by Julia Anders
"I'm sorry," Lynne said coldly, "but I don't believe I shall stay for lunch. It seems we have nothing to talk about after all."
She rose but the Signora's hand snaked out and caught her wrist. "No, it is too early. You can't go back yet."
"Too early for what, Signora?" Her eyes widened. She and Madelaine had agreed they must be on guard against Justine, but she hadn't heeded the suspicious fact that Signora D'Allasio had invited her to lunch— a most unexpected act. Had it been to lure her away from the hotel, making sure that Jason would be alone?
She pulled away from the clawlike hand and rushed from the restaurant.
She was short of breath from hurrying when she reached the hotel. As she got out of the lift on her floor, she saw two men knocking at Jason's bedroom door. The door of the sitting room between the two bedrooms opened instead.
Jason was standing in the doorway with a look of impersonal inquiry on his face, but behind him, across the room, Lynne saw an astonishing scene. Justine was lying on a settee with her blouse undone. Over her stood the redoubtable Miss Cheney, every hair in place, dashing the water from a vase of flowers in Justine's face.
Justine sat up spluttering and Madelaine said calmly, "I think she's coming around, sir."
Jason spun around and the two strangers pushed into the room, with Lynne following.
"I am Guido Faretti, legal advisor for the D'Allasio family, and this is a witness from the court," the taller of the two men announced.
"What we need is a doctor," Madelaine said and then clutching at Justine's wrist, she added, "No, I believe her pulse is growing stronger."
"Can you explain the meaning of this, sir?" Faretti asked belligerently.
"Why the devil should I explain anything to you?" Jason demanded angrily.
"It's quite simple," Madeline said coolly to Signor Faretti. "I was taking dictation from Mr. Corey when Mrs. Grant arrived looking for Mrs. Corey. She said she was leaving town and wanted to say good-bye. Mr. Corey told her his wife had been invited to have lunch with Signora D'Allasio. Mrs. Grant said she'd like to wait. She went over and sat down and we continued with our work."
"Suddenly she said she was feeling faint and seemed to go into a swoon. I loosened her clothing and chafed her wrists but to no avail, so Mr. Corey suggested water. As you can see, it seems to have brought her around."
"Perhaps you'd like to come into my room now," Lynne said to the enraged Justine. "We must get you out of that wet blouse. I can loan you one of mine."
Madelaine took one of her arms, not too gently, and Lynne the other, and they led her from the room as Guido Faretti was saying to Jason, "My apologies, Signore. We seem to have made a mistake."
When Jason had closed the door behind them, he came to Lynne's room. "Now, what is this all about?" He was staring sternly at Madelaine. "How did you happen to appear just as those men came to the door?"
"Mrs. Corey gave me the key to her room in case I needed to freshen up during the afternoon while we worked. I had finished lunch and remembered she'd recommended a guide book which was on her dresser. Since I had some spare time, I thought I'd come and have a look at it. While I was reading it I heard a loud knocking. I didn't realize you were in the sitting room, but it sounded as if the knocking were on that door, so I went through the connecting door from the bedroom into the sitting room to answer it. When I saw Mrs. Grant lying on the settee, I revived her with the water in the flower vase." She paused as if struck by a sudden thought. "I must refill it and put the flowers back before they wilt."
"That can wait. I don't believe you've finished your explanation," Jason said dryly.
"When the man at the door said he was the D'Allasios legal counsel, it occurred to me that it would be best if he thought Mrs. Grant had come to see Mrs. Corey and that I had been in the room the whole time, which is why I said what I did. That's all. I'll attend to the flowers now."
She went into the other room, leaving a tense group of three behind her. "If Mrs. Grant is quite recovered," Lynne said smoothly, "I'll take her back to her hotel so you and Miss Cheney can get on with your work, Jason."
She could have sworn Jason flashed her a grateful look as he went out.
"Would you like to borrow a dry blouse?" she asked Justine sweetly.
"A blouse of yours? Not likely!" Justine was furious. "This one was pure silk and it's ruined."
"What a shame. Are you feeling well enough to leave now?"
Justine didn't deign to speak again but as she stalked out, she flashed Lynne a look of pure venom.
Lynne could hardly wait to talk privately with Madelaine, but as she knew Jason would keep her working for the afternoon, she decided to visit a museum to calm down her seething emotions.
At five o'clock she was back in her room and before long Madelaine knocked. Lynne pulled her inside. "I've been dying to talk to you. I've heard your explanation to the two witnesses, and then your explanation to Jason. Now I want the real version."
Madelaine sat down and lit a cigarette. "I'm afraid it will have to be mostly conjecture. From what I had heard of the D'Allasios it seemed peculiar for the Signora to have invited you to lunch. If there was some reason for wanting you out of the way, I thought it might be a good idea to keep an eye on what was happening here. That's why I asked for the key to your room."
"Now here's where the conjecture comes in. I can only suppose that Justine must have called Mr. Corey and made some excuse for needing to see him."
"That shouldn't have been too difficult," Lynne said.
"No," Madelaine agreed. "She might have told him she was leaving town and had to talk to him before she left. That would sound logical and would be hard for him to refuse. Meanwhile, the D'Allasios must have been told that if they could get you out of the way and get a witness here, they could get evidence that Mr. Corey was morally unfit to be appointed Tonio's guardian."
"Do you suppose she contacted them directly?"
"Somehow I doubt she'd tip her hand that way. I think it more likely that she sent an anonymous note saying that if his wife were out of the way this afternoon, Mr. Corey would be having as assignation with another woman."
"It was lucky they were in the sitting room rather than the bedroom."
"Not exactly luck," Madelaine said. "I took the precaution of calling the housekeeper this morning and telling her that Mr. Corey didn't want his room made up till after lunch. While I was waiting in here, I could hear Mr. Corey and Justine talking in the sitting room. I had your door to the corridor open a crack so I heard the knocking. I picked up my papers and went through the connecting door to the sitting room immediately. As Mr. Corey went to the door, I saw Justine lie back on the settee and undo the top buttons of her blouse. So I just picked up the vase and poured water on her."
"You're a wonder," Lynne said admiringly. "Do you suppose Jason realizes it was a trap? How on earth can Justine ever explain to him why she lay down on the couch as soon as she heard knocking. I should have thought she'd be afraid it would ruin her with Jason forever, pulling such a stunt."
"You underestimate her," Madelaine said. "She's totally ruthless. She'll think of something. For instance, she might say that you had talked to her and tried to warn her off—told her that Jason had fallen out of love with her and into love with you. And when she heard someone at the door, she thought it was you and just wanted to teach you a lesson. It's not a pretty story, but it's prettier than the real one. I can just hear her." She mimicked Justine's way of talking. "Oh, Jason, I'm so sorry I was thoughtless, but of course I had no idea you were being spied upon by those dreadful people, or I never would have come. I thought it was that awful girl at the door and she'd been so insulting to me, telling me you didn't care about me anymore. I just had this sudden impulse to show the catty little creature that I wasn't so easily fooled. That's why I lay down on the settee."
Lynne was frowning in perplexity. "I can understand her resenting me and wanting to get rid of me. But if she really tried
to ruin Jason's chances of getting custody of Tonio…" Her voice trailed off. "You said she was totally ruthless. If that's so, am I doing the right thing in helping Jason in this matter? Is it morally right to help put Tonio in a position where a year from now Justine Grant will have a position of authority in his life?"
There was the merest hint of a smile on Madelaine's lips. After a moment she said, "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you."
"I can't help worrying. I don't like his grandparents, but I'm not sure I want to be responsible for turning him over to Justine either. And maybe I'm being unfair to the D'Allasios. They tried to trick us, it's true, but after all, Jason and I have been dishonest with them, too, pretending to a marriage that doesn't exist—except on paper."
"However, you and Jason haven't used the child as a helpless pawn the way his grandparents did, frightening and upsetting him into hysterics by having him abducted."
"That's true," Lynne said, but she still looked unhappy.
"See here, my little idiot, didn't you promise me you'd quit fretting about the future and just take things one step at a time? Put Justine out of your mind. It's quite possible that a happier solution for Tonio will be found in time."
Lynne didn't know what she meant, but Madelaine gave one of her enigmatic smiles and said no more.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The next morning Jason and Darren had business to attend to, and Madelaine had some calls to the office in London to make and papers to put in order. Lynne decided she would go to the Pitti Palace and visit the art gallery. When her mind was troubled, it helped to concentrate on the visual impressions of a bygone age.
She was nearly there when she heard a hateful voice behind her saying, "Stop a minute, Mrs. Corey. I want to talk to you."
She turned with a sigh. How could she forget her troubles if they persisted in tracking her down?
"I've been following you," Justine said. "I want to talk to you."
There seemed no way to avoid her. "All right, let's go into the Gardens and sit down," Lynne said resignedly.
"I suppose you and that secretary think you're pretty smart. But it won't do you any good. No matter what tale you told Jason about me, I can think up a better one. And I know how to make him believe mine."
"I'm sure you do," Lynne said steadily, "but as it happens we didn't tell him any tale about you at all. He's free to draw his own conclusions."
"Why don't you give it up and go home? You'll never get what you want out of this."
"Believe me, I'd like nothing better than to go home. The only thing I want out of this is what's best for Tonio—though I'm not sure I know what that is anymore. You seem determined to misinterpret the situation, but everything Jason and I have done has been intended for Tonio's good."
"Tonio's good!" Justine sneered. "Your pure and noble act really nauseates me. Tonio's good! You know as well as I do that money is what the battle is all about."
Guilt stabbed at Lynne as she thought of the money Jason had paid to cancel her debt to Uncle Simon. She realized that Justine would have been told that she was hired to marry Jason, but had he discussed the price, the reason she needed the money? Somehow she felt betrayed. "It was not such a large amount," she said stiffly. "It won't diminish the estate so much that you'll be impoverished."
"What?" Justine said harshly. "You don't think I'm talking about any paltry sum he may have paid for your services, do you?"
Lynne looked puzzled.
"I'm talking about half the Corey Company. That's what this is all about. Jason's father left the business to him and Morgan in equal shares. Tonio inherited Morgan's half. Why else do you think Jason wants guardianship of a half-foreign brat who doesn't even speak English? With Tonio in his custody, he won't have to answer to anybody about the way he runs the business or where the profits go. Do you think he'd let a prize like that slip through his fingers so easily, when fate was kind enough to orphan his nephew? And of course if anything should happen to Tonio, who but his guardian uncle would get it all?"
Lynne felt sick. It couldn't be true. "I don't understand you," she whispered. "These accusations— they're against the man you love, the man you want to marry. Surely you don't mean what you're saying."
Justine gave a short, hard laugh. "Do you think it matters to me? My father was in big business. It's in my blood. I know how the game is played, and it doesn't bother me. In fact, that streak of ruthlessness in Jason makes him all the more desirable and exciting in my eyes. If a milk and water miss like you can't stomach it, then do your noble duty and get away from him."
"If I walk out on him now before the papers are signed, he may very well lose Tonio," she said slowly, almost more to herself than Justine.
"Which is fine with me," Justine said. "I have no desire to bring up another woman's child. I don't blame Jason for trying to get his hands on Tonio's inheritance, but if he fails—well, I'm not greedy. Half the company is plenty for me."
Lynne got up from the bench and backed away, eyeing Justine as one would a loathsome and dangerous serpent that one has come upon unawares. She turned and, stumbling, fled up the path.
It couldn't be true. If it were, how could she ever believe in anything again? She had let herself be used knowingly, but she had believed it was for a good reason. Had she only convinced herself it was for a good reason because she wanted the money she would be paid? No, that wasn't true. She really loved Tonio and wanted what was best for him. But if what Justine said was true and it was all a plot to get hold of Tonio's inheritance, then she was responsible for a terrible injustice.
A hand reached out and caught her arm just as she was about to enter the hotel. "Slow down a minute, Lynne. What's the matter? You look as if you've been seeing ghosts." It was Darren.
"I was just hurrying," she said. "Let me catch my breath. There's something I want to ask you. Did Jason's father own the Corey Company before him?"
"Yes, of course, though Jason has expanded it a good deal." He was clearly puzzled by the question.
"And Jason inherited it?"
He nodded. "He and Morgan together."
"Then half of everything was Morgan's?"
"Half the stock. He chose not to work in the business. Jason had the director's salary in addition, but half the holdings were Morgan's."
"And now Tonio has inherited it?"
"Certainly. What's this all about, Lynne?"
She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
Inside her room she flung herself across the bed. "Be on your guard against Justine," Madelaine had said. Well, clearly Justine was a viper, and Lynne wouldn't have taken her word for anything, but Darren had confirmed it. What Justine had said was true.
She wept until she had no more tears—for herself, for Tonio, perhaps most of all for her loss of innocence.
She had believed it—bought the whole story. Oh, they'd done a job on her, all right—Madelaine, Darren, Jason.
Jason. Well, she was cured of him now. Never again would her breath catch at the sight of him, her flesh tremble where his hand accidently brushed it, or her heart sing at the sound of his voice.
She could love in secret a man who wasn't hers; she could have built dreams on him to last a lonely lifetime. But she couldn't love a man she despised and knowing what she knew, she despised him now. Never never again would her blood burn for him.
It was over, and she felt empty.
Perhaps as a protective mechanism against any further thought, any further facing of reality, she fell into a deep sleep.
She was awakened by Jason's voice and knock at the door. She stumbled from bed and looked at the clock in amazement. In her state of emotional exhaustion, she'd slept half the day away. Her clothes were rumpled, her hair in disarray, but she didn't care.
She opened the door, her heart hardened against the sight of him. He looked particularly exuberant, his gray eyes glowing. How easily he moves, she thought, as if all the muscles under his elegantly cut suits had the
sinewy, flowing strength of a jungle cat. But he would never move her again; the way his dark hair lay on his neck would never arouse in her the desire to touch him, to run her hand across the back of his neck, her fingers moving under his hair.
"Come in; I have something to say to you." Her husky voice was flat and expressionless.
"And I have something to tell you—"
She interrupted him, intent on bringing it out into the open at once. "I can't go on with this, Jason. I want no part of it. I made a terrible mistake and I suppose I can never really rectify it, but I'll try. I'll pay back the money you sent my uncle. It will take awhile but—"
"Oh, do be quiet about the money, Lynne. What's this all about?"
"It's all about money, after all," she said sadly. "I thought it was about something quite different, but it was only money. That's the point."
"Are you so upset about my seeing Justine yesterday?"
"Of course not," she said wearily. "You can see whomever you please. Why not?"
"It was an ill-considered thing to do, but she called and insisted she had to see me before she left Florence. I felt I owed her that much."
How could a man who looked so honest and open be so deceitful, she wondered.
"That has nothing to do with it," Lynne said. "I was just mistaken, that's all. You three had such plausible reasons why Tonio must become your ward. I was convinced. Or maybe I convinced myself because I was greedy for the money, as greedy in my small way as you. But I did love Tonio, and your plausible reasons sounded so right. But my eyes are open now, and I'll have no part of it. I think I should warn you, Jason, I'm going to the D'Allasios' lawyer and tell him our marriage is a hoax. I'll do everything I need to in order to keep you from getting Tonio into your clutches."
He had been watching her first with amazement, then with distress, but now a surge of pure anger suffused his face, lighting a furious fire in his eyes.
"Oh, you will, will you?" His voice was low and harsh. "I think you've run mad. After all we've been through together, fighting for Tonio! And now you're going to keep him out of my clutches, are you? Well, if you think you can set yourself against me in this, you can think again."