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Anything, Any Time, Any Place

Page 4

by Gordon, Lucy

The girl ran forward to greet her, brimming over with excitement. To her this was obviously a thrilling game.

  “Everything’s ready,” she told her father, taking Kaye’s hand and drawing her indoors. Kaye followed, still in a daze from the wonderful thing she’d just discovered. Jack didn’t have a girlfriend. The warmth she’d seen in his eyes in the picture had been a father’s warmth. It was crazy to be so happy, and yet her joy spouted up to the ceiling like a wellspring.

  The big front room bore several tables covered with white cloths and laden with food and champagne. “Just like a wedding feast,” Jack said appreciatively.

  “Because we’re going to entertain a wedding party,” Georgy finished triumphantly. Her laughter matched her father’s, and their resemblance was very clear. She’d inherited his height, too, and was already taller than most women.

  “Well, we’ve got the bride,” Sam said, “and I reckon the guests will be here any moment.”

  A heavily built man was standing in the corner of the room. Jack hailed him as Harry, but didn’t introduce him.

  “Here’s an old friend you’ll remember,” he said as Mary came into the room.

  The secretary was a little grayer, but her smile was as friendly as ever, and she embraced Kaye warmly. “It’s lovely to see you again, and don’t you worry. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Kaye gave her a puzzled look. Surely Mary couldn’t know as much about her situation as her remark implied. Jack spoke quickly. “They’re here!”

  Looking out of the window, Kaye saw a stream of cars pouring up the drive to disgorge various disgruntled passengers.

  “Leave the talking to me,” Jack said.

  “Gladly.”

  First into the room was Kaye’s mother, Rhoda. She was overdressed, even for a wedding. On her shoulder she wore a ruby-and-diamond brooch, Lewis Vane’s reward to her for bullying her daughter into the marriage, and a reminder of what she stood to lose if things went wrong. She still had the remains of good looks, but they were marred by spite and smugness.

  She made straight for her daughter. “I don’t know what you think you’re playing at,” she seethed, “but you get back to that church this minute.”

  “You’re forgetting that I kidnapped her,” Jack said. “And I’m going to insist that she stays here.”

  “You!” Rhoda turned on him. “Do you think I don’t know she put you up to it?”

  Paul had glided in behind his mother and stood there, poised and handsome, surveying his surroundings. His looks were of the classic, Adonis type, with a straight nose, high cheekbones, and large, dark eyes. There was a sweetness in his smile that made everyone his friend. The only flaw was a lack of resolution in his chin and the corners of his mouth, and that was less evident now than it might become later.

  As he looked around him at the luxurious room, his lips pursed in a silent whistle, which was repeated as his gaze reached Georgy. The girl smiled appreciatively at his handsome face, and sashayed over.

  “I’m Georgy,” she said in a low voice.

  “I’m Paul.” He gave her his “never fail” smile.

  Bertie and Sam greeted each other like long-lost brothers, with slaps on the back and sentimental yelps of delight. “Have a drink,” Sam said.

  “Wouldn’t mind a drop of champagne, at that.”

  “Champagne? Pooh! Have a man’s drink.” He shoved a large tumbler of malt whiskey into Bertie’s hand, and poured one for himself.

  Lewis Vane entered aloofly, and his cold eyes hardened as they rested on Jack.

  “Mom, I didn’t put anyone up to anything,” Kaye protested. “I didn’t know Jack was coming.”

  “Nonsense!” Rhoda scoffed. “All that stuff about a prior claim.”

  “But that was true,” Jack said mildly. “Kaye promised me six years ago that she was at my service whenever I liked. By the way, I don’t think I have the pleasure of your acquaintance.”

  “This is my mother, Mrs. Benton,” Kaye said, wanting to sink through the floor. “Mom, this is Jack Masefield. This is his father, Sam. Jack, this is my brother, Paul.”

  “Oh, so you do remember you’ve got a brother, do you?” Rhoda sneered. “You can think of someone apart from yourself.”

  “Mom, please...” Kaye said in a desperate whisper.

  “You know what this wedding means to your family,” Rhoda snapped. “But no, that’s not good enough for you! Self, self, self! That’s all you ever think of.”

  “Come on, Mom,” Paul said hastily. “Let’s not have a go at Kaye. It was just a misunderstanding.” He squeezed Kaye’s hand and gave her an appealing smile. “We can still have the wedding.”

  “I damned well hope so,” Lewis Vane said sourly. “I don’t like being made to look a fool.” He stepped up to Kaye. “Get moving.”

  “She’s staying here,” Jack said.

  “No way,” Vane snapped, with a significant glance at Paul, who flinched. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”

  “There’s a lot I do know, Vane,” Jack said quietly. “Enough to spike your guns.”

  “I’m not standing for this,” Rhoda seethed. “I haven’t worn myself to a shred over this wedding just to see you ruin it.”

  “But perhaps she doesn’t want to get married,” Jack suggested in a tone of deceptive mildness.

  “Of course she does.” Rhoda spat out the words. “She’s just playing her tricks.”

  “Why don’t we talk about it?” Jack suggested smoothly.

  “I’m not talking with some hired actor, or whatever you are,” Rhoda said sharply.

  Bertie had been muttering to Paul, putting him straight on a few facts, and now the young man intervened quickly. “Leave it, Mom,” he muttered.

  “And who’s going to save your bacon?” she snapped.

  “He’s not an actor, Mom,” Paul said. “This is his home.”

  If there was one thing Rhoda could do, it was price goods to the penny. A rapid glance around showed her that she was in the presence of serious money, and she modified her tone, although only slightly. “If you weren’t hired, who are you?” she demanded. “I don’t know you.”

  “But your daughter does,” Jack said, pressing a glass of champagne into her hand. “We met six years ago. I was able to help her when Bertie was taken ill.”

  “He saved my life,” Bertie confirmed.

  “He saved my pal’s life,” Sam agreed emotionally. Rhoda favored him with a look that would have struck him dead if he hadn’t been refilling Bertie’s glass.

  “Kaye promised to repay the debt any time, and in any way I asked,” Jack continued.

  Rhoda sniffed. “I’ll bet she did. I know your kind. No prizes for guessing what you want.”

  “Mom, please...” Kaye said wretchedly.

  Jack glanced at her, puzzled. The girl he’d known on Singleton had been young and gentle, but strong. There’d been authority in the way she’d dealt with Georgy, as well as humor. Yet now she seemed helpless, caught in her mother’s spite like an animal trapped in headlights.

  When Rhoda paused to gulp some champagne he whispered in Kaye’s ear, “Tell her to get lost. She can’t eat you.”

  “She’s my mother,” Kaye said desperately.

  Her groom had been watching her with cold dislike. Now he said, “I would like a word with you in private, Kaye.”

  Before she could move, Jack got between them. “No,” he said simply.

  “This is none of your damned business,” Lewis raged.

  “I’m making it my business. Kaye isn’t marrying you.”

  “I think she is,” Lewis said with a sneer. “I doubt she’s told you everything.”

  “You’ve gotten a hold on her through her brother.” Jack looked at Paul, biting his lip. “You young fool.”

  “It was a m-misunderstanding,” Paul stammered.

  “We’ll let the police decide about that,” Lewis said. “They’ll be interested in what I’ll tell them, especially in view of
your criminal record.”

  “It—it was nothing,” Paul said in answer to a raised eyebrow from Jack. “Just a bit of shoplifting.”

  “A criminal record is a criminal record,” Vane said remorselessly. “Kaye! We’re leaving, now!”

  “She’s not going,” Jack said in a deceptively quiet voice.

  “Kaye, ” Paul said in an urgent whisper.

  Jack set his glass down. There was only a small clinking noise, but it seemed to reverberate through the room like a roll of drums, announcing the drawing of battle lines. He looked Vane directly in the eyes.

  “I said she’s not going,” he repeated.

  “She’ll regret it if she doesn’t,” Vane snapped.

  “Not half as much as you’ll regret it if she does. You want to play Blackmail? Okay. You hand over to me anything you have that could make trouble for Kaye’s brother. In return I’ll stay quiet about what I know about Ainsworth Securities, and with any luck you’ll stay out of jail.”

  “You’re bluffing!” Vane sneered, but he’d gone a little pale.

  “I’m not,” Jack said simply. “I’ve got documents that show how you manipulated the share price prior to the takeover. The fraud squad would just love to get their hands on them. But if you think I’m bluffing, go ahead.”

  There was a silence.

  “Harry here will accompany you to your office and collect anything that incriminates Paul,” Jack continued. “I want it all. Don’t try keeping anything back.”

  Vane breathed hard. “In return I want whatever you’ve got.”

  “You won’t get it,” Jack said. “Quit bothering me. You haven’t any cards to play.”

  Vane’s lips tightened into a hard line, making him harsh and terrible. But Jack, meeting his gaze, wore a similar look. For a moment Kaye caught a glimpse of something formidable, even ruthless, beneath Jack’s smiling good nature. Vane’s eyes fell first.

  “Be damned to you!” he said viciously.

  “Take these with you,” Kaye said, stripping off her diamonds. “I want nothing you’ve ever given me.”

  He snatched them from her angrily, then turned on Rhoda. “And you!” he raged. “You get nothing for nothing.”

  He reached out and wrenched the brooch off her shoulder. Rhoda screamed and burst into tears of rage. Vane seemed about to speak, but something in Jack’s face made him think better of it. He turned and stalked out, followed by Harry.

  Sam and Bertie let out a roar of delight. Rhoda’s lips were tight with fury. Paul looked uneasy. Kaye could hardly take in what had happened. Then she realized the nightmare was over. She was free of Lewis Vane. She gave a gasp and covered her mouth with her hands.

  “Hey, there,” Jack said, taking her by the shoulders. “It’s finished. Everything’s all right.”

  “I can’t believe it,” she choked. “Is it really happening?”

  “It’s happening,” he assured her. “You won’t see him again.”

  “But how did you do it? All those things you said about Ainsworth Securities—?”

  “It’s no secret that he pulled a fast one over that deal, although nobody’s been able to pin it on him.”

  “But—you said you had documents...”

  Jack grinned, showing strong, white teeth. It was the grin of a pirate, ribald, knowing, wickedly mischievous, and it lit up the world.

  “You mean it wasn’t true?” Kaye breathed.

  “’Course it wasn’t true,” Sam said triumphantly. “Half of what he says isn’t true.” He slapped his son on the back. “I taught this boy everything he knows,” he said proudly.

  “You were bluffing the whole time?” Kaye said, awed.

  Jack took her hands in his. “Kaye, darling—” the word slipped out of its own accord “—that’s how it’s done. Bluff and counterbluff. I’ve bluffed millions when my pockets were empty.”

  “But suppose Lewis had called your bluff?”

  “He wouldn’t dare. And even if he did, you aren’t marrying him. If there’s a court case I’ll get Paul the best lawyer there is. He’ll get probation or a suspended sentence.”

  She tightened her hands on his and he caught his breath at the beautiful fervor in her eyes. “Paul will be all right, won’t he?”

  His brow creased. “Don’t you ever think of anyone but Paul?”

  “I was only marrying Lewis for his sake. Thank you so much for saving him.”

  “I wasn’t saving him,” Jack said quizzically. “I was saving you.”

  “Him—me—what difference does it make? Thank you anyway.”

  Rhoda was nearly dancing with rage. “Look at me,” she fulminated, pointing to the tear in her jacket where the brooch had been. “Look what he did to me!” She burst into angry tears.

  Despite everything, Kaye was torn by the sound of her mother’s weeping. She tried to put her arms about Rhoda.

  “Don’t cry, Mom,” she begged.

  Rhoda threw her off. “It’s all your fault,” she said hysterically. “I hope you’re pleased with yourself. You’ve thrown away the chance of a lifetime—”

  “But Paul’s going to be all right,” Kaye protested.

  “And what about the help Lewis could have given him in future? With Lewis behind him, Paul had it made.”

  “I doubt it,” Jack told her. “Once Vane got what he wanted he wouldn’t have bothered with Paul again, except as a weapon against Kaye. You must be very relieved that your daughter has escaped that fate.”

  Rhoda scowled at him, but Paul, more sharp-witted than his mother, was beginning to see where his own best interests lay. “I’m glad you’re not going to marry him, sis, honestly,” he said warmly. “It doesn’t matter about me, as long as you don’t suffer.”

  “Easy to say that now the danger’s past,” Bertie growled just loud enough for Jack to hear.

  “I agree,” he replied quietly. “Why doesn’t she tell those two where to get off?”

  “She’s never been able to fight them,” Bertie said, holding out his glass for Sam to refill. “Kaye’s too softhearted for her own good. They’re her mother and brother, and she wants to believe the best of them, despite the way they act. I’ve tried to stand up for her, but I’ve never done much good.”

  “You did one thing,” Jack said, meeting his eyes. And a significant look passed between them.

  Kaye was hugging Paul, passionately grateful for his words. “Thank you, darling,” she said. “I knew you’d understand.”

  “Well, I don’t!” Rhoda snapped. “I’ll never forgive you for this, my girl. Never. I suppose you’re going to move in here as his fancy woman. You’ll be all right, won’t you? Never mind anyone else. But you’ll get your comeuppance. When he’s had enough he’ll chuck you out on your ear, and it’ll serve you right. Don’t come to me for sympathy.”

  “I’m sure she wouldn’t dream of it,” Jack said dryly. “And your daughter—” he emphasized the words very slightly “—won’t be my ‘fancy woman.’ I want her to come and care for Georgy.”

  “You made her give up a rich husband to be a flaming nursemaid?” Rhoda almost shrieked.

  Then Jack said, “She’s not going to be a nursemaid. She’s going to be my wife.”

  Total stunned silence.

  Everyone stared at him. Even Jack was inwardly staring at himself, wondering where the words had come from. Whatever he’d meant to say, it wasn’t that.

  “Jack,” Kaye breathed as if she couldn’t believe her ears, “you can’t mean...”

  “’Course he doesn’t mean it,” Rhoda scoffed. “He’s stringing you along.”

  “Don’t talk to my future wife like that,” Jack said, his eyes kindling.

  “But Mom’s right,” Kaye stammered. “You don’t need to—I mean, you can’t want to marry me.”

  “I need to marry you,” he said, taking her hands. “When Elsie turns up here demanding Georgy, I have to be able to show that I’ve got a stable home. You promised, Kaye.”

 
; She longed to say yes, but it was too much like a dream come true. She would gladly make sacrifices for Jack, but she didn’t want him to make any.

  “I’ll stay here, anyway,” she said. “I’ll keep my promise.”

  “To do that you have to marry me,” he said firmly. “I need a wife to show Elsie, a mother for Georgy.”

  “Now you’re talking,” Rhoda said.

  “Mom, please,” Kaye said desperately. She was torn, longing to say yes, but fearful of snatching a prize that seemed too good for her.

  “Don’t be a fool,” Rhoda sneered. “If he’s willing to do the right thing by you, grab him.”

  “I’m not going to ‘grab’ him,” Kaye cried.

  “Of course not,” Paul said quickly. “Kaye isn’t like that.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t do anything you don’t want to, sis.”

  Bertie snorted loudly.

  Kaye put her hands to her face to cover her burning cheeks. “If only I knew what to do,” she whispered.

  “You do what’s best for you,” Paul urged. He looked around at his luxurious surroundings. “Mind you, it mightn’t be so bad. And of course, if you owe this guy like he says... But it’s your choice.”

  “I do owe him,” Kaye said. “Jack, if this is really what you want...”

  “It’s what I want,” Jack confirmed.

  “Then I’ll marry you.”

  Bertie and Sam cheered and finished the bottle. Jack smiled into Kaye’s eyes, making her heart turn over wildly. She didn’t understand why she’d agreed, but then she didn’t understand anything that was happening. She’d started today as the bride of a man she hated, and now she was going to marry the man she’d carried in her heart for years. It was too much, too quickly.

  Paul was full of glee, whirling Kaye around and around and hugging her tightly. Kaye hugged him back, thrilled that he was safe. Jack watched them with a little frown.

  Rhoda sniffed, torn between satisfaction at getting a rich man into the family after all, anger at the way her despised daughter had fallen on her feet, and outrage at the way Jack had spoken to her.

  “Just you make sure he sticks to it,” she said spitefully. “There’s many a slip twixt cup and lip.”

  “There’ll be no slips,” Jack said evenly, only his good manners concealing his dislike. “We’ll marry as soon as possible.”

 

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