Part 60 (2/2)
”No, there isn't.”
Shane brought out his cigarettes, offered one to Winston. They sat smoking for a few minutes, and then Shane said, ”I'm glad you stopped off in New York for a couple of days on your way back to London. It's been a-”
”So am I,” Winston interjected and chuckled. ”I rather like the idea of flying home in style on that private jet of yours. Not to mention having you for company. And thanks again for delaying your plans, waiting for me. I appreciate it.”
”Yes, and what I started to tell you is that I've appreciated having your company.” Shane pursed his lips, gave Winston a pointed stare. ”As you're aware, I've never talked about women or my love affairs to you, but I needed to confide my feelings for Paula, to unburden myself to someone I trust and respect. You've been very patient and helpful. Thanks, Winston.”
Winston sat back, finished his wine, and then puffed on his cigarette, looking thoughtful. Finally he murmured, ”I should have told you this the other night, but you seemed done in after your marathon session on the subject of Paula. Anyway, you weren't really telling me anything I didn't know. I mean about you being in love with Paula. I've known that for the longest time now. So has Emily.”
Shane said, very startled, ”And I thought no one knew. Just goes to show you, doesn't it.”
Winston said softly, ”Emma knew too, Shane.”
”She did!” Shane's astonishment was more p.r.o.nounced, and for a split second he was speechless; then he smiled faintly. ”Funnily enough, I've had the strangest feeling since she died that she was aware of our relations.h.i.+p. But Paula pooh-poohed the idea, dismissed it out of hand.”
”Aunt Emma didn't know you were involved, that's true,”
Winston exclaimed rapidly. ”And to tell you the honest truth, neither Emily nor I were too sure about that either. Aunt Emma spotted a look in your eyes when you were observing Paula at the christening two and a half years ago. That s when Emily and I also realized how'deeply you felt about Paula.”
”I see.” Leaning across the table, Shane gave Winston a hard and questioning stare, then asked, ”Obviously Aunt Emma discussed it with you. What did she say?”
”She was worried about you, Shane. She loved you a lot, you know, like one of us, one of her own. I think it was a disappointment to her that you hadn't spoken up earlier, before Paula married Jim. But she was philosophical about it really and knew she couldn't interfere. However, if she were alive, she wouldn't be a bit surprised to know that Paula reciprocates your love for her-that I can guarantee you.”
”Reciprocated in the past tense, mate,” Shane muttered and made a sour face. ”The lady has chosen to walk a solitary path.”
”She might change her mind,” Winston shot back, wanting to cheer him up. ”I keep telling you, women do that half a dozen times a day. Besides, it's only been nine months. Give her a chance, a bit longer to pull herself together. Look, Shane, I have an idea. Don't flyback to London with me this afternoon. Stay here in New York. Paula's been in Texas for a week, and I know she's due back in the city in a couple of days, either tomorrow or Wednesday. See her again, take her out, wine and dine her, talk to her. You can be very persuasive and-”
Shane held up his hand and shook his head with firmness. ”No, Winston, it won't do any good. She made it very clear to me in June that it was over. Finished, Besides, I can't delay my return any longer. Dad's due to go out to Sydney later this week. His turn, you know, and with Merry running this hotel, I have to be on the scene at home for a few months. I'll be racing between Leeds and London but spending more time in Yorks.h.i.+re, I hope.”
”Emily's looking forward to having you at Beck House on weekends, Shane, as soon as she's back from Scarborough. I hope you're not going to disappoint her, or me for that matter.”
”No. I'll be staying with you at weekends when I can, and thanks a lot. I want to spend some time at your father's stables, talk to him about Emerald Bow and our racing program for next year. Grandpops left me the racehorses to race, not to put out to pasture. And I haven't been on a horse for months. I'm itching to get into the saddle, give War Lord and Celtic Maiden a few good workouts.” .
”That's great, Shane, it'll be-” Winston stopped, grinned from ear to ear and waved. To Shane he said, ”Here's that gorgeous sister of yours.”
Shane swung around, and his face lit up when he saw Miranda, who was hurrying across the restaurant looking as if she had something of vital importance to tell him. He smiled at her extraordinary costume, for that was all he could call it. She resembled a redheaded gypsy in her colorful patchwork cotton dress and ma.s.ses of gold chains. Taking over as head of their New York operation had not induced her to change her spectacular .style of dressing. Good for you. Merry, Shane thought. Stick to your guns. Be your highly original self, one of the genuine free spirits of this world.
”h.e.l.lo, you two gorgeous men, and don't get up,” Merry exclaimed as they both made to rise. She flopped down into the empty chair and said, ”Come closer. I ve something interesting to tell you.” Giving them both a conspiratorial look, she went on, ”You'll never guess who I've just seen. Not in a million years!”
Winston looked amused. ”Then tell us, Merry darling. It'll save a lot of time.”
”Yes, do,” Shane remarked. ”Would you like a gla.s.s of this?” He lifted the bottle of wine, showed it to her.
”Thanks, that'll be lovely.” Merry settled back in her chair, waited until her brother had poured the last of the wine into their three gla.s.ses, then said, ”I was in the Terrace Caffi, talking to the maitre d' when I spotted them . . . talk about the Terrible Trio!”
Both men looked at her blankly.
Grinning, Miranda wrinkled her freckled nose and hissed, ”Allison Ridley, Skye Smith, and-Sarah Lowther. All lunching together and looking very, very chummy, to say the least. Can you believe it!”
”Sarah!” Winston chuckled sardonically. ”Well, well, well, that's very interesting. I wonder what she's doing in New York. Paula and Emily haven't heard anything about her for months, or Jonathan either, for that matter, since he went to the Far East.”
”Don't mention that b.a.s.t.a.r.d,” Shane said, scowling. ”He's always been a troublemaker and as devious as the devil.”
Winston nodded in agreement.
Merry said, ”I suppose I ought to have gone over and spoken to them, but quite frankly I beat a hasty retreat. I wanted to warn you both that a couple of your old girlfriends were floating around our hotel.
Thank Cod they didn't decide to lunch in here-then where would you have been?”
Winston said jokingly, ”Allison would have probably slipped a Mickey Finn in my drink.”
”Skye Smith was never a girlfriend of mine,” Shane announced and winked at Merry. ”Not my type.”
”We all know you don't like blondes, that you prefer dark exotic beauties like m'y darling Pau-”Miranda bit off the name and gave her brother an apologetic and concerned look. ”Sorry, Shane, I didn'tmean to rub salt in the wound.”
”That's all right, Merry, and I'm a big boy. I might be still licking my wounds, but at least I've managed to stem the flow of blood finally.”
”Yes, I know.” Merry took a small swallow of her wine and began to talk about their impending flight to London, making an effort to change the subject. Despite Shane's flippancy, the front he put up, she was aware that lie was deeply hurt and still suffering inside. He yearned for Paula. He would all of his life-that was the depressing part. If only Jim had not been so tragically killed, Merry thought. Paula would have eventually been divorced, and Shane and she would have married. Now Paula had put herself on a rack. And Shane too. Why is she doing this? Miranda asked herself. I don't understand her anymore.
Shane said, ”Daydreaming suddenly, Merry? You started to say something about the car.”
”Oh yes, sorry,” Merry said, smiling at him. ”I arranged for the limousine to be outside at three o'clock.
That gives you plenty of time to get to Kennedy before the rush hour.”
Skye Smith was the first to excuse herself after lunch. She could not wait to escape, and it was with a sigh of relief that she crossed the elegant lobby of the Plaza Towers Hotel, property of the O'Neills, and hurried out into the street.
She peered at her watch. It was just turning off two-thirty,
and she had plenty of time to get back to the antique shop for her next appointment at three.
As she strolled toward Park Avenue, she thought about Sarah Lowther. She did not particularly like Sarah and could not help wondering what Allison saw in her. Sarah was the b.i.t.c.hiest woman she had ever met.and not very bright in some ways.
<script>