Brand of Possession

She trembled against him. ‘I’m going home with Matthew, Jake.’ She didn’t answer his question.

He broke off kissing her throat, his eyes narrowed. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means he’s taking me home—and he won’t return here until tomorrow morning.’

Jake stepped back with barely suppressed violence. ‘Are you telling me—’

‘I’m telling you what you expect to hear,’ she evaded. ‘And Matthew doesn’t like to be kept waiting.’

‘So he’s the one you really want?’

Stacy nodded. ‘Goodbye, Jake.’ She picked up her suitcase and left.

She sat in front of the television watching the serial that appeared twice a week, and although of late she had watched every single episode of this particular serial she hadn’t taken any of it in. She had in fact taken little interest in anything the last few months.

She stood up as the doorbell rang, sinking back into her chair as Helen came out of her bedroom and offered to answer it. Stacy didn’t mind in the least, everything was too much of an effort lately anyway.

‘It’s for you,’ Helen called out cheerfully on her way out. ‘See you later.’

Stacy looked up as Juliet and Matthew came into the room, the sparkling diamond on Juliet’s finger evidence of their recent engagement. Juliet had at last got her way and made Matthew take her seriously.

At the moment the two of them were dressed rather grandly in preparation for going to the premiere of the film they had all appeared in. Juliet looked rather splendid in a white Grecian gown and Matthew looked very distinguished in his black evening suit and white shirt.

Matthew looked surprised at Stacy’s appearance, her hair tied back from her pale face, her denims creased, her jumper skin-tight. ‘Stacy!’ he was obviously exasperated. ‘You aren’t ready.’

‘Probably because I’m not going,’ she told him calmly. ‘Please, sit down.’ She sat down herself, her knees tucked up under her chin.

Juliet sat down, but Matthew remained standing. ‘What do you mean, you aren’t going? You have to go.’

‘Of course I don’t, Matthew. I received my invitation like everyone else, but I don’t have to attend.’

‘I don’t understand you,’ he said angrily. ‘You’ve been moping around like this for months now. The only time you go out is to work—and if you continue to let yourself go like this there won’t be any work available. You look like a beanpole, you’re losing your figure completely.’

‘Thanks!’

‘Well, look at you. You—’

‘Matthew!’ Juliet said sternly. ‘Leave the poor girl alone.’

‘Someone has to talk some sense into her. She hasn’t been out for weeks.’

‘That’s an exaggeration,’ Stacy told him. ‘I came to your engagement party last week.’

His mouth turned back. ‘I hardly think a half-hour twirl around the room is putting in a respectable appearance,’ he said dryly. ‘You were no sooner there than you’d left again.’

‘But I was there,’ she insisted.

‘For what it was worth. You’re becoming a hermit, Stacy.’

She hunched her shoulders over. ‘I go out if I want to.’

‘And you don’t think tonight is important enough to make a special effort?’ Matthew was fast running out of patience with her. ‘This film is your first big break, Stacy, the first time you’ve had such good billing.’

She gave a mocking smile. ‘I’m lost among the other small fry, as usual.’

Matthew shook his head. ‘Not this time. You’re way up there with the stars.’

Stacy looked stunned. ‘I don’t understand.’