Sylvia gave a mirthless laugh. ‘Grow up,’ she hissed cruelly. ‘You have sexual desire. That’s all.’
‘It’s more than that,’ said Jennifer, trying to keep her voice steady. ‘Much more. He’s not going back to England. He’s staying here and we are going to be together.’
‘You’ve gone mad.’
‘I have never felt more clear-minded,’ she replied, telling herself she could not weaken, could not turn back now.
‘You’re right, you should go to bed. Get some sleep. I’m sure you need it,’ her mother said tartly. ‘And when you wake up, you will go and find Connor – your fiancé – and do your damnedest to make it up with him.’
‘You told Dad that I’d accepted Connor’s proposal, didn’t you?’ She was testing her mother, but Sylvia’s expression barely cracked. There was no sign of surprise at Jennifer’s comment, just a slight hardening of her expression.
‘You needed a little push. That’s all.’
‘This is my life,’ Jennifer said, thumping her fist against her chest. ‘Not a move in your game of social-ambition chess.’
‘It’s not my fault that you don’t know what you want. Don’t see good opportunities when they hit you in the face. Instead you go tramping around with that boy from next door, who, believe me, won’t be quite so attentive now that he’s finally got you into bed.’
‘I’m not listening to this.’
‘No, don’t,’ said her mother, composing herself. ‘Go to bed. Things will be clearer when you’ve had some sleep. I know you’ll make the right decision.’ And she turned and walked back upstairs.
Jennifer stayed in the kitchen for a little while, half expecting David to come down and add his thoughts about the situation. But as she sat and finished her glass of water, she realised that her father hadn’t woken. She was glad about that. Didn’t want to see him. She remembered his proud, smiling face as he made the announcement about her engagement, and suddenly she felt cheap. Her feelings for Jim were still as intense as they had been the night before – hell, she almost blushed when she thought about the thrilling, secret places that he had kissed her – but still, she’d had sex with another man whilst in a relationship with someone else, and that was wrong.
She crept upstairs to bed and tried to get some sleep. It wasn’t difficult, because she was so tired, and when she woke, sunlight was streaming through the shutters and she could hear the sound of the events team disassembling the stage and clearing up the mess from the night before.
The clock on her dressing table told her it was eleven o’clock. Her father would be at work now, and she knew that her mother would keep her distance, at least until Jennifer had done as she was told. She swung her feet out of bed and walked to the window. Sylvia and Marion were directing four men to take stage scaffolding through the side garden. Jennifer watched for a moment from the edge of the window, to keep out of view, and then went for a shower. A piece of hay fell out of her hair and she smiled, although only for a moment. Anxiety did that to you.
She sat on the edge of the bed in her dressing gown, towelling her damp hair, then threw the towel down, knowing she couldn’t procrastinate any longer.
She got dressed and put on her shoes – Jennifer hated the telephone at the best of times, so she wanted to feel as formal and armour-plated as possible when she called Connor – then looked at the phone sitting ominously on her bedside table. Her heart beating hard, she picked up the receiver.
A female voice answered after a few rings. She recognised Carolyn Gilbert’s sugary tones immediately.
‘It’s Jennifer,’ she said quickly, her heart thumping so furiously now she thought it would jump right out of her chest. ‘Is Connor there?’
‘Jennifer . . .’
If she was expecting instant frostiness, she was mistaken.
‘I didn’t get the chan
ce to say congratulations last night. How are you feeling?’
‘Feeling?’ she asked weakly.
‘The food poisoning!’ Carolyn said with surprise. ‘You know I always try and avoid shrimp, but I trusted those caterers. I recommended them to your mother, in fact, but I’m going to give them a wide berth from now on. What terrible, terrible timing. Everyone wanted to wish you well, but your momma said you were in the bathroom . . . She was very discreet about it, though, so don’t you go worrying.’
‘I’m all right now,’ Jennifer said, imagining her mother covering her tracks.
‘Good, because Connor’s daddy and I want to take you out for dinner tonight. To celebrate properly.’
‘Is Connor there?’ she said, wanting to wind this conversation up as quickly as possible. She felt bad enough as it was, and didn’t want to add lying to Mrs Gilbert to her list of sins.
‘He’s gone for a run. He’ll be back soon. You should come round. I’m sure you two have plenty to talk about. Lots of planning. I’m just heading out, so it will be nice and private for you.’
‘Let him know I’m coming,’ she said, knowing that she had to get the thing done.
* * *