Substitute Bride

by Margaret Pargeter

  'You didn't appear to be falling in love with me,' Emma faltered.

  'I was fighting it, darling,' his mouth returned to hers and he muttered against it. 'You must have heard how a doomed man invariably struggles! But it was in Barbados that I really panicked.' Ironically he smiled as his hand smoothed her shoulder. 'No woman, certainly not an unfledged girl, was going to take me over! I ran, thinking it was just a case of putting a little distance between us, but instead of curing me, every day away from you only made my longing worse. When I returned I was almost prepared to go down on my knees and beg, but when I found two men fighting over you I was consumed by a jealous rage. There seemed significant differences, too, in both your face and figure. That bracelet, which I was told Miles had given you, was the last straw.'

  It was then that Emma told him about her father's death, and how the subsequent hard years on the farm had made her thin. That was how the weeks of idleness and good food on Barbados had made such a difference. 'I was just getting back my confidence and looks when you arrived and shattered everything,' she sighed. 'Miles and Ben might believe they're fond of me, but I don't think they care all that much.'

  'You'd be surprised,' Rick rejoined curtly, his face darkening. 'I'm sorry, my darling, that I treated you as I did, but everything seemed so wrong somehow. And when I found that damned bracelet I felt like murder! When Veronica confessed this morning that she'd put it in your drawer, it was all I could do to keep my hands off her.'

  'She must have taken it from Miles's car.' Emma frowned, trying to remember. 'Unfortunately she came across us in the shop, just as Miles was attempting to persuade me to have it. When I refused she said something which annoyed him and he slipped it in his pocket.' Nervously Emma hesitated, as her mind dwelt unhappily on that distressing afternoon. 'I felt so mixed up and guilty about Miles that I agreed to have tea with him, in order to make sure he understood there could never be anything between us. He must have left the bracelet in the car and when Veronica arrived at the house shortly afterwards she must have seen it and taken it. Miles must have thought I had. I remember he gave me a slightly puzzled glance. I believe now that was why he acted as he did at Rita's party. He'd obviously decided I'd changed my mind about him.'

  Rick said quietly, his breath warm on her pale face, 'Last night, while you slept and I held you, I suddenly knew you weren't guilty of any of the crimes I'd accused you of. That doesn't excuse me for doubting you in the first place, but I'm afraid I was blind with jealousy, my darling.'

  'I shouldn't have gone out with Miles even once, Rick,' she replied ruefully. 'I was using him, I think, in order to forget you, but I never pretended I felt anything but friendship for him.'

  'I'm glad.' Rick's hand tightened possessively over her shoulder. There have been other women in my life, but none since I met you. Veronica was always running to me with her problems. Occasionally I took her somewhere for dinner to help sort them out, but there was never anything romantic about it. To me she was more like a sister—an irritating one at that.'

  'I was so miserable while you were away,' Emma confessed bleakly. 'I think I was ready to believe you loved anyone but me. And then you talked of getting a divorce!'

  'That being my original line, I felt I had to stick to it.' He kissed her firmly, with a hint of his old arrogance, then muttered huskily, 'There won't be any more talk of divorce, now or ever. You're mine until eternity—and afterwards. I hope you understand?'

  Emma felt fire spreading through her rapidly as his mouth slid to her throat and then the warm curve of her breast. As her arms tightened convulsively around his neck, Rick raised his head and looked at her, his eyes very dark and demanding. She swallowed, unable to speak, but her lips parted. With a muttered groan, his control went and he began kissing her until her passion rose to meet his. Later, when he had gasped out his pleasure against her shuddering, satisfied body, he assured her tensely that he would never let her go.

  Holding her possessively close, he studied her dewy young face, on which the aftermath of their loving had left a soft glow. 'We have at least three weeks here,' his voice held tender menace. 'I hope you're prepared to love me a lot?'

  'Three weeks?' Emma nodded contentedly, unable to think of anything she'd like better.

  'Yes,' Rick growled, with another kiss. 'Larry Turner will stay on Barbados until Gail decides whether they're really made for each other or not. I rather think she'll go to Australia with Rita to keep house for Ben. After they've gone we go back to live at Coral House. I made enquiries, by the way,' he added, 'about your aunt in England. I learnt that the farm has been sold and she's gone to live with her sister. So you have nothing left to worry about.'

  'Only you,' Emma teased, meeting his passionate gaze, while her heart leapt with a warm excitement as Rick outlined the course of their life together. He must care for her a lot to have dealt so firmly with his stepmother and bothered to find out what had happened to Aunt Hilda.

  'I love you,' she whispered fervently, her hands caressing his face, 'and I love this island. I don't think I shall ever want to leave it.'

  'We'll return often,' he promised softly, as her exploring fingers slid to his broad shoulders. 'You're tormenting me, young woman!' he groaned thickly.

  'Oh, darling,' she breathed, drawing him down to her, every nerve tingling at his nearness and the naked flames in his eyes.

  'I'm lost,' he gasped. 'So completely enslaved, I can't even fight any more.'

  'Why try?' Emma whispered shamelessly, as he began telling her how much he loved her, while his hand went out silently to douse the light.