Living Together. Carole Mortimer

That has to be an improvement.’

      ‘What do you mean?’ Helen asked sharply.

      ’You’ve been a bit—well, a bit emotionless since Michael,’ Jenny explained gently.

      Helen bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve been hard to live with. It’s just that after Michael I find it hard to live with anyone.’

      ‘I know, love.’ Jenny squeezed her hand. ‘And you aren’t difficult to live with, completely the opposite, in fact. You seem to have lost all your zest for life, shut yourself in from people. I wish you could put it all behind you, be like you were before it all happened.’

      ‘You can never go back, Jenny. What’s happened happened, you can never change it, and I can never be that person again.’

      ‘I still wish—–’ Jenny broke off as the doorbell rang. ’That will be Matt, and I’m still not quite ready. Be a pet and answer the door for me while I brush my hair.’

      ‘Okay.’ Helen climbed reluctantly off the sofa, her denims emphasising her slenderness.

      ‘And don’t seduce my boy-friend on the doorstep,’ Jenny warned teasingly.

      ‘He should be so lucky!’ Helen called after her.

      She let Matt in, taking him into the lounge. He was very attractive in casual white trousers and shirt, looking healthy and attractive.

      He quirked an eyebrow at her. ‘You aren’t ready.’

      ‘No,’ she sat cross-legged on the sofa, ‘I’m not going.’

      ‘Not going! But—–’ he turned to Jenny as she came through from the bedroom. ‘Helen’s just told me she isn’t going.’

      ‘That’s right, she isn’t.’

      Was it Helen’s imagination or did she see that look pass between them? She shrugged. ‘Is it that important? I’m sure you two would rather be without an unwanted third person.’

      ‘You aren’t unwanted,’ Matt said smoothly. ‘We would love you to come along.’

      ‘I’ve already been through all that,’ Jenny told him, as she picked up her bag from a chair. ‘She can be very stubborn, can our Helen.’

      ‘But—–’

      ‘She doesn’t want to go, Matt,’ Jenny said firmly. ‘And nothing will persuade her.’

      This time Helen was sure she could sense an undercurrent, a feeling they knew something she didn’t. Jenny hadn’t emphasised the word ‘nothing’, and yet the inflection had been there all the same.

      ‘Is there something you aren’t telling me?’ she asked them.

      Jenny frowned. ‘Why should you think that?’

      She shrugged. ‘Just your manner. Is there something?’

      ‘Well, actually—–’

      ‘No,’ again Jenny cut in on Matt, ‘there’s nothing. Shall we go, Matt?’ she said pointedly.

      ‘But—–’

      ‘Shall we go?’ she repeated firmly.

      He sighed. ‘Oh, all right. But he isn’t going to like it.’

      ‘He?’ Helen picked up sharply. ‘And who might “he” be?’ she asked suspiciously.

      Jenny gave Matt an angry glare. ‘Now look what you’ve done! I had no intention of mentioning that he was behind the invitation.’

      ‘Oh,’ Matt looked shamefaced. ‘I see.’

      ‘By “he”,’ Helen said tautly, ‘I take it you mean Leon Masters?’

      ‘Well—–’

      ‘Of course we do,’ Matt acknowledged impatiently. ‘Hell, what’s the use of prevaricating, Jenny?’ he snapped as she went to interrupt yet again. He looked down at Helen. ‘Leon wants you there today.’

      Her mouth tightened. ‘Does he now?’ She looked angrily at her cousin. ‘I take it this is what you meant by a different approach?’

      ‘Now look what you’ve done, Matt!’ snapped Jenny. ’Why couldn’t you have just kept quiet?’

      Helen stood up. ‘I’m glad he didn’t. So I was supposed to go along today as Leon Masters’ companion,’ she mused softly. ‘God, that man has a nerve! Doesn’t he know how to take no for an answer?’

      Jenny shrugged. ‘I should think it’s quite a few years since anyone said it. It’s a new experience for him.’

      ‘Well, his new experiences can continue. Tell him the answer is still no.’

      ‘Now look, Helen,’ Matt chided. ‘Leon isn’t an easy man to cross. He can be a right swine at times.’

      ‘Oh, I know that,’ she said bitterly. ‘But I don’t have to say yes to him. Some of the other women in his life may not have been so lucky—I’m sure he has a lot of influence in the acting world.’

      ‘Hey, now I wouldn’t ever say he’s used blackmail to get a woman,’ Matt admonished. ‘When I said he could be a swine I meant in his manner and verbally. As far as I know he’s always played it straight with everyone.’

      ‘Except me,’ said Helen vehemently. ‘He was being underhand and arrogant in getting you to take me with you today. All it’s done is increase my dislike of him. Tell him his little plan failed—miserably. I don’t like him and I don’t want to go out with him.’

      Matt raised his eybrows. ‘Another new experience! Most females I know would love to have your opportunity.’

      ‘They’re welcome to it!’

      ‘Come on, Matt,’ Jenny linked her arm through his, ‘let’s get out of here before you do any more damage. I think you’ve put your foot in it enough for one day.’

      He looked sheepish. ‘Well, how was I to know you hadn’t told Helen about Leon’s involvement?’

      ‘You should have tried using a little common sense.’

      ‘Please don’t argue about it, you two,’ Helen told them. ‘It isn’t worth it.’

      Jenny bent to kiss her on the cheek. ‘Sorry, love. I was only doing what I thought best.’

      ‘Involving me with Leon Masters?’ Helen derided.

      ‘With any man. I didn’t care who it was.’

      ‘Thanks!’

      Jenny sighed. ‘You know what I meant. I was only trying to help.’

      Helen grimaced. ‘That kind of help I can do without.’

      ‘All right, I know when I’m beaten. Have a nice day.’

      ‘And you.’ Helen picked up her book. ‘And don’t rush back on my account.’

      ‘We don’t intend to,’ Matt said moodily.

      ‘Don’t be such a bad loser,’ Jenny chided teasingly.

      ‘It’s all right for you, but what do I tell Leon? He’s going to be furious,’ he groaned.

      ‘You’ll think of something,’ Helen said uncaringly. ‘Preferably the truth.’

      ‘Which is?’

      ‘That I’m not interested,’ she said in a bored voice.

      She went back to her book, pretending an interest she no longer felt until she heard them leave, then relaxed back on the sofa. Leon Masters had a nerve using a trick like that to try and trap her into meeting him. She had no doubt that he had been the one to insist on secrecy about