Serena chattered on about her ambitions for securing an estate and Nigel was attentive. That must of been easy for him, Jane thought. But while he gazed at Serena, Nigel gracefully stood. Jane couldn’t hardly breathe, for drinking in the sight of him all over again. He stepped over to Jane, offering her his hand, even as he answered Serena’s question. Jane instinctively took it, and he guided her to his previous seat. Serena faltered a bit, watching as Nigel slightly drew his hand down and deposited Jane on the sofa, but she soldiered on in her explanation of the local realty market. Nigel then seated himself by Jane and slipped his arm across the back of the overstuffed furniture, causing Serena’s eyes to sweep back and forth at the two people who had suddenly been arranged as a couple in front of her.
Feeling cared for and dignified on the sofa, Jane melted at his gentlemanly gesture, and felt tingles spreading through her body at having him so close. Though he was seated behind her, she was close enough to catch a trace of his divine cologne. Oddly, she was shocked by how British he seemed. She longed for home, and listened intently to his deep, sexy voice, savoring the familiar pronunciation.
“But I guess we don’t pay nearly as much for property as you do in the UK, right? Did I hear you say that Jackson’s grandma just sold her house?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Nigel said. His imperious manner warned Serena that being so common as to ask about the price of the sale was not on. Serena hesitated, and Jane knew that she was working out what to say next. Jane guessed that Serena wouldn’t ordinarily be so flustered, but, then again, she’d never met Nigel. She was clearly out of her depth.
Another toss of her golden hair brought a smile to Nigel’s lips, and Serena giggled softly. Oh, please. Jane knew it was time to speak up again. Slightly turning her chin to her shoulder, she said, “Do tell us what exciting place you’ve come from.”
“I arrived in Houston, yesterday. I finished business there, and then rang Jackson’s father.”
This solicited another girlish giggle from Serena. “Rang! Such a quaint way of saying that you’ve called someone. I love your accent, Nig-ule.” She kicked off her high heel sandals, and tucked her feet up under her, as though he were going to tell her a story.
Nigel tipped his chin slightly at the compliment.
“Mr. Ralston?” Jane inquired.
Nigel replied instead to Serena. “Our Jane remembers everything. Yes, Mr. Ralston. And before you ask, Jane, his wife has passed away.”
“Oh, dear,” Serena said, her face held just so, implying deep compassion. “Poor thing. Was it cancer or something?”
Nigel shot a glance at Jane, and then casually looked at Serena. “No, she rather liked the bottle.”
“Oh, I see,” Serena answered pertly, in a voice to reassure her listener that Serena would never engage in such a vile behavior. Jane found that she was becoming well acquainted with Serena’s many moods and various expressions. It didn’t seem to dawn on Serena that she was perhaps a little closer to unseemly behavior than she cared to recount; she was marrying an ex-junkie. Jane felt herself quite ungenerous, thinking of Billy in that way. She reflected on how far Billy had come in conquering his addictions. She worried for a moment, hoping that Jackson would never tend to be like his father in that area, genetics being what they are. But then she glanced at the man seated slightly behind her, and dismissed the thought.
“Jane, shouldn’t you offer our guest tea or something?” Serena scolded.
Jane was caught off-guard. Was she actually hoping to banish me to the kitchen, Jane wondered. She could almost imagine Serena saying something in her absence, such as, “You can’t find good help these days.” Indeed, Serena had been in two minds for days about just how Jane was meant to serve her. It was rather confusing for everyone. But in front of Nigel, it was bloody annoying.
“Nigel only takes tea in the morning, Serena. But perhaps you’d like something else?”
“Uh, no, Jane. Thank you.”
Unabashed, Serena spouted off the next thing that came into her head. “What do you do?” With her arms crossed, she gave herself a little squeeze. Jane knew that Serena didn’t care what Nigel said, only that he was handsome, he was here, and anything he said entertained Serena, given his accent.
Nigel answered, “I work for a conglomerate, comprised of sixty-seven different companies.”
“That’s not what Jane said,” Serena replied. “She said that you were employed by some king or something. That sounds far more intriguing, you know.”
Many thanks, Serena. Jane stared at her lap.
Nigel replied, “One of our main shareholders is an Arabian prince, and I used to personally manage a number of his companies. We’ve added more companies since then, and they are very diversified, so I’ve had to be a little thinner on the ground in the last year.”
“Mmm, I see,” Serena replied.
Jane knew that she did not. Serena was an intelligent woman, but she enjoyed interacting with men as the proverbial dumb blonde, trying to charm them into saying silly things to stroke her ego. Her purpose was not to understand, but to ensnare. Jane wondered if Nigel liked women this way, and how often he had cashed in on this type of flirtation.
The whole situation was becoming irritating, and she suddenly felt quite cross. Now Serena was talking about who knows what, and Nigel was listening attentively. The thrilling environment created by sitting close to Nigel on the sofa had taken on a strange sort of smothering feeling, as Serena seemed to lend the room a sickening energy with which Jane could no longer cope.
“Excuse me, I am going to check on Jackson,” Jane said as she slipped from the sofa, and managed to navigate Nigel and avoid his gaze. She went straight to the front door and walked out. Jackson was playing ball with Josh and Jeremy, and Uncle Nigel’s computer game abandoned until this evening.
Jane stood for a few minutes watching the late afternoon sun. Feeling guilty that she was behaving so badly, but needing to retreat, she crossed the street and turned left of the grassy area where the boys were playing, and went to sit on a bench beneath a tree. There was a small planting of flowers on either side of the bench, with a butter yellow azalea clinging to a large stone. The heat was tolerable here, beneath the canopy of leaves, and Jane felt herself relax. Strangely, it was rather like the stone seat in the garden at Brambleberry House.
What an odd thing life was, she mused. Here she sat under a tree, in America, with Nigel a short distance away. She’d wondered this afternoon if he would seem quite different, in this setting. Jane had only interacted with him back in England, when he was surrounded by family or people who knew something of him. But he was remarkably the same. Globally suave, probably; able to come off well in any culture or climate. She had been surprised to see him in a lighter weight suit, of a lighter color than his wool suits that were made up for him in London.
Then her nose felt prickly and to her horror she suddenly gasped out a sob. She’d never been so emotional in all of her life as recently. Perhaps she needed medication.
On some level, Jane supposed that she’d wanted to remember Nigel as part of home. Not holding a stupid conversation in a condo with Jackson’s future stepmother. Jane was used to being the ignored female when grouped with captivating, beautiful women like Serena. But she’d never been pushed aside in front of Nigel, a man she deeply respected, and, it was true, had carried a torch for, since she was about seventeen. The Membry family, and Jane, of course, had heard some off-handed details of several of his girlfriends, each more glamorous sounding than the previous, but Nigel had never once brought any of them home to Hartsbury.
She acknowledged that she wanted to be alone with Nigel. Not that she could work out why; they’d only ever been close through their shared intimate knowledge of his family. He wasn’t interested in her. But he was home. Though he probably thought her silly and plain, at least he kne
w her for herself, not as someone’s nanny. She needed someone in her corner, even if he wouldn’t approve of the mess she was making, taking money for looking after Jackson — how absurd! — and having nearly daily rows with Serena.
Seeing how attractive Nigel obviously was to Serena, and how she wanted to impress him with what a fine mother she would make to his nephew, it seemed unlikely that Jane and Nigel would have two minutes put together. Then he’d be gone, as he always had done. Only this time she wasn’t sure if she could bear it.
But what else was she to do? Perhaps she ought to ask Billy to loan her the airfare to Scotland, and go for a while to her mum?
For the moment, she was stuck here, loathing the possibility of just how well Serena and Nigel might be getting along. Surely that was none of her business; she wasn’t a chaperone, for goodness’ sake. And better Serena reveal herself and disappoint Billy now, instead of after becoming his wife.
Knowing that she must be mature and return, Jane re-entered the Killian residence. Adjusting momentarily from the glaring light outside to the cooler, slightly darker interior of the condo, Jane heard Serena laughing. From the bedroom.
Oh, God, now what do I do? Jane panicked and called out Serena’s name. Stupid. Luckily, there was no response from the bedroom, and she could hear Serena’s voice chattering away. She chose to stay in the house, to cover for Nigel and Serena should the boys decide to come in for a cool drink or something.
Time to make tea.
Drawing the water began to slow down her heart. Waiting for the boil sped it up again. Finally, the click. Dropping a bag into the mug, she suddenly heard the bedroom door open. Steady while you pour, Jane! — Ouch. Damn.
The kettle went down with a plop just as Serena came into view on the other side of the counter. She looked amazingly cool.
What to say?
“Nigel left just a minute ago. And Billy says to tell you that you’ll get checks in the mail from him. It’s just easier to put you on the studio payroll.”
Nigel gone? Billy … on the phone. Serena always spoke to him on the phone in private. In the bedroom. Jane let out a sigh of relief.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing, just looking forward to sitting down with a relaxing cuppa.”
“Why don’t you want to drink your tea the American way, Jane? Nice and cold. You look as though you melted out there.”
“Yes, it’s hot.” All the same, Jane felt like a leg of lamb, being half-frozen in the cold blast of the central air conditioning.
Jane felt quite smug, and in a totally different mood than a few minutes ago. She was composed now. Well, with the exception of a slight burn from the kettle.
Serena went to the fridge and poured herself a tall glass of iced tea. “Nigel said he’ll be back around seven. He wants to take Jackie to dinner. Isn’t that sweet? Just the two of them?”
“Yes, very nice.”
“You could’ve warned me that he’s the best looking man in England, Jane! I was stunned.”
“You seemed to get over your shock fairly well.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Serena planted both hands beside her iced tea, and Jane wondered if her heels dug into the lino, too, preparing for battle. Jane’s calm mood lifted into the steam coming from her tea.
“Oh, come on, Serena! You were pulling him something rotten.”
“Let me repeat, since you’re talking all English village colloquial now, or something. What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I shan’t fight with you. If you want to flirt, it’s your business.”
Jane picked up her tea, intent upon going to her room, but realized that she didn’t have one. So, to the sofa, then, and try to find a magazine on the way there. Why am I being made to feel badly, she thought.
Thinking of Nigel gave her courage. It seemed insulting now, to her old friend, to imagine that Nigel and Serena would get carried away with themselves as soon as she’d left the room. Jane had been a fool to imagine such a thing. What was wrong with her, these days? Surely Nigel’s description of Serena wouldn’t be anything but “rather forward.”
“Are you trying to say that I was inappropriate? Because Nigel didn’t think so. Men and women usually enjoy a little chemistry, Jane. That’s what gives life spice. It hardly means that I am loose, or unfaithful or something. I swear, lady, you act like such a prude.”
Serena’s comment hurt Jane’s pride, and now her emotions slammed back into a negative direction. She felt hopelessly naive. Of course Nigel had thought Serena very beautiful. Billy had mentioned to her that Serena had been engaged once. To a businessman, he’d said. Serena’s ex was probably a lot like Nigel. And surely she was the kind of trophy Nigel would love to possess, wouldn’t he?
Wait a minute, Jane argued with her lower self. Nigel wasn’t taking Serena and Jane out to dinner, only Jackson. That counted for something, didn’t it?
“What’s wrong, Jane?” Serena baited her. “Don’t you have a starchy little British come back this time? And why are you blushing? Oh,” she threw her head back and laughed haughtily as she seated herself on a bar stool. She put down her iced tea and began to study her manicure. “I think I understand. You’ve probably been in love with Nigel for years, huh?”
Her laugh cut Jane to the core. But there were no foreboding tears rising behind Jane’s eyes this time.
“Listen, Serena, I told you that your behavior is none of my concern. Likewise, my relationship with Nigel is none of yours. I’ll thank you to kindly bugger off. That’s English for — ”
The door opened and three thirsty little boys came dashing in.
Chapter 29
Jane glanced once more at the clock. She couldn’t concentrate on the paperback in her hands. Nigel and Jackson were staying out a little later than planned. After Nigel collected Jackson for dinner, Serena had immediately left. She gave Jane no explanation of where she was going, but Jane was given her cell phone number, in case of emergency.
She was thankful for the peace and privacy, but had no doubt that, somehow, when Nigel and Jackson arrived home, Serena would be in their wake. Then Jane would have to sit with them and no doubt Serena would be in good form. She could kill a few minutes by tucking Jackson up in bed, but after that, there would be no where to go, seeing that her sleeping quarters were in the main sitting room. She’d tidied the condo; cleaned the bathrooms, including Serena’s. Done the hoovering. The kitchen floor sparkled and everything was immaculate. Jane enjoyed the comfort of the domestic tasks, but now there was nothing left to do. She’d tried watching telly, but it proved more mind-numbing than the book. Phoning Eleanor was out of the question due to the hour. Plus, she was probably in the middle of changing phone service. Jane wished she was the type to initiate a call, but Eleanor, much like Lydia had been, always waited for others to take the lead.
However long she waited, it seemed quite sudden when Jackson and his uncle returned. Jane stood up. Then sat down. Then picked up her book, in the space of seconds before the door opened.
“Hello. Did you have a lovely time?” Jackson ran immediately to Jane and sat beside her on the sofa, snuggling close. He hadn’t been this affectionate towards her since arriving in America, and Jane felt a clutch of love in her heart. Jackson was tossing around a mint, probably proffered from the restaurant. Nigel stretched out on the sofa with them. Jane remembered his chivalrous motion of removing her from the little chair earlier, and felt so grateful to him for the kindness.
“We had a good dinner, but not one of the Mexican food places. We went to this restaurant with food from Thailand, and it had lots of elephants about, and it was really very good, wasn’t it, Uncle? Then we went to play mini-golf.”
“My, that does sound like a good time. And you’re ready for bed, are you?”
“No.”
“I think yes, mate. At least go change and clean your teeth. Then you can say goodbye to Uncle Nigel.”
“All right.” Jackson dramatically hauled himself from the sofa, and then picked up a running pace towards his room.
Nigel spoke for the first time. “And how was your evening?”
“Well, I tidied things up for a bit.”
“And?”
“And that was about all.”
“Jane, you’re a poor liar. I can imagine that the Southern belle was quite enjoying winding you up after I escaped.”
He hadn’t enjoyed Serena’s advances then, Jane wondered. Or, was he speaking only about how the two women failed to be chummy?
“We had a row, it’s true. We’re just very different people I suppose.”
“She must not be in at the moment, or you wouldn’t be holding court with me on your own.”
“True. She went out after you, I don’t know where.”
“I assume those are your cases, there?”
“Yes. Why?”
“If you’ve left anything in the bath, you’ll need to collect it. As soon as Serena returns home, I am taking you to the hotel with me.”
“I don’t understand, Nigel.”
“This isn’t acceptable, darling. You’re sleeping on a sofa. Jackson said that mostly you spend your time tidying and doing laundry, and I can see that you haven’t any privacy.”
“Well, yes, that’s true. But … .” Jane stammered.
Jackson returned, running again, in his pajamas. This time he went for his uncle and climbed on his knee.
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