by Suzanna Ross
“You’re nobody’s doormat,” Julia assured without hesitation. “In fact you’re the very opposite of those women. They couldn’t have loved your father – they would have barely known him. They threw themselves at a stranger. But you’ve waited for the real thing with Theo.”
She gave a small shrug of her shoulder. “But it’s not what he wants.”
Things were easier between them after that. Rosie could see a way forward where she and Julia could still be friends – and not just for Evie’s sake. Deception aside, Julia had done all she could for both Evie and Rosie over the past five years. She had been a good friend and it had obviously been a genuine friendship, not a façade for Eve’s benefit.
Rosie made a concerted effort to get on with her work once Julia had left. She’d lost so much time already today with all the interruptions. Not to mention her heartbreak when the love of her life had left. Work always gave her a focus, provided a diversion and she’d never needed one more. Besides, it was important she leave everything in order – to make the handover to Theo’s new team as seamless as possible.
She didn’t hear anyone come into the house, but something made her look up and they were there, in the doorway of her office. Lysander and some weedy looking side-kick.
“It’s customary to knock before barging into someone’s home.” She
knew she was being rude, but she really wasn’t in the mood to be pleasant.
“My brother happens to own this house and everything else on this estate. I’m sure he won’t mind.” He sneered and she wanted to slap him.
“Didn’t he tell you to keep away from us?”
She hadn’t taken to Lysander during their brief meeting at Chudley House. And his behaviour now did nothing to change her original opinion. He made her feel uncomfortable in the extreme.
He sauntered into the room, without invitation, and immediately made her hackles rise by grimacing at her.
“Theo isn’t here.” She remained seated, using her desk as a safety barrier between herself and the intruders.
“Of course he’s not here, he’ll be at work. Where else would a workaholic be?”
She was tempted to offer a caustic retort of the order that she was surprised he’d know how a workaholic operated, but she decided against it. She didn’t want an argument. She just wanted Lysander to leave, as soon as humanly possible. “Can I give him a message?”
“No message. It’s you I came to see.” He glanced over his shoulder at his companion. “Jim, there must be a kitchen around here somewhere, go and make some tea.”
Rosie was outraged. “Hey. Don’t go telling strangers to waltz off around my home helping themselves to beverages. And what do you want to see me for anyway?”
“I was talking to Harry, he said he was worried about you. He seems to think you have designs on Theo – and that you’re after him for his money.”
“Never,” Rosie flushed an angry pink. It had never been about the money. She’d convinced herself at first it had been about friendship, but even when she’d denied to herself she was in love with him, she’d never been tempted to even think it had been about the money.
“No need to play the innocent around me – I know exactly what you’re like. You used your sister to bleed Harry dry for years. He was desperate when I met him – utterly desperate. That’s why I put him out of his misery and paid far too much for your run down dump of an estate. You’re nothing but a gold-digger and you must have thought all your birthdays and Christmases had arrived at once when poor Theo landed on your doorstep.”
“Harry was desperate because he’d been gambling and lost – nothing to do with me or Evie. Besides, Evie was just as much his responsibility as mine.”
Lysander paced the floor, picked up a paperweight from Rosie’s desk and transferred it from one hand to the other. She wished he wouldn’t, it was very annoying. “Perhaps that’s true.” His grin made her cringe. “Regardless, it seems you’re now intent on convincing poor Theo into providing for you for life.”
Rosie was outraged. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I work. I have a proper salaried position. Besides, if it’s true Harry’s so worried, why didn’t he come to see me himself?”
Lysander shrugged. “You know Harry, emotional scenes just aren’t his thing.”
Rosie shook her head. “I don’t believe for a single second that Harry sent you.” She knew they still had some way to go, but he’d been so keen to make amends. And she wanted her relationship with her brother to work far too much to listen to Lysander spouting poison. “I don’t have time for this, I have work to do.”
“You don’t have to pretend. I know Theo will have set you up very nicely. I’m a bit upset about it all, actually. I could do with you disappearing from the scene.”
“What’s it got to do with you?”
“Well, you’ve just met my friend, Jim. He has a property development company and he could cram a lot of little houses onto this estate.”
“What would be in it for you?”
“Money, of course. If I could pull off a deal like that, Theo would have to give me a cut of the profits. Leave the estate, Rosie, before I have to do something you’ll regret.”
It would be so easy to tell him she’d already made the decision to go, but she had no intention of giving in to a bully boy like him. “I don’t respond to threats. Besides, even if I were to leave, Theo would never sell the estate. He’s made promises to the people who live and work here.”
“The thing is, I’m not the only one upset about your plans to trap Theo. Gina’s back in the country and distraught that Theo seems to be falling for you. She’s telling everyone she’ll have him back within the month.”
“Theo’s told me all about Gina. I don’t feel threatened in the slightest.”
“You should. Gina’s stunning.”
“And yet Theo still spends his free time here, with me.” Why was she arguing? She had no rights over Theo. If Gina wanted him, he was free to rekindle their relationship.
“She’s nearly six feet tall, dark flowing hair, supermodel looks…the exact opposite of you, in fact. She has men eating out of her hand. If she’s saying she wants Theo back then I’m warning you that you should be worried.”
“You’re wasting your breath, Lysander.” Rosie felt the sting of tears at the back of her eyes and was saved only by Jim returning with a tea tray.”
“Be mother, Jim,” Lysander called to him as he put the tray on Rosie’s desk. “You’ll take tea with us, Rosie.”
This was surreal. People didn’t arrive uninvited into other people’s homes to warn them to leave town by sunrise and then make tea. Time to put a stop to this. She stood up and glared full force. “Get out, Lysander – and take Jim with you. Theo will be back soon and he won’t be happy to find you here.” She wished it wasn’t a lie – there was nothing she wouldn’t give for Theo to walk into the house now.
“We have time for a cup of tea. He brandished a cup and saucer in front of her. Have a cup of tea with us, Rosie, and then we’ll go.”
She just wanted them to leave, so it seemed easier to take the cup and saucer from him and sip the hot tea then to argue. “This tea tastes odd.”
“Jim’s going to be very upset if you complain his tea doesn’t taste nice.”
She took another sip. It definitely wasn’t right. She put the drink down on the desk, instinct warning her that all wasn’t well. “I’ve had a drink, now please leave.” She was beginning to feel very light headed. She just wanted to lie down. She fell back onto her chair and rested her head on the desk – just for a minute. Lysander was standing unbearably close – the cloying stench of his cologne reached her nose and made it hard to breathe. “I don’t feel well.”
“You’ll be okay.” Lysander’s unpleasant grin was going in and out of focus in a most alarming fashion. And he seemed to be holding a camera. “But once my brother sees the evidence of you getting cosy with Jim, well, let’s just say I won’t
need to ask you again to leave him alone.”
And then, with his laughter filling her ears, everything went black.
Chapter Eighteen
“What do you think, boss?”
Andy’s voice broke into Theo’s thoughts and brought him back to the present. He looked around the room at the suited posse of businesspeople awaiting his response and realised he didn’t have the faintest idea what was going on. Apart from the fact this meetings wasn’t going well.
His judgement was way off and it worried him that he couldn’t focus with his customary single-mindedness. But what worried him even more was he didn’t care. He only cared that, when he’d left her, Rosie had been unhappy.
He hadn’t gone far. He’d set up shop at Chudley House, unable to stomach the thought of being too great a distance away from her.
Rosie had come to mean more to him than just an employee – much, much more. And Theo Bradley didn’t fail, not even at human things like relationships. It was exactly why he’d avoided them until now, and exactly why he was determined his relationship with Rosie would succeed.
But Rosie didn’t want him. She no longer wanted to even work for him. And he didn’t know what to do about it.
When he’d called this meeting, he’d been convinced work was the answer. He’d planned to immerse himself in this complicated business deal and allow his subconscious to work on a resolution to the Rosie problem. And he’d been convinced the answer would come.
Everyone was still staring at him as though he’d gone crazy – which he supposed he had. He pushed back from his desk and got to his feet. “I’m very much afraid, ladies and gentlemen, that I’m going to have to leave you in Andy’s capable hands.”
He was very aware of everyone watching open mouthed as he left the room.
He shouldn’t have left her today. He should have stayed. To hell with work – he was the boss and he wouldn’t sack himself. Besides, he’d trained Andy well and things would have progressed much better without Theo in this frame of mind, in any case.
The truth hit him with a lightening force as he made his way outside – he was in love with Rosie.
Had probably loved her from the moment he had first seen her. That could be the only explanation for his absurd behaviour – for his keeping and renovating the manor in the face of all reason.
He needed to see her. Now. He knew she had no interest in a romantic relationship, but he had to try to convince her. Even if it meant making himself vulnerable by confessing his feelings.
On a whim he dropped into the village’s tiny florist on his way back to the estate and shocked himself by buying an armful of red roses. He’d never bought a woman flowers before – he’d never enjoyed that kind of relationship. His women had gratefully received jewellery and shopping trips but oddly he’d always thought flowers too personal.
Somehow, though, it seemed right to buy flowers for Rosie. He imagined Rosie would appreciate them much more than she had appreciated the expensive shopping trip he’d financed. He was a man on a mission – a mission to convince Rosie to love him back. And he approached the task with the same zeal as he dealt with business challenges. Rosie would be wooed and romanced with relentless enthusiasm. And he would work until his dying day to convince her to fall in love with him.
He dropped the roses onto the passenger seat of his car and was about to set off when his mobile buzzed to life. He didn’t recognise the number, but answered the call, resolving to keep it brief.
“Bradley.”
“Hi there. My name’s Harry Farnham. Please don’t hang up.”
Not one of his favourite people, even if he’d never met the man. Theo frowned. “What do you want, Farnham? And how did you get my number?”
“From Lysander’s mobile – he’s left it at home. Listen, I need you to make sure Rosie’s okay.”
Theo didn’t like the way this conversation was heading. An unease began to gnaw at him. “Why wouldn’t she be okay?”
“Well, thing is, Lysander wasn’t very happy about you appointing Rosie to manage the estate. Seemed to think it will scupper his chances of making any money out of the place.”
Theo wanted to reach down the phone and shake Harry warmly by the throat until he said what he had to say. Instead, he gave a short, humourless laugh. “It’s not Rosie managing the estate that will do that. And if this call is an attempt to get some money, you’re wasting your time.”
“It’s nothing like that.” Harry’s outraged tone might have been more convincing if Theo hadn’t known about the years he’d spent demanding money from his sister. “Thing is, Lysander was talking about going over to the estate. I’m worried he might hurt Rosie. He was in such a fury. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to her.”
Theo didn’t wait to hear any more. He tossed the mobile onto the seat beside the roses and roared off towards Farnham House.
He wondered if he should have called the police. But he was so close he would be there in moments and pausing, even briefly, to make a phone call hadn’t seemed the best idea. Besides, he had no proof Lysander was even there. Chances were Rosie was fine and he kept telling himself that every moment of the way.
But, when he arrived at the house and saw Lysander’s car, he knew Harry had been telling the truth. He raced through the door and found Lysander strolling through the hall, carrying a camera and calling for a man named Jim to meet him in the office. “What have you done with her?” His voice was low and menacing. In Lysander’s place he would have answered without hesitation. “Where’s Rosie?”
“Passed out, old chap.” His words were at odds with his cheerful demeanour. “You really should be a bit more careful about the company you keep. This one’s even worse than that Gina person.”
Theo had never wanted to kill anyone before, but he wanted to rip his brother’s head off. His priority was to find Rosie, though, so Lysander’s punishment would have to wait. “Are you going to tell me where she is? Or do I have to beat the information out of you.”
Lysander nodded towards Rosie’s office and Theo flew through the door to find her lying pale and lifeless on the floor.
She was dead.
Blood whooshed against his ear drums and a wave of nausea nearly knocked him flat. It was only his urgent need to get to Rosie’s side that prevented him from passing out on the spot. He placed two fingers gently on the pulse spot on her neck and relief overwhelmed him as he felt a strong, steady heartbeat. She wasn’t dead, just out cold.
“Told you – she’s sozzled.”
He rounded on Lysander, holding him by the throat against the wall. “What have you done to her?” He didn’t believe Lysander for a second. There was no way she was drunk, it would be obvious to anyone she’d been drugged.
“Nothing.”
It would be so easy to apply a little more pressure until his brother found it impossible to draw breath. But he needed to find out what Rosie had been given. He gritted his teeth. “Tell me now, or there will be consequences.”
Lysander must have read the murderous intent in Theo’s expression, because he crumpled. “It’s nothing – a sedative, that’s all. A fast acting sedative I bought off the internet. She’ll be fine once she’s slept it off.”
“Why would you give her a sedative?”
Lysander shrugged against the wall and Theo tightened his hold, in a warning gesture. “I...er...we were just having a bit of fun. We didn’t mean much harm.”
“We?
“My friend Jim and I. It was a practical joke, nothing more.”
“Do you see anyone laughing?” Theo’s fist collided painfully with Lysander’s jaw – and Theo was only left wishing he’d hit him harder. But he was beneath contempt and Theo wasn’t going to waste another moment – the police could deal with him later. Theo’s priority was Rosie – he needed to get her to hospital and fast.
He was aware of brushing past another man as he rushed out with Rosie in his arms, but didn’t stop. Nothing mattere
d now but getting medical attention for Rosie. With infinite care, he placed her in the car and set off.
The hospital run was becoming too familiar – he hoped this would be the last time he was forced to make an emergency dash.
After the medical staff had taken blood and conducted all manner of other tests, they allowed him to sit with her in her private room as she slept. She looked like a fragile doll against the starched white linen – the only scrap of colour coming from the vibrant red of her hair.
It had to be the longest night of Theo’s life as he attempted to contemplate life without Rosie. And he realised a life without her would be empty. He could accept she didn’t love him, but he knew he would be able to make her happy. And he would spend every waking moment trying to convince her of that.
Eventually, as the early dawn light began to break, Rosie’s eyes fluttered open. A relieved sigh escaped as she focused on him. “Hi, sleeping beauty.”
She coughed. And then croaked something.
“Have some water.” He poured water and slipped his arm under her shoulders, propping her up as he held the glass to her lips and encouraged her to sip.
“Thanks.” She smiled groggily and Theo thought he’d never seen any smile as beautiful. He put the glass down and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed – not too close, not quite touching, but close enough that she could reach out and touch him if she wanted.
“How are you feeling?”
“Odd. Strange. What happened? Where am I?”
“Lysander gave you something – a sedative. You’re in hospital – we’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
“The tea…” She frowned. “He insisted I had a cup of tea and it tasted weird. What are you doing here?”
“Harry called to warn Lysander was planning something. When I arrived at the house, you’d passed out.”
“You brought me here?”
“Yes. It was quicker than calling an ambulance.”
“And you stayed.”
He felt the corners of his mouth tug. “How could I leave you?”