The Arrogance Of Love

Then she turned to Susan. ‘There are just a few letters to answer, and afterwards I think we'll take a ride into the country. It will make a nice change for both of us.'

While they were smoking cigarettes and drinking some of the continental coffee Sarah had prepared so expertly, Amanda said, ‘By the way, what did you think of Dominic Halstad?'

‘I don't really know,’ replied Susan, flushing. ‘He … well … he didn't tell me who he was, and I'm afraid I was rather abrupt with him. I treated him like an eager reporter trying to get an inside story.'

Amanda laughed. ‘Oh, don't worry about that. I expect he was quite amused. He's used to people hanging on his every word. Do him good to meet someone who didn't treat him like the purple emperor.'

‘He did say he was a very good friend of yours.'

‘So he is, girl.’ Amanda nodded thoughtfully. ‘You know it was he who persuaded his father to publish my first novel. They weren't very inspiring stories in those days, but Dominic thought I had promise and persuaded his father to think so, too. Of course, I've known Dominic for years. Long before I took up writing, in fact. His mother and mine were great friends, and when we were children we used to play together. I was seven years older than Dom, but he led me a terrible life.’ She chuckled reminiscently.

‘I see.’ That accounted for the familiar way he had spoken of her. ‘He hasn't been here before, has he?'

‘No, he's been abroad for quite a long time,’ replied Amanda. ‘He seems to do a lot of his work in America, or so I believe; at any rate I haven't seen him for a couple of years or so.'

‘He seems very young,’ murmured Susan, drawing deeply on her cigarette. ‘But he must be nearly forty.'

‘He is, darling. But I agree, he doesn't look his age, which is remarkable in the circumstances.'

‘What circumstances?’ Susan was curious.

‘Oh, the problems he has had to face with Veronica.'

‘Veronica? Oh, is she his wife?'

‘That's right.’ Amanda sounded bitter. ‘Regrettably.'

Susan stubbed out her cigarette. ‘Why so? Are they divorced?'

‘No. Nothing so simple.’ She smiled, a little forcedly, and then said, ‘Well, let's get on.'

Susan picked up her notebook, but as she did so she wondered why Amanda seemed so reluctant to talk about Dominic Halstad's wife. There seemed to be a mystery about the whole affair, but she respected Amanda's confidence and firmly tried to push all thoughts of the Halstad mеnage from her mind.

But it was not so easy as she thought, and she found her mind twisting back over all that had been said, trying to find some reason for Amanda's oblique comments.

But it was no use. She did not know sufficient about them to be able to form any opinion, and it seemed unlikely that Dominic Halstad should have any problems that he could not handle, when she considered his immense wealth and personal charm.

They lunched at the apartment and afterwards drove out of town in Amanda's Rolls-Royce, Susan acting as chauffeuse. They stopped at a small country pub for a drink, and relaxed in the garden of the inn, sitting at rustic tables on wooden forms.

It was all very olde-worlde and Susan liked it.

‘I'm having dinner with Dominic this evening,’ remarked Amanda suddenly. ‘At least, I should say he's having dinner with me. He's coming to the apartment.'

‘Alone?’ Susan was intrigued. Where was his wife?

‘Yes. Alone. Why? Would you and David like to make up a foursome?'

‘Oh, really … I … of course we wouldn't intrude …’ Susan felt embarrassed.

‘You wouldn't be intruding,’ replied Amanda easily. ‘It's a grand idea. Why didn't I think of it before?'

Susan's nerves felt as taut as violin strings, and she inwardly rated herself for feeling this way at the mere mention of that man's name.

‘I don't think David would want to come,’ she murmured truthfully.

‘Oh, never mind what that young man says. Would you like to come?'

‘I … I suppose so.'

Amanda screwed her nose up, and looked rather cynical. ‘I must say your enthusiasm is overwhelming,’ she remarked dryly.

Susan giggled. ‘I'm sorry, Amanda. Of course, I'd like to come, but you know what David is.'

‘I know,’ said Amanda. ‘Why don't you give him a ring? I expect he'll be working as usual today, won't he? Tell him Dom is coming. I guarantee he won't refuse.'

‘Perhaps you're right,’ agreed Susan, sighing. ‘All right. I'll go and see if I can use the phone here.'

The bartender was quite willing that she should use the phone behind the bar and in no time at all her call was ringing in David's office. Although occasionally she did contact David in this way, it was only very occasionally as he did not like her ringing him during office hours. Thus it was that when David answered and found it was Susan he was rather irritable.

‘What is it?’ he asked brusquely. ‘I'm very busy, Susan. Is it urgent?'

‘Not exactly, darling, but Amanda has invited us to the apartment for dinner this evening and I didn't want to accept until I was sure you would want to go.'

‘I see.’ David did not sound enthusiastic, but, thought Susan impatiently, he expected her to visit his mother's whenever he saw fit, so why should he object on the rare occasions when she asked him to go somewhere that she wanted? After all, Amanda was the nearest person to a mother she was ever likely to have.

‘It will make a change,’ she said, annoyed to find that her voice was persuasive. ‘Will you go?'

David hesitated and then said, ‘Do I take it Amanda will be alone? Or will there be other guests?'

‘One other guest, Dominic Halstad,’ said Susan quickly.

‘Dominic Halstad!’ David sounded astonished now. ‘Really?'

‘Yes, really.’ Susan felt angry. As Amanda had said, the name had caused an immediate and favourable reaction.

‘Well, in that case, I think we might go. It sounds interesting. Is he a friend of Amanda's?'

‘Yes. Right. What time will you pick me up?'

Susan was glad when she replaced the receiver. She had been conscious of having the attention of the bartender while she was making the call and she hoped she had not sounded too pleading. Thanking him, she returned to Amanda.

‘Well?’ said Amanda at once. ‘What's the verdict?'

‘As soon as I mentioned Mr. Halstad's name, it worked like a charm.’ Susan sighed. ‘I don't know why you and David are so antipathetic to one another.'

The last time David and Susan had dined at the apartment, Amanda and David had spent the whole evening arguing over contemporary painting. Amanda was a devotee of modern art, whereas David could not stand it and, unlike Amanda, he did not think everyone should have their own opinion. He had inherited from his mother the idea that he was right and everyone else must be wrong.

‘That young man annoys me,’ said Amanda, ‘and he knows it. He is also jealous of my monopolizing your time. Are all young men today so sure of themselves?'