Swiftly she crossed the room and tried to look behind it, to her surprise she found solid wall at the back, although the mirror did not fit flush to it. She tried to see the back. She nodded, satisfied. It was, as she thought, clear glass but to what end if it hung upon a solid wall? There must be something else.
For the first time, she noticed that some wires ran around the room at the top of the wall. She followed their trail with her eyes, perceiving with surprise that they led to the mirror. She peered again into the gap between the mirror and the wall and in the centre she could just see a small black object but couldn’t make out what it could possibly be.
Giving up on her examination of the mirror, her eyes alighted on a closed door tucked away in the corner of the vast room. Hastily she tried the handle. It was locked. Unwilling to give up her quest Hillary pondered her dilemma, then with a feeling of elation remembered seeing a mahogany bureau in one of the other rooms. Quickly she ran to it, opened all the drawers and rolled up the top. To her dismay, it just seemed to be full of papers. Then, just as she was about to give up her search, she remembered that bureaux of this kind often had a secret compartment. Yes, there it was. To her relief and excitement the compartment sprang open to reveal a solitary key.
Her stomach churning now with the thrill of the chase, Hillary snatched up the key and dashed towards the locked door but just as she reached it the outer door opened and Darius entered the room. Stopping dead in her tracks, Hillary dropped the key into one of the deep pockets of the bathrobe. Darius wandered around, glanced through the doorway into the adjoining room and immediately noticed the open bureau.
‘I was looking for some notepaper.’ Hillary improvised swiftly. ‘I was worried in case you had forgotten to leave a note for Alicia . . .’ Her voice trailed off in embarrassment.
Darius’s expression softened. He walked to the bureau and closed it carefully. ‘I told you I would take care of it and I have. Now, come here.’
Hillary obeyed, breathing a deep sigh of relief which Darius took to be one of passion. ‘You can’t get enough of it, can you?’ he asked, parting the bathrobe to caress her breasts.
‘Of you,’ she murmured, giving herself up to the delightful torment of his hands exploring her whole body.
Suddenly, Darius stiffened in mid-caress. ‘What’s this?’ He felt the outline of the key through her robe. Blushing and stammering with confusion, Hillary explained that she had come across it in the bureau.
‘So why do you have it in your pocket?’
‘I was curious.’ She raised her head and looked him squarely in the eyes, her chin jutting forward in defiance. ‘There are too many mysteries in this house.’
‘Is that so?’ Darius let go of her and walked to the window. For a while he stared out at the garden in silence, then he turned to her. ‘I’m going to make love to you and then I will show you something that only Ilona knows exists. I feel I can trust you to keep it a secret.’ He smiled dangerously. ‘Perhaps you will even find it as stimulating as Ilona and I always have.’
Afterwards, she would ask herself again and again why she hadn’t been curious enough to insist on sharing his secret first. Perhaps it was simply that she had been without his caresses for several hours and felt the need for them outweighed everything else? Or perhaps she suspected that she wouldn’t like what he had to show her and that that would be the end?
For whatever reason, she allowed him to pick her up in his arms and carry her back to the bedroom, her lips seeking his as they still crossed the threshold. Her stomach clenched tightly as she felt his body move against hers, the opened bathrobe falling away from her shoulders as he lowered her to the bed.
‘You are so beautiful, Hillary, I must have you always.’
His words were romantic, yet at the same time frightening in their intensity. She knew then that any relationship with Darius would never be on equal terms. He was not a man who would allow her unlimited freedom. All the same, there was something very tantalising, very exciting about being possessed so totally by another human being.
Pushing all thoughts aside, Hillary gave herself up to the sublimity of his kiss.
A half-hour or so earlier, both Darius and Hillary had come. Now, so had the moment of truth. As Darius led the way to the locked room, she felt her heart begin to pound. Nervously she licked her lips and followed him to the other side of the room where they stood for a few seconds, side by side in front of the closed wooden door. For a split second she wanted to tell him not to open it. A huge part of her didn’t want to discover what lay behind because, deep down, she knew the knowledge would destroy what little hope they had of a relationship together.
When he flung open the door and revealed the contents of the room, Hillary didn’t know what to think. Her heart sank, realising that her instincts had been right. She stared at the wall lined with television monitors, then the large black leather chair. With huge eyes, she turned and looked questioningly at Darius. ‘What is this?’
Apparently oblivious to her confusion, he stepped forwards and flicked a switch. Immediately the blank screens sprang to life. Hillary’s eyes darted from one to the other in astonishment: there was Ilona talking to Fearn in the grand hallway, there was Torran watching lunchtime TV.
‘Oh, my God!’ she exclaimed aloud. Several of the screens showed the converted quarters where she’d been staying: the sitting room, the bedrooms – her bedroom! ‘How could you? You’ve been spying on me! On all of us!’ she screamed at Darius – furious with him, with his little games and his smug expression.
‘I have not been spying, as you put it.’ His voice was icy, controlled. ‘I am a voyeur. I like to watch people, to study their actions.’
‘You’re a Peeping Tom!’ Hillary looked at him with disdain, wondering what she ever saw in him.
‘You will not tell anyone about this, Hillary.’ His voice was low and menacing.
‘I damn well will tell people. I’ll tell Alicia and Chloe and Odile for a start and then . . .’
‘I think not.’ Hillary whirled around at the sound of Ilona’s voice. She stood behind them, her eyes full of hatred for the young woman who was her rival. ‘You will not tell anyone.’ She held up a hand to silence Hillary who had started to protest. ‘Because, if you do, I will make sure the photographs of you are released to the papers.’
‘Ilona!’ Darius’s tone held a warning but she ignored him too.
‘What will the parents of your students think when they see you in such compromising positions?’
Staring at her, open mouthed with astonishment, Hillary had to concede she had a point. Still, she wouldn’t give up that easily. ‘Please leave us, Ilona, I wish to talk to Darius in private.’
Ilona shook her head but Darius nodded. ‘Do as she asks.’
Grudgingly, the older woman retreated. ‘I’ll collect some clothes from your own room. No doubt you’ll be wanting to leave as quickly as possible?’
Hillary sighed deeply. She felt completely shattered by Darius’s disclosure, and by Ilona’s threat. Darius stepped forwards and put his hands on her shoulders.
‘She won’t do it, Hillary, I’ll see to that. But please don’t tell anyone about my equipment.’
Despite her shock and anger, Hillary almost laughed. She shook herself free of Darius’s hands and walked to the sofa where she sat down heavily. ‘I need a drink.’
Darius poured them both a glass of brandy. ‘I honestly thought you of all people would appreciate the eroticism of such a pastime.’
‘Why?’ She looked at him. ‘Why do you say, me of all people? What does that mean?’
Darius sipped his drink and stared at her, his expression holding its familiar appeal. ‘You are one of the least inhibited women I have ever met, Hillary. You truly enjoy sex and take pleasure from your own body, and other people’s,’ he added meaningfully.
Hillary stared at him, feeling herself fall under his spell all over again. ‘It’s not that I don’t understan
d the thrill of being a voyeur,’ she admitted, blushing slightly. ‘It’s just that I don’t like being watched without my consent and nor would the others. Can you appreciate what I’m saying?’
Nodding, Darius put down his glass and stretched his hand out towards her, his eyes glittering dangerously, his lips curving in a seductive smile. ‘Now we have sorted out our little misunderstanding, let us continue where we left off this morning.’
‘No!’ Hillary shook her head vehemently. ‘I think I would rather leave now if you don’t mind.’
‘But I thought we had settled things between us.’ Darius looked genuinely confused.
‘Perhaps.’ Hillary rose to her feet, pulling the robe tightly around her body as she did so. ‘But I don’t feel like going to bed with you right now. I need time to think.’
‘Are you sure?’ Darius stepped forwards and put his arms around her, caressing her through the thin cotton until she could feel herself weakening beneath his touch.
Just then they were interrupted yet again by a knock at the door. This time it was Fearn carrying an armful of Hillary’s clothes.
‘Thank you, just put them down.’ Darius nodded at the young girl who smiled wanly before fleeing the room obviously scared half to death by her much older half-brother.
Making the most of this distraction, Hillary disengaged herself from his clutches. ‘I have to go, Darius.’
‘Fine, I won’t try to stop you.’ He moved towards the door. ‘But I expect you to come back to me by this evening, for good.’ His words hung ominously between them.
Hillary dressed hurriedly and, pausing only to collect her dress, shoes and stockings from the bedroom, fled to her own quarters.
It seemed strange being back there, as though she’d been gone for much longer than just one night. She was grateful that, for the time being, none of the others was there to greet her. Without wishing to spend another second with her own turbulent thoughts, Hillary lay down wearily on her bed and immediately felt herself falling into a deep, black hole.
Further and further she fell. Looking up, she could still see clear blue sky and, peering at her over the edge of the pit, a grinning, evil face; below her lay thick black nothingness. Deeper and deeper she went. Although she felt no fear, she wondered idly who or what would be waiting for her at the bottom – no matter how far she fell she could still see the devilish face just above her. Finally she landed.
With a resounding splash she quickly realised it was not dry land that awaited her. It was water she landed into. Warm, soothing water, as comforting as a bath. The devil face had gone, and now she was left floating in the middle of a calm blue ocean. From the depths of her subconsciousness she understood the prophetic nature of her dream: the choice she had to make was between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Suddenly she awoke. That was it, that was the answer! Without stopping to analyse her actions, she began to pack, emptying the drawers and large oak wardrobe in a frenzy, cramming the clothes straight into her cases without bothering to fold them first.
Alicia surprised her by popping her head around the door. ‘Going somewhere nice?’
Hillary looked up, her expression serious. ‘Yes, Norway –’ she paused to consider her automatic reply and amended it ‘– or perhaps not. I don’t really know yet.’
‘That wasn’t the answer I was expecting.’ Alicia looked bewildered as she walked across the room and sat on the bed. Characteristically, she made no attempt to offer her sister any help with her packing. ‘I thought you’d be preparing to become Lady of the Manor.’ She jerked her head in the general direction of the main house.
‘No, never in a million years,’ Hillary stated firmly. ‘Oh, don’t worry he did ask me,’ she added, noticing Alicia’s look of pure confusion. ‘At least, he asked me to stay, not to marry him or anything.’
Alicia looked crestfallen. When Hillary hadn’t come home the night before, she had assumed, or rather hoped, that a grand society wedding might soon be added to her list of engagements. She had been looking forward to being sister of the bride, particularly when the groom was Darius Harwood.
‘I suppose you were already planning your wedding outfit,’ Hillary stated sarcastically, one look at her sister’s face telling her she had scored a hole in one. ‘Look,’ she said, her tone gentler, ‘Darius and I couldn’t possibly be happy together, not even for a little while.’
‘But you think you could be happy living in Norway with that guy?’
‘I don’t know the answer to that either.’ Hillary glanced down at her crammed suitcases. ‘I don’t even know if he is still interested in me.’
‘Oh, he’s interested all right,’ Alicia asserted, then added quickly, ‘I bumped into him this morning. He was furious that you’d spent the night with Darius.’
‘Did you . . . ?’ Hillary started, but her sister shook her head vehemently.
‘No, I didn’t tell him. Village gossip travels fast. I think, if Darius had been there, Haldane would have torn him apart.’
Hillary shivered at Alicia’s words, remembering just how large and strong Haldane’s hands were, yet so gentle. ‘Whatever happens, I’m going away for the rest of the summer at least; after that I don’t know.’ She kissed her sister fondly, then picked up her suitcases. ‘Would you run me to the quay?’
With a broad smile, Alicia nodded. ‘Of course, what are sisters for?’
Hillary smiled back fondly. Her sister was a good person really, although she hadn’t offered to help carry her luggage, she realised ruefully.
As they drove up the driveway away from the house, Hillary allowed herself a last glance behind her. Harwood Hall looked every bit as beautiful spread out under the warm summer sun as it had the day she’d arrived, yet so much had happened since then.
Resolutely she turned to face the front, they had almost reached the main road and now there was no going back. She settled back in the seat and smiled happily, her head and her heart filled with the glow of optimism.
No matter what might happen to her from now on she would always look forward to the future – and make the most of the present.
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ISBN 978 0 352 34186 0
A house in Hampstead. Present day. Behind a façade of cultured respectability lies a world of decadent indulgence and dark eroticism. Cassandra’s sheltered life is transformed when she gets employed as governess to the Baron’s children. He draws her into games where lust can feed on the erotic charge of submission. Games where only he knows the rules and where unusual pleasures can flourish.
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ISBN 978 0 352 34187 7
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ISBN 978 0 352 34188 4
At the Black Orchid Club, adventurous women who yearn for the pleasures of exotic, even kinky sex can quench their desires in discreet and luxurious surroundings. Having tasted the fulfilment of unique and powerful lusts, one such adventurous woman learns what happens when the need for limitless indulgence becomes an addiction.
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Susie Raymond
ISBN 978 0 352 34189 1
The last thing sexy thirty-something Beth expected was to get involved with a much younger man. But when she finds him spying on her in the dressing room at work she embarks on an erotic journey with the straining youth, teaching him and teasing him as she leads him through myriad sensuous exercises at her stylish modern home. As their lascivious games become more and more intense, Beth soon begins to realise that she is the one being awakened to a new world of desire – and that hers is the mind quickly becoming consumed with lust.
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Cleo Cordell
ISBN 978 0 352 34192 1
Nothing is more important to Reynard than winning the favours of the bright and wilful Juliet, a pupil at Madame Nicol’s exclusive but strict 18th-century ladies’ academy. Her captivating beauty tinged with a hint of cruelty soon has Reynard willing to do anything to win her approval. But Juliet’s methods have little effect on Andreas, the real object of her lustful obsessions. Unable to bend him to her will, she is forced to watch him lavish his manly talents on her fellow pupils. That is, until she agrees to change her stuck-up, stubborn ways and become an eager erotic participant.
ODALISQUE
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ISBN 978 0 352 34193 8
Set against a backdrop of sophisticated elegance, a tale of family intrigue, forbidden passions and depraved secrets unfolds. Beautiful but scheming, successful designer Auralie plots to bring about the downfall of her virtuous cousin, Jeanine. Recently widowed, but still young and glamorous, Jeannie finds her passions being rekindled by Auralie’s husband. But she is playing into Auralie’s hands – vindictive hands that drag Jeanine into a world of erotic depravity. Why are the cousins locked into this sexual feud? And what is the purpose of Jeanine’s mysterious Confessor, and his sordid underground sect?
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Page 25