‘Why not? Lucas brought in a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. How does that sound?’
‘Perfect.’
He poured two glasses of the pink champagne and brought them over to the fireplace.
They toasted each other, and Elizabeth took a sip of the champagne, before saying, ‘Thanks for helping me with the jewellery. I couldn’t have done it alone.’
‘It was my pleasure. It’s going to be an important feature in the auction. When will that be, by the way?’
Elizabeth seated herself on the loveseat, sat back, nursing her drink. ‘I’ve had a meeting with the key people at Sotheby’s, and they figure that it will take about another four months to finish the inventories of everything, the various categories, and create a catalogue. There’s a good possibility that it could take place in the autumn or early winter.’
‘Of this year?’
‘Yes, I hope so, I’d like to get it over with.’
‘And the Chelsea house? Are you putting it on the market?’
‘I think I will, Robin.’ She was about to tell him why, explain that it was full of bad memories, and then changed her mind, mainly because she didn’t want to bring up the name of Tom Selmere. She moved on. ‘There’s still the rest of the jewellery to go through. Do you think we can get it done tomorrow or Sunday? Once I’ve seen it all, Kat can have it taken away, stored in one of the bank vaults.’
‘We’ll whiz through it tomorrow, get it out of the way. Listen, I’ve got to go to Madrid next week, and I had an idea when I was showering. Why don’t you meet me in Marbella next weekend?’
‘Oh, yes, I’d like that, Robin, it’ll be nice to be with you, and we can relax, enjoy the warm weather. Anyway, I can’t wait to see the resort. There’s just one thing –’ She cut herself off, bit her lip, appeared to be worried.
‘Go on, say it. But what?’
‘I hope I don’t have to meet with Philip Alvarez, or spend any time with him.’
‘No, of course not, he won’t be around. But why are you looking so apprehensive?’ He stared at her, frowning in puzzlement.
She laughed nervously. ‘Because he was always … stalking me, I suppose that’s the best word to use, and whenever he thought no one was looking he would attempt to touch me, get hold of me, pinch my bottom.’
‘The randy bugger!’ Robert exclaimed, and couldn’t help laughing. ‘But I can’t say I blame him, my sweet. You’re very delectable, you know, and therefore extremely touchable.’
Robert walked over to the sofa, sat down next to her, took hold of her hand, wanting to reassure her. ‘I’m fairly positive he won’t be in Marbella, but if he does happen to show up I’ll protect you, I promise.’
She turned to face him, saw the mischievous laughter in his eyes, found herself smiling. ‘I always knew you’d be my knight in shining armour, Robin Dunley.’
At this moment Lucas appeared in the doorway. ‘Excuse me, Miss Turner. Dinner’s served.’
‘Thank you, Lucas, we’ll be right in.’
They finished their champagne, stood up, and went to the dining room where they sat down. A moment later Lucas reappeared, served them country pâté with cornichons and toast, poured the white wine. ‘Do you need anything else, Miss Turner?’ he asked.
‘Everything’s perfect, Lucas, thank you.’
He nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
‘I have a lovely feeling I’m getting really special treatment this weekend, Elizabeth, being horribly spoilt. You’ve chosen all my favourite things so far. Potted shrimps and cottage pie for lunch, now pâté and cornichons.’
‘I’m trying to curry favour with you,’ she teased, overflowing with happiness.
Robert grinned. ‘Do you remember how we once ate a huge jar of cornichons at Waverley Court and got a terrible bellyache. Kat was very annoyed with us, and told us it served us right for being greedy.’
‘I still love them, though.’ Elizabeth munched on one, then picked up another. ‘However, I do limit myself these days.’
‘Dare I ask what the main course is?’ Robert cut into his pâté and put a small piece on his toast.
‘Another of your favourites, Robin. Haddock fried in batter with chips and mushy peas.’ She threw him a warm, indulgent look.
‘How fabulous! Is Lucas going to serve the fish and chips in a newspaper? I hope.’
‘Afraid not, my darling. But they’re just as delicious on a plate. Listen, going back to Philip Alvarez, was all that true about him? I mean the things Francis Walsington dug up last year. You know, the womanizing and carousing, and the bad debts?’
‘As far as the bad debts are concerned, yes. However, he’s managing to settle those, so I understand from Francis. And his womanizing and his fondness for living the high life are his own business, don’t you think?’
Elizabeth inclined her head. ‘I guess so. He’s lucky, isn’t he, that we stepped in and saved him, by taking over the Marbella Project?’
‘He is indeed.’
‘There’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask you …’
‘Don’t stop, go on, ask me.’ Robert sat back, regarding her, his eyes questioning.
‘How many enemies do I have at Deravenels?’
‘Not as many as you think,’ he answered immediately in a cool, steady voice. ‘Naturally, there are those dyed-in-the-wool misogynists who simply don’t like women to reach the glass ceiling in business, and therefore all women are disliked, whoever they are. And admittedly, there are a few of those bigotted chaps at Deravenels. After all, as you know, it’s been a male chauvinistic club for years. As for actual enemies, I can think of only two who don’t approve of you running the company. I could categorize them as enemies – on the other hand, I don’t see them as a really dangerous threat to you.’
‘I suppose you’re referring to Alexander Dawson and Mark Lott?’
‘There, you see! You know already.’
‘I just have a feeling they don’t like me, because they were certainly hostile at the board meeting. But I guess you’re right, Robin, they can’t really hurt me. Or can they?’
‘No, I don’t believe so. Mark Lott was such a crony of Mary’s, he’s bound to take umbrage with anyone who replaces her. As for Dawson, he’s a bad lad, to put it mildly.’
‘I know. And he knows I know. In the past, I’ve caught him out in some awful lies, and he’s also very sneaky in a lot of ways. I’ve witnessed that.’
‘Yes, you told me. Let’s cut to the chase. Dawson can’t do anything to harm you, except perhaps fight you on some issues at board meetings, but he’d get out-voted. The board is loaded with your men. Cecil and myself aside, there’s your great-uncle Howard, Nicholas, Francis, and your cousins Henry and Frank. As for Mark Lott, Mary’s dead and gone. You’re It, and Lott is extremely self-protective. He’s hardly going to make waves, or move against you. He knows he can’t win.’ Robert lifted his glass. ‘My money’s on you, Elizabeth.’
‘Likewise, Robin.’ She touched her glass to his. ‘I’ve wanted to ask you another thing … is your sister coming to work with me or not?’
Robert was pleased, and a wide smile spread across his face. ‘If you want her, yes. Merry told me she would definitely accept your offer, if you made one.’
‘Then I shall.’
Lucas came in, cleared the plates, returned a few moments later to serve the main course. ‘Just ring if you need me, Miss Turner,’ he said, hurrying off to his own domain a few minutes later.
Elizabeth and Robert liked the same things to eat and especially the comfort food they had enjoyed as children. And so they relished the fried haddock and chips, with peas and tartare sauce, and Elizabeth surprised herself and ate almost all of her dinner.
At one moment Robert looked at her, his eyes turning thoughtful. He cleared his throat and began. ‘You do have one genuine enemy, Elizabeth, who’s hovering on the horizon at this moment, I understand.’
Taken aback, she frowned, gave him a hard s
tare. ‘You’re not going to tell me that Marie Stewart is up to her old tricks, are you?’
‘Afraid so.’
‘But why, Robin? Why is she breathing down my neck again? Because that’s exactly what you’re implying.’
‘She believes she’s the rightful heir, Elizabeth, and I don’t think anything is going to make her change her mind. And now she’s had a taste of power, she probably wants more.’
‘Taste of power. How?’ Elizabeth demanded, her voice rising an octave.
‘As you well know, she married François de Burgh last April, almost a year ago now, and he’s the heir to the vast conglomerate, Dauphin, which his father owns. Although it’s not quite as big as Bernard Arnault’s LVMH, or Pinault’s conglomerate, Artemis, it’s nevertheless an important company, doing business worldwide. Marie’s husband François works with his father, and so does she. Being an ambitious young woman, she probably thinks she can grab Deravenels, and roll it into her father-in-law’s global business. It would give her a lot of kudos with Henri de Burgh.’
‘It’s not feasible! My father’s will is absolutely legal. Watertight. Anyway, she can’t inherit through the female line, through her grandmother.’ Elizabeth was visibly enraged.
‘Tell her that,’ Robert replied. ‘Her grandmother was Margaret Turner, elder sister of your father, eldest daughter of Bess Deravenel Turner and Henry Turner. Marie inherited Scottish Heritage through her grandmother, but obviously it’s not enough for her. She wants more.’
‘Oh, my God! What can I do?’ Always pale, Elizabeth’s face was whiter than ever.
‘You’re going to stay cool and calm, in the way only you can. And we’re going to watch and wait, and we’ll put Francis Walsington to work. If anyone can come up with dirt, he can, and he’s very skilled at finding brilliant solutions to really tough problems.’
Robert reached out, squeezed her arm in a reassuring way. ‘As I said earlier, my money’s on you, Elizabeth. I am guarding your back and so is Cecil. We’re not going to allow anyone to hurt you, or attempt to take Deravenels away from you. Trust me.’
‘I do,’ she said, sitting back, trying to relax. Taking a deep breath, she added, ‘I trust you and Cecil with my life, and together the three of us will make the company secure. And bring it to new heights.’
‘You’re damn right we will,’ Robert Dunley agreed.
NINETEEN
Robert awakened, reached out for Elizabeth, only to find her gone. Pushing himself up against the pillows, he glanced around the room, looking for her. It was bathed in moonlight and he saw her standing near the window staring out across the North Sea.
Throwing back the covers, he swung his long legs to the floor and padded over to the window. ‘Is there something wrong? Can’t you sleep, Elizabeth?’
She did not respond, merely stood there, did not even look around. Her back was rigid, and he was instantly aware of her tenseness.
Baffled and concerned, he put a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to face him; he saw at once that her eyes were brimming with tears. ‘Darling, whatever is it? You’re upset.’ Drawing her towards him, he brought her into his arms and held her tightly. ‘Tell me what’s troubling you. Don’t you know by now that you can tell me anything, Elizabeth?’
‘I couldn’t sleep, and my mind started to work, going over so many different things, and I suddenly thought of … Amy.’
He remained perfectly still, not moving a muscle, nor did he release her. He just went on standing there, pressing her head to his chest.
After a moment or two, Elizabeth leaned back slightly, gazed up into his face. ‘I’m not jealous, don’t think that. I just need to know what the situation is between the two of you… I need the facts. I know you’ll tell me the truth, Robin, because you’ve never lied to me ever.’
Touching her cheek lightly, he kissed her forehead. ‘Come on, let’s go and sit in front of the fire, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know.’ Together they went over to the sofa and sat down. Pushing himself into a corner, adjusting the cushions behind him, Robert gave her a direct look and said, ‘Amy and I are separated, Elizabeth, and we have been for a very long time.’
‘How long?’ she asked, her gaze on his.
‘Five years, actually. It just wasn’t working.’
‘Why ever did you marry her in the first place, Robin?’
He shook his head, appeared perplexed. ‘I can only put it down to my extreme youth. My God, what did I know at seventeen, eighteen? Nothing. Not about women, sex, the world, life. I was full of raging hormones, and she was very pretty, a voluptuous sort of girl, and I wanted her. As my brother Ambrose often says, a stiff prick has no conscience. I wanted to get her into bed, have sex with her, and the only way I knew how to do that was to marry her. So I did. And a year later I was filled with misgivings and enormous regrets. One shouldn’t jump into a vat of ice cream when one only wants a few scoops.’
‘And you couldn’t work out your problems?’
‘We didn’t really have problems. She was happy enough, it was just that I had … absolutely sweet bugger-all to say to her. We had nothing in common. You see, she loved being in the country, loved the rural life, enjoyed lolling around, doing nothing, just waiting for me to come home and dreaming about babies. But no babies arrived, and eventually I stopped going home. I was bored, utterly and completely bored with her. We’re poles apart.’
‘Why haven’t you divorced?’
‘It didn’t seem to matter to her. Or to me. At least, not until now. I’ll speak to her as soon as possible. I’m sure there’ll be no problem.’
‘A divorce isn’t important, Robin, not to me. You see, I don’t plan to marry.’
Surprised, he gaped at her. ‘Oh, I see. You still feel that way, do you? About marriage?’ His voice was mild, slightly amused.
‘I do, oh yes. I’m far too independent to get married. I must be my own woman. And the only reason I mentioned Amy was because I need to know the way things are. And you’ve told me now, and that’s fine, I understand everything. There’s absolutely no problem, none whatsoever.’ She moved closer to him, took hold of his hand. ‘You and I must always be truthful with each other, Robin. Truthfulness and honesty, that’s all I ask of you.’
‘And what about love? Don’t you want that from me?’
‘You know I do. Very much so. And I have it, just as you have my love, and all of me. You know that, surely?’
‘I do, I do.’ Reaching out for her, he took her in his arms and kissed her. ‘For what it’s worth, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved in my whole life.’
‘All twenty-five years of it.’
‘You’re only twenty-five, too. Am I the only man you’ve ever loved?’
‘Yes, you are.’
‘What about the admiral? Didn’t you love him?’
It seemed to Elizabeth that these words just hung there in the air, hung dangerously between them, and for a moment she was angry, couldn’t answer him. Finally, composing herself, she said softly, ‘I didn’t love him, no. But I suppose I was infatuated with him. He was handsome, dashing, and I was very young, you know.’
‘Yes, I do know. My father said his behaviour was scandalous in view of your age.’
‘Did he now. I see. Did you think that?’
‘No, I didn’t. Was it? Scandalous, I mean?’
‘I’m not quite sure.’
‘Did he make love to you?’
‘We didn’t have intercourse, if that’s what you’re getting at.’
‘But you did make love …’ His voice faded away, he half shrugged.
‘There was a lot of … touching. You know what I mean.’
‘Intimate touching?’ he asked, scrutinizing her intently.
She simply nodded. ‘Tom Selmere was a lot like you –’
‘Oh, no, I don’t think so!’ Robert exclaimed, sitting up straighter, his mouth suddenly stern.
‘I was about to add in his appearance.
And you’re correct, he wasn’t like you. Certainly not in character, not at all. He was immoral in a certain sense, and he wasn’t as intelligent or as clever as you are. In fact, he was a rather foolish man. Witty but not wise.’
‘So said my father.’
Elizabeth moved on the sofa, sat back, and stared into the fire blazing up the chimney. She was silent and so was Robert, both lost in their diverse thoughts.
It was he who broke the silence a short while later, when he drew closer to her, pulled her to him. ‘I love you with all my heart, Elizabeth. I truly do.’
‘I didn’t sleep with … the admiral. Honestly.’
‘I believe you, and it really doesn’t matter if you did. You’ve always been mine in a way, since we were little, and now you are mine, just as I’m yours. So let’s go to bed and prove it, shall we?’
She started to say something but he stopped the flow of her words with a shower of kisses, picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
‘Who cares about the past?’ he murmured as he lay down next to her. ‘It’s the present that counts.’
‘When you think about me, what’s the first image that comes into your head?’ Elizabeth asked, drawing closer to Robert, throwing an arm over his body. Though they were sated and tired by their lovemaking, somehow they were unable to sleep.
He had his back to her and his voice was muffled when he replied, ‘I guess in my mind’s eye I see you when you were a little girl, my tomboy. Yes, that’s the image I have.’
‘That’s not very romantic,’ she grumbled, and kissed his shoulder.
‘Maybe not, but you were quite impressive in those days, when we were kids. You had such … guts. Especially when you stood up to Harry.’
‘Now that’s a fantasy in your head! I never stood up to my father. I was always a bit frightened of him, to tell you the truth.’
‘I really don’t believe that!’ Robert exclaimed and, turning over, he stared at her in surprise. ‘I remember you as being the most fearless person I ever knew. And I still feel that about you.’
‘What a nice compliment, and thank you, Robin, but honestly he did terrify me at times.’