‘But you were the last person to see him in England the night he died.’
‘He was in a depressed state, and I will always feel guilty because I probably made him even more so. I suggested that perhaps I shouldn’t see him any more. I told him I couldn’t reciprocate, I didn’t want him. That evening I told him not to be foolish, he was taking too many risks, especially in his career. So I left him. The rest you know.’ William sighed and Justin added, in a soft, emotional voice, ‘I will never forgive myself. The way he has been written about is unfair, so cruel. He did not deserve it. You want to get even, William, well, maybe I do too, not for me but for Andrew.’
Sylvina had not been paying much attention to Justin. He was putting on a show for William’s benefit, obviously. All she knew was that Justin had got thousands out of poor foolish Maynard, the way he had with so many lovers; he used them and discarded them, enjoying their desperation almost as if that was what turned him on.
‘Does this mean you won’t hire me to refurbish your villa?’ Justin said now, in a boyish voice.
‘No, of course it doesn’t. But, as I said before, I will need professional estimates. Truth is, with the problems I’ve been through I’ve not had time lately even to consider the island, but if you have ideas and experience, and you evidently have, then yes, you can do it. Why not? As for you, Sylvina, here’s a list of people who are high on the social agenda that I want to see eating out of my hands!’
The first two names on the list she knew. ‘Well, this will be no problem at all, Baron and Baroness von Garten are friends of mine.’ She recalled the way they had left dinner in front of William, and added hastily, ‘Not close friends, of course. But... yes, I know most of these names. It’ll be no problem at all.’
Justin rested his hand on Sylvina’s knee and gave it a small triumphant pat. He knew now his fish wasn’t even wriggling. The game was about to commence, and William, for all his business acumen, had no notion of where the ground rules began and ended.
It was quite some time before Sylvina was able to corner Justin alone, and ask him just what this deal to refurbish some villa was about.
Justin shrugged. ‘Well, sweet face, you are getting paid for Sir William’s entry into society, and I am doing the same for some island he’s got in the Caribbean. Nothing wrong in feathering my own nest — I’ve certainly feathered your bankrupt one.’
‘There’s no need to rub my nose in it.’ She moved closer. ‘But what was all that about a game, taking revenge? He’s not a crook, is he?’
‘No, straight as an arrow, pussy.’
‘So what were you talking about?’
‘Mind your own business.’
‘But if I’m going to be living in his pocket, so to speak, don’t you think I should know?’
He turned to her, and his eyes were so cruel that she stepped away. ‘You don’t want to know because it doesn’t concern you.’
‘But it is something that concerns you, right?’
He glared, refusing to answer, but under his breath he whispered, ‘It does, but he doesn’t know it... yet.’
Chapter seven
Justin waited until he thought William was asleep, then crept into Sylvina’s room. He eased the door closed and flew on to her bed. Lying on top of her, he gripped her face with his hands. ‘We are rich, rich, rich, sweetheart! Didn’t I tell you it would work?’
‘Yes, you did, but it’s going to take a long time. He’s no pushover, and he’ll be counting every penny in that bloody little notebook.’
He rolled away to lie beside her, a big smile on his face. ‘Listen, he’s up for it, and you’ll not see that book out again. Just take your time and enjoy it. You’ll never have had so much money to throw around in your life!’
She leaned up on her elbow and looked down into his face. ‘Where will you be when I’m with him?’
Justin stretched and yawned. ‘I am heading for the British Virgin Islands. Preparing the island for his future house-guests.’ He giggled. ‘Obviously my fees for refurbishing it in my own inimitable style will be exorbitant, but style never did come cheap.’ He swung his legs from the bed and sat with his back to her.
Sylvina stroked his shoulder. ‘I don’t want any repercussions. I was serious about not wanting to get involved in anything illegal. I mean, he’s not going to be hurling people off the cliffs, is he?’
‘No, of course not. You heard him, he just wants to...’
‘Mmm, go on. William wants to what?’
Justin walked across to the window and opened the white muslin curtains. He twisted one round him so that it hid his face. ‘Everyone has a sexual fantasy. Everyone has wondered what it would be like to be taken to the ultimate erotic high. Unbridled lust and lechery is what is going to happen on the island.’
Sylvina laughed. ‘My darling, I know you’re an experienced screw, but you’re not everyone’s idea of the ultimate sexual partner.’ She sat up. ‘And don’t think for one second that I’m interested in any of your erotica. I’ve agreed to spend as much time as it takes with William, but no sex. Then I’ll be off, as soon as I’ve collected my fee. Do I really need a whole year with him?’
‘Yes, it’ll take that time to work over the island. I have to have enough time to prepare it.’
‘This list of names he gave me — I mean, they’re a bit ridiculous. I know the von Gartens, he met them here. What’s so special to him about them?’
‘No idea,’ he said, shrugging.
‘Cedric somebody, who’s he?’
‘Breeds racehorses, English aristo.’
She continued reading from the list: ‘I mean, Meryl Delaware? Dear God, everyone knows that wretched scribbler.’ One name had been underlined three times. ‘This Humphrey Matlock, who’s he?’
‘Newspaper magnate. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of him — you read his grubby papers.’
‘Oh, well, he shouldn’t be a problem, then. But no one on this list is remotely “high society”.’ She put the list aside. ‘Is she going with you? She’s very fragile, you know.’
He let go of the curtain and sauntered to the door. ‘She’s never done anything she didn’t want to,’ he said quietly.
‘Don’t you mean she’s never done anything without you pulling the strings? What is she going to be doing?’
‘Mind your own damned business.’
‘Fine, I will. But be careful because I know she had another fit and one day she might just snap. Be prepared for when she turns on the hand that operates her. I hope your devious little mind isn’t setting me up to prepare William for her, marry her off for his money.’
He giggled. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll keep her away from him until the time is right. She’s my pièce de résistance, the perfect foil, my beloved sister.’ He opened the door and blew Sylvina a kiss. ‘Goodnight,’ he said, and closed the door softly behind him. Then he swung it open again. ‘Don’t you even contemplate marrying him either. You can announce an engagement but then you have to ditch him publicly. Understand?’
‘Oh, go to bed. One year with him will be sufficient, thank you.’
He closed the door again, and she lay back on her pillows. She’d done some crazy things in her life, but this one took first prize. Still, one million... one million!
Five days later, Sharee returned to Nice. She called the villa to be told by Marta that Sylvina had gone to Paris and had left no forwarding address. When she asked after Justin, she was told that Monsieur Chalmers was collecting his sister and would be departing for the British Virgin Islands, again with no forwarding address. She felt a little guilty about taking off for so long, but as no one was here, she couldn’t apologize. Her sojourn had turned into a sordid group-sex session, which in itself had not worried her, except that she had been unable to get off the yacht. Still, she’d made friends with Terence Hampton, or thought she had — although when she’d called to ask if he could run her to the airport, he had been unable to come to the phone.