Kim’s potty about you. She also said she’d like you to stay with us at the Villa Zamir at Cap Martin. And for as long as you want. She expects me to spend August there, and I suppose I will. I do hope you can manage a couple of weeks at least, Katharine. It won’t interfere with your preparations for your trip to Hollywood, will it?’
‘No, I don’t think there’ll be a problem. And how really kind of Doris,’ Katharine murmured, amazed at this apparent, but unexpected, show of friendliness from Madame Asternan. ‘When will the wedding take place?’
‘Not until the autumn. November, Daddy said. Here in Yorkshire at the church in Langley. Oh gosh, you’ll be in California. Damn and blast! I hadn’t thought of that. I was hoping we could both be bridesmaids. I was going to suggest it to Doris.’
Katharine began to laugh, picturing, in her mind’s eye, Doris’s face when she was apprised of this particular idea. Me a bridesmaid for Doris. Over Doris’s dead body, she thought with some asperity.
Mistaking her laughter for excitement and pleasure, Francesca said, ‘Even though you won’t be able to be a bridesmaid, I can tell Doris you’ll come to Cap Martin, can’t I?’
‘Yes. It’ll be nice to have a vacation, a rest, before I start the Beau Stanton picture. Well, this has certainly been my morning for unexpected news.’
‘Oh, really.’
‘Yes, Terry was also here to make an announcement. He came to tell me he had just signed a contract with Monarch. He’s off to Hollywood too.’ Katharine went on to explain about this, and finished, ‘Anyway, he’s giving a celebration lunch tomorrow, and he’d like you to join us, Frankie.’
‘I’d love to, but I’m afraid I can’t, Kath. I’m going up to town this afternoon.’
‘To London?’ Katharine blinked, looking surprised.
‘Yes. Have you forgotten? I told you ages ago that my cousin Diana’s arriving from Paris tomorrow. She’s going to be staying with me for a couple of weeks.’
‘Heavens, I did forget. But I’ve been so preoccupied with my work and with my scenes, everything else has been pushed out of my mind. God, actors are so selfish, so self-involved, it’s terrible. And I’m also very stupid! If only I had remembered, I could have asked Victor to give you a lift. He only just left for London himself, about an hour ago.’
‘Oh,’ Francesca said, and glanced down at her shopping basket. She picked it up and placed it on her knee, searching inside for something. Without lifting her head, not daring to look at Katharine, she continued, ‘Well, that would have been nice, but, in a way, I really prefer to go on the train. I want to check my notes, draft my next chapter. It’s a good opportunity to do a little work.’
‘How is the book coming along, darling?’ Katharine asked with eagerness, as always genuinely interested in Francesca’s writing career.
‘Quite well, actually. Better than I expected, to be honest.’ Francesca took the package out of the basket. ‘This is also for you. I know you’ve become addicted to parkin, so I asked Val to make some for you.’
‘Aren’t you a love. Thanks so much.’ Katharine placed the package on the coffee table, and threw Francesca a wistful look. ‘Then you won’t be at Langley for dinner tonight after all,’ she stated in a tiny voice.
‘No, I won’t, Kath. I’m so sorry about that, but I did promise Diana I’d meet her plane tomorrow morning, and I can’t let her down.’
‘Oh, I know. Still, I was really looking forward to being with you.’
‘Don’t be silly, Kath dear,’ Francesca said softly, seeing the disappointment registering on Katharine’s face. ‘You’ll have Kim entirely to yourself, and that’s much more romantic.’
Katharine twisted the gold signet ring on her little finger, a sense of misgiving invading her. She had counted on Francesca’s presence at dinner, for apart from enjoying her company, she was worried about the prospect of being alone with Kim. His sister always acted as a buffer between them. In a rush, she confided, ‘He’s been awfully annoyed with me. I’ve had to put him off so many times this week. He blames me, when it’s really not my fault at all. He seems to forget I’m in Yorkshire to work. That’s so unfair of him. Also I’ve been under enough strain and pressure without having to cope with his jealousy.’ She sighed. ‘Mark’s tyrannical, Victor’s dictatorial, and as for Kim, well, he’s just plain unreasonable.’
Francesca said nothing. She was on Katharine’s side and filled with sympathy for her, patently aware that she spoke the truth. Mark and Victor were demanding, a couple of slave drivers, in her opinion, and Kim had been exceptionally difficult, impossible really. On the other hand, she did understand her brother’s feelings. She was going through much the same thing with Victor, who had been so involved with the picture, and embroiled in its manifold problems, he had had little time for her.
After a moment, Francesca remarked quietly, ‘I have a feeling Kim realizes he’s been unfair to you, Kath. I had a long talk with him the other day, and told him he was being perfectly boorish, immature, and that he’d better start behaving himself, otherwise he’d lose you. I hope you don’t mind me butting in.’
‘Of course not,’ Katharine said. Her face brightened. ‘I’m grateful. I really am, darling. And perhaps you are right about the two of us being alone. It will give us a chance to talk things out properly, clear the air.’
Francesca, still wishing to play the peacemaker, quickly pointed out, ‘Remember one thing, Katharine. Kim’s in love with you, so it’s only natural he wants to be with you as much as possible. As for being jealous …’ She laughed softly, and continued, ‘You are very lovely, and you’re surrounded by lots of men on the picture. If he weren’t jealous, he’d be abnormal. You can’t hold that against him, can you?’
‘I suppose not,’ Katharine acknowledged, albeit grudgingly. ‘However, I don’t give him any reasons to be jealous, honestly I don’t, Frankie,’ she insisted.
Francesca looked at her fondly. ‘Men don’t always need a reason to behave in outrageous ways. Sometimes they just can’t help themselves.’ Rising, she picked up the basket. ‘You’ll see, everything’ll be fine this evening, and from the way Kim was talking about you yesterday, he’ll be all sweetness and light.’
‘I hope so,’ Katharine replied, getting up from the chair. She linked her arm through Francesca’s and walked with her to the door. ‘I’ll be glad when we get back to London next week. Things’ll be easier then.’ She hugged Francesca, then stood away from her, gazing at her. Quite unexpectedly she felt a rush of warmth in her throat, was filled with the most tender of feelings. Impulsively, she said, ‘You’re the sweetest, dearest friend I’ve ever had in my whole life, Frankie. And the best. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
‘And you’re very special to me too, Kath,’ Francesca answered. ‘You’re like the sister I never had.’ Francesca’s face became solemn, reflective. ‘I don’t think that’s really quite the right analogy, because not all sisters are as close and as loving as we are. To me you’re better than a sister, better than a best friend even.’
Katharine’s unique turquoise eyes turned misty, and there was a tremulous quality to her tone as she said, ‘What a truly beautiful thing to say, darling. And that’s exactly the way I feel about you too, and I always will.’
Francesca’s affirmation of her friendship had given Katharine a marvellous sense of security, for approval was essential to her well being. Besides, she genuinely cared for Francesca, and was gratified to know her feelings were reciprocated. And so, after the other girl had left, she was filled with euphoria as she busied herself in the suite, singing gaily whilst she went about various small tasks. Finally she went through into the bedroom to select an outfit to wear to lunch with Terry and Estelle.
Sadly, her happy carefree mood was shortlived.