A Nanny for Christmas (22 page)

Phoebe gasped. 'You mean she's an addict?'

'Oh, yes.' His voice was almost matter-of-fact. 'The signs were all there. I knew she'd dabbled in the old days—she even had a supplier in sleepy old Midburton—but now it's serious. She has to have treatment.'

He gave her a quizzical look. 'Now you understand her violent reaction when you called her the Snow Queen.'

He drew a deep breath. 'Last night was sheer hell. I'd already contacted a specialist who runs an excellent clinic near London. He came down at once with an ambulance, and persuaded Serena to go with him. She was in a bad way—apparently her supplier had let her down—and she agreed.'

'Oh, God,' Phoebe said with anguish. 'Poor Tara.'

'She only knows that Mummy is ill, and has to be made better. I think she'd already sensed that something was very wrong. I felt such a bastard getting rid of you like that, but I had no choice. I couldn't tell you what was going on until I'd got Serena herself to admit she had a problem. I didn't know how long it would take, and I had to make sure you were safe.'

'I understand,' she said gently. She hesitated. 'Dominic, I think I know who her supplier is. There's a perfume shop in the precinct where I got the dolls' house. She used to go there regularly.'

He sighed. 'I suppose I'd better put the local drugs squad onto it. Naturally Serena wouldn't give them away, although she was pretty frank about a number of other things. It was she who got Tony to come down here and spy out the lie of the land, and he tipped her off about you. The last thing she wanted was for me to establish another relationship.'

'So she really did want you back,' Phoebe said quietly.

'No,' he said, 'she wanted Tara. And while I had custody she couldn't have her. Another of her lovers is a producer, and he's planning a new version of
Alice in Wonderland
with a mix of actors and animation. Serena had decided Tara should play Alice.'

He paused. 'She's blown her own career, but she could survive if she made Tara a star, earning big money. Once she'd secured my cooperation, either in or out of marriage, she was going to take her to California.'

He shook his head. 'Do you know, at one point she almost had me fooled? I really began to think she'd come back just for Tara. Because she loved her and wanted to be a mother to her. And I hated myself, because that was the last thing I wanted.'

'Why?'

He looked at her, the grey eyes tender. 'Because I was in love with you, and I knew that Serena would never stand competition—even for a man she didn't want. I was worried that she'd see how I felt, so I kept away from you, even though it nearly killed me after that evening we spent together. Then Tara made me kiss you, and I was lost. And Serena knew it. She's been like an unexploded bomb ever since.'

'And she's really gone—to this clinic?'

'She didn't have a choice. If she's cured, she's still got a life. And she'll be able to see Tara too. But Tara will live with us.'

He paused. 'Or am I taking too much for granted? I came here to ask you to marry me, but perhaps you don't want me. I couldn't blame you. One way or another, I've led you a hell of a dance since we first met.'

Phoebe reached up and kissed him. 'Then I shall have to get my revenge,' she whispered. 'By leading you one hell of a dance too. When we're married.'

He said her name, his voice breaking, and held her and kissed her as if he would never let her go, and they were both laughing and both crying, and it was their own special Christmas miracle.

'Let's go home,' he said at last. 'Your presents are under the tree, and there's one excited little girl who can't wait to see you. And one demented dog.'

'How did you get in here, anyway?' Phoebe asked belatedly.

'I saw Lynn and her parents round the corner,' he explained. 'Lynn gave me a hard lecture, and also the spare key. I've to post it through the letter box when we leave.'

Phoebe hesitated. 'Dominic—it will be all right—with Tara? She wanted—you and Serena...'

'It won't all be plain sailing,' he said. 'And we're crazy 'if we think differently. But she told me to ask if she could be a bridesmaid, so I think we have her consent. And she made me bring this, too.'

He took a small box from his pocket. Phoebe gasped when she saw the exquisite ruby flanked with diamonds.'Oh, Dominic. It—it's beautiful.'

'You see? I was even prepared to try bribery to get you.' He put it on her finger and kissed her hand.

'I don't need bribing.' Phoebe put her arms round him, enfolding him with her love, because his need was as great as hers.

She smiled up into his eyes. 'I have a far better reason than that for marrying you.'

He rested his cheek on her hair. 'And what's that?'

'Why,' said Phoebe, 'I'm doing it just for Tara.'