Anne Mather (6 page)

Adam frowned. 'Why?'

Caroline shrugged her slim shoulders. 'Surely you want to be alone with your son?' she said awkwardly.

'Oh, yes, with that girl trying her best to monopolise the conversation,' remarked Adam dryly. 'No, thank you, honey. Leave her to John!" He let the pad of his thumb caress the back of her hand lightly. 'You're going to stay and have dinner, as planned, and then afterwards I'll drive you back to town, okay?'

Caroline smiled. 'If you really want me to stay, I'll stay,' she agreed willingly. 'But I'm hardly dressed for dinner, am I? Goodness knows what Miss Landon will wear!'

Adam grinned. 'Caro, my love, you look adorable to me, and I'm the only one you should concern yourself with.'

Caroline chuckled. 'You know you are,' she whispered. 'Oh, Adam, it's so delightful here. I wish they hadn't come.'

Adam's eyebrows ascended. 'Really?' he murmured softly. 'Even though you know what would have happened?'

Caroline shivered. 'I don't think I would object to anything you did,' she confessed quietly. 'I wanted to please you. . .not have you telling me how much older than me you are. Did you really care. . .before they came?'

'No,' he muttered, shaking his head. 'And you did please me, honey.' His mouth met hers and her lips parted automatically. She slid one arm round his neck and caressed the nape where his hair was crisp and vital to the touch. 'God. . .I want you,' he groaned fiercely, his mouth drawing the very strength from her body.

Suddenly, without warning, the door opened and Toni Landon came in. Immediately Caroline released herself from Adam's arms, although his fingers round her wrist prevented her from getting up. Caroline was aware that Toni had witnessed their embrace and that she looked absolutely astounded. It obviously amazed her, as it had done Caroline, that a man like Adam should be interested in a girl like Caroline, even if she was very attractive and had hair like heavy spun silk.

'I'm sorry to intrude,' remarked Toni lightly, but she crossed the floor to the fireside swiftly, obviously not intending to withdraw even so. She was now dressed in a cyclamen caftan. Her blonde hair, which she wore short and curly, gleamed in the lamplight and her cheeks were pale and smooth as alabaster. As she looked half-contemptuously at Caroline's ruffled hair and make-up-less face, Caroline wondered how Adam could regard her so disinterestedly. She was, after all, a woman of his world, whereas Caroline herself was a stranger to his society. Then Caroline found Adam's eyes on her, eloquent with meaning, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.

'Have you been here all day?' enquired Toni, looking at Adam with admiring eyes. He looked so big and broad and powerful lounging on the couch, like a tiger, relaxed yet ready to spring. She was quite aware of what Caroline saw in Adam, his whole personality emanated masculinity, and that, together with his attractive physical appearance, was a challenge to any woman. What she couldn't understand was why a man like Adam, with his opportunities and the choice of almost any woman, should choose a nondescript person like this girl!

'No. . .we came down this afternoon,' replied Adam, taking out his platinum cigarette case and offering it to Toni. 'Do you smoke?'

'Yes, thank you.' Toni accepted a cigarette and watched Adam as he placed two in his own mouth. He lit hers and then his own from the adjoining lighter and handed one to Caroline, who smiled at him as the touch of his fingers sent shivers down her spine.

'Are you at university?' queried Adam of Toni, drawing on his cigarette.

'Oh, no, I live in Radbury,' replied Toni, smiling. 'I've only known John for about two months. We met at a party, when he could drag himself away from his studies.'

'I rather think that wouldn't be too difficult,' remarked Adam dryly, and Toni laughed.

'I believe you've been out of the country,' she continued, retaining his attention.

'I've been to the United States,' nodded Adam. 'I haven't seen much of John since the summer vac.'

'And did you see much of the States while you were there?' asked Toni interestedly.

'It's not my first visit,' replied Adam, allowing a sliver of ash to fall into the hearth. 'I've seen most of the more well-known parts in my time. I think I prefer California, most of all. Life can be very pleasant down there.'

'I'm sure it can,' exclaimed Toni. 'How I envy you. I'd adore to travel all over the world. As it is the Continent is my limit.' She sighed. 'I adore this place. John tells me you designed it yourself. Are you an architect?'

'Hardly,' he answered with an amused expression. 'I'm glad you like it. I like it, too, but I'm afraid I can't spend as much time here as I would like. My work keeps me pretty busy.'

'I expect it does,' nodded Toni enthusiastically. Then with a faint shrug, she turned to Caroline. 'And what do you do, Miss Sinclair?'

Caroline flushed. 'I work in an office,' she replied quietly, not stating whose office. 'I'm a shorthand- typist. How about you?'

Toni gurgled with laughter. 'Gosh, I don't work,' she exclaimed maliciously. 'I had my season last year and I'm just having fun at the moment.'

Caroline forgot her manners for a moment and replied, just as cattily: 'How boring! What do you do with yourself all day long?'

Adam's fingers tightened round her wrist for a moment, and then before the astonished Toni could think of a reply, he released Caroline and rose to his feet. Crossing to the cocktail cabinet nearby, he said:

'What can I offer you to drink, Toni?'

Toni stood up also and crossed to his side, leaving Caroline alone by the fire. 'Have you some vodka?' she asked, smiling up at him.

Caroline stared into the fire. Already she could feel the twinges of jealousy in her stomach and the thought of this girl being alone here all day Sunday with Adam and John appalled her. She was obviously aware of Adam's attraction and appeared to be quite willing to relinquish John if his father was prepared to take his place.

After giving Toni her vodka, Adam poured a sherry for Caroline and a whisky for himself and then returned to the couch. His eyes were amused as he handed Caroline her sherry and for a moment her earlier happiness returned.

A few minutes later John reappeared, washed and changed into a dark lounge suit. He helped himself to a Martini and then seated himself on the arm of Toni's chair.

Conversation veered from John's studies at university to the state of the weather, Caroline making a remark only rarely. John, it was obvious, resented her presence and Toni considered her ill-dressed and boring. She was sure that it had not been for her, Adam too would have changed into something more suitable for dinner. Only his nearness made her remain in the room when every instinct in her body cried out for her to leave, immediately.

Dinner was served in a white-panelled dining-room whose golden brocade drapes were drawn back to reveal the fountain, illuminated now by multi-coloured lights. Caroline caught her breath as she gazed at the fairy-like scene and realised anew how far removed from her small world was the world of Adam Steinbeck.

The long refectory table gleamed with silver on white damask and a centrepiece of hothouse roses made a startling splash of colour. The meal that followed was delicious, but Caroline might have been eating sawdust for all the enjoyment she got out of it. She was out of place; she had no real right to be there, not like Toni, who knew what it was all about.

She was glad when it was over and they returned to the lounge to have coffee, liqueurs and cigarettes. Caroline and John now occupied armchairs, while Adam and Toni shared a couch. Caroline was aware that Toni had manoeuvred things this way and was past caring. She just wanted to get away and go home. She didn't care if she was adopting a defeatist

attitude. She hated the unveiled hostility.

At half-past nine, Adam said: 'I think it's time Caroline and I set off for town. Will you excuse us? I expect I shall be back in a couple of hours, John.'

'Okay, Dad. Mind how you go. The roads are icy.'

'Right, see you later, then.'

'Yes, Dad. Goodnight, Miss Sinclair.' John's voice was cool to say the least.

'Goodnight, John, goodnight, Miss Landon,' she replied smoothly, and preceded Adam from the room.

Outside the air was freezing and since dinner a thick fog had descended with the suddenness that these things adopt. Even the fountain had been turned off and beyond it nothing could be seen.

'Hell,' muttered Adam, scraping the ice from his windscreen. 'What a night!'

He slid into the car beside her and breathed deeply. 'Caro darling, would you mind very much if I asked you to stay the night? It would be crazy trying to drive to London in this. Besides, tomorrow is Sunday, after all.'

Caroline sighed resignedly. 'I suppose not,' she replied wearily. 'Oh, Adam, I wouldn't have minded at all if we'd been alone, but now.. .' Her voice trailed away and he was aware of just how upset she was.

He slid his arm round her and pulled her to him. 'Darling,' he murmured softly. 'Ignore them. John's resentful, I know, but Toni Landon is nothing to us. Hell, John has a different female in tow every time I see him. Do you think I care what either of them think? God, Caro, this is my house and I want you to stay. You have as much right here as anyone, believe me. But what can I say to them really? They're only spoiled

brats after all.' He grinned and kissed her nose. 'All right?'

'Hm,' she murmured, her depression no longer uppermost in her mind.

'Good, and as you want to be away from them, we'll go into my study and leave the lounge to them, hmm?'

'Oh, Adam,' she cried softly, and buried her face against his warm comforting chest.

Adam held her for a moment longer and then in a husky voice he said:

'Come on, baggage. Let's get indoors before we freeze to death.'

'All right,' she said, reluctant to leave the intimacy of the car. 'I'll have to telephone Amanda though, to let her know what's going on. She'll be like a mother hen clucking over her chick when she finds out where I am.' She laughed and they got out of the car. 'The couple in the flat below us have a telephone,' she continued, as they walked into the house. 'They'll let her know what's going on. They're an elderly couple and they rarely go out.'

'Good,' Adam nodded, closing the front doors.

'Of course, she'll still worry,' said Caroline, sighing.

'What about?' asked Adam, frowning.

'Can't you guess?' she answered provocatively.

He shrugged. 'Don't worry,' he muttered harshly. 'I'm not intending to sleep with you.'

Caroline raised her shoulders helplessly. 'I'm not worrying,' she exclaimed softly.

He looked hard at her for a moment and then opened the door leading to his study.

'Take your coat off, while I go and inform Mrs lones,' he muttered, and abruptly left her.

Caroline removed her duffel coat and walked into the room. Compared to the opulent luxury of the rest of the house this room was quite austere. Green carpet covered the floor while red leather armchairs were placed carelessly against the walls which were lined with books or filing cabinets. A broad, polished oak desk occupied the centre of the room and was littered with papers.

Flinging her coat on to a chair, Caroline walked round the desk and seated herself in the swing leather armchair which Adam used when he was using the desk. She smiled lazily to herself as she realised just whose chair she was sitting in. Ruth would never believe it, and nor for that matter would Miss Morgan. Although she loved Adam, it was hard to associate the man she knew with the hard-headed business man he became in the Steinbeck Building and with a sigh she leaned forward and began to gather up the papers scattered so untidily about. As she did so she found she was sorting them and soon had separate piles for banking, loans, land purchases, property holdings, etc. There were also numerous begging letters, letters from charitable organisations and finally his personal correspondence. Working automatically she forgot where she was in the fascination of her occupation. Reading about real estate and demolition contracts and all the comprehensive business which the companies of the corporation covered fascinated her, and she was lost in a world of her own when Adam came back.

He closed the door with a click and her head jerked up in surprise. At once she wondered whether what she had been doing was taboo, and flushing she said:

'I'm afraid I've been tidying up your correspon- dence. I hope I haven't done anything I shouldn't. Do you mind?'

Adam grinned. 'I guess you're welcome to see any of my correspondence,' he replied easily, coming across and leaning over her chair. Studying her neatly arranged piles of letters, he nodded: 'Very businesslike. Would you like to take over as my personal secretary? Miss Freeman from the office comes down here from time to time to clear up the overflow, but otherwise it's chaos.'

Caroline turned her head to look up at him and her silky hair swung against his cheek.

'You're not serious,' she exclaimed. 'Besides, I don't think I could do much work if you were around.'

'Oh! Why?' He sounded teasing and wound her hair round his fingers.

'Don't provoke me,' she said, twisting her head away, and with a soft laugh he straightened up.

'Okay, honey. Now, are you going to phone that flat companion of yours?'

'Gosh, I'd forgotten,' she exclaimed, and leaning over the desk picked up the grey telephone.

'By the way,' he remarked as she dialled the number, 'don't discuss my correspondence with your friends, will you?'

'As if I would!' she cried indignantly, as the number began to ring in the Bensons' apartment.

Adam shrugged. 'You have discussed me with your flat companion, haven't you?' he asked quietly. 'After all, wasn't it she who warned you against my intentions?'

Caroline blushed scarlet. 'All right, darling, but in future I intend to form my own opinions of people,' and she smiled up at him.

Adam's fingers caressed her shoulder, burning through the thick material of her sweater. 'But not of men,' he murmured, putting his mouth to the side of her neck. 'Your friend might just have been right about me. Is she experienced?'

Caroline giggled. 'Remind me to tell you about Ron Cartwright some time,' she said, laughing, then, 'Oh, hello, Mr Benson.'

The Bensons lived below Caroline and Amanda and had always been good neighbours to the two girls. Both the girls liked the knowledge of the old couple living so near as they could always be called upon to help if necessary.

When Caroline had identified herself, she said: 'Could you give Amamda a message for me, Mr Benson?'

'Do you want to speak to Miss Burchester herself?' asked Mr Benson, who was quite willing to go and get her.

'No. . .that's not necessary,' replied Caroline. 'Anyway, I doubt very much whether she'll be in at the moment. If you could put a note under the door letting her know that I'm staying the night with friends and I won't be home until tomorrow.'

'Right you are, Miss Sinclair,' agreed Mr Benson at once. 'Just leave it to me. Has the fog caused this delay?'

'Yes, isn't it dreadful?' said Caroline, smiling at Adam as he placed a lighted cigarette between her fingers.

'Quite a pea-souper,' said Mr Benson, chuckling.

and after a few more pleasantries Caroline rang off.

She picked up the glass containing a Martini which Adam had placed near her and sipped it appreciatively. She sighed.

'Here I am sitting in the chair belonging to the man who owns Steinbeck,' she exclaimed incredulously. 'It's unbelievable!'

'Why?'

'Adam, have you any idea how different our situations are?' she cried, resting her chin on her hand. 'How would you like to live in a tiny flat with only the minimum to live on?'

'I did once,' he answered surprisingly: 'Did you think I was born rich?'

Caroline shrugged. 'I really know very little about you,' she said. 'Tell me more.'

Adam flung himself into an armchair and looked piercingly at her.

'Are you really interested, Caro?'

'Adam, everything about you interests me,' she said, unashamedly.

'Well: I started with a few pounds when I was about twenty. I bought a piece of land which I got cheaply and which I sold for an immense profit. It was comparatively easily done in those days. Prices weren't the same then as they are today. If you take that small deal and imagine it mushrooming into immense proportions, you have the corporation as it stands today. I took in partners, of course, and we took over smaller companies and amalgamated them into the organisation that is now running at Steinbeck. That's all!'

'All!' she exclaimed. 'It's fantastic. I've read about these things happening but I never knew that was how you became. . .what you are.'

Adam sighed. 'We bought some property in the States in the last few years and that's partly why I spend some of my time over there. I could delegate a lot of my work to my colleagues, but I enjoy doing it myself, and since Lydia died I have had little else to do.'

'Lydia? Your wife?'

'Correct. She died eight years ago. I suppose you've been told it was leukaemia.'

'Yes,' Caroline nodded.

Adam sighed. 'It's quite true, although honestly I don't think Lydia cared much for living after John was born and we were getting steadily prosperous. I really believe she liked being poor, living in the shabby flat in Kennington which was all we could afford when we first got married.'

He rose to his feet and crossed to the cocktail cabinet. Pouring himself a stiff whisky, he swallowed most of it in one gulp.

'So now you know,' he finished, and replaced his glass on the tray.

'Did you love her very much?' asked Caroline, torturing herself with the question.

'Love?' Adam shrugged his powerful shoulders. 'I married Lydia when I was just twenty. I didn't even know what it was all about in those days. She was five years older than I was and she was very keen. She let me treat her how I liked and then one day she told me she was pregnant. I believed her and we got married almost immediately. John was born twelve months later.'

'Oh.' Caroline bent her head. She was sure he had never told anyone else that before and she wanted to run to him and show him that she cared, cared passionately. But she remained where she was.

'Since then,' he continued slowly, 'I've known a lot of women. But love hasn't entered into it.'