THE RELUCTANT BRIDE (2 page)

“
You
spend more time poking about in other departments than typing my
letters,” he had said in his bark-worse-than-bite manner. “If
you're that interested you might as well get to know the job properly
and be some bloody use to us. Besides, you've got a damn good brain.
For a woman,” he added grudgingly. Now she knew more about
Englands than almost anyone there and Ben had given her as much
responsibility as she could take.

Despite
the turmoil that filled her mind, Gabriella felt a wave of sadness
sweep over her. She would miss Ben Englands and his curmudgeon ways.
He had been so good a friend. In some ways, almost a substitute
father.

Oh
Ben, Ben, she groaned. If you really cared anything for me –
and she knew that beneath his gruff facade he had been genuinely fond
of her – why on earth did you want me to marry Rod Nicholson?
Couldn't you see how much I detest the man?

She
gazed out blindly as the taxi sped through the city streets. It had
begun to rain and people were scurrying for doorways and coffee
shops.

****

The
buzzer on Gabriella's intercom rang.

“
You
came past me like a whirlwind,” said her secretary. “Everything
all right?”

Gabriella
kept her voice light. “Everything's fine.”

“
Want
a coffee?”

“
No,
thanks. Jenny, will you see I'm not disturbed for half an hour? And
no calls, please.”

She
sat at her desk, grateful for the privacy the small office afforded
her. She took a mirror from the drawer and examined her reflection.
The green eyes that stared back at her were bright with a mixture of
emotions, her cheeks were pink and several pale strands had escaped
from the neat, slightly oldfashioned roll of hair that she wore on
the nape of her neck. As she tidied herself she took a deep breath,
forcing herself to relax.

The
cool blues and greys of the room, the soft greenery of plants that
filled one corner, were soothing. But slowly as her anger drained
away a feeling of shame took its place.

How
could she have made such a scene at Mr Brewster's? She who was known
for her calm, her unflappability in any situation. As for Rod –
her face burned as she recalled the accusations she had made, not
only before Ben's solicitor but with his entire outer office
listening with baited breath! Of course she hadn't said anything that
wasn't perfectly true. He was a second rate Casanova. Hadn't she
watched his amorous progress through practically the entire female
staff of Englands?

It
was at this moment that her office door slammed open.

“
I
said I wasn't to be disturbed – Oh!”

It
was Rod Nicholson. He shut the door and leaned against it, one long
leg crossed over the other. A nonchalant pose but she sensed that
every muscle was taut with anger. He was a big man, powerfully built.
The face was dark, tough, at odds with the elegant grey suit, the
smoothly knotted silk tie. Not a man to be trifled with and she felt
a quiver of apprehension as she faced him.

She
lifted her chin. “I owe you an apology,” she said coolly.

He
nodded, his eyes dark, without expression. “I've often wondered
why you disapproved of me. No, that's not quite true, your opinion
isn't that important. Let's say, I've occasionally wondered.”

“
I've
said I'm sorry. What you do, how you behave is not my concern.”

“
How
I behave?” he repeated. “And just how do I behave, Miss
Stevens?” His voice was mild but a hint of steel warned her
that she had better retreat.

“
Look,
I had no right to say what I did. I don't know what Mr Brewster
thought -”

Unexpectedly
Rod's mouth twitched with amusement. “I imagine Mr Brewster has
witnessed dozens of slanging matches in his time. Although they must
be more commonplace after a marriage has ended than before it's even
begun. All the same, that outburst of yours was pretty
uncharacteristic. Do you object to marriage in principle or is it
merely the thought of marrying me that fills you with such horror?”

Gabriella's
mouth opened and closed.

“
I
see. Well, Gabriella, that's a pity because one way or another you
and I are going to be married. Unpleasant as it may be for both of
us.”

She
stared at him, completely stunned. “You're – you must be
mad!”

“
You
must see that we haven't any option. But I haven't time to discuss it
now, I'm late for my appointment. Besides, this isn't the place. I'll
come to your house tonight. About eight thirty.”

“
You'll
do no such thing!”

“
There
are implications in this Will that I don't believe you've even
considered, Gabriella.” He looked at his watch. “We'll
talk tonight,” he said. And was gone, leaving her staring after
him open-mouthed.

“
He
affects me like that too,” smiled Jenny, coming into the room.

“
What
did you say?”

“
Rod.
He's so macho – but smart with it. And those eyes. One look and
I turn to jelly. All the girls think he's gorgeous.”

Gabriella
steadied her voice. “Yes, I've noticed.” With sudden
curiosity she asked, “Have you been out with him?”

“
Once
or twice. Great fun.”

Jenny
was small and feminine with a halo of dark curls, impish eyes and a
full smiling mouth that broke easily into laughter. Yes, Rod would
find her attractive, thought Gabriella. But then, Rod seemed to find
most young women attractive. Herself excluded.

“
I
wish he'd ask me again,” Jenny went on, “but you know
Rod.”

“
Don't
you mind?”

“
Mind?”

“
Well,
you know. Being one of a string.”

Jenny
laughed. “You can't tie down someone like Rod, he's a one-off.
We all drool and dream though. Have you? Been out with him?”

Gabriella
felt the blood stain her cheeks. “Jenny Loveday, remember your
place!”

Jenny
laughed again. “All right, be cryptic. But if you haven't, you
must be the only one in the office, apart from young Amanda and she's
only seventeen.”

That
afternoon Gabriella tried doggedly to work through the letters and
documents that filled her In tray but the words and figures danced
before her eyes. After staring for half an hour at a report written
by the Company's production manager, Frank Fuller, without
understanding a word of it she gave up. Only one subject could occupy
her mind. The unbelievable terms of Ben's Will. And how she was going
to convince Rod Nicholson tonight that she wasn't prepared to submit
to them.

With
a sigh she tossed the report into her Action tray and decided to go
home.

****

The
small terraced house was identical to all the others in the narrow
street. Built in the Thirties, red brick up to the first floor
windows, pebbledash above, it had a small strip of garden with privet
and lilac bursting into bright new leaf.

She
drew up outside and stopped the car. As she let herself into the hall
she could hear her mother's radio, tuned to her beloved Radio 4.

“
Gabriella?
Is that you? You're early, dear.” Mrs Stevens' face lit with
pleasure as Gabriella bent to kiss her.

“
I
decided to take an hour off. Had a good day? Mrs Greenwood come?”

Her
mother's face clouded. “No, her sister's ill. Three young
children and now flu. Daphne's gone to nurse her and look after the
family. Poor thing, as if she hasn't enough to do.

Gabriella
sighed. Daphne Greenwood's sister was a problem she could well do
without. Now she would have to persuade one of the neighbours to help
out until Daphne's return. “Never mind, Mum. We'll sort
something out. The sun's shining, how about a trip to the Park before
dinner?”

She
helped her mother into her wheelchair and out of the house,
chattering gaily to distract her from the pain that seized her with
the smallest movement.

“
I
wish we could get someone to come in every day,” she said as
she pushed the wheelchair the quarter of a mile to the small park
that was the nearest to countryside the neighbourhood possessed.

“
Oh
no.” Her mother was shocked. “That would be far too
expensive.”

“
I
hate to think of you alone here. If it were closer to Englands I'd
come home at lunchtimes.”

“
Gabriella,
you mustn't worry about me, I have plenty to do. I have my books and
my radio and I see some of the neighbours occasionally. I enjoy my
day. Truly.”

Gabriella
knew better and wished she could do more to help this woman who bore
all her burdens without complaint. “I'm going to ring the
hospital again tomorrow. Surely they can take you in soon.”