by Carole Mortimer - Bachelor Cousins 03 - To Marry McAllister
Brice looked at her coldly, knowing that, for the moment, he daredn’t look at her any other way; if he did, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from telling her how he felt about her. Which, in the circumstances, was probably the last complication she wanted to hear!
He shook his head. ‘You seemed to like my grandfather well enough before you knew of his involvement with your mother,’ he reminded harshly.
‘I did—do like him,’ she amended awkwardly.
‘He just isn’t your father,’ Brice guessed scathingly.
Sabina’s eyes flashed deeply blue. ‘No, he isn’t,’ she conceded tersely. ‘But—’
‘Have you given any thought to how lonely your mother has been the last five years?’ Brice attacked impatiently. ‘What it must have been like for her? From the little you’ve told me about your parents, I would guess that they shared a relationship of emotional and academic equality. Soul mates, in fact,’ he rasped. ‘I would say your mother has been living only half a life the last five years, feeling as if she’s had her right arm amputated!’
Brice already felt like that over Sabina, couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to lose a partner after thirty or more years of marriage, to lose Sabina after spending all those years with her at his side.
‘Be nice to them, Sabina,’ he warned harshly.
Her brows arched derisively. ‘Or else what, Brice…?’ she challenged softly.
‘Or else you’ll have me to answer to,’ he came back gratingly.
She gave a humourless smile. ‘How terrifying,’ she returned dismissively.
Brice only just resisted the impulse to reach out and pull her into his arms, taking a step backwards instead. ‘It could be,’ he assured her grimly before turning to stride forcefully down the hallway to his grandfather’s sitting-room.
The older couple were standing close together across the room when Brice and Sabina entered, and if Brice wasn’t mistaken there was the trace of tears on Joan’s face.
‘Take care,’ Brice warned Sabina softly.
Her eyes flashed back a warning of her own before she turned to the other couple. ‘Richard and I are leaving now.’ She spoke huskily. ‘I—I just wanted to say goodbye,’ she added awkwardly.
Joan squeezed Hugh’s arm reassuringly before turning to her daughter. ‘I hope my being here hasn’t chased you away?’ she said gruffly.
‘Of course not,’ Sabina assured her lightly. ‘Richard has to get back to London anyway. He has a few things to do before we fly out to Australia on Monday.’
Brice had forgotten she was going away with the other man, that the trip had been delayed because of coming up here. Obviously nothing that had happened this weekend had affected Sabina’s decision to go with Richard…
Joan nodded, obviously used to her daughter’s jet-setting lifestyle. ‘Call me when you get back, won’t you, Sabina?’
Sabina looked mildly surprised by the request, but she nodded anyway. ‘Perhaps you and—and Hugh, would like to have dinner when we get back?’ she suggested tentatively.
Well, at least she was trying, Brice conceded grudgingly—even if he didn’t particularly care for the idea of his grandfather becoming pally with Richard Latham, as Sabina’s fiancé!
‘That would be lovely, Sabina,’ her mother accepted warmly. ‘I’m sure we would love to come. Wouldn’t we, Hugh?’ She turned to him for confirmation.
‘Love to,’ Hugh confirmed abruptly. ‘I’m sorry you have to leave so soon, Sabina,’ he added slightly reprovingly. ‘I would have liked the chance to get to know you a little better.’
‘There’s no rush,’ Sabina dismissed with a shrug. ‘Is there?’ she added less certainly.
‘Depends how you look at it, I suppose,’ Hugh drawled mockingly. ‘After all, I’m already well past my allotted three score years and ten!’
Sabina looked at him frowningly, obviously unsure how to take this last remark. Brice knew exactly how he would have taken it—with a complete lack of seriousness. His grandfather was fit and healthy, there was absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t live another ten years or more. Especially now that he had someone in his life he was obviously more than a little fond of.
Although Brice doubted, the mood she was in, that Sabina would appreciate hearing that!
‘I’ll call you when I get back and we’ll organise dinner.’ Sabina opted for safety. ‘Goodbye, Brice,’ she added huskily, her gaze not quite meeting his.
‘I’ll walk you back to the car,’ he told her grimly.
She shook her head. ‘There’s really no need. I know the way. And—we’ve already said goodbye,’ she added firmly.
Brice wasn’t in the least happy with this arrangement, would have liked a few more minutes alone with Sabina. But he could see by the strain about her eyes, the paleness of her cheeks, that she had had enough for one day. More than enough, in fact.
He nodded abruptly. ‘In that case, have a good flight back.’
‘I’m sure we will.’ Her smile was so fleeting it barely registered as being one, before she turned and hurried from the room.
As if she were being pursued by something particularly unpleasant, Brice acknowledged impatiently.
He turned sharply to his grandfather. ‘Now, if you wouldn’t mind formally introducing me to Joan…?’ he prompted dryly. ‘That way I’m hoping she won’t find me too rude when I ask her what happened in Sabina’s life a few months ago to bring about the change in her that Joan mentioned earlier!’
Because he was determined to get to the bottom of that mysterious remark. Wanted to know. Needed to know!
‘All right?’ Richard prompted as Sabina got into the back of the car beside him.
‘Fine,’ she dismissed abruptly before turning her head to have one last glance at Hugh McDonald’s castle home.
It looked beautiful bathed in the May sunshine; serene, calm, a bastion of tranquillity—everything Sabina knew that she wasn’t at this moment!
She had left with Richard because, in the circumstances, she couldn’t see that there was any other way. She was totally shaken by the discovery that Hugh McDonald was the man in her mother’s life. But she was more shaken still by her response to Brice’s kisses a few minutes ago. If Richard hadn’t come into the bedroom when he had, she had no idea where it would have all ended.
Which was another reason she had to leave with Richard…
She had no idea if Richard had guessed she had been in Brice’s arms only seconds before he’d entered the room, but she did know she couldn’t go on with this any more, that she would have to break their engagement. That, in the circumstances, it was the only fair thing to do for Richard…
‘That was a bit of a turn-up for the books, wasn’t it?’ he remarked lightly at her side.
Sabina turned to him blankly. ‘What was?’
‘Your mother and McDonald,’ Richard murmured derisively. ‘Still, if she had to find herself an ageing lover, at least he’s a rich one!’ he added scathingly.
Sabina was very conscious of Hugh McDonald’s employee seated only feet away in the front of the car, knew that he must be able to hear their conversation. In fact, from the stiff way he now sat behind the steering wheel, she was sure he had.
Nevertheless, she couldn’t let the remark pass by undefended. ‘I’m sure Hugh’s wealth has nothing to do with my mother’s feelings towards him,’ she said slightly indignantly.
‘No?’ Richard raised sceptical brows over cynical blue eyes. ‘I wouldn’t be too sure of that.’ He shrugged uninterestedly.
Sabina would, knew that her mother had never been interested in material wealth. Goodness knew, Sabina had offered to make her mother’s life a little easier financially dozens of times, only for her mother to smilingly refuse, claiming that she had enough for what she needed, which was her little cottage in Scotland, and her vast collection of books.
Besides, Hugh had so much more to recommend him than just his obvious wealth, was still handso
me in a distinguished way, was highly intelligent, which her mother would appreciate, and, last of all, Hugh was extremely charming. Like his grandson!
But there was no mistaking the slight edge to Richard’s tone when he talked of her mother…
She drew in a deep breath. ‘Richard—’
‘Not here,’ he cut in tersely, looking pointedly at the driver of the car.
Now he chose to remember the other man! Not that she was averse to cancelling their talk until they were on their own; she wasn’t exactly enjoying this conversation herself.
‘We’ll talk once we’re back in London,’ Richard added harshly.
Once they had returned to the home she shared with Richard. Which, she accepted heavily, would also have to change. In fact, everything would have to change once she had explained to Richard that she could no longer keep her side of their bargain.
Although she didn’t think it was a good idea to tell him it was because she had realised she was in love with Brice!
Brice…
How her heart ached just at the thought of him, more and more so as the miles between them lengthened. When would she ever see Brice again? She had made her feelings concerning the portrait more than plain, as had Richard, which meant, ironically, that the only link she now had with Brice was through her mother’s relationship with Hugh.
Poetic justice for her own unreasonableness the other week when her mother had tried to tell her of the new friendship in her life?
Probably, Sabina conceded heavily as she finally relaxed back in her seat. Something else she knew she would have to put right at the earliest opportunity.
But first she had to sever her engagement to Richard…
Not a pleasant thought, the brief sideways glance she gave in his direction showing her that at the moment he looked grimly unapproachable. This was going to be far from easy!
But, then, why should it be? Richard had been completely honest from the beginning about what he wanted from her in their engagement, and what he would give in return. And he had kept his side of the bargain. Richard hadn’t changed; she was the one who had done that. Worse, she had fallen in love with another man. Although, she hoped she wouldn’t actually have to tell Richard that part. It was enough that she could no longer continue with their engagement, without involving Brice in its demise.
Especially as Brice had no idea she had fallen in love with him!
And he never would have. It was enough of a folly that she knew she was in love with him, without Brice being embarrassed by the knowledge too. Besides, if her mother’s relationship with Hugh became something more permanent, she and Brice were going to be related in some way. In which case, Brice must never know that she had been stupid enough to fall in love with him!
‘The sitting-room, I think,’ Richard announced grimly hours later when they finally reached the house, marching straight over to the array of drinks and pouring out a large measure of brandy.
It had not been a particularly pleasant journey back to London, Richard not inclined to conversation during the flight or the drive back into the City from the airport. In fact, Sabina felt in need of a brandy herself!
‘Could I have one of those?’ she prompted huskily.
Richard wordlessly poured a measure of brandy into a second glass before handing it to her. ‘Dutch courage, Sabina?’ he finally rasped as he stepped back, his gaze hard as he looked at her through narrowed lids.
He did know about the kisses she had shared with Brice earlier; Sabina was sure of it now as she looked at the hard accusation in Richard’s face. Well-deserved accusation, she acknowledged heavily.
‘I’m going to save you the trouble of breaking our engagement, Sabina,’ Richard continued harshly. ‘And break it myself!’ he added scathingly. ‘I’m sure I made clear to you from the onset what I wanted from you, that I never deal with imperfection!’
Sabina gasped at the look of disgust that accompanied this savagely made insult. ‘I’ve never claimed to be perfect, Richard,’ she began softly.
“‘Never claimed to be perfect”!’ he echoed scornfully. ‘You didn’t need to claim it—I knew you were. Successful, beautiful, coolly self-composed, untouched,’ he added the last forcefully. ‘Most of all, untouched! But that’s no longer true, is it?’ he accused hardly.
She had known Richard was going to be upset when she broke their engagement, but nothing had prepared her for this venomous attack. She had seen Richard angry with other people in the past, but for the main part she had refused to see the callousness with which he could deal with people who had disappointed him. Well, now she had disappointed him—and nothing was going to save her from feeling the sharp edge of that rapier tongue!
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know what you mean—’
‘I mean coming into that bedroom earlier today and finding you still all hot and sweaty from being in Brice McAllister’s arms!’ Richard cut in icily.
‘Hot and sweaty…?’ Sabina repeated incredulously. ‘Richard, you’re being—’
‘Crudely honest?’ he concluded distastefully. ‘Maybe that’s because that’s exactly what this is.’ He shook his head disgustedly. ‘I thought you were different, Sabina. I thought, after what happened to you, that you were a person, like me, removed from this physical thrashing about people so often associate with love, that you wanted the things from a relationship that we’ve had together the last few months: companionship, intelligent conversation, mutual admiration and liking, while at the same time retaining one’s personal integrity.’ He gave another shake of his head. ‘But this weekend—your behaviour with McAllister has shown me that you’re just like every other woman!’
Sabina stared at him with complete disbelief for what she was hearing. She had shared this house with Richard for several months now, had thought that she knew him. But the things he was saying to her now told her that she clearly didn’t!
‘And to think,’ he continued disgustedly, ‘I was actually thinking of asking you to marry me!’ He shook his head.
She had noted his comment about a honeymoon on the drive up to Scotland, remembered several comments Brice had made about Richard’s wedding plans. But she had thought they had only been made to give credence to their engagement. She had obviously been wrong…
Sabina moistened dry lips. ‘That was never part of our agreement.’
Richard gave her a scathing glance. ‘Your behaviour with McAllister has put our “agreement” at an end, Sabina,’ he told her coldly. ‘In the circumstances, I would appreciate it if you would remove yourself, and your belongings, from my home as quickly as possible.’
Sabina stared at him. He had a right to feel angry, she accepted that, but this was a Richard she had never seen before. A man she didn’t want to know, either…
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
‘THIS is getting to be quite a habit.’ Chloe spoke lightly as she sat beside Brice.
His scowl didn’t lighten at the teasingly made remark, his attention all focused on the catwalk in front of him as he waited for the lights to go down and the fashion show to begin.
He had been trying for the last three weeks to see, or at least speak to, Sabina, only succeeding in receiving the proverbial brush-off from Richard Latham’s watchdog housekeeper every time he’d telephoned the house; Sabina was either ‘away’, or ‘unavailable’. Brice had a feeling she was only unavailable to him!
And so he had once again resorted to persuading Chloe into letting him accompany her to a fashion show where he knew Sabina was to be the top model on the catwalk.
These last three weeks Brice had felt like a thirsty man in a desert—but his thirst was for sight and sound of Sabina, not water!
‘Don’t get too used to it,’ he told Chloe dryly. ‘This really isn’t my thing.’
Chloe gave him a knowing look. ‘I’m not completely stupid, Brice,’ she drawled.
He grinned at his cousin-in-law. ‘I never for a moment thought you were!’ She would have bored h
is cousin Fergus in the first week if that were the case, instead of which the two of them were more in love than ever.
‘It was rather a surprise for all of us when Hugh announced his intention of getting remarried,’ Chloe remarked innocently.
Too innocently, Brice knew. But he had probably been the least surprised of them all when Hugh had telephoned each member of the family last weekend to make his announcement. Yet another reason he needed to speak to Sabina. At least, that was what he told himself…
‘To Sabina’s mother, of all people,’ Chloe continued conversationally.
‘So I believe,’ he acknowledged dismissively.
He didn’t ‘believe’ it at all—he knew it. And he desperately wanted to know how Sabina had taken the news.
Chloe arched dark brows. ‘Fergus tells me you’ve already met Joan…?’
‘Briefly,’ he confirmed tersely, having no intention of filling any of his family in on that disaster of a weekend. Not that meeting Joan had been a disaster, far from it, but as for the rest of the weekend…! ‘Don’t worry, Chloe,’ he drawled, ‘you’ll get your chance next weekend when we’re all invited to the formal introduction to our soon-to-be stepgrandmother!’
When was this show going to start? he wondered impatiently. It was scheduled to start at eight-thirty, but it was almost nine o’clock now!
‘I’m not worried, Brice,’ Chloe assured him dryly. ‘I know Hugh well enough to accept he has impeccable taste; I’m sure Joan is lovely. Will Sabina be there next weekend, do you think?’
If Chloe meant to divert him from his scowling contemplating of the catwalk with the suddenness of her question, then she succeeded. Whether or not Sabina intended being at the dinner at a London hotel next weekend was one of the things he had been wondering about himself!
He certainly hoped it was to be the case, and not just for selfish reasons; he had come to like Joan very much over the last few weeks, and he wouldn’t like Sabina to do anything that might hurt her mother—and ultimately herself.
‘I have no idea,’ he dismissed blandly. ‘Are these things usually as late starting as this?’ he added impatiently.