Stormspell (38 page)

'You know.' he mused huskily, capturing her breast between his lips and stroking the rosy-gold aureole with his tongue, 'I think you've put on a little weight in this region, my darling. And I like it. Mmm, yes, I like it.'

Ruth's caressing fingers instantly stilled, and he moaned in protest, bringing her hands to him again. 'Don't stop,' he muttered, shifting to accommodate her. 'What do you want to do? Drive me crazy?'

Ruth's mouth opened under the passionate pressure of his, her resistance as always overwhelmed by his ardent nature. But when he released her mouth, to bury his face in the silky cloud of dark hair that surrounded her, she managed to find the words to still his eagerness.

'Dominic—Dominic, there's something else. Something I haven't told you.' She faltered. 'Something I couldn't tell you before . . .'

He drew back a little then, so that he could look into her face, and her gaze fell before his. There was such a look of concern in his eyes, and for the first time she realised he might misunderstand.

'Well?' he said, his anxiety giving his voice an impatient harshness. 'Ruth, for God's sake, what is it? You're not going to leave me now. Whatever it is, I won't let you.'

Ruth's lids lifted and she looked into the narrowed tawny eyes, glittering now with the urgency of his passion. 'I'm going to have a baby,' she told him simply, and watched the look of incredulity come over his face.

'A baby!' he breathed, his eyes dropping to the shadowed contours of her body. 'A baby! Are you sure?'

'I—I'm af-fraid so.' She found she was stumbling over her words now. in her eagerness to get them out. 'I—I've seen two doctors, one in Switzerland, and one here. Doctor Francis, you remember? I saw him only this morning—or I should say yesterday morning, actually, and he said—' She broke off suddenly. and clasped one of Dominic's hands in both of hers. 'Oh. you don't mind, do you? I mean—you know, it's yours—'

'God.
Ruth!'
His hand turned her face up to his, silencing her nervous tongue with his thumb across her lips. 'Do you mean to tell me you came away because you were expecting my child?'

Ruth quivered. 'Partly.'

'Why in the name of all that's holy didn't you tell me?'

'And—and have you marry me because you—you felt you had to?' she breathed unsteadily, and he gathered her closely against him.

'Oh. my darling,' he was finding it difficult to articulate, and Ruth breathed more freely in the knowledge of his reaction. 'Don't you know that nothing and nobody would have kept me away from you, if I'd known? I've known I had to have you, right from the start, and if I'd dreamed—if I'd suspected—' He broke off, and looked down at her again, his eyes warm and compelling, it must have been that night here, on the island,' he murmured thickly. 'God knows. I was in no state to prevent such a thing from happening.'

'So—so you don't mind?' she whispered, and he chuckled softly.

'Mind? Of course I mind,' he retorted. 'I wanted you to myself for much longer than a few months. But never mind, I'm sure Bridie can be prevailed upon to offer us her services.'

'Miss Bainbridge,' murmured Ruth contentedly. 'Do you think she would?'

'I'm sure of it. Particularly when I tell her I'm thinking of using the house at Marlin Spike again. The house needs children, and who knows, maybe my mother will learn to forget when she has a grandchild to cradle in her arms.'

'Well, of course, we couldn't live at your parents' home,' said Ruth thoughtfully. 'And I love Marlin Spike.'

'I do have an apartment as well,' Dominic reminded her gently. 'And an Irishman called Shannon, who takes care of me.'

'Oh, dear.' Ruth looked anxious, and Dominic frowned. 'What is it?'

'He may not like me,' ventured Ruth doubtfully, but Dominic only laughed.

'My darling, it was partly due to him that I found you again. If he doesn't like it, he has only himself to blame.'

Ruth's son was born a few weeks before Christmas, and in February she met Aunt Davina and Martin again, at the christening of baby James. The whole family had gathered at Marlin Spike for the occasion, and Dominic's mother, who had visited the house several times since the wedding, came up to Ruth as she was bidding Shannon to fetch some more champagne.

'Wasn't he good, darling?' Isobel smiled, watching with envious eyes as Dominic's father held his grandson with obvious pride. 'He didn't cry once, not even when Mr Collings poured that water over his head, and I'm quite sure so much enthusiasm wasn't necessary.'

Ruth smiled, slim and composed in her lime-green suede suit. Marriage, and motherhood, evidently suited her, and she had adapted admirably to her new role as the chairman's wife.

'Mr Collings was delighted to see you in church again.' she assured her mother-in-law smoothly. 'Oh, here's Martin. You have met my cousin, haven't you?'

Isobel nodded, but presently she drifted away, drawn as if by a magnet to her husband's side. Both Ruth and Martin watched her abortive attempts to gain the baby's attention, and then smiled at one another in a mutual sharing of understanding.

'I was a fool, do you know that?' Martin remarked now, surveying her with evident admiration. 'I should have snapped you up before you had time to meet Crown again! And I don't just mean for the obvious reasons, that Dominic has no doubt told you.'

Ruth frowned. 'Obvious reasons?' she echoed, feeling a faint twinge of alarm. 'What obvious reasons?'

'Didn't Dominic tell you?' Martin sounded surprised. 'No. well. I guess he mightn't at that. He's a much worthier fellow than I am. I'd have put him down any way I could.'

'Martin, you're not making sense.' Ruth could see Aunt Davina watching them with some apprehension, and it occurred to her that she must find out, before her aunt had chance to come and interrupt them. 'Please—what could Dominic have told me? Martin. I want you to tell me. You can't leave me in suspense.'

'About your grandfather's will, of course.' Martin retorted, helping himself to more champagne, and Ruth realised that it was due in part to the amount of champagne he had consumed that he was speaking so freely now. 'You remember old Henry Pascal, don't you? Mother told you of the relationship. About your mother being his eldest daughter, and how he cut her out of his will.'

'Yes, yes.' Ruth was getting impatient. 'But what has that to do with me? What has it to do with Dominic?'

Martin sighed. It's the inheritance factor, you see. I'm not Davina Pascal's real son, I'm only adopted. And the will says that if Davina dies childless, your mother's offspring are to inherit.'

'And—and Dominic knows this?' Ruth was amazed. He had never mentioned it. He had never told her that her aunt's main interest in her stemmed from the terms of her father's will. So that was why she had pushed Ruth and Martin together, why she had wanted them to marry . . .

'How do you think he persuaded Mother to tell him where you were, when you ran off back to the island? He was pretty mean, I can tell you. We assumed he'd blow the gaff the minute he laid eyes on you. Imagine our surprise when we got an invitation to the wedding!'

Ruth turned away, dazed by what she had learned, and as she did so, her husband's arm came around her. 'Hey,' he murmured, and his strength enveloped her like a welcoming shield. 'What is it? What's that bastard been saying to you? If he's said anything to hurt you—'

Ruth shook her head, looking up at him adoringly. 'He—he told me about—about the will. Oh, Dominic. why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you let me see what an awful woman Aunt Davina really is?'

Dominic sighed, drawing her into a corner, and concealing her from the rest of the gathering with his body. 'Honey, there was no need for you to know.' he told her gently. 'At least, not while your aunt was alive anyway. She's the only relative you've got—'

'So you were prepared to put up with her. invite her here, knowing she'd done her best to part—'

'Her best wasn't good enough, was it?' Dominic put in huskily, i just didn't want to upset you.' His lips touched her temple teasingly. 'I thought you'd had enough upsets for a pregnant lady.'

'Oh. Dominic!' Ruth's eyes were filled with tears. 'But how did you find out?'

Dominic smiled. 'Tim Connor told me. You remember Tim Connor, don't you? I told you, it was he who found out all about your family history.'

Ruth frowned. 'So you knew all along?'

'No.' Dominic shook his head. 'I thought his investigations were complete, but he rang me the night I got back from the north of England. You remember. the night I went to see Davina.' He grimaced. 'He said that as I was apparently interested in your welfare, I ought to know all the facts.'

'Oh. Dominic!'

'It's all over now. Forget about it.'

Ruth shook her head. 'I can't. I don't want Aunt Davina's money!'

Dominic shrugged. 'Then don't keep it. If— when—you eventually do inherit, you can always hand it over to some charitable trust as a gift, or keep that good-for-nothing son of hers in comfort for the rest of his life.'

Ruth sighed. 'Martin means well.'

'Martin is a troublemaker,' retorted Dominic dryly. 'Did you never have cause to wonder how your aunt found out about me?'

'She—she spoke to your mother—'

'Correction. Martin spoke to my mother's secretary. Ginny Harris. It may have been at his mother's instigation, but I believe it was the morning you got back from Switzerland. It was he and not your aunt who wormed the information out of her. Poor Ginny. as you know, is very gullible.'

'Poor Ginny dotes on you.' retorted Ruth, with some heat, and Dominic grinned.

'Yes. she does, doesn't she?' he averred comfortably. 'I'll have to remember that.'

'Don't you dare!' Ruth looked up at him fiercely, then melted beneath the look in his eyes. 'Oh. Dominic, I do love you.'

Dominic drew her towards him. 'Not here,' he murmured, 'not now. Tomorrow, when we're several thousand miles from here.'

'A belated honeymoon,' sighed Ruth with some satisfaction. 'Do you think your son will be all right?'

'What? With at least three women drooling over him?' remarked Dominic briefly. 'He'll be completely ruined by the time we get back.'

'That always happens with only children,' Ruth countered saucily, giving him a mischievous smile, then darted away before he could retaliate.

Dominic was right, she thought, slanting a loving glance in his direction, as she tried to pay attention to what her father-in-law was saying. There would be time enough to sort out Aunt Davina's problems. Her own life was much more important, and someone with so much could afford to be generous.