Carver's Bride

by Nicola West

  'And just what are you doing here?' she asked, her tone low and vicious. 'Currying favour? I suppose you thought you'd find Jason at home, try to get around him? Well, Miss Parry, you thought wrong, didn't you? So you'd better be going—back where you came from. And don't let me see you round here again!' Her glance swept over the pram and there was a look of contempt in her eyes. 'You got everything you deserve, my girl, and you're not getting an ounce more—from anyone.'

  The flush had ebbed away from Sian's cheeks, leaving her white and ghostly. Linzi saw the tears in the girl's eyes as she rose hastily and took hold of the pram handle, and she leapt up to restrain her, furious at Ceri's interference.

  'No, Sian, you don't have to go! You haven't finished your tea—sit down again.' She whipped round to face Ceri. 'I don't know who you think you are, coming here and giving the orders ‑'

  'And I don't know who you think you are!' Ceri cut in. 'You're just an employee here, right? A model. I'm a close friend of the owner of this house and I know who he wants here and who he doesn't. And this—this slut—' her lip curled disdainfully '—isn't one of the people he wants. So get going,' she added, addressing Sian again, 'and don't come back until you're invited!'

  Her face burning, Sian turned away. She wheeled the pram along the terrace and disappeared round the corner, while Linzi watched helplessly. She had no way of knowing whether Ceri's words were true—but she made up her mind she'd find out as soon as Jason came home.

  But it seemed that Ceri had thought of that too, and had no intention of letting it happen. She watched Sian's exit with a malevolent expression, then turned to Linzi with an entirely different look on her face—a complacent, conspiratorial look, as if to suggest that she and Linzi were on one side, and Sian and her like firmly on the other.

  'I'm sorry you had to be pestered with her,' she said warmly. 'I suppose you thought I was a bit harsh—but you have to be with a girl of that type, or there's no knowing where it will end. Anyway, I don't think she'll be coming back here. Just as well Jason wasn't here, though!' she laughed.

  'But I don't understand,' Linzi said in bewilderment. 'Why did she come? What did she want? I thought she wanted work—but she said not. She said she wanted to see Jason, to talk to him.' She stopped suddenly, an unpleasant suspicion entering her mind.

  'I bet she did,' Ceri agreed. 'And can't you guess why? She wants to pin that baby on him! Well, she could be right at that—though I've never known Jason slip up before—but I'd be very surprised if there weren't quite a few other candidates as well. Little Sian's just starting at the top—but she's not going to get anywhere, not if I have anything to do with it!'

  'The baby? Jason? But surely ‑'

  'Why not?' Ceri's eyes were bright with malice. 'I've never supposed Jason lived like a monk, have you? And I was away all last summer, doing some TV. I hope I'm realistic enough not to expect a man to live an unnatural life—though of course, as soon as we're properly engaged things will be rather different.'

  Linzi shook her head in bewilderment. Ceri's reasoning was beyond her. She seemed to accept quite naturally that Jason could be the father of Sian's baby—yet had denied categorically to the girl that he would raise a finger to help her. Her attitude seemed to be quite ambivalent, and totally callous as far as Sian and her child were concerned. As for herself, Linzi didn't know what to think. It was yet another puzzle to add to the turmoil in her mind.

  'Anyway, don't let's talk about Sian,' Ceri went on. 'Look, I really came over to—well, to apologise for last night. I know I wasn't really fair to you. But just imagine how you'd feel if your fiancé was having a beautiful model living in the house with him!' She laughed gaily. 'I'm afraid the little green-eyed monster took over for a while! But you won't hold it against me, will you? I'd really like to be friends.'

  Linzi looked at her. The pretty face was open and confiding, warmth and friendliness shone from the dark eyes. Was the older girl to be trusted or not? Linzi sighed and gave up. It could hardly matter, anyway. She was so confused that she could hardly trust herself, let alone anyone else.

  'And I came over to invite you and Jason to dinner on Friday,' Ceri went on. 'You'll never guess what's happening—Selwyn's going to be home. Well, we knew he was coming, but we didn't expect it to be so quick. He'll be here tomorrow, isn't it marvellous? It's months since we've had him home, so naturally we want to celebrate. And I do want you to meet him before you go back to London.'

  So that was it, Linzi thought. Selwyn was to be the distraction, removing temptation from Jason. Well, it could make no difference, and there was nothing she could do about it anyway. She smiled back at Ceri and said she couldn't speak for Jason, but if it was all right with him she'd love to come.

  'That's fine, then.' Ceri stood up gracefully. 'Perhaps you'll get Jason to ring me to fix a time. And I'll have to be getting back now—there's a heap to do before Selwyn comes!' She smiled up at Linzi as the taller girl stood up too. 'I'm glad we're friends. I really don't know what got into me last night! But everything's all right now, isn't it?'

  'Oh yes,' said Linzi, walking round to the front of the house with her, 'everything's all right now.'

  And that's the biggest lie you ever told, Linzi Berwick, she thought, walking slowly back to the terrace. Because when she sorted it all out, it seemed that there was very little that was all right. The confusing events of the day chased disturbingly through her mind. Richard's call— Sian—Ceri—what was the truth of anything?

  Her mind came back to Sian and the baby, a new and disturbing element in the puzzle. Was it—could it be— Jason's? She hadn't seen the child clearly, he had been asleep. But her memory brought a fresh jolt as she pictured again the tiny head emerging from the blankets. The crinkled face. The mop of hair.

  The mop of thick, black hair.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jason returned late that night. Linzi was in bed, but still awake, and she heard the grey Lancia sweep into the yard, its lights bringing a momentary glow to her curtains. Restlessly she turned over, unable to decide whether she was glad of sorry that he had come back. Tomorrow she would have to meet him, with all her new-found knowledge, and she just didn't have any idea how to handle the situation.

  However, she thought as she dressed for breakfast, there was no way to avoid it, so she might as well use all the morale-boosters she had. And, tired of leotard and jeans, she dressed in a full white skirt patterned with swirling black, and a close-fitting black T-shirt. Her tawny hair she left loose, swinging in a curving bell around her cheeks, and she applied only a dusting of make-up and just enough pink lipstick to emphasise the full curves of her mouth.

  Jason was already on the terrace when she arrived. Once again, the September morning was perfect; just a hint of coolness in the air that came with the pearly mist, enough for Linzi to shrug her shoulders into a vivid green shawl, but with the same golden promise of a warm day that had been Bron Melyn's welcome to her ever since she had arrived. The weather must break soon, she mused, taking her seat and looking warily across the table at Jason, but so far there were no signs of it.

  She had decided to leave all the running to Jason. Whatever he had meant by his words two nights ago, it was up to him to take the matter further if he wanted to. It was quite possible that he'd thought things over in the cold light of day and regretted his actions. In any case, she reflected ruefully, she was like a lamb with a lion as far as Jason was concerned; whatever their encounter, he was likely to emerge the winner.

  'Hi,' said Jason, looking up with a smile that turned her heart over. 'You look very nice this morning.' His eyes lingered on the curves so flatteringly revealed by the snug T-shirt. 'Aren't we doing any work, then?'

  'I can change after breakfast,' Linzi said shortly. She tried not to notice his own dark good looks and the muscular power of his body in the tan slacks and shirt. 'You don't look exactly dressed in your old clothes yourself,' she added.

  'Like you, I thought I'd be civilised fo
r once,' he agreed smoothly. 'Did you have a good day yesterday?'

  Oh yes, Linzi wanted to answer bitterly. Just a phone call all the way from Vienna to tell me of your reputation, and confirmation in the afternoon in the shape of a baby and a distraught young mother. . . . She wondered what Jason's reaction would be to that, and decided not to risk it.

  'I took Bracken up on the hill for a walk in the afternoon,' she said noncommittally. 'Wearing proper boots this time—I went into Crickhowell in the morning to buy them.'

  'Did you indeed?' His eyes widened. 'Well, so my words do have some effect on you after all. You must have changed in the past five years!'

  'I should hope I had,' she retorted. 'I shouldn't like to think I was still as gullible as I was then.'

  'Meaning?' The warmth had gone from his eyes, leaving them chilled and wary.

  'Meaning you took me in once, and you aren't likely to do it again,' Linzi said levelly. 'I'm only thankful that I saw the light in time five years ago. Marriage between us would never have worked, Jason—I knew it then and it's even more clear to me now.'

  She poured herself a cup of coffee, wishing that her hand wouldn't shake as she did so. Jason's eyes were on her trembling fingers, she knew; looking up, she saw his glance travel insolently over her body, and her face flamed as she remembered the last time he had seen her.

  'I don't remember mentioning marriage to you just lately,' he murmured at last, and she flinched at the implication. 'But I certainly got the impression that you were more than willing for—shall we say a somewhat closer relationship than we've enjoyed until now? Or was I wrong?'

  'Maybe we were both wrong,' Linzi replied crisply, though inside she was shaking. 'All right, Jason, you're an attractive man. But you don't need me to tell you that, do you? You can get confirmation of that whenever you like. From Ceri, certainly—and from others, when Ceri's not around.'

  'And just what do you mean by that, exactly?' he snapped.

  'I think you know quite well what I mean.' Bravely, Linzi met his eyes, though the ice in them stabbed her to the heart. 'I realise it's too much to expect a man like you to manage without women entirely, Jason. But I do think you could confine your pleasures to those who are experienced enough to share them with you, and I think you could be a little more responsible too. Leaving an innocent teenager in the lurch just isn't funny. At least, I don't think so.'

  The sapphire eyes widened and turned a slate-blue as Jason stared at her. Then the black brows came down over them in a scowl that had Linzi cringing in her seat. The lines deepened and brought a cruel harshness to the craggy face as Jason said in a low, dangerous tone:

  'Just what are you talking about, Linzi? Would you mind coming out into the open and explaining some of these accusations you seem set on making? And telling me just what went on yesterday to cause all this? I thought when I went away that we'd begun to come to some sort of understanding. Now it seems I was wrong.'

  'Yes, you 'were, weren't you?' Linzi was quaking now, wishing she'd never started the argument, wondering how she could get away without having to say any more. She'd seen Jason angry before, plenty of times; but never seen quite that look in his eyes, that hardness to his mouth.

  'So? I'm waiting for your explanation, Linzi.'

  Desperate, Linzi took refuge in the age-old cry of women everywhere. 'If you don't know, I'm certainly not telling you!' Half rising from her chair, she backed away, not knowing what Jason would do next. 'And I can't believe that you don't know—or maybe you just don't know which particular girl I'm referring to—maybe there are so many of them that ‑'

  There was a sudden harsh squeal as Jason scraped his chair back on the stone flags of the terrace and came towards her. Terrified now, Linzi turned to run, but he had her before she had gone a yard, and wrenched her round to face him. His eyes were like stones as they glared down at her, and as she turned her head to escape their fury he brought one hand up to her chin, twisting her head brutally so that she was forced to look at him.

  'Now,' he grated, 'maybe you'll tell me just where you picked up all this juicy gossip!'

  Linzi closed her eyes and shook her head weakly. She couldn't say any more, she couldn't. She wanted only that he should let her go, let her escape the terrifying, disturbing nearness of his body, from the virile masculinity that assaulted her senses and weakened her knees. She wished desperately that she'd taken Richard's advice and never come here; or at least left yesterday, before all this torment began.

  'I—I can't,' she whispered brokenly. 'I'm sorry—I should never have said anything.'

  'You're darned right you shouldn't,' he said grimly. 'And one of these fine days I'll get the whole truth out of you, my girl.' His fingers tightened on her arms. 'I must say, it's nice to know you trust me so implicitly. At least I know enough now not to make any mistakes of my own! I just could have done that.' He let her go abruptly, and Linzi staggered. 'All right. We'll call it a day, shall we? And maybe we'd better both go and change for work. I'd like to get ahead as fast as possible now.'

  And it was quite obvious why, Linzi thought as she went up the stairs to her bedroom. Whatever there might have been between her and Jason had been destroyed by this morning's scene. She admitted to herself that she Could, if Jason had shown any signs of loving her, have accepted the fact of Sian and her baby—provided that Jason had looked after them properly. But the indications were that he had no such intention. That he was denying responsibility and had enlisted Ceri's help in sending the girl packing. And that was something Linzi couldn't stomach.

  Jason must have realised this, and seen too that any' chance of an affair with her was now over. From now on, their relationship would be strictly professional—and terminated as soon as possible.

  The next few days passed slowly, Linzi realised for the first time that ever since she had arrived she and Jason had been building up a companionable relationship; a 'togetherness' that allowed them to share a comfortable silence, a mental communication that enabled them to understand the other's thoughts without a lot of explanation. Jason's work had helped with this growing understanding, for in the studio they were both professional, with no strains or embarrassment, and this ease had carried over into their everyday life. It had, Linzi thought, paved the way for the acknowledgement of her love.

  Now, that companionship and understanding seemed to have vanished. They still worked together, but without the sense of sharing that there had been before. Linzi felt shut out, a mere dummy, as Jason examined and measured her with the indifferent air of a bricklayer rather than a sculptor. Remembering how emotionally involved he usually was in his work, she wondered if it would make any difference to the final figure, but dared not ask him. This new, remote Jason would be more likely to pretend that he didn't know what she was talking about than to answer her truthfully.'

  On the Friday evening they both went to dinner at Penrhys Court. Linzi would infinitely have preferred not to go—she wasn't staying long, she pointed out when Jason received the invitation, she hardly knew the family (and didn't much like Ceri anyway, she added silently) and could only be an intruder on a family celebration. But Jason had ignored her reluctance, telling her curtly that she had been invited, and that was that. Besides, it wasn't often that someone new came to the valley and old Mr Penrhys had seemed to take to her. 'Though I can't say I'm sorry you won't be here long enough for him to find out what you're really like, he had added caustically, and Linzi had been too depressed even to defend herself.

  She still had enough pride, however, to take pains with her appearance when Friday came. She looked into her wardrobe, thankful that she had brought. two evening dresses with her; the sea-green Grecian style she had worn before, when Ceri came, so it had to be the other and she took it out and looked it over critically. In a deep golden-brown velvet, with shawl collar and nipped-in waist above the billowing skirt, it was ideal for the cooler evenings and brought out the auburn lights in her smooth hair. A heavy gold neck-chain
and matching bracelet glowed against her tanned skin, and she decided that plain gold ear-rings would look better than more elaborate ones. Gold sandals completed her outfit and she stood back from the mirror feeling that at least she was doing herself justice. She pushed away the rueful wish that it would have been nice to be doing Jason justice too....

  Not that he needed anyone to do him justice. He was dressed as immaculately as on the previous occasion, and once more his appearance made her heart miss a beat. No wonder Ceri had set her mind on capturing him, she thought dully as he led her out to the car; no wonder poor little Sian had been overwhelmed! And her own treacherous senses were saved by a sharp jolt of anger. He shouldn't have deserted that poor child, and she only wished she had the courage to tell him so!

  She settled herself in the car and Jason slid into the driver's seat. His nearness sent a tingle through her limbs and she glanced sideways at him in an effort to gauge his reaction. But he seemed totally unmoved, his profile harsh and stern as he looked straight ahead. And when he spoke it was to utter only stilted small-talk, evidently in an attempt to bring about a more normal atmosphere between them before they arrived at the Court.

  He doesn't want me here any more than I want to be here, Linzi thought miserably, and wondered just how long it would be before she Was able to return to London.

  The journey to Penrhys Court was short, although it involved winding through a maze of tiny lanes. Linzi had realised soon after arriving at Bron Melyn that there were several such ways branching from the lane leading to the studio. She had wandered along some of them on free afternoons, but felt that it would be easier to get lost among them than on the hills themselves. She watched idly as the headlights lit up banks and hedgerows. The evenings were drawing in now; it was dark by seven-thirty and the drop in temperature then signified that the Indian summer was almost at an end' and that autumn would soon give way to winter.