The Happiest Day Read online

  Norris released him but the look in his eyes was vicious. “Don’t hurt her,” he said with deadly calm.

  Rachel sensed the tension in the dining room and tried to lead the conversation. She talked about Geoff and Laurie coming home for the Christmas holiday and when they would cut down a tree. Norris’ answers were monosyllabic and Peter didn’t add much to the conversation. Finally, Norris excused himself to do some work in his study and Peter announced that he should head home. Rachel followed him to the front hallway and waited until Smythe helped him on with his coat before whispering, “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. “I’ll try to come tomorrow, but if the hearing resumes I may not be back out for a while.”

  “The boys will be home next weekend. Will you try to come then, even if you’re busy?”

  “If I can.”

  “Thank you again for the bracelet.”

  “My pleasure. Listen, about what happened earlier-”

  “It’s all right,” she interrupted him. “Things were kind of crazy, I know.”

  “It wasn’t crazy for me,” he said. “I’ve wanted to do that for a really long time. I dream about it.”

  Her eyes lit. “Do you?”

  He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered against her lips, “Every night. We don’t stop at kissing, though.”

  She blushed delicately. “Me, too,” she said in a barely there whisper.

  He kissed her suddenly and ravenously, his hands framing her face. “We need to talk,” he said. “Not here, though. We’ll find a time, I promise.” He pulled away. “I have to go before the roads become impassable. Make me a promise, though.”

  “Anything,” she promised.

  “Don’t let Norris touch you.”

  She looked surprised. “I told you that he’s not interested in me like that anymore.”

  “He’s unpredictable. If he asks you to sleep with him, tell him no.”

  “I…I don’t know if I can do that,” she said. “He’s my husband.”

  Peter grasped her by the arms and drew her up on her toes. “Jesus, Rachel, trust me on this. Don’t sleep with him.”

  “Peter.”

  They both turned and saw Norris standing at the edge of the foyer, his hands clenched in fists.

  “The snow is getting heavy. You should go. We wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  Frustration roared through Peter. He wanted to grab Rachel and take her with him. He wanted to tell her that Norris might be her father and she had possibly been an innocent victim in an incestuous relationship. He wanted to smash his step-father in the face for all the horrible things he had done.

  Smythe opened the door upon Norris’ slight nod.

  “Good night,” Peter said and disappeared into the swirling snow.

  Rachel turned and faced her husband as the butler soundlessly disappeared. “Are you angry with me about something?”

  “Never. I want you to be careful, though.”

  “Of what?”

  “Peter has been involved in many affairs, did you know that?” He stepped closer to her, his fists relaxing.

  “I guess I’ve never thought about it. It’s not really any of my business.”

  “He’s slept with just about every woman in our circle and he doesn’t care if they’re married or not. He’s a sexual hound, Rachel. He’s left many broken hearts behind him.”

  Hurt twisted in her stomach. “I didn’t know that.”

  “There’s no reason you should. It’s a seedy side of his life that I’ve tried to keep from you. He’s charming but he’s very one-minded. He is after one thing, Rachel. Always. Don’t forget that.”

  She willed herself to answer calmly. “None of that means anything to me. He’s my friend. You’re my husband.”

  He slightly relaxed. “Thank you. I know that our marriage could be better. Maybe…maybe we could try again to…be close.”

  She remembered Peter’s words. “I…uh…what if I get pregnant?”

  “I’m willing to take the risk if it will make you happy.” He stepped towards her. “I don’t want you to think that you’re not desirable.”

  She crossed her arms across her chest. “It’s all right, Norris. I know you don’t want me.” She looked down uncomfortably. “I’m going to go upstairs.”

  “Would you like me to come to your room after I’m finished working?”

  She shook her head. “No, thank you. Good night, Norris.” She headed up the stairs but was temporarily halted by his parting words.

  “I don’t want you to be alone with Peter again.”

  She felt short of breath and dizzy. “He’s my friend,” she said with her back still to him.

  “You heard what I said.”

  It was an order. There was nothing she could say to him in response. She continued up the steps to her bedroom. In the foyer, Norris closed his eyes and whispered, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.” He wanted to follow her; his body was burning for her but he had to be in command of himself. He couldn’t knowingly defile her with the possibility he was her father.

  A housemaid passed by him, on her way to clean up the dishes in the dining room. She nodded silently but he reached out and grabbed her by the arm. She turned to him, startled.

  “What’s your name?” he rasped out.

  “Mary, sir.”

  “Do you believe in God, Mary?”

  “Yes, sir.” Her eyes were wide, frightened of his intensity.

  “Will you come with me to the chapel?”

  “If that’s your desire, sir,” she answered obediently.

  “It is truly my desire, my dear,” he responded, some of the tension leaving his body. “Come along, then.”

  Chapter 10

  Laurie and Geoff came home for Christmas and the days grew busy as the family prepared for the holiday. Rachel and Maryanne spent many hours together decorating each other’s homes and shopping for presents. Just a few days before Christmas, Maryanne left the baby home with the nanny and she and Rachel spent the entire day finishing their shopping. By late afternoon, they were exhausted and famished.

  “It’s going to be so much fun this Christmas,” Maryanne said as they ate an early supper together at a downtown restaurant. “Especially with the baby…” Her face fell. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize,” Rachel told her kindly. “You should be happy. I’m happy for you.”

  “I just wish…oh Rachel, I wish that things were different.” She reached across the table and squeezed Rachel’s hand. “Oh, what’s this?” She touched the bracelet that was only partially visible beneath the white cuff of Rachel’s navy blue dress.

  “It’s a bracelet. Peter gave it to me for Ruby.”

  Maryanne raised startled eyes to look at Rachel. “That was very…sweet of him.”

  “Don’t,” Rachel murmured, taking a sip of her drink. “Don’t read more into it than there is.”

  Maryanne’s face became thoughtful. “Peter talks to Bert, you know. Then Bert turns around and tells me what he says.”

  Rachel blushed a little. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Bert thinks Peter is in love with you.”

  Rachel’s heart jumped. “Did Peter tell him that?”

  “No, but that’s what Bert believes and I trust his instincts.” They were quiet for a few minutes as the waiter arrived to serve their food.

  After they were left alone, Rachel continued the conversation. “Norris doesn’t want Peter to be alone with me.”

  Maryanne’s eyebrows raised and she shrugged her shoulders slightly. “So Daddy sees it, too.”

  “He says that Peter is a ‘sexual hound’ and is only out to seduce me. Do you believe him?”

  “No. Peter is not like that, I know it. What if Bert is right, though? What if he is
in love with you?”

  They were interrupted by a cool voice, “Good evening, ladies. May I join you?”

  They looked up to see Blanche standing there, a cigarette held between her fingers, an expensive black suit molding her curvy body. She was not smiling.

  “Hello, Blanche,” Maryanne greeted her sister-in-law. “Of course you may join us.”

  Blanche sat, crossing her legs and taking a deep drag on the cigarette. “Out shopping for Christmas?”

  “Yes, we did our damage in the stores,” Maryanne answered with a slight smile. She was trying her best to be polite to the unpleasant woman. “And you? What are you doing downtown?”

  “I’m supposed to meet Peter in an hour. We’re going to a party.” Her eyes slid to Rachel, reminding the younger woman of a cat. “How are you, Rachel?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.” Rachel attacked her meal with false gusto. She felt young and gauche around Blanche and wondered if Peter ever compared her unfavorably to his sophisticated wife.

  “It’s too bad that you and Norris aren’t hosting any holiday parties. There was at time that it wasn’t Christmas without a party at the Thornton estate.”

  “I know,” Rachel answered steadily. “I lived there from the time I was eight.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You know, it’s difficult for me to connect that bedraggled small child to who you are now. Lady of the manor.” She laughed meanly. “I hear my husband has been spending a lot of time at the estate.”

  “Do you?” Rachel retorted, refusing to be baited. She was sure that she could not fight at the same level as Blanche. She raised her fork to take another bite. If she could just keep her mouth full maybe Blanche would leave her alone.

  “Pretty bracelet,” she commented, her laser sharp gaze picking up the movement on Rachel’s wrist. “You know, I was just at the jeweler’s window-shopping, and the owner asked me if I had enjoyed the bracelet my husband had picked out for me. He hadn’t designed it; he had just seen the receipt for it. I just assumed that Peter had bought me a bracelet for Christmas. Guess I was wrong.” She grasped the bracelet. “A baby? Good God, I didn’t know my husband has become so sentimental.”

  Rachel felt her ire rise. She may have lost her child, but she was still her mother. She looked up Blanche, her eyes steely. “Since you’ve never had a child, you probably wouldn’t understand.”

  Blanche stared at her for a long moment, trying to control her anger. “Well, well, the little kitty has grown claws. I guess that’s what happens when you marry a man old enough to be your father and sleep with his son. You’re part of our sordid world now, Mrs. Thornton.”

  “Blanche,” Maryanne said, her voice no longer gentle. “I won’t have you speaking to my best friend that way. Maybe you should go.”

  Blanche rose, stubbing her cigarette out on the fine linen tablecloth. “You might want to watch out, Maryanne. She might try to steal your husband next.” She leaned down so that her face was close to Rachel’s. “Watch your back, bitch. I don’t give up what belongs to me.” She turned and left the restaurant, leaving her cloying scent behind.

  “I’m sorry, Rachel.”

  “Don’t be,” Rachel responded. “That’s the first time I’ve ever stood up to her. It felt pretty good.” Her face grew serious. “Maryanne, I’m not sleeping with Peter. For that matter, I’m not sleeping with your father, either. I’m living the life of a blessed nun.”

  Maryanne gave a sharp bark of surprised laughter. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  “There’s not much to say. When your mother was murdered, things got so crazy.”

  “You weren’t sleeping with Daddy before Mother died, were you?”

  “No.”

  “It was just an alibi, I know.” She sighed. “I know that there’s more to this than I understand, and I’m all right with that. I’m not sure if I want to know the truth.”

  “It’s better that you don’t know,” Rachel said with conviction. “I just didn’t want there to be any lies between us.”

  “But you married him.”

  “It seemed the only thing to do at the time. It was fine for a while but after the baby, he didn’t seem to want me anymore.”

  “Daddy is a complicated man. I don’t think marriage sets well with him.”

  “He was in love with my mother.”

  Maryanne drew back in surprise. “He…did he tell you that?”

  “He didn’t have to. He would pretend I was her when we were intimate.”

  “Oh, Rachel…” Maryanne laid trembling fingers on her lips. “I’m so sorry. You deserve better than that.”

  “I made my own decisions. I can’t change the path I’ve chosen.”

  “I just keep thinking that if we hadn’t all turned from you after the trial, that you would have felt you had other choices. I’m so sorry.” She reached her hand out and Rachel took it. “Please say you forgive me.”

  “I was never angry at you. Now, can we eat? All that shopping and sparring with Blanche has left me famished.”

  Across town, Blanche was meeting Peter at his office. “Are you ready? I don’t want to be late to the Neville’s.”

  Peter stood and slipped into his suit coat. “Just waiting for you. I don’t want to stay long. I have to prepare for court tomorrow.”

  “As I’ve said many times, your job has nothing at all to do with my life.” She primped in her compact mirror. “You can leave whenever you want. I’m sure I can find someone to take me home.”

  Peter laughed humorlessly. “I’m sure you can. A promise of a little action in the back seat should entice any man there tonight.”

  “Don’t be a hypocrite, Peter.”

  “What does that mean?” he paused buttoning his overcoat.

  “I ran into your little whore this evening. She was dining with your sister at Allegro’s.”

  Peter felt his blood pressure rising. “What did you say to her?”

  “I told her to watch her back.” Blanche snapped the compact shut. “I meant it. I can ruin her, Peter. Not that there’s much left of her reputation, but I can ensure that her every day is miserable. She’ll never be able to show her face outside of the estate.”

  Peter moved so quickly, Blanche gasped. He shoved her up against the wall, his forearm coming up to press against her neck. “Don’t you threaten her, you filthy slut.”

  Blanche struggled a little bit to breathe. “Get your hands off of me or I’ll have you arrested for assault.” She pushed at him and he released her. Her lips turned up in a sneer. “It’s worse than I thought. You’re in love with her.”

  “I don’t want you to talk to her, or about her. Do you understand me?”

  “As long as you understand me,” she retorted. “Do what you need to do. Give her presents, court her, fuck her brains out. I don’t care. Understand this, though, I will not give you a divorce.”

  “You can’t stop me if I file.”

  “I can’t stop you from filing but I can fight you every step of the way and I can strip you of so much—your time, your money, your pride. If you think I won’t drag your little girlfriend’s name through the mud, you’re delusional.”

  “Since we’re giving ultimatums, here’s one. I don’t want you coming to any more family events. I don’t want you at the estate for Christmas or any other time. If I spend time with the family, you will not be there. You threaten me with mudslinging but I’ve got buckets of mud to throw back at you.”

  He saw her mind working, trying to figure out how to come out on top in this battle. “Fine,” she conceded. “I won’t sully your precious sweetheart’s sensibilities. Play with her all you want, Peter, but don’t forget, we are married. We both have a lot to lose if you file for divorce.”

  As it turned out, Norris had arranged it so Peter was never alone with Rachel over the next few months. He felt his frustration grow as he was thwarted at every turn. He started to suspect Rachel was a willing participant in the plan to keep him
at arm’s length. Finally, in early spring, he was tired of the game. He employed Maryanne’s help in inviting Rachel to her house for lunch. When Rachel entered the home, she found only Peter waiting for her. She drew back in surprise.

  “Peter, where’s Maryanne?” Her eyes shifted nervously.

  “She took the baby for a walk.” He stood from where he sat in the front parlor. “We need to talk.”

  “We shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Why not?”

  “Norris forbad me from being alone with you.”

  “That’s bullshit!” Peter roared. “He can’t tell you what you can and can’t do.”

  “He can. He’s my husband and I have to respect his wishes.”

  “Are you sleeping with him again?”

  “Don’t do this.” She backed away from him. “Peter, we are married and we have to honor our vows.”

  “Honor our vows?” he asked disbelievingly. “Do you even know what Norris does when he’s not with you?”

  “Stop,” she whispered.

  “Rachel, he and Maggie, his secretary, have been involved for years. She’s his mistress.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It doesn’t matter? If you really believe that, then I don’t know you.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes. “You’re wanting me to judge Norris for his infidelities yet you’re offering the same thing from yourself, and wanting the same thing from me.”

  Her words stopped him cold. “I don’t see us in the same light. I’m sorry.” He sat back down on the couch. “Jesus, Rachel.”

  Remorse washed over her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  “I just thought…for these past few months, I’ve been miserable, wanting to be closer to you and I was foolish enough to believe that you were feeling the same way.” He looked up at her. “I didn’t want to put you in a compromising position, I just wanted to spend time with you.”

  She hated to see him hurt. She had to tell him the truth. “The last time we were alone, things got…we were close. Norris knew. I don’t know how he knew, but he did. He told me that I couldn’t be alone with you anymore. Peter, I’m sorry, but I can’t disobey him.”

  “Disobey him?” he looked at her incredulously. “Do you hear yourself? He’s not your…” He stopped himself from saying “father.” “You’re acting like he’s your father, not your husband.”