flowers glowed in dark corners, and a huge jar of bronze chrysanthemums filled the stone fireplace.
Ralph glanced up from the detective story he was reading. In the past he’d always been too much of a workaholic to relax, but whiplash injuries sustained in a minor road accident that year had left him with pains in his back and chest, and he’d been warned to take it easy.
For once in his life, Raine was pleased to see, he seemed to be obeying his doctor’s orders.
He took off his glasses, put down his book and smiled at the little group, revealing a gap between his two front teeth that gave him an endearingly boyish look.
He addressed his daughter. ‘Martha has just been in to ask how many there’ll be for dinner tonight.’ His enquiring glance at Kevin, though civil, lacked warmth. ’So if you’d care to tell her?’
Her voice cool and composed now, Raine asked, ‘Is Nick staying?’
Ralph’s hazel eyes showed his annoyance. ‘Of course he’s staying.’
‘Then there’ll be just the two of you.’ She moved closer to her fiancé. ‘We have other plans for the evening—haven’t we, darling?’
Her father frowned. ‘Other plans?’
‘When I’ve got changed we’re going in to Lopsley. Kevin’s taking me to Phasianidae.’
‘What the deuce is that?’ her father demanded irritably.
‘A new restaurant that’s just opened in Cheyne Walk.’
Ralph glanced helplessly at his nephew.
‘So you’ll have to forgive us for not joining you.’ Raine gave Nick a disdainful little smile. ‘I’m sure you and Dad can find plenty to talk about.’
‘I’m sure we can,’ he agreed smoothly. ‘But it’s you I need to talk to.’
Her face froze into a stiff mask. ‘Anything you want to say to me will presumably keep until tomorrow.’
‘Unfortunately it won’t.’ Turning, Nick clapped a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. ‘We’ve come up against something of a family problem that needs sorting out immediately. I know you’ll understand, and I’m quite sure that in the circumstances you wouldn’t want to...’ He allowed the words to tail off.
‘No...no, of course not.’ Reacting to the hint of cool authority that lay beneath the friendly tone, Kevin was already backing away.
Alarm made Raine dig her toes in. ‘I really don’t see what’s so urgent that it can’t wait until the morning.’
Catching Nick’s peremptory glance, Kevin said hastily, ‘Don’t worry, old thing. We can always go some other time. I’ll cut along now and come over early tomorrow, if that’s all right by you?’
Desperate to keep her fiancé as a buffer between herself and Nick, Raine appealed to her father. ‘But Kevin will soon be part of the family. Surely he can stay?’
It was Nick who answered. ‘He can, but...’ You won’t really want him to, the dark blue eyes warned her.
Brought up short, she hesitated.
As though he owned the place, Nick moved to shepherd Kevin out, adding in a jocular tone, ‘Perhaps it’s better not to know about the family skeletons until after you’re married. ’
In the doorway he glanced back, and Raine saw an odd look pass between him and Ralph before the latch clicked to behind him.
Fuming helplessly, a flush of colour lying along the wide cheekbones inherited from her mother, she turned to Ralph and asked in a choked voice, ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘I sent for him.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me he was coming?’
‘Because last time I told you he was coming you bolted.’
‘I didn’t want to see him,’ she said defensively.
‘Damn it, girl,’ Ralph exploded, ‘have you any idea how furious you made him? He hung around here for over a week—a week he really needed to be in Boston.
‘You made him look a complete fool, and you ought to know he’s not a man to tolerate that sort of treatment. Why hadn’t you the decency to stay and listen to him?’
‘I didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. I stil don’t.’
Almost wearily, Ralph said, ‘Well, you can’t keep or avoiding him. He’s here now, and you’ll have to face him.
CHAPTER THREE
RAINE shook her head, silently repudiating that statement. As far as she was concerned she didn’t have to do anything of the kind. It had been her fixed intention never to see him again.
In spite of her father’s pleas, and to her everlasting shame, she had even chickened out of going to her uncle’s funeral because he’d be there.
It would be a relief when she was safely married, she thought fervently, while her stomach remained tied in a knot of tension. Though it would mean leaving her father and the home she loved, at least she wouldn’t have to risk coming face to face with Nick out of the blue like this.
But it wasn’t really out of the blue. Her father had asked him to come. Suddenly, without knowing why, she was scared stiff. ‘What made you send for him?’
Looking uneasy, anything but comfortable, Ralph said, ‘The doctor advises that I don’t go back to the office for at least three months.’ Involuntarily, his hand had gone up to touch his chest.
‘Your heart...?’ she whispered.
‘There’s nothing wrong with my heart. I’m as fit as a fiddle,’ he said testily. ‘But I...well, I’m not getting any younger, and I...’
‘Oh, Dad...’ She went down on her knees by his chair.
‘Don’t be a fool, girl.’ He patted her hand. ‘Now, get up, and believe me when I tell you that I’m not ill. I’d just like to take it easy for a while. That’s where Nick comes in...’
‘How do you mean?’ But already a cold chill was raising the short hairs on the back of her neck and running down her spine.
‘I mean he’s going to take the reins temporarily.’
‘But couldn’t I do that?’ she protested, rising to her feet.
Shaking his head, Ralph reminded her, ‘You’re getting married soon, and if Kevin doesn’t want you to work...’
‘Well, can’t David Ferris cope? He’s been with you for years and he’s absolutely trustworthy...’
‘David’s got enough to do,’ her father said shortly. ‘And I want someone up front who isn’t soft—someone with initiative and drive.’
