A Question of Love (16 page)

When
his mother and Uncle Simon came to visit that evening they found him unusually morose.

`You told me
Roseanne has a sister. What’s her name?’ he asked abruptly.

`Her name?’
Uncle Simon looked surprised. `Why Binny of course.’

`I don’t know why you always called her that,’ his mother interrupted. `Robinia is such a pretty name.’

`Robinia?’ Euan asked sharply.

`Och, s
he gets all sorts of names. She uses her full name for her modelling I believe but Roseanne calls her Rob.’ Uncle Simon said. `They were christened Robinia and Roseanne after some flowers or shrubs or something. Their mother was into gardening at the time. There’s only eleven months between them. They were like two peas in a pod when they were wee girls,’ he went on reminiscently. `Always up to tricks.’

`
Are they still alike?’ Euan asked.

`
I suppose so, in looks anyway, but not when you get to know them. Robinia is a model. She hardly ever comes down to Ashburn so I have not seen her for a while. She never liked the farm and smelly animals.’

`
I see.’

`
Why d’ye ask, Euan?’

`
It was just something Jock McIntyre mentioned,` he prevaricated, `about Roseanne playing a trick on some local fellow, a manager on one of the estates.`

`
Ah, he’d be talking about Lord Gallaby’s manager.’ He chuckled. `He was getting more serious than Roseanne wanted and he wouldn’t believe her when she tried to break it off. Robinia took her place one evening and led him on quite a bit I believe. He asked her to marry him before he realised he’d got the wrong sister. She led him a merry dance. He was a conceited young pup though or they wouldn’t have played a trick like that on him. He’s never had much sense of humour either. If you ask me he still has a fancy for Roseanne, but she needs more of a man than he’ll ever be.’

***

Euan was thankful to get out of hospital but he couldn’t forget Robinia’s visit. It nagged at him. Had Roseanne agreed to it? Had she arranged it? Why would she play a trick on him? Did she want rid of him, as she had Lord Gallaby’s manager?

His heart went cold.
Did she think he was getting too serious? Was he going too fast for her? It was true they had not known each other very long. He still didn’t know the meaning of the entries in the firm’s bank reconciliation but now that he was getting to know his Uncle he realised he had the greatest respect for Roseanne and Simon Kershaw was not a man who would be easily duped. More than that Roseanne was not the type of woman who would resort to cheating, or who would ever need to cheat. He had been frustrated and tired and he had been a complete fool to blurt out such stupid accusations. For the first time in his life he had met a woman whose character and mind matched his own. She stimulated him both mentally and physically. He missed her terribly when they were apart. That had never happened to him before. Most women he knew were only too eager to grant his every wish and spend time with him, usually more time than he wanted to spare. Maybe he and Roseanne hadn’t grown as close as he’d thought?

R
oseanne was used to Euan emailing her every day, and sometimes two or three times a day, if he considered her reply allowed a discussion. This was Thursday and she had heard nothing from him since Monday. He would be leaving hospital and going to stay at Ashburn today, but there was no last message to confirm this as she’d expected. Maybe he felt so happy to be getting out of hospital that he no longer needed contact with her? She ought to be pleased for him but she felt bereft and down in spirits. The truth was she missed their lively conversations. Even the emails they exchanged held hidden messages, teasing, flirting, provoking – bringing him closer in mind, if not in body. Even when they disagreed on a subject they enjoyed a stimulating debate. She had still not heard from Euan when Mr K came into her office late on Thursday afternoon.

`
You will be going down to Ashburn this weekend, won’t you, Roseanne?’ he asked.

`
I don’t know.’ She looked up at him. `How is Euan. Is he home from the hospital?’

`Yes, I telephoned at midday. He’s fine. Haven’t you heard from him?’

`No, not a thing. I suppose he has plenty to occupy his time now without contacting me.’

`Well I’m sure he’ll be pleased to be home, but he was asking plenty of questions about you on Monday evening when we visited him at the hospital.’

`Monday? I haven’t heard from him since then. What did he want to know?’

`He was asking about the tricks you and young Binny used to play when you were younger. He wanted to know your sister’s proper name. When are you going to introduce the two of them? He’ll get a surprise when he sees how alike you are, at least in looks.’

`Ye-es. I suppose he will,’ Roseanne answered frowning thoughtfully.

`Anyway I was hoping you’ll be coming down to Ashburn because I
want to go to a sale of Aberdeen Angus cattle on Friday down in the Lake District and I thought Aileen might like to go with me and see a different part of the country. She’ll not leave Euan alone in the house though in case he has a fall while his leg is still in plaster. I’m going down to Ashburn this evening. I need to leave early tomorrow morning. Can you arrange to get down to Ashburn by lunchtime tomorrow?`’

`Yes, I suppose I could if you’re sure that’s what Euan and your sister would like me to do?’

`Of course I’m sure. I imagine they’ll be delighted. Aileen wants to see the Lake District but she would worry in case Euan does anything silly when there’s nobody there. He’s pretty good on his crutches but he’s insisting on hauling himself upstairs to go to bed. I told him I’d ask Jock to help me get a bed down to the sitting room ready for him coming home but he wouldna hear of it.’

`Something
must be keeping him busy when he’s never been in contact. I suppose he’ll be picking up the threads of his business with his staff? He emailed me every day when he was in hospital.’ Roseanne didn’t realise how despondent she sounded and Simon Kershaw looked at her shrewdly. Aileen insisted young Euan was more interested in Roseanne than she had ever known him be with any other girl. A match between them would please him greatly, so long as his nephew didn’t want to take Roseanne off to Australia or America. He had meant it when he told Euan he couldn’t manage without her. He pulled at his lower lip and eyed her thoughtfully.

`We expected Euan would be in high spirits now he’s
home but Aileen says he seems a bit out of sorts. I reckon he’ll be missing all the pretty nurses running after him,’ he said with a chuckle. `He’s been in touch with his colleagues. He says business is going well so that can’t be troubling him. Aileen told me on the phone she’d never known him so grumpy and short tempered, but as I reminded her, he’s never been incapacitated before and it was a nasty break he had to his leg. I expect he’s missing the globetrotting. Better him than me. I’m glad to be home. Maybe you’ll be able to cheer him up a bit.’

`
I’ll do my best,’ Roseanne said, `but Robinia hasn’t been the brightest spirit around either this week and I haven’t managed to cheer her up.’

`Aye well it’s time the lassie settled down in one place and got a proper job.’
Roseanne laughed. Uncle K had never considered modelling clothes a proper job and Roseanne suspected he would be shocked if he knew how much she earned while she was at the top of her career. Her thoughts returned to Euan. She wondered why he hadn’t replied to her last email. Would he welcome her at Ashburn as much as his uncle expected? Every instinct told her there was something not quite right. She went back over their last meeting but she couldn’t think what she had said or done to upset him.

Twelve

Euan
was alone at Ashburn when Roseanne arrived. She greeted him with her usual light kiss and asked how he was doing, but he caught her hand and pulled her closer, looking at her neat, well-kept nails as he did so.

`
Don’t I get a better kiss than that? One like you gave me on Tuesday?’ he asked, unable to resist testing her straight away. She blinked at him.

`Tuesday
? I didn’t see you on Tuesday. I haven’t seen you since Sunday evening. Perhaps you’ve been flirting with that pretty nurse? Pamela isn’t it?’

`
Nope. I didn’t flirt with any of the nurses.’ He eyed her quizzically. `Would you be a teeny bit jealous if I had?’

`Of course not.’
She answered too quickly. `How could I be? I’ve no claims on you.’ She knew her voice sounded brittle but she was still wondering why he had been too busy to send her any emails. If she was honest she would admit to being jealous, but only to herself, and that was bad enough. His attitude seemed odd. Why was he watching her so closely? She tried to pull her hand away but he gave a tug pulling her onto his knee.

`
Your leg!’ she gasped.

`
There’s nothing wrong with this leg. And we’re all alone for the weekend remember? Now give me a Tuesday
kiss.’

`
A Tue…’ He silenced her by fastening his mouth firmly on hers and giving her a very thorough kiss, awakening a desire she was struggling to control so that she was flushed and confused by the time he released her.

`
That’s what I mean – except this is even better than the one you gave me.’

`
I-I don’t know what’s come over you,’ she stammered, trying to rise from his knee, but his arm had lost none of its strength and he held her firmly. `Euan, you’re muddled. Are you still on medication? I never saw you on Tuesday and it was not me who kissed you like that anyway, not while you were in the hospital. You know by now I don’t do that sort of thing in public places. Anyway I’ve been at work all week. I left here very early Monday morning. Did you think I was somewhere else?’ she asked with a frown. `Is that why you didn’t email me all week?’ Euan was watching her closely and he thought he detected a little hurt in her green eyes.

`Did you miss my emails?’ he asked softly.

`Yes. No. Who else have you been kissing?’ She tried to pull away and stand up but he held her firmly.

`You are the only girl I have kissed since I arrived in Scotland
. You, or your double,’ he added, his eyes fixed on her face.

`
My double?’ She laughed incredulously. Then her smile died. `My double did you say?’ she repeated sharply. He could almost see her mind working. Her green eyes widened as she stared back at him.

`
You’re not muddled, are you? You do think you saw me on Tuesday? B-but I don’t understand.’

Euan
believed her. His spirits rose. She hadn’t been trying to deceive him or play any tricks to get rid of him then. But her sister had and he wanted to know why.

`
What don’t you understand Roseanne? Why I should be kissing your double – or rather why should she be kissing me? Not that I minded the way she kisses,’ he teased, exaggerating wickedly.

`
Are you telling me my sister, Robinia, came to visit you in hospital while I was at work?’

`
You tell me. Somebody came and if it wasn’t you it was your double.’

`
Rob is my younger sister. We are quite alike, when we wear the same sort of clothes, but not when she’s dressed and made up for modelling. But why should she come all this way to see you and why didn’t she tell me she was coming? Did she pretend to be me?’

`
Yes. No. Well if I’m honest I jumped to conclusions as soon as she walked in the door, but she didn’t contradict me. She looks incredibly like you but I soon began to suspect. Your kisses were much more chaste at the hospital, though I know you can do better…’ His eyes were dancing and her colour deepened. `Did you know you have promised to go with me to London to meet two of my colleagues?’

`London?
You have never mentioned that to me.’

`
I mentioned it on Tuesday and you promised to advise me.’

`I did?’
Roseanne frowned. `Let me go, Euan.` Her soft mouth had tightened. `I need to telephone Robinia. She’s been on edge all week. I thought it was because her friend Jonathon has gone to London. I know this relationship is serious for her because she’s promised to introduce him to me and Mum and she had him staying at the flat while I was away. We never keep secrets from each other - not usually.’

`
I’ll let you go on condition you bring the phone here. I need reassurance.’

`You?
Need reassurance? Euan Kennedy I never met any man who needed less reassurance…’

`It’s true. I need to know
you haven’t been playing tricks to get rid of me - like you did with Lord Gallaby’s manager,’ Roseanne stared at him, her cheeks colouring.

`
Who told you about that?’

`
Jock McInyre mentioned it and Uncle Simon said it was because you considered him a nuisance. I wondered if you considered me a nuisance too and that’s why you sent your sister.’

`I admit it was not very nice of us and Robinia did go a bit too far, but we were inexperienced
teenagers then and she could always deal with unwanted suitors better than I could. I’m a big girl now. You’d be in no doubt if I thought you were a nuisance.’

`So
prove I’m making a bit of headway then and give me another kiss to reassure me before you telephone?` Roseanne bent closer intending to give him her usual kiss on his cheek but he turned his head and held her so she couldn’t escape, not that she wanted to escape as he gently teased her lips with the tip of his tongue. Roseanne slid off his knee and knelt in front of him. She might be chaste in public but when she was aroused she had all the fiery passion of her sister, and more. She could feel Euan’s own reaction hard against her and she pressed even closer until he drew back with a low groan of desire.

`
Dear God Roseanne, have you any idea what you do to me? I want you. I need you. I must have you even if I have to wait for the rest of my life.’ Roseanne looked into his face. The laughter had gone now and he looked both vulnerable and determined. `I’ve never met a woman I wanted for more than a week,’ he murmured, `but I know I want you for life. I promise to give you time to learn to love me as I love you. Will you give me a little hope, Roseanne? Will you let me buy you an engagement ring?’ Roseanne’s spirits soared, but she had to be sure.

`Euan
, you only think like that now because you’ve been ill? I’m the only young woman you’ve seen recently, except for the nurses. If I’m not mistaken there were at least two of them who would have liked to meet you when they were off duty.’

`
Maybe they would but I was too busy longing for Fridays, and your visits, to notice anyone else. I’ve been through hell this week wondering if you had sent your sister down to get rid of me.’

`Is that why you didn’t get in touch or email me? Were you sulking?’

`Sulking? God no, that’s not my style. But then, I didn’t think sitting there fretting over a woman was my style either. It seems I was wrong. I was afraid to email you in case you really did want to be rid of me now I’m nearly recovered and you don’t need to feel guilty anymore.’

`Of course I don’t want rid of you.
I’ll bring that phone across and see what my sister has been playing at, but you’ll have to release me first.’

`
Give me one more kiss and then I’ll let you go as far as the telephone.’

It
was quite a while later before Roseanne brought the phone as near to him as the cord would allow. She pressed the speaker phone. Robinia answered straight away and the disappointment in her tone was obvious.

`
Oh it’s you, Ros. Did you have a good journey?’ she asked flatly.

`
I did. Sorry to disappoint you, Rob. I take it Jonathon is not back yet?’

`
No. I thought it would be him phoning to say the trains are running late or he’s missed a connection.’

`
Well don’t forget I want to inspect him before you do anything hasty – like getting married. Now I have a question for you dear little sister, and I want the truth. Were you down here visiting Euan?’

`Aah.’ Rob drew in her breath. `So he did guess? I should have told you about that.’ She sighed heavily. `
I wanted to do some inspecting of my own before you marry Euan.’ Roseanne gasped; her eyes widened and colour flamed in her cheeks. She glanced at Euan. He was watching her intently as he listened.

`
I never gave you the impression that I… That we… That I was considering getting married to anyone,’ she said indignantly.

`
I know you didn’t, Ros, but I can tell he’s got under your skin and I’ve never known any man who could do that before. You have never been affected the way you are now. You’re so protective where he’s concerned. I guessed you didn’t want me to see him, or play any of our old games.’ Roseanne’s colour deepened and she wished she’d never put the speaker phone on for Euan to listen in but the damage was done and he was grinning widely. She looked away from him as Robinia went on. `I’ve been feeling bad about visiting him without your permission. I didn’t mean to impersonate you but when I entered his room he thought I was you and his eyes lit up like stars so I went along with the pretence, thinking he would say something when he realised. But he didn’t and I was not very well primed for swapping places so I couldn’t stay long. My visit didn’t do much good. How did he know I was not you?’

`
He knew I was supposed to be at work. Anyway he said your kisses were different.’ She arched an eyebrow in Euan’s direction and pulled a face. He grinned at her.

`
Oh did he? That’s because he’s not the man I’m going to marry.’

`
So why did you do it, Binny?’

`Don’t call me that, Ros, even if you are mad at me. I am sorry, honestly.
It was a wasted journey and I’ve been feeling bad about it all week. I’m glad you know about it now, but I don’t want you to get hurt, Ros.’

`Hurt? Why should I get hurt?’ Ros frowned at the phone. There was a pause then Robinia went on in a rush, and Roseanne knew she was nervous.

`Well for one thing his job takes him all over the world and his base is in America isn’t it?’

`Y-yes.’
Roseanne said and all her own doubts came flooding back. She had wondered whether Euan would fly away as soon as he was well enough and leave her heart broken. Even if he did think he loved her and wanted to marry did she want to leave everything and everyone she loved to move to the other side of the world. Could she leave Uncle K in the lurch? Euan saw the doubts chasing each other across her expressive face and he tugged urgently at her hand.

`I’ll never leave you,’ He whispered. ’She’s wrong…’

`Is Euan there?’

`Yes. He says he’ll never leave me but…’

`Well something else has troubled me, Ros.’ She lowered her voice, unaware that the speaker phone was on at Roseanne’s end. `Even if he did ask you to go with him to America...’ Again Euan tugged her hand but this time she was listening to Rob. `He – he was talking about having to sell part of his company. Has he told you that?’

`No.’ she glanced at Euan. `But he has mentioned going to London.’

`I-I if he’s short of money… well you should make sure he’s not after your share in Uncle K’s company.’ Roseanne gasped, but Rob went on quickly. `After all you own almost half of Kershaw &Co and it has grown rapidly since you took over the business side. Even if your capital is all tied up your share is bound to be worth a lot now. Uncle K told Mother you were his greatest asset. Grandpa wouldn’t have wanted you to lose your inheritance to a man who…’

`You’ve said enough,
Robinia!’ Roseanne snapped. Her face was pale now. She saw Euan scowling. `You can’t think much of my judgment if…’

`
Oh I do, I do, Ros. Please don’t be mad at me. I trust your opinions implicitly on everything - except men. You’ve never shown serious interest in anyone before. Some men can be proper bastards.’

`Don’t you think I know that?’
Roseanne’s tone was cold. `Is that your opinion of Euan?’

`
To tell the truth I came away more confused than ever. He seemed a nice guy as far as I could tell but he didn’t give much away.’ She strove to lighten the conversation. `If I hadn’t already fallen in love with Jonathan I think I would have found your Euan a challenge.’

`
You’d better stick to your own man little sister. Have a good weekend with him. I’ll see you on Monday but no more interfering in my life. Do you understand Robinia?’

`
Okay, okay, I’m sorry, Ros, truly I…?’ But Roseanne had already cut her off.