Act of Betrayal (7 page)

out—not here, but at whatever hotel he was staying at and

telling him bluntly that she didn't believe he wanted to bury the

past.

She wanted to say, 'Whatever residue of bittern remains, let it

stay just between the two of us. If you must punish someone for

what happened, then punish me, not my family. My uncle only acted

as he did to protect me, because he loved me.' She tried to

imagine his reaction to her words. Tried, and failed. It was a

relief to see Alan's red Mini backing carefully into a space

between two far more opulent vehicles. She snatched up her bag

and wrap and flew downstairs just as the doorbell sounded,

calling, 'I'll get it,' to Mrs Fraser. Alan was smiling broadly

as she opened the door. He handed her a cellophane box. 'Happy

restaurant opening.' The box contained flowers freesias tied with

a bow of silver ribbon. She heard herself say, 'How lovely. No-

one's ever brought me flowers before.' Except once, her memory

reminded her relentlessly, and they were freesias too. Bought

from a street stall on your wedding day as you walked together to

the registrar's. She said, 'I'll put them in water.' Alan looked

surprised. 'You're supposed to wear them, I think.' 'But if you

do, they die almost at once, and it's such a shame.' She put the

box down gently. 'Do you mind if we leave at once, have our drink

in a pub after all? My cousin's having a cocktail party—

business and very boring. I don't really want us to be; caught up

in it.' He was disappointed, she could see that at once. It was

the first time he'd been to the house, and he'd obviously been

looking forward to seeing more of it than just the hall. She was

going to say something reassuring about

other times, when the drawing room door opened, and Celia said,

'Another guest? How lovely. Do come in.' Laura froze. Behind

Celia, towering head and shoulders above her was Jason. He was

smiling, but his eyes as they met Laura's were as bleak as

winter. Returning to this house had clearly revived memories for

him too, and she knew that Uncle Martin was fooling himself if he

thought the past could simply be brushed aside where this man was

concerned. That hard look told her more openly than words that

Jason had neither forgiven nor forgotten anything. She said

sharply, 'Actually, we're just going out.' 'Rubbish.' Celia

walked across the hall, smiling and holding out her hand. ' I

presume you must be Alan. Laura's told me such a lot about you,

and it's nice to meet you at last. But you surely don't intend to

run away without having just one little drink.' She linked her

arm through his, her smile widening. 'I've had to speak to Cousin

Laura before about keeping all the really attractive men to

herself.' 'Well—a whisky and soda would be marvellous,' Alan

accepted, trying not to sound too eager, and failing. Laura's

heart sank as she followed them into the drawing room. It was

something of a relief to find that the party was on the point of

breaking up. People had their last drinks in their hands, and

some were beginning to edge discreetly towards the door. Alan had

his drink, and was blossoming rapidly, as Celia led him round the

room introducing him to people. Laura, holding a dry sherry she

didn't want, had no desire to follow round the room in their

wake, so she stayed beside the french windows, watching the

evening sun dappling through the trees on to the smooth lawn. She

could hear her uncle's laugh booming out. He enjoyed socialising,

playing the expansive host, and she'd always found this rather

endearing. Now she was disconcerted and alarmed to find how

readily he'd adapted to this intolerable situation which had been

forced on them. If he was determined to look on Tristan

Construction as a potential saviour, Laura doubted whether he

would give the slightest credence to any further warnings she

might proffer. She would probably be accused of prejudice, she

thought wryly. 'You look anxious,' Jason said, and she jumped

violently. She'd been so lost in thought, she'd been totally

unaware of his approach across the room. 'Let me take that before

you spill it.' He removed the untouched glass from her hand and

put it down on one of the litter of small tables used on these

occasions. His hand brushed one of the floating sleeves of her

dress. 'What's this intended to be—a cloak of invisibility?' '

I f so, it clearly hasn't worked,' she said coolly, resisting an

impulse to wrench the fragile material out of his hand. 'And I'm

sure there are more important people in the room for you to talk

to than myself.' 'At the moment, I can't think of one.' He spoke

softly, but she was aware of the glint of anger in his eyes.

'You're very anxious to be rid of me.' 'Under the circumstances

that's hardly surprising,' she retorted. 'But not very

flattering. I don't think your beautiful cousin would be pleased

at your sabotaging her goodwill campaign. She's clearly gone to a

great deal of trouble,' he added, glancing round the room.

'Caswells must be in a deeper mess than I suspected.' Laura bit

her lip. T don't think there's anything very special about this

party,' she disclaimed. 'So Caswells push the boat out like this

for all their potential customers?' His brows lifted skeptically.

'How very extravagant. I hope they don't expect us to

reciprocate. I don't think the resources of the Swan Hotel could

cope.' She said expressionlessly, ' I don't suppose that's the

intention at all.' He looked at her, his mouth slanting

mockingly. 'I'm sure there's a world of hidden meaning behind

that innocent remark, but I'm not going to pursue it—at the

moment anyway. I think it would be safer if I just introduce you

to some people instead.' 'That's not necessary,' Laura said, more

sharply than she intended. ' I — I mean—I have a dinner date.

We'll be leaving at any moment.' T don't think so,' he said

smoothly. 'Your date is well into his second drink, and having a

whale of a time. I hope they'll hold the table for you wherever

you're going.' He put a hand under her elbow. 'Now come and meet

Robert Leng and the others.' She hung back, staring up at him

with hostile eyes. 'Just how do you intend to introduce me—as

your exwife? I presume they all know you're divorced.' 'Robert

does.' His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her. ' I don't know

about the others, and it doesn't really concern me.' 'Another of

your little secrets, in other words,' she said bitterly. 'How is

it that you actually took this Robert Leng into your confidence?'

'He's an old friend,' he said harshly. 'And he was my father's

deputy for many years.' 'Until you walked in and took over?'

Laura raised her eyebrows. 'That must have been a strain on the

friendship, surely. And how did your board react to having a

complete amateur in the seat of power? Or are you just a

figurehead?' 'On the contrary,' he said too-pleasantly. T happen

to be a qualified architect.' 'Another little detail you forgot

to mention.' Her breasts rose and fell as she drew a deep, stormy

breath.

'So what was the painting? Just a tempora aberration?' ' I f you

like,' he drawled. 'You sound aggrieved, Laura. Should I have

told you I was the heir to Tristan Construction after all? Would

it have made you readier to turn a blind eye to my—marital

failings perhaps?' There was a loaded pause, then she said

huskily, 'That's a swinish thing to say. There were no

circumstances—none—under which I would have stayed married to

you, and you know it.' 'Of course not,' he said softly. ' I was

the mercenary one, of course, the one with an eye to the main

chance. I'd almost forgotten that.' ' I thought you remembered

everything.' She was beginning to tremble again, her fingers

curling defensively into her palms. ' I suspect that, like you,

my sweet ex-wife, I have a selective memory.' He gave a slight

shrug. ' I f you only want to recall what a bastard I

was—that's your prerogative. But I'm entitled to my own

reminiscences— and they're rather different. For instance, I

remember how inhibited you were in bed, just at first, and how

passionate you soon became. I remember how you used to wake me by

biting my shoulder when you wanted to make love.' His swift grin

taunted her unbearably. 'In fact I used to pretend to be asleep

because it was so fantastic to feel you moving against me,

wanting me.' Bright spots of colour burned in her face. She had

to fight to hang on to her control. She said coolly, T was a

naive child, Jason. Of course you could turn me on. But if I'd

been older and wiser, I'd have probably realised that a superb

lover was all you were—that you failed every other requirement

as a husband.' Just for a moment, something flickered in his

face, but he said lightly enough, 'Better luck next time,

darling. I hope you have something better in mind than the

current boyfriend.'

She glared at him. 'You know nothing about him,' she began.

'Except that he's a loser,' he came back at her remorselessly. T

don't need to know anything else. Nor should you.' From behind

him, Celia exclaimed, 'So there you are, hiding in this corner. I

must say you both look very serious,' she added with a giggle,

but the look she shot Laura was far from amiable. Jason turned

towards her, shrugging lightly, his gaze skimming smilingly over

the charming picture she presented. 'Just talking over old

times,' he said. 'That can be a serious business.' Celia pouted

charmingly, sliding her arm proprietorially through his. ' I ' l

l have to take your word for that.' Laura moved towards Alan, who

had followed Celia over. 'Isn't it time we were going?' she

suggested quietly. 'Going where?' Celia had ears like radar

screens on occasion. 'I'm attending the opening of a new

restaurant in town, and I'm taking Laura as my guest.' Alan

sounded pompous suddenly. 'How absolutely super.' Celia's eyes

widened ingenuously. 'Are you only allowed to take one guest?

I've never actually been to a restaurant opening.' She made it

sound as if a lifetime ambition had been thwarted, Laura thought

wearily. She said, 'As a matter of fact, Jt's part of Alan's

job—not just a joyride.' 'Oh, but it would be such fun.' Celia

smiled appealingly at Alan. 'Jason, darling, don't you agree?' He

looked faintly amused. 'You can't freeload on someone else's

party, my child. If you want to be taken to dinner, we can eat at

the hotel.' 'But we could pay for our meal, couldn't we, Alan?

And whatever the food is like, it has to be better than the Swan

Hotel. Tinned soup, and frozen vegetables,' she added with an

artistic shiver. Laura's hps tightened. Celia was no gourmet. She

was quoting a recent column of Alan's in The Echo, which had

criticised the standard of cooking in both the town's hotels, and

Alan was looking suitably gratified. 'Of course it would be all

right,' he said largely. 'My invitation doesn't specify any

actual number, and it's publicity they want, after all, so the

more the merrier. I ' l l say you're with me.' 'Which will make

everything quite all right,' Jason murmured sardonically. Laura

flinched inwardly, but Alan was totally oblivious, visibly

swelling with pleasure and importance. The evening was steadily

becoming more horrendous, she thought, wondering if she could

invent a last minute headache—a fainting spell—a tumour on

the brain. 'Then it's all settled,' Celia said gaily. ' I do love

surprises, don't you?' It wasn't clear whether she was addressing

anyone in particular and no-one answered. No, Laura thought, as

Alan helped her on with her wrap. I don't like surprises, and

today I've had more than enough already. It was small consolation

to know that Jason probably disliked this new turn of events just

as much as she did. She thought, 'But it's only for this evening.

Just for one evening. If I can get through this, I need never see

him again.' And found, with shock, that was no real consolation

either.

THEY'D travelled about half a mile, when Alan said, 'You're very