Chains of Regret

by Margaret Pargeter

  She refused to look at Stein after he had dropped her hand back to her side. She had no desire to see the mocker~ which she knew would be in his eyes, or to allow him to see the apprehension which she was certain must lie at the back of her own.

  Stein’s stepmother was nice, too nice to deceive, Helen thought anxiously, hating Stein as Estella watched them almost tearfully. From-the rather disjointed conversation, Helen realised her husband must be an oil man. Shades of Dallas, she decided wryly, as Estella made some fleeting reference to his offices in the city and the miles he commuted from their ranch each day.

  Estella looked as if her husband might be extremely wealthy. Apart from her fabulous jewellery, the clothes she wore must have cost a small fortune and she was very well groomed. A lot of people might have said she was a pleasure to look at, as long as one didn’t have to foot the bills!

  Ruefully Helen glanced down at her own dress. It hadn’t been cheap, but it was obviously not in the same class as Estella’s. She looked up to find Stein watching her, and he wasn’t smiling. His eyes gleamed coolly as they moved over her, assessing every inch of her, and she was suddenly conscious of the fragile material, the silvery threads which moulded the swelling contours of her slender body. His gaze lingered on the smooth white skin of her throat before sliding to rest on the deep cleft between her breasts. She felt the burning tide of his possession and her heart thudded.

  Nervously her lashes flickered and she hastily averted her blue eyes to blindly study Estella again.

  ‘You seem interested in me?’ Estella teased as a waiter brought Stein a note and he excused himself to speak to a couple he knew.

  Helen flushed, not attempting to deny it. Under Estella’s froth and flutter lay real kindness and a more discerning character than was at first apparent. ‘I’m sorry,’ she apologised.

  Estella dismissed her apology with a careless wave of her hand. ‘I’m flattered, honey, not insulted. I know I often look a bit ostentatious, but Hank likes spending money on me and he likes me to show it. It becomes a habit in time, and I enjoy pleasing him.’

  ‘You enjoy your life in Texas?’

  ‘Oh, yes!’

  Estella spoke exuberantly, but somehow Helen fancied she detected a slight pathos. It made her aware that however much one had there might still be drawbacks.

  ‘Stein never told me about you,’ she confessed impulsively, ‘and I can’t think why he didn’t. Meeting you here, this evening, was a complete surprise.’

  Estella didn’t appear put out, she merely smiled.

  ‘Stein’s brilliant in his own field, but I believe he tends to keep his personal relationships apart, even to the extent of shutting them out. I was only married to his father a year before he died and we got on very well. Since I married again I haven’t seen a lot of him. To tell you the truth,’ she sighed, ‘if I didn’t bother to keep in touch I don’t think he would.’

  Helen hesitated. ‘You must know he took over my father’s firm?’

  ‘Yes,’ with a flicker of a glance in Stein’s direction, Estella became more guarded. ‘I was in London about the time, and he did mention it.’

  Helen frowned, remembering how little Stein had divulged about himself and the few odd scraps of information she had avidly pounced on and believed.

  ‘Sometimes it’s not quite fair to other people, making them guess all the way, I mean.’

  Estella shrugged wryly. ‘That’s him! You don’t have to try and convince me he didn’t tell you very much.

  When his mother died—she died from pneumonia, you know when Stein was in his early teens. She caught a chill and neglected it. Well, from that day on, his father, my first husband, said he just seemed to close up.’

  ‘I think perhaps it was my father’s fault Stein didn’t tell me much about himself.’ Helen tried to be honest, while her mind groped with what she’d just learned.

  ‘Ah!’ Estella smiled coyly. ‘So your father disapproved of Stein as a suitor, did he? Was it because you were so young?’

  ‘It might have been.’ That wasn’t what Helen had meant at all, but as giving a true explanation was impossible she decided to let it pass. She had been foolish to say anything in the first place, so it was her own fault if Estella jumped to the wrong conclusions.

  ‘It must have been!’ Estella was very emphatic. ‘No man in his right mind would turn Stein Maddison down as a son-in-law.’

  When Helen frowned unhappily, she laughed. ‘You mustn’t mind me, dear, I’m not very tactful, but you’ll soon get used to me. And you have to admit Stein has a lot going for him.’

  ‘Yes,’ Helen whispered, unable to deny it.

  Estella patted her hand, which Helen was coming to recognise as a mark of approval. “He told me you’d been ill and 1could tell he’d been worried. So much that I’m not surprised he loves you.’

  Helen went quite cold. Whatever Stein’s reasons for being worried, love didn’t come into it. ‘He was very kind,’ she felt compelled to admit. ‘He saw to it that I had a nurse and everything.’

  ‘He would do,’ Helen agreed. ‘He’s very thoughtful.

  I’m glad he’s found a girl like you, dear. A man in his position is very vulnerable, you know. I’ve prayed he wouldn’t fall for someone out to marry him for his position and money.’

  ‘I don’t think he would allow that,’ Helen muttered stiffly, wondering desperately what Estella would say if she knew how much money she owed Stein. Money she had little hope of paying back. Where was Stein? She glanced around feverishly, her long, thick hair swinging over her shoulders. He was talking to a couple a short distance away, and she wished he would hurry up and come back. Hadn’t he any compunction about leaving her with his stepmother, who he must realise would talk of nothing but their phoney engagement!

  A man paused by their table, scrutinising Helen’s face intently. He was tall, youngish-looking, his face vaguely familiar.

  ‘Forgive me,’ he said, ‘but it is Helen, isn’t it? Helen Davis?’

  ‘Donald Blyth!’ Now that Helen remembered who he was, she was no less surprised. He worked for a leading international newspaper, often on assignments overseas.

  She had met him through her father, who had known and liked him. Helen had gone out with him once or twice but, like Gary Phillips, she hadn’t seen anything of him for years. Because of his occupation he was the last man she would have wanted to see this evening! Swiftly, half instinctively, she clasped her hands together, to hide her ring.

  ‘I thought it was you,’ Donald was saying, smiling broadly. ‘I wasn’t sure, though, until you looked around. You’re more beautiful than ever, Helen,’ he added huskily. ‘I always knew you’d turn into a beautiful woman!’

  Helen was annoyed when she flushed. Aware of Estella watching with interest, she reluctantly introduced them.

  ‘You’re over from the States?’ Donald bowed over Estella’s hand with an old-world courtesy which Helen could see pleased her.

  ‘This is a very special occasion!’ Estella beamed. ‘You won’t know yet about Helen’s engagement?’

  Donald’s eyes sharpened with disappointment and curiosity. ‘I had no idea. I’m not always too late.’

  As his eyes met hers, Helen knew what he was referring to. Uneasily she swallowed. Donald had become too attentive, too soon, and she hadn’t felt a thing for him. They’d had a pretty explosive row—the explosion mostly on Donald’s side. He had impressive family connections, as well as having proved himself in a profession where many failed. He had believed he was irresistible to most women and that a rather naive girl, barely eighteen years old, should be a walk-over.

  ‘Who’s the lucky man?’ he asked lightly, while his eyes went hard and amazingly angry, considering how long it was since he and Helen had met.

  ‘It’s not public yet,’ she faltered evasively, silently but fervently willing him to lose interest and leave.

  ‘It just happened this evening,’ Estella revealed enthusiastically, o
bviously enjoying herself. She either ignored or didn’t see the frantic warning in the slight shake of Helen’s head. ‘Helen has just got engaged to my stepson, Stein Maddison. Do you know him, Mr. Blyth?’

  ‘Know him?’ Donald visibly paled. ‘Who doesn’t!’

  At that moment Stein returned. He glanced at Donald as if he was something that had crawled out from under a stone. ‘Hello, Blyth,’ he nodded curtly ‘Still at it, are you?’

  Donald returned his glance as grimly. ‘I was just about to offer my congratulations.’

  Stein, with one look at Estella’s happy face and Helen’s dismayed one, didn’t need to be told what had happened. ‘I won’t have you pestering my fiancee Blyth,’ he said harshly.‘

  ‘What makes you think she ‘would object?’ Donald asked silkily, obviously disliking Stein’s manner. ‘I’ve known Helen a long time, perhaps longer than you.’

  ‘But not as well.’

  ‘Stein,’ Estella intervened hastily, ‘as Mr. Blyth is a friend of Helen’s, why don’t we ask him to join us? At least for a drink.’

  Both men, eyeing each other coldly, seemed to dislike the idea. At last Donald said, ‘Some other time Mrs Rutherrnan, if you don’t mind. I’m afraid I have an appointment and I’m late already.’

  ‘How odd,’ Estella complained, as with a last grim stare at Helen, he turned and left them. ‘Oh, I am sorry, honey,’ she exclaimed. ‘You did say he was an old friend.’

  ‘Not that old.’ Helen tried to speak lightly.

  Stein was unconvinced by her careless tones. His eyes smouldered as they sat down to dinner. ‘Blyth’s one of the biggest hounds in Fleet Street. Once on the scent he never gives up.’

  Estella laughed. ‘He’s not supposed to, darling. And anyway, you couldn’t keep your engagement a secret.

  You didn’t want to, did you?’ She appeared rather disconcerted.

  ‘No, of course not.’ Stein was still staring at Helen and she sensed his anger. ‘But men like Blyth aren’t to be encouraged. They aren’t easy to get rid of.’

  Not as easy as Gary Phillips, Helen thought bitterly, remembering how Stein had ruthlessly cut him out of her life. Twice this week Gary had phoned and each time Stein had said she wasn’t available. She wondered why Donald appeared to be worrying him. No doubt he would get the same kind of treatment if he tried to approach her. Stein gave little away, but she was sure he couldn’t accuse her of deliberately provoking him this time. It wasn’t her fault that Donald had given the impression of being a closer friend than he had been!

  They went up to Estella’s suite for coffee after they had eaten. Estella was expecting a call from her husband, and they just reached her suite as it came through. She excused herself to take it in her bedroom, leaving Helen and Stein alone.

  The door had scarcely closed behind her when he rounded on Helen swiftly. ‘Might I have fair warning,’ he asked savagely, ‘how many more men from your past I’m liable to meet?’

  She backed away from the blackness of his eyes. ‘S—so far you’ve only met two…’

  ‘You realise Blyth’s reputation with women?’

  ‘That’s not what I want to talk about,’ she cried, with a quick glance at the door through which Estella had disappeared. ‘What about this,’ she couldn’t bear to say ‘our’, ‘engagement?’

  His lips curled. ‘That can wait. When did you last see Blyth?’

  ‘1—1 can’t remember…’

  ‘Force yourself!’

  She retreated again from his angry, possessive gaze, shaking her head, beginning to tremble. She came up against something hard and he caught her, advancing step by step until he suddenly swooped to grasp her bare shoulders.

  ‘I should have asked how well you knew him!’ he snapped, his hands hurting her.

  Helen gasped at the cruelty in his face. ‘I didn’t,’ she whispered.

  His face was pale, his eyes blazing. ‘You little bitch!’ he snarled. ‘I don’t believe you, and I’ll kill you if I hear of you even attempting to see him.’

  ‘He hasn’t asked me!’

  She was shaking and shivering as though she had a fever, but he didn’t appear to notice. The cold control he had exercised during dinner had gone. She could feel his heart thundering, although they were only lightly touching.

  ‘No doubt he will!’ Stein’s voice rasped. ‘If he doesn’t want to break it, our engagement could be just the news he’s looking for. There hasn’t been much excitement in that line lately, and I don’t want you granting him privileges on the strength of his being an old friend!’

  Her blue eyes widened incredulously, searching his distorted features. ‘I told you, I hardly know him!’

  ‘You said the same about Gary Phillips,’ he snapped contemptuously, ‘but I’ve got eyes in my head. I’ve seen the way they both look at you.’

  She flushed. ‘They’re men, aren’t they?’

  ‘You can certainly make them believe it!’

  Helen stared at him as he drew a rough breath. She found it impossible to argue. Whatever she said Stein had an answer. ‘Donald Blyth might be married now,’ she protested futilely.

  ‘He isn’t,’ Stein replied curtly. ‘I had lunch with his father a couple of weeks ago. The family’s rolling and they all have their share. I suppose that attracts you?’

  Helen despairingly shook her head. She remembered Donald’s family was wealthy. Suddenly it crossed her mind that if Donald was still fond of her he might be willing to lend her enough to repay Stein, to get her out of his clutches. It wasn’t just money, but at least if she could give him that back it might stop her from feeling like a thief.

  Stein, as always, was one jump ahead. ‘There’s going to be no easy way out, Helen.’

  Helen’s lashes swept across her cheeks so he wouldn’t see her tears of frustration. ‘I have to keep trying, which doesn’t mean I’m going to cheat! It’s you who’s done that, by tricking me into a false engagement!’

  His eyes blazed as he pulled her swiftly closer.

  ‘You’re mine and you’ll stay mine until I’m ready to let you go. Which won’t be until all your debts are settled—and I’m not just talking of money!’

  Lifting her face, she stared at him dumbly, her lips quivering with the effort to speak, but she couldn’t.

  Stein’s eyes narrowed, penetrating the blueness of hers.

  Then, as the innocence he saw there obviously angered him, his glance slid savagely to her mouth. He looked as if he could cheerfully have stangled her. There was violence in the set of his head and shoulders and in his gaze as it grazed her white throat.

  Suddenly, as if seeking an outlet for emotions no longer possible to suppress, his mouth was bruising hers, his kisses hungry and brutal. He crushed her to him until the buttons of his jacket began bruising her breasts. His mouth hurt, while the heated movements of his hands over her body threatened and cajoled at the same time. Helen gasped as her body yielded to the pressure he imposed on it, and she was shaking from the frightening tension she felt in him. When he released her abruptly with a smothered curse, she felt almost faint with relief.

  ‘Is this your idea of how to treat a fiancee?’ she choked.

  ‘How I treat tramps!’ he jeered coldly, watching her with a glint of satisfaction at the lingering fear in her face. ‘And I’m not finished with you yet. When we get home I want to know all about you.’

  ‘You already know everything,’ she whispered.

  ‘No, I don’t!’ he rapped. ‘I’m discovering more each day, and I won’t put up with further surprises. I want a list of all the men you knew—exactly how many!’

  She shrank from the leashed fury in his voice. ‘What if I can’t remember?’ she defied him unwisely, too shattered to think of a reply which might have calmed him down.

  ‘You will!’ he grated.

  She gazed at him, her hands clammy. She had been out with plenty of men after Stein had entered her life, but she couldn’t recall the names of half
of them as they had been mostly senseless reprisal dates, meaning nothing. She had scarcely allowed any of them to touch her. There had only been the last one, from whom Stein had rescued her, but surely he didn’t think they had all been like that? She squirmed with shame as she remembered that shameful incident.

  Stein had known nothing serious had happened, and, although she knew he. hadn’t liked it, he had continued to treat her gently. What wouldn’t she give for one of his tolerant smiles and a little gentleness now? Now it had all gone, and he looked at her with venom, not kindness!