Desire For Revenge Part 2

By the time she arrived the triplets would be in bed, asleep, but they would be the first thing in the morning to wake her up--three boisterous and lovable four-year-olds whom Sarah secretly adored.

The three children--two boys and a girl--had been conceived by her sister after only a few months on a fertility drug when she had reached her early thirties with no sign of the child she and Ralph so desperately wanted. Jane had been over the moon, not at all fazed by the information that her doctor suspected that she was carrying more than one child, although up until the last moment no one had guessed the antic.i.p.ated twins would be triplets. Her sister had a blissfully secure and happy life but no one could deserve it more than Jane. She and Ralph had both been so marvelous to her when Mum and Dad had been killed.

Her journey went smoothly. She found Ralph waiting for her when the train pulled in, his burly form instantly recognisable. He looked more like a farmer than a computer expert, Sarah reflected, returning his warm hug with enthusiasm.

"How is everyone?" she asked as they walked through the darkness to his waiting Range Rover.

"Fine. All dying to see you. Jane's been in a bit of a tizz this last week about the ball. She's managed to hire costumes for all of us and I've told her there's nothing to worry about."

"I expect she's worried because she knows how important this contract is to you," Sarah suggested, as she fastened her seat-belt.

"Mmm ... I'm seeing Tom Merryweather tomorrow morning. I'm hoping he might give me a decision then. If he does, we'll push the boat out in style tomorrow night."

They chatted in a casual fas.h.i.+on as Ralph drove along the familiar roads. Sarah had been brought up in this part of the world and knew it well. She also felt a deep sense of inner peace when she returned here and often wished it was possible for her to stay, but she had her living to earn, and at twenty-five she was far too young, or so Jane claimed, to settle for the stagnation of a country life.

Sarah was not deceived. Jane clucked as anxiously over her lack of men friends as any mother hen, and Sarah knew that her sister was longing for the day she came home with a fiance on her arm.

Her sister didn't wait for them to go inside to greet them. She came runing out of the house the moment the Range Rover turned into the Vicarage's overgrown drive. Ralph and Jane had only recently moved into their present house. Renovating and furnis.h.i.+ng it was going to be a labour of love for both of them, and when they had finished Sarah knew they would have a home they could be justly proud of. At the moment, though, all was chaos. Ralph was doing most of the minor work himself, and since this took time, the back garden seemed constantly to resemble a builder's yard.

The Vicarage was early eighteenth century and had a substantial garden.

There was even a small paddock for ponies for the children later if they required them.

"Come on inside, you must be shattered after the journey," Jane commanded, hugging Sarah quickly as she got out of the Range Rover.

"Oh, yes indeed," Sarah grinned.

"It took all of two hours or so and at my time of life..."

"Oh, you know what I mean... Come on I've just made some fresh coffee.

It seems ages since we last saw you. I want to hear everything that's been going on."

"Well, if you two are going to gossip, I'm off to my study," Ralph announced as he carried Sarah's cases into the large shabby hall.

"I'll take these up first for you, Sarah. You're in your usual room."

"But this time you'll have your own bathroom," Jane told her with a grin.

"Ralph finished converting that old dressing room off your bedroom last week. It looks fantastic." She raised herself on tiptoe to kiss her husband's cheek, and watching them Sarah was conscious of a small piercing sensation of aloneness. What was wrong with her?

She had never envied her sister her marital happiness before, why should she start doing so now? "

"Come on sit down and tell me what's making you look so miserable,"

Jane commanded, when they were installed in the large, homely kitchen.

Modernising the kitchen had been Ralph's first priority when they moved in and he had done a marvelous job on it, Sarah reflected, studying the smooth richness of the dark oak kitchen cupboards with their antiqued tile work tops From the original beams, which he had uncovered and retained, hung a various a.s.sortment of herbs and set into one wall was Jane's pride and joy-an ancient black-leaded fireplace complete with bread oven. On the wall in which the fireplace was set Ralph had exposed the original brick 3 work, and an a.s.sortment of bra.s.s pans now decorated it--all original antiques that Jane had cleverly found in local shops. A large, well scrubbed and very old table took pride of place in the centre of the room, and it was on this that Jane placed their mugs of coffee as she pulled out chairs for them both, and pa.s.sed a plate of home-made biscuits in Sarah's direction.

"I've tried a new recipe," she commented, sugar free so they're much better for the kids. "

"Speaking of which..."

"Oh, no you don't! I know when the subject's being changed. What's wrong, Sarah?" she asked dropping her bantering tone and looking seriously at her sister.

"Something is I know that much. Come on.. give..-."

Jane was much more to her than a mere sister, Sarah reflected as she slowly sipped her coffee. She had virtually brought her up from the age of fourteen, succouring her all through those difficult teenage years. It had been Jane who had listened to and answered all her questions about life and s.e.x. Jane who had seen her through all her teenage traumas. She had never hidden anything from her sister, and it was impossible to do so now.

"Problems at work," she said tersely.

"One of my writers is pus.h.i.+ng me to have s.e.x with him."

"And the problem is that you don't want to... or that you do?" Jane asked frankly.

"I don't..." Sarah gave a tiny betraying shudder.

"But he's putting a lot of pressure on me, and I suspect it won't be long before he actually threatens me. I can't turn to Steven for help--that would mean admitting that I can't handle the responsibility that goes with my job."

"Mmm ... I don't know about that."

"The thing is this writer has guessed that I'm still a virgin, and that's why he's so determined to get me into bed."

"Mmm ... the old story of the male ego. Well, there is one simple solution."

"Rid myself of said virginity," Sarah said lightly.

"That had already occurred to me but it's not quite as easy as that, is it? After all, I can hardly go up to the first pa.s.sably attractive male I see and say " would you mind making love to me? ", can I?"

"No," Jane laughed, agreeing with her.

"Is he married?" she asked.

"Very much so. I feel dreadfully sorry forA his poor wife. He really is a loathsome specimen. The sort that makes your flesh creep. Oh, he's attractive enough I suppose in his way ... but there's just something about him..."

"Mmm. I know what you mean, and I can understand your dilemma. Want me to look round for a suitable specimen of manhood for you?" she teased, bringing a lighter note to their conversation as Sarah grinned and replied threateningly, "Just you try!"

They went on to talk about their grandmother, who Jane told her had settled in extremely well at the home.

"I thought we might go and see her tomorrow afternoon. I've got to go into town to collect our costumes." She made a wry face.

"I'm dreading this d.a.m.ned ball. It's the local social event of the year, you realise and we're extremely privileged to be invited."

"I can tell that by your excitement," Sarah responded solemnly, amus.e.m.e.nt dancing in her eyes.

"What are we going as?"

Jane smiled at her.

"Wait until you see our costumes. The do's being held at Merton Place, and since it was built at the height of the Georgian era, I've gone for very traditional Georgian outfits for all three of us. I had to go to Stratford to get them, I'll have you know--nowhere in Gloucester stocked anything that would do. They're theatrical costumes and very, very ornate. They're being sent by express delivery to the local station tonight, that's why we've got to go to town to pick them up tomorrow."

"I can't wait to see Ralph dressed up as a Georgian dandy..." Sarah commented.