Shadowed Stranger

by Carole Mortimer

  ‘Maybe a weekend in London is just what you need to help you decide,’ her mother surprised her by saying. ‘If you see Brian in his home setting perhaps your feelings for him will become clearer.’

  ‘You think so?’ She still sounded uncertain.

  ‘I think it’s worth a try.’

  Robyn grimaced. ‘But isn’t it a bit formal, meeting his parents?’

  Her mother smiled. ‘I don’t see why—we’ve met Brian.’

  ‘But it isn’t the same.’

  ‘Maybe not. But surely it can’t do any harm. You’re only going to meet his parents, Robyn. I doubt he could arrange the wedding over the weekend.’

  She gave a wan smile at her mother’s teasing. Her parents had been worried about her, she knew that. And maybe a weekend in London would help to clear her mind of Rick. ‘Do you think Dad will let me go?’ He had become even more protective of her since her unhappy love for Rick.

  ‘You just leave your father to me,’ her mother said. ‘Just make the arrangements with Brian, there won’t be any objection from your father.’

  And there wasn’t. He even drove her to the station to catch the train to London. Brian had wanted to come and pick her up, but she had declined the offer, not seeing the point of him driving all the way down here just to drive back again.

  But he did meet her at the station the other end, and their kiss was one of mutual enthusiasm. Maybe she could learn to love Brian after all. It was only two months since Rick had left, maybe she just hadn’t given herself time to get over him. She was certainly pleased to see Brian again anyway.

  The Walker house was everything she had dreaded it being, from its exclusive setting to the many servants who seemed to run it. Or maybe there just seemed a lot; she just wasn’t used to having someone rushing to provide her every whim.

  Mr and Mrs Walker were out at a charity luncheon when she arrived, so Brian was the one to show her to her bedroom.

  ‘It’s the best guest-room we have,’ he told her with pride.

  It certainly was lovely, and it had its own bathroom, a luxury Robyn had never known in her life before, usually having to fight Billy in the morning for the use of their one bathroom.

  ‘You’ll be meeting my brothers later,’ Brian told her. ‘They’re both invited over for dinner. They’re both married, so they’ll be bringing their wives.’

  It sounded like a nice cosy family dinner, something she had been hoping to avoid. ‘I hope your mother hasn’t gone to any trouble on my account,’ she said awkwardly.

  ‘Not at all,’ Brian assured her hastily. ‘We’re having a party here tonight anyway.’

  ‘A party?’ Her heart sank in dismay.

  He nodded. ‘It’s my parents’ thirty-fifth wedding anniversary today.’

  ‘Oh, Brian!’ she groaned. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? I haven’t even bought them anything.’

  ‘They aren’t expecting anything.’ He looked a little bashful. ‘When you said you’d like to come down this weekend I didn’t dare mention my parents’ anniversary, just in case you decided not to come.’

  ‘I would have done.’

  He grinned. ‘That’s what I thought. It’s only a little party, Robyn, only about fifty or so people.’

  ‘Fifty …!’ she echoed in a squeaky voice. ‘That’s a little party?’

  ‘By our standards, yes. Usually it would have been a couple of hundred, but my mother hasn’t been too well lately. They’ve got used to my going to drama school, by the way,’ he added excitedly.

  ‘They have?’ That surprised her; it was only a few weeks since they had been completely against it.

  ‘Well …’ he hesitated, ‘more or less. ‘If it doesn’t work out after a year I’m expected to follow tradition.’

  Robyn raised her eyebrows. ‘What do they mean by “work out"?’

  He grimaced. ‘If I can stick it, I suppose. It’s quite hard work, you know.’

  ‘I can imagine. Could you take me shopping this afternoon so that I can buy your parents a present?’ The big box of chocolates in her case would hardly do as an anniversary present. They had been intended as a thank-you for the weekend. What on earth could she buy this wealthy couple for their anniversary?

  ‘It isn’t necessary—’

  ‘It is,’ she said firmly. ‘Now come on.’

  In the end she bought a tiny piece of Staffordshire china—Brian assured her that his mother collected it, and Mrs Walker did seem genuinely pleased with the gift when Robyn gave it to her shortly before dinner.

  The senior Walkers had come as something of a surprise to her; she had expected Mrs Walker to be an overwhelmingly bossy person, her husband equally forceful. Instead of which she found Alice Walker to be a fragile woman, still beautiful despite her fifty-five years, her quiet firmness managing her arrogant husband much more harmoniously than insistence would have done. John Walker wasn’t as she had expected either, although he was a supremely confident individual. But he was still very much in love with his wife, and not afraid to show it, was proud of the fact that she had given him three strapping sons to carry on the Walker name.

  Brian’s brothers were something else, both a little too full of their own importance for Robyn’s liking, both a little on the snobbish side. Andrew was married to Dulcie, a woman confident in her own beauty and the power it gave her over her husband, and Richard’s wife was the opposite. June wasn’t at all confident in herself. Of the two Robyn preferred June.

  Dinner wasn’t at all what she had expected; she was accepted at the table as if it were nothing unusual for Brian to have a girl-friend to dinner. And maybe it wasn’t.

  Shortly after the meal Mr Walker and his two oldest sons began a discussion on some medical matter. Brian moved to Robyn’s side, grimacing slightly. ‘It’s always like this,’ he groaned.

  ‘Not always, Brian,’ Dulcie put in in a disapproving voice. ‘And you could do a lot worse than follow Andrew and Richard’s example.’

  ‘Could I?’ He didn’t appear impressed by his sister-in-law’s superior attitude. ‘I don’t see how.’

  Dulcie was a natural blonde, and her fair skin flushed with anger, her blue eyes hard. ‘I would say acting is a lot worse,’ she snapped. ‘Wouldn’t you, June?’

  Small, dark-haired, with nervous brown eyes, June seemed lost among this forceful family, her only ally appearing to be the mild Mrs Walker. ‘I—I don’t know. Surely it depends what Brian wants—’

  ‘Of course it doesn’t,’ Dulcie interrupted disgustedly. ‘At the moment he thinks he wants to be an actor, next year it will be something else. He’ll probably join one of those ghastly pop-groups.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ he grinned. ‘I’m too old. If you’re over nineteen you’re over the hill in the pop world.’

  Robyn joined in his humour, receiving a look of irritation from Dulcie.

  ‘I think your mother and father should make you enter the medical profession,’ Dulcie continued. ‘At least it would steady you.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem to have done much for Oliver,’ Brian replied angrily.

  ‘What happened to Oliver wasn’t his fault. Some women just can’t take the pressure of being involved with a doctor, especially ones as famous as Oliver.’

  ‘Then how do you explain Melinda leaving him for another doctor?’ Brian scorned.

  ‘Because she didn’t have any sense,’ June cut in. ‘And I would rather you didn’t discuss my brother in this way.’

  Robyn looked at the other girl in surprise, although no one else seemed surprised by this sudden roar from the mouse. She looked at the older girl with new respect, realising that she had misjudged June. June was more like Alice Walker than any of her natural children were, she only roared when it was really necessary.

  ‘Sorry,’ Brian muttered.

  ‘So you should be,’ Dulcie snapped. ‘Poor Oliver, I feel so sorry for him.’

  ‘I doubt he needs it,’ June said dryly.

  Dulcie gave
her a look of feigned innocence. ‘Will he be bringing Sheila tonight?’

  ‘Of course—she is my sister-in-law.’

  Robyn had no idea who Oliver, Melinda, or Sheila were, but this Oliver came over as rather a fickle young man. Someone called Melinda had walked out on him and he had quickly replaced her with someone called Sheila. He didn’t sound exactly the constant type himself, and he didn’t sound anything like June either.

  ‘Interesting bunch, aren’t they?’ Brian said teasingly once June and Dulcie had moved away.

  Robyn grinned. ‘I like them.’

  ‘So do I, although they can be a little overwhelming en masse. June surprised you, hmm?’ he added with some amusement.

  She nodded, not realising Brian had been watching her that closely. ‘A little,’ she admitted.

  Brian chuckled. ‘She frightens Richard to death.’

  ‘I don’t believe that,’ she laughed.

  ‘Oh, but she does. June may be quiet, unobtrusive in some ways, but if you cross her … Dulcie and I got off quite lightly tonight. June worships her brother and can’t bear any criticism of him. When she gets angry, boy, do you know it!’

  ‘Was this Oliver married to Melinda?’ Her curiosity had been aroused now.

  ‘Not quite,’ Brian said meaningly.

  ‘Oh!’ she blushed.

  ‘You see—Oh damn,’ he muttered. ‘My father wants us to go and greet the guests with them. Come on.’ He took hold of her arm.

  ‘Not me, Brian,’ she refused. ‘I—I’d rather stay here in the background.’ She didn’t want to appear like part of the family.

  ‘But—Oh damn,’ he swore again. ‘Look, I have to go. I wish you’d come with me.’

  Robyn shook her head, her expression firm before he turned away in defeat. Robyn watched him take his place with the rest of the family, saw Dulcie make some comment to him and then Brian’s snapping reply.

  Robyn turned away with a smile, well able to imagine that Dulcie had made some comment about her absence. She had been right to be wary of this visit; the Walker family were turning out to be just as socially out of her reach as she had thought they would be. She had known they were quite rich by Brian’s way of dress and the expensive sports car he drove, but seeing the whole family together like this, the way they entertained, she was convinced that Brian wasn’t the right boy for her.

  Still, at least she was dressed up to their standard; her dress was a new purchase for this weekend, a royal blue velvet that reached just below her knees. The shade of blue made her hair look like spun gold, her eyes a deep purple.

  She received one or two speculative looks, but no one was curious enough to actually question her presence here. She just smiled brightly when anyone looked her way, slightly relieved when Brian could at last rejoin her.

  ‘Everyone here now?’ she asked with a smile, sure that there were more than fifty people here already.

  ‘Everyone,’ he nodded. ‘Oh, except Sheila and Oliver.’ He shrugged. ‘Perhaps they won’t come, they aren’t really very sociable at the moment.’

  As they sounded like newlyweds that wasn’t surprising. They probably only needed each other right now.

  Robyn was talking to June, a June now as quiet and subdued as she had been when they were first introduced, making the other, fiercer June seem like a figment of the imagination, when the most beautiful woman Robyn had ever seen entered the room.

  On closer inspection her looks were striking rather than beautiful; her hair like a deep red flame as it fell in soft waves to her shoulders, her make-up was dark, accentuating her classical features, the black dress she wore fell silkily smooth over her slender curves, her legs were long and silky.

  She seemed very confident of herself, although her eyes moved nervously about the room, resting briefly on Robyn before passing on to June, her face breaking into a relieved smile.

  ‘My sister-in-law,’ June murmured. ‘Come and meet her, Robyn,’ she invited.

  This was Sheila? Then where was Oliver? That question was soon answered.

  ‘He’s been delayed,’ Sheila told them in her huskily attractive voice. ‘But he shouldn’t be long.’

  June nodded. ‘This is Robyn, Brian’s friend.’

  Green eyes focused on Robyn before Sheila held out her hand. ‘I’m glad to meet you.’

  ‘Would it be too much to ask what delayed Oliver?’ June asked in a waspish voice.

  Sheila shrugged. ‘You know Oliver.’

  His sister’s mouth tightened. ‘Better than anyone. It really is too bad of him, Alice and John are two of his oldest friends. He hasn’t left town again, has he?’

  ‘Not that I know of,’ Sheila replied smoothly. ‘Calm down, June, I’m sure he’ll be here.’

  Robyn moved tactfully away. The absent Oliver certainly seemed to cause the women in his life a lot of concern. He sounded a very selfish individual.

  She wasn’t really enjoying this party. Half the guests seemed to be doctors, and the other half seemed to be their wives! She was surprised Brian didn’t just give in to pressure and accept the medical profession as his career. She had an idea the supposed acting career was what Dulcie had said it was, a whim on Brian’s part to be independent, to do something totally different from the other members of his family.

  She froze to the spot as she turned and saw the man walking purposefully across the room towards the senior Walkers, a man totally different from the man full of shadows that she had come to know at Orchard House. This man walked with long relaxed strides, wore a suit of the finest cut and material, his shirt was made of silk, his hair impeccably groomed.

  And yet it was Rick, a Rick she hardly recognised. He looked nothing like the man she had come to know and love, the man in the ragged clothing and untidy hair. Now he looked self-assured and sophisticated, wore his fine clothing with an air of breeding that she had never noticed before. And his ribs obviously no longer bothered him; his movements were easy and relaxed.

  Robyn stepped back out of sight, watching him greet his host and hostess, talking to them for several minutes before moving to join June and Sheila.

  ‘Hi.’

  Robyn turned with a start, smiling her relief when she saw it was Brian standing next to her. ‘Hello,’ she greeted jerkily.

  His arm went about her shoulders. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’

  And she had been looking at Rick, was still looking at him, unable to believe he was actually here. He looked so different, not at all like the man she had fallen in love with. And what was he doing at so distinguished a gathering—and looking completely at home here too!

  ‘The man talking to June …’ she began, biting her bottom lip to stop it trembling. ‘Who is he?’

  Brian looked over in his sister-in-law’s direction. ‘With June? Ah, yes,’ he nodded, ‘that’s Oliver.’

  She swallowed hard. ‘Oliver …?’

  ‘Oliver Pendleton, June’s brother. The most distinguished guest we have here.’

  Robyn felt as if the world were closing in around her, as if all reality were fading and just this terrible nightmare were taking over. The chances of her seeing Rick this weekend must have been about a million to one, and yet here he was, and he wasn’t Rick Howarth at all. ‘Distinguished …?’ she echoed dully, looking at Rick/Oliver with new eyes, seeing the self-assurance and arrogance that came as naturally to him as breathing.

  Brian took a couple of drinks off the tray the waiter was taking round, handing one to Robyn. ‘He’s specialist, a famous one, writes books about it and everything. Even my father consults him about some of his patients,’ he added as if that were a great honour for any man. ‘Now that Oliver’s finally here we’re going to drink a toast to my parents,’ he indicated the champagne in their glasses.

  Rick was the one to propose the toast, his voice just as Robyn remembered it, the lazy amusement edged with the sword thrust. His words of congratulations were witty and amusing, judging by the reaction of t
he other guests, but Robyn didn’t hear one of them.

  The fact that the Rick she had thought she was in love with was actually Oliver Pendleton was bad enough, but that he was also married to the beautiful Sheila was something she would never be able to forgive.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ALL the time he had been making love to her he had been married to Sheila, had a wife—a beautiful wife with whom she couldn’t hope to compete. No wonder he had been loath to get involved with her, had tried to show her he wasn’t interested in a relationship with her. What man would be with a wife like that!

  And no wonder the name Oliver Pendleton had seemed so familiar to her. He was indeed a writer, he had been the author of that huge medical volume that had fallen on her toe that day at the library.

  Then why had he lived in the village as Rick Howarth? Why had he looked and dressed the way he did? Whatever the answers to those questions, he had lied to her, deceived her when he told her he didn’t have a wife, and the man she loved no longer existed. He had been replaced by the haughty Oliver.

  ‘Would you like to meet him?’

  She blinked dazedly up at Brian, the significance of his words slowly sinking into her numbed brain. ‘No!’ she said sharply. ‘I—He—He looks busy.’ Talking to his wife!

  ‘He’s only talking to Sheila,’ Brian dismissed. ‘Come on. Most of my girl-friends can’t wait to get an introduction to him.’

  So she had been right, her being here as Brian’s girlfriend was nothing unusual to his family. But Brian had just reminded her of something, she was here as his girlfriend. With that as a shield she had no need to fear this meeting with Rick. Besides, she doubted she could go on avoiding him all evening.

  She allowed Brian to guide her over to where Rick was now talking to June, Sheila having moved away to talk to some other people.

  ‘If you weren’t my brother,’ June was saying vehemently, ‘I’d tell you just how despicable your manners really are!’

  Rick’s mouth twisted wryly. ‘You aren’t doing too badly now,’ he drawled.