‘Yeah?’
‘Yeah!’
And their sparring had ended in laughter, as it so often did.
He thought fondly of her now—a sensible girl with brains enough to have passed her nursing degree with top marks, who could yet enjoy a squabble and give as good as she got. She would never be a great beauty, but her looks were agreeable. Dan had chosen well, he reckoned.
Almost at once after their engagement he’d had to leave to film a documentary on the other side of the world. He’d returned a week before the wedding and seen that his friend was on edge. He’d attached little importance to this, considering it standard bridegroom stuff. Even Dan’s heavy drinking on his stag night had not alarmed him. It had merely underlined his duty to get Dan safely through the ceremony.
‘Come on,’ he said, opening the front door. ‘Time to go.’
‘Just a moment,’ Dan said quickly. ‘There’s something—’
‘Stop panicking. I’ve got it.’
‘Got—?’
‘The ring. Look.’ Jackson reached into his pocket for a small box, which he opened to reveal a gold ring. ‘That’s what you were getting worked up about, wasn’t it?’
‘Of course. Of course.’
The tension in Dan’s voice made Jackson regard him kindly and clap him on the shoulder. ‘Everything’s all right,’ he said. ‘Nothing can go wrong now. Time to go.’
In moments they were downstairs, greeting the chauffeur, settling into the back seat of the car.
It wasn’t a long journey to the church but the traffic was heavy that morning. As they crawled along at a snail’s pace Jackson gave a sigh of frustration.
‘Come on,’ he groaned. ‘If it takes any longer, Dad and Freya will turn up before we do.’
‘Is Amos really giving her away? I can’t get my head round that.’
‘Why shouldn’t he? Oh, you mean because he wanted her to marry one of his own sons? When Leonid married Perdita there was only me left, and I told him to forget it. I like Freya, but not in that way.’
‘I guess that’s why you introduced me to her? Hoping I’d do what you wouldn’t?’
‘It wasn’t like that,’ Jackson said, shocked. ‘Of course I was glad for her to know as many other guys as possible, but I wasn’t making secret plans.’
‘Aw, come on. You were hoping the old man would admit defeat. No way. He moved heaven and earth to stop this wedding.’
‘What the devil do you mean by that?’
‘When I was going out with Freya he came to see me. He wanted to warn me off. Said I should leave her alone, and if I didn’t—well, there were a few hints about the damage he could do to me financially.’
‘But you told him to get stuffed?’
‘I didn’t say anything. No chance. He said his piece and walked out, slamming the door. I guess he just took it for granted that I’d do as he said.’
‘Yes,’ Jackson murmured. ‘He has a way of doing that. He scares people. But not you. You stood up to him and proposed to her. Good for you. She’s a lucky girl to have a guy who loves her so much.’
‘But I’m not in love with her,’ Dan said explosively. ‘I lost my temper, that’s all. I’m damned if I’ll let any man give me orders. Sorry, I know he’s your father—’
‘That’s all right,’ Jackson said hastily. ‘But are you telling me you only proposed to Freya because you were angry? I don’t believe it.’
‘Believe it. I just saw red. But then suddenly we were engaged and—hell, I don’t know. She’s a nice girl, but I’m not in love, and if Amos hadn’t tried to scare me out of proposing I’d never have done it.’
‘I don’t believe this,’ Jackson said frantically. ‘I was there at your engagement party, and if ever I saw two people in love—’
‘Yes, I played the devoted lover—and you know why? Because Amos was there, looking fit to do murder. Oh, brother, did I enjoy that!’
‘But he’s giving her away.’
‘I reckon his wife twisted his arm. Freya’s her daughter and she wouldn’t want him making trouble.’
Jackson tore at his hair.
‘Let me understand this,’ he said, aghast. ‘You’ve let things get this far, and you’re really saying you’re not in love with the girl you’re about to marry?’
‘That’s right. I’m not. But what can I do? She’s obviously in love with me and I’m trapped. I can feel the noose tightening around my neck with every moment.’
‘You should have been honest with her before this,’ Jackson said furiously. ‘Now you’ll hurt her a lot more if you marry her without love and let her down later.’
In his agitated state Jackson spoke instinctively. Afterwards he was to curse himself for a fool, but by then it was too late.
‘That’s true,’ Dan said, staring at him as though a light had suddenly dawned. ‘And there’s still time to put things right.’
As he spoke the car halted at traffic lights. Dan opened the door and began to ease himself out.
‘You go on to the church,’ he said. ‘Explain why I’m not with you. Make them realise I had no choice.’
‘What? Don’t be daft. You’ve got to go through with it now.’
‘I can’t. You’ve just made me understand that.’
‘Dan! Don’t you dare— Come back.’
But Dan had slammed the door and begun to run.
‘Wait here,’ Jackson told the chauffeur, scrambling out of the car. ‘Dan! Come back. Come back.’
But Dan was running fast, darting in and out of the traffic which had started to move again. He reached the other side of the road and vanished down an alley. Jackson raced after him as fast as he could, nearly being hit by a car. But when he reached the street it was empty.
‘Dan!’ he yelled. ‘You can’t do this. Please!’
There was no answer.
‘Where are you?’ he cried. ‘Don’t hide from me. Let’s talk.’
He tore along the road, searching everywhere but without result.
‘I didn’t mean it!’ he shouted. ‘Not the way it came out. I spoke without thinking but I never meant— Don’t
