Romance of a Lifetime

by Carole Mortimer

  His eyes were narrowed with dislike. ‘You were happy, Beth, believed in me totally. Brenda will have no reason to doubt that belief.’

  ‘Until she’s served her purpose,’ Beth derided. ‘And then she’ll be discarded, as you intended I should be!’

  ‘Stay out of this, Beth,’ he warned her again hardly.

  ‘Or else what?’ she challenged.

  ‘Or else I won’t be answerable for the consequences,’ he rasped, standing up to move to the door. ‘Stay away from Brenda, Beth,’ he repeated softly. ‘I don’t intend letting anything, or anyone, ruin things for me this time.’

  ‘I’m not going to go away just because you want me to,’ she told him huskily, wishing he would leave now, her confidence starting to develop serious cracks in the face of his continued insolence. ‘And I’m not going to keep quiet either. You need to be stopped, and I’m going to attempt to do it.’

  His hand cupped beneath her chin as he looked down at her. ‘Perhaps you should have shown some of this spirit when we were still married; it makes you look quite beautiful.’ He laughed softly as she wrenched away from his caressing hand. ‘You’ve been warned, Beth.’ His voice hardened, his eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t say you weren’t. I don’t feel kindly disposed towards people who choose to thwart me.’

  The trembling she had known inside ever since she began to challenge him became more tangible once he had left the apartment, and she clasped her hands together to stop it. She had appeared quite defiant to him, she could tell that by his continued warnings, and yet the reality of it was she was shaking in her shoes at the prospect of going against Martin and her father. She knew what they were capable of better than anyone, and she could quite well believe that Martin meant his threats. But she wasn’t going to let another woman’s life be ruined by him, especially when she might be able to do something about it.

  She gave a nervous start when the doorbell rang almost immediately; but at least Martin seemed to have heeded her warning about using his key. But what could he have forgotten to say to her the first time? It had felt as if he had said it all!

  ‘Marcus,’ she greeted thankfully, her relief like a warm tide washing over her as she saw he was the one who stood there. ‘Oh, Marcus,’ she choked her relief, almost falling into his arms.

  He held her close against him, his chest solid reality. ‘What is it, Beth? What’s happened?’ he demanded concernedly.

  She couldn’t tell him, clinging to him until the shaking began to subside.

  ‘I saw Palmer leaving as I came in; does he have anything to do with this?’ His voice was gruff, still holding her against his side as he moved into the apartment and closed the door behind him.

  She stiffened, straightening away from him. ‘Martin Palmer?’ She pretended surprise.

  ‘Yes.’ Marcus was watching her with narrowed eyes.

  She moistened her lips. ‘Did he see you?’ she asked as casually as she was able.

  ‘We said hello to each other, if that’s what you mean,’ Marcus shrugged, casually dressed in blue trousers and a pale blue shirt, the shirt unbuttoned loosely at the neck.

  The fact that the two men had seen each other was enough. How was she supposed to explain Martin’s presence here at all, especially after her reaction to Marcus when he had first arrived?

  ‘What did he want, Beth?’ Marcus’s eyes were narrowed questioningly.

  What could she say? If she lied again about her relationship to Martin she would just be digging herself deeper and deeper into the subterfuge, and if she continued to see Marcus the truth was sure to come out at some time. Most of the people at the party the previous evening had been aware of the fact that she and Martin were ex-wife and husband; it would only need one casual remark from someone for Marcus to be made aware of that too. And considering the amount of interest that had been engendered about herself and Martin the previous evening she didn’t think it would be too long in coming.

  But how to tell Marcus, that was the problem.

  She moistened dry lips. ‘Marcus, I think there’s something you should know.’ She paused, searching for the right words. It had to sound right, somehow.

  ‘Yes?’ He watched her agitated movements with narrowed eyes.

  ‘Martin is—was—’

  ‘Yes?’ Marcus prompted again as she hesitated awkwardly.

  ‘Last night,’ she began again, trying another method, ‘you mentioned the fact that I had reverted back to my maiden name after my divorce.’

  He shrugged. ‘But you were right, a lot of women do that. When there are no children involved it seems ridiculous to live with an everyday reminder of a mistake you’ve made—and paid for.’

  He had obviously been doing some thinking about it since last night! That was reassuring, but it still didn’t make this any easier.

  ‘The thing is…’ she swallowed hard ‘. . . I didn’t. Revert back to my maiden name, I mean. I never changed my name in the first place,’ she explained in a rush. ‘It’s always been Palmer.’

  Marcus frowned, her faltering explanation really doing little to explain anything.

  ‘When I married,’ Beth paused again, sighing, ‘my husband changed his name to mine, not the other way around!’ There, she had said it.

  She watched Marcus anxiously, waiting for realisation to dawn, as she was sure, with a man as intelligent as he was, that it ultimately must!

  He looked at her questioningly, shaking his head as he seemed to find no answer there, starting to slowly pace the room, glancing at her every now and then as he frowned in thought.

  Beth felt at breaking-point, the tension almost unbearable. But this had to be done, no matter what her mother felt to the contrary. She had to be true to herself, as well as Marcus.

  Marcus came to a sudden halt across the room from her. ‘Martin Palmer is your husband,’ he said slowly.

  ‘Was,’ she corrected sharply.

  ‘Was,’ he repeated tersely, his expression giving away nothing of his feelings at the realisation.

  ‘You see, Martin told you we weren’t related to each other,’ Beth rushed into speech as his silence continued. ‘Which was true. But after that it would have been extremely difficult for me to have said, “Actually, we were once married to each other”.’

  ‘You had the closest relationship any man or woman can have,’ Marcus rasped.

  ‘In a successful marriage, perhaps,’ she conceded. ‘Ours wasn’t.’

  ‘We talked about your marriage after that; wouldn’t it have been better to have explained then?’

  ‘I wish I didn’t have to tell you any of this at all,’ she said emotionally. ‘The marriage was—a disaster. And it’s never pleasant to have to admit to one’s mistakes.’

  ‘Why was he here this morning?’

  Something else she would rather not have to explain; telling the truth seemed to be a lot more complicated than the initial evasion!

  ‘Our marriage ended rather unpleasantly; last night was the first time we had seen each other for some time.’

  ‘Yes?’ Marcus’s gaze was compelling.

  She shook her head. ‘He came here this morning because he seemed to think we had some unfinished business to discuss.’

  ‘And did you?’

  ‘No!’

  Marcus frowned. ‘I seem to remember he was at the party with his fiancée…’

  ‘That’s right,’ Beth nodded abruptly. ‘He was.’

  ‘A young woman with stars in her eyes,’ he said slowly. ‘The same young girl mentioned in the telephone message you received in Venice.’

  She had forgotten he had seen that message—‘M has announced his engagement to Brenda Carlisle’—blushing as she realised how damning her reaction to that news must now seem.

  ‘I must admit, I didn’t make the connection last night,’ Marcus murmured thoughtfully. ‘Why did the announcement of your ex-husband’s engagement to another woman make you rush back to England in the way that you did?’

/>   She sighed, wishing he had never seen that message. ‘It was—a surprise.’

  ‘Why?’

  Her mouth firmed. Really, she didn’t have to explain herself to anyone. And yet she could see how damning this must all look to Marcus.

  ‘Why was he here today, Beth?’ Marcus persisted at her lack of a reply. ‘Is it not over between the two of you, is that it?’

  ‘Oh, it’s over,’ she scorned. ‘So much so that I think Brenda needs warning!’

  ‘I see,’ Marcus nodded slowly.

  Beth frowned, not sure that he did at all. ‘Do you?’

  ‘I think so,’ he grated. ‘You know, I had started to seriously doubt the things I had heard about you—’

  ‘What things?’ She gave him a startled look. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter—’

  ‘It matters to me!’ she insisted indignantly. ‘What have you heard about me? And from whom?’

  ‘I’ve said that doesn’t matter,’ Marcus rasped coldly. ‘But you obviously are the spoilt little bitch I was told you were if you feel so vindictive about your ex-husband that you are willing to ruin his new relationship. I take it that was what was meant by “a girlish chat over coffee” with Brenda Carlisle?’ he said disgustedly.

  Beth was pale at the unexpected attack. ‘I wanted to talk to Brenda, yes—’

  ‘And obviously Palmer is aware of exactly what you want to say to her!’ His eyes blazed angrily. ‘Or perhaps it isn’t vindictiveness that drives you,’ he scorned. ‘Maybe it’s jealousy. Do you regret your divorce?’

  ‘No, I—’

  He shook his head, not listening to her. ‘I can’t believe I’ve been so foolish as to actually start to believe I was wrong about you.’ His mouth twisted in self-derision. ‘I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of admitting I could actually have come to care about you, because I realise now that’s what all your little games were about—’

  ‘Games?’ Beth echoed dazedly. ‘What games?’

  ‘It almost worked, you know,’ Marcus rasped. ‘I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid!’

  He pulled her roughly into his arms, his mouth punishing on hers as he ravaged her mouth without mercy.

  Just as suddenly he thrust her away from him, his gaze raking over her with complete contempt before he turned sharply and stormed out of the apartment.

  Beth slid slowly to the floor, her legs too weak to support her…

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘MR CARLISLE will see you now.’ The housekeeper smiled at Beth politely as she waited for her to follow her through to the lounge.

  Coming here this evening hadn’t been easy for Beth, but she had telephoned Brenda several times and tried to speak to her, and the younger girl had consistently refused to even take the calls. Beth felt she had been given little choice but to contact Sean Carlisle himself.

  She knew Sean, of course; a big bluff Scotsman, with flaming red hair and a smile that could lull business rivals into a false sense of security concerning his ability. But he wasn’t her father’s partner for nothing, and if he could maintain his side of that relationship without sacrificing his own principles then he could attempt anything.

  He looked a little embarrassed as she came into the room, crossing the lounge to shake her hand. ‘Nice to see you again, Beth,’ he said gruffly.

  ‘Is it?’ she doubted ruefully, sympathising with his awkwardness. It couldn’t be every day he received a visit from his future son-in-law’s ex-wife!

  Sean shrugged. ‘You’re Charles’s daughter; of course I’m pleased to see you. I’m not quite sure of the reason for your visit, but…’

  ‘I’m not only Charles’s daughter, I was married to Martin,’ she grimaced.

  ‘Ah,’ he nodded.

  ‘That’s what you were afraid of, hmm?’ Beth made a face. ‘I’m sorry about that.’

  ‘I’m not,’ he smiled. ‘Sit down, why don’t you? I’ll organise some coffee for us both.’ He rang the bell by the fireplace, a young maid entering seconds later.

  Beth sat down. She really wasn’t looking forward to this conversation, had a feeling Sean would deeply regret his friendly hospitality before she had finished. If he took her warnings seriously then he wouldn’t thank her for the upset she was about to cause; Brenda was the centre of his world, his wife having died years ago.

  ‘Would you like to pour?’ he suggested once the coffee tray had been placed on the low table.

  Stay out of it, her mother had told her, but the more imminent Brenda’s and Martin’s marriage became the more uneasy Beth became about it all. She couldn’t stand idly by.

  She poured their coffee. ‘I don’t think you should allow Brenda to marry Martin.’

  Auburn brows rose over warm brown eyes. ‘That’s pretty blunt and to the point!’

  ‘Sorry,’ she grimaced. ‘But I don’t know of any other way to say it.’

  ‘Oh, I’m not complaining,’ he said, holding up dismissive hands. ‘Straightforwardness is to be recommended, not rebuked.’

  ‘I hope you still think so by the time I leave,’ she told him ruefully.

  ‘Tell me what you have to say, and let’s see, hmm?’ he prompted gently.

  Beth told him everything, leaving nothing out, sparing no one, not herself, not her father, and certainly not Martin. Sean listened without change of expression, occasionally asking the briefest of questions, but for the main part remaining silent.

  His very silence made it easier for Beth to talk without being overcome by emotion, but by the time she had finished she was shaking badly.

  ‘What would you say,’ Sean spoke slowly a few seconds after she had fallen silent, ‘if I were to tell you that, except for actual conversations that took place, none of what you’ve just told me is a surprise to me?’ He frowned.

  Beth swallowed hard. ‘I would ask why you’re letting your daughter marry Martin.’ Surely no father could deliberately let his daughter walk into such a marriage?

  Why not? Her own father had! But Sean wasn’t in the least like her father—was he…?

  He gave a rueful grimace. ‘Why don’t I get Brenda downstairs and let her explain that for herself?’

  Beth looked startled. ‘Are you telling me that Brenda knows about all that too?’

  ‘I’ll get her,’ Sean said decisively, going upstairs himself to get his daughter rather than sending a maid.

  His absence gave Beth a few minutes to collect her thoughts together. Sean and Brenda actually knew what Martin was like and the young girl still intended marrying him? It was unbelievable!

  Brenda looked as fresh and young this evening as she had that night almost a week ago, and yet Beth looked at her with new eyes. The face was still slightly freckled, the eyes still a deep brown, and yet there was a maturity in their depths that Beth had never realised was there before. Whatever, Brenda didn’t look like a wide-eyed innocent this evening, with stars in her eyes.

  ‘Daddy tells me you’ve come to warn me against marrying Martin,’ she said lightly as she dropped down into an armchair.

  No, definitely no wide-eyed innocent today. Beth wondered if Martin knew he had a tigress by the tail. My God, the two of them could even deserve each other. Now, wouldn’t that be hysterically funny?

  ‘Do I need to bother?’ Beth said self-derisively.

  Brenda gave a rueful shrug. ‘Not really. Because I love him, you see, “warts and all”. I have done since I was fifteen years old, only he married you while still believing I was a child. I could hardly believe my luck when the two of you separated so quickly, and then divorced,’ she added without any sign of malice, just stating bare fact. ‘I still loved him, you see; nothing had changed for me.’

  And Sean was prepared to let his darling daughter have anything, anyone, that made her happy; Beth could see that now. It was all so incredible.

  ‘I do see,’ she said slowly. ‘I don’t understand, but I do see.’

  Brenda shrugged a
gain. ‘I’m not like you, Beth, I have my eyes wide open about just what sort of person Martin is.’

  ‘And you love him anyway,’ she realised dazedly.

  Brenda smiled. ‘Yes. And to finally answer your question of the other evening, Beth, yes, I do know about Chloe. I also know she’s going to be out of his life so fast once the two of us are married that he’ll wonder what happened. Our marriage will work, Beth, and on my terms, you’ll see.’ She spoke with complete confidence.

  And she was probably right, Beth realised, because she had the support and power of her father behind her rather than against her as Beth had.

  Beth gave a rueful shake of her head. ‘I’m almost starting to feel sorry for Martin.’

  ‘Only almost?’ Brenda laughed, looking quite lovely, and totally unconcerned about the success of her future.

  As well she might! Beth had felt totally despondent about this visit but she had a feeling she might leave feeling somewhat elated, definitely relieved at the very least.

  ‘Yes, only almost,’ she admitted drily. ‘Are you really sure you want to go through with this, Brenda?’ She sobered. ‘Martin’s never going to change, you know. He came to see me last Sunday to warn me off talking to you again.’

  ‘He isn’t the reason I didn’t take your calls,’ Brenda said gently. ‘I just thought it would be easier on everyone if we stayed away from each other.’ She stood up. ‘I still think that’s the best way to handle this because we really can’t have any more to talk about. I certainly don’t want to compare marriages!’

  ‘Neither do I,’ Beth said with feeling.

  Brenda nodded. ‘Then I had better go and get changed; I’m meeting Martin later.’

  Beth watched her leave the room, feeling more than a little dazed, wondering how any woman—for undoubtedly that was what Brenda was, no innocent young girl at all!—could marry a man she knew was untrustworthy before the wedding.

  She shook her head. ‘If Brenda is fooling herself and really does believe she can change him—’

  ‘She isn’t,’ Sean assured her heavily. ‘She loves him just as he is. I would rather have anyone else as a son-in-law.’ He shook his head. ‘But he’s what Brenda wants…’