Immediately Charlotte realised the real purpose of Vanessa’s visit. Smiling evenly, she said sweetly, ‘You never give up, do you, Vanessa? But I’m afraid it’s too late. You see, Oliver and I have already signed a tenancy agreement. I can’t change my mind. However, I do appreciate your concern. Not that it was necessary,’ she added carelessly. ‘I’m not as gullible as you seem to think.’
She was still seething with bitterness and resentment long after she had got rid of Vanessa. Her poisoned words had done their work well, dripping venom into Charlotte’s thoughts, making her question just what had motivated Oliver to be so nice to her…to kiss her.
If only Vanessa had known how Charlotte really felt about accepting Oliver as her lodger, and that it was her interference and advice that had made it impossible for Charlotte to draw back from the agreement with him!
That knowledge brought Charlotte a small measure of comfort as she reflected grimly on the less pleasant aspects of Vanessa’s visit. Even knowing that Vanessa had deliberately been trying to wound her didn’t lessen her own feeling of inner disquiet.
She was already far too vulnerable to Oliver, far too aware of him. That kiss… But no, she had told herself she wasn’t going to think about it, to dwell on it…that she was sensibly going to put it out of her mind and forget about it completely.
* * *
However, that was easier said than done. In the morning she was still brooding over Vanessa’s nastiness, and Sheila, watching her frown, asked her quietly, ‘Is something wrong?’
‘No,’ Charlotte lied automatically, and then admitted, ‘Yes…there is. Vanessa called round yesterday and had another go at trying to persuade me not to take on Oliver as a lodger.’ She pulled a face. ‘Oh, she pretended it was concern for me that prompted her visit. She was full of “Adam says” and “Adam agrees with me”. She went on and on about the danger of people gossiping. You can imagine the sort of thing.’
‘Yes, I can,’ Sheila agreed, and then said disparagingly, ‘That woman is such a bitch. She’s jealous of you, of course.’
Charlotte stared at her. ’Vanessa, jealous of me? Oh, come on. She despises me. And, let’s be honest, what do I have that she could possibly envy? Her own sex may realise what she’s really like, but men are always taken in by that sugary appearance.’ Charlotte made another face. ‘She’s attractive, she’s got a wonderful husband, two healthy children, a lovely home.’
‘Yes, and we all know which of those is the most important to her,’ Sheila said shrewdly. ‘Vanessa is an avaricious woman. Wealth, social position, possessions—those are what matter to her. Those and having her vanity constantly stroked by some admiring male. But she’s not getting any younger, and women like her have only one asset to use as a trade-off for what they want from life. I dare say Adam is devoted to her, but without him she’d have nothing. She’s like a bloodsucker sinking her claws into a man stupid enough to love her and wealthy enough to provide her with all the things she wants, but if she ever loses that man… That’s why she envies you, Charlotte—because you’re not vulnerable the way she is. You’re independent, you have your own career, your own home.’
‘But I’m alone,’ Charlotte said fiercely, not realising what she was giving away. ‘Vanessa has a husband…children.’
‘Whom she’d dump in a second if a wealthier man than Adam ever came along and offered her marriage and access to his bank account. She resents you and tries to put you down because inwardly she knows you’re worth ten of her. And as for people gossiping about you and Oliver—that’s a ludicrous suggestion.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Charlotte agreed a little hollowly. ‘I don’t know why I let her get to me really.’
The phone rang and Sheila picked it up.
While she was speaking, Charlotte busied herself with her own work. Once she had replaced the receiver, Sheila came over to her desk and announced, ‘That was old Mrs Birtles. You know—she owns Hadley Court.’
‘Yes, of course. It’s a beautiful place.’
‘Mmm. Well, it seems she’s thinking of putting it up for sale. She wondered if you’d care to go round and see her. Oh, and by the way, she said to tell you that she’d approached Mr Tennant as well, and that in fairness to both of you she thought she ought to see you both at the same time. This afternoon at two o’clock, to be precise. Perhaps she’ll invite you to challenge one another to a duel,’ Sheila suggested, grinning at Charlotte’s expression. ‘She is supposed to be rather eccentric.’