a rug. He tucked
it round her and bent his head to her face. He kissed her, holding her
hand. ''m going to 462 Dan gerous Qbsmion to ,,a e you into hospital.
You mustn't panic, OK? Try to breathe deeply' Her whole body shuddered
with a contraction and she cried out. ', darling, the baby is on its
way. You've given it a olt, that's all. Now remember your breathing.
Come on ,,.-now.' He alanced at his watch. The contraction had lasted
just over a minute so far. ' on, Penny, hold onto me.' Again she cried
out, and then it passed. Breathless, she her eyes. ' Paddy' she
whispered. ''m scared. I'm bleeding.' ' know" he said gently. ' know.
It's all right, I'm going to ,"get you to the hospital.' He kissed her
hand and then stood up, grabbing his car ,.keys off the hall table. He
ran out of the house and started the en '. Moments later he- was back.

come on now. I'm going to pick you up and ",,carry you out. Try to relax
now, all rightt He knelt, slipped his hands under her body and lifted ,
up, struggling to his feet.. He carried her out, holding i@e rug tight
round her, and gently placed her in the car. "$he had begun to shake.
Running round the other side, he ,,.,lumped in, spun the car round and,
drove off.

t, lovey. Here we go. Up onto here. There we are!' "The nurse turned to
Patrick. '- to two-minute contractions, you say? Every ten -ininutes?' '
that's right.' They followed the trolley as the porters rrq it into the
hospital and down into one of the labour rooms.

The obstetrician's been bleeped, he'll be on his way' Patrick watched
Penny's face, ashen and :, thanks d with pain. His mind was blank.

463 Maria-trrett "Mr. Devlint ''m sorry, what did you say?' ' said I
think you know the obstetrician on call. He's from Bart's. Michael
Tremayne.' ', yes, I do." A midwife hurried into the room. '. Mrs.
Devlin, is that rightt Penny, nodded as the midwife crossed to her. ''m
just going to take your blood pressure and. listen to the baby's heart
rate, all. right, dear? lift up a minute ... that's fine. I'm just going
to clip this monitor onto the belt. Good. Be still now and try to relax.
Is there any bleeding.' ', vaginal bleeding, not much. Regular
contractions." The midwife nodded as the nurse answered her. All her
actions were quick but controlled, emergency without the panic. Patrick
had seen. it so many times. ', Dr. Tremayne!" The obstetrician entered
the room. '!' ', Michael.' ' thought it might be you when they said
Devlin.' He strode across the room to the bed as he spoke. There was no
time for pleasantries. ', Penny' He looked across at the midwife. '
pressure normal and here's the trace,' she said, glancing at the
monitor. ''s ninety to ninety-five between contractions, seventy to
seventy-five during.' '.' Tremayne looked up at Patrick; they both knew
the signs of severe foetal distress.,'Penny, this baby looks as if it on
its way now. I'm going to take you straight into theatre. All right? Try
not to worry'.

Patrick squeezed Penny hand. ' you get a drip up, Mary? Organise theatre
one. Also we'll need to call Crawley General, alert the Paeds." 464
Dangerm Obtession Right.' The midwife moved away from the be She folded
a gown and shook it out. ''s get you into this, 4ball we?' ''ll do it,'
Patrick said. '.' She handed him the garment and quickly left the om. ',
now, Penny, I'm going to get changed. There's thing to be nervous about,
Or' Tremayne patted her d, before moving towards the door. ' Tremayne
stopped at the sound of Patricles 1:voice. ' want to be in theatre with
Penny' Tremayne shook his head. ' can't allow that, Patrick, I'm sorry.,
', I'm a qualified paediatrician - you may need me there!" Tremayne
thought quickly Devlin knew what he was 4oing, although he'd been out of
it for a couple of years. I -Mis was a small hospital and there might be
complica- "tions; he had no choice. ' right, Patrick. Come and change
when you've organised Penny' He turned, and not @,:-wanting to waste any
more time, hurriedly left the room.

"Sorry about this funny angle, dear. We have to just get you V"'onto the
table here. That's it! Good. Now could you just this? Good girl!' The
midwife turned to the anaes- thetist. ' yours.' ', Penny. I'm going to
put a mask over your face to give you some oxygen. Try to breathe
normally. That's it.' The anaesthetist slipped the sucker under Penny's
head and turned away to get the syringe. He saw Michael Tremayne and
Patrick come in and startscrubbing up. ''m going to send you to sleep
now, Penny. I'm just injecting the drugs now ... There. Good girl. When
you wake up it'll all be over.' Her body twitched as the muscles relaxed
465 and he opened her mouth, inserting the laryngdscope. ' right, it's
in,' he said to the midwife, ' ahead.' The midwife pressed her fingers
down onto the central part of Penny's neck. ' feels funny,' she said
quickly ' dowt seem to know where I am. Am I ... T '! Sh8 throwing up!
Here! ... Right, seems to be clear now. I can see, give me the tube, Iet
get it in! OK!' He looked up briefly. ''s attach her to the ventilator."
Michael Tremayne was at the table. ' I start?' '. Sh8 quite stiff to
ventilate. Is she asthmatic?' ' on the records,' Tremayne said. '?'
Patrick wasn't thinking. He was too involved to think straight. ',' he
answered automatically. Suddenly he looked up. '! She's an alcoholic!' '
Jesus!' Tremayne looked across at the anaesthetist. ''ll have to go
ahead, there's no time ... " Tremayne nodded and the first incision was
made, horizontal across the abdomen. He separated the muscle with his
hands. '!' He lifted the. tissues. ' ... Knife!' ' still can't get her
properly oxygenated!' There was alarm in the anaesthetist's voice. ''m
going to give her some ventolin.' I . Patrick felt7his stomach contract
with fear. He watched the brief fumble with the-ampoute and saw the look
of tension on the anaesthetist's face. He turned back to Michael. ''m
into the uterus.. I'm going to deliver her now.' He held his hands out.
Retractorr ''m having real problems here, Michaew The anaesthetiscs
voice pierced the concentrated silence. ' pretty wrong!' . ''ve got a
foot! Here it comes! Clamp.' Tremayne pulled out the tiny body, slippery
and bloody.

Again the anaesthetist's voice, sharp and tense. ', 466 Dangerous
Obsession _n't resuscitate the baby - I can't leave here.' Tremayne
nodded. ' we are, little girl ...'They were osing precious seconds. '?'
' ... I don't..

There was no time to panic. '!' he said again. ki ' right .'Patrick's
voice broke as he took the feeble, ggling infant in his hands. The
midwife followed him the baby over to the resuscitaire. ''ve got you,
baby, it's K,' he whispered. Laying his daughter on the bed, he lipped
the oxygen mask over her face and began to hand tilate it, his vision
blurred with tears. ' on, baby, n e on.'He waited a few more seconds.
''m going to intuz'hate her,'he shouted hoarsely He took the mask away
and led momentarily with the laryngoscope before insertit. He slipped
the tube down.

Blood pressure's going down! I'm not sure I can hold "All right, I'm
nearly there. Scissors.' ''m losing it ... Tremayne finished sewing the
cut. '. I'm nearly ' Jesus! Michael, she's slipping ... Cardiomyopathy
ost certain! Jesus Chrisd' The anaesthetist shook his and looked up,
alarmed. ''ll have to go to inten- "Right!' ' the General, we need an
ambulance!' ,,.'Iremayne turned away from the table as the midwife ran
the theatre; there was nothing more he could do. He d to Patrick. '?'
He. saw the blue, emaciated face of the baby, ling to oxygenate. He
touched Patrick's shoulder and him flinch.

I get them to intensive,' he said. Patrick nodded.

467 Mariabarrett, ,it,11 be all He stopped. There was no point in false
hope. ''m sorry'he said simply, and quietly moved away it was after
midnight, and Patrick sat in the canteen at the General Hospital,
Crawley, drinking a lukewarm cup of coffee from the machine. The place
was empty and the silence was punctuated only by the futile whir of the
electric heaters. He held the plastic cup in both hands in an attempt to
warm them, his whole body cold and numb. '?" He looked up as Tremayne
walked towards his table. Want another coffeet ' thanks." Tremayne
pulled out a chair and sat down. ''m sorry, Patrick,' he said. ' I am.'
He paused and looked away ' was just no chance." Patrick didn't answer;
he couldn't. The baby was dead and he had no words left. ''ve come to
see if you want to. go back to Permy' ' she ... T '.' ' long?' ' don't
know. A few hours maybe, not much more. I'm sorry Patrick. But being an
alcoholic ...'he broke off for a moment, ' heart just can't cope.' She
was too weak - there was nothing they could do.

Patrick dropped his-head down and felt Tremayne's hand on his arm. He
swallowed and looked up. ''s go,' he said quietly.

They stood together and walked silently out of the canteen.

In the intensive care unit Penny looked so small and frail amongst the
bank of machines, her body punctured with Dangerous Obsession and tubes.
She looked like a child, peaceful for once, ing. Patrick sat down by the
side of the bed and took her in his own, pressing it gently to his lips.
Penny'he whispered. ''m sorry' He closed his eyes and the image of her
pain, her desperate wracking sobs, her ing eyes. ' loved you as much as
I could! Leaning forward, he stroked her brow, cool and smooth er his
fingers, and then kissed the top of her head. ''m so, so sorry,' he
whispered again. ' me.' And he sat with her until the early hours of the
morning en the dawn broke and her heart finally stopped beating.

469 CHAPTER Thirty-three PATRICK STOOD IN THE ENTRANCE porch of Long
Wind House and waved goodbye to the lost of the mourners - sober-faced
people in dark clothes who had come out of respect, not feeling, and who
had remained dry-eyed, speaking in hushed tones of a tragedy they knew
very little about. He held up his hand, smiled soberly and then turned
his back on them. Friendship should be for the living, he thought, not
for the dead. Penny could have used a couple of friends.

Inside the hall, he noticed the house was cold and went to the radiator
to check it was on. He had felt cold all the time recently; it was a
numbness that seemed to go right through him. The heat was on, so he
warmed his hands on the radiator and tried to summon up the strength to
go back through and face his sister and Richard Brachen. All he wanted
to do was go to bed, shut it all out and sleep, sleep forever. '?" He
turned. ', Margaret.' ' Lord! You're frozen! Come on into the kitchen
and let me make you some tea. You need to stand by the Aga, warm up a
bit.' ''s OK, thanks. I'm fine.' ' you're not! Come on." Lady Margaret
walked through to the kitchen and he could hear her filling. the kettle.
He rubbed his hands together to get som, e feeling back into them and
then fol- Dangerous Obsessm d her. She had been very good the past few
days. He d needed her help. Well, I don't know what's happene'd to the
British Sumer!' she said as he came into the kitchen. ' minute it re and
the next we've all got the bloody heating on! Give global warming any
day! I can't stand it when it's like is, all cold and drizzly' She
shivered and then reached up -.to get the teapot and some cups down from
the cupboard. ' know, you really ought to make some kind of statement to
the press,'she said with her back to him. ' would be sensible.' She
turned. ''t you think?' '. I don't think.' He looked away. ' personal
life is private, it's my business.' ' itt She continued with the tea,
trying to sound casual. I,;,Tou're very popular, you know, people want
to know how ",.,YOU feel.' '! You never miss a press opportunity, do you
Maggiet Patrick shook his head. ''s almost laughable! You're more
ambitious than any of the men I've met in politics., She carefully put
down a cup and turned to face him. Theres no need for that! I am merely
trying to think of your best interests.' His mood had been so changeable
the past few days that she was constantly on her guard. She was trying
not to bully but there were things to be done. ' yest Tes.' She paused
for a moment. ' fact, I've been thinking that you should get away, right
away. You need a break, a change of scene." He softened slightly. ',
maybe.' Laying out the tray she said: ''s trip to New York for the
United Nations Summit on Eastern Europe is definitely on. Perhaps you
should think about the invitation to go with him; it doesn't look good
to refuse." 471 Maria Barrett "No. I'm not ready for anything like that.
I need time.' ', you've had some time!' Lady Margaret suddenly lost
patience. Now she'd mentioned it she would have to push it hard. This
was an opportunity that a junior minister couldn't afford to miss. '
have to think about getting on with your life again, Patrick, really you
do! How much time do you needt ' God!' Patrick exploded. ' much time do
I need? I've had ten days! My wife and my baby have been dead for ten
days and you're telling me to forget it and get on with my fifet '! If
you want to put it like that! Yes, that's exactly what I'm telling you!'
Now she'd started, her bile was up and she couldn't stop herself. ' are
the coldest, most calculating bitch I have ever known!' He laughed
bitterly ' if I didn'v know it already' '. I'm just honest. Penny was a
burden to you. She was an alcoholic who had a heart attack while under
anaesthetic. That baby had foetal. alcohol syndrome and no chance of
recovery ...' ' right! That's enough! I know all the details!' ' you? Do
you? She would have ruined your life, Patrick! You are better off shot
of her and all you insist on doing is wallowing around in self-pity!'
Lady Margaret's voice was low and hard so as not to be heard by anyone
else and she almost spat the words at him. ' was a mistake, Paddy, a
bloody great mistake, I'll admit it even if you won'd And thank God
you're out of it now!' ' mistake, eh? Try telling that to Penny!'he
shouted. He moved menacingly forward, his face close to hers. ' thought
a long time ago that you could never do anything more to shock and hurt
me. I was wrong. You sicken me!' He punched his breast. '! Right to the
heard' Then he turned and stormed out of the room.

472 Dangerous Obsession y Margaret leaned back against the wall unit,
her rt pounding at the shock of the confrontation. She ked down at her
hands and saw that they were trem- Why? Why wouldn't he listen? She only
wanted the t for him. -Well, well, well. Hardly a picture of familial
love, now, is Richard Brachen walked in through the back door of the
hen. Mrs. Dunn had left it open and Lady Margaret lised he had heard
every word. ''s none of your business,' she said angrily. She straightd
up, smoothing her skirt. ' the hell were you ing skulking around outside
anywayt ' wanted a cigarette, and some fresh air,' he answered olly. ',
I'm never quite comfortable with your hus- Margaret. I always have the
urge to tell him what a at fuck you are.' ''t you ... ''t I whatt He
smiled insolently and Lady Margaret ght a hint'Of malice in it. ''t I
dare? Is that what you re going to sayt He laughed. ''t worry, Margaret,
I W-ouldn't dream of telling him.' Spite was far better calcu- "Do you
care about anything, Margaret?' ' please!' She put the kettle back on
the Aga to reboil.

really don't need this. Go and play your silly little psyological games
somewhere else!' T m just interested, that's all.' He kept his voice
even, -ontrolled. What he'd heard outside hadn't shocked him, it d just
hardened his resolve. He had always acknowledged evil in Lady Margaret.
At times it had excited him. But nny wasny responsible for her own
death, he knew that.

eye for an eye, he thought, a tooth for a tooth. it was ly right. '
enough when you thought you might profit.

473 Mariabarreu Is that it, Richardt She took the kettle off the hob and
filled holis the pot. ' knew Penny was bordering on alcoholis when
Patrick married her, didn't yout ' our money and takes our choice,
lady,' he answered. ' were the instigator of that match, Margaret, not
me.' He moved across the kitchen towards her. He stopped, only inches
away from her. ' is it you really wantt He leaned forward. ' it power?
To see Patrick as a cabinet ministert He put his finger up to her cheek
and trailed it over the perfect white Irish skin. ' even leader of the
partythe whispered. ' elset She moved her face away. ' else would you
expectt she said coldly. '.' He dropped his hand and stepped back. '
will get what you deserve, Margaret,'he said.

She shrugged. ' hope so.' And suddenly Richard smiled back. ', I know
so,' he answered. ' know so." Penny was dead and buried and the only
break in the terrible weather in the whole month of August was the few
days before Patrick left for New York. The sun shone brilliantly then,
and on the one day that a couple from London came. round to view Long
Wind House the light was perfect and it sat, nestled in green, the
warmth of the stone reflected in the afternoon sun. Patrick was glad. It
was a beautiful house and he wanted them to see it at its best. Long
Wind House deserved more than the unhappiness he had filled it with.

He showed them round the garden first. Old and established, it was in
full bloom, a spectrum of colour and light. Then he took them through
the stone-floored house, not saying much, letting them decide for
themselves.

Upstairs they viewed all the rooms and left the small white-walled back
bedroom until last. Patrick hadn't been 474 -11 take all the ion
Dangerous 0h9ession even now he found it hard to swing open things, and
come, to : the Adopt' Society had door and not see all his pain in that
small, empty space.

ell, this is the last room up here,' he said. He opened door and let
them go in, standing slightly outside him- h yes, this is perfect,' the
young woman said. She was t, with pate blonde hair; pretty in a
delicate, underted way. ' think it would make a wonderful nursery, '
you, darling?' She turned to her husband and caught look of utter
embarrassment on his face, then she put r hand up to her throat and
blushed deeply. ', my, I am I ... I just didn't think!' The young
husband looked at Patrick. '' Patrick shrugged. ',' he said. ''t be
embar- d.'His story was public property-, of course they knew. ,'t
matter, really' He tried tsmile. ', why don'the you to wander roundt he
suggested. ' and me in the Yatden when you've finished.' ",:"Yes, we
will. Thanks.' He saw the young man take his wife's hand to reassure as
he left and that one small, insignificant gesture made feel suddenly
very alone. I am glad to be going away, he Ught. Margaret, for all the
wrong reasons, was right t this. He walked out through the French doors
to the and on down the sloping lawn to the rose bushes at bottom. Yes,
he thought, looking down at the roses and bending smell their perfume,
in that ruthless, callous way of hers, rgaret al least spoke the truth.
I never loved Penny and have to face up to that. I canl blame myself for
her death t I can make sure that I won't ever do anything again ts
dishonest. I will never live another lie.- He turned as the young man
called out to him from the 475 Maria Barrett top of the lawn and
realised he had lost track of time. I think too much, he decided, I
always have; now it is time to act. He began to make his way back up to
the house. '. Devlin, the agents said you're away for a couple of weeks,
is that' right?'The young man spoke quickly, excited alout the house.
''re very keen on the house, you see.' ', I'm pleased to hear that.'
Patrick smiled. ''m in New York for a week and then I'm off to Bosnia.'
' r6ally? Is it a UN thing2' '. I'm off to argue for more refugees to be
allowed into Britairf. I don't think I'm going to be very popular with
the government for it, but ...'He shrugged. He was doing what he
believed was right for once. It wasn't much, but it was a start. ', I
agree with you,'the young woman said. ' think it's awful, separating
families, shunting people from pillar to post!' She spoke rather
forcefully and then blushed again when she'd finished.

Patrick smiled. ' least I've got one supporter then.' They all laughed.
' are you leaving, Mr. Devlin?' the young man asked, keen to get things
settled. ' the end of the week. You can call me any time up till
Thursday, then I'm going to London. I've a house there to sell as well.'
He had decided that was the right thing to do - buy something much
smaller, with his own money this time. ' we'd like to do is speak to the
bank and then, if things work out, make you an offer.' ' sounds just
fine. I'll ask the agents to hold off viewing until I hear from you,
shall IT ' yout ' don't see why not.' ''s terribly kind of you, Mr.
Devlin.' The couple 476 Dangerous -Obsession 4 d a look that implied
they couldwt believe their Patrick wanted to laugh- V, e'll go straight
to the bank this afternoon and try to get to you by the end of the week.
Is. that 0KT course. gread' The young man beamed and again took his
hand- ' a lot, Mr. Devlin.' lies, thank you.' The young woman's skin was
slightly hed with excitement ...'No problem. Would you like a cup of
teat @'Yes, I'm sure we would.' And Patrick led them inside the house,
noticing the ken warmth between them, They will suit this home, decided,
and for the first time in weeks he felt the fest glimmer of hope.

rd Brachen drummed his fingertips on the desk top glanced out of the
window as he waited for Mcbride to me back on the line 7hings were,
beginning to fall into e. ', Richard? Are you still theret ',;-'Yes,
John, still here.' .. I've got Jamie's birth certificate here, along
with other details I mentioned. There're several letters, both wills,
guardianship details, and I believe youve got all documents for the
company, haven't yout '. Rkht in front of me. You want everything in the
g o fe, do you?' ', everything. I've been meaning to do it for ages, you
ow how it is. What with this trip to New York, I'm much ppier with
everything safe and in one place.' ' right. When are you off?' "i ' off
at the end of the week but Francesca isret joining , Tuesday. She's
bringing Jamie out then. She thinks 477 Maiia BMW a week in New York is
quite long enough for a small child and she won't leave him behind.' '."
Well, he only young still.'John sighed. If the truth were known, he was
more fretful about leaving him than anyone else. ', I'll send all this
by registered post this morning. And you'll ring me when you've received
itt '. It should be on my desk tomorrow morning.' ' hope so.' ' worry,
John, people lodge confidential documents with their solicitors all the
time. It's all quite safe.' ''s what Paddy Ashdown's solicitor said!"
Richard laughed, perhaps a little too enthusiastically ' a bit of trust,
John.' ' course. Thank you, Richard. We'll talk tomorrow thent '.
Goodbye, John.' '." The line went dead.

Richard waited for a minute or so and then buzzed through to his
secretary. '7 Why don't you break for lunch now? I've a meeting at two
and I'd like you back by then.' '. No problem, III be back before then."
He sat and waited for her to leave the outer office. Then he picked up
the receiver and redialled. He knew the number off by heart. Nothing
written down meant no evidence: it was always best to play it safe. The
line connected and he waited for the voice to answer. ', it's me,' he
said. The call was expected. '. Brachen. You have all the detailst '.
Everything will be in place by the beginning of next week.' He was out
of the country on business as of Sunday. It was important to be as far
away from the scene of the 478 Dangerous Obswion as possible. ' know the
workings of my office, you've got the list of contactst '., -:-", ggood.
I want everything in the safe cleared out. All the ents, all the
photographs. Everything, all right?' ', Mr. Brachen. Presumably you want
a good price for "I've told you before, that's nothing to do with me!'
hard felt a momentary jolt of panic. He was taking a I of a risk. ' I'm
paying for is the job on the safe.

rest doesn't concern me You do understand that, don't TThe last thing he
wanted was any links with a pay-out the newspaper. They could publish
the photos he'd ght from the Mail's photographer, they could do any-
they liked with them, as long as he wasn't implicated. '. I understand,
don't worry' Good. I'll leave it up to you then. The money will be left
arranged when the job is complete.' '.' There was nothing more to say.
Richard Brachen hung . By this time next week, he thought, Patrick
Devlin will exposed. He'll be smeared over every newspaper in the untry
in a scandal that will ruin him. The very idea of it I Richard feel
better and he smiled tensely. Margaret 11 be able to do nothing at all
about it, he thought. For all r scheming and manipulating there's a
price, and this e she will be the one to pay it.

479 Francesca -1992 CHAPTER Thirty-four FRANCESCA WOKE WITH THE SOFT
patter of rain against the glass and the strange light of the sun
piercing through the cloud. She opened her eyes and reached a hand out
of the duvet to look at her watch. It was six-thirty am. Stretching and
yawning, she rolled onto her back and looked up through the skylight,
gazing dreamily at the gauze of cloud filtering the sunlight and
transforming it, then she sat up and listened hard for sounds in the
next bedroom. She heard a movement and smiled, then swung her legs over
the side of the bed, stood up and padded barefoot through to her son's
room. ' morning, sweetheart.' She bent and lifted Jamie out of the cot
and up into her arms. He rubbed his eyes sleepily and she kissed the top
of his head. '., you smell all sleepy. Did you have nice dreams?' Every
morning, as she lifted her son into her arms, she could hardly believe
the intensity of the love she had for him. It almost overwhelmed her and
she held him close to her for a few seconds, awed at just how precious
he was. Then, smiling at his half-aslee, grumpy face, she carried him
along the narrow landing to the bathroom, sat him on the carpet, washed
her hands and face, cleaned her teeth, and then turned her attention to
him.

Ten minutes later, she carried him dowri the stairs, thinking how heavy
he was getting, and knocked gently on Johm door before carrying on down
the second flight to the ground floor. She went into the small yellow
kitchen, put 483 Maria Barrett Jamie down on his feet next to his basket
of toys and set about the business of making his breakfast and some hot
fresh coffee for her and John. ' morning!' ', John. Did you sleep well?'
' really' He smiled - she knew how nervous he was about flying - then he
crouched down and spoke, face to face to Jamie.. ', what have we here,
young Jamiethe took the book that Jamie held out to him and looked at
the cover, moulding his face into an expression of surprise. ', well, if
it iswt the Mere Spot book!" Jamie smiled. '' ' you like to read itt
Francesca glanced over her shoulder at John and pulled a face. ' the six
hundredth time this week, I should think!" John laughed. ' gets better,
every time, you' know, Frankie! There's a lot of hidden meaning in Spot!
Did you not knowt ', I didn'd I was rather hoping you might be able to
slip S. PO. T. into your case this morning!' ' deprive you of the
pleasure of reading it to your son? No way!'John stood up and pulled out
a chair. ' on JC, let's sit down and read then, shall wet He sat and
lifted Jamie onto his lap. Seconds later there was a thump out in the
hall as the paper came through the letter box. '!'Jamie scrambled down
off John's lap and ran out into the hall. He toddled back a few minutes
later with the paper.. ' ye' are.' He spoke with John Scottish accent
and handed it solemnly over. ' you, Jamie.' John exchanged smiles with
Francesca. Jamie's accent thoroughly amused them. ' 484 Dangerous
Obsession we, have a look through it?' But Jamie's attention had been
caught by the cat, which had just come in through the flap in the door.
'. All right then.'Jamie followed the cat out into the hall and John
watched him settle down on the carpet before opening the paper. ' there
much in it this morning?' Francesca placed a coffee mug down on the
table and carried on preparing Jamie's breakfast. ' never get the chance
to lobk through the paper nowadays. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't
have aclue about what's happening in the world, apart from fashion, that
is"

John had turned to the political page and hurriedly read the article on
the UN before going back to the front page. He made a mental note of the
date of Devlin's arrival in New York and then glanced up at Francesca.
','he answered. ''s not much in it today' She carried on mixing muesli
and he watched her, wondering once again if he was doing the right thing
in keeping the news of Patrick presence in New York from her. He didn't
want her to meet Devlin - the last thing they needed was that
complication.

Francesca has grown, he thought, my God, how she has grown. There was
hardly a trace of the fragile young girl he had first known; the scars
had all but healed over. She was confident, successful and happy. So,
for that matter, was John. He had not told her about Devlin's wife. The
papers had been full of it a couple of week sago, but now it had died
down. There had been no need to unbalance her, no need to tell. He had
decided then that if she heard it from somewhere else, or read it
herself, then of course they would discuss it, but she hadn't and so he
had simply ignored the story and let her get on with her life. If it is
meant to be, it will be, he thought - but the very idea of losing her
and of losing the child he looked on as 485 M014. Barrea his son filled
him with absolute terror. ' said, have you got everything packed?' ',
I'm sorry, I was engrossed in the paper.' ' know.' Francesca smiled.
What will I do without your sparkling conversation in the mornings?' '
funny! In answer to your question, Miss. Sarcastic, my case is ready and
I've just got to bring it down.' '.' She walked across to him, placed
her hands on his shoulders and kissed the top of his head from behind.
We'll miss you, John.' ', it's only a few days.'He patted her hand and
looked out into the hall at Jamie. ' shall miss you too." Francesca
beeped the horn while John climbed out of the front seat to ring on
Dave's doorbell. She looked behind her at Jamie and smiled, reaching
back and tickling his toes. He giggled. ', here's Dave!" D ave Yates
slammed the front door of his mews house and walked round the car to the
boot with his suit bag and his black Mulberry Company suitcase. He slung
them in, then climbed in beside Jamie's car seat and reached forward to
kiss Francesca's cheek. '.' '!' ' here's me old mate JC.' He shook
Jamie's leg. '! Where's your cap, Jamie?' He looked behind him and found
the bright red baseball cap he had designed for Jamie, and slipped it
onto his head. '! That a whole lot better. Now we can go.' He took his
own cap out of his pocket and also put it on. ', driveff John shook his,
head. ' God, I've got eight hours of transatlantic flight with this
loony!' ' if the hostesses are up to much, you haven't!" 486 Dangerous
Obsession They all laughed and Francesca put the car int of gear,
reversed it round and, still smiling, drove off.

They arrived at Newcastle airport with -not much time to spare and
Francesca parked while John and Dave checked in. Carrying Jamie, she
hurried along from the car park to see them both off. ' you got
everything?'John was checking his documents and glanced up at Dave.

Dave rolled his eyes. of course I've bloody got everything. Please!"
This kind of banter between the two men went on every day, and Francesca
smiled. They were each dressed in character. John wore a Dior suit, dark
grey wool, double-breasted, and carried his track-suit bottoms and
sweatshirt for the journey in a smart black leather handcase. Dave was
in loose-fit Levis, rolled up at the hem, Timberland walking boots, his
flying jacket and his baseball cap. He carried an Indian rucksack and a
four-pack of lager. ' hope your seats aren't too close together.' '
might not make it if they are!' Dave ben't and scooped Jamie up. ',
little man, you look after your mother, all right? Ari 1 we'll see you
ina few days. Are you looking forward to going on the aeroplane?" Jamie
looked at his face and nodded seriously Dave pulled his cap up and
kissed his nose. '!' he said as he handed Jamie over to John, ' was big
girls' stuffl' John hugged Jamie tightly and the little boy put his arms
around his neck. ' be good now,' he said gently He kissed Jamie's cheek
and handed him back to Francesca. ''ll see you in New York then,'he
said.

Francesca hugged him and they stood for a moment, the two of them with
Jamie in the middle. Finally she moved away.

487 Maria Barreu "Good luck with all the buyers and ning me, let me know
what happening, how the arrangements for the show are going.' '
will.'John picked up his bag and Dave kissed her. ', Frankie. Be good."
She stood back a pace and they walked through to departures, standing
for a moment at- the security checkpoint to wave. She waved back and so
did Jamie. Seconds later they had gone. ',' she said, feeling suddenly
very alone. Then she smiled at her son. ' go and took at the planes!"
Later that morning, after settling Jamie with Shauna, his nanny,
Francesca swung the Mercedes into a parking space on King Street. She
climbed out, locked the car, and walked towards the office. Once inside,
she climbed the staircase, newly decorated and hung with some of the
large framed copies of the glossy Cameron-Yates media coverage from
Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle and Tatler, She went on up to the second
floor where the old studio still remained. '! Morning! Could you come up
and see me when you have a minutet '! Yeah, no bother." Francesca waved
at Evelyn and touched her hair, ' new haircut's really nice!' she
called, and Evelyn smiled.

Closing the door, she picked up the post and carried on up to the next
floor, half of which they had converted the previous year into a large
design space and an office for John. She walked over to her drawing
board, dropped the letters down and then crossed to the small kitchen to
put the coffee on. ' ' here, Tilly Would you like some coffeet 488
Dangerous Obsession great.' Tilly stood in the doorway and watched
rancesca. ' they get off OKT ', the plane took off on time and they
should be at Heathrow now. The BA flight takes off at eleven,' She
finished making the coffee and poured it into two small cups, then
carried them across to her space. She placed them on , table and pulled
out two chairs.

Schedules,'she said and picked up her case. ' need to 3", k about
timings, and I've got a few last-minute alterations that I've been
working on." Tilly pulled a face. ' know, I know' Francesca shrugged.
''m sorry, but I discussed it with Dave last night and I really do think
these look better.' ' you say so. Hand ' over then.' Tilly took the
draw- "Jngs that Francesca had pulled out of her case. ''ve changed the
linings L i those two long jackets to reverse colours of the print in
the skirt and Dave has ",,kngthened the waistcoats. I'll come down and
talk that through with Evelyn and Cherry myself if you like." Tilly was
looking through the sketches. ' think the lin- are much better,'she
said. ' you roll the sleeves up and open out the jacketst ', maybe even
take them off. What do you think?' ', take them off.'She looked up and
smiled, running her fingers through her hair. She had cut it all off the
previous summer to a chic, boyish style. It suited her, as did the
change of dress which went with the hair. The bangles no "'longer
jingled and jangled, being replaced by a plain gold watch on a leather
strap, and the clothes no longer ,. Nowadays Tilly wore tight cropped
trousers with long suede waistcoats and washed silk shirts. She was sman
and tailored and, although Francesca didn't realise it, she had modelled
herself on her boss.

489 Maria Barrett "Yes, perhaps you're right. We'll be able to see it
properly when we've done it. On to timings then.' ' away!" Francesca
stood up and turned to her board. Dave had pinned a rough copy of their
schedule on it and she stretched up to reach for it. Tilly thought how
lithe and graceful she was as she did so and briefly envied her long,
slim legs. Even in faded Levis and a black polo-neck sweater she managed
to look elegant. Francesca turned back and handed Tilly the piece of
paper. ' clothes will be travelling out on Sunday with DHL and John is
meeting them at JFK on Monday morning. That means we need everything
finished by tomorrow night at the latest. DHL is due to pick up the
collection first thing on Saturday to take it down to Heathrow. Does
that sound all rightt ' be. Hopefully these alterations shouldn't take
more than half a day Ther6 a lot of finishing to do, though.' ''ll come
down and do some myself later. Can you remember what time this interview
IS7' ' past twelve. It's lunch.' ' God! I'd completely forgotten! Can I
get out of it, d'you think?' '. The Chronicle has been very good to us
and they want first shot at the launch in New York. It wouldn't be fair
to cancel." Francesca sighed. ' shall'I take themt She was uneasy about
doing this without Dave's support - she had never been interviewed on
her own. ' lunch here. I'll. order something from the deli, show them
round, the studio in action, like, and then let them take a few pics.
It'll be a breeze! No bother.' ', Tilly, are you suret ', honestly!" 490
Dangerous, Obwsion Francesca suddenly smiled. Tilly was so like Dave in
cer- ways that she felt instantly better. Then she looked '@'down at her
jeans and sweater. ' dear, wha t should I wear, should I change, do you
think? I don't even know what I've got. I've had everything '-cleaned
and laid out in our spare room ready for New York and I haven't even
thought what to take ... I don't think I've anything here ... Oh God!'
'! Calm down! just stay as you are, all right? There's a long printed
silk shirt that Evelyn has just finished - try that over the top of what
you've got on and we'll get a big -black suede belt that'll match your
loafers over from Freeze Lo wear through your jeans. There! No swead'
Francesca laughed. ', Tilly, you don't want to do the interview for me
as well, do yout ' chance! What about New York? Do you want me to ""come
round tonight and help you sort some things ouff ', would you mind? It's
just that I don't seem to have had the time to think about it at all,
what with the last- ,"minute panic on the collection and.. ' usual!' ',
as usual.' Francesca smiled. ' think it quite important, what with
meeting our American backers for the first time and all the interviews
we've got.' ', Dave had me choosing his. wardrobe until the early hours
of .'Tilly broke off and suddenly blushed deeply.

Francesca widened her eyes. ' the early hours of ... Go on!" But Tilly
drank her coffee down, in one gulp and stood "',up quickly. ' think I
really ought to get going on these e I :_alterations.' '!'Francesca was
grinning broadly. ' didn't finish!" She touched Tilly's arm. ' long has
this been going ont she said gently 491 Maria Barrett Tilly shrugged. ',
for me, about two years!' Then she smiled. ' Dave seems to have finally
noticed me and we've been going out for the past ...'She made a small
calculation on her fingers. ' weeks, two days and fourteen hours!' She
laughed. ', I think that's marvelous!' Francesca said and caught a
glimmer of pure happiness in Tilly's eyes. ', I dor Tilly shrugged. '
too,' she answered self-consciously Then she turned towards the door.
''ll ring the deli and then bring the shirt up for you. And I'll get
Elaine to call Freeze.' ' you, Tilly' Francesca watched her walk towards
the door. ' you later.'She picked up the small pile of post as Tilly
left the office and began to slit the envelopes open with her
paper-knife. She was delighted for Tilly but it somehow made her a feel
just a little less content than she had been earlier.

It was after five when Franesca finally got away from the office,
rushing out of the door, shouting out her goodbyes and promising to be
in early the following morning to put the finishing touches to the
collection. She ran down "the stairs, jumped into her car and swung out
of the parking space, racing up Dean Street and right onto the motorway,
She had said she would be home by five-thirty at the latest as Shauna
had a big date that evening.

She made it with minutes to spare. Shauna and Jamie were waiting for her
outside the house as she pulled up, and she piled them into the car and
sped off for Kingston Park and Shauna's home.

Once that was done, she took Jamie on home for their few hours of peace
together, bathed him, gave him his tea and read to him until he fell
asleep. The day finished at 492 Dangerm Qbsession -thirty and she
finally poured herself a large glass of to celebrate. Taking it
upstairs, she checked on Jamie his. loft room, then went into her
bedroom next door She ed her glass of wine on the dressing table and sat
down front of the mirror. The room they had made last year out the roof
was lit by the very last of the daylight streaming through the
skylights. She looked back at her reflection , mirror, switching on the
table lamp to see her face re clearly. in the past two years she had
grown her hair. It was now to her shoulders, dark and glossy, brushed
off her face cut neatly, all the same length. Her face looked different
softened, more lived in. The. faint lines of worry and around her eyes
were still noticeable in harsh, bright t, but she smiled so often and
laughed so freely these that the whole way she looked had changed. She
was utiftil now, not just suddenly, when a moment of happi- lit up her
face, but all the time - the kind of beauty that racts, not classic and
aloof but warm and sensuous, allur- Francesca sat and stared at her
reflection. She took off r sweater and chemise and looked at her
half-naked body, .,-e full shape of her breasts and. the smooth unmarked
skin her stomach. Her body had changed too. It was slightly Her, more
womanly. She had lost her thin, boyish shape her slim limbs were curved.
Producing and feeding ther body had given life to her own. She closed
her eyes d thought about his touch, about the smell of him and sound of
his voice, low and whispered. She opened in again and sighed wearily. he
knew why Tilly's happiness made her sad and she why being without John
and Dave and the frenzied the of work made her feel alone. She loved
him. Not ly, not with the terrible painful ache that she had first 493
Maria Barrett felt, but with a gentler, more enduring feeling, a love
that just remained, deep inside her, and came back to her every living
moment she shared with their son. She still felt betrayed but the anger
had softened and she seemed to remember only the good things about him,
not the pain and agony of the lies and deceit. Perhaps because of Jamie,
perhaps because of her success, she didn't know why, but she had finally
come to terms with the way she felt about him. It would probably never
change. It would not grow or develop as it should, it would simply be, a
knowledge that she had loved him in a way she would never love again.
She sighed once more and put it from her mind.

Standing up, she reached for her bathrobe, slipped it on and took a gulp
of wine. She took off her jeans and underwear and picked up her glass
and her paperback. Tilly was arriving at eight-thirty and she wanted to
be ready on time, with the table laid for their supper. Quietly, she
closed the bedroom door behind her, checked on Jamie one more time and
went downstairs for her bath..

494 CHAPTER Thirty-five _,:!001 AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. This is
Iight Captain Willis speaking. Wewill shortly be starting .'our descent
into John E Kennedy Airport, New York. Our estimated time of landing is
one thirty-five and the flight -me has been approximately seven hours,
thirty minutes. The weather in New York is hot, currently around thirty-
, degrees with sixty-five per cent air humidity, and there some low
cloud cover. I hope you have enjoyed your Right with us here on British
Airways and myself and the crew would like to wish you a safe on-going
journey Thank '., Francesca leaned forward and refastened her seat belt,
did the same for Jamie and made sure he had a sweet in his mouth. ' crew
to landing positions.' ' on tight to Mummy hand,' she whispered but .
wasn't interested; he was making faces at the lady in the seat across
the aisle. Francesca closed her eyes and held on tightly to the arms of
her seat as the plane began to lose height, her ears popping
uncomfortably and her stomach churning. She was in a window seat and as
she felt the plane circle, she suddenly relaxed and opened her eyes to
take a good look out of the window at the Big Apple. Her spirits soared
with excitement. I'm here, she thought, to show in New York, and she
felt a powerful burst of pride and achievement. , 495 Maria Barrett
"Trankie! Frankie!' Francesca looked through the sea of faces to try and
find Dave. She could hear him but she couldn't see him. '! Over here!'
he shouted.

She glanced all round again and finally saw him. He was standing a
little apart from the crowd, up on a trolley and waving a small Stars
and Stripes flag frantically in the air. '!'She held Jami8 hand and they
ran towards him. He jumped down, Whoa,!', scooped her into his arms and
twirled her round, then picked up Jamie and gave him a giant bear hug.
'! You feel wonderful!' He placed the child back on his feet and then
stood away to admire Francesca. ', it great to see ya, kid,'he drawled.
' God!'She shook her head. ''s got to be the worst American accent I've
ever heard!' '! Gimme a break will yat '!' She went to her trolley and
wheeled it over to him. '"ere's Johnt ', he had a meeting.'Dave saw
Francesca's face fall and took her arm. ' couldn't get out of it. It's
absolutely unbelievable here! We've had breakfast meetings, lunches,
dinner meetings - they never stop, these Americans. And when they're not
in the office, they're on the golf course talking business over a round
of golf or making deals on the squash court. I'd get frigging knackered
just changing in and out of me sports kit every five minutes!" Francesca
smiled. ' will I see himt ' we get to the hotel. Oh yeah, and wait till
you see the bloody hotel. Only the best! With a bed the size of a
football pitch! I'd score a few there, I can tell you!" Francesca had
started to laugh. ' on earth do the Americans make of you, Davet He
stopped dead. ' have no idea. But come to think of it, they've started
asking forjohn every time they ring us now' 496 Danger .. us Ok6sion e
led her out into the fray and to a waiting black stretch o, courtesy of
their American backers.

sea "My God, I can hardly believe this!' France stared out of car window
and bent her head to see the tops of the dings as they cruised down
Fifth Avenue. Jamie was ep on her lap, despite the noise and the crowds
and the of the city that could be Ereven from inside the car. I am,
swarming down Fifth Avenue in my limousine! "I feel like a movie staff
She giggled and Dave flipped down 11 panel in the seat in front of them
to reveal a small televi- sion screen. What do you fancy? A game show?
They're hot on game over here.' -,shows Francesca peered forward. '
don't believe id' ''s the second time you've said '.' Dave grinned.
Watch this!" He pressed a button and another panel slid wn, revealing a
drinks cabinet, fully stocked and with 0 ,,Waterford cut'glasses. '
this!'A side compartment in'the r concealed a make-up mirror and a light
came on over- ,,ttead to illuminate her face. She was giggling
hopelessly now, completely overelmed. ' me, sirt A voice came into their
part of the car ihd Francesca instantly stopped laughing and sat up
raight. Dave thought that was the funniest thing of all. ''s all right,
Frankie,' he whispered. ' can't see us unless I put the panel down." OV
She blushed. He pressed the speak button. ' Ve are just approaching the
hotel now, sir.' ', thank you.' The car slowed and Francesca turned
again to the winbiv. ' my ... " 497 The car stopped and she was cut off
mid-sentence ' the door was opened. A uniformed, smiling young man stood
there, waiting and ready to help her out. He leaned into the car and
plucked the sleeping child out of her arms, holding him carefully Thank
goodness I changed on the plane, she thought with relief, and then swung
her long slim legs out of the car, Another young man was ready with a
helping hand, and she took it and stood up, smoothing her skirt. What
lovely white teeth he has, she noted. ', we'll go on in and someone will
bring your luggage.' Dave nodded to another uniformed man and the
limousine boot was opened. He took Jamie from the doorman, held him
close, and kissed the top of his head. Then he glanced affectionately at
Francesca. ', if you feel as good as you look, Miss. Cameron,'he said
quietly as he led the way into the hotel, ' must be walking on aiff He
kissed her cheek, noticing that she had caught the attention of most of
the hotel lobby Up in the suite, Francesca opened the door for the third
time in five minutes and took the basket of fruit from the bellboy,
handing him five dollars and telling- him that she would try very hard
to have a nice day..,'Fruit!' she shouted to Dave, who was in the
bathroom. ''s two flowers, one champagne and now one fruid'She carried
the gift into the sitting-room area and placed it on the coffee table
next to all the others. ' one's from ...' She read the card. ' the
designer room at Saks!' She started to laugh. ''ve all sent something
and every time I open the door the gift is larger and more extravagant
than the last one!" Dave walked back into the room. ' course!' he
answered. ''re quite a commodity, don't you know?'He 498 _V_ Dangerous
obsession s Rd to the basket of fruit and stuck his fingers through the
cellophane, peeling it back and taking out a kiwi fruit, ' gets my vote
though. At least they've sent something edible.' He took out his Swiss
Army knife and cut the fruit in two. ', yum, yum!" just as he bit into
it, the door was flung open and John came hurrying into the room. The
pale green flesh dribbled ,,down Dave's chin as he looked up and John
rolled his eyes. ': ' God! Just don't eat one of those at dinner
tonight! All rightt ' ...' Dave mumbled with his mouth full but John
didn't hear him: he had seen Francesca. He rushed over to her and swept
her into his arms. '!' He hugged her tightly then stood back to look at
her. He no longer found it hard to touch Francesca. Having Jamie had
taught him affection and he delighted in hugging the people he loved. '
was the flight? Did -,-everything go all right? How did Jamie cope, did
he sleep? ..Where is he by the wayt '! Slow down!'She held both of his
hands in hers as she smiled up at his face. ' flight was fine. Jamie
loved it, j mean loved it! Yes, he slept and he made great friends with
the lady across the aisle who gave him her business card!" John laughed.
' little devil! It seems like ages since I've seen him. Where the hell
is het ''s asleep. jet lagged.' ''ll go through and have a peep.'John
hugged Francesca again. ', I'm glad you're here!' ' to death of me, you
mean!' Dave had finished his kiwi fruit and was unwrapping the foil on
the bottle of champagne. ' on, look at the boy and then let's celebratep
John walked through to the bedroom and Francesca put 49, Maibamtt, out
some glasses. ''m sorry I wasn't there to pick you up,' John said as he
came back. ''ve been up to my eyes in business.' He smiled. ' -have a
feeling that this launch could be the best thing that's ever happened to
Cameron Yates.' '!'The cork exploded out of the bottle and flew up into
the air. Dave reached for the glasses, spraying the white froth all over
the carpet, and, John and Francesca clapped. The bottle settled, he
poured and then handed them both a glass. ' clothes have arrived, the
venue is set, rehearsals and interviews are tomorrow, we've had presents
from all the buyers, we show on Wednesday and then we sit and wait for
the orders.' Dave held up his glass. ' New York!' He toasted. They all
clinked. ' success!'John said. ' to happiness,' Francesca added. ', by
the way, Dave, Tilly sends her love.'And for the first time ever, she
saw him blush.

Later that evening, lying in the bath, Francesca thought about the
coming few days and about just how far Cameron Yates had come in the
past two years. This was the first time she had been away from the
studio for more than the few days it took to show in London and now she
was here: America, New York, and one of the biggest markets in the
world! She could hardly believe it. They'd worked hard enough for it,
but even so, it was still a surprise when it happened.

She thought back to when she had first heard about Will O'Connall. John
had been staggered when the ' Fashion Entrepreneur', as he called him,
had bought up half the autumn wear collection at London Fashion Week.
She smiled at the memory of John coming home after a day negotiations, a
look of stricken panic on his face and 500 Dangerous, Obsession suitcase
full of dollars handcuffed to his wrist. But O'Connall's hunch had paid
off. The Americans loved the collection and the clothes had been so
successful that he came back two months later and asked them to design a
winter collection specifically for the American market. And that was
exactly what they had done.

They had tailored the collection to more of a ready_to_ wear
designation, less formal and using all English fabrics, silks, wools and
tartans. The look was half English country, using the fabrics they had,
and half relaxed American chic. She wondered at times how they'd managed
it, designing for a market they had no experience of. But they had, and
Dave had been inspirational. His whole house filled with things
American, he had worked, eaten and slept the United States. The clothes
were good, she thought, glancing up at a suit on its hanger above the
bath to steam out its creases. No, they were more than that, she
decided, analysing its cut - they were brilliant!

Climbing out of the bath, she realised for the first time how tired she
was; it seemed at times that she did nothing but work. But, she thought,
drying herself and wrapping a thick white bathrobe round her, this was a
hell of a chance, ,,and if it was successful, then next year London
Fashion Week would be followed directly by Paris and New York. if they
captured the American market, then Europe would almost automatically
follow.

She walked across to the mirror and unwrapped her hair from the towel.
She ran a comb through it and picked up the dryer, looking at herself in
the mirror. Francesca had never expec ted success, and deep in her heart
the guilt still told her she did not deserve it. She did not know why,
but thinking about it too much somehow made her decidedly uneasy.

501 Mariabarrew, V :.Frankie Walking into the sitting room of the suite,
Francesca smiled as Dave and John turned to look at her. ' suit from our
evening collection, I think,' Dave said.

She twirled. She wore a fine wool crepe skirt, cut short and perfectly
straight. The jacket was long and tailored, with a black velvet mandarin
collar and black velvet cuffs. Her legs were in sheer black stockings
and she wore lowheeled black suede shoes. But it was the shirt that
finished it off. it was fine crimson silk chiffon, overprinted with her
own leaf design in a darker red. it was almost transparent but for the
design and underneath she wore a red lace bustier, the top of which
could be glimpsed provocatively where the shirt was unbuttoned. Her hair
was loose and she wore no jewellery. The look was- distinctly and
perfectly Cameron Yates. ' goodness!'John stood up and took her hands.
'. O'Connall is going to love you!" J hope so.' ', you look every inch
the star I said you were going to be nearly three years ago.' Dave
pulled on his jacket and stood to leave. ''s go get '!' He crossed to
the door, taking another long look at Francesca. ' said he would meet us
in the restaurant. Wait till you see the Dining House, Frankie. You need
half a million just to go for a piss therel' John opened the door. '
think he's trying to tell you it's a top-class restaurant,' he said and
Francesca laughed. '. Has everyone said good night to Jamiet Both men
nodded. ' the sitting service is ont Again they both nodded. ' they have
our number if ...' Dave took one arm, John took the other. ' come on,
Frankie. Please!' Togethei and laughing they chivvied her out of the
suite and along the corridor to the lifts.

502 Dangerous Obsession Down in the sweltering street the black stretch
limo was -waiting to take them to the Rockefeller Center with a chilled
:,:bottle of champagne in the drinks cabinet and three cutglass flutes
on ice.

Patrick Devlin stood tensely in one of the outer offices on . sixteenth
floor of the United Nations Headquarters on 4he corner of First Avenue
and Forty-seventh Street. He was waiting for Charles Hewitt to finish
his call to London. The Prime Minister had been informed and what
happened next was up to him. Patrick didn't expect much. Hewitt was in a
flaming rage and a whole crowd of government flunkies had been rushing
round all afternoon sending out memos, talking to the press, trying to
backtrack on his comments. He had done what he came for. He had no idea
of the diplomatic storm it would cause but now it was done, was no point
in grovelling to put it right. If you have Ao go, Paddy boy, he thought,
go with dignity. He looked up ."i',,as one of the flunkies called him. '
Minister will see you now, Mr. Devlin.' ' you." He walked through two
more outer offices and into the huge windowed office that Charles Hewitt
had occupied all afternoon.

Charles.' Hewitt turned from the window. ' down, Patrick!' ''d prefer to
stand if you don't mind.' ' donl give a fuck whether you sit, stand or
jump out of ",,the window.' He stopped. ' apparently the Prime Minister
does. So sit!" Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled out a chair
and sat, waiting for Hewitt to go on. ' you any idea of the row you have
caused with our European friends this afternoon?" 503 Maria Barriett "No
... I didn't think ...' ''re damn right you didn't think! You raise an
issue that is not. on the agenda, that's not even being discussed, and
put forward a British view on that issue that is the exact opposite of
current government policy! What the hell did you think you were playing
at, Patrick?' ' Germans ...' ' course the Germans backed you up! They've
got so manybloody Eastern European political refugees they don't know
what to do with them! They want to get shot of them; they were almost
standing on their chairs applauding you! Jesus!' Hewitt stopped and took
a breath. ' haven't answered my question! What the hell were you doing?"
Patrick knew it was impossible to try and argue his point. He had
embarrassed the British government and Hewitt in particular. He
shrugged. ''m sorry' The apology took Hewitt by surprise. ', well ...'
He came over to the desk and sat down. ' Prime Minister is willing to
acknowledge that a junior minister with no diplomatic experience could
be liable to make mistakes. I think that is extremely generous of him.'
', sir.' ' is prepared, after much private negotiation with the French
and Italians I might add, to overlook the matter." Patrick looked down.
' you.' ', Patrick, if it were up to me I would have sacked you
immediately, but it is not up to me.' Hewitt leaned forward in his
chair. ' are officially being warned, though. From this moment on, if
you put so much as a foot wrong, you'll find yourself down on the back
benches before you know what's hit you. Do I make myself quite cleart ',
sir.' ' me or the government again and you're out!' Hewitt snapped his
fingers. ' like that!" 504 Dangemus Obs , sir." "Good. That'll be all,
Patrick.' "Yes. Thank you, Charles.' Patrick stood as Hewitt ed a file
and bent his head to read. He left the room ti . Out in the corridor he
leaned against the wall and took p breath to calm himself. He noticed
one of the diploic staff staring so he stood straight, smoothed his
jacket walked away. I'd do it again, he thought, heading down , lifts,
if it meant being heard. He called the lift, pped inside and tried to
put it out of his mind. He had er with an old schoolfriend to look
forward to. He was taken out to the Dining House, a restaurant way out
league, and he was determined to enjoy it. Stepping out at the ground
floor, Patrick checked his tion in the huge mirrored wall behind
reception and tened his tie. He was late and didn't have time to ge.
Hurrying out of the building, he whistled with two rs in his mouth and
managed to flag down a taxi.

e Rockefeller Center,'he said. KV The driver set the meter, pulled off
and Patrick sat and felt himself relax for the first time all day.

stood in front of a heavy French gilt mirror in the hall Marianne's Park
Avenue apartment and neatly tightened -,knot on his Hugo Boss tie. He
ran his fingers over his sleekly gelled back, and then checked his
teeth. He twice to clear his nose, which was constantly swollen sore
nowadays from the coke, and tapped the breast t of his suit. Two grams
of coke for Mr. Robetti, some friend of Marianne's. It was easy money
and about too! The bitch had kept him short for too long this it was
beginning to really piss him off. He pulled open drawer in the Sheraton
hall table and took out his key.

505 Maria Barrett The naked body of Marianne's latest pick-up caught his
eye in the mirror and he glanced over his shoulder at the heavy, muscled
black buttocks as they strode through the sitting room to the kitchen. '
like what you see, Enzo babyt He turned and saw Marianne along the hall.
She stood in the doorway to her bedroom, wearing only her shoes, and
fingered her nipples. ' can do three up if you liket Enzo's nostrils
flared but he said nothing. It was a whole lot easier if he kept his
mouth shut. ' have to go out,'he said. The fragile high from only the
one line he'd taken was beginning to deflate. ''m sorry, I've got
business.' He was eager to get away. The sight of her nakedness repulsed
him. ' about my businesstshe drawled. Her voice was as rich and smooth
as syrup but he could feel the malice beneath. She knew exactly where he
was going but it'd be the last time - she'd seen to that. ''ll be back
as soon as I can.." She walked towards him and he felt himself tense.
She stopped just in front of him. ' had better be, Enzo.' She could
smell his tension and it excited her. She never tired of the game of
power she played with him. She had prised all sorts of secrets out of
her'case study, as her friends called him. He told her everything when
he was high, everything! It was really quite pathetic but it did mean
she knew exactly how far she could push. ' you aren't, you know what
will happen, don't yout She moved her hand up to his breast pocket and
touched the silk handkerrhief, smiling slightly. ' little phone call to
the feds, baby' She looked up at him. ' what you told me about Giovanni?
All that blood!' She shivered. Titres and litres of blood ...' ' it,
Marianne!' He grabbed her hand and gripped 506 Dangervus! Obsession
wrist. ' shut its he, hissed'. but she continued to smile. She liked him
rough and she had him; she knew it ; he knew it. She was in control of
the game. ', baby ...'she whispered. ' still want it, don't -yout Enzo
dropped her wrist and she saw the young black boy out of the corner of
her eye. larson,' she purred, ' here and show Enzo what you've got for
me.' The boy iled but his eyes were cold and hard. He walked into the
ball and Marianne put her hands over his erection. ','she '. ''ll save
some for you, Enzo baby' Enzo swallowed down the bile that rose in the
back of throat and Marianne turned to put her hands up on the 11,
bending forward slightly ' might want to watch,' e said over her
shoulder as the black boy took his posi- behind her. ' you, Enzo baby?
Warma see what we're oing to do latert He stood, weirdly fascinated for
a moment, and watched r face. it was always the same, it was dirty and
sick but it inated him. He didn't understand'it. ' be too long,
Enzo,'she murmured. Then she cried as the boy entered her and laughed at
Enzos look of dist. She was still laughing as he picked up his key,
walked the hall and out of the apartment, slamming the door and him.
Then, free of her, he ran all the way down the irs and reached the lobby
sweating heavily, the excited ghter still ringing in his ears. He
stopped, leaned against wall and tried to catch his breath. The blood
rushed in head and he lost his balance slightly. Bitch,' he muttered. He
took out an expensive linen kerchief botght by Marianne and wiped his
face. He to feel better. Christ, he needed another line! He'd himself
one courtesy of Robetti, then maybe score thing to mellow out on, a
couple of quaaludes, some maybe If Marianne was playing, games tonight
he'd Maria Barrett need to be out of his head - it was the only way he
could play.

He stood straight and wiped his face again. He knew Marianne controlled
him, but there was no way out, no choice. He'd told her too much, he
needed his drugs and he was living here illegally So that was it. He'd
dug himself into a hole, a stinking, filthy hole, but it was papered
with money and when he was out of his head he couldn't care what he did,
he never remembered much anyway. He shook his head. He'd come here for
Francesca - what a joke! Another of Marianne's little games.

Enzo smoothed his jacket and began to walk towards the entrance to the
building. The taxi he had ordered was already waiting outside on the
pavement. If he met Robetti at eight, he could have scored by
eight-thirty; all he had to do was get to the Dining House on time. He
pulled open the door and stepped out onto the hot pavement, beginning to
sweat again in the warm, damp air. He gave the driver the name of the
restaurant and slipped into the back seat of the ca6.

508 CHAPTER Thirty-six NZO'S TAXI PULLED UP OUTSIDE the Rockefeller
Center n Fifth Avenue, Forty-ninth Street, and he climbed out. Jhe
driver had the account number and he didiyt offer a tip; ' habitually
kept him short of cash. He took the elevator up to the sixty-second
floor and stepped out into the entrance of the Dining House. Nodding to
the doorman, he walked through to the bar and saw Robetti straight away.
' got my stuff?' Robetti was Ivy League, a Eurobond ,-dealer for Goldman
Sachs. He didn't like to waste niceties on low-life like Mondello. It
beat him why Marianne hung out with the guy anyway, except that Marianne
had weird tastes. He was welcome to her. ''ll order you a drink while
you go to the john,'he said. ' it in the usual place.'He turned towards
the bar as Enzo walked away, glancing nervously around the restaurant as
he did so. Robetti was well known here but the deal still. made Enzo
uneasy.

He stepped through the doors into the Gents and moved across to the
first cubicle, locking the door behind him. He bent and took a brown
envelope out from behind the bowl, felt it for the cash and then slipped
his own package back in its place. He had kept an unnoticeable amount
for himself. Flushing, he came out and rinsed his hands, drying them
thoroughly on a towel as a diner came into the washroom. KHe nodded to
the guy and walked back out into the restau- rant. He had begun to sweat
again. ''s your drink.' Robetti passed him a heavy crystal glass with a
measure of bourbon in it. Enzo knew the core.

509 Maria Barrett J4g, picked up the glass and swallowed back the liquid
in one gulp. Robetti wouldn't waste time drinking with him he was to
drink up and leave. ''ll letta me know if you wanna any moret Enzo spoke
American now but his accent was still thick. He saw Robetti sneer
slightly and it angered him. ''ll let you know' Enzo nodded. ' for the
drink,'he said. He turned towards the door. He had the money and he knew
Robetti was a dickhead, so why worry? But Robetti was worse than usual
tonight, brusque, more dismissive. It bugged Enzo, it didn't feel right.
Stepping into the elevator, he pressed the button and slipped hi's hand
inside his pocket for the envelope. Suspiciously he took it out, and
pulled out the wad of money It was all one-dollar bills, twenty-four of
them. They should have been tens. ' arsehole!' he spat, and stuffed the
money back into his pocket. He stopped the lift, directed it back up
several floors and stepped out, striding back to the restaurant. He was
furious; nobody cheated Mondello! '!" The young Ivy League man at the
bar turned as Enzo called out to him and his face changed. ' out of
here, Mondello!' His voice was low to avoid a scene. ' the hell do you
wantt ' want my money!' Enzo snarled. Robetti pulled him aside. '
haven't got your money!' he hissed. ' your voice down! You warma get us
both arrested?' ' is it? You owe me, Robetti!' ' told me not to pay you.
She heard about the deals we've been doing and she told me not to ...' '
what?'Enzo felt every nerve in his body tense up. He moved towards
Robetti. ' fucking what?' ', Enzo, cool it man ... ! I ...' Enzo grabbed
the 510 Dangerous Obsession lapels of Robetti's jackel ' the hell off
me!' tti's voice was high-pitched and the barman moved tantly round the
bar. Enzo dropped his hands. ' _Christ! You speak to Marianne ... I just
did what she told , to, man!' He backed away from Enzolt's not my prob-
Just go ask Marianne!'The barman stood threateningly Robetti and Enzo
moved away. He could hardly think straight. Robetti had cheated him.

scored for him and he'd cheated him; Marianne had Aold him to. Christ,
he'd kill her! He glanced across at Robetti, who was smoothing his
jacket. ''ll get you,' he growled. Then he spat on the floor between
them and turned heel, striding out of the bar.

At the entrance to the restaurant, he swung through the double glass
doors and smacked hard into someone just coming in. He moved rapidly out
of sight, into the lift, and Fthe doors slid shut. Minutes later, he was
out on the street and he began to run, an overwhelming anger pounding ;
his body, the blood rushing in his ears.

This time he'd had enough of her sly, dominating games; he'd had enough
of her shit. This time he really would make her sorry for trying to make
him look an arsehole.'He saw her face as he ran, laughing at him, lying
to him, and he saw the dark, evil glint of her eye. This time Marianne
would be sorry.

"Jesus! Who was that?' The Maitre d' stepped forward and helped Patrick
into the lobby He had been thrown off balance by the lunatic just
leaving. ' me, sir, I believe one of our patrons had a disagreement with
a gentleman in the bar. Here, allow me.' The man took Patrick's case
while he straightened himself out. ' do apologise. Are you all right
now?'Patrick nodded. '. Shall I put this away for you, sirt 511 Matia
-Barrea 'fes,,please.' Patrick let him keep the case. ''m meeting some
friends here. A Mr. Bill Penchardt ' yes, of course, sir, it's Mr.
Devlin, isn't it? Follow me please. Mr. and Mrs. Penchard are already at
their table.' He handed Patrick's briefcase to a hat check girl and led
the way. Patrick saw Bill stand-up and wave across the restaurant. Their
table was almost entirely hidden from general view by the window and
Patrick smiled at their thought fulness.

Taddy!' He shook hands with Bill and bent and kissed Liz on the cheek.
She held his hand and squeezed it. '. How are yout - He shrugged. '
right.' Bill pulled out -a chair for him. ' on, sit down and let's have
a drink. We've been worried, thought you might not come.' - "I know, I'm
sorry I had a meeting with Charles Hewitt.' He pulled a face and then
smiled. ' was never any question of my not coming.' He put his hand out
over Lizs and patted it. ' need my friends. I feel as if I've been alone
for too long." Dave leaned forward on the seat and tapped the glass
panel that separated them from the driver. ' there any way out of this?'
They were halfway up Fifth Avenue and the traffic had ground to a halt.
The driver turned. ' don't think so, sir. The RCA Building is about
three hundred yards up on the left on Forty-ninth Street, if you'd like
to walk. it might be a better idea.' ' right! Yeah, I think we'll do
that.' He glanced across at John and Francesca. ' with you twot ' than
being late,'John said and leaned forward to open the car door.

512 Dangerow Obsession "We'll -get out here then,' Dave called to the
driver. John had already climbed out and was helping Francesca down from
the car. ' say it's just up on the leftt Dave asked before he followed.
''s right, sir, straight up, you can't miss it!" -'Thanks.' He joined
John and Francesca on the pavement and closed the car door. ' it's humid
out here,' he said. ''ll be one big dollop of sweat by the time we get
there!" Francesca laughed and took his arm. ' on then, let's go! But if
you drip on my suit, Dave, I shall never forgive you." "Marianne!
Marianne!'Enzo hadn't stopped running all the way. His lungs heaved with
the physical effort and the nausea rose in his throat. '!' he screamed,
flinging the doors open. ' bitch! Where are yout He stopped in Ahe long
dimly lit sitting room when he saw her. She was lying on the sofa,
wearing her silk, robe, a sneering smile on her lips. She had a copy of
Vanity Fair open on her lap. ' you knowt She lifted her eyes up to
Enzo's face. They were cold and hard, watery, red, unseeing eye sand they
mocked him, as they always did. She was as high as a kite. ' should have
guessed that I'd find you out sooner or later, Enzo baby'she drawled,
smiling. ''re not half as clever as you think.' Her teeth seemed
vicious, sharp and pointed, like a rat's. ' it, Marianne! I'll show you
who's fucking clever!' He moved towards her. ' really? So clever that
you knew about this? Huh?' She held up her magazine for him to see the
full colour picture on the page, a photograph of Francesca Cameron. Then
she began to laugh- Enzols whole body froze. ' the hell ...'He stood 513
motionless, unable. to breathe, unable, to think. He stared, and for
that one perfect moment he was not there. He was in Italy, high up on
the cliff, watching the girl move down on the beach below, imagining the
long, graceful curve of her. thighs wrapped naked and tight round his
body. He groaned aloud as a deep physical spasm shot though his body,
and in the next instant the image had gone. Marianne remained, laughing
at him, sneering at him.

He stood completely still and waited for the pain to pass. And, when it
did, he was filled with a vast and overpowering anger. It welled up
inside him, huge and unstoppable, and then washed over him, drenching
his mind with thick, dark blood. ' of a shock, Enzo baby? Huht She was
thrilled with his reaction, it was so much. more desperate than she had
dared hope and his pain was her exquisite pleasure. ''re wondering how I
knew, aren't you? 1riza the clever drug dealeff She had seen an article,
the picture matched up with Enzo newspaper cutting, with his old
photographs. The similarity was there and she had dug around, nosed and
ferreted. She had been waiting for this. It was a moment of triumph for
her, her climax. ''ve always known, baby ...'Her voice trailed away.
Always,' she whispered. ''s staying at the Asprey, in suite seventeen,
she asked me to tell . In a split second Enzo had moved across the room.
He pulled Marianne up by the neck, both his hands around her throat. Her
eyes stared wide and excited as he began to shake her, but still they
mocked him. He staggered with her thin body for a moment and then
stumbled and fell, his weight crushing her underneath him. On the floor
he tightened his grip on her throat, yanked her head up and then smashed
it down hard onto- the sharp edge of the glass table. Blood erupted from
the burst vein -in her temple, 514 Dangerous Obsession ing foutmdri-like
over his hands as k0ifted her head d cracked it down again. Again and
again and again and again- Suddenly he let her go. Marianne's body
slumped lifeless onto the red-stained carpet, her skull smashed, the
blood seeping from it, slow -and thick, like treacle. Enzo moved away.

On the floor, splattered with her blood, lay the Vanity Fair magazine,
the picture of Francesca disfigured with the ugly red-black stain.
Picking it up Enzo covered his face with it, and, smearing Marianne's
blood over his lips, he ' the face he had waited for for so long. Then
he ripped the page out and placed it on Marianne's chest. She had paid
for her sins.

An hour later he finished ransacking the flat and left the building by
the back entrance, turning on the answerphone and double-locking the
door. He headed downtown to Park Avenue, Fo rty-ninth Street.

Patrick finished the last of his coffee in silence. He could see that
Bill and Liz were uncomfortable with the truth about Penny and he knew
how they felt. It wasn't easy to understand - he wasn't sure if he even
understood it himself. But it was the truth, at least he had come that
far. ' you excuse me for a few minutest he said. He thought they needed
a few moments to themselves. He stood up to go across to the washroom. '
He turned back. ' all rightt Bill asked. He shrugged. ' course.'And he
left the table, making his way through the other tables to the far end
of the restaurant. '! Hellooo! Patrick?' Halfway across the floor, he
stopped and looked up as he heard his name being called. At a small
table near the Gents he spotted one of life's more persistent
journalists, something Brett - he couldn't 515 Maria Barreu remember his
full name. He nodded and tried to continue on but the fellow waved again
and remained standing. He had no choice but to go over. Halfway to the
table he noticed that several of the diners had turned and his eyes
skimmed their faces confidently, refusing to be embarrassed by some
over-exuberant journo - until the last face he saw. And then he stopped
dead in his tracks and met the deep green gaze, steady and `;27.' knowing, and
felt for one split second as if he had never left her. The colour
drained from his face and he swallowed hard before walking on to her
table. ', Patrick.' She had turned her head to see what the commotion
was and had seen him some time before he noticed her. She too had felt
that feeling, as if all the pain had suddenly ceased to exist, but she
had had time to control it. She looked at him now with all the poise and
composure she could muster. '." Her voice has changed, he thought, but
her face is still so lovely He managed to smile. ' are yout ''m fine.'
She too smiled, a guarded, polite smile. ' are you doing in New York?'.
', politics.'He shrugged. God, this was banal. He wanted to pull her up
and hold her tight to him; he wanted to touch her hair, kiss her. ' She
laughed lightly. ', fashion.' John had turned from his conversation and
he looked up, at Patrick. '. How are yout he asked coolly. ', John,
thank you.' He nodded to Dave, who had stood to introduce Will
O'Connall. Patrick shook hands with the American.

VVould you like to join just O'Connall asked. There was a short,
embarrassed silence at the table and Patrick declined politely.

516 Dlangeroits Obsession He glanced briefly at Francesca. ' are You
staying?" She hesitated and D'Connall said loudly: ''ve put them up in
the Asprey!' He smiled. ' like to look after my business associates.' '
certainly do, Will!' Dave exclaimed. ''ve never seen atnyth'ng like it!'
They all smiled, a little tensely, and Patrick ook the moment to e_excuse
himself. ' nice to meet ycu Will., He shook hands all round and then
took a final 10' k at Francesca. He could see John watching him Out Of
the corner of his eye. ', Francesca.' She met his gaze and the green in
her eyes seemed deeper and raore intense than he could ever remember it.
', Patrick,' she answered softly He nodded and strode away from the
table. '! Who was that beautyt The journalist who had called Patrick
over was still staring at Francesca. , old friend,' Patrick answered.

The journo looked back at him. ' Cameron, of Cameron Yates, I think.'
He smiled, a yellow, nicotinestained smile, and slapped Patrick on the
back. ' tio see you, Patrick! You look well, particularly after all that
shocking business with your wife., '.' Patrick was offended by the man's
over-familiar manner. He inched away from his embrace. ' I'd give you my
number, Patrick. I'm in New York for a few days and I thought we could
get together for dinner one night. Talk about things? Chew the cudt
Patrick suddenly reniembered the man first name: Peter Brett, one of the
up arid coming tabloid stars. J don't think so,' he replied coldly. lie
couldn't think straight; he kept looking back to Francesca. ' on, Paddy!
We're old mates. No one really knows the story of what happened with
Penny, but there's a lot Of 517 Mariazarrett, Veculation, you can't deny
that. It could. be a chance for you to put the record straight.' ' don't
want to "put the record straight". There is nothing to "put straight"!
Sorry!' He started to. move away. The man was beginning to annoy him; he
hated pushers.

- ' on, Paddy! You can talk to me. She had a few problems, your poor
wife, or so I'm led to believe. Was there someone else perhapst That was
it - Patrick had had it. He focused all his attention on Brett. The man
was more than slightly drunk and his breath smelled. ', Peter, a word of
advice.' He leaned in close. ' I wanted to talk about my personal life I
can guarantee you that I'd pick someone with a little more integrity
than a scumbag like you!'His-face was only inches away ' fuck off! Got
itt He moved back a pace, smiled . and turned to go back to his table.
Brett stood stunned for less than five seconds and then he made his way
over to the Maitre d'. ' want to make an international call. Where are
the phonest The Maitre d' pointed to a discreetly hidden booth andbrett
walked off. He had an idea in his head and he needed to check, it out.
If he could get the paper to lay some groundwork, put some feelers out
in the UK, then he could fabricate a nice little story about the junior
cabinet minister and his fashion designer girlfriend in New York. Not
necessarily true, admittedly, but as long as there was enough evidence
to point the finger, who cared? He dialled his paper and waited for the
line to connect. Nobody told Peter Brett to fuck off!

He was through in a matter of seconds. '? Bob? It's Peter Brett. Yeah,
fine! No, I'm in New York still. Yeah, it's all right.' He lit a
cigarette and dropped the match on the floor. ', Bob, I think I might
have a bit of a story for you, it's about Patrick Devlin ... yeah,
that's the one!'. He 518 Dangerous Obsession smiled briefly. Everyone
knew the good-looking, charming Patrick Devlin. '? Yeah, he is. I just
met him as a matter of fact. What? You're joking! When did this happen?
Jesus!' Brett dropped the half-finished butt of his cigarette on the
floor and ground it out under the heel of his shoe. His blood pressure
had gone through the roof. ' let me get this straight! Cameron Yates'
solicitor was burgled and the contents of the safe included documents on
an affair between Devlin and Francesca Cameron? He's the father of her
child? Jesus! And Lady Margaret Smithcolyne owns a huge percentage of
the company under a false namet Brett started to laugh. ' is absolutely
bloody fantastic! When does the story break? ... Shit, tomorrow?' He
thought quickly. ', listen, Bob! Can you hold off putting it to bed for
say ... a couple of hours or sot He moved agitatedly inside the booth. '
can? Brilliant! If I can get hold of CBN News, and a couple of
photographers, I can be over at Cameron's hotel in fifteen minutes.' He
felt in his pocket for his address book. ', I'll ring in again with my
copy in about an hour, personal interview, photos if we're lucky, maybe
even some tape! Let's say an hour and a half at the latest ... Whatt
Again he laughed. ' less than his resignation, I think, don't you?
Arrogant little gid' And with that he hung up, slapped the counter with
the palm of his hand and, smiling, hurried across to the Maitre d' to
pay his bill and cancel his dinner appointment.

Out on the sidewalk, in front of the building, Patrick kissed Liz and
she hugged him close for a few moments. ' you sure you won't come back
with us for coffeet She was worried. He looked shaken and had wanted to
leave the restaurant so abruptly that they'd simply paid up and departed
without another word.

519 Maria Barreu He shook his head. ', Liz, but no. I'm pretty tired and
I need some air.' He turned to Bill and they shook hands. ' you for
dinner.' ' Pleasure, Paddy Are you sure you're all rightt '. Sure.' ''ll
take care now, won't you? Don't walk too far." Patrick smiled. ', Liz,,
I won't. I'll probably hang around here for a while, look at the center
maybe, see Radio City Music Hall.'He shrugged, but he knew exactly what
he was going to do. '. If you're sure.' ', thanks, I'm sure.'He kissed
Liz again and she tutted maternally. ', bye. I'll ring you.' ' right.
Bye, Paddy' - Bill took her arm. ', Patrick. Speak to you anon.' He
watched them walk away and Moira turned before Bill hailed a taxi, and
waved a last time. When they had driven off Patrick whistled for his own
cab. ', Please,' he said and climbed in. The car pulled away He didn't
know if she would speak to him, but after seeing her again, he knew he
had to try. It was time for the truth, and loving her, as he knew he
still did, nothing else would ever do.

The young man on the desk at the Asprey was new to the job, but he had
met Marianne Hart and her Italian gigolo; they were legendary in the
hotel for the huge amounts of cash they spent. He'd heard that they
dealt drugs - only to a select few of course, friends and such - and he
knew the score. If something was going down he had been told to
discreetly give out the room number they wanted and then turn a blind
eye. With clients like Marianne Hart, who never tipped less than a
hundred, you more or less gave them carte blanche and you certainly
never asked ques- 520 Dangerous Obsession tions. Money talks, or so he'd
been told, and she had enough to keep everyone quiet.

He saw Enzo Mondello enter the hotel lobby and recognised him
immediately. He nodded in his direction and sent the bellboy over for
the room number. Writing the number of the Cameron Yates suite down on a
piece of paper, he handed it -to the bellboy and expected to see
Marianne Hart come into the hotel after Mondello. He glanced over to the
doors, surprised not to see her, and then turned back to Mondello.

That's odd, he thought. Mondello had already disappeared, without the
customary tip and with no sign of his girlfriend. What the hell? The
desk clerk shrugged; it was none of his business anyway.

Enzo took the back stairs up to the fourth floor, walked along the
corridor to the suite and slipped his skeleton key into the door handle,
silently turning it and unlocking the door. He eased it open and stepped
inside the room. He was completely in control.

Walking through the sitting room, he looked around him at the pile of
drawings on the table, the open ', a discarded jacket, then he stopped
to leaf through the small pile of photographs on the sofa table. He
picked up the first one and Jamie Cameron smiled up at him. He held the
snapshot for several minutes, shocked and confused. It didn't make sense
to him. The child, dark-haired and olive-skinned, who was he? He shook
his head. Then he saw the eyes, the deep green eyes, and he understood.
He crushed the smiling image in his hand, screwed it into a tight ball
and cracked his fist hard against the wall. ' ... !'He let out a
strangled cry. She had deceived him, sullied herself, dirtied herself.
He swallowed back the anger, and, walking across the room, he opened the
bedroom door 521 -Mariabarrett and stepped inside. There he saw the
child asleep.

Switching off the small speaker that was the baby-sitting device, he
crossed to the cot and crouched down to look at the innocent, sleeping
face through the wooden bars. The face of her child. He could smell the
clean sweetness of the baby's skin and, as he listened to the quiet,
regular breathing of tiny lungs, he pressed his head against the side of
the infant's bed and silently began to cry.

Francesca climbed out of the taxi while John paid the driver. She waited
for him on the sidewalk outside the hotel. ''m sorry, John, you sure you
don't mind leaving the dinner early?" He took her arm. ' you just stop
apologising? Hmmm? You know I don't like nightclubs and besides, Will's
got his work cut out for him with Dave in tow!" She tried to smile at
his joke but her heart waswt in it. John turned to face her. Damn.
bloody Patrick Devlin, he thought, damn the bastard to hell! But he
couldift let her see his impotent rage. Quietly he said: ''m happier
back with Jamie anyway,'W'which was the truth. ' don't trust those
baby-sitting services.' He placed both his hands on her shoulders. He'd
known from the moment he saw her eyes on Devlin how she felt.

Francesca looked up at his face and shook her head. ' John,'she said. '
am sorry, I've ruined your evening.' And suddenly he had to say
something; he had to tell her, before it was too late. -You've never
ruined anything for me, Francesca,'he answered quietly. ' made my life,
my darling girl; you've given me more than I had ever dreamed of.' He
looked away and felt the warmth of her breath on his cheek. ' you me,'
she whispered. Then she stood back and 522 Dangrnxts Obsession laughed
at the tears in her eyes. ' a sentimental pair we are!'she said and took
his hand. Together they walked into the hotel.

Patrick was waiting for her in the lobby. He was standing near the
entrance, having told the desk clerk who he was and what he was doing
there, and as he saw her walk in with John he stepped forward and they
looked at each other for a long moment. She turned to John. ' have to
speak to him,' she said and he nodded.

He knew that, and he let her go. ''t be too long.' She shook her head.
She had wanted to say: ' love you, John, I always will.' But she didn't
want to embarrass him. So she just squeezed his hand and smiled at him
as he walked towards the lift. In years to come she would remember it as
the saddest moment of her life.

John tried not to think of anything as he walked along to the suite,
except Jamie. He would look in on him, watch him sleeping for a while.
The sight always calmed him, reassured him of the hope in life. Stopping
outside the suite, he dug in his pocket for the key and went to put it
in the lock. The door was already open.

His first thought was that someone from the baby-sitting service was in
there. He never suspected any danger. He walked in and called out,
crossing to Francesca's room where Jamie was asleep. It gave Enzo just
enough time to move behind the door. '?'John carefully opened the door
and peered into the room. ''s theret It was lit by a dull red
night-light and he looked across to the cot and Jamie, who, wide awake,
smiled when he saw him. ', my boy!' he said gently.

The cut was quick and sudden.

523 Waria Barrett Enzo grabbed him from behind and sliced the length of
his throat with his knife, shutting off life almost instantly. The last
thing John knew was the sound of Jamie's voice as he called out '!' to
him and the smile on the little boy's face. He died with a searing joy
in his heart.

The child began to scream. Enzo moved quickly. He let John's body slump
to the floor and ran to the cot, pulling the child up and cupping his
bloody hand over the his mouth to silence the screaming. Grabbing a
blanket from the cot, he held tightly onto the infant and ran out of the
room. He didn't have time to think. Knowing the hotel as he did, he ran
down the back stairs, through the laundry rooms and out onto Forty-ninth
Street East. He covered the child with the blanket, keeping his hand
roughly over his mouth, and made off in the direction of Forty-second
street and Grand Central Station.

Patrick looked down at his watch. ' minutes. It wasn't very long.' It
was all she would agree to and he had hardly been able to say anything,
only the bare facts about Penny and the baby. He wanted more; he wanted
a lifetime, but Francesca just shrugged and said: ''m sorry. I need
time.' ' course.' He looked away. Why did he feel as if they didn't have
it? ' understand.' He knew he didn't have any right to expect more. He
stood up with her. ''ll let me see you tomorrowt She hesitated. ' don't
know, I ...'She hadn't told him about Jamie, not yet, maybe not ever.
''ll call you.' He nodded - what else could he do? She began to walk
across to the lifts. ' She turned back to him. He wanted to see her
eyes. They had the same intense brilliance that he remembered and he
felt a moment of hope. "Is there anyone elset He had to ask; he couldn't
stop himself.

524 Dangerous Obsession "No,' she said, ' never has been.,'And she
carried on to the lifts. He watched her disappear before turning back
towards the bar. He needed another drink.

it was only five minutes later that he heard the piercing, terrifying
howl of the sirens. The lobby was suddenly filled with people:
paramedics, police. Some. were running, others stood with service
revolvers drawn, and tape was being placed at the entrance to the hotel.
He jumped down from the bar stool and elbowed his way out into the fray.
It took only seconds to pick up on what had happened and then he ran,
shoving his way through the small crowd, ignoring the shouts behind him,
up the stairs to the fourth floor, his body throbbing with fear. As he
made it to the corridor he opened the fire door and instantly he heard
her screams.

Wild, desperate, animal screams.

525 CHAPTER Thirty-seven ENZO'S LUNGS WERE BURNING. HE coughed up more
phlegm and spat it over the child's head. He was sweating, a heavy, '
sweat. He gripped the child more tightly and edged out of the shadowed
doorway, then walked Iquickly down Fortieth Street East, cutting past
the library, then up onto Forty-second Street. He made it into Times
Square and merged in with the theatre crowd. The child was silent,
wide-eyed and terrified.

Enzo ''t thinking, he knew that. He'd panicked, seen the patrol car and
freaked. They'd covered the station - it was crawling. He looked down at
the child. Jesus fuck! He stopped in a doorway again, breathing hard.
Jesus fuck!

"Over there on the right! Next to Mcdonald's. See it? Whadda ya. think?'
Both policemen had the man's description from the desk clerk at the
Waldorf. ', got him!'Weller picked up the radio and switched it on. '
like our guy' The car swung sharp right to turn. ' spotted ... Times
Square, doorway of.. '! He's seen us!' ' moving off in the direction of
... Jesus! Where the fuck's he gonet ' down the Deuce .. ' suspect ...
east down Forty-second Street.' The lights went on and the siren wailed.
' out the fucking way, arsehole!' Weller shouted at a driver. ' Jesus!
He's gone! Way outta sight!" 526 Dangerous Obsession Enzo slipped down
an alleyway off Broadway and waited in the dark. A garish orange light
advertising a twenty-five cent peepshow lit the grimy grey wills every
five seconds and the stench was disgusting. He coughed up more phlegm
and put his hand up to his throat. It burned like hell. Seconds later he
spotted a cab pulling up alongside the alley. Holding onto the dead
weight of the child, he ran to the car and pulled open the door. '!
What's the hurry, man? Take it easy, don't ruin my cab!' . Enzo slammed
the door and leaned forward to the driver. He put the blade of his knife
up against his neck and nicked the skin to draw blood. '!' he hissed. '
Jes us! OK! Where to, man? just tell me where tot The driver's voice was
high with fear. He inched his thigh up to his fog light switch..1 don't
know! Just drive!' The car moved off and Enzo kept his knife tight to
the man's throat. He still held the child to his body. He didwt know
what: to do; he could feel himself losing control. He was scared, for
the first time in years, he was shit scared.

"Cab nineteen-twenty-one. I'm mid-town, heading West. I've just seen
four-seven-twelve with fog light on. Can you put out a nine-eleven call?
Looks. like he's in trouble.' ', nineteen-twenty-one. Will do." Weller
took the call from the radio dispatcher.. ' like our guy again,
hijacked. a cab round the back of the Deuce.' ''s go! Hold on tight!'
The patrol. car did a twentymile-an-hour U-turn and set up pursuit. They
radioed for 527 .Maria Bgrreuu -awtstance as they headed downtown
towards Tenth Street East and New York City low-life.

"Miss. Cameron?" Francesca looked up blankly The room was full of
people. She was completely silent but the screams went on inside her
head. On and on..'Miss. Cameron?' , '?' Patrick squeezed her hand. '
Sergeant Macey, Miss. Cameron. We think we've located the suspect.'
Francesca flinched and the policewoman felt for her - she had children
of her own. ' is he? Has he got Jamiet Her voice was high with panic. '
think so.'Again Francesca flinched. ', I'm sorry, but we need to know if
there's any connection to you at all or if this is simply a drug-related
crime.' ' do you mean, simply?'It came out as a scream and Francesca
felt Patrick's hand restrain her. ''m sorry, I didn't mean that.
Francesca, we have a description from the desk clerk of an Italian man
seen earlier in the hotel asking for your room number. We checked his
address and found the body of his girlfriend; she's been murdered. Look,
I'm sorry to have to put you through this, but do you know, or have you
ever heard of a man called Enzo Mondello? We have reason to believe he's
our sus ... " For a split second Francesca felt the ground slip from
under her and her legs gave way. She toppled and Patrick caught her just
in time. She swallowed back the screams in her head. ',' she, whispered.
' know him.' She spoke almost like a child and then moments later,
looked up. Her whole face had changed, hardened. ''s not my son, he
wants,'she said. ''s me." Detective Sergeant Macey looked hard at the
young 528 Dangennd Obsess= woman in front of her and made the sort of
intuitive decision that had won her her promotion ',' she said. ' think
we know where he is.' She handed Francesca a vest. ''s go!" Patrick
stood next to Francesca in the lift down to the lobby but she kept her
distance. He wasn't part of her life and he knew she could not turn to
him for support. Yet Jamie was his child! He was shocked, it was almost
too much to take in. What he had learned in the last half-hour had
changed his life forever but still he felt the gulf between them and his
helplessness overwhelmed him. The lift stopped and he stood back a pace
to let her out first, the automatic doors sliding open with an
electronic ping. It was the last second of silence they had. ' he is!.'
' there!" They're to gether!' '! Miss. Cameron? Patrick? Hey! Over here"
The flash of the cameras exploded in their faces and the rush of noise
hit them head on. The lobby was packed with a mob of reporters who
flanked them either side, pushing and jostling, shouting for attention.
' it true, Patrick?' ' you any comment to make. ' your wife know about
your affair with Francesca? Did she know about the childt Patrick's arm
went automatically around Francesca's shoulder but her body was stiff
and tense, her face ashen with shock. ' your affair have anything to do
with her alcoholisnit The shouts grew louder, more insistent and
aggressive. Francesca began to shake.

I ' them it isn't true,'she whispered. ', don't ruin your life ...'But
Patrick had her hand in his and he gripped her fingers so hard that the
pain made her wince. He said nothing. Scanning the crowd for one
particular face, he tugged her forward, following close behind the
policeman, 529 horro-r. At the end antrying in vain to shield her ! the
of the lobby he saw. Peter Brett. The man was smiling.. '!' He spotted
the camera crew from CBN with Brett but it didn't stop him. '!' he
shouted. The smile disappeared from Brettis face and a harsh triumphant
look came over it. The crew made a rush towards Patrick. ' the ... T
Francesca turned to him. ', no! Please ...'Her face was stricken with
fear. ' mustn't say anything, please ...'She moved away to try and
distance herself from him. ' can deny it ... you must!" I Brett shoved
his way through the, crowd, only feet away. ',' Patrick said.:'No more
lies.'And he called out again to Brett. ' want a story Brett?' The
camera loomed in on him, its huge sound mike just under his nose. ' it
is. Our son has been abducted! The man is armed and dangerous, and he's
somewhereon the loose in this city. For God7s sake, find him! Put his
picture out across the screen, tell everyone. Just please .. ' His voice
broke. '... Find my son!' Pulling Francesca close to him; he moved past
the camera and on through the crowd to the entrance of the lobby The
noise had quietened for the few seconds that Patrick spoke but now it
erupted.,Everywhere around them the screaming, frantic howl of the:
crowd could be heard as they clamoured for the story, and it followed
them out onto the street. Peter Brett shook hands with -the reporter
from CBN News and then headed along to the row of telephone booths just
past the reception.1desk to call the UK and file his story.

Enzo had ditched the cab at, the back of St. Marks Church. He was being
hounded. He ran, holding the child with both hands, his knife tucked
inside the waistband of his trousers. He had to keep hold of the child.
She'd come for the child, he knew that. She'd come for the boy.

530 Dangerous Obsession The landscape changed as he ran on, deeper into
the housing projects, the streets littered with garbage, the walls
filthy with graffiti. He passed a derelict car and someone , at him. He
looked down at the mucus on his jacket but he didn't stop. All around
him he could hear the wail of lcsirens and he knew he didn't have much
time..,On Ninth Street, on the edge of Tomkins Square Park, he Tan into
an alley and stopped. He dropped the child down bnto the ground and bent
double with the effort of trying to breathe. The pain was terrible. The
heat in his lungs had

"Spread up his throat, and it burned, dry and red hot as he gasped for
air. He was dizzy with the lack of oxygen. He dosed his eyes for a
second and when he opened them , the intensity of the light blinded him.
He blinked mice in the glare of the headlamps, heard the engine noise '
yanked the child up onto his hip. He backed against ' wall of a tenement
block, holding his knife up to the child's throat. There was no way out.

As the car edged closer, he glanced behind him and in an Mstant started
to climb the fire escape- Weller was out of the car, revolver drawn, and
his partner was positioned on the other side. They waited for the
backup..What the fuck's he doine.' ' knows we won't fire with the kid up
there.' '!'Weller was sweating.

Minutes later two more cars pulled up, all lights and ,."Sirens off.
This wasn't an area to attract attention in. Detective Sergeant Macey
jumped out of the car and went Wwards Weller. ' long's he been up theret
-'Three, maybe five minutes.' Weller kept his eyes on the 0uspect. ' he
lookingt 531 Maria Barrea Shit scared. Dangerous!' She turned round for
Francesca but the car was empty. ' the ... ?'She moved over to the car.
', that all we need! Where is she? Where Devlin?'The bfficer nodded
towards the building. Francesca was walking in the direct light of the
car headlamps towards Enzo. Her eyes were fixed on his face and he
looked down at her, as he had done a million times in his dreams. '
ftick!' Macey grabbed the radio to call for medical assistance. The
next, thing she knew she saw Devlin on the roof of the building. Jesus
fucking Christ! I don't believe it. What do these fucking Brits think
this is? A fucking cop moviet The officer next to her moved round the
car, into a better cover position. She motioned to Weller. ' over to the
left,' she hissed, ' him that side. For God's sake, don't fucking shoot,
not unless ...' Her voice trailed away as Francesca reached the tenement
block. She held her breath. '?' Francesca was right underneath him now
and she could see the ashen face of her son. She kept her eyes on Enzo,
Patricks shadow moving up above him. '. I knew you'd come.' ' course I'd
com ' for you, Enzo.' She could just see his eyes, blank and distant. ',
still want me then?" He shivered and his whole. body was filled with a
deep ache for her. ',' he said. ' still want you." She sensed the change
in him, saw his fingers relaxing their grip. She moved back slightly to
where he had to strain forward to see her and began to unbutton her
shirt. ', Enzo, how you used to watch me undresst Her voice had
softened, calmed, and she willed him to relax. The shirt fell open and
she slipped it off her shoulders. ' you, Enzo?' Her eyes shone and he
was drawn to the 532 RE Dangerous Obsession light in them. She slipped
the straps of her bodice down and he felt the lick of fire in his groin,
the burning lust for her. He dropped his hand down to his crotch. '!"
Patrick lunged forward and grabbed his son's arm with every ounce of
strength he had in his body. He pulled, yanking the child free, felt his
balance waver and then his leg slip, crashing his spine down sharply
onto the ironwork of the fire escape. He had Jamie in his arms and as he
cried out, he hugged his son to him and held him with the force of his
whole body They fell against the building, together, crashing back. But
they, were safe.

The gunfire was instant. Enzo plummeted forward, his body already limp
in death, and fell five floors. Francesca screamed as his form smashed
on the iron stairs and broke itself, crashing onto the concrete, the
blood of his shattered skull splattering the cold grey surface of the
street.

She ran forward. Running up the fire escape, she called out to her son,
to Patrick, stumbling, shaking with fear and relief. She fell several
times and cut her legs but she didn't stop. She made it to the fifth
landing and knelt before Patrick, surrounding him- with her arms and
holding both her son and his father to her heart. She began to sob.

Weller and his fellow officers began to move forward to the fire escape.
' them!' Macey said sharply The men stopped. ' don't need us.' She
looked away and swallowed hard. ' need each other." And she turned and
went back to the car.

533 CHAPTER Thirty-eight PETER BRETT'S STORY WAS PRINTED in one of the
biggest tabloid newspapers in the UK alongside the exclusive revelation
of the true life of the Junior Foreign Minister, Patrick Devlin. The
paper carried stills from the live coverage at CBN News in New York,
photostats of the documents stolen from the Cameron Yates solicitor and
the photographs that the Mail photographer had taken of Francesca and
Patrick years ago in London. it hit the breakfast tables in Britain at
approximately the same time as Patrick Devlin was transferred to the
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He had the woman he loved and his son
by his side.

"Lady Margaret sat in the morning room at Motcom. Park, a copy of the
paper open in front of her and the tears of anger and humiliation wet on
her face. It was all there, in black and white, the story of her
brother's passionate love affair and her own shoddy involvement in
trying to keep him from it. The paper had speculated, of course it had;
in order to piece the whole thing together. But they'd done a pretty
good job; the whole thing was as near to the truth as it could be. There
wasn't much they had left out.

Hearing Lord Henry outside in the passage, Lady Margaret wiped her cheek
with the back of her hand and folded the paper away She stood and walked
across to the fireplace where she'd left her cigarettes. She was opening
the box when Lord Henry came into the room. She paused for a moment and
looked over at him, saying nothing.

534 Dangerous Obsession I see you've read the paper thent he said. His
face was closed and she dropped the box with shock. ' ... er ...' She
bent to pick it up and he stood by the door watching her. She glanced
up. ', I have.' Straightening, she pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
She did not look at him again.

Then I would hope, Margaret, that this will be an end to the whole
thing.' He stayed by the door. ' I do mean the whole thing!" She turned
now and faced him. '?'her voice was cool, challenging. ' Richard
Brachen, Charles Hewitt, politics, ambition and ...' He stopped. Her
face had suddenly lost its habitual hauteur and seemed to collapse
before his eyes. ' trying to make up for the mistakes you made in the
past. Its over, Margaret, all of it, and I think it's about time you
realised that." She had started to cry and put her hands up to her face,
ashamed, to be seen in-such weakness. ' became an obsession, Margaret,'
Lord Henry said, more to himself than to her,.and I didn't know how to
stop it all. I am as much to blame as you, really' He'walked across to
her and put his hands on her shoulders. ' are some things we just cant
change, Maggie my love, and the past is one of them. Let it go.' He took
out his handkerchief and gently wiped her face. ' think we've all
suffered enough, don't you think."

535