Walter grinned at him unpleasantly. ‘If I do go down, I’ll take every single one of you with me. I know where all the bodies are buried, because I helped bury most of them. You tell those treacherous little shits on my Board to behave; or I will bury them. And what I will do to you, Alexander Khan … I would hate to see done to a dead dog.’ He scowled heavily. ‘Now see what you’ve done! Completely spoiled my holiday mood! Mel; where are you, girl …?’
Melanie came quickly over to stand with him, and Khan gave up. He strode away, while Melanie fussed over Walter, making sure he had a fresh glass of champagne, and cheering him up again with happy inconsequential chatter. I couldn’t help noticing that while Melanie was always ready to be instantly protective of her husband, she left Penny strictly alone. As though Melanie expected her daughter to be able to look after herself.
Meanwhile, Sylvia was still busy being the life and soul of the party. I watched her make a point of talking to everyone, individually and in groups; they were always glad to see her. Laughter followed her round the room, and there wasn’t a man present who didn’t look at her in a thoughtful sort of way, if only for a moment. And yet she didn’t seem to want to talk with me any more. Perhaps because she could tell she’d be wasting her time. I think I puzzled her, a little. She was used to being able to con people, and you know what they say … one predator can always recognize another.
Roger finally got Penny all to himself by backing her into a corner and not letting her get past him.
‘You can’t keep avoiding me like this, Penny!’
‘I think you’ll find I can, darling. I’m actually getting pretty good at it.’
‘You said that if I agreed to come all the way down here, to this horrible old haunt in the back of beyond, and spend Christmas with you and your ghastly family, then you’d talk about us getting back together again!’
‘I said nothing of the sort!’ Penny said sharply. ‘You insisted on being invited down here, even though I told you it was a bad idea. I said that we would talk about this one last time, and we have. I don’t want to be engaged to you any longer. How many times do I have to say it?’
Roger scowled at her, like a little boy being told something he didn’t want to hear. ‘Why don’t you want to be engaged to me? We had good times! We were happy together!’
‘You were happy,’ said Penny, not unkindly. ‘I just went along, I think, because it made Daddy happy. He so wanted to see his little girl safely married and off his hands. Someone else’s responsibility. But in the end I decided that my being happy was more important than his being happy. You’re not a bad sort, Roger, but you’re not what I’m looking for. Sorry.’
Roger stared at his shoes, because he couldn’t face Penny’s terribly understanding gaze. ‘I suppose you’re about to say: It’s not you, it’s me.’
‘No, I’m pretty sure it’s you, Roger,’ Penny said firmly. ‘You’re sweet enough, I suppose, when you’re not thinking about yourself. And yes, I suppose we did have some good times together. But that’s no basis for a marriage! You’re not what I want, and you’re very definitely not what I need. Just put it down to experience, Roger, and move on. I have.’
‘What is it you want?’ Roger said desperately. ‘Whatever it is, I’ll get it for you! I promise I will. Just … tell me what you want me to do.’
‘And that’s your problem right there, Roger. I don’t want someone who wants me to tell them what to do. Especially when I don’t know what it is I want. Only that I’ll know it when I see it. Or him.’
She turned and looked right at me, and caught me studying her. Roger looked at both of us, and seemed more tired and hurt than angry.
I carefully looked away. I didn’t want to get involved with these people. I was here for the Colonel … and there was still no sign of him.
I turned away, for something to distract myself with, and saw Diana standing alone for a moment, looking thoughtfully at Sylvia as she charmed and sparkled her way round the room. Perhaps Diana wasn’t sure that bringing her new friend and companion with her had been such a good idea, after all, because there had been a time when Diana herself would have been the one sparkling and charming and catching everyone’s eye. I remembered her doing it, in the days of her beauty. And perhaps Diana was realizing there was only one real prize in this gathering for Sylvia to go after, and that was Walter. Diana might be divorced from the man, but that didn’t necessarily mean she wanted to see him thrown to the sharks. But even as I thought that, Sylvia turned away from Walter and went back to talk with Diana. And within moments the two of them were chatting and laughing together, happy as two teenage chums. Sometimes, I really don’t understand people.
Melanie and Khan were standing close together, with their backs to the fire, talking quietly, as though they’d just happened to end up in the same place. But there was something in the way they stood together, in they way they held themselves, that caught my eye. I listened carefully.
‘Have you talked any sense into him yet?’ said Melanie.
‘I’m trying,’ said Khan. ‘It’s not easy. Your husband can be very stubborn.’
‘I know,’ said Melanie. ‘Trust me, Alex; I know. Do whatever you have to. I am not losing Belcourt Manor, and all that goes with it, just because Walter won’t see sense. It’s well past time he retired fully and left the company in more proficient hands. Your hands.’
‘Will I see you later?’ said Khan, still staring carefully straight ahead of him.
‘We’ll see,’ said Melanie. ‘We’re going to have to be very careful, Alex. We can’t risk-’
‘No,’ said Khan. ‘We can’t. So we will just have to be careful.’
They moved off, in different directions, to talk with other people.
Sylvia made a beeline for Roger, who’d been left standing on his own again. I nodded to myself. People like Roger would always be easy prey to people like Sylvia. He didn’t want to talk to her, because he didn’t want to talk to anyone but Penny, but Sylvia fluttered before him, hanging on his every word and laughing happily at anything that might have been humorous. And Roger started smiling, and even laughing, in return. He seemed a lot more likeable when he lightened up. Every now and again, Roger would shoot a glance at Penny, just to see if she was noticing him being happy without her, but on the few occasions when she did notice, she actually seemed happy for him. Which wasn’t what he wanted at all.
Jeeves the butler entered the drawing room, moving so quietly and smoothly that he hardly seemed to be there at all, bearing a fresh set of drinks on a silver platter. He moved around the room in a most professional way, his dark face calm and impassive, offering drinks to the guests. No one seemed particularly interested, but Jeeves didn’t leave.
‘Coffee and hot chocolate are also available,’ he announced his deep rich voice, breaking effortlessly through the general chatter. ‘I can always send down to the kitchens …’
‘Ah! Yes,’ said Walter. ‘Are you sure dinner will be on time, Jeeves? I mean, given that Cook is down there on her own …’ He looked around him apologetically. ‘No staff, you see. Couldn’t get any of them to come in over Christmas, no matter how big a bonus I offered. We’re lucky to have Mrs Bridges. First class cook. Jeeves found her for me. Didn’t you, Jeeves?’
‘Indeed sir,’ said Jeeves. ‘Cook has assured me dinner will be served exactly on time, sir. With the approved Christmas menu. The lady is a treasure.’
‘She’d better be,’ growled Walter. ‘She’s costing me enough …’
‘Now, Walter, I’m sure she’s worth every penny we’re paying her,’ Melanie said firmly. ‘Everybody else wanted to be with their family over the holiday season.’ She stopped and fixed me with a speculative gaze. ‘Won’t your family be missing you at Christmas, Ishmael?’
‘I have no family,’ I said. ‘They’re all gone. There’s just me, now.’
Penny stepped forward, immediately touched. ‘Oh; that’s so sad! Well, for this Christmas, you must regard us as your family! Isn’t that right, Daddy?’