Shadowed Stranger
Page 17
She had never felt so miserable, even more so because her parents were disgusted with her behaviour, sympathising completely with Rick.
Robyn went for a walk that evening, her footsteps taking her past Orchard House. The Rolls was parked outside, but the house itself was in darkness. She stood outside for what seemed like hours, but there was no sign of movement inside. She finally had to go home, not brave enough to go to the door and face Rick’s anger.
She didn’t sleep, she couldn’t relax enough for that, and the next week progressed the same way. She did her work, she went home, she even made a token show of eating, and then she would go to bed … The nights were the worst, long black nights that stretched out in front of her like an endless void.
She went to work heavy-eyed and exhausted, although her work wasn’t suffering at all. And while she was the most miserable she had ever been in her life Selma and Alan’s romance seemed to be blossoming. The other couple spent most of their time together now, although Alan still seemed to have reservations about the relationship.
‘You can’t fall in love that quickly,’ he told Robyn during a coffee-break together.
You could fall in love at a glance, she knew that. ‘Do you love Selma?’ she asked him.
He looked away. ‘I—I’m not sure.’
‘Does she love you?’
He grimaced. ‘She says she does.’
‘If she says she does then she does. Selma doesn’t lie.’
‘But—’
‘For God’s sake, Alan,’ she snapped angrily, ‘accept what you’ve got, and don’t throw love away like I did.’
He frowned. ‘That man—’
‘Yes!’ she hissed. ‘I’ve lost him, because I was stupid, as you’re being.’
He looked uncertain. ‘I don’t know—’
She stood up forcefully. ‘You’re stupid, stupid and—and proud. And that pride won’t make you a very good companion for the rest of your life. Think about that!’ She slammed out of the staff-room.
Selma was just coming up the stairs. ‘What’s all the noise about?’ she asked in a whisper. ‘You can be heard downstairs.’
Robyn glared at her. ‘Ask your boy-friend!’ She didn’t attempt to lower her voice.
Selma looked startled. ‘Alan? But—’
‘He’s up there.’ Robyn jerked her head in the direction of the staff-room. ‘It’s about time the two of you came to your senses.’
‘Robyn—’
‘Excuse me,’ and Selma pushed past the other girl, clattering down the stairs.
Mr Leaven was waiting for her. ‘Was that you making all that noise, Miss Castle?’ he asked sternly.
Robyn’s head went back, her anger a tangible thing. ‘Yes, it was,’ she told him firmly.
‘Oh.’ For once he seemed to be unsure of his own reaction. ‘I—Well, make sure it doesn’t happen again,’ he muttered before returning to his desk.
The anger instantly left her. She was just so tired, she wanted Rick so much, and she knew that he had put her firmly out of his life.
No one in her family had seen or heard from him since last Sunday. He hadn’t been into the shop, and he hadn’t been seen about the village either. Robyn walked past the house most evenings, and each night it was the same, the Rolls parked outside but no sign of life inside the house.
She was glad when it was time to go home that evening, inwardly groaning when Alan and Selma joined her in the staff-room. It was too much to hope that she could escape without further reference to this morning.
‘You’re right, Robyn,’ Alan said softly. ‘I have been behaving stupidly.’ His arm was about Selma’s shoulders. ‘We may not land up together, but we know that we love each other here and now.’
‘I’m glad,’ she said, and meant it, sure that this couple would indeed ‘land up together’.
The bright sunshine outside did nothing to alleviate her own mood of depression as she walked to the bus-stop with her head down, her bicycle once more off the road.
She was so intent on the pavement that she walked straight into the person walking along in the opposite direction. ‘I—Brian!’ Her eyes widened with recognition.
‘None other,’ he grinned.
She frowned. ‘You don’t seem surprised to see me.’
‘I’m not.’ He took hold of her arm. ‘I’ve come to give you a lift home.’
Robyn let him bundle her into his low sports car. ‘But I—’ she turned to face him as he climbed in beside her. ‘How are you here?’ she asked dazedly.
He glanced sideways at her as he moved the car out into the traffic. ‘The how is obvious.’ He looked pointedly at the car. ‘It’s the why that’s going to take a little explaining.’
‘All right,’ she nodded. ‘Why?’
Brian grimaced. ‘I had a feeling you would say that.’
‘Well?’ she prompted.
‘Patience,’ he sighed. ‘Did no one ever tell you it’s a virtue?’
Her mouth twisted. ‘Not that I can ever remember, no.’
‘Then maybe they should have done. Okay,’ he grinned at her impatience, ‘I’m here visiting my aunt and uncle, so I called round to see Oliver.’
Robyn swallowed hard, looking down at her hands. ‘How—’ she cleared her throat, ‘how is he?’
‘Physically or mentally?’
‘And you say you don’t want to be a doctor!’
‘I don’t. And I’m not going to be. I like drama school.’ He grinned. ‘I like some of the girls even better.’
She quirked an eyebrow. ‘And what does Trudi think of that?’
He frowned. ‘Who? Oh—oh, Trudi,’ he dismissed. ‘We finished ages ago. It’s Amy now.’
Robyn’s mouth twisted. ‘I’m glad I didn’t cause any lasting damage to your heart! It’s all right,’ she spluttered with laughter at his woebegone expression, ‘I was only teasing.’
‘Well, don’t—I was very fond of you. I still am, which is why I think you and Oliver should try and sort yourselves out.’
She looked away. ‘There’s nothing to sort out.’
‘I happen to think there is. And to prove it …’ he drove straight past the shop, turning into the driveway of Orchard House, ‘I’m going to deposit you on Oliver’s doorstep.’ He parked the car outside the house.
She shook her head. ‘It won’t do any good.’
‘On the contrary,’ he got out, pulling her with him, ‘it will make you face each other.’
‘That won’t do any good either,’ she said tightly. ‘He doesn’t want to see me.’
‘That’s all you know,’ Brian scorned. ‘Believe me, he wants to see you—even if he doesn’t realise it.’ He knocked firmly on the door.
Robyn hung back. ‘Oh, Brian, I—’ She broke off as the door was wrenched open, to reveal a darkly scowling Rick standing in the doorway. He looked as unhappy as she did! ‘Oh, Rick!’ she choked.
Brian frowned. ‘I don’t know who Rick is, but I’ve bought you a present, Oliver.’ He pushed Robyn towards the other man before striding back to his car, accelerating away with a wave of his hand. ‘Invite me to the wedding.’
How had Selma described it, ‘devouring her with his eyes’? Yes, that was it, and he was doing it again now. ‘Oh, Rick,’ she breathed raggedly, ‘I love you. I love you so!’ She took a tentative step towards him.
He met her half way, pulling her so tightly into his arms she thought he would squeeze all the breath out of her. ‘I love you too, you crazy mixed-up child,’ he groaned into her throat. ‘I’ve been wanting all week to come and apologise,’ he punctuated each word with a kiss, his lips fevered over her glowing love-drugged features.
‘You apologise?’ She pulled back to see his face, seeing only love there, all the love she could ever want or need. ‘I was the one who didn’t trust you, who—’
‘How could you trust me?’ he interrupted, taking her inside the house and closing the door, instantly pulling her back into his arms. �
��I’d never told you anything about myself accept that I wanted you, even my name wasn’t really my name. And yet still you loved me, you brave darling. I went down to the shop this morning and had a long talk with your parents,’ he added softly.
‘You did?’ her eyes were wide.
‘I did,’ he nodded. ‘I couldn’t take being away from you any longer. I asked their permission to marry you.’
‘And?’ she asked excitedly.
He shrugged. ‘They said yes—if you’ll have me. I was coming round this evening to ask you if you will. Will you?’
‘Oh yes!’ She threw herself into his waiting arms.
Rick hugged her tight. ‘If you only knew how much I love you,’ he groaned, his eyes almost black.
‘If it’s half as much as I love you it will do for me.’
‘It’s more, Robyn,’ he told her seriously. ‘Much, much more.’
She swallowed hard with the enormity of what he was saying. ‘You love me more than you loved Melinda.’ It was a statement, not a question.
‘I was fond of Melinda, Robyn,’ he said slowly. ‘But I never loved her. She was beautiful, and I thought she would make me a good wife, but I never loved her. I didn’t even know what love was until I met an impudent little witch whose honesty completely unnerves me.’
‘Shall I be honest now?’ she asked teasingly, the memory of Melinda firmly dismissed from her mind.
Rick smiled. ‘I don’t think you’d better. I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re going to say something you shouldn’t.’
‘I want to go to bed with you. Now.’
‘You see?’ he moaned. ‘You can wait until we’re married, young lady.’
‘Can you?’
‘I shall have to. No—’ he stopped her talking by placing his lips on hers, ‘I want you to be my wife first. I don’t want anything to spoil it for you.’
* * *
The dinner had been a success—the steak, the wine, the candles on the table, that ridiculous concoction she had made for dessert because Rick had a sweet tooth. Their first wedding anniversary. One whole year spent together as man and wife.
It couldn’t have been better. Their wedding night had been unspoilt, as Rick had wanted it. He was working in London during the week now, but most weekends they spent at Orchard House.
They sat before the log fire, its glow the only light in the room, Rick’s arm about Robyn’s shoulders, his lips nuzzling her throat. ‘I have a present for you,’ he murmured against her ear.
‘Rick!’ She squirmed with pleasure as his tongue traced the shell-like curve. ‘You’re insatiable!’ Her meal had been delayed this evening because he preferred to go to bed instead of eating. ‘Behave yourself,’ she said sternly, knowing that it wouldn’t be long before he carried her upstairs to bed and made love to her, their two bodies entwined in perfect harmony.
He raised his head, laughing softly. ‘Not that sort of present,’ he chuckled. ‘It’s an anniversary present.’
‘But you already gave me this.’ She touched the slender diamond bracelet he had given her during the meal.
‘This isn’t really a present.’ He stood up, moving to take something out of his briefcase in the study. ‘Here,’ he came back and handed it to her.
‘Your book!’ Her eyes glowed with pride.
‘The first copy from the publishers,’ he nodded, pouring them both a glass of the champagne he had produced after their meal. ‘Read the dedication,’ he urged huskily.
She turned to the appropriate page, reading to herself. ‘To Robyn, without whom this book couldn’t have been written, without whom I wouldn’t want to be alive’. She swallowed down the tears, knowing that meeting her had changed the whole character of this book. Dominic, the main character, was originally going to be allowed to die, but after Rick had met her he said that he couldn’t let that happen, that if Dominic loved Barbara as much as he loved her, Robyn, then he would take any chance he had of being with her for always. What had started out as a tragedy had turned into. a tender love story.
‘Darling!’ She launched herself into Rick’s arms, more moved than she could ever tell him. ‘It’s beautiful!’
‘So are you.’ He held her tightly to him for several minutes, finally putting her away from him with a grin. ‘Now I want to know what did happen the night of my accident. Your family seem to have clammed up about it. So out with it, woman.’
‘I—I fainted,’ she revealed reluctantly.
Triumph shone in his eyes. ‘You did?’
‘Yes, I did,’ she said crossly. ‘And you needn’t look so pleased about it. I—I thought you were dead.’
‘My poor darling!’ He kissed away the frown from her brow.
She licked her lips nervously. ‘Rick, I—I have a present for you too.’
‘Dinner was enough. And these beautiful gold cufflinks you gave me—you didn’t have to buy me anything else.’
Robyn bit her lip. ‘Well, I didn’t exactly buy this present, and you can’t exactly have it just yet.’
Rick frowned, handing her her glass of champagne. ‘Drink some more of this, darling, you aren’t making much sense as it is.’
She sipped the champagne to give her confidence. ‘Rick, I’m going to have your baby! Oh dear,’ she sighed, ‘I didn’t mean it to come out quite as bluntly as that.’ She looked at him anxiously.
Her husband had gone very pale. ‘You—you’re having a baby?’ he repeated in a strangulated voice.
‘Yes,’ she nodded. ‘Then what are you doing drinking alcohol?’ He took the glass out of her hand. ‘And you shouldn’t have been working so hard today. How do you feel?’ he asked anxiously, her hand held tightly in his.
Robyn spluttered with laughter at the near panic in his face. ‘How many babies did you say you’ve brought into the world?’
‘Hundreds,’ he dismissed impatiently. ‘But none of them were my own. God, are you all right, Robyn?’
‘Of course I’m all right, I still have seven months to go yet. Rick, you aren’t taking this at all as I expected you to. I thought you would be blasé about it, and I—I’m so excited myself!’
He gave her a reproachful look. ‘You thought I would be blasé about your carrying our child?’
‘Well—yes,’ she admitted reluctantly.
‘Well, I’m not. I’m excited too, overjoyed, ecstatic. I can’t describe how proud I feel of you.’ He frowned suddenly. ‘Do you want me to be with you at the birth?’
She smiled. ‘Well, it would be nice, you are the expert, after all.’
‘Mm,’ he mused. ‘I wonder how it would look for the expert to have passed out on the floor?’
‘You surely aren’t squeamish—’
‘Only because it’s you, darling.’ His arms tightened about her protectively. ‘If anything happened to you …! I couldn’t bear it,’ he shuddered.
‘Nothing is going to happen to me,’ she gently reassured him, basking in the love her husband wasn’t ashamed to tell the whole world.
And nothing did happen to her. Their daughter was born perfectly normally, an instant hit with her father from the start, her blonde downy hair just like Robyn’s, her eyes the lightest of blue, looking as if they might later be the deep grey of her father’s.
* * * * *
Now, read on for a tantalizing excerpt of Caitlin Crews’ new release,
IMPRISONED BY THE GREEK’S RING
After ten years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, ruthless Greek Atlas Chariton is back to take revenge on Lexi Haring—the woman who put him there. He’ll meet her at the altar and bind her to him—for life! But once they’re married the bliss of her sensual surrender threatens to unravel his hard-won vengeance…
Keep reading to get a glimpse of
IMPRISONED BY THE GREEK’S RING
CHAPTER ONE
THE WORST FINALLY happened on an otherwise unremarkable Tuesday afternoon in the middle of a gray and sullen British spring.
Not just free. Innocent.
Lexi had watched the press conference he’d given, right there in front of the American prison where he’d been serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for the murder that DNA evidence at his last appeal trial had conclusively proved he didn’t commit. He’d been released the same day.
She hadn’t been able to turn away from a single moment of the breathless coverage, if she was honest, and not only because every channel was showing the press conference live.
“I’ve maintained my innocence from the start,” Atlas had said in that dark, powerful voice of his that had seemed to come straight through the screen, the English he spoke with both a British accent and that hint of his native Greek as richly mysterious to her ears as ever. He’d had the same effect on her he always had. He filled the small bedsit Lexi counted herself lucky to have in her shabby West London neighborhood. It was a long bus ride plus ten minutes’ brisk walk to the Worth estate where she worked, thanks to her uncle’s continuing kindness to her. And even if she sometimes felt her uncle wasn’t all that kind, she kept it to herself and tried to remind herself of that luck. “I am delighted to be proved so beyond any possible remaining doubt.”
Atlas looked older, which was only to be expected, though no gray had dared yet invade that thick black hair of his that threatened to curl at any moment. The stark ferocity that had always been there on his face and stamped into the long, lean lines of his body was more evident now, eleven years after he’d first been arrested. It made his black eyes gleam. It made his cruel mouth seem even harsher and more brutal.
He made Lexi shiver the way he always had done, though he was all the way on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Her heart kicked at her the way it always had when he was near. And it was as if he was aiming that pitiless midnight stare directly at her, straight through the television cameras.