staring at her, hard-eyed.
‘What does your father do?’ he demanded abruptly.
‘He’s been dead for ten years.’
Joe Smith had fallen into a ditch while weaving his drunken way home from the pub, gone to sleep in a foot of water and never woken again. She could imagine what this stern man would make of such a story.
She noticed Jason frowning as she spoke, and suddenly he leaned towards her and said, ‘You really are Brenda Smith’s daughter. I couldn’t believe it at first—’
So he’d recognised her after all, she thought in despair.
‘Yes, I—that is—’
‘And we met that day in the factory. Well, well! A little more sherry?’
While she was sipping he suddenly demanded, ‘What made you choose that dress?’
Taken off guard, she did what came naturally to her, and replied with complete honesty. ‘Simon chose it.’
‘So I would have supposed,’ he replied dryly. ‘Paid for it too, I dare say.’
‘I didn’t ask him to—’
‘Don’t say a word. I know my brother. That thing is much too old and sophisticated for you.’
‘I—I thought it would be suitable,’ she stammered.
‘You mean you thought you should dress up and pretend to be something you’re not. Damned idiotic idea! Who do you think you’re fooling?’
Her cheeks flamed. He saw it and added more kindly, ‘Don’t take it to heart. I’m a plain man—a rough man, some would say—and I talk plainly. And, in plain words, you and Simon are a mistake.’
‘You can’t tell that in one evening.’
‘I could tell it in one minute.’
To her relief Simon came looking for them then. Jason said no more, but let Simon take her away for a stroll in the garden.
‘He knows me,’ she said, distraught. ‘He recognised me all the time. It’s not funny—’ Simon had broken into a chuckle.
‘I’m sorry, darling,’ he choked. ‘What did he actually say?’
‘He said, “You really are Brenda Smith’s daughter. I couldn’t believe it at first—”. Oh, Simon, don’t you see what that means? He saw it during dinner and he kept it to himself until he was ready.’
‘Did he tell you what made him realise?’ Simon asked in a curious voice.
‘No. Oh, what does that matter? He was laughing at me all that time.’
‘He enjoys being one up on people,’ Simon agreed.
‘What else did he say?’
‘Isn’t that enough? He despises me because I haven’t got any “background.”’
His laugh came echoing down the years to her now. How young and delightful he’d been! How generous and full of charm! ‘Who cares about background?’
Her name was Elinor Lucinda, but Simon called her Cindy. Cindy for Lucinda, but also—
‘Cindy for Cinderella,’ he teased. ‘My little Cinderella.’
Her poverty enchanted him. ‘I love giving you things,’ he said that first night as they walked under the trees. ‘I’m going to cover you with diamonds.’
‘But I don’t want diamonds. Just your love, my darling. Nothing but your love.’
‘You can have that as well, all tied up with a big shiny bow, and anything else you ask for.’
Lost in delight, she hardly realised that they’d returned to the house and were crossing the hall. Only then did she see Jason, standing on the stairs, close enough to hear Simon’s extravagant promises. But her own voice was softer, and Jason had probably missed her gentle protest.
She had a brief glimpse of his face, dark and angry, before he turned away.
Jason never mentioned what he’d overheard, but in a dozen ways he made it clear that Simon was dependent on him for money. Simon confirmed it.
‘I inherit plenty under my father’s will, but Jason’s got the purse-strings until I’m twenty-five,’ he said with a shrug. ‘So what? How can he stop me using my credit cards? And when the money is spent, how can he refuse to pay up? It’s my money, after all. Don’t worry about it.’
That was his philosophy of life. Don’t worry about it. And somehow things always worked out Simon’s way. Living under his spell, as she did, it was easy to believe they always would.
She guessed it was no accident that their bedrooms were at opposite ends of the great house. In fact Jason’s precautions were needless. The young girl hadn’t yet offered herself totally to the man she adored, and she loved Simon more for respecting her wishes. The day would come soon when they would be one in flesh as they were one in heart and soul. But just for now she was enjoying this sweet time of anticipation.
So Jason’s resolve to keep his brother out of her bed was an insult. He couldn’t have said more clearly that he saw her as a schemer. And at last she heard those words from his own lips. She came across the brothers by accident, and couldn’t help overhearing Jason’s voice.
‘You young fool. You’re not going anywhere near her room if I have to bar the way myself…The last thing I want is that girl getting pregnant…’
She fled before they could discover her. She would have liked to flee Tenby Manor altogether, but there was a strong inner core beneath her gentle exterior, and it made her determined to stay and fight for her love. Yes, even to fight Jason Tenby himself. And she knew he was a formidable foe.
‘Why don’t you chuck Simon back into the sea?’ Jason asked once. ‘You’ll find other fish that suit you better.’
‘I’ll never love anyone but Simon,’ she said fervently.
‘Then you’re a fool.’
‘And Simon? Is he a fool?’ she asked, more bravely than she felt.
‘Yes, because he believes in the same kind of love that you do. I’ve seen his infatuations before. He enjoys the romantic stage, putting the girl on a pedestal, buying her gifts, asking for nothing back.’
He said the last words with a sneer that stung her into retorting, ‘I can’t imagine you asking for nothing back.’
‘Then you’re a good judge of character,’ he said with a raffish grin. ‘The romantic bit is all very nice, but I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces, sort out the broken hearts, the whole boring thing.’
‘But you’ve got it all wrong,’ she said passionately. ‘I understand why you’re concerned for your brother, but I won’t break his heart—’
