Page 24 of The Lavender Bride

23

Rex Trent is in the Canadian Rockies to film RAIL CAR THREE. With his old playmate Tony Young part of the cast, the two have been frolicking in the snow together. Staff at the plush hotel the cast and crew are staying in say Trent is rarely seen without Young at his side. ‘Tony has been staying in Rex’s suite,’ a source told us. We don’t know what’s going on after lights out but we’re pretty darned sure they’re not playing checkers.

EYEWITNESS , MARCH 1953

‘If it’s a girl, we’re thinking of Elizabeth.’ Ginny runs her hand over her bump. She’s five months gone and has never looked prettier. ‘After your queen.’

We’re sitting on the terrace. It’s late morning, the sun warms my skin but there’s a cool breeze off the hills. Muffin is asleep in the shade of the table. I sip my coffee, hoping my sunglasses hide my reaction as I blink back tears. I am wrung out with longing for a baby. I’m horribly and painfully jealous every time I see Ginny, which makes me feel like a terrible friend. I want her to be happy, of course, I do but I yearn for a life like hers, with a husband who adores me and babies to cuddle.

The telephone rings inside the house. Muffin lifts her head. I don’t move. Trudie will be offended if I answer it.

‘Did you decide on lemon yellow for the nursery?’ I’m already planning her baby shower and want to make sure the colour scheme is spot on.

‘Yes, it looks real pretty on the walls and—’ Ginny breaks off as Trudie crosses the terrace towards us.

‘Mrs Trent,’ she says. ‘Mr Stone’s on the telephone for you.’

‘Bother!’ I say as I stand up. As Rex is away, a telephone call from Dirk will be a request for an interview or to attend some gala or other. In my husband’s absence, I’m expected to remain in the public eye as if to remind everyone he does indeed have a wife at home.

I leave my sunglasses on the table and walk inside. Muffin follows at my heels. My footsteps echo as I cross the marble floor, punctuated by the rapid tap of Muffin’s feet.

I pick the telephone up. ‘Audrey Trent speaking.’

‘I’ll just put you through.’ The voice at the other end is Jean, who replaced me at the agency.

There’s a click and then Dirk says, ‘Audrey, the studio need you to go to Canada.’

‘Why on earth—?’ I start to say but Dirk cuts me off.

‘They need you to get Rex to see sense. Tony Young’s up there with him.’

His words are like a punch in the stomach. Tony’s in Canada? No wonder Rex left with a smile on his face! That lousy, lying snake. How dare he? He promised me he’d give Tony up, that he’d be as faithful as if our marriage was a real one. Was that all just guff to get me to agree to marry him? Because as it’s barely a month since our first anniversary, it’s starting to feel that way.

There’s a rustle of paper and then Dirk adds, ‘ Eyewitness have got photos. Damning ones.’

My stomach swoops because we’re back where we were a year ago, only this time with photographs. My grip tightens on the receiver. I just know this is going to get worse. Muffin looks up at me with her deep, brown eyes as if she senses something is wrong.

‘You still there, kid?’ Dirk asks.

‘Yes.’ A pulse is throbbing in my temple. I press my fingers against it. ‘There’s more, isn’t there?’

‘ Eyewitness has got someone at the hotel feeding them information. They know Tony’s been staying in Rex’s suite.’

‘What?’ There’s a sudden tightening in my chest. ‘How could he be so stupid?’

Anger screeches up my spine. I’ve been loyal; despite Rex’s selfishness and the drinking and loneliness that has eaten away at my soul, I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. What was the point of all this if Rex was going to parade his feelings for Tony in front of the world only a few months later?

‘That’s what I need you to find out,’ Dirk says. ‘And you can tell him from me that if he keeps this up, he’s going to have to find a new agent.’

‘You don’t mean that.’ I know Dirk. His bark is worse than his bite.

Dirk laughs a little ruefully. ‘Probably not. But that’s our little secret, okay, kid?’

‘Fine.’ I fold my free arm across my chest. ‘What do I need to do?’

‘We’ve booked you on a PanAm flight to Calgary at eight thirty tomorrow morning.’

Automatically, I write down the details.

‘Jean will courier the tickets to you this afternoon. A driver will pick you up at Calgary airport and take you to Lake Louise.’

I finish the call by promising to telephone Dirk when I arrive. Then I tilt my head back and stare sightlessly up at the ceiling. Of all of the utterly idiotic things to do! How could he be so reckless? Did he think no one knew him in Canada? He’s a movie star! He’d probably be recognised in Outer Mongolia!

Muffin whines. I reach down to pat her. Force myself to take a breath.

I walk across the hall to the gilt-framed mirror. My face looks pale. There are lines between my eyebrows. On the table beneath the mirror is a photograph from our wedding. Rex and me outside the courthouse. Rex looks like the groom at a shotgun wedding. I’m smiling but there’s a tiny crease between my eyebrows that gives my doubts away.

He promised to be true. Not only before the judge but on that fateful Saturday when I was summoned here. I’ve been true to Rex. I’ve not spoken to Jack since Ginny’s wedding because I knew if I did, I couldn’t trust myself to hold back this time. In those last five months, as loneliness grew rampant as weeds in my heart and Rex’s secrets threatened to choke me, I’ve stood by him. And he’s gone and blown all of that by jumping back into bed with Tony!

He really is the most selfish man that ever lived. When I get to Lake Louise, I am going to give him a piece of my mind. I’ve played nicely, I’ve bitten my lip and kept quiet at his bad behaviour time and again. I’ve begged and pleaded with him to give up drinking. Well, this time, I’m not pulling my punches. If he’s not careful, he’ll blow the charade of our marriage sky-high and what happens to me then? Nothing good, you can be sure of that.

I blow out a long breath. Ginny’s outside. I’ve got to think up a reason why I’m needed in Canada. I run possibilities through my head as I head through the kitchen. Stepping outside, the sunshine makes me blink and I wish I’d not left my sunglasses on the table.

‘Everything all right?’ she asks.

‘I have to go to Canada.’ I slip my sunglasses back on, hoping she’s not caught the strain written across my face. ‘Rex needs me.’

‘Is he all right?’ Ginny turns to me, eyes wide. ‘Has something terrible happened?’

‘He’s drinking too much again.’ I clear my throat. ‘It’s making him late for his calls. The producers think I’ll be able to help.’

‘Has this been going on since the wedding?’ Ginny grips my arm.

‘Pretty much,’ I say slowly. ‘Look, I’m sorry to cut this short but I’ve got to pack. It’s an early flight in the morning.’

‘Of course.’ Ginny levers herself carefully out of the chair, her hand instinctively cradling her bump.

As we walk inside, I say, ‘Just how cold is it in the Rockies in March?’

‘Pretty darned cold. You’ll need plenty of sweaters and your fur topper.’

The fur topcoat was my Christmas present from Rex. I’m rather tired of the expensive gifts, which mean nothing, but if I don’t take it, he’ll be offended.

Ginny turns on the steps and looks back at me. ‘You can ring me. From Canada. I barely sleep at the moment because of this one.’ As she pats the bump fondly, I swallow around the enormous lump clogging my throat. ‘So don’t worry about the time.’

‘Thank you.’ I won’t ring. I can’t trust myself not to tell her all of the secrets if I do.

Once she’s gone, I stand in the huge hall. Muffin comes towards me, her head tilted as if she’s trying to work out what’s going on.

I could pick her up and leave. Just walk away and let Rex sort out his own problems. I could start again somewhere new. Australia, maybe. I’ve done it before.

I don’t want to run away. But I’m afraid of what Rex will say to me in Canada. Afraid of the decisions I’ll have to make because of that. Afraid of feeling even smaller than I do already.

Rex has done that to you , that little voice says. It’s his fault you feel small. You owe him nothing.

I rub my hands over my face again. That might be true but I’ve agreed to go to Canada. After that, who knows?

I look down at my dog. ‘Come on,’ I say to Muffin. ‘We’ve packing to do.’

* * *

My aeroplane tickets arrive mid-afternoon. I hear the bell ring as I’m deciding if I need the brown saddle shoes as well as the black loafers. I run downstairs. Trudie hands me the envelope. Inside, with the tickets, is the front page of Eyewitness .

In the largest photograph, Rex and Tony are talking by a lake. Their bodies are too close together, their gazes locked. My body goes entirely cold because you only stand like that with someone if even those few inches feels too much and you long for there to be no distance between you at all.

Over the page, there’s another snap. In this one, they’re emerging from a veranda that’s cast in shadow. Banks of snow are piled up on each side of the path. Rex has his arm around Tony’s shoulders, their heads are close together as if they’re deep in conversation.

I take candid shots. I recognise moments that capture truth. It’s written all over these. Rex and Tony care deeply about each other.