Turn of the Tide by Pamela Oldfield

Author:Pamela Oldfield [Oldfield, Pamela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2015-07-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Virginia sat in the darkened box, gazing at the scene on the stage below her. The finer points of La Traviata were eluding her although Madame Tetrazinni, according to Larry, made a wonderful Violetta and John McCormack a superb Alfredo. She could not judge their performances for herself because she was not musically inclined, and she could not understand the plot because it was being sung in Italian. No hint of disillusionment would pass her lips, however, for she was with Larry Scott and that fact alone made the evening an outstanding success. He had dared to be seen in public with her at no less a place than the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden! On their arrival, she had swept up the broad red staircase on his arm, seeing the two of them side by side in the huge gilded mirror at the turn of the stairs — a handsome couple, she congratulated herself; no one could dispute that, she thought proudly. She looked positively breathtaking in a dress of rose-coloured lace, while Larry — immaculate in his evening suit — attracted the eye of every woman they passed. In the box she had been aware of admiring faces upturned towards them and in the interval they had mingled in the Crush Bar to great effect.

At any moment one or both of them might have been recognized, but for Larry that brought added spice to the evening. For her own part, she had half-hoped for such an event. If their attendance at the opera reached Alex’s ears, then matters would come to a head. She was growing tired now of the constant need for lies and pretence and longed for the courage to do something positive — but doubted if she would ever have it. If only Fate would intervene... her darkest fear was that Larry would grow tired of the situation and would give her an ultimatum. Already she thought she sensed an impatience within him and she could not blame him. Their occasional meetings had so far been very brief affairs — a few stolen hours snatched while Alex was away on business — but tonight, sitting beside him, she had come to a decision. She had told Alex that she was visiting an elderly family friend and might have to stay overnight, but so far Larry was unaware of this. She had not felt able to tell him, but now her resolve hardened a little. If she was to hold Larry’s attention, she must offer him something she had so far withheld. They had never been lovers in the fullest sense of the word and Virginia felt that by allowing this final step in their relationship, she would rekindle his interest.

After the performance they were going to have supper at the Louis XIV Restaurant at the Piccadilly. During the meal she would suggest that they book a room for the night at the Savoy Hotel — a double room — under an assumed name. She

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