The Look of Love (16 page)

To Louise’s
surprise, Rosanna and Victoria got on like a house on fire. They
chatted away together over tea and crumpets like two old friends.
Louise hardly got a word in. And it wasn’t just Victoria who was
faced with all the questions, either; she quizzed Rosanna almost as
much. She found out all about Rosanna and Dave, how they met, where
they had lived, why his job made it difficult for them to have
children, all sorts of things. She also found out some things even
Louise hadn’t known. Louise also learned more about Victoria as
Rosanna gave her the expected grilling. The only thing that didn’t
come up during all the questioning was Victoria’s sexuality and the
subject of their living together. Rosanna was obviously leaving
that for the last.

Victoria took
it all light-heartedly. It was only when Rosanna asked about her
parents that they hit a sticky patch.

“I don’t want
to talk about them,” Victoria said rather harshly. She picked up
her cup and sipped her tea, as if the conversation was over.

There was an
awkward silence.

Louise saw the
expression on Rosanna’s face and knew that she was eager to know
more. So she quickly said, “Vikki’s father died a little while ago,
and she’s still a bit upset. So it’s best to change the
subject.”

Victoria glared
at Louise over her tea cup. It was obvious she didn’t like her
excuse, but she didn’t say anything to contradict her either.

“Oh, I’m
sorry,” Rosanna said in a subdued voice. “I won’t say anything more
about it. Now then, what’s the story about you two living together?
Are you lovers, or what?”

It was such a
bold question that both Louise and Victoria forgot all about what
had gone on before, and Victoria almost choked on her tea.

“Rosie!” Louise
exclaimed.

“What’s the
matter?” Rosanna replied. “You can’t be shy now, not after what
Victoria said before! Or was that all just a joke, too?”

Victoria
instantly perked up. “No, it wasn’t! Tied me to the bed, she did!
And me struggling and screaming!”

“I did no such
thing!” Louise protested, going red once more.

Victoria
chuckled. “You get embarrassed too easily; it’s almost no fun
baiting you.”

Rosanna eyed
Victoria closely. “And what about you?” she asked. “Do you get
embarrassed about being known as a lesbian?”

Victoria put
her cup down and looked thoughtful. “I haven’t really thought about
it.”

“But you must
have!” Rosanna exclaimed.

Victoria shook
her head. “Until last night I never thought about myself as a
lesbian. And I suppose I’m not really sure I am now.”

“But how can
you say that? You’re moving in with Louise and you say you’ve slept
together. That sounds pretty definite to me!”

Louise quickly
explained about her arrangement with Victoria. “It’s sort of like a
trial period, to see how we get along,” she finished hopefully. She
could see that Rosanna wasn’t impressed.

“And do you
think this is fair?” Rosanna said to Victoria.

“It’s what
Louise wants,” Victoria replied lamely.

Rosanna didn’t
hesitate to put Victoria on the spot. “And what do you want?” she
asked sternly. “Are you just taking advantage of Louise’s feelings
for you, or are you really considering a proper relationship with
her? Tell the truth, now, you owe Louise that at least.”

Louise stared
at Victoria. She was as eager as Rosanna was to hear her
answer.

Victoria looked
back at them both, seeing their expectant faces, and taking a deep
breath she began, “Alright, it’s like this. Until last night, I had
never slept with another woman. And like I told Louise before, I
liked it. I never dreamt in the past that I would, I never even
thought about it, but I liked it. So there it is. At first I was a
bit upset, mainly because I hadn’t been prepared for it. But that
was Louise’s fault for forgetting to tell me that she liked me in
that way.” She elbowed Louise as she spoke. “Coward! But she
explained about that, so I got over it. And the thing is, the whole
idea of it hasn’t upset me, you know what I mean? And it’s not as
if I haven’t slept with men, I have, quite a lot in fact. Maybe
with far too many than I should. I doubt if there is much of my
reputation left to protect, so I’m happy to admit that. But when I
slept with those men, even with Zach, who’s sort of my boyfriend, I
always felt…sort of…dirty. I didn’t feel like that with Louise.
Does that make me a lesbian? You tell me, Rosie.”

“I shouldn’t
have to tell you, you should know for yourself.”

“But it’s not
that simple!” Victoria argued.

“Of course it
is! Being a lesbian is like being pregnant. You either are, or you
aren’t!”

“But I might be
bisexual. What then?”

Rosanna thought
about that for a moment. She leaned her elbows on the table, her
head resting on her hands. “This boyfriend of yours, Zach,” she
asked. “Will you sleep with him again?”

“Only if he
gets me drunk, and that’s not difficult to do, as Louise
knows!”

“And what about
Louise? Will you need to be drunk to sleep with her again?”

Victoria looked
across at Louise sitting next to her. She looked so serious as she
stared back at her. Her eyes were wet, almost tearful, and they
were filled with a bright intensity that made them almost glow. And
yet she looked so ordinary, so normal, as she sat waiting for an
answer. Victoria thought about what had happened the night before,
remembering how she felt, and the way Louise had looked then, and
the way she had touched and caressed her. She answered
honestly.

“No, I don’t
think so.”

Louise smiled
warmly and put her arm around Victoria. For a moment, Victoria
looked slightly uncomfortable, but then she smiled too. Louise was
getting all soft, and Victoria had now learned to recognise the
signs.

“If you tell me
that you love me,” she told Louise. “I’ll stick this buttered
crumpet on your nose!” She held the crumpet up threateningly.

Louise laughed
and didn’t reply, but her eyes were already welling up.

Rosanna stared
at them both. If Victoria worked out alright, she would be happy
for Louise, but she wasn’t yet convinced. She sat up straight and
waved her finger at Victoria.

“Listen to me,
young lady,” she said in a very maternal way. “Louise is my friend,
and I don’t want her getting all upset. I can see she likes you,
but you need to sort yourself out. It looks to me like you’ve made
your mind up, but these sort of things are never that simple. And
that boyfriend of yours will need to know how things lie. If you’re
going to move in with Louise, you’ll have to tell him.”

Victoria sighed
and took a bite out of the crumpet. “Zach is not going to be
happy.”

When Adam
Campbell arrived, Chrissy was ready and waiting for him. So were
her mother and father.

“Is that him?”
Veronica Davis asked as the large silver car pulled up outside
their house.

“I think so,”
Chrissy replied.

Her father
stared at the car. “I bet that car’s expensive. And he’s got a
blinkin’ chauffeur!”

“I told you he
was well off.”

They all stared
through the front room curtains as a man in a peaked cap got out of
the car and opened the rear door. Adam Campbell emerged and walked
up the path towards the house. As on the previous night, he was
dressed in an expensive looking suit.

“I still think
he’s too old,” Veronica remarked.

“Oh, don’t make
a fuss, mum! We’re only going out for a meal!”

“So long as
that’s all it is! Your father and I will be waiting up for you when
you get back.”

“Oh, mum!”

Adam
disappeared from view as he approached the front door.

“Well, here I
go!” Chrissy announced, and kissing her mum and dad, she hurried
into the hall to answer the door almost at the very instant the
bell rang.

Adam stared at
Chrissy in surprise as the door flew open.

Chrissy was
pleased with the effect. “Well, you’re prompt, I can say that for
you!” she said with a smile.

Adam nodded.
“And so are you,” he replied. He stared admiringly at Chrissy, who
was shrouded in a long grey coat. Her make up and hair were
perfect, and she wore gold pendant earrings. He smiled and added,
“You look marvellous.”

“Wait until you
see what I’m wearing under this coat! I spent ages shopping this
afternoon, so this place we’re going to better be good!”

“It will be, I
assure you, and I can’t wait for the unveiling!”

Chrissy closed
the front door and Adam walked her to his car.

“What’s with
the chauffeur?” she asked. “Are you trying to impress me?”

“Ah! This is
Charles,” Adam said, introducing his chauffeur. “He’s been my
driver for five years now. Charles, this is Miss Davis.”

Charles tipped
his hat, smiled, and said, “Miss.” He held the door open as Chrissy
got into the car. She slid across and Adam followed her in. Charles
closed the door and walked round to the driver’s side and got in. A
moment later and they were off.

“Where was
Charles yesterday then?” Chrissy asked.

“It was his day
off,” Adam replied, glancing at Chrissy’s legs when they were
briefly exposed as she crossed them. They were very long and
shapely. She was wearing flesh coloured shear tights or stockings,
and very elegant red high heeled shoes.

“On a Friday
night?” Chrissy said.

“I know, I
often think I am far too generous. I sometimes point this out to
Charles, and he agrees with me, don’t you Charles?”

“Yes, Mr
Campbell,” Charles replied without looking back. “Far too generous,
sir.”

Chrissy gave
Adam a knowing look. “Are you two playing some kind of double
act?”

Adam smiled and
reached into his pocket. He produced a small, dark blue oblong box
which he handed to Chrissy.

“If I recall
correctly,” he said. “I owe you a replacement for your ruined
shoes. Of course, as you might guess, I am hopeless at choosing
articles of clothing for women, whether they are shoes or anything
else. I was bound to get the size, shape and colour all wrong. So I
fell back on the tried and trusted alternative. I hope you find it
pleasing.”

Chrissy stared
at the dark blue coloured box in surprise. She slowly opened it.
“Well, I’ll take my knickers off!” she exclaimed when she saw the
gold bracelet inside. “Oh, Adam, you shouldn’t have! It’s too
expensive! I can’t accept it!”

“Of course you
can,” Adam said with a smile.

“But it was
only a pair of shoes!”

“And your other
damaged clothes remember, not to mention the bruised ribs and the
map of Japan on your…er…,” he pointed at her bottom and raised his
eyebrows.

“But that will
fade away in no time!” Chrissy quickly replied. “It’s not as if I’m
planning any sunbathing this month. You can’t give me this Adam,
it’s too much.”

“It is not too
much, quite the reverse in fact. Yesterday my taxi nearly ran you
over. The outcome could have been much worse. As it is, you appear
to be relatively unscathed, for which I am extremely grateful. But
I must also admit to being thankful that the incident occurred in
the first place. Without it I would have missed this opportunity
for such delightful company. The bracelet falls way short of a fair
recompense for such a pleasure.”

“But,
Adam…!”

Adam held up
his hand. “No more arguments.”

Chrissy sighed.
Then she smiled and said, “Oh, alright then!” and quickly took out
the bracelet and put it on her left wrist. “It’s gorgeous!” she
exclaimed, holding up her arm and admiring the bracelet.

Adam smiled
broadly. “Then it is fitting that you should wear it.”

Chrissy turned
in her seat and began to poke Adam in the ribs. “You are a
charmer!” she accused him. “Hopeless with women! Ha! I bet if I get
Charles alone for a few minutes I could get a list as long as my
arm of the women you’ve given this sort of line to!”

Adam tried his
best to fend her off, but her jabs were too quick and precise. “I
wish that were true, but sadly it is not,” he denied, laughing. “Is
this a fair way to receive a gift? Please, desist! Or I shall have
ribs as bruised as your own!”

Chrissy
relented, but her expression still held a lot of suspicion. “All
those stories you gave me about dining alone! I bet in reality that
house of yours has hot and cold women running all round the place,
and you need Charles standing over you with a cricket bat to beat
them off!”

There was a
repressed chuckle from Charles, and Chrissy immediately leaned
forward and tapped him on the shoulder. “Tell me the truth,
Charles! When he visits that casino, I bet he returns with a girl
on each arm, doesn’t he?”

“I’m sorry,
Miss, I can’t say. Mr Campbell insists that I take Fridays off,
which is the night he visits the casino.”

Chrissy turned
back to Adam. “You slick bugger!”

Adam was still
laughing. “It is all fiction, I assure you! It is Charles’s wish
that he has Fridays off, not mine!”

“Charles
wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Charles?”

“No, Miss.”

“See! I’m on to
you, Adam! All those sob stories you gave me yesterday were just a
clever ploy! And I believed them, too! I must have been suffering
from concussion!” She looked out of the window of the car, noticing
for the first time that they were on the motorway. “Where are we
going?” she quickly asked, then held up her hand and said, “Don’t
tell me! I know! You’re taking me to the coast to sell me to white
slavers!”

Adam laughed
again. “Your suspicions are getting out of hand; though I am sure
you would fetch a handsome price. But fortunately for you, you are
incorrect. I find you much too valuable to part with so soon.”