by Penny Jordan
'I think we could perhaps carry it off, though, if we amended your plan slightly.'
Holly frowned and looked at him. 'How?'
'Well, let us suppose that we allow everyone to believe that one of us—me, for instance—has been secretly, madly in love with you for years. You, having bumped into me, have suddenly realised how very fanciable I am, and here we are.'
'Well, yes,' Holly agreed doubtfully, 'but who's going to believe you've been secretly in love with me, when everyone knows you've been going out with Rosamund?'
'Well, it won't be easy. But think of the effect it will have on the happy couple. Rosamund is a very jealous woman. Once she hears that I've really been in love with you all these years… well, she won't like it.'
'No, I don't suppose she will,' Holly agreed faintly. She was beginning to feel almost jealous of Drew's inventiveness, wishing that she had been the one to get the role of the secretly pining lover.
'You know, it's a pity you have to rush back to London so soon,' Drew told her casually. 'I think if you could have managed to stick around for a while, the sight of us together would be almost bound to get results.'
'Yes,' Holly agreed regretfully. 'It's true what they say about propinquity.'
Drew muttered something under his breath, and she looked questioningly at him.
'Er—nothing. Is it agreed, then? When we arrive in the Jensens' drawing-room, we arrive as a couple?'
Holly took a deep breath and confirmed, 'Yes.'
And then, before she could change her mind, she took a deep breath and added, 'And I could stay on if you really think it might work, Drew. I've got over a month's worth of holiday owing to me. That's if you really think…'
'Oh, yes, I'm sure it will work,' he told her confidently. 'You could decorate the kitchen for me. I'd pay you, of course.'
'Oh, no!' Holly was horrified. 'Well, not unless you let me pay my board and food. Of course, I'll have to check with Jan, she's my boss, but I'm sure she won't mind. Things are relatively slack at the moment.'
'So it's settled. Right, then, are you ready to face your audience, Holly Witchell?'
'Yes… Yes, I think so.'
'Come on, then, let's go.'
CHAPTER THREE
« ^ »
'Andrew! How lovely… Oh, and Polly, isn't it?' Rosamund's mother said, in a voice far cooler than the one she had welcomed Drew with.
'Holly, actually, Marsha,' Drew corrected her calmly.
Somehow or other he had taken told of her hand, Holly discovered, and he was now drawing her forward, and tucking her against his side as though she was as precious and delicate as rare porcelain.
It was a comforting feeling, having the warm bulk of him there next to her; it gave her the confidence to return Marsha Jensen's critical stare.
'What a very unusual dress,' the older woman commented. 'Of course, we're rather out of touch with London fashions.'
'Holly's wearing it especially for me. She knows I love her in red.'
Holly was stunned. She stared at Drew, wondering if she had heard him correctly. When had he got the sophisticated confidence to pay such compliments, and in such a lazily drawling voice that her arms had come out in a rash of goose-bumps… or was that because she could see Howard and Rosamund coming toward them? Yes, of course it was.
'Drew, darling!' Rosamund cooed, leaving her new fiancé's side to wrap thin white arms round Drew's neck and to pull his head down so that she could kiss his mouth.
It was a very long kiss. A kiss which made Holly feel acutely uncomfortable and burningly angry on Drew's behalf. How dared Rosamund torment him like that, reminding him of what had once been?
Howard had no such embrace for her. He acknowledged her with a warm smile, though, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he studied her dress.
'Red, Holly?' he said teasingly. 'You know it isn't your colour.'
'On the contrary, I think it suits her,' Drew contradicted him flatly. 'And since she's wearing it for me, and not for you…'
'Good heavens, Drew darling, what on earth are you trying to say?' Rosamund interrupted with an acid look at Holly, but before Drew could say a word Jane and Guy joined them, Jane hugging Rosamund and congratulating Howard, and then stepping back to say excitedly, 'Rosamund, you've been keeping me in the dark. You wrote to tell me about you and Howard, but you never said a word about Drew and Holly.'
'Drew and Holly?'
The sharpness in Rosamund's voice made it carry, and several other people looked over to them, curious to know what was going on. Everyone went silent, and Holly felt as though the whole room was staring at them. Instinctively she nestled closer to Drew's side, welcoming the protective comfort of his arm around her.
To her relief, Drew broke the expectant silence, saying calmly, 'We weren't going to say anything yet. We didn't want to spoil your thunder, did we, darling?'
Darling? Holly gulped and looked up at him, and for a moment was so dazzled by the look in his eyes that she could hardly even think, never mind articulate any thoughts.
'I see. So you'll be up here permanently from now on, will you, Holly?' Rosamund questioned coldly. 'Where will you be staying? Your parents' house still has tenants, doesn't it?'
'She's staying at the farm with me,' Drew announced quietly.
Now they really did have everyone's attention. A dark flush of unattractive colour stained Rosamund's face. Howard was staring at her as though he had never seen her before, Holly recognised, his eyes both accusing and angry.
'Good heavens, Holly,' Rosamund exclaimed brittlely, 'how very brave of you. I'm afraid I'm a little too old-fashioned for that kind of thing, and to be honest Mummy and Daddy would go spare if I even suggested it. Aren't you afraid that Drew will change his mind and refuse to marry you?'
To her own astonishment, Holly heard herself saying calmly, 'The days are gone when a woman needed to barter her virginity in exchange for the sometimes doubtful security of marriage, Rosamund. I think both Drew and I know what we're doing.'
She looked hesitantly at Drew, her eyes unconsciously pleading with him for help. He gave it promptly, dropping an unexpected kiss on her nose and saying, 'You're the one who's insisting on waiting. If I had my way I'd marry you tomorrow.'
He really was the most amazing actor, Holly mused, seeing the suddenly febrile glitter transform his eyes as he looked at her in a way that made unexpected tingles of sensation race up and down her spine.
Fortunately Rosamund's mother bustled them away before any further conversation could be exchanged. Once they were out of earshot of everyone else, Drew remarked cheerfully, 'Well, I think that certainly gave both of them something of a surprise.' And it was only then that Holly realised that she had been so absorbed in watching Drew that she hadn't even noticed how Rosamund and Howard had taken their announcement, other than to recognise their obvious shock.
'Something wrong?' Drew asked her solicitously, seeing her frown.
'No, not really.'
'How about making our way to the buffet, then? I'm starving.'
Half an hour later, sipping champagne and looking round for Drew, who had been waylaid by an older man Holly vaguely recognised as a partner in the local firm of accountants, she saw Jane walking towards her, smiling approvingly at her.
'I just came over to congratulate you both, and to tell you not to pay any attention to Rosamund's cattiness.'
'I suppose it's only natural that she should feel jealous.'
Jane gave her an odd look, and said hesitantly, 'Oh, you know about that, do you? I wasn't sure. Look, Guy and I are having a party later in the month to celebrate moving into our new house. We'd love both of you to come; perhaps I can even pick your brains a little. We haven't done anything about decorating it yet.' She pulled a face. 'There are quite a few interior design places in Chester, but I'm a bit frightened of being swamped by their ideas and the house not reflecting Guy's and my identity, if you know what I mean.'
'With a good desi
gner, that won't happen,' Holly assured her. 'But I'll be only too pleased to advise you if I can. My speciality is decorative paint finishes, rather than the actual designing.'
It was true, but it was also true that Jan had told her she had a flair for the design side of things as well, and she had been encouraging Holly to develop that latent talent, generously sharing with her her own experience and knowledge.
'Girl talk?' Drew asked, coming over to join them. Odd how she hadn't realised how tense she was until she felt him standing behind her; the heat from his body warming hers and easing the tension out of her muscles.
Holly turned to smile at him. 'Not really. Jane was just inviting us to her housewarming party.'
'We wouldn't miss it…would we?' He reached out and caught hold of her hand, lifting it to his mouth and placing a warm kiss in the vulnerable hollow of her palm, making her tremble and stare at him with bemused eyes.
'Aha! Still at that stage, are you?' Jane laughed knowingly. 'Well, in that case, I'll leave you to it.'
'What was that for?' Holly asked huskily when she had gone. They were surrounded by other people, but she felt as though they were completely alone, isolated from the rest of the world, and she was protected from it by Drew himself.
'Rosamund and Howard were watching us,' he told her casually. 'I thought it was a good opportunity to further our cause.'
Feeling like a complete idiot, Holly blinked and looked away from him. She couldn't see Howard or Rosamund, had been totally oblivious to everything but the tingling sensation of the kiss Drew had placed against her skin.
'Has Neston said anything to you yet?' Drew asked her.
Holly shook her head. 'Has Rosamund said anything to you?'
'No.'
The band Rosamund's parents had hired for the evening had struck up a sentimental waltz, and Rosamund and Howard were dancing.
It was odd watching him dance with someone else, Holly reflected. He looked different somehow—smaller. Of course, Rosamund was much taller than she was, and compared with Drew, Howard looked… Well, he looked insignificant, she realised with a sudden shock.
It wasn't like watching someone she had loved for almost six years at all. It was like watching a stranger. A self-satisfied, selfish stranger who meant nothing to her at all.
The shock of that realisation made her tense, and Drew, standing beside her, was instantly aware of it. He took her hand in his and squeezed it reassuringly, and although he said nothing Holly felt tears burn her eyes.
Nice, kind Drew. How comforting it was to have him here at her side. Without knowing it she edged closer to him, unaware of the way he looked down at her, or of the glint in his eyes when he saw what Holly had not: that the newly engaged couple dancing together on the other side of the room seemed far more interested in them than in each other.
Other people started to dance, but Holly was relieved when Drew didn't suggest that they join them. Howard hated dancing with her, he claimed that she had two left feet, but then the band struck up a number which had soared into the pop charts, albeit quite some time ago, but which was instantly recognisable and obviously very popular, and Drew turned to her and said softly, 'We can't miss out on this one.'
It was 'Lady in Red', and somehow or other, as he drew her on to the dance-floor and the haunting sound of the music swelled round them, Holly found it incredibly easy to simply let Drew take her in his arms and keep her there while they moved in time to the music.
Her body seemed to move in time with his with a floating ease that required no effort or concentration. She was vaguely aware of Rosamund and Howard dancing past them, Rosamund glaring at her with angry eyes, Howard pursing his mouth. He had always had a rather thin mouth, she reflected, not like Drew's. She looked up at him to study it, and a tiny curl of sensation tensed her stomach.
The music ended far too soon. She could have danced with Drew all night, but they were already being summoned to drink a toast to the newly engaged couple, and it was then, seeing the diamond glittering on Rosamund's finger, hearing the speech given by her father, that reality crashed in through her barriers and she realised that the man she loved was now committed to someone else.
She turned away and would have left the room if Drew hadn't stopped her, gripping her arm and forcing her to remain.
The elation generated by their 'plan' had carried her through the evening so far, but now it had gone, leaving her feeling flat and drained and miserably aware of how little in terms of social and financial benefits her parents could have given Howard in comparison to Rosamund's. Hard on the heels of this knowledge was the shocking awareness of the fact that she must have known for a long time that Howard was materialistic, even if she had never admitted it to herself.
'Not much longer,' Drew said at her side, 'and then we'll be able to leave.'
Holly wanted to ask him if they could leave now, but she forced herself to give him a bright smile and say gaily, 'So soon? We've barely been here five minutes.'
He gave her a long, thoughtful look, and she found it odd that a man who really knew so little about her should be able to regard her with a penetrating intensity that told her there wasn't a thought in her head he wasn't aware of, while Howard, who had known her for so long, had often upset her by being totally unaware of what she was thinking or feeling. Was it because Drew cared about people, while Howard didn't?
She could not allow the traitorous thought room to grow, so she banished it, reminding herself that Howard's world was different from Drew's.
Rosamund's mother came up to talk to Drew, deliberately excluding Holly from the conversation. She wandered away from him, nursing her empty glass of champagne, feeling more alone and betrayed than she had ever imagined she could feel. What was she doing here, pretending to be in love with Drew?
'Holly! At last… I've got to speak to you.'
Howard's sudden materialisation at her side made her jump. She had wandered into the conservatory, away from the noises of the band and the chatter of the other guests, lured there by the tranquillity and peace.
'What's going on?' Howard demanded abruptly. 'What's all this about you and Drew?'
'I think that's our business, don't you?' she managed to say, holding her head proudly.
'Oh, come off it; this time fourteen days ago you were telling me that you were desperately in love with me. You begged me not to get engaged to Rosamund.'
'Howard,' she protested tearfully, almost sagging with relief when Drew's familiar voice said from behind,
'I think you've said enough.'
'Enough? I haven't even started,' Howard said angrily. 'I don't know what game you two are playing…'
'It's no game,' Drew told him softly, and to Holly's astonishment Howard was the first one to look away, angry colour burning his skin as Drew held his ground. 'I love Holly and she loves me, and that's all you or anyone else needs to know.'
'Holly?'
She took a deep breath and, looking not at him, but at Drew, as though just by looking at him she could draw strength and courage from him, she said shakily, 'What Drew says is true, Howard.'
'I've loved her for one hell of a long time,' Drew lied easily, staggering Holly with his sang-froid. 'And your loss is most definitely my gain. Only, unlike you, I'm never going to let her go. Come on, darling,' he said softly to Holly, 'it's time to go home.'
He led her firmly away without allowing Howard to say another word.
Holly was so bemused that she couldn't say a word until they were in the Range Rover and driving away from the ostentatious modern house.
'It's not going to work, Drew,' she said miserably. 'I should never have suggested it. Of course Howard will never believe I'm in love with you.'
She saw the way his fingers curled tensely on the steering wheel and looked up at him in surprise. Shadows masked his eyes, but she could see the tautness of his jaw. A small muscle flickered there, and a shaft of light showed her the surprising grimness of his expression.
<
br /> 'Then we'll just have to find a way to make him, won't we?' he said curtly.
She was on the verge of protesting mournfully that there wasn't much point, that seeing Howard with Rosamund had underlined all too clearly to her how little he had really cared about her—how little he was actually capable of caring about anyone other than himself, she thought honestly—and then she remembered that these weren't only her feelings and her future involved here. There were Drew's as well. Instantly contrite, she reached out and covered his hand with her own. So much smaller and frailer, for all that she was used to thinking of it as a very capable and sturdy hand, the nails cut short and neat to facilitate her work, but against Drew's it looked tiny and very feminine.
'I'm sorry,' she apologised huskily. 'I was being selfish. Rosamund couldn't take her eyes off us. I think our plan may work where she's concerned.'
'But not with Howard?' Drew questioned.
'I don't know,' Holly admitted honestly. 'Seeing him tonight…' She lifted her head and looked at him and admitted with painful honesty, 'Tonight it was as though I'd never really seen him before. He wants all the advantages that Rosamund's parents can give them. My parents…'
'And so you're resigned to losing him?'
'I don't know,' she admitted in a troubled voice. 'I don't know what to think any more.'
And the root cause of her confusion wasn't so much Howard, but Drew, she recognised helplessly. For some reason, being with Drew had thrown into sharp relief facets of Howard's personality she had never really acknowledged before—unpleasant and unwanted facets.
'Are you saying that you've changed your mind?' Drew asked carefully. 'That you no longer want to go through with our plan?'
She was tempted, but they had made an agreement, and for Drew's sake they should go on with it. Rosamund had been jealous, Holly acknowledged. She had seen it in the other girl's eyes on more than one occasion.
'No, not that. Unless you've changed your mind?'
'No… No, I haven't done that,' Drew told her, and she could almost feel the release of tension from his body. Had he been afraid that she would change her mind, that she would back out of their agreement? He must love Rosamund very much, she acknowledged, not knowing why she should find the knowledge so dispiriting. A wave of tiredness engulfed her. It had been a long day, and now all she wanted to do was to sleep. She stifled a yawn and Drew chuckled.