The Guilty Wife (7 page)

'Have you phoned the police?'

'No, of course not.' Lucie tried to laugh it off, having visions of the poor man being hounded. 'I'm sure he was perfectly harmless. He just took me by surprise, really. I thought it was you, you see, and... Like I told Sam, I was just being silly.'

'But still, if he's going round all the houses frightening people—'

'He wasn't! It was just me,' Lucie cut in sharply. Then she bit her lips. 'Sorry, I'm a bit on edge today.'

'Oh, I know just how you feel,' Anna agreed in heartfelt tones. 'Why, only last month...' She started on a rather involved anecdote and Lucie waited as patiently as she could for her to finish, not listening, wanting only to be alone. But Anna was in a chatty mood and it was nearly an hour before she left. Usually, when Seton was away, Lucie was glad of her friend's company, but today she gave Anna no encouragement to stay and shut the door behind her with profound relief.

But having to act normally, as if nothing had happened to turn her world upside down, had helped. It had made the panic subside a little so that Lucie was able to think. She gave Sam his supper then let him watch one of his videos white she went back into the kitchen and called Aunt Kate.

'He must have seen that photo of me in the paper,' she said miserably, after she'd explained what had happened.

'You must get your number changed at once,' her aunt advised.

'I've already put that in hand. But it's going to be so difficult now that Seton has been selected as the next parliamentary candidate; all sorts of people keep phoning him up.'

'Well, that can't be helped. You'll have to tell Seton that you've been having nuisance calls.'

Which was true enough, Lucie thought grimly. 'What shall I do? Can't he be stopped?'

'Did he threaten you or anything?'

'No, I put the phone down on him,' Lucie admitted. 'And when he rang again and left a message on the answer phone I destroyed the tape before I listened to it.'

'Oh, dear, that wasn't such a good idea. If he didn't actually threaten you, then there's not much that we can do. Except to have your number changed, and you've already done that.'

'Yes, but-'

'We can only deal with this short-term at the moment,' the older woman cut in. 'Would you like me to come and stay with you so that we can talk about what's best to do later?'

'But you're going on holiday in a couple of days.'

'I can quite easily put that off.'

But Lucie knew that this was a trip to South America that her aunt had set her heart on and had been saving up to pay for for ages. 'No, I can't possibly let you do that. But I would like to come over and spend the day with you tomorrow, if that's OK.'

'Of course it is. Will you bring Sam with you or leave him with your mother-in-law?'

‘I’ll bring him.'

‘Then drive very carefully. And don't let this phone call upset you too much. We'll deal with it. Hell be stopped. I'll see you tomorrow, in time for lunch.'

Lucie replaced the receiver, then immediately took it off again, afraid that Rick might be trying to call. But Seton would be calling too, later on, as he rang every night when he was away from home. Sometimes he called early, to catch Sam, but more often he rang later when he knew she would be in bed, so that their conversation was loving, intimate. Luckily she had a mobile phone that she used whenever she went out in the car, so Lucie found it and turned it on. If Seton couldn't get through on the permanent line then he would undoubtedly try the mobile. Which he did, about ten-thirty that evening. Only, Lucie wasn't in bed but in the sitting-room, the curtains closed, the lights and lamps on, and all the doors and windows securely bolted. This intrusion into her life had immediately killed her sense of security, and she was hating being alone.

'Hello, darling,' Seton greeted her. 'Did you know that Sam has been playing with the phone again and left one off the hook?'

'Seton.' There was an ache and longing in her voice, a desperate need for his strength and comfort, but Lucie bit her lip, knowing that she must try to hide it.

But her husband knew every nuance of her voice and immediately sensed that something was wrong. 'What is it?'

he demanded sharply.

'I left the phone off on purpose. I—I had some nuisance calls.'

'A heavy breather, you mean?'

'Yes.' She clutched at the idea. 'So I left the phone off.'

'Damn the man!' Seton cursed. 'Did you try to trace the call?'

'Yes, but he'd pre-dialled to prevent it,' Lucie improvised, angry for not having thought of mat herself.

'If only I'd been there. You should have rung me so that I could have come home.'

'Drive all that way, and back again tomorrow, just because of some stupid pervert? Of course not. I'm all right. Really.' Lucie tried to make her voice convincing, not wanting him to worry. 'But I've decided to have the number changed. They're going to see to it tomorrow. And—and I've asked them to make it ex-directory. I'm sorry, I know it's a nuisance b u t - '

'Of course not,' Seton cut in. 'I would have suggested it myself.'

She gave an audible sigh of relief and, because she knew it was safe to do so, Lucie was able to make a token protest. 'But your agent and your office?'

‘I’ll give them the new number, of course, but letting friends and business colleagues know is far different from having it printed in a directory for every damn nutcase to read.' Seton's voice was still angry; he was frustrated at not being with her. 'Are you sure you're all right, darling? Shall I ask my parents to come round and keep you company?'

'At this time of night? No, of course I'm all right. It was just a bit unnerving that's all. I'm fine. But I did phone Aunt Kate and I'm going over there for the day tomorrow, to help her pack for her holiday. And by the time I get back the number will be changed so everything will be OK, won't it?'

'I wish I was with you,' Seton said again.

'Well, so do I, but for a much better reason than that.' Lucie made her voice flirtatious, wanting to distract him. Seton laughed. 'Are you in bed?'

'Yes,' she lied.

'What are you wearing?'

'The cream silk nightdress you bought me for my birthday. You remember?'

'Very well.' He gave a deep sigh that was almost a groan. 'Lord, Lucie, you turn me on just thinking about you.'

'Good.' She kept her voice husky. 'In that case you'll be even more frustrated when you come home.'

They talked for another ten minutes, Lucie taking great comfort from just hearing his voice. Going upstairs, she looked hi on Sam, who had, as usual, kicked off his duvet. She covered him up again, careful not to wake him, but then couldn't resist reaching out to touch his hand.

Still asleep, he curled his hand round her finger and held it tightly. A great surge of love for him filled her heart—a love that was different from that she felt for Seton but equally strong. It was a fierce, protective love, this maternal instinct, and Lucie knew that she would do everything within her power not to let Sam be hurt. Or Seton, if it came to that. That was why she had never told him the truth, and now she must never let him know that she had once been branded a thief and put into prison.

Lucie sat by Sam's bed for a long time, just looking down at her child, but when she eventually went to bed she was too tormented to sleep. If only that photograph hadn't been printed in the paper, or Fiona hadn't given their names. But her friends had thought it harmless, had enjoyed their brief moment of fame, because their lives were all clear and open; no dark secrets hid in their pasts just waiting to emerge and ruin then: futures. Angrily Lucie sat up and turned on the light, furious with the fate that had dealt her such a blow. But surely Rick wouldn't be able to phone her again once her number had been changed? She tried hard to be optimistic, but Lucie was haunted by the thought of what might happen. He knew her married name and where she lived. Even if they moved away he would probably be able to find her, because if Seton got elected to parliament then he would be a public figure and easily traced.

Lucie was certain he would be elected; she had supreme faith and confidence in his abilities to do any job he chose, and she was sure that the electors would see the same qualities in him as she did. He would make a wonderful MP, and nothing must happen to spoil that, which meant, yet again, that her secret must never be told. Feeling far from optimistic, Lucie slept at last, and, the next day, drove up to the cottage in Derbyshire to which Aunt Kate had retired. It was a long journey but the sports car Seton had bought her, red and sleek and great fun, ate up the miles. She was glad, though, when she finally got there.

Waiting until Sam had run into the garden to look at the horses in a neighbouring field and was out of earshot, Lucie told her aunt of her fears, but Aunt Kate said, 'You know what I think is the best thing to do, don't you?'

'Yes,' Lucie agreed wearily. 'But I can't tell them.'

'Them?

Lucie turned to look fully at her, her eyes desolate. 'Seton—and Sam.'

'Sam?' Kate Brownlow frowned. 'But he's just a child! You needn't tell him.'

Patiently Lucie explained. 'If Seton knows the truth then he will feel honour bound to withdraw as a candidate. But his parents are so proud that he's been selected. They would be terribly upset, and would have to be told the reason why. They would try to understand but they would hate me for it; I just know they would. They're so ambitious for Seton. And one day they would tell Sam, because he would want to know why his father had given up a promising career in politics even before it really got started.'

'But surely...?' Kate paused, then gave a reluctant nod. 'I see what you mean; if you tell Seton then, one day, you would have to tell Sam too.'

'Yes.'

'It might still be better to tell Seton now, get it over with,' her aunt said with a contemplative look in her eyes.

Recognising it, Lucie said fiercely. 'No, never!' She raised determined eyes to this woman she had come to love.

'And if you go behind my back and tell him then—then I'll never speak to you again.'

Her aunt stared. 'Oh, Lucie!'

'I'm sorry, but you have to know how deeply I fed about this. I've never cared more about anything hi my life, and I'll do
anything
to prevent Seton from learning the truth.'

When she reached home that evening, Lucie was relieved to find that the phone company had kept their promise and the number had been changed. Inevitably it was. to cause some inconvenience and they were to receive a few irate letters from people who hadn't been able to reach them by phone. Seton, though, when he came home was very good about it, and still angry that she'd been upset. He arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers for her which he only just saved from being crushed as she rushed into his arms.

'Darling!' He dropped the flowers on a table and held her close. 'Why, you're trembling.'

'I'm so glad you're home. So glad.' Lucie clung to him tightly, taking comfort as she always did from his strength, his nearness.

After kissing her, Seton led her into the sitting-room and pulled her down beside him on the settee. His voice harsh with suppressed anger, he said, 'What did that pervert say to you?'

Lucie pushed her hair back with a nervous hand. 'He—he didn't say anything. I put the phone down.' She gave a shaky laugh. 'I'm sorry; you probably think I'm making a great fuss about nothing.'

'Of course not.' But, looking into her face and seeing the dark shadows round her eyes, he said, 'Although it's not like you to get so upset.'

Fear that he might start questioning gripped her, so Lucie managed to say flippantly, 'Must be my interesting condition.'

'Did you go to the doctor's to confirm it?'

'No. I went up to see Aunt Kate, remember?'

'Of course. But there can be no doubt?'

'No.' She smiled at him, but somehow the joy that the knowledge should have given her wasn't in her face. Seton frowned, unease in his eyes, and pulled her to him. 'It's understandable that you feel nervous here on your own. I'll try to go away as little as possible in the next few months.'

She sat up straight, tried to make her voice firm. 'No, you mustn't do that. I was just being silly, overreacting. Now the number's been changed I'll be fine. Really. And next week I'll go to see our doctor. Then, when we get the result, we'll tell your parents, shall we?'

That thought distracted him, as she'd hoped it would, and the weekend progressed with some kind of normality. They took Sam to a play-barn the following morning, drinking coffee with some other parents while he enjoyed himself. In the afternoon Seton went to cricket practice while Lucie took Sam to a friend's birthday party, held in the village hall, where the thirty or so children were able to run wild and where Lucie was kept busy helping the distracted mother of the birthday child and so, thankfully, had no time to think. That evening they went to dinner at the house of friends, on Sunday morning they worked in the garden, and in the afternoon took Sam to the local pool, which he loved. He could already swim well and Seton was teaching him the backstroke. So it wasn't until Sunday night that Lucie and Seton were really alone together. Lucie tried very hard to be bright and happy, and largely succeeded. When they were in bed she said, 'It's been a busy weekend.' He murmured an acknowledgment, and she added, 'Did you do it on purpose? To take my mind off that phone call?'

Seton chuckled. 'I'm that transparent, am I? But you're not so worried about it now, are you?'

'No.' Lucie tried to sound positive. 'No, of course not.'

'Good.' He kissed her back. 'You looked gorgeous in your swimsuit today.'

'I shall soon be fat.'

Putting his hand on her stomach, Seton said, 'The baby has to grow. And you'll be radiant and lovely, as you were with Sam.' He stroked her gently. 'Do you think it will be a girl?'

'You can tell on the scan sometimes. Do you want me to try and find out?'

'No. Let's wait and then have a lovely surprise.'

'It might not be a girl,' she warned.