‘Then you’ll do it?’ A grin broke out over his face and he lifted her up in a bear hug. ‘You’re an angel!’
‘Simon,’ she squeaked with amusement. ‘I’ve been accident-prone enough lately without adding broken ribs to the list.’
‘Sorry. You do think I’m doing the right thing?’ Doubt crept into his voice as he placed her back on her feet.
‘I’m positive,’ she responded dutifully. She was rewarded with a grin that reminded her of the boy she’d once known.
‘About the other thing,’ he began awkwardly. ‘I’d hate you to think I’d been using you… I’ve always found you very attractive…’
‘Forget it,’ she said firmly. ‘I have.’
She watched him leave a little while later and wished her own problems had such a simple solution.
‘Isn’t Simon coming in?’ Beth asked when she went back into the house.
‘Not today; he’s got a lot to do,’ she said, automatically taking the clean plate her mother passed her. Instead of putting it away she stared at it fixedly, her thoughts elsewhere.
‘Jake’s popped into the village for the Sunday papers. Lovely boy,’ she added, her eyes on her daughter’s face.
‘What…? Mmm,’ Anna agreed vaguely.
‘So like his uncle.’
Anna’s attention sharpened at her mother’s too innocent face. ‘Only in the looks department,’ she responded. ‘As you said— Jake is lovely.’
‘I hope you won’t send his hormones haywire by telling him that,’ the voice behind her commented drily.
‘Listen who’s talking!’ she snarled belligerently, turning around to face her tormentor. ‘You’re hardly the epitome of control, are you?’
‘I think I’ll go and help Kate and the boys pack,’ Beth said, as if the antagonism that had sprung to life in the room weren’t there. ‘Excuse me, Adam, dear,’ she murmured as she elbowed her way past his brooding figure.
‘Has lover boy gone?’
‘If you’re referring to Simon then yes, he has.’ She stared with unwilling fascination at a pulse that jumped erratically beside his mouth. For some inexplicable reason Adam was in a furious temper.
‘He’s not right for you.’
‘Whatever makes you think I’d take your judgement as law?’ Her large eyes sizzled with anger. ‘Always supposing it was any of your business to begin with.’
‘I’m making it my business.’
Anna was angry and confused, but even so she could recognise jealousy when she saw it. The sheer hypocrisy of it took her breath away, but not her voice.
‘What is this, Adam? You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either?’
‘I do want you.’ All his anger and frustration were channelled into the stark words.
‘As a bit of light relief,’ she accused bitterly, ‘before you get on to the serious stuff, like marrying Jessica!’
‘Jessica isn’t relevant in this conversation.’
‘I wouldn’t lay odds on that.’
He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. They felt as heavy and oppressive as the love she was carrying around in her aching heart. ‘What exactly is Simon offering you? He is a married man.’
‘At the moment,’ she taunted, lifting her head and smiling with deliberate provocation into his savage face.
‘And what would he say if he knew you woke up in my bed, my arms?’ he asked. His hands slipped up to cup her face.
‘I expect he’d laugh about it.’ Her own laugh tinkled out, brittle and strained. ‘After all, it was a bit of a joke, wasn’t it?’
Hard-faced and remote, the colour bleached beneath his tan, Anna barely recognised Adam. All his emotion seemed concentrated in his eyes, and she flinched from the expression there. Maybe she’d gone a bit far in her efforts to repay some of the misery he was inflicting on her. Not that she could ever hurt him in the same way—you had to love someone to be that vulnerable. She’d just targeted his pride and frustrated lust.
‘Is this a joke?’
Way too far, she thought dizzily as he lifted his mouth from her bruised lips a few moments later.
‘And this?’ he persisted thickly. His mouth unmercifully teased her lips into submission. With fatal subtlety he wrung a passionate response from her. As his head lifted she stood stock-still, mesmerised by the expression of fierce triumph in his hooded eyes. ‘You’re not laughing,’ he observed throatily.
She angrily blinked back the sudden sting of hot tears. He could be so cruel! She moved her fingers, which had somehow become interlaced behind his back, and let her arms fall to her sides.
‘I don’t think I was meant to.’ She lifted her reproachful eyes to his face. ‘You didn’t illustrate anything either of us didn’t already know. All you’ve done is prove what I already knew deep down: you don’t give a damn about me. You wanted to hurt me! You have—satisfied?’ She glimpsed a startled expression on his face before she swept out of the room.
Anna threw the letter in the bin when she’d read it— Adam formally inviting her and her parents to dinner to thank them for their kindness during the twins’ illness. She looked at the two childish drawings she’d preserved from the envelope and angrily wiped the tears from her eyes.
At least with her parents away she didn’t have to dream up an excuse. She pulled the letter out of the waste-paper basket just to copy down the telephone number printed on the embossed paper. She would ring and leave a message when she was reasonably certain that he wouldn’t be there.
Dinner with Adam! He must have known she would refuse. She pulled on her jacket and hurried out to her car to drive to work. She absent-mindedly waved to the farmhand who was keeping an eye on things while her parents enjoyed their West End show and shopping expedition.
‘I’ll see to the evening milking, Joe,’ she called, rolling down her window.
‘Right you are, Anna.’
That evening she’d finished the milking and was just about to have a nice, long, luxurious bath when the front-doorbell rang. Who could that be? she wondered, thinking longingly of scented water.
‘Good evening.’
Anna stared. Jessica was the very last person she had expected to see on her doorstep.
‘Can I come in?’
Anna recollected her manners. ‘Of course, please do,’ she said in a flustered manner that was in stark contrast to the other girl’s cool style. ‘Come through to the sitting room.’ The tall young woman followed her into the cosy, chintzy room. She looked around with a faintly patronising smile. Anna pushed a pile of magazines off an armchair and motioned her to sit down. Her mind was in a turmoil. What was the woman doing here?
‘Are your parents home?’
‘No, they won’t be back until Sunday night. They’ve gone up to London for a break. They still try and keep the romance alive,’ she reflected a touch wistfully.
‘I’m glad to find you alone. May I be frank?’
‘Have you noticed how people always say that when they’re going to say something you won’t like?’ Anna murmured, perching herself on the arm of the sofa. She saw the other girl examining her overalls with an expression approaching horror. ‘I’ve been milking,’ she said. ‘Cows,’ she added helpfully as she received a blank look of incomprehension in return.
‘I wondered what the smell was. Shall I get straight to the point?’
‘I wish you would,’ Anna said. The sooner you’ve said your piece, the sooner I can see the back of you, she thought. It wasn’t just jealousy that made her dislike this woman.
‘About this dinner invitation.’
‘I have so many.’
The crimson-outlined lips pursed. ‘The one from Adam,’ she said almost reluctantly.
Had he sent her to personally get her reply? ‘Ah, that one. Actually, I—’
‘You’ll refuse, of course.’
Anna, who’d been about to do just that, mentally back-pedalled. Am I missing something here?
she wondered. ‘I will?’ she said equably enough.
‘I think it would be the best thing all round if you did.’
‘Best for whom?’ Anna enquired, her heels firmly digging into the ground. Who exactly did the Queen of Sheba here think she was?
‘For everyone concerned. I know Adam is grateful to your parents for stepping into the breach. He couldn’t really leave you out of the invitation, but, quite frankly, from what he tells me it would be rather embarrassing for him if you came.’
‘And what exactly did Adam tell you?’ Anna asked with dangerous calm.
‘Well, to be quite frank…’
‘I think you’ve already warned me about that bit,’ Anna responded. ‘Spit it out,’ she advised inelegantly.
‘Adam finds the fact you’re throwing yourself at him rather distasteful.’
‘He said this?’ Anna said faintly.
‘He certainly implied it,’ Jessica confirmed with a pitying smile. ‘Adam’s a very attractive man; a lot of women are attracted to him. You shouldn’t feel too badly about it. I know he might have found you a—novelty, to begin with. We did discuss it. I just thought a word of caution might save you a lot of hurt in the long run.’
‘I’m touched by your concern.’ Anna intended to immediately shoot down any ideas of herself being a pathetic, love-sick fool. ‘Of course self-interest doesn’t arise— I mean Adam’s made it quite clear that he doesn’t find me attractive any more?’
The slight self-deprecating laugh grated on Anna’s nerves. ‘I flatter myself I know Adam well enough…’
‘You certainly do flatter yourself,’ Anna snapped, getting up from her seat. She stood there, hands on her hips, eyes blazing with temper. ‘Did Adam ask you to come here? Or was this your idea? Are you sure you’re not the tiniest bit threatened by me?’ she challenged. If Adam had sent her she would kill him, she decided wrathfully.
‘If you’d been your sister Hope I might have had a qualm,’ Jessica observed, her eyes running over Anna’s slight frame disparagingly. ‘But you’re not the sort of woman men take seriously.’
‘If I’d been my sister Hope you’d have been stretched out on that rug. She’s got one hell of a temper,’ Anna reflected grimly. This was one occasion when she could readily appreciate that Hope’s way of dealing with problems had its merits. She would love to wipe the smirk off this woman’s painted face. ‘Let me tell you something, Miss Talbot, nobody tells me what to do. Least of all you! Anyone would think you’re scared of the competition.’
Two spots of hot colour spoiled the smooth matt finish of Jessica’s make-up. ‘I just wanted to stop you making a fool of yourself. Adam would never take anyone like you seriously,’ she sneered. ‘He’s far too aware of his position and his responsibilities.’
What an unbelievable snob this woman was, Anna thought incredulously. If she had her way she would stifle every decent human impulse Adam ever had and ruin his relationship with the children. She would reinforce his tendency to take himself and life far too seriously. Can I let this happen without a fight? she thought despairingly.
‘If you really think that, why are you here?’
‘Adam is too much of a gentleman to tell you to back off. Daddy always said he was one of life’s natural gentlemen,’ she reflected with a faint sneer.
‘He may be the gentleman with you, Jessica, but he’s a man with me.’ Anna hammed the line for all it was worth. What am I doing, she wondered, fighting for him like some alley cat? ‘What do you want to marry him for anyway? You obviously can’t bear the children.’
‘Children are fine when they’re with a nanny or away at school. Adam will soon get bored with them around and realise that that is the best solution all round. He and I make the ideal couple. Daddy always wanted us to get together.’
‘Adam will realise this with a little help from you, no doubt,’ Anna commented with disgust. ‘If Daddy always wanted you to get together why didn’t he introduce you before he died? If your stepfather cared at all for Adam he’d have wanted to protect him from you!’ Anna could easily imagine how this poisonous woman had played on Adam’s sense of responsibility.
‘My stepfather was a fool, but we’ll keep that between you and me. I do have some influence with Adam,’ she continued modestly, with a spitefully triumphant smile. ‘As his wife I’ll have even more. Adam likes things to run smoothly; we have a lifestyle which suits us both very well. I’m going to devote myself to him.’
‘I don’t think Adam, for all his faults, deserves that,’ Anna reflected slowly, her glance scornfully raking the composed woman before her.
‘For goodness’ sake, don’t make yourself any more pathetic than you already have,’ Jessica drawled, an expression of distaste contorting her smooth features. ‘This wholesome act with the children is nauseating and it doesn’t fool anyone. I watched that video— I didn’t find that too wholesome.’
‘What video?’ Anna asked, bewildered by this turn in the conversation.
‘Play the innocent if you like,’ Jessica said in an unpleasant voice. ‘I don’t know what you imagined to achieve by giving him that. It’s not as if you can dance any more, is it?’ she purred.
‘Adam has a video of me dancing?’ Anna said in a shaken voice.
‘If you can call it that,’ Jessica said with a shudder of distaste. ‘It left little to the imagination.’
Anna’s mind was whirling. All Jessica’s allusions led her to believe Adam had a copy of her dancing the lead in a modern ballet. Jason Delaney, a new and exciting young choreographer, had created it especially for her. She’d only danced it once before her accident, and that had been at a private showing for the company. Jason had taped it himself and given her parents the video after the accident. How had Adam got it? Why did he have it?
‘It was a love story,’ she said faintly. Swan Lake it was not, but it was hardly pornography. It was a simple, sensitive story with a haunting score that had stretched her emotionally and physically as a dancer. She would always regret that she’d never been able to dance at its debut. ‘I think you’d better leave now,’ she said quietly, squaring her shoulders and facing her antagonist.
‘I take it you are accepting his invitation?’
‘With bells on,’ Anna agreed steadily. This encounter had shaken her from the despairing lethargy she’d allowed herself to succumb to. ‘I wasn’t going to, but you’ve put quite a different aspect on the situation. I was going to sit back and act like the typical love-lorn heroine waiting for the hero to come to his senses and sweep her off her feet. You’ve reminded me that I never did fit into the classical romantic roles; my technique was never pure enough. Passionate interpretation was always my strong point.’
She laughed at the bewildered confusion on the other woman’s face. ‘What I’m trying to tell you, Jessica, is that you have a fight on your hands. I love Adam and you don’t. Whilst he may not feel the same way about me he sure as hell doesn’t need the likes of you in his life,’ she finished, her face lit with breathless exhilaration.
‘You’ll regret this,’ Jessica said, clearly unnerved by this outspoken declaration of war. ‘Have you no pride?’ she said as Anna escorted her to the door.
‘You came here hoping to prey on my doubts and lack of self-esteem—but, you see, I’m not plagued by self-doubt and I don’t feel inferior to you. I love Adam and you don’t—you love the lifestyle and social position he can give you.’
‘You know about his family, then?’ Jessica asked with a bitter smile. ‘I should have known. Don’t think I’ll give up without a fight,’ she promised.
Anna closed the door on the sound of her heels echoing on the courtyard and leant heavily against the comforting solidity of the oak. She slid slowly down until she sat on the floor, her chin supported by her knees.
Well, for better or worse, she’d made her intentions clear. Jessica wasn’t sure how much of what she’d said was bluff and neither was she herself! It felt awfully good to discard th
at ridiculous role of victim, though; it never had fitted her very well. What had that remark about his family been about? she puzzled, recalling the peculiar comment with a frown. Well, no matter, she had more important things to think about—like what to wear tomorrow night.
Oyster silk was what she finally chose, a simple, slim dress that outlined her supple, slender curves. She fastened a simple gold choker around her throat and found her fingers were trembling.
‘Deep breaths,’ she said sternly, and then, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror, she laughed aloud. ‘First sign of madness,’ she observed ruefully. ‘Talking to yourself and then replying.’
She stepped back to admire the effect of the gold necklace against her skin and nodded with satisfaction. It was just the right touch. The neckline of the dress emphasised the delicate bone structure of her shoulders and throat, and hinted at the gentle swell of her breasts which were outlined beneath the clinging fabric. She smoothed down the skirt as she slid her feet into a pair of cream court shoes.
Well, he’d better be impressed, she thought, applying a fresh coat of gloss to her lightly tinted lips. When the doorbell rang she picked up the chiffon wrap and handbag from the bed and ran downstairs.
Heart pounding, she looked through the glazed panel at the top of the door and saw the gleam of blond hair. I can do this, she told herself, her lips moving silently in a mantra. I can!
‘Hello, Adam.’
‘The message on my machine wasn’t a joke, then?’ He didn’t exactly look floored by her sensual beauty, but she tried not to let this daunt her from her purpose. What the hell is your purpose, Anna? She ignored this small, troublesome voice in the back of her mind.
‘Of course not.’ She gave him a radiant smile which unfortunately didn’t decrease the light of suspicion in his eyes. He was dressed in a similar fashion to the first time she’d seen him. He looked more handsome than any man had a right to.
‘I’m sorry Mum and Dad can’t make it.’
‘Are you?’ One dark brow lifted sceptically as he queried her polite statement.
‘Well, if you’re going to be pedantic,’ she said, exasperated by his total lack of co-operation in her big seduction scene, ‘I’m not sorry—at least I wasn’t,’ she muttered darkly.
Wild and Willing! Page 14