'I look like h.e.l.l,' snarled Perdita. 'I hate it, I hate it.'

'Don't be silly. Before you were just any old blowzy blonde. Now you look like no-one else on earth. No, leave it,' he said sharply as she frantically tried to pull some tendrils over her forehead.

'I loathe short hair.'

'Well, I like it, and after two years of Bore-iel I'm not taking up with another woman who spends all day clutching a blow dryer. I've got better things for you to blow.'

'I'll have to spend all day washing my neck and ears now.'

'Stop beefing.' Red slotted the arms of a huge pair of dark gla.s.ses behind her ears. 'We've got a plane to catch.'

An hour later they were in the front First-Cla.s.s seats of an Air France flight to Singapore, drinking champagne and eating caviar. Red's only concession to disguise was dark gla.s.ses and a dark blue baseball cap pulled down over his nose hiding most of his hair.

'I'm sorry,' said Perdita. 'I only b.i.t.c.h when I'm rattled.' 'Don't worry on my account. I like rows.'

'Last time I travelled First Cla.s.s was because you upgraded me.'

Red took her hand and kissed it. 'You're upgraded for good now,' he said softly. Then, as Perdita's heart lurched, longing to ask what he meant, he started examining her hands. 'We'll have to get you a manicure in Singapore. You must've been skipping out the entire Apocalypse barn without a pitchfork. Christ, look at that.'

Two English businessmen across the gangway were drooling over a double-page coloured photograph of a naked Perdita riding Spotty into the Casino with Victor in his dragon's head gazing up at her.

'They've airbrushed your b.o.o.bs to make them twice as big,' said Red, 'and blackened your bush.'

'And my character,' hissed Perdita.

'Nice t.i.ts,' said the nearest businessman thickly, putting on his bifocals to examine them more closely.

'Lucky horse,' said the other. 'Bet he's enjoying it. She's a raver that Perdita; told Prince Charles to eff off. They say all that stimulation between their legs all day makes ladies really randy.'

'I'm thinking of taking up polo,' said his companion, drawing frantically on his cigar, 'or at least sponsoring a polo function next year. Crumpet's fantastic.'

Perdita was about to erupt. Shaking with laughter Red put a hand on her arm. 'Now aren't you glad you've changed your hair? Flattering picture of Victor though. He should use it in his annual report.'

Spotty's wall eye, caught in the flash, looked both alarmed and disapproving.

'He will be OK, won't he, and Tero too?' pleaded Perdita, taking a slug of champagne. 'I've never been parted from them for a day since I came back from Palm Beach. Tero's petrified of strangers.'

Still drunk when she had walked out on them that morning, she was trying not to sober up.

'I rang Manuel while you were in the hairdressers,' said Red. 'He's going to fly them straight to Boston. We'll stay at the Ritz-Carlton. You'll like that.'

Perdita couldn't eat much dinner, but she kept on drinking. She was also incensed after the lights had been dimmed and the screen pulled down to discover the flight movie was Treadmill, Treadmill, Auriel's latest Auriel's latest tour de force, tour de force, in which she played a stunning middle-aged woman rediscovering pa.s.sion and s.e.xuality with a young boy. in which she played a stunning middle-aged woman rediscovering pa.s.sion and s.e.xuality with a young boy.

'That's good. Won't need a Mogadon,' said Red, pushing back his chair and putting the navy-blue blindfold over his eyes.

'Aren't you going to watch?'

'Why should I? I've had the real thing. Good-night, sweetheart. See you in the morning.' And immediately he fell asleep.

Perdita was outraged. It had been just the same on that long flight to Argentina with Ricky when she'd lain writhing with desire under two blankets and Ricky hadn't lain a finger on her.

What the h.e.l.l was Red playing at? Having not slept for two days, she had been feeling drowsy and s.e.xy. Now she was wide awake, and however hard she tried not to watch, her eyes seemed to force themselves open as, with horrifiedfascination, she watched Auriel, big-bosomed, mature, her long, dark hair spilling over pillows, being let down, taken up, tumbling over her shoulders in the shower, as she murmured endearments in her throaty voice, and exuded Experience with a capital E.

'f.u.c.king gorgeous t.i.ts,' leered the businessman across the way, whose hand seemed to be revoltingly active beneath his blanket, 'and lovely hair. You can't beat a really attractive mature lady.'

'I wouldn't mind beating her,' said his friend.

Perdita clutched her head. G.o.d - her hair was short! It suddenly occurred to her that the only time she'd slept on a plane was when she'd been with Luke.

Three performances of Carmen Carmen on the headphones, a second film mercifully starring Charles Bronson, and three meals later, during which time Red woke up and read an entire Wilbur Smith, hardly pausing to speak to her, Perdita found herself staggering out into the stifling Singapore dusk. on the headphones, a second film mercifully starring Charles Bronson, and three meals later, during which time Red woke up and read an entire Wilbur Smith, hardly pausing to speak to her, Perdita found herself staggering out into the stifling Singapore dusk.

After that things became a little hazy. The drive from the airport was even more terrifying than Argentina, with people crouching in the back of lorries wearing crash helmets over their coolie hats. A hot breeze wafted a voluptuous smell of soy and frangipani. Little clouds, turned pink by the setting sun, rose like puffs of smoke from the tops of soaring skysc.r.a.pers. Fortunately Red had booked them into the most charming hotel, the legendary Goodwood Park. Amid all the modern buildings it looked like a little Persil-white castle, complete with turrets, plucked from the Black Forest and plonked down on a green hill and wrapped in a m.u.f.fler of jungle greenery.

Even more excitingly, they were staying in the Brunei Suite normally inhabited by kings, princes, prime ministers, and the Sultan of Brunei when he was in town.

'I played for him once,' said Red, propping his polo sticks against the bedroom wall. 'Every time he changed ponies all the crowd stood up and weren't allowed to sit down until the royal a.s.s was back in a different saddle.'

'This place is incredible,' said Perdita, padding from room to room over the thick golden carpet. 'We can have a sauna, give dinner parties in the dining room and play hide and seek.'

'Hyde and Jekyll, if you play with me,' said Red. 'Geminis are totally schizophrenic.'

'What an incredibly comfortable bed,' said Perdita, collapsing on to the golden counterpane. 'Wish I had one as big as this at home. Is this what they call king-size?'

'Depends on the king,' said Red, who had poured himself a huge Scotch on the rocks. 'George VI of England was quite small. Henry VIII b.l.o.o.d.y large. Edward VII even larger. What d'you want to drink? Shall we eat out or in?'

But Perdita was asleep. In the impossibly crumpled ivy-green taffeta dress she looked like some fourteen-year-old schoolboy playing Amanda in the house production of Private Lives. Private Lives. Gripped with l.u.s.t, Red wondered why he wanted her so much - because she was different, or because she was Luke's, and he had to beat Luke in everything? He toyed with the idea of waking her up, but, as he removed her dress, she didn't stir. Folding the counterpane round her, he left her to sleep. Gripped with l.u.s.t, Red wondered why he wanted her so much - because she was different, or because she was Luke's, and he had to beat Luke in everything? He toyed with the idea of waking her up, but, as he removed her dress, she didn't stir. Folding the counterpane round her, he left her to sleep.

Waking, Perdita had no idea where she was. Fumbling for the light switch, she saw Red's polo sticks had gone. Perhaps he'd done a bunk. She was just opening the french windows on to a roof garden, filled with tropical plants and blazing sunlight, when there was a knock on the door. Three gently smiling waiters had arrived bearing, first, breakfast of coffee, orange juice, scrambled eggs and croissants, then a vast bunch of incredibly scented yellow orchids, and finally a cardboard box tied with pink ribbon. Inside the box was a pair of black and grey striped silk pyjamas, and a note.

'Darling Perdita, I'm playing polo. Back at sundown, prepare yourself for a Gaudy night. Love Red.'

Looking at the drawing-room clock, she saw it was 5.30 and was so overwhelmed with terror that she forgot to tip the waiters.

By running away with Red, and leaving a trail of broken hearts and contracts, she had totally burnt her junks. What happened if she couldn't deliver the goods tonight? There wasn't a woman Red couldn't have. How could she not be a terrible letdown? And what would happen when he discovered her fearful secret? Skin had formed on the hotmilk, the scrambled eggs had congealed and the croissants cooled before she pulled herself together.

Her legs, shaved for G.o.diva, were already slightly bristly. Using Red's razor, she was shaking so much she cut herself twice. Anyone would think she'd slaughtered a pig. She had a shower and scrubbed every centimetre of her body, and between her legs about twenty times, then rubbed scented body lotion all over herself, particularly into her calloused Brillo-pad hands. Then she rubbed Red's Givenchy for Men into her hair and slicked it back like Lord Snooty. The silk pyjamas were incredibly seductive but too hot, so she folded them on the side of her bed and instead put on a grey and white striped shirt of Red's. The twins and Chessie had often intimated that Red was bis.e.xual. If she looked like a boy, perhaps he would fancy her more.

At seven, by which time two un.o.btrusive maids had tidied the room and put her flowers in water, a bottle of champagne arrived on ice. Champagne reminded her of walking out on Luke, so she settled for two miniature bottles of vodka and topped them up with lime juice and ice. Sitting out on the roof garden with a guide book of Singapore, she watched a pallid half-moon grow gradually more luminous and Venus quivering golden between the skysc.r.a.pers, as the sun went down in a bonfire of orange. Red should have a shirt in that orange. Then, because her stomach was rumbling, she got a packet of peanuts from the fridge, and was so nervous she cleaned her teeth between peanuts. Night had fallen and a slight breeze was lifting the coloured mantillas of the bougainvillaea when Red returned.

He was still wearing boots and breeches. His dark blue polo shirt was dripping, his hair almost black with sweat. 'Christ, it's hot!' He threw his whip on the bed. 'Like playing in a Turkish bath.'

'Good game?' asked Perdita. He looked so glamorous she wanted to run into his arms, but she must play it cool.

'Great. I played nine chukkas. There was a tropical storm after lunch, but the pitch dried out half an hour later.'

'What was the standard like?'

'Pretty average, but there was a wild guy playing for the other side called Barry Bartlett, just flown in from Australia with half-a-dozen Walers. He's a six, so we spent our time hitting the ball to each other like a Wimbledon final. And those Walers are as tough as s.h.i.t, legs like iron and wonderful mouths. I'm gonna offer for the lot.'

'Did anyone recognize you?'

'Sure. They all did, but I said we were avoiding the press, so they'll keep their traps suit. They'd also heard about the twins being fired. The story's escalated. Not only were they caught in bed with Sharon but also a pony. How've you been?'

'Fine,' lied Perdita. As she came back into the lit-up bedroom a slow smile spread across Red's face.

'My shirt.'

'Your haircut.'

'My schoolboy,' said Red, running his hand over the slicked hair. 'Fix me a Scotch on the rocks. I'm going to have a shower.'

He was back in five minutes, just wearing a white towel slung round his hips, which emphasized the satin-brown smoothness of his chest. Compared with Luke he was willowy and elongated, a greyhound beside a mastiff. She didn't want to think about Luke. It hurt too much, and and made her feel too guilty, and she knew if it had been him instead of Red who had been about to take her to bed she wouldn't have been so terrified. made her feel too guilty, and she knew if it had been him instead of Red who had been about to take her to bed she wouldn't have been so terrified.

'Thank you for the orchids, they were lovely.' Desperately she tried to stem the rattle of ice. 'They've got lower lips like Juan O'Brien, and the pyjamas are gorgeous.'

'Why didn't you wear them?'

'I thought you might not want to go to bed.'

'You thought wrong, and you've put them on the wrong side.' He picked up the pyjamas and threw them to the left side of the bed. 'Your pal Ricky France-Lynch may be ambidextrous enough to make women come with his left hand, but I only score with my right.'

Turning away to hide her frantic blushes, Perdita drained her vodka.

'It's the most beautiful suite,' she gushed. 'With all those Grecian pillars and chandeliers and alcoves and you coming in all handsome in breeches and boots, it's like the cover of a Barbara Cartland novel.'

'Good,' said Red, who was fiddling around with the mirrors on the dressing table, pulling them in front of the bed to reflect any forthcoming action. He looked up and smiled, revelling in her embarra.s.sment.

Sweat was cascading down her body, her pounding heart made her totally breathless.

'R-red, there's something I've got to tell you.'

'Oh dear,' sighed Red, sitting down in a gold satin armchair and lighting a yellow Sobranie. 'Don't tell me you've got your period. Some guys don't mind, but I've never enjoyed the flavour of the monthly.' Then, when she didn't laugh, 'It's a joke.'

Perdita gazed miserably down at her painted toenails. 'I know I come on blase,' she muttered, 'but I've never been to bed with anyone in my life.'

Red choked on his whisky. 'You what?'

'I'm a virgin.'

'You've gotta be joking,' he said incredulously. 'What the h.e.l.l's Ricky been doing all these years?'

'Not me,' whispered Perdita.

'Well, Luke then?'

'Luke didn't because he thought I was in love with Ricky. Anyway, he's such a gentleman.'

'Unlike me,' said Red icily. 'Are you having me on? I figured virgins were extinct.'

'I'm sorry.' Perdita hung her head dejectedly. 'You were expecting nights and days of sophisticated pa.s.sion. After Auriel, I'm going to be such an anti-climax.'

Standing there in a shirt much too big for her, a tear stealing down her pale cheek, like a raindrop on a magnolia petal, bruises still faintly violet on her long legs, she looked so unbelievably touching that Red's face softened.

'I'm not anti climaxes,' he said. 'I'm rather good at giving them to people. We took your L-plates off when we clipped your mane. Come here.'

Violently trembling, Perdita walked forward until she was almost touching his knees.

'Take off that shirt.'

Each b.u.t.ton seemed suddenly far too big for its b.u.t.tonhole. Red's c.o.c.k's going to be far too big for me, she thought in panic.

'Hurry up,' he said sharply, then as the shirt slid to the carpet: 'Now fold it up. I'll pick up your bills, but not your clothes.'

'b.a.s.t.a.r.d,' said Perdita, as she picked up the shirt.

Red tipped up one of the white lampshades, so her body was flooded with light. Her hands fluttered to cover as much as they could.

'Look at me,' he snapped.

Dragging her eyes upwards as if they were ten-pound weights, she was amazed that he was laughing and his eyes were full of affection.

'I like being the first. I can break you exactly the way I want.'

Stubbing out his cigarette, he took her waist in both hands to still the trembling, and pulled her down on to his knee.

Then he kissed her with incredible gentleness, his mouth cold but tasting slightly ashy from whisky and cigarettes, on and on as his fingers crept up her thighs till he found the damp, blond, pubic hair.

'You're sweet,' he murmured, examining her. 'All pink, tender and glistening, like the inside of a guava.'

As he inserted a finger, she jumped like a branded filly.

'It's OK, darling, you're tight, but not that tight. I'll get you so sopping beforehand, I'll slide in like a cartridge into a twelve bore.'

Perdita had no-one else to judge him by, but had no doubt as he got to work she was in the hands of an expert. For a start he was so detached, and for another he was determined to excise the word 'no' from her vocabulary.

'Red, you can't lick me there, truly you can't, or there, and Christ almighty, certainly not there.'

'Shut up and enjoy it.'

Ten minutes later his tongue was circling her c.l.i.toris like an electric eel, his thumb was sliding relentlessly but slowly in and out of her v.a.g.i.n.a and his middle finger was stabbing in and out of her a.n.u.s, and it was so excruciatingly shaming and enjoyable she found she was shrieking her head off.

'Hush, my angel, you'll frighten the monkeys.'

And as he promised when he finally drove his c.o.c.k into her, she was so sodden and slippery with desire she hardly felt anything beyond a brief, excruciating pain. Then, as hemoved in and out of her, his hand delicately caressed her c.l.i.toris, sideways, up and down, round and round driving her in to a no man's land of pleasure.

'I love you, I love you,' she moaned. 'I know I've never loved anyone else in my life.'

Not even Luke?' His face over hers was almost satanic. 'Go on say it.'