The Ravenscar Dynasty (47 page)

Will nodded, and suddenly smiled. ‘That's good to know.'

‘Don't act daft, Hasling! You damn well know how she feels.'

Will grinned, and took a swallow of champagne, asked, ‘And did you find out who the mysterious blonde is?'

‘I did.'

‘And?' Will stared at Edward, frowning, ‘Why the long face?'

‘She's a Wyland.'

‘God, no!' Will leaned closer to Edward and said, sotto voce, ‘Her father used to be very close to the Grants, very close indeed, although I must admit I don't know where he stands today, now that the Grants are living in France. But surely you knew the Wylands did business with the Grants. And for years…they go back a long time, that I
do
know.'

‘My father once told me that the Wylands had been involved with Deravenels for over a hundred years, so they do go back, far back. I met her brother: he seems like a pleasant chap.'

‘Nicest of the bunch, so I've heard.'

‘She's a stunning woman, Will. I was bowled over. Captivated. I have to see her again…By the way, she's a widow.'

‘Oh Christ, no! Why is it that you always fall head over heels for blondes who are widows? You certainly have a peculiar knack for it, Ned. It's uncanny. Come to think of it, she's probably older than you.'

‘Probably.'

‘Make it a short run, Ned, short and sweet, and then
say farewell. She's from the enemy camp. Don't
you
forget that.'

Edward gave him an odd look but made no further comment.

‘I'm so very sorry, Elinor, but I really must be getting back to the office,' Edward Deravenel said, smiling at the woman who was seated opposite him.

‘I understand, darling, but I am so disappointed,' she murmured. ‘I thought we could spend the afternoon here…we are alone, you know, as I told you my housekeeper is off today. We could be…
together
.'

‘I had planned to be here with you, but unfortunately something came up at the office this morning, and it needs my immediate attention. I have a meeting at three.'

Elinor Burton nodded. ‘I realize you have a huge business empire to run. I don't know how you do it.'

‘Not alone, I can tell you that,' he replied, with a smile, standing up. ‘Thank you for lunch, it was delicious.'

‘All prepared by Fortnum and Mason,' she laughed and also rose, and together they left her dining room, went out into the entrance foyer of her small house in Belgravia. ‘When will I see you again?' she asked.

‘I'll try to come down to the country next week, I'll let you know.' He pulled her towards him, held her tightly in his arms, and then kissed her passionately on
the mouth. She clung to him, responding enthusiastically.

After a moment, they stood apart, and she said, ‘You shouldn't have done that, Ned, it was far too tantalizing.'

He merely laughed, gazing down at her, thinking how lovely she looked today, with her shining blonde hair and hazel eyes that were golden in certain light. ‘Oh, Elinor, you are a true beauty,' he murmured, genuinely meaning this, and took hold of her again, suddenly aroused.

Elinor held him at bay, laughed lightly. ‘Oh darling Ned, you're incorrigible. But not
now
. I will not be blamed for interfering with your business.'

‘Sanity usually reigns when I'm with
you
.' Flashing her his brightest smile, he let himself out of the house, and within minutes his mind was focused on business.

And then he stopped, thinking of Elinor. He had not been very nice to her today, and she really was the loveliest of women, sweet and gentle, and almost Madonna-like in her appearance. Turning around he walked back to the front door and lifted the brass knocker.

Surprise filled her eyes as she opened the door and saw him. ‘Edward!' she exclaimed, staring at him. ‘Did you forget something?'

He smiled at her. ‘Yes, I forgot for a moment how much I care about you, my darling. Can I come in for a short while?'

‘Of course,' she answered, opening the door wider. ‘But I'm confused. You said you had an important meeting to attend.'

‘I do,' he said, turning to her in the entrance foyer.
‘But it's only one fifteen—we had a very early lunch, you know. Noon…a little bit too early for me. Never mind, let's go upstairs, as you wanted to before.' He took her in his arms, and kissed her, and then led her upstairs to the next floor. She did not protest.

She was wearing a loose, navy-blue silk dress, with a dropped waistline, and she turned to him when they were in her bedroom and asked, ‘Could you unbutton me, please, Ned.'

He laughed as he started on the buttons, kissing the back of her neck and her lovely blonde hair as he did so. The dress fell to the floor; she stepped over it, turned to him, smiled into his face.

‘How lovely you are, my sweet,' he whispered, touching her cheek. There was something truly innocent about her face, and in her eyes there was nothing but peacefulness, and love for him. He had wanted her from the moment he had met her, attracted to her because of the innocence and simplicity in her. Of course she had fended him off, being a very proper widow, and virtuous; he had exercised every ounce of his charm. And eventually she had succumbed to him, and given herself to him most wholeheartedly.

‘What are you thinking about?' she asked, staring up into his eyes.

‘I was thinking how your reluctance to start an affair with me actually made me want you all the more. In any other woman I might think the reluctance was a ruse, but with you I know you were sincere.'

‘Oh yes, I was, Ned, but I'm glad now that we are together. You are so important to me. Let us go to bed, so I can show you how important.'

Elinor was always ready for him, and after kissing her and smoothing his hands over her long slender body, he knew she was growing more and more hot under his hands, agitated even, and so he took her to him swiftly, entering her with ease. She was truly ready, opening herself up to him like a flower, and the heat of her body aroused him further. He was unable to hold back. Against her neck he whispered, ‘Now, Nell, now, come to me.' And she did so, clinging to him, her body trembling with joy under his.

As they lay together later, talking softly, she suddenly said, ‘You will come to the country this weekend, won't you?'

‘I will. Where else would I want to be but with you?' he answered, knowing full well that he would visit her at her country cottage. He was not going to treat her lightly.

Edward had only been back in his office at Deravenels for half an hour when Will Hasling knocked on the door and came in. ‘There you are. It's almost three so let's go to the boardroom, and Oliveri and Aspen will join us in a few minutes. How was lunch?'

‘Pleasant. Marsden is a nice chap, but I don't think we'll be able to do any business with him.'

‘Where did you lunch? At White's?'

‘No,
his
club. The Reform. But it was very quick, he was in a hurry,' Ned answered, glad that he had indeed met Marsden at his club for a drink before rushing over to Elinor's pied-à-terre for their private luncheon. It
gave him an alibi. The affair with her was a secret; they both wanted it that way, at least for the moment.

‘By the way,' Will went on, ‘Neville has finalized the plans for the Paris trip, to meet with Louis Charpentier. He telephoned a short while ago and said he'll have all the details later. But he's going in a few days.'

‘Very good. Shall we go into the boardroom?'

Ever since Edward had become managing director of Deravenels, Will had worked with him closely, as his personal assistant. But he was also in charge of a pet project of Edward's, one which they were about to discuss.

Within seconds Alfredo Oliveri and Rob Aspen joined them and sat down at the conference table. After greetings had been exchanged, Edward said, ‘Well, tell me the big news.'

‘It's not
big
news,' Alfredo answered. ‘But our contacts in Persia have confirmed that the company called Onpeg is definitely still there, continuing to drill for oil. At Masjid-I-Sulaiman.'

‘That's in southwest Persia,' Rob Aspen explained.

‘But they haven't struck oil yet, have they?' Edward asked, frowning. He glanced at Will as he spoke. ‘Nothing much has changed, has it?'

‘Several other companies are out there already, drilling in other parts of Persia, and I think we ought to do what you've always wanted to do—send a team of our own to look around, investigate,' Will said.

‘Then let's plan it,' Edward agreed, always sure of himself, of his ability in business. It had served him well for the last three years. He had brought Deravenels back to a large extent, had ensured its future, and
rectified much of the damage done by Grant mismanagement in the past. He was aiming to make it more important than it had ever been.

‘So,' he went on, ‘who's to go? What about you, Oliveri? Do you want to hop out there to the desert sands of Persia?'

‘If you want me to, I will.' Alfredo grinned. ‘You know I love adventure.'

‘I'll go too, if you think I can be useful,' Rob Aspen interjected.

‘I'm game. Persia appeals to me,' Will announced.

‘Oh no, not you, Will. I'm afraid you'll have to stay put. Now, chaps, let's discuss this further,' Edward said. ‘Definitely make the proper plans. I believe oil is going to be the big commodity of the future. And we must be in on its discovery. We need our own oilfields, they're vital…'

‘Under no circumstances are you to allow him to climb into your bed,' Jocelyn Wyland said, giving her daughter Elizabeth a hard and cautionary stare. ‘He has something of a reputation, you know, as a womanizer. And if you become intimate with him, that's it. You will soon be discarded by him.'

‘Mother, I've no intention of becoming intimate with Edward Deravenel! How could you think such a thing?' Elizabeth looked askance.

‘Because if I were your age I'd take him into my bed at the drop of a hat!'

‘Mother!
Really
.'

Jocelyn Wyland smiled. ‘I know I'm contradicting myself, but he is quite extraordinary, and, I will add, irresistible to most women. Why should
you
be any different?'

‘I'm not, and you're correct, Mother, but I'm not a fool. I'm hardly going to sleep with him now, when I want to marry him. That's my aim. Nothing less than marriage will do for
me
.'

Jocelyn beamed at her eldest daughter. ‘I'm delighted to know that you have the right attitude about this. After all, sex is sex and it can be most enjoyable. With the right man. But we are playing for bigger stakes here, Elizabeth. Let's not forget you're a widow with two young sons, and not much of an income from Simon's estate. Your father and I will continue to support you in the way you should be supported. However, I have big hopes for you, dreams of a good marriage.'

‘I know that, Mother, and I won't let you down. I know how to keep a check on…my emotions, my feelings.'

‘You're a great beauty, and most men would do anything to possess you, my dear. But only the one who puts a wedding band on your left hand will do.'

Elizabeth nodded, stood up, walked across the small sitting room of her house in Cadogan Square, stood looking out into the leafy square, thinking of Edward Deravenel. She wanted him desperately. After a moment she said, ‘I haven't seen him a lot, you know. Only twice…he came for tea.'

‘Hasn't he invited you anywhere, darling?' her mother asked, frowning slightly. ‘To the opera? A concert? Perhaps to dinner at the Ritz. That hotel's the most
popular place with the denizens of society since it opened last year.'

‘No, he hasn't invited me out,' Elizabeth said again.

‘How peculiar. So how has he behaved when he's come for tea? What has he said? What happened?'

Elizabeth stared at her mother, frowning slightly, wondering whether to tell her the truth or not. Opting for the truth, she said quietly, ‘He's talked to me affectionately, attempted to be amorous with me, kissed me on the cheek, the last time on the mouth, and he's tried to touch me…But I fended him off.'

Jocelyn had always been able to talk openly with her eldest daughter, more so than with any of her other children, and now she dropped her voice, and asked, ‘Was he…
anxious
? Aroused?'

Elizabeth nodded. ‘Very much so, and the last time he was here he left in an angry mood, because he was…rampant, raging to possess me.'

‘His frustration at not having his way with you got the better of him.'

‘I think so. He said I was a temptress, in a very annoyed voice.'

Jocelyn burst out laughing. ‘Continue to tempt him, my darling, but don't let him get anywhere near you. Instinctively, I know the likes of him…a man who can't resist women soon moves on to fresher fields once he's picked the flowers in the field he's standing in.'

Elizabeth laughed at this analogy, then confessed, ‘I'm head over heels in love with him, Mother.'

‘Keep yourself in check, Elizabeth. Save that love for later, after he's married you. Don't give him what he wants until then. Do you hear me?'

‘Yes, I do. You have my promise.'

‘Has he made any attempt to see you again?'

‘He sent a note this morning.' Elizabeth glanced at the carriage clock on the mantelpiece. ‘He's coming in a few hours…this evening. Between six and seven.'