A suitable husband

by Steele, Jessica

  That was as long as she could bear to be away from Lukas. Wanting to see him again, she hurried from her room—but only to bump into Edwina, limping from hers. Jermaine's feeling of excitement plummeted.

  'Where on earth did you spring from?' Edwina, the first to recover, demanded.

  Jermaine never had been fooled by the limp. 'How much longer are you going to keep this up?' she counter-demanded.

  'Lukas is proving a tougher nut to crack than I'd anticipated,' Edwina answered, gladdening Jermaine's heart. But only to make her spirits dive when she added, 'But I see signs that he's cracking...' She broke off, and then, a calculating smile touching her mouth, she added 'I don't know why you're here, but since you are you can make yourself useful and take Ash off my hands—and leave Lukas to me.'

  'No can do,' Jermaine replied as Edwina, not risking to be caught out if anyone should be lurking unseen, held her 'injured' back with one hand and limped down the stairs with her sister.

  'Why not?' Edwina demanded.

  'Because I'm here to work this weekend. Lukas has some typing he wants doing.'

  'You're staying overnight?'

  Jermaine ignored the aggressive question. 'Have you phoned Dad this week?' she asked.

  'Don't be a pain!' Edwina retorted, but as she spotted Lukas crossing the hall she was suddenly all smiles. 'Did you know Jermaine was here?' she called down to him.

  He halted as they slowly descended. What he was thinking Jermaine had no idea, for his expression was bland. 'I invited Jermaine to join us,' he replied smoothly.

  'Well, you mustn't work her too hard, you naughty man,' Edwina scolded archly, and as they stepped onto a level with him Jermaine felt her face flame with warm colour. Edwina made it sound every bit as if she had been complaining to her elder sister about being pressed into work.

  Jermaine caught his eyes on her and, embarrassed, she looked quickly away. But she fell even more hopelessly in love with Lukas when, suavely, he told Edwina, 'I won't. Though I've a feeling Jermaine would be the last to complain.' And while Jermaine was glowing from that, he asked Edwina solicitously, 'Can you manage as far as the drawing room? Mrs Dobson will bring in some coffee presently.'

  Edwina, taking a hold of his arm and leaning against him, swiftly put paid to any remaining glow Jermaine had been feeling. Spiteful darts of jealousy bombarded her and she couldn't bear to watch.

  'I'll get the coffee,' she announced as evenly as she could. 'I wanted to go and say hello to Mrs Dobson, anyhow.'

  With that she turned and made for the kitchen, acknowledging that her newly discovered love for Lukas had not come alone. It brought with it a whole gamut of other, unsuspected emotions. She who had never hated anyone in her life had hated Lukas on occasion when she had first met him. Oh, how could she ever have hated him? Was it all part and parcel of falling in love? She felt confused suddenly that she didn't know anything. Though she corrected that. The one thing she did know for sure was that there was nothing whatsoever the matter with Edwina.

  'I'm here again, Mrs Dobson.' Jermaine found a smile as she entered the kitchen.

  While the housekeeper seemed genuinely pleased to see her again and introduced Tina, who had been busy with a coffee pot, Jermaine spotted that a tray had been laid with two cups and saucers.

  'May I have an extra cup?' she asked, and passed a pleasant few minutes in conversation with the housekeeper and her helper. Then, insisting she would take the tray, Jermaine carried it to the drawing room.

  The extra cup and saucer was not going to be necessary, she discovered. Lukas was there, but got to his feet as she went into the room.

  'If you'll excuse me,' he addressed both his female guests, 'I need to go and look at some fencing.'

  'He's never still,' Edwina complained the moment he had gone.

  'Poor you,' Jermaine replied, and found another unsuspected trait when, having enjoyed Lukas's company last night, she quite enjoyed saying, 'Just now must have been the first time you've seen him since he went to Sweden on Thursday.'

  It was not a very nice trait, she knew. But she got paid back for it in full when Edwina, favouring her with a short look, stated, 'I had a very late night last night. In fact, I was still up when Lukas came home.' Jolted, Jermaine instantly visualised her beautiful sister draped prettily on one of the sofas, waiting to go into action the moment Lukas walked in through the door. 'He rang me from Sweden to ask how I was getting along.' Edwina put her delicate size five boot in.

  Somehow Jermaine managed to stay civilly in the same room with her while they shared a pot of coffee and spoke of nothing in particular. She should have known, Jermaine inwardly sighed; Edwina always won.

  With pictures flashing through her head of Lukas rushing home after he had left her, so that he could dally with her sister, Jermaine finished her coffee and returned the tray to the kitchen. What she would have hked to do then was to escape via the rear door and take a walk down to the picturesque brook. It was such a tranquil spot—and she needed a tranquil spot. She was, in truth, feeling anything but tranquil.

  But Lukas was in the grounds somewhere, checking out fences. And, when not long ago she had left her room in a hurry to join him.

  to Spend some time with him, she was now not ready to see him again so soon—should his fence inspection area be anywhere near that brook.

  Jermaine, aware that her sister wouldn't be bothered whether she went back to her in the drawing room or not, went upstairs to her room. She would have to go down again for lunch, politeness alone decreed that, but she would by far much prefer to return to London.

  But that was a lie. Falling in love with Lukas had made a liar of her—a liar to herself. Because, had she felt that strongly about returning to London, nothing would have stopped her. As it was, despite being in a state of turmoil—not knowing if Lukas, needing a report typing, had deliberately set out to entertain, to charm last night, even to the extent of that oh so wonderful kiss, in order to ask her to come to Highfield today—Jermaine knew she wanted to stay.

  She was being weak, not to say pathetic, but she loved him so that even if he was being a rat of the first water she wanted to stay in his home, where she stood the best chance of spending some time with him.

  With the passing of the next fifteen minutes Jermaine started to get on top of her emotions.

  and was then able to think more logically. Come on, buck your ideas up, she instructed. Do you really believe that a man of Lukas's standing, a man of his undoubted wealth, would— before he went to Sweden, mark you—arrange to take you out so that on his return he could persuade you, deviously, to come and do some work for him?

  Jermaine realised she didn't believe any such nonsense. If he needed someone to work over the weekend, he'd hire somebody. The same way in which he must have instructed Mrs Dobson to hire any help she needed while there were extra people in the house. Clearly Mrs Dobson must have accepted that she couldn't cope without weekend assistance, and had contacted Sharon's sister in Lukas's absence.

  Jermaine was still in her room when, glancing from her window, she saw Ash's car turn in at the gates. It puzzled her why if, as he'd hinted, he was not so enamoured of Edwina, he was still harbouring her as his guest. A whole week had passed since he'd stated that he had made a mistake—so why was Edwina still here—though ultimately as Lukas's guest?

  At that point Jermaine realised that jealousy in relation to Lukas and Edwina was starting to get to her again, and she was impatient with herself. For goodness' sake, she could hardly expect either Lukas or Ash to send Edwina on her way—not when she was playing the suffering delicate damsel.

  Jermaine left her room and, on entering the drawing room, felt jealousy nip again, because Lukas was back from his fence checking and was seated in conversation with Edwina. He broke off what he was saying and was on his feet as soon as he saw her. 'Jermaine,' he greeted her pleasantly. 'Can I get you something to drink befo
re lunch?'

  'No, thanks,' she replied, her thoughts on the work for which she would need to keep her full attention focused that afternoon.

  She was half turned when someone else came into the drawing room. 'Jermaine!' Ash exclaimed, and again looked as though he might kiss her in greeting. Perhaps remembering the last time he'd tried it, he controlled himself, but still looked delighted to see her as he added, 'This is a wonderful surprise! You're not dashing back to London, I hope?'

  'I'm here until tomorrow,' she answered. But, feeling a little awkward, and as if needing an excuse for being there, she explained.

  'Lukas has a report on his Swedish trip he wants typing.'

  Ash looked from her to his brother. 'Has he now?' he questioned.

  'Since we're all here, we may as well go into lunch,' Lukas suggested, and it was prima donna time as Edwina winced and nibbled prettily at her bottom lip as she struggled painfully to stand. Naturally, gentlemen both, the two males went to assist her.

  The two men seemed a little preoccupied over lunch, but Edwina was obviously insensitive to the vibes Jermaine was certain she was picking up. Edwina kept up a steady flow of conversation to which, when addressed, everyone present politely replied.

  It was near to the end of the meal when Ash commented that he thought he would go and take a second look at a property he had almost made up his mind to purchase. Before being asked, Edwina declined. 'You won't mind if I don't come with you?'

  Ash smiled. 'You must rest as much as you can,' he answered. Then he turned to Jermaine, seated next to him. 'And you're about to tell me you're going to be busy,' he commented regretfully.

  But before she could agree that she would be busy, in his brother's study, Lukas was stating quietly, 'I'll come with you. Ash.' And all eyes went to Lukas. But it was Jermaine to whom he looked as he stated charmingly, 'With the speed you type, Jermaine, we'll have ample time to complete that report tomorrow morning.'

  She had straight away decided that if there was nothing there for her to do, then she was here under false pretences—double false pretences if you took into account the charade Edwina was playing to the full—and that she would go back to London right now. But Lukas stating they would work in the morning gave her pride the fillip it needed—he still expected her to stay overnight, then? 'Of course,' she answered evenly.

  'You could come with us this aftemoon,' Ash suggested.

  But somehow she sensed—and could only suppose her senses were more acute to Lukas now than they had been—that he wanted to talk privately to Ash. Something to do with business, obviously, so she smiled, unof-fended, and entered her sister's charade. 'I think it would be better if I stayed and kept Edwina company,' she replied.

  The two Tavinor brothers departed soon after lunch, and with Edwina comfortable back in the drawing room, with a seemingly limitless supply of magazines, Jermaine went and found the portable telephone she had used on her previous visit. She rang her parents and chatted to them for some while. After confirming that she wouldn't dream of spending Christmas anywhere but with them, in their home, she handed the phone to her sister. Edwina stuck out her tongue to her, but took the phone and assured her father that she was making excellent progress and that she would be leaving Highfield shortly. No, she quickly answered their father, there was absolutely no need for her to go home to be looked after.

  Jermaine heard her promise that—as was usual and expected—she also would be home for Christmas. But only one sentence stuck in Jermaine's mind as Edwina ended the call and idly handed the phone back to her. 'You're leaving here?' she questioned.

  'Even I can't keep up the pretence of a bad back for ever,' Edwina answered. 'Although were it not for Lukas going away on Monday I'd have given it a shot.'

  'You're leaving because Lukas is going abroad?'

  'You know as well as I do that he's the only reason for my 'incapacity". I'm not sticking around here all next week with only Ash and that odious Mrs Dobson for company!'

  Mrs Dobson, odious! Jermaine gave up. 'Got everything you need?' she asked a touch sarcastically as, taking the portable phone with her, she headed for the door.

  'No,' Edwina replied, a calculating look there in her eyes, 'but I will have.'

  Jermaine blanched and felt quite ill. She'd seen that look in Edwina's eyes before. When Edwina set her mind on something, she always got it—and Edwina was set on getting Lukas.

  Jermaine stayed in her room until close to dinner time, when she felt it would be rude to stay there any longer. She had no idea where the property was that Lukas and Ash had gone to see, but they had been absent an absolute age. Jermaine knew, because she had had her ears tuned for every passing vehicle, they had returned a little over half an hour ago.

  Dinner was a pleasant enough affair, but Jermaine found she was having a hard time trying not to be forever glancing across to Lukas. Determined not to focus all her attention on him—she'd just shrivel up and die if

  he observed that she hung on his every word— she turned to Ash.

  'Have you decided about the property you saw this afternoon?' she asked.

  Ash looked at her and smiled. 'I have. Fm going to make an offer for it.'

  'You'll be pleased your long search is at an end.'

  'You must come and see it,' Ash invited enthusiastically, but paused, glanced quickly to Lukas, and then looked at Edwina, seated across from him. 'You, too, Edwina. If you feel up to it, of course,' he qualified.

  'I'd Hke to,' she accepted, but, as Jermaine knew full well, Edwina was quite able to find an excuse not to go when the time came. Now, having spent enough time on Ash apparently, Edwina turned the battery of her blue eyes onto Lukas. 'What did you think of the property, Lukas?' she asked in her breathless way. She even touched his arm.

  Jermaine concentrated her attention on a roast parsnip—she was finding the vicious assault of jealousy difficult to cope with.

  They retired to the drawing room for coffee. 'Would you care for a liqueur?' Jermaine looked up and found Lukas had come to stand near. 'Cointreau? T...?'

  'Cointreau would be lovely,' she accepted, her voice suddenly husky. She looked quickly away from him—about the only way she could get herself back together again.

  This was dreadful! She'd gone to pieces over him like some lovestruck schoolgirl! Though, recaUing the burning pain of jealousy not too long back, this was no schoolgirl crush. Lukas returned with her Hqueur, but when he did no more than sit down next to her Jermaine was again left struggling to get herself together.

  'Um—what time would you like to start in the morning?' she asked.

  'Any time to suit you,' Lukas replied.

  'Nine?'

  He smiled. 'I think we can be a little more relaxed than that.' His smile became a grin. 'How do you feel about nine-fifteen?'

  She loved him—she burst out laughing. 'Nine-fifteen it is,' she said.

  And stopped laughing when Edwina, not caring very much to be sharing her sofa with Ash, suddenly pouted. 'Are you going to share the joke?'

  Jermaine realised then that she was laughing too freely with Lukas and might be in danger of giving away her feelings for him. She wanted to stay with him, to be near him, close like this on the sofa. Against that, though, she knew her pride would never recover if he, or anyone in the room, saw the love which she was so desperate to hide. She felt panicky suddenly, and needed to be on her own. She shouldn't have accepted that will-weakening liqueur. Not that she'd done more than have a sip or two, but she needed to be alert, on her toes—needed to be out of there.

  Because she'd asked for the Cointreau, she finished it while Edwina, giving Lukas her undivided attention, pulled out all the stops in the allure department. When jealousy again sent fast and furious spiteful darts, Jermaine knew it was more than high time she made herself scarce. It was even more painful to her that Lukas didn't appear at all unhappy that Edwina was dedicated to hi
s every utterance. Surely he must be aware that Edwina was making a play for him? Perhaps he was—and was enjoying every moment.

  Jermaine yawned delicately. It wouldn't hurt him to know that such goings-on bored her totally. 'I'm sorry,' she apologised prettily. 'Would anyone mind if I went to bed?'

  'Must you?' It was Ash—how she wanted it to be Lukas.

  'I've had a busy week.' She smiled at Ash.

  'And it isn't over yet,' Lukas said, getting to his feet with her.

  'Nine-fifteen, you said,' she reminded him, wished everyone goodnight, and went without obvious haste from the room.

  She lay sleepless for a long time that night, then had sleep of the fractured variety and wanted quite urgently to get up and leave. Yet, at the same time, she began to feel quite desperate—because when she did leave she might never see Lukas again.

  Jermaine was glad to see dawn break, and, still in the same troubled frame of mind, showered and got dressed. She felt restless and fidgety, and, unable to take it any longer, she shrugged into her coat and decided to take a walk.

  Letting herself quietly out of the house, she skirted round to the rear. Supposing that she had known in advance where her feet would lead her, she was very soon walking down to the bridge with its little stream gurgling cheerfully beneath.

  She stayed on the bridge for some minutes, then moved to the bench that seemed to call a welcome. It was a tranquil place, as she had previously discovered, and gradually Jermaine

  became more at peace with herself. She was then able to recognise that, probably because she had never been in love before, she had been thrown in a total heap by it and just hadn't known how to handle it.

  She still didn't know how to handle it, particularly, but this morning she seemed more reconciled to the fact that, while she loved Lukas, he was never going to return that love—and so she had better get used to that foul companion, jealousy, whenever any female flirted with him.