Storm Force

by Sara Craven

  ‘Maggie, my dear.’ Maggie felt herself enveloped by an Ysatis-scented embrace. Then Kylie stood back and gave her a look which quivered with reproach. ‘Philip tells me you hate the book.’

  ‘That isn’t quite true,’ Maggie said, with infinite restraint. ‘I like most of it very much, but the middle section does need a fair amount of work.’

  Kylie’s perfectly painted lips drooped a little. ‘You mean you want a re-write.’ There was a faint note of petulance underlying her mellifluous voice. ‘But, darling, you know how bad I am at revision.’

  I know how lazy you are about it, Maggie returned silently. Aloud, she said, ‘Of course, we can’t insist, but we’ve had an independent report done and …’

  ‘I’ve seen it,’ said Kylie shortly. She re-seated herself on Philip’s opulently padded sofa, and patted the cushion beside her, indicating that Maggie should join her. ‘The thing is, sweetie, I’m totally and utterly exhausted—that book nearly destroyed me—and I’d promised myself a lovely holiday, with no horrid work. In fact, I’ve rented myself a villa in the Bahamas, and I’m planning to fly there this week. You see the difficulty?’

  ‘That is a problem,’ Maggie agreed solemnly. ‘But if you could spare a couple of hours a day, I’m sure you could manage the re-write in no time.’

  ‘Not without help,’ said Kylie flatly.

  Maggie was taken aback. ‘You mean you’d want to hire a secretary out there?’ she asked dubiously. Knowing Kylie, she was just likely to do that and send the bill to Munroe and Craig, she thought, sneaking a sideways look at Philip, who was looking martyred.

  ‘No, my dear.’ Kylie gave her little silvery laugh. ‘I want to borrow you. The only trouble, Philip is being the weeniest bit obstructive.’

  Maggie disregarded that. ‘You want to borrow me?’ she repeated incredulously. ‘But why—and how?’

  Kylie shrugged mink-clad shoulders. ‘I want you to come out to the villa with me and work on the revisions there. After all,’ her tone became sugared. ‘you do “polish” my manuscripts, as I read only yesterday, rather to my surprise, so, surely, it’s no big deal.’

  Maggie groaned inwardly. She said, ‘Miss St John, I can’t tell you how upset I was when I read that nonsense. Please believe me—I never said anything that could have given that impression …’

  ‘I’m sure you didn’t.’ Kylie gave her a forgiving smile. ‘But,’ she sighed, ‘it did appear, nevertheless, and you can understand why I feel I’m entitled to avail myself of your services in this emergency.’

  ‘But, Kylie,’ Philip broke in desperately. ‘Maggie is officially on leave. She gave up her own time to come in to see you today.’

  Kylie’s eyes glinted. ‘All the better,’ she said sweetly. ‘Wouldn’t you like to spend the rest of your vacation in the Bahamas, sweetie?’

  Maggie bit her lip. ‘I couldn’t put you to all that trouble, Miss St John. I’m sure if we spent some time together this week, before you leave …’

  ‘But I’m leaving at once, just as soon as I can get a flight.’ Kylie pressed a hand to her bosom. ‘I feel as if this entire trip has been doomed, anyway. My plane was held up by this terrible storm, then there was no electricity at the hotel for nearly two hours. And besides everything’s so drab and depressing. All these fallen trees everywhere, and no one able to talk about anything but the damage that’s been done. And to cap it all you don’t like my book.’ She smiled sadly. ‘I need sunshine, and a peaceful environment. The way things are here, I can’t feel creative in London. It’s like living through the aftermath of some frightful bomb.’

  Maggie was tempted to point out that the Bahamas also suffered from hurricanes at times, but decided it would be more prudent to remain silent.

  ‘My dearest Kylie,’ Philip tried again. ‘What you ask is quite impossible. Apart from anything else, you seem to forget that Maggie has just become engaged to be married. You can’t expect her to leave her fiancé at a moment’s notice, and go haring off with you.’

  Maggie stiffened suddenly as she took in what he was saying. Now, why hadn’t she thought of that? she asked herself, marvelling. Of course, in other circumstances, the last thing she would have wanted would be to accompany Kylie anywhere, but it would be a perfect way out of her impasse over Jay. A couple of weeks in the Bahamas, even though she knew she would probably be slave-driven, would ease her out of this impossible situation—enable her to think straight, to get her life back under control again.

  ‘Let’s not be too hasty,’ she began. ‘After all, this is work, and we do need these revisions as soon as possible. Perhaps it would be the simplest answer if I went to stay with Miss St John for a while.’

  If she had turned a cartwheel on the polished top of his desk, Philip could not have looked more astonished. ‘But, my dear girl, your fiancé … Hasn’t he a right to be considered in any decision?’

  Maggie shrugged. ‘If he was filming and had to go on location, he wouldn’t ask my permission,’ she retorted. ‘I should have equal freedom.’ She paused. ‘Besides, after that remark in the newspaper, I feel I do owe Miss St John a favour.’

  Kylie graciously inclined her head. ‘Thank you, Maggie dear. I knew you’d see sense. So, that’s settled then.’ Her voice became brisker. ‘Ring me at my hotel this evening and we’ll discuss flight times, and any queries you may have.’

  Maggie recognised that she was being dismissed for now, and rose obediently.

  ‘Maggie—’ Philip gave her a minatory look. ‘I think we should discuss this further. It requires much more thought.’

  ‘Stop trying to talk her out of it, darling.’ This time the silvery laugh held a hint of steel. ‘Maggie’s given me her word. I’ve accepted it, and that’s all there is to it. Now let her run away and pack her favourite bikini, while you tell me about this delicious lunch you’ve promised me.’

  Maggie went back to her office and sank down in her chair, trembling a little. In spite of Kylie’s remark about her bikini, she knew that her sojourn at the villa was not going to be an easy one. She was going to be made to pay for that remark in the Examiner.

  But the trip would take her out of Jay’s orbit, and that was what she had to remember. It was a means of escape. Desperate situations call for desperate measures, she thought.

  The phone rang from reception. ‘A visitor for you, Miss Carlyle.’

  Maggie gave her watch a startled look. He was a good half-hour early, thus ruining her chances of taking evasive action.

  I’ll just have to face him, she thought, reaching for her jacket and bag. And I can tell him at the same time that I’m going to be away, perhaps for several weeks, and that as soon as I return I want the engagement called off.

  But when she emerged from the lift, it wasn’t Jay’s tall, lean figure pacing up and down in reception. It was Robin.

  She halted, her heart sinking. That served her right for not asking her visitor’s identity, she thought resignedly. She lifted her chin, and walked over to him.

  ‘Hello, Robin.’

  ‘Is that all you’ve got to say?’ He gave her a look of total outrage. ‘You’ve been deceiving me—you’ve played me one of the dirtiest tricks a woman can do to a man—and you walk up to me with a casual “Hello”. I can’t believe this is happening.’

  Maggie was uncomfortably aware that the receptionist was all ears.

  She tried to take his arm. ‘We can’t talk here,’ she said in a low, urgent voice. ‘There’s a pub across the road. Let’s go and have a drink.’

  Sullenly, he allowed himself to be ushered out of the building, but stopped on the pavement outside. ‘Is it true?’ he demanded aggressively. ‘Are you really engaged to this actor?’

  ‘Yes, it’s true,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I wish I could explain …’

  ‘Oh there’s no need for explanations.’ He gave an angry laugh. ‘I’ve just been made to look a complete fool, that’s all. I thought I knew you, Margaret, yet all the time you must have
been lying to me—seeing this man behind my back—sleeping with him too, I suppose.’

  ‘No—it isn’t like that …’

  ‘I don’t want to hear about it,’ he said peremptorily. ‘My poor mother is completely shattered, of course, and in her precarious state of health that could be very dangerous. The photographs in yesterday’s papers horrified her—she said they were like something from a pornographic film.’

  Maggie’s eyebrows lifted. She said coolly, ‘I wasn’t aware your mother was in the habit of watching blue movies.’

  ‘Kindly don’t be flippant. You’ve treated me very badly, Margaret, and I don’t know whether I shall ever be able to forgive you. I suppose you were piqued because we had to cancel our holiday together, and you decided this other man could give you more than I could.’ He shook his head. ‘And Mother tells me that he’s involved in some sordid scandal already. You seem to have entirely abandoned your sense of decency.’

  Maggie tilted her chin. ‘I’m glad to know that I’ve at last justified her lousy opinion of me,’ she said. ‘I hope the next lady who comes into your life has more luck—but I doubt it. While Mama has her claws into you, there isn’t really room for anyone else,’ she added dispassionately.

  She couldn’t believe she was saying these things, and judging by his outraged expression he couldn’t believe it either. After all, this was Robin, whom she had thought she loved. For whom she had made allowances, times without number. Who she thought had broken her heart.

  I crawled down to World’s End to lick my wounds over this man, she reminded herself incredulously, staring at his red face and indignantly pursed lips.

  But that was before the force of the gale blew Jay Delaney into my life. Before it blew away my sanity, and very nearly my self-respect.

  She looked at Robin again, and sighed. Compassion dictated that she couldn’t just walk away and leave him here on the pavement, gobbling like a turkey cock.

  She put a hand on his sleeve. ‘I’m sorry, Rob,’ she said gently. ‘But I’m just not the same person any more. In fact, I’m not even sure who I am.’ She forced a smile. ‘Keep telling yourself you’ve had a fortunate escape.’

  She reached up and planted a swift kiss on his flushed and unresponsive cheek. ‘Goodbye.’

  As she turned away, she realised suddenly she was being watched. She glanced across the street, and saw Jay standing there, like a statue hands on hips. The blue eyes were narrowed, and his face was grim.

  It was too late now to try and hide or plead a previous engagement, she realised. He was already on his way across the street to her.

  ‘That was a touching scene,’ he remarked as he reached her side. ‘I’m only glad there weren’t any photographers about. Newly engaged girls aren’t supposed to be seen publicly kissing other men—or didn’t you know that?’ He paused. ‘I presume that was Robin.’

  ‘Of course. And a farewell peck on the cheek hardly merits an X rating.’ She was glad of the excuse to glare at him.

  ‘Is it farewell, or have you simply put the poor sod on hold for a while?’

  ‘I don’t think that’s really your concern.’

  He gave her a level look. ‘Just as you say.’ Then, ‘He’s not the right man for you, Maggie.’

  Maggie shrugged. ‘I tend to think there’s no such person,’ she said. ‘After all, most relationships start out with ideals and end as compromise. Robin and I—had a great deal in common. We enjoyed many of the same things.’

  ‘But did you enjoy each other?’ Jay drawled, his eyes mocking. ‘I’d have said that was the essential ingredient, but that it was sadly lacking in that, and in any other relationship you’ve had.’

  ‘You have no right to say these things to me,’ she said raggedly. ‘I may be forced to pretend to be engaged to you, but that does not permit you to—analyse me in this insulting way.’ She took a breath. ‘Now, will you say whatever you came here to say, and then leave me in peace?’

  ‘I’m intrigued by your notion of peace. And we’re supposed to be having lunch,’ he said evenly.

  ‘I’m not obliged to take your orders either.’

  ‘Do you wish to make a scene about it here, or shall we wait until we get to the restaurant?’ His tone was too affable.

  ‘I can’t manage lunch today. I have a lot of things to do.’ Out of the corner of her eye, Maggie saw Philip’s driver bring the car to a halt in front of the office’s double glass doors. That meant at any moment now Philip and Kylie would be coming out of the building, and they would be bound to see them, she realised with dismay. Any moment now …

  She said desperately, ‘In fact, I must dash …’

  ‘Oh, no, you don’t.’ Deftly he captured her arm and held her. ‘You spend altogether too much time running away, Maggie Carlyle. It’s time you stood your ground, and came to terms with a few things.’

  ‘Maggie, darling,’ Kylie’s voice cooed across the pavement, and Maggie froze. ‘Is this your gorgeous man? Do introduce me.’ She came over dragging a reluctant and clearly embarrassed Philip.

  Stony-faced, Maggie performed the introductions. What else can go wrong? she asked herself.

  ‘I detect a certain tension,’ Kylie said sweetly, her long-lashed gaze making a leisurely inspection of every inch of Jay’s lean muscularity. ‘I do hope it’s not my fault, but I’m so afraid it is. Philip’s been so cross with me,’ she added confidingly. ‘And I suppose it is very selfish of me—wanting to whisk Maggie off to the Bahamas with me at a moment’s notice.’ She caught sight of the arrested expression on Jay’s face. ‘She did tell you about our plans, didn’t she?’

  ‘I think,’ Jay said softly, ‘that she was just building up to it. Weren’t you, my sweet?’

  Maggie did not meet his gaze. ‘I’m accompanying Miss St John to her villa for a week or two,’ she said. ‘We’re going to work on her latest book together.’

  ‘But not all the time,’ Kylie interjected. ‘After all, Maggie’s sacrificing her vacation to help me. I intend to see that she has some fun.’ She paused, her smile widening. ‘And I’ve just had the most brilliant idea.’ She turned to Jay. ‘Why don’t you come with us?’

  The earth seemed to rock beneath Maggie’s feet. She said too hastily, ‘Oh, no,’ then flushed hotly as both Kylie and Philip turned astonished glances on her and Jay eyed her ironically.

  ‘Why not?’ Philip asked. ‘I think it would be an ideal solution.’

  Maggie’s nails dug into the palms of her hands. ‘It’s very kind of you, Miss St John, but I’m coming to the Bahamas with you to work—not to have a holiday. Let’s leave it like that, shall we?’ She swallowed. ‘Besides, Jay is extremely busy. He has all kinds of commitments …’

  ‘As a matter of fact,’ Jay said slowly. ‘I’m as free as air for the next two months. I arranged it that way.’

  She bit her lip. ‘But there’s that other business—Debbie Burrows—the police. They—they may not allow you to leave the country. Not if there are charges pending …’

  ‘Don’t tell me your faith in me is wavering, darling.’ Jay’s tone was sardonic. ‘When I said I was free, I meant just that. The police have no further interest in me, and a statement to that effect is being issued through Seb’s office. They may wish to bring charges against Miss Burrows for wasting their time, or even conspiracy, but that’s up to them.’ He turned to Kylie. ‘I should be delighted to accept your kind invitation, Miss St John. I was going to suggest to Maggie that we take off for the sun together to celebrate my newly proclaimed innocence.’ He shot Maggie a dagger glance. ‘I’d thought of Mauritius,’ he added silkily. ‘But if Maggie prefers the Bahamas, then it’s fine with me. As long as we’re together, the location is unimportant.’

  ‘It isn’t fine at all,’ Maggie protested angrily. ‘I’ve said—this is a working trip, strictly business. It would be much simpler if I went on my own.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, sweetie,’ Kylie purred. ‘I wouldn’t be cruel enough to keep
your nose to the grindstone all the time. There’ll be plenty of time for—relaxation.’

  ‘You’ve just said my favourite word.’ Jay smiled at her, then took Maggie’s arm again, purposefully. ‘You mustn’t be such a little Puritan, darling. You know what they say about all work and no play. Now, we’d better hurry. Our table’s waiting.’

  Kylie pouted slightly. ‘Wouldn’t you like to join us instead? We’re on our way to the Savoy.’

  Jay’s expression was rueful. ‘At any other time that would be marvellous,’ he said. ‘But Maggie and I rather want to be alone today. I’m sure you understand.’

  ‘I’ll try.’ Kylie drew her mink around her and gave him a brilliant smile. ‘Anyway, there’ll be plenty of time to get acquainted properly when we get to New Providence.’

  As Jay drew her away, Maggie was shaking with temper.

  ‘Damn you,’ she said between her teeth.

  ‘Smile when you say that. They’re still watching us.’

  ‘I don’t care who’s watching,’ Maggie told him furiously. ‘How dare you accept her invitation like that? Are you out of your mind? Wasn’t it clear to you that I didn’t want you along?’

  ‘Clear as crystal,’ said Jay coldly. ‘To me and to everyone else. And not exactly the reaction one would expect from a girl madly in love. If you want to tell the world that our engagement is a sham, why not take out a full-page ad in the Examiner?’

  ‘But you could have made some excuse.’

  ‘I could, but I’d say she’s a lady who enjoys publicity and knows how to manipulate it. I guarantee that tomorrow the fact that we’re joining her on New Providence will be an item in more than one gossip column. And if I’d refused, or listened to your protests, it would be an even bigger item,’ he added grimly.

  ‘I don’t believe you.’

  ‘Wait and see.’ They arrived at the corner. ‘My car’s just along here.’

  ‘Why the hell am I allowing you to dictate to me like this?’

  ‘Because it’s all part of the pretence, sweetheart.’ Jay opened the passenger door for her. ‘We’re going to have a champagne lunch in united, triumphant and very public bliss, for the sake of lurking photographers, to celebrate my return to unblemished respectability.’