Read Online The House of Vandekar by Evelyn Anthony - Free Book Online

wretchedly uncomfortable with all that noise and mess going on around you?’
    â€˜I’d rather be there and get it done in six months than hang around halfway between homes like we are now,’ she said. They had handed back the St James’s Square house to Beatrice Vandekar and moved into a furnished house off Berkeley Street. ‘I can take Lily with me. And someone to cook. You bring Clay down at the weekends. We’ll manage. And I’ll come up to London if there’s anything important.’
    â€˜It might be better to leave Clay behind,’ Hugo said. His valet was not likely to enjoy picnicking in a half-finished house.
    â€˜OK, Lily can look after you too.’
    â€˜She is remarkable, isn’t she? Nothing seems to fuss her.’
    â€˜Only me,’ Alice laughed. ‘I can fuss her all right.’
    Hugo looked up. ‘I wouldn’t get too intimate. It doesn’t do with English servants.’
    She came and sat on the arm of his chair. ‘I know. But she’d never take a liberty. She’s no doormat either, and I like that. Now and again I just tell her to shut up, and that’s it. My God, look at the time – we’ll be late. The curtain goes up at eight-thirty. I must fly upstairs and change.’
    He followed her. He had his own suite of rooms. His evening clothes were laid out. They were going to the ballet. She was so happy, so busy, and the house had drawn them together. She’d been right about that. There was no time to be unhappy, except in the sad aftermath of making love. She’d kept her promise. She never said no. She didn’t lie or make excuses. She was so honourable in her commitment to the terms of their agreement that he didn’t know whether to admire her or hate her for it. But he still wanted her too much to stop or analyse.
    He fantasized that one day he would be able to arouse her. He imagined ways of bringing her senses to life, but only succeeded in arousing himself. Perhaps it would be best if she went to Ashton. It would give him a chance to concentrate on his business. And to look around. Perhaps another woman would make it easier …
    â€˜I won’t have time to bath,’ Alice announced.
    â€˜It’s run and ready,’ Lily countered. ‘You can’t go out without bathing, madam, you’re all hot and sticky.’
    She was too, Alice conceded. Running upstairs had made her sweat. It was a quick bath.
    Lily held out the big bath towel and helped her dry. Alice had no inhibitions about her maid seeing her naked. Women didn’t worry her. It was nice to be cosseted.
    â€˜Madam,’ Lily looked at her, ‘I think you’re putting on weight!’
    â€˜Oh, shut up, Lily. Of course I’m not.’
    She was dressed and made up. Lily draped a furlined cloak over her shoulders. ‘You look very nice, madam,’ she said.
    Alice smiled back at her as she left the room. ‘Thanks to you. Don’t wait up, I can get out of this by myself, thank goodness.’
    When she was gone Lily began to tidy the bathroom and the bedroom. That was not her job but she disliked someone else coming in and handling her lady’s things. She wouldn’t let the housemaid touch the bed or fiddle with things on the dressing table. That was her domain.
    She had been six months with Alice and now Alice couldn’t do without her. She was proud of the way her lady looked and proud of how much that was due to her efforts. And it was very personal, working for Alice. She shared in the excitements. That amazing day, for instance, when they came back late on a Sunday evening and there was Alice bubbling like champagne, instead of being quiet and low, like she usually was at the end of a weekend with him there all the time. ‘Lily,’ she’d said, ‘We’re going to buy the most wonderful house in England! And I want you to come and live there with me!’ Life had become