Both women stood very still. The air vibrated around them, as if a physical blow had been struck.
Yvonne felt something tighten in her chest. “You know, Jennifer, just because you can have any man in this house, it doesn’t mean you have to.” Her voice was steely.
“What?”
Yvonne rearranged the towels on the rail. “Oh, that helpless-little-princess shtick wears a bit thin sometimes. We know you’re beautiful, Jennifer, yes? We know all our husbands adore you. Just have a care for other people’s feelings for a change.”
They stared at each other. “Is that what you think of me? That I behave like a princess?”
“No. I think you’re behaving like a bitch.”
Jennifer’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, then closed it, replaced the top on her lipstick, straightened her shoulders, and glared at Yvonne. Then she walked out.
Yvonne sat down heavily on the lid of the lavatory and wiped her nose. She stared at the bathroom door, hoping it might open again, and when it didn’t, her head sank into her hands.
It was some moments later that she heard Francis’s voice. “You all right in here, old girl? I was wondering where you were. Darling?”
When she looked up, he saw the expression in her eyes and knelt swiftly, taking her hands. “Are you all right? Is it the baby? Do you need me to do something?”
She gave a great shudder and allowed him to enfold her hands in his. They stayed where they were for some minutes, listening to the music and chatting downstairs, then Jennifer’s high-pitched laughter. Francis reached into his pocket and lit his wife a cigarette.
“Thank you.” She took it and inhaled deeply. Finally she looked up at him, her dark eyes serious. “Promise me we’ll be happy even after the baby comes, Franny darling.”
“What’s—”
“Just promise me.”
“Now, you know I can’t do that,” he said, cupping her cheek. “I’ve always prided myself on keeping you downtrodden and miserable.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Beast.”
“I do my best.” He stood up and straightened the creases in his trousers. “Look. I should imagine you’re exhausted. I’ll get this show out of here, and you and I can slope off to bed. How does that sound?”
“Sometimes,” she said fondly, as he offered a hand and she got to her feet, “you’re not such a waste of a good wedding ring, after all.”
The air was cold and the pavement around the square almost empty. Alcohol had warmed her; she felt giddy, intoxicated.
“I don’t suppose we’ll get a taxi around here,” Reggie said cheerfully, pulling up his collar. “What are you chaps going to do?” His breath clouded in the night air.
“Larry has a driver,” she said. Her husband was standing on the curb nearby, peering down the street.
“Except it looks as if he’s disappeared.” She found this suddenly very funny, and fought to stop herself giggling.
“I gave him the night off,” Laurence muttered. “I’ll drive. You stay here, and I’ll fetch the car keys.” He walked up the steps to their house.
Jennifer wrapped her coat tightly around her. She couldn’t stop staring at Reggie. It was him. Bear. It had to be. He had barely left her side all evening. She was sure there were hidden messages in many of the remarks he’d made. I haven’t had a chance to talk to Jenny for ages. There had been something in the way he’d said it. She was sure she hadn’t imagined it. He drank whiskey. Bear. Her head was spinning. She’d drunk too much, but she didn’t care. She had to know for sure.
“We’re going to be awfully late,” Reggie’s girlfriend said mournfully, and Reggie cast a conspiratorial glance at Jennifer.
He glanced at his watch. “Oh, we’ve probably missed them. They’ll have gone on for a meal now.”
“So what will we do?”
“Who knows?” He shrugged.
“Ever been to Alberto’s club?” Jennifer said suddenly.
Reggie’s smile was slow, and ever so slightly sly. “You know I have, Mrs. Stirling.”
“I do?” Her heart was thumping. She was amazed nobody else could hear it.
“I believe I saw you at Alberto’s the very last time I was there.” His expression was playful, mischievous almost.
“Well, some night out this has been,” Maureen said petulantly, her hands thrust deep into the pockets of her coat. She glared at Jennifer, as if she was to blame.
Oh, if only you weren’t here, Jennifer thought, her pulse racing. “Come with us,” she said suddenly.
“What?”
“To Laurence’s party. It’ll probably be deathly dull, but I’m sure you can liven it up a bit. Both of you. There’ll be lots to drink,” she added.
Reggie looked delighted. “Count us in,” he said.
“Do I get a say in this?” Maureen’s displeasure was written across her face.
“Come on, Mo. It’ll be fun. Otherwise it’ll just be you and me in some dreary restaurant.”
Jennifer felt a twinge of guilt at Maureen’s now obvious despair, but hardened herself against it. She had to know. “Laurence?” she called. “Laurence, darling? Reggie and Maureen are going to come with us. Won’t that be fun?”
Laurence hesitated on the top step, his keys in his hand, his gaze flicking between them. “Marvelous,” he said, walked steadily down the steps, and opened the rear door of the big black car.
Jennifer appeared to have undersold the potential for riotous behavior at the Christmas celebrations of Acme Mineral and Mining. Perhaps it had been the decorations, or the copious amounts of food and drink, or even the prolonged absence of the boss, but when they arrived, the office party was in full swing. Someone had brought a portable gramophone, the lights were dimmed, and the desks had been moved to the side to create a dance floor upon which a throng of people squealed and shimmied to Connie Francis.
“Larry! You never told us your staff were such hep cats!” Reggie exclaimed.
Jennifer left him standing in the doorway, gazing at the scene before him, as she joined the cluster of dancers. His place of work, his domain, his haven, was unrecognizable to him, his staff no longer under his control, and he hated it. She saw his secretary rise from her chair, where she might have sat all evening, and say something to him. He nodded, attempting to smile.