Persuade Me

by Juliet Archer

  With a sigh of resignation, Anna knelt down to retie her shoelace. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to take Charles to one side and tell him to get his act together – for the children’s sake, at least. How dare he kiss her when she was asleep, and in front of Ollie?

  As the others waited outside, the clean country air carried their voices to her – Lou and Henrietta’s giggles, Charles and Mona’s bickering. And Rick? He’d be shifting from foot to foot, anxious to get moving and work off that huge lunch. In France he’d wanted to walk everywhere; and that’s what they’d done, holding hands, talking, kissing …

  A sudden crowing laugh behind her, a child’s weight pressing down on her back, hot little hands round her neck in a boisterous stranglehold.

  ‘Me go with Tee-Anna!’

  Hard to speak, need to loosen Harry’s grip–

  And then, cool fingers on her neck – the slightest, lightest touch – and Harry’s hands were prised away.

  ‘No, Harry.’ Rick’s voice, stern, uncompromising. ‘Let’s go and find your grandma.’

  A grateful glance upwards – and there was Rick towering over her, Harry penned in his arms, a smile softening his words as he looked at the little boy. Harry offered no resistance, for once stunned into wide-eyed silence.

  They’d gone before she could croak a thank you.

  Hard to speak, still; and now hard to breathe. Hard to forget a lover’s touch. Not the brief, business-like contact of a minute ago, but those tender caresses from the past.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Rick held Harry close while he headed towards the kitchen. Although he told himself it was to keep the child safe, he was vaguely aware of another reason.

  Something to do with Anna.

  A moment ago, this little boy’s hands had been clasped around her neck – a part of her anatomy that, long ago, Rick had found irresistible. Now the same small stubby fingers were splayed like stars on his chest. Next to his heart, ironically enough. A heart that had once been hers …

  The child stirred in his arms, brought him back to the present. ‘It all happened long before you were born,’ he said; and Harry stared solemnly up at him, as if he understood this was no laughing matter.

  By now they’d arrived at a kitchen full of dirty dishes, but empty of people.

  ‘Bet Grandma’s in the garden,’ Rick went on. He bloody well hoped she was; then he could rejoin the others without going back through the house and having another close encounter in the hall.

  Because, actually, it wasn’t meant to be like this; it wasn’t meant to be like this at all.

  He’d bought a whole set of expensive clothes, invested in the Jag and a driver, so that he’d look the part of a man who’d made it, big time. And as long as that information reached a certain corner of Somerset, via The Times, or the TV, or even Snobs & Knobs – if such a magazine existed, her father was bound to read it – he would be satisfied. And yes, he’d prepared himself for the possibility of Anna herself turning up at one of his book signings; but he was sure he’d be able to cope with a ten-second meeting in a public place.

  Instead, he’d been suffocating in the same room as her for over an hour, picking his way through a conversational minefield that was obvious to no one except her, stomaching the realisation that she was sleeping with her brother-in-law …

  ‘Tee-Anna hurt?’ Ah, another of Harry’s penetrating questions; the sort that could be answered in three words or three thousand, depending on how you were feeling.

  Rick paused by the half-glazed door into the walled garden. Hallelujah, there was Barbara settling Ollie on a sunlounger; he’d leave Harry with her and simply follow the gravel path out of the garden and round to the front of the house.

  ‘Aunty Anna’s fine,’ he said briskly. He opened the door, then hesitated. How the hell did he know? He forced his brain to rewind. OK, during the meal she’d been subdued, but that was understandable around the over-exuberant Musgroves. And at one point she’d been upset, he could tell; although it gave him no pleasure to see how hard his remarks had hit her.

  On the whole, though, she seemed fine – in spite of Charles’s pathetic attempt to cover up their sordid little affair. She just wasn’t the girl he remembered – the girl with golden skin, and ideals to match.

  Difficult to tell which was uppermost, relief or disappointment. Masking both with a nonchalant smile, he stepped into the Musgroves’ garden and delivered Harry safely to his grandma.

  Anna straightened up and leaned against the old oak bureau to collect herself. When Rick returned, she would try to behave naturally with him. Maybe touch his arm to attract his attention; laugh, as she thanked him for rescuing her from Harry’s clutches.

  But the minutes passed and he didn’t return.

  She felt strangely bereft, and began to hope that the others had set off without her so that she didn’t have to put on an act. No such luck; just as she was retreating to the kitchen, Henrietta flung open the front door, announced cheerfully, ‘She’s here!’ and shepherded her outside.

  Anna immediately looked round for Charles; but he was already walking off with Rick, who’d obviously taken the alternative route through the garden to avoid her. Lou and Henrietta followed, heads close together, a ‘Do not disturb’ sign all but visible. This left Mona on her own; as soon as she took Anna’s arm and gave a gloating little laugh, Anna knew that trouble was brewing. If only Ollie had kept quiet …

  ‘If you think you’ve got a chance with Rick, you can forget it,’ Mona said. ‘I just asked him if you’d changed much and he said “Yes, and not for the better”.’ She paused, to let the words sink in. ‘So it looks like he’s all Henrietta’s.’

  Anna swallowed. Was Mona telling the truth, or was she getting revenge for what she would see as her public humiliation earlier? And if she was telling the truth – then OK, Anna was not the same person, and never could be after ten years … So maybe Rick had a point; but it still hurt to hear it.

  Aloud she said slowly, ‘Henrietta? He seems more interested in Lou.’

  ‘I don’t think there’s much to choose between them, as far as he’s concerned. But Henrietta needs to set her sights a lot higher than Kyle McIntyre. I’ve been telling Charles for months, there’s no way she should be sleeping with one of her father’s farmhands.’

  ‘He’s hardly that.’

  Mona ignored this and went on, ‘I’m going to give her a piece of my mind, right now–’

  ‘I don’t think they want to be disturbed–’

  ‘Tough, you watch me.’

  She marched up to the two sisters and wedged herself between them. Immediately, Lou ran forward and slipped her arm through Rick’s; a few moments later, Charles walked purposefully on ahead, leaving Lou and Rick on their own. Anna noticed that he was leading them to the estate farm, where Kyle McIntyre was no doubt hard at work; and, in an instant, she understood the hidden agendas. Charles and Lou wanted Henrietta with Kyle, so that Kyle would stay on as farm manager and Lou could pair off with Rick. Mona wanted Henrietta with Rick, so that she wouldn’t be with Kyle.

  And Rick? What – who – did he want? He certainly didn’t want Anna Elliot. And yet there was a time when he didn’t want anyone – anything – else. Or so he’d said.

  She shivered. The sky had clouded over and the once bright fields and hedgerows were a dull patchwork of greens and browns. As she trudged along the tree-lined road to the farm, leaves drifted past to carpet the ground in swirls of copper and gold. She’d always loved autumn, associating its blaze of colour with the hopes and challenges of a new academic year. But today she saw only the onset of winter.

  In front of her, the drama was playing out, a farce and a tragedy at the same time. Mona had realised where they were heading and was holding on to Henrietta for dear life. Charles came back and tried to pull Henrietta away, his face flushed and angry. Their voices blurred with the breeze, but Anna could fill in the words and detect the fast-burning fuse of emotions b
ehind them. Henrietta slumped between them like a rag doll until, at last, Charles managed to wrench her from Mona’s grasp.

  Anna looked round for Lou and Rick. They were standing a little distance from the road, either side of an old wooden stile set into a high, winding hedge. As if on cue, Lou stepped on to the crossbar at the top of the stile and jumped into his arms. He held her to him, turned his head very slightly and stared straight at Anna. She was too far away to read his expression, but she knew it wouldn’t be friendly. And then – did he make the first move, or was it Lou?

  There was something horribly fascinating about seeing them kiss – as if Anna was watching her own past, brought vividly and unexpectedly back to life. But closing her eyes was not an option; darkness would merely intensify the memories …

  Eventually, she tore her gaze away and stumbled on towards the farm, dimly aware of Charles hurrying Henrietta into the barn some hundred yards ahead. Next thing she knew, Mona had barred her path and grabbed her by the wrist.

  ‘Did you see that? He nearly pulled her arm out of its bloody socket to get her away from me! I’ve had it with him, I really have. I’m going to leave him, I’m going to leave the whole effing family and go back to Kellynch with the boys.’ She dug her nails into Anna’s flesh. ‘You can move into the Manor and make him happy after all these years. I’ll go and tell him, shall I?’ And before Anna could stop her, she stormed off.

  The last thing Anna wanted to do was follow her. Instead, she huddled by the hedge; out of the breeze, but not too close to the entwined hawthorn, bramble and hazel in case she snagged her new jumper. She would stay here until the others returned, then take Charles to one side for a private word; or maybe she’d wait for him at the Cottage. Whatever she did, no one would care. In fact, if she hadn’t needed to speak to Charles, she’d have walked back to the Great House to say her goodbyes and driven straight home to Bath.

  Then, on the other side of the hedge, she heard voices: Lou and Rick. They paused almost directly behind her.

  ‘Looks like they’ve all gone to the farm,’ Rick said.

  ‘Thank God for that. You know,’ Lou’s tone hardened, ‘Henrietta’s been going out with Kyle for two years now, but she still won’t commit. If I were her, I’d have moved into that farmhouse with him and made it work – or at least found out that it didn’t. You only live once, don’t you?’

  ‘That’s always been my philosophy.’

  ‘Right, but it’s certainly not Henrietta’s. If I hadn’t gone on and on at her today, she’d never have called on Kyle. She’s too used to waiting for him to come running, even though I’ve told her he won’t do that forever.’

  ‘Good job she’s got you to keep her on track.’ His voice was warm with approval.

  ‘I suppose I’m a typical older sister. Isn’t yours like that?’

  ‘When I let her.’

  Lou giggled, then gave a little sigh of resignation. ‘I’m not sure she likes me.’

  ‘She’s just over-protective,’ he said, curtly. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if she and Ed were parked at the top of that field, watching us through their binoculars.’

  Another giggle. ‘They’re always out together. Dad says they take a thermos of tea everywhere, like a couple of pensioners.’

  ‘I think it’s good that they enjoy each other’s company.’ He was on the defensive now. ‘They were quite adventurous when they were younger, it’s hardly surprising that they prefer the quiet life. Although you wouldn’t think so, the way Ed drives that old Land Rover – one day they’ll end up in a ditch, or worse.’

  ‘I’d rather end up in a ditch with the man I love than be without him.’ A pause; then, ‘Cheer up – it might never happen.’

  ‘What might never happen?’

  ‘Whatever it is you’re thinking about. And look – we’re in a ditch right now!’ Lou’s voice dropped to a slow, seductive murmur. ‘See if this cheers you up.’

  Silence, interrupted by Lou again. ‘Mmm, that was … What if your sister’s looking at us through her binoculars?’

  His voice, low and ragged. ‘Let’s give her something really worth watching, then.’

  Another silence, much longer.

  Anna tensed; just because she couldn’t actually see them kissing didn’t make it any easier. He wasn’t wasting any time, was he? Shelley one day, Lou the next; unless, of course, the Shelley relationship had been over before he came to England. She chewed her lip, desperate to escape but terrified to move, in case she made a noise. The humiliation of being caught would be worse – if only slightly – than the agony of listening, and imagining, and remembering …

  A sharp intake of breath; then Rick said, ‘No, Lou, the others might come back.’ But his rebuke was gentle, almost apologetic, and he went on in a bantering tone, ‘Here, have a blackberry, or a nut. Isn’t this a hazelnut? You know, most people are like blackberries, they turn to pulp at the slightest pressure. You’re not, though. You’re like this nut, not easily crushed – that’s a compliment, by the way. Go on, take it as a souvenir.’

  ‘The only nuts I’m interested in are yours, Rick Wentworth.’

  And, for the first time in ten years, Anna heard his laugh; deep and rich and unhurried, as if he’d just heard the funniest thing in the world. She used to call it his bedroom laugh, and once he’d asked if that was a threat or a promise, and she’d told him it was anything he wanted it to be. In response, he’d kissed her over and over again; until she was breathless, and he wasn’t laughing any more …

  Now he said, ‘We’d better go and find the others before they come and find us.’

  ‘Actually, I’d quite like them to find us,’ Lou replied. ‘I can just imagine Mona’s face.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘She’s a stupid, stuck-up cow. She doesn’t think Kyle’s good enough for a Musgrove and she’s hoping you’ll be Henrietta’s reason to drop him. So you and me getting together isn’t part of her little plan at all.’

  ‘Hmm, maybe I should tell her I’m quite happy to have both of you.’

  A half-hearted giggle. ‘Don’t even think about it, Henrietta and I aren’t very good at sharing.’

  ‘Is Mona?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Lou sounded puzzled.

  ‘Doesn’t she have to share Charles?’ His voice was dark with condemnation. ‘With her sister?’

  Anna’s eyes widened. What the hell–?

  ‘In a way, you’re right,’ Lou said thoughtfully. ‘Charles hasn’t completely moved on from Anna, although he’s a lot better than he was.’

  ‘Moved on?’ A pause. ‘Were they – did she go out with Charles?’

  ‘Yes, they met at Oxford. Before that, we didn’t know the Elliot girls very well, even though Kellynch is so near. They were either away at boarding school or moving in far grander circles than gymkhana events and the Young Farmers’ Club. Anyway, Charles was in his last year at Oxford and Anna had just started. When she dumped him, he was devastated. He went out with Mona on the rebound and kept breaking up with her. But, in the end, she got pregnant and he married her.’ Lou added dryly, ‘He’s been regretting it ever since, as you must have noticed. They’re like chalk and cheese, he’d have been much better off with Anna.’

  Anna thought that Lou made it sound so simple: a short sequence of cause and effect, with all the heartache erased – hers, Charles’s, even Mona’s, when she first knew she was pregnant.

  ‘Why did she dump him?’ Rick said abruptly.

  ‘Well, Mum and Dad think it was Lady Russell – or Minty, as the chosen few call her. Anna’s her favourite goddaughter, the child she never had, and Minty’s an awful snob. So, although Charles was just about good enough to make an honest woman of Mona, Minty never considered him worthy of Anna.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘Now – what?’

  ‘It seems to me – from everything I’ve seen and heard – that Anna and Charles are having an affair behind Mona’s back.’

/>   Anna flinched. His voice was soft, but she recognised its latent anger; primed and ready to explode, like that terrible scene in France …

  ‘I can see how you might think that, but Anna would never …’ Lou gave a deep sigh. ‘What really gets me is how she puts up with absolute crap from Mona – I know she feels responsible for her unhappy marriage, but still … As for Charles, remember his little confession at lunch? He obviously kissed Anna when she was unconscious with exhaustion – from looking after his kids! But, believe me, it’s nothing to worry about. She’ll give him a pep talk and he’ll be fine again – or as fine as he can be with Mona. And Anna will return home to Bath–’

  ‘Bath? Not Kellynch?’

  ‘She hasn’t lived at Kellynch since she went to university.’ A sardonic laugh. ‘And who can blame her? If Sir Walter Elliot was my father, I’d have run away long ago.’

  ‘But how do you know that she and Charles aren’t just putting on an act, to fool everyone?’

  Anna held her breath for Lou’s reply.

  ‘Because I trust her. I don’t trust my brother in this particular situation, although he’s basically a decent man. But I’d trust Anna with my life.’

  Silence; and this time Anna knew that they weren’t kissing.

  Then Rick said, so quietly that she could barely hear, ‘What a mess.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘What a mess.’ Rick wasn’t sure whose love life he was describing – Charles’s, Anna’s, or his own. ‘Let’s go and find the others,’ he added, forcing a smile.

  After a moment Lou unglued herself from him, but kept tight hold of his hand and murmured, ‘Watch Mona’s face when she sees us.’

  He had a sudden thought: was it Mona’s reaction that he was interested in, or someone else’s?

  As they entered the barn, he had a good look round. Henrietta was in the far corner, talking animatedly to a tall, lean man with wiry red hair – presumably Kyle. In the opposite corner, Charles and Mona weren’t talking at all. Mona was using a stick to scrape something nasty off the sole of her expensive-looking boot, while Charles stood scowling at her, hands in pockets.