‘Walsington believes he’s shrewd, and much more experienced than we think. He’s also got an exceptionally clever mother who’s going to make sure absolute power at Dauphin rests in the hands of her eldest son and not the hired help. She’s going to be in there, overseeing things. So I understand from Francis.’
‘And what about my erstwhile cousin Marie Stewart de Burgh? Do you think she’ll be troublesome to us?’
‘I’m not sure. But hazarding a guess, I would say that she will be far too busy helping her husband run his company to be casting an eye on Deravenels.’
‘I hope so,’ Elizabeth murmured, and shivered.
Robert looked at her, put an arm around her shoulder. ‘Are you cold, sweetheart?’
‘It’s the wind,’ Elizabeth responded, but it wasn’t the wind at all. The shiver had been involuntary. She felt as if someone had just walked over her grave.
‘Do you want to go in?’ Ambrose asked.
‘Let’s do that,’ she answered. ‘The champagne awaits.’
Elizabeth and Ambrose went into the library and Robert hurried off to the kitchen to let Lucas know they had returned from their walk.
Ambrose threw several logs on the fire, moved them around with the poker, then straightened. He sat down opposite Elizabeth, shaking his head. ‘It’s so much colder here at Ravenscar than it is in Harrogate. It was really mild there when I set out this morning.’
‘It’s the North Sea,’ Elizabeth explained, ‘and there’s always a light breeze coming off the water even on the hottest of days.’ She grinned. ‘Woolly jumpers are mandatory.’
‘My mother once told me that my grandfather Edmund never liked to visit your grandfather Henry when he was up here, because of the icy weather. He called it the Arctic Circle.’
Elizabeth laughed; she liked Ambrose. He had always been one of her favourites, just as Merry was. ‘I shall be forever grateful to my father because he put in central heating. It really makes life easier in winter, believe me.’
‘I bet it does. These old piles are hellish to keep warm, not to mention expensive.’ He settled back in the chair, stretched out his long legs.
Elizabeth leaned forward slightly, and said, ‘I want to thank you, Ambrose, for all your hard work in Marbella. You’ve done a really sensational job, pulling everything together the way you have, and so very quickly really.’
‘Thank you for saying that. It’s been tough going at times, I can tell you, but the place was well worth rescuing. It will be the most extraordinary resort when it’s finally finished, even though I do say so myself.’
‘I’m glad you’re now working at Deravenels on a permanent basis, and it’s lovely to have Merry as my assistant. I don’t know how I ever managed without your sister, and soon Anne will be running the spas for me. I must admit, I do enjoy being surrounded by Dunleys. It’s like having my own family.’
‘But we are your family, Elizabeth, at least we will be when Robert finally gets everything sorted out with Amy, and you two get married. Actually, Anne and I were hoping that you would let us have the reception at our flat – after all, as you just said, we’re like family.’
Elizabeth could only nod. She sat frozen in the chair, not only startled but stunned by his words. She was also annoyed. Why had Robin discussed these private matters and indicated that they would marry once he was free to do so? He knew very well she had no intention of marrying anyone. Quite unexpectedly, she felt as if he had broken her trust.
‘Here we are with the Krug,’ Robert announced as he came into the library with Lucas, who was bringing the bottle of champagne in a silver bucket filled with ice. Robert was carrying the three champagne flutes by their stems.
Lucas opened the bottle, filled their glasses, handed them around and mentioned that lunch would be at one o’clock. He then departed, heading in the direction of the kitchen.
They toasted each other sitting around the fire, talked about the opening of the Spanish resort the following spring, and Robert encouraged Elizabeth to tell Ambrose about her auction.
Filled with tension, her face taut, Elizabeth tried to relax. After taking a few sips of the champagne, she managed to quell her irritation with Robert by pushing the remarks Ambrose had made to the back of her mind.
She talked about the various aspects of the auction, how it had been separated into different categories, covering the art, the diamond tiaras, the jewellery, and so on. But she mostly concentrated on Ambrose, directing her conversation to him, genuinely unable to look Robert in the face.
‘My God, what a fabulous auction it’s going to be!’ Ambrose exclaimed when she had finished. ‘I’m certain it will bring in millions. I’m not going to miss it, and I bet you’re not either, Robert, are you?’
‘I shall be there with bells on, standing right next to Elizabeth, praying that everything goes for the highest price.’
At this moment Lucas appeared and announced that lunch was ready. Elizabeth put down her glass and stood. ‘Let’s go in, shall we?’ she said, striding ahead, stifling her irritation.
TWENTY-SIX
‘Ambrose thinks he might have offended you in some way without realizing it,’ Robert said, leaning against the door jamb, looking across the room at Elizabeth, endeavouring to appraise her mood.
She sat behind the desk in her small office, papers spread out in front of her, and instantly lifted her head at the sound of his voice. She replied, after a moment, ‘No, he didn’t offend me.’
He knew at once that she was still put out, as she had been at lunch, obviously annoyed by something. Irritation echoed in her voice and her face was tauter than ever. ‘But there is something wrong,’ he said, walking forward, coming to a stop in front of her desk. ‘I know you too well and for too long not to understand that, so don’t deny it.’
For a moment she was silent, uncertain about getting involved in a difficult discussion at this moment, and then instantly changed her mind, decided to tell him the truth. She said in a low, steady voice. ‘It’s you I’m annoyed with, not your brother. He’s just the innocent bystander.’
Robert frowned, appeared puzzled. ‘Why? What have I done?’
‘You told Ambrose we’re getting married when you’re divorced from Amy. I was so taken aback I didn’t know what to say to him.’
He shook his head vehemently ‘Oh, no, I did not! If Ambrose mentioned the word marriage he did so of his own accord. Of course he knows I wish to straighten out the mess, and he made an assumption, I suppose. And that’s all there is to it.’
Elizabeth stared at him, made no comment.
‘Anyway, why didn’t you bring it up earlier? When we were having drinks before lunch? Because that’s obviously when he said something to you … when I was in the kitchen with Lucas, getting the champagne.’
‘I didn’t want to create a scene, make a fuss.’
‘But you did create an extremely bad atmosphere during lunch, Elizabeth, made us feel uncomfortable, and you know it. You were clipped, even curt when you deigned to speak to either of us, but mostly you were silent and looked like the wrath of God. We both understood you were in a temper. You made sure we did.’
‘I wasn’t in a temper, I just felt … betrayed.’
He sighed, shaking his head. ‘Ambrose made an assumption, and so did you. How can you think I would betray your trust? Me, of all people?’
For a moment she remained silent, and then she exclaimed, ‘He said he and Anne wanted to give the wedding reception at their flat. Why would he say such a thing if you hadn’t confided in him?’
‘Oh, don’t be so damned silly! Again, it was based on his assumption that when I was free, you and I would get married. And it’s perfectly natural for him to think that, isn’t it? I’m sure most people would do the same. After all, we’ve created a scandal, you and I, with our very public affair, haven’t we? So marriage would be the next step surely in everyone’s minds.’
She shook her head. ‘You know I don’t want to
marry you, Robin. You don’t even have to get a divorce as far as I’m concerned.’
Her words unexpectedly inflamed him. ‘Why don’t you want to marry me?’ he demanded, placing his hands on her desk, leaning forward, staring into her face intently, his eyes narrowing. ‘What’s wrong with me? Am I not good enough for the Turner heiress? The inheritor of Deravenels? Is that it? Or do you think I’m after your money and your power?’
He was furious, and Elizabeth sat up straighter in the chair, thunderstruck by his angry tone, harsh words, and the hard expression on his face. ‘How can you say such things?’ she cried heatedly. ‘Of course you’re good enough. More than good enough, and I know you’re not involved with me because you want what I have. It’s me you want.’
‘You’re damn right. And I want you to be my wife,’ he cried. When he noticed how she had suddenly stiffened in the chair, turned pale, he stepped away from the desk. Adopting a gentler tone, he went on, ‘Once I’m free, let’s get married, Elizabeth. We can just … run away, if you like. Elope. It doesn’t have to be a big fancy wedding, you know, just the two of us and two witnesses.’
As she looked at him, at a total loss for words, that mischievous, very charming smile of his flashed across his handsome face, and he said, very softly, ‘We should get married, darling, we love and adore each other. And eventually, when you’re ready, we can have a child, the heir that everyone’s always on about. An heir to keep Deravenels safe. Don’t you want that?’
She couldn’t answer. She was mortified he had brought up this matter, and before she could stop herself she snapped, ‘No, I certainly don’t want that. I’m only twenty-five. I’ve plenty of time to think about an heir. You see, I’ve no intention of dying young. And anyway, you’ve taken offence over nothing.’
‘How can you say that?’ He gave her a hard stare.
‘Because it’s true.’
‘Nothing? I’ve taken offence about nothing, you say. What about me, my feelings? Don’t I matter in this relationship, Elizabeth? It takes two to tango, doesn’t it? Hasn’t it ever occurred to you that I would be much happier married to you than not married?’
‘You’ve always known I don’t want to get married. Not ever. I told you that when I was eight.’
‘You’re a grown woman now,’ he replied in a sharp voice, his anger flaring again. ‘And you’re having an affair with me, a grown man, not a little boy in short trousers. We are in love, emotionally and physically involved. Surely marriage is the natural outcome, isn’t it?’
An obdurate look settled on her face. ‘I don’t want to marry anyone, Robin. This is not against you, and you’re taking it too personally.’
‘I sure as hell am taking it personally!’ he shouted and swung around, strode out of her office, slamming the door so hard behind him a painting on the wall rattled.
Elizabeth sat back in the chair, her face suddenly stark, strained. She hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings, or demean him in any way, but she had done so, unintentionally. Wondering what to do, how to make amends, to soothe his wounded ego, she got up and went out onto the terrace.
She could see Robert striding down the path through the tiered gardens, making for the ruined stronghold no doubt. I’d better let him cool off, she decided. It’s better I talk to him when he’s calmer. I must make him understand how much I love him.
Try though she did, Elizabeth found it very hard to concentrate on her plans for the spas, and after an hour she rose, picked up her shawl and went outside. The blue sky of earlier had curdled, was a peculiar greyish-green, and she could smell rain in the cool air. Glancing up at the sky, she had the feeling there was going to be a thunderstorm, and she wrapped the cashmere shawl around her, ran down the path, calling Robin’s name. There was no response.
To her surprise, he was not in the ruined stronghold; in fact, he was nowhere in sight. Where could he have gone? She had no idea. He would have had to pass the window of her office if he had come back to the house; he must be outside. Then it occurred to her he may have gone down to the beach; as she hurried out of the ruined stronghold there was a crack of thunder and large raindrops began to fall.
Half an hour later Elizabeth and Lucas found Robert on the beach, huddled under a cluster of rocks. The thunderstorm was still raging furiously, and the rain was coming down in sheets.
‘I was worried to death about you,’ Elizabeth cried when she spotted him, rushing towards the rocks with a raincoat and a heavy sweater. ‘Why didn’t you come back to the house?’
‘I had just started out when there was a cloudburst,’ he explained, struggling out of his soaked tweed jacket, laying it on a rock, pulling on the fisherman’s sweater. ‘Gosh, that’s better. I was freezing. Anyway, I thought it was wiser to wait under the rocks until it eased off, but it hasn’t.’
‘I think it’s set in for the night. Here, put this raincoat on.’ Turning around, she said to Lucas, ‘Bring the scarf, please, would you?’
‘Here you are, Miss Turner.’ Lucas handed it to her and, glancing at Robert, asked, ‘Are you all right, Mr Dunley? You haven’t hurt yourself, have you?’
‘No, no, I’m fine. Tripped over those small rocks over there, when I started to run for shelter, but nothing damaged.’
‘I saw you trip through the window, sir, and I was getting ready to come down to the beach just as Miss Turner came into the kitchen. Glad you’re all right.’
‘Thanks, Lucas.’ Wrapping the scarf around his neck, Robert took the umbrella from Elizabeth, picked up his soaked jacket, and half smiled. ‘Thanks for rescuing me.’
She smiled back, nodded, then set out, walking up the beach holding her own umbrella, followed by the two men with theirs.
Once they were back at Ravenscar, Elizabeth insisted that Robert take a hot shower, and whilst he was doing so she made a pot of tea, which Lucas carried up to her bedroom.
Ten minutes later Robert joined her in front of the fire, wrapped in a thick terry-cloth robe. ‘My God, I can’t believe it!’ he said, walking over to the window, glancing out. ‘You were right, I think it has set in for the night.’
As he turned around, Elizabeth said swiftly, ‘Robin, I’m sorry, I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, my words came out all wrong. I was only trying to say that I don’t want to get married. But it has nothing to do with you, darling, honestly. It’s all to do with me. I love you, I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and you know this. I would never hurt you in any way, certainly not knowingly.’
He sat down in the other chair, poured himself a cup of tea, dropped in sweetener and a sliver of lemon. After taking a long swallow, he placed the cup on a small table. Reaching out, he took hold of her hand, brought it to his lips, kissed it.
‘There’s nothing to forgive, sweetheart. I admit I reacted heatedly, perhaps over-reacted would be the best way to put it. We do feel the same about each other, and I want to be with you always, but suddenly this afternoon, I realized how much I do want us to be married. However, since you don’t care to make it legal, so be it. We’ll live together as we are doing now.’
She let out a long sigh of relief. ‘Oh, Robin, I’m so happy you’ve said that. I couldn’t bear to lose you.’
‘You won’t. I’ll be here no matter what.’
‘Marriage has never tempted me,’ she announced. Shaking her head, she continued quietly, ‘It has never appealed to me. Just the opposite. I suppose because I’ve only seen ruinous marriages, unhappy wives, domineering husbands – cheating domineering husbands, I should perhaps add.’
‘I know you haven’t had many happy examples. Ever since you were a child you’ve been faced with volatile scenes which had to do with matrimony, so it’s not surprising you think the way you do.’
‘My father was the prime example of a domineering, angry, frustrated husband, Robin, a man who was probably verbally abusive to some if not all of his wives. He was certainly verbally abusive to me.’
‘He was happy with his f
irst wife, you know. He and his Spanish Catherine were very much in love, that I was told by my mother, who knew her quite well. The only problem in their marriage was actually the lack of an heir – otherwise they got on very well. She was inordinately clever, Elizabeth, a hard worker, efficient, energetic, and she had been extremely well educated in Spain. Your father’s head got turned by … well, by your mother. After he met her, he became besotted with Anne. Anyway, let’s not go into all of that, you’ve heard the story before.’
‘Then he met Jane Selmere, and fell hook, line and sinker for her, and decided to marry her. He suddenly saw only faults in my mother and no doubt drove her to desperation. When Jane died after Edward was born, he married the German Anne. But she was plain.’
‘Ugly is a better word to describe her,’ Robert interjected.
‘She was a nice person, Robin, and certainly kind to me and Edward. And Mary, too. I always thought she was dreadfully afraid of Harry, and I know for a fact she was happy to be quietly divorced. I always felt much more sorry for Kathy Howard Norfell, his gorgeous trophy wife, too young for him. And unfortunately she was not very bright.’
‘Are you kidding? She was as thick as a plank! Infidelity was her undoing, my father confided quite a lot about that to me. He was working for your father then. But who can blame her? By the time Harry married young Kathy he had become somewhat portly, ungainly, and monstrous, to be absolutely honest. No wonder she hopped into those many different beds … of more handsome and virile younger men. Her undoing. Ghastly divorce it was. Thank God Catherine Parker outlived him.’
Elizabeth said, ‘And then along came the gorgeous Rear-Admiral, full of charm and potent sexuality. And infatuated as she had long been, Catherine Parker married the irresistible Tom Selmere, who then started to flirt with me, even tried to seduce me on the side.’
Robert laughed. ‘Selmere was a bit of a bounder and a poor example of husband material, wasn’t he, my pet?’