Many years had passed since he’d last trashed plastic on such an exorbitant and carefree scale. Grace, despite her initial and half-hearted pleas to exercise some degree of caution, soon got caught up in the frenzy and succumbed to the avaricious temptation. The problem with agreeing to Catherine’s offer of first class travel wherever he went was that it made it too easy to be lulled into a false sense of financial security, far too easy.
They had split up after checking in to the hotel. While he set about securing the vast quantities of reference materials from the list Grace reacquainted herself with the lifestyle she used to enjoy, beauty treatments and designer shopping. By the time he’d arrived at the Dorchester she had changed into a newly purchased outfit and chattered endlessly throughout the delicious and ridiculously expensive luncheon. Her enjoyment of the plush surroundings reminded him of what she had given up. At no time had she expressed regret at the decision but he had oft wondered how easily she could be tempted to return to that way of life if the chance ever arose again. In the back of his mind he hoped it never would. Selfish, he knew, but that’s how he felt.
The meal over, he resumed the tiresome quest of locating the remaining materials and forwarded them on by courier whilst Grace kept her appointment with the in-house salon. Returning to the suite he was permitted only the merest of glimpses of her after showering and changing into the outfit she’d hired for him. Don’t dare look at me, she’d demanded, hiding her head in her hands. Patience tested to the limit by the passage of time she finally emerged into the open.
A stunning vision in red appeared in front of him, a true masterpiece of female engineering. The dark hair commonly resting to her shoulders had been tied to reveal the exquisite bone structure that was uniquely hers, and the evening gown modelled on her slender frame looked as though it had been precisely cut to showcase the contours of her body and hers alone. This was one of those heart-stopping occasions when a man would gaze upon a heavenly figure and be entirely captivated. The old line ‘you look a million dollars’ came nowhere near to being a suitable description of the beauteous form swishing from side to side in search of his approval. And he did indeed approve.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“You’ll have to take it back.”
“Why?” she protested.
“We’re meant to be going to watch a play not seduce the entire male audience into gaping at you instead.”
“Is it that good?” she said with a smile.
“It’s that good. You’re that good.”
A flurry of twirls threw her scent into the atmosphere, its sweet aroma threatening to lead him by the nose to kneel before her.
“You are the most beautiful woman on this planet.”
It brought her flowing movement to an imperious halt. She turned and tried to fix a smile onto her face.
“There are others more beautiful.”
“Not to me.”
Her subsequent half smile suggested a defensive quality in the response, as though hiding something behind her eyes.
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“I really mean it,” he said.
He watched her eyelids flicker in uncertainty, an action out of character and one she hadn’t previously exhibited during their time together.
“I’d forgotten how sweet you can sometimes be,” she said.
He held his gaze, in truth unable to direct it to any other part of the suite.
“Do you ever miss it?”
“Miss what?”
“Your other life, as Chief Operating officer of Schafen and all the finery they forced you to endure.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Do you?”
“We are not without some luxury.”
“I know, but it hardly compares ...”
“We enjoy a good life at home.”
“I’m not sure that answers my question.
“Well if you did not want to hear the answer then you should not have asked the question,”
“Now you’re teasing.”
“An old habit,” she said with a subdued smile.
There was little point pressing her any further but he found the exchange disconcerting.
“Have you heard from Will?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you still intend to investigate Tillman’s log?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought we’d been through this and agreed.”
“You went through it, I don’t recall agreeing. If anything I believe I raised several objections. The truth of the matter is that you had already made the decision for us.”
He screwed up his face in confusion.
“Is this what you’ve been thinking about all afternoon?”
“Mostly,” she said. “I sense danger to you, to us.”
“How can there be any danger? No-one knows I have the log except you, Will and Maria. So who’s going to tell?”
Her piercing gaze highlighted the underlying concern that had played on her mind throughout the day. For all Matt knew she was right to make him think again. He shook his head.
“I have to.”
“Why, why do you have to?”
“To get to the truth,” he said.
“You may discover a truth you did not wish to find.”
“It’s a chance we’ll have to take.”
“A chance you will take, for both of us,” she said.
The sharpness of the response surprised him, something of a recurring theme of late.
“This is something I have to do. Call it a second chance if you like, an opportunity to get it right this time, the only way I can put the demons from the past to rest.”
He could see in her eyes she well understood the sentiment though her stance was no less worrying.
“Shall we go?” she said, after a pause.
He rose and opened the door for them to leave.
“I might call on papa and Martha while you are busy, if you do not mind? It is a short flight to Austria.”
“I don’t see why not,” he said, trying to sound positive.
“Thanks.”
“But only on condition I get to undress you slowly when we get back to the suite.”
“I had more than that in mind,” she said.
Her eyes exhibited little of their usual warmth. Whatever deep thoughts were preoccupying her mind they were not for sharing. He worried the trip brought home everything she had surrendered and now rued the sacrifice. Grace had been right to say she understood the beat of Matt’s heart. But he knew hers too. Something wasn’t right.
“Are you okay for walking, it’s less than a half a mile to the theatre?” he asked.
“I have booked a taxi.”
He ushered her through the door and felt a gentle vibration in his pocket. Grace was ahead of him as he read the incoming text; Trafalgar Square, noon. Quickly, he replaced the mobile before she turned to hold his arm.
“Why don’t you catch the first flight then you’ll have all day with them.”
“Now you want rid of me all of a sudden,” she answered with a gentle smile.
“No,” he said. “I’d like to see them too. Why not stay for a few days and I’ll catch up later in the week. That way we can spend time together and it’s been a long while since I’ve visited St Wolfgang.”
“Do you remember the last time we took a boat trip on the lake?”
“Yes. It was the first time you let me kiss you.”
“I recall having little choice as you had me trapped against the wall of the inner cabin.”
“How else was I going to pin you down?”
Her laughter echoed down the corridor and it pleased him. Maybe he had worried unnecessarily before, misinterpreting the tone and content of her words.
“I have missed you, Gratia Fuchs.”
He felt her hand against his and their fingers intertwined bringing their bodies into contact, arm against arm.
> “Matt …”
At last, he thought, she was going to tell him what was on her mind. The elevator doors opened and revealed a strikingly tall, immaculately dressed middle-aged couple. Grace entered and he followed to stand at her side. All four occupants stood quietly, no-one daring to speak. He’d always considered it odd how something as innocuous as an elevator could suck the art of conversation from people. What felt like an eternity drifted by as their silent carriage rolled effortlessly down to the foyer. He asked the question the moment they stepped out and were free.
“What were you going to say?”
“It will keep. Let us enjoy the night.”
The warmth of her parting kiss at the airport mirrored that of the previous night, bringing him close to abandonment of the quest to uncover the truth. Why take an unnecessary risk? The thought didn’t stay long in his head. He was little more than a hairsbreadth away from discovering who the people behind the conspiracy really were. He had to go on.
Five to twelve and the square heaved with frantic bodies from every direction, not one offering anything near to some sort of apology as they rudely jostled him aside when passing. This is how honey bees in a hive, or worker ants in a nest, behaved; each and every one scrambling over the next to go about their daily business. It brought home the primary reason he loathed city life, too many living things pressed into too small a space.
The watch read one minute before noon. How was he supposed to know or even spot who he had to meet.
The effect of the impact was immediate. Pain registered as the blow to the neck seeped into his consciousness, and his mind collapsed into darkness.
Chapter Twenty One
Welcoming Committee