“How slow?” The coolness was back in Natalie’s voice.
“Oh, we should have a few names of suitable partners for you by the end of next week. Your fee covers you for six months. During that time there are unlimited introductions although we hope your first one will prove to be Mr. Right.”
“How long does it take on average for a relationship to end in marriage?” Natalie asked, a little too eagerly for Vicky’s liking.
Clients didn’t usually show such keenness to be married and it worried her that Natalie’s attitude might be off-putting.
“Well, it’s impossible to say, but quite a few of our customers have been lucky with the first couple of introductions. Some are still searching.”
Natalie muttered something but Vicky wasn’t sure what it was. It sounded like, “It has to be quick.”
Natalie Reynolds was Vicky’s last client before her meeting with Marcus Foster.
She checked her appearance in the mirror that hung on the wall of her office. She always felt more relaxed if she knew she looked good. It gave her more confidence. She was just straightening the brown, suede belt on her smoothly fitting, cream, sweater dress when there was a knock on her office door and before she could say, “Come in,” the door opened and in strode a tall, dark haired man.
Vicky felt her breath catch in her throat. He was one of the most compellingly attractive men she’d ever met. His sapphire blue eyes held hers for a moment and ridiculously she felt herself blush. It was the intensity of her gaze, that was all, she told herself.
Recovering her composure she said, “Good afternoon. I presume you’re Mr. Foster?”
She’d expected him to be arrogant enough to walk straight into her office unannounced but what she hadn’t been prepared for was just how attractive he was. He was tall. Well over six feet with a muscular build. She guessed he was aged about thirty. But it was his blue eyes Vicky found fascinating. They were quite dazzling. If they were indeed the windows of the soul, Marcus Foster was honest, kind and direct. Nothing like she’d imagined him…
However, his next words brought her up sharply.
“I’ll come straight to the point, Miss Lewis,” he said, easing himself into the chair opposite and languidly crossing one long leg over the other, hitching up his grey flannel trousers slightly as he did so. “I think you’re running a completely unorthodox business here and your motives must be highly suspect.”
Evidently her first impression of him from the telephone conversation earlier seemed to be the most accurate.
“Now just hold on a minute! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” She was furious. This was the second time today he’d accused her of running her business incompetently and she didn’t know why. “If you’d kindly tell me what your problem is then maybe I can sort it out. As far as my records show you aren’t and never have been a client here so I can’t possibly think what your objection can be.”
She was shaking with anger now. How could a man so attractive act like a complete pig!
Her words were interrupted by his deep laugh. She might have found it a charming sound had she not been absolutely certain he was laughing at her.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, struggling to keep her emotions in check. It wasn’t often she lost her temper and she felt strangely disadvantaged. He was making her feel like a gauche schoolgirl. It was about time she got the upper hand.
“I’m not a client, nor will I ever be. But my sister is.”
“Your sister?” Vicky asked.
“Yes, Caroline Foster. She’s been a client here for the last two months.”
Slowly it came to her. “Yes, I remember her. Blonde, rather petite. As I recall she’d been introduced to a Mr…”
“Alan Jeffreys.” He almost spat the name.
Suddenly it all fell into place. Calling up Caroline’s file on the monitor, she said, “But I don’t understand. I thought from my last conversation with Caroline she’d found someone she really got on well with.”
Fixing her with his powerful gaze, he said, “Oh yes, she got on very well with him. They’ve been out several times. But I don’t think Caroline will ever get on with certain members of his family.”
“His family?” Vicky didn’t understand him at all. He was talking in riddles.
“Yes—in particular, his wife.”
Chapter Two
Vicky felt her head swim. He couldn’t be telling her the truth.
“His wife. But…but he isn’t married. None of our clients are married.”
He raised one dark eyebrow and said slowly, “Don’t be so naïve. How could you possibly know?”
“They all have to fill in a questionnaire.”
Even to her own ears it sounded pathetic. This was a problem she’d hoped she’d never have.
“And how do you vet them?” he asked.
She felt like she was being cross-examined in court and she’d just backed herself into a corner.
“I…I don’t. We can’t. It would be an impossible task. We have to rely on the client’s honesty. But there’s a clause in the contract they sign, that should we find out they’ve lied, we terminate their membership immediately.”
Although angry, Vicky was determined to appear to be businesslike. It wouldn’t do to show him she was incompetent in any way nor to reveal the extent to which he’d unnerved her.
“My sister’s very upset. She’d become fond of him.”
For a fleeting moment his expression softened as he spoke of his sister. It was obvious she meant a great deal to him. Vicky wondered if there was the possibility of a gentler side to Marcus Foster’s personality, under that abrasive exterior. Maybe there was a warm human being in there somewhere, struggling to come out. He was bound to be upset and on the attack if someone he cared for had been hurt. But his next words destroyed Vicky’s attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“What a way to run a business.” His voice was cold and hard.
That was it! Vicky had had enough of this man and his rudeness. She was ready now to retaliate. Her green eyes blazing she said, “Now look here, Mr. Foster, this is a dating agency. We can’t wrap clients in cotton wool. It’s a hard, cruel world out there and girls are forever falling for married men who’ve lied to them. Lovelink doesn’t pretend to be any different. We can’t protect people. All we do is bring lonely individuals together. We do the best we can to ensure clients are legitimate but we’re not…custodians.”
For the briefest moment she thought she saw the glimmer of a smile on his lips. But she must have been mistaken for he fixed her with an icy stare and said, “I might have known you’d have an irresponsible attitude.”
“I beg your pardon.” She was so angry now she could have screamed but instead she tried to match him icy stare for icy stare.
“Well, I know you’re not a local. The people of Brookleigh are decent, hard-working folk. This isn’t the kind of business we want or need around here.”
Vicky wasn’t sure but she thought she heard the hint of a threat in his words. Someone was trying to wreck her business and she desperately wanted to know their identity. It sounded like Marcus Foster was just the type of person who might stoop so low as to try and drive her out of town. The problems had only just started, maybe at the same time that Marcus Foster had returned to the area. She made a mental note to try to discover if the timing of the two were in any way connected.
“May I inquire what you intend to do about this?” he asked.
“I’ll find out if what you say is true and then if it is, I will terminate Alan Jeffreys’ membership.”
She was fighting to keep her voice as calm as possible but his next words sent her senses reeling.
“I have to warn you that I am considering taking legal advice over this.”
Oh no! That was the last thing Lovelink needed. She didn’t want the
good name of the business she’d worked so hard for coming under threat.
“But why? If what you say is true then Alan Jeffreys has behaved abysmally but he hasn’t broken the law.”
“No, maybe he hasn’t, but if you knew he was married when he joined Lovelink then you’d be guilty of taking money from your clients under false pretenses. That’s fraud and that is illegal.”
“Mr. Foster, I seriously hope you don’t believe that because slander and defamation of character are also against the law.”
Despite trying to appear outwardly calm, Vicky was shaking. Although she was most definitely innocent, she had no way of proving that to him. Legal action of any description would be disastrous for the agency. She relied on people trusting her confidentiality. No-one would want to join a dating agency that was under investigation. Her only chance now was to try to convince him that she’d be able to rectify the situation herself.
“I don’t think you’ll find any action will be necessary. I can assure you I’ll be able to sort this out.”
His blue eyes studied her for a long moment before he said, “Okay, I’ll give you a few days to put this matter right.”
“Thank you. I’ll do my best. Contrary to what you might think, I have all my clients’ best interests at heart and I don’t like the idea of this any more than you do.”
Once again, the ghost of a smile touched his lips. She held his gaze and was amazed to find herself blushing. God, what was the matter with her? Had it really been so long since anyone had appealed to her, personally, that now an attractive man couldn’t even look at her without her losing control. Relieved, she watched as he stood up.
“All right. I’ll see what happens and then decide whether to take it any further. Good day, Miss Lewis.”
With that he strode out of the office, leaving Vicky feeling very bewildered. How, after all she’d been through, could she find a man like that attractive? And more important, was Marcus Foster just an over-protective brother, or was he out to wreck her business?
Arriving home later that evening, her only thought had been how best to spend the time relaxing. It had been a long, hard day and after her tense meeting with Marcus Foster, she felt emotionally drained. But as soon as she stepped into the hallway she could hear the telephone ringing. Feeling the chill of apprehension, she wondered who it could be. Few people had her home telephone number and mentally she ran through the possibilities of the identity of the caller. Was it feasible Peter had..?
Placing her bags on the floor, she tentatively reached for the receiver.
“H…hello, Brookleigh 402.”
“Darling, you sound harassed. Are you all right?”
Vicky relaxed. “Oh hello, Mum. Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit tired. It’s been a heavy day.”
If only her mother knew how harrowing it had been, Vicky thought, remembering graphically her meeting with the demanding Marcus Foster.
She heard her mother sigh down the line.
“Vicky, you must take proper care of yourself.”
She smiled at the warmth in her mother’s voice and felt a pang, reminding herself just how homesick she was. She prepared herself for some good-natured nagging.
“I do. How’s Dad?”
“Fine. Still trying to catch the biggest trout in Northcones.”
Vicky laughed. Her father was renowned as being a disastrous fisherman, despite the amount of time he spent on his favourite hobby.
“Honestly though, Vicky, you worry me, miles away down there.”
“Mum, I’m a big girl now. I can look after myself.”
“I suppose so. Any chance of you coming home for a weekend?”
Vicky felt her blood freeze.
“Um…no, I’m sorry, Mum. Not yet. I said before, it’s bound to be a bit hectic while I’m trying to set up the business, properly. There’s not enough hours in the day now to do everything, let alone any spare time over for holidays.”
“Well, as soon as you can, you come home.”
“For a bit of spoiling?” Vicky smiled.
“Yes, soon.”
“Love to Dad. Thanks for ringing. Bye, Mum.”
Long after she’d put down the receiver, Vicky’s mind was on her parents. She missed them both and wished desperately she could see them. Six months away from home felt like ages. It was the longest they’d ever been apart. Even when she was at college it was usually only a few months at the most before she went home for a visit. But there was no way she could go back to Northcones. Not yet. It was too soon. Too painful.
Later that evening, after a luxurious soak in the bath and eating a cheese salad which she thoroughly enjoyed, Vicky stretched out on a padded lounger on the patio at the back of the cottage. Although dusk was starting to gather, greying the huge banks of cloud which spread to the purply hills far away in the distance, she was in no rush to go back indoors. Surrounded by the peace of the countryside and sipping a glass of chilled white wine, she felt herself unwind. But even though her eyes rested on the swaying roses, her thoughts were on Marcus Foster and his accusations. Was it possible that Alan Jeffreys had fooled her and was married? Although she didn’t like to admit it, it was something that she worried about. She did feel responsible towards her clients, whatever Marcus Foster might think.
As the trees rustled in the light breeze, she planned her next step. Tomorrow she would drive to Alan Jeffreys’ address and see what she could discover about him. If the accusations proved correct then she would have to seek out Caroline Foster and apologise. She did feel terribly sorry for the girl. She only hoped Caroline hadn’t got too deeply involved with him. She knew only too well the pain of impossible love and shuddered, thinking Caroline was now suffering from her actions, however indirect. It must have been a dreadful experience.
There was also another problem—either way she would have to see Marcus Foster again and the prospect of this didn’t please her. He’d puzzled Vicky. So cold and stern and yet she wasn’t entirely convinced that that was the true Marcus. What had happened to him to make him like that? Had he been so badly hurt that he’d built a shell around him so as never to let anyone close again?
She took ages to fall asleep as her mind whirled with thoughts of her parents and the man who had driven her away from her home town and the family she loved. Oh, Peter. Would the pain ever subside? Her mother had diplomatically not mentioned him throughout their conversation earlier but he’d hung between them like a shroud.
Then there were the problems at Lovelink and her meeting with Marcus Foster. When she did drift into unconsciousness it was only to have a disturbed night where all she could feel was an icy, blue stare.
The next morning when Vicky awoke she felt dreadful. The last thing she wanted to do was to have to get up even earlier than usual, all just to see Alan Jeffreys. She would rather roll over into her bed’s special warmth and go back to sleep. But she had to get up, she thought, groaning. Hadn’t she promised Marcus Foster? And he was certainly one man to whom you couldn’t break a promise.
Not being wholly familiar with the area yet, she had to consult her local Ordnance Survey map to work out her way to the nearby village of Churchton. The address Lovelink had on file for Alan Jeffreys was 54, Manor Gardens. She’d decided late last night that she’d drive over before he left for work. She planned to wait at a suitable distance from the house and then follow him on his journey to work. On arrival there, she’d confront him. If indeed he was married the last thing she wanted to do was to upset his wife unnecessarily.
She arrived at Churchton in plenty of time but not knowing the town very well she had to pull over and ask a man, walking his dog, for directions.
“Excuse me, could you direct me to Manor Gardens?” she asked, winding down her window.
“Certainly, love. Go to the top of this hill and then turn left. Drive up there ’til you see the villag
e stores and then turn right. You can’t miss it.” Sticking to his bottom lip was a cigarette which dangled precariously as he spoke.
She thanked him and set off following the directions he’d given her. Driving slowly, she found Manor Gardens easily. It was a neat road with a parallel row of identical modern houses. As she drove past each pair of semi-detached homes, she was puzzled. She couldn’t seem to find a number fifty-four.
I must have missed it, she thought. But travelling back along the road revealed that she hadn’t. The last house was number forty. There was no number fifty-four! Unless Janice had made a mistake keying the details into the computer, Alan Jeffreys had given them a false address. Vicky sighed. It was looking more and more like Marcus Foster’s accusations were solid. She’d no other option but to go back to Lovelink and check his home address.
Arriving at the office, she glanced at her wristwatch. It was still early. Jan wouldn’t be in yet for another half an hour or so. Unlocking the office door, she was glad to get inside. After yesterday, the weather was cool—a typical English summer’s day. The greyness of the morning matched her mood. One problem seemed to be following another at the moment. But then, thoughts of all she’d been though to come here, the drastic step she’d taken to improve her life, crossed her mind and she mentally vowed that nothing was going to spoil it now. She could handle it. She’d sort out one predicament at a time.
When Janice arrived, Vicky was studying the computer monitor.
“Problems, chief?” she asked, smiling.
“You could say that, Jan.”
“Anything I can do?”
Vicky sank back in her chair and nodded. “Could you double check the address we have on file for Alan Jeffreys, please? Just to make sure I’m not going completely crazy.”
Miming a mock salute, Jan disappeared into the reception area. As she waited for the confirmation, Vicky filled a jug with water and went over to her yucca tree.
“Can’t ignore the most important man in my life at the moment, can I, Frank?” she said, giving it a watering.
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