Jago went round to kneel next to his son’s cradle and touched the baby’s soft cheek with reverence. ‘He’s perfect.’ He looked up. ‘As are you, my love.’
‘John is downstairs.’ Eliza felt anxiety churning her insides. ‘You’re sure he didn’t hear you come in?’
‘No, he’s drunk. I heard him snoring fit to wake the dead.’
Jago’s words reassured Eliza, but he didn’t stay long in any case. ‘I just had to see you,’ he whispered, ‘and now I know you’re well, I can rest easy. Goodnight, my love.’
As Eliza drifted off to sleep, she felt as though she was floating on a cloud of happiness. Not long now, and her joy would be complete.
‘So you’ve finally deigned to return to us lesser mortals, have you?’ was Maddie’s sarcastic comment on seeing her friend again, but as it was delivered with a huge grin and a hug, Kayla didn’t take offence. ‘I was beginning to think you were staying in Devon for good.’
‘Well, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really want to come home.’ Kayla grinned back. ‘You see, there’s this gorgeous man and his lovely daughter. Not to mention the grand mansion, the incredible scenery, the brilliant job and the top salary.’
‘Uh-oh.’ Maddie held up one hand and laughed. ‘Don’t tell me any more, I have a feeling I’m not going to like this.’
‘Yes, you are. Just wait until I tell you everything that’s happened.’
Later that evening Kayla collapsed on the sofa in her living room, having packed a large suitcase full of clothes and cleaned the flat from top to bottom. It was unbelievable the amount of dust which could accumulate in just a few short weeks, even when no one was living there. She felt exhaustion wash over her and closed her eyes.
‘You certainly deserve a rest now,’ a familiar voice commented, and Kayla nearly jumped out of her skin. She put a hand over her heart and sent a mock glare at Jago.
‘You’re determined to give me a heart attack, aren’t you?’ she accused. ‘Honestly, I think you enjoy scaring me half to death.’
He chuckled. ‘Not at all, my dear, but I have to confess I am dying of curiosity. If one can die of something when one is already dead that is. Have you found Eliza for me yet? You have been gone an age, or is it simply my imagination? I’m never really clear about time passing.’
‘No, I have been away a bit longer than I’d reckoned with, but unfortunately I haven’t found Eliza. I’ve searched Marcombe Hall from top to bottom and there are no portraits like the one you described anywhere. I even tiptoed into the dusty attics one day when everyone was out, but there was nothing. I’m sorry,’ she added when he stayed silent for a long time.
‘Well, it was worth a try.’ He sighed. ‘I suppose I’m stuck here for all eternity then.’
‘Oh, don’t give up yet, Jago. I’m going to try and trace Eliza’s descendants to see if any of them left the painting to some other branch of the family. Don’t despair, we might still find it.’
‘Do you think so? It is kind of you to put yourself out on my behalf.’ He sounded downcast and Kayla had the urge to hug him, but she knew she never could.
‘Not at all, I’m happy to do it. But don’t you want to hear about her descendants? Or should I perhaps say your descendants, you wicked man?’
Jago chuckled. ‘So I’ve been found out, have I? How?’ Kayla heard the laughter in his voice and tried to look stern.
‘You most certainly have, you old reprobate.’ She wagged a finger at him. ‘I couldn’t help but notice a rather marked resemblance between you and Sir Wesley and his brother. You don’t deny it?’
‘What would be the point now, so long after the event?’
‘I suppose you’re right. But do they know?’
‘Who, my great-great-something grandsons? No, shouldn’t think so. A lot of people may have suspected it at the time and some knew for sure, but nothing was ever said openly. It wasn’t the sort of thing you’d boast about.’ He grinned, obviously unrepentant. ‘Now do tell me how my descendants go on. And what about the house? Has it been much altered? Of course, it was never my property, but I remember it well.’
Kayla didn’t feel at all strange about having a conversation with a man in a painting, which was weird, she reflected. It almost seemed normal now and she hardly gave it a thought once they started talking. She had accepted that this was happening and since he was such good company, she decided she might as well enjoy it while it lasted. The world was full of unexplained phenomena, why not talking portraits? She smiled to herself and started to tell Jago about Wes and his family.
‘Maddie, I need Jessie’s help again.’ Kayla rang her friend first thing the following morning.
‘Oh no, I’ll be owing her favours until Doomsday.’ Maddie sighed.
‘Please, it’s important.’
‘Okay, fine. So what do you want her to do this time?’
‘If it’s not too much trouble, do you think she could put together some sort of family tree for Sir John’s descendants please? I’ll pay her for her trouble, of course.’
‘Don’t be silly, she wouldn’t charge a friend. Besides, I’m sure she’ll enjoy it, you know what she’s like.’
‘Yes. Well, can you get her to call me when I’m back in Devon, please? I need to ask her how to look for Marcombe wills which might mention the paintings as well. It may be that I have to search for that sort of thing locally. I seem to remember she told me wills were often kept at the nearest record office.’
‘You’re absolutely sure the painting of Eliza isn’t at Marcombe Hall?’
‘Positive, so someone else must have inherited it, unless her husband burned it in a fit of jealous rage or something. He did have cause, poor man.’ Kayla giggled at the thought, although it hadn’t been a laughing matter back then, she was sure.
Kayla told Maddie about Jago’s ‘cuckoo in the nest’ and she chuckled. ‘Yes, if he found out, that is. All right, I’ll give Jessie the number so you can ask her what to do.’
‘Thanks a lot, Maddie. I really appreciate it.’
‘Oh, no! What in the name of all that’s holy …?’ Kayla stopped dead just inside the door to her room at Marcombe Hall and stared in horror at the dreadful mess. She couldn’t believe her eyes. It looked as if a malignant whirlwind or poltergeist had swept through, leaving nothing untouched. Dropping the large suitcase where she stood, she turned on her heel and ran in search of Wes. As usual, she found him in the office.
‘Hello, Wes.’
‘Kayla, you’re back!’ His face lit up at the sight of her and she almost forgot her anger for a moment as warmth spread through her at his obvious pleasure in her return. ‘Did you have a good journey this time or did you take any detours?’ he teased.
Kayla managed a feeble smile. ‘No, everything went well and I only got lost once. But Wes, can you come and have a look at my room for a minute, please?’
‘Your room?’ Wes looked puzzled. ‘Why?’
‘Something nasty seems to have happened to it while I was gone.’ Without waiting to see if he followed, she went back upstairs, her heart thumping uncomfortably. As she opened the door she heard Wes gasp in surprise behind her.
‘Jesus! What happened here?’
‘Well, I was kind of hoping you could tell me that.’ Kayla went over to the bed and lifted up one of her favourite sweaters, which had been virtually shredded. She looked at it forlornly. ‘I guess the ghost that doesn’t exist decided to return. Didn’t you hear it?’
‘Ghost? No way. This isn’t the work of anything supernatural.’ Wes looked furious now. He walked around inspecting the damage with angry strides, lifting an item of clothing here, a book there. Every single one of Kayla’s possessions had been either torn, cut or broken. A pair of scissors lay on the floor, open as if they’d been thrown away after the user had finished. ‘Poltergeists wouldn’t know how to use scissors, I’m pretty sure about that, but who the hell would do this sort of thing?’
‘Somebody who hates m
e?’ Kayla bit her bottom lip. The thought that anyone could dislike her this much was extremely unsettling.
‘But why would anybody hate you? And anyway, you hardly know anyone around here yet. Unless you have some enemies from London who have tracked you down? You’re not being stalked by your former fiancé or anything, are you?’
Kayla shook her head, then frowned. ‘Hey, how did you know I had a former fiancé? I never told you that.’
‘Just something Nell said.’
‘Oh, right.’ Kayla sighed. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to snap at you. Guess I’m just a little bit paranoid right now.’
‘Understandable. Don’t worry about it, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.’ Wes stopped and stared out of the window, deep in thought. ‘Hmm. It doesn’t make sense though. I’ll make some enquiries, perhaps someone has seen something. Leave it with me.’ He walked over to where she stood next to the bed. ‘I’m sorry, Kayla. I know some of these things probably can’t be replaced, but I will try to give you compensation. Write me a list, please?’ He slowly stroked her cheek, and she closed her eyes, savouring the comforting warmth of his large hand. She had missed him while she’d been away, more than she’d thought possible. When she looked up again he pulled her close and held her in a tight embrace. Neither of them spoke.
At length he let go of her, kissed her cheek and left. Kayla put up her hand to the spot his lips had touched and stood for a long time lost in thought. What had he meant by that? Was it just a comforting sort of hug and kiss, the kind you give a friend in need? Or did it have any deeper meaning? She wished she knew. But she couldn’t read him and although he’d seemed so pleased to see her, he hadn’t said he’d missed her. If he had, it was probably just in her capacity as secretary, but how she wished it was more than that.
With a sigh, she began the task of clearing up.
‘You wanted to speak to me? Again?’ Alex entered the office and closed the door behind him. Wes studied his brother’s face carefully, but couldn’t see anything that would indicate he was hiding something. Alex may be irritating as hell, not to mention lazy and with a devil-may-care attitude, but Wes had never known him to be deliberately cruel or vindictive. He was too easy-going for that.
‘Yes. Take a seat.’ Wes regarded his brother for another few minutes before coming straight to the point. ‘Did you wreck all Kayla’s things while she was gone?’
‘Excuse me?’ Alex looked genuinely surprised. If he was acting, Wes had to acknowledge he was damned good at it.
‘While she was in London, someone entered her room and completely tore all her belongings to pieces – clothes, books, everything. Shredded. There wasn’t a single item left untouched. Do you know anything about that?’
‘No.’ Alex had reverted to a sulky look. ‘Why do you always assume that when something goes wrong around here it’s my fault? And why on earth would I want to ruin Kayla’s stuff? I like her, for Christ’s sake.’
Wes ran a hand through his hair in a tired, defeated gesture. ‘I’m sorry, Alex, but I couldn’t think who else it could be. She doesn’t know anyone here, except us and Annie, and I really don’t think Nell would be capable of such malice. Besides, she likes Kayla too. So who would do such a thing?’ A thought occurred to him. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have seen Caro around, have you? If she was in one of her weird moods, she might decide to smash the place up. Although why Kayla’s room in particular, God knows.’
Alex shrugged and studied his fingernails. ‘Beats me who could have done it, but if I hear anything I’ll let you know.’ His posture was slightly defensive, as if he wasn’t telling the whole truth and Wes noticed he didn’t reply to the question about Caro. Wes narrowed his eyes at his brother but decided not to push it. If Alex knew who the culprit was, perhaps he’d warn him or her off. He certainly hoped so.
‘All right, thanks. Oh, by the way, are you staying long?’
Alex smirked. ‘What, trying to get rid of me already, dear bro? Don’t worry, I’ve nearly finished my business around here, so you won’t have to put up with me for much longer. Another couple of weeks at the most.’
‘That’s not what I meant and you know it.’
‘Don’t pretend, Wes. I know you think I’m a waste of space.’
‘Damn it, Alex, you’re my brother and you’re welcome here any time you want. It’s your home too. I just wish you would take life a bit more seriously, that’s all.’
‘And I wish you’d lighten up a bit. You’re not in your dotage yet after all, but I guess we’ll never agree on that point, so I’ll see you later.’
Wes stared after his brother who sauntered out of the room as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Much as he hated to admit it, maybe Alex was right. Perhaps he did take life too seriously. Maybe it was time to live a little and let work take second place for a while. He’d been working far too hard of late and never did anything else. He rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands.
He was just afraid he had forgotten how to have fun.
Chapter Nineteen
John flung open the door to the bedroom so hard it ricocheted off the wall, making the furniture jump and sending an ornament crashing to the floor. His gaze fixed on Eliza, who’d turned around in fright, staring at him with huge eyes. The baby, startled out of his slumber, began to wail loudly, a piercing, terrified little sound. John ignored it and focused on his wife.
‘Wh-what on earth is the matter?’ she stammered. ‘You’re scaring the baby!’
‘Bitch!’ he ground out, his eyes boring into her, fury boiling his blood. His hatred must have been almost tangible, because Eliza began to tremble from head to toe.
‘John?’ she asked uncertainly, edging away from him under the covers.
She couldn’t evade him, however, he saw to that. Quickly, he advanced on the bed and reached over to haul her out by a painful grip on her arm.
‘No! John don’t, I’m supposed to lie down,’ she protested. ‘The midwife said the bleeding won’t stop otherwise. John, please!’
‘So you thought you could cuckold me, did you? Traitorous whore,’ he spat and pulled her along towards the door. She tried to resist, holding onto the bedpost, but he backhanded her and she cried out and lost her grip. He grabbed her around the waist, making his way towards the door, while Eliza began to sob and stretched her hands out towards her screaming baby.
‘No, John. My baby. He needs me, I must stay with him.’
‘Shut up.’
He hit her, harder this time, and she fainted, crumpling into a deadweight. With the strength born of true rage, John hefted her up and slung her over his shoulder.
‘Faint all you like,’ he muttered. ‘I’ll not let you get away with this.’
She came to as he was staggering along a garden path, huffing and wheezing with the effort of carrying her. She weighed more than he’d thought.
‘John, let me down, please. You’re hurting my stomach and I feel nauseous and dizzy. Did you hear me? Any minute now, I’m going to be sick, I swear.’
He ignored her and kept going.
‘Put me down,’ she begged. ‘Stop this, please. John, for the love of God!’ Feebly she started to hit his back with her fists, but she was so weak it didn’t have much impact. Still, he figured she might as well walk so he dropped her to the ground and she was momentarily winded.
‘So you’re awake again. Good. If you’d rather walk, so be it,’ he said. He tugged her upright with a yank of her arm and began to stride along the path holding onto her with a death-grip. She protested again and tried to free herself, but without success. He was pleased to note that she had to follow him willy-nilly, and he paid her no heed when she complained that the cold, sharp stones on the gravel path were digging painfully into her bare feet. He could hear her teeth clattering together too, presumably both from the cold and the shock of being dragged outside. It made a glow of satisfaction spread inside him. It was justice, pure and simple.
‘No, John! What are you doing? H
ave you gone insane?’ She tried again to free herself.
‘Hah, thought you could fool me, did you?’ he muttered. ‘Well, you should have found yourself a lover with blond hair then, shouldn’t you? Stupid whore. Now you’ll get your comeuppance. I’ll see to it personally.’
‘Don’t be silly, of course the baby is yours. Not everyone in the family has blond hair, you know that. You’re drunk, John. Can we not discuss this in the morning? Please! You don’t know what you’re saying.’
He wasn’t listening. Nothing she could say would stop him now, he was determined about that. Relentless, he pulled her along towards the cliffs and although Eliza dug in her heels, bit him and tried anything else she could think of, he didn’t let go of her. He knew full well she didn’t have the strength to withstand him, drained as she was after her recent ordeal. Even her sobbing lessened after a while, obviously an effort when she needed the energy for walking and fighting him every step of the way.
Eventually they reached the cliffs and as he dragged her near the edge Eliza seemed to understand what he intended, for she started to fight him in earnest, hysteria lending her additional strength.
‘No John, don’t do this, I beg you. You really have run mad … Help me someone, HELP ME!’
She shouted and sobbed, flailed and kicked, but they both knew he was the stronger. And there was no one out in the middle of the night. There was only darkness.
Alex rapped smartly on the door to a cheap hotel room in nearby Kingsbridge. It was opened cautiously and the occupant peered out through the crack.
‘Yes? Oh, it’s you. Come in.’
He entered swiftly and shut the door so hard it vibrated for a moment. ‘What the hell did you have to go and ruin Kayla’s stuff for? Don’t you have any sense?’
‘Nice to see you too, Alex. And who’s Kayla?’
‘Don’t play games with me, Caro. I’m warning you, I’m not in the mood. I’ve already had an earful from my sainted brother. That’s enough.’
Caroline, a tall beauty in her mid-thirties with short, honey-coloured hair, fashionably cut, walked over to sit on the bed with her legs curled under her. She glared at Alex. ‘What difference does it make to you what happens to that woman’s things?’
The Secret Kiss of Darkness Page 17