COLONEL NOAH

OTHER CHAPTERS

CHAPTER 5

Laura Sharp pulled on the car break, put both hands on the steering wheel and sat perfectly still. Physically still but mentally in top gear. The fact that she was sitting in their drive at 4.30 p.m. on a working day was testimony enough that all was not well in her usually well-ordered life.

She was utterly amazed at her own reaction to the tiny shiny gold hairs on the back of his hands as he stood beside her showing her his wares. They were discussing the patterns of lace on flimsy scraps of underwear. He was standing so close that she could smell the faint citrus tang of his aftershave and feel the heat of his body through the light Summer jacket.

She hadn't felt like this for years, not since the first time Paul had put his hand on her inner thigh. It was so physical that her mouth went dry and her voice refused to co-operate with her mind. The old rag-trade joke - 'he travels in ladies' underwear' - popped into her head. Well he did! He was trying to sell her some underwear, very superior French lingerie with that exquisite French taste which could not be mistaken. He owned the firm and was trying to break into the English market.

The dimple in his chin combined with his seductive French accent made Laura's knees feel weak and her eyelashes flutter down like a Victorian maiden.

She looked at the kettle in her hand wondering how she had moved from the car to the kitchen. She felt young and foolish. No doubt her second in command, Beth Hardy, had thought there was something wrong when Laura left early but she hadn't spoken. The kettle boiled and the coffee made itself quite independently.

The back door flung open with a crash and Darren stood there poised on one foot.

'Oh, it's you, Mum. I saw someone moving through the kitchen window and thought we had a burglar. What's up, you're home early?'

Laura looked at her son standing in the doorway. Her eyes registered that he was almost a man. The reawakened awareness of the male animal noted his tanned face and crisp brown hair, the hard muscles under his 'T' shirt and his large hands. He was going to be a handsome man, much more handsome than his father.

She smiled at him.

'What would you have done if I'd been an intruder, rushed at me with your bare hands?'

He smiled back sheepishly,

'Dunno.'

'Have you been over to the Colonel's again? I hope you're not getting in the way.'

'No, I'm helping,' Darren was indignant.

She was vaguely aware that he was spending a lot of time next door but didn't worry too much because it kept him occupied during the light evenings and long school holidays. He evidently enjoyed himself as she hadn't heard the word 'boring' at all.

'What on earth is he building over there? There's a good deal of hammering going on. Is it an extension or a billiard room or a swimming pool?'

Darren stayed silent.

'You must know what he's doing!'

'Well it's sort of a secret at the moment but he won't mind you knowing, he's building a boat.'

'A boat,' said Laura suddenly intrigued, 'but he was in the army.'

'Yes, I know, but his son is in the navy and he's always been interested in the sea and boats.'

'Tell me more,' Laura said, wanting to keep her handsome son talking for a little longer, 'how is he going to get a boat out of the garden?'

'Dunno, through Farmer Denver's field, I expect. I did ask Tom Daily but he said 'get on with the job' and the Colonel said 'All will be revealed at the appropriate time'. Are we going to have early tea now that you're home, I'm starving.'

'What would you like?'

'Anything?'

'Absolutely anything,' Laura's maternal instincts resurfaced.

'Proper chips, sausage and beans with an egg and fried bread,' Darren didn't hesitate for a moment.

'What are proper chips?'

'Like you used to make before you started the Boutique, big and fat and done in the frying pan instead of the oven.'

'Right, proper chips with all the trimmings. We won't wait for your Dad. Go back to work and I'll call you when it's ready.'

'How long?'

'Half an hour.'

'Oh, Mum, I can't wait that long for proper chips.'

Laura laughed, 'Get yourself a tin of coke and I'll shout you when it's ready,'

Half an hour didn't seem long to Laura, she could remember when it did. This new awareness was playing havoc with her sense of time. Perhaps she was having a fifteen-year itch, or an early menopause or just a sudden bout of lust. His name was Noel, so un-English, like the rest of him, different and tantalising. She giggled, he must be married, his wife probably helped him choose the lace. Perhaps she even owned the business and simply sent her attractive husband out to entrap willing retailers into buying more than they could afford. He had charmed her easily enough.

It had been Noel's suggestion that they go out to dinner and finish their business in more pleasant surroundings. His hotel wasn't too far off and they served a wonderful meal. Also his paperwork was in his suite with more samples of lingerie and other items which she might consider selling.

Laura wished she had said 'No' immediately to his idea. There would be plenty of time tomorrow when she had slept on it. It was very expensive. She saw again those firm sculptured lips and perfect white teeth, an adventure, she needed this.

The other half of her brain was remembering that Paul was playing a round of golf with a contact after work and wouldn't be in for dinner. They sometimes talked about their friends who were having extras, as Paul called it. It would never happen to them, divorce was so messy and would interfere with getting ahead.

She watched the chips bubbling steadily in the golden liquid and gave the beans a shake in the pan. Life should be simple, why complicate things?

Five more minutes, butter the bread, put the kettle on, warm the plates. She and Paul had a satisfying sex life but the dangerous attraction of slate-grey eyes and long lashes had just blown it away. Excitement that's all it was.

Perhaps if she'd had several lovers she wouldn't be worrying about trivial details, like how to take your tights off in front of a total stranger without hopping on one foot - not the most titillating of movements. Not the same as slowly peeling down sheer black stockings on a perfectly smooth leg. If she stripped seductively enough he might present her with a set of that delicious lingerie suspender belt to match.

Laura left the huge plate of dinner under the grill and went to call Darren. Half way down the back garden path she shouted 'Darren, tea's ready!'

Laura stuck her head through a gap in the fence presumably where Darren got through, her vision was blocked by a wooden wall, the hull of the Colonel's boat. It was huge.

'Darren, dinner,' she shouted again, and he was there.

'Thanks, Mum,' he shouted as he dashed past her towards the kitchen.

'It's under the grill, wash your hands.'

She walked slowly back, picking off a couple of dead rose heads. They were not very keen gardeners but it was tidy and the sweet smell of roses was heady in the early evening.

Darren was already sitting up to the breakfast counter tucking in, he waggled his fork in appreciation.

'I'll have a cup of tea with you,' said Laura, 'but I don't want anything to eat as I'm going out to a business dinner later to discuss a new line for the Boutique.'

Well it was the truth, not the whole of it but near enough. She sat on a stool near him and sipped her tea.

'Dad won't be in 'til later either. He's playing golf and then going for a bar meal at the club. You'll be alright won't you? We seem to be leaving you alone a lot these days.'

'I'll be going back over to the colonel's after tea. there's so much to do yet. Tom Dailey is teaching me all sorts about wood and carpentry. He says I have a natural eye for it. It's quite interesting really,' he added sheepishly.

Laura was amazed at this piece of casual information. She knew that Darren wasn't academically inclined and was delighted that something had taken his fancy. She felt obliged to say, 'Haven't you got any homework?'

'Yes, but I've got it all organised, we had to do a project on any subject which interested us and I've chosen boats. The Colonel is giving me a hand with it in exchange for all the hard work I've done on his boat. We have to write about five thousand words and use photographs where possible. Can I use your camera?'

'Yes, of course you can. It will need a new film, it hasn't been used for ages.'

'Thanks, any more bread?'

Laura buttered four more slices of bread for Darren to make chip butties. She didn't nag him about it. He was a good lad really and had never given them any trouble. There had been one incident last year with the fishing rod and a bikini but in the end they had all seen the funny side of it.

Darren had been trying out his dad's latest craze of fishing. No doubt Mrs Joplin did have quite a shock when a hook and a juicy pink worm grabbed her bikini bottom as she was sun-bathing but what a noise and commotion she caused. Surely there was no need to scream for ten minutes until the whole of the cul-de-sac were either out in their gardens or peering out of their windows. Darren had been almost as shocked as Mrs Joplin knowing he had a bite on his line. Laura couldn't help smiling about it. Mrs Joplin had been on valium for a month.

'What are you smiling at, Mum?'

'I was just remembering Mrs Joplin and her bikini last Summer.'

'Gosh, didn't she yell? It really frightened Missing Monica next door. She thought someone was being murdered. Fancy Mrs Joplin being frightened of a little old worm. It was a beauty too. It took me ages to find it.'

'I think it was much more than the worm you know, and don't call Miss Teesdale 'Missing', she's just a bit strange that's all. Just a bit slow.'

'Dad says she has something missing, still, I suppose anyone might be strange living with a head mistress all their lives.' decided Darren. 'Right, I'm off to work, that was the best tea ever, thanks, Mum.'

'I'll lock the back door and put the key under the mat. Dad and I both have our front door keys and I don't like the doors left unlocked in the evenings.'

'You're joking, no one can get past Missing Monica without her noticing. She sees everything that goes on, we often see her peering through a hole in the fence. I bet she tells the Head all about it. The colonel invited her over but she just giggled and ran off. Bye, I'll see you later.'

Laura poured another cup of tea. Nearly two hours before she was to meet Noel. She would start getting ready now. She could change her mind any time she wanted, but if she didn't then she'd be ready. She would have a long warm bath and pamper herself a little.

An hour and a half later Laura looked at herself in the cheval mirror from all angles. The cream two-piece suited her slim figure, a tight skirt under a long loose jacket and a tangerine scarf floating round. Taupe shoes with thin heels made her feel elegant and special. Not bad for thirty-five. She picked up her bag and went downstairs to compose a note for Paul.

'Gone to meet a wholesaler for a business dinner, won't be late. L.'

She propped it up against the teapot.

The Principal Hotel was situated away from the main bustle of the town. It overlooked a small park. Noel's business must be doing all right. It was certainly not a seedy B&B. She walked up the steps through the ornate glass doors and into the lobby. The reception desk took up half of the space, behind it were two middle-aged ladies in identical suits.

Laura came to an abrupt halt. What to do now? If this was an ordinary business meeting she would have no qualms at all. She would simply have walked up to the desk and asked for M. de Montage, but now she felt different and guilty even before anything had happened.

But here he was coming towards her, hands outstretched, taking one of hers and kissing it quite theatrically with such a wicked twinkle in his eyes that she couldn't help laughing. It was so over-the-top like something from a thirties' melodrama.

'Laura this is wonderful, I almost expected a phone call saying you had changed your mind.'

'Why should I do that? I love your lingerie and would like to see more if that is possible.'

'And I love the way you look and would like to see more if that is possible.'

Noel seemed so much more French in this stuffy middle-class English hotel. He was playing to an audience, the two receptionists had a front row view.

'Come pretty Laura we will have an aperitif and dinner and then continue our business in my suite.'

He turned to the bar to order and Laura looked into the bar mirror to make sure she didn't look as flustered as she felt.

There was another couple reflected there at the far end of the room. She wondered if they too were meeting for a double entendre. The man had his back towards her but she knew the woman. It was one of the secretaries from Paul's firm. Laura had met her a couple of times socially and always thought how attractive she was. A bit on the plump side but very sexy.

Laura studied the man's back half hidden behind a large oriental vase, he looked familiar too. Must be someone else from work having a night out.

When he laughed Laura knew exactly who the man was - Paul!!

This was getting more like a French farce every minute. Laura stood paralysed. Noel came back to her smiling.

She had to get out without making a scene. The first thing that came into her head was,

'Sorry Noel I must pop back to my car I may have left it unlocked.'

'Do not worry, I will accompany you, set your mind at rest.'

Laura started for the doors hoping that the movement wouldn't draw eyes towards them. The doors seemed miles away but she made it panting slightly with a mad adrenaline rush.

'You are nervous my little Laura. There is no need. We will sit in your car and speak together.'

Laura felt hysterical laughter begin in her throat, it bubbled and she coughed. He really did look so much older in the daylight. The pleading look on his face was comical as he realised his quarry was going to ground.

They reached the car and Laura leaned against it thankfully. What an idiot she felt to fall for this kind of tatty scene.

Noel put one hand on the car and leaned towards her, willing her to respond.

'Sorry, Noel, this wasn't a good idea after all. Evenings are not my best time for doing business. We will conclude our transactions tomorrow at the Boutique. Please bring some more samples, much more sensible to see them in the correct setting.'

Laura ducked under his arm and slipped into the car before the situation became too embarrassing for them both. Noel stepped back and twinkled at her automatically.

'Until tomorrow then, Noel. I'll look forward to that.'

She pulled away from the kerb with tears in her eyes and laughter somewhere near the surface.

I'll be like Scarlett O'Hara - tomorrow is another day.

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