Two Loves by Sian James Read Free Book Online

she was dreamy, withdrawn and lacking in ambition. Other girls at seventeen were longing to get away from home, while she talked of getting a job locally. ‘But doing what?’ her mother asked, over and over again. ‘Couldn’t I be a receptionist at a hotel? Something like that?’ ‘Certainly not. That’s no sort of career.’
    Marian had recently become friendly with her accountant, a widower called Brian Spiers, and Rosamund realised that she was in the way. Had she been sent to art school so that her mother and Brian could start living together with less embarrassment? Or was her mother determined that her father should continue to pay towards her upkeep, feeling that if she left school and found a job, he’d be getting away too lightly? Her parents had been divorced for five or six years at that time, but there was no real truce between them.
    She remembered the interview she’d had at Brighton. The lecturer in charge of admissions had looked through her portfolio in a slightly bemused way. ‘They’re certainly different,’ he’d said. ‘Everyone else is showing me abstracts in grey and black.’
    â€˜Perhaps he meant that yours were more interesting,’ her mother had suggested afterwards.
    â€˜I don’t think so.’
    She could hardly believe it when she was accepted for the following year’s degree course. And throughout her four years she was the only person who’d stuck with representational art. Amanda Wright, her closest friend, had told her quite kindly that she mustn’t blame herself but the way she’d been brought up.
    Most people blamed the way they’d been brought up. But she, she told herself, had never been ill-treated or neglected. Her mother had always fed her nourishing meals, bought her the best Startrite shoes and sent her to bed at the proper time with a story and a goodnight kiss. If she’d been bitter about her husband’s treatment of her, she’d kept it from Rosamund as much as she could. They’d certainly never fought in her presence, though she’d been aware of the undertones of tension between them. Had she adored her father and been devastated when he’d left them? Not as far as she could remember. He’d never been much more than a handsome but occasional presence. She remembered feeling pleased when he reappeared after a week’s absence, and enjoying the games he played with her at bedtime, but could recall no stronger feelings.
    His absences in London had gradually lasted longer, though she hadn’t been aware of the actual divorce. When she was thirteen, though, her mother had let her know that her father intended to get married again. Some marriages worked, she’d said, but theirs had failed and now he’d met another woman and was going to try again. Rosamund had been appalled by this turn of events, tormented by the idea that her mother was being replaced.
    â€˜I’m certainly not going,’ she said when her wedding invitation had arrived. ‘You’re not going, so I shan’t.’
    â€˜Your father will be very disappointed, dear, and so will Dora, the woman he’s going to marry. I’ve talked to her on the telephone and she seems very pleasant. She invited me, too, but quite understood when I said I didn’t think it appropriate, so we’re meeting for lunch next Monday.’
    â€˜You’re meeting her for lunch?’
    â€˜Darling, we’re civilised people.’
    â€˜I don’t feel civilised.’
    â€˜You must, dear. She’s very anxious to be liked.’
    â€˜But don’t you mind that she’s marrying … your husband?’
    â€˜She’s very keen that your father should make me a generous settlement.’
    â€˜What does that mean? What is a settlement?’
    â€˜It means that I’ll be able to buy a little dress shop that I’ve got my eye on.’
    â€˜Do you mean