by Sara Wood
Then he moved away and his impassioned assault stopped. Hazily she opened her eyes and her pulse beat more rapidly to see his magnificent body.
She gave a little whimper and ran her hands down her body temptingly, delighted at the way he reacted: straddling her immediately and thrusting deeply. Jade sank into him, filling herself as if yesterday had never been, fighting, loving, demanding, and finally calling his name as he had predicted, over and over again till she was fulfilled and snuggling down in the crook of his arm.
A little later he carried her into her bedroom and made love to her again, tenderly, and then a third time with a great leisure and much mutual exploration, introducing her to new delights on each occasion. Jade could no longer stay awake, but fell asleep still linked with him.
A pattern emerged in their relationship. They met at the manor and worked soberly, with Jade intending to reject him outright if he lifted a finger to her. Gradually, during the morning, she would be beguiled by his common sense and efficiency and the easy way they communicated. Then the tension between them would rise until her body was humming from it and she was desperately trying to make herself leave, knowing that she wouldn't.
He would make love to her, fiercely, passionately, with a kind of desperate fury that terrified her when he had finished and lay beside her, staring blankly at the ceiling. Once he forgot to take the phone off the hook because he had reacted so quickly to a look she had flashed him from under her lashes, and she'd had to endure his velvet voice soothing some hysterical female while he crushed her with his body and refused to let her up.
Jade hated herself sometimes, but when he gave her a certain look, or his fingers brushed her breast, she melted. And it was the same for him. They set each other alight as a match to a candle, and it seemed that the flame between them was not to be extinguished.
If that was all, maybe she could have borne it more easily, but they ignited each other in more than sex. Jade found herself inventing more things for them to discuss, and she was aware that Dane often extended discussions—partly to torment her and partly for the pleasure of her company.
Their relationship would have been perfect if it hadn't been for his womanizing. It didn't stop. Several times he put off meetings, saying he had to go to London, and came back too exhausted to make love to her the next day.
Jade was in a paroxysm of jealousy then. And twice he had suggested she didn't call round because one of his authors was staying the night. When she looked at him balefully, he stared straight back.
'I am what I am,' he had said quietly. 'Accept that and don't try to tie me down.'
The next time they met it seemed he could hardly wait for her to walk through the door before he was pushing her against it, his mouth devouring hers hungrily. He took her then and there, without undressing, without preliminaries, and, although Jade enjoyed every wild, uncontrolled second, she was left with a fear that this kind of intensity couldn't last.
By the time the arrangements for the Garland Day were almost completed, he had made love to her in most rooms in the house—except his bedroom.
They had finished marking the name-badges for the stewards who would man the car park, when Dane leaned back in his chair and Jade's heartbeat began to race in anticipation.
'I want you to sleep with me tonight,' he said quietly.
'Yes.' How could she refuse him?
'No. I mean properly. In my bed, in my bedroom.'
Her head snapped up in fright. 'No! I won't!' She got up to go, to escape the idea.
'Jade,' he said in a menacing tone, 'if you leave now, then consider our relationship at an end. I'd hoped…' He passed a weary hand over his jaw. 'Hell, I don't know what I hoped. But I did think you'd get over…' His eyes flashed angrily as she flinched.
'I just can't,' she said in a whisper, miserable to see him so hurt and so furious. His pride must be wounded, she thought. But she dared not let him know she was completely his—he'd treat her like dirt. It was bad enough now, when he was still trying to win her over. What would it be like if he was sure of her?
'If you won't live with me properly, Jade, then I think we'd better stop torturing ourselves. I don't want to hurt you any more. I was a fool to think I could make you forget him. Just do me a favour and keep well away, will you?'
She looked in anguish at his tormented face. It was better this way. He thought she had missed the pleasure of sex and had given herself to him on those terms only. Perhaps, she thought bitterly, he might reflect on how it felt to be used, next time he turned for a few hours' delight from some unsuspecting woman.
'Goodbye, Dane,' she croaked.
His eyes glittered at her for a moment, then as she left the room she heard the table overturn violently. She faltered, but then continued to walk away, hardly able to breathe from the choking emotions.
Like remote strangers, they supervised the setting up of the marquee and the installation of the tables and chairs from the village hall. On the Saturday morning, the exhibits were arranged and Jade was amazed at how smoothly everything went. Normally there was chaos, with people losing their tempers in the summer heat and under the stress of competing. This year, Dane changed all that. He seemed to be everywhere, always speaking softly and reasonably, taking every problem and deflecting it, dealing with it, always reliable and steady.
'Dane.' She had a problem now, and had automatically turned to him. 'One of the judges has made some rather acerbic comments to one of the dahlia competitors. He's threatening to take his display away. Do you think…'
'Sure,' he said briskly. 'George!' he smiled a greeting at the competitor, who was bearing down on them, the judge hurrying behind in an evidently bristling manner, intending to put his side of the story.
'This… this idiot here, who's probably never even staked a dahlia, let alone—'
'Mr King, if I'm not to be allowed to judge without—'
'Now, look,' said George, belligerently, 'I've been growing dahlias, man and boy—'
'Let's go and have a beer in the beer tent,' said Dane, his strong arms taking hold of the two men in a friendly but firm way. 'You can tell me your side of this, George, and…' They disappeared into the tent. Jade heard raised voices for a moment and a quieter, soothing one, and then a general murmur. After a while, all three men came out laughing.
'How did you do that?' she asked in amazement as George and the judge strode away to the marquee. 'That judge has always been difficult.'
Dane smiled. 'Unashamed bribery,' he said. 'And a few white lies. I looked all puzzled to find the judge doing the dahlias, when I'd intended he should act as supervisory judge this year. Obviously my letter hadn't reached him.'
'What letter? We didn't… you fraud!' she giggled.
'I know,' he admitted. 'You had warned me about him. I couldn't tell him we didn't want him any more, he looks forward to this so much in his retirement. He reads up all his old text books and so on for weeks beforehand.'
'That was nice of you,' said Jade impulsively. 'So George was mollified?'
'Well, I persuaded the judge to praise his exhibit and they started talking about collarettes, double-show and disbudding and I bowed out.'
As Jade laughed, there was a yell and a crunching sound. Dane was half-way across the arena by the time she had registered that one of the ponies had taken fright at one of the rehearsing motor mowers and backed into a crucial support for the marquee. She ran over to find Dane taking the strain of the ominously cracking pole and calmly organising men to haul a long section of scaffolding into place as a temporary measure.
'Well done. A bit to the left. Charlie, put your shoulder against the strut. Good. Gently, now. OK.'
'It's holding,' said Charlie. 'You can let go now, Dane.'
'We'll get it splinted first,' he said. 'Find a steel pole, one off the end section of the judge's stand. We can rearrange that after.' He saw Jade nearby, watching him with serious eyes. 'And I thought life in the country was peaceful,' he said ruefull
y. 'This is one excitement after another!'
She didn't answer. It was too heartwrenching, seeing him so calm, so resourceful, so much in command of everyone, averting crises as if he'd been born to do so. Her love for him swamped her, and she walked out without acknowledging his friendly overture.
All those involved in the morning preparation had a snack lunch provided by caterers at Dane's expense. As Jade sat in the arena, eating the picnic with everyone else involved, at some distance from him, she glumly watched him charming everyone in sight.
Charm. That terrible, devastating smoothness, the easy smile he threw in all directions. He was a compulsive, suave seducer of mankind, she thought sourly.
When the show opened at two o'clock, Jade had no time to think about Dane. She was busy helping out on the produce stall. It had been decided that he was better left free, to roam around and ensure everything was running smoothly and to be on hand for any decisions that needed taking, but Jade hadn't expected him to take his duties so lightly that he found time to wrap his arm around two women and show them the stalls. One of them was the infamous Dodo, the blonde in the diaphanous silk. This time she was in a pale blue shantung suit with enormous shoulders.
Jade's face was tight with tension when he strolled up.
'Oh, look, Dane!' cried Dodo. 'Home-made honey! I must have some!'
'It was made in the garden, actually,' said Jade laconically. 'By bees,' she added, in case the blonde didn't know.
Dane was trying to keep a straight face.
'How about some home-made eggs, too?' asked Jade innocently. 'Hens made them.'
The blonde flushed. 'You know what I meant,' she said sulkily.
'Dane!' Charlie's bellow filled the air, making them jump. He lumbered up and Jade saw the awed look on the two women's faces at his flexing muscles in the tight T-shirt. 'Need your help. Loudspeaker's on the blink and I can't find the electrician. I could shout,' he offered.
'No need,' grinned Dane. 'I can handle it.'
'Oh,' called Charlie. 'The vicar is hurt because no one has thanked him for setting up the clock golf. And we're running out of change. We've attracted a bigger crowd, and it seems everyone pays with five-pound notes or pound coins.'
'Come with me,' Dane said in a confident voice. 'Sorry, girls, duty calls. Enjoy yourselves.'
Jade discovered she was standing like the two women, ogling Dane as he left, and could have kicked herself. Then Soniver made an appearance and greeted the two women as if they were long-lost friends.
'We were just buying some honey,' said Dodo, searching in her purse.
'If it's anything like the stuff Dane kept sending me,' said Soniver, peering at the labels, 'it's heavenly. Oh, Jade! I didn't notice you there!'
'Hello, Soniver,' she smiled.
'This is Dodo,' said Soniver, 'and this is Harriet. Meet Jade Kendall, Dane's next-door neighbour.'
'Lucky you,' sighed Dodo.
'Oh, you don't seem to be doing too badly,' murmured Jade.
Soniver laughed. 'Dodo and Harriet are part of Dane's stable,' she said, as if that explained everything.
'You make it sound as if he's running a stud,' laughed Harriet.
'Isn't he?' queried Jade sweetly.
'Don't be ridiculous. I told you they're two of his writers,' said Soniver.
'I'm sorry,' said Jade politely. 'I don't see the significance of that.'
'It's his house rule,' pouted Dodo. 'He never mixes business with pleasure. It's almost worth getting another agent under those circumstances. Come on, Harriet, let's see if we can find him.'
'Are you saying,' said Jade slowly to Soniver, 'that he never— never— er…'
'Makes love to his writers?' murmured Soniver. 'No, of course not. That would be madness.'
'Why?' she breathed.
She shrugged. 'It's too delicate a relationship. He spends half his time chivvying them along in a very subtle and gentle way, and the other half offering them a shoulder to cry on, or giving them advice, or helping to sort out their lives when they get divorced or the children leave home and…'
'Wait a minute,' said Jade. 'He's a literary agent, not a social worker!'
'Same thing,' grinned Soniver. 'Dane is at the top of his profession and has become all things to all men. And women. He's reliable, Jade, you must know that by know. He's the kind of man women lean on. He is interested in them and their problems, and has a flair for making their lives run smoothly so they can get on with the important business of writing. But you must know that.'
'Why must I?' she asked, her heart thudding.
'Because he's head over heels in love with you and I can't imagine you spend all your time making love and never talking,' said Soniver.
Jade's eyes widened to their full extent. 'I—I—'
'Sorry,' she grinned. 'Dane says I get a bit basic at times. I dislike beating around the bush. I'm going to have a go at the coconut shy. Haven't done that kind of thing for years. See you.'
Jade was left with her astonishment, her mind reeling. Soniver was deluded! Whatever had given the impression that Dane had anything more than a sexual interest in her?
And, come to that, she thought angrily, how dared he tell Soniver about her?
She chewed over the information about his 'stable' of women. Curiosity welled up within her. Suddenly she decided to do a little market research. She called over one of the stewards and asked if they'd man the stall for her. In the background she could hear the music striking up 'The Blue Danube' for the Motor Mowing Musical Ride. She marched to the arena where everyone was gathering and searched out he quarry.
'Hello again,' she said pleasantly to Dodo.
'Aren't they good?' she gurgled.
'I was just wondering, have I read any of your books, do you think?' asked Jade.
Dodo beamed. 'Dorothy Vincenzi. I'm a scriptwriter for television. I write Lovers.'
Jade nodded as a roar of laughter came from the crowd. They were lapping up Dane's mad idea, it seemed.
'So you write that soap opera. It's terribly successful,' she said. 'You don't get inspiration from Dane, then,' she smiled, fishing.
'Only for the way the hero looks,' sighed Dodo wistfully. 'Dane is utterly charming, but utterly unattainable. I've tried. We've all tried. No one gets anywhere.'
'Oh.'
'Satisfied?' grated Dane's voice in her ear.
She started. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you'd primed her to say that,' she snapped, moving away.
He followed angrily. 'Won't you ever see the truth?' he growled.
Jade stopped dead. 'I want to know why you filled Soniver's head with lies,' she said coldly.
'Lies? About what?'
'Us. You told her we've been… we'd…'
'Become lovers?' His face was as black as thunder.
'Yes,' she whispered. 'And you tried to make it acceptable by telling her that—'
She bit her lip, unable to say the words. They meant too much to her to be spoken like this.
'Dammit, Jade, I can't keep on interpreting what you intend to say!' he muttered. 'What am I supposed to have said?'
'She is under the misguided impression that you… love me,' she said in a barely audible voice.
Dane's faced grew cold, his eyes like chips of glass.
'Soniver can come to what conclusion she pleases,' he said hoarsely. 'I told her nothing. Absolutely nothing. I wouldn't dream of discussing my affairs with her.'
'You swine! How dare you call me one of your affairs!'
'Aren't you?' he scorned.
'Ohhh! Why would Soniver say such a thing?' wailed Jade.
'I've no idea,' he snapped. 'Maybe she thinks we're suited to one another.'
'You'd better put her straight,' croaked Jade.
'No! You damn well do it!' he yelled, making people turn in surprise.
'Please, keep your voice down,' she begged.
'I'll do better than that. I won't bother to talk to you at all. Excuse me, I have th
ings to do.'
Blushing with embarrassment that their quarrel had been noticed by so many people, she returned to her stall. All afternoon she smiled mechanically, trying to work out the things she had learnt that day. All those woman could have been just visiting, though it seemed far-fetched.
Yet everyone who had denied his involvement with them—including Dane—had sounded perfectly sincere. She didn't want to think he was telling the truth, but deep down she knew he was. That confused her. She found herself incapable of rational thought: round and round in her head went the knowledge that he might not be a philanderer, after all. And if that was so, where did that leave her?
CHAPTER EIGHT
It was nine o'clock that evening and nearly all the clearing up had been completed. Because his mother and father were helping, Billy Love had stayed and latched on to Jade, doing all kinds of little jobs for her. Both she and Dane had worked as if they had the devil in them—in fact, Charlie had to stop her from carrying the trestle-tables to the truck.
'I can do it,' she said fiercely, needing that strenuous physical effort to dissipate some of her emotional and physical feelings.
'You shouldn't—'
'Leave me alone!' she yelled at the unfortunate Charlie.
'Put it down,' ordered Dane in a voice that brooked no defiance. 'Do you want the whole village wondering why our quarrel should have upset you so much?'
'Upset?' she seethed. 'I'm furious!'
Charlie stepped forwards and confronted Dane. 'You'd better keep out of Jade's life,' he warned.
'I most certainly will,' grated Dane. 'But unfortunately this village is small and contact is forced on us. I don't welcome it, I can tell you!'
Jade quivered with pain. Why did handsome bastards think they could use you and kick you aside?
'I was in Saxonbury first,' she cried. 'Why don't you go back to the streets of London where you belong? The women there understand your kind of behaviour.'
