A Daring Deception (Harlequin Presents)

by Amanda Browning

  ‘You may want to take that back when you hear what I have to say, but I’m going to hold you to it, just the same.’

  Nathan grinned. ‘You always do, sir,’ he returned, sitting back in his chair and making himself comfortable. ‘Fire away.’

  However, having been given the encouragement he required, it was a long moment before Linus finally nodded to himself and began to speak again. ‘What I am about to reveal to you is a secret that has been kept for the better part of fifty years. It concerns an old and dear friend of mine.’

  ‘I take it this old and dear friend is a woman,’ Nathan remarked dryly.

  ‘A lady,’ Linus corrected firmly. ‘In every sense of the word. And before you ask, Rachel, she was never more than a friend, to both myself and your grandmother. Of course there was a man involved— I cannot tell you his name; suffice it to say he was a noble personage of a somewhat obscure European enclave. They would most certainly have married, had that been humanly possible. Sadly, it was not.’ The regret in his voice was very real, and, recognising the implications, Rachel asked the obvious question.

  ‘What stopped them? Were they both married already?’

  ‘He was; she was not,’ Linus amended. ‘Being who he was, divorce was out of the question. The marriage had been a necessary joining of two powerful families. It was not a love match. Though I do believe there was mutual respect, and genuine love for their children, there was no grand passion. My friend and—we’ll call him the Archduke—met by the merest of chances, and fell deeply and irrevocably in love. They were, however, sensible people. Neither given to reckless or ill-judged actions. They had a choice to end the matter there, before getting in too deep, or continuing the romance as discreetly as possible.’

  Rachel was utterly fascinated by this unexpected tale of romantic intrigue. ‘What did they decide?’

  ‘They chose to end it, of course. Too many people could have been hurt. Neither was happy, but they stood by their decision. Their lives drifted on, as lives tend to do, until one day, a long time later, their paths crossed again. It seemed to both of them that fate had taken a hand. Unable to walk away a second time, they began an affair.’

  ‘How long did it last?’ Nathan queried.

  ‘For more than thirty years,’ revealed, surprising both his listeners. ‘Of course the couple were discreet. They had a difficult life, picking up moments here and there, treasuring them, because they did not know when the next would come. Only death could part them, and that was how it turned out to be. The Archduke died not so very long ago.’

  Nathan gave a soft whistle. ‘And nobody knew?’

  The old gentleman’s face took on a grim expression. ‘Just a few good friends—or so we all thought. But it seems not to be so.’

  ‘Somebody spilled the beans,’ Nathan remarked gravely.

  ‘In a manner of speaking,’ Linus confirmed. ‘There were letters.’

  ‘Love letters?’ Rachel checked, with a wince, and he nodded.

  ‘They were written over that thirty-year period, and always kept safely locked away from prying eyes. Unfortunately during a recent party at my friend’s house the letters were removed from their hiding place.’

  ‘What did the police say?’ Rachel asked, naturally, and Nathan quirked an eyebrow at her.

  ‘She wouldn’t have told the police. Police make reports. Reporters ask questions. The next thing you know, the whole story is on the front of the tabloids and on prime time TV.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Linus agreed. ‘After nearly forty years of discretion, the very last thing she wanted was for the whole of her private life to come out. Not to mention how distressing it would be for the man’s family. No, there could be no police, which was why she wrote to me.’

  ‘She wants you to get the letters back?’ Nathan asked in no little amazement.

  ‘But how?’ Rachel frowned.

  ‘The method is up to my discretion,’ the old man replied, and her lips parted on an ‘o’ of surprise.

  ‘Are you saying she knows who took them?’

  ‘The thief was a man called Luther Ames,’ Linus revealed, with such a wealth of distaste in his voice that it was obvious to Rachel he had some prior knowledge of the man.

  She had never heard of him. ‘Who is Luther Ames?’

  It was Nathan who answered. ‘A playboy. A man with no visible means of income yet who always has plenty of money to throw around. His main hobbies appear to be collecting expensive antiques and gambling.’

  ‘He also happens to be my friend’s nephew. He attended the birthday party at her home on the day of their disappearance. The letters were kept in a drawer of the bonheur du jour in her bedroom. Unfortunately she had been called away upon some errand earlier in the day and had forgotten to lock it. Forgetfulness is one of the curses of old age. During the evening she discovered Ames coming out of her room. Oh, he made some believable excuse for being there, but later she found the letters were gone.’

  ‘But the affair ended years ago. What point is there in taking these letters now?’ Rachel argued.

  ‘Because although the affair is over the man’s family are still very much alive,’ Nathan responded grimly, receiving a nod of confirmation from her grandfather. ‘The threat of the disgrace is as strong as it ever was. I take it Ames wants money for the letters’ return?’

  Linus sighed heavily. ‘No. When my friend demanded he return the letters, he said he would—provided she did him a little favour.’

  ‘You mean he’s prepared to blackmail his own aunt? That’s despicable!’ Rachel exclaimed angrily. The man had to be a monster.

  ‘It certainly explains how he manages to always have money to spare, despite his lifestyle. He’s probably done this before,’ Nathan observed bluntly. ‘What are his terms?’

  Linus grimaced. ‘He wants her to use her influence with a certain company to make sure a take-over goes ahead. A take-over which will increase his personal fortune by several million pounds. Naturally, she flatly refused. However, time is running out, and, the situation being what it is, she cannot dare him to publish and be damned. She has to get the letters back, for she knows that if she does not he will use them. For all his charm, he has a vengeful streak if he doesn’t get his own way. She knows it, and so do I. The only sure way of knowing the matter is closed is to take the letters back—fast.’

  At that, Nathan went quite still. ‘And you need my advice as to how to go about it?’ he charged, in a strangely toneless voice which had Rachel glancing at him sharply.

  Linus looked him squarely in the eyes. ‘No. I need you to steal the letters for me.’

  For a moment Nathan simply stared at him in stunned silence. ‘You cannot be serious.’

  Immediately Linus raised a calming hand. ‘Oh, not steal, exactly. Retrieve would be a better word.’

  Nathan uttered a bark of laughter. ‘Steal or retrieve; there’s very little difference between the two. Whichever way you put it, it’s breaking the law.’

  Linus’s gaze narrowed. ‘I never expected you to be so nice,’ he said sharply.

  ‘Nice? I think I’m entitled to be a little alarmed when you ask me to break into Ames’s house and do some thievery of my own,’ Nathan protested reasonably.

  Linus tutted irritably. ‘Don’t be a fool, boy. I don’t expect you to break in at dead of night. I expect you to be invited in,’ he declared. ‘Once inside, you’ll have every opportunity of searching the house.’

  ‘You have it all figured out, don’t you?’ Nathan observed in mingled amusement and incredulity.

  ‘I don’t like to leave things to chance,’ Linus concurred.

  ‘Then perhaps you can tell me how I am to get invited into Ames’s house? Just walk up to the front door and ask if it’s OK if I stay for the weekend? Oh, and by the way, whilst I’m here do you mind if I search the place for some letters you stole?’ Nathan said facetiously, causing Linus to glower at him.

  ‘You don’t have to do anything. All
you will need is Jasmine to run interference.’

  Both Rachel and Nathan blinked. ‘Who?’ they chanted in unison.

  ‘You know,’ Linus snapped tetchily. ‘That blonde woman you’re going out with. What’s her name…? Jasmine, or something equally ridiculous.’

  Rachel hastily stifled a giggle and received a quelling look for her pains. ‘Her name is Jade, and for your information we are no longer an item,’ Nathan replied tightly.

  ‘Then take someone else. Who are you dating at the moment?’ Linus ordered.

  ‘At the moment I’m not dating anyone,’ Nathan said through gritted teeth.

  ‘What do you mean, you’re not dating? You always have a woman around somewhere! Can’t keep your hands off them!’ Linus exclaimed irritably.

  Much to Rachel’s amusement, faint colour stole up Nathan’s neck. ‘Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t have one. I had no idea it would be required.’

  Linus’s fingers tapped out a staccato sound of annoyance on the desktop. ‘Then you’d better go out and get one! Damned quickly too!’

  A muscle ticked in Nathan’s jaw, and Rachel watched it in fascination. ‘Does she have to be blonde, or will any colour do?’

  ‘Of course she has to be blonde. Ames has a thing for blondes. He likes them decorating up his house, apparently. Curse your fickle heart, Nathan. You’re putting the whole plan in jeopardy. There are three real passions in Ames life: blondes, antiques and gambling, and you and your girlfriend were to supply two of them. A double entrée into his house. But you need to catch his eye. I understand Ames is going to be in his American home at Lake Tahoe this weekend, and I had everything planned for then. He’s bound to keep the letters close to him, and who knows when we’ll get another opportunity like this? You’d better go out and pick up the first blonde you meet.’

  The outrageous suggestion appeared to echo round the room, and Rachel thought Nathan was in imminent danger of exploding, he was so furious. However, with a monumental effort of will, he forced himself to relax. ‘For your information, I do not pick up women off the streets.’

  The two men stared each other out for what seemed like ages, then Linus grunted. ‘You don’t, eh?’

  Nathan crossed his arms and shook his head emphatically. ‘No.’

  Linus sank back in his seat with a heavy sigh. ‘Then Lord knows what’s to be done.’ he declared morosely, upon which Nathan closed his eyes for a second.

  Rachel leaned over and placed her hand over her grandfather’s. ‘We’ll think of something, Grandfather,’ she murmured consolingly, and felt rather than saw Nathan’s head turn towards her.

  ‘I must be mad to suggest it, but this whole situation has a ring of insanity about it. If you can spare her, I’ll take Rachel.’

  Rachel very nearly fell off her chair in shock. She gasped, fish-like, for a moment before a word passed her lips. ‘What?’ she squawked incredulously. He couldn’t have said what she thought he had.

  Linus was as surprised as she, and his response was to look her over critically. ‘Of course I can spare her, but…Rachel hardly fits the bill,’ he concluded doubtfully, bringing colour to her cheeks and a flash of fire to her eyes.

  ‘What does that mean, exactly?’ she demanded in outrage, her feminine pride tweaked by the implied criticism.

  The old man’s expression was regretful. ‘Forgive me, Rachel, but I only have to look at you to see the problem. You’re blonde, certainly, but far too intelligent. I’m glad to say not Ames’s type at all,’ he replied gently, and she did a rapid mental review of herself.

  She could see what he meant. She wore suits because they were comfortable to work in. Her long blonde hair she kept tied back in a knot at the nape of her neck because she hated it falling over her face whilst she worked. Last, but not least, she wore glasses for all the close work she did on the computer. All in all, Rachel was not the blowsy blonde type that Luther Ames apparently went for in a big way. Which was just as well, really, because he didn’t sound like a man she would want to get to know.

  ‘I agree she doesn’t look the type now, but she could be made to be,’ Nathan put in quietly, sending a shock wave through her system. What on earth did he mean by that?

  Linus frowned. ‘I admit the potential is there, and Rachel is a quick study, but she’s no actress, Nathan.’

  Nathan was watching Rachel, a calculating look in his eye. ‘Oh, I don’t believe it would take long to make her convincing.’

  ‘You think not?’

  ‘Trust me. It can be done with very little time or effort.’ Nathan declared confidently, bringing her eyes to his face.

  There was a certain something in his expression which made her frown and go still. She tried to read his thoughts, but it was as if a wall had gone up. Confused, and vaguely unsettled, she finally found her voice. ‘Just a second. Will you please stop talking about me as if I weren’t here? Time is irrelevant. I have no intention of going anywhere.’

  ‘But I’m counting on you, Rachel!’ Linus exclaimed in disappointment. ‘There’s no time to find somebody else.’

  Whilst she hated the thought of letting her grandfather down, this was way beyond her agreement to help him in his time of need. ‘I’m sorry, Grandfather, but I simply can’t do what you’re asking. Even if I could just drop everything and fly to America, leaving my business to sink or swim—which I can’t—you were quite right. What you need is a femme fatale, and that just isn’t me.’ Not that she didn’t know how to be, but that was another story.

  ‘On the contrary,’ Nathan cut in softly. ‘With a little make-up and the right clothes I can see you holding your own with the best of them in the playgrounds of the rich. Places like Tahoe or…Cap d’Antibes, for instance.’

  The pause was infinitesimal, but it registered on Rachel, who blinked in yet more confusion. Why had he mentioned Cap d’Antibes in that strange tone of voice? And just what was that jibe about the playgrounds of the rich? What on earth was he suggesting? Yes, she had been there, but only once, and the circumstances had been extraordinary. She looked at him sharply, but before she could demand an explanation, Linus spoke.

  ‘Thank goodness that’s one problem solved. You’ll take Rachel with you. If the whole mess can be sorted just as easily, we’ll be laughing. Now, I’ve booked two seats on the midday flight to Tahoe tomorrow, and a suite at the Tahoe Caesar Hotel. The rest will be up to you.’

  Rachel could feel control of the situation slipping out of her hands. ‘Just a minute,’ she protested. ‘I haven’t agreed to go.’

  ‘Of course you’ll go, my dear. Nathan needs you.’

  If he thought that would persuade her, he was mistaken. She stood up quickly, the better to enforce her stance. ‘I’m sorry, but it’s quite out of the question.’

  Nathan rose too, reaching out to take her arm in a deceptively firm grip. ‘Don’t worry, Linus, it’s just stage fright. She’ll go,’ he declared unilaterally, and looked down at her with a clear message in his eyes for her not to argue. ‘Let’s talk it over, shall we?’ he suggested mildly, but she knew it for the order it was, and bridled.

  Yet, however fuming she might be, she was unwilling to cause a scene in front of her grandfather, and set her jaw firmly. ‘Very well,’ she agreed frostily, determined to stick to her guns. ‘We’ll talk, but I’m telling you now, you’re wasting your time.’

  ‘That remains to be seen, sweetheart,’ Nathan murmured softly as he gently but firmly ushered her from the room.

  CHAPTER TWO

  NATHAN strode down the passage to the lounge, with scant care that she virtually had to jog to keep up with him, and urged her inside. The second the door closed behind them Rachel jerked herself free from his hold and turned on him.

  ‘Let me make myself quite clear. We have nothing to talk about. I’m not going with you, and you’ll have to explain that to my grandfather,’ she insisted, half turning back to the door. Nathan promptly stepped into her path, preventing her intended departure.
‘Get out of my way,’ she ordered curtly, but he shook his head.

  ‘I wouldn’t be so hasty if I were you, sweetheart. Sit down. We might as well be comfortable whilst we talk,’ he suggested, following his own advice by taking a seat on the couch.

  Rachel stood her ground. She wasn’t going to sit as she had no intention of staying. ‘How many times do I have to tell you there’s nothing to talk about? I have a business to run, and I can’t just walk away from it at the drop of a hat. There’s nothing you can say that will make me change my mind.’

  ‘Not even Cap d’Antibes?’ he challenged sardonically, and the way in which he said it had her breath catching in her throat even as she stared at him blankly.

  ‘You mentioned the resort before,’ she said, confused, spreading her hands to underline her incomprehension. ‘I don’t—’

  ‘Don’t what…? Remember?’ Nathan supplied before she could finish, steepling his fingers and watching her over the top of them. ‘Strange, I thought you had an excellent memory. It’s one of the reasons your grandfather thinks so highly of you.’

  Totally confused now, because he sounded so certain, Rachel placed a steadying hand on the back of the nearest chair. She had no idea what was going on here, but the undercurrent swirling about her made her want to shiver in purely primitive reaction.

  ‘I was going to say I don’t understand,’ she ground out pointedly. ‘All I know is you’re talking in riddles and I simply don’t follow you. Why don’t you just say whatever it is you intend to?’ she advised without preamble, but for all the notice he took of it, she might have saved herself the effort. Nathan wasn’t about to be rushed.

  ‘I can see how you might want to forget. Allow me to refresh your memory of the long hot summer you spent in the South of France three years ago.’

  Surprise must have been writ large on her face as a glimmer of light appeared. It was three years ago that she had been in Antibes, but it hadn’t been for the whole summer, and neither had it been a holiday. Far from it. The real surprise was what he appeared to be suggesting.