by Sara Wood
Without a word, he put Polly aside and rose smoothly to his feet, contemplating the angrily quivering Jade for several seconds.
'For the moment I'll ease up. But it's a temporary respite. I have the house that I wanted,' he said huskily, 'and one day I intend to have you. Take that as a warning, Jade.'
'I take it as an insult and a threat!' she cried. 'You're nothing but a philanderer, and I despise you!'
'I'll prove otherwise,' he said quietly. 'I don't know why you have this impression of me, nor why you persist in denying your own destiny. Whether you like it or not, there is a powerful chemistry existing between us and it's making me restless. More than that, I'm hungry. Very hungry,' he added throatily, his eyes avidly raking her body. Jade felt her bones liquefy in the heat his gaze generated. 'When we meet under the right circumstances, you'll be unable to deny your need, Jade. As I will be unable to deny mine. It's a time I look forward to with mounting desire. Till then.'
He turned on his heel, leaving Jade confused by her feelings. Polly limped after him and she yelled at her, furious that her dog couldn't tell a first-class bastard when she met one.
Jade was unable to work. Dane had ruined the lovely evening, and, as the laughter of Soniver's barbecue reached her ears, she gathered her things with a sob and ran indoors to spend the rest of the evening curled up on the sofa, wishing she could love Charlie, wishing she didn't always fall for renegades.
That was a bad weekend for Jade. The merriment at the manor made her nerves jangle and she began to sleep badly, waking in a cold sweat. Her head was filled with images that she had once successfully crushed, and over and over again her thoughts raced to the way she'd felt when she'd heard of Sebastian's sudden death.
It had been a horrific moment, one which had shocked her deeply and made her realise just how much she had altered, how twisted her values had become. Over and over again she went through that day the last time they were together, reliving the distress and resenting Dane more and more because he was preventing her from making a new life for herself by reminding her of the past.
When the cars left early on the Monday morning, she breathed a sigh of relief and felt free to wander the Downs again, now she was unlikely to bump into any of Dane's friends. As the days went on, it became apparent that Soniver rarely stayed at the Manor, whereas Dane invariably returned there each night after work.
Rarely alone, though. Mrs Love whispered in hushed tones to Jade that numerous women visited him, and often stayed. Forcing herself to look up when cars went by, obviously bound for the manor, she saw that Mrs Love was right. Women were flocking to him in droves. It seemed he was promiscuous and insatiable, though his dreadful reputation was safe. Mrs Love enjoyed her well-paid job too much to gossip any further, and Jade refused to discuss him or his behaviour. It pained her too much. Because the manor was at the end of the village, no one else saw who went in or out, and so his extra-marital affairs were kept secret.
One morning, Jade had collected the weekly village newsletter and began her deliveries. Up to now she'd pushed a copy through the letterbox of the Manor and half run down the drive, as though Dane might pop out and accost her at any moment.
This time he was standing in the doorway, watching her as she strode with apparent nonchalance towards him.
Not deigning to greet him, she handed over the informative newsletter, hoping to make a quick exit.
'Can I advertise in this thing?' he asked, as she whirled on her heel to go.
'You?' Jade was surprised. Most of the adverts were for second-hand items, outgrown clothes or bicycles. 'I don't think anyone here would like your old suits,' she said calmly.
His mouth tightened. 'I have some stuff you left which I don't want,' he said. 'I've written it all down. Will you take the advert or not?'
'You have to pay in advance,' she said, intimating that he was not to be trusted.
Dane felt in his inside pocket and then followed Jade's stare. A diminutive blonde in a see-through negligee had appeared just behind him. His eyes ran up and down the blonde, whose lashes fluttered alluringly. Jade was disgusted.
'Up so early, Dodo?' asked Dane, not at all embarrassed.
The man had no shame! But Jade knew that in her anger was disappointment at such blatant proof of his infidelity.
'It is ten o'clock,' she said sarcastically.
The blonde made no effort to cover herself up, but smiled sweetly at Jade.
'I had one hell of a night,' she said dramatically. 'And it's all your fault, you monster!' She grinned at Dane as if she didn't mind.
'I think you were delighted that I overcame your…'
'Excuse me if I butt in,' grated Jade. 'You can conduct your private affairs when I've gone. You had an advert for me.'
'I'm ravenous,' said Dodo, catching Dane's arm.
His eyebrows lifted. 'Again?'
'For heaven's sake,' snapped Jade.
'Just a minute,' sighed Dane. 'Dodo, you go in. You'll unnerve the starlings dressed like that, to say nothing of me and Mrs Kendall. I won't be long and we'll do something about that hunger of yours.'
'Angel,' murmured Dodo, drifting away.
Jade was very angry. 'I want to talk to you,' she seethed.
Dane adopted a listening attitude and she bridled at his mockery.
'Don't let that kind of thing happen again,' she raged. 'Never!'
'You don't want me to conduct two conversation at once?' he asked innocently.
'You know what I'm talking about! Don't flaunt your fancy women and have intimate exchanges with them while I'm around!'
'Jealous?'
'No, damn you! I find the whole thing disgusting!' She was rigid with fury, her whole body taut.
'I suppose if I tell you she's not my—er—fancy woman, you wouldn't believe me?'
'Darn right I wouldn't,' she breathed.
'Why won't you give me the benefit of the doubt?' he frowned.
'Oh, come on, I wasn't born yesterday! What evidence do you expect me to discount? You fast-moving City types are all the same.'
'That's ridiculous. There are good and bad people everywhere, the countryside included. What exactly is this hang-up you have about people like me?'
Her face became haunted. 'I find glib, two-timing men utterly despicable,' she breathed.
'You ought to get to know me before you make rash accusations,' he said quietly. 'Who knows, I could grow on you.'
'That space is reserved,' she said frostily.
'What for, icicles?'
'Certainly not for a man who has dolly birds popping out of the woodwork!' she cried. 'Now give me that advert.'
As he handed it to her and sorted out the right money, she had the distinct impression that he was amused. But couldn't for the life of her understand why.
Most people would be highly embarrassed and ashamed to be caught out in adultery, she thought as she stormed around the rest of the village, delivering newsletters at a tremendous rate. Not so Dane King. It was probably something to be proud of in his circle. She wondered what the people of Saxonbury would make of his infidelity.
In fact, he was to make a move so popular with everyone that he would probably have been forgiven almost anything. Jade answered her door one morning to find Dane outside with a sheaf of papers in his hand.
'Yes?' she said ungraciously.
'I'd like to talk to you about Barlock's house,' he said evenly. 'I think it can be kept in the control of the village, and I need your advice.'
'Why me?' she asked.
'I figured that if you approved, then everyone else would,' he said drily.
'All right,' Her tone didn't betray the fact that her pulses were hammering away in her body at the sight of him. She sighed inwardly, recognising that for all his unpleasant lifestyle, she still found him unbearably attractive. Today he was dressed in a black T-shirt and black jeans. He looked tanned, glowing with health, as if he'd run all the way from the manor, and very, very masculine in the way
his clothes hugged his muscled body. Jade showed him into the sitting-room and kept her eyes fixed on the papers in his hands.
'I heard through the grapevine that repairs to the house had drained the account and had a chat with the treasurer,' he said. 'They're in big trouble, as you probably know. Not only does the roof need re-thatching, but there's incipient damp rising and the ice-room is collapsing from the thud of feet over the lawn.'
'I know,' she sighed. 'When we spoke off the record to the National Trust, they were very doubtful about taking on the house at all. We were thinking of having some jumble sales or something similar to raise money.'
'This Garland Day. Will that raise much?'
Jade shook her head. 'Only enough to play for the ice-cellars to be restored, we reckon.'
'I thought as much. I propose to set up a trust fund and finance the house properly. Apart from myself, there are plenty of wealthy lovers of literature who'd contribute to it. What do you think?'
She was too astonished to answer for a moment. 'Why on earth would you do such a thing?' she asked slowly.
'Does that matter?'
'Yes, it does.'
He smiled gently. 'I like this village, Jade. I like the people and I care about preserving everything in it. Fortunately Barlock Weir was in my line of business, and I can pull a lot of strings to help out. Well, do you think the idea will be welcomed, or will I be looked upon as a nosy interloper in village affairs?'
'I should think you'll be welcomed with open arms,' she said wryly.
'Good. One more thing. John Pavey has asked me if I'd like to be a school governor. Again, I don't want people to think I'm pushing myself into village life. I know I can count on you to give me an honest opinion.'
John Pavey obviously didn't know the kind of man Dane King was, mused Jade. He'd be quite unsuitable.
'No one would see that as being pushy. But you wouldn't like the duties,' she said dismissively.
'Oh? Like what?' he asked, leaning forwards, and a little too close in the small room for Jade's liking.
'It's a serious business. You have to attend meetings and discuss school affairs and make decisions about maintenance and finance and…'
'What makes you think I can't cope with that, Jade?' he asked, his eyes twinkling.
'Oh, you could run the whole darn show standing on your head,' she said sharply. 'That's the trouble, you'd get bored…'
'I'm flattered you should care,' he laughed.
Jade flushed. 'I meant you're too flashy and high-powered for our school. And you wouldn't like visiting. You'd be expected to spend time in the school itself.'
'I'd like that,' he said quietly. 'I'm very fond of children.'
She looked up and saw he was sincere, and felt a rush of warmth towards him. Perhaps he was childless because Soniver was unable to become pregnant. He'd shown that he had empathy with children when he'd looked after his late cook's grandson that day.
'Perhaps I'm wrong about you,' she said reluctantly. 'About being a governor, I mean.'
'I'd enjoy it enormously,' he admitted. 'It would give me a chance to play in their sandpit I've admired and envied it ever since I first arrived.'
She burst into gales of laughter at the thought of Dane making sandcastles.
'I held a "Who can build the silliest sandcastle? competition," she said, giggling at the memory. 'The best bit was joining the children in jumping on the sandcastles at the end.'
'You like children too, I can see that,' he grinned. 'Are you from a large family?'
'No, I was the only one. But our house was always filled with people, adults and assorted children. I'm not sure where they all came from, or even if they knew my parents, but it was fun.'
'They don't sound as if they're your average run-of-the-mill parents. Are they artists?'
'Artistes, I suppose,' she said. 'Father was a clarinettist in the London Symphony Orchestra, and Mother was an opera singer. Life was lavish and very Bohemian, very casual. Mother created all the drama you can imagine: if there wasn't some crisis in the offing, then she invented one. That was her Italian temperament, you see, but she was incredibly loving and I adored all the extravagant emotion. My schoolfriends' parents were dull in comparison.'
'I bet. You talk of your parents in the past tense,' he probed gently.
Her lashes swept down to cover her eyes, and then she lifted them, trusting him not to mock her misty gaze. 'Yes. They died just over two years ago. I was devastated.'
'Two powerful and vital lives suddenly gone,' he said.
'Exactly that.' She'd known he'd understand. It had seemed doubly cruel when her parents had loved life so intensely.
'I wish I could have been around to help,' he said with sadness.
Jade's heart twisted in pain. She wished he wasn't such a Jekyll and Hyde character, and then she wouldn't alternately long for him and despise him.
'Sebastian was there,' she said in an unemotional tone. 'He helped.'
'Ah, yes. Sebastian.' Dane had clammed up, all the softness in his expression wiped away, and Jade knew she'd been right to remind him about marriage partners. 'Well, thanks for the advice and encouraging support,' he said brightly. 'I'll get going on the trust, and you can be sure that Barlock's house will remain in village hands. And don't be surprised if you catch a rather large-looking child playing on the climbing frame in Jubilee Field. Give him a kind word, because it'll be me.'
She dimpled at him and showed him out, even more disturbed than before. He really could be awfully charming and likeable when he tried! She supposed that was the sign of a consummately skilled seducer. Not too far in the future she would have to liaise with him over the Garland Day celebrations, and she was dreading that intimacy which came with working closely with someone. Last year when she'd been involved it had just been good fun; this year she could already predict the tense atmosphere which would exist between them. Her only hope was that maybe by then he would have tired of playing the country gentleman and would have escaped to the more sophisticated pleasures of the city.
She both yearned for and feared that day, but knew for a certainty that it must come.
CHAPTER FIVE
There were other village activities more pressing than the flower show. Jade's time had been taken up for the past few days with preparations for the barn dance. It was a casual affair, and she had decided to wear a white cotton dress with a scooped back and neck to show off the tan she'd acquired from working in the garden. Since she was going on her own, and wouldn't have to fend off an escort, she felt free to wear whatever she liked, and she knew she was looking good that evening.
With a group of friends, she made her way down the cart track to the big barn, owned by the local farmer. It had been decorated inside with streamers and balloons, and looked very festive. Down one side were trestle-tables groaning with food. Jade was grabbed for a dance the minute she walked in. One of the farmer's sons whirled her around in an exuberant reel, bringing the colour to her cheeks and a sparkle to her eyes.
When the dance finished and the fiddler paused for a drink, she saw that Soniver and Dane had arrived and were chatting with the vicar. Soniver was breathtakingly lovely, even in white stretch jeans and a skimpy yellow top. Jade's reluctant eyes flickered to Dane, admiring his brown suede trousers and short-sleeved cream shirt, open at the neck. He looked very virile and powerful, dominating the company with a naturally commanding presence. Soniver kicked her shoes off and pulled him on to the dance-floor.
'Hello, Jade!' she yelled as she was whisked past.
Jade smiled briefly in her direction. There was no doubt, she thought, as the evening wore on, that Soniver King could charm birds off trees. No wonder she'd snared Dane. Soniver had danced with every man there, and somehow managed not to antagonise any wives. Jade was full of admiration, and sat at the plank bar watching Soniver dancing with Charlie, who was loving every bit of the 'Boomps-a-Daisy'. The music finished and Dane appeared at her side.
'I thi
nk,' he said, sitting on the hay bale next to her, 'that people will talk if we don't dance together.'
'I think they'll talk if we do,' she said calmly, despite her thudding heart. Tonight there was a very slow sensuality about him; either he was drunk or aroused by the antics of his wife, and she had no intention of touring the floor in his arms with him in that kind of mood.
'Dane!' Soniver grabbed his arm urgently. 'I had no idea how late it was! I've had a wonderful time. I was only going to stay for an hour and a half, but I really must go. I've got to get up at four-thirty, remember.'
'Damn!'
He flicked a glance at Jade and then back at his wife. Foiled again! thought Jade triumphantly.
But she was wrong. Soniver was generous to a fault. 'You stay, darling. Charlie's going to walk me to my car and then he'll come back again. I can sort out the details of that fireback that he's going to make for us on the way.'
'You're driving up to London?'
'I'd rather stay in the flat tonight, darling. I can catch a couple of hours' sleep before I dash off to Tokyo.'
'All right. Watch out for that Charlie in the dark out there. He bumped bottoms with a little too much enthusiasm.'
'You're so protective!' she grinned, kissing his cheek and giving him a hug. 'Bye, darling. Bye, Jade. Perhaps I ought to warn her about you,' she said saucily.
'No need,' he said with an easy grin. 'She's impervious to my immense charm.'
'Bored rigid by its insincerity,' corrected Jade with a sweet smile.
Soniver grinned. 'Oh, Dane! It looks as if she's got your measure! No wonder you find her fascinating.'
Ignoring Jade's wide-eyed astonishment, Soniver drifted off to find her shoes, and it was several minutes before she finally left. By that time the accordionist and fiddler were playing something dreamy and the lights had dimmed, to squeals of delight from the teenagers. Dane's hands lifted Jade off the hay bale as she was still trying to come to terms with Soniver's remarks. Was that why Dane pursued her— because she didn't leap into bed with him? If so, it might be more difficult to get rid of him than she had thought, since the only way to make him lose interest was to surrender!