Free The Velvet Glove by Mary Williams Page A

theatre-going, and the opportunity of displaying her charm and beauty to the Press and important tycoons and people he mixed with.
    Instead she ’d have to face a gradual thickening of her slim figure and restriction of certain physical activities she’d hitherto enjoyed. There’d be diet to consider, and people fussing about her health enforcing a limited existence that would have no fun in it any more. Once the baby was born of course she’d love it and take pride in showing it off to friends and acquaintances, provided it had charm and no defects. But giving birth was a chancy business. You never knew , did you? With her usual buoyancy she generally managed quickly to dismiss such a morbid trend of thought; and of course Rick was delighted by the news. ‘A son!’ he exclaimed jubilantly. ‘A boy to carry on the Ferris name. My darling, we must celebrate.’
    ‘ And suppose it’s a girl?’ Kate queried a trifle tartly, irritated by Rick’s conventional reaction.
    ‘ If it’s a girl she’ll be a joy, just the same. We could call her Gwenna or Marged. Welsh.’
    Kate pouted. ‘I’m not sure I like those. And anyway – it’s a long time ahead yet. Six months. A lot can happen before then.’
    A shadow crossed Rick ’s face. ‘What do you mean by that?’
    ‘ Nothing. Nothing . Only you do take things so much for granted. It’s I who’ve got to go through it all. Men are so – so fatuous somehow, so self-centred—’
    ‘ And how much do you know of men, my darling? In the plural?’ His voice was teasing. She managed to smile.
    ‘ That’s better. That’s my Kate.’ He kissed her, and she relaxed. But inwardly there was a tiny seed of resentment.
    Shortly following this conversation Rick informed her he was going up to London for a week to meet an American tycoon who was on a visit to London for discussions including the future of the moving picture business currently sweeping the States and the possibilities of co-operation with Ferris in the publication of a weekly paper, Pictorial Review , to be bought on both sides of the Atlantic.
    It sounded exciting.
    ‘Take me with you,’ said Kate quickly. ‘Oh, please Rick, I should so enjoy it—’
    She broke off as he shook his head, ‘I’m afraid not this time. I shall be putting up at my club. It will be a strictly business affair. No pleasure jaunts or gadding around.’
    ‘ We needn’t gad at all,’ Kate said stubbornly. ‘And I wouldn’t interfere with your – business whatever it is. I should be perfectly happy to wander about London a bit on my own. We could stay at some quiet hotel, and in the mornings—’
    Rick interrupted with a negative gesture of his hand and a sharp ‘No.’
    ‘ But—’
    His jaws tightened determinedly. ‘I mean what I say. Some other time. I promise you, we’ll go up to town together and have a few days, although it’s not so long since we were there, is it?’ He smiled reminiscently.
    ‘ The honeymoon? That was different. It’s mean of you, Rick. Especially now – when I’ve – when—’
    ‘ Yes?’
    ‘ When I’ve just told you about the baby. You were pleased about that; it isn’t much to ask in return.’
    ‘ Kate, there’s no point in arguing. I’d have no time with you at all, and I wouldn’t dream of leaving you to get into mischief by yourself while I was cooped up discussing facts and figures and plans with this American who could play an extremely important part in our future. So please be reasonable and take that glum look off your face. It doesn’t suit you; another thing, I should have thought you’d have wanted a bit of peace yourself at such a time. It’s April now – the weather’s good – just right to laze about a bit and from what I’ve heard most women who are expecting’ – he gave a grin – ‘pardon me – enceinte – like the chance of being alone to dream and pamper themselves.’
    Kate flounced and turned away . ‘Oh, bother being “enceinte” –