title: A Charitable Affair
author: Farrell, Ellen
description: When graphic artist Philadelphia Wing arrives back in Oxford from a work related assignment in Madrid she finds a series of disquieting messages on her house telephone. Hoping to talk to her uncle Morton Jack in his college rooms, she finds that he has left for a remote area of Mexico, and it is to his colleague Julian Westmoreland, an economist working in the City of London, that she tells her story: a newspaper is seeking her comments on her involvement with Simon Fielding and the way she, Phillie, has treated Susie Johnson. Phillie, whose main employment is with the charitable foundation Aid Incorporated, knows Simon slightly, has never heard of Susie, and is by accident back significantly early from Spain.
  Julian Westmoreland, intrigued, investigates on Phillie's behalf and discovers that, portrayed as the deceitful and seductive charity charmer Philadelphia, she is soon to be the subject of a deliberate scheme, orchestrated by Simon Fielding, of press vilification and ridicule. He talks to the principal editor involved, tells him he is the one who has been set up, that by chance Phillie has been reached by phone so that they both know what is going on and that by the time she is supposed to be enacting her role in Simon Fielding's plot she will be Mrs. Julian Westmoreland.
  Phillie declares Julian's idea to be impossible, then, reluctant but persuaded, agrees to go through a marriage ceremony and to move to London. It will, of course, demand acting on her part, but Phillie is convinced she has done the right thing when, once again in Madrid but by this time on her pretend and platonic honeymoon with Julian, she is approached by a journalist whose face she recognizes because she had seen him earlier in the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport.
  Told by Julian that life in England will be different because of his immense workload, Phillie makes the most of their stay in Madrid; they stroll about the city, search out works of art at the convent of the Descalzas Reales, the Royal Palace, the Escorial. Julian makes everything amusing and easy, and back in London Phillie finds herself sharing an impressive apartment just off Park Lane and commuting to the Oxford offices of Aid Incorporated, her employers. Busy though they both are, she and Julian continue their deception. They go to the theatre, visit galleries; she likes his friends and colleagues and he likes hers. Her regard for Julian grows into an unspoken love and a trust which is shattered when, confronted in Bond Street by Simon Fielding, she is given an IOU for £11,000 won from Simon by Julian because she and Julian have been married for three months. The cheque, which includes Julian's stake of £1,000, is to follow the IOU.
  Julian dismisses Phillie's bewildered disapproval of the bet and reminds her that any separation between them would make the early unprinted story even better. Phillie, struck down by influenza, struggles to hide her misery; once better and with Julian considerate, helpful and as usual at arms' length, they continue their affectionate public relationship. At a Sussex wedding the genuine pleasure of their friends at their perceived happiness is hard for Phillie to bear. Drawn more than ever to Julian she maintains an emotional distance and strained to the limit of endurance, accompanies him to an elaborate costume ball where she finds herself face to face with a matador-costumed Simon Fielding. He asks, amused, if she would care to involve herself in another little adventure; no doubt, he asserts, Julian is even as they speak, working out how to manipulate and deceive her just a little bit further than he has already.
  Phillie finds Julian and tells him, distressed and very confused, that Simon had declared himself unwilling to put any money on Julian's staying with her six months. Julian, dismissive, hands her a cheque for £11,000 signed by him in favour of Aid Incorporated. They are further apart than ever.