Comparative Strangers (11 page)

Amanda bit her lip. ‘You’ll never let me forget that madness, will you?’

‘Eventually,’ he said. ‘You have to understand, it was one of the worst moments of my life, seeing you crawling up on to that parapet. I couldn’t bear to think it was a member of my family who’d driven you to that sort of extremity.’ He put a hand under her elbow. ‘Come inside. It’s starting to rain.’

She said inanely, ‘Mother said it would,’ and burst into tears. And that was the last thing she’d intended to do, she thought despairingly. She’d planned on being very calm, very matter of fact, very businesslike about her request for sanctuary.

She found herself in that lovely tranquil drawing-room, seated beside the fire, with Malory’s handkerchief pressed to her face.

He said, ‘I’ll ask Mrs Priddy to bring some tea,’ and she flung up a hand and caught at his sleeve.

‘No—please. I don’t want her—anyone—to see me making a fool of myself like this. I’ll be all right in a minute’

He nodded expressionlessly, and sat down opposite her to wait. Harvey came and deposited an anxious nose on her knee, whining a little, and she rubbed his head, smiling in spite of herself.

‘He’s so sweet.’

’Tell the postman that,‘ Malory said laconically. ’But first tell me what’s happened‘

She concentrated her attention on Harvey’s ears. ‘I found Mother had invited Nigel over for a special lunch—a grand reconciliation. I couldn’t face it, so I ran away.’

’There isn’t,‘ he said slowly, ’a great deal he can do with your mother around. There was no real need to be afraid.‘

‘I wasn’t afraid of him,’ she said. She lifted her head, and met his gaze steadily. ‘I was afraid of myself. Of giving way—of letting myself love him again—still.’

‘You feel that’s still a possibility?’

She said in a low voice, ‘I know it is. And I think he knows it. That must be why he persists, mustn’t it?’

‘Either that, or he’s fed up with playing the wronged and melancholy lover, and has decided to grab the initiative again as the romantic lead.’

She swallowed. ‘Well, whatever it is, it made me realise that wherever I went he’d follow me—except here. So that’s why I’m inflicting myself on you like this. I—I must apologise.’

’There’s really no need,‘ he said. ’You’re quite right, of course. This is the nearest thing to sanctuary you’re likely to find.‘

‘And it won’t be for very long,’ she assured him. ‘I’ll see my boss—ask for a transfer to Brussels or Vienna.’

‘Or anywhere,’ Malory said ironically. ‘And what if Nigel decided this is a victory he has to win, and follows you to your new locale? What then?’

She stared at him, her lips parting in horror. ‘He couldn’t—he wouldn’t… Not abroad.’

‘You don’t think so?’

Amanda bent her head. ‘It never even crossed my mind,’ she said wretchedly.

‘Then consider it now.’ Malory got to his feet. ‘And when I come back, I have a suggestion to put to you.’ He gave her a brief, friendly smile and left the room.

Amanda sat staring dully at the leaping flames in the grate. She felt as if she’d reached the end of some weary road, to find all further progress blocked. It had never occurred to her that Nigel might be prepared to continue his pursuit of her indefinitely, but, when she considered his bizarre and egocentric behaviour in the past, she could find little difficulty in believing he might take a perverse pleasure in dogging her footsteps, even to another country. And she knew she would be unable to withstand that kind of insidious pressure. Yet the thought of reviving any kind of relationship with Nigel was frankly abhorrent.

Perhaps she could avoid him somehow—get an injunction—change her name. She made a little sound. It was Nigel who was in the wrong, and yet she had to become the fugitive.

She thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ and only realised she had spoken out loud when Malory said, from the doorway, ‘Actually, there is a way—that is, if you genuinely want to be free of Nigel for ever.’

Amanda winced. ‘Yes,’ she said chokingly. ‘Yes, I do.’

’Then it’s quite simple,‘ he said. ’I get a special licence, and you marry me just as soon as it can be arranged.‘

There was a profound silence. Amanda felt all the colour draining from her face as she stared at him.

Eventually, she said, ’That’s impossible.‘

‘On the contrary.’ Malory strolled across the room, and resumed his seat opposite her. ‘Special licences can be obtained with relative ease.’

‘I—I didn’t mean that.’ As he well knew, she thought, her pulses going crazy. ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll go.’ As she tried to rise, he halted her with a gesture.

‘Stop running, Amanda, and start thinking. What have you got against the idea?’

‘Well, I should have thought that was obvious,’ she said warmly. She spread her hands, palms upwards. ‘A pretend engagement is bad enough, but marriage is something else again. I mean, you can’t think that I... You haven’t considered all the implications.’

Malory’s face was expressionless. ‘Well, I certainly have no difficulty in considering the implication at the forefront of your mind,’ he said coldly. ‘Stop beating about the bush, Amanda. What you mean is, you don’t want to sleep with me.’

Amanda stared down at her hands twisted together in her lap, praying he wouldn’t make any edged remarks about her response to him the previous night. ‘Well—yes,’ she agreed in a stifled voice.

He sounded almost bored. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have no recollection of ever asking you to go to bed with me. In fact,’ he added, his mouth twisting, ‘on the sole occasion we spent the night together, it was at your invitation.’ He shrugged. ‘So, what’s the problem?’

Amanda was blushing all over. He didn’t have to sound so—so bloody
dismissive
about it, she thought savagely. In spite of her mortification, she decided to try and retrieve the situation.

‘But you must want a—a normal life,’ she protested. She cast round wildly in her mind. ‘Children, for example.’

Malory shrugged again. ‘Perhaps I’m not very paternally minded,’ he countered evenly. ‘And I don’t pass my life consumed by uncontrollable lust, either. You really have nothing to worry about, Amanda. I’ve never forced myself on any woman.’ He leaned forward, making her look him in the eyes. ‘I give you my solemn word that I won’t make a move towards you without your express invitation.’

She said shakily, ‘Then you’re going to lead a very celibate life.’

‘Not,’ he said calmly, ‘necessarily.’

She stared at him. ‘You mean you’d find someone else?’

‘That,’ he said, ‘is hardly any of your business, Amanda,’ and she blushed again.

She was silent for a moment. Then, ‘But you can’t be marrying me for pure philanthropy,’ she protested. ‘Just to save me from Nigel.’

‘By no means,’ he said. I’m in dire need of a hostess—someone to help me with my business entertaining, particularly. Unfortunately, I have no convenient female relations I can call on.‘

Amanda swallowed. ‘Is that all?’ she asked in a hollow voice.

Malory considered for a moment. ‘Well, if you could exercise Harv for me, I’d be grateful. He doesn’t always behave very well for Mrs Priddy, although she does her best with him.’

Amanda worked this out. ‘You’d want me to give up my job?’

‘I’d prefer it,’ he said, ‘but it isn’t a condition.’

She said, ‘This has to be the most bizarre proposal ever.’

The firm mouth relaxed into a faint smile. ‘Probably.’ He paused. ‘Remember, Amanda, once you’re my wife, you’ll be safe from Nigel’s manoeuvres.’

‘It’s possible. But if this non-marriage palls on either of us, we can always make other arrangements. After all, divorce has never been easier.’

‘No,’ she admitted in a small voice. She bit her lip. ‘But this can’t be the kind of relationship you ever visualised—ever wanted for yourself?’

‘No. But when what you want is out of reach, it’s sensible to settle for what you can get.’

How could he sound so matter of fact? she wondered, swallowing. He was turning both their lives upside-down, after all.

She jumped nervously as the drawing-room door opened and Mrs Priddy appeared with a tea tray.

‘It’s nice to see you here again, Miss Conroy.’ She managed to invest the words with a faint re’George and I were both wondering when you’d be here for another visit.‘

‘She’s here to stay this time, Mrs Priddy,’ Malory said, before Amanda could open her mouth. He sent her a swift smile. ‘We’ve decided to avoid any further publicity by being married very quietly next week, and Miss Conroy will be living here until the ceremony.’ He turned to Amanda. ‘When you’ve finished your tea, darling, go upstairs with Mrs Priddy and decide which bedroom you’d like.’

Mrs Priddy’s face had become slightly tight-lipped, but at his final words a definite thaw set in. The housekeeper obviously shared Mrs Conroy’s views on pre-marital sex, Amanda realised, torn between annoyance and amusement. She wondered what expression she would adopt when she realised her employer and his wife intended to continue using separate rooms after the ceremony as well.

‘Very good, Dr Templeton. If Miss Conroy will give me her keys, I’ll tell George to get her luggage from the car.’

‘It’s only one small case, actually,’ Amanda mumbled, and Mrs Priddy gave her an indulgent look.

‘Well, you’ll have all the fun of choosing a new trousseau, won’t you, madam?’ She nodded at them both maternally. 'I'll just go and tell George the happy news‘

When she’d gone, Amanda said fierily, ‘You do have a way of taking things into your own hands.’

‘I needed to.’ He poured a cup of tea and passed it to her. ‘You looked like a girl suffering from a severe case of indecision, and it’s quite unnecessary. You’re here and you’re safe. That’s all that matters.’

She said in a subdued voice, ‘I suppose so.’

But she was not convinced.

Amanda was even less convinced after the tour of the house which Mrs Priddy enthusiastically led her on later that day. Nigel would have supported her in comfort, she thought, but Malory was in a difleague altogether, and the realisation disturbed her.

She hadn’t simply acquired a shelter, but a luxurious nest. And she had no intention of sitting back and letting Malory support her, she decided, frowning. She was already getting by far the better side of this outrageous bargain. She wasn’t going to be financially dependent on Malory as well.

‘And this,’ Mrs Priddy announced smilingly, throwing open yet another door, ‘is the master bedroom.’

Amanda swallowed, glancing rather wildly at the large, modern four-poster bed which took pride of place. ‘It’s—lovely.’

‘It has its own dressing-room—and bathroom,’ Mrs Priddy demonstrated. She lowered her voice.

‘But it’s a bit stark for my taste, madam. The decor needs a feminine touch.’

Out of the corner of her eye, Amanda saw that Malory had joined them. ‘I—I wouldn’t change a thing,’ she said, crossly aware that she was blushing again, to Mrs Priddy’s overt approval.

‘You can change anything but the bed, darling’ To her fury, Malory draped a casual arm across her shoulders. ‘It was made in the village by the local carpenter—the last commission he accepted before his retirement. He designed all the carvings himself,’ he went on, sending her a wicked grin. ‘I understand most of them are fertility symbols.’

’Indeed they’re not!‘ Mrs Priddy said severely. ’So stop teasing the young lady, Mr Malory, do.‘

‘Not another word,’ Malory promised. He smiled at Amanda. ‘Have you chosen your own bedroom yet, my sweet?’

‘Yes,’ she said hastily. She glanced at Mrs Priddy. ‘Was it the west room, did you say, Mrs Priddy?’

‘Very suitable,’ Malory said, so silkily that she knew he’d guessed she’d chosen it because it was the furthest from his own room.

But that wasn’t the only reason, she thought re-belliously. She’d fallen for the tiny green-flowered print which covered the walls and supplied the fabric for the furnishings, and the light, elegant, furniture. It was a charming room, and it needed to be, considering the amount of time she’d be spending there!

She became aware that Mrs Priddy had tactfully made herself scarce, and shook off his arm. ‘Please don’t do that.’

‘Just a moment.’ He wasn’t teasing any more, or even faintly amused. ‘Let me make one thing clear. Whatever our private differences, in public the act goes on.’

She bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry. I suppose I’m overreacting, but the circumstances aren’t exactly— usual.’

‘You’ll learn to adapt to them, I’m sure. I suggest that, as soon as we’re married, we do the conventional thing and go on a honeymoon.’ His tone was curt. ‘I was planning to take a holiday, anyway. Have you any preference as to destination?’

She moistened her dry lips with the tip of her tongue. ‘If you really think it’s necessary, I’ll leave the choice to you.’

He nodded. ‘We’ll have to do something about your passport, of course.’

‘My current one’s at the flat.’ There was a feeling of total unreality about the entire conversation, Amanda thought weakly. She couldn’t be standing discussing travel arrangements for her own honeymoon with Malory Templeton, this comparative stranger she was pledged to marry.

He must have sensed her inner confusion, because he said gently, ‘Leave the details to me. Why don’t you go and unpack and rest before dinner?’

‘Thank you,’ she muttered. She sent him an awkward look. ‘This is an awful lot of trouble to go to just to find yourself a hostess’

‘Ah, but that isn’t all I hope to gain,’ he said.

She was tense suddenly. Was he warning her already that he intended to bend the rules of their agreement? she wondered.

She said huskily, ‘What else is there?’

He put a finger under her chin, tilting her face up towards him. He said softly, ‘As I told you last night, darling, the pleasure of your company—and the promise of future delight.’

He let her go, and walked away downstairs, leaving her staring after him. She went to her room, closed the door, locked it, and lay down on the bed.

She had come here for sanctuary, she thought. And Malory had told her she was safe. So, why was it she had never felt more insecure in her life?