by Liz Fielding
‘I thought so.’ He fastened the pendant for her, while she fitted the earrings. And then he stood behind her, looking at her reflection in the long oval mirror. ‘Mmmm.’
‘What?’
‘I’m thinking about making love with you later, wearing nothing but that pendant, those earrings. In fact I’ll be thinking about it all through dinner with your uncle.’
‘You won’t!’
‘Yes, my love, I will. And now I’ve told you, you’ll be thinking about it too. Every time I catch your eye you’ll blush.’
‘Jack, that’s scandalous,’ she said, laughing, despite the telltale glitter of tears. ‘I won’t look your way.’
‘You will. You won’t be able to help yourself.’ And as if to prove him right she spun round to face him. ‘You see?’ And he kissed her forehead so as not to muss her lipstick. ‘Now stand right there where I can see you while I’m dressing.’
His movements were spare, economical and he was dressed too soon. ‘Do you want me to tie your tie?’
‘Not if you plan on leaving this room in the next hour.’ He slipped into his jacket. ‘Come on.’ He was not particularly looking forward to the evening that had been planned, but he had delayed her as long as humanly possible.
The marina was full of craft that had run in before the storm. Now children ran up and down the jetty, while harassed mothers and nannies tried to control them. Melanie craned to see any sign of a familiar figure. But Jack restrained her when she wanted to run along the decking.
‘You’ll break your neck in those sandals. Come on up to the hotel. If she’s docked Gus will know.’
But Gus was not in evidence. ‘He might be through here,’ Jack said, heading for a door marked “Private”. He opened it. ‘Gus?’ he called.
‘Yes?’ Gus’s voice answered from somewhere within.
Jack turned back and grasped Melanie’s hand. ‘Come on, we’ll ask him.’
‘But it’s dark,’ she said, holding back.
‘Switch on the light, Gus.’
Gus obeyed and lit up a room full of people who with one voice shouted, “Happy birthday!”
Melanie stared, unable to believe the sight before her. Her entire family. Friends. Fizz… She glared at Fizz.
‘You promised you wouldn’t throw a surprise party! We agreed. A picnic on the beach…’
‘I don’t remember you specifying which beach. Honestly, when we left England it was bucketing down with rain.’
But Melanie had already seen Beau and Diana and without hesitation she ran to them both and hugged them. ‘I’m sorry. Oh, Diana I’m so sorry,’ she said. But Diana was holding her and suddenly everything was all right and everyone was talking and hugging her.
Claudia swept down on her. ‘Don’t let this man out of your sight, sweetie,’ she said, eyeing Jack. ‘He is gorgeous.’
She flicked a teasing smile at Mac. Mac smiled right back, sliding his hand possessively about her waist.
‘Don’t flirt with the man, Claudia, one Beaumont is as much as any man can handle at a time.’ He extended his hand to Jack. ‘We missed out on the introductions earlier. Gabriel MacIntyre. Everyone calls me Mac. You’ve already met my wife.’
‘Claudia,’ Jack said. ‘The glamorous sister.’
Claudia laughed delightedly as she took his hand, stretching up on her toes to kiss his cheek. ‘Absolutely gorgeous,’ she repeated. Then she turned to Fizz. ‘This is Felicity, the clever sister.’
‘The clever one?’
Fizz blushed, but Claudia answered for her. ‘She chose not to be an actress, she owns and runs a successful radio station, she married Luke Devlin and she has a gorgeous baby daughter. Girls don’t come cleverer than that.’
‘I’d say you’re running her a close second,’ Melanie said, glancing meaningfully at Claudia’s unusually loose fitting dress.’
Claudia smiled right back at her. ‘And then there’s Melanie.’ She linked her other arm through Mel’s. ‘What would you like me to tell you about Melanie?’
‘You couldn’t tell me anything I don’t already know,’ Jack said.
‘Is that right?’
‘Heather didn’t come?’ Melanie intervened before her sister decided to say something utterly outrageous.
Claudia wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘Heather is up a tree in Berkshire being revolting.’
‘You mean staging a protest, Claudia,’ Mac corrected her, gently.
‘I know what I mean.’
‘Melanie.’ Melanie turned at the sound of Luke’s voice and he leaned forward, kissed her cheek. ‘You look lovely.’
‘Thank you.’ He took her arm, led her away from Jack, from the crowd. ‘I only want you to be happy, you know that, don’t you?’
‘Of course.’
‘I mean there’s no need to rush into anything. No matter what.’ She stared at him. ‘I know Jack thinks he ought to marry you -’
‘Ought to marry me? Why?’
‘Because of all the publicity. Because, well - in case...’
Melanie blushed as she understood the reason for Luke’s unusual diffidence. ‘Oh, I see,’ she said. ‘Well you don’t have to worry. I’m not marrying him or anyone. No matter what.’ Furious with him, with Jack, but most of all with herself, she turned and walked quickly away blinking back the foolish tears. ‘Come on, Beau. Dance with me,’ she said, slipping her hand through her father’s arm, dragging him away from the buffet.
‘What’s the matter?’ Fizz said a moment later, seeing her husband watching Melanie as she danced some silly new dance while her father looked on slightly bemused. ‘You look bothered.’
‘I am. I think I’ve just said something incredibly stupid.’
‘Have you? Well, it’s been that kind of week. Come and dance with me and I promise you, you’ll forget all about it.’ He smiled down at her.
‘Is that a promise?’
Melanie stood it for a long as she could, pretending, smiling, being the life and soul of the party. Then suddenly Diana was at her elbow.
‘This is a bit hectic isn’t it? Come on, Claudia’s flirting with Jack so he won’t miss you for a least a minute. Let’s get some fresh air.’
Mel gratefully followed Diana down into a small garden, joined her on an ornate wooden bench. ‘What’s the matter, Mel?’
‘Nothing…’
Diana put a hand on hers before she could say any more. ‘Why don’t you tell me about it.’
‘Oh, heck, Diana, there’s nothing to tell,’ she said, defiantly. Then a little sob caught her out and her step-mother put her arm around her.
‘Tell me anyway.’
‘It’s just so ridiculous. According to Luke, Jack thinks he ought to marry me because of all this nonsense, all this publicity. In case I’m pregnant. It’s positively medieval.’
‘I don’t know. Marriage may be a touch old-fashioned these days. But its hardly medieval. Anyway what Luke thinks doesn’t matter. What do you think?’
‘Jack isn’t into long term relationships. His first wife died in an accident and he blames himself. Now he keeps clear of commitment, emotional ties.’
‘People change.’
‘Not really. And why should he? He has his life exactly as he wants it. Tidy, uncomplicated. There’s no way I can be a part of that.’
‘Love is certainly complicated,’ Diana said, sympathetically. ‘And you are in love with him?’
She didn’t need to think about her answer. ‘Yes, Diana, I’m rather afraid that I am.’
‘And you want the whole thing? Love, commitment, children, till death us to part?’
‘It’s a lot to ask.’
‘You’ve a lot to give, sweetheart. Come on, dry your eyes. The night is young. Anything might happen.’
‘I don’t think I can go back in there. And I can’t go back to the cottage.’
Diana didn’t argue. ‘All right. Here’s what you do. Go down to the boat, stow away. I won’t even tell your father where
you are.’
‘But Jack will look for me -’
‘I’ll tell him you’ve got a headache and that you don’t want to be disturbed.’
She was still doubtful. ‘I’ll need my things. My passport. It’s in the hotel safe.’
‘I’ll get Gus to give me a hand. Go on now. The Silver Dragon’s moored about half way along on the right. Someone will make you a cup of tea and tuck you up. We’ll be moving out at first light, so don’t worry if you feel all at sea when you wake up. You will be.’
Diana watched her for a moment as she hurried down the path, stopping to take off her sandals as she reached the marina and then running along the decking. Only when Melanie was safely aboard the yacht did she turn around and go in search of Gus.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MELANIE woke to the gentle swish of water against the hull, the flickering light of the sea against the cabin walls and she gave a long shuddering sigh. Last night had been a nightmare. That party, all those people. Jack looking rather grim. Who wouldn’t when invaded by the family of a girl you were having a fling with. A family who expected you to shape up and do the right thing…
She turned into her pillow, still damp with the tears she had shed until exhausted she had finally fallen into a troubled sleep.
Something was digging into her neck. She reached up. It was one of the earrings that Jack had given her and just touching it threatened another deluge. He had promised that he would think all evening of her naked in the jewellery he had given her. Making love with her.
Her knees came up against her stomach as she thought of that, as she instinctively curled up to protect herself against the pain.
There was a tap on the cabin door. ‘Diana?’ Then, ‘Who is it?’
‘It’s your breakfast, Miss Beaumont.’
Beaumont. It was so long since anyone had called her that. ‘Oh, thank you.’ She’d locked the cabin door last night. Now she wrapped a sheet around her and opened it.
A young woman brought in a tray and put it down beside the bed. ‘I’ve got your bag here. I’ll fetch it.’
‘Thank you. Is Mrs Beaumont awake?’
The girl looked at her a little oddly. ‘Mrs Beaumont?’
‘Diana. Oh, never mind. Thanks for breakfast.’
‘You’re welcome.’
She poured herself some tea. Drank it leaning against the side of the yacht, looking at the islands as they drifted gently by. She ate some papaya but couldn’t face anything else.
When was the last time she had eaten properly. Breakfast yesterday?
Did it matter?
She showered. Dressed in a pair of shorts and a shirt that she tied around her midriff. Her face was pale and blotchy after all that crying, but there was nothing that could be done short of a full make-up, and she didn’t think either Diana, or Beau, would expect that.
But she tried to smile.
Diana was being enormously kind. Being miserable would not do and, having given herself a stern talking to, she opened the door and went up onto the deck.
Waiting for her, stretched out on a sun lounger, dark glasses hiding his eyes, was Jack.
She opened her mouth, couldn’t think of a thing to say and closed it again.
‘You left without saying goodbye, Melanie. I knew you would regret that.’
‘I-’ Still nothing. Only a helpless little gesture that betrayed her misery. ‘I needed to get away.’
‘Always say goodbye as if it were the last time. So that if anything happens you’ll never reproach yourself with harsh words. That was the general drift, I think of your argument?’
‘Jack. Please. You must know why I left and I’d rather not discuss it.’ She looked around. ‘Where are Diana and Beau?’
‘Having breakfast at The Ark I imagine.’ He patted the lounger beside him. ‘You might as well come and sit over here. There’s no escape.’
Nothing short of jumping overboard.
He certainly didn’t look as if he’d be put off by a locked cabin door. So she walked stiffly across the deck and eased herself down beside him. He took her hand before she had the wit to take it out of his reach.
‘That’s better.’
Yes, it was. Infinitely better. But then it was infinitely worse too. Because nothing had changed.
‘Now, would you like to tell me why you ran off last night? It couldn’t just have been that terrible surprise party, or presumably you’d have invited me to run off with you.’
‘No. It wasn’t the party that was terrible.’ She paused. ‘Well, actually it was, but I suppose under any other circumstances it could have been fun.’
‘Everyone else certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves.’
‘Maybe I wasn’t in the mood after such a ghastly day. The storm. Finding out about Richard. That horrible newspaper article.’
‘And?’
‘And then Luke said something.’ He waited, patiently, the pad of his thumb gently caressing the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist. ‘He thought you felt you had to marry me. That you felt honour bound.’
‘Honour bound?’
She managed a shrug. ‘Something like that.’
‘That would be because your reputation is in ruins. Your good name torn asunder. Your entire life blighted because we’ve spent a few days together in the sun. That seems a little Victorian. I don’t know why he didn’t challenge me to a duel. Or banish you to a convent.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘You mean your life isn’t blighted? Wouldn’t be even in the admittedly unlikely event that you are pregnant?’
‘No.’ Having his child, she thought, might just be the one thing that saved her. ‘It would be infinitely worse if you married me because you felt you had to.’
‘And bearing in mind my past determination not to become emotionally involved in any way with another woman after the death of Lisette -’
‘Jack please!’
‘- and my well-known success in achieving that aim, do you honestly believe I would do that? Did I race back from that man-to-man stuff with your uncle and immediately offer the emotional sacrifice of marriage?’
‘No.’
‘No. This week has been wonderful, Mel, but no one in their right mind would marry someone they’d only known for a week.’ She gave him a sharp look. ‘All right, a month,’ he conceded. ‘I thought we needed time to get to know one another. Discover the things we had in common, the things we don’t.’
‘You’re right.’ She swallowed. ‘Anything else would be madness.’
‘Madness,’ he agreed. ‘And since we’ve agreed on everything so far, I know you must also understand that the only reason I would ask you to marry me now, or ever, is because I cannot conceive of life without you?’
‘Must I?’ She wished he would take off those wretched dark glasses so that she could see what he was really thinking.
‘Let me put it another way. Just to establish the principles. What would induce you to consider marrying me? Now, or ever?’
‘Just to establish the principle?’ she asked.
‘Just to establish the principle. ‘
‘It would have to be because life without you would be...’ Just living. A life empty of love or purpose. ‘Unimaginable.’
‘Unimaginable. That’s it. So we have love first. You do believe that marriage is important? I know some women think it’s an anachronism.’
‘Marriage is a statement of intent, Jack. A public commitment. A haven in which to bring up children.’
‘So you would want all that? A home, children, a working partnership between -’
‘- two people who care enough about each other to never knowingly cause hurt to each other,’ she finished.
‘Able to give each other space, yet always being there -’
‘- and still, in forty or fifty years time, still being able to reach out for a hand and feel -’
His hand gripped hers more tightly. ‘- a touch of fire.’
/> He raised her hand to his lips and set off an inferno. ‘Well, now we’ve established the principles, I have a question to ask you.’ He removed the dark glasses so that she could see his eyes, know his heart. ‘On the terms and conditions set out above, will you marry me, Melanie?’
Her leaden heart seemed to kick start into life. ‘Can I have that in writing?’
‘In blood if you want.’
‘No. Forget the words. I want it in kisses. From here...’ She pointed to her forehead and he obligingly kissed it. ‘To there.’ She wiggled her feet.
‘That’s going to take some time,’ he pointed out. ‘And I have to go and tell the captain to turn this thing around and head back to port.’
‘Port?’
‘The Ark. Or are you really set on a long engagement? It just seems such a pity to waste the license when Gus has gone to so much trouble to get it. And since the congregation is ready and waiting.’
‘License? When did you get a license?’ Her eyes widened. ‘Before Luke arrived?’ He didn’t answer. ‘Whatever happened to the advisability of getting to know one another?’
‘Oh, that. It went the same way as my belief that making love on a beach was for masochists.’ His eyes blazed. ‘You’ve turned me into a mushy old romantic. So, what do you say?’
‘But shouldn’t Tom be here? Or your mother?’
‘Those are your only objections?’
Melanie held her breath for just a second. ‘Yes, they are my only objections.’
‘Then you’ll be happy to know that they will be arriving on the afternoon plane.’
‘You asked them to the wedding before you asked me to marry you?’
‘I love you, Melanie. I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I think a much more interesting topic of conversation would be where we should spend our honeymoon.’
‘Oh, but -’
He leaned across and placed his finger over her lips. ‘Before you ask, Mike is babysitting your co-operative.’
‘Is he? How kind.’ Then, ‘Oh, I don’t suppose you gave him any choice.’
‘Let’s just say it’s the equivalent of doing ten thousand lines for that revolting newspaper article. Now, where shall we start? You were thinking of Australia?’
