For a moment Vicky was worried the anger she’d seen so apparent yesterday might return. He’d almost been polite to her this evening and she didn’t want him to spoil the small amount of progress they’d made.
Hurriedly she said, “I don’t think it was entirely his fault. It sounded as if he was set up.” Seeing his surprised expression and ever mindful of his previous threat to take things further, she added, “Maybe as a joke. I gave him a piece of my mind.”
With that he laughed deeply. “In that case, maybe I should feel sorry for him. I’ve only met you twice and I already know what that feels like.”
Despite herself, she smiled.
“That’s better. You’ve a lovely smile, Vicky.”
She blushed and anxious to change the subject, said, “It’s your garden that’s truly lovely. Do you spend much time here?” She turned towards him and caught him looking at her unblinkingly. She felt strange. Vulnerable. But it wasn’t unpleasant. It was like he was studying a painting and admiring the colours.
“Beautiful,” he breathed.
As he gazed at her she wasn’t entirely sure what he meant and was relieved when he added, “Yes, the garden’s lovely at this time. And sadly I don’t spend as much time here just enjoying it all as I’d like. My work takes me away far too often. I’ve only just got back to England after several months in the States. When I am at Nuneton, I’m usually working with the horses over there.”
He pointed over to the side of the house where Vicky could see a cluster of buildings which she’d earlier taken to be the stables. She heard the regret in his voice. It was dreadful to love somewhere and have to spend so much time away from it, she thought, reminded of her own enforced separation from her parents and home town.
Perhaps she could partly understand his attitude. Losing his parents, the pressure of business, maybe they had all taken their toll in creating his bitterness and anger. She was certain he wasn’t naturally aggressive. Hadn’t her own experience made her act out of character, fleeing a situation for once in her life because she somehow believed it would make things easier to cope with? Maybe this was Marcus Foster’s way of coping. But there was something else, a darkness in him. What, or who, had been the cause of that?
His next words cut through her thoughts like a knife.
“You know, you’re quite different from what I’ve heard.”
“What have you heard?” she said, quickly.
“Nothing worth repeating. Trouble with steady village life, they’ve too much time to gossip. I never listen to gossip. Well, not too hard.” He smiled.
Out here in his own surroundings he showed flashes of humanity, compassion. For the briefest of moments she wondered if she could trust him. Tell him about the trouble at Lovelink with the complaints and the full story behind Alan Jeffreys’ involvement. Marcus might be able to help her. But then she remembered his veiled threat yesterday and how her chief suspect was the man standing beside her now looking at her with such dazzling blue eyes she could melt.
However the opportunity to confide was lost when he reached across for her hand to help her to stand.
“Shall we go in and see Caroline now? I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t discovered anything which might be too disturbing for her to handle. She’d been through so much lately.”
Vicky accepted his outstretched hand and they walked back towards the house.
“Caroline’s probably in the library,” he said, as he opened the front door and led her across the impressive hallway.
It was a huge oak panelled area with a black and white marble floor. Paintings of different racehorses lined the walls. It might have appeared austere but for the flash of colour and sweet aroma created by the abundant vases full of flowers.
She followed him to a door at the end of the hall. Marcus knocked and then threw the door wide open.
“Ah, Caro—there you are. You’ve a visitor—Miss Lewis from the agency.”
Caroline was seated at a table covered with books, some piled untidily, others open ready for reference. A shaft of pale light filtered through the long, sash window, highlighting her blonde hair.
As Marcus announced Vicky’s presence, Caroline greeted her warmly.
“Vicky, how nice to see you again.” She stood up and offered her a seat.
As Vicky sat down on a leather, Chesterfield couch, she noted with amazement just how very alike brother and sister were. Despite having opposite colouring, they shared the same shaped eyes and straight nose with the wide mouth. It astonished her that it had only been the surname which had rung a bell with her and she’d not realised who Marcus was when she’d first met him. She should have made the connection to Caroline straight away now she saw just how very alike they were.
Marcus walked straight across the room to join his sister behind the desk. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he lightly kissed the top of her head.
“How are you feeling? Not tired. Remember, don’t work on too late.” He spoke quietly to her, his voice soothing.
Caroline, in turn, gazed up at her brother with open admiration. The unmistakable bond of love and trust between them was plainly apparent to Vicky.
She felt a flash of envy. Do you have to be either a horse or a relative of his to invoke kindness from him? Why’s he so cool towards me? she wondered, bitterly.
“I’ll just go and get ready. I’m out again in half an hour. Good evening, Vicky,” Marcus said.
“See you later. Have a good time,” Caroline said, adding as the door closed behind him, “My brother’s only just discovered what good fun going out can be. Since coming home from America, he’s never in.”
“Hasn’t that always been the case? I’d have imagined that there’d be quite an active social life connected with his work,” Vicky said.
“Oh, yes there is. But it’s never really interested Marcus until quite recently. Always been too busy to bother before, other than with vitally important functions. He’s what you might call a late developer in that field. Mind you, I can’t talk. Most of my late nights are only through insomnia.”
As Caroline smiled Vicky noted the dark shadows under her grey eyes. She felt a pang of guilt as she only too graphically imagined Caroline’s heartache over Alan Jeffreys preventing her from sleeping well. Hadn’t her own nights been disturbed in just such a way when she and Peter had first split up?
Vicky also wondered who Marcus went out with in the evenings. Was it all business or was it pleasure? Maybe it was with Lucinda Dayton? The woman he sometimes lent his car to.
“Is this a social call or was there something in particular you wanted to see me about? I hope it’s the first. I don’t have many friends my age here anymore. Most of the girls I grew up with all left the area when they went away to college or university. The rest who stayed are now all pretty well married. Exemption’s been a problem that’s haunted me ever since I became ill a few years ago.”
Vicky felt a great wave of compassion for the young girl. She’d obviously missed out on so much.
“Well, I did have something to talk to you about. But I’m glad of an excuse to spend some time here with you. As Jan undoubtedly told you, I’m renowned for talking too much. Always got me into trouble at school.” She smiled. “I didn’t know you were ill.”
“I’m not. Well, not anymore. I had rheumatic fever as a teenager and it’s left me with a weak heart. It spoilt my younger life and effectively cut me off from my friends. I’m trying to pick up the pieces now. But it’s difficult in such a small community. That’s why I joined Lovelink in the first place.”
“And met up with a louse like Alan Jeffreys,” Vicky said, heatedly. “That’s partly why I called. To tell you that Marcus was right. Alan Jeffreys is married. I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, introducing him to you. I know only too well what you’ve been through.”
C
aroline sighed, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Then slowly she nodded, a tight smile on her lips.
“I’d suspected it for a while and yet it still comes as a shock to hear it confirmed as the truth.” She was silent for a long moment. When she spoke again she looked directly at Vicky and said, “Thank you for being straight with me. It’s not a nice feeling to realise I’ve been duped but in some ways it’s a relief…”
Vicky frowned.
“A relief?”
“Yes. You see, when our parents died Marcus assumed complete responsibility for me. He’s eight years older and always looked out for me. Then when I became ill…well, he blamed himself. He was wonderful, nursed me back to health. But he didn’t notice I’d grown up in the meantime. He still forgets to let go sometimes. Like over Alan.”
She could just imagine Marcus as the caring brother, gently smothering Caroline with love. No wonder he’d gone berserk when he’d come home from America and found out about Alan Jeffreys. A warm feeling spread through her as she imagine what it would be like to have someone like Marcus take care of her so completely.
Caroline started speaking again. “It feels good to actually have something happen to me. Makes me feel like I’ve grown up. Like I’m completely well. I’m an experienced woman now.” She smiled.
Vicky laughed. Unlike her brother, Caroline was easy for her to like. She was a lovely, unspoiled girl who’d obviously been though a lot. She’d make a good friend.
“I wish I could have felt like that when it happened to me.”
The words were out of Vicky’s mouth before she’d had time to think. Secluded with this friendly, compassionate girl she’d just revealed more of her inner self than she’d done in six months to anyone else in Brookleigh. Not even Jan had heard anything close to such an admission.
Caroline crossed the room and came to sit beside Vicky on the couch. The younger girl was so sympathetic and understanding that at that moment it was easy for Vicky to continue. She felt she could trust this girl and, after months of not talking about Peter and the pain she’d been through, she suddenly felt an overriding need to talk to someone, anyone, about it.
“If it would help you to talk, Vicky, I’ll listen.”
She took a deep breath and began.
“Peter and I met at college. He was my first serious boyfriend; studying had always come first with me until I met him. We’d so much in common, we even found out we only lived a few miles away from one another back home in York. He was fun to be with and I fell utterly in love with him. We planned to marry once we’d both graduated.” Vicky felt the prickle of familiar tears.
“It sounds idyllic. What went wrong?”
“We finished college, came home and started making wedding plans. We even saved a deposit on a small flat. Then I found out about Gillian.”
She discovered that somehow it was harder to say her name than it had been Peter’s.
“Gillian?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, my best friend, Gillian. We’d been friends since infant school. Friends until I found out that she and Peter…” Vicky couldn’t finish.
She felt Caroline’s hand cover hers.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. What a dreadful time you must have had? To lose both Peter and your best friend. Was that when you decided to come down here?”
Vicky nodded. “The only thought I had was to get as far away as possible from Peter, Gillian and York. I took my share of the deposit on the flat and invested it in Lovelink.”
“Well, I, for one, am very glad you did. Peter didn’t deserve you,” Caroline said, emphatically.
Vicky dabbed at her eyes and smiled.
“No, perhaps he didn’t.”
She felt better for telling Caroline the full story. Finding that indeed, confession was good for the soul.
“Maybe it’s easy to appreciate Marcus’s cynical view of love after both our experiences. Until very recently he’s only had time for his horses,” Caroline said, standing up and going back over to her desk.
“Do you share his interest in the stables?” Vicky asked, anxious to find out more about her.
“Good Lord, no. The business is very much Marcus’s baby. I help with the bookkeeping and the obligatory entertaining but I’ll be glad when he’s married and I can leave that side of things to his wife. I only wish he’d hurry up and find her. He’s as fussy over women as he is over his blasted thoroughbreds.”
Vicky laughed. She could just imagine Marcus scrutinizing any promising fillies for the wedding stakes. Caroline had a refreshing sense of humour. Being shut up here was a waste.
“What are you interested in, then?”
“These,” she said, thumping her hand down in the piles of dusty tomes.
Vicky remembered from the interview she’d had with Caroline when she’d joined Lovelink that she was researching something.
“That’s right. You’re a researcher. What was it again?”
“The Foster family. I’m compiling an official history of the house and the past generations who lived here. It’s fascinating but I can’t spend as much time as I’d like on it. Not with the continuous entertaining.” She pulled a face.
Suddenly there was the sound of car tyres on the drive again and Vicky looked out of the window to see a red sports car draw up. She watched as the door opened and a tall, leggy blonde got out of the driver’s seat. She was sheathed in a tightly fitting dress which matched the red of the sports car almost exactly.
“Oh, that’s Lucinda Dayton,” Caroline said, noticing her interest.
Vicky witnessed the scene as Marcus joined the attractive woman on the drive. Looking immaculate, dressed in a well-cut dinner suit, he was the picture of sophistication. Begrudgingly, Vicky had to admit they made a good looking couple.
Giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, he led her back over to her sports car, opening the driver’s door for her. Although Vicky couldn’t hear what they were actually saying, the sound of laughter and his deep voice filled her ears.
A few moments later, the red car roared into life and pulled out of the drive, scattering a shower of gravel.
“There she goes. I don’t know how Marcus keeps up with her. Takes life as fast as possible,” Caroline said.
Vicky thought she heard the hint of disapproval in her voice.
“Would you like a drink, Vicky? Coffee or something a little stronger?”
“Err…coffee would be fine.” She tried desperately to calm her beating heart as Caroline went off to organise the refreshments.
So that was Lucinda Dayton. She’d imagined some buck-toothed, horsey female with a bottom as broad as Misty Lady’s. It didn’t look as if Jan had been altogether accurate when she’d described Marcus as being an eligible bachelor. Lucinda Dayton wasn’t the type of woman men enjoyed platonic relationships with.
When Caroline came back into the room with a tray laden with two cups of coffee and a plate of biscuits, Vicky said, “Can I just ask if you were driving the Mercedes yesterday morning?”
“No, Lucinda borrowed it at the crack of dawn to go shopping in the city.”
So it hadn’t been Marcus but Lucinda who’d nearly caused the frightening accident on the bridge yesterday. Caroline had just confirmed it.
Vicky felt a flash of anger towards the dazzling Lucinda Dayton. What could Marcus see in an irresponsible playgirl like that?
Only that she was beautiful and sexy, the answer came booming back, loud and clear. If Vicky didn’t know herself better, she’d swear she was jealous.
Chapter Four
“What’s wrong with this blasted key?” Vicky muttered one morning as she wrestled with the front door lock at Lovelink.
She wasn’t in the best of moods anyway and refused to admit, even to herself, that it was anything to do with Marcus and Lucinda. Or the fact that she hadn’t seen or heard fro
m him for the last week. To find suddenly that she couldn’t even perform a simple task like unlocking the agency’s door didn’t improve her temper.
For the umpteenth time, she checked she was using the correct key and then stopped to look more closely at the offending lock. She couldn’t see through the keyhole! There seemed to be something opaque blocking her view. Reaching for a pen in the pocket of her smart, pale grey, skirt suit, she pushed the nib into the keyhole.
“Damn—just as I’d thought. Someone’s glued up the locks.”
But even as the idea crossed her mind she knew it wasn’t just anyone. It was the same person who’d performed all the other dirty tricks on her to try to make her leave Brookleigh.
Her heart sank.
Recently, she’d been lulled into a false sense of security as nothing more had happened since her meeting with Alan Jeffreys. She hoped he’d warned off whoever was behind it all that she was on to them and that she wasn’t afraid to call in the police, if necessary. But this last act had just proved they’d no intention of giving in.
Well, neither have I, she silently vowed.
As soon as Janice arrived, Vicky dispatched her to the nearby phone box to summon the services of a locksmith.
“Tell them to hurry, Jan. I don’t want to lose any more of the morning than I have to.”
The locksmith arrived fairly promptly. As Vicky and Jan watched him change the locks, he muttered every few moments, “Stupid kids, I don’t know.”
Jan looked at Vicky and asked, “Do you think he’s right? Was it kids?”
Vicky shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m familiar with the tactics now. I think it’s the same person who’s been behind everything else that’s happened here just lately.”
“Will you call in the police?” Jan asked, just a little too hurriedly.
“No, it wouldn’t be worth it. Anyway I’m getting hardened to it all. If this is the worst they can do, I can handle it. I’ve been thinking—if I just ignore it all and they see they aren’t getting anywhere, then they might give in.”
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