Dark Summer Dawn (13 page)

She lay rigidly, her heart beating stormily, waiting for him to speak, steeling herself against the harsh words she knew she had provoked. But there wasn't a sound, and when she wonderingly opened her eyes, he was standing beside the bed looking down at her.


He said quite quietly, 'I'm going to take another shower, Lisa, to wash the scent of you, the taste of you off me. Don't be here when I get back.'


Nor had she been, Lisa thought wryly. And from that moment her every thought, her every action had been towards one purpose—to leave Stoniscliffe, to escape Dane Riderwood for ever.


And for a while she had almost succeeded, or that was how it seemed. But there was never really any escape. She had just been pretending to herself, in the same way she had tried to distance herself from reality by blocking it off in her mind.


Yet that had been a necessity. For months after she had left Stoniscliffe, after she had deliberately set out to make a new life for herself, she had been haunted by memories of Dane. The nights were worst. So many times she had woken, trembling, her whole body a mute agony of craving for the satisfaction which had been denied her. By day, she could control her thoughts, but at night her dreams were a different matter.


How many times, Lisa wondered, had she sat in bed, just as she was doing now, repeating over and over her litany of hate and shame trying to exorcise him from her mind? So many times, and yet she had never succeeded.


For here she was, one night back in the house, wide awake, every nerve, every sense attuned to the man pursuing his own lonely path outside in the darkness.


Lonely? She laughed in self-contempt. That was surely a romanticised view of the situation. Dane liked to walk at night. He always had. These solitary walks helped him see problems clearly, and she could only guess the problem that was keeping him from sleep tonight.


She slid back under the bedclothes with a little sigh. But lonely? She had never had the least reason to think that Dane of all people could be that. Just because he had invited no lady to dine with them that evening it didn't mean that there was no one. Dane had always had someone, she reminded herself, always. Someone who doubtless regarded him as an expert and exciting lover, who would find that slight edge of cruelty in him, that controlled violence, an extra stimulant.


As I might have myself, she confessed honestly, if I'd had the experience he assumed.


But as it was she had been terrified and ashamed. She had felt degraded and she knew that was what he had intended, and that had been the worst thing of all. He had coldbloodedly decided that she was anybody's and treated her accordingly. And he still thought so, because she had deliberately let him retain that impression.


And I'll go on doing so, she thought, if that's the way to keep him at a distance. He thinks I'm living with someone as it is, and Julie's idiotic remarks about James Dalton went home too.


She turned over on to her face, shutting her eyes so tightly that they hurt.


She thought wretchedly, 'Oh God, let him hate me. Let him despise me if he must—if that's the only way I'm going to be safe.'


She must have slept after that, because the next thing she knew it was daylight, and Julie was standing beside the bed, smiling and holding a cup of tea.


'This room's like an igloo,' she complained 'I forgot you were a fresh air fiend.'


'Sorry.' Lisa sat up, accepting the cup. 'Wrap my dressing gown round you if you're staying.'


'Of course I'm staying,' Julie said airily. She perched on the side of the bed, and began to drink her own tea. 'Oh, Lisa, it's so lovely having you home! I've been so miserable over the past couple of years.'


'Miserable—making Tony fall in love with you?' lisa teased gently.


'Oh,' Julie hunched a shoulder, 'I didn't mean that. But there was never anyone to talk to.'


'I thought you'd appointed Celia Dalton to the role of confidante.'


She saw Julie's eyes swivel towards her for a moment, and with real unguarded surprise in their depths, but then the moment passed and her stepsister was smiling again.


'She isn't as bad as you think.'


'I hope not,' Lisa said drily. 'And what the hell did you mean by giving everyone the impression that I was dying of love for James? You know perfectly well it's nonsense.'


Julie shrugged. 'I thought it might make Celia a little less smug for once. She's terribly possessive, you know.'


'And now she's out for my blood.' Lisa shook her head wryly. 'Thanks, friend.' She set her cup down on the bedside table. 'What's the programme for today?'


'Oh, we shan't be doing very much,' Julie said. She smiled mischievously. 'We've got to get you acclimatised slowly after your months in the effete South.'


'But that isn't why I came,' Lisa pointed out. 'I'm supposed to be helping you with this wedding, and we ought to make a start on the preparations—that is unless you're prepared to postpone the ceremony.'


'No, I'm not,' Julie said petulantly. 'Don't fuss, Lisa. Everything will get done in time. If you want, we can go over and look at the flat. Mama Bainbridge is always clucking at me to keep an eye on its progress. She seems to think I should supervise the placing of every light socket and plug.'


'Well, a lot of girls would want to,' Lisa said fairly. 'Not everyone has the chance of a tailor-made home to their own requirements.'


'Perhaps, but I think plumbing and wiring are incredibly dreary.' Julie finished her own tea and got up restlessly. 'Do you want the bathroom first?'


'Go ahead,' Lisa said promptly. She was vaguely troubled again, but couldn't have said why.


She thought, 'I'm being a fool. They love each other—I had the proof of that last night. There must be some small snag. I wish Julie would talk about it. I expect she's making mountains out of molehills.'


When she got down to the breakfast room, she was surprised that Julie wasn't there before her. Chas was already installed, however, with the maligned nurse, a sensible-looking woman with greying hair and glasses.


And Dane was there too, eating grilled bacon and mushrooms and tomatoes. Lisa half checked in the doorway when she saw him. Her re-creation of the events of two years ago had made them seem like yesterday all over again, and the sight of him seated quite calmly at the breakfast table was somehow shocking.


'So there you are, darling,' Chas hailed her jovially. 'I don't think you've met my stepdaughter,' he added, turning to the nurse. 'Lisa, this is Miss Henderson who looks after me, and makes me do my infernal exercises.'


'And I'm sure that isn't what you say behind my back,' Miss Henderson remarked serenely, shaking hands with Lisa.


Mrs Arkwright came in with a large pot of coffee which she set on the table.


'Will you have a cooked breakfast, Miss Lisa?' she asked.


'No, thanks,' Lisa shook her head. 'Just toast and coffee.'


Mrs Arkwright frowned disapprovingly, but made no comment. When she'd gone, Chas said, 'You ought to eat more, Lisa. I noticed at dinner last night, you just picked at your food. You're too thin as it is.'


Lisa smiled, 'I don't think Jos would agree with you.'


'And who is Jos?' It was Dane speaking, his mouth curling slightly.


'My photographer,' she returned coolly. 'Or at least the one I work with most.'


'And lovely pictures he takes,' Miss Henderson commented. 'You were the Amber Girl, weren't you, Miss Riderwood?'


Lisa was just nodding in confirmation, when Dane said, 'The name is Grayson—Lisa Grayson.'


'Oh,' Miss Henderson looked slightly embarrassed. 'Of course, I should have realised…'


'A technicality,' Chas said breezily. 'Lisa's a Riderwood in all but name, isn't that so, darling?'


Lisa forced a smile, aware of Dane's ironic glance. 'If you say so, Chas. Does anyone know where Julie is?'


'She's probably out walking. She often does before breakfast,' Chas said.


'Julie does?' Lisa's brows rose incredulously. She laughed a little shakily. 'My goodness, she has changed!'


'What did you expect?' Dane's eyes were fixed on her levelly. 'That everything here would be in a vacuum just waiting your return?'


'No, of course not.' She spoke sharply, nettled by his tone. 'Early morning walks aren't particularly characteristic of Julie, that's all.'


'Perhaps you regard them as your prerogative.' Dane pushed his plate away and reached for the toast rack. 'Or have you changed as well, at least in that respect?'


How dared he? Lisa thought wildly. How dared he taunt her like this when he knew she was unable to defend herself because of the presence of Chas and the nurse?


She said with deliberate lightness, 'I haven't exactly been inhabiting a vacuum either.'

His eyes flicked over her like a whiplash. 'No,' was all he said.

At that moment Julie herself came in, eyes bright and cheeks glowing.

'Hello, everyone.' She almost danced round the table to kiss Chas and bestow a swift hug upon Lisa. 'Isn't it a beautiful day?'

'Wintry showers forecast for later on,' Miss Henderson said.

'Oh, I don't care what it does later on,' Julie laughed. 'As long as the sun shines on me in the morning.'

'And what are your plans for the sun while it shines?' Chas demanded indulgently.

'I'm going to take Lisa to look at the flat.' Julie helped herself to cereal.

Dane swallowed the last of his toast and rose. He said to his father, 'If Christopherson phones, will you tell him I'll be in Leeds all day?'

As Chas nodded, Julie leaned forward. 'Oh, Dane darling, if you're going to be in Leeds, we'll come down later and you can take us to lunch. It's been ages since you did that.'

He hesitated. His eyes were fixed on Julie. He did not even spare Lisa a glance. He said, 'Not today, Julie. I have a mountain of work facing me. Some other time, perhaps.'

Julie pouted, and Chas said, 'You can't turn down an offer like that, lad. You have to eat, after all, and a lunch date with two lovely girls will help the mountain of work along.'

Dane's face became grimmer than ever. He said coldly, 'Very well. Come to the office at twelve-thirty, Julie, and I'll see what I can arrange.'

She glowed at him. 'Darling, you're a wonderful brother —isn't he, Lisa?'

Lisa put down the piece of toast she had been trying to summon up some enthusiasm for, and murmured something indistinguishable, aware of Dane's ironic gaze. When she looked up, however, he had gone, and she was able to relax a little.

When the meal was over she put on a coat and accompanied Julie round to the garages at the side of the house where Julie's smart black Mini Metro was kept.

'Very nice,' Lisa remarked, running a hand over the gleaming paintwork.

Julie giggled. 'It was a reward,' she said airily. 'Daddy simply didn't believe I'd ever pass the test. But I did—at the fourth attempt.'

Watching Julie reverse out of the garage and turn in the drive, Lisa could only wonder that the fourth test had been successful. She crossed her fingers surreptitiously as she got into the passenger seat and they shot off down the drive.

The Bainbridges' house was set well back from the road, down a private access track punctuated by gates and cattle grids. It was a large gracious building constructed from the traditional local stone, with a large formal garden at the front. Most of the farm buildings, including the barn which was being converted for Tony and Julie, were at the rear of the property, but Julie did not drive straight round. She stopped in front of the house in a swirl of gravel, and a little screech of brakes., and looked at Lisa with a faint grimace.

'Come on,' she said. 'We'd better report for duty.'

The Bainbridges' housekeeper admitted them and led them along a flagged passage to a large airy sitting room, furnished with flowered chintz. Mrs Bainbridge was sitting at a desk in the window writing, but she got up with a welcoming smile as the girls came in.

'Julie dear, how nice! We don't see nearly enough of you. And this is Lisa, of course. What a great success you've had. We've all followed your career with great interest locally.'

'I now declare this bazaar open,' Julie murmured in an undertone to Lisa as Mrs Bainbridge turned to the housekeeper to ask for coffee to be brought.

Lisa gave her a quelling frown and resigned herself to at least half an hour's chat about her life as a model. She had never disliked Mrs Bainbridge, although she could understand the haphazard Julie being irritated by her serene efficiency. It was epitomised by the spotless room, the log fire burning brightly in the burnished grate, the bowls of bulbs on the windowsills and side tables.

Over coffee, Mrs Bainbridge said, 'I was hoping to telephone you, Julie. They're almost at the stage of tiling the kitchen and bathroom, and I've had some samples delivered of those I thought most suitable. You don't have to choose any of them, naturally, dear. There are plenty of catalogues available. Did you have a look through any of those I gave you?'

Julie gave a negligent shrug. 'I haven't had time, I'm afraid. I'm sure whatever you've picked will be fine.'

'But I haven't picked anything, dear,' Mrs Bainbridge said rather repressively. 'It's for you and Tony to choose. It's your home, after all. I've left the samples at the flat, and all you have to do is decide and let the foreman know your choice.' She gave a little sigh. 'I had hoped Tony would be here this morning, but he's had to go into Skipton with his father.'

'Well, it doesn't matter.' Julie put her empty coffee cup back on the table. 'I only wanted to show Lisa the flat.

Come on, Lisa, we'd better make a start. We have to be in Leeds for twelve-thirty, don't forget,'

As they made their way across the courtyard at the back of the house, Lisa said, 'Julie, you were really rude just now.'

'Well, it's all so silly,' Julie said defensively. 'She knows quite well that she'll be picking the tiles in the end, just as she's chosen everything else. Oh, it's all done very charmbut everything I like is always "Rather unsuitable, dear", and as they're paying for it, that's the end of the discussion.' She paused. 'Well, here we are.'