Lady Love (10 page)

She excused herself, ignoring Delle’s provocative remark, and moved to the bandstand, where the band was just ending a number.

“Can I leave with you?” she asked Dick in a whisper.

“Sure. In trouble?” he asked.

She sighed and smiled. “Up to my dainty ears. And make it seem blatantly clear why we’re going, could you?”

His eyes twinkled. “Got you.”

She kept well away from Cameron and the others until the party was over and the band started packing away instruments. Then she left with the band, clinging to Dick’s arm as they passed Lila.

“Good night,” Merlyn told her employer, as an angry Cameron came forward with a puzzled Delle in tow.

“Good night, my dear.” Lila grinned. “Have fun.”

“Let’s go, Dick,” Merlyn said quickly.

“I’ll bring her back before morning,” Dick said and pulled her close. “Good night, Mrs. Thorpe, Mr. Thorpe, ladies.” At his most charming, he bowed and closed the door behind them.

“Whew!” Merlyn sighed as she sat in the van with Dick, the other band members and all their equipment. “Talk about close calls!”

“What happened?” Dick asked.

“I had words with the master of the house,” she lied. Well, it was almost the truth.

“Odd,” he murmured, raising his eyebrows, “I didn’t think you saw him again after we danced.”

“I was just avoiding trouble,” she sighed, leaning heavily on his shoulder. The van was carpeted, thank goodness, so her dress wouldn’t suffer.

“Sorry about the transport. I left my Jag at Ray’s house. We’ll pick it up when we drop him off.”

She smiled. “It’s just as well. They’d have been suspicious if they’d seen it.”

“Don’t I look rich?” he asked pointedly.

“No. You look delightfully charming and debonair. But not rich.” She glanced up at him. “Do I? Look rich, I mean.”

“No. You look threatened.” He pulled her closer. “Did he make a pass, little buddy?”

“You see too much,” she grumbled.

“I’ve known you since grade school, of course I do. Come on, spill it.”

“Yes, he did. I’m still pretty raw after Adam,” she confessed. “And this very staid banker has his eye on an investment firm.”

“The blonde?”

“Her father owns the firm. He’d like to merge with it. By marrying her.” She moved her dark head restlessly. “Not for love, you understand. He doesn’t trust emotion since his disastrous first marriage, so he’s marrying for logical reasons this time. His poor little daughter! She doesn’t like the blonde at all.”

“Poor you,” he corrected. “You’re falling for the guy, aren’t you?”

She laughed dully. “I think it’s psychological. The house is so much like Thornfield Hall in
Jane Eyre
, and I met him suddenly in the middle of the night…maybe it’s just my wild romantic streak acting up.” She pressed close to him. “Don’t bother about me, I always get my act together eventually. Where are we going?”

“After we get off the bus? Oh, I thought I’d take you to Limelight.”

It was an Atlanta club with good food, good music and bright lights. “I’d love it,” she said enthusiastically. “I feel as if I’ve been hibernating. Will I do like this?”

“You’ll simply raise eyebrows, and I’ll grin at your radiance,” he returned. “You’ll do fine.”

She did raise eyebrows, but she had a wonderful time. She even managed to get Cameron out of her brain for whole minutes at a time. Admittedly, her fear of facing him was the main reason she stayed out so late with Dick. It was almost four o’clock when she got back to the house.

“I didn’t realize it was so late,” he said ruefully.

“Well, an hour to get there and an hour back,” she reminded him. “Plus the time in the middle. It doesn’t matter. I enjoyed it.”

“So did I.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “
Ciao
, love.”

“See you. I’ll make sure you’re on the guest list for Dad’s party,” she added with a grin.

“You’d better!”

He drove off with a wave of his hand, and Merlyn walked quietly in the front door. She was surprised that it wasn’t locked, until she entered the brightly lit hall and heard noises coming from the den.

“Cameron, don’t,” Delle was saying. “Honestly, you know I don’t like being kissed so roughly. And you’ve mussed my dress!”

“It will press,” he muttered.

“Stop that!” Delle burst out. “Cameron, what in the world has gotten into you tonight?” There was a flurry of movement, and Delle stormed out into the hall, disheveled and flustered. She stopped dead when she saw Merlyn, and Cameron came out behind her, his eyes flaring as he spotted Merlyn standing frozen in the hallway.

His very appearance spelled trouble. He was wearing his dress slacks, but he’d shed his jacket and vest, and his white shirt was open all the way down the front over that sexy broad chest. His hair was ruffled, his eyes glittering. He looked very much as he had in the closet, and she knew why.

The thought infuriated her, especially when he smiled in a mocking, superior way.

“Just getting in?” he murmured.

Merlyn felt her blood pressure shoot straight up. She wanted to hit both of them. She couldn’t remember ever having felt such murderous rage in all her life. Her eyes blazed with green fire in her white face.

Cameron’s expression suddenly altered, puzzling her, as she lifted her chin proudly.

“I see I wasn’t the only one enjoying myself,” she commented, staring pointedly at Delle’s swollen mouth. “Of course, you two are engaged, aren’t you?” she added with rare venom and a cold smile. “Anything goes these days.”

She started past Cameron, and her expression made him flinch almost imperceptibly. “Good night, Mr. Thorpe,” she said politely. “Miss Radner.”

Delle was giggling, although it sounded as though it was prompted more by nervousness than humor. Cold fish, Merlyn thought. She ascended the stairs as gracefully as her mother ever had, though she had to fight to keep her spine from stiffening with anger. She didn’t look back once, although she imagined she felt eyes watching her. Delle’s girlish voice floated up in excited whispers, but Merlyn couldn’t make out the words. She went straight to her room, locked the door and bolted it.

She didn’t understand why she cried. It wasn’t like her at all. But her mind kept going back to Cameron’s surprising ardor. She’d once thought him a cold man, but her opinion had reversed quite dramatically. He was as potent as aged wine, and she could still remember the touch of his hands, even after taking a hot shower and two aspirin to help her sleep. She tossed and turned wildly, picturing him over and over again holding Delle, kissing her, touching her as he’d touched Merlyn.

“Libertine!” she muttered harshly and buried her tearful face in her pillow. It was dawn before she finally managed to sleep. And almost noon before she woke up.

She dressed in a pair of gray slacks and a candy-striped blouse to go downstairs, putting her dark hair in a bun on top of her head. She felt old today. Old and betrayed, although why she should feel that way about Cameron Thorpe, she didn’t know. He and Delle were engaged, for God’s sake! What business of hers was it what they did in private?

“Good morning, dear,” Lila called to her from the study. “I didn’t want to wake you. Cameron said you’d come in quite late.”

She felt her face go rigid, but she managed a smile, just the same. “Yes, I did. Dick and I went dancing in Atlanta.”

“Did you have a good time?”

“Very nice, thank you.” She sat down. “Have you already started without me?” she asked, glancing toward the small computer screen.

“Just a few lines to get the feel of the
next chapter
. Here,” she said, indicating a diagram. “This is where I’d like to jump to next.”

“The wedding of Henry the Seventh and Elizabeth of York.” Merlyn nodded. “That was an exciting period. Did you ever read about the interesting plots hatched against Henry by his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Woodville, and his wife’s aunt, Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy? They make fascinating reading.” She began to relate them, and Lila listened avidly, bursting into laughter when Merlyn finished. “Oh, yes, get that all down for me, please. I’ll find some way to incorporate it into the story line.”

“I thought you might like it.” Merlyn frowned, suddenly aware that she hadn’t seen Amanda. “Where’s Amanda?”

“She went to Atlanta with Cameron to put the Radners on a plane to Charleston.”

“My late grandmother was from Charleston,” Merlyn said. Her eyes narrowed. “
She
had breeding and elegant manners.”

“And the Radners don’t,” Lila murmured dryly. “No, you needn’t apologize,” she said, stopping the quick reply forming on Merlyn’s lips. “I’m well aware of the failings of my future in-laws. They do rather cast a shadow on that city of cities.”

“Well, with all due respect,” Merlyn sighed, “I hope they won’t be back before my work here is done.”

Lila started. “You aren’t anxious to leave?” she asked.

Merlyn looked down at her hands. “I have…other commitments,” she murmured, remembering that she needed to phone her father today about that party. “I’ve enjoyed this very much, but you’re very nearly at the point where you won’t require my services further. And if you need anything additional, you can always phone me.”

“I’ve grown fond of you, Merlyn. I’d hate to think that we were going to lose touch.” Lila’s wise old eyes searched the younger woman’s. “Is it Cameron? I realize he’s made it difficult for you here.”

“He doesn’t intimidate me,” Merlyn said smoothly. “Not at all.”

“He intimidates Delle, though,” Lila murmured. “He was about as friendly as a heated lobster this morning. Much more irritable than usual. You didn’t have words with him?”

“Not at all. He and Delle were still up when I came home.” Merlyn yawned and stretched with pretended indifference. “I just said good-night and went to bed.”

“He was quite curious about your friend Mr. Langley.”

“Was he?” Merlyn asked. She glanced at Lila. “Not his kind of people, of course.” She gasped as she realized the implications of that sarcastic remark. “Oh, I didn’t mean that.”

Lila smiled. “You don’t know Cameron. He doesn’t choose his friends for social position or wealth. He never has.”

“He’s marrying Delle for her father’s firm, though, isn’t he?” Merlyn asked curtly.

Lila’s eyebrows rose. “Is he marrying her? Lately I’ve been having doubts.”

“You wouldn’t if you’d seen them this morning,” Merlyn muttered.

Lila laughed softly. “Oh.”

She put so much expression into that single syllable that Merlyn actually blushed. She got up. “I’ll go and get my books and be right back,” she said quickly.

Her face was still burning when she got to her room. She didn’t care about that big ape. She didn’t! But why had it hurt so much to see him that way with Delle? She closed her mind to it and went back downstairs with her arms full of books.

***

Cameron didn’t come back until late afternoon. Amanda ran alongside him, her arms full of boxes, her eyes flashing with laughter.

“Hi, Grandmama!” she called. “Look what Daddy bought me. I’ve got worlds of dresses, and new slips, and even a pair of jeans! I must go up and try them on right now, to show you!”

Merlyn was sprawled on the carpet with a book about the house of Tudor. She glanced up as Cameron walked into the room but quickly turned her eyes back to the book.

“Have a good trip, dear?” Lila asked. “Amanda seems rather excited.”

“We went shopping,” he said. He stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets, and stared at Merlyn for so long that she got to her feet in self-defense. Her heart was beating wildly. Her eyes glanced off his as she dropped into a chair near Lila’s desk.

“No date tonight, Miss Forrest?” he asked with cold sarcasm.

“No date, Mr. Thorpe,” she replied sweetly. “Some of us work.”

His dark eyes narrowed. “Would you care to elaborate on that?”

“We’ve just finished a chapter,” Lila said, pulling out the diskettes before she turned off her computer and printer. She put the diskettes carefully into their jackets and then into their box. “Have to be so careful with these little devils,” she murmured. “But it’s worlds faster than a typewriter. Did the Radners get off all right, dear?”

“Yes. They sent their regards, Miss Forrest,” he added, perching himself on the corner of the desk. “Since you weren’t available when they left.”

“How polite,” she said quietly. She glanced at him, her eyes approving his beige slacks and patterned brown shirt. He looked all male in casual clothes, and she remembered suddenly the way his skin felt under his shirt. It was all she could do not to catch her breath at the memory.

“We’d better go into the dining room for dinner,” Lila said, glancing at her watch. “I’ll just fetch Amanda.”

Merlyn stood up, but Cameron blocked her path.

“I wanted to say something to you in private,” he said curtly. “About last night…”

“Now, don’t you worry,” she said with a honeyed smile. “I understand perfectly that you wouldn’t want me to get my hopes up just because you kissed me. Delle has gobs of money and I’m penniless.”

His chest rose and fell heavily, quickly. “What I wanted to say,” he continued coldly, “was that Mother mentioned you were wearing a designer dress.”

“I borrowed it,” she said flatly.

“And you came back in a Jaguar,” he added. “I’d like to know what’s going on.”

Her eyebrows arched. “Do you think I might be an eccentric millionairess?” she asked with a grin.

His dark eyes narrowed. “I’m beginning to wonder quite a lot about you, lady. You’re too damned mysterious to suit me.”

“Just the right woman for you, in fact, if you’d admit it,” she sighed, batting her eyelashes at him. Bluff, girl, bluff, she told herself. “Well, the truth is, I have tons of money, and I’m in the market for a hunk who’s good in bed and wants to take care of me. Interested?” she flirted.

His eyes roved slowly down her body and back up again. “I don’t like the effect you have on me,” he said quietly. “I’ve never gotten hot enough to drag a woman into a closet before.”

Her face felt unusually warm. She dropped her eyes to his vest. “Really? How exciting! See, I’m getting to you, Mr. Rochester.”