His Heiress Wife

by Margaret Way

  “This is for you, Harry,” she said softly. Everything she knew about her uncle told her in placing Jason on Havilah Harry thought he had been doing the right thing. Perhaps he’d believed—he was such a romantic at heart—he’d be offering her and Jason the opportunity to come together again.

  A love-conquers-all type of strategy. Harry the eternal optimist.

  By nine o’clock the party was in full swing. Olivia spent so much time attending her guests she had little time to eat. Not that she was a great one to eat at parties. She didn’t know why, perhaps it was the constant buzz of excitement. With responsibility but not her authority taken off Grace she was enjoying herself immensely, looking after people but just as often sitting down at a table to have a good talk. She knew all these families as they knew her.

  The food was perfect and there was plenty of it as always. Just as Olivia expected, the children, dressed in bright clothes and party hats, swooped on the sausages, the kebabs and the meatballs, piling the rest of their plates not with any one of a dozen different salads but the pasta dishes. Tomato sauce was a big favourite. Tali, small and very pretty even with her missing tooth, cheeks pink with excitement, her thick glossy hair falling in a cascade of ringlets Renata had fashioned around her finger had taken over the unofficial job of looking after the younger children assisted by her shadow, Danny. Danny had been invited—Tali had been shocked at the very idea he wouldn’t be—though none of Danny’s family actually worked for Linfield Enterprises. Exceptions had to be made for Tali’s special friend.

  The endearingly eccentric Renata, black eyes gleaming, high colour from a liberal application of blusher on her scarcely lined cheeks, brilliant splash of scarlet on her lips, smelling inexplicably of tutti-fruitti ice cream, arrived early, amazingly chic in a brilliantly patterned patio dress she had designed and made herself. Equally amazing were the pendant earrings that fell from her sagging earlobes. They had been fashioned by herself from diamonds, rubies and emeralds she found at the craft shop. Olivia spoke to her for several minutes on arrival, receiving hugs, kisses, the warmest of greetings in rapid fire mellifluous Italian. Olivia often thought it was the most beautiful language in the world.

  “So much we owe to the Linfields!” Renata, hands gesticulating, exclaimed dramatically for all to hear. “You look so beautiful, Olivia. More beautiful than ever. That dress is magic. So sexy! I might have designed it myself. It is going to be a wonderful New Year for you, cara.” Renata gave her secret smile and leaned closer. “I am psychic as you know. The pain will disappear. You will be happy as you used to be. Understand me?”

  Olivia didn’t answer. Renata didn’t expect her to answer but they both knew what she meant.

  The words were delivered from close behind her; the voice hauntingly familiar. “So far, I’m pretty certain, you haven’t had a bite to eat?”

  She had done well keeping her distance from Jason—a protective measure—now she had to turn to face him. “Oddly enough I’m not all that hungry.”

  “The food is superb.” His eyes moved from the terrace to the tables and chairs that had been set up in the grounds. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. Some of the children had started to run wild and had to be checked by a family member.

  Olivia nodded. “I can see that, I’ve heard all the compliments. Robyn deserves a bonus. I’ll see that she gets it. She’s worked very hard…so have her helpers.”

  Jason’s mouth curved in a smile. “She’s thrilled to be doing it, Liv. It’s quite a feather in her cap. Robyn’s had it tough but she’s a gutsy lady. And she’s set Gracie free to enjoy herself. I’d rate this evening as a great success. Why don’t you let me get you something right now?” he suggested. “You can’t be thinking of your figure?” He made it sound like a little taunt, but it was really his opportunity to let his eyes roam over her. He’d looked his fill from a distance, now she was near enough to draw into his arms.

  Not a good idea. Knowing her so well he realized Olivia was making full use of her protective strategies. She hadn’t come near him beyond greeting him on arrival. He hadn’t pushed himself forward, either. He’d waited until now when the main course was almost over and people were moving towards the marquee where long linen covered trestles were laden with the most delicious desserts.

  He loved her dress, a confection of silk. The bright flush of colour was a marvellous foil for her dark hair, her silver-grey eyes and magnolia skin. He loved the way she had arranged her hair tonight. It showed off her pretty, close set ears and the line of her throat. He revelled in Olivia’s beauty. He always had. “So what’s it to be?” He stood before her, so much taller. She was taller than average for a woman yet she had always seemed small to him. “Seafood, maybe lobster, a little salad? Robyn’s been very innovative with the salads, all the fresh vegetables she uses are organic. One of our farms supplies them, as they do the house.”

  “Yes, I know.” Olivia looked into his sapphire eyes. She could see him very clearly in the bright illumination from the trees, with their countless sparkling clusters and diamond necklaces of globes; the blaze of his faintly windblown hair, the polished tan of his skin. He didn’t wear a jacket in the tropical heat but his deep blue shirt was of the finest cotton, the cuffs of the long sleeves, casually turned back, his slacks the colour of sand. The leather belt bore a discreet designer logo. He looked good enough to model. He had the Italian pedigree and it showed in his effortless style. “I don’t think I can eat right now, Jason. I do pay attention to what I eat, but I don’t diet. It’s just that I’m not hungry, I suppose it’s a slight case of nerves. I did want this evening to be a success.”

  “Then you can relax. Obviously everyone’s having a whale of a time. They will be staggering home with so much wonderful food. You have to have coffee and dessert at least. The grand finale. What about a glass of wine?” He lifted a hand to signal one of the young waiters who was circling the grounds.

  “Champagne.” Jason took two glasses from the silver tray, passing one to Olivia. “Thank you.” He nodded to the waiter, who smiled and moved on. “There’s an empty table. Let’s sit down.”

  They moved back a few feet, Olivia sipping at the cold champagne. The best value French without going over the top, fresh and delicate yet with quite vigorous bubbles. It was lovely. “What did you mean about Robyn’s having a tough time?” she asked, when they were seated. “Were you referring to her marriage?”

  He paused a moment. “I’m sure she’ll get around to telling you. You made quite an impression.”

  “I see.” Olivia stared at him over the top of her glass. “You’re not going to tell me.”

  “Obviously some things were told to me in confidence.”

  “Okay I respect that, but you did bring up the subject yourself. You said let’s see—she’d had it tough and she was a gutsy lady—one would have to wonder about the scar on her cheek? I hope it had absolutely nothing to do with ill treatment. She told me she was divorced. Her little boy Steven, is here tonight.”

  “Tali’s taking care of him.” Jason nodded. “She’s got more of a maternal streak at six than her mother ever had.”

  “She’s a wonderful little girl,” Olivia said, a tender smile on her lips. “She doesn’t look like Megan, or any of the Duffys for that matter.”

  “Well as I keep saying, you can’t miss my blue eyes.”

  “Different setting,” Olivia answered absently, having decided that from day one. “Is Robyn one of your women?”

  His expression was veiled. “What right do you have to ask that, Olivia?”

  “No right at all,” she apologised. “Except you’re a dangerous man, Jason. If Robyn has had an unhappy, violent past, I wouldn’t want you to hurt her.”

  There was a flicker of anger in his blue eyes. “When are you going to understand I don’t go around deliberately hurting women.”

  “Ignorance of what you’re doing is no defence.”

  “I didn’t set out to cheat
on you, Olivia. I was drunk or drugged, what’s the difference? You passed your judgement—it was a first-degree crime.”

  Olivia looked away, knowing she would never be immune to the intense sexual assault he had on her senses. “Don’t let’s talk about it,” she said, composing herself as best she could. “Not tonight. It’s all in the past. I just thought I’d point out you can’t go around grabbing me with your very strong hands, then expect me to shut up while you continue on your winning ways. I like Robyn.”

  “I’m glad. She likes you. Shouldn’t you be minding your own business? To put you straight Robyn and I are friends. Just that.”

  “Brilliant! It was kind of you to offer her support, I mean that, I just want to be sure you haven’t got it in your mind the two of us might patch up the old scars and start again? I’m not such a fool I don’t know I’m quite a catch these days, Harry made sure of that.”

  He shot her a look that had excitement fanning right to her extremities. “You’d be quite a catch if you were penniless, though you’ll never be the sweet girl you once were. You’ve become rather acid tongued, my dear Olivia.”

  “I’m not your dear Olivia, Jason.” She cut him short.

  “Are you sure about that? I guess it all has its roots in our shared past. I don’t mean that we were on the verge of getting married which I destroyed with my utter worthlessness. I mean our childhood, our adolescence. The bonding was very strong.”

  “All the more reason I was devastated when you let me down. But I thought we’d agreed to forget it.”

  “You’re the one who can’t swallow your pride,” he retorted. “Blessed are the merciful, Olivia. For mercy they shall find.”

  “I had to find out the hard way. You’re still here aren’t you, Jason?” she challenged. “Tali is running around happily. There she goes, with a dozen kids in tow. I look on that as being merciful.”

  “Sure, maybe even smart,” he said suggestively. “You can’t run Harry’s kingdom yet, Olivia.”

  “I’m working on it.”

  He gave her a charged smile. “There’s going to be dancing. Game to dance with me?”

  “Frankly, no. I’m just fine where I am. You’re a truly sexy man, Jason and that would be too nerve-wracking.”

  “People used to stop to watch us years ago.” He reminded her.

  “I think it was more the women stopped to watch you. You could have given lessons.”

  He laughed in recollection. “Actually I got all my lessons off Renata. Isn’t she a sight tonight?”

  Olivia couldn’t not smile. “She’s an amazing woman.”

  “If she’d just cut a bit of the drama. I don’t want her sharing too many family secrets with Tali. A lot of them are pure invention. My grandmother is by way of being a fantasist. Would you like me to get you coffee and cake? It won’t take long.” He tossed off the rest of his champagne and rose to his feet.

  She knew she should make some excuse but somehow that was impossible. Lights blazed from every room of the house, raying across the grounds. They were cocooned beneath the trees, the copper moon sailed down the sky, smell of flowers, smell of delectable food, gaily dressed little children flashing around the garden to shrieks of laughter, guests making the effort to stare across at them sitting together—everyone knew their story—Jason’s beautiful blue eyes gazing down on her. Christmas parties had their own enchantment.

  “That’ll be lovely!” she breathed.

  It was only after he walked away across the grass to the marquee she thought, please, please, let me be doing the right thing. Jason had shattered her world once. He could very easily do it again.

  The manager of the mill, Salvatore De Luca, a long time Linfield employee played Santa Claus to perfection—and with little padding. Salvatore as a young man had been a mere stripling. In his late fifties he had grown as round as a barrel which was great for the costume at least. He had a big hearty laugh and natural good humour as well.

  Olivia had gone to a lot of trouble choosing the gifts for the children from a catalogue supplied by a large toy shop and delivered to the house, beautifully wrapped. There was nothing cheap; they were well made toys to last. They were received with lots of cheers and happy smiles. Olivia realized she’d had no need to fear this party wouldn’t be as successful as in Harry’s day. Guests as they were leaving with their overexcited children made it very clear they had had a marvellous time.

  Mrs. De Luca held onto Olivia’s arms telling her how much they had all enjoyed themselves, Salvatore, her husband, his still attractive, sun-weathered face beaming with pride introduced the young couple who had arrived to drive them home.

  “Ah, here’s my Carlo!” He slung an arm around the shoulder of the handsome young man who was now smiling at Olivia, holding out his hand.

  “Carlo, how lovely to see you,” Olivia exclaimed in genuine delight, staring into Carlo De Luca’s bright blue eyes. “It’s years, isn’t it? You look great. You must be through Medicine?”

  “Doctor. He’s a doctor!” Both parents cried in unison, obviously very proud of their son. They had worked hard to give their two children—boy and girl—a good education. “Doctor De Luca now. We must all be very respectful,” Salvatore joked. “And this is our lovely Leanne—soon to be family—Leanne Grant.”

  “My fiancée.” Carlo put a proprietorial arm around the waist of a pretty, well built young woman with gold flecked green eyes, a wide smile and long straight brown hair, drawing her further into the circle. “Leanne meet Olivia, our local princess.”

  “I don’t believe everyone keeps calling me that,” Olivia gave the other young woman a wry smile, taking Leanne’s extended hand. “Why didn’t you two come along tonight?” she asked. “That would have been lovely.”

  “You had your numbers to cater to.” Carlo gave an attractive shrug. “We didn’t like to intrude.”

  “You wouldn’t have been intruding at all. How long are you here for?”

  “Day after Boxing Day,” Carlo said, leaning sideways to kiss his fiancée’s temple. “I’ll be back on duty at the hospital day after that. Leanne is a physiotherapist, she’ll be back at work, too.”

  “I’d love it if you could fit in a visit before you go,” Olivia said. “Perhaps dinner? I can invite a few friends over. People you know, Carlo, I’m sure they’d love to meet Leanne.”

  “I’d like that,” Leanne smiled. “You have a wonderful place here, Olivia.”

  “You can see over it when you come,” Olivia promised.

  “We’ll look forward to that.” Carlo took a step forward to kiss Olivia’s cheek. “You can reach us at the house. We’re staying with Mama and Pappa. I must say hello to Jason before I go. He’s here?” Carlo turned his head, hair thick and black as a raven’s wing, riotous curls and waves of his childhood tamed by smart styling.

  “He’s around some place,” Olivia said, astonished by the unease that suddenly visited her right out of the blue. Not withstanding she managed to keep a smile on her face. “Jason manages Havilah for me. It was my uncle’s wish— Jason is nothing if not super-efficient.”

  “He and Megan no longer together?” Carlo asked carefully. “I don’t want to put my foot in it. Jason’s a great guy. I always admired him, I’d hate to upset him in any way.”

  “That girl, that Megan. I never liked her. You know she was after our Carlo before she got her claws into poor Jason,” Salvatore confided and got a sharp prod in the back from his wife for his trouble.

  “Scusi,” he said, giving his wife a shamefaced glance.

  “Good night again, Olivia,” Mrs. De Luca said, getting a tight rein on her husband. “It was a lovely, lovely party. Our dear Mr. Linfield would be so proud of you.”

  “Lovely to meet you, Olivia.” Leanne waved.

  Lovely to meet you, Olivia thought. For some reason she was finding it a little difficult to swallow.

  She stood motionless for some moments as if rooted to the ground. She watched Carlo and his fi
ancée break away from his parents making towards Jason whose height and elegant outline made him easy to spot.

  Unease continued to spiral in the back of Olivia’s mind, unease that was as yet unfocused, an unidentified worry. It left her with a shocked feeling, as though someone had tossed her a red-hot coal. She had always liked Carlo De Luca who had wanted to be a doctor since he was about ten-years-old. His fiancée Leanne appeared to be an attractive, intelligent young woman. She hoped they would be very happy together.

  So what was wrong? What was puzzling her brain? She pressed her palms together and shut her eyes in an endeavour to close out the glittering scene. Was it what Salvatore had said? Certainly she’d felt some upset and embarrassment, but the mill manager was a kindly man, he hadn’t meant to hurt her. Megan hadn’t made herself any friends stealing Jason away. Most people condemned her actions, Megan’s actions more than Jason’s as was always one way of it. Woman was forever the eternal temptress.

  A chink of light shafted into Olivia’s brain. Her breath almost stopped. The reason for her unease revealed itself like a revelation, as stunning in its way as an apparition. She felt of all things appallingly guilty.

  Tali had Carlo De Luca’s eyes.

  In the next moment she went into denial. What was she thinking? If it were true it could ruin many lives. You’re imagining it, Olivia, her internal dialogue started up again. Sheer coincidence. The eyes are similar, that’s all. Tali’s blue eyes glowed right out of her face, so did Carlo’s. They were striking against Carlo’s Mediterranean skin and his black hair. They weren’t Jason’s remarkable deep blue, the setting was quite different. Hadn’t she pointed that out to Jason never entertaining for a moment this crazy notion.