The Diamond Bride

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Yes, Rufus?’ she replied ruefully.

  The grin widened, those laughter lines appearing now beside his nose and mouth. ‘Don’t bother to change on my account; you look good in denims too!’

  The appreciative look he gave her told her he had been watching her as she’d walked up the stairs, and she was suddenly very conscious of the fit of her jeans as they clung to the curve of her bottom and long, slender legs.

  ‘I wasn’t about to,’ she told him waspishly, finally making good her escape, but she could hear his laughter following her as she hurried down the hallway to collect coats for Jessica and herself, hot colour in her cheeks as she realised she was the reason for his amusement.

  And she now had to spend the next few hours in the man’s company! Wonderful! She was already starting to regret her earlier wish that Rufus would stay longer this time; now she hoped he would soon leave again!

  Although later she felt really guilty for wanting that as she watched Jessica’s pleasure in having her father’s company for a few hours. Jessica obviously adored him, and the affection was more than reciprocated. Whatever might have gone wrong in his marriage, Rufus Diamond loved his daughter very much.

  Annie stood slightly outside of the relationship, feeling slightly superfluous as Jessica turned to her father for all her needs.

  ‘You look sad all of a sudden.’ Rufus softly interrupted her reverie, another indication Annie had that he had been watching her without her being aware of it. ‘Nothing I’ve said or done, I hope?’ He quirked that left brow of his in the disconcerting way he had, looking at her closely.

  They had gone for a drive before stopping off at a pub for a light lunch, where Jessica was in her element seated between the two adults, her good humour unmistakable. And Annie had realised, in the last few minutes, that if Rufus ever decided to return home permanently she would no longer be needed. At the same time she knew how selfish her thoughts were, that it would be much better for Jessica to have her father at home with her than to be in the care of a hired nanny.

  ‘No,’ she assured him wistfully. He hadn’t said or done anything; he just was who he was, and Jessica adored him.

  Rufus still looked concernedly at her over the top of his daughter’s head. ‘Sure?’

  ‘Sure.’ She gave him a bright, meaningless smile. He wasn’t to blame for the fact that she had become so fond of Jessica, the thought of ever being parted from her was like a physical pain. Not to become too emotionally involved with her charge had been part of her training, and at the kindergarten that hadn’t been too difficult to do, but now…

  ‘Has anyone ever told you that you have the most expressive eyes…?’ Rufus muttered.

  She gave him a startled look, suddenly feeling, as their gazes locked and held, that they were the only two people in the noisy, crowded room.

  ‘The most amazing eyes!’ he muttered again, shaking his head, as if he was under a spell he wanted broken.

  ‘I thought you said they were expressive?’ Annie murmured huskily.

  ‘Expressive! Beautiful! Amazing…! God damn it—’

  ‘Granny said not to use that word unless in prayer,’ Jessica said reprovingly to her father—reminding the two of them that she was there! ‘And you weren’t praying, Daddy.’ She grinned up at him teasingly.

  Rufus looked down at his daughter for several stunned seconds, and then he smiled at her, lightly ruffling her hair. ‘In a way, that’s exactly what I was doing,’ he told her softly, his expression enigmatic as he glanced across at Annie.

  Annie gazed back just as enigmatically at him—because she didn’t understand him at all! One minute they had been discussing the fact that she had gone very quiet, the next—Her eyes…? There seemed to be no connection between the two to Annie.

  ‘I prayed last night too, Daddy.’ Jessica continued the conversation, taking it at its face value. ‘I prayed you wouldn’t go away again for a very long time. What were you praying for?’ she added guilelessly, completely unaware of the heart-wrenching effect her words had had on both adults.

  Annie now felt even more ashamed of her earlier thoughts, and as she looked across at Rufus she wondered how he felt at learning just how upsetting his daughter found his long absences.

  His face was softened with love as he looked at Jessica. ‘I prayed for the same thing, love,’ he told her gruffly.

  Jessica nodded in that totally adult way she sometimes had. ‘Perhaps if we both pray for the same thing it might happen. I prayed for a new mother for a long time, and that didn’t happen. But maybe that was because I prayed on my own,’ she said consideringly, wrinkling her nose up in thought, again completely unaware of the bombshell she had just dropped into the conversation. ‘What do you think, Daddy?’ she looked up at him, her brow furrowed.

  Annie could have laughed at the totally stunned expression on Rufus’s face. He’d obviously had no idea that Jessica had hungered for a new mother—and he had no idea how to respond to her either.

  Annie took pity on him. ‘I think the two of us should go to the ladies’ room and wash our hands after that delicious meal,’ she told Jessica quickly. ‘It will give you a chance to show off your prowess on your crutches,’ she added encouragingly as she saw the slightly rebellious look on the little girl’s face.

  The crutches had been supplied by the hospital on Sunday, and Jessica took great delight in using them whenever she could, especially when she had an audience, as she did in this crowded pub.

  It certainly diverted Jessica’s attention from a subject her father obviously found uncomfortable, to say the least; he still looked slightly bewildered as Annie stood up to accompany Jessica across the room.

  ‘Where the hell did that come from?’ he said in a low voice before Annie could move out of earshot.

  She turned to him with a sympathetic smile. ‘It’s one of the reasons I like working with children so much; you never quite know what they are going to say next!’ It was obvious Rufus certainly hadn’t expected this!

  ‘A new mother!’ he repeated incredulously.

  Annie’s smile widened. ‘I shouldn’t worry about it.’ She patted his arm comfortingly. ‘She’s obviously given up praying for that!’

  ‘Thank God!’ He gave a relieved sigh, taking a much needed swallow of his beer.

  Annie’s smile faded as she turned to follow Jessica. She had forgotten how disastrous his marriage to Joanne had been; no wonder he didn’t find the subject of a replacement in the least funny. It obviously wasn’t an experience he cared to repeat. And who could blame him…?

  He seemed deep in thought on the drive back to the house, manoeuvring the black Mercedes as if on automatic, and Jessica, tired from her trip out, fell asleep in the back of the car.

  Annie was glad of the brief respite to be able to think of her earlier conversation with Anthony. He hadn’t seemed the same today, certainly hadn’t liked her comments about his forthcoming wedding. But what was going to happen about that? Did he intend going through with the marriage? He said not, but—

  ‘He isn’t worth it, you know.’ Rufus gently interrupted her reflections, the fact that he seemed to know what—whom!—her thoughts were about proving he wasn’t as lost in introspection himself as she had thought he was.

  Colour warmed her cheeks. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she denied awkwardly.

  He sighed. ‘Yes, you do. I don’t know how he does it.’ Rufus gave an impatient shake of his head. ‘But every woman that comes within twenty feet of Anthony seems to fall for his charm—such as it is! However, no matter what he may have told you, Annie, he is going to marry Davina. Celia will see that he does,’ he told her gently.

  Celia…? But—‘Why?’ Annie was perplexed.

  Rufus shrugged. ‘For the reasons I’ve already tried to explain to you.’

  Because Davina was wealthy. And Anthony had expensive tastes. It didn’t seem a very good basis for a marriage to her. And it really didn’t seem any of Celia’s busine
ss whom her son married. Oh, it would be better for everyone if Celia approved of her son’s choice of wife, but surely it was more important that Anthony approved of her!

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘You will,’ Rufus assured her grimly. ‘I’m just trying to make things as painless for you as possible. Or is it too late for that?’ He quirked dark brows.

  Was it? She didn’t know. Yes, she had been charmed by Anthony from the first, flattered by his attention in the preceding weekend visits. But his arrival with Davina this last weekend had totally thrown her. Now she wasn’t sure what she felt.

  ‘I hope to God it’s not, Annie,’ Rufus continued harshly. ‘My brother has ruined too many lives already to add you to that number!’

  His own marriage was top of that list, Annie felt sure. But surely that hadn’t been Anthony’s fault—Was it ever…? She didn’t know any more, needed time to think, to work things out in her own head.

  But there was no time for thinking once they got back to the house. Jessica needed to be seen to; the two of them were to have tea together up in the nursery as there were guests coming to dinner. And thankfully Annie didn’t see anything of Anthony; she needed some time to herself before she saw him again.

  To her surprise Celia was still in her bedroom suite when the time came for Jessica to say goodnight to her grandmother, the older woman in her dressing-room, trying to decide what she would wear for the evening ahead.

  Her hair already styled, make-up expertly applied, only her dress and shoes to be donned, at that moment wearing a peach robe over her ultra-slender body, Celia looked elegantly beautiful. It was surprising really that she hadn’t remarried after her husband’s death six years ago; she was certainly still an extremely attractive woman.

  ‘Ready for bed?’ She turned to greet her granddaughter, Jessica already in her pyjamas and dressing-gown. ‘Is it that late already?’ She looked slightly flustered at the realisation.

  Annie gave the other woman a searching look as she said goodnight to her granddaughter. There were signs of strain beside Celia’s eyes and mouth that she had never really noticed before, and she looked tired too, despite the rest she had just taken before dinner. Obviously having Anthony and Davina here, plus the disturbing Rufus, was proving a strain for Celia too! Only Jessica—and possibly the vacuous Davina—seemed to be unaffected by this strange family gathering.

  ‘And what are you going to do this evening, my dear?’

  Annie blinked as she realised Celia’s question was addressed to her. Once Jessica was in bed, what was she going to do? Her normal routine had been totally upset since the rest of the family had arrived!

  ‘I have some labels to sew into some of Jessica’s school uniform,’ she ventured. ‘And then I might go and choose a book from the library, if that’s all right?’ She had been enthralled with the Diamond library since the day she’d come to work here. She had always been an avid reader, and after years of a shortage of available books the large room on the ground floor of the Diamond house, which was completely dedicated to their collection of literature, was like an Aladdin’s cave to her.

  And as her own life seemed more than a little complicated at the moment losing herself in someone else’s world seemed a very attractive proposition!

  Celia smiled brightly. ‘An excellent idea. Feel free to go and choose a book any time you like.’

  Annie looked at the older woman more closely. Perhaps it was the strain of having Rufus back, or maybe the other woman was just mellowing on better acquaintance, but Celia had actually sounded warmly friendly just then!

  ‘Thank you,’ she accepted slightly dazedly.

  ‘And now I really must finish dressing for dinner.’ The older woman stood up smoothly, patting Jessica absently on top of her dark curls. ‘I’m sure Davina’s mother will be wearing something beautifully elegant; she usually does!’ Celia wrinkled her nose irritably as she once again began to look through her own extensive array of clothes.

  Davina’s mother… It was Davina’s parents who were the guests for dinner this evening! No doubt so that they could all discuss wedding plans together…

  Annie went mechanically through the motions of putting Jessica to bed, even managed to sew name-tags into Jessica’s new winter uniform without really being aware she was performing the tedious task. Then she found herself down in the library without really knowing how she had got there, knew that Davina’s parents were close by in the dining-room, having heard their car in the driveway earlier. And wedding plans were definitely on the menu!

  Where did that leave Annie? Was Rufus right? Was she to have been just another of those meaningless flings Anthony seemed to have indulged in over the years? Was he just playing with her emotions while intending to marry Davina after all? He certainly hadn’t been very pleased earlier when she had questioned him about his marriage to Davina…

  What a mess! She had come here to work so happily, enjoyed being with Jessica, and now, because of an involvement with Anthony that should never have begun in the first place, she had put the whole thing in jeopardy. How could she carry on working here when she had made such a fool of herself over Anthony? But she didn’t want to leave, had realised that only too clearly this afternoon when she’d thought of Rufus returning for good and Jessica no longer needing her.

  Without really being aware that she was doing it, Annie began sobbing quietly, for what or for whom she wasn’t quite sure, everything still too muddled in her mind. One thing she did know was that whatever her relationship with Anthony was-and even now she couldn’t quite put a label on it!—it would have to end.

  End! It had never really begun, except in her own naive head. Rufus was right: emotionally she was young and impressionable—

  ‘I told you he wasn’t worth it!’

  Annie looked up sharply at the man she had just been thinking of. Rufus was very tall and dark in his black evening suit and snowy white shirt, the expression on his face, as he strode forcefully into the library and shut the door firmly behind him, just as dark and forbidding.

  ‘He certainly isn’t worth crying over,’ Rufus barked as he crossed the room with long, powerful strides, pulling Annie roughly to her feet to shake her slightly. ‘Stop crying, damn it!’ he grated harshly, his expression fierce now.

  His annoyance just made her realise exactly how stupid she had been, which just made her cry all the harder. She had believed Anthony’s interest in her to be genuine, had started to fall in love with him, and now she just felt totally stupid. Young and impressionable!

  ‘Annie!’ Rufus shook her again. ‘God damn it!’ His voice rose at his frustration with her tears.

  She did try to stop crying, was trying very hard to stop, but the fact that it was Rufus who was witnessing her humiliation just seemed to make the whole situation worse. He was her employer; what was he going to think of her for having made such an idiot of herself over a man she was rapidly coming to agree with him wasn’t worth it? Perhaps Rufus would just decide to dismiss her anyway, because she was proving a damned nuisance!

  She drew in several gulping breaths. ‘Jessica said you shouldn’t use that word unless you’re praying,’ she reminded him, in an attempt to ease some of the tension of the situation.

  It seemed to have no effect on Rufus, his displeasure deepening. ‘Damn what Jessica says,’ he grated. ‘And damn what Anthony has to say too. Damn the lot of them!’ His hands were still tight on her arms as he looked down at her. ‘Oh, to hell with it,’ he growled, before his head lowered and his mouth claimed hers.

  Fiercely. Possessively. Completely!

  Annie was so taken by surprise that she could do nothing but remain in the hard possession of his arms as that plundering mouth continued its ravishment of hers. She had been kissed before—quite recently!—but never like this.

  And then the anger seemed to go out of Rufus, his arms no longer like steel bands but holding her tenderly against him, his mouth sipping and tasting hers, causing
her pulse to leap erratically as she slowly began to return his caresses, her arms moving slowly up about his shoulders as she stood on tiptoe to deepen the kiss.

  It was an invitation Rufus accepted, curving her body into his now, his mouth moving erotically against hers, his tongue moving lightly over the inner softness of her lips, causing heat to course through her body.

  She was tingling all over, alive with desire, never wanting this pleasure to end—

  It ended abruptly as Rufus put her away from him, eyes so dark they looked black again. ‘You aren’t in love with Anthony, Annie,’ he bit out coldly. ‘You aren’t in love with anyone. You wouldn’t have kissed me the way you did just now if you were. So stop your damned crying and get back to doing what you’re paid to do—looking after Jessica!’ He turned sharply on his heel and slammed out of the room as suddenly as he had entered it.

  Annie stared after him with bewildered brown eyes, her confusion—and despair—utter and complete…

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘WHAT the hell is going on between you and Rufus?’

  Annie had just come down the stairs from the nursery with a used lunch tray, hadn’t seen Anthony since their brief conversation yesterday. In fact, she hadn’t seen any member of the Diamond family today except Jessica, didn’t know how to face Rufus again after what had happened between them last night.

  She gave Anthony a startled look now—surely he didn’t know that Rufus had kissed her? And, more importantly, that she had kissed him back!

  ‘What do you mean?’ she said guardedly, holding the tray defensively in front of her as Anthony glared at her across its width.

  ‘Put that damned tray down,’ he instructed impatiently, not waiting for her to do so but wrenching it out of her hands and depositing it unceremoniously on the table that stood in the centre of the huge hallway, one of the cups falling over in its saucer with a loud clatter, although luckily nothing actually broke. Not that Anthony seemed in the least concerned that it might have, turning to her angrily. ‘Rufus has just informed me that you’re all off to London for a few days,’ he told her accusingly.