Diamonds Are Forever: The Royal Marriage ArrangementThe Diamond BrideThe Diamond Dad

by Rebecca Winters

Rufus’s eyes narrowed. ‘I take it you’re referring to James?’

  ‘I am,’ Celia confirmed abruptly.

  ‘Then I’m afraid you have it all wrong, Celia. I didn’t dismiss James; he decided it was time for him to retire.’

  ‘Indeed?’ She pursed her lips sceptically. ‘Rather sudden, wasn’t it?’

  Rufus sighed. ‘It was his own decision,’ he repeated flatly. ‘He feels Jess’s accident was his fault, and after talking to him I’m inclined to agree with him—’

  ‘I think we should go to my sitting-room and discuss this in private,’ Celia put in sharply.

  Away from her, the listening servant, Annie inwardly surmised. But if, as Rufus said, James had retired because he felt responsible for Jessica’s accident—

  ‘James has gone?’ Jessica groaned in dismay, turning to her father. ‘Daddy—’

  ‘As I’ve already told your grandmother—’ he gave Celia a censorious look for having discussed this in front of Jessica in the first place ‘—James feels responsible for your accident. He believes that he didn’t check your horse was saddled properly—’

  ‘But I should have checked it too,’ Jessica wailed in distress. ‘You always told me to. And I—’

  ‘Jessica, I think you and I should take our things upstairs,’ Annie encouraged gently, ‘and leave your father and grandmother to talk in private.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Then you can telephone Lucy and tell her you’ll be back at school tomorrow,’ she added lightly at Jessica’s rebellious expression. The little girl could be as stubborn as her father when she chose to be!

  ‘All right,’ the young girl conceded grudgingly. ‘I’ll see you later, Daddy,’ she added, almost questioningly, as if she had a feeling he might decide to leave after his conversation with her grandmother.

  ‘You will,’ he confirmed easily. ‘Annie …?’ He stopped her halfway up the wide staircase.

  She turned slowly, almost dreading what he was going to say to her. She swallowed hard. ‘Yes?’ Even to her own ears her voice sounded wary.

  He smiled, not that mocking grin, or that knowing smile, but with genuine warmth. ‘I’ll see you later, too,’ he told her huskily.

  Annie frowned down at him for several long seconds, and then she assented. ‘I’ll be with Jessica.’

  They ascended the rest of the stairs unhindered, and Annie, for one, was glad when they reached Jessica’s bedroom. She could finally breathe normally once again. It seemed as if she hadn’t been able to do so for so long. Since she woke up this morning, in fact!

  What was she going to do? That was the question she had put off asking herself all day. Even if Rufus went away again soon, he would eventually come back. And then she would have to face him all over again. Still loving him. Because the love she felt for Rufus was like nothing she had ever experienced before. Or, she was sure, would ever feel for anyone again. But Rufus was in love with another woman. A woman who didn’t seem to return his love. What a triangle of misplaced emotions.

  ‘Can I go downstairs and telephone Lucy now?’

  She looked up at Jessica with unfocusing eyes, hadn’t even been aware of the fact that the two of them had unpacked what little Jessica had brought back with her. But they had, and the little girl now wanted to make that promised telephone call. But Annie wasn’t sure whether Rufus and Celia would have moved out of the hallway yet—there had been the light of battle in their eyes!

  ‘Use the telephone in my bedroom,’ Annie suggested. ‘That way you can talk for as long as you like.’

  Jessica was more than happy with this arrangement, running off to Annie’s room to make the call. Leaving Annie on her own again, which was something she didn’t particularly want. She had time to think then. And her thoughts were all of Rufus.

  Margaret was still in London, so why, if Rufus was hoping to have the other woman back in his life, had he rushed them all back here? Maybe he had just wanted to get her and Jessica off his hands, and despite what he had said downstairs he would soon be returning to London?

  It would make more sense for him to be on his own in the city. Certainly for Annie not to be around. Especially after what had happened between them last night.

  Was it really only last night …? It seemed unreal now, almost a dream—or a nightmare! Because that was what all this had now become.

  And she couldn’t sit here lost in thought in Jessica’s bedroom for ever! Everything was once again tidy, and there was nothing in here for her to do. A cup of coffee sounded like a good idea. She could bring a drink back up with her for Jessica, too.

  But what if Celia and Rufus were still at the bottom of the stairs?

  Of course they weren’t; Celia would never have a private conversation with Rufus where one of the servants might overhear them! And, from the angry expressions on both their faces earlier, the conversation between the two Diamonds was going to be very private indeed!

  She was right—the area at the bottom of the stairs was empty as she descended, not even the murmur of voices to be heard anywhere in the house—so as least Celia and Rufus weren’t actually shouting at each other. They—

  ‘Annie …! Thank God!’ An agitated Rufus appeared in the doorway of Celia’s private sitting-room. ‘Dial Emergency and ask for an ambulance to be sent here as soon as possible!’ he told her forcefully, his face pale.

  She blinked up at him dazedly. What—? Who—? Surely he and Celia hadn’t actually come to blows?

  She didn’t believe that for a moment; Rufus might be many things, but she knew without a doubt that he would never be violent with a woman. So what—?

  ‘Annie, call the damned ambulance!’ Rufus repeated savagely. ‘Celia has collapsed. I think it may be a heart attack!’

  CHAPTER TEN

  ANNIE didn’t need telling again, galvanised into action as she rushed to find the nearest telephone, surprisingly calm as she gave the details of Celia’s collapse and exactly where the house was. The operator on the other end of the telephone line assured her an ambulance would be dispatched immediately, and would arrive shortly.

  Annie hurried to Celia’s sitting-room as soon as the call was ended, finding Rufus bent over her as she lay supine on the sofa, her face looking grey, and suddenly very old, the hauteur all gone, leaving an ageing, vulnerable-looking woman.

  ‘What happened?’ Annie prompted softly as she moved to stand beside Rufus.

  He didn’t look up. ‘One minute we were talking—rather heatedly, I admit.’ He frowned darkly. ‘But then, Celia and I have always talked to each other like that,’ he went on harshly. ‘But this time she suddenly went that sickly grey colour and collapsed.’

  Annie came down on her haunches beside him. ‘What were the two of you talking about?’

  ‘Anthony!’ Rufus said disgustedly. ‘What else?’

  She reached out to touch Celia’s cheek, finding it clammy, her hands icy cold. ‘She loves him very much,’ she told Rufus distractedly. ‘She’s very proud of him.’

  ‘He’s a selfish, egotistical, insensitive bastard!’ Rufus rasped forcefully.

  ‘He’s her son,’ Annie reminded him gently. ‘And a mother’s love forgives most things.’

  Rufus straightened abruptly. ‘I wouldn’t know.’

  Annie looked up at him, brown eyes shadowed. ‘Neither would I,’ she agreed. ‘But I’m sure that if I had a child I would be as protective of him as Celia is of Anthony. As you are of Jessica.’

  A nerve pulsed in his tightly clenched jaw before he turned away to stand with his back towards her as he stared out of the window.

  Annie wondered if he was actually seeing anything out of that window, or if it was just his way of avoiding looking at her and the grey-faced woman on the sofa. The latter, she believed. Whatever anger had possessed Rufus this morning, it was still there. And it was directed towards Anthony …

  ‘The ambulance is here,’ Rufus suddenly said, turning back into the room. ‘I suggest I go to the hospit
al with Celia while you stay here with Jessica. And wait for Anthony to return,’ he added frostily. ‘Apparently he drove Davina back to London early this morning, but will be back later this afternoon.’

  His suggestion that he go with Celia made complete sense; Celia was his stepmother, and he was the obvious choice to accompany her. But Annie didn’t particularly relish the idea of being the one to wait here for Anthony’s return!

  But she didn’t voice any of her own feelings, standing back as Rufus admitted the paramedics to do their work, feeling rather superfluous as they took over, eventually lifting Celia onto the stretcher and carrying her out to the waiting vehicle, Rufus following closely behind.

  And then the ambulance, plus Celia and Rufus, was gone, and an eerie calm settled over the house. Eerie, because it certainly wasn’t restful.

  It was left to Annie to break the news to the rest of the household, including Jessica, who, after being buoyant from her chat with Lucy, suddenly became very quiet.

  ‘Is Granny going to die?’ Jessica suddenly burst out, her throat moving convulsively as she choked back the tears.

  It would be so much easier to say no, she wasn’t—and pray that was the truth. But Annie really couldn’t do that, had no idea how serious Celia’s condition was.

  ‘I don’t know, Jessica,’ she answered honestly.

  ‘My grandfather died when I was a baby,’ Jessica rejoined evenly.

  Annie held the little girl’s hand tightly. ‘I know, darling.’

  ‘My mummy died, too,’ Jessica said tightly.

  Annie felt her heart contract at the stark truth of Jessica’s words; her mother had died and left her. As had Annie’s own mother. And Rufus’s. Everyone died eventually. That was the one true fact of life that was inevitable.

  Her hand tightened around Jessica’s. ‘Let’s hope that Granny will get better.’

  Jessica chewed on her bottom lip, still fighting the tears. ‘My mummy went out on a boat with Uncle Anthony, and never came back.’

  Annie frowned. Joanne and Anthony …? Was this the boating accident Rufus had spoken of the very first afternoon she met him? Joanne—and Anthony?

  ‘That doesn’t mean Granny won’t come back from the hospital,’ she assured Jessica.

  ‘Will I be able to go and see her?’ Jessica persisted, suddenly looking very young.

  ‘If your daddy says she’s well enough,’ Annie answered evasively—because she really didn’t know how ill Celia was! ‘Let’s have a game of chess while we wait to hear from him,’ she encouraged as a distraction. ‘Your father tells me you play well.’

  Jessica gave her a derisive look that reminded Annie so achingly of Rufus. ‘Daddy tells me you play even better!’

  Annie laughed, relieved to have something to laugh at. ‘He wasn’t really concentrating last night when we played.’ His thoughts had all been with another woman!

  ‘I don’t mind losing,’ Jessica admitted. ‘Daddy says it’s good experience.’

  ‘Does he?’ Annie returned dryly; she very much doubted Rufus had ever been pleased at the experience of losing!

  Jessica giggled at her wry expression. ‘I don’t think he thought so last night …!’ She giggled again. ‘I still can’t believe you actually beat him.’ She shook her head as they set up the chessboard. ‘I don’t think that’s ever happened to him before.’

  Annie bent her head over the game as her own smile faded; she didn’t think it would ever happen again, either. Because she very much doubted she would spend any more time alone with Rufus …

  But she was relieved the suggestion of chess seemed to have taken Jessica’s mind off her maudlin thoughts of death. It was sad that Jessica had such tragic memories to carry through life with her. And how awful that her mother had died in such a terrible way. Drowning, fighting for breath and simply taking in water instead of air, was a horrible way for anyone to die.

  But at least now she knew Joanne wasn’t the one who had committed suicide down in the cove.

  Which meant that probably Rufus’s mother had …

  How awful if two Diamond brides had met their death by drowning.

  And now Celia, a third Diamond bride, was seriously ill in hospital—Annie realised she was becoming maudlin herself now, and that wouldn’t help anyone!

  How quickly she had become caught up in the lives and emotions of this family. But they seemed to be a family dogged by misfortune. Even Anthony was marrying a woman he had no intention of being faithful to. She sincerely hoped Rufus was right, and that this was not a typical example of family life!

  She managed to beat Jessica at chess quite easily, although she could see by Jessica’s strategy that, as she got older, she would be a force to be reckoned with; no doubt she would have the same determination to win as her father!

  ‘Do you think Daddy will ring us once he knows how Granny is?’ Jessica asked once they had cleared the game away.

  Obviously Jessica hadn’t been distracted by the chess game at all! ‘Let’s hope so.’ She stood up. ‘Come on, it’s time to go in search of some lunch.’ Empty tummies weren’t going to help anyone, either.

  It was mid-afternoon before the expected call came through from Rufus, and he sounded incredibly weary. ‘Celia is awake now,’ he said tonelessly. ‘It wasn’t a heart attack, after all, but she’s going to stay on in hospital for a few days anyway. I’m just arranging for a private room for her now,’ he told Annie. ‘I should be back soon.’

  He seemed to be missing a lot out; if it hadn’t been a heart attack, why had Celia collapsed in that way? Why were they keeping her in hospital for a few days? Surely twenty-four hours was the normal time for observation?

  But Annie was very aware of Jessica hopping from one foot to the other as she stood at Annie’s elbow, desperate to know her grandmother wasn’t going to die. ‘Jessica would like to see Celia,’ she told Rufus bluntly, hoping he would realise why Jessica was so anxious to do that; she could hardly explain exactly why, with Jessica standing so close.

  ‘Not today.’ Rufus’s voice was harsh. ‘Maybe tomorrow, when Celia is more—composed.’

  He sounded strange, not at all the confident Rufus she was used to. Maybe Celia’s collapse had made him realise he did have some affection for his stepmother, after all …

  ‘Could you give Celia Jessica’s love?’ She smiled as Jessica nodded enthusiastically beside her. ‘And my best wishes.’

  ‘I’ll do that,’ he returned distantly. ‘I don’t suppose Anthony is back yet?’ His voice hardened as he spoke of his brother.

  Not yet. And Annie couldn’t say she wasn’t rather relieved that he wasn’t. They hadn’t parted on good terms, and she didn’t think he would thank her for being the one to pass on the news about his mother, either.

  ‘No,’ she answered Rufus evenly.

  ‘Fine,’ he rasped. ‘I did try telephoning Davina’s parents, hoping to catch him there, but apparently he left a couple of hours ago.’

  Which meant that Anthony could be back any time now. Annie felt her stomach muscles contract at the thought of seeing him again. The last time they had spoken he had offered her the role of mistress in his life—an offer she had turned down in no uncertain terms.

  ‘Annie?’

  She mentally shook herself as she realised Rufus was still talking to her. ‘Yes?’ she prompted huskily.

  ‘Don’t get carried away on a wave of pity for Anthony because his mother isn’t well,’ Rufus bit out insultingly. ‘He’s still a first-class bastard. And he always will be.’

  Annie bristled resentfully at Rufus’s condescending tone. She might have behaved rather stupidly where Anthony was concerned, but she wasn’t completely stupid; she now knew exactly what sort of man Anthony was. ‘I’ll keep your advice in mind,’ she told Rufus frostily. ‘Was there anything else?’

  His answering chuckle was not what she wanted to hear! How dared he laugh at her? Because she had no doubt that was exactly what he was doing. Damn him!r />
  ‘I’ll be back very soon, Annie,’ he told her gruffly. ‘Keep the bed warm for me!’

  Keep the—!

  She drew back from the receiver as if it had reached out and struck her, dropping it back into its cradle with a clumsy clatter. How dared he? How could he …? She had been absolutely mortified all day over what had happened between them last night—and he was making a joke out of it!

  ‘Annie? What happened? Why did you ring off so suddenly?’ A stricken-faced Jessica looked up at her worriedly.

  She was alarming the little girl with her behaviour, and that would never do. ‘Your daddy had to go and sort out a hospital room for your grandmother.’ She smiled, smoothing back Jessica’s silky fringe from her brow. ‘But everything is all right. And your father will be home soon.’ Something she now dreaded even more than seeing Anthony again! Rufus was—

  ‘Ah, my two beautiful girls.’

  It seemed as if the thought of Anthony had somehow made him appear as he stood tall and handsome in the doorway of the library where Annie and Jessica had settled for the afternoon, his demeanour as charming as ever, appearing to remember nothing of the last, acerbic conversation between himself and Annie as he gave her his most charming smile. He had obviously forgotten that the last thing she had done before going to London with Rufus was threaten to punch him on the nose! Or maybe he was just arrogant enough to think that conversation wasn’t important. Or simply foreplay!

  ‘Uncle Anthony!’ Jessica stood up to launch herself into his arms. ‘I’m so glad you’re here.’

  ‘Well, it’s nice to know one of you is,’ he drawled, giving Annie an enquiring look over Jessica’s shoulder as he hugged the little girl.

  ‘Your mother is ill.’ She hadn’t meant for it to come out quite that bluntly, but somehow it had. ‘Rufus is at the hospital with her now, and—’

  ‘Hospital?’ Anthony repeated slowly, lowering Jessica to the carpeted floor, his gaze fixed on Annie. ‘My mother is in hospital?’

  Annie swallowed hard. ‘She had a—She collapsed shortly after we returned from London this morning—’