CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

They all kept staring at one another in stunned silence. Grandy's jaw dropped open incredulously. His face was slowly becoming the colour of lead. His chest rose and fell in struggling gasps and he began to tremble and had to lean back against the wall as if it was too much of an effort to stand upright without something to support him. His eyes were wide and distended, moving from Caroline to David and back again. Then he looked balefully at David and his face changed as a wild rage ran through him. 'You have compromised my granddaughter, sir,' he said in a hoarse, unrecognisable voice.

Caroline looked at him, transfixed, not believing what she was hearing. It was such bad melodrama. No one talked like that in this day and age. Even Grandy's generation never talked like that. She glanced at David who was as stunned as herself. 'No!' she said, her head jerking from side to side in horrified denial.

Grandy didn't even see her. He managed to push himself away from the wall and stand upright, swaying, his fists clenched. His eyes were filling his face, pinning David with a menacing glare. 'What are you going to do about it?'

David didn't answer. He faced him squarely, without flinching, his mouth thinning to a sick bluish line in his darkening face.

'Well?' Grandy's whole stance was full of wrath.

After a moment, David .closed his eyes and his head snapped back as if something was suddenly released in him. His mouth curved upward and he laughed a strangely mournful laugh and Caroline could see the shine of his teeth in the dimness. 'I'll do the honourable thing, of course,' he said quietly, as if it was a foregone conclusion. 'I will marry her.'

Caroline's mouth fell open on a faint gasp. 'No!'

Grandy advanced on her, filling the hallway. His dark face was contorted and twisted and his eyes were terrible. 'You will go to your room, Caroline!'

'No! It's not what you're thinking. David and I were just ‑'

His hand snaked out, slashing his bony fingers across her face, making her stagger backwards. She would have fallen if David hadn't reached out and caught her in time. She didn't cry out or look away from Grandy. Her eyes were locked with his then after a moment her face turned from surprised horror to a look of deep and profound sorrow.

David kept his arm around her and watched the imprint of a hand redden on her cheek. His jaw hardened when he turned and glared back at Grandy. 'That was uncalled for,' he said in a livid, shaking voice. 'I'll marry your granddaughter as soon as it can be arranged but don't you dare ever hit her again or you'll have to answer to me!'

Grandy stepped back from him as if coming out of a daze and smiled drearily, turning, almost staggering in the direction of the bathroom.

David slowly let out the breath he was holding and looked down at Caroline's stricken face and pressed her to his side reassuringly. 'We'll talk in the morning. Right now, I'll get Steve and leave you to your privacy.'

'No. He's all right,' she argued in a small shaky voice. 'Don't wake him. I wouldn't sleep anyway.'

'You're not to worry about a thing.'

A small sob escaped her, choking off any retort she might have made.

'Caroline, everything will be all right,' he said firmly, tightening his arm around her. Something stirred in the depths of his eyes and her heart jerked ridiculously. 'Your grandfather was shocked by what he thought he saw, that's all. Just remember he's a sick man who has to be humoured for now. Leave everything to me. We'll sort it all out in the morning.' He dropped a gentle kiss on her hair and gave her a small reluctant push towards her room.

By morning, she knew nothing could make, things right again. In the grey light of dawn, she saw David's lonely figure crossing the paddock on his way to the barn to begin the milking. There was something particularly moving about the sight of him walking alone like that. The rest of the house was beginning to stir and she turned from her silent vigil at the window and bleakly looked at Steven's rosy face on her pillow. There was no reason for any of them to be alone again. But she couldn't go through with it. She just couldn't.

Steven's bright eyes opened without any sign of confusion and he smiled at her. It was a sad smile, one far beyond his years, making her heart go out to him.

'Good morning, Steve. Did you sleep?'

He nodded and pushed back the sheet and bounded over to her, 'I love you, Caro,' he said fiercely, throwing himself into her arms with his eyes closed tightly.

'Oh, darling, I love you too.'

'I wish I could always stay with you. I wish you were my mother.'

She sighed, hugging him, swamped with a bitter ambivalence. If she said nothing and let what happened last night stand, David would marry her and she'd be Steven's mother and his joy would be complete. So would hers. But it was unfair to find her happiness at someone else's expense. Even if there wasn't Sharon to consider, she couldn't allow Grandy to force David to marry her. She remembered the look on David's face and the way he laughed when he said he'd do the honourable thing. It had to be the terrible irony of the situation that made him laugh. He had to remember another time, another place, with Judith's father most likely confronting him in the same way. Another deep sigh came from her. Poor David. He didn't deserve such treatment when his only crime was being the steady rock for a lonely woman to cling to. What a mess she'd made of everything. By loving him, she ruined everything for him.

Pulling herself together with an effort, she smiled brightly at Steven and gently patted his back. 'Time to get washed and brushed and see what today might bring. Do you want to use the bathroom first, or shall I?'

The briskness in her tone was hard to sustain but somehow she managed to get through breakfast without making her distress obvious to Sharon and her brothers.

The boys were outside playing and it was early afternoon before David and Grandy emerged from the cubbyhole off the living room they called Grandy's study. David's face was expressionless, set in deliberate lines and Grandy's was flushed and triumphant. Caroline had been sitting in a chair with her hands folded in her lap, waiting, and when she saw their faces, her heart sank. Somehow she got to her feet and stood before them rigid and motionless.

'I told Grandy I didn't think you'd want a big wedding since your family just had one,' David said stiffly. 'A simple ceremony would be best, don't you agree?'

She tried to read his face but its impassive lines told her nothing. She sensed a deep anger and bitterness in him as if he regarded her with contempt and himself with disgust. A confused wariness trembled through her but she dismissed it at once. He had to be saying this for Grandy's benefit. He didn't really plan to go through with it. She glanced at Grandy's smug face then looked at David again, pausing, her frown becoming troubled. 'Yes,' she hesitated, 'a simple ceremony.'

His face was grim for a minute then he nodded curtly as if he hadn't expected her to say anything else and turned on his heel, striding to the door and flinging it open without another word.

It closed behind him with ominous silence and for a long second Grandy stood watching her then he laughed, letting out an explosive breath. 'Don't look so tragic, girl. You should be on top of the world right now. I've just landed you the biggest fish in the pond.'

Caroline stiffened then looked at him in amazement. 'What! You mean you planned this whole thing?'

'Planned? What planned? I merely saw an opportunity I couldn't pass up.'

'Grandy!' She was horrified. 'You can't do this!'

'After you've thought about it for a while, you'll thank me.'

'But you're forcing David to marry me! I can't let you do that. You know there was nothing between us last night. At least nothing compromising. He kissed me, that's all. And you know it.'

'Yes, I know. You're both too moral to abuse the time and the place never mind the inclination.'

'Then, why?'

'It's time for you to be married, Caroline. That's why. And what better man than David? You love him. I'm sure he feels the same way about you if the kiss I saw was anything to go by.'

Her face flamed. 'Oh, Grandy, don't you understand? What girl wants a husband who has to be forced to marry her? Besides, what about Sharon?'

'Sharon?' He lifted his shoulders and spread his hands in exasperation. 'What's she got to do with it? You saw the way she rushed out of here this morning without even stopping to wish you well. She barely tasted her breakfast. Her head's full of air. She can't think of anything or anybody but J ‑'

'Caroline! Caroline?' Steven squealed, running in from the kitchen and throwing himself at her. 'Sharon just came home and she told me you're going to marry Daddy and be my mother!'

Her arms helplessly closed around him and all her breath left her. She looked accusingly at Grandy. 'Who told her?'

'I did.' His smile was smug. 'Early this morning while you were busy getting breakfast,'

Blank disbelief twisted her mouth. 'Why?'

'So you and David couldn't back out.' He grinned, looking as if he was waiting to be congratulated for this master stroke of planning.

'I don't believe it! How did she take it?'

'She's very happy for you.'

Caroline stared at him with the feeling she was becoming lost in a slippery wet fog. It didn't make sense. How could he be so unthinkingly cruel? And how could Sharon be so magnanimous? As flighty as she was, a broken engagement had to make her desolate not happy. This had to hurt her. Sharon loved David. She'd talked of nothing else since the first day he came here. 'Oh, Grandy, don't you realise what a mess you've made of everything?'

'I've made?' His eyes blithely twinkled with mischief. 'I'm just a helpless old man who's had a stroke. You'd better be careful I don't get upset and have another.'

Her confusion was complete now. He wasn't one bit concerned that he'd meddled in all their lives. 'It would serve you right if you did,' she muttered.

His bushy white eyebrows rose in mock surprise. 'You're getting cheeky, young lady. I know you don't really mean it so I'll forgive you this time but you'd better be more careful in future—especially in front of your son.' He ruffled Steven's hair and grinned at him. 'If Caro's going to be your mother, she should set a good example, don't you think?'

Steven clung tightly to her and beamed at him from the safe haven of her arms. 'My mom,' he said almost reverently.

Caroline held him, quivering, knowing deep in her heart it wouldn't come to that. It couldn't.

Her first impulse was to wait and see what David had to say but the more she thought about it, the more disturbed she became. She kept remembering the look on his face when he came out of Grandy's study. She'd never seen him quite so grim before. It was as if he blamed her for what happened. Taking her courage in both hands, she went outside to find him.

He was behind the barn tinkering with the tractor. His shirt was off and his sinewy back muscles were glistening with sweat as he bent over the engine. Caroline bunched her hands in the pockets of her jeans, trying to ignore the mad thumping of her heart at the sight of all that warm naked skin. She cleared her throat awkwardly trying to find the right thing to say.

'David?'

He glanced back over. his shoulder and, seeing it was her, wiped his forehead with the back of his arm and turned back to the motor tightening a bolt with a wrench. 'Yes?'

'I have to talk to you,' she said shakily.

'Talk away.' He didn't stop what he was doing.

A mounting frustration made her voice wobble. 'I can't talk to your back.'

'There's really nothing more to be said. Your grandfather's making all the arrangements. You'll have to see him to discuss your plans. We'll be married in the next day or so, he told me.'

'No!'

'It's done, Caroline. You got what you wanted. Now leave me in peace.'

'What I wanted?' She was flabbergasted. 'It takes two, you know. I didn't plan to have Grandy pull the outraged father act, if that's what you're thinking.'

He threw a sarcastic look over his shoulder then turned back and gave the wrench a vicious turn.

A sudden white hot anger ran through her, making her rigid. She grabbed at his arm and pulled him around to face her. 'My God, that's it, isn't it?' she railed, yelping when the wrench slipped from his grasp and struck her foot. Pain shot through her but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. 'You think I did it! It was Grandy's doing, not mine,' she choked, hopping on one foot and blinking back the sharp sting of tears. 'I don't want to marry you any more than you want to marry me.'

'We no longer have a choice. Your grandfather made that clear.' He knelt down in front of her and took her foot in his hand, forcibly holding her still, removing her shoe and running gentle fingers over her instep. 'It's not broken but you're going to have a bruise.'

'I don't care about my foot!' she gasped as the pain throbbed through it. 'My grandfather's wrong. You do have a choice. You were married once under a cloud of gossip and suspicion. I'm not going to let it happen again. Not with me. Besides, there's Sharon. You can tell her it was all a misunderstanding. Go ahead and marry each other. I'll wish you well. I'll even dance at your wedding!' Uncontrollable tears began streaming down her face. In her humiliation, she only hoped David thought it was because of her foot.

He slowly straightened and looked straight into her face with speechless shock. They were standing close together, intensely aware of each other, then he made an eloquent gesture with his shoulders and the grim twist of his mouth softened in spite of himself. 'What's that supposed to mean?' he asked quietly. 'Sharon's engaged to John. I don't think you're going to do much walking for the next couple of days, let alone dancing.'

Her jaw dropped. Ignoring her foot, she stared at him, 'John? John Polgearon? What are you saying? How can she be engaged to him? You were kissing her. I saw you. When she showed me the ring you gave her, she was in your arms. Her lipstick was all over you. And you both looked so ...' her voice faded away to almost nothing, '... happy.'

His eyes widened then suddenly narrowed to tiny blue pinpoints. A breathless stillness held him. Something moved in his face. 'That's what you meant when you said you remembered who I was,' he murmured to himself. A suggestion of a smile curved his mouth. 'You came in when I was congratulating Sharon,' he said softly. 'You said you thought you heard John's car on the drive. And you did. He'd bought the ring that morning but couldn't wait to give it to her. He proposed then had to get back to work.'

Her shoulders slumped and all her breath left her in a noisy rush. She felt stupid yet at the same time unbearably relieved. 'I thought . . .' Sudden colour poured into her face when she remembered her reaction to Sharon's engagement. From the dawning comprehension on David's face, she knew he was remembering it too. Humiliation swept through her. Everything he needed to know was staring him in the face. But she couldn't allow that. Her pride had her scuttling for cover. 'Well, that's one less thing to worry about,' she said with a husky quiver. 'I'm glad Sharon isn't going to be hurt by all this. But I mean it when I say you don't have to go through with Grandy's grand plan. We won't be marrying, David. In spite of what he says. He may be as stubborn as a mule but you haven't met stubborn until you've come up against me.'

David's expression darkened. 'That I can believe.'

She turned on her heel and hobbled out.

Two days later Caroline and Grandy were still at an impasse when a deliriously happy Morwenna and Alec came home from their honeymoon. They were brought down to earth with a bump when they found out what happened in their absence and realised Caroline wouldn't back down from her stand.

'I kept telling your father something was wrong,' Morwenna said quietly. 'That's why we cut our trip short. How can you even contemplate such an idea?' She stared in shocked disbelief, watching her pack her suitcase. It was midnight and everyone else was sleeping in the big rambling farmhouse. 'I thought you loved David. You can't leave in the middle of the night like this. The wedding's set for tomorrow. Why, you'll be leaving him standing at the altar!'

A laugh suspiciously like a sob sounded deep in Caroline's throat. 'It's hardly going to come to that. When David gets up in the morning, I'll be gone. He won't make it as far as the church.'

'You're too late, Caro. Grandy told Mrs Trerhyn yesterday. By tomorrow morning, it'll be all over the village. You, of all people, couldn't do that to him. Please, for your own sake as well as his, marry him. If you don't, neither of you will ever be happy.'

'Oh Morwenna, you don't know. You don't know.'

'I know a lot more than you think I do. Grandy was wrong, I'll grant you that. He never should have tried to force you into this but it's just his impatience, that's all. He was tired of watching the two of you pretend you weren't in love with each other. Forgive an old man his foibles and simply look at the good that's coming out of it all. David will have the loving wife he needs and Steven will have the mother he was meant to have.' Her mouth shook. 'He's yours, Caro, more than you'll ever know. He should have been yours a long time ago.'

'No. Don't say that. Oh, don't you see how wrong this is? David thinks I'm behind the whole thing. He thinks I had to resort to force to get a husband. I told him I had nothing to do with it but he doesn't believe me. He's had one shotgun marriage already. I love him too much to force him into another.' She went on relentlessly folding the clothes and stuffing them into her suitcase. 'I can't do that to him. I've got two choices: to stay and marry him and hurt him, or to leave and hurt him. This way, when I leave, he'll be hurt less.'

Morwenna heaved a sigh and resigned herself to a long sleepless night. It was useless to keep arguing when Caroline closed her mind to reason but she kept it up until two o'clock before giving in and going back to bed. 'You know I only hope you'll be happy wherever you go,' she said finally, with a long-suffering sigh. 'Let me hear from you, won't you?'

'Of course.' Caroline smiled sadly. 'I'll be all right. After a while you'll see this is for the best.'

The night was slowly passing and Caroline took her time writing a note of explanation for Grandy. His health was much improved so she didn't really think her leaving would cause him to have another stroke. He knew she wouldn't be forced into this marriage. She'd told him often enough in the past two days. He also knew how stubborn she could be so it wouldn't be any surprise. David was another matter. There was really nothing she could say to him so after an hour, she gave up trying. Propping Grandy's note against her pillow, she glanced around her room one last time then quietly slipped out.

She stopped at Tim's door and looked in on him and Steven but quickly closed it and bit back a sob. Steven was almost her son. Almost.

That was the story of her life, she thought with a pang of snivelling self pity. Almost a bride, almost a wife, almost a mother . . .

⇐ Предыдущая 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 202122 Следующая ⇒