by Penny Jordan
It was almost in some way as though he had practised black magic against her and put those thoughts into her mind against her will.
And yet when she recalled them now there was still that tiny involuntary curl of sensation in the pit of her stomach, that unwanted and far too enlightening pulse of awareness. How could she feel desire for a man like James Warren? Had her body run mad?
Firmly telling herself that what she was experiencing was undoubtedly some kind of hormonal aberration, some kind of reaction to the stress and anxiety of these last weeks which had found a focus in James Warren because of his threats against her, she reminded herself that she had work to do, and that the order which had arrived this morning still had to be unpacked and stored away, and that, moreover, she had promised herself that she would spend the afternoon with Lucy.
She had planned to take her for a walk. The fresh air would do them both good.
She wasn’t sure whether to feel chagrin or amusement later in the day when she informed Lucy of her plans and got an unenthusiastic response.
‘I was going to go round and play with Susan,’ Lucy objected.
‘You can play with her tomorrow,’ Tania reminded her. So much for her fears that Lucy might be beginning to feel resentful of the time the shop was demanding and neglected because of it.
‘Susan goes swimming every Friday night,’ Lucy informed her wistfully. ‘They all go. Mr Fielding takes them. I expect he’d take me too.’
‘Not this week,’ Tania told her firmly. ‘If you want to go swimming you and I could go this afternoon.’
‘It’s not the same,’ Lucy told her. ‘There won’t be anyone there for me to play with.’
Telling herself that her daughter was still very much in the honeymoon stage of her new friendship, and that surely after a while she would cease to compare everything Susan’s family did with their own lifestyle to its detriment, Tania suggested pacifyingly, ‘Well, we’ll go for a walk instead, shall we? We haven’t had much time to explore yet, have we?’
She had already bought a local map with all the public footpaths marked on it.
It was a warm day with the leaves just beginning to turn, a reminder of the dry summer they had had, Tania reflected later as she and Lucy got out of the car and headed for their chosen footpath.
The local conservation society was keen to keep the local footpaths open and well used, Ann had informed her, and here on the edge of the town was a small and very tidy parking area with a very clear map of the locality and its footpaths.
The one Tania had chosen followed the path of the river and then cut across a couple of fields, bringing them back to their starting point.
Although initially Lucy had been unenthusiastic about their walk, once they set out she soon began to chatter happily, asking a dozen or more questions in the first ten minutes, causing Tania to stop and consult her local guide so that she could answer them.
It was Lucy who first spotted the otter as he swam towards his nest in the riverbank, her delight in their sighting of the sleek, playful creature banishing her earlier sulks.
In the distance, half a mile or so from the riverbank, almost hidden in an encircling band of trees, stood a house with tall twisted chimneys. Through the turning leaves Tania could see the rosy glow of its brick walls and she sighed a little enviously, recognising the age and charm of the building.
It looked a perfect family home. Old and rambling, but not too large; perhaps originally it had been a small manor house or a prosperous farm. She was just wondering idly about its past when Lucy tugged on her arm and said eagerly, ‘Look, Mum.’
A liver and white spaniel was rushing excitedly towards them along the footpath.
Lucy, who loved dogs, hurried eagerly towards it, and while dog and child recognised one another in mutual approval and delight, Tania heard a stern male voice calling firmly, ‘Rupert, here…’
She froze as she recognised it, her body tense and alert even before James Warren strode round the corner and stopped abruptly.
‘I’m sorry,’ he began to apologise curtly, halting as he recognised her. ‘Rupert is inclined to behave badly at times. I hope he didn’t alarm you.’ Polite words—but that was all they were.
He stopped speaking, his frown lifting as Lucy put her arm around the dog and whispered enviously, ‘Isn’t he lovely, Mum. I wish we had a dog.’
Tania sighed. They had been through this in the past. Then it had been impossible for them to own a dog, but now… Maybe in the spring when she knew how the business was going, and things were a little more settled, but it would have to be a more placid breed than this attractive but quite obviously scatty spaniel.
‘You like dogs, do you?’ James was asking Lucy, squatting down beside her and giving her a smile of such warmth that for some reason Tania felt as though she had been suddenly left outside a special and very charmed circle. He would never smile at her like that, she recognised bleakly, and then bit her lip, worrying at it physically in the way her brain was worrying at the danger of such a line of thought.
When she stepped forward and said briskly, ‘Come along, Lucy, we don’t want to delay Mr Warren,’ her voice was more curt than she had intended.
Lucy looked up at her, puzzled and a little hurt at being so summarily dragged away from her new friends.
The spaniel seemed equally reluctant to depart, turning huge mournful eyes in Lucy’s direction and giving a tiny, wistful howl.
‘Definitely a case of love at first sight,’ James Warren murmured drily to her.
‘Then it’s a love-affair that’s doomed to be blighted, isn’t it?’ Tania told him bitingly.
His eyebrows rose. He studied her for a moment in a rather disconcerting manner and then said in a clipped voice, ‘I’m delighted if somewhat surprised that you appear to think so. This dog belongs to Nicholas, or rather to his sons. I’m merely exercising him for Clarissa and trying to instil some manners in him, since her husband doesn’t appear to have the time to do so. But perhaps now that you appear to have taken my advice Nicholas will be spending a little more time with his wife and family.’
Tania stared at him. Did he really believe she was the kind of woman who would be impressed by his…his threats…? Did he really believe that if she had actually committed herself to Nicholas she would allow him to change her mind?
Too angry to respond to him, she called abruptly to Lucy, waiting while her daughter disentangled herself from the spaniel and then quickly hurrying her back along the path before she could give vent to the emotions boiling up inside her.
‘Who was that, Mum?’ Lucy insisted on asking her once they were out of sight of both James and the dog.
‘He’s James Warren,’ Tania told her. ‘Nicholas’s brother-in-law.’
‘I liked him,’ Lucy told her, adding coaxingly, ‘I liked Rupert too. Mum, do you think now that we’re living here and—?’
‘We’ll see,’ Tania interrupted her firmly, knowing quite well what was coming. ‘A dog is a big responsibility, Lucy. Once you’ve settled at school and we’ve seen how the shop’s coming along, then we can think about taking on a puppy.’
She had always had a policy of wherever possible explaining her decisions to Lucy and never simply stating them without any explanation. Now she was rewarded with a faint sigh but with Lucy’s genuine acceptance of her decision.
* * *
‘How’s it going? I’ve left the girls with Tom and the boys are playing football. I’m supposed to be in charge of the shop, but I’ve slipped out for a few minutes just to see how you’re doing. Whoops! Better leave you to it.’ Ann laughed as a customer came up to Tania firmly dragging a small dungaree-clad child with her.
The shop had been open for three hours, and so far Tania had been busier than she had hoped or expected.
There had been a constant stream of people in the shop, most of them serious buyers rather than browsers, all of them expressing delight and approval when she was able to offer them
a selection of the kind of shoes for which they were looking.
More than one mother ended up buying not only a pair of sensible, sturdy school shoes for her child, but a pair of the attractive and equally well-fitting continental ‘fashion’ footwear that Tania had taken a gamble on stocking.
Although inclined to be expensive, this footwear had a bright stylishness which couldn’t fail to appeal to her young customers.
If this present rush continued her only problems were going to be restocking and finding another pair of hands to help her take care of her customers, Tania reflected, as Ann reminded her that she was available to take over for an hour or so at lunchtime if Tania felt she needed a break.
Tania doubted that she would; so far she felt as though she was riding a wave of boundless energy and excitement, fuelled no doubt by the constant procession of eager customers in and out of the shop.
At twelve o’clock Ann arrived as she had promised. The shop was still full and she signalled to Tania that she would wait, when she realised that Tania was dealing with a customer.
The woman had just paid her bill and was on the point of departing with her purchases when the shop door opened, and when she looked up Tania saw Clarissa Forbes walking in, accompanied by two boys who were obviously her sons.
Watching discreetly as Clarissa prowled aggressively round the shop, disturbing the displays and disparaging her stock in a voice which Tania suspected was deliberately intended to carry, Tania felt her stomach muscles clench in a mixture of anger and dread.
Eventually Clarissa sat down, but Tania was already dealing with an enquiry from a rather harassed woman who was nervously asking if she could possibly recommend a good shoe for her daughter that cost under thirty pounds.
It was obvious that the other woman was not well off and moreover that she felt uncomfortable, and, remembering her own days of pinching and scraping, of wanting to do her best for Lucy and yet knowing she had such limited resources, Tania was deliberately kind and reassuring as she explained that she was carrying a range of very good children’s shoes which were reasonably priced and yet which at the same time paid attention to such important details as fitting and width.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Clarissa growing increasingly impatient, but she refused to allow herself to be affected by her rudeness.
Ann, realising what was happening, stepped forward to try and help Clarissa, but she said rudely, ‘No, you can’t help me. What do you know about fitting shoes? I want the manageress.’
Even the way she described her was somehow derogatory, Tania seethed, when she was eventually free to go over and ask how she could help.
She was half prepared for it, when, after insisting on trying virtually every style in the shop, much to her two sons’ obvious embarrassment, Clarissa announced loudly that she had nothing of anything like a suitable quality.
Behind her Tania heard the shop door open, and Clarissa, who was facing it, bent down and picked up a pair of shoes which had been left there by a previous customer and which were obviously not the right size for either of her two boys, and before Tania could stop her, she insisted on trying to cram one of them on to her elder son’s feet, crying out shrilly, ‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, you stupid woman, anyone can see that it won’t fit. Really, this is ridiculous… I thought you people were supposed to be properly trained.’ She got to her feet, sweeping aside several shoe boxes, her face set in tight lines of anger as she exclaimed, ‘James, it’s no use. We’ll have to go to Chester. I know you believe in patronising local business, but this woman is so inefficient.’
The shop was busy with potential customers. Tania knew that her face was flushed with anger and embarrassment, and the very last thing she needed was to discover that James Warren was standing right behind her, silently observing his stepsister’s horrible behaviour.
Just for a minute, Tania found that she was trembling on the verge of losing her temper and telling him just exactly how disruptive Clarissa was trying to be, and then she recognised that it would be a complete waste of time, that he would be bound to support his stepsister, to encourage her even.
Ignoring Tania, frowning slightly as he took in the whole scene, James Warren enquired firmly, ‘Where’s Nicholas? I thought he was going to take you and the boys out today.’
‘Oh, you know Nicky,’ Clarissa said spitefully. ‘He’s far too busy to bother with us. And as to where he is, why don’t you ask Ms Carter here? I’m sure she has far more idea than I.’
Aware of the amount of speculation and curiosity they were attracting, Tania said, as quickly and neutrally as she could, ‘I’m sorry if we can’t help you, Mrs Forbes.’
But it was obviously the wrong thing to do, because, as James extended his hand towards her, Clarissa turned to Tania and hissed bitterly, ‘Oh, I’ll just bet you are. Just as you’re sorry that you’re having an affair with my husband.’
Tania gasped, unable to stop herself, thankful that no one else appeared to have overheard Clarissa’s whispered jibe. No one else apart from James Warren, that was, who was now regarding her with cold dislike.
‘It’s no good, James. She’s absolutely refused to give him up,’ Clarissa told her stepbrother. There were tears in her eyes, her face a tragic mask of pain and misery. If she hadn’t known better, Tania might almost have felt genuine pity for her. She opened her mouth to announce that she had said no such thing and then closed it again.
She was not going to get embroiled. She was not going to lower herself to their level. She was not going to be contaminated by their lies and deceit.
She stared proudly, haughtily almost at James, challenging him with her gaze.
For a moment she thought he was going to retaliate; to say something, make another threat perhaps, but, to her astonishment and relief, he seemed to change his mind, touching Clarissa firmly on the arm and drawing her away towards the door.
Instinctively Tania followed them there, anxious for them to be gone, and then wished she hadn’t as James opened the door for Clarissa and his nephews and then turned to her and said emotionlessly, ‘It seems you’re determined to ignore my warnings. I only hope you’re fully prepared to meet the consequences, and, while you’re thinking about that, perhaps you might spare a thought for them as well,’ he suggested grimly, nodding in the direction of the two young boys.
Tania pressed her lips together, willing herself to bite back the retorts clamouring for utterance. What was the use of attempting to defend herself? He wouldn’t believe her. He wouldn’t want to believe her.
She turned back to the shop, firmly going forward to attend to another customer, refusing to allow herself to give in to the shaky malaise that was pervading her.
Only when the shop was finally empty did Ann finally come across and ask anxiously, ‘What on earth was all that about?’
Tania was too exhausted to dissemble.
‘Clarissa Forbes thinks I’m having an affair with Nicholas,’ she told her tiredly.
‘She thinks what?’
Ann was so plainly astounded, so plainly disbelieving that Tania felt a little of the heaviness of her burden lift.
‘Ridiculous, isn’t it,’ she agreed. ‘He’s my solicitor, that’s all.’
‘Well, if I were James I’d be seriously concerned about that sister of his,’ Ann said roundly. ‘She’s always been inclined to jealousy, especially where James is concerned, but to leap to that kind of assumption with nothing to back it up… She’s always been the highly strung type, given to hysterics and dramatics.’
‘It isn’t entirely her fault,’ Tania felt bound to say, suddenly feeling a need to unburden herself. ‘Nicholas is partly to blame.’
Reluctantly she explained what he had done.
‘He deliberately told her that you and he… Without saying a word to you ’ Ann compressed her mouth. ‘Stupid man. He should have known how she’d react.’
‘I’ve told him that he must tell her the truth, but apparently s
he refused to believe him,’ Tania told her.
‘Well, yes, she would, but surely James could convince her…?’
Tania was silent for so long that Ann frowned and asked softly, ‘What is it? What have I said?’
‘Nothing, really. It’s just that he doesn’t believe Nicholas either. He came round here the other day and virtually threatened to ruin my business if I wouldn’t give Nicholas up.’
‘He what? Oh, I can’t believe it!’
‘Well, it’s true,’ Tania told her defensively.
Ann looked at her for a moment and then admitted, ‘Well, of course, he has always been extremely protective of Clarissa. There was a lot of gossip when their parents died; whispers that Clarissa had had a complete breakdown. She’s that type, of course, and I suppose if it’s true James would want to protect her from any kind of emotional anxiety, but, really, the remedy lies in her own hands. Much as I deplore Nicholas’s methods, there’s no doubt she hasn’t treated the poor man very well.’
‘No,’ Tania agreed shortly. ‘But I can’t help wishing that he’d found someone else to use as his supposed ‘‘lover’’. I’m worried, Ann,’ she admitted huskily, surprised to hear herself saying the words, when she had always been so cautious about confiding in others, so proud of her independence, so determined to rely only on herself.
It was a measure of how much James had unnerved and frightened her that she should feel this need to confide in Ann and seek her advice, her wise counsel.
‘This shop is such a new venture, and if it fails…’
‘Fails? It won’t fail,’ Ann told her robustly. ‘And if you’re worried about the scene Clarissa created, don’t be. No one will pay the slightest attention to her. She isn’t very popular locally, you know. Not like James.’
‘No,’ Tania agreed hollowly. ‘But it isn’t Clarissa who worries me.’
Ann frowned at her.
‘You don’t mean you took James’s threat seriously? Oh, Tania, I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He’s not that sort of man. I expect he was just feeling worried and anxious about Clarissa. She probably wound him up to come down here and warn you off. Believe me, he’s one of the kindest, most genuine men. When we were going through a rather difficult patch, he commissioned Tom to virtually redecorate his home from top to bottom. That commission saved our lives.’