GIRL IN BLUE. Katrina Britt. CHAPTER ONE

GIRL IN BLUE

Katrina Britt

Felicity knew that the voice on the telephone had been that of Nora Staffordly. Although Felicity had never really doubted her husband's faithfulness, Nora's words filled her with unrest.

A brilliant young lawyer, Curt found that his work and his clients made great demands on him. Though she didn't like the situation. Felicity accepted it, realizing that there were times when she simply had to share Curt.

But she was not going to share her husband with another woman!

CHAPTER ONE

Felicity Vale-Norton was said by her friends to be a very sweet and thoroughly nice young woman, kind, thoughtful, generous and much sought-after by most eligible males. That she was twenty-five and still unmarried was often a matter of comment, since she was very pretty, extremely feminine and. liked men. Small-boned, exquisitely made with deep blue eyes and golden hair, she had the fragile kind of looks most appealing to men.

She was popular with both sexes and her gift for friendship ensured her a full social life; it was a good life and, at the moment, she wanted no other. Her days were full, and passed far too quickly for her to pause and wonder where she was heading until the day after her twenty-fifth birthday.

She opened her eyes sleepily, looked around the familiar charming bedroom with its bronze velvet curtains flowing elegantly from tall windows on to the cream carpet, and realized that she was now twenty-five.

Living in the country remote from the pressures of everyday life as she did, it was easy to drift along on a sea of enchantment surrounded by the beauties of nature.

Norton Towers, the home of the Vale-Nortons for centuries, was set in unspoiled countryside, where a sparkling stream meandered in wooded valleys forming acres of sweet serenity. Felicity loved her home with a deep devotion; loved the spacious, immaculate grounds from the ornate double gates at the beginning of the long tree-shaded drive to the massive pile of mellowed stone with its tall, mullioned windows often turned to flame in the setting sun.

Early morning meant a canter on Sandy, with her hair streaming in the breeze and her heart beating in tune to Sandy's hooves on the soft jumble of fern and grass. Sometimes she was joined by her father, and by her twin brother Blain when he was on leave from his regiment.

Felicity was on excellent terms with her parents and she was well aware of being the apple of her father's eye. In her eyes, Colonel Vale-Norton was lovely, dignified and tweedy and perfectly cast in his role of a country gentleman, while Elvira Norton lived only for her son Blain.

Blain was a captain in the Guards, handsome and audacious, with an eye for the girls. He had his full share of the Vale-Norton charm and Felicity adored him; they had frolicked through every birthday together, and the one the previous evening had been as successful as the rest.

Felicity had floated lightly through every dance, and had had a number of proposals which she modestly put down to the amount of champagne in which her partners had indulged.

Wonderful party, wonderful everything! It was only now, when Anna came to draw back the velvet curtains and let in the clear, cool morning air, that cold reason returned. For no reason at all a shiver ran down Felicity's spine: it seemed to her in that unguarded moment that she was riding blindly along and that sooner or later she would meet catastrophe.

Usually at eight o'clock every morning Anna pulled back the curtains, gave Felicity an appetising breakfast tray and wished her good morning, but this morning it was ten because of the party the previous evening. But Felicity's smile had all the usual warmth, and she began to talk about the birthday party, since Anna knew practically everyone there.

Anna listened and made the usual comments, with a meaning glance at Felicity's ringless left hand when the male guests were mentioned. Felicity's way of fighting shy of any entanglements caused her concern when she looked back on her own uneventful spinsterhood, which was none of her own choosing.

'If I had half the chances you have, ' she said, 'I'd have married more times than Zsa Zsa Gabor. '

Felicity laughed, knowing that between Anna and herself there was a special bond of friendship. There was no mistress-servant relationship between her and the kindly woman who was among other things a perfect jewel of a housekeeper; Anna was her real friend, in whom she could confide without reserve, knowing that nothing she said would be repeated outside the four walls of her room.

She was enjoying the rehashing of the birthday party when Anna said,

'I don't remember Mrs Staffordly being invited. '

Felicity nodded darkly. 'That woman has the hide of an elephant. '

'Pity she doesn't look like one, ' was Anna's caustic comment. 'Blain is riding for a fall with her. She's older than he is in any case. '

Reasonably Felicity said, 'As it was also Blain's birthday party, he had a right to invite anyone he chooses. Unfortunately, Mrs Staffordly has a kind of faiblesse for Blain to which he apparently succumbs. '

Well dressed, chic and glamorous, Nora Staffordly was a beautiful woman notorious for her affairs. She was the kind of woman who had made friends with time. Her luxuriant auburn hair owed nothing to artifice, and she had a way of applying her make-up with a rare and unique art, for not a wrinkle appeared on her enchanting face. Only the lovely amber eyes were knowledgeable to an experienced man, and Blain was fast becoming one.

So thought Felicity, who adored her twin brother. He had always been great fun, and endeavoured audaciously to rid her of her inhibitions as he had so successfully done to the women of his acquaintance, laughing at her when she reproved his drinking, ruffling her hair and indulging in horseplay.

She was intrigued by the life he led in the Guards, of which she knew very little. Secretly, she had thought him a devil and had experienced a few qualms when, last year, he had become involved with the notorious Nora Staffordly; but until last evening she had not been unduly worried about it, believing that, like his other affairs, it had fizzled out.

Now she did not feel so complaisant about it, Felicity thought as she spread marmalade liberally on her toast, and Anna proceeded to pick up the clothes she had discarded around the room early that morning after the party. Blain was an idiot, but a loveable one. What sort of a girl would he marry in the end? There was an odd sense of shock in the discovery that he would eventually marry. It would be unfair of her not to accept the fact that he would. She would hate him to be lonely in later years.

But it had to be someone far. different from Nora Staffordly. Felicity was well aware of the danger of him associating with such a woman. She had regarded his weakness for drink and women as a phase he was going through which he would eventually get over. He seemed unable to resist making love to every pretty woman he met. Most of his affairs were unknown to her since, being a man, he could shrug them off and forget all about them when he came home on leave.

When he did come home, Felicity shared all his interests and occupations, determined to dwell upon his good qualities and bask in the easy, good-natured charm which made him such a marvellous companion; but last evening, after the birthday party, they had had one of their rare quarrels.

'You're a fool to bother with Nora Staffordly, ' she had told him. 'Her husband is a very influential man and you'll make an enemy of him if he finds out about your affair with his wife. '

Blain's face had crimsoned angrily. 'I know what I'm doing, ' he had cried explosively.

Felicity's soft lips had tightened. 'So does she, you idiot—she has nothing to lose. You have everything. '

With this parting shot she had stalked from the room, leaving him helping himself to another drink when normally she would have persuaded him to leave it and go to bed.

'I wish Blain could find a nice girl, ' she said to Anna who had straightened the room and was on her way to the door.

'Well, at least he can't have a baby, ' was that lady's comment as she left the room.

Staring at the closed door, Felicity was aware that Blain was full of the joie de vivre of which she knew very little. Her sheltered life at the Norton Towers had given her a very limited opportunity for discrimination or selection where men were concerned. She was as yet too inexperienced to fully understand her own character, much less that of her brother. All of which gave her food for thought.

Felicity was essentially her father's girl. Like him she was a bit of a dreamer and an idealist, and so far nothing had happened to challenge these two qualities. She had a healthy contempt for shallow people who had no depth of character, but to her Blain's weakness for drink and women was only his extreme youth clamouring for expression. She knew he was sound enough in character underneath.

To her great surprise and pleasure, Blain joined her when she went for a ride on Sandy. Anger never lasted long with Blain; he was his usual charming self. That afternoon he took her to the races. Her father went too, and Felicity thought he looked a poppet in his grey top-hat and his immaculate suit with the buttonhole. His old-world charm, his air of simple dignity, made him an arresting figure and she was very proud of him.

She hoped Blain would grow out of his dissolute ways and model himself upon his father, then she felt a little guilty at sitting on judgement on Blain. since he endeavoured to take every care of her, giving her lunch and setting himself out to amuse her. He was so successful that when they went for afternoon coffee beneath the shade of trees at gay umbrella-topped tables, Felicity was her happy self.

Lounging in his chair, with his grey topper set rakishly on his fair curls, he smiled at her over the top of his racing card.

'You've brought me luck, ' he said. 'I'm taking you out to a show tonight and supper afterwards. '

Felicity, bearing in mind the innumerable cheques she had slipped him out of her allowance to help him out of embarrassing situations, said anxiously, 'Sure you can afford it? '

'I wouldn't ask you if I couldn't, ' he replied, adding with a wide grin, 'and I shan't be asking for a loan either. '

Felicity looked at him gravely as he lounged in his chair with the grace of luxurious ease and she noticed again the perfection of his features. His well-shaped head, his neat ears, his clear-cut profile, the squareness of his forehead and that chin with the dimple in the centre. His eyes, a lighter blue than her own, and his rather sensuous mouth.

'I'll remind you of that later, ' she told him.

The show they went to see that evening was good and they went to supper afterwards as Blain had promised. More than one pair of eyes followed the slim, girlish figure and her handsome escort as they threaded their way through the tables in the rather exclusive restaurant which Blain had chosen. They had almost reached their table when a beautifully manicured white hand descended on Blain's immaculate arm and the owner leaned forward to speak to him.

'Hello, Blain, ' said Nora Staffordly. 'How did you enjoy the show? We were several rows behind you. '

She was in the company of two men and another woman. She was beautifully dressed, with stones glittering at her throat and in her ears. A femme fatale, Felicity thought, who wore her beauty like a banner.

Blain extricated himself from a rather awkward situation with admirable aplomb.

Gallantly, he said, 'We enjoyed it immensely. And you? '

The lovely eyes moved from his boyish grin to Felicity, who gave a polite smile.

'We enjoyed it too. Won't you join us? ' she replied after a pause.

'Sorry. This is my treat to Felicity. ' Blain gave a click of the heels and a salute. 'Thanks. Some other time. '

They had settled at their table and Blain had given his order to the wine waiter, when Felicity looked at him with twinkling blue eyes.

'You did that rather well, ' she admitted with a chuckle. 'I see what you're up against. She's certainly very lovely. '

Blain, decidedly red about the ears, said sheepishly, 'She's a very good dancer. '

Rather dryly, she spoke without rancour. 'Would you say she was a good all-round performer? '

Blain went scarlet. 'Here, hold on, ' he protested, and she had to laugh.

'I was only teasing. You really are like a little boy sometimes, I don't know whether to spank you or kiss you. ' She shook her head. 'I wish you would be more discreet. '

The wine had arrived and he poured it, handing her a glass gravely.

'I'm not with you, ' he said perversely.

'You don't want to be, do you, Blain? You're like an ostrich who digs his face in the sand. ' Felicity's voice was quiet and tinged with sadness. 'I've always been so proud of Daddy because he's a man of integrity—'

The well kept hand holding his drink trembled a little. 'And I'm not. Is that what you're trying to say? '

He raised his head and his eyes glittered. To Felicity his bearing was both bold and pathetic in that poignant capacity he had for heartbreak and defiance in one breath. She wanted to reach out and stroke his flushed cheek and squeeze his hand.

Soothingly, she said, 'You're too young to form any real character yet. Neither of us have proved ourselves. ' She raised her glass. 'Here's to us. May we never let the parents down. '

They drank and she looked at him from under her lashes as the meal progressed. It was so wonderful to have someone who was part of herself. If only he was more dependable! But there was nothing she could do but love him for what he was.

Two days later Blain left his family, saying that he had promised to spend the rest of his leave with a friend in London.

'Take care, ' said Felicity when she kissed him goodbye. 'Find a nice girl. '

Blain hesitated for a moment. Then he kissed her soundly and said in his soft caressing way, 'I'm too young to marry, but I promise to be a good boy. '

Elvira Vale-Norton was always in an awkward mood whenever her son went back to his regiment. At these times, Felicity felt sympathy and frustration bubbling up inside her as it constantly occurred to her that her mother's indulgence of her male offspring was largely responsible for Blain's weakness of character. She had never allowed him to stand up to the results of his own irresponsibilities.

A few days after he had gone Felicity entered the lounge, with its tall windows overlooking the lovely sweep of the green countryside, to find her mother seated at her writing desk. She was making out cheques which Felicity was sure were for Blain's debts. Despair seized her by the throat as she saw the act as one encouraging Blain's extravagant tastes.

With her eyes on her mother's slim, straight back, she walked across the deep pile carpet.

'Mother, ' she said, 'do you ever pause to think whether you're being fair to Blain in settling his debts so readily? He has to grow up some day and learn to accept responsibility. Some day he'll marry, and you're not being fair either to him or the girl who will eventually be his wife, '

Elvira continued with her task, putting the cheques and bills in their envelopes and sealing them down leisurely. Then, pushing back her chair, she turned to look up at her daughter's worried face. Her smile had a singular and compelling charm.

'Blain is only sowing his wild oats, ' she told her gently. 'I give him a helping hand. Why shouldn't he live for the moment with the world as it is today forever hovering in the brink of disaster? Anything can happen. '

'Exactly, ' Felicity replied. 'How can he face up to hard knocks if you insist on wrapping him in cotton wool? '

Elvira shook her head. 'You're jealous of him. We'll say no more about it. '

Felicity clenched her hands. 'Jealous? ' she echoed. 'If that were true, I would say nothing and let you send him to the devil. I love Blain as much as you do, maybe more, for I could never deliberately ruin him as you're doing. ' Her winged brows drew together in a look of distress. 'I also have to stand by and watch you slowly destroy him, watch you ruin his chances of ever becoming anything worth while. All his life he's taken what he wants regardless of other people's feelings. He has a surfeit of everything he likes, he'll begin to take more and more. '

She walked over to one of the windows to gaze out unseeingly, with blurred vision. When she went on her voice was husky with emotion.

'I'm frightened for him, frightened at what women like Nora Staffordly can do to him, frightened for his future. He won't listen to me. Why should he, when you're there to give him everything he wants? '

In the silence which followed Elvira walked across the room to where Felicity stood silhouetted against the window and slipped an arm around her slender quivering form.

'My dear, ' she said softly, 'don't you think I worry about him too? I saw my folly too late, but if I hadn't helped him with his debts he would have been cashiered long ago. Unfortunately, he was born with a fondness for luxuries and I've given them to him. Easy come, easy go. They could bore him in time, and then he'll come home to his mother. '

Felicity whirled out of her mother's arm and stared at her in exasperation.

'You don't want him to get married, do you? You want him to be with you, like the little boy who never grew up. '

'You, Felicity, ' said her mother, 'are hysterical. '

'Thanks, ' Felicity said shortly.

To Felicity's sensitive spirit her mother's indifference to herself was nothing to the realization that in indulging in her son's demands she had taken something infinitely precious—something he so badly needed, and which a mother alone could give him. Her distress went deeper, because she felt as guilty herself as she had accused her mother of being. Blain had been a dominant motive in her own life, her complete devotion to him and all his interests something which made itself part of her life, of the air she breathed.

The soft closing of the door told her that her mother had left the room. Her first impulse was to go after her, to quiet her apprehensions that she would break in again on that temple of hers. But Felicity knew that her mother had never understood her nor made any attempt to do so. With a deep sigh she opened the French window and stepped out into the sunlight, wishing she could see beyond the grounds into the distant future hidden from her by the mists of time. Pushing her hands into the pockets of her linen dress, she strolled through the grounds, her cheeks flushed as they often were when coming into contact with her mother. She was only too accustomed to her indifference. She spoke a different language but, in her own concern for Blain's future, she had hoped for once that she could touch some chord for herself that her mother kept hidden. Now she was desperately hurt because there was none there, and a little bitter.

'I'm a fool to care, ' she said fiercely to herself, and with that she walked determinedly away from the house.

That evening Felicity had a telephone call from Blain. His voice sounded thick and strange.

'Felicity? ' he queried, and at the sound of her voice he continued, 'I have to see you as soon as possible. How soon can you come up to Town? '

'Tomorrow morning, if it's urgent. '

'Good. I'm in a devil of a mess, ' he said urgently. 'Don't tell the parents you're coming to see me. '

'Very well, ' she agreed. 'I'll see you in the usual place at half-past twelve. You're at the barracks? '

'Yes. My leave was up last night. Don't let me down, will you? '

'Have I ever? I'll be there. '

She put the phone down on a shiver of premonition, wondering what he had been up to this time. It could not be money troubles since all his debts had been settled. Something far worse, probably, she thought, and trembled. Sooner or later he was going to go too far.

She drove up to London the following morning and parked the car. The sun had brought out the usual crowds as she made her way to the restaurant where they usually met when she was in Town. Blain was there wearing his dress uniform, dark blue with red stripes, and the uniform becked hat set rakishly on his fair curls.

He was the target for all feminine eyes, and Felicity wished desperately that he was tubby with a squint as he grinned down at her.

'Thanks for coining, ' he said. 'I knew I could rely on you. '

'That's been the trouble, ' she began as he took her arm and they went inside the restaurant. 'Maybe you'll have to fight this one out yourself. '

But Blain was not listening. With his usual charm he was being led to one of the best tables near a window, secluded but with a view of the room, by a waiter who was already under his spell.

Felicity studied him from beneath her eyelashes as they sat down in an uneasy silence, broken at last by Blain's order to the waiter. Whatever his trouble was, she was sure he wouldn't learn a lesson from it.

'I've been a fool, ' he admitted with self-abnegation, attacking his hors d'oeuvres as if it was responsible.

Hardening, Felicity murmured, 'I shall put that down as the understatement of the year. What's new? '

The tips of his ears reddened and he looked sheepish. 'You're going to despise me for going back on my word to you. The truth is, I cut my leave short to go away with Nora Staffordly to Paris. '

A chill feathered down her spine. 'Go on, ' she said.

He moistened dry lips. 'It was sheer bad luck that her husband happened to book in at the same hotel. He spends most of his time abroad on business, and Nora understood he was in Italy. '

Felicity nearly choked on a portion of food. 'Blain, you fool! After all I said! ' Anger at his stupidity made her voice scathing. 'I suppose he caught you with her, or did you book in under assumed names? '

He gulped down part of his wine as if to give him courage. 'One of the maids who knew Nora came to our room to tell us, so I packed and left. ' He put down the glass with a shaky hand. 'But he knew I'd been there with her. Nora rang me up to tell me. '

'I see. And what's he going to do now? '

'He's threatened to divorce her and name me as correspondent, ' he said heavily.

'Charming, ' Felicity said grimly. 'What are you going to do about it? '

Blain shrugged philosophically. 'Wait and see. He could change his mind. I'm due to go on manoeuvres next weekend for a month, then I shall take a course on service overseas. I could go abroad, if the worst •comes to the worst, until it all blows over. '

'Just like that. What about the parents? You know how proud Daddy is of his good name, and Mummy will be distracted. '

Felicity's face was pale now. She was angry and unhappy, but at the same time she was sorry because he was not entirely to blame.

He lifted miserable eyes. 'It's Dad who bothers me. I can manage Mother. '

'Can you? Pity you can't manage your own affairs better. '

Felicity put down her knife and fork, having lost her appetite. For the first time in her life she was seeing her illusions swept away, seeing her life at Norton Towers as something restricted and unreal. She swallowed painfully, and Blain saw the tears in her eyes with a sense of shame.

Yet he felt quite magnanimous when he said, 'I'm sorry, old girl, I know you must think me a first-rate cad. Of course I don't expect you to understand. After all, I'm a man. '

Her eyes were clear now of tears. She looked directly at him.

'Are you? ' she asked meaningly.

He did not answer. He did not quite understand what she meant, and thought it politic to remain silent.

'Why did you do it? ' she insisted.

Blain reddened and endeavoured to explain. '

He said, 'When a woman is easy game no man is likely to throw the chance over his shoulder. You see what I mean? '

She nodded. 'I can also see that you've never understood what I mean. That's the tragic part of it. You and I might be twins, but we have a far different set of values. Everything in life has been yours for the taking. Up to a point it's been mine too, only a woman is not like a man. She can't have her cake and eat it without becoming a tart in the process. I love you very much, Blain, ' her smile was poignantly tender, . 'I always will. That's another funny thing about women. Their capacity for loving and compassion far exceeds that of men. Looks as if we have a fight on our hands! '

It took him several seconds to digest her meaning. Then he gave a laugh of pure relief.

'You mean you'll stand by me? '

She nodded. 'That's what sisters are for. '

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