The following morning, which was two days before Christmas Eve, the blizzard had passed, and after breakfast the men, equipped with spades, began shovelling snow from the drive.
Holly bushes, bright with red berries, and trees, their branches heavy with snow, stood sharp against the azure blue sky, and the sun shone on the glittering white unblemished landscape. A fox had made his way across the garden, leaving his paw marks in the snow. The air was sharp and crystal-clear, and everything was still. Beyond the gardens, men, women and children from the village and round about whooped and whirled in exhilaration on skates on the frozen lake.
Wearing colourful scarves and gloves, and hats pulled well down over their ears to combat the elements, adults and children with happy voices dragged toboggans and floundered comically in the deep snow, stepping out of the house into the magical wonderland and making their way to a hill beyond the gardens. Roland and Grant were to supervise the sledging, while Lettie and Adeline, serviceably attired in warm coats, woollen skirts and stout leather boots, preferred to stay closer to the house to build a snowman.
With much hilarity, and enjoying themselves enormously, together they began to roll the bottom half of the body. The larger it got the heavier it was to push and, panting with the effort, they turned round and braced their backs against it, laughing helplessly as they pushed it along. Suddenly Roland appeared, and immediately engaged Lettie in a snowball fight, shrieking and dashing about like children. He playfully shoved some snow down Lettie’s neck, and when she was thoroughly wet they disappeared into the house to change.
Grant watched the antics from his vantage point on the hill, never having imagined he would see Adeline doing such a mundane thing as building a snowman and playing in the snow. When he saw Lettie and Roland disappear, unable to resist the temptation to go and help her finish the snowman, he went to join her, leaving Anna and David with the children.
When she saw him a smile appeared, lighting up her whole face, and Grant melted beneath the heat of that smile.
With hands on hips he inspected the ball of snow gravely, looking the picture of vastly amused male superiority. ‘It looks like a man’s job to me,’ he said.
Adeline gasped, her expression one of mock offence. ‘Don’t you dare let Lettie hear you say that. She’d make you retract every word.’
‘I don’t doubt that for one second. But I still say you need a man to roll that thing. Permit me.’ And without further ado he rolled the ball of snow a bit farther.
Laughing as she watched him flounder beneath the strain, plunking her hands on her hips, Adeline gave him a look of comic disapproval. ‘There you are, you see—it’s not as easy as you think.’
Determined to roll it a bit farther, tensing his muscles, Grant rolled it until Adeline shouted that it was quite large enough, thank you. Standing back and slapping the snow off his leather gloves with a triumphant grin, he looked admiringly at the huge ball of snow and said, ‘There you are. It’s much improved, don’t you agree?’
When Adeline replied her voice was soft and extremely sweet. ‘Yes, Grant, I’m sure you’re right,’ she said with uncharacteristic meekness—and the next thing Grant knew her hands had hit him squarely on the chest, catching him completely by surprise, sending him flying backwards to land spread-eagled in a snowdrift.
‘Why, you little hellion,’ he cried with a bark of laughter as he struggled to get out of the drift.
‘That,’ she told him, joining in his laughter, ‘was for arrogantly assuming I am incapable of building my own snowman. Pride comes before a fall, don’t forget. Come on, Grant—get up.’
‘My pride is in ruins,’ he laughed. Getting to his feet and brushing the snow off his caped coat and hair, he knew he wasn’t immune to the absolute exhilaration that came from being out of doors surrounded by snow—which he’d always hated before—while Adeline, her hair tucked beneath a multicoloured tam-o’-shanter, cheeks the colour of her bright red scarf, was a breathtaking marvel, with her huge jewel-bright green eyes and wide, laughing mouth.
‘It’s dangerous to be within my range,’ she shouted, moulding a snowball. ‘I have an excellent aim.’
‘That does it. You’ll pay for that,’ Grant shouted as the snowball hit him on the side of his head. Reaching down with both hands and scooping up some snow of his own, he squeezed it into a ball, grinning broadly, and with a dangerous gleam in his eyes purposefully advanced on her.
‘Oh, no—no, you don’t,’ she cried, beginning to back away, choking on her laughter. ‘Stop it, Grant—you mustn’t. Let’s be sensible about this. I don’t like snowballs—I’m warning you…’
Suddenly Grant lunged and landed a direct hit on her shoulder. With a shriek, bent on revenge, she made another snowball.
‘You devil. You’re mad. I’ll get you back. I promise to snowball you senseless if you don’t stop.’ And, so saying, she flung it at him before whirling and making a dash for it.
‘And I’ll teach you the folly of daring to provoke me,’ Grant shouted after her, scooping up more snow and giving chase.
Encumbered by her skirts and the deep snow, when Grant tackled her Adeline pitched forward with a screech, landing face down in the snow with Grant on top of her.
‘Help!’ she cried. ‘Help me up.’
Grant shifted his weight and got up. Rolling onto her back and laughing helplessly as Grant bore down on her once more, wiping the snow from her face, she scrambled to her feet, begging for mercy and holding her hands in front of her to defend herself from the threatening snowball. But he showed no mercy as he began pelting her with more snow, which only made her laugh harder. It was impossible not to respond to this man as his masculine magnetism dominated the scene. A curious sharp thrill ran through her as the force between them seemed to explode.
Determined to get her own back, and not to go down without a fight, her face shining, convulsed with glee and excitement, she impetuously joined in. They became like a couple of children, cavorting about and shattering the quiet with their laughter, until they were thoroughly spent and covered in snow. Reluctant to return to the house and end this pleasant interlude, they turned their attention to the more serious business of finishing the snowman. It was a poor effort, but the lump of snow with its funny hat, Adeline’s scarf tied around its neck and a bent carrot for its nose made the children laugh hilariously.
A quiet but happy band of children and adults slowly made their way back to the house to partake of hot mince pies and toasted crumpets deep in hot butter before a log fire roaring in the grate.
Later there was a progressive round of children’s games which required a great deal of frolicking, popping in and out of rooms and hiding behind curtains and chairs, then hunting the thimble and Blind Man’s Buff, in which both children and young adults participated—the adults leaving off to chastise a child that was becoming too boisterous, or to pick up one that had fallen, becoming tearful and needing comfort. They finished off with something quieter—conjuring tricks, performed by a remarkably talented David.
After breakfast the following morning, Lettie and Adeline, carrying skates and with linked arms, headed for the lake which, unlike the previous day, was deserted. It was surrounded by beech and oak, and the berries on the rowan glowed a deep orange-red. It was still cold, but the temperature had risen significantly overnight and already snow was dripping off the trees. The lake where the Leighton children had spent many a happy hour larking about in boats was large and teeming with fish. It was shallow around the edge, but shelved quickly towards the centre, where there were deep and dangerous undercurrents.
Adeline and Lettie spent a pleasant half-hour skating on the ice—keeping to the edge since they were unsure as to how thick it was in the middle now the thaw had set in. Adeline was not as accomplished a skater as Lettie, who laughed at her nervousness, but it was great fun—even though Adeline spent most of her time either hanging onto Lettie or down on her behind. At such times she was grateful to her wad of petticoats, which lessened the pain but did little for her humiliation.
It was when they stepped off the ice to recover their breath that they were approached by a man. They had been so wrapped up in their fun and frolics they hadn’t seen him approach.
‘You seem to be enjoying yourself, Lettie.’
Something of the voice penetrated the two young women’s initial fear and turned it to ice-cold horror. The voice was that of Jack Cunningham. Together they spun round to stare into two glacial pale blue eyes. Adeline looked at him and froze, feeling a chill colder than the air that came off the lake.
Lettie was stunned by Jack’s sudden appearance, and the way he looked—and, hardened as she felt towards him, she could not repress a gasp of horror. He was barely recognisable. His usual elegance had vanished, and with his shapeless trousers and an overcoat which had seen better days he looked more like a man who had fallen on hard times and sunk to the very edge of the criminal world.
But it was his face that shocked both girls the most and held their attention. His skin was pasty beneath the dark stubble of his chin, his cheeks sunken and his eyes hollow. His sudden harsh laugh made them jump.
‘What’s the matter, Lettie? Are you having trouble recognising me? I have no difficulty knowing you. You are still the same murdering bitch.’
His mocking tone reawakened all Lettie’s anger against him. ‘Don’t worry, Jack, I recognise you. Though I must confess you are somewhat altered. Who would guess that the rich and arrogant Jack Cunningham would ever be brought so low? The police have you under investigation, I believe, on the grounds that your premises are used for immoral purposes—and not before time.’
‘A complaint has been lodged against me, and as you damned well know the complainant was your brother,’ he growled.
‘And this time the police couldn’t be bribed,’ Lettie retorted scornfully. ‘I know Grant went above their heads and used such powerful influence that the Home Office insisted on a strict investigation. I thought you had been arrested.’
‘They couldn’t catch me.’
‘So you are on the run from the law.’
‘Exactly.’ As his words came pouring out his features grew ugly, contorted with anger and a wild hatred. ‘You have made a fool of me—you and your brother. I won’t go down before I’ve paid back the bastard who informed on me and the bitch who got rid of my child. I’ve been here for days, watching and waiting for this moment. I intend to savour every second of it.’
Lettie’s voice was cold and disdainful. ‘Come to your senses, Jack. You are out of your mind. Have you thought what the consequences of such action might be?’
‘What does that matter to me now? I’ve lost everything else—everything I’ve worked for has been stripped from me—and it’s you—you I blame.’
‘And Grant? Are you going to hurt him too?’
Jack’s eyes glittered like ice. The minute the police had entered the Phoenix Club he had known with absolute certainty that his comfortable life was at an end, destroyed by the power of Grant Leighton, stripped of everything that was of value. Nothing remained of the prestige and pleasure-seeking that had marked his existence since he had left the ranks of the working classes.
Raw emotion had robbed him of any kind of reason, any kind of judgement. He wanted to make them suffer physically with his own hands, until they were too helpless to ask for mercy. His eyes narrowed and gleamed with a murderous light. ‘I’m not going to hurt him. I’m going to kill him. As for you, I could break your neck.’
His eyes were intent on Lettie’s, and she could see it was no idle threat.
Adeline felt tension coiling in the air around them, invisible but potent. The shock of Jack’s appearance had worn off, and she appraised their situation. They were on the opposite side of the lake from the house, and there was no hope of raising attention. She had to believe that Jack would bluster and threaten and let them go, but the merciless way he was looking at Lettie and his tightly clenched fists told her he intended to harm her.
‘Lettie, go—get away,’ she urged frantically, with no thought to her own safety. ‘Can’t you see why he’s come here?’
When Jack reached out to grab Lettie’s arm she backed away and, spinning round, took to the ice. She began skating for all she was worth in the direction of the house, not thinking he would follow, or that instead of keeping to the outer limits of the lake, hoping to cut her off, he would head straight across the middle, with a roar of furious frustration.
Not having moved, with her heart in her mouth, Adeline watched in horror as the scene began to unfold before her eyes. Seeing Lettie disappear round a curve in the lake, she wasn’t aware of the moment when Jack vanished. One minute he was there and then he wasn’t. Horrorstruck, she stared at the empty lake stretching out before her, knowing full well what had happened. The ice had broken and Jack had gone through. In desperation she stared around for help. All she saw was a frozen white winter land—no movement, no help.
Alone in the conservatory, Grant stood looking out over the gardens, feeling strangely content and pleased with himself. The sun shone on breathtaking beauty, melting the snowman, which had given him so much pleasure in building it with Adeline. Trees stood sharp against an azure sky, the snow on their branches glittering like scattered diamonds.
Letting his gaze travel beyond the gardens to the lake, with some amusement he had watched Adeline’s and Lettie’s antics on the ice, which seemed to have involved a great deal of laughter. Although Adeline had had difficulty keeping her balance, they’d been having such fun. He thought of Adeline as she had been yesterday, when they had built the snowman. She had been full of fun and life, incredulous and amazingly natural. She had taken his breath away. Her cheeks had been as red as poppies, her eyes jewel-bright. And as he’d watched her from a distance, he’d felt the melting of something warm and sweet run through his veins like warm honey.
She really was quite magnificent, he thought, with a catch in his heart.
Trees and bends obliterated parts of the lake, and the girls weren’t always visible. When they stepped off the ice he watched a man approach them. Too far away to see who it was, he had no reason to be alarmed—but when he saw Lettie turn and begin skating frantically away, with the man in pursuit, he looked to where Adeline stood, a forlorn, still figure against the stark white backdrop. As if he could feel her distress, he threw open the door and with long strides ran towards the lake.
On reaching the edge he stopped and looked around. The man had disappeared. Where had he gone? Then he saw Adeline. Having removed her skates, she was running towards him, pointing to the centre of the lake, where there was nothing but a black hole. Lettie had stopped and was staring at where Adeline pointed.
Absolutely distraught, Adeline could feel her heart beating heavily. When she reached Grant she was gulping her words out while she blinked up into his face. ‘The ice—his weight must have been too much for the thin ice. He—he’s gone through, Grant. He’s in the water. What can we do? If we attempt to get him out there’s a danger we’ll fall in, too.’
Gathering her in his arms, he drew her close, and all the while he held her he was aware of her body near his, of her breath sweet and warm against his throat. ‘There now. Don’t distress yourself. Who is it? Do you know?’
‘Jack—Jack Cunningham. I believe he wanted to harm Lettie—you, too, Grant—he was so full of hate. But—oh, this is all so awful.’
They were joined by Lettie and Roland who, like Grant, had seen what had happened from the house. Grooms and servants began to appear—summoned by Roland on his way to the lake—one of them carrying ropes, another planks of wood.
Acting swiftly, Grant thrust Adeline away from him. After removing his jacket, grim faced, he took one of the ropes and fastened it around his upper body.
Cold and shaken, Adeline stared at him in horror and disbelief. ‘Grant, what are you doing? You can’t go in there. Jack must be dead by now. No one could survive this long in freezing water.’
‘I have to do this, Adeline. I have to see if I can find him, otherwise I couldn’t live with myself. If he’s dead, then so be it. But at least I will have tried.’
‘Adeline’s right, Grant,’ Roland said, concerned by his brother’s decision to go under the ice, where the water swirled restlessly. ‘It would be impossible to withstand the cold beneath this ice for long.’
‘I have to, Roland. Just keep hold of the rope and haul me out if I’m down there too long.’ His face was closed when he stared at Adeline for a moment, then he turned and stepped onto the ice, making his way to where Jack had gone through.
When he plunged into the icy water, rooted to the spot Adeline fastened her eyes on the point where he’d disappeared, unaware that she was holding her breath, or that a stricken Lettie had come to stand beside her and had taken her hand in a firm grip. She couldn’t bear it, standing there, safe in the sunshine, while Grant was in dreadful danger under the ice. He had been down there a long time. Why didn’t he come back up? And then the sight of his dark head surfacing revived her fading hopes.
Shaking the water from his hair and gulping in air, Grant disappeared once more. The longer he remained under water, the more Adeline felt as if she were dying, and she had to fight against the creeping, growing weakness which froze the blood in her veins. Her soul, her very life itself, was concentrated in her eyes, fixed unmoving on the spot where he’d gone under. Tearing her gaze away, she looked at Lettie anxiously.
‘He’s been down there too long, Lettie. He’ll have to come up soon or he’ll freeze to death.’
‘He will—look…’
Grant had located Jack’s body, several yards from the spot where he’d fallen in. Dragging it to the surface, he tied the rope beneath Jack’s armpits.
‘Pull me out first,’ he shouted to the men. ‘Before you have two corpses on your hands.’
With great effort, and much slipping and sliding, this they did. A blanket was thrown over Grant’s shoulders, and he stood and watched as Jack’s body was hauled out before going to where Adeline and Lettie stood huddled together. His face was drawn and ashen, and water dripped from his wet hair. He smiled at them with difficulty, to try and allay their fears.
Adeline’s relief was immense, but she could not control her trembling.
Grant touched her cheek, looking at her tenderly. ‘I’m all right. Don’t worry.’
‘What will happen to Jack?’ Lettie asked, looking across the ice at Jack’s lifeless body.
‘The police will take him away. There will be questions asked, which I will deal with. Come, let’s go back to the house. We’ll leave them to it. There’s nothing we can do here, and I must get out of these wet clothes. We have to inform Mother what has happened, but we’ll tell everyone else that there has been an accident and that some unfortunate skater has gone through the ice.’
Hester received the terrible news in complete silence, before looking at Lettie who gazed straight ahead, dry-eyed. She stood passively, showing no emotion, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Secretly she was filled with a relief so profound she truly believed she might expire from it. Jack Cunningham was dead. Now she could get on with the rest of her life.
The following day everyone was relieved to find Grant no worse after his ice ordeal.
It was Christmas Eve, and with the dark came the carol singers, lighting their way with lanterns. As all the well-loved carols were sung all those who had known Jack Cunningham were determined not to let his death intrude and spoil the Christmas festivities. Afterwards there was much jollity as mulled wine and hot mince pies were handed round. And then it was time for the children to go to bed, each one excited about the imminent arrival of Santa Claus.
Where there had been chaos now there was calm, as exhausted adults revived their spirits, roasting chestnuts and drinking port wine, and when the church bells rang out the midnight hour Adeline, along with several others, went to celebrate Midnight Mass at the village church—the oldest custom of the Christmas festival.
On Christmas morning it was church again, after which Grant handed out gifts to the staff, and at midday there was the traditional Christmas dinner in the dining room, with the mahogany table extended to its full length. Evergreens adorned the walls and candles guttered in candelabrum along the centre of the table, along with baskets of nuts tied with red and gold ribbons. Turkey was served with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding, brought into the room ablaze.
When everyone was replete, Grant rose to his feet to propose a toast, and Adeline was more than happy to see he was wearing the gift she had given him earlier. As if he’d picked up on her thoughts he fingered it, and his grey eyes locked onto hers in silent warm communication. The ghost of a smile flickered across his features.
After the meal guests retired to their rooms, to loosen tight clothing and take a nap in readiness for later, when neighbours and local dignitaries had been invited to a quiet, cold buffet supper.
Having no desire to rest, Adeline went in search of Lettie, finding her in a small sitting room with her mother and Anna. Conversation ceased and gazes swivelled to her. Adeline frowned, wondering bemusedly why she sometimes caught the three of them looking at her oddly.
‘I do hope I’m not intruding. Is anything the matter?’
The three of them exchanged awkward glances.
‘The matter? No—no, we were just discussing the party tomorrow night—is that not so, Mother?’ Lettie was quick to say.
Looking rather startled, Mrs Leighton looked from Adeline to Lettie and back to Adeline. ‘Yes—yes, that’s right. Every Boxing Day night there’s a traditional ball for the servants. As you will know, Adeline, they all work so hard at Christmas time. They are an integral part of the household—and it’s their home, too, one mustn’t forget. Since they are unable to be with their families they are given special treatment.’
‘It sounds like fun,’ Adeline said.
‘It will be,’ Lettie enthused. ‘Grant has to lead the dancing with Cook, and Mother with the house steward. On the whole everyone has a good time. I hope you’ve brought your best party dress, Adeline.’
‘My very best—which you helped me choose in London.’
‘What’s this about a party dress?’
They all turned as one to Grant, who had just come in.
‘We were just telling Adeline about tomorrow, Grant,’ Lettie answered.
He looked in alarm from his mother to Lettie. ‘Tomorrow? You were?’
‘Tomorrow night. You know—the dance.’
As Adeline looked at Grant she heard the emphasis Lettie placed on the words, and she also heard Grant expel his breath in a rush of relief.
Lettie got up and linked her arm through Adeline’s. ‘Let’s take a stroll around the house, Adeline. I ate far too much plum pudding and feel the need to walk it off.’
‘Don’t feel you have to leave on my account.’
Lettie smiled sweetly at her brother. ‘We’re not. I just want to talk to Adeline, that’s all.’
They sauntered to the conservatory, sitting in wicker chairs and looking out over the snow-covered landscape. Tall, exotic plants reached the glass roof. There was the sound of falling water, and the smell of flowers and damp earth filled the air.
Lettie told Adeline that when Anna and David returned to Ireland she had decided to go with them for a short stay.
‘I feel I have to get away for a while, Adeline, to try and rebuild my life into the best I can salvage—without Jack. You know, I feel enormously relieved now he can no longer threaten me. It was rather tragic—the way he died—but when Grant told me the police had found a firearm in his pocket, I realised he did mean to kill me—and Grant. He really hated me.’
‘You must put it behind you, Lettie, and try not to feel too bad about what you did.’
‘I know—and I will. When I get back I intend to throw myself into my work again. It’s a man’s world, Adeline, with a woman’s part in it defined as very little. My affair with Jack taught me that if nothing else.’
‘I’m going to miss you.’
Leaning back in her chair and folding her hands in of front her, Lettie looked at her, a small, secretive smile playing on her lips. ‘Oh, I don’t know. I think you might have other things on your mind and will have no time to miss me.’
‘What on earth are you talking about?’
‘You and Grant.’
‘What about me and Grant?’
‘Well, it’s just that you seem to be getting on well.’ She smiled knowingly. ‘I was watching you the other day.’ She raised her brows. ‘The snowman?’
Adeline felt her face go red. ‘Oh, that. We were enjoying ourselves.’
‘Very much, by the look of things. Are you still in love with him?’
The direct question took Adeline by surprise. ‘I—like him, of course.’
‘I think it’s more than that,’ Lettie said quietly.
‘Lettie, apart from our antics in the snow, he’s hardly spoken two words to me,’ Adeline retorted, unable to conceal the frustration she felt at Grant’s indifference. ‘He treats me just like all his other guests. I don’t think he sees me half the time.’
‘Grant is as aware of you as you are of him. He can’t tear his eyes off you when he thinks you aren’t looking.’
Adeline’s heart soared precariously. ‘He can’t?’
‘He certainly knows you’re here,’ Lettie said, laughing. ‘He’s got something very special as a Christmas present for you,’ she went on. ‘I know you’ll like it.’
‘He has?’ Her interest and her heart quickened. ‘What is it?’
Lettie’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘Ah, that would be telling—and it’s for Grant to reveal it. I hope you’ll be pleased.’
Adeline was becoming more intrigued by the minute. Everyone was behaving most strangely.
Adeline stood in the hall as the evening’s guests began to arrive. She was watching the door when Diana Waverley, wrapped in sables and with exquisitely coiffed hair, swept in, her manner one of haughty arrogance. The sight of her here at Oaklands momentarily scattered Adeline’s defences, and she felt her heart sink in dismay. As she handed her furs to the house steward, Diana looked striking in a sweeping plum-coloured gown of costly good taste, the low-cut rounded neckline of her bodice exposing a generous glimpse of full, creamy breasts.
Adeline wholly understood Grant’s infatuation, and it hurt her more than she had imagined anything could—more so as she watched Grant receive her and introduce her to his mother. Why hadn’t he told her he’d invited Diana? If so she could have prepared herself. And why had he invited her anyway?
Diana’s gaze passed idly over those present. When she saw Adeline surprise registered briefly in her eyes, and then with a smug, superior curve to her lips she turned her full attention on Grant.
A while later, as Adeline surreptitiously watched Grant’s tall figure moving among his guests, she saw him accosted by Diana once more. He bent his head low as he listened attentively to what she had to say, smiling at him all the while. He laughed, and Adeline flushed as she recalled the way he had laughed and frolicked with her in the snow. Without warning he turned, and Adeline was caught in the act of staring at him. His gaze captured hers, and a strange, unfathomable smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Slowly he inclined his head towards her.
Stiffening her neck, she turned away from him to speak to Lettie. She couldn’t trust herself to look at him again.
‘What is that woman doing here?’ Lettie whispered, her irate eyes shooting darts at Diana’s back.
‘I suppose, like everyone else, she must have been invited,’ Adeline replied tightly.
‘I don’t think so. Grant wouldn’t be so cruel as to do that to you, Adeline. Diana’s been stalking him ever since her husband died.’
‘He certainly looks interested enough. He’s hardly left her side since she arrived.’
‘If you watch carefully you will see it’s Diana who is monopolising Grant. If he was interested he’d have offered for her years ago. I can’t imagine how she has the effrontery to come here. I am certain she wasn’t asked—but then she’s brazen enough for anything.’
Adeline agreed, but her disappointment and frustration stayed with her. Having spent some time conversing with Anna, she was about to join Lettie once more when she was suddenly confronted by Diana herself.
Diana hadn’t expected to see Adeline at Oaklands, and she strongly resented her presence. Suddenly she felt her hopes of reviving an affair with Grant shrivel, and a flare of jealousy reared its miserable head.
‘I didn’t expect to see you here at Oaklands, Adeline. I’m surprised.’
‘Really?’ Adeline exclaimed, trying hard to hold onto her composure. ‘My father and Mrs Leighton are close friends. Following his recent illness she thought it would be nice for them to spend Christmas together.’
‘I see. Then that explains it.’
‘Explains what?’
‘Why you are here.’
‘And I had no idea you had been invited.’
‘No? How very remiss of Grant not to tell you. When I last saw him he was very insistent on my knowing he was to spend Christmas at Oaklands, and that there would be the traditional supper party tonight. So I knew what he meant, and that he was expecting me. I came with Sir John and Lady Pilkington—they live between Oaklands and Westwood Hall.’
Taking a glass of wine from the table Diana looked around the company milling about, eating and drinking and conversing with friends. ‘Well, isn’t this cosy? And such congenial company. Of course I know most of them—neighbours, you understand.’ Her eyes came to rest on Grant, and she smiled. ‘And Grant is the perfect host—don’t you agree?’
‘Absolutely.’ And how handsome he looks, Adeline thought as she stole a glance at Grant’s disciplined, classical profile as he circulated among his guests.
After a moment, and seeming reluctant to move on, observing Lettie laughing delightedly at something her male companion was saying, Diana said, ‘Lettie seems to be in good spirits—considering.’
Alarmed by her comment, Adeline looked at her sharply. ‘I’m sorry? Considering what?’
Diana’s eyes were hard as they met Adeline’s. ‘Jack Cunningham was an acquaintance of mine, too, don’t forget.’
Adeline’s expression remained unchanged. Clearly Diana didn’t know that Jack was dead, and she had no intention of informing her. No doubt Grant would tell her.
‘Fancy asking Lettie to marry him with a wife still living—a lunatic,’ Diana went on with incredulity. ‘Well, who would have thought it? And when Lettie found herself to be in a—certain condition, it didn’t go unmentioned by Jack.’
‘If you feel any gratitude at all to Grant for coming to your aid when you found yourself to be financially embarrassed,’ Adeline said harshly, having no real proof that he had, but chancing it anyway, ‘I must ask for your complete discretion. Apart from Mrs Leighton no one in the family has any idea what happened, and that is what Lettie clings to.’
Diana’s chin tilted upward and her eyes directed towards Adeline, their slanted gaze cold and without merriment. Her voice quivering with anger, she demanded, ‘How do you know about my business arrangement with Grant? Has he said anything?’
Their gazes held, each reading the other’s expression. ‘No—he wouldn’t. But I have ears, Diana, and I’m not stupid. However, that’s not my concern. Lettie is. Despite her outward appearance she is still extremely fragile. I think any kind of confrontation would be a grave mistake. Please respect my wishes on this.’
Diana’s eyes narrowed. ‘I may be many things, Adeline, but I am no tittle-tattle. I’ve had dealings of my own with Jack Cunningham, so I know exactly what he is capable of. I can assure you that should Lettie’s sordid little secret surface, I will not be the one responsible.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Please excuse me.’
Adeline was glad to.
The evening was drawing to a close when she saw Grant approach Diana and take her arm. The two left the room together. It was as if a dagger had been thrust into her heart. Christmas had changed. Diana had spoilt it.
She got through the next hour as best she could, but it was hard to keep smiling. Deeply wounded, she thought she would never believe her own instincts again. She had been so sure that Grant was beginning to love her.
Following her angry confrontation with Grant, after he had taken her to his study to speak to her, Diana left, realising she had underestimated Adeline Osborne. She had resolved herself to the fact that there was no hope for anything where Grant was concerned.
Feeling the need to get out of the house, to be by herself, Adeline went to her room to don coat and boots and slipped out of the front door, unaware that Grant was watching her. The night was bitterly cold. It penetrated her clothes. Yet she was thankful for its sharpness, for it cleared her mind of the fog caused by the day’s over-indulgence.
Wistfully she gazed towards the sickle moon and starlit sky as quietness invaded her mood. Pulling the collar of her coat over her ears, and leaving the house behind, she walked to a wooded area beyond the gardens. She took the opposite direction to the lake, since she did not want to be reminded of the tragic events. Unafraid of the silence and the eerie trunks of oak, beech and lime, she was glad to be alone.
Somewhere an owl screeched, but apart from that silence gathered around her in that white winter world. She allowed her captivated senses to propel her further into the trees. Suddenly, seeing a slight movement ahead, she paused, her senses alert. Her eyes widened with surprise and pleasure on seeing a vixen, lithe and velvet-footed, totally unaware of her presence. Her lips parted in a smile of delight on seeing two cubs rolling around close to their mother, yelping and snapping in play. Not wishing to frighten them away, without moving she watched, entranced. The sight held her enthralled, and she was bound in the spell of the moment.
A moment later instinct told her that she was not alone. Someone had come to stand behind her. Her heart began to race, urging her to run away, but she couldn’t move. That was when the subtle scent of sandalwood assailed her nostrils and a powerful pair of arms slipped around her waist, drawing her back against a tall, long-limbed individual.
Lowering his head, he whispered, ‘Be still. Do not make a sound unless you wish to frighten them away.’
Adeline froze for an instant of time as the familiar voice scattered her thoughts. She had no need to see the man’s face to know who stood behind her. In that moment, when all her senses seemed to be heightened nearly beyond all endurance, she felt a frisson of recognition as deep and primeval as life itself. Hot breath smelling of brandy touched her skin as the warning was whispered against her ear, and she could feel a powerful heartbeat behind the hard muscle. Unable to struggle, unable to utter even the smallest sound, she was unaware that she was holding her breath. Her eyes were still locked on the fox and its cubs when the voice came again.
‘A rare, enchanting sight, is it not?’
‘It is indeed,’ she whispered.
Adeline found herself wanting to turn and look at him, to surrender to the masculine strength of him and the hypnotic sound of his voice. The feel of his arms was electric. It flashed along her nerves like a powerful current. Her skin tingled and grew warm, and some dark and secret thing stirred inside her. It was as if the very essence of herself had been altered in the space of a heartbeat. Unable to struggle, unable to utter the smallest sound, all she could do was remain pressed against that powerful body.
The anxious vixen watched her cubs, nudging them with her nose, and to the cubs her protection was pleasing. Then her instincts came to the fore. She stiffened and looked in their direction with bristling hair, her face distorted and malignant with menace. Sensing the threat of humans, her lips writhed back and her little fangs were bared. Passing her unease to the cubs, she drew them back, discomfited, and slid into the shadows.
For all its intensity the moment had been brief. Grant released her and took a step back. Feeling weak, as if all the strength had been sucked from her body, Adeline turned slowly and faced him, her breasts measuring the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. The moon was behind him so that its pale light fell upon her face, leaving his in dark silhouette.
‘Why have you followed me?’
‘Because I wanted to. Do you mind?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’
‘I hope you are enjoying Christmas.’
‘Very much—although the events at the lake have cast a cloud over the festivities. What did you tell the police?’
‘The truth—that Cunningham came here to kill me because I had informed on him. Naturally I made no mention of Lettie. They will liaise with the police in London, which will confirm what I told them.’ His expression softened. ‘I’m glad you came, Adeline.’
‘And I’m happy to have been asked. I am grateful that you have welcomed us so generously at what was intended as a family reunion. It has gone so quickly.’
‘It isn’t over yet.’
‘Almost,’ she said.
‘No, it isn’t. You have Boxing Day to get through.’
Was she imagining it or was there a hidden meaning to his words? Moving away from him, Adeline looked back to where she had seen the vixen, wishing she could see it once more. But she knew it would not return. With a rueful sigh she lowered her head. ‘It’s cold. We should go back.’
Placing his hands on her arms, Grant turned her to face him. ‘Adeline, wait. There is something I must ask you. You have been here for days, and yet we have had little chance to speak privately. Why did you run away from me in London?’
She took a deep breath. At last he had raised the subject that had been on their minds since she had come to Oaklands. ‘Why didn’t you write?’
‘Because what I had to say to you I wanted to say in person. So, why did you leave without saying goodbye?’
‘You know why, Grant.’
‘You deserted me.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘That’s how it felt to me. Why did you let me make love to you?’
‘I suppose when emotions are running high people do mad things.’
‘And are your emotions running high now?’
‘When I’m with you my emotions are always running high—in fact they’re all over the place, even though I firmly try to suppress them. You ask why I let you make love to me.’ Her lips curved in a slow smile. ‘I ignored all my instincts. I went with you to your hotel without reservation. And then I saw you with Diana. It almost destroyed me. I’m not going to put myself through anything like that again.’
‘But you want me. You can’t deny that.’
Even in the gloom Adeline could see his eyes sparkle. ‘I’m human. You’ve proved that. Why didn’t you tell me Diana was coming tonight?’
‘It was a surprise to me. She was not invited, Adeline. I would not be so insensitive as to do that to you. After the initial shock of seeing her I tried to play the perfect host. She clearly misunderstood something I said when I saw her briefly in London on my return from France—I had to see her to discuss the Waverley estate, and she interpreted it as an invitation.’ He grinned. ‘Mother was none too pleased to see her, but she coped wonderfully. Nothing ruffles her.’
Adeline understood then just how madly possessive Diana was over Grant, and that he did not love her in return. ‘Did you tell her about Jack?’
He nodded. ‘I saw no reason not to. She would have found out some time.’ For a long moment Grant’s gaze lingered on the elegant perfection of Adeline’s glowing face, then settled on her entrancing dark eyes. As he had watched her earlier, mingling with his guests, he had wanted more than anything to thrust everyone out through the front door and snatch her into his arms to kiss that full, soft mouth until she was clinging to him, melting with desire.
‘Adeline, there is no Diana and me. There hasn’t been for over two years. She wanted commitment. I didn’t. Six years ago I might have married her, but she chose to marry a title instead.’
‘But both times I was at your hotel she was there. You were—familiar together. What was I to think?’ She saw the twinkle in his eye, the twist of humour about his mouth.
‘I think you suffer from an over-active imagination, and because of it you have suffered a lot of unnecessary heartache. The first time you saw her she had arranged the meeting to ask me for a loan. I refused. The second time she came to thank me for digging her out of her financial hole—and I only agreed to do so because of Jack Cunningham.’
‘You bought Westwood Hall, didn’t you?’
He nodded.
‘I thought so. What will you do with it?’
‘When Diana has officially moved out I’ll put the estate on the market. Cunningham gave Diana a hard time when he realised what she’d done—turning her back on his offer and selling to me instead. She’s now decided to marry Paul.’
Adeline was astounded. ‘She has? But earlier I thought she hoped…’
‘That I would marry her? Never. I had a private word with her before she left and made her realise there can never be anything between us. She put off giving Paul his answer until she knew there was no hope for us.’
‘Paul’s a wealthy man, so she will not be disappointed in that, but I doubt they will be happy together.’
‘So do I.’ Lifting his hands and pulling her collar up over her ears, Grant looked down into her face. ‘Not as happy as you and me. I love you, Adeline Osborne, and I am going to marry you. I have loved you from the morning I awoke and found you next to me. You were naked and beautiful, and your hair was spread about us both. We have been lovers ever since—we must look on that night as a gift from fate. When you left me so suddenly in London it tortured me. When I was in France I thought of you all the time. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t sleep. My mind was so full of you and you were so deep in my heart it hurt. I’d like this to be our new beginning. You will marry me?’
He spoke in that low, husky voice that was half-whisper, half-seductive caress. Adeline remained silent, too afraid to speak at first. She could scarcely believe this was happening. Tilting her head, she looked deep into those sober silver-grey eyes, so gentle, so full of love. His expression was serious. She could feel the power he exuded, but she sensed his ruthlessness, too—a man would have to be ruthless to achieve what he had achieved through life.
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Oh, yes, Grant. I will marry you. I shall be proud to marry you.’
‘Thank God for that. I didn’t want a repeat of my first proposal of marriage, when you gave a definite no. And thank you for your gift,’ he murmured. ‘It’s perfect. I have a gift for you—a surprise, which I shall give you tomorrow. But for now…’ He took something out of his pocket.
‘What is it?’
‘Mistletoe.’ His lips curved in a provocative smile. ‘You know what that means.’
‘I have a very good idea.’ She glanced at the sprig he was holding just above her head and smiled teasingly. ‘I see there are plenty of berries on it.’
‘Naturally. When I came after you I had an ulterior motive, so I made quite sure of that. Mistletoe is a licence for intimacy—and in pagan times it was connected to fertility.’
‘Really?’ she whispered, arching her brows, pretending ignorance.
He nodded. ‘And did you know that each mistletoe berry represents a kiss?’
‘It does?’ She saw a purposeful gleam in those heavy-lidded eyes.
‘Every time a visitor to the house is kissed, one of the white berries should be removed. When all the berries have gone, the kissing has to stop—which is why I chose a sprig with plenty of berries on it.’
‘Well, it looks as though we’ve a lot of kissing to get through. So we’d best get on with it before we both freeze to death.’
‘My thoughts exactly.’
Before taking her in his arms, Grant pushed the stem of mistletoe into her thick hair. Despite the cold his lips were warm when they covered hers, touching her mouth with an exquisite gentleness that stunned her into stillness. They caressed, lazily coaxing, hungry and searching, fitting her lips to his own, and then his kiss deepened and he kissed her endlessly, as if he had all the time in the world.
Of their own volition Adeline’s fingers curved around his neck, sliding into the soft, thick hair at his nape, feeling a pleasure and an astonished joy that was almost past bearing. She pressed herself against him, answering his passion with the same wild, exquisitely provocative ardour that had haunted her dreams since she had left him in London. The arms around her tightened, moulding her body to his, and she clung to him as ivy clings to a tree, and the strength in that hard, lean body gave her strength, gave promise of more pleasure.
Dragging his lips from hers, Grant looked at her upturned face. His eyes glowed. ‘Well, I suppose that’s one berry gone.’
‘No—leave it. I don’t want the kissing to stop. Not ever.’
Touching her cheek with his fingertips, and then wrapping his long fingers around her chin, he tilted her head back, his eyes smiling into hers. ‘Anything to oblige.’
Again his mouth covered hers. And so it went on. And the sprig of mistletoe kept its berries.