Promises, Promises Page 6

  Don’t think about that right now, she instructed herself. Meet him first and worry about his family tree later. Maybe he was married or engaged, or going with someone. Ellen felt impatient for the Mass to end so that she could satisfy her curiosity about the man who had quite unexpectedly caught her fancy.

  Ben looked so handsome standing at Vincent’s side, Miriam thought proudly as she watched her husband murmur something to his brother. This was a far cry from their quiet wedding in Glenree. Sean and Della had come, Johnny had emigrated to Australia. She had two aunts and an uncle and three of the girls from work and that was it. Ben’s relations and friends had been invited, of course, but there’d only been thirty people at the wedding.

  The wedding had been held in Glenree’s little church. She certainly hadn’t had a floral designer. The altar had been decorated with sprays of gladioli from Sheila’s garden. The wedding breakfast had been held in the Glenree Arms and it had been nothing like today’s occasion promised to be. Sheila certainly hadn’t made the fuss about Ben and Miriam’s wedding that she’d made about Vincent and Emma’s.

  It hurt Miriam to think that her mother-in-law thought so little of her. It was all Emma and Vincent this and Emma and Vincent that now. Miriam knew she shouldn’t let it get her down. Maybe if her own mother were alive, she’d feel differently. If her father had treated her better in his will, her self-confidence might not be so poor and she wouldn’t suffer these silly feelings of rejection.

  She couldn’t help noticing how proud Judge Connolly was of Emma. Every look, every gesture as he’d walked up the aisle and placed her hand in Vincent’s, showed immense pride. Her own father had never once by deed or word made Miriam feel he was proud of her. As far as he was concerned, Miriam was there to look after her parents. Daughters were drudges. Sons were what counted. Judge Connolly certainly didn’t feel like that. Emma was his little princess. She seemed to take it for granted. She just didn’t know how lucky she was. Emma took it all as her due.

  She had immense self-confidence for one so young. No doubt a result of the love and pride lavished on her by her parents. It was ridiculous, but Miriam felt in awe of Emma. She was nine years older than the other girl and yet Miriam invariably felt inadequate beside her. She sighed. This was silly. She was supposed to be enjoying herself. It was a day out. She looked good. She’d lost a stone in weight through rigid dieting. And it was worth it to get into a size twelve dress again. Why was she sitting here feeling all glum and gloomy? Miriam clasped her hands over her stomach. No-one knew it yet, not even Ben, but she guessed that she was about two months pregnant and she was nauseous with it. This was definitely going to be her last. Three children was enough for anyone.

  Sheila Munroe nearly burst with pride as she sat at the top table in the Tara suite of the International Hotel. Sophisticated hotels held no fear for her now. After all she had dined at the Russell.

  It was an impressively beautiful room. She’d overheard one of Pamela Connolly’s friends say approvingly, ‘Very much like the Ritz.’ Mirrored gilt-edged doors led into a large pillared room. White columns reached to the gold-filigreed ceiling. Luscious ferns in huge terracotta tubs stood at the base of each column. Crystal chandeliers glittered and sparkled like diamonds. A plush deep-pile royal blue and gold carpet covered the floor. The walls were painted in palest primrose which matched the colour of the table linen exactly. A pianist, in a secluded corner near the mirrored doors, played soothing classical music throughout. It was all so elegant. So classy. Pamela Connolly really had good taste, Sheila thought approvingly as she sipped her coffee and helped herself to a petit four.

  The meal had been delicious. She was definitely going to try cooking salmon in flaky pastry some day at home. It was exceedingly tasty and it couldn’t be that difficult to do. The sauce – hollandaise, she thought it was called – that had dressed the asparagus was out of this world. The asparagus itself was a bit of a disappointment. It was her first time to taste it and she’d expected something with a bit more zing to it. Still it had been a superb meal and the sumptuous pavlova that followed had caused a ripple of delight from the approving guests when it was served.

  Sheila glanced down at the round table at the far end of the room. She could see Mona Cullen and Bonnie Daly deep in conversation. Sheila sat back and delicately patted the side of her mouth with her pale primrose napkin. No doubt her friends were deeply impressed. Bonnie was a know-all. An expert on every matter. She could bake, sew, crochet, embroider, arrange flowers. Anything. There was an unspoken rivalry between them and always had been even though they were friends.

  Bonnie had really tried to rub Sheila’s nose in it when her daughter, Maura, got engaged and then married to a Doctor Flynn’s son. The wedding breakfast had been held in the Hibernian. A judge’s daughter outranked a doctor’s son any time. And nothing could top this, Sheila thought with satisfaction. That was why, when Pamela had told her to invite as many guests as she wanted, Sheila invited Bonnie Daly. Bonnie would blab everything to the rest of the guild. This wedding would be the talk of Glenree for months to come. It was one of the best days of Sheila’s life.

  ‘I’m Emma’s cousin. Chris Wallace. Let’s split and go down to the bar and have a drink,’ suggested the man who’d caught Ellen’s fancy in the church, with a charming grin.

  ‘You’re on,’ Ellen agreed enthusiastically. She was bored stiff. There wasn’t one person here she could have a bit of gas with. All Emma’s posh friends could talk about were horses, and holidays on the Costa del Sol. Miriam was feeling sick and she wasn’t much fun, so when Ellen had seen Mr Dishy heading in her direction, her heart lifted. He’d given her cleavage a good inspection as he’d introduced himself.

  What a pity he was related to Emma. Still, she wouldn’t let it stand in the way of progress, she decided, as he guided her out through the mirrored door and they headed in the direction of the lounge downstairs.

  ‘You looked as bored as I felt.’ Chris smiled and Ellen thought he had the most beautiful eyes. Blue and darkly lashed, they were his best feature.

  ‘This isn’t my scene.’ Ellen giggled.

  ‘Or mine. What can I get you to drink?’

  ‘A dry Martini, please.’ Ellen sat back in the secluded corner of the lounge and prepared to enjoy herself. It was exciting fancying someone and she certainly fancied Chris. The way he looked at her so admiringly was a turn-on. She wouldn’t mind having a good snog with him at all, she decided happily.

  She had a wonderful time. Chris was very entertaining. He was an insurance salesman, a junior partner in a developing firm. Insurance was booming, he confided. When the time came he had every intention of going out on his own. Ellen was fascinated. He was full of confidence. She couldn’t understand why a good-looking successful young man like him had come to a wedding unaccompanied.

  Later, after several drinks, he told her that he’d just broken up with his girlfriend of two years.

  Ellen’s heart went out to him. He looked so sad when he said it. Impulsively, she reached across and touched his hand. ‘It’s very hard, I know. It’s not long since I broke up with my ex. That was why a wedding was the last place I wanted to be.’

  ‘Exactly!’ Chris nodded in agreement. ‘Let’s get out of here. We could go out to Howth or up to Killiney and then go for a drink and a bite to eat if we’re hungry. Nobody will miss us, there’s so many guests at the wedding.’

  ‘I’ll just get my bag and coat.’ Ellen was thrilled.

  ‘Miriam, I’m in love,’ she whispered as she collected her belongings.

  ‘Where are you going? You can’t leave the wedding!’ Miriam was scandalized.

  ‘Of course I can. No-one’s going to miss me. If Ma’s looking for me, tell her I’m out in the grounds with Chris.’

  ‘Is that his name?’

  ‘Chris Wallace. Doesn’t it have a nice ring to it? Ellen Wallace. Sounds good to me.’ Ellen giggled. She was slightly tipsy. ‘Guess what, Miriam? He’s just b
roken up with his girlfriend. Maybe it was fate that we met at this wedding. Maybe he’s the one. He’s got gorgeous eyes and a lovely smile, even if he is dear Em’s second cousin.’

  ‘For God’s sake you’ve only just met him. Would you calm down.’ Miriam was alarmed. Ellen Wallace indeed. Her sister-in-law was so impulsive. Here she was practically marrying the guy and she didn’t know him from Adam.

  ‘See you later,’ Ellen murmured, as she cast a wary glance around to see where her mother was. Sheila was deep in conversation with Bonnie Daly, so she made her escape unnoticed.

  ‘I can’t believe it’s all over.’ Emma snuggled into Vincent as the plane swayed from side to side on its descent into London airport. They’d had to fly to London to catch a flight to Rome as it wasn’t possible to fly direct from Dublin. They were heading off to Italy for their honeymoon the following morning.

  ‘It was a great day,’ Vincent said as the plane landed with a bump. ‘And now we’re going to have a great night.’

  Emma laughed and ran her fingers along his thigh.

  ‘You bet,’ she murmured huskily.

  They snogged the whole way into London in the back of the big black cab. It was so erotic knowing that they were going to make love properly very soon. Emma quivered with anticipation as Vincent filled in the form at the reception desk. Minutes later they were in their room tearing the clothes off one another. Touching, tasting, caressing. Frantic for each other. All the months of frustration were forgotten as they made love twice in quick succession.

  ‘Any phone calls for me?’ Ellen asked anxiously. It was almost noon the following day and she had a fierce hangover. Chris had promised he’d call to make arrangements about taking her out that night.

  ‘No,’ Sheila said curtly. She was extremely annoyed with Ellen for gadding off with a stranger when she should have been at her brother’s wedding. It had been all hours before she’d got home that morning.

  ‘Would you go down to the shops and get me a pound of butter? I’ve run short.’

  Oh Ma not now, Ellen wanted to yell. It would be just her luck for Chris to ring when she was out. She didn’t want to take any chances. But her mother was so irate with her about yesterday, Ellen had to try and get on her right side.

  ‘Right, I’ll go,’ she said. Maybe Chris wasn’t up yet. She’d scoot down on the bike as quick as she could. She threw her coat on and went out into the hall. The black phone stood on a little table by the door. Ellen lifted the receiver slightly so that it was off the hook. She’d replace it when she got back.

  By seven that evening she was a nervous wreck. Maybe he’d lost her number. But he could have phoned Mrs Connolly and got it from her if that was the case, Ellen argued with herself. They’d got on so well and they’d had a steamy courting session in the car when he’d brought her home. It had been so sexy. Chris was very experienced compared to Joseph. In fact the more Chris kissed her and caressed her, the more she realized just how little Joseph had known about being sensual and loving.

  He hadn’t got a clue! Ellen thought in delight as Chris expertly eased her breasts free from the constraints of her new long-line bra, bought for the wedding, and gently and then more firmly kissed and suckled her nipples until she moaned with pleasure. Thank heavens I’ve got my new bra, she thought for one fleeting moment as he moved the straps down lower. Her old one had been washed so many times it was practically grey.

  ‘What’s good for you, honey?’ he asked huskily. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘This is, this is,’ she whispered breathlessly, arching against him. She’d never felt like this before. It was exquisite. Then he eased her dress and slip up around her waist and traced his hands lightly along the top of her inner thighs. Oh God, if only I wasn’t so fat, Ellen thought in embarrassment as she looked down and saw his tanned fingers, so dark against the dimpled whiteness of her legs. She hadn’t minded her shape with Joseph, she was used to him and he was used to her. But this gorgeous man with his sensual ways and come-to-bed eyes made her want to be thin and sexy and uninhibited. How could you be uninhibited when you knew you had orange peel skin on your thighs and flab all over. Ellen stiffened and Chris stopped.

  ‘Relax sweetie. It’s all right,’ he murmured against her ear. ‘Let me touch you. I want to make love to you. You’re not a virgin, are you?’

  Ellen shook her head.

  ‘Well then . . .’

  I want you to make love to me too, she wanted to blurt out, but she didn’t want him to think she was cheap. Going all the way on a first date was out.

  ‘Let me just touch you,’ he urged. ‘You really turn me on. I won’t take advantage, I promise.’ He kissed her passionately and Ellen returned his kisses hungrily, not protesting at all when he slid his hands along her thighs once more and resumed his mind-blowing stroking, moving further up until he slid his thumbs inside the elastic of her panties. His feather-light touch was a revelation to her compared to Joseph’s inexperienced rubbing.

  ‘Oooh . . .’ she murmured in delight. ‘Oh Chris. Oh Chris don’t stop . . .’ she begged. Butterfly ripples of pleasure came faster and faster and he teased and tormented her, sliding his thumbs back down her thighs until she ached to feel his fingers touching her again in that unbelievably sensuous way.

  ‘Touch me. Touch me,’ she pleaded, reaching for his hand.

  ‘Soon,’ he murmured against the pulsing hollow of her throat.

  ‘Please.’ She arched against him and felt wild uninhibited joy as his fingers caressed where she guided them until, overwhelmed by the new delicious sensations, she shuddered and called his name as she experienced her first orgasm.

  Chris looked at her and smiled with satisfaction as he saw the almost shocked wide-eyed sultry delight in her eyes. He’d seen that first-time look of rapture before. ‘My turn now,’ he said huskily and Ellen willingly did the whispered things he told her turned him on.

  ‘Let’s do this again . . . soon. Tomorrow night.’ He smiled at her, his eyes dark and inviting. ‘I’ll call you in the morning and fix a time to collect you when I’ve sorted out my appointments.’

  ‘Promise?’ Ellen felt almost shy.

  ‘I promise, sweetie.’ Chris gave her a last lingering kiss before opening the car door to let her out. She waved after him until the tail lights of his car disappeared into the inky darkness.

  Ellen floated upstairs to her bedroom. She was ecstatically happy. Her body still quivered at the memory of his touch. Chris was the most gorgeous, handsome, sexy hunk, so tender and sensual. And he wanted to see her again!

  ‘Eat your heart out, Joseph baby.’ It was worth going through all the heartache to meet Chris. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were shining. Her face flushed and tingling from beard rash. She didn’t mind. It had been nice feeling the stubbly abrasiveness of his jaw against her cheeks and breasts. She felt alive, invigorated, and giddily tipsy. Sleep was a long time coming as she replayed every memory of him.

  And then the waiting. That long long day that frayed her nerves to ribbons. The stomach-churning worry when the phone didn’t ring.

  He must want to see her again. He must. He’d promised to phone. Ellen was distraught.

  The phone remained stubbornly silent. She picked up the receiver as she’d done a hundred times that day already and checked to see if there was a dial tone. There was. Maybe he’d had a crash on the way home and was stuck in hospital somewhere. After all he’d had a good few drinks on him.

  ‘Do you want to come down to the Glenree Arms for a drink with Miriam and me?’ Ben stuck his head around the kitchen door.

  ‘Maybe later,’ she said glumly. She’d wait until nine and, if there was no call, that was it! At half nine Ellen went to bed and cried her eyes out.

  ‘What can I get you to drink?’ Chris Wallace asked the beautiful blonde he’d been chatting up for the last ten minutes.

  ‘Champagne, please,’ she said coolly. Chris was impressed. He was going to have to work
hard to get anywhere with her. Not like Ellen Munroe yesterday. She’d fallen at his feet after two minutes. Chris liked a challenge. Ellen had got him through yesterday, but she wasn’t really his type. He liked sophisticated women and there was something a little desperate about Ellen. Still, she’d been very responsive to his lovemaking. She was soft and voluptuous and he knew, if he persevered, he’d get to first base with her. It was a pity she didn’t live in town. That Glenree place was in the back of beyond. He didn’t feel like traipsing all the way over to North County Dublin. He knew he’d said he’d phone her. But that’s what you always said at the end of an evening. It meant nothing.

  This blonde was very much to his liking, even if she was a bit on the bony side. He was going to make sure she ended up liking him. He’d keep Ellen in reserve, Chris decided as he lit a cigarette and ordered champagne for the cosmopolitan woman at his side.

  ‘Oh my God! I’ve forgotten to take my pills for the past few days.’ Emma was horrified as she unpacked her toilet bag in the magnificent hotel room overlooking the Bay of Naples.

  ‘Take them now,’ Vincent suggested, coming up behind her and putting his arms around her. ‘I’m sure missing a couple won’t make any difference.’

  ‘I hope not,’ Emma said worriedly. She swallowed two of the little white pills.

  ‘It won’t. Don’t worry,’ Vincent reassured her as he nibbled her earlobe.

  ‘Anyway I don’t think you can get pregnant the first time you do it,’ Emma comforted herself.

  ‘Well now you’ve taken two, so that means we can do it all night.’ Vincent laughed as he cupped her breasts and sent the most delightful tingles shooting through her.

  Emma giggled. ‘I wonder am I turning into a nymphomaniac?’

  ‘I hope so.’ Vincent turned her to him and kissed her passionately as the sun began to set. Dusk filled the sky and their room was bathed in a soft golden glow.