Carver's Bride

by Nicola West

  'No, as a matter of fact it didn't,' Linzi retorted heatedly. 'Why should it? I understood that afternoons were my free time, unless you'd made some arrangement beforehand.'

  Jason sighed and coiled his lithe body down on the rock beside her. 'It's nothing to do with hours or afternoons off,' he told her. 'It's a question of safety. You don't know these hills at all, yet you come wandering up here alone without giving anyone any idea of which direction you mean to take—without any proper footwear or protective clothing in case the weather changes,' he added with a derisive glance at her T-shirt and light walking shoes, 'and, I'm quite certain, without any such thing as a compass—I don't suppose you even know how to use one. This isn't Hyde Park, you know. This is wild country—if you don't know what you're doing, you can find yourself in trouble, and I mean trouble. Or maybe you fancy the idea of lying out in the heather all night with a sprained ankle until someone happens to find you. If they do.'

  Linzi bit her lip. She had to admit that his words made sense—yet, looking around the pleasant hillside with its gold and purple clothing, she could hardly believe that it was as dangerous as Jason made out. Surely he was just putting her into the wrong again—or trying to. She tossed back her tawny hair and scrambled to her feet.

  'Well, it looks safe enough to me,' she declared. 'There's not a cloud to be seen, it's as warm as July, and the track's plain to be seen. So if you don't mind, I think I'll continue my walk.'

  'I don't mind at all.' Jason came lazily up to stand beside her. 'I'll come with you.' And when she opened her mouth to protest, he added harshly: 'I'm not listening to any arguments, Linzi. You're not used to these hills, and until you are I don't want you coming up here alone. And before you come up again, anyway, I want you wearing proper boots and carrying at least an anorak. And that's an order!'

  Linzi stared at him, her eyes stormy. But his face was about as tractable as a granite cliff. With a gasp of exasperation and another toss of her head, she turned away abruptly and began to walk quickly up the track.

  Jason fell into step beside her and she became aware of Bracken loping alongside, sometimes drawing ahead, sometimes pausing to wait, his tongue lolling out in a wide grin of pleasure at this extra walk. They walked in silence for a while. Linzi told herself angrily that she might as well go home; her pleasure in the afternoon had been utterly spoilt by Jason's interference. But the beauty of the hills was too much for her bad temper, and after a while she found herself relaxing again, able to enjoy the clear, bracing air and the colours all around her. She glanced sideways at Jason and caught him doing the same. His mouth widened in a reluctant grin, and she felt her own twitch in answer, and suddenly the tension eased and they were smiling at each other naturally for the first time since she had arrived.

  'Marvellous, isn't it?' Jason remarked, spreading his arms to include the whole wide vista of mountain and moorland. 'There hasn't been a day go by that I haven't thanked Uncle Walter for leaving me Bron Melyn. Oh, it might not be the ideal place as far as work's concerned, in one way—we have terrible problems getting the bigger pieces down the track, and the raw material up it. But in other ways, it couldn't be better. And as a place to live.. . .' His silence spoke louder than any words could have done. Linzi glanced at him with complete sympathy.

  I know,' she agreed. 'It's wonderful. I'm dreading the day I have to leave—from that point of view,' she added hastily as she caught his quizzical look.

  'Of course,' he agreed gravely. 'But you wouldn't really like to live here, Linzi. You've only seen it in its more peaceful, benevolent moments. The Black Mountains can be cruel, you know. Harsh in winter: Not the kind of life you'd enjoy at all.'

  'Why not?' Linzi was unaccountably stung by his words. Dimly, she felt that Jason ought to have known her better than that—ought to have remembered her love for the outdoor life, her deep interest in country things. Probably he thought she had left all that behind during her years as a model. But there had been times, when modelling clothes at fashion shows in Paris or enduring hot and seemingly endless photographic sessions in New York, that she had longed to be out in the country again, swinging along just as she was now on a mountain track, or strolling through some deep green lane. 'I haven't changed that much, you know.'

  'No?' His blue eyes were speculative. 'But surely you're committing yourself to a city life? Once you're married to the successful banker——'

  'And you needn't use that supercilious tone whenever you mention Richard!' she flashed. 'I've told you, he's worth any amount of you—and he'll know how to make me happy even if we have to live in a back street in Brixton. Not that we will,' she added proudly. 'Richard's one of the most successful men in the City, for his age.'

  'Well, isn't that just wonderful,' Jason drawled maddeningly. 'I can see there'll be no need for me to worry about you any further. Richard will look after you from now on, more than adequately.'

  'Yes, he will! Certainly better than you managed to!' she snapped.

  Jason said nothing to that, but she could see the tightened muscles round his jaw that meant he was holding his anger in check. Well, he'd asked for it, she thought mutinously. Maybe from now on he would leave Richard out of their conversations.

  She hadn't been following the track with any attention, and paused now to glance around them, realising with a small shock that she had no idea of exactly where they were. True, the track was clear enough, stretching behind them; but the contours of the mountains had changed subtly and she could not have said for certain in which direction home lay. Turn around a couple of times and you'd be lost, she thought, and had a sudden vision of fog descending to obscure the way further. Obviously Jason hadn't been exaggerating the dangers; but she didn't intend to admit as much to him.

  'Oh, what's that?' she asked instead, noticing for the first time a small building across a narrow valley. Two or three other tracks led to it, none of them looking particularly well used, but the building itself looked solid enough and almost habitable.

  'Come and see.' Jason set off down the hillside, finding a path through the gorse and heather. Linzi followed him, her interest quickened. The building was so far from anywhere; she supposed it must once have been a shepherd's hut.

  In fact, as she drew nearer she could see that it had been no such thing. Jumping the narrow stream at the bottom of the valley, she looked up and realised from the shape of its windows that it must be a chapel. As she scrambled up the slope towards it, she wondered why it had been built here and if it were still used.

  She wasn't prepared for what met her eyes when Jason swung open the heavy door. And the gasp of pleasure that escaped her lips was purely voluntary and entirely genuine.

  'Oh, it's lovely!' She took a step inside. 'May I look around?'

  The chapel had evidently been out of use for some time and had been completely cleared inside. It comprised one large room; a room clearly intended for simple though comfortable living. The floor was covered in tough matting which gave a warmth to the interior, the walls whitewashed. Shelves lined the walls, many of them filled with books; benches and armchairs added to the comfort. At the far end, the floor raised in what had been the chancel, was a large double bed, draped with thick curtains in the style of a four-poster. Close to the door stood a small Calor gas cooker and cupboards to store utensils.

  'It's perfect,' Linzi said with delight. 'A real little hideaway. But surely it's not left unlocked?'

  Jason shook his head and showed her an iron key. He must have unlocked it while she was still making her way up the slope. Linzi stared at him, a tiny frown drawing her fine brows together.

  'Do you mean it's yours?'' she asked. 'But why? When you've got Bron Melyn?'

  Jason shrugged. 'The two came together. I couldn't help having it. Of course, it was never like this when Uncle Walter owned it. It was derelict then—I don't suppose he ever came near the place. Probably hoped it would just quietly fall down. I had to do quite a lot of work to it. But, as you say, it is
the perfect hideaway. I often come up here for the odd night or two.'

  Oh yes? Linzi thought, remembering suddenly Cindy's hints about Jason's love-life so many years ago. She blushed suddenly, realising what a fool she must have been not to think of it before. Jason wasn't the sort of man to do without women, after all. And what better than a cosy little retreat, tucked away in the hills, for his brief affairs?

  Suddenly nervous, she looked up through her lashes at him. Was this why he'd brought her here this afternoon? He had moved close, so that she could feel the heat of his body through her thin T-shirt. She wanted to step away— knew that she ought to step away. But her limbs seemed suddenly powerless to move. Something stronger than her will kept her standing there, breathing in the masculine smell 'of him, tingling to his nearness. Her breathing quickened and her skin prickled. Almost as if compelled, she raised her face to his, lips softly parted.

  'Linzi!' His voice was rough as he took her in his arms. With a feeling of inevitability, she let him mould her against him, felt her softness melt against his hard muscular body. Her eyes closed as his lips took hers; gently at first, tenderly, yet with a hint of restrained passion that shook her and brought a response that had them both gasping. On a groan, his lips hardened, becoming more demanding. Linzi clung to him as his hands moved possessively over her body, roaming from breast to hip with intimate little diversions in between. She felt sure that she would fall; only his strength holding her against him kept her on her feet until she felt him lowering her gently to the floor, laying her on a cushion dragged from the nearest armchair so that he could lean over her and look down into her face.

  'Linzi,' he murmured again, his voice deep now and husky, before his lips once again came down on hers with a gentleness that almost drove her wild. Moving softly, they brushed over hers, exploring, taunting; then crushed down with an urgency she met with equal ardour. All thoughts of the world outside had flown. Richard was a world away as she met Jason's lovemaking with an increasing response that drew a gathering sensuousness from him, and she knew that there could only be one end to this sudden encounter.

  Jason had dragged her T-shirt from her jeans to take possession of the breasts that sprang, full and taut, into his hands, and was fumbling with her waistband when Linzi became aware of voices outside. For a moment she turned cold; whoever it was, she couldn't stand them breaking in on this. Suddenly frantic, she wriggled away, pushing at Jason to get his weight off her. His face darkened with frustrated anger; then his head came up and she knew that he too had heard the sounds.

  With a muttered oath he dragged her to her feet and they both tidied their clothes, although Linzi didn't have time to tuck in her T-shirt. Shrugging, she left it loose and lifted her hair, shaking it free of tangles. And then the sunlit door was darkened by a shadow as someone peered in. Only the silhouette could be seen, but Linzi stared in fascination as the face looked around the chapel and a tinkling laugh floated through the air.

  'So this is where you're hiding yourself! And on this lovely afternoon, too. Why don't you come on out into the sunshine, Jason my love, and introduce me to your new model?'

  The voice was pretty, light and musical with a faint Welsh lilt that was very attractive. Linzi had never heard it in her life, but she knew its owner. She had seen that silhouette before. In fact, she had seen the entire head.

  A small, neat head, with pretty features, short, curling hair and a flirtatious look about the eyes. A head she had last seen, cast in bronze, in pride of place on a shelf in Jason's studio.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Slowly, still shaken and trying to control her uneven breathing, Linzi followed Jason out into the sunlight; The sudden dazzle made her blink and it was a moment or two before she was able to see properly; the two figures standing outside the chapel were hazy and blurred. But as her senses cleared, they came into clearer view.

  The girl was, as she had thought, the owner of the head she had seen at Bron Melyn. Small and petite, she had the instant effect of making Linzi feel tall and gawky. She had dark hair with a hint of auburn, that curled closely round her well-shaped head, merry dark eyes that flashed from a face as smooth and pale as porcelain, and a small, full-lipped mouth. A very kissable mouth, Linzi thought irrelevantly.

  With her was a tall, stooping man whom Linzi guessed to be in his sixties. He was looking at her with a kindly interest quite different from his companion's frank curiosity, and Linzi found herself drawn to him at once.

  'Well, introduce us, Jason,' the girl exclaimed, and Linzi noticed again the slight, pretty lilt. The shapely body was curved generously, yet still appeared slim enough, and Linzi recognised another of Jason's sculptures in the small hands. She looked at the neat, dark red trouser suit and wondered if Jason considered that a suitable outfit for hill-walking; then curbed her thoughts, telling herself not to be catty. As if it mattered to her what this girl wore, or what Jason thought about it!

  Nevertheless, she glanced at him to assess his reaction and found himself, as she had half expected, smiling his devastating smile and looking as pleased as if he were welcoming guests to a party. Only the party was meant for two, she thought, suddenly feeling bereft and let down. Didn't it worry Jason at all that they'd just been interrupted in the most intimate moment they had ever experienced together? Or maybe it wasn't like that for him. Maybe it had been just an opportunity not to be missed; an opportunity that would probably come again anyway. Feeling suddenly cheapened, she moved away, but Jason stopped her.

  'Linzi, I'd like you to meet some friends of mine. Thomas Penrhys, who lives at Penrhys Court not far from Bron Melyn; and his daughter Ceri. You've probably noticed bits of Ceri lying about in the studio,' he added with a grin. 'I've done her head several times, and her hands too. One day I'm going to do the whole thing.'

  And no doubt you're both looking forward to that, Linzi thought sourly. But she smiled at the girl and held out her hand. Was she being especially churlish? There was only friendliness in Ceri's smile, welcome in her handshake. Was it her imagination that something else lurked in the dark, merry eyes? A watchfulness, a shrewd calculation?

  'I'm so pleased to meet you,' Ceri exclaimed. 'I've seen your pictures so often. Maybe we can have a good old gossip some time when Jason's not working you too hard. But I'm sure he's not.'

  Was there innuendo in that remark? Considering that they had been discovered in the chapel in the middle of the afternoon, there might well be. But perhaps she was being over-sensitive after the emotion of the past hour. Linzi hesitated, but before she could speak old Mr Penrhys came to her rescue.

  'Perhaps Jason and Miss Berwick would like to come over to dinner one evening,' he suggested in a mild voice. 'Selwyn will be home soon and we could have a little celebration.'

  'Now that is a good idea!' Ceri cried. 'Selwyn's my twin brother,' she explained to Linzi. 'He's been in America, on and off, for the past year. Didn't I hear that you'd just come back from America too? Weren't you in New York?'

  'Yes, for quite a while.' Linzi moved uneasily. New York wasn't something she wanted to discuss too much, and if Ceri's brother had been there recently he was almost sure to want to talk about it. But with any luck, it wouldn't be until after she had gone anyway. 'When is your brother coming home?' she asked.

  'Oh, we don't know. Selwyn never tells us his movements, he just turns up.' Ceri laughed. 'He's something of an entrepreneur. Something turns up and he's off again. You can't keep track of Selwyn.'

  'I live in hopes that the boy will settle down,' Mr Penrhys remarked, 'But there, he's almost thirty now and still doesn't show any signs of it. I've rather given up worrying, I'm afraid.'

  'There was never any need to worry about Selwyn anyway,' Ceri told him. 'And how often have I asked you not to tell people his age—don't you realise it gives me away as well!' Her laugh tinkled again. 'Not that it matters with Jason. We've known each other too long and too well to have silly secrets like that from each other, haven't we?'


  'We have indeed.' Linzi glanced quickly at him and saw the expression in his eyes as he looked down at Ceri. So she'd been right, she thought dully. Her instincts, that had been screaming at her ever since her first sight of Ceri, telling her that there was more than friendship between her and Jason, were correct. There had to be something between two people who looked at each other the Way these two did. Fleetingly, she wondered if it were Ceri that Megan had been referring to. Then she shrugged, turning away from the couple who were now standing close to each other, laughing at some private joke. What did it matter to her anyway? She'd be gone from here and back in London in a few weeks. Ceri was welcome to the black-haired, craggy-faced sculptor. Welcome to his kisses and his lovemaking. . . .

  Abruptly, Linzi walked a few quick steps away so that she could no longer hear the quiet laughter. Only a few minutes ago Jason had been kissing her—and she had been on the point of surrender. She felt hot as she recalled the whirling sensations of those moments when he had held her in his arms and looked down at her, his face grave and his brilliant eyes dark with desire. How could she have let it happen? When at any other time she hated him, when she wore Richard's engagement ring? What was it about him that had this strange, sensual effect on her?

  She had heard that with some people the chemistry between them was powerful enough to be explosive. Presumably that was the way it was with her and Jason. Nothing to do with love or affection. Just a physical reaction; a reaction that could be avoided simply by never allowing it the opportunity to come about. And in future, she determined, that was how she would play this game. Never again would she run the risk of allowing Jason to take advantage of her.

  She became aware that Mr Penrhys was speaking to her and she turned quickly, walking beside him down a rough track. Jason and Ceri were following a little way behind, just too far for her to hear what they were saying. Linzi told herself she didn't want to know anyway, and gave her full attention to Mr Penrhys, answering his questions about her life and making him laugh with stories of Paris, Rome and London. Her modelling career had been sufficiently varied for her name and face to be familiar to people from all walks of life; she wasn't surprised when Mr Penrhys mentioned one or two TV adverts she had been successful in.