Carole Mortimer - The Flame of Desire

by Carole Mortimer

  "I expected you back before this," she said tentatively.

  "No one has noticed my absence?"

  Except her! She had missed him terribly. "I told daddy you were sleeping in."

  "You have already seen your father?" His voice was taut.

  "I've been down for coffee." She turned back to look at him just as he began buttoning the dark brown shirt he wore.

  "Rosemary was not there?"

  "Daddy's insisted that she rest."

  He nodded. "Very wise." He tucked his shirt into the low waistband of the brown trousers he wore.

  "Where did you go?"

  "To a hotel."

  Her eyes widened. "That time of night, without any luggage?"

  "They did not seem to find it odd," he said distantly.

  "You didn't have to go anywhere," she told him breathlessly.

  His dark gaze passed over her scathingly. "After what you had done to me I could not stay here.''

  "But I didn't do it on purpose, Luke. I just—I didn't want to be used again."

  "You keep saying that word," he snapped.

  "It seems to be applicable."

  "If you choose to think so."

  "I could use the word 'lust’ if you would prefer it." His cool arrogance was making her angry when she wanted to remain calm.

  "I think perhaps I do, at least it seems to point to the same feelings on both sides."

  "Maybe."

  "There is no maybe about it," he scoffed. "But now we have to talk."

  She stood up with jerky movements. "There's no need for talk, Luke. I—I've decided to stay on here for a few more days."

  "You have what!" His voice was dangerously soft.

  "I've talked to daddy and—"

  "You have talked to your father about this?" He swung her .around to face him, anger in every taut line of his body. "You have spoken to your father about what happened between us last night?"

  "No! No, of course, I haven't. I meant that I've spoken to him about staying on here a few days. Mommy has to stay and rest and I thought I might keep her company."

  His mouth turned back in a sneer. "I have never known you to seek your stepmother's company before."

  "Then perhaps it's time I did." Her violet eyes flashed her anger.

  "A little late in the day for that, is it not?"

  "Perhaps, but it's what I've decided to do."

  "What yow have decided?" he queried softly. "And what about me as your husband, do I have no say in the matter?"

  "Of course, you do—"

  "I am glad to hear it," he said dryly. "Then I do not want you to stay here. I want you back in London with me, where you belong."

  "I said you had a say in it, I didn't say you could tell me what to do."

  He gave a harsh laugh. "Then I do not have a say. You have already decided. Does your father-not think it strange? Or have you told him about the excessive demands I make upon you, the amount of times I have wanted your body?"

  She was scarlet by this time. "Certainly not." "

  "Why not?" he taunted. "I am sure it is what he suspects anyway."

  "That isn't the reason I'm staying here," she snapped. Far from it!

  "Forgive me," Luke mocked. "I thought it was my lust you did not like."

  "I just don't like the way our marriage is. I want a few days to sort myself out."

  He gave her a searching look. "A few days? Are you telling me you will be coming back to me… eventually?"

  "Maybe. I—I don't know, do I?"

  "But you expect me to stay here the rest of the day acting as if nothing is wrong and then meekly leave on my own tonight? What do you take me for, Sophie?" he scorned. "A fool?"

  "No—"

  "Then you will understand if I leave now."

  She clutched at his arm. "I don't want you to go yet. Besides, I—I haven't spoken to Rosemary yet, she may not want me to stay."

  "And if she does not, you expect me to take you back to London with me?"

  Put like that it did sound rather impertinent. "I didn't mean it like that. Oh, please don't go yet, Luke. Stay for lunch at least."

  He looked down pointedly at her hand on his arm and she hurriedly removed it. "I will have breakfast and then make my decision. I cannot think on an empty stomach."

  "I'll go and see Rosemary while you eat."

  His dark eyes mocked her. "Avoiding being with me at all costs?"

  Color flooded her cheeks. "Certainly not. 1 told daddy I would look in on her."

  "Then you must do as you-told daddy you would."

  "Luke!" She looked up at him reproachfully. ''Why are you making this hard for me?"

  "You expect me to make it easy?"

  She shook her head.'' I suppose not."

  "Very well." He wrenched open the door. "Then do not ask such stupid questions. Go and see your stepmother. We will talk again later."

  "You won't change my mind," she told him hurriedly.

  "I do not intend trying," he retorted coldly. "I do not make those sorts of moves. If you want to stay here, then you can stay here. But do not expect me to welcome you back if you should change your mind at some later date."

  She felt as if he had offered her an ultimatum: go with him now or not at all. But she couldn't go back with him, she just couldn't. "I won't change my mind," she said with quiet determination.

  He nodded distantly, his face a shuttered mask. "I will-see you later."

  Sophie found Rosemary still in bed, propped up by several pillows as she flicked through a magazine. She put this down as Sophie entered, her smile one of genuine welcome. It was. years since Sophie had seen her stepmother without the sophisticated makeup she favored, and she couldn't help thinking how much younger and attractive she looked without it.

  "Come and sit down." Rosemary patted the bed beside her.

  Sophie did so, feeling a little awkward now that it actually came to making the suggestion to her stepmother. After all, she had only just moved out.

  "It's years since you did this," Rosemary smiled at her.

  That was true. Sophie had grown out of visiting her stepmother's bedroom at an early age, mainly because Rosemary hadn't invited it. Maybe the baby had mellowed her. "I—I've just been talking to daddy. He—I—I wondered how you would like it if I stayed on a few days and kept you company? Daddy has his work to demand he says you have to stay here and take things easy, and I—"

  "Calm down, Sophie," Rosemary advised gently. "I would love you to stay and keep me company. I know we've had our differences hi the past, but I hope that's all over now. What I don't understand is your desire to be away from Luke so soon after your marriage."

  "Well, he's busy, and—"

  Rosemary shook her head. "You might get your father to believe that, but I'm not taken in so easily, I noticed things were a little strained between you on Tuesday, and then when you called your father on Thursday that seemed to confirm that something was wrong. Of course my bitchiness Tuesday evening couldn't have helped the situation. It's no excuse, I know, but I've been so tense, just waiting to know about this pregnancy."

  "I don't know how you kept it to yourself."

  "It wasn't easy," Rosemary said ruefully. "But I've had so many disappointments in the past that I didn't want to say anything until I was really sure. I came up for tests on Wednesday, and they telephoned me with the result on Friday."

  Wednesday was also the day she had visited Luke! But then neither she nor Luke knew that she knew about that.

  Her stepmother gave her a sharp look. "Is it anything that' I've done that makes you want to leave Luke? I've been a real bitch to you since I found out about the two of you, and I had no right to be like that. Does that have anything to do with it?"

  "No," she answered truthfully.

  "Are you sure? Your father did rather pressure this marriage. Although there was that painting," she added thoughtfully.

  "Yes. "Sophie stood up jerkily.

  "Is your separation
to be permanent or just temporary?"

  "Permanent, I think. But don't worry. I'll find somewhere of my own in a few days. I just want to get myself together first."

  Rosemary frowned. "If you leave Luke you will stay here. This is your home. But are you sure you really do want to leave him?"

  "Yes," she said tensely. "It's the only thing to do in the circumstances. Our marrying at all was a mistake. Desire is very different to love."

  "And desire is all there is?"

  Sophie nodded. "And you can't build a marriage on that. You're right when you say daddy had a lot to do with us getting married—the truth would have hurt .him terribly. I'll leave you now." She realized she had said too ! much, not wanting to embarrass Rosemary over her affair with Luke now that it was over.

  Luke had disappeared when she came down the stairs, and she rushed into her father's study, her face flushed. "Has Luke already left?" she asked breathlessly. Surely he could not have gone, not without saying goodbye to her? Surely even he couldn't be that cruel?

  Her father looked up from the papers on his desk. "Not as far as I know." He sat .back in Ms chair. "He said something about going for a walk.''

  "Oh." She couldn't help but show her relief.

  "We had a talk over breakfast. He seems to be of the same opinion as you, that you would be better for staying here for a while."

  He had wasted no time in voicing his approval! "I told you he wouldn't mind,1 Vshe said with forced lightness.

  "I didn't say he wouldn't mind." He watched her closely. "He just thought it would be better for you."

  Like hell he did! She lowered her lashes so that her father^wouldn't see her involuntary anger. Why couldn't

  Luke just admit he would be glad to get rid of her? She had no doubt she had proved an enjoyable bed companion— his response to her had shown her that—but there would be plenty of other women only too happy to supply him with such entertainment.

  "Rosemary quite liked the idea." She made no comment on Luke's opinion.

  Her father frowned. "Just because, you're married doesn't mean Rosemary is any less your mother. I don't like you calling her Rosemary.''

  She blushed. "Slip of the tongue, daddy." Because "Rosemary" was how Luke thought of her stepmother. "I think I'll go and see if I can find Luke."

  "You do that." He nodded his approval.

  She met Luke on his way back to the house, his expression cool as he slowly appraised her. "I have decided to leave now," he told her distantly.

  Her shoulders slumped. "Couldn't you just—"

  "No," he snapped. "I have explained to your father why I must go, as I am sure you have explained to Rosemary. I can see no reason for delay.''

  Neither could she, except that she didn't want to say goodbye to him. "Aren't you going to say goodbye to my parents?'' She attempted to delay him.

  "It is not necessary. I have already spoken to your father and your stepmother is not down yet."

  "Oh." She couldn't think of anything else to say'.

  He looked at her .for a long silent moment. "Very well," he said finally. "I will go now. My things are already in the car."

  "I—I'll walk to the car with you."

  He nodded his dark head. "If you wish.''

  Oh, she wished, she wished now she was going with him. She put her hand on his arm. "Luke…"

  "Yes?" His tone wasn't encouraging.

  Her-hand dropped away. "Nothing," she mumbled.

  They walked out to the car together. Sophie was very much aware that this could be a final goodbye."Luke swung into the driver's seat, leaning out the open window to look at her. Now that it had actually come to it, she didn't know what to say.

  "Do not feel so bad, Sophie," Luke broke the silence. "A two-week marriage will soon be forgotten.”

  "By you," she accused resentfully.

  "By both of us."

  "But it isn't over. I'm only staying here—"

  He smiled mockingly. "Do not lie to yourself as well as everyone else. You will not come back to the apartment we both know that.''

  "l—"

  "At least admit it to me, Sophie," he said harshly.

  "But I—What about my clothes?"

  He shrugged his broad shoulders, switching on the ignition. "You can collect them any time you like."

  "Thank you," she said stiffly.

  Again he smiled, his brown eyes pebble-hard. "But I would advise you to telephone first."

  "But I have my key," she reminded him.

  "I did not suggest you telephone first because I thought you would be unable to get in," he taunted.

  How could she have been so stupid! Of course, he could have anyone there with him, and he certainly wouldn't welcome her interruption. "I'll call first," she mumbled.

  "Do that." He revved up the car engine. "Goodbye, Sophie."

  "Goodbye."

  CHAPTER TEN

  SOPHIE HAD NEVER KNOWN time to drag by so slowly. The last five weeks had seemed like five years. A new rapport had grown between Rosemary and herself, a closeness that had never been there when she was a child. But it didn't matter how kind her parents were, she missed Luke abominably.

  There had been no word from him, nothing to tell her he was still alive even. She longed to go and collect her remaining clothes just so that she could at least see him, but she dreaded telephoning him and perhaps finding he was "busy." She longed to see him but didn't think she was yet up to the humiliation of finding him with another woman. Besides, while her clothes remained at the apartment, their separation wasn't final.

  She stilled a yawn of boredom, and sighed deeply. She had just been swimming in their pool. The scantiness of her chocolate-brown bikini showed how much weight she had lost the last few weeks, with her figure thinning almost to gauntness. Luke certainly wouldn't desire her body the way she looked at the moment.

  Thinking of Luke, she sighed again. What was he doing, who was he seeing? She knew she had no right to wonder these things, but it didn't stop her thinking of him day and night. That was a lot of her trouble—she couldn't eat or sleep for thinking of him. Her bed seemed so empty without him beside her.

  Martin came out onto the patio. "Mr. Sedgwick-Jones, Mrs. Vittorio."

  Mrs. Vittorio! Amazingly, that was her, in spite of everything. "Show him out here, please, Martin." She sat up, pulling on her thin cotton robe. "Hi," she greeted Nicholas. "Join me." She indicated the lounger next to her own.

  Instead he chose to pull over one of the chairs. "I came over to invite you to dinner this evening."

  "Well, I—"

  "Hey, come on, Sophie," he chided. "How long are you going to keep refusing my invitations? I must have asked you over to dinner half a dozen times, and each time you've refused."

  "I'm a married woman."

  "So?"

  “So people would talk if I came over to your house.''

  He sighed. "My mother is an adequate chaperon, more than adequate," he added dryly. "And I would really like you to come."

  She felt sure he would. His pursuit of her had not seemed to have abated at all. To him her brief marriage might as well not have taken place. Perhaps that was the way she should look at it, too—try to forget it ever happened. But how was she supposed to forget Luke? How did you forget the man you loved?

  “I really don't think it would be a good idea, Nicholas," she refused him.

  "I don't see why not. Your marriage to Vittorio is over, isn't it?"

  Like everyone else, Nicholas had been told she was only staying a few days, but her parents had persuaded her to stay on instead of finding somewhere of her own, giving rise to much gossip, she felt sure.

  "It isn't over, Nicholas," she began carefully. "We're just—"

  "Separated," he finished with satisfaction.

  "In a way," she admitted reluctantly.

  "Then come over to dinner." He grabbed hold of one of her hands, refusing to let go as she struggled against him.

  She shook her he
ad. "It wouldn't be fair…to you. Just think of the gossip."

  "For once I don't care. I've always been mad about you, Sophie, you know that."

  "That's exactly the reason I don't think it would be a good idea."

  "I still want to marry you."

  "That could be a little difficult," she said dryly, "when I'm already married."

  "You could always divorce him."

  "Luke said there would be no divorce."

  "He won't have any say in it if we can find grounds for it." His mouth turned back. "And sooner or later he's going to give you grounds. It would just be a matter of proving it."

  Sophie was horrified. "You're surely not suggesting I get someone to watch him?”

  He shrugged. "Why not? If he won't let you go any other way…"

  "I really don't think—"

  "All right, we won't talk about it any more just now. But do come to dinner this evening. As a matter of fact, I've already told my mother you'll be there."

  "You had no right to do that," she said angrily, at last managing to snatch her hand away.

  "My last method of persuasion," he grinned. "You wouldn't make me look a fool by having me tell her you aren't coming?"

  She smiled reluctantly. "You never used to be so devious, Nicholas."

  "Then perhaps I should have been." He stood up to leave. "Then you might not have made the mistake of marrying Vittorio. It would have been better all around if you had just had an affair with him."

  "Nicholas!"

  "Well, it would." Color entered his cheeks. "Not that I would have liked that, either, but this way you could be tied up for years."

  "I'm not making any promises even then, Nicholas," she warned gently.

  He nodded. "It's only natural that you should feel this way, once bitten, twice shy, so to speak. But I would be a very different proposition from Vittorio."

  That was the trouble—he had none of Luke's fire and sensual attraction. But perhaps that-wasn't such a bad thing. With Nicholas she would have a pleasant smooth-running marriage, with none of the feeling of living on a knife's edge that marriage to Luke had induced. It was like comparing water to champagne—and she had no doubt which one she preferred.