Laura swallowed down the tears, drying her cheeks with a tissue as she sat up beside her brother. ‘Tell me—tell me about you and—and Felicity.’
He sighed. ‘There isn’t much to tell, Maitland saw to that.’
‘But how did you ever meet her?’
‘At a company dinner three years ago.’
Laura choked with the irony of that. Who knew what would have happened after this company dinner if Martin hadn’t been here?
‘She was very unhappy with Maitland,’ Martin continued.
‘Why?’
He shook his head. ‘Felicity didn’t even like to talk about him.’
‘You and she were—very close?’
‘Very,’ he confirmed, a ruddy hue colouring his cheeks. ‘For about three months, until Maitland found out and put a stop to it. I was in love with Felicity, I wanted to marry her.’
‘Did—did you know she died?’
He stood up forcefully, his hands clenched at his sides. ‘Yes, I—I heard about that. Lisa and I kept in touch.’
‘Lisa…?’ she echoed weakly.
‘Lisa Harlow. She was the only friend Felicity and I had.’
Laura couldn’t believe Lisa Harlow had ever been a friend to anyone but herself. ‘How?’ she asked huskily.
‘She was our go-between. Felicity and I used to arrange to see each other through her.’
Laura frowned. It seemed to her that no matter what happened Lisa Harlow was in the centre of it, seeming almost to control the people around her. The other woman had encouraged Felicity’s affair with Martin, and yet Gideon trusted her implicitly, had put the care of his child into her hands.
‘But somehow Maitland found out,’ Martin scowled.
Could Lisa have had anything to do with that too? It was possible she had, after all, she wanted Gideon for herself, and if Felicity left Gideon for another man the field would be clear for her. Only it hadn’t worked out that way. Felicity had stayed with Gideon, had given him a daughter.
‘What happened?’ she asked softly.
Martin’s expression became savage. ‘Maitland tried to buy me off—’
‘The fifty thousand pounds!’ she gasped.
‘Yes, damn him! Of course I didn’t take it, instead I left. Felicity was so sweet and—and innocent. I know how that sounds, she and Maitland had been married for years, but there was something so—so untouched about her. She’d been protected and spoilt all her life, first by her father and then by Maitland, while I had nothing to offer her. Oh, it was all made clear to me,’ he said bitterly. ‘So I left, went to America. And then Lisa wrote and told me Felicity was dead,’ his voice broke emotionally. ‘I should have taken her with me, but I had nothing to offer her, none of the luxury she’d been used to all her life. All I had was a life of poverty. I couldn’t do that to her.’
‘Oh, Martin!’ She went to him, putting her arms about him. ‘I’m so sorry. We—Mum and I, never realised what you went through. You always seemed such a flirt.’
‘I was—I am. But I did love Felicity.’
And now she loved Gideon—and he had only been intent on hurting her. When would he have told her the truth?’ Tonight, after he had made love to her?
‘Maitland is a bastard,’ Martin said savagely, as if reading her thoughts. ‘All he cares about, all he’s ever cared about, is having possession of Courtneys. He couldn’t let Felicity leave him, not if he wanted to take over from James Courtney when the time came, so he got her pregnant.’
Laura gasped at the hatred in her brother’s voice. Could this last bit possibly be true, or was it the angry dislike of a man who had lost the woman he loved? It could be a little of both. After all, Felicity and Gideon were husband and wife, and accidental pregnancies were known to happen even in this day and age of easily available contraceptives. All that Felicity’s pregnancy proved was that their reconciliation had been successful.
‘Mum isn’t to know about all this,’ Martin warned her. ‘It would only upset her.’
She could see that. ‘But what do we tell her about your sudden appearance?’ she frowned.
He shrugged. ‘Maybe—I know! Tell her we conspired to give her a surprise for her birthday next week. She’ll believe that.’
Not surprisingly, she did, and the subject of Felicity and Gideon Maitland was forgotten once their mother arrived home. Mrs Jamieson was ecstatic about having her son home, if only for a brief holiday.
It wasn’t until she had been in bed several minutes that Laura remembered James Courtney’s message to her mother. Her mother was still preparing for bed when Laura entered her room.
‘Isn’t it lovely having Martin home,’ she smiled happily.
‘Yes,’ she agreed with more meaning than her mother could possibly understand. If he hadn’t come home when he had… But he had, and she wouldn’t think about what might have happened.
Her mother seemed to notice her preoccupation for the first time. ‘Anything wrong, dear?’ she frowned.
‘No, nothing,’ she gave a bright smile. ‘Mr Courtney was very taken with you.’
Her mother blushed prettily. ‘He’s a very distinguished man, isn’t he?’
‘At the moment he’s a very smitten distinguished man,’ Laura teased. ‘So much so that he wants to take you out tomorrow.’
‘He does?’ her mother gasped.
‘Mm. He’s going to telephone you in the morning. He wondered if you would like to spend the day with him and Natalie.’
‘She’s such a beautiful child. Did Gideon manage to make it this evening?’
Laura looked away. ‘Yes, he was there. But he was very late getting back from Manchester.’
Her mother looked concerned, seeming to sense her mood of reserve. ‘You and he haven’t argued, have you?’
‘Well, I—Yes,’ Laura admitted reluctantly. ‘Um—Gideon took exception to the time I spent with Nigel Jennings,’ she invented.
‘Oh, he’ll get over that,’ her mother dismissed. ‘If he’s jealous then he must be serious,’ she added thoughtfully.
‘No—’
‘Oh yes, Laura,’ she smiled. ‘Not that a little jealousy will hurt him. He’s altogether too sure of himself.’
‘You don’t understand, Mum. Gideon and I—we aren’t—Well—’
‘He’ll come round,’ her mother assured her. ‘You’ll see, he’ll be on the telephone first thing tomorrow morning.’
‘No, he won’t,’ Laura shook her head. ‘And I don’t want him to be.’
‘Of course you do—’
‘No, I don’t. You see, I’ve found I prefer Nigel Jennings—’
‘Who is Nigel Jennings?’ her mother interrupted impatiently. ‘Where on earth did you meet him?’
‘He works at Courtneys too.’
‘And you prefer him to Gideon?’ Her mother made it sound as if that couldn’t be possible.
‘He’s much less complex, and—’
‘And boring, I should think. You can’t mean it, Laura,’ her mother sounded scandalised.
‘I do,’ she said firmly.
‘But, Laura—’
‘I’m sorry, Mum, but that’s the way I feel. But that doesn’t stop you going out with Mr Courtney.’ She hoped Nigel would forgive her for using his name in this way, but she knew she would be more believable if her mother thought she was interested in someone else.
‘It most certainly doesn’t. Well, I liked him too,’ she blushed at Laura’s teasing look.
‘And why shouldn’t you, he’s a very attractive man.’ Laura moved to the door.
‘Laura…’
‘Mm?’ she turned.
‘About Gideon—’
‘I told you, I won’t be seeing him again.’
‘But, Laura—’
‘Please, Mum,’ she sighed, her nerves stretched to breaking point, ‘I’m tired, I want to go to bed.’
‘But I don’t understand—’
‘There’s nothing to understand. It’s ov
er between Gideon and me,’ her voice broke emotionally.
‘You don’t sound as if you want it to be.’
‘Well, I do.’ And if she didn’t soon get to the privacy of her bedroom she was going to prove just what a liar she was by bursting into tears!
Her mother shrugged. ‘Did Mr Courtney say what time he would telephone?’
‘About ten,’ and Laura hurriedly made her escape.
She still couldn’t believe it had happened. Gideon should have been an actor, his performance this evening as the jealous lover had been most convincing, so much so that she would probably have been prepared to let him make love to her to show him how unnecessary his jealousy was.
She had no idea how she was going to face him again, all she knew was that she was going to do it! And she would do it proudly. Perhaps Nigel wouldn’t mind helping her.
* * *
James Courtney telephoned promptly at ten o’clock the next morning, and their mother had long gone by the time Martin emerged yawning from his bedroom.
‘The flight,’ he excused his lateness. ‘No Mum?’
Laura avoided his eyes, drinking her coffee. ‘She’s gone out with a friend for the day.’ She was reluctant to tell him who with, having no reason to suppose he liked James Courtney any more than he did Gideon.
Martin sat down opposite her at the kitchen table. ‘You look like I feel.’
‘I also feel like I look,’ she grimaced.
‘I’m sorry, love,’ he sighed. ‘It’s all my fault.’
She shook her head. ‘It’s no one’s fault but my own. I should have known Gideon wouldn’t be seriously interested in me.’
‘You didn’t really mean it about staying on at Courtneys, did you?’
‘I did,’ she told him firmly.
‘But you can’t—’
‘I can, and I will.’
‘Laura, I admire your spirit. But Maitland can make your life hell if he wants to.’
‘I don’t work for Gideon, I work for James Courtney.’
Martin scowled. ‘Who believes his son-in-law can do no wrong. He worshipped Felicity, but even he couldn’t see any wrong in Gideon Maitland, not even when he must have known how unhappy Felicity was with him.’
It seemed to Laura that if Felicity Maitland had been that unhappy she would have left Gideon no matter what. But it wasn’t for her to point out such a thing to Martin, not when he was obviously still hurting so badly. But she had been right about his dislike of James Courtney too; thank God she hadn’t told him their mother was out with him at this very moment!
Martin drained the coffee in his cup. ‘I have some people to see today. You’ll be all right on your own?’
‘Fine,’ she nodded, wondering if Lisa Harlow was one of the ‘people’ he had to see. ‘How long will you be staying in England?’
He shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. Long enough to see Maitland stays way from you.’
She gave a rueful smile. ‘I’m a big girl now, Martin. I’m not going to make that mistake again.’
‘Maitland can be very persuasive,’ he said bitterly. ‘Why do you think Felicity stayed with him for so long?’
She sighed, no longer interested in why Felicity Maitland had done the things she had. ‘Martin, I’m no longer four years old and you fifteen. I’m grown up now, I have to make my own mistakes and learn by them.’ Ever since she could remember Martin had been around to pick up the pieces when she had faltered and fallen. And it was time it stopped, time she stood on her own two feet, even if she fell flat on her face.
Martin obviously didn’t have the time to argue with her; he went to his room to change before going out.
When the telephone rang Laura had a premonition it was Gideon. She didn’t answer it. Why couldn’t he leave her alone, admit that he had lost!
An hour later the doorbell rang—and rang—and rang. It was Gideon, she knew it was him, had checked to see if his car was parked outside. It was.
‘Laura, open this door!’ he ordered firmly. ‘I know you’re in there,’ he added softly.
He couldn’t know any such thing unless she actually answered him—and she had no intention of doing that.
‘Laura, for God’s sake!’ his voice was hoarse. ‘Your brother and Felicity have nothing to do with us.’
Goodness, if he didn’t stop shouting the neighbours would be coming out to investigate. ‘Go away!’ she hissed.
She heard him sigh his relief. ‘Let me in, Laura,’ he persuaded. ‘We can talk.’
‘We have nothing to say to each other. Now if you wouldn’t mind leaving, I have a date this afternoon,’ she invented.
‘With Nigel Jennings?’ he rasped.
‘Who else?’ she taunted.
She could hear no sound from the other side of the closed door, holding her breath as she waited for Gideon’s reaction. She finally heard him move away, the opening of the lift doors, the sound of its descent telling her that he had gone. As she ran over to the window she saw him get into his car, his expression grim.
Well, he had gone, and this time for good. Then why didn’t she feel happier?
She had tea ready when her mother returned with James Courtney, laying the sleepy Natalie down in the bedroom before joining the other couple in the lounge.
‘Did you have a good day?’ she smiled.
‘Very good,’ James answered her. ‘Do you have any sugar?’ He looked down at the tea-tray.
‘I’ll get you some.’ Laura rose to get it. The omission of sugar had been a deliberate one, as she and her mother did not take sweetening. And neither did James!
‘I’ll go,’ her mother offered, and disappeared into the kitchen before Laura could stop her.
‘My mother seems to have enjoyed herself,’ Laura instantly launched into speech. ‘She has so much colour in her cheeks—’
‘Laura—’
‘And Natalie obviously had a lovely time.’ The little dungaree-clad figure had been covered in dirt, but glowing with health, her cheeks rosy. ‘Did you—’
‘Laura, shut up,’ James growled. ‘The merits of the day can be discussed in a moment. Your mother tells me that you and Gideon have had a—disagreement.’
Her mother had told him! No wonder she was taking so long to get the unwanted sugar. ‘Whether we have or not—’
‘Don’t tell me it’s none of my business,’ James scowled, ‘because I’m making it so. Now, what’s he done to upset you?’
Remembering how everyone had said James Courtney idolised his daughter she knew the truth could never be told to this man. And his affection for Gideon was a genuine one, the two men seemed almost like father and son. James Courtney had lost his daughter, he didn’t deserve to lose her memory too.
‘Gideon is too arrogant—’
‘Of course he’s arrogant,’ James interrupted impatiently. ‘I wouldn’t think him a worthy successor if he weren’t. What else is wrong with him—in your opinion?’ He made it sound as if that weren’t worth much.
‘He’s autocratic—’
James raised his eyes heavenwards. ‘I was expecting an attempted rape at least when your mother told me you were annoyed with him.’
‘Sorry to disappoint you!’ she flashed. ‘But I would say Gideon is too cold to ever attempt to rape anyone.’
‘So that’s it,’ he sighed. ‘He hasn’t been passionate enough for you. Have you ever thought he might respect you too much to try something like that?’
It was so far from the truth that she could have cried. ‘Mr Courtney—’
‘Call me James, girl,’ he ordered. ‘Some of the things you’ve said to me in the past make the formality ludicrous.’
She flushed. ‘I’m sorry—’
‘And don’t apologise,’ he snapped. ‘I can’t abide a woman who keeps apologising for her existence.’
‘I’m not apologising for my existence!’ she shouted. ‘I’m just—’
‘Laura!’ her mother came hurriedly into the room. ‘I wo
n’t have you talking to James in that way!’
‘I don’t mind, Joan,’ he grinned. ‘Most of the young women talk that way nowadays. Now, Laura—’
‘The subject of Gideon is closed!’ Laura stood up angrily. ‘Very much so as far as I’m concerned.’
‘But—’
‘If you want to know any more, Mr Courtney, I suggest you discuss it with Gideon. Excuse me,’ and she went into her bedroom, quite forgetting that Natalie was lying on her bed asleep. The little girl looked so angelic, her long lashes fanned out across her chubby cheeks, her arms stretched in abandon as she slept in complete ignorance of the chaos her father had caused in Laura’s life.
CHAPTER SEVEN
WHEN Natalie woke up she took her through to the lounge, helping the little girl to a drink of milk. Gideon had no right to have such a lovely daughter, he certainly didn’t deserve her.
‘She likes you.’
Laura looked up into James Courtney’s eyes. For once the elderly man’s mood softened. ‘Natalie likes everyone,’ she retorted stiltedly, standing up to hand the little girl to her grandfather. ‘Even her father,’ she added bitterly.
‘Laura—’
‘Excuse me,’ she said coldly. ‘I have some things to do in my bedroom.’
‘Young lady, you are going to listen—’
‘I think Natalie might be hungry,’ she told her mother, ignoring James Courtney.
‘Cake,’ the little girl obliged her by saying.
‘She understands food all right,’ her grandfather said proudly.
Laura went back to her bedroom, leaving the older couple to feed the little girl. She just wanted today to be over, wished it were two or three months hence when the pain perhaps wouldn’t be so bad. At least, she hoped it wouldn’t! Did anyone ever get over loving someone as much as she loved Gideon?
She heard James Courtney take his leave about half an hour later, and half expected her mother’s knock when it came a few minutes later. But she didn’t get the reprimand she had been expecting.
‘Gideon has really hurt you, hasn’t he?’ her mother said gently.
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