‘My God, Ned, they cost a fortune! You can’t do that.’
‘Of course I can…and I shall be paying with my own funds, so you don’t have to worry about Deravenels.’
‘I certainly won’t in that case, and thank you.’
Fifteen minutes later, as they walked across Berkeley Square, Will Hasling suddenly understood where Ned was leading him. To the house he had purchased almost a year ago. It was a beautiful house, tall and stately, overlooking the leafy square right in the heart of Mayfair, Edward Deravenel’s favourite part of London.
‘It’s finished, isn’t it?’ Will said as they mounted the front steps together.
‘Indeed it is, and I think you’re going to be surprised by what it’s become, what I’ve made out of it.’ As he spoke Ned inserted the key in the lock and opened the heavy mahogany door, and stepped into the entrance foyer. ‘No staff, as yet, Will, other than a caretaker who occupies the basement. I haven’t actually moved in yet.’
‘And when will you do that?’ Will glanced around, already impressed with what he was seeing.
‘Next week. Now that my secret marriage is out in the open, I shall bring Elizabeth back to London in a few days. We shall start our married life here.’
‘And what’s going to happen to your house in South Audley Street?’
Edward made a small grimace. ‘I will have to sell it, I’m afraid. I’ve always loved that house…Lily’s house I call it, as you well know. But I’ve no use for two houses, and Lily’s house is a bit too small for me. It always has been really, and now that I’m married it does have to go. I did need this house for the space, so I’m putting the South Audley house on the market next week.’
‘No, no, don’t do that! I have the perfect buyer for you,’ Will told him, sounding excited.
‘And who’s that, might I ask?’ Edward’s brow lifted.
‘An old acquaintance of mine, Bryan Shaw. He’s a wine merchant, in quite a big way, actually. An importer. He and his wife Jane have been looking for a Mayfair residence, and money is no object.’
‘I must meet with them as soon as possible.’
‘I’ll arrange it,’ Will answered, ‘and now, give me a tour of your new home, which is why you brought me here in the first place.’
FIFTY-FOUR
Nan Watkins stood perfectly still outside the library, filled with unexpected alarm.
Neville, a man who rarely raised his voice, was shouting at someone. He sounded furious, more angry than she had ever heard him in all their years together.
Because she detested eavesdroppers she immediately knocked on the door and walked into the library, closing the door behind her.
Neville swung around, glaring at her.
Johnny was standing near the window. He also had an angry look on his face, although he attempted a halfhearted smile, and nodded.
Nan gazed at her husband, received no reaction from him. Quite suddenly, she was afraid. Neville’s face was grim, and as white as death. It struck her that he looked ill.
‘What is it?’ she asked tremulously. ‘What’s happened?’
Neither men answered her, and she came further into the room, then hesitated. She was unexpectedly shaking, and her alarm made her voice shrill when she asked again, ‘What’s wrong, darling?’
Neville was silent.
Johnny, walking towards her, responded in as steady a voice as he could, ‘It’s Edward. He’s…’ Johnny’s voice trailed off; he was unable to finish.
‘What about Ned?’ she demanded, her eyes swinging from Johnny to Neville. ‘Is he all right?’
‘Of course he’s all right!’ Neville snapped. ‘When is he not all right, as you put it. But I’m not all right! He’s done something quite terrible to me, put me in the most untenable situation. I’ve never been in such a mess in my entire career in business.’
Nan reached out, put a hand on the back of a wing chair to steady herself, knowing that whatever Ned had done it was extremely serious and her husband had taken it very badly. Slowly, she began, ‘What has gone wrong?’
‘My French deal. That is what has gone wrong. It will explode later this week, and all because that young pup can’t keep his—’ Neville broke off, cleared his throat, remembering he was speaking to his wife. ‘As you know, I’ve been dealing with Louis Charpentier for months, and I brokered one of the greatest deals in history. The merging of two enormous empires…Deravenels and Charpentiers in France. Louis had agreed to sell to Deravenels his silk mills and his vineyards, and at an excellent price, with the stipulation that once his daughter Blanche was married to Edward Deravenel, he, Louis, would sign another contract which, in effect, would give the rest of his empire to Deravenels upon Louis’s retirement, or his death. It was the dream deal of the century. However, it won’t happen. And all because of that arrogant, pig-headed, sex-driven cousin of mine. He’s a fool!’
‘Oh, come now, Neville, you know very well Ned’s not arrogant,’ Johnny interjected. ‘Anything but, and it was obvious this afternoon that he hadn’t ever understood the ramifications of your deal. He really hadn’t, let’s be fair.’
‘You’ll always defend him, won’t you, Johnny? I’ve long noticed that. But I do believe your loyalty should be given to me, and not to Edward Deravenel, in this instance.’
‘I’m loyal to you both, and I care about you both. I do think you’re being unfair, Neville. It’s so unlike you.’
Neville glared at his brother, and turned away, strode over to the console table, poured himself a brandy.
Nan said, ‘Perhaps you can talk to Edward, darling. After all, he’s a reasonable man. If he’s made to understand, surely he will at least go and meet Louis’s daughter, because he hasn’t, I do realize that. He’s never gone to Paris with you, as you’ve wanted. Now I understand why you were so insistent. Is she pretty? Desirable?’
Swinging around, Neville answered in a clipped tone, ‘Beautiful, young, and Louis’s only child. His heiress. But taking Ned to see her won’t make a damn bit of difference, I’m afraid. It’s all too late.’
‘But why?’
‘Because Edward Deravenel is already married.’
Nan was stunned. She stood gaping at her husband.
Neville took a long swallow of the cognac, glanced at his younger brother. ‘Would you like something to drink, Johnny?’
‘No, thank you, Neville.’ Johnny eyed the clock, and went on, ‘I’m afraid I do have to leave. We’re going to Covent Garden tonight. Emma Calvé is performing in Carmen, and I don’t want to be late for the curtain.’
Neville simply nodded. ‘Thank you, Johnny, for your support. I do know you are loyal, forgive me for implying otherwise. I’m afraid my rage with Ned did get the better of me.’ Neville put down the brandy balloon, and said in a more even voice, ‘Let me see you out.’
‘No, no, old chap, I’m fine,’ Johnny replied, and smiled at Neville. He went over to his brother, put a hand on his shoulder, and murmured softly, ‘Please, do take it easy. Let’s have lunch tomorrow. At Wilton’s? At one?’
‘I’ll be there.’ Neville managed a smile.
Once they were alone, Nan hurried to Neville, and took hold of his hand. ‘Come and sit down, and tell me everything. And who on earth is Ned married to?’
‘Elizabeth Wyland, if you can believe that. He married her in secret. Three months ago.’
‘Oh, my God, no! Not her. She’s quite dreadful, Neville.’
‘Very beautiful, though.’
‘Probably the most beautiful woman in England, if not indeed in Europe. I won’t say the world, because perhaps that’s going a bit too far, but she is a beauty, everyone says so. However, she’s also known to be…well, difficult, to put it mildly.’
‘I’ve heard she’s a bitch,’ Neville exclaimed, almost spitting out the word.
‘Neville, really.’ Nan shook her head reprovingly. ‘She’s avaricious, arrogant, ambitious for herself, her two sons, and her entire family. There are
a lot of Wylands, Neville, and she is going to surround Ned with them, you’ll see.’
‘There’s nothing much I can do about that or his marriage, Nan,’ Neville muttered.
Nan was relieved he was sounding calmer, and she led him over to the sofa. They sat down together; Nan continued speaking in a low voice. ‘I think Elizabeth Wyland is going to lead him a merry dance, she’s not the easiest person, I’m told.’
‘Who is it that knows her so well? Whom you know?’ Neville asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
‘Maude Tillotson. She’s very friendly with Elizabeth’s mother.’
‘Obviously Maude doesn’t like the new Mrs Deravenel.’ Neville’s brow lifted, and then he nodded. ‘She may well lead Ned a merry dance, as you call it, but he’s not going to be tamed. Whatever she might think, he will continue to live his life the way he has always lived it. He won’t be faithful to her, I’ll wager you that.’
‘I agree with you.’ Nan settled back against the sofa, and looked off into the distance. After a moment, she said, ‘He just can’t help himself, he doesn’t know the meaning of the word fidelity.’
Neville sighed. ‘I shall have to go to Paris as soon as possible, to see Louis.’
‘What on earth are you going to say to him? How will you explain?’
Neville shook his head, sighed. ‘I believe in telling the truth in this instance. I shall do just that, explain that Ned eloped. I’ll have to put a good face on it, darling. He’s embarrassed me no end, I’m afraid. I’m going to look rather foolish in Louis’s eyes.’
‘Perhaps, but Ned is young, can’t you blame it on his youth?’ she suggested.
Neville laughed hollowly. ‘Oh darling, don’t you think Louis knows all about Edward Deravenel and his reputation as a womanizer? Of course he does! Louis hasn’t left anything to chance. I’m sure he’s had Edward investigated. However, it obviously didn’t matter to Louis—Ned’s reputation, that is. After all, he’s a sophisticated Frenchman, and he probably merely chuckled about it. You know, men will be men, that sort of thing, and I know for a fact that Louis Charpentier has had several mistresses over the years. His own infidelity hasn’t affected his marriage to Solange.’
‘I see.’ Nan bit her lip, looked at Neville worriedly. ‘What are you going to do…I mean about Ned?’
Neville stared at her intently, his expression startled. ‘I don’t believe I’m following you, Nan. What do you mean exactly?’
‘Well, he’s let you down, to put it mildly. He’s acted independently of you, without conferring with you, and after all, you are his mentor, you’ve done so much for him—’
‘I certainly have! I put him in the seat of power at Deravenels. He wouldn’t be there without me.’
‘So, what are you going to do? What are we going to do about him and Elizabeth? After all, he is family.’
‘I don’t think I’m going to do anything,’ Neville responded slowly, his expression thoughtful. ‘I do believe that the best course is to behave as though nothing untoward has happened…we’ll just go on together as usual. I shall be my concerned, cordial, usual self. Certainly I will not allow this matter to come between us. After all, his marriage is private, personal, quite a separate thing. It has nothing whatsoever to do with business. And we are in business together. The fact is, Ned’s been good for Deravenels, he’s done rather well for the company. Actually, I’m quite proud of him, Nan.’
‘But it is you who has guided him!’ his wife asserted.
‘Yes, that’s true, I have. On the other hand, he’s done a number of extraordinary things in three years. He and Oliveri have pulled off several coups…finding and buying those new marble quarries in Carrara, reorganizing the diamond mines in India, with the help of David Westmouth, of course. And Ned has set Deravenels on a new course with his development of oil. That will be a big one, if it happens. These things aside, he’s brought the vineyards in France back to life. They’d been badly neglected.’
‘That’s one of the things I love about you, Neville, you always do give credit where credit is due.’
He gave her a warm smile, relaxing. His tension was leaving him.
‘Nan, darling, I have an idea. I think we should behave as we have always behaved with the Deravenels—with love and family devotion. We must put on a very good face with Ned and Elizabeth, and give a wedding reception for them. Here at the house. And very soon. Heal wounds, if there are any.’
‘That’s a wonderful idea! We’ll invite the entire family, and all the Wylands, and friends. That will put things right between you, won’t it?’
‘It will.’
‘Things will be back to normal, won’t they?’ she asked again, still concerned.
‘Yes,’ Neville answered, and thought: But I’ll never trust him again.
FIFTY-FIVE
Paris—1908
‘But of course you can trust me,’ Edward said, smiling his languid, amused smile. ‘I would never betray you, I do promise you that.’
Elizabeth, who was seated at the dressing table in the bedroom of their suite at the Ritz Hotel, finally swung around and looked across at him.
How impossibly handsome he was, that was her first thought. Edward lay sprawled on the large bed, lounging against a mound of white linen pillows, wearing a sapphire-blue silk robe. It was a colour that made his dazzlingly blue eyes look all that much bluer.
A few minutes ago he had attempted to lure her into that bed, and she had pushed him away. He had been very annoyed with her; instantly she had regretted her actions, wished she had been sweeter, and had succumbed to his pleas to make love, accepted his endearments graciously.
She knew how aroused he had been, and that he had wanted her desperately, and yes she had spurned him. That had been a most foolish move. If there was anything he truly hated, it was being turned down. Women never turned Edward Deravenel down. But she, his wife, envied by all, had indeed turned him down and in no uncertain terms. Then she had been even more stupid, reckless even, and had pouted and told him that she knew he had been unfaithful to her.
Staring across at him, she wondered how to make amends. Seduce him, give him what he wants, and more. Indulge him, use the sexual tricks he’s taught you, and taught you so well. He loves that. Yes, I must make amends; I mustn’t drive him away; I must have a child. I must become pregnant. I must bind him to me through a child.
This last thought caused Elizabeth to stand up, and slowly she walked towards the bed, smiling at him, hoping to entrance him. Her eyes did not leave his face as she said softly, ‘Forgive me, Ned darling…it’s just that I love you so much, I can’t bear the thought of you touching another woman…I’m so very jealous, you do know that.’
He smiled back at her. ‘Why would I look for another woman when I have the most beautiful woman as my wife. The most luscious, sexual, enticing woman to call my own. Why would I touch any other? Tell me that.’
She did not respond.
When she reached the bed he stared up at her for a long moment, and then he plucked at the robe she was wearing. Made of pale blue chiffon shot through with silver threads, it was a light and floating robe cut like a kimono. It slipped off her shoulders as he tugged at it again. She stood before him naked, still smiling, looking down at him. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘Here I am. I’m yours. Do what you will with me.’
‘Oh yes, oh yes. I intend to do everything to you,’ he breathed. ‘You’re so beautiful. How could you think I’d want anyone else but you? You silly, silly girl.’ He laughed then, very lightly, and pushed himself up, got out of the bed. Taking hold of her hand he led her to the dressing table. ‘Sit here and don’t move,’ he ordered, and disappeared.
A moment later he came back carrying a small suitcase. This he opened on the bed, took out another leather case and opened it.
Walking over to the dressing table, he said, ‘Close your eyes.’
She did as he asked. But when she felt something cold on her neck she opened he
r eyes. And gasped. Ned was fastening a diamond necklace around her throat, a necklace the likes of which she had never seen.
‘Oh Ned,’ she gasped. ‘Oh Ned…it’s magnificent.’
‘Like you.’ As he spoke, he picked up a handful of silver-gilt hair which fell down her back to her thighs. ‘All that glitters,’ he murmured, almost to himself. ‘Glittering temptations,’ and then looking at her in the mirror he said, ‘This necklace was made for an Empress. The Empress Eugénie of France. When the crown jewels of France were sold off at the auction of the Diamonds of the Crown of France in 1887, many of them were bought by the famous jeweller Boucheron. This necklace was amongst the pieces. It’s changed hands since then. I bought it for you. Now it is yours. An anniversary present. Next month we will have been married for one year, Elizabeth.’
‘I know.’ She smiled at him in the mirror. ‘Thank you, Ned. Thank you for this…it’s fabulous.’
‘Get up,’ he commanded, and when she did so he led her towards the bed. ‘Isn’t it time you gave me a son and heir, madame?’ he asked. ‘I certainly think we should try…all night, if necessary.’
‘For as long as you want,’ she answered quietly.
‘Forever,’ he answered in a low voice, pressing her down onto the pillows, stretching out alongside her. ‘I knew you’d love the diamond necklace…’ He kissed her deeply on the mouth. He loved the taste of her, just as he loved the scent of her. The overpowering scent of a woman who lusted for him as he lusted for her. That scent was on her now.
‘Just as I know how much you love me to do this to you,’ he added a few moments later, as he reached down between her thighs and let his fingers move into her lovingly and with great expertise.
She sighed under his insistent touching, and whispered, ‘Oh yes, Ned. Don’t stop.’
She looked up into the blue haze of his eyes, and began to tremble, her excitement growing as he increased his pressure, his fingers tantalizing her. ‘Make me yours,’ she whispered against his neck, and he whispered back that he was going to take her to him. And he told her of his longings and desires, and what he wanted from her, and wished to do to her.
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