It was much more than that for her. She hadn’t realised how much more it meant to her to be in love with her sexual partner until that moment. It transformed the act into something spiritual and deeply moving.
She moistened her lips. ‘I’m not sure…I do know I haven’t felt like this before. I’m not sure if it’s love or…or something else.’ She touched his face with her hand. ‘I’ve never met anyone like you before. I can’t believe I’m even lying here with you. It’s so out of character for me.’
He kissed the centre of her palm. ‘You don’t like living in the moment, do you?’
‘No…not really.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘It stems from my background, I guess. I lived too many days and nights in fear, and eventually those fears were realised. You don’t get over that sort of thing in a hurry.’
He brushed her hair back from her face. ‘But burying yourself in work isn’t going to help you recover, you know. You can’t run away from personal demons because they have a habit of coming up behind you and snapping at your heels when you’re least expecting it.’
‘I know, but I don’t want to make the same mistakes my mother made. She hooked up with totally unreliable men. It was almost like another addiction. She just couldn’t seem to help herself. I’ve always sworn I would never take a risk like that.’
‘Don’t you worry that you will reach the age of forty-five and feel you’ve missed out on marriage and babies?’ he asked.
Her gaze fell away from his. ‘I try not to think about it. I would hate a child of mine to suffer some of the things I have seen.’ She raised her eyes back to his. ‘I just couldn’t bear it.’
He brushed her mouth with his lips, softly. ‘I know how you feel. Every time I was on a case of child molestation I would be paranoid about Poppy. I drove Margaret mad, telling her never to let her out of her sight. But after a while you realise you can only do so much to protect them. In a perfect world no child would live in danger or poverty, but we don’t live in a perfect world.’
‘I know, but how wonderful it would be to be able to relax and let go for a while,’ she said. ‘I feel like I’ve been living holding my breath for so long. I’m unconsciously waiting for the next phone call telling me of yet another tragic death.’
‘Do you ever wonder how different your life would have been if you’d chosen some other career?’ he asked.
‘Many times, but I can’t see myself doing anything else. I try to but I just can’t.’
‘I’m the same,’ he said. ‘I love the challenge of a hard-to-solve case. I love that feeling you get when you finally close the file.’
Eloise smiled. ‘I’ve had an offer of help to solve this particular case.’
‘Oh, really? From whom? Beatrice Trevallyn?’
‘No, but you’re close,’ she said. ‘One of her guests is a wannabe crime writer. He even asked me to read through a couple of his chapters.’
‘That would be Mr Price,’ he said with a smile. ‘He’s been coming to Cornwall for years, ten at least. I got roped into reading five chapters of his last novel. I thought it was pretty good, actually. I didn’t realise he was already here. He normally comes in July when the weather’s more settled.’
‘He alerted me to the smell of gas at Trevallyn House,’ Eloise said. ‘It seems it’s a common problem there. I wondered if Ethan Jenson had been there the night he died but Beatrice was adamant he hadn’t been. She gave me the whole spiel about men with loose morals never darkening her doorstep and all that.’
Lachlan frowned as something began to niggle at the back of his mind, but before he could figure out what it was the phone rang by the bedside. He had to reach over Eloise to answer it and winked at her playfully as he did so. ‘Lachlan D’Ancey.’
A female voice shrieked from the other end of the line, ‘How dare you send our daughter back to me pregnant? Poppy said that surfer who died is responsible. What on earth’s been going on?’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ELOISE froze as the shouted words reverberated around the room. She turned to stare at Lachlan, but he had already risen from the bed and was walking out of the room, carrying the cordless phone with him.
She got up and, stripping the top sheet off the bed, used it to wrap around herself as she went in search of her clothes.
She was so stiff with anger she could barely get her spine to bend low enough to gather her clothes from the sitting-room floor. She dressed haphazardly, not even caring that her white linen shirt was horrendously crumpled.
He came into the sitting room a few minutes later dressed in his trousers, his chest still bare, the phone nowhere in sight. ‘I can explain—’ he began.
Her eyes flashed livid blue flames of wrath at him. ‘Don’t bother. I don’t want to hear your paltry excuses for withholding such information from me. You do realise what this means, don’t you?’
He dragged a hand through his already disordered hair. ‘I know it looks bad but—’
‘Bad?’ This time it was her turn to shriek. ‘It’s worse than bad, Chief Inspector. You are now the number one suspect. Do you realise that?’
He frowned at her. ‘That’s totally ridiculous. I had nothing to do with Jenson’s death.’
She glared at him. ‘How on earth do you expect me to believe a word you say? You have lied to me from the beginning. You insisted Poppy barely knew Ethan Jenson and yet apparently she’s carrying his baby. Come on, Chief Inspector, give me some credit for having a bit of grey matter between my ears.’
‘I don’t want Poppy’s name destroyed by gossip and innuendo,’ he said, still frowning heavily. ‘She’s too young to cope with this. It would be bad enough if it was just a simple case of a teenage pregnancy, but this is the sort of scenario that could ruin her life.’
Eloise sent him a flinty glare. ‘So you conveniently got rid of the culprit.’
Anger flared in his gaze as it warred with hers. ‘No, I did not, and I resent you implying that I did.’
She arched her brows. ‘You feel resentful? Hah! What about what I’m feeling? I feel betrayed. Totally betrayed by a man I had grown to admire and trust.’
‘I’m sorry, Eloise. I would have told you but I knew you would immediately think I was responsible. Nick Tremayne begged me to tell you but I wanted to wait until I saw how things lay.’
Her eyes widened in outrage. ‘Nick Tremayne knows about this?’ she choked.
He gave her bleak look. ‘Yes.’
Fury lit her gaze. ‘That’s two of you I can’t trust. I should have known. I had a feeling both of you were holding something back, but I disregarded it at the time, thinking I was being over-sensitive.’
‘He was in a difficult position,’ Lachlan said. ‘He didn’t feel he could breach patient confidentiality.’
‘He broke it with you.’
‘No, because Poppy gave him permission to speak to me,’ he said. ‘She is my daughter and—’
‘But this is now a murder investigation!’ she railed at him furiously. ‘The person responsible is probably laughing at the performing monkeys of the police force.’
His jaw tightened. ‘That’s an insulting thing to say.’
She cocked one eyebrow accusingly. ‘You think I’m being insulting? What about what you just did?’
‘I take it you mean the intimacy we shared.’
‘Intimacy?’ she scoffed. ‘Let’s tidy up the terminology, shall we, Chief Inspector? Intimacy is where two people connect both physically and spiritually. There is usually an element of trust in the relationship and mutual respect. What we just shared was a cheap roll in the hay, to use a crude expression, although I can think of numerous cruder ones.’
‘I understand how upset you must be. But there are instances in life where the rule book doesn’t apply.’
She made an impatient sound at the back of her throat. ‘Oh for God’s sake, I can’t believe I’m hearing this from a toplevel officer. Don’t you have a police manual any more or do you just make
it up as you go along?’
His eyes communicated his growing anger. ‘There are times when people have to be put before protocol,’ he argued. ‘Sometimes the bigger picture has to be taken into account. You’d do well to think about that a bit, Eloise. You’re so intent on doing everything by the book you’re in danger of riding roughshod over people. You came stomping into the village, expecting everyone to stand up and take notice, but you didn’t once consider the real victims in all of this.’
Eloise refused to be sent off course by his criticism, even though she felt a sneaking suspicion it might be warranted. ‘You deliberately withheld information from me,’ she said. ‘We’re supposed to liaising on this case. How can I trust you after this?’
‘This is an unusual situation,’ he argued. ‘I didn’t want to destroy my daughter’s life. You surely must understand that?’
‘I understand you were after a bit of fun to put me off the scent,’ she bit out. ‘Nice work, Chief Inspector D’Ancey. While you’ve been busy seducing me, the person responsible for Ethan Jenson’s murder is probably in another country by now. Well done. Another case with “Unsolved” stamped across it.’
‘This case is not going to be unsolved,’ he said with implacable resolve. ‘I have officers working round the clock.’
She snatched up her purse and threw him a filthy look. ‘Then I won’t waste any more of your time in case there’s a remote possibility you take it on yourself to join them,’ she said, and stalked out of his cottage.
Lachlan decided against following her. He’d promised to ring Margaret back when she’d calmed down enough for them to talk through Poppy’s situation. That had to be his priority for now, but it didn’t rest easy with him that Eloise was so angry.
Not after what they had experienced together. He had hoped…Well, that wasn’t going to happen now so he may as well get over it.
He let out a jagged sigh, reached for the nearest phone extension and began dialling.
Eloise didn’t bother making an appointment to see Nick Tremayne the following morning. Instead, she stormed to the clinic before the consulting hours had begun and demanded the practice manager Hazel inform Dr Tremayne that she was there to see him and would not be taking no for an answer.
He came in a short time later and before Hazel or Sue could even open their mouths to warn him, Eloise had risen from her chair and stalked over to him. ‘I have some important questions to ask you, Dr Tremayne,’ she said in a don’t-mess-with-me tone.
He didn’t dissemble but led the way to his office and closed the door once they were both inside.
Eloise went into full swing. ‘Chief Inspector D’Ancey informed me somewhat vicariously last night that his daughter is pregnant.’
Something flickered in his dark brown gaze. ‘I see.’
‘I understand that the father is the late Ethan Jenson,’ she went on.
‘That has yet to be established,’ Nick said.
Eloise’s forehead creased in a frown. ‘You mean Poppy isn’t certain?’
‘Her boyfriend Robert Polgrean could just as easily be the father,’ he said. ‘They’ve been dating for four years.’
‘Have they had a sexual relationship during the whole of that time?’
His eyes hit hers. ‘Dr Hayden, their sexual relationship and Poppy’s age are issues you will have to take up with Robert Polgrean or Poppy’s father. I prescribed a low-dose pill for Poppy a few months back. As to whether she has taken them as prescribed I can’t tell you. I do, however, know she only once had intercourse with Ethan Jenson. It’s my feeling it’s unlikely to be his child, looking at the dates, but she is naturally very upset that it might be.’
‘I’m just trying to do my job, Dr Tremayne,’ Eloise said. ‘But it’s not been easy with people hiding important information from me. I realise your dilemma on the issue of patient confidentiality but this is now a murder investigation and Lachlan D’Ancey the officer heading the investigation, is the one—in my opinion—with the biggest motive for killing the victim.’
‘I warned him you would immediately jump to that conclusion, but I can assure you Lachlan D’Ancey is not the culprit. He loves his daughter but he would never do anything to jeopardise his career as that would backfire on Poppy. He works damn hard to provide for her.’
‘Thank you for the character reference but I will make up my own mind over the authenticity of Lachlan D’Ancey’s integrity.’
He shifted his tongue inside his mouth as he surveyed her tightened features. ‘You’re the first woman he has even looked at since his divorce.’
She put up her chin. ‘So he’s desperate and dateless. That’s not my problem.’
He frowned. ‘He’s nothing of the sort. Many women have been keen to date him. He’s just not been interested. Avoiding a rebound relationship, as far as I can tell. Up till now he’s just been concerned about being a good father to Poppy.’
‘And what’s your excuse, Dr Tremayne?’ she asked.
He scowled darkly. ‘I told you before I am not going to discuss my private life with you or anyone. I am absolutely furious with Kate that she spoke to you—a person she hardly knows—about something she should have told me years ago.’
‘Maybe she was worried you’d react in exactly the way you’re reacting now,’ she said. ‘It’s easy for you to judge but you have no idea of what it’s like for a woman caught in that situation.’
‘Don’t tell me what I do and don’t know, Dr Hayden,’ he bit out. ‘I have personal experience of an unplanned pregnancy. Unlike most men, I stuck around and I never once regretted it.’
‘Kate obviously cares very deeply for you,’ Eloise said. ‘The least you could do is take the time to listen to her. It must have been hard, living a lie for all these years.’
He glared her determinedly. ‘Thanks for the counselling session, Dr Hayden, but I will handle this in my own way and in my own time.’
Eloise seriously wondered why Kate was even bothering with Nick Tremayne. She had never met a more prickly and arrogant man in her life. ‘I am sorry to have taken so much of your precious time,’ she said, and hitched the strap of her bag over her shoulder. ‘I will be in touch if there are any other questions I need you to answer.’
He didn’t respond but as she closed the door behind her Eloise heard him thump his fist on his desk as he swore rather viciously.
‘Eloise?’ Kate’s whispered call sounded from behind her, and she turned to see Kate standing on the stairs leading to her office. ‘Can I see you for a minute?’
Eloise smiled and stepped towards her. ‘Of course.’
‘Not here,’ Kate said, and moved down the stairs to join her. ‘I need some fresh air. Have you got time for a short walk?’
‘I’d like that very much.’
Eloise noticed how Kate seemed to almost tiptoe past Nick Tremayne’s consulting room but she visibly relaxed once they were outside in the fresh warm summer morning air.
‘I was going to call you to come to my place for dinner this evening. Are you free?’ Kate asked.
‘I love to come if that’s not too much trouble.’
Kate gave her a sideways glance. ‘You can bring Lachlan with you if you like. A little bird told me you and he were an item.’
Eloise shifted her gaze. ‘Chief Inspector D’Ancey and I are nothing of the sort,’ she said crisply.
‘Oh…I must have been misinformed.’
Eloise whooshed out a breath and stopped to look at Kate. ‘I am so mad at him right now I can barely think straight.’
‘Is it about Poppy?’
Eloise hesitated. She wasn’t sure how much Kate knew and neither did she want to make Poppy’s situation any more difficult than it already was.
‘It’s all right,’ Kate said. ‘I know about her pregnancy. I know I’m not really supposed to discuss patient details but in this case I think it’s warranted.’
‘What a pity Chief Inspector D’Ancey and Dr Tremayne didn’t s
hare your view.’
‘If it’s any consolation to you, Nick was pretty insistent that Lachlan tell you, but he refused. Nick and I discussed it together that day.’
Eloise released a sigh. ‘I feel caught in an impossible situation,’ she said. ‘Lachlan is the first man I’ve ever felt had something to offer me in terms of a relationship but this has ruined everything. I can’t trust him.’
‘Don’t throw away a once-in-a-lifetime chance at happiness,’ Kate said. ‘Men like Lachlan don’t come along every day. He’s a decent man and a very loving father.’
‘I’m supposed to be investigating a suspicious death, not on a mission to find a husband,’ Eloise said regretfully.
Kate smiled sadly. ‘Don’t end up like me, Eloise. I am quite a bit older than you and the only man I love is too angry to even speak to me.’
‘Hopefully he’ll come to terms with it soon,’ Eloise offered although from what she’d seen so far she had her doubts. ‘It’s been a bit of a bombshell and with circumstances as they are with his older children, it’s understandable he’d be finding it a bit hard to deal with.’
‘Are you going to give Lachlan another chance?’ Kate asked after they had walked a little way further.
Eloise looked out to sea, thinking of her apartment so many thousands of kilometres away. ‘I have a job to go home to,’ she said.
‘You can find a job here, Eloise. You’re free to do what your heart tells you to do.’
‘I’m not sure what my heart is telling me,’ Eloise confessed after another few paces. ‘I haven’t listened to it for a long time.’
Kate gave her arm a gentle squeeze. ‘Don’t leave it too late, Eloise,’ she said, and they walked back to the clinic in silence.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘HOW did your meeting with Ethan Jenson’s parents go?’ James Derrey asked Lachlan as he came in from another call.
‘It was pretty harrowing, as you might expect,’ Lachlan answered. ‘I took Gaye Trembath with me. She stayed on to sit with Mrs Jenson. We both felt she needed a bit of support.’
Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2 Page 45