скачать книгу бесплатно
‘Still nervous?’ asked Jonah, glancing at her.
She smiled. ‘Not in the least. The sigh was thanksgiving. Once I’m on the bridge I feel I’m home.’
Jonah’s jaw tightened. ‘If you’re so deeply attached to “home” why stay away so much?’
‘You know exactly why,’ she said bitterly.
‘Now that, Miss Dysart, is where you’re wrong. I do not. I have no idea why you ran off and left me, nor the reasons for your self-imposed exile.’ He turned a chill, penetrating stare on her for a moment, then returned his attention to the road as he negotiated the descent into Chepstow. ‘I got back from New Zealand to read your charming little note ordering me to stay away from you in future. Everything was over between us, you wrote. Unfortunately you omitted a single word of explanation. By that time the funeral was over and you were in Italy, refusing to see me or take my calls, and returning my letters as fast as I posted them. Somehow I could never bring myself to bare my soul in a fax,’ he added cuttingly. ‘Nor risk the possibility of some Florentine door slammed in my face if I came after you in person.’
‘As I said before,’ said Leonie coldly, ‘it’s pointless to rehash the past. Besides,’ she added, with sudden heat, ‘don’t try to play the jilted innocent, Jonah. You know exactly why I—’
‘Dumped me?’ he said affably.
Leonie glared at him as she pulled a cellphone from her bag. ‘Either stop talking about it or let me out of the car. I can always ring Dad.’
Jonah gave her a searing glance, then drove on in such absolute silence, as she’d requested, that by the end of the journey to Stavely, and home, Leonie was desperate to get out of the car.
‘Drop me outside the gates, please,’ she said tersely. ‘I can walk up to the house.’
He ignored her as they reached the final rise towards Friars Wood, which, like several of its neighbours, was set back from the road in acres of garden and perched high on the cliffs overlooking the Wye Valley. To Leonie’s fury Jonah turned in at the gates, driving up the steep, rising bends of the drive to draw up on the terrace in front of the house. The front door immediately flew open, and Adam Dysart hurtled out, grinning from ear to ear as he sprinted down the path and took a flying leap down the steps to pluck his sister from the car into a bear-like hug.
‘You made it after all!’ he crowed, and whirled her round like a dervish until Leonie begged to be put down, by which time her father and mother were hurrying down to join them. There was a flurry of delighted greetings and kisses as Tom and Frances Dysart welcomed their eldest child home, and, after a swift, incredulous look, behaved as though it were the most natural thing in the world to find Jonah had driven her there.
‘Look out!’ yelled Adam, as a yellow retriever came streaking up the lawn to hurl itself on Leonie. Jonah’s arms shot out to catch her as she tripped, and in the ensuing hubbub any awkwardness was smoothed over as Frances Dysart ordered everyone inside, insisted Jonah came in for a drink, and told her son to go and look for the girls.
‘They took Marzi for a walk,’ she explained. ‘So now they’re probably running round in circles, searching for him.’
Leonie hurried inside the house to breathe in the familiar home scents of flowers and cooking and polish, and the occasional whiff of dog. In the kitchen, which had once been two rooms, Frances waved Jonah to a seat with Tom at the oak table the family used for informal meals, then took Leonie with her to the business end of the room. She filled a kettle, put cakes on a plate and took cookies from a tin as she exclaimed over her daughter’s surprise appearance.
Leonie leaned against the central island, aware of Jonah talking quietly to her father on the far side of the room as she explained about the flu bug and its unexpected bonus, and how she’d met Jonah by accident on the train and accepted a lift from him.
Frances Dysart gave her a searching look, but made no comment. ‘I’m sorry for the flu victims, but it’s so good to see you, darling. Roberto couldn’t come with you?’ she added in an undertone, pouring tea.
‘No, too busy,’ said Leonie guiltily, fondling the excited dog. The idea of suave, sophisticated Roberto Forli at a party with carousing undergraduates had been so unimaginable she hadn’t invited him. ‘Besides, there wouldn’t have been room to put him up if Adam’s crowd are staying the night.’
‘We would have managed,’ her mother assured her. ‘Take these cakes over to your father and Jonah; I’ll bring the tea. Where can those girls have gone?’ she added anxiously. ‘It’s getting late.’
Leonie put the plate on the table in front of the men, then darted to the window. ‘Here they come now. Something’s wrong.’
Adam was striding across the lawn, carrying a small figure in his arms, with seventeen-year-old Kate hurrying after him, wild dark curls blowing in the wind as she tried to keep up with her brother’s long legs.
With her husband and Leonie close behind Frances hurried through the old-fashioned scullery to the kitchen door and threw it wide. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘She fell down and grazed her knee,’ said Adam cheerfully, and surrendered his wailing burden to his mother, while Kate flew into the kitchen to hug her sister in elation.
‘Leo—you came after all. Adam never said a word!’
‘Couldn’t make myself heard above the din,’ said Adam, grinning when the invalid’s woeful sobs stopped like magic as she slithered from her mother’s arms to hurl herself at Leonie.
‘Leo, they said you couldn’t come!’
‘I couldn’t miss Adam’s special day!’ Leonie hugged the little girl, then knelt in front of her, swabbing at her face with a tissue. ‘Now then, Fenny, what’s all the crying about?’
‘I hurt my knee, and it’s bleeding, and it’ll show at the party.’ The blotched, elfin face lit up with a sudden beam. ‘Guess what, Leo! I can stay up—’
‘For a little while,’ warned Frances.
‘And only if you stop crying right away,’ said Tom Dysart indulgently. ‘Come on, sweetheart, let’s wash that knee and see the damage.’
But the invalid had finally noticed the visitor, and shot across the room in delight.
‘Jonah, you came early!’ shrieked Fenny rapturously. ‘Will you dance with me tonight?’
‘Of course I will,’ he promised, smiling at her.
Leonie stared, narrow-eyed, then gave her family a look which threatened questions later. ‘Come on, darling,’ she coaxed, detaching Fenny from Jonah. ‘Let Dad see to your knee.’
When the knee had been washed, anointed, and a plaster applied, the six-year-old charmer promptly settled herself beside Jonah at the table to eat cake and drink milk, going into great detail as she described her party dress. Leonie shot a resentful glare at Jonah as he listened to the little girl, then turned away to talk to Kate, who was watching her apprehensively, plainly on edge about the entire situation.
‘So when’s Jess arriving, Kate?’
‘She’s driving down—should be here any time. You’re sharing Fenny’s room with Jess and me tonight. Leo, shall I unpack for you?’ said Kate, in sudden inspiration. ‘Mother, is there anything else you want me to do?’
‘Not at the moment.’ Frances smiled. ‘Afterwards, why don’t you have your bath, darling?’
Kate agreed with alacrity, and shot off at such speed Leonie exchanged a wry glance with her mother. ‘Desperate to escape.’
‘You know Kate can’t bear scenes of any kind.’
Leonie frowned. ‘And she was worried I might make one?’
‘From the look on your face it seemed a distinct possibility, darling!’ Frances cast a look towards the little girl sitting among the men like a queen bee. ‘I’d better break that up, or she’ll get over-excited. Fenny’s been looking forward to the party for weeks.’
‘She’s obviously a great fan of Jonah’s—and vice versa.’
‘Since he’s been involved with Brockhill he’s been here a few times lately.’ Frances gave her daughter a searching look. ‘Do you mind?’
‘I’m not entitled to mind.’ Leonie smiled a little. ‘Fenny’s obviously expecting to see Jonah at the party, but don’t worry. I promise to behave.’
‘When we asked him we thought you wouldn’t be here, Leo. As it is we can hardly withdraw the invitation. Besides, it’s a long, long time since you broke up with Jonah,’ her mother added gently.
‘True.’ But not long enough to accept his presence in her home with the ease the rest of her family felt, particularly Adam, who was laughing his head off at something Jonah had just told him. Leonie felt oddly left out. And as though he sensed it Jonah caught her eye and got to his feet.
‘Time I was off,’ he said quickly. ‘Thank you for the tea, Mrs Dysart.’
‘Thank you for bringing Leonie home,’ said Tom. ‘We’ll expect you back later. Might be a good idea to come on foot if the weather holds, Jonah, to avoid parking problems.’
Adam looked at his watch and whistled. ‘I’d better get off down to Chepstow to meet some people off the train.’
‘I’ve put containers of sandwiches in your fridge for a snack,’ said his mother, ‘so you can all congregate there to start with while Leo helps me set out the food in the dining room. The boys can get ready in your place, too, but the girls come in here to dress once you’ve fed them.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said her son, saluting smartly. ‘See you later, Jonah.’
‘Come on, Fenny,’ said Frances, ‘bathtime. You can have supper in front of the TV in the study.’
‘I might spoil my party frock,’ protested Fenny.
‘Dressing gown until the guests arrive, and change into your frock at the last minute,’ said Frances firmly.
Fenny blew a kiss to Jonah, gave Leonie a big hug, patted the dog, then skipped from the room with her mother, chattering excitedly.
‘See Jonah to the door, Leonie,’ said her father briskly. ‘I’m going to walk the dog down to the farm. He’s staying there overnight, out of the way.’
‘You don’t have to see me out, Leo,’ said Jonah when they were alone. ‘Though I’m glad of a moment in private. I was told you wouldn’t be here today. Otherwise I would have refused the invitation.’
She eyed him challengingly. ‘To avoid meeting up with me again?’
His mouth tightened. ‘To save you the misfortune of meeting up with me again.’
‘Since we’ve already done that it doesn’t really matter, does it?’ Leonie walked along the hall with him and opened the front door. ‘So for pity’s sake turn up tonight, Jonah, otherwise Mother—still a great fan of yours, by the way—will think I was so rude I put you off.’
‘Put like that, how can I refuse?’ he said dryly.
Leonie gazed out over the descending tiers of the garden, barely visible now in the twilight. ‘Besides,’ she said casually, ‘if you stayed away it would very obviously spoil Fenny’s evening. Which comes as rather a surprise. I know about the presents at Christmas and birthdays, and so on, but I had no idea she knew you so well in person.’
Jonah leaned against the arch of the porch, his eyes on her face. ‘When your parents heard I was developing Brockhill for the company they asked me to drop in whenever I’m in Stavely.’
‘So you’re a regular visitor?’
‘Only when I’m invited,’ he assured her.
She shrugged. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. The entire family was upset when we broke up.’
‘You mean when you jilted me.’
‘Can you blame me?’ she said bitterly.
‘Damn right I do,’ he snapped. ‘You condemned me without trial.’
‘I had good reason!’
‘If this reason of yours was so good, why did you refuse to share it with me?’ he demanded with sudden savagery. ‘Or even with your parents?’
Leonie looked up into eyes that were no longer icy, but glowing with a look of such molten anger she backed away, her retreat cut off by the door he pulled closed behind her.
‘Now you’re out in the cold, just like me.’ He seized her wrists. ‘How does it feel, Leo?’
‘Let me go, Jonah,’ she ordered, teeth gritted.
‘Not until I get something straight. God knows if I’ll ever get the opportunity again.’ His eyes bored into hers. ‘You owe me an explanation, Leo.’
‘You mean it still matters to you, after all these years?’ she said scornfully. ‘I don’t believe it.’
The grip on her wrists tightened. ‘Whether you believe it or not, Leo, I want the truth at last.’
Leonie glared at him impotently, trying to free herself, but salvation appeared in the form of cars which came roaring up the drive with blaring horns and flashing headlights. Two of the cars turned off to the stable block, the other streaked along the terrace past Jonah’s car, and came to a showy stop in a spurt of gravel under the bare branches of the chestnut tree by the summerhouse.
‘The cavalry,’ drawled Jonah, and released her.
Jessamy Dysart leapt from her car and gave a screech of pleasure as she saw her sister. Leonie ran down to throw her arms round her and Jess hugged her in return, exclaiming over the surprise.
‘I thought you couldn’t make it, Leo—fantastic!’ She peered up at the man coming down the steps towards them in the half-light. ‘Is this the famous Roberto I’ve been hearing about—?’ She stopped short, her dark eyes like saucers. ‘Jonah?’
‘He’s just going,’ said Leonie swiftly.
‘Hello, Jess.’ Jonah stretched out a hand and Jess took it, looking from him to Leonie in frank speculation. ‘And goodbye,’ he added dryly. ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘You’re coming to the party?’ said Jess incredulously.
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ he assured her. ‘I’ve promised to dance with a certain lady—wouldn’t do to disappoint her.’
Leonie shook her head in response to Jess’s look of wild enquiry. ‘He means Fenny.’
Jonah gave them a mocking bow, got in his car and backed along the terrace, pausing to allow another vehicle to turn off to the stable block before he drove out of sight down the winding drive.
‘I’ve obviously missed a bit somewhere,’ said Jess, looking stunned as they went up to the house. ‘Since when were you and Jonah Savage on speaking terms again?’
‘We’re not,’ said Leonie tersely, and explained the encounter on the train. ‘Did you know he’s been coming to Friars Wood lately?’
‘No, I didn’t. I haven’t been home for a while.’ Jess grinned sheepishly. ‘Busy social life.’
‘You don’t say!’ said Leonie dryly. ‘Come on, get the hugs and kisses over, then Mother requires help. Afterwards we’ll grab Kate and put in an appearance at the Stables as official welcome party.’
Before they went inside Jess gave her sister a searching look. ‘Do you mind, Leo? That Jonah’s coming tonight?’
‘Not in the least.’
‘Liar!’
Leonie grinned. ‘All right, I do mind. But no one will know, I promise. Especially Jonah Savage.’
CHAPTER TWO
FRIARS WOOD had been built a century earlier on the site of a mediaeval chantry chapel where masses had once been sung for the souls of the departed. Of no particular architectural category, it was a house of great charm, with groups of chimneys with barley-sugar twists, and a great many small-paned windows. At the front a verandah formed a balcony for the upper floor, with a wrought-iron pillar giving support to the ancient wistaria which wreathed verandah and balcony in clusters of purple blossom twice a year.
When Tom and Frances Dysart had taken over Friars Wood, after they’d married, Tom’s parents had moved into the converted stable block, which they’d shared with his young sister Rachel. It was an arrangement which had worked well as the head count of young Dysarts mounted in the main house. Years later, when both senior Dysarts had died within a short time of each other, and Rachel had long been established in a career and home of her own in London, the Stables had been used as a guest house for visitors, until Adam’s eighteenth birthday, when it had been handed over to him for his own personal retreat.
In the still cold of this particular night the Stables were a very animated place, blazing with light in every room and with Adam’s guests crammed into every corner as they tucked into the snacks provided to tide them over until the buffet supper later at the main house.
