Stormspell (29 page)

Ruth looked anxious, is that how you feel about me?' she probed, and Martin gave a low chuckle.

'Don't you believe me?'

Ruth frowned. 'I don't think you care that much about anybody.'

Martin assumed an offended air. 'Ruthie. Ruthie.' he protested, feigning distress, 'how can you even suggest such a thing?'

Ruth's lips twitched. Martin was irrepressible. He could never be serious about anything for long, and she doubted if it was in his nature to feel really strongly about anyone. In his way, he did love her, she believed that. Just as she cared for him. They had fun together, and they laughed a lot. But was it enough?

'You're looking very solemn, suddenly,' he commented now. going to help himself to a cup of coffee. 'Has Mother been talking to you?'

'Aunt Davina?' Ruth turned away. 'No. Why? Has she been talking to you?'

'She's suggested we fly to Switzerland for the weekend.' he conceded dryly, and Ruth turned to him in surprise. 'Why?'

'For the skiing. I guess.' Martin replied, tasting his coffee, isn't that what people usually go to Switzerland for?'

Ruth shook her head. 'But isn't it too late?'

There are places in Switzerland where you can ski all the year round.' remarked Martin, with a shrug, it's only a question of getting up high enough.'

Ruth hesitated. 'And do you want to go?'

'I don't mind. Do you?'

Ruth considered. If it meant taking her out of reach of Dominic's influence, she ought to be eager. But deep inside her she knew she wasn't.

However, that had nothing to do with her decision. 'Of—of course I'd like to go.' she determined. keeping her voice light with an effort. 'I can t remember ever seeing snow before.'

'Okay.' Martin smiled. 'I'll make the arrangements. If we leave on Friday morning, that will give us two full days and three nights. I'll have to come back on Monday. I have a session at the track on Monday afternoon.'

Ruth tried to look eager. 'I'll look forward to it.' She shrugged. 'I know Aunt Davina will be pleased.'

'Yes.' Martin conceded the truth of this, and Ruth went to bed. determined not to think any more about Dominic's invitation.

On Thursday afternoon it rained, and Ruth, who had arranged to have another driving lesson, viewed the sudden downpour with gloomy eyes. She didn't like London in the wet. She didn't like the bedraggled buildings, or the choked-up smell of oil and diesel, and she particularly didn't like the feeling of claustrophobia that the lowering skies evoked.

As she had some shopping to do for Aunt Davina, she had arranged to meet her instructor at the offices of the driving school, and by the time she came hurrying along Bond Street, her head and feet felt soaked. She should have carried an umbrella, she supposed, but she was always afraid she might put someone's eye out with the perilous spokes, and the hood of the waterproof coat she was wearing refused to remain in place.

She was late, and her whole attention was concentrated on reaching her objective, so that when someone suddenly stepped into her path she practically cannoned into them. She gasped an apology, groping for the handbag that had nearly been knocked to the ground, and then realised that the man who had halted her headlong dash had not released her. She looked up anxiously, apprehensive that she might be being accosted, and blinked disbelievingly at her rescuer.

'Dominic!' she breathed, his name sounding husky on her lips. 'Dominic, what are you doing here?'

His expression took on an ironic cast. 'Would you believe coincidence?' he enquired, but as she continued to look at him blankly, he added harshly: 'What do you think? I've been waiting for you, of course.'

'Waiting for me?'

Ruth tried to absorb what he was telling her. but it didn't seem to make sense. How did he know where she would be this afternoon? How had he known what driving school she attended?

Raindrops sparkled on his long lashes, and on the silvery fairness of his hair, and she suddenly realised he was not wearing a raincoat. He had turned up the collar of his jacket, against the drops of rain that ran from his hair down the back of his neck, but his shoulders were dark with wetness. Added to this was the reluctant awareness that he did not look well. There were dark rings around his eyes, and his cheeks seemed to have hollowed out, giving his face a haggard appearance. It hardly seemed possible that it was only two days since she had seen him. What had happened to him?

Glancing round helplessly, she said: 'We can't talk now. I have a driving lesson. I'm already ten minutes late.' She sighed, concerned in spite of herself. 'Don't you have an overcoat? You're getting soaked!'

'I expected you'd be on time,' he retorted grimly, as she stepped back from him. 'And my car's parked just round the corner. Forget the driving lesson. Come with me!'

'Dominic!' She gazed up at him aghast. 'I can't do that.'

'Why can't you? No one need know. You can tell them you were ill or something.' He paused, and then went on heavily: 'Ruth, please! Don't send me away again.'

Ruth bent her head. She didn't know what to do. She knew what she
should
do. but his appeal was compelling. How could she walk into the office behind her. and ignore him? Could she do that, knowing he had waited in the rain to see her? She didn't owe him anything, she argued with herself unhappily, and yet she knew that when he had driven away and left her two days ago she had suffered the same conflict of conscience she was experiencing now.

'Dominic,' she began slowly, and his lids lowered to half cover his eyes. 'Dominic—we have nothing to say to one another.'

'Don't we?' He moved his shoulders wearily. 'Well, if that's your final decision—'

'Oh. Dominic!' Common sense warred with the emotions he always evoked, and as he turned away she caught his sleeve. 'All right,' she said, regretting the words almost as soon as they were spoken. 'All right—I'll miss my lesson.'

He didn't say anything in response; not 'Good' or 'Thank you' or any of the things she might have anticipated. Instead he took a firm hold of her arm and propelled her around the corner to where the sleek grey sports car awaited their possession. He put her into her seat before striding round the bonnet to get in beside her. shedding his jacket as he did so, and tossing it into the back. Then, after settling himself to his satisfaction, he determinedly took her shopping basket from her and deposited it in the back as well, along with his coat.

Ruth glanced at the narrow gold wristwatch Aunt Davina had bought her as he started the car. 'I—I only have three quarters of an hour.' she began doubtfully, and turned her face to the streaming windows when he made no reply.

She didn't know where he was taking her. In the rain it was impossible to read street names. She could only look at the direction boards they passed, and realised after a few minutes that they were heading towards the outskirts of the city.

'You—you said you wanted to talk to me,' she reminded him at last, when they had been driving for about fifteen minutes, and Dominic gave her a sidelong look.

'I know.'

'So why don't we talk?' she exclaimed. 'I should tell you, we'll have to be going back soon.'

'No.'

His denial was low and without emphasis, but a denial nevertheless, and Ruth stared at him. 'Yes, Dominic.'

'Do you think now I've got you to myself, I'm going to deliver you back to your aunt without us having some time alone together?' he demanded, in a tortured voice, and she trembled. 'I didn't stand a half hour fn the rain just to spend a miserable forty- five minutes with you,' he added, slowing for some traffic lights. 'I need you. Ruth, and you know it.

Now. relax and enjoy the drive. I've got somewhere I want to show you.'

Ruth fumbled for the handle of the door as the Porsche slowed to a standstill, but the car was locked and she couldn't get it open.

'Don't be melodramatic. Ruth.' he told her. as the lights changed and the car began to move again. 'Jumping out into the rain isn't going to solve anything. You know that and I know that, so stop fighting me!'

'I'll never stop fighting you.' she declared childishly. 'I should have known. I shouldn't have trusted you. I should have realised you were entirely without integrity!'

'Oh. for God's sake!' With a squeal of brakes Dominic turned the car. skidding into a layby and bringing it to an abrupt standstill. 'All right.' he said, raking back his damp hair with unsteady fingers, 'I'm a swine and I'm a bastard. What else do you want to say?'

'I don't want to say anything,' she mumbled, through shaking lips, as he pulled down his tie and loosened the top button of his shirt. 'I—I just want you to take me back to—to my aunt's. Or—or let me take a bus or something.'

'A bus!' Dominic sighed, resting both elbows on the steering wheel and propping his head in his hands. 'Ruth. I'll take you back if you really want to go. And apologise to your aunt as well, if you want me to.'

Ruth pressed her lips together. 'Dominic, you shouldn't have done this—'

'It was the only way I could think of to see youalone.' he replied simply, and she shook her head.

'But how did you know—I mean—how did you find out where I was learning to drive?'

'Oh.' he grimaced, turning his head on his hands to look at her, 'that was easy. I asked your aunt.'

'Aunt Davina?' Ruth was shocked.

'Yes. Why not? When I asked where you were and she told me you were taking a driving lesson, it was not unreasonable to ask who was teaching you.'

'Oh, you mean on Tuesday?' Ruth nodded. 'I see.'

'As to the time . . .'He shrugged. 'I had someone make enquiries.'

'Who?'

'My secretary.'

'Oh!' Ruth bent her head.

'A Mrs Cooke,' he told her flatly. 'She used to be my father's secretary, actually, but now she's mine.'

Ruth's tongue circled her upper lip. 'My—my aunt said she'd read that your father has retired.'

Dominic nodded. 'That's right, he has. Or at least, he's trying to.'

'And—and you're in charge?'

'Nominally,' he agreed dryly. 'For a trial period.'

'Do you like it?' Ruth was interested, in spite of herself.

He moved his shoulders in a dismissing gesture. 'I don't know,' he said at last, it's a big responsibility.'

is that why—I mean—' Ruth stopped in some confusion, and then, realising she had to finish, she went on: 'You look—tired. I thought—I wondered—'

'—if I was losing sleep over the company?' Dominic's mouth twisted in self-mockery. 'Oh, no. I don't lose any sleep over Crown Chemicals.' He paused. 'Only over you.'

'Me?' Ruth stared at him, wide-eyed. 'But you can't! I—I don't believe you!'

He straightened, reaching for the ignition. 'I'll take you back now,' he said heavily, starting the engine, and Ruth gazed at him helplessly, not knowing what to say next.

'Wait.' she articulated at last, as he drove to the end of the layby, and prepared to pull out. 'Dominic —Dominic, where were you taking me?'

'Does it matter?'

He was cold and detached now, and she couldn't bear it. 'It—it might,' she ventured, preventing him from putting the car into gear. 'Dominic, please, I—I'd like to know. Don't—don't be angry with me.'

His eyes darkened before he could prevent her seeing it, but his voice was still chilling as he said shortly: 'I was taking you to Marlin Spike. Now will you let go my arm?'

Ruth sighed, gazing up at him. 'Then take me there,' she said huskily, and when he gave her a suspicious look, she added: 'I'll ring Aunt Davina. I'll tell her I'm staying in town to do some shopping. Really. I like seeing new places. Is it a town or a village?'

Dominic shook his head. 'Marlin Spike is the place where I was brought up,' he said heavily, it's a house—my house. Now, do you still want to come?'

Ruth hesitated. A house! A place where they might be completely alone! Her legs felt like jellys.

'A-all right.' she got out jerkily. 'Is—is it far?'

'Not too far.' he conceded, estimating the speed of a slow-moving lorry, and pulling out ahead of it. 'Well? Do we go on—or turn back at the next roundabout?'

'We go on,' she murmured huskily, and slumped in her seat with sudden exhaustion.

She had wanted to see more of England, and she was seeing it. With the sprawling suburbs of London giving way to acres of fields and woodlands, with only villages to break up the landscape, she began to relax. She had not realised the country lay so close to the town, and even though some of the villages were evidently extending their boundaries rapidly, to accommodate the outflow from the urban districts, they still had beauty and character. There was light and space, and when the sun pushed its way through the clouds, to cast a watery brilliance over everything. there was colour, too. It was as if the day was trying to show her that she had made the right decision, and her spirits rose as the sun's warmth grew.

She would have liked to take off her coat, but it was still damp and clinging to her, and her hair felt heavy about her ears. She contented herself with kicking off the high-heeled suede shoes she had been wearing, and wriggled her toes delightfully in their new-found freedom.

Marlin Spike stood on the outskirts of Great Missenden. It was a grey brick house, set in parkland, with a winding gravel drive leading up to circular forecourt. It was much bigger than Ruth had expected-, and yet its creeper-hung facade was not intimidating, its long lead-paned windows sharing a friendly intimacy.

i was born here,' remarked Dominic, leaning on the wheel for a moment before getting out. 'Do you want to see where?'

Ruth's lips quivered. 'If you want to show me,' she murmured, watching his mouth, and his expression was strangely diffident.

'I do.' he said, thrusting open his door, and she struggled to find her shoes as he came round the bonnet.

'Come on,' he said, pulling open her door, realising what she was doing. 'I'll carry you,' he added, lifting her out without effort, and her heart hammered heavily as he strode across the crunching stones.