Dark Obsession (7 page)

She had no idea why. He wasn’t conventionally handsome and his brown curly hair had one or two threads of silver in it. But his face was tanned and rugged and there was a sense of great strength and masculinity about him that she found almost irresistible. As he walked towards Lady Corbett-Wynne and started to greet her, he brushed against Annabel’s skirt. For a brief moment he turned to look at her. His grey eyes were unfathomable, but when he gave her a swift impersonal smile she felt ridiculously pleased, like a child given an unexpected present.

Crispian watched Annabel closely. He recognised the signs of physical attraction immediately, and although surprised – he couldn’t see anything all that special about the newcomer – he’d heard rumours about the man’s success with women and Annabel’s response made it plain that these were most likely true.

Matthew himself was hardly aware of Annabel at their initial meeting. He was far more interested in Lady Corbett-Wynne. Her delicate appearance intrigued him, as did the cool exterior she presented to the world. Always eager for a challenge, he felt that to break down her resistance, and capture her so that he could feel her slenderness against him, actually physically penetrate the facade she used like a shield against men, would give him tremendous satisfaction. And if he was any judge of women it would bring equal delight to her.

None of this was apparent in his polite greeting, but he let his eyes hold hers for a fraction longer than necessary and once he’d been handed his drink he stood very slightly closer to her than she might have expected.

Despite remaining calm and serene, Lady Corbett-Wynne was experiencing very similar sensations to Annabel’s, except that she didn’t recognise them for what they were and wondered if she was ill. Her stomach was turning in a decidedly uncomfortable manner and her mouth was strangely dry.

‘I’m afraid my daughter’s a little late, Sir Matthew,’ she apologised. ‘It’s a fault of hers.’

He smiled. ‘I’ve seen your daughter out riding. Any girl as attractive as that is automatically forgiven for being late.’

‘Unfortunately she relies on that,’ responded his hostess. ‘I’ve tried to teach her manners, but she simply refuses to believe that they matter.’

‘You should use your time teaching her some morals,’ muttered Lord Corbett-Wynne.

His wife turned her head sharply towards him. ‘Crispian of course has no need for such guidance?’

Before he could reply the door opened and Tania came into the room. It was quite an entrance, Annabel conceded to herself. She was beautifully made up, her eyes well-defined with kohl and her lips carefully shaped with pencil and lipstick into a cupid’s bow, but it was the dress that really took everyone’s breath away. Ruby-red in colour, it seemed to match the lighter tones of her auburn hair, which was sleeked back for the evening, and the sheer old-fashioned glamour of the satin bias-cut dress with diamanté clasps and halter neck was stunning.

Lady Corbett-Wynne, however, seemed oblivious of the impact her daughter’s entrance had made. ‘You’re late,’ she said coldly.

‘Sorry, Mother,’ said Tania, her tone of voice making it clear that she wasn’t. ‘It took me ages to wash my hair and bath, someone had used all the hot water, as usual. I think you should get the plumbing in this place seen to before you start on the decorations.’

‘Well, since you are here I’d like to introduce you to –’

‘We’ve already met,’ interrupted Tania.

‘When?’ asked her mother.

‘When I was out riding. Isn’t that right, Sir Matthew.’

Annabel noticed that, although Sir Matthew nodded and smiled in agreement, he wasn’t quite as appreciative of
Tania
as might have been expected, and quickly turned his attention back to her mother.

Tania didn’t like this. ‘God, I could use a drink. Isn’t anyone going to offer me one?’

‘Dinner’s ready,’ said her stepfather. ‘We’ve all been waiting for you.’

‘I’m sure you can wait five more minutes while I have a quick gin. Crispian, be an angel and pour me one, would you?’

‘How could I refuse?’ he asked with a lopsided smile. His father and stepmother glanced briefly at one another. And Annabel wondered if they were both aware of how close their offspring really were.

‘Even if you know my stepsister, I don’t suppose anyone’s thought to introduce you to Annabel,’ murmured Crispian as he poured out Tania’s gin.

‘How rude of me,’ said his stepmother, turning towards the waiting Annabel. ‘Sir Matthew, I’d like you to meet Annabel Moss. She works for David Crosbie and comes highly recommended by him. You’ve probably heard of David?’

‘Good heavens, yes. I knew him a few years ago. We ran with the same crowd but then I moved away. I haven’t seen him now for about three years or more. Is he still with Martin?’ he asked Annabel as he lightly took her outstretched hand.

‘Yes, yes, he is,’ she said in a low voice, hoping that he couldn’t feel the way her hand was trembling in his. It was utterly ridiculous, and she didn’t know what was the matter with her, but all she wanted was to get this man into bed with her, to feel his strong, capable hands on her breasts, thighs, and buttocks. She’d heard of instant physical attraction, but never believed in it. Now she knew that it could happen. The only trouble was, he clearly didn’t feel the same.

‘Good. What are you planning to do with the Hall?’

‘I really don’t know yet. I only arrived this afternoon
and
although Lady Corbett-Wynne and I discussed some provisional ideas, they were just a starting point.’

‘I’m sure her taste will prove impeccable,’ replied Sir Matthew. He then turned away from Annabel and started talking to his hostess again.

‘Bad luck!’ whispered Crispian as he passed behind Annabel. ‘It seems he likes the more mature woman!’

Annabel flushed, mortified that anyone had realised how she felt.

‘Do come along,’ Lord Corbett-Wynne said irritably. ‘I’m famished and Susan told us dinner was ready over ten minutes ago.’

‘Sorry, Step-papa,’ drawled Tania. They all moved towards the door.

The dining room was large and dark. Old family portraits adorned the walls and the suspended lights over the dark mahogany dining table had navy-blue shades with gold braids over them. Annabel found herself seated between Lord Corbett-Wynne and Sir Matthew, which rather pleased her, with Tania and Crispian opposite her.

The damask table cloth was immaculate and the pure crystal glasses shone, while the eighteenth-century pistol-handled cutlery added a wonderful touch. Small vases of freesias were placed along the centre of the table and their scent drifted in the air, masking the musty odour that seemed to be present in all the rooms of the Hall.

The first course was delicious, smoked salmon in saffron aspic, and was accompanied by an excellent Chablis. Annabel found that the presence of Sir Matthew on her right seemed to have removed her appetite but she managed to force most of the light fish down.

‘Tell me what you think of my place then,’ said Lord Corbett-Wynne as Sir Matthew talked softly and intimately to the lord’s wife. ‘Like it?’

‘I think it’s got tremendous character,’ said Annabel with total honesty. ‘I’d want to keep the atmosphere too. I had thought in terms of very subtly shaded surfaces and
I’d
use artificially faded fabrics, anything too obviously new would clash horribly.’

‘Do you admire Marina’s wing?’ he demanded abruptly.

‘I like the French romantic style,’ Annabel said carefully, ‘but it has to be used in the right rooms.’

‘Seems to keep her happy. She’s a romantic type of woman, of course. Are you?’ He pushed his face close to Annabel’s.

‘I don’t think so,’ responded Annabel, who felt anything but romantic with her sexual desire for Sir Matthew occupying every spare thought.

‘Glad to hear it. Ruins everything that does. She’s not a physical woman, you see,’ he added, dropping his voice. ‘Now me, I’m very physical. I have needs, if you take my meaning.’

Remembering his son’s comments, Annabel took his meaning only too well, but she kept her face expressionless and didn’t answer him.

‘A man needs someone to warm his bed now and again,’ persisted her host, his hand reaching beneath the tablecloth and gripping her left knee tightly.

Annabel glanced down the table to where Lady Corbett-Wynne was sitting but she was still in intimate conversation with Sir Matthew and totally oblivious to anyone else at the table. As Annabel moved her legs to one side her right foot pressed against Sir Matthew’s. Although he continued to keep his gaze on his hostess Annabel felt the pressure returned softly.

‘Not engaged, are you?’ asked Lord Corbett-Wynne, draining his glass of Chablis and refilling it before the waiting maidservant had the opportunity.

‘No,’ said Annabel with a polite smile. ‘I think perhaps I’m too fussy.’

‘Doesn’t do, doesn’t do! It’s astonishing the number of women I’ve bedded who’ve turned out to be extraordinary once you got them going. Be more adventurous, my dear, that’s my advice to you.’

Across the table Crispian looked at Annabel and grinned. ‘Ignore him; he’s only hoping you might decide to try the more mature man. Isn’t that right, Pa?’

Annabel shifted uneasily in her seat, still worried about Lady Corbett-Wynne. Crispian understood her fear. He leant across the table, narrowly avoiding knocking over one of the vases of freesias. ‘Don’t worry about Step-mama, she couldn’t care less what he does as long as he leaves her alone. Besides, it seems she’s having a good time for once in her life.’

Annabel could see that for herself. She only wished it wasn’t with the first man to have literally set her own pulse racing.

The second course was rather over-cooked pheasant, served with parsnips, carrots, and game chips. The vegetables were horribly undercooked and this time Annabel could scarcely eat more than a few mouthfuls.

‘Not hungry?’ asked Sir Matthew as the plates were removed.

‘Not really.’

‘You ought to take more exercise. Are you naturally pale, or is it the company?’ he asked with a smile.

‘I’m always pale. In fact I only get colour in my cheeks when I’ve got a temperature.’

He looked thoughtfully at her. ‘I’m sure I could bring some colour to them without making you ill in the process.’

Annabel knew that he could, she only wished that he’d put his hand on her knee as Lord Corbett-Wynne had done. But he didn’t, contenting himself instead with resting his hand on the top of Annabel’s arm. ‘You must come and look over my place before you go. Some of the ground-floor rooms are in a sorry state. I’d like your advice on them.’

‘With pleasure,’ responded Annabel. ‘I’ll be here for at least three weeks, so there’s no rush.’

‘Well, don’t leave it until the last minute. We might need
to
spend a little time discussing things,’ he said quietly. Then his fingers travelled in a slow line down her arm and over her hand before he picked up his spoon for the dessert.

After that he spent the rest of the meal talking to his hostess again. Annabel began to wonder, as she fended off more and more suggestive remarks from her host, whether this was the way the family always behaved or if the presence of Sir Matthew had brought about some kind of change.

After the delicious fig-fritters, the men tucked into stilton and port but Annabel sat back and sipped at her orange muscat dessert wine. This wine was new to her and she decided she’d get David to try it.

At last the meal was over, and they withdrew to the library again for coffee, although now the evening was clearly drawing to a close and Tania kept looking at her watch.

‘What’s the matter?’ whispered Crispian as he passed behind her. ‘Are you bored?’

‘A bit. Mother hogged Sir Matthew’s attention, and you hardly said a word to me,’ she hissed.

‘How can I when Pa’s about? You know how he feels about us! Tell you what, why don’t we go to the stables later, have ourselves a different kind of party?’

Tania’s eyes gleamed. ‘Even better, why don’t you get our house guest to come along and look at the horses? She’s pretty worked up already. I think Sir Matthew’s had an effect on her. She might even enjoy herself once we persuade her to join in!’

Crispian looked startled. ‘Is that wise? Suppose she says something to your mother?’

Tania’s lip curled. ‘Not scared, are you? What could she say? That she’d joined us for a threesome and felt Mama ought to know?’

Crispian could feel his own excitement growing, but it was always this way with Tania. She didn’t seem to have
any
sense of self-preservation, and sometimes he wondered what would become of them both.

‘Go on,’ Tania urged him. ‘It will be fun.’

‘Okay,’ he said swiftly. ‘Leave it to me. You go on ahead in about twenty minutes, get things prepared, and then I’ll bring her round a bit later on and we can “bump into each other”!’

Tania laughed excitedly. ‘Heavenly!’

‘Crispian, I thought you were going to fetch another bottle of port,’ said his father. It was evident that he was irritated.

Crispian deliberately caught Annabel’s eye and gave her an intimate smile. ‘Sorry, Pa, forgot. Annabel, let me show you where our cellar is.’

‘Annabel doesn’t need to know her way to the cellar,’ Lady Corbett-Wynne said sharply. ‘I’m sure she has no interest in it whatsoever.’

Annabel hadn’t, but the blood coursing through her veins had more than a passing interest in Crispian, especially since it was plain that for this evening at least, Sir Matthew’s charms were being directed at his hostess and not his fellow guest.

When Tania finally slipped out of the room only her stepfather noticed her go, and he merely gave an inward sigh of relief. She unsettled him. Normally he would have found her blatant sensuality highly erotic, but the knowledge that his son was besotted with her when he was meant to be out and about finding himself a wealthy wife took the edge off her charms.

In any case, he sensed that she wouldn’t enjoy the kind of sex he liked, and she lacked the fragile allure of her mother. If he had his way he’d get her married off, but to his annoyance his wife stood firm over that, telling him that she had no intention of pushing her daughter into the kind of mistake she’d made.