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Nevertheless, she accompanied him to Arden Lodge one grey October day. It was a two-mile drive along a bumpy cart track round the foot of the mountain. ‘It’s smoother by road,’ he told her, clutching the steering wheel to avoid having it wrenched out of his hand, ‘but about three times as far. We shan’t see an awful lot of Rose and Alistair when they move here.’

‘By that time I daresay I’ll be gone,’ Rachel commented.

‘So soon?’ A look, almost of alarm, crossed his face.

‘Not until Melanie is settled at school, of course.’

‘That may not be until after Christmas.’ He kept his eyes on the road. ‘There are other things to be considered. Whether or not she should board, for instance ..... Ah, here we are.’

He pulled up outside a two-storied, double-fronted lodge, almost twice the size of Rose’s cottage on the Glencarrick Road, and they went inside.

‘It’s very nice,’ said Rachel, walking through the rooms. ‘In reasonably good order, too. And centrally heated. I didn’t expect that.’

‘Yes. It’s not been vacant all that long. A man by the name of Batchelor, he was a bachelor, too, used to live here. Kept himself very much to himself. Strange man, about my age, I should think. Often used to see him wandering over the hills. He left, oh, I don’t know—not long before you came, I should think.’

They wandered from room to room making notes of things to be done. When they had finished Richard leaned his elbows on the landing banister and stood looking down into the hall.

‘Ideal spot there for a grandfather clock. There, between those two doors, wouldn’t you say?’

‘Yes.’ Rachel went and stood beside him. ‘And I can picture a low chest with a copper jug full of flowers standing on it, there, opposite the front door.’

‘Have you been up to the attics in Kilfinan House?’

She shook her head.

‘You should. You’ll find enough furniture stored up there to furnish this place three times over. All antique, of course.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘Come to think of it, there’s another untapped source of revenue in those attics; some of the things up there could be quite valuable.’

‘And quite useful for furnishing the cottages you’re intending to rent out.’

‘Mm. Yes, that’s a thought. We can’t have it both ways, can we?’ He turned and walked into one of the bedrooms, commanding a view of Ben Binnean from the other side, a craggier, less kind aspect of the mountain. ‘From the tone of his letter my father seems to think it's time I thought about marrying again,' he said over his shoulder. ‘Do you think it would be a good idea?’

Rachel remained staring down into the empty hall, almost frozen. The thought of Richard and Moira married gave her an almost physical pain.

He returned to her side, leaning over the banister, and she felt the familiar thrill of his touch as his shoulder brushed hers.

‘I .... ’ the words stuck in her throat. ‘Not unless you’re quite sure it’s the right thing to do,' she said lamely.

‘Melanie needs a mother. I can see that.'

Rachel was silent. Somehow she couldn’t see Moira McLeod mothering a child of her own, let alone someone else’s.

Richard sighed. ‘But I need to be sure....'

‘It wouldn’t be right for you to marry simply to provide a mother for Melanie,' she said carefully, keeping her eyes averted so he shouldn’t see the pain in them.

‘Many successful marriages have been built on less.'

‘And many have failed on more.'

‘There are other considerations.' He turned to face her, his deep-set eyes searching her face anxiously. ‘Could you marry someone you didn't love, Rachel?’ he asked. ‘If there were very good reasons why you should?’

Rachel understood. It was the final humiliation. The man she loved asking advice on whether he should marry someone else: Moira McLeod, the rich, shrewd businesswoman who would be such an asset to the Kilfinan Estate.

He gripped her arm. ‘Well?’ he asked, and there seemed to be a note almost of desperation in his voice. ‘Could you?’

She shook her head. ‘No,' she said wretchedly, ‘never.'

He let her go abruptly and turned away. ‘There’s not an awful lot for Ben to do here,' he said, with a complete change of mood. ‘The window frame in the small bedroom and the lock on the back door both need looking at; but apart from that and a washer on the kitchen tap the place is pretty well ready to furnish.'

‘I think the lounge could do with redecorating,' Rachel tried to match his change of mood.

‘Let’s have another look.' He went down the stairs and into the lounge. ‘Mm. Perhaps you’re right.'

'I'm sure Ben won’t mind doing it if I help him,' Rachel rubbed a faded patch on the wallpaper.

‘No, I’m quite sure he won’t.' There was a sarcastic twist to Richard’s mouth. ‘In fact, he’d probably be quite happy to redecorate the whole house—with your help.’

‘What do you mean by that?'

He looked at her and his eyes now were hard and almost cruel. ‘I mean that this place is far enough from the madding crowd for you to come here undisturbed ... whatever you might wish to do.’

‘And if we come here to redecorate what else do you imagine we’ll be doing?’ Rachel was stung to reply.

‘It’s none of my business
what
you do,’ he said coldly. ‘As long as it’s not under my nose.' There was no mistaking his insinuation. ‘Of course, it won’t be as comfortable as Rose’s bedroom .....’

‘How dare you! ’ Rachel raised her hand to strike him, but he caught it in a vice-like grip and twisted it behind her back, forcing her close to him. He held her like that for a moment, his face very close to hers. Then he muttered, ‘I don’t see why Ben should have it all,' and his mouth came down crushingly cruel on hers.

For a second she allowed herself to succumb to his kiss. This was what she had dreamed of so long and often, and the reality was no less than the dream. Helplessly, she found herself answering his demand. But then sanity prevailed and the full implication of his action hit her. She struggled with all her strength to free herself from Richard’s grasp, but she was no match for him. But at last he released her and even he was breathless from the struggle. Without a word he left the house and she followed, but when he held open the door of the Range Rover for her to get in she said icily, ‘Thank you, I’ll walk back.'

‘As you choose.' He got in and drove off at such a speed that the dust rose in clouds behind him.

Rachel walked home slowly. The way was rough and stony and when she was less than halfway a light drizzle began to fall. It matched her mood. She knew that Richard had been thinking of the day he had seen her leave the bedroom in Rose’s cottage with Ben, speaking the way he had. She had never been able to explain to him the truth of that situation. At first she had been too embarrassed, then, seeing him locked in a passionate embrace with Moira that evening after the dinner party, she realised that it wasn’t necessary. Let him think what he liked. It didn’t matter. She simply didn’t care. She was telling herself this yet again as she walked up the drive to Kilfinan House. She was, by this time, tired, chilled and bedraggled, and it didn’t help that Richard passed her in his car on his way out. He didn’t lift his hand in recognition, but she wouldn’t have returned the salutation if he had.

Ben began work on Arden Lodge. After a week it was ready for carpeting and after two weeks it could be furnished. Rose had written full instructions as to which of the pieces she wanted from her cottage; Alistair wanted the desk from his study, but apart from that Rachel had a free hand. Ben helped her to select suitable items from the vast hoard in the attics at Kilfinan House.

‘You could start an antique shop with this lot,’ Ben remarked.

‘It would be rather an out-of-the-way shop. Anyway, it’ll be needed if Richard is going to furnish holiday cottages.’ Rachel heaved a table out of her way. ‘How many cottages are there, Ben?’

‘Six. No, seven, including Rose’s. She won’t need hers now, will she?’ Ben held up a chair. ‘There are four of these dining chairs. Will they go with the table you’ve chosen?’

‘Yes, they’ll be just right. Like everything else they’ll need a good polish. Everything’s covered in dust.’

‘Even your nose.’ Ben flicked a speck of dust from her face. ‘You know, Rachel, we should get married,' he said, his face serious. ‘We get on very well together, don’t we?’

Rachel smiled gently. ‘Oh, Ben, you are a dear! I must say that’s the funniest proposal I’ve ever had!'

‘Well, what do you want me to do? Get down on one knee? There’s not much room just here.’ He looked round for a suitable space.

‘Getting on well together isn’t enough, is it, Ben?’ She spoke seriously. ‘Not for marriage.’

‘It’s better than nothing.’

‘Maybe. But it’s still not enough, although it’s all we’ve got to offer each other.’

‘Still Keith?’ Ben touched her cheek.

At the gentle gesture her eyes filled with tears and she turned away. How little he knew! ‘Come on,’ she said, without answering his question, ‘we’ll never get this job done standing around.’

He took the hint and began hauling out a large sideboard. ‘Well, if you don’t get a better offer remember there’s always old Ben in the background,’ he said in an attempt to be lighthearted.

‘You’re a dear, Ben, but I don’t think I shall. I’ll be going back home to Suffolk soon.’

‘When?’

‘As soon as Rose and Alistair come back, I should think. Melanie should be settled at school by then, so I’ll be needing to look for another job.’

‘You’ve certainly worked wonders with her. I never ever thought she’d attend a normal school.’

‘She’s very anxious to go. Mrs Munroe’s Jeannie goes and she’s told Melanie all about it. Now Melanie is so keen to begin that Richard has been to see the headmaster and she starts next week, although it’s midway through a term. She’s very excited.’

It was an excitement that increased as the day drew near. Melanie’s new dark green uniform was hung in her wardrobe and several times Rachel found signs that a dress rehearsal had been held.

At last the great day arrived.

‘You look very smart, darling. Now don’t let me down by having forgotten all I’ve taught you, will you?’ Rachel teased to cover the lump in her throat.

‘What are you going to do while I’m at school, Rachel?’ Melanie regarded Rachel with her head on one side.

‘I’m going to Arden Lodge. There are one or two more jobs to be done so that it will be ready for Rose and your grandfather.’

Melanie frowned. ‘What will you do then?’

‘Probably come and meet you from school.’

‘No, I mean when Arden Lodge is done and Rose and Grandfather are home.’

‘I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it,’ Rachel lied. ‘Now, off with you. Look, Daddy’s waiting to take you to school.’

‘Ready, little one?’ Richard came into the room. He was wearing a suit as befitted such a special occasion. He nodded curtly to Rachel. Since that day at Arden Lodge they had maintained an icy politeness towards each other and Rachel was beginning to feel that she was winning her battle and that she heartily disliked the man.

‘Yes, I’m ready, Daddy. Do I look nice?’ Melanie pirouetted happily in front of him.

‘Very
smart. My word, you’re growing up! Well, come along. Mustn’t be late.’

‘Aren’t you coming, Rachel?’ Melanie asked, holding her face up for a kiss.

‘No. I’ve a bit more to do at Arden Lodge. Goodbye now, and good luck. Have a lovely day.’

Melanie ran ahead. At the door Richard turned. ‘Oh, a message from Ben. He says he’s ready when you are.’ His voice was carefully flat.

‘Thank you.’ Rachel picked up her bag. ‘I’m ready now.’

She followed him out of the house and waved to Melanie as he drove her off to school. Then she got into the truck with Ben and they went in the other direction towards Arden Lodge.

The Lodge was almost finished now. All the carpets were laid and some of the curtains were already hung.

Each time they went they took some furniture, so the rooms were gradually taking on a homely look.

Ben parked the truck by the back door and they carried in some chairs and pictures that had come from Kilfinan House and some hanging bookshelves that had come from Rose’s cottage.

Towards the middle of the morning Ben was fixing a curtain rail in the little bedroom at the head of the stairs while Rachel fixed the hooks on to the curtains when the front door opened and they heard voices. Rachel went to the head of the stairs to see who was there and was just in time to see Richard and Moira walk into the lounge. She went back to Ben.

‘It’s only Richard. Looks as if he’s brought Moira over to show her what’s been done here.’ Rachel sat on the bed and resumed her task.

‘More likely Moira insisted on coming. She's a forceful character, Moira McLeod,’ Ben remarked.

‘..... all very cosy,’ Moira’s voice floated up to them as she and Richard came out of the lounge and into the hall. ‘Oh, that’s a nice touch, that copper jug of chrysanthemums on that chest.’

Rachel knew she was referring to the chest opposite the front door which looked exactly as she had envisaged it would.

‘That was Rachel’s idea,' Richard’s deep voice carried clearly up the stairs.

Their voices faded as they went into the dining room.

‘I’m not surprised her brother went off to London.' Ben finished putting the last screw in and climbed down the step ladder. ‘I should think he was glad to get away from her.'

‘..... nothing to prevent us being married now, is there?’

Rachel froze as Moira’s voice came from the hall.

‘It’s all working out very nicely, Rick, isn’t it? Alistair and Rose married and nicely tucked away here; the child at school—don’t you really think she would be better boarding, darling—that leaves us free to run Kilfinan in conjunction with my place.’

‘You seem to have got it all neatly planned,’ Rachel heard Richard say, ‘but you seem to have overlooked one thing.’

‘Rachel?’ said Moira. ‘She’ll go back where she came from, won’t she? That doesn’t concern us at all. After all, she only stayed on to look after Melanie after her aunt had the accident. She’ll probably be glad to leave.' Rachel looked at Ben. She hated eavesdropping like this, and so, from his expression, did Ben, but there was no way out of the bedroom except down the stairs, and it seemed from their voices that Richard and Moira were standing at the foot.