Sally Wentworth - Liberated Lady Read online

  Sally Wentworth - Liberated Lady

  They were partners out of necessity

  If Sara's young stepsister, Nicky, hadn't run off to marry Richard French, Sara would never have met Richard's uncle—and that would have suited her just fine!

  Alex Brandon, the uncle, was the epitome of everything Sara most disliked in a man; a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded male chauvinist.

  Alex didn't think much of Sara and her liberated ideas, either, so it was unfortunate that they had to join forces to catch their runaway charges. Or was it?

  CHAPTER ONE

  'No, no, she's holding the chocolate bar too tightly. We can't see the name on the wrapper. Tell her to hold it by her fingertips.' Sara gave a sigh of exasperation as the crew set up the shot for the eighth time.

  Beside her in the director's box overlooking the television studio that she had hired for the morning, the vision mixer reset the screens while the’ floor manager below them acknowledged her instructions with a wave of his hand. 'Sorry, Miss Royle. We'll take it again.' His voice sounded flat and metallic over the headset she was wearing.

  The cameramen joked among themselves as they re-positioned their cameras, long trailing tubes of cable like umbilical cords snaking out behind them, while the sound technicians moved the booms into place, skilfully avoiding the scenery. A make-up girl carried her tray across to the pouting little girl who was the star of the advertising film and gave a last-minute touch to her hairstyle. At last they were ready and this time, fortunately, all went well; the child spoke on cue, looked as if she was really enjoying the new confectionery bar which hadn't yet started to melt under the hot lights, and even managed not to cover up the all-important brand name with her fat little fingers.

  'Okay, I think that's in the bag. All we have to. do now is add the opening jingle,' the vision mixer remarked with a relieved grin.

  'Thank goodness. I was afraid we were going to overrun our time and have to pay everybody overtime rates. The boss would have been livid if we had—this contract has a tight budget. Lord, how I hate working with children,' Sara added. 'You can almost guarantee that something will go wrong. Either they're snivelling with a cold, crying with temper, or their mothers make such a fuss about their appearance that everything gets held up for ages.'

  'Don't forget animals,' her companion reminded her. 'What about the tune that dog grabbed the product and disappeared into the audience seats? It took us nearly an hour to catch him again.'

  'Oh, don't remind me,' Sara said with a groan. "That was one of my first assignments too. I don't know why the advertising agency didn't fire me there and then.'

  'Probably because everyone else steered clear of the job and they pushed it on to a greenhorn,' he laughed.

  Sara smiled back and then stood up to gather up her papers and put them into her documents case. The technician ran his eyes over her appraisingly, liking the look of her slim, long-legged figure in the fashionable full skirt and tweedy jacket, the swirl of shoulder-length fair hair that framed her delicately boned features and deceptively gentle brown eyes. Deceptive because he knew those eyes could quickly name if any man tried to put her down or override her directions without a good reason for doing so, or just because she was a woman in a man's world.

  ‘I’ll leave you to wrap it up, Bill. I've got an appointment at two with a new client and I want to do some homework before I meet him.'

  'Okay, Sara. I'll bring the finished film in later and drop it in your office.'

  'She thanked him and hurried out of the studios to the car-park. If she made good time to the office she might be able to catch up on some paper work while she ate a sandwich lunch. She had been fully aware of the technician's appraisal', had in fact grown quite used to such scrutinies over the last few years as men had tried to weigh her up, wondering just how she had managed to reach a junior executive position in the very cut-throat world' of advertising at the relatively early age of twenty-six. Many of them, as they hadn't failed to imply, thought that she had got there via the Managing Director's bed, but only she knew that she had had to fight twice as hard as a man would have done to attain and hold her position. She had started off by working as a secretary, but had got tired of being treated like a mindless idiot who could only obey orders, so had set out to prove herself and had eventually clawed her way to her present highly-paid and responsible position. There had been some hard knocks to take along the way, a lot of them, surprisingly, from other women who hadn't been so successful, but the knocks had made her harder, more self-reliant and more determined than ever to get where she wanted to be.

  There was a frustrating hold-up in Baker Street, but at last she was through and had parked the car in her own reserved parking place in the underground car-park beneath the block in which her company had it’ offices. As she took the lift up’ to the fifth floor she was already going through the jobs that awaited her. sorting them into order of importance. There should just be time to go over the folio of poster designs for the cosmetics contract before she boned up on the new client. She strode along the corridor to the door with her name on it and stepped briskly through.

  ‘Her secretary looked up as she entered and was about to say something, but Sara interrupted her. 'Bring me the cosmetics company's folio as soon as you can, will you, Jane? And send out for my usual sandwiches. No time for lunch again, today, I'm afraid.' She turned to walk into her own inner office, and it was only then that she caught sight of the young girl in school uniform who had risen to her feet as Sara came in. 'Nicky! What on earth are you doing here? Why aren't you at school?' She stared at the girl in amazement.

  'I—I wanted to talk to you.' The girl glanced uncertainly at the secretary and then looked at Sara appealingly.

  'All right, come into my office. Jane, you'd better make that sandwiches and coffee for two.' Sara followed Nicky into the office and took off her jacket before seating herself at her desk. She looked at her half-sister rather grimly, wondering what new problems she would have to cope with.

  'Okay, let's have it Why are you in London when you should be at boarding school in Kent?'

  Nicky raised her head rather defiantly. 'I've left,' she said baldly. 'I've had enough of being’ treated like a child and having to wear this stupid uniform. You don't know what it's like being cooped up there,' she went on hastily as she saw the angry light that had come into Sara's eyes. 'The same old round of lessons week after week, the cliques among, the other girls and the cattiness. Sara, I can't stand it there any longer! I just had to leave!'

  'Did you really?' Sara's voice was sharp with anger. "Well, you'll just have to go back again. Don't you realise you take your A levels next term? If you fail those you won't be able to get a place in a university.'

  Biting her lip, Nicky looked pleadingly at her sister. They were not much alike, although they had had the same mother, Sara's mother having remarried after her father's death. Whereas Sara was fair, Nicky had light brown hair worn short and curly and her face and figure still showed a trace of teenage puppy-fat, but she could one day be quite pretty when she was properly groomed and made up. Rather haltingly she said, 'I know how much it means to you, Sara, but I'm sorry, I don't want to go to university."

  Sara's face became grimmer. Is this some whim or have you got a reason for saying that? You haven't been expelled, have you?' she asked sharply.

  'No, nothing like that,' Nicky assured her hastily, and then flushed and looked away as Sara's eyes studied her.

  'Conic on, Nicky. Something's happened, and you'll have to tell me sooner or later. Or shall I phone the school and ask them?' she threatened.

  'You don't have to do that.' The younger girl lifted
her head and there was a curious little look of pride in her face as she said huskily, 'I've got a boy-friend.'

  'Is that all?' Sara gave a laugh of relief. 'I'd been imagining all kinds of dire things! But you're not allowed to have boy-friends, are you? Did you get into a row when the teachers found out? Well, never mind, ‘I'll try and square k with them; tell them you won't see him again and will be on your best behaviour from now on.'

  'But you don't understand,' Nicky interrupted. 'I don't want to give him up. As a matter of fact,' she added defiantly, 'we want to get married!'

  There was a brief, shattering silence into which only the noise of the traffic in the street below intruded.

  'What did you say?" Sara asked disbelievingly.

  'You heard what I said. Richard and I have fallen in love and we want to get married.' Nicky's voice rose as her defiance grew stronger.

  'Love? You're not even old enough to know the meaning of the word!'

  Her sister's face flushed. 'Yes, I do. I know that I love Richard and I want to spend the rest of my life with 'him.'

  Sara tried to keep her voice calm. 'But you're only seventeen. And however strong you think your feelings are at the moment, I can assure you they won't last. In a few weeks' time you'll have fallen for some pop star or someone instead, and you'll look back on this Richard and wonder what on earth you saw in him Who is he anyway? A pupil, at a neighbouring school?'

  'No, he's a student at London University. He's going to be a lawyer, and he's twenty.'

  With a frown between her brows, Sara studied her sister. She had been Nicky's guardian for nearly four years now, ever since the terrible car crash that had left them both orphans. It, had not been an easy responsibility; Sara knew what Nicky's father had wanted for her and she had tried to scrupulously follow his wishes, but it had caused her worries and problems at a time when her career had demanded her full attention. She bad thought that this was just a schoolgirl schoolboy romance, but if the boy was twenty…? She said slowly, 'Have you told this boy about the money your father left you?'

  Nicky tossed her head, flicking her fringe out of her eyes. 'Of course. We decided right from the beginning that we wouldn't have any secrets from each other."

  'I see.' Sara's voice hardened. 'And has it occurred to you that he might want to marry you just for the money? It's a great deal of money, you know, Nicky.’ That's a horrid thing to say! I know he loves me.'

  ‘No, that's just the point. You don't know. You're not old enough or experienced enough to tell the true from the sham.' Sara leaned forward earnestly. 'Look, you have to be sensible about this. If this boy really loves you then he'll want you to finish your education, not drag you away from it. You've got plenty of rime; time to get your A levels and go to university and then get married. You've got the most marvellous opportunity to make something of your life, Nicky. You ought to grab it with both hands, not throw It away because some boy has kissed' you and made you think you're’ a woman instead of a schoolgirl!'

  Nicky looked down at her hands for a moment and then across at Sara. 'I know you only want the best for me, and I'm grateful, Sara, honestly I am. I know you want me to have all the opportunities you didn't have, but I don't want a. career. It isn't my scene at all. I just want to marry Richard and live with him. A university education would be wasted on me. I haven't got your drive and ambition. I suppose I'm just the old-fashioned type who wants to get married and have kids.'

  Sara looked at her sharply. 'You haven't—you haven't had sex with this boy, have you?'

  Nicky's face went brilliant red and she hastily turned away as a tap came at the door and the secretary came in with a tray of sandwiches and coffee.

  When the girl had gone, Sara said, 'Well?'

  Her face still flushed, Nicky shook her head.

  Sara looked at her intently for a moment, then said, 'Here, have something to eat.' She glanced at her Watch and was acutely aware of the passing time. ‘Look, Nicky, there's some work I just have to do. I'll give the key of the flat and you can go and wait for me there, but heaven knows what time I'll be able to get away. Ill phone your headmistress and tell her where you are. I suppose you'd better stay in London tonight and I'll take you back to school tomorrow.' Seeing the obstinate look that came into her sister's eyes, she said exasperatedly, 'I'm sorry, Nicky, but there's no alternative. You're under age, and there's no way I'm going to give my consent to this utterly stupid idea. You go back to school tomorrow and I shall make sure that the teachers know that you're not to see this boy again.' Her voice softened and she reached out to touch, the younger gill's hand. 'I know it seems harsh and Victorian, but believe me, it's for your own good.' When Nicky didn't answer she gave a little sigh and said, 'Eat your lunch.'

  'I'm not hungry.'

  'Look, if you're going to sulk you can do it somewhere else.' She fumbled in her bag. 'Here's the key and some money for a taxi. I'll be home tonight as soon as lean.'

  Her face tight and unhappy, Nicky took the key and went quickly out of the office without a word. Sara stared after her for. a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and picked up the dossier on the new client. One thing she had learned early in her career was how to shut out outside influences and concentrate single-mindedly on the job in hand, and soon she was immersed in her work, the problem of Nicky pushed to the back of her mind.

  The new client proved to be very garrulous; he hadn't been pleased to find he had a woman to deal with, so Sara had to put herself out to convince him that she could do the job. Using her sex had come into it a little too—a thing she despised—but she had found front bitter experience that ft cut a lot of corners and saved a great’ deal of time. As it was, because she wanted to get away early and was so pushed for time, she almost flattered and charmed the contract out of him. But then he wanted to see the graphic artists' and photographers' studios and it was late anyway before she could get rid of him—and there was still the cosmetics folio to go through before she could go home.

  She was still staring at her desk when Jane buzzed to tell her that someone wanted to see her. 'It's a Mr Alexander Brandon. He says it's most important-he sees you.'

  'Tell him I'm not available, find out what he wants and if it's important he'll have to make an appointment, but not this week, I've got far too much-on. And then go home yourself, Jane. There's no point in our both being stuck here.' .

  Sara went back to her task, but the buzzer went again almost immediately. 'He won't tell me what he wants. He says it's a personal matter.'

  ' Annoyance in her voice, Sara said, 'I don't care what you do, Jane, just get rid of him.'

  Clicking off the intercom, she muttered under her breath, angry that someone should expect her to see him at this time of night, but she had hardly glanced back at her work before the door burst open and a man strode into the room, Jane dose behind him.

  'I'm sorry, Sara, I tried to stop him, but he just brushed past me."

  'That's all right, Jane, just ring for the caretaker and tell him to send someone up here to have an intruder thrown out, will you please?' Sara spoke calmly, but there were two bright spots of anger in her cheeks at this rude eruption into her office.

  The stranger strode purposefully across the room and .put his hands on her desk, looming over and glaring at her. I'm afraid I'm not quite that easy to get rid of— isn't that the charming phrase you used, Miss Royle? And before you send for your minions- to try to throw me out, a job they won't succeed in doing by the way, I think I'd better tell you that Richard French is my nephew.'

  Sara stared at him as he leaned so menacingly dose to her. 'Richard who?' she asked in complete bewilderment.

  He sighed as if he were dealing with somebody very stupid. 'Richard French, the boy your sister wants to marry!’

  'Oh!' Sara recovered a little and nodded to her secretary. 'All right, Jane, you can cancel that call. I'll deal with this. Go on home now.'

  'I'll stay if you want me to,' Jane offered, looking rather appr
ehensively at the intruder.

  'No, it's all right. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.'

  The girl withdrew and Sara turned to give her full attention to the man before her? He had straightened up and she saw that he was tall, about six feet two, she judged, with broad shoulders that balanced his height. . He was wearing a well-cut grey suit and his dark, rather thick hair was brushed neatly back to reveal lean, almost autocratic features. Features that were set in an angry frown as he looked at her sardonically from his grey eyes.

  "Won't you sit down, Mr…? I'm afraid I didn't catch your name.'

  'No, you were in too much of a hurry to bother to listen.' He hooked a chair forward and sat down, crossing his legs casually. 'My name's Brandon, Alex Brandon, and, as I said, Richard French is my nephew and .under my care. His parents farm out in Africa and I'm responsible for hint until he gets his degree. Then he's on his own.'

  'Welt, if you're responsible for him, then I'd be pleased if you'd keep him away from my sister,' Sara said sharply. Alex Brandon opened-his mouth to speak, but she went on relentlessly, 'He may have sent yon here to plead his cause for’ him, but it won't do any good. In fact I would have thought more of the boy if he'd come here himself instead of sending you .as his emissary. And I may as well tell you right now that you haven't a hope in hell of getting me to agree to this ridiculous marriage. Your nephew may have wormed his way into Nicky's affections, but if you think I'm going to allow her to marry- some fortune-hunting opportunist, then you're wrong, Mr Brandon, totally wrong!’

  Alex Brandon still sat casually in his chair, but his jaw bad hardened and there was an unpleasant glint in the grey eyes as he listened to her. 'Have you finished, because I…?'

  'No, I haven't,' Sara swept on. 'As your nephew was too much of a coward to come here himself, then you can give him this message; tell him to stay away from Nicky. She may have given him the impression that she would inherit her father's money when she marries, but she can't do so unless she marries with my approval .and permission. And there's no way I'm going to let her marry your parasite of a nephew just so that he can live comfortably on Nicky's money while he's studying for his degree—if he really is studying,' she added caustically.