has a cruel streak.”
“No. I can’t let that go,” Emmy answered with an emphatic shake of her head.
“You always take his part, Emmy. Even you.”
“Because he’s a fine man. I’ve been around you both a long time, Genni. I know how good Blaine has been to you.”
Genevieve gave a miserable sigh, lost in the utter strangeness. She wanted Blaine so badly she was buckling under the strain. “So why has he turned against me, Em?”
“Why don’t you ask him?” Emmy countered so vigorously she set her grey curls bouncing.
“What a joke.” Genevieve hugged herself distractedly. “He’s frozen me out, as you very well know.”
Emmy nodded. “Something went very wrong that polo weekend.”
Even remembering made Genevieve tremble the length of her. “It was just that… Oh, God, Em.” She was drowning in the emotion that surfed through her blood. “Blaine was scathing when I told him I was going to marry Colin. He didn’t take me seriously enough. Then he flew into a cold rage. Those glittering eyes! He told me we could never be happy. He must have thought my education needed broadening because he pulled me to him so absolutely ruthlessly. I thought he was about to beat me. Instead he kissed me, which was worse! I heard stars burst.”
Emmy swung her feet off the ottoman, looking at Genevieve clutching her cheeks. “Kissed you? So he’s kissed you a million times.”
“Oh, yes, throwaway kisses? Pecks on the cheek. Weren’t you listening, Em. I said he kissed me. Really kissed me. It rocked me to my soul. It was brutal. It was brilliant. It was horrible. I thought I was going to die.”
“My goodness!” Emmy, knowing Blaine got the thrilling picture.
“There was no excuse for him,” Genevieve said. “He did it in such a way he’s ruined my life.”
“How’s that, darlin’?” Emmy asked with a great rush of protectiveness.
Genevieve looked back, startled. “Get real, Em. How can I possibly marry Colin when Blaine kissed me? I’m afraid of Blaine.”
“That powerful?” Emmy looked at Genevieve with love and understanding. She adored the girl.
“He’s turned my world upside down, Em. Maybe he didn’t mean to. But he has. I was going along okay. But now! He’s pierced me like an arrow. So strange when he’s planning on getting married himself.”
Emmy closed the box of chocolates carefully. “I take it you mean Sally Fenwick?” she asked briskly.
“Of course I mean Sally.” Genni didn’t look up. “She’s lovely and kind. They’ve been very good friends for so long. Sally is coming to the wedding. She’s staying at the same hotel. Even Hilary likes and approves of her.” Genevieve referred to Blaine’s prickly young stepsister, several years younger than herself. “Hilary hinted marriage isn’t far off.”
“Really? I thought it was a bit of a one-sided relationship,” said Emmy levelly.
“That’s because Blaine never gives anything away.”
“He kissed you. Some kiss by the sound of it.”
Genevieve’s face flared. “Blaine does everything like that, though, doesn’t he? He doesn’t realise he’s so…”
“Powerful?” Emmy hit on the right word.
“God I hate him!” Genevieve said in a small voice.
“Why don’t you tell him?” practical Emmy suggested.
“I did.” Genevieve barely whispered it. “I told him I wanted him out of my life. I told him I was sick to death of his dictatorial ways. I haven’t been able to do a thing to please him for years.”
“Why don’t you tell him again? You might get through this time.”
Genevieve considered this, then shook her head. “I won’t see him until he walks me up the aisle.”
“So tell him tonight,” Emmy pressed. “What’s wrong with that?”
“You mean go to his hotel?”
Emmy nodded. “If I were you I’d do it like a shot.”
Genevieve stared at her. “Emmy, darling, what are you saying?”
“Maybe what I should have said before. Tell Blaine what you tried to tell your mother. You can’t go through with this marriage.”
Genevieve sat erect in her chair and looked at her dear friend in alarm. “He’d be shocked out of his mind.”
“I wonder,” Emmy countered briskly.
“No Courtland would do such a terrible thing. Call off a wedding at the last moment.”
“It’s healthier than making a dreadful mistake, poppet.” Emmy leaned over to grasp Genevieve’s arm. “Blaine’s no ordinary man. Tell him what’s in your heart. Let him take charge.”
Genevieve’s lovely face looked stricken. “I don’t know if I dare. This is dreadful, Em. The house is ready. The church is ready. Our dresses are hanging upstairs. Fabulous dresses that cost a fortune. Three hundred guests are coming. The presents are all in. I don’t know if I have the courage. I don’t think I can humiliate Colin and his family. Colin’s father might very well line up a pantechnicon to run me over. He’s the Freight King after all.”
“Listen, you’ve been bullied into this,” Emmy snorted. “By Colin’s steamroller of a father on the one hand and your conniving mother on the other. An engagement of a couple of months was diabolically clever. You haven’t had time to know your own mind. But evidently Blaine’s kissing you has changed it.”
Genevieve’s face mirrored her inner havoc. “I felt something I’ve never felt in my life. I felt Blaine owned me body and soul. That he’s always been waiting for me to grow up. One kiss ended our old relationship. Dear God, I thought we were family. But it wasn’t family in my blood. I can’t deny I always thought he was the most marvellous man in the world, so exciting he makes the air vibrate, but we were cousins. I was his little Violetta. Remember how he used to call me that?”
“Oh, golly, I remember everything.” Emmy’s voice was low and wry. “Blaine has quite a way with words. For a very commanding man, daunting man at times, Blaine has his softer side. He could be very tender with you. Go to him, poppet. Pour out your heart. I have a feeling he’d pull down the stars for you if you asked him. No, don’t look at me like that. It’s true.”
“It’s not easy, Emmy,” Genevieve said sadly. “I think Blaine wants our break to be permanent.”
* * *
Hilary Courtland caught sight of Genevieve the minute she entered the hotel. Just seeing her gave Hilary a queer feeling when she’d been having a good time. Genevieve was moving with the speed and grace of a gazelle but Hilary got the impression
