Bond of Fate

by Jane Corrie

  It was at this precise moment that she caught a look of amusement in Leonora's eyes, quickly doused as she met Melanie's eye while she answered a question put to her by Julian about currency matters abroad. All the warmth Melanie had felt towards Leonora was dispelled in that one small but telling look. Melanie had felt miserable enough when envisaging the evening before them, but after having her fears so cunningly laid to rest, and now having to face them before an audience treating her as a beginner and just waiting for her to trip up was too much for her.

  Enough was enough, she decided, and thought that they might as well have their money's worth. Suddenly she didn't care, why should she? Julian wanted to make Leonora jealous, didn't he? He had given her orders. He wasn't going to go for her this time for not showing enough attention to the part he had assigned her, as he had back at that hotel on the island when he had accused her of frigidity.

  Without giving herself time to change her mind, Melanie relaxed her body, and she positively leaned on Julian, who, after the first startled realisation of her intention, glanced down at her quickly, to be met by what Melanie hoped was a simpering look of adoration.

  She couldn't be absolutely sure, but she had a feeling that there was a glint of something other than amusement in his grey eyes as they passed swiftly over her face, and his grip tightened and was suddenly released as he got up. 'What would you like to drink, Leonora—your usual?' he queried.

  Leonora nodded. 'Please,' she replied.

  A variety of emotions went through Melanie's mind as both women watched Julian stride over to the drinks cabinet and prepare what looked like a kind of cocktail for Leonora. He hadn't, Melanie thought, asked what she would like, but she presumed he would get her a sherry.

  Deep inside her she felt a sense of pure elation. She'd shown him, hadn't she? And he'd asked for it! There was no doubt that she was going to enjoy the rest of the evening, this time at Julian's expense. He probably had it all worked out. A touch here and there, an endearment or two, not too often, but with just the right inflection in his voice.

  Melanie felt a compelling urge to giggle, but suppressed it immediately; this was a luxury she could allow herself later, certainly not now. Right now she had a job to do. She wasn't normally a vengeful person, but she would never get a chance like this again to repay all those uncomfortable moments he had given her during their association.

  It was her turn now to call the tune and his to dance at her bidding, and how he would hate it! In all probability he would seek an early ending to the evening, and seek the sanctuary of his study to keep out of Melanie's way.

  Her spirits soared a litle higher when she noticed that he had given himself a stiff whisky, no doubt to counter the effects of shock.

  Leonora's quiet, 'Thank you,' when handed her glass was offset by Melanie's 'Thank you, darling,' as she received hers. She got a very sceptical look from Julian's grey eyes.

  The conversation then moved on to the Venice trip that Leonora was taking with Celia, and Julian

  listened gravely as Leonora outlined the tours she had in mind. He did not attempt to draw Melanie closer to him as he sat down beside her again, and although it was hardly noticeable, seemed to distance himself from any close contact with her.

  `You ought to do the trip yourself,' said Leonora her eyes carefully on her drink. 'I'm sure that no matter how many times you visit Venice, you couldn't possibly cover everything. The trick is to know just where to go.'

  Julian's eyes were on Melanie, who had assumed a fatuous expression of adoration as she gazed back at him. 'We'll have to see, won't we, Melanie?' he said.

  Melanie's lovely eyes opened wide. 'Whatever you decide will be fine by me, darling,' she said in a simpering voice.

  Julian, in the middle of swallowing a sip of his whisky, choked, and swiftly directed the conversation to other channels, such as what Leonora was going to do with herself if she had decided to put a stop to her globetrotting.

  Melanie felt like the young lady who had taken her harp to a party and no one had asked her to play. It wasn't quite working out the way she wanted it to. She had certainly been successful in spiking Julian's guns, and giving him a few uncomfortable moments. He was going to have a devil of a job convincing Leonora that the marriage was purely platonic now, and she had no regrets on that score. He would succeed, of course, the word failure did not exist in his dictionary.

  As she listened to Leonora's reply, she paid little attention to it. It was all play-acting for her benefit. Leonora's future was settled, whether she knew it or not, and Melanie believed that she did.

  The evening did break up shortly afterwards, to the

  relief of Melanie. Leonora had an early start in the morning, so begged to leave shortly after ten, and Melanie, not quite liking the look in Julian's eyes as he watched her saying goodnight to Leonora, had one foot on the step of the stairs as Leonora walked to the door. But to her consternation she found her wrist gripped by Julian's strong hand, his body preventing the action being seen by Leonora, who called to him as she reached the door. 'Just a few words, Julian,' she said, as she opened the door and went outside.

  `You stay right where you are,' he said in a low ominous voice. 'If you go to your suite, don't bother to lock the door. I have a master key, and I'll use it if I have to.'

  For a moment, Melanie stood gazing at his tall, straight back as he went to join Leonora, then, as the shock waves shot through her, she hared up the stairs to her rooms, first locking the door then pushing the heaviest chair she could find against it. Only then did she take a deep breath, and try to control her shaking limbs.

  As her panic subsided, so sense regained the upper hand. What on earth was wrong with her, rushing up the stairs like a cornered virgin about to be ravaged? She shook her head, calmly pulled the chair away from the door, and unlocked it.

  Was it wishful thinking on her part? she wondered. Julian Cridell didn't care one jot about her as a woman. The one he wanted was outside with him right now. As for Melanie, she had exceeded her duties, and any moment now she was going to be told so in no uncertain terms.

  Her small chin lifted. Well, she wouldn't be the only one who heard a few home truths. She had asked to be relieved of her post, hadn't she? Ages ago, but it

  hadn't suited his purpose. Perhaps now he would admit that it would have been better all round if he had listened to her.

  She walked over to the window seat, wishing he would hurry up and get it off his chest. Opening the window, she leaned out a little to see if they had finished their tete-a-tete, and as she did so, Leonora's voice floated up to her. 'Look, Julian, I suppose you know your business, but is it really fair to her?' she said.

  Melanie drew back swiftly, and softly closed the window. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes moist, and she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She wouldn't give way now. She would not let him see her like this. Somehow she had to face it out.

  CHAPTER TEN

  MELANIE glanced at the small bedside clock. It was now over twenty minutes since Julian had ordered her to await his return from seeing Leonora of the premises. In all probability he had escorted her home; he must have, she thought, although she had got the impression that what she had heard had been Leonora's final comments on their conversation.

  By the time ten more minutes had passed, it finally got through to Melanie that he wasn't going to make that threatened call on her.

  She had Leonora to thank for that, she thought mistily. She had obviously calmed the savage breast in the way that women in love had done through the ages. She had pleaded on Melanie's behalf, that much was plain, and although Melanie knew she ought to be grateful for the intervention, she wasn't at all. She didn't want to be beholden to Leonora in any way, and she hated the thought that Leonora was sorry for her. Although after that shameful exhibition of hers, it was small wonder that she pitied her. Melanie had been so intent on getting back at Julian, that she hadn't given a thought as to what Leonora wo
uld make of such behaviour. Now that she did, she almost cringed.

  Now she hated herself, Leonora, and most of all, Julian !

  The following morning, Melanie wasn't looking forward to joining Julian and Celia at the breakfast table; in fact, she was dreading it!

  It was Monday, and she had five more days to get

  through before Celia would be off on her trip to

  Venice, after which she would be given her freedom.

  Five days, at that time, felt more like five years to Melanie, as she got up slowly from her dressing table after giving her hair a last quick comb through. It hadn't needed it, but she was just playing for time, and a quick look at her wristwatch told her that she had no more time to play with; she was going to be slightly late as it was.

  Her slightly breathless, 'Sorry,' as she took her place at the table was accepted with a slight nod from Julian, and a smile from Celia.

  `No need to rush this morning, Melanie,' Celia told her. 'I'm playing hookey today. Leonora's taking me up to town with her; we're going on a shopping spree before the trip.'

  Melanie forced herself to look interested. 'That'll be nice for you,' she said quietly, as she tried to work up an appetite for the breakfast Mrs Soames served her with.

  `I shall be going to town myself, later,' said Julian, keeping his glance on the silver coffee pot he was holding as he poured himself a cup,' I'd take you with me, only I'm going to be pretty busy, I'm afraid,' he ended, sounding almost apologetic.

  Melanie could have screamed. This was all for Celia's benefit, of course, and for a man who hated play-acting, he was doing remarkably well, she thought bitterly. She managed to murmur something on the lines that she would find plenty to do.

  `Those letters, I suppose, that you were so keen to get done yesterday evening ?' said Julian, with a trace of sarcasm in his voice, and this time his eyes met Melanie's.

  Melanie met that look and the sly insinuation with

  dignity. 'Very probably,' she replied quietly.

  When they had finished breakfast, a loud hooting in the drive announced the arrival of Leonora, and Celia, with a surprised look at her father, said, 'Good gracious, she's on time !' and made a dash upstairs for her coat while Julian went outside to talk to Leonora—fixing up an appointment for lunch, Melanie thought. He would find time for that, of course.

  What was that to do with her? she asked herself crossly. She was getting paranoid over the whole business, and the sooner she was out of it all, the better for her, she thought, as she made her way to the old nursery. She might as well collect some of the books there and prepare tomorrow's lesson, that was if Leonora hadn't some other occupation in mind for her pupil, she thought angrily.

  She pulled herself up sharply. There she went again ! Leonora had every right to Celia's company; she was going to be her stepmother, wasn't she? For Celia's sake, Melanie knew that she ought to welcome this thought, but it hurt.

  She heard another hoot as she left the old nursery and walked down the passage towards the stairs on her way to her rooms. They were off, and soon Julian would be too, she thought, and was startled to hear his voice behind her.

  `I'd like a word with you, Melanie.'

  Melanie's knees felt weak. So much for thinking that she had got off lightly after her exhibition last night! He had only been waiting for Celia's departure, and she ought to have realised that.

  `In the study, please,' he ordered.

  As Julian preceded her along the passage to his study, Melanie began frantically working out just how she would explain her behaviour. It had all seemed

  reasonable at the time, but looking at it in the cold light of day, she had a lot to answer for, and she knew it.

  However, by the time they were in the study, her thoughts had changed. She was no longer on the defensive. She had played the part she thought he would want her to play. It wasn't her fault if she had got the signals wrong. If he had put her in the picture in the first place, she wouldn't have muddled her lines. She hadn't had much co-operation, had she?

  Julian walked to his desk and settled himself down, and Melanie was reminded of that earlier interview when he had put the terms of the contract to her. This, then, was it! She felt a deep sense of relief. The play was over, and she couldn't say that she had been a great success, but then she had never claimed to possess acting abilities, and if she'd known what lay ahead of her, she wouldn't have touched the post with a bargepole, not even if it meant putting up with that awful Makin man.

  `Did you know exactly what you were up to last night?' he asked in a silky voice, throwing Melanie into a spin just as she was ready to receive her cards.

  `I ' She swallowed, then collected herself; if he was out for a little bit of fun at her expense then he was going to be unlucky. 'I suppose I did the wrong thing again,' she said, feeling her anger well up inside her. 'I thought that was the way you would have wanted me to behave '

  Julian's sharp, 'Why?' cut off the rest of Melanie's explanation, and left her floundering. 'Why?' he repeated harshly.

  Melanie drew in a deep breath. All right, he had asked for it! The thought of her packed suitcase, and her aunt's nice little cottage, bolstered up her courage.

  `I would have thought that was obvious,' she said coldly. 'I rather gathered that you were out to impress Mrs Talbot.' As soon as the words were out, Melanie knew that she had made a bad mistake. She could have put it a bit more diplomatically, but it was too late now, if the sudden blaze of Julian's eyes, making them look like chips of ice, were anything to go by.

  `You did, did you?' he all but growled. 'And where exactly did you get that impression from?' he demanded.

  Melanie decided to go the whole hog; she might as well, there was no going back now. He must think her simple if he was trying to deny this fact, but then her observations would be of no interest to him and she was glad to have Mrs Hardwick's to fall back on. 'Mrs Hardwick,' she replied. 'I don't think she had seen Mrs Talbot for some time, and she wasn't really thinking—I mean, she didn't mean to cause me any worry, and it was too late then to take what she had said back

  `And that was?' Julian ground out.

  Melanie's eyes flashed back at him. He did mean to have his pound of flesh, didn't he? 'That you and Mrs Talbot had been expected to marry—or words to that effect,' she ended crossly.

  `So you thought it only needed a helping hand. Trying to make Leonora jealous, were you?' he almost purred, but he was furious, and Melanie couldn't for the life of her see why, unless it was because a guest at his table had dared to interfere in his private life.

  `I very nearly took you up on that promise in your eyes last night, did you know that?' he said smoothly. But you didn't think of that, did you?' he went on blandly, as if talking about the weather, and Melanie's eyes widened as the implication hit her. 'I would be

  well within my rights, you know,' he added goadingly, `and what would little Miss Prim and Proper have done then, I wonder? Crawled under the bed, or thrown herself out of the window ?'

  Melanie's small hands clenched into fists; she could feel the points of her nails biting into her soft palms. There was no answer to that, and he knew it. Now that he had got that out of his system perhaps he would get back to what was important and give her the date of her release.

  `Nothing to say?' Julian mocked. 'No, I don't suppose you have. I wouldn't advise you to play fast and loose with your next employer; he might not have as much patience as I've had.'

  Melanie's cheeks flamed crimson at this very unfair accusation. 'How dare you?' she said in a low, vibrant voice. Tor my part, I only hope I shall be spared the indignity of ever again having to pander to a man's ego!'

  Now that she had started, she found it hard to stop. She was hurting inside, and wanted to give as good as she got. 'What did you care about me?' she threw at him. 'I was just "available", wasn't I? A little mouse of a schoolteacher no man would have looked at twice, and certainly not you, who could have any woman he chose just
by lifting his little finger.' She paused for breath.

  `I didn't think mice had claws,' said Julian softly, before she regained her breath, but his eyes laughed at her.

  Melanie could see the amusement in those all too knowing eyes of his, and simply couldn't bear it. `That's right,' she stormed. 'Go on, laugh at me! You can have another laugh with Mrs Talbot when you meet her later. At least I've lightened your day!' she

  spat out as she swung around to leave, only wanting to put as much distance as possible between herself and this hateful man.

  Her hand was on the door knob when she found herself swung round to face him.

  There was no amusement in his face now, but a grimness that frightened her, and it did flash across her mind that he might strangle her as his hands framed her face. The next moment he jerked her into his arms, and the word she was about to utter was stifled in a kiss so fierce in its intensity that Melanie could only put it down to another form of punishment.

  When he did let her go, her breathing was fast and uneven, and her hand swung round in an arc to deliver what she had wanted to give so many times before, a hard slap at his arrogant features. But she never made contact, for he caught her hand in mid-air and forced it behind her back, and before she could attempt to bring her free hand into action, he had caught that too, so that only her blazing eyes showed her feelings at this treatment.

  `Where's the little mouse gone now?' he asked silkily. 'I knew that there was a woman somewhere under that placid exterior of yours.'

  Melanie tried to free herself from his grip by moving backward, but this proved to be a mistake, because she found herself hard against the door, Julian's lean, wiry form giving her no escape from his suffocating hold.

  `Will you please let me go?' she said coldly. 'You wouldn't want me to scream and have Mrs Soames in, would you? I shall if you don't release me this very minute,' she threatened.