CHAPTER SIX

Rachael went through to the rear terrace as Dino suggested. It was a hot, still day and the tiny plot of land at the back of the coffee shop was extraordinarily green and restful. Besides, Dino's coffee was excellent, as were the numerous little Italian delicacies that went with it, sweet or savoury, or perhaps sandwiches, filled to perfection and garnished with the lettuce or fresh sprigs of parsley that grew in the herb borders directly behind her. Dino's was the place to relax and ease some of the midday tensions. Right at that moment Dino was coming to her aid with a tray of his own selection. He knew her tastes in any case and the coffee shop was rapidly filling.

'There! ' He deposited the tray oil the table and began removing the few items one by one, placing them before her. 'Don't I prove to you you are one of my favourites? '

'Thank you, Dino, ' she said gratefully. 'You're a true friend. How's Connie and the children? '

He shook his head, smiling. 'Must you always remind me I'm a married man? '

'You couldn't be anything else, Dino. Your contentment shows. Such beautiful children you have, and Connie always so happy! '

Dino widened his magnificent dark eyes. 'Mamma mia, you should have seen her this morning! In a rage, like Vesuvius, quite frightening! But what is this with you? ' he asked gently, kindness and much perception in his darkly olive-skinned face.

Rachael looked up in surprise. 'Why, nothing, Dino. I'm just a little tired. I've been discussing career prospects for most of the morning, then I had a few errands to attend to for Gran. '

'And how is your so beautiful nonna? ' he asked in his normal manner.

'The same, Dino. Gran's a rare woman. '

'I admire her extravagantly! ' Dino maintained, not content to leave it there but kissing his fingertips. 'She has the most amazing personality. When she first started to come to my little cafe I was honoured. I was made. '

'Now we all come because there isn't a more pleasant place to have a cup of coffee anywhere. You see to people individually, you and Connie. I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. '

'Please never cease to repeat this to your friends. Now you sit there, piccola, and breathe in the fresh air. You look a little pale. You'll have to convince me there's nothing wrong before you go. Remember I am your father confessor! '

'More or less, Dino, ' she smiled.

As he moved back through the sliding glass doorway, a flow of customers spilled out on to the terrace with its circular tables covered in crisp sun-yellow linen and shaded by multi-striped white-fringed umbrellas. There were a lot of carefree ciao's and hi's and a little joke from Dino, then the tables started to fill up. Rachael paid no attention to the changing scene around her. She just wanted to sit quietly in peace, too unhappy these days to really know what was happening to her. She sipped at her coffee, congratulating herself she was to be left alone for a while at least, when a familiar, rather clipped voice assailed her ear:

'Why, hello there, Miss Ross. How nice to see you. May I join you? '

Dear God, Rachael thought in desperation, what next? She looked up, doing her best to summon up a welcoming smile. 'Mrs Maybury, bow are you? Yes, certainly sit down. '

'How lucky I am to have seen you, and it's Vanessa, please. After all, that Mrs Maybury is soon to be changed! ' As immaculate as ever in white with a neat little hat to match the beautiful silk scarf at her throat, Vanessa slid elegantly into the chair opposite. 'Really, this place is delightful! ' She gazed about her with every appearance of pleasure.

'Do you come here often? ' Rachael asked.

'Actually, no. This is my first visit, but it confirms what my friends tell me. What are you having? Um, that looks delicious. I'll have the same, though I shouldn't I watch my figure. '

Vanessa turned rather sharply and gestured imperiously towards the briskly circling Dino, whose jaw fell open at this impersonation of a pitiless Roman Empress.

'Scusi, Signora, ' he responded with masterly calm, 'one moment and I shall be at your service. Felice! ' He waved over his head to his very dapper young assistant, 'attend to the Signora, if you please. ' Dino over the years had become a little spoilt by his own success and he rarely encountered the painful arrogance the tall blonde lady was displaying. A man of great natural courtesy himself, he found such arbitrary behaviour jarring. The lady was very good-looking, certainly, but waxy like a doll with a painted, immobile face. Little Rachael beside her wore an expression that told him plainly she wasn't overjoyed by the sudden arrival of this handsome haughty person. In fact Dino decided he didn't want to see her again if she couldn't act sweetly as a woman should. He was no humble peasant but a cafe owner. Really! ... It hurt him, such insensitivity. He turned back to his customer Mrs Edwards and completed her order. Her sympathetic smile made him recover his usual sunny nature.

Vanessa, meanwhile, gave her order to the respectful Felice very clearly and distinctly as though he might be an idiot or with only one or two words of English at his command. Felice, born in Australia of migrant parents, bore it and was dismissed with a meaningless smile for his trouble.

'I was supposed to meet Nick today, ' Vanessa confided, 'but something came up at the last minute. It always does. He never seems to have a moment to himself, but I'll have to get used to it. He's certainly good value when I do see him. How are you settling down at the Lodge? You don't find the situation awkward? '

'Only the question. In what way do you mean? '

'Why, surely...! ' Vanessa gave a little embarrassed laugh. 'The change in your circumstances, dear. It would really worry me. '

'You don't give that impression, ' said Rachael. 'You look a very cool person to me. '

'I suppose I am. Allow me to beg your indulgence for a few minutes. Do you mind if I smoke? '

Rachael shook her head. A non-smoker herself, she really detested it. Vanessa, however, was only going through the formalities. She had every intention of smoking. She selected a cigarette carefully, lit it and took a long appreciative draw. 'I imagine in time you'll start hunting for something more suitable? '

Rachael ignored the slightly metallic crispness, keeping her face bland. 'My grandmother is nearly eighty, Mrs Maybury. The lease will run for the remainder of her lifetime. She's quite happy at the Lodge. It suits her. Mr Retford actually suggested the whole thing. '

'That sounds like Nick! But really, Miss Ross... ' Vanessa looked more and more pained. 'You must understand, I don't want to upset you in any way. It's really rather delicate and I'd be grateful... '

'Could I get you to the point? ' Rachael interrupted. 'Are you suggesting we move out? '

'Since you put it that way, after Nick and I are married I would like the place to myself. Surely that's understandable? '

'Yes, it is. We didn't realise your marriage was so imminent. '

'Oh, I've made up my mind irrevocably, ' Vanessa said.

'Has Nick? ' Rachael's throat felt parched and she sipped at her coffee.

'Oh, please! ' Vanessa shrugged off such a stupid, impertinent question. 'Understand the position immediately, Miss Ross. You must have known Nick and I would eventually get married. '

'I can't see how that would alter anything, ' Rachael looked down at her cup. 'We would all have to go right out of our way to see each other. In the ordinary way we wouldn't even be considered near neighbours. Ten acres is generally considered to be a good amount of space, and the Lodge is screened off completely from the rest of the estate. Of course we could collide coming in the front gate. Is that what's bothering you? '

Vanessa sat still for a moment, her cigarette suspended in mid-air. 'I can see I'm upsetting you. I'm sorry. I just never dreamed you'd want to stay on after we were married. '

'And when is this happy event to be? ' Rachael asked, a hard constriction round her chest.

'Now, now, ' Vanessa said playfully. 'I can't give away secrets. Nick doesn't want any fuss. He's a very private person in so far as he can be, but I might just let slip it will be early in the New Year. '

The words seemed to come at a rush. 'How do you get on with Jon? ' asked Rachael.

'Extremely well. He's an exceptional child. He realises his father must marry again. No doubt he'll be going to a really good boarding school before long. '

'That's not what his father told me. '

'Perhaps you misunderstood him? ' Vanessa smiled, rather tightly. She really did have a thin mouth, but it was beautifully painted beyond the natural outline.

'No, ' Rachael said slowly. 'I can't help wondering if you did. '

Colour began to mount in Vanessa's long throat and she deserted the dignified approach. 'It's repugnant to me to mention this, ' she said with obvious relish, 'but haven't you a first-class crush on Nick? '

'Does anything about me suggest I have? '

Vanessa laughed bitterly. 'Nick's a very experienced man. He's handsome and wealthy and he's at the top of his profession—an irresistible combination of qualities. How many girls in your position wouldn't imagine themselves in love with him? '

'He mightn't be everyone's cup of tea, ' Rachael said with a semblance of calm. 'I do believe I'm stunned at this conversation. '

'I don't see why! ' Vanessa said stridently. 'I've hesitated before mentioning any of this. I didn't want to interfere directly... '

'You're interfering all right! ' Rachael broke in on her.

'Well, you must have been expecting it. I'm not the woman to let the grass grow under her feet. '

'Obviously not, which brings me to a question. Did you follow me? '

'Only because I had to. I'm very methodical, Miss Ross, and I guard my interests. '

'I understand. '

'Now I find myself face to face with a slight dilemma. I know I can rely on your discretion. The important thing is that we women keep it to ourselves. I think it perfectly natural I should want Swans' Reach to myself. '

'You should, for heaven's sake! '

Vanessa rummaged for another cigarette. 'Once I'm Nick's wife, ' she said curtly, 'regardless of your feelings or those of your grandmother, I would want you out!

I'm no fool, Miss Ross, don't think I am. I know quite well you're attracted to Nick. He's taken you out to dinner... '

'So? '

'So all women in love have a sixth sense. You can see for yourself I don't care for Nick to be paying you any attention. '

'I think he was just being kind. '

'Very likely. I know Nick. Normally I would fully support him in these charitable gestures, but as I've already said, young girls are very unpredictable, and you do have a pretty face. One can't very well have such complications right on the fence, so to speak. '

'Why so afraid of me, Mrs Maybury? '

'My dear, I'm not! ' Vanessa muttered. 'I'm sympathetic. Most of my friends are attracted to Nick, but mercifully they're all married. You can end up badly hurt. Believe me, my dear, I'm speaking in absolute sincerity. Isn't there somewhere else you could go? A luxury apartment perhaps. I understand you're still very well off by ordinary standards. '

'Who told you that? '

'Why, Nick, my dear. Who else? '

'We're comfortable, Mrs Maybury, ' Rachael replied drily, 'and we're not getting out of the Lodge. Not until such time as my grandmother expresses the desire to leave, and I would strongly advise you not to have any conversation with her on this score. I won't have her upset and neither, I am certain, will Nick Retford. You don't look it, but you're obviously a very jealous woman. I represent no threat to you or your plans. '

'I hope not, for your sake, ' Vanessa said tightly. 'I can be a formidable enemy, my dear, and I don't let anything get in my way! '

'Do you lie as well? '

Vanessa's hand trembled violently. 'I won't be insulted by a love-struck teenager! '

'I'm almost twenty-one. '

'The right age for a crush on an older man. I do believe I suffered a bad case of it myself at one time. '

'Did you marry your fixation? ' asked Rachael coldly.

'Of course not. My late husband didn't attract me in that way. '

'Good heavens, no wonder you have no children. '

'I confess I'm not deeply maternal, Miss Ross. A lot of women aren't, you know. It does get rather forced on one. '

'Jon, I believe, would love a brother to share all his fun. '

'That doesn't perturb me. At my age I don't propose to embark on childbirth and all its attendant glories, not that it has anything remotely to do with you. '

'I apologise. '

Vanessa laughed, receiving her order with a belated show of enthusiasm and civility. Probably she was hungry after delivering herself of her chosen message. 'Have another coffee, Miss Ross, ' she said brightly, 'and let's make peace! '

'I wasn't aware we were at war, because basically I don't want to fight anybody. '

'Yes, there's also the reason that you might be beaten. '

'I'm sure you are more than a match for me. '

'Experience, my dear! ' Vanessa drawled.

'No. Inclination. I'll never be any different. I give up immediately. I even see all hostility as futile and ugly. '

'Then keep this between the two of us, like a sensible girl. After all, I had to make my position clear, didn't I? '

'If everything is going so well, Mrs Maybury, may I ask why? ' said Rachael.

'Sometimes if one nips symptoms in the bud, they can't develop into anything incurable, if you know what I mean. '

'I'm against 'flu-injections myself. '

'Oh, don't be tiresome! You know what I mean, you're not a baby. You might even consider that a man like Nick might become embarrassed, if you insist on complicating the arrangements he's made. '

'Which you are apparently trying to alter. Have you checked with him first? I wouldn't care to cross him myself. It would be very difficult to embarrass Nick Retford. I'd call him totally impervious. '

'Why, you're not leaving? ' Vanessa stared at her in mock astonishment.

Rachael stood up, gathering her things. 'I must, regardless of what fun you're having. '

'Ah well, ' Vanessa looked down again, and stirred her coffee. 'You're at the age to take offence easily. '

'And you're at the age to leave that last bit of cheesecake alone. It's better than dieting for two days. '

Rachael moved quickly away from the table, realising her last remark was a little bit childish and it wasn't really her style, but Vanessa seemed blind to all but the most personal insults. It was bad enough to lose her home, but to have it go to Vanessa Maybury was an outrage. She drew in her breath, feeling as though she was badly scarred for the rest of her life. In spite of Vanessa's efforts to ridicule her 'crush' on Nick (what a deplorable word) Vanessa had not been successful in concealing her own anxieties.

Nick's dark face was etched in her brain. She hadn't spoken to him for days and it affected her beyond belief. She had even passed his car coming on to the highway and he hadn't acknowledged her in any way, not even the brusque little wave of her hand. To use Allie's phrase, she was 'on the outer' with Nick. By the time she got home, Allie had gone into the village to shop and her grandmother's bedroom door was closed, which meant she was resting. Gran never did like the hot summer months, which sapped her energy.

Rachael took off her chic city clothes and reached for a pair of linen shorts and a matching halter top. The heat was intense. Since the Neil Diamond concert that had drawn a crowd of thirty-eight thousand, he had become quite a favourite of hers. She took her portable record player and a pile of new recordings and went down to the shady side of the house near the sparkling river. The magnificent shade trees, planted a century before, seemed doubly attractive in the shimmering heat, the scent of the frangipani in that section of the garden all-pervading.

She lay in the freshly mown grass and listened to the lyrics. In the light of her own feelings they seemed to take on a fresh meaning.

Song sung blue, everybody's got one...

This was her language. It was part of the human condition to fall in and out of love. Love was a basic essential of life like food and drink. As it was, she was starving. She closed her eyes in the perfumed haze, wanting, and wanting what the songs put a name to. They were making her sad, rising and falling, tremulous too, yearning... A few seconds later something flicked across her face and landed near her ear. A creamy, yellow-centred frangipani blossom. She opened her eyes to her biggest shock of the day—all six feet of him, elegant and mocking, brilliant eyes aware of the picture she made, the flawless young limbs, and the youthful abandon. The biggest trespasser of them all, Nick.

'This is a surprise! ' she said faintly.

'How formal. Shall we shake hands? ' His voice had a dry measuring note to it. 'Is it possible to look cool and exotic at once? '

'Words, Nick, ' she retaliated, her eyes golden in the subdued light, 'you don't sound as if you mean them. '

'Maybe I don't! ' He glanced down at the glossy record covers. 'Neil Diamond. Did you go to his concert? '

'Yes, I did. About forty of us made up a party. It was great. Do you like him? '

'Yes, I do. He's different. He's got talent. '

'Are you going to sit down or are you just going to stand there? '

'Staring at you, you mean? '.

'I didn't say that, Nick. I'm sorry for what happened the last time I saw you. '

'What did happen? ' he asked as if he hadn't the faintest recollection.

'Oh, forget it, ' she said with a pretence of carelessness. 'It's too hot to argue. '

'I daresay, but we don't seem able to help it. ' He lowered his lean frame to the grass beside her.

'How's Jon? ' she asked.

'He's fine. I pick him up in an hour. '

'You don't usually have the afternoon off. '

'I don't usually work so damned hard, ' he answered abruptly.

'Sorry, Mr Retford. ' Rachael went to reach back. 'Shall I turn off the record player? '

'No, don't bother. I like it. I think I might even pull your hair. Beautiful, ' he said.

She made a funny little sound, feeling she was submerging under a great ocean wave. What did it really mean to him that he was going to marry Vanessa Maybury? Everyone knew. She should be running furiously over the grass to the safety of the house, but she also knew she was going to stay right where she was, for all the danger signals. She jerked her head a little away from him, a token gesture, but with a strand of her hair twisted around his finger it hurt her.

'Ouch! ' The husky little cry was torn from her.

'You deserve it. '

'Thank you. ' She tried to invest it with outrage, but she was, and sounded, physically breathless. This was a fantasy, the heat and the flowers, Nick there beside her, somehow materialising to the tumultuous beat of the music. What was it, black magic? If it was, it was urgent. In another minute she would be out of control. He aroused an irresistible need in her that he should never have started. He was the mature one, the experienced one. She was alarmed at her own vulnerability. If this was love, it was shocking, a wordless anguish.

'Well, what's the verdict? ' Turquoise eyes slashed at her.

'No further questions! '

'Well, I have. What are you thinking about? '

'It might surprise you. '

'I don't think so. '

'Don't incite me, Nick! ' She turned on him, her eyes smouldering. 'I haven't your level of sophistication. '

'I'm sorry to tell you I'm not even rising to it myself. It must be the heat. '

The mockery in his voice startled her. Rachael risked another glance at him, seeking vainly to know his mind. His blue eyes were so clear and sparkling one would have thought they reached through to his soul, his hair ebony-black with no trace of brown in it. Nick, the enigma! For something to do she picked up her sunglasses, but he took them out of her nerveless fingers and dropped them on the grass again.

'I want to look at you, Rachael. Not coloured glass. '

'I find myself surprised! ' she said wryly. 'A lot of things don't seem to be right! '

'At least we know what it is. I'm giving a party Saturday night, a kind of house-warming. I want you to come. '

A pain sharpened and moved in her breast. Not in a million years, with Vanessa Maybury the Queen Bee! 'I don't think so, Nick, ' she said, slightly averting her head.

'Why not? ' He stared at her for a few seconds, his anger rising. 'Such a slender young creature to be so unyielding. You should be middle-aged with a stubborn chin! '

She almost groaned. 'I'm doing my best, Nick, but I don't want to come to the party. You and your friends don't need me. Mrs Maybury, I'm sure, will give you all the support you need. '

'Support! Who the hell mentioned support? ' he asked with a kind of cold anger. 'You fascinate me, Rachael, you really do. '

'And in such a short time. I'm worrying about it. '

'We'll return to that later. Now I want you to tell me you're coming. '

'Surely you don't think I'd enjoy it? ' Rachael demanded incredulously.

'There is a possibility, surely? '

'No, and that's final! '

'What if I persuade you? ' His blue eyes narrowed over her.

'I'm adamant. '

'Yes, that generally describes you, that and a few other terms, but don't you see, I'm just not going to accept it. '

'You'll have to! ' she said recklessly. 'You can't order me about! '

'Ever heard of brute force? '

'You wouldn't use it. '

'Wouldn't I! A little bit of it is better for you than you know. '

'That's obvious! ' Somehow she was on her back in the grass staring up at him, her arms locked on either side, her skin stretched taut with a deep consciousness.

'Don't worry, ' he said rather drily, 'I'm not going to ruin your young life. You just keep perfectly still. '

She made a strangled little sound and tried to turn her head. 'It isn't as though the place is swarming with people. '

'Even that as an appeal wouldn't be very effective. You insist on backing yourself into tight corners. '

'And you're trouble, for sure, ' she said, her voice shaking.

'Sometimes trouble is good for you, Rachael. '

There were strange leaping lights in his eyes, and his face had a hard, disturbing charm that unnerved her. 'I thought you were too clever, Nick, to create situations you don't want or need. '

'What man is too clever? ' he asked lightly.

She fixed him with a look of extreme temperament, intensified by her physical helplessness. 'You're being extremely inconsiderate, making more problems for me. '

He shook his dark head. 'My mind can't be functioning as well as you think. What are you talking about? ' He was laughing under his breath, a saturnine cast to his face.

'Are you going to kiss me or not? ' she said, her eyes flashing.

'Yes, damn it, I am. It's the best way to deal with you! '

She reacted like a small wildcat, twisting and trying to hit out with fervour. Nick was outrageous, treating her as though she was the very least of his worries, yet he was breaking her resistance without disturbing his breath:

'Rachael, stop it! '

'Oh, damn! ' She turned up her face, his power over her much too profound.

He slid his arms under her back, pulling her against his chest. 'Promise you'll come! '

'No! '

'Bravado. '

The kiss was sufficient, making her yield without being aware she was doing it on purpose. She was vaguely aware of her hand in his hair, then against the side of his face, the skin polished with the faintest, tantalising rasp. He murmured something to her that she could not hear. This was a miracle. She truly believed it. The most beautiful cascade of feeling, so perfect she didn't have any right to it. She had no pride either, for he was kissing her as though he would never let her go. It was unabashed double dealing! She fought away from that shattering, deceitful mouth:

'Just a minute! '

He laughed and went to pull her back against him, his blue eyes so flaring and brilliant she almost fell to the ground again, if only for a minute so that he would kiss her again.

'What is it? ' he was still laughing.

Rachael held up her face to the scented breeze, wishing she could tell him, but she knew perfectly well that Vanessa Maybury could be vengeful. 'When are you getting married, Nick? ' she asked heavily.

He put out a hand and encircled her bare ankle. 'Guess. '

'The New Year, I've been told. '

'Then the New Year it is. '

'You rotten beast! '

'Don't talk like Jon, ' he scolded. 'You're almost a woman. '

'Not woman enough for you. '

'Do you want to be? ' he asked.

'Of course not. You're for ever doing things you shouldn't. '

'Yes indeed. Would you please come to my party, Rachael, as a very special favour? '

'Perhaps for an hour, ' she relented.

'I'll bet you stay longer. '

She shrugged, as if even if it were true, it made no difference. She was still doing him a favour. 'Can I come with you when you pick up Jon? '

'I was just going to ask you. I know you're only being kind to me for his sake. '

'Damn you, Nick! ' she exclaimed furiously, but he only took her hand, drawing her up beside him, seeing through the shower Of sparks she thought would protect her from him.

'Did you love your wife, Nick? '

'Is this going to be a serious conversation? '

'That depends on you. You don't have to answer me if you don't want to. You can even tell me to mind my own business. I understand some things. '

'Yes, Rachael, I loved my wife. I would never have married her in the first place if I hadn't. In that respect I'm surprised you asked. You don't really think I'd go around marrying women I don't love? '

'No, of course not. I'm sorry. ' She did in fact sound very young and contrite. 'Poor little Jon. Poor you. I've never felt sorry for you before. '

'I know that! And you don't have to feel sorry for me now. There are different kinds of loving. Different degrees. '

I love you, she thought so intensely, it might have been a brand on her forehead. As she thought of Nick and the young wife he had lost, her heart twisted with pain. The sadness and grief he had known. She really didn't know him at all. She couldn't even guess at what he had been through. He was a wonderful father to Jon, who adored him, and it couldn't have been easy managing a child and a brilliant rising career.

Her fingers twined through his of her own accord, and he looked down at her glowing head with something very like tenderness in his blue eyes. T can tell you something, Rachael, and maybe it's a disloyalty to Anne's little ghost, I don't know... but I've never felt for a woman what I know I can. Up until now. '

'Then you'd better get married, Nick! ' she said, sadly-renouncing him.

'Come to my wedding? '

'No. '

'You'll change, your mind, ' he assured her.

Heaven protect her! By then she would have to be far away from Swans' Reach, even if she had to shift Gran. Vanessa, it seemed, was to have all her wishes granted. Nick, beside her, studied her quiet face, but whatever he was thinking he kept to himself.

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