It was fully five minutes before she remembered that Jeremy had told her that he would stay at his club with some friends while she was away. The relief that followed this recollection attacked her physically. She wept and then laughed and felt the well remembered nausea creeping over her. For once she did not mind... Now that she remembered why Jeremy was not in the house.
When she recovered, she picked up her phone and called him. He didn't pick up so she called his office. His assistant told her that he had just left the office but couldn't tell her where Jeremy had gone.
Penny hung up, wondering. Jeremy did not expect her until tomorrow. It seemed unlikely that he would return to the flat at six o'clock. Usually he arrived back around seven. He must be at his club then.
She called his club and was told that Jeremy was dining at the Savoy. Hating herself for being suspicious, Penny asked, "Was he alone when he l
She bit her lip. She must control herself somehow.. Try to think things out. Perhaps the girl in white was just a friend. Jeremy must have had a number of girlfriends before he met her. It was unreasonable to expect him to give up all of them just because he was engaged. That was the sort of tie he hated...A ray of hope entered Penny's mind. She tried feverishly to enlarge upon it to convince herself that this all meant nothing. Obviously, Jeremy would not want to dine alone. It was stupid of her not to have thought of that. She knew he hated being by himself so he would never spend a solitary evening at the Savoy. And the girl? She was probably the wife or girlfriend of some friend of his... In town for the night. Maybe she had called Jeremy, and he knowing his Penny was not returning until the next day, would have welcomed the opportunity of a companion. If only she had joined them at the table instead of running away in that absurdly childish fashion, he wou
Jeremy drew her back beside him with superior strength."Now calm down, darling" he said easily. "I am very grateful to him for taking care of you but I can help being a little jealous, can I?"Penny looked at him, her temper and animosity melting."Jealous? Of Joey? Oh Jeremy, darling, have you been jealous?" she asked."What do you think?" Jeremy asked, burying his face against her hair sniffing behind her ear in that well mannered way. "Mmmm, you smell good"She was ready to fall into his arms but she must know first... About the girl in white."Jeremy?""Mmm?""Who was the 'old friend'. I'm not really being inquisitive and of course I know it isn't really any of my business, but I love you so much I want to know all about you... Everything. Please satisfy my curiosity"Jeremy crushed his cigarette and drew away from her, p
"Poor sweet" he murmured. "Letting yourself get worked up about my father's secretary. It makes me laugh to think about it""She looked very attractive" Penny said."Oh, she's pretty but frantically dumb. She really bores me stiff"But she made you smile, Jeremy, she thought."It must be a big thrill for her going out with the boss's son""Well, that is really the reason I took her out. Father said she led a frightfully dull life and never went anywhere so I said I would give her a night out if I had time. As a matter of fact, darling, we spent most of the evening talking about you"Did you? Was that what made you both laugh? Penny wondered."I expect she was very disappointed when she heard you were engaged" Penny said."Oh, I don't think she cared" Jeremy said lightly. "She's married, you know"
Aunt Ann had called Penny at lunch time, her voice trembling a little with anxiety in spite of her courageous attempt to withhold her fear from Penny."I thought you would want to be with your uncle at such a time. Will you be able to come?""Of course, aunt Ann. I'm terribly sorry. You mustn't worry too much. Uncle had one of these seizures before, didn't he? And he has been perfectly all right since" Penny said.Yes I know dear, but your uncle is quite a few years older now.Aunt Ann's voice trailed away into silence before she rallied with one of her clichés."All good has an end but the goodness of God. We must trust in him, dear""Is it as bad as that?" Penny asked, her heart sinking."I'm afraid it's pretty serious" her aunt replied. I need to hang up now, and see you soon ""Yes, I will come right away" Penny said, hanging up you.
"Trouble aways comes in threes" aunt Ann said tactlessly and with a worried frown. "I wonder what the next one will be?"'My baby' Penny thought with a twisted smile.She spent the afternoon in a fever of impatience. The hours dragged themselves away and everytime she gazed at her watch, she was certain that the hands had not moved since last she looked at it. By five o'clock she knew she could not wait another moment.She went outside to call Jeremy herself. When he finally picked up the call, Penny breathed deeply."Hey," she said. "I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you to call. I know you said you would call me but I'm kinda worried. What's going on? Is something wrong?"Jeremy hesitated, before he said, "Yes. I mean.... It's not such a big deal but it's still a big deal""Just tell me, Jeremy, please" Penny begged."Okay, babe, I'm being
"What do you mean?" she asked. "I love him, Audrey. I just can't imagine a future which does not include Jeremy. I love him""Sure it isn't just physical attraction?" Audrey queried."Of course not. It isn't the sleeping with Jeremy that matters. It is.... Oh, lots of little things, having him come home to me in the evening, waking up to find him there beside me, seeing his clothes, his toothbrush, his shaving kit in my bathroom, seeing the way his hair curls after a night's sleep, how he looks at me with a funny little half smile, the smell of that stuff he puts on his hair. Oh so many silly things. I want to be Jeremy's wife and share his intimate life for ever. ""We often want things that aren't good for us" Audrey said."You do remind me of my aunt Ann" Penny said, suddenly smiling. Then her eyes narrowed. "You don't like Jeremy, do you Audrey?"Audrey chose her answer carefully. "I don't know
He stopped talking and Penny saw that the hand holding his phone was trembling."I would say I was sorry if I thought you needed any sympathy" she said. "But frankly speaking, Joey, you are well out of it. I'm not worth your love""Don't say things like that, Penny. You are everything I ever imagined a girl could be. Sweet, intelligent, beautiful and much too modest. Just to know that you see me as a friend is more than enough now.... Since it can't be different""Oh Joey, of course I look on you as my friend. And you and Audrey are the best ones I have and I terribly, terribly fond of you both. But don't love me. Please don't. I couldn't bear to feel responsible for causing you any unhappiness."Joey took her hand and held it in his own for a moment."You could never do that Penny, except by being unhappy. It would make me sad to see you miserable. I told Audre
Penny and Jeremy texted and called each other. He didn't call much because he said he was mostly busy, but he texted her. He told her about his journey and assured her that he was safe and that he loved her.One of his texts read: 'I have been settling down in the most luxurious flat in the center of Cairo. It has three bedrooms, sitting room, dining room and a an enormous very modern kitchen. The place is very comfortable. It's incredible. Your apartment doesn't compare to it very favorably... Except of course when I remember you are in it... Which is very often 'Penny smiled happily to herself when she read that, unaware of Joey's steady gaze with those deep greenish eyes of his.She kept reading the text: 'You have to know that I miss you the hell of a lot, darling, especially nights when I get so lonely. I'm pretty busy as far as work is concerned and we might not get to talk on the phone for long. I didn't want to tell you thi