Classic Bestsellers from Josephine Cox: Bumper Collection

A few minutes to brush her long auburn curls, a healthy layer of face-powder, a smarm of crimson lipstick, a touch of rouge to her cheekbones, and she was ready. Taking a final glance at herself, Lilian smiled with pleasure.

‘I hope you like what you see, Tom,’ she murmured, her heart leaping at the thought of coming face to face with him. It had been such a long time.

Going downstairs, she put on her mackintosh and checked that the house was secure. When the taxi arrived five minutes later, she was already at the door waiting. ‘I’m on my way, Tom,’ she whispered, climbing into the back of the cab. ‘We’ll be good together, you and me. You’ve had plenty of time to get over what happened,’ she chided. ‘There’s no need for either of us to be lonely any more.’

Convinced he would be thrilled to see her, she settled back in the seat and smiled a little smile. ‘It’s time for us to start planning a future together.’

Looking in his mirror, the driver thought Lilian was a real knockout. It was a shame she was mad as a hatter: he could hear her muttering to herself.

Now, as she looked up and saw him eyeing her, he asked tentatively, ‘All right, are you, Miss?’

‘Never better!’ she answered.

‘That’s good.’

He put his foot down and sped along. Usually he would chat to his customers on the journey. But this one seemed to be doing all right talking to herself, he thought.

Chapter 15 (#ulink_f49e6031-6d7a-57ff-bdc2-9bf901a62ddb)

KATHY WAS DUE to finish work at lunchtime today; afterwards she was planning to go and see Mabel. ‘It’s a crying shame, so it is.’ Rosie at work had been horrified to hear of Mabel’s sorry plight. ‘Sure, the poor woman should get rid of him, and buy a cat or a dog!’

Chuckling at Rosie’s straightforward, no-nonsense nature, Kathy told her she would pass on the suggestion.

When she stopped in at home, her sister had a few different ideas. ‘If you ask me, she deserved what she got!’ Kathy had told her where she was going, and that she wouldn’t be long. ‘You tell her from me: any woman who lets a man boss her around is a damned fool!’

Ignoring her sister’s spiteful remarks, Kathy informed her she would have to root about in the cupboard and get her own lunch. ‘I had a sandwich at work. That should keep me going while I’m out.’

Samantha had not planned on getting her own meals. ‘I hoped we could go out for a meal – you, me and Tom?’

‘Did you now?’ Because of the blatant way she was flirting with Tom, Kathy wanted her gone, but was too polite to say so.

Insensitive at every point, Samantha retaliated. ‘You seem very insecure these days,’ she said harshly. ‘Anybody would think I was trying to steal him from you.’

Kathy picked up on that. ‘And are you?’ It wouldn’t be the first time Samantha had stolen a boyfriend of hers.

Instead of giving a straightforward answer, Samantha simply smiled. ‘He might even prefer me to you. Have you thought of that? Oh, but don’t worry. If he makes advances on me, I’ll put him in his place, I promise.’

‘Like you did with other men I’ve liked?’ In her heart Kathy had never forgiven Samantha for her behaviour. ‘You just lured them away, and when you’d had your fun, you dropped them. It was all just a game for you, wasn’t it?’ Kathy was annoyed with herself for rising to the bait, but Samantha’s taunts had brought the memories flooding back.

‘It wasn’t my fault! They came on to me!’

‘Maybe they did, and maybe I ought to thank you for showing me what swine some of them were, but I can promise you that Tom is a different kettle of fish altogether.’

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘As sure as I am about anything, yes.’

‘Really? Well, if you’re so sure, why are you afraid of inviting me along this evening?’

Kathy was losing her patience. ‘You know very well he’ll be leaving for London tonight. He’s busy tying up a few loose ends, but I want to see him on my own later.’ Her voice hardened. ‘You’re welcome to stay here, but occasionally Tom and I would like some time to ourselves. And another thing, while we’re at it. I’ll thank you not to keep inviting yourself everywhere we go. Or including yourself in every conversation we have.’

Samantha had been painting her nails, but now she looked up with a feigned expression of horror on her face. ‘Do I do that? Oh, I am sorry.’

Not wanting to get into one of Samantha’s one-sided arguments, Kathy walked away. ‘I’d best get ready.’

‘Yes, I should if I were you.’ She blew on her nails. ‘If Tom pops in, I’ll look after him, don’t you worry.’

After the conversation they’d just had, that remark cut deep.

Kathy asked her outright. ‘You still haven’t told me why you’re here.’

‘I’ve come to see you. I would have thought that was plain enough.’

‘I don’t know why you should.’ Kathy had learnt not to mince words where Samantha was concerned. ‘You’ve never bothered about me before. Why start now?’ She was no fool. ‘You’re after something. What is it?’

Taking Kathy by surprise, Samantha suddenly became tearful. ‘You don’t want to know,’ she said, wiping her eyes.

Kathy was adamant; she would not be taken in by her sister’s show of emotion. ‘Try me.’

‘It’s Mother.’

‘What about her?’

‘She’s been such a fool. I’ve been trying to comfort her, you see. And now she’s cost me my job. I’ve lost my home and everything.’

Kathy could see now that Samantha was here for a purpose. ‘Go on. I’m listening.’ If they really were in trouble, she could not turn her back on them.

‘Well, she got really depressed. He’s not the easiest man in the world to live with. In fact, I think he’s hit her now and again, only she’s too proud to say so.’

Samantha congratulated herself on the ease and skill of her lies. ‘Anyway, I went to see her the other week. She was all worked up. She began telling me that she had been wrong to marry just for money, and that now she wanted to find herself someone kinder. She didn’t care how rich he was, she just wanted someone who would take care of her.’

Kathy was amazed. ‘Are you sure we’re talking about the same woman?’

Samantha snivelled. ‘She’s changed, Kathy. He’s changed her. Anyway, while she was saying all these things about him … like how she would make a new life and all that, she had no idea he was there, listening at the door. Now he’s stopped her allowance and won’t give her a single penny. I’m really worried about her.’ In fact, the only person she was worried about was herself.

For one foolish minute, Kathy was tempted to believe her. Concerned, she sat down.

‘Are you telling me the truth?’ she asked pointedly. ‘I know you can spin a good story when it suits you, but I would hate to think of Mother being knocked about.’

Images of her mother flashed through her mind: the jewels, the family home, the callous way she had treated Father. And all those many times she had made Kathy feel worthless. ‘I couldn’t stand back and see her being ill treated,’ she told Samantha now. ‘Though if she has messed up her life, she’s got no one to blame but herself.’

‘Of course I’m telling you the truth!’ Samantha could put on a good act when needs be. ‘She’s not only ruined her life. She’s ruined mine as well. Why do you think I’m here?’

Kathy’s suspicions were never far away. ‘Why are you here, Samantha?’ Kathy still couldn’t quite believe what Samantha was telling her. Irene was a strong, arrogant woman who could look after herself in any circumstances, and who would certainly find life without a wealthy husband very hard to bear.

Samantha reiterated what she’d already said. ‘I’m here because I needed to see you. Like I say, I’ve lost my job, and I’ve nowhere to live.’

‘What about the jewels Mother gave you?’