BREAKING POINT

“Keep still” Jeremy said. “I will rub you down. Oh, poor pet, it must have been some nightmare. You are soaking wet!”

“Honey, I’m so sorry… Getting you out of bed, waking you up” Penny murmured, filled with remorse.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” he asked.

“I would love one!” Penny said gratefully. “You are wonderful to me!”

“Like one myself” Jeremy said, grinning at her. “You stay there and try and get warm. I will be back in a moment”

Penny curled herself into a ball and rubbed her feet against each other until the shivering gradually stopped. Warmth came back into her limbs and with it a rush of love and gratitude towards Jeremy. One or twice before she had had such nightmares and had lain wet and shivering until the morning, unable to return to sleep. But tonight she had him to comfort her, bring everything back to normal, to take care of her. It was lovely not being alone anymore. To know that there would always be Jeremy to soothe her and look after her.

He came back carrying the tea tray and placed it on the bedside table with a smile of apology.

“Couldn’t find saucers to match the cups” he said. “Still the tea is alright.”

Penny smiled up at him and took the cup he handed her.

“Mmmm, lovely” she said, sipping the hot, strong tea.

“Jeremy” she said suddenly. “It seems silly to live in two places. Why don’t you come and live here altogether? It would help you save. There is plenty of room and well…. It would be wonderful to for me to have you”

Jeremy frowned.

“No can do, darling” he said. “Wouldn’t be at all the right thing for your reputation”

“But, Jeremy, since you come most nights anyway it can’t make much difference. I don’t care about what people think. Besides, people around will be more likely to think we are married if you are permanently here”

“I suppose that’s logic” Jeremy said slowly. “But what about the extra expense, Penny? I can’t live here for nothing”

“Then pay me whatever you pay your landlord if you must” Penny said, her excitement rising as her plan too shape. “Just do it, Jeremy. Oh, darling, do come, please. You will, won’t you?”

“What about your friends when they come over for a visit and need to stay the night?” Jeremy asked, but his eyes were smiling and she knew that he was only teasing her about Audrey. However, such a situation could arise.

“It’s alright, sweetheart” Jeremy laughed. “I can always lodge or maybe even stay at the office”

“Then you mean you will come?” she asked.

“Against my better judgment. I still feel your reputation might suffer”

“I don’t care” Penny sang out the words. “Oh honey, I don’t care about anything in the whole world but having you to take care of and to take care of me”

“That’s the way I feel too” Jeremy said. “Kiss me..”

But deep in his heart, the knowledge that it was always the woman who suffered, tapped uneasily against Jeremy’s conscience. A conscience that had never really given much trouble till he met Penny. She was sweet, adorable, and so young for her age. His sugar. He must try not to let her down. The others in his life had been other types.. Better to cope alone.

“I will be careful” he told himself at last. “I won’t take any chances”

For once he was thinking less of himself than of the girl. He fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, one arm imprisoning Penny’s slim, pliant body.

In that quiet dark room the lovers slept peacefully, soundly. They were lost in their dream like world of shared passion and reckless bliss. For them, and particularly for Penelope Hampson, the axe had yet to fall.

———————-

“You look good, Penny” Audrey said, taking off her fur coat and hanging it up behind the bedroom door. “A bit tired though” she added.

“I feel fine” Penny replied quickly. She knew that there were dark shadows under her eyes… The result of a disturbed night and that stupid nightmare. She decided to change the conversation.

“How was the concert?” she asked Audrey.

“Amazing” Audrey said, her voice eager in it’s enthusiasm, her soft brown eyes sparkling and expressive. “One of the best I have ever attended”

“Let’s go sit down” Penny said, smiling. “Then you must tell me all about it”

But when they were seated comfortably side by side on the sofa, Audrey steered the conversation back to her friend.

“I want to hear about your fiancé” she said. “When did you meet him? What’s he like? When are you guys getting married?”

Penny answered her friend’s first two questions, carefully omitting the third. But Audrey said again.

“Wow, he sounds like a nice person, Penny. Are you getting married soon?”

“I’m not certain” Penny said hurriedly. “Jeremy is trying to get his dream job. He doesn’t have enough money yet. His father wanted to give him some, but he won’t take it”

“That’s very noble of him” Audrey said, but not sarcastically. “I suppose his father is rich then?”

“Oh, he’s extremely wealthy” Penny explained. “He can easily afford to give Jeremy a lot of money and he wouldn’t even notice the loss. It’s just that Jeremy has principles”

“I see” said Audrey. “What kind of job does he want to get?”

“We haven’t talked much about it” Penny admitted. “I expect he has some sort of plan. He doesn’t like discussing money with me, so I haven’t asked him”

Audrey looked surprised

“Don’t you think that’s a little odd of Jeremy” she said slowly. “I mean, when you are married, you are bound to have to discuss the family finances occasionally”

“Well, we have only been engaged a few days, Audrey” Penny pointed out hurriedly. “He hasn’t even given me a ring yet”

For a moment, Audrey did not speak. Then a slow smile spread over her face and she said affectionately.

“I’m so glad you are happy, Penny. I always thought that you should get married again and have a nice large family”

“Yea” said Penny. “That is just what I want”

But somehow it looked to her as if it would be quite a long time before that particular dream would come true.