Act of Betrayal (4 page)

25 He perched on the arm of a chair, smiling eagerly. 'I'm glad I

didn't 'phone and find you out. I get the impression your uncle's

housekeeper doesn't altogether appreciate taking messages from

me.' Laura smiled rather ruefully. 'It's no fault of yours. I'm

afraid that she resents me. She's been with the family for years,

and my uncle thought I could take some of the housekeeping

burdens off her shoulders, but she doesn't see it that way at

all. Anyway, why did you want to speak to me?' 'I've been asked

to cover the opening of a brand-new restaurant in Burngate

tonight,' he said. "The Echo were going to send Linda Watson from

staff, because there'll be free champagne, but as she's gone down

with some virus they've had to fall back on me.' He gave a

selfdeprecating grin. 'I'm allowed to take guests, so I wondered

if you'd go with me?' In any other circumstances, Laura thought

she would probably have made an excuse. It didn't sound like her

sort of junket at all, but tonight the last thing she wanted to

do was sit at home and brood. She said lightly, 'It sounds like

fun. Pick me up early, and have a drink with us first.' His face

lit up. 'I'd really like that.' He paused. 'Your family don't

object to you going out with a struggling hack?' 'Is that how you

see yourself?' Laura asked. She gave a faint shrug. 'Why should

they object? I'm not a child anymore. I have my own life to

live.' ' I suppose so.' He spoke slowly, asjf measuring his

words. 'But do you live it? I mean—you seem so sheltered

sometimes.' T assure you I don't feel it,' she told him drily.

'But if you're nervous of my ivory tower, we could always meet in

a bar.' 'Oh, no,' he denied hastily. 'I'd like to meet your

uncle.'

He didn't actually say 'at long last' but his tone implied

it, and Laura bit her lip. Clearly her attempts to keep their

relationship on a strictly casual basis hadn't been as subtle as

she'd hoped, and now Alan was taking her decision to introduce

him into the family circle as a step towards a greater intimacy.

She could only hope she wasn't starting something she'd be unable

to control. She'd never told Alan any details about her personal

life. To him, she was just Laura Caswell, and he had no idea

there had ever been a Laura Wingard. It had never seemed

necessary to tell him, but now it occurred to her that she was

going to have to, and she wondered how he would react. He said

suddenly, 'Where do you go to, Laura?' Her eyes flicked

questioningly to his face. 'What do you mean?' 'I'm not even sure

myself. It's just sometimes when we're together, you seem to

vanish somewhere inside yourself. It makes me wonder.' He laughed

rather awkwardly. 'Perhaps it's just that I'm not very

exhilarating company.' Her glance held compunction. Obviously, he

needed reassurance too. 'It certainly isn't that,' she said

gently. T don't think I even realise I'm doing it.' There was a

pause, then he said, ' I f you've got problems, it can help

sometimes to share them.' He sounded tentative, unsure, as if

aware he was offering himself in a new role, and she was

grateful, even if she couldn't be sure it was what she wanted

from him. She drank down her coffee, and rose. ' I f we're going

on the town, then I'd better do something about my appearance. I

don't want to put my fellow revellers off their food.' 'You'd

never do that,' he protested. She knew that he wanted to kiss

her, and she made herself yield as he took her in his arms,

hoping that the touch of his lips would turn her to fire, totally

erasing the memory of that other devastating kiss. Oh, Alan,

forgive me, she thought remorsefully, as her hands slid up to

clasp his shoulders in the simulation of passion. She felt his

arms tighten round her in response, his mouth move on hers with

growing confidence. Laura closed her eyes, waiting, praying for

the alchemy to happen. After all, he was young, he was attractive

in a quiet way, and she wanted to want him. She wanted another

man to kindle the deep flame in her body which Jason had always

lit so effortlessly. Since their parting, she'd been in a kind of

limbo, leading a half-life, but now she wanted to be whole again,

and Alan could be the man to make her so. But once again, there

were no miracles. The kiss was pleasant, but it ignited no

fierce, answering excitement within her, and it was a relief when

he let her go reluctantly, but without initiating any further

intimacies. There was tenderness in his face when he looked at

her, and a slight triumph as well, which she supposed was

understandable. She'd never invited caresses in the past, and

she'd always been the first to draw back. He said huskily, 'Well,

I'll see you later then,' and Laura tried not flinch at the new

possessive note in his voice. She said steadily, 'I'm looking

forward to it,' and wished with all her heart that it could be

true. Celia was nowhere to be seen when she got back to the

house, her lounger in the garden unoccupied, a discarded magazine

tossed on the grass beside it, and an empty jug which had once

contained orange juice still reposing with its used glass on a

wrought iron table nearby. Laura put the lounger away in the

summerhouse, and carried the other things across the lawn towards

the house. She was almost at the french windows which opened into

the drawing room, when she heard Celia laughing, the low throaty

chuckle which meant there was a man about. Her cousin was

entertaining one of her numerous boyfriends, Laura decided

resignedly. If it was Greg Arnold, she could only hope he would

save his more risque stories until she was out of the room. She

was almost tempted to retrace her steps, and go in by the kitchen

entrance, but she told herself forcefully not to be so silly. She

was actually inside the room, with retreat impossible, when she

saw the man sharing the wide sofa with Celia was Jason. 'Hello,

sweetie,' Celia flashed her a smile. She'd thrown on the shirt

which matched her sunbathing gear, but she still managed to look

alluringly undressed. She waved a hand at Jason. ' I gather

introductions aren't necessary.' She giggled. 'What an amazing

surprise for you both. I always understood Laura's ex-husband was

a struggling artist, and now he turns up as a tycoon. You sly

thing, Laura, keeping it all to yourself like this.' Before Laura

could speak, Jason intervened smoothly. 'She can hardly be held

responsible for not telling you I was the boss of Tristan

Construction. She didn't know it herself until a few hours ago.'

'So it was all your little secret?' Celia's eyes fastened

limpidly on his face. 'Perhaps you should have told her. You

might both still be living in connubial bliss.' ' I doubt that.'

His lips smiled, but the words bit. 'In any case, I'm sure there

are far more interesting subjects to discuss than my past

matrimonial difficulties.' Celia pouted a little. 'Are there any

current ones?' 'No.' He didn't look at Laura at all. 'So far,

I've decided not to risk another dip in the troubled waters of

marriage.' He looked at her ringless left hand. 'It seems like a

view we share.' Celia shrugged gracefully. ' I was engaged once,

but to be honest I find the whole concept of marriage the

teeniest bit cramping and old-fashioned, even though the divorce

laws have made things easier.' Laura listened with a sense of

incredulity. Easier, she thought helplessly. Easier? Was that

really how Celia regarded those few brief moments in court which

tore apart flesh and sinew and emotion? She said in a small

wooden voice, 'Well, if you'll excuse me I ' l l just take these

things to the kitchen.' 'And while you're there, sweetie, you

might see about some tea for us.' Celia's tone was casual, but

the words, putting Laura in a position of subservience was quite

deliberate. Hot outrage rose in Laura's throat. She was sorely

tempted to yell, 'Get your own damned tea,' and brain Celia with

the empty jug for good measure, but she exercised an almost

superhuman restraint. She returned coolly, 'Of course.' She

looked at Jason, lifting her brows enquiringly, 'Milk or lemon?'

His mouth twisted. She saw a glimmer of anger deep down. 'You

mean you don't remember?' he asked silkily. ' I think lemon on

such a warm day—don't you?' It didn't make a particle of

difference what she thought, Laura told herself as she left the

room. She had no intention of sharing the tea with them, and

watching Celia exercise her blatant wiles on Jason. The kitchen

was full of delicious baking smells, and Mrs Fraser, looking

harassed was removing a tray from the oven. 'Miss Celia wants

tea,' Laura said rinsing the jug and glass under the tap. 'But

you seem to haveyour hands full already.' Mrs Fraser snorted

ungraciously. 'A drinks party— and at the last

moment—expecting cheese straws and canapes to appear from thin

air.' 'I'm sorry.' Laura walked warily. 'Is there anything I can

do to help?'

' I can cope, thank you.' The older woman's voice was ungracious

but Laura was used to that. 'Although ' she paused. 'Well, you

could get a tea tray ready, and save me the job.' Laura's heart

sank. She'd hoped to deliver the message and escape upstairs to

her room. But being allowed to make any contribution was a

concession, she thought drily. She'd never been the housekeeper's

favourite as a child, but since her return, the woman's attitude

had been practically hostile. So, she filled the kettle and set

it to boil, while she laid a tray with cups and saucers under Mrs

Fraser's critical eye. 'You could have knocked me down with a

feather when I saw who was at the door,' the housekeeper

volunteered at last, producing a tin of homemade biscuits from a

cupboard and handing them to Laura. 'Looks more affluent than he

did in the old days,' she added, with another snort. 'Back for

good, is he?' Laura shrugged. ' I really couldn't say. I

understand he's here on business.' 'Not looking for a

reconciliation then?' Mrs Fraser's sharp eyes were bright with

malice, and Laura bit her Up, controlling a number of heated

replies. She said, with cool politeness. 'As I said, Mrs Fraser,

he seems to have business in the area. Would you like me to take

the tray in as well.' The housekeeper sniffed, and turned back to

her baking. ' I f it wouldn't trouble you too much.' 'Oh, you've

only brought two cups,' Celia exclaimed as Laura set the tray

down on the low table which fronted the sofa. 'But I meant you to

join us sweetie, naturally.' 'Thank you,' Laura said evenly. 'But

I have things to do.' 'Nothing that can't wait, I'm sure.' Celia

gave her a limpid look. 'You're being rather silly, you know.

We're bound to be seeing a lot of Jason once the Tristan projects

get under way locally. You may as well get accustomed to the

fact, and have tea with us in a civilized manner.' 'Civilised'

was fast becoming her least favourite word, Laura reflected

bitterly. She said tautly, 'Some other time.' 'There's no time

like the present,' Jason said smoothly. He rose to his feet, his

lean body straightening in one lithe movement. 'Sit down, Laura.

I'm sure your cousin won't mind fetching another cup.' To judge

by the expression which fleetingly crossed Celia's face, he'd

made a big mistake there, Laura thought drily. She began, ' I ' l

l get i t . . . ' but his hands descended on her shoulders,

pushing her firmly down on to the softness of the sofa. ' I said

sit down,' he reminded her gently. Celia said with a small,

artificial laugh. 'How very masterful. I'd better go and get that

cup.' The door closed behind her. Laura sat rigidly, her hands

linked round her knees in a parody of relaxation, staring down at

the carpet. 'Alone together over the teacups,' Jason said softly.

'What a moment of pure nostalgia for us to savour, darling.' She

said, 'What the hell are you doing here, Jason? Whatever

impression Celia may have given, you must know you're not welcome

in this house.' 'On the contrary,' he sounded amused. ' I

confidently expect to become the year's most honoured guest. As

for why I'm here—I came to return this to you.' He took a small