‘Thank you, Max,’ she said vaguely, as she went through to the lounge.
How did Leon’s mother know she was staying here? There seemed only one explanation; Leon must have told her. But why, why had he done such a thing? He must know it could only cause her embarrassment to have his parents know she was living with him, innocent as that relationship might so far have been.
She was uncertain about taking the call when Mrs Masters telephoned again later that afternoon, but as Max had already told her she was at home she really had no choice in the matter.
‘I hope you don’t mind my calling you, Helen,’ Mrs Masters’ voice came across, warm and pleasant.
‘No, no, of course not,’ she answered nervously. It really depended on what she was calling for.
‘Oh, good. Charles told me I shouldn’t, he said Leon would be angry with me.’
‘I’m sure he won’t be,’ Helen assured her smoothly. Leon might not be angry with his mother, but she, Helen, was angry with him. He had no right to tell anyone, not even his parents, that she was staying here.
‘Actually I called because I’m coming up to town tomorrow to do some shopping, and I wondered if you would like to accompany me. Say if you don’t want to, dear,’ she added instantly. ‘I won’t be offended. But Leon said you were home most days and I really could do with the company. Charles always gets so impatient with me that I’ve given up asking him. Besides, I would value a woman’s opinion when I’m buying clothes. Charles always says yes just to keep me quiet, and I usually look awful in it
.’
Helen was torn two ways. She would enjoy going shopping, time dragged when Leon was at work, but to go out with his mother…That was a different matter altogether! ‘Tomorrow, you said?’ she delayed.
‘That’s right. I could be up there by about twelve and we could go out for lunch before going to the shops. But I warn you now, I wander around every shop imaginable.’
‘All right,’ Helen decided. ‘I’d love to. Will you come to the flat or shall I meet you at a restaurant?’
‘I’ll come to the flat, you can never rely on the trains and I wouldn’t like to keep you waiting. But we’ll lunch out—my treat.’
‘Oh no, really—’
‘Let me, Helen. I’m so looking forward to seeing you again that lunch is the least I can do.’
‘Well, if you insist, Mrs Masters.’
‘Oh, please call me Catherine,’ she insisted.
‘Very well. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Helen wished she could feel as cheerful as Mrs Masters obviously did, but she was annoyed with Leon, so annoyed that she could only give him a cold angry glare in return to his greeting that evening.
He gave a deep impatient sigh at her silence. ‘What’s the matter with you now? Don’t tell me you didn’t like my ultimatum this morning.’
‘I haven’t thought about it.’ At least, not since her decision to leave as soon as he had gone to America.
He sat down, watching her with brooding eyes. ‘Then what the hell is it?’ he demanded tersely. ‘I’ve had a lousy day, not a thing would go right, and I don’t expect to come home and find you sitting there hating me.’ He rested his head back against the chair, closing his eyes. ‘God, I’m tired!’
‘Your mother telephoned today,’ Helen told him abruptly.
‘Oh yes,’ he didn’t open his eyes. ‘I suppose Max told her to call me back later,’ he murmured sleepily.
‘No.’
Leon frowned. ‘Did he tell her I’d call her back?’
Helen pursed her lips. ‘No. The call wasn’t for you.’
‘Then who— My mother called you?’ She had all his attention now.
‘That’s right,’ she taunted. ‘Why did you tell them I was living here? Couldn’t you have spared me that embarrassment?’
‘Were you embarrassed?’