by Margaret Way
'I'm sorry,' she said hotly, 'but as we're not going to get married it doesn't really matter.' Uninvited sensations were making her feel trapped yet aggressive. We must go back to the party. I'm sure our absence has been noticed.'
'Very much so,' he agreed dryly. 'Give me your answer and it will be all over the papers as well.'
'I'm sorry, Mr. Corelli,' she said very firmly. 'It's my intention to have a sizzling love affair, not a cold-blooded if comfortable marriage.'
'That could happen to you as well. You're not unattractive.' His fingers loosened their grip on her bare skin and it took moments for the heat of contact to wear away. Their glances clung for a second, Brooke's startled and outraged, Corelli's coolly disciplined as though what he was suggesting was simplicity itself.
Brooke had an engulfing sense of complete unreality. No wonder he had become so notorious, so rich; he had a frightening momentum about him that carried people and events along. She was so nervous she was lightheaded, and all the time he was observing her with intense, almost disinterested curiosity. He was speaking to her again, but she couldn't seem to concentrate.
'… it will be to your advantage. Each of us has something the other wants. You are only nervous, after all, and the sense of fright will pass away. Marriage will keep your old family home in the family and one day it will belong to your son.' .
'Not by you! ' she said faintly. .
'But of course! Your feelings will change and I give you my solemn word I will not force you. After all, there is no need for you to produce my heir for a year or two.'
'You'll have to stop!' she said abruptly, 'I have the strangest ringing in my ears. It's dreadful really, like a mounting headache. I know it might help in lots of ways, but God knows, this is crazy! It's not even a marriage in name only.'
'Would you find that less disturbing?' he asked dryly.
'Of course, as I'm being bought! '
'My offer is not insulting, signorina,' he said softly, 'and you would be foolish to refuse me. Quite apart from your temper and your unfortunate habit of speaking your mind you've made a favourable impression on me. I don't mind in the least if you marry me for my money, but I am a man who fakes what he wants. In time, when you are ready, you will be my wife as well as my charming hostess. After all, I am under no illusions about you. You are a passionate woman, or you will be when you are taught to love.'
'Are you sure you would know how?' she asked tightly.
'You can't be serious?' he bent his brilliant level gaze on her. 'Would you like me to begin now?'
'I think you capable of anything!' she said dizzily, and drew swiftly away from him. 'My answer is no, Mr. Corelli, and I won't change. You'd do better to . buy Lou. She has a far more tractable nature.'
His low laugh suggested he was amused by her pas-I sian. 'Think about it, little one. I would so hate to lose you.'
'Please let's go back!' she said urgently.
'I don't think either your mother or your sister will approve your decision.'
'Once they get over the shock! ' she said shortly. 'My mother's plans have been all for Louise.'
'I regret that Louise does not interest me in that way I' he said suavely. 'I am searching for a bride―no more, no less. I have no desire to tangle myself in the madness of love, but I would be a liar if I said you do not attract me as a woman. Dressed as you are at this moment, as you should be, you quite eclipse your sister, as a red rose eclipses a white camellia. There is much passion in you, much capacity for feeling. I must tell you now there is something else I would require you to do.'
Brooke's heart was beating unmercifully, but she turned her gleaming head. 'Anything else would be anti-climax, I'm sure! '
'Perhaps! ' He stared directly down into her eyes.
'I have a daughter I would expect you to introduce to society.'
'A daughter?' For a moment Brooke was transfixed. 'Then you've been married before?'
'I didn't say that.' The striking dark face looked impossibly haughty, the black eyes beneath the strongly arching brows brilliantly cold. 'My daughter is a result of my liaison with a young girl I knew in another lifetime. She lives with my married sister in Kenya; but as soon as we marry, naturally I will want her with me. She has endured much being away from me for so long, but it was necessary for me to establish myself. Now I have the chance of marrying an authentic society beauty, Lucia will come to me. You can do much for her.'
'Yes, I see.' Brooke began to visualise herself as a nursemaid. 'How old is the child?'
'Sixteen,' he said, pinning her gaze.
'Good God!' Swiftly she let her eyes travel over his arrogant dark face, the perfection and elegant cut of his clothes. 'I can't believe it. You must have been a boy.'
'I was young,' he corrected. 'Neither was it my first affair, I'm afraid.'
Brooke took a deep even breath, pretending she was taking his words in her stride. 'No wonder you accept the question of marriage as a matter of course. No doubt you wouldn't consider the vow of fidelity?'
'I might,' he said lightly, then smiled at her burning expression. 'There are some women for whom a man would sacrifice anything.'
'And where is that woman? Have you met her?'
'I wish to God I had, but possibly such a woman doesn't exist.'
'Then I suggest you wait a little bit longer. I'm sure 'you could improve a great deal on me.'
'On the contrary, I'm not satisfied with postcards from my daughter. I want her here under my eye. I want her to be given every advantage.'
'I suppose you're aware I'm hardly of an age to make a good stepmother,' Brooke managed scathingly,
'But you can give me the promise of a son. I haven't worked so hard all these years for nothing. Now at thirty-five I. want a settled home and a family. Respectability, signorina. It haunts me.'
'As well it might!' She regarded him with some spirit. 'I appreciate your position, Mr. Corelli, but don't ask me to share it. I intend to take my time deciding whether I want to get married or not.'
'Look around you,' he invited. 'Your home will fall into ruin unless a rich man buys it, and very soon there won't be all that many generous offers. Perhaps some real estate developer will pull it down simply to build an apartment block on it. Life would never be the same again for your mother even if your sister manages to marry some correct young man.'
'Which she will,' Brooke said in a cold fury.
'I doubt if her future husband would take in your mother.'
'Well, you're planning to evict her, aren't you?' She flung up her head, bewildered by his manner and his mockery, his complete lack of deference.
'I told you exactly what I intend to do. It would pay you to listen for once. Your mother would be free to lead the good life wherever she liked, free to visit her old home occasionally. She is in her element where the champagne is flowing. You will be free to choose the time you wish to live with me as my wife.'
'Which is never! '
'It is time we went back to the house,' he said, dismissing her heated response. He took her arm, guiding her as though she were a rag doll or already his chattel, and Brooke felt an uprush of feeling not unlike terror. He evidently excelled at getting his own way and there was a sensual quality in him that was devastating at first hand. Her thin, high heels dug into the lush grass and the music from the big, romantic white house spilled out into the night air and over them. She remembered what it was like to be in his arms and his plan for her future gave rise to a sudden hot excitement that swept through her body like wildfire. Paul Corelli was no man to become emotionally involved with. Hadn't she said all along that he would know how to make a wont.tn suffer? His blood was too fiery even if his head was coldly and brilliantly calculating, and now this astounding news that he had a daughter. She was certain Louise had no knowledge of this, nor anyone else for that matter. He was the complete adventurer and in the grand tradition he was trying to sweep her off her feet.
Back up on the terrace Lillian app
eared, apparently casually, starting forward with hostessy exclamations to grasp Corelli's arm and draw him back inside. As ever Brooke let her mother's light, brittle voice flow over her. She knew perfectly well that Lillian was almost livid with disappointment because she had apparently tried to monopolise Corelli's attentions. Probably she was only waiting her moment to tell her and Brooke would have to impart the whole incredible story. Corelli was trying to buy her, not Louise. Lillian would have great difficulty in accepting it, and who could blame her? She could scarcely realise his cynical proposal herself.
Across the beautiful, glowing room Brooke caught sight of her sister's face. By this time Paul Corelli had joined her and she was looking up at him with almost frightened fascination. Not in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that he had just proposed to Brooke. Everything bloomed for Louise-the parties, the flowers, the pretty dresses. Their mother had always seen to it. Now for the first time in all their long years together the prize bouquet was being offered to Brooke and instead of accepting it shyly she wished only to fling it back into Paul Corelli's dark, flamboyant face. She might feel weak with astonishment, even breathing with difficulty, but she would take good care she was never left alone with him again. Some men loomed larger than life size, and he was one of them. .
Someone came close to her and grasped her arm. 'Heaven preserve you from your mother; darling!' Nigel said with some maliciousness in her ear. 'Choose any escort you please, but not Corelli.'
'Perhaps he chose me ! ' she murmured, unaware her eyes were sparkling like gems.
'Yes, indeed! I've always said your mother and sister seriously underestimate you. Will you look at poor old Lou now? Someone ought to go over and wake her out of her trance. Pretty as she is she looks almost foolish staring up at him like that. Tell me, pet, what did you talk about?' Nigel's eyes were sharp in his smooth, tanned face.
'Oh, this and that.' Brooke shook her head impatiently. 'I don't want to hear another word about Corelli. I've endured enough! '
'He isn't worth it! ' said Nigel, and suddenly became very sure of himself. 'Isn't it about time supper was served? I'm getting hungry!' He slipped one arm around Brooke's narrow waist, thinking she bore not the least resemblance to her sister. The drink waiter came towards them and Nigel helped himself to two glasses of champagne, never understanding why Brooke tossed hers off so quickly. He had never seen her do such a thing before. Apparently she had changed in more ways than one.
CHAPTER THREE
'BROOKE!' Lillian swept into her bedroom, just as she was about to climb into bed. Behind her, Louise padded in her bare feet, her small face innocent of make-up and tear-stained.
'It's practically three o'clock in the morning!' Brooke protested, aware that Lillian was quivering with rage.
'Mamma—' Louise began uncertainly.
'Leave this to me, Louise!' Lillian said shortly. 'Nothing in the world would stop me now!'
'Have you come in to tell me I've damaged my reputation?' Brooke asked wryly.
Unexpectedly Louise began to cry and Lillian turned to her with great affection, pressing her into an armchair without a word. One hand came up and she stroked Louise's pretty blonde hair from her face.
'Don't be angry with me, Mamma! '
'I can't be angry with you, my darling!'
'Listen,' Brooke said from the bed, 'I'm bored and tired, what is it you want to say that's making Lou so unhappy?'
Lillian turned brusquely back to her younger daughter. 'What an impression you made tonight, miss! That dress―you're very extravagant with my money―the contempt you've shown for my plans!'
'Come to the point, Mamma.' said Brooke with mild irony, long used to her mother's emotional histrionics.
'The point is.' Lillian said, breathing deeply, 'you don't really care about your sister. You don't want her to marry!'
'What nonsense, though she's happy enough at the moment !'
Louise glanced up sharply and for a second she was the spitting image of her mother. 'Why did you go off with Paul?'
Brooke shrugged, though she felt a stab at her heart. 'I didn't go off with him, dear. It was a one-sided thing really. He went off with me! '
'You ask us to believe that? It's ridiculous! ' Lillian cried, her delicate brows almost arched to her hairline.
'He's an extremely odd man.' Brooke forced herself to speak lightly. 'I wouldn't worry your head over him, Lou. He'd only make you unhappy.'
'Let me decide that!' Louise said crossly. 'Your deepest secret is you're jealous of me! '
'We have to blame Mamma for that, dear.' Brooke said evenly. 'You would never have thought of it alone. Besides, didn't you see the way the men were looking at me' tonight? I think I looked more. than passably attractive.'
'Nigel certainly thought so! ' Louise said very bluntly for her.
'We're not talking about Nigel!' Lillian snapped, 'I'm not prepared to waste my breath on Nigel Watling. He's been in love with Louise the longest of all, yet look at the way he behaved tonight.'
'But Mamma, Brooke was leading him on.'
Brooke pressed a hand over her mouth and yawned. 'May this new year bring you a little more sense. Look, we're all pretty keyed up, can't this wait until morning?'
'Tonight should have been wonderful, but you ruined it for me, Brooke. I'll never forget that!'
Brooke regarded her sister thoughtfully. 'Sometimes I feel a hundred and fifty beside you. It doesn't do to over-indulge children. It's not what they need.'
Louise flushed hotly, her small hands fluttering nervously over her shining blonde hair. 'We invited Paul especially, yet you skulked off with him the moment he arrived.'
'It didn't give me any pleasure, I assure you. Anyway, you kept him prisoner for the rest of the night.'
'What's that?' Lillian said sharply. 'Kept him prisoner? What absolute balderdash! I don't remember your ever being so spiteful. You ran after him, but he wouldn't have you. Poor girl, it's the same old sad story. It's Louise he's interested in, even if he's not good enough for her.'
'I suppose that's why he proposed to me!' Brooke retorted, and found herself a chair. 'Hard to believe, isn't it? I promise I'll keep it a dead secret! '
For an instant there was silence, then Louise's strangled gasp.
'What's that you're saying?' Lillian demanded, her blue eyes shining with an unnatural light.
'He asked me to marry him,' Brooke repeated quietly.
'No! ' Louise shrieked, and went instantly to pieces.
'What have you been up to?' Lillian asked her younger daughter in a choked voice.
'Watch out, Mamma, I won't be spoken to in that tone! ' Brooke yielded to her own anger.
'This is really too much! ' Lillian said almost wildly.
She sensed that Brooke was telling the truth and the green unflinching gaze brought her late husband painfully to mind. 'What kind of man is he?'
'It's a nightmare, isn't it?' Louise wiped her face with the back of her hand. The rims of her eyes were red and she looked the picture of suffering.
'You'd best go to bed, child,' Lillian said unexpectedly.
'I haven't the faintest intention of doing that!' Louise cried tormentedly. 'He can drag her off to the altar for all I care, but first I want to know how she did it.'
'I didn't work at it, believe me! ' Brooke said dryly.
'You're lying!'
'Watch out.' Brooke put up a hand to the small flying figure of her sister.
'Pull yourself together, Louise! ' Lillian said sharply, and Louise came to an instant halt, rocking on the spot like an automaton.
'Get the truth out of her, Mamma!' Her pretty face, wet with tears, was enough to turn the hardest heart over.
'What did you tell him?' Lillian demanded in a perfectly calm voice. ,
'It would be better if he looked elsewhere,' Brooke said harshly. 'Perhaps you'd better tell this little fool here that there's no use crying her ardent little heart out. He thinks very kindly of her,
but he has no desire whatever to marry her. She should be relieved. I think it's plain enough he's a very ruthless man.'
'All right! ' said Lillian, and took a quick turn about the room, 'Are you sure he made himself quite clear?'
'Yes, indeed !' Brooke said dryly. 'Indeed, yes.'
'Just what is your connection?' Louise persisted, blinking her eyes.
'I'm just as surprised as you are !' Brooke said with some patience. 'Actually he put it to me as a business proposition.'
'Ah, that I trust !' said Lillian. Her blue eyes looked away into the middle distance. 'Yes, of course, a business arrangement, a marriage of convenience. He has the money and we have the background. Most certainly that's what he wants at this stage.'
