Baby Included!, page 5
‘Oh, really...?’ she’d muttered warily, feeling sick to the pit of her stomach with nerves, and...and the same kind of strange, sexual excitement which she’d felt when first setting eyes on him three months ago.
‘Maybe it’s an American version of the French Eloise...?’ the foul man had continued inexorably, his lips twitching in silent humour at the brief expression of horrified panic which had flashed across her pale cheeks. ‘Now that’s a very pretty name. What do you think?’
Lois had responded with a nervous trill of laughter, which even to her ears had sounded far too high-pitched and shrill.
‘Well, I’m afraid that I...I really don’t have any views on the subject,’ she’d murmured nervously, before turning in desperation to smile at the producer, Dave Green.
‘I’m...er...I’m feeling a bit tired after the journey, Dave,’ she’d said, still trying to surreptitiously tug her fingers away from Ace’s firm grip. ‘I’d like to freshen up a bit before meeting the rest of the cast. So, is it possible to see my room, and...?’
‘Oh, sure.’ Dave had beckoned across the room to one of his female assistants. ‘Joan is in charge of all the household arrangements. She’ll show you to your bedroom. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let her know, OK?’
‘Well, its been really interesting to meet you, Lord Ratcliffe,’ Lois had said, almost sagging with relief as they were joined by the producer’s assistant. ‘We’re all going to be very busy for the next six weeks. So, I don’t suppose we’ll have the opportunity to see much of each other,’ she’d added firmly, hoping that Ace would get the message.
Unfortunately, the awful man clearly wasn’t prepared to take a blind bit of notice of any ‘message’.
‘No, I think you’re mistaken,’ he’d drawled smoothly, and her cheeks had flushed at the clear note of sardonic amusement in his voice as he’d drawn her closer to his tall figure. ‘In fact, I’m quite sure there will be many opportunities to renew our...er...brief acquaintance,’ he’d added, a distinct note of silky menace in his voice as he’d once more raised her hand to his warm lips, before at last setting her free.
I definitely know a threat when I hear one! Lois told herself grimly, as she now paced up and down the dreadful red room. What was more—although she could have been mistaken—she was sure that she’d heard Ace add, under his breath, ‘And that’s a promise!’ as he’d let go of her hand.
It was all so damn unfair! One moment she’d been confidently looking forward to joining her colleagues on an interesting film, and then—in the twinkling of an eye—she’d suddenly found herself well and truly up the creek without a paddle! What had she ever done to deserve such rotten bad luck? And why, now she came to think about it, had Ace been lying through his teeth...?
Like all actresses, who had to memorise a vast number of play and film scripts, she had a very good memory. Which meant that she was darned certain that in the Philippines Ace had referred to himself as a ‘boring lawyer’. So why pretend to be something he wasn’t? Did he imagine that she would have been be all over him like a rash if she’d known he was a member of the British aristocracy? Because, if so, he was badly mistaken. She didn’t give two hoots about that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, as a small voice in her head kept pointing out, it probably wouldn’t have made any difference if Ace had announced that he was the Archangel Gabriel! Because the hard, unpalatable truth was that from the first moment she’d set eyes on the guy she’d completely lost her marbles!
Her face flaming with embarrassment and mortification, Lois was still trying to think what she was going to do about the dreadful situation in which she now found herself when there was a loud knock.
‘Hello...’ A young girl peered around the door. ‘I’ve been asked to place these in here,’ she said, entering the room with a large vase of pink roses in her hands.
‘How kind. Thank you...er...’
‘My name’s Emiiy,’ the girl told her with a shy smile. ‘I’m the “gofer” on this film.’
Lois smiled at the note of pride and excitement in the girl’s voice. ‘As in “gofer” this...and “gofer” that...?’
‘You’re absolutely right.’ Emily grinned. ‘It’s a really cool job. All my friends at school are dead jealous. I can’t wait to tell them that I’ve met you. They’ll go absolutely bananas!’
It was the mention of school which prompted Lois to look closer at the girl, whom she now realised couldn’t be more than fourteen.
Tall and gawky, with stick-thin arms and legs, it had to be said that Emily looked a bit of a mess. Dark spiky hair—clearly cut with a very blunt pair of scissors—and a ring through the side of her nose did nothing to enhance the girl’s appearance. While the tight black T-shirt clinging to her skinny frame over a very short black skirt and black tights ending in heavy Doc Marten boots, were clearly designed to make the statement: ‘Rebellious Teenager’.
Only the girl’s sweet smile in her heart-shaped face, and a pair of large grey eyes heavily fringed with dark eyelashes, gave some promise of future beauty.
‘Where would you like me to put the flowers?’
Lois shrugged as she looked helplessly around the room. ‘How about over there...?’ She nodded towards a large mahogany chest of drawers, heavily encrusted with ormolu mounts.
‘OK,’ Emily agreed cheerfully, her heavy boots clumping over the floorboards as she carefully carried the vase across the room. ‘Oh, wow! This place is really... well, it’s really something else, isn’t it?’ she added, gazing around in frank amazement.
‘You’re so right!’ Lois agreed glumly, her lips relaxing into a grin as Emily stared with wide-eyed fascination at the huge ostrich feather plumes on top of the four-poster.
‘I only arrived a few days ago, so I haven’t been in here before now,’ Emily said, going over to clamber up onto the bed. ‘Some of the other bedrooms are absolutely the pits. There’s one done out in gloomy dark green velvet which is really scary!’ she added, bouncing up and down on the mattress. ‘But I expect you’ve been given the State Bedroom because you’re such a famous film star, and all.’
‘Famous or not—I’d be far happier with a much smaller room...and some decent plumbing,’ Lois sighed.
‘You’re not the only one!’ Emily grinned. ‘Dad keeps going berserk about not having enough hot water. And the production crew aren’t too happy, either. Although it’s not so bad in our wing of the house. I’m sure Dad won’t mind if you want to use my bathroom.’
‘That’s a kind offer. I’ll definitely think about it,’ Lois murmured, wondering how on earth this very chatty, weird-looking young schoolgirl had managed to find a job with the film unit.
And who on earth was ‘Dad’? Lois wondered as the girl continued to use the awful bed as some kind of trampoline. It would obviously have to be a senior executive. So, maybe Peter Danvers, the director of this film, was the most likely candidate...?
‘Wow! This is really brilliant,’ Emily laughed as she bounced higher and higher. ‘Absolutely wicked!’
‘Be careful!’ Lois warned as the massive structure creaked and groaned beneath the assault. ‘By the way,’ she added with a slight frown as Emily ceased her bouncing, ‘it’s still only June. Shouldn’t you still be at school...?’
‘You’re right.’ The girl grinned. ‘But luckily I managed to get myself suspended for a few weeks.’
‘Suspended, huh?’ Lois muttered, looking in her purse for the keys to her luggage. ‘Is that regarded as a bad thing here in England?’
‘Well, it’s not exactly good news,’ Emily admitted with a careless shrug. ‘All the same, I think it’s really pathetic of the school to take that sort of action—just because I lost my temper and swore at one of the teachers.’
‘Well...’ Lois hesitated, trying to recall her own attitude to school life at the age of fourteen. ‘I agree that it doesn’t sound like a really bad crime. But, if you’ll forgive me for saying so, I can’t help feeling sorry for your teacher. After all,’ she added with a shrug, ‘it must be a real drag having to teach kids your age. Especially when all you’re likely to care about are clothes, pop music and boyfriends. So, I expect your teacher found being sworn at just about the last straw.’
There was a long silence as Emily considered the matter. ‘I hadn’t thought about that,’ she said slowly. ‘I suppose you’re right. Anyway, Dad tore me off a terrific strip about it, and my mother wasn’t too pleased, either.’
‘Never mind. I don’t suppose you’ll make the same mistake again.’ Lois grinned over at the girl, who was looking slightly crestfallen. ‘Besides, as you so rightly said, it has resulted in you getting a job on this film. Are you enjoying yourself?’
‘Oh, yes—it’s really great!’ Emily gave her a happy grin. ‘And much more interesting and glamorous than the pop music scene. I want to be a film star when I grow up,’ she confided.
‘It’s mostly hard work—and very little glamour, I’m afraid,’ Lois muttered, still wondering where she had put her keys as she searched through the pockets of her jacket.
‘Mummy says that I haven’t a chance, because you have to be very good-looking. Of course,’ the girl added reflectively, ‘Mummy is very beautiful. She used to be a model, and had her picture on the front of lots of expensive magazines.’
‘Good for her,’ Lois murmured, wondering how to get rid of Emily without hurting the youngster’s feelings. ‘However, looks aren’t everything. You also need a considerable amount of talent. And now, if you don’t mind...’
‘Hi, Dad!’ Emily suddenly called out, jumping off the bed and bounding across the room like a puppy towards the tall figure of a man standing in the open doorway.
‘I did knock. But Emily was making such a noise, you obviously didn’t hear me,’ Ace said with a slight smile as the young girl threw her arms around his waist. ‘I merely called by just to see if you were comfortable, and...’ His voice died away as he gazed around the room, his expression mirroring that of Lois when she, too, had first entered the depressing red bedroom.
‘Good God! I’d forgotten about this ghastly room!’ he exclaimed, staring in appalled fascination at the massive four-poster bed. ‘Surely nobody expects you to sleep in that monstrosity?’
But Lois wasn’t listening. Her body and mind had frozen as she stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly across the room.
Why...why had it never occurred to her that Ace was likely to be a married man? And if she’d had any sense—or had given the matter even a moment’s thought—surely she ought to have realised that he was also likely to have children?
Because there was absolutely no doubt that she was now looking at father and daughter. Emily not only had the same shade of dark hair, but she’d also inherited her father’s grey eyes and his tall, rangy frame.
Feeling sick, both at her own stupidity and at the fact that the current scenario seemed to be getting even more complicated every minute, Lois struggled to pull herself together.
Keep calm! You’ve got to keep very, very cool, calm and collected, she told herself desperately. There was absolutely nothing she could do, or say, in such a fraught situation. Well, not at the moment, anyway. Later, when some form of life came back to her frozen limbs, she would hopefully be able to find a way of coping with this fresh disaster. But in the meantime, if she kept very quiet... and very still... maybe it would all prove to be nothing but a terrible nightmare?
‘I’m sorry. As I’m sure you’ve discovered—a little of Emily goes a long way!’ Ace drawled, his dark brows drawing together in a frown as he viewed the pale, strained expression on the face of the girl standing across the room.
How anyone had the nerve to put this beautiful creature in these awful surroundings he had no idea. But he was obviously going to have to sort out this stupid mistake as quickly as possible.
‘I imagine you must be tired after your journey,’ he continued, firmly taking hold of Emily by the arm. ‘We’ll look forward to seeing you at dinner.’
Remaining silent, and still rooted to the spot, Lois could only give a weak nod of her head before father and daughter left the room, closing the door quietly behind them.
Maybe it was the sort of thing that happened in pregnancy, but she couldn’t ever remember feeling quite so tired and weary as she did at this moment. So much seemed to have happened, in such a short space of time, that she just couldn’t seem to cope with this new problem. Not on top of everything else. And, while the thought of having to spend a night in that awful bed was enough to give her the heebie-jeebies, Lois knew that if she didn’t make an effort to relax—and have a quick nap—she was going to collapse from sheer mental and physical exhaustion.
A few moments later, as she lay curled up on the hideous, deep crimson bed cover, beneath the soft mohair comfort of her own lightweight travelling rug, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. At least she was now horizontal and, with any luck, would soon be totally unconscious.
But, as she slowly drifted off to sleep, Emily’s references to ‘Mummy’ kept drifting through her weary mind. Which could only mean, on top of everything else, that she was also going to have to cope with meeting Ace’s wife.
First Ross Whitney—and now Ace Ratcliffe. Why...oh, why did she keep falling for married men? was her last, despairing thought before falling into a deep sleep.
Slowly dragging a brush through the tangled curls of her fiery red hair, Lois flinched as she stared at herself in the mirror.
Where on earth, she wondered, was the woman who’d arrived earlier today at Ratcliffe Hall? Was it possible that this exhausted, pale-faced creature gazing so wearily back at her was one and the same person?
Only this morning she’d felt full of confidence, and looking forward to the next six weeks working with so many of her old friends and colleagues. But now, gazing at the apprehensive, nervous expression in the troubled blue eyes, she totally failed to recognise her former self.
Was this trip to England turning into a truly awful, disastrous can of worms—or what? In fact, the only cheerful note in an otherwise utterly dire scenario was the fact that she no longer faced the prospect of having to spend the next six weeks in that dreadful State Bedroom.
After falling quickly asleep, it had seemed only minutes later that she’d found herself being shaken awake by Peggy.
From what she had been able to make out, it appeared that following his brief visit to her room Ace had angrily demanded the attendance in his private study of both the film’s producer and director.
‘You must have made a really terrific impression on Lord Ratcliffe,’ Peggy had giggled. ‘Because I hear that he hit the roof on the subject of film executives who didn’t know how to look after their leading ladies. Apparently both Dave and Peter Danvers emerged looking positively white and shaking!’
Lois had been feeling too tired and exhausted at the time to do or say anything—other than allow herself to be transported lock, stock and barrel to her new accommodation, in Lord Ratcliffe’s own personal wing of the enormous mansion. However, there was no doubt that she was now going to be far more comfortable. Not to mention being able to get a good night’s sleep.
Turning around, Lois gazed with considerable pleasure at her new surroundings. Above a plain white dado and chair rail, the walls were covered with a pale cream silk shantung, the same material being used to line the pale blue silk curtains which hung at each end of the bed. But what a contrast between this four-poster, and that other grim monstrosity! This bed, with its elegant, . delicately carved pale wood posts, was topped by a lightly scalloped canopy edged with pale blue and cream fringing—the same pale blue used to cover the two comfortable armchairs on the thick, cream-coloured carpet.
However, while she might now have much to be thankful for—particularly the ultra-modern, en suite bathroom!—Lois knew that everything else in her life was still fraught with major problems.
It had, of course, been the most terrific shock to meet Ace again, and in such extraordinary circumstances. Unfortunately, it wasn’t helping this potentially highly embarrassing situation to discover that she still found him diabolically attractive. And quite why he’d been so secretive about his ownership of this huge mansion, and his title, she had absolutely no idea.
On the other hand...Lois had to admit that she’d been equally cautious. Because, while she had indeed been christened Eloise, it wasn’t the name by which she was now known. And, since neither of them had volunteered any information about their surnames, or marital status, maybe she was being just a little hard on Ace...?
However, any question about whether they should or shouldn’t have had disclosed more of their individual backgrounds was now irrelevant. The only thing which really mattered was that she was now pregnant with Ace’s child. A fact which could, if she wasn’t very careful, have dire consequences for both the future of this film and all the people working on it.
Sol Weiser—chiefly concerned about any possible scandal—had, of course, demanded to know the name of the baby’s father. A demand which had placed Lois in a very difficult position. Which was why, needing to quickly set the American financier’s mind at rest, she’d told him that her lover had absolutely no connection with show business, and that the affair was long over. Sol hadn’t been at all happy about the situation. But he’d reluctantly accepted her assurances—which, at the time, had been the absolute truth.
Unfortunately, the situation was now dramatically changed. With Sol looking for an excuse to pull the rug out from beneath this film—which he hadn’t wanted to finance in the first place—Lois knew that Ace must never discover that he was the father of her baby. Because, while she had no idea how he would react to the news, she couldn’t afford to have any loose talk about her condition—either buzzing around the film set or appearing in the newspapers. Which meant that it was desperately important to keep her secret well under wraps.
However, with any luck she’d have finished filming and be on her way back to America before the news broke. After all, she comforted herself, it was only a matter of staggering through the next six weeks. If she was very careful to watch her diet and not put on any weight, there was no reason why anyone should guess the truth.
