And lose her job? Lose her professional reputation and the respect of everyone in her industry? Through no fault of her own? No, thank you! Besides, if the police investigation—and she had no doubt that there would be one—traced the snuffbox back to Barbara...
She shuddered and abruptly cut off that thought.
‘I can see you’re even less enthused about that option.’
She hated the tone of voice he used. She hated his irksome sense of superiority. She hated the opinion he had of her.
That last thought made her blink.
‘So, will you get us an invitation to the Sedgewicks’?’
She gave a stiff nod. ‘Yes.’
‘Good girl.’
‘Don’t patronise me.’
‘And it’ll be best,’ he continued, as if she hadn’t spoken, ‘if Barbara doesn’t find out that we’re planning to be there.’
‘Hmm...awkward...’
He raised an eyebrow.
‘But doable,’ she mumbled. She folded her arms and glared at him. ‘You do know we’ll have to share a room at Lady Sedgewick’s?’
Everyone would take it for granted that they were sleeping together.
He gave a low laugh. ‘Afraid you won’t be able to resist me, Caro?’
Yes! ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Or are you afraid I won’t be able to control myself?’
‘If you can’t,’ she returned tartly, ‘then I suggest you rethink your plans to remarry.’
‘Never.’
A black pit opened up in her chest. The sooner Jack was out of her life for good, the better.
She flinched when he ran a finger down her cheek. ‘Never fear, sweet pea. While your charms are many and manifold, they were never worth the price I paid.’
She flinched again at his words, and when she next looked up he was gone.
‘Right. A weekend in the country. Very jolly.’
She closed the window and locked it. And then, for the first time ever, she drew the curtains.
* * *
‘Was it difficult to swing the invitation?’
‘Not at all.’
It was early Saturday morning and she was sitting beside Jack in his hired luxury saloon car. It all felt so right and normal she had to keep reminding herself that it was neither of those things. Far from it. She still didn’t know how they were going to negotiate sharing a bedroom. She kept pushing the thought from her mind—there was no point endlessly worrying about it—but it kept popping back again.
‘Tell me how you managed it.’
So she told him how on Thursday she’d ‘just happened’ to bump into her old schoolfriend Olivia Sedgewick at a place she knew Olivia favoured for lunch, and they’d ended up dining together.
The house party in Kent had come up in their idle chitchat, and Caro had confided her concerns that this would be Barbara’s first social engagement since Roland had died. A bit later she’d mentioned meeting up with Jack again after all these years, and how the spark was still there but they were wanting to keep a low profile in London in case things didn’t work out.
Of course things weren’t going to work out.
‘And...?’ Jack prompted.
‘Well, from there she came up with the brilliant plan of inviting us down for the weekend. We’ll get a chance for some out-of-London couple time, with the added bonus that I can keep an eye on Barbara too.’
He laughed. ‘You mean you deviously planted the idea in her mind and she ran with it!’
She shrugged. ‘She’s a lovely person. It wasn’t hard.’
‘It was masterfully done. I should hire you for my firm.’
He didn’t mean it, but his praise washed over her with a warmth that made her settle back a little more snugly in her seat. ‘I fear I’m not cut out for a life of subterfuge and undercover intrigue. I don’t know how you manage it without getting an ulcer.’
His chuckle warmed her even more than his praise had.
‘Barbara has no idea that we’re coming?’ he asked.
‘None whatsoever. I told Olivia I didn’t want Barbara thinking she was being a burden to me. I asked her if we could say that we’d met up only last night and she invited us down to her parents’ for the weekend on the spur of the moment.’
‘Excellent. I’ve had her tailed over the last few days, but there’s nothing suspicious to report. It appears you’ve not had any suspicious visitors for the last couple of days either.’
‘Oh, well...that’s good.’
And at that point they ran out of conversation.
‘I’ve...um...taken most of next week off as leave from work.’ Just in case they had to do more sleuthing.
‘Right.’
She itched to ask him about the woman he had back home in Australia—the one he planned to marry. How had they met? What was she like? Was she very beautiful? Did they set each other alight the way she and he once had? Or...?
She folded her arms. Or was this other woman simply a brood mare? A means to an end?
She couldn’t ask any of that, of course. What Jack did with his life was no longer any concern of hers. It was none of her business.
She lifted her chin. ‘We’re having a glorious summer so far.’ She gestured at the blue sky and the sunshine pouring in the windows.
At the same time he said, ‘I take it you’re not seeing anyone at the moment?’
She stiffened. None of his business. ‘What does that have to do with anything?’
He sent her a sidelong glance, his lips twisting. ‘Let’s just say it could be awkward for all concerned if we happened to run into your current squeeze in Kent.’
She laughed. It was either that or cry. ‘That would be terribly bad form indeed. We’re safe, Jack. I have no current paramour.’
Unlike him.
For heaven’s sake, let it go!
She shifted on her seat. ‘You’d better fill me in on the plan.’ She bit her lip. ‘You do have a plan, don’t you?’
‘My plan is to watch and listen. I’m good at my job, Caro. And I’m very good at reading people.’
He’d been terrible at reading her.
‘I can nose out a fishy situation at fifty paces.’
‘Fine, but... What am I supposed to do?’
‘Be your usual charming self.’
From anyone else that would have sounded like a compliment.
‘Don’t forget our cover story. We’re supposed to be attempting a reconciliation.’
She had no hope of forgetting that.
‘So the odd lingering look and a bit of hand-holding won’t go astray.’
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry and her pulse suddenly wild. ‘Absolutely.’
‘And just be generally attentive.’
To him? Or to what was going on around them?
‘Take your cues from me.’
Suddenly all she wanted to do was return to her tiny flat, crawl into bed and pull the covers over her head.
He sent her another sidelong glance and then reached out to squeeze her hand. ‘Whenever you feel your resolve slipping think about the consequences of not getting that snuffbox back.’
Worst-case scenario? She’d lose her job with no hope of another and she’d be visiting Barbara in jail. She shuddered. No, no, no. She couldn’t let that happen.
She squeezed his hand back. ‘Excellent advice.’
* * *
‘With the two of you, that brings our numbers up to a merry dozen,’ said Cynthia—Lady Sedgewick—leading Caro and Jack into the drawing room, where she introduced them to several of the other guests. ‘Olivia should be here any moment. Oh, and look, Barbie dear...’ Cynthia cooed as Barbara walked in from the terrace. ‘Did you know that Caro and Jack were joining us this weekend?’
Barbara pulled up short, her mouth dropping open.
‘It was all very last-minute,’ Caro said, going across to kiss her stepmother’s cheek. ‘I never had a chance to tell you.’
&nbs
p; Jack moved across to shake Barbara’s hand. ‘Lovely to see you again, Barbara.’
For an awful moment, Caro had the oddest feeling that Barbara meant to snub Jack completely, but at the last moment she clasped his hand briefly before slipping her arm through Caro’s and drawing her away.
‘Why don’t I help you to unpack? You can fill me in—’ she glared over her shoulder at Jack ‘—on all the gossip.’
‘I’ve put them in the room next to yours, Barbie.’
‘I’ll see that Caro’s safely settled.’ With that, Barbara led Caro out of the drawing room and up a rather grand staircase.
‘Doesn’t it set your teeth on edge, the way she calls you Barbie?’ Caro asked in a low voice.
‘It’s just her way. More pressing at the moment is the question of what you’re doing here with Jack?’
‘Ah...’
‘No, no.’ Barbara held up her free hand. ‘Wait till we’ve gained the privacy of your room.’
So arm in arm they climbed the stairs in silence and walked along the grand gallery with all its family portraits until they reached the wing housing their bedrooms.
‘Are you completely out of your mind?’ Barbara demanded, the moment she’d closed the bedroom door behind them. ‘That man broke your heart into a thousand little pieces and stamped all over it without so much as a by-your-leave. Have you taken leave of your senses?’
Caro opened her mouth. Closing it again, she slumped down to the blanket box sitting at the end of the bed—which, thankfully, wasn’t some huge big four-poster monstrosity.
‘How long?’ Barbara asked.
She and Jack should have discussed their cover story in a little more detail. She decided to go with the truth. ‘Only a few days. I...I didn’t know how to tell you.’
‘A few days! And already you’re spending the weekend with him?’
Caro grimaced at how that sounded. ‘Well, technically we are still married. And I thought coming down here this weekend would...would...’ She trailed off, wishing this all felt as make-believe as it actually was.
Barbara sat beside her and reached out to halt the constant twisting of her bangle. ‘Caro, darling, I know your father’s death came as a very great shock to you, but do you really think this is the best way to deal with it?’
‘You think I’m making a mistake?’
‘Don’t you?’
Her shoulders sagged. ‘You’re probably right. Why are we so attracted to the things that are bad for us?’
Barbara opened her mouth and then closed it, her shoulders sagging too. ‘It’s a very strange thing,’ she agreed.
‘Seriously, though,’ Caro said, strangely close to tears, ‘what hope does a woman like me have of holding the attention of a man like Jack?’
Barbara stiffened. ‘Don’t you dare sell yourself short! Any man would be lucky to have you.’
Her stepmother’s concern warmed her to her very bones. Surely Barbara wouldn’t steal from her? She’d just got herself into a fix and she didn’t know how to extricate herself. That was all.
She met Barbara’s gaze. ‘You really do care about me, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do. What on earth would have you thinking otherwise?’
‘Father.’
‘Look, darling, the will—’
‘Not the will. I meant before that. All Father’s disapproval and disappointment where I was concerned.’ She lifted a shoulder and then let it drop. ‘You must’ve resented all the...disharmony I caused.’
Barbara patted Caro’s hand. ‘I was married to your father, and I loved him, but it doesn’t follow that we agreed on every point.’
She stared at the other woman, wondering what on earth that meant.
‘And now Jack’s back in your life...’
Not for long.
‘And you think the spark is still there?’
She huffed out a breath. ‘No doubt about that...’
Barbara went to Caro’s suitcase and flung it open, rummaged through its contents. ‘Here.’ She pulled out a pair of tight white Capri pants and a fitted blouse in vivid blue. ‘Slip into these. They’ll be perfect for croquet on the lawn later.’
Caro grimaced. ‘There’s nowhere to hide in that outfit.’ She normally wore a long tunic top with those Capris. ‘And there’s no denying I’ve put on a little weight in the last few months.’
‘Despite what torture we women put ourselves through in the name of beauty, men appreciate a few curves on a woman. Jack won’t be able to take his eyes off you.’
Barbara smiled at her and Caro found herself smiling back. Dressing to attract Jack suddenly seemed like the best idea in the world.
And fun.
Besides, he was the one who had insisted on their ridiculous cover story. She was only doing what he’d insisted was necessary. No harm in enjoying herself in the process...
* * *
Jack watched Caro ready herself to take her next shot and had to run a finger around the collar of his shirt when she gave that cute little tush of hers an extra wiggle. He wasn’t the only man admiring her...uh...feminine attributes. His hand tightened about his croquet mallet. It was all he could do not to frogmarch her up to the house and order her to put on something less revealing.
Except what she was wearing was perfectly respectable! The only bare flesh on display was from mid-calf to ankle, where her Capris ended and her sand shoes started. Those sand shoes made her look seriously cute. The only problem was they kept drawing his attention to the tantalising curves of her calves.
Who was he trying to kid? Her entire ensemble made her look cute. Not to mention desirable.
Barbara trailed over to him, a glass of fruit punch dangling elegantly from her fingers. ‘Caro is looking well, isn’t she?’
He couldn’t lie. ‘She’s looking sensational.’ But then he’d always thought she looked sensational.
Some things never change.
Barbara smiled up at him pleasantly. ‘May I give you a word of warning, darling?’
‘Of course.’
‘If you break her heart again, I will cut your heart out with a knife.’
Whoa!
With a bright smile, she patted his arm. ‘Enjoy your game.’
He stared after her as she ambled off again.
‘You’re up, Jack.’
He spun around to see Caro pointing to the hoop that was his next target. Croquet? He scowled. What a stupid game!
‘Cooper!’ Caro called to one of the other players. ‘Have you added any new pieces to your collection recently?’
Good girl.
‘Dear me, yes. I picked up a rather splendid medieval knife at the quaintest little antique place.’
Don’t tell Barbara that. It might give her ideas.
‘I must show it to you next time you’re over.’
How well did Caro know these people?
He took his shot and tried to focus as the conversation turned to collectibles and antiques. He entirely lost the thread of it, though, when Caro took her next shot. Did she practise that maddening little shimmy?
He glanced around, gritting his teeth at the appreciative smiles on the other men’s faces. He couldn’t frogmarch her up to their bedroom and demand she change her clothes! If he marched her up to their bedroom he’d divest her of those clothes as quickly as possible and make love to her with a slow, serious intent that would leave her in no doubt how much he, for one, appreciated her physical attributes.
Every cell in his body screamed at him to do it.
He ground his teeth together. He was here to do a job. He was here to put the past behind him. It had taken too long to get this woman out of his system. He wasn’t letting her back into his life again. Regardless of how cute her tush happened to be.
Find the snuffbox.
Get the divorce papers signed.
Get on with your life.
He kept that checklist firmly in the forefront of his mind as he turned his attention back to the
conversation.
* * *
Croquet was followed by lunch. After lunch it was tennis and volleyball. A few of the guests went riding, but as Barbara was lounging in a chair on the lawn, alternately chatting with their hostess and flicking through a glossy magazine, he and Caro stuck close to the house too. Besides, Jack didn’t ride.
It suddenly struck him that he had no idea whether Caro rode or not. Just another of the many things that hadn’t come up during their short marriage.
Caro smiled a lot, chatted pleasantly and seemed utterly at ease, but it slowly and irrevocably dawned on him that while she’d always been somewhat reserved and self-contained that was even more the case now. She seemed to hold herself aloof in a way she never had before. She’d become more remote, serious...almost staid.
Dinner was followed by billiards for some, cards for others and lazy conversation over drinks for the rest. The other guests were a pleasant lot, and despite his low expectations he’d found it an oddly pleasant day.
Except for the lingering glances Caro sent him. And the secret smiles that made him want to smile back...and then ravish her. He’d lost count of the number of touches she’d bestowed on him—her hand resting lightly on his arm, her fingers brushing the back of his hand, her arm slipping through his...
Goddamn endless touches!
He raised his hand to knock on their shared bedroom door, but then pulled it back to his side. He had to get a grip. Caro was only following his instructions. Even if she was in danger of overdoing it.
Overdoing it? Really?
He ground his teeth together. No. She’d struck the perfect balance. He just hadn’t realised that her flirting with him would stretch the limits of his control so thoroughly.
Be cool. Keep a lid on it.
Hauling in a breath, he knocked. He’d given her a good thirty minutes to get ready for bed. He hoped it was enough. It would be great if she were asleep.
The door opened a crack and Caro’s face appeared. No such luck. She moistened her lips and opened the door wider to let him enter. She wore a pair of yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt...and her nerves were plain to see in the way she was pushing her bangle up and down her arm. It sent an answering jolt through him and a quickening of his pulse. If she’d had access to some of his earlier thoughts she’d have every right to her nerves.
Harlequin Romance February 2016 Box Set Page 40
