Dark Obsession (23 page)

Matthew both looked and felt taken aback. ‘I’d hoped we might have some time alone together,’ he said. ‘I’ve only just returned from town and …’

‘Out of the question, I’m afraid,’ Marina informed him, her tone unusually crisp.

Matthew moved closer to her and took hold of her left elbow. ‘What’s the matter? Have I done something to offend you?’

She managed a smile, but it wasn’t the usual adoring one he’d become used to. ‘Of course not. What could you possibly have done?’

That was what he was trying to work out, because despite her denial he knew that something had changed. He had a suspicion that it might be connected with their last meeting, when he’d tried to teach her the best way to go down on him. He’d known she wasn’t keen, had sensed her dislike even as she went through the motions, but because it was something he loved he’d wanted her to love it too. Now he realised that might have been a mistake and he cursed inwardly. He hadn’t expected their affair to last very long, but he preferred to be the one to end a relationship. He’d also been enjoying tutoring her, despite the fact that she lacked the robust, extreme sexuality he really preferred.

He had a sudden image of her bent on her knees in front of him, her long hair falling over her face as she’d closed her soft, tentative mouth around his erection, and suddenly he wanted her with an almost painful urgency.

‘Is your husband here?’ he asked, his grip on her elbow tightening.

Marina shook her head. ‘He’s in London; why?’

‘Then we could spend the half-hour alone together here. No one would know, and even if they guessed they wouldn’t say anything, would they?’

She removed her arm from his grip and raised her eyebrows, suddenly very much Lady Corbett-Wynne, rather than his mistress, Marina. ‘I wouldn’t dream of compromising myself in my own home,’ she said icily. ‘Really, Matthew, I find it hard to believe you’d expect me to.’

‘Isn’t it a little late to play the lady of the manor?’ he asked shortly.

Marina felt herself flush and turned away, furious with him for making her feel cheap. Jerry would never make such a mistake, she thought to herself. Despite his so-called lack of breeding he knew instinctively how to talk to her, how to make her feel wanted as a person and not just as a sex object. ‘I think I’ll ignore that remark, Matthew,’ she retorted. ‘You really should go now. If you happen to see Annabel in the grounds would you ask her to come and see me, as there are some things I want to discuss with her.’

Furious with himself for making such a stupid mistake, Matthew nodded. ‘Of course, and I’m sorry, Marina. It’s just that I wanted you so badly, I lost control for a moment. You surely can’t blame me for that. It’s your fault for being so desirable,’ he added.

Normally that would have flattered her, boosted her gradually increasing sexual confidence and encouraged her to move towards him again, but her eyes remained calm and aloof and she turned and left him without another word.

Angry and puzzled, Matthew left the house, crossing the drive towards his car. As he did so, Annabel came towards him, the golden streaks in her hair shining in the bright sun. She glanced sideways at him, giving him a half-smile that held in it a world of sexual knowledge. Matthew wondered what was happening to the women at Leyton Hall; they were changing out of all recognition.

He still couldn’t fathom Marina’s change of attitude, but the new sexual awareness in Annabel’s eyes was, he suspected, the direct result of close contact with Crispian and Tania. This thought re-aroused his desire and he felt himself growing hard as Annabel walked over to stand opposite him.

‘Were you looking for Lady Corbett-Wynne?’ she asked politely. ‘I think she’s out riding, but she should be back soon.’

‘I’ve seen her,’ he explained, his eyes assessing her slim
but
extremely feminine shape appreciatively. ‘In fact, she asked me to look out for you on my way back home. She’d like a word with you.’

Annabel sighed, brushing her hair back behind her ears as she did so. ‘I’m afraid she and I aren’t getting on too well at the moment,’ she confessed. ‘I think perhaps I’m the wrong person for this job.’

He frowned. ‘I hope you won’t leave before the week-end’s out. I’m looking forward to seeing more of you at the dinner party.’

Standing so close to him, Annabel was struck once more by the powerful physical attraction that he held for her. She wondered what it was that she found so compelling. He had to be nearly twenty years older than her, and, although attractive, wasn’t breathtakingly handsome. But there was something about his eyes and the way he moved that suggested an exciting sexuality honed by years of experience. She felt literally weak with desire but was determined not to let him see the effect he had on her.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said quickly, with another sideways smile as she turned towards the house. ‘I couldn’t possibly leave yet; I’ve promised Crispian and Tania I’ll be there for the games.’

Matthew’s mouth went dry as he realised that he was right. Since her arrival at Leyton Hall, this girl had become involved with Crispian and Tania, which could only mean that she must be sexually adventurous as well as highly attractive.

‘Games?’ he asked with a questioning look.

Annabel turned to face him full on. ‘That’s right; Tania’s been gathering all kinds of weird objects together for the after-dinner games, and I think there’s a small private party afterwards in Crispian’s room, although presumably Lady Corbett-Wynne won’t be joining her stepson for that!’

‘I’m sure you’re right, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t,’ he said softly.

‘I thought you and Lady Corbett-Wynne were close friends?’

Matthew shrugged. ‘We were, but I have a feeling the friendship’s cooled. When I spoke to her a few minutes earlier she seemed a little distracted to say the least.’

‘How disappointing for you,’ Annabel said lightly.

Matthew touched her gently on the face, letting his fingers trail softly down her left cheek and round her jaw bone, sending shivers of desire through her. ‘Not really; the friendship had probably run its natural course.’

‘Your friends don’t last very long then,’ remarked Annabel with a smile.

At once his fingers touched the upturned corner of her mouth, and she had a desperate longing to draw them into her mouth.

‘Some do,’ he said softly. ‘It’s always difficult to work out how much two people have in common. Sometimes it’s less than you expected, but sometimes it’s more.’

He drew his forefinger round the outline of her mouth, his touch feather-light, and Annabel had to make a conscious effort not to move towards him. Then he leant forward, kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose and climbed into his car. ‘Until tomorrow night.’

She watched him drive away and desire stirred deep in her belly as she imagined what it would be like to have those fingers touching her more intimately.

When his car was out of sight she hurried indoors, remembering that she was wanted by her employer. To her surprise, Lady Corbett-Wynne seemed to be in a good mood and she smiled at Annabel with far more warmth than she’d been displaying lately.

‘Annabel, my dear, I wanted to ask you about tomorrow night.’

‘Tomorrow night?’ asked Annabel in surprise.

‘The decoration of the dinner table. You see, I’d originally thought predominantly blue, but now I’m not so sure. Would that be too heavy, do you think?’

‘Perhaps a little,’ said Annabel, shuddering inwardly at the thought of a blue table arrangement in such a dark room. ‘Why not dusky pink? It’s such a lovely warm colour, particularly in candlelight.’

‘Candles too, you think?’ Marina wandered around her sitting room, picking up objects and putting them down again in a thoroughly distracted manner. ‘Well, perhaps you’re right. To be honest with you, Annabel, I simply don’t have my heart in this, nor in the house any more, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.’

‘It seemed to me that it was more a question of us not being on quite the same wavelength,’ Annabel said tactfully. ‘I had wondered if you’d like me to leave, so that you could try someone else who was more in tune with your ideas. After all, no matter what I may think, you’re the one who has to live here. I’ll be gone within a week!’

Marina’s eyes widened and she stared thoughtfully at Annabel. ‘Who knows what the future holds,’ she said quietly. ‘Life can be so unpredictable, don’t you think?’

For the first time since their original meeting, Annabel felt flustered. She couldn’t imagine what Marina meant. Even if she’d had some kind of a fling with Matthew Stevens, that seemed to be over, and yet here she was talking as though her own future was uncertain. She’d always seemed to Annabel to be firmly settled into her role as the third Lady Corbett-Wynne.

‘I agree that none of us knows what’s going to happen in the future,’ she said at last, ‘but there are certain fixed points, as it were.’

‘But are there?’ asked her employer, her eyes suddenly bright. ‘Is that the way we’re meant to live? Or should we be more open to change?’

‘As I’m single, my life’s permanently open to change!’ laughed Annabel. ‘But I think it’s bound to be different once you’re married, and with responsibilities such as yours.’

‘Do you think my husband’s worried about his responsibilities?’ Marina asked fiercely. ‘It doesn’t seem so to me.
Look
at the way he behaves with the stable girls, flaunting them in my face the way he does. Is that the behaviour of a mature man with responsibilities? No, it isn’t. And if he doesn’t care what people say, then why should I?’

Annabel knew that the distraught woman wasn’t really asking for answers: she was talking to herself and Annabel was simply unlucky enough to be the recipient of the voicing of all her doubts and frustrations. She only hoped Marina didn’t regret it within the hour and send her packing.

‘Well?’ continued Marina, fixing Annabel with her gaze. ‘Answer me.’

‘I don’t suppose there’s any reason why you should feel answerable to anyone but yourself,’ replied Annabel, hoping this was what her employer wanted to hear.

To her relief it seemed that it was because the fierce light went out of Lady Corbett-Wynne’s eyes and she nodded in agreement. ‘How sensible you are. I felt sure you’d understand, after all you’ve become closely involved with our family since your arrival, haven’t you?’

It was a statement, not a question, and Annabel shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other as she wondered how much this woman really knew about the things that went on at Leyton Hall.

‘I hope you’re not falling in love with my stepson,’ continued Marina, her voice back to its usual gracious tone. ‘You see, he’s in love with my daughter but has to marry money, which rather excludes you from the contest.’

‘I’m not in love with Crispian,’ said Annabel quickly. ‘He’s very handsome but …’

Marina smiled. ‘Exactly, there’s always a very large
but
hanging over anything to do with Crispian!’

‘I hardly know either of them,’ protested Annabel.

Marina sighed. ‘You must think me very stupid, Annabel, if you imagine that I don’t know everything that goes on in this house. I’m well aware of my daughter’s pointless
obsession
with Crispian, and equally well aware of the fact that they’ve involved you in their games. Don’t look so surprised; the fact of the matter is they involve everyone who comes here, providing of course that they consider them beautiful enough and suitable for their requirements. I hope I’m not disillusioning you,’ she added politely. Annabel shook her head. ‘Good. No doubt my husband too has attempted some kind of familiarity, although I rather doubt that his particular kind of sexuality would hold any great attraction for you, although I may be wrong.’

Annabel hoped that her face wasn’t giving anything away.

‘Normally I’d never mention any of this to you,’ continued Marina, ‘but you see I’m not certain exactly where I fit in any more, and so I feel more free to speak out. My advice to you is, stay away from my daughter and my stepson. This dark obsession they have for each other is hopeless and, once they accept that, they’ll turn on anyone and everyone within reach. They both have a very self-destructive streak, I’m afraid, which coupled with their twisted desires makes them dangerous company.’

‘I don’t see why they can’t marry,’ said Annabel, emboldened by her employer’s astonishing frankness. ‘It isn’t as though they’re related.’

‘Tania has no money of her own, and having wasted years of my life on Crispian’s father I have no intention of giving her money so that she can waste years of hers on his son. And without money, Tania is quite useless as a prospective bride for Crispian. This house eats money like a moth eats wool.’

‘Crispian will never be happy with anyone else,’ said Annabel.

Marina frowned. ‘Happiness is not always found where we expect it. Besides, I have no doubt that he will marry someone suitable – Amanda Fitzwilliam perhaps – and then keep my daughter as his mistress. That way he will
probably
attain a higher degree of happiness than most of us manage, don’t you think?’

Annabel shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t be fair on Amanda.’

‘Like me, Amanda has been brought up in a tradition of duty. She would know better than to expect happiness from Crispian – at least he’d save her from living at home with her parents all her life.’

‘I really don’t know why you’re telling me this,’ protested Annabel.

Marina put her head on one side and considered the younger woman. ‘I’m not certain either. Perhaps because I have the feeling that, like me, you will soon have to make some kind of decision, and I don’t want you to make the wrong one.’

‘Why not? What do I mean to you?’

‘Despite your experiences since you arrived here, Annabel, you seem to me to be intrinsically pure. I don’t think it can have escaped your notice that everyone who lives in Leyton Hall is corrupt, morally and sexually. I’d hate to see you succumb to this malaise.’

‘Perhaps I’m not what you think,’ murmured Annabel.

‘None of us are what we think, but there is a difference between being adventurous and being depraved. Remember that when you have to make your choice.’