THE RELUCTANT BRIDE (28 page)

She
looked away, down at her white knuckles, and made a conscious effort
to relax her tight grip. “He told me the truth about your
marriage.”

“
The
truth? As opposed to what, Gabriella? There's only ever been one
truth about my marriage. Anything else was just a figment of your
rather peculiar imagination.”

He
was making it difficult for her. Surely he could see that she was
sorry, that she wanted to make amends.

He
stretched out a finger, slid it lazily under the narrow strap of her
nightdress. “Very pretty,” he said, letting the strap
slip down her shoulder. “You didn't answer my question,
Gabriella.”

Her
mouth dried. “Wh – what question?”

“
Is
this a formal visit?” He turned his attention to the other
strap.

Oh
God! He thought she was here because she wanted him to make love to
her “I came to – to -”

“
To
what?” he murmured, but as she opened her mouth to try again he
stopped it with his. He lifted her easily, pulling the nightdress
away until it slid in a silken heap to the floor and as his hands
roamed over the cool flesh of her body she made only the feeblest
attempt to struggle. Did I really come to apologise, she wondered
hazily, or was my mind deceiving me again? But there was no deception
in her body. It knew what it wanted, clamoured for it. It wanted Rod,
and the weeks they had slept apart since their honeymoon had only
served to sharpen her desire.

****

She
awoke in the half light of dawn, aware that Rod still slept beside
her. She raised herself on one elbow and gazed at him. Asleep he
looked younger, his hair tousled, thick fans of eyelashes resting on
his cheeks and hiding the dark eyes that could glitter with anger.
His mouth was curved to a half smile and she wanted to touch her
tongue to that full lower lip. Her eyes traced a slow path across the
muscular planes of his body, down the flat stomach and the long
sprawled limbs.

There
had been a roughness to his lovemaking last night, almost as if he
wanted to punish her. And something in her had responded, as if she
wanted to be punished. She wondered how things would be between them
when he woke. Would they have taken a step forward? She thought it
was far more likely that they would return to the distant politeness
that seemed all they could give each other. It was as if their
lovemaking was something quite separate and however passionate it
might be it could have no lasting influence on their relations.

Carefully
she began to inch her legs from beneath his. She was almost free when
he awoke. His hand shot out and gripped her wrist.

“
Going
somewhere?” His eyes gleamed in the dawn light. She tried to
read their expression, hoping for something … what? She didn't
know but as his warm hand moved from her arm to her breast her heart
leapt. And then his hard weight was upon her and her hands, clenched
in the dark curling hair at his neck, were pulling his head down to
hers.

Driving
to Englands later they kept up a light conversation. Did she imagine
it or was there a degree of extra warmth in his manner? It was
nothing he said – his talk was all concerned with the Company –
but she couldn't help feeling that something of the intimacy of the
previous night still remained and she felt good, with a lightening of
her spirits that was almost optimism.

The
perfect July day echoed her mood. Already a heat haze shimmered above
the road and drivers were winding down windows, letting the sunny
sounds of early morning radio drift from car to car.
The
town had a holiday air, girls trotting along in bright dresses and
light sandals, several of the men with their jackets slung over one
shoulder. The good weather had brought with it an air of cheerful
expectancy.

“
I've
been thinking about the canteen,” said Rod. “It would be
nice to make some improvements if we can afford it.”

“
It
is pretty grim,” she agreed, “but we're sailing so close
to the wind at the moment I don't see how we can give it priority. I
was working out some figures on Friday. Productivity's already up
twenty per cent but the bank repayments will swallow any extra income
we make.”

“
Pity.
The staff would appreciate it and I think the better we can make
their working conditions the more we'll get in return.”

“
I
agree with you. Maybe we can make some cosmetic improvements that
wouldn't cost too much. Redecorate, put some curtains up, a few
plants.”

“
A
couple of thousand? Could we manage that?”

“
Possibly.”

“
There
may be ways – My God, you
idiot!
”
He jammed on his brakes and flashed his lights as the car in front
turned without signalling. “I think some of the day shift might
like to earn some overtime doing the painting. It would be a lot
cheaper than hiring contractors.”

Gabriella
was warming to the idea. “The canteen's much larger than we
actually need. Would it cost a lot to partition off the end that
overlooks the river and turn it into a rest room? We've still got the
unit seating that was in the General Office when it was open plan. It
would be nice to give people somewhere to relax and chat during their
breaks.”

He
glanced at her. “That's a marvellous idea. Well, you've
obviously got an eye for these things, Gabriella. Let's take a look
when we get in.”

She
felt disproportionately pleased by his praise, like a child commended
by its teacher, and wondered why.

But
when they reached the office they found Gabriella's mother had been
phoning them since they left home.

“
It's
Margaret,” she said when Gabriella called her back. “Her
daughter's ill. The hotel where she works in Zurich caught fire and
she's been hurt.”

“
Oh
no! Badly?”

“
No
burns, thank goodness, but some of the timbers collapsed on her.
She's unconscious and she's got a broken leg and some cracked ribs.
Margaret's beside herself, she wants to go to her.”

“
Of
course. Just a minute, Mum.”Gabriella turned to Rod. “Mrs
Priddy's daughter's been badly hurt in Zurich. What can we do to
help?”

“
Let
me speak to her” He took the phone. “Hello, Helen. Can
you put Margaret on? … Margaret, I'm sorry to hear about your
daughter. What's the situation?” He listened. “All right,
phone the hospital and say you're on your way. While you're packing a
few things I'll call Birmingham Airport and get you on the next
scheduled flight – No, don't worry about the cost. You've got a
passport? How soon can you be ready? - Right, I'll send a driver to
take you to the airport. Would you like me to arrange for someone to
go with you to Switzerland? - No? All right, if you think you can
manage. I'll book you into a hotel near the hospital as well, and
we'll arrange for a car to collect you from Zurich Airport.”

His
voice grew gentler. “Now, Margaret, please don't worry too
much. I know that hospital, it's absolutely first class. Your
daughter – Alison, isn't it? - will be safe in their hands.
Yes, stay out there as long as you need to – I told you, forget
the expense, we'll look after that – Yes, call us when you've
seen her and if there's anything else at all we can do, don't
hesitate.”

When
he had replaced the phone Gabriella touched his hand impulsively.
“Thank you, Rod.”

He
raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“
You're
doing more than you need to, more than she'd expect you to. I'm sure
she appreciates it and I do too.”

He
shrugged. “What else would I do? She's family now.”

She
looked at him. “And I?” she asked, feeling a sudden
wistfulness. “Am I family too?”

He
stared back at her, a strange expression darkening his eyes, before
his mouth twitched in that familiar half-amused smile. “Rest
assured, Gabriella. If you ever found yourself in a similar situation
I would do exactly the same!”

He
was mocking her. Was he also making it known that he regarded her as
of no greater or lesser importance to him than their housekeeper? She
turned stiffly away. “I think I'll dash home and see her before
she goes, and check if there's anything Mum needs. May I take your
car?”

“
Of
course. In the meantime,” he said briskly, “I'll get the
flight organised.”

****

Mrs
Priddy stayed in Switzerland for a week, during which her daughter
recovered consciousness and the doctors pronounced her well enough to
travel. Rod urged her to bring the girl back to England where she
could look after her at White Gables, and this she did.

It
was soon clear that Alison had fallen under Rod's spell. Had she been
mobile she would no doubt have followed him about. As it was, her
eyes followed him whenever he came within her range. At his
suggestion Mrs Priddy had temporarily converted one of the ground
floor rooms to a bedroom and he had hired some sort of reclining
wheelchair which allowed her to transport her daughter between rooms
and into the garden when the sun shone.

His
kindness and generosity to Mrs Priddy and Alison confused Gabriella.
She found it hard to reconcile these and other aspects of his
character with her knowledge of his careless affairs with women. She
thought of his affection and consideration for her own mother, his
responsible and caring attitude towards the staff at Englands. And
then there were Jamie's revelations about his marriage to Caroline.

But
none of these excused his behaviour with Sue. Sue and all the others
who had gone before and would come after.

Yet
she found herself drawn to him more and more. She could love him so
easily, she thought, if she allowed herself.

At
night they were apart again. She had come to realise that he would
not approach her in her room. Did he expect her to make the first
move, she wondered? If so he would have to wait forever, for although
the memory of the night she had spent in his arms tormented and
tantalised her, she was ashamed that he had so misinterpreted her
action in going to his room. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction
again of knowing that she still wanted him.

Nevertheless,
during the day, almost unwillingly, she began to relax and even to
enjoy his company.