Jilly Cooper - Bella

‘Hasn’t got a hope in hell now,’ said Lazlo angrily.

They were off, and for Bella it was the same old rat race. Listening to the whisper of ‘Here they come, here they come’ growing into a great roar, not being able to recognize any of the horses in the shifting kaleidoscope of colours.

‘My God,’ said Rupert, ‘she’s going to do it.’

And suddenly the tall blonde, crouched over Baudelaire’s ears like a Valkyrie, by sheer force of personality and leg muscle, seemed to shake off the rest of the field and drive the black horse first past the post.

The stand erupted in excitement.

‘Christ, what a finish. What a turn-up for the books,’ said Rupert.

Back in the winner’s enclosure, a great cheer went up as Baudelaire came in.

The blond girl looked as cool as a cucumber; the other girls dripped with sweat, puce in the face, their mascara running as though they’d just come out of the sauna.

Baudelaire, his coat covered with the kind of subdued lather you get after the first application of shampoo, marched round the enclosure, still rolling his eyes and laughing in his equine way. Congratulations were being showered on Lazlo like confetti.

A great deal of champagne was drunk after that, and Bella got separated from Rupert, and was eventually driven back home by a lot of Lazlo’s racing cronies.

Chrissie, who’d come back with Rupert, had changed for dinner by the time Bella arrived. She looked prettier than Bella had ever seen her, wearing black, with a huge diamond glowing between her breasts.

‘That’s gorgeous,’ said Bella, hoping to conciliate her, and picked up the diamond between finger and thumb.

‘It’s called the Evening Star,’ said Chrissie, ignoring Bella and speaking directly to Angora. ‘It’s one of the most famous diamonds in the world. My mother would have a fit if she knew I was wearing it.’

Dinner finished, everyone discussed what to do next.

‘We could play sardines,’ said Angora. ‘Or why not murder? I haven’t played that since I was a child.’

‘When was that?’ said Steve. ‘Yesterday?’

Angora pulled a face at him.

Lazlo looked at his watch. ‘I’ve got to leave for the airport in an hour,’ he said.

‘Never mind,’ said Chrissie, looking really excited for the first time in days. ‘We can play a couple of rounds before you go.’

Oh no, thought Bella, not another of their horrible tribal games.

Angora dealt out the cards.

‘Good.’ Lazlo waved the King of Spades. ‘I’m the detective. I can stay down here and drink brandy.’

‘Wait till we get upstairs, Lazlo,’ said Chrissie. ‘Then turn the lights off at the main. We must do it properly.’

‘I don’t want to play,’ said Bella quickly.

‘Come on, don’t be a spoilsport,’ said Angora, taking her arm.

‘Well, I’m going to stay with Rupert then.’

‘No, you’re not,’ said Angora relentlessly as they climbed the main staircase. ‘You go along that passage, Bella. Rupert go this way, and the rest of us will fan out towards the West Wing.’

As soon as she was alone, Bella quickened her pace. If she could find some room and lock herself in, she’d be safe.

She started to run, then, suddenly, everything was plunged into suffocating darkness as the lights went out. She fell over a chair, then found a door. It was locked. Whimpering with terror, she crossed the passage and found another door. That was locked, too.

Then she heard footsteps behind her — slow, relentless. She gave a sob. Slimy terror gripped her. She crashed across the passage again, found another door. It was open.

She shot inside and pulled it shut behind her. But there was no lock. Her heart pounding, she leant against it.

The footsteps grew closer, then stopped outside. Panic-stricken, she bolted across the room, crashing into more furniture, trying to find the window. Then she heard someone stealthily opening the door, then, equally stealthily, closing it. Someone was in the room with her.

‘Who is it?’ she croaked in terror.

Then, suddenly, as a waft of scent reached her, she nearly fainted with relief. She’d recognize that smell anywhere. It was Steve’s aftershave.

‘Steve!’ she sobbed. ‘Oh, Steve!’

‘Are you by yourself?’ came the whisper.

‘Yes. I’m so frightened!’

She stumbled forward and, the next moment, she was in his arms and bursting into a flood of tears.

‘I can’t bear it! I can’t bear it! Stop torturing me like this!’

He kissed her as he’d never kissed her before — as though he wanted to devour her and overwhelm her with the force of his passion. He must love her to kiss her like that.

‘Why have you been so horrible to me?’ she moaned, when she could speak.

‘I had to make you come to heel. You can’t marry Rupert. You know that.’

‘Yes! Yes!’

‘Promise you’ll speak to him this evening?’

‘I promise! Anything, anything. Just kiss me again.’

He pulled her down on to the bed. They erupted against each other.

‘I want you,’ he whispered. ‘I want you — now.’

Any moment he’d be raping her and she didn’t care.

It was a few seconds before they realized someone was screaming horribly.

‘Bloody hell! Someone seems to have been murdered,’ he said.

‘Don’t go! Don’t leave me!’

He started to kiss her again, but the screaming went on, echoing unearthily through the house.

‘I’d better go and see what’s going on. I’ll sort you out later, but not until you’ve packed it in with Rupert.’ And he was gone.

When the lights came on she realized she was in a strange bedroom, probably belonging to one of the maids. In a daze of happiness, she re-did her face and staggered downstairs. Steve loved her! She wasn’t looking forward to breaking it off with Rupert, but it was no good marrying him if she really loved Steve.

She felt so free, she wanted to swing from the chandeliers.

Downstairs she found everyone standing round Chrissie, who was in hysterics.

‘It’s gone!’ she screamed. ‘It’s gone!’

‘What’s gone?’ said Lazlo sharply. ‘Pull yourself together!’

‘The Evening Star. I was upstairs. Someone put their hands round my neck and the next moment the diamond was gone. Oh! What will Mummy say?’

Bust a gut, thought Bella, and winked at Steve. But he didn’t smile. He looked the picture of concern.

‘Don’t panic. I guess someone’s playing a joke.’

‘Bloody silly joke, whoever’s playing it!’ snapped Lazlo.

‘I’m going to call the police,’ said Chrissie.

‘Don’t be crazy,’ said Lazlo. ‘Come on, let’s look for it.’

But although they searched all the passages and rooms, no-one could find any trace of the stone.

Lazlo looked at his watch. ‘I’ve got to catch that plane. I must go. I’ll ring you tomorrow,’ he said, as he kissed Chrissie. ‘And whatever you do, don’t get the police in.’

And that, thought Bella, looking at Lazlo’s broad departing back, is the last I’ll ever see of that snake.

‘I’m going to call Aunt Constance,’ said Chrissie, going upstairs. But when she came back, ten minutes later, her eyes were glittering. ‘I’ve rung the police,’ she said defiantly. ‘They’ll be round any moment.’

Rupert frowned. ‘That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it?’

Angora giggled. ‘How exciting,’ she said, starting to re-paint her lips a brilliant scarlet. ‘Do you think they’ll search me?’

‘Sure to,’ said Steve, rumpling her hair.

They smiled into each other’s eyes.

Can’t he let up even now, thought Bella; then she relented. Let him have his little game of taunting her; he’d be hers as soon as she broke it off with Rupert.