Flowers for My Love (10 page)

He said impatiently, ‘And how much better will we know each other meeting as we do? I know what I want—you. I’m sure you feel the same about me.’

‘Yes, I do. I love you very much.’

‘I still don’t understand why you can’t let Darren know you’re getting engaged, Davina,’ Cheryl said as they dressed for the engagement party. ‘He wouldn’t be able to come in any case because of his studies.’

‘That’s the trouble. I want to see him and talk to him about it before he knows. That’s also why I’m keeping on the shop after I’m married. Darren wouldn’t take kindly to being assisted in his studies by my husband. It wouldn’t be the same. There is such a thing as pride.’

‘I still think you’re wrong in not letting him know. Nick is sure to send the announcement of your engagement to the newspapers, and it’s bound to be an important affair.’

‘Not all that important. We’re having the party at Juleen Tabor’s flat. Her husband will be there to make it more of a family affair.’

Davina stepped into a delicious pure silk dress in creamy white, flower-patterned, with shoulder straps and a full skirt billowing out from her tiny waist. An excellent affair which seemed exclusively designed for the deep-fringed hand-embroidered silk shawl she was to wear with it.

Cheryl’s dress in midnight blue was equally enchanting. Rex was collecting her in his car and Nick was picking Davina up in his. Cheryl had already gone when Nick arrived, ringing the door bell with all the persistence of an impatient lover.

The evening dress set off his mocking dark face, his wide shoulders and the lean-loined vigour of his movements as he strode in to gaze at her appraisingly.

Davina backed at the hungry look in his eyes as he openly adored her.

‘Now, now,’ she cried. ‘No upsetting my hair. I’m all ready.’

But he only laughed and hauled her into his arms to kiss her until she had to push him away. He took it all in good part.

‘Just wait until we’re married, that’s all,’ he threatened darkly.

‘It won’t be a big affair, will it, Nick?’ she asked apprehensively.

‘Stop worrying,’ he replied. ‘I’m the one who should be worrying, about how to keep you at bay from the wolves. You’ll be the belle of the ball. I can’t stop looking at you. I can’t believe my luck. You’re so sweet and feminine, I just want to eat you up.’

Davina did not know what she expected in the way of guests, but the elegant gathering brought home to her the circle that Nick moved in through his position as an international banker.

Immediately she began to have qualms that were dispelled a little upon meeting Nick’s brother Jocelyn. Not as tall as Nick, with brown hair and eyes, he had an air of calm about him that radiated warmth and confidence.

‘I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Davina,’ he said cordially, taking her hand. ‘I couldn’t wait to see the girl who had really managed to pierce the cynical armour of brother Nick. He isn’t the kind to go overboard for any woman—he’s much too disciplined. Anyway, you have yourself a fine man, one of the best.’

Nick was chatting with Juleen, who seemed to be over the moon to have her husband home. She was wearing a figure-hugging dress in smoke grey velvet. Davina watched as Nick flicked a lighter to the inevitable cigarette Juleen had made part of her.

‘My wife smokes far too much,’ Jocelyn said close to her ear.

‘I’ve left her to her own devices far too long. By the way, who is that young man just come in? Do you know him?’

The colour left Davina’s face leaving her pale and agitated.

‘My brother Darren,’ she said in a voice strangely unlike her own. ‘Excuse me.

‘Hello, Darren. I ... I didn’t think you’d be able to take time off,’

she stammered. ‘Who told you?’

His look was distinctly hostile. ‘Is there somewhere where we can talk?’ he asked tight-lipped.

Davina looked around the gathering of well-dressed men and women, meeting Cheryl’s eyes across the room as she did so.

Cheryl’s shake of the head clearly indicated that she was not the one who had told Darren of the engagement.

But the knowledge that her sister had not let her down did nothing to calm Davina, who caught her brother’s arm and guided him through the guests to Juleen’s study.

The party had not yet got underway as they passed through a room converted into a bar and on to the place Davina had in mind.

To her relief it was empty of people as she closed the door behind Darren’s stiffly erect figure.

‘Well,’ he challenged, shoving his hands into his pockets and glaring at her. ‘So you aren’t going to marry. Full stop!’

‘Don’t stand glaring at me like an avenging angel, Darren! Sit down. I was going to tell you eventually. I didn’t ask you to the engagement party because I wanted to explain first.’

‘Explain what? That we’re going to have a new boss in the family? Well, you can count me out!’

Davina quivered. ‘What do you mean?’

He strolled to lean back against the heavy desk and Davina grasped the back of a chair to face him.

‘I mean you can give me my share of the parents’ legacy and I’ll clear out.’

Davina’s knuckles as she grasped the chair back were as white as her face.

He went on, ‘I counted on you, but you let me down just like the parents did. I might be younger than you, but I am the man of the house.’

‘That’s true,’ Davina conceded. ‘But the parents didn’t leave enough to see you through medical school. So I invested the money wisely and in time it will bring in good returns along with the proceeds from the flower shop. As the investment is long-term it will be very difficult to give you your share right away. Besides, I don’t intend to. In your present mood you’re liable to blow the lot.’

Darren went red, then white. ‘You can borrow the money from your rich boy-friend. It seems that from now on he’s going to be the piper who calls the tune,’ he sneered.

‘What we have has nothing to do with Nick. I shall keep the shop on after I’m married and things will be as they were before.’

‘How can they be?’ he scoffed. ‘Next thing will be Cheryl getting married. What about the happy home then? What do I do, take over the vacant flat or move in with some friend?’

‘I’m not married yet, neither is Cheryl. You’re jumping fences that simply aren’t there. Look, Darren, I love you too much to see you unhappy. I’ll ... call the whole thing off if it distresses you.’

‘And where would that put me?’ he demanded angrily. ‘I’d be referred to as the monster who’d wrecked your life. No, thanks. I’ll take what money I can get and hop it, seeing how I’m cluttering up your life.’

‘Now you’re being as young as you are,’ retorted Davina.

‘You’re behaving like the spoilt brat you’ve always been. Mother made a young god of you, but now you have to work for what you have like I have to do. I worked twelve hours a day on that smallholding in order to give us all a good start in life. That’s what our parents wanted for us, and that’s what you’re going to have!’

They glared at each other like opponents fighting to the death, but with Davina anger could never last for long, especially against those she loved.

‘Please, Darren, give yourself a chance. I won’t close the shop, neither shall I allow Nick, to have any say in our affairs. All the help you need in your education and after will be money from the estate. That way you’ll never owe any part of your career to anyone but your own parents.’

Her voice had been gently pleading and the tears in her eyes begged him to listen to reason. But before he could answer Nick strode into the room followed by his brother Jocelyn.

‘There you are,’ cried Nick with a grin. ‘I wondered where you’d got to. Darren, I want you to meet my brother Jocelyn. He’s a brain surgeon, so you should have a lot in common. Jocelyn, Davina’s younger brother now at medical school, Darren Mawne.’

Davina stood dumbfounded. It was all too clear now to her that Nick had sent for Darren. How dared he without telling her? It was just the kind of high-handed thing he would do! Giving him a look which spoke volumes, she swept from the room, to bump into Juleen.

‘Can you tell me where Jocelyn and Nick have got to?’ Juleen asked anxiously. ‘Everyone is about to go into the buffet room.’

She glanced at Davina’s ashen expression. ‘Is anything wrong? You look quite pale, Davina, otherwise you’re a vision of loveliness—

beautiful dress, my dear.’

Davina managed a smile. ‘All the excitement,’ she explained.

Juleen patted her shoulder. ‘Nick is a darling, isn’t he? I should imagine it is more than exciting being engaged to him. There’ll be more than a few envious looks in your direction tonight and in Nick’s as well.’

‘Thanks.’ Davina went in search of Cheryl, whom she found in a small crowd of young people.

‘Rex has gone to look for you,’ Cheryl whispered, pulling Davina to one side. ‘We’re about to go into the buffet. I didn’t send for Darren. Where is he, by the way?’

‘With Nick and his brother Jocelyn,’ Davina told her grimly.

‘Just wait until I get my hands on Nick!’

‘You mean Nick fetched Darren here? I can’t believe it!’ Cheryl cried in surprise. ‘What would he want to do a thing like that for?

Darren is no fan of Nick’s.’

‘That’s what I intend to find out,’ Davina told her darkly. ‘Here he is now.’

Cheryl followed her gaze to where Nick was striding towards them across the room.

As she watched his loose-limbed grace as he crossed the room Davina’s treacherous heart leapt out to meet him. This is no time to dwell upon his undoubted charms, she admonished herself sternly, and hardened her heart.

‘Nick—’ she began.

He stopped her with a quick gesture. ‘We have very little time, so come with me,’ he commanded, taking her hand.

Davina tried to draw her hand from his grasp, only to discover how deceptive the lightness of his grip was. Part of her was ready to say bitter cutting things about his high-handedness while the other part told her that it would only take one step into his arms.

She found herself being borne along swiftly to a guest bedroom and prepared for some plain speaking.

‘What do you mean?’ she began immediately the door was closed on their privacy. ‘How dare you send for Darren! You’ve spoiled everything!’

Tears brightened the green of her eyes and she brushed them away angrily.

‘Hey now!’ he exclaimed in dismay. ‘Not tears? I did it for you.’

‘For me? You must be joking!’

He took her arm and led her to a roomy, comfortable chair into which he sank down to pull her on to his knees.

‘Now tell me what’s on your mind,’ he said gently, holding her against him.

Her voice was muffled against his chest. ‘I was going to explain to Darren in a way he could understand, and ... and now you’ve spoiled it all. He’s angry, and it’s through you!’

He kissed her hair. ‘My dear girl, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m no fool and I knew something like this would happen, so I decided to protect you as far as I could.’

She lifted her head to glare at him indignantly. ‘Protect me? In what way?’ she cried.

‘To begin with, I knew you’d worry yourself sick over telling Darren about our engagement. I saw that day at the flat when he arrived unexpectedly to find us together that he resented me. I knew he’d regard me as a big bad wolf among the lambs, so I invited him here for the party to meet brother Jocelyn.’

‘But what has Jocelyn to do with it? Darren hardly knows him.’

‘Jocelyn is a surgeon and Darren is hoping to become a doctor.

Naturally Darren will be interested in having a surgeon in the family.’ There was laughter in the grey eyes as they held her green ones captive, laughter bordering on the old mockery. ‘Darling, don’t you know we begin from here?’

Reaching into the breast pocket of his jacket, he drew out a tiny box. The next moment the ring was on her engagement finger.

Davina gasped at the cluster of diamonds surrounding her birthstone.

‘An emerald the colour of your eyes,’ he whispered into her hair.

She shone up at him. ‘But how did you know my size, and my birthstone? Don’t tell me—Cheryl?’

His arms closed around her, and as his mouth claimed hers Davina knew that her future revolved around Nick; that for good or ill his arms were her world and she would never want it any other way.

The party was an enormous success. How could it not have been, Davina asked herself, with Nick taking charge. His personality filled the room. Everybody loved him, thought Davina, except Darren. She saw her brother after the speeches and the handing round of the cake ordered specially by Nick.

Darren looked brighter, but Davina knew that he was not entirely on her side.

‘I’ll be coming home one of these weekends,’ he promised.

‘Sorry you came?’ she asked anxiously.

‘No. At least I’m in for medicine, and do you know what?

Nick’s brother is going to get me into a special training hospital if I win my degrees. He’s really interested in me.’

Davina hugged him. ‘Nick will be pleased to have helped you. I meant what I said about keeping everything in the family. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you as soon as you can make it.’

Nick drove Darren to the night express on his way to the flat to drop Davina off. Walking with her to the door, he opened it for her and went in with her to see if everything was all right. Cheryl and Rex had not returned.