Darkness into Light

by Carole Mortimer

  * * *

  As she had known they would, her parents approved of their new son-in-law, Danny coming in for a few ‘old maid’ jokes because her younger sister had married before her. It was a light-hearted day, full of laughter and shared happiness. And Danny couldn’t stop thinking about Pierce, wondering who he was seeing today.

  They had parted stiltedly this morning, and she couldn’t help wondering if part of that was because he found their relationship, a constant relationship that he had claimed he didn’t want, too claustrophobic for him after years of transient affairs.

  ‘You’re very quiet?’ Nigel prompted softly on the drive home; the last two days of travelling had finally taken their toll on Cheryl, as she slept at his side.

  She sighed. ‘About the conversation we didn’t get to finish last night…’

  ‘I’m not allowed to finish it, I’m afraid.’ He grimaced.

  Danny frowned at his choice of words. ‘Not allowed?’

  ‘Pierce’s orders.’ He nodded regretfully. ‘And, believe me, when he issues that type of order you obey!’

  She drew in a ragged breath. ‘He spoke to you this morning before we left?’

  ‘Very succinctly.’ Nigel pulled a face. ‘Apparently I’ve been talking out of turn.’

  ‘About his wife?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She sighed. ‘He won’t allow anyone to talk about her, will he, not even himself.’

  ‘Sally was a very beautiful woman, inside and out,’ he told her softly. ‘And her death is a matter of public record. I have a childhood memory of fiery green eyes, black gypsy-like hair, and a smiling, laughing face.’

  Danny sighed again. ‘Her memory sounds too much competition for any woman.’

  ‘Pierce needs you,’ Nigel insisted huskily. ‘He just doesn’t think he does,’ he added derisively.

  She gave a soft laugh. ‘You’re very encouraging, brother-in-law.’

  ‘Cheryl and I have been thinking of making you an aunty,’ he announced conversationally.

  ‘Already?’ she gasped.

  Nigel shrugged. ‘Why not? Cheryl loves children, and I’m not getting any younger.’

  It was exhilarating to see how happy her sister and this man were, and Danny felt her own spirits lift a little, feeling the anticipation of seeing Pierce again as they neared the estate; the happy couple were to leave her there before they drove on to London.

  ‘Mr Sutherland told me to inform you he’s expecting you at the house,’ Dave Benson told her as soon as she entered the grounds.

  When they had parted that morning, it was without making any arrangements to meet in the evening, and she could only hope his mood had mellowed during the day. He was waiting for her in the lounge.

  ‘I was hoping you wouldn’t be too late getting back,’ he said briskly, giving her no greeting. ‘I have to fly to London tonight…’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Her protest was instinctive, and she knew by the narrowing of icy eyes that it was unwelcome.

  ‘… before flying on to Washington, D.C. tomorrow,’ he finished in a steely voice.

  She knew that yesterday there had been no such plans, that the visitor he had had today must have prompted such action. And that it also had something to do with his dead wife. ‘Let me come with you,’ she said impulsively. ‘I’m due for a holiday,’ she added at his suddenly wary expression.

  ‘This will be a business trip for me,’ he told her abruptly. ‘And I never take women with me on business trips,’ he bit out hardily.

  ‘You had a woman with you in Paris.’

  ‘I didn’t take her with me, and that wasn’t a business trip.’

  ‘I wouldn’t get in the way,’ she pleaded. ‘And I’ve never been to Washington.’ She had never been anywhere farther than France, and Washington certainly wasn’t the place that had most appealed to her if she ever did get to go to America. But somehow she sensed it was imperative she accompany him, that he might need her.

  ‘I have several—business meetings, to attend,’ Pierce rasped. ‘What would you do with yourself all day?’

  She sensed he was weakening and she pushed ahead while she could. ‘You wouldn’t be working all the time, and we could be together the times you aren’t. I’ve always wanted to spend a holiday in a Washington hotel bedroom!’

  Pierce chuckled. ‘If you can be ready to leave in half an hour you just might do that.’

  ‘I’ll be ready,’ she promised instantly, hurrying to the door, sure that this trip to Washington would solve at least part of the puzzle about Pierce’s wife.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  FLYING on the Concorde was an experience in itself, Danny enthralled by the way they were travelling so high in the sky they could see the curvature of the earth, Pierce uninterested in his surroundings as he sat back in his seat with his eyes closed.

  In fact, Danny had been impressed at the whole VIP treatment they had received, including the delivery of her passport with its visa minutes before their plane departed.

  She had been surprised to learn they were travelling on a public plane, knowing Pierce owned his own jet. But he had told her that the difference in flight time more than made up for that fact. That he had acquired all the seats in this section of the plane, only half a dozen of his bodyguards seated with them, meant that he still maintained complete privacy.

  Danny found it all a little strange, like being wrapped in a cocoon of cottonwool, but if this was the way Pierce usually travelled then who was she to question it. Their stopover in London had been the same, guards outside their suite all night, several of them actually inside. It had made things a little awkward, especially when it came time to go to bed, and she could understand why Pierce usually made these trips without a woman present.

  From Dulles airport Pierce’s party was driven in to Washington by three long black limousines, Don Bridgeman dealing with the hotel reception before they arrived at The Hilton Towers, their suite thoroughly searched, security guards once more outside the doors, two more in one of the bedrooms, the door to this room closed as Danny and Pierce sat together in the lounge.

  ‘Is it always like this?’ she asked casually, gazing down on to the garden, people around the pool in the humid heat of the day. She hadn’t known what to expect of the Washington weather, but the humidity had come as something of a shock to her, and she had removed the jacket to her beige linen suit as soon as they had left the airport, her blouse sticking to her back within seconds.

  ‘Like what?’

  She could tell he was genuinely puzzled by the question. ‘Don’t you ever wish you could just have some privacy?’

  His mouth twisted. ‘I get that back at the house. In places like this I’d rather take precautions against some nut walking into the room and shooting me just because I have more money than he does.’

  ‘In Washington D.C.?’

  ‘Anywhere,’ he said pointedly. ‘No one wishes more than I do that the world were a safer place, but it isn’t, and only a fool takes chances.’

  She forced a bright smile. ‘This is a wonderful hotel, isn’t it,’ she said lightly. ‘Have you stayed here before?’

  ‘More times than I can remember.’ He nodded abruptly.

  She had found it very intriguing the way they had gone up in the lift to The Hilton Towers, this part of the hotel almost separate from the actual Hilton Hotel downstairs, even a separate receptionist at a desk to greet them as they stepped out of the lift. But obviously Pierce wasn’t as impressed by the surrounding opulence as she was.

  ‘Can we go down to the pool later?’

  ‘No,’ he answered coldly.

  ‘But I’m hot and sticky—’

  ‘Then take a shower.’ He shrugged.

  ‘Pierce?’

  ‘If this is an example of your“not getting in the way",’ he stood up forcefully, ‘it isn’t good enough. I can certainly do without hearing your whining complaints!’ he snapped savagely.

  He was deliberately tryi
ng to wound—and he was succeeding, no softening to his granite-like features even though he could see he had hurt her. ‘I think I’ll go and unpack,’ she told him lightly.

  ‘Danielle…?’He halted her at the bedroom door.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Could the unpacking wait a while?’

  She turned to face him, seeing the desire in his eyes. ‘No,’ she answered curtly, too upset to respond to the invitation. ‘I don’t think it can.’

  She had decided at the beginning of their relationship that she would only take what he wanted to give, but she wouldn’t be treated as a sex object, only accepted as his equal in his bed. His other women may have become accustomed to it, but she never would.

  She had no idea what Pierce did while she unpacked, but rather deliberately kept her mind blank as she worked, lying down on the bed once she had finished, reluctant to join Pierce.

  It was dark in the room when she woke, although she realised this was mainly due to the curtains being pulled at the windows, that it was still light outside.

  It seemed Pierce must have pulled the curtains because she had also been undressed before being put under the covers, the air-conditioning keeping the room cool. She was grateful for his thoughtfulness, knowing that the linen skirt to her suit would have been very badly creased if she had slept in it.

  ‘Awake?’

  She turned over at the husky query, Pierce was lying on the bed at her side wearing only a robe, his hair looking slightly damp from the shower he must have taken.

  ‘You look better.’ He smoothed the hair from her eyes. ‘You looked a little pale earlier.’

  She looked up at him with her heart in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry if I was a nag before.’

  ‘You weren’t, and you know it,’ he sighed. ‘I’m not used to living in this close proximity with a woman, especially one I actually like,’ he added with self-disgust. ‘Living with you is showing me just how selfish I’ve become over the years.’

  ‘Not selfish.’ She shook her head. ‘Just independent of people.’

  ‘Selfish, and damned arrogant,’ he rasped, bending to kiss her lightly on the lips. ‘Order yourself some dinner, I’ll be back later.’

  She sat up as he threw off his robe to begin dressing. ‘You’re going out now?’

  He nodded, selecting the clothes he was going to wear. ‘I shouldn’t be more than an hour or two.’

  It was a strange time of day for a business meeting, but she was slowly learning to silence her impetuous, tongue. ‘Maybe I should just wait here for you,’ she teased, pleased when the frown left his brow and he smiled.

  ‘Maybe you had better eat so that you have the strength for what I have in mind for later,’ he drawled, pulling on a beige lightweight jacket to contrast with the brown trousers and oatmeal shirt he wore. ‘But dress first, hm?’ he chuckled wryly. ‘I’m leaving Dawson and Redman in the suite.’ He bent down to kiss the bared part of her breasts. ‘And your body is for my delectation only,’ he added sternly.

  She put her arms up about his neck. ‘I promise not to do a streak through the suite. But I’ll miss you,’ she told him seriously.

  ‘Keep that thought in mind.’ He straightened with a smile. ‘And I’ll collect on it later.’

  Danny didn’t particularly enjoy the solitary dinner she ordered in the suite. She was unable to persuade Peter Redman or Bob Dawson to join her, although Peter accepted her invitation to join her for a stroll round the shop downstairs in the hotel, where she found quite an assortment of goods in the shops, from sweets to expensive jewellery—very expensive jewellery!

  Pierce still hadn’t come back by the time they returned upstairs, and so she invited the two men to a game of cards, having switched on the television while she ate her dinner and found the programmes as boring as the English ones were this time of year, all repeats of the previous season.

  ‘I don’t think Mr Sutherland would approve of us playing for money.’ Bob frowned, a small man with a balding head, the muscles bulging beneath his shirt giving lie to his initial weak appearance.

  ‘Neither do I,’ she laughed. ‘But it’s boring if you don’t play for something. How about matchsticks?’

  None of them smoked, and so Danny ended up ripping the cardboard matches from the complimentary match-books that had been left out in the ashtrays.

  It was an uproarious game of poker, the two men allowing for her inexperience before they realised she was far from being a novice, winning every hand.

  ‘We had a lot of spare time between classes at college, and what else could I do with twenty-five men?’ she said with feigned coyness.

  ‘What indeed?’ Peter drawled—he was in his late twenties.

  ‘Peter!’ Bob warned softly.

  ‘Sorry,’ the younger man muttered. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, Dan—er, Miss Martin—’

  ‘You never call me Miss Martin,’ she derided.

  ‘No. Well—I—’

  ‘I’m Danny, Peter,’ she encouraged. ‘I was before Pierce and I became friends, and I will be afterwards too.’

  ‘Afterwards?’

  Her mouth twisted. ‘I’m sure you must be more aware than I am of the short life of such relationships for Pierce.’

  He looked uncomfortable about the fact. ‘Yes. But—’

  ‘I’m the same as all the others, Peter,’ she assured him gently. ‘I’m just a little more pushy.’

  ‘I don’t know, some of them—’

  ‘Peter, learn a little discretion,’ Bob told him impatiently. ‘Danny doesn’t want to hear about them.’

  No, she didn’t, not even for curiosity’s sake. ‘I just don’t want you to start treating me any differently,’ she said softly. ‘When I’m no longer with Pierce I’ll still be working on the estate.’

  ‘Won’t you find that—’

  ‘Peter, for God’s sake!’ the older man reproved exasperatedly. ‘I’m sorry about this, Danny.’ He grimaced. ‘Some people have no tact.’ He glared at the younger man.

  Danny laughed, not in the least offended, knowing Peter was just curious, as Bob must be, although he was too polite to show it. ‘That makes two of us.’ She put down her cards. ‘A straight flush!’

  ‘You’re too good for us.’ Bob pushed the pile of matches from the middle of the table to join the substantial amount she had already amassed throughout the game.

  ‘Want to stop?’ She quirked her brows mockingly.

  ‘Certainly not,’ he grinned. ‘I intend winning some of my matches back!’

  For the next two hours the matches moved backwards and forwards across the table—and Danny’s concentration grew less and less. A business meeting shouldn’t take as long as this; Pierce must have been out at least four hours. But he had taken Don Bridgeman and Jerry Adams with him, so he must be all right. She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t have gone to see another woman, so what was keeping him?

  ‘Mine, I believe.’ Peter collected his winnings with a triumphant smile.

  ‘This all looks very cosy,’ Pierce rasped harshly.

  Danny’s face lit up as she turned to see him standing just inside the room, running into his arms, uncaring of his unyielding expression as she pressed her face against his chest. ‘I’ve been worried about you,’ she told him huskily.

  ‘It looks like it!’ He looked pointedly over at the table she had just left.

  Danny suddenly saw what he must see, the cards and three glasses of beer on the table, and she began to giggle. The room looked like a gambling den!

  Pierce gave her a fierce look. ‘I’m glad you can see something funny about this.’ His cold gaze raked over the two men who had jumped to their feet at the first sound of his voice. ‘I asked you to look after her,’ he bit out. ‘Not include her in your poker game!’

  Both men remained silent, and Danny knew they weren’t going to defend themselves at the risk of getting her into more trouble. ‘Er—Pierce…’

  ‘Not that I suppose you’
re completely innocent,’ he added disgustedly. ‘Trouble seems to follow you about!’

  ‘It was my poker game.’ She grimaced.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Well, I was bored, and—’

  ‘You can go now,’ he dismissed the two men wearily. ‘I should have guessed the poker was Danny’s idea; I hope you didn’t lose too much.’

  ‘Forty-eight for Peter, and thirty-two for Bob,’ she drawled once they were alone.

  ‘You took their money off them?’ Pierce sounded disbelieving.

  She shook her head. ‘Matchsticks,’ she teased. ‘Did your meeting go okay?’

  ‘Yes.’ He threw off his jacket, pouring himself a glass of whisky while Danny cleared the table. ‘I didn’t mean to be gone so long.’

  ‘You’re back now,’ she smiled, the room once more returned to order.

  ‘I bought you a present.’ He searched through the breast pocket of his jacket.

  ‘For me?’ she said excitedly, her expression suddenly wary as he took out a square, flat jewellery case. She usually received flowers or chocolates from the men she had dated in the past, this looked as if it were something much more expensive than that.

  ‘I noticed you have pierced ears, so…’ Pierce flicked open the case to reveal a diamond pendant the size of a penny, with matching droplet earrings.

  Danny gasped at the exquisite beauty of the jewellery, shaking her head as she made no attempt to touch the gleaming stones. She had seen the set of expensive jewellery downstairs in the shop, and the price-ticket that had been on it made her head spin.

  ‘I realise you couldn’t wear them while you’re working,’ Pierce derided. ‘But—’

  ‘I couldn’t wear them at all.’ She looked up at him with pained eyes. ‘Putting me in my place, Pierce?’

  He blinked. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’

  ‘I don’t want the jewellery from you, I have no price!’ She glared at him.