by Liz Fielding
He folded up his long legs, balancing easily on his toes as he took her hand and looked her straight in the eyes. ‘Look, maybe I didn’t play quite fair with you-’
‘Maybe!’
‘But I really appreciate the way you’re helping me out. I know it can’t be easy, but you’re here now, Mel and I’d like to think you’ll have just a fraction more enjoyment here with me than might be extracted from a greasy oven.’
A fraction? She looked down at his hand on hers. His skin was darker, as if he spent a lot of time in the sun, the hairs on his wrist already turning gold. If it was just a fraction she would feel a lot happier about the situation.
‘I think I can say with perfect truth that this is a whole lot more fun than cleaning an oven,’ she conceded. But then you knew where you were with a greasy oven. ‘Jack?’
‘Yes?’ His voice was softer now. Dangerously lulling. She refused to be lulled.
‘It must be one hell of a deal you’re involved in if you’re willing to go to all this trouble.’ He didn’t deny it. ‘Wouldn’t it have been easier to have done what Caroline wanted than take a risk with me?’
‘Is it a risk, Mel?’ He regarded her steadily. ‘If there’s anything you think you should tell me, this would be as good a time as any.’
Mel had the disconcerting feeling that she was being invited to confess. But what to? He couldn’t possibly know... She frowned, then shook her head. She was just feeling tense. ‘I might make a mistake, mess up everything for you.’
‘You might,’ he agreed, regarding her with a certain edge to his expression. Then, when she said no more, he rose to his feet, his expression doing all the right things on the surface, but beneath the smile, she had the sense of shutters coming down. ‘But any girl who can think on her feet as quickly as you can, should be capable of handling almost any situation.’
‘When did I think quickly?’
‘When you rescued me from a fate worse than death with your fluffy yellow duster. No business deal is worth that kind of sacrifice.’
‘Would it have been such a sacrifice? Really? She’s very beautiful.’
‘Isn’t there an old saying? Beauty is as beauty does. It’s something we would all do well to remember.’ He nodded slightly before turning away to stride across the room. ‘I won’t be long, so if you want to get dressed without an audience I suggest you get a move on,’ he said, before closing the bathroom door behind him with a quiet, but decisive click.
Melanie didn’t need telling twice. She was into a pair of wide legged, sizzling pink cotton shorts and a matching vest top before he had reached for the soap. Then she pushed her feet into a pair of white espadrilles, tied her hair back with a scarf and was carefully applying another layer of sun cream to her nose when Jack reappeared a scant ten minutes later.
Their eyes met briefly through the mirror before she turned away, scooping up her sun cream to dump it into her soft leather shoulder bag.
‘It’s all yours,’ she said, shortly, heading for the door. ‘I’ll meet you - somewhere.’
He didn’t try to stop her. ‘By the pool,’ he said. ‘I won’t be long.’
‘Take all the time you need.’
Jack waited until she was gone and then called his office. ‘Mike?’ he said, after a few moments. ‘Have you managed to discover anything?’
*****
‘This is ridiculous,’ Melanie muttered, as she walked along the path to the main hotel building, blind to the sun and the sea and the brilliant flowers spilling from every bush and tree. ‘I could be lying on a beach anywhere in the entire world right now. Instead I’m...’
Head down she had blundered into another figure before she realized that she was no longer alone.
The man caught and held her and then as she was about to let out a startled scream he clamped his hand over her mouth. As she stared up in shocked recognition of her assailant, he took her hand from her mouth.
‘Beau?’ she muttered, faintly. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
Her father smiled down at her with a slightly ironic twist to his mouth. ‘That’s funny, Mel, I was just about to ask you the same question.’ Melanie’s cheeks flooded with colour. ‘It’s not what you think, really...’ she began, but let it go. Some things were beyond explanation and she had a feeling this was one of them.
‘No? Well, I suppose it isn’t really anything to do with me. You’re all grown up. At your age Claudia...’ He stopped. ‘But you’re not Claudia. It was quite a shock to walk into that dining room last night and see you sitting there with a total stranger.’
‘He’s not a total stranger to me.’
Beau grinned unexpectedly. ‘I didn’t imagine he was. So, who is he?’
But Melanie’s thoughts were elsewhere. ‘Last night?’ she queried, recalling Jack telling her that someone was staring at her. ‘That was you?’
‘Your boyfriend spotted me, did he? I wasn’t sure. I hope it hasn’t put a damper on your fun.’
Boyfriend! Fun! Why was everyone so hooked on fun?
‘Jack mentioned someone was staring at me, but he doesn’t know who you are.’ Or surely he’d have said something? Well, he had said something. But something more like - “...isn’t that Edward Beaumont...”, or even just “...that actor...”
‘Doesn’t he? How lowering to my self-esteem.’
‘Not really. I don’t think he’s much of a theatre-goer. And he doesn’t own a television.’ She glanced nervously behind her. He’d be along in a few minutes and she’d rather he didn’t find her in deep conversation with her father. ‘And even if he had recognised you, he wouldn’t have known that you were my father. You see he doesn’t know who I am, either.’
‘You’re joking?’ She wished. ‘Who does he think you are?’
‘Melanie Devlin.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s the name on my passport. Believe me,’ she hurried on before he could ask any awkward questions, ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time and for the moment I think I’d rather keep things the way they are, so, if you don’t mind I’d be happier if we got off this path.’
‘Of course. Diana threatened me with all kinds of mayhem if I interfered but now that I’ve run into you, quite by chance you understand, I know she’d love to say hello. We’re down at the marina. It’s this way.’
She wasn’t particularly eager to pay a call on Diana, but she could hardly refuse. ‘You’re on a yacht?’
‘Luke and Mac chartered it for us as a wedding present. Didn’t you know?’
‘Your honeymoon was the subject of enormous secrecy.’
‘Was it? Oh, well, the papers can be a nuisance. Although why anyone would be interested in me these days, I can’t think.’
‘Perhaps they were thinking of Diana. The tabloids are bound to be interested in the lady who has finally broken the spell of the lovely Elaine-’
She broke off. Mentioning her father’s loathed first wife when he was on honeymoon with his second was shockingly bad manners; her mother would have been appalled.
He stopped on the narrow path and turned to her, a slight frown creasing his tanned forehead. ‘I suppose you’re right. We didn’t have a moment’s peace from the moment we announced the wedding.’
‘It must have been difficult for her.’ Edward looked at her more sharply, picking up the edge in her voice. ‘It’s bad enough when you’re used to it,’ she said, quickly.
‘Yes.’
‘It couldn’t have been much fun for Heather either.’
‘Personally I consider Heather and fun to be mutually exclusive. She gave Diana a really hard time.’
‘You mean she refused to lie down under the Beaumont charm? You can’t win ‘em all, Beau.’
He shrugged. ‘Maybe not. But it’s miserable for Diana.’
‘She doesn’t look all that unhappy.’ Melanie paused on the path to look down at the marina. Diana was stretched out on the deck of a sleek yacht, soaking up the early morning sun.
‘Well, no
one could be miserable in a place like this.’ He looked around at the gardens, the marina, the distant islands swimming in a pink, hazy mist. ‘Isn’t it just out of this world?’
‘I’m reliably informed that it’s paradise,’ Melanie agreed, a touch wryly.
‘Someone we met in Barbuda told us the food here was fabulous so we thought we’d sail over and try it.’
‘Did it live up to your expectations?’
‘You tell me. Diana refused to embarrass you last night even if it meant I had to starve.’
Diana had been misguided, Melanie thought, irritably. It would have been worth any amount of embarrassment just to see the look on Jack’s face when she had introduced her father, especially after such an unflattering description.
‘If you starved, it suits you. You’re looking good, Beau.’
‘I feel wonderful. I haven’t felt so happy since... Well. It was a long time ago, Melanie. You can’t bring back the past.’
She almost flinched as he put his hand on her arm and patted it gently. That was supposed to be some sort of comfort to her? ‘Of course not.’
‘Melanie-’ She heard the hurt in his voice as she pulled away.
‘This is a beautiful yacht, Beau,’ she said, quickly.
‘Yes, well, you’d better come aboard.’
Diana, gilded by the sun, her ash-blonde hair perfectly groomed, rose from the sun bed. ‘Edward!’ she scolded, pushing her sunglasses down her nose and peering over the top of them. ‘I told you not to bother the child. How would you have liked it if your father had gate crashed some romantic dalliance.’
Dalliance? Yuck.
‘I didn’t. I ran into her quite by chance, didn’t I sweetheart?’
‘Quite by chance,’ Mel repeated, through gritted teeth.
‘Mmm,’ Diana murmured, doubtfully, looking behind them. ‘You’re on your own?’
She coloured and that made her feel stupid. Diana was so cool, so sophisticated. ‘Jack is ... that is ... I needed a bit of fresh air before breakfast.’
‘There’s a bit of a mystery, Diana,’ Edward said. ‘Apparently Mel’s young man doesn’t know who she is. What do you think of that?’
Mel’s teeth remained firmly gritted. She had no wish to encourage Diana’s views on the subject.
But Diana shrugged. ‘I don’t blame her keeping her name a secret if she can get away with it. It must be rather refreshing to be certain that someone is interested in you for who you are, rather than for your name. I haven’t been part of this family long, but I’ve seen enough to understand how things can be.’ She glanced at Melanie. ‘You cannot believe the number of blue-rinsed matrons we’ve met who think they own a piece of your father simply because they saw him in some play twenty years ago.’
‘Diana! They don’t have blue rinses.’ Then he grinned. ‘Well, not all of them.’
Diana ignored this. ‘Jack who?’ she asked, peering over her sunglasses at Melanie.
‘Wolfe. Jack Wolfe.’
‘Is he an actor?’
‘Heaven forbid.’ Diana’s brows rose an immeasurable amount. ‘They aren’t all like Beau. Actually Jack’s something in the City.’
‘Well, that covers a multitude of sins, too,’ Diana replied.
‘He’s a friend of Luke’s is he?’ Beau asked, butting in, clearly puzzled by the hostility that had flared so quickly between the two women. ‘Is that how you met?’ Melanie frowned. ‘Did Luke introduce you?’
‘Oh, no.’ They might both be financial wizards, but they were so utterly different. At least, she supposed they were different. She’d never really thought about how Luke went about the business of making money. Now she came to think of it, there had been some bother when he took over the Broomhill factory the previous year. ‘No,’ she repeated. ‘We met quite by chance.’
‘Lucky chance. He’s quite something.’ Diana grinned as her husband pointedly cleared his throat. ‘How long are you staying?’
‘Just a few days.’
‘But you’ll be home for your birthday? We’re flying back especially,’ Beau said.
‘Darling, that was supposed to be a surprise,’ Diana chided, gently.
‘It will be even more of a surprise if the guest of honour doesn’t show up,’ Beau pointed out.
‘I’ll be home by then,’ Melanie assured them.
‘Well make sure you bring Jack. You can’t hide your family from him forever, no matter how tempting that might be. It can’t possibly be any worse than the first time Claudia and Heather met. My darling daughter called Claudia a mindless bimbo to her face.’
‘I heard. That she lived to tell the tale was undoubtedly due to the fact that Claudia was too busy falling in love at the time to take offence.’
‘It was the fact that Mac was falling in love with Claudia that caused the fracas in the first place,’ Diana pointed out. Edward, who hadn’t heard the story before looked first at Diana, then to Melanie for an explanation.
‘Heather had a schoolgirl crush on him,’ Melanie explained.
‘Good God. He’s old enough to be her-’
‘Father?’ Melanie offered. ‘Well, some girls go for father figures. Some men, like Mac, know better than to be tempted.’ Her father paled and she realized she had to get off the yacht before she said something she really regretted. ‘I must go, or Jack will be sending out a search party for me.’
‘What a pity he’s let you out of his sight this long,’ Diana said, pointedly. ‘Tell me, have you seen Heather?’
‘No. But I understand Luke bailed her out for causing an affray at a student rally a week or so back. No need to worry though, it didn’t make the papers. No doubt she’ll make a better job of it next time.’
‘Melanie!’ Beau stepped towards them.
‘It’s all right, darling. Melanie is quite right. Heather is in the mood to cause maximum embarrassment. I seem to remember you telling me about Claudia going through a similar phase.’ She was regarding her step-daughter thoughtfully. ‘And now it seems, it’s Melanie’s turn.’
‘My turn?’
‘To be embarrassing. Sweet, innocent, delightful Melanie. Always so charming, so well mannered. A credit to her poor mother.’ She made a broad gesture at their surroundings. ‘Isn’t all this just a little out of character? A holiday with your lover, the press doubtless on standby for the topless pose on the beach. Or is he your lover? Frankly I’d have put you down as a professional virgin. A bit like your mother really. She tried it once and never bothered again.’
‘Diana!’ Edward, horrified, tried to intervene but was ignored.
‘She was a sweet, innocent little thing too by all accounts.’ Melanie felt a rush of hot fury as Diana continued. ‘Edward told me all about her.’
‘He told you did he? Well, gosh, that must be at all of what - let me see - at least eight people who know how much he professes to have loved her.’ The fury erupted. ‘You know I can’t think what Heather’s making such a fuss about. At least her father was mentioned in dispatches, got his picture in the papers for heaven’s sake and she even got to go to the Palace with her “poor mother” for a posthumous medal-’
‘I know how Heather is feeling, Melanie. She’s working it through in her own way. It isn’t pretty to watch, but she isn’t burying her feelings. Your mother could have had Edward any time she chose after Elaine’s death but she was too scared to go for it and if you want my opinion, you’re a whole lot like her.’
‘Diana, for goodness sake,’ Edward said, clearly shocked by the suddenness of the scene, ‘that’s enough.’ Then he turned to Melanie. ‘I think you’d better go.’ He was looking at her as if he didn’t recognise her. She could hardly blame him, she didn’t recognise herself. Without another word, she turned and fled.
‘Would you mind telling me what the hell that was all about, Diana?’ he demanded, as he watched his youngest daughter run along the marina decking.
‘It’s quite simple, sweetheart. She’s angry with her m
other.’
‘With Juliet? Why?’
‘For dying so that the fairy tale could never end happily ever after.’ She watched the figure flying up the path into the shelter of the gardens. ‘But good girls don’t get angry with their dead mother, so she’s decided to be angry with me instead, which is a lot more acceptable.’
‘Great. And now she’s got herself mixed up with some crook. What the hell am I supposed to tell Luke?’
‘Tell him his informant was right. She’s here with Jack Wolfe.’
‘He won’t like it.’
‘I don’t suppose he will. But he can hardly expect you to shanghai her and carry her off in the hold.’
‘You don’t know Luke.’
‘She’s a grown woman, Edward. You can’t protect her from life. All you can do is be there for her when it hurts. But if you don’t mind I think I’d like to get out of here before you call Luke and tell him that.’
*****
Oh, God, that had been so horrible. She had been so horrible. Melanie stared down from her rock perch above the marina at the yacht, willing her legs to take her back down there and apologise, make her peace.
‘Good morning. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?’
‘Is it?’ she asked, discouragingly. There was nothing lovely about it as far as she was concerned. It had started off badly and was going downhill fast.
‘Haven’t you noticed?’ The man sounded concerned, as if somehow her happiness was important to him. He certainly wasn’t about to go away. ‘You were so intent on the view.’
Melanie had scarcely noticed the view, but short of being downright unpleasant... She gave a little shiver. She’d already been unpleasant enough for one day and with a determined smile she concentrated on the scene before her.
The sea on this side of the island was every shade from palest aquamarine to purple, the misty shapes of distant islands, so vague that she wasn’t sure whether they were really there, or just figments of her imagination.
And just offshore some comical grey pelicans were diving from the rocks for fish. He was right, it was a lovely day and her problems were her own and not to be inflicted on anyone else. She turned, with a belated smile.