She’d placed her hand on his arm as his voice filled with bitterness.
‘She laughed at me - said I’d never see the
brat
I’d foisted on her again.’
‘Go on,’ she urged when his voice faltered. ‘I went to see her parents in Sydney. They denied there had ever been a child.’
Ellie gasped. ‘Denied their own grandchild? What sort of people are they?’
‘Wealthy.’
She ignored the barb. ‘What about his birth certificate?’
‘I discovered she hadn’t registered his birth.’ He gave a grim smile. ‘That’s when I asked Vera to help.’
‘And she found him?’
‘It was strange. She was able to pin-point a town on the map in Western Australia, then gave me a description of a house and the house number.’
‘And you got him back,’ Ellie said with a smile.
‘It wasn’t
that
easy.’ Patrick said morosely. ‘The authorities were reluctant to act without proof.’
‘So how did you get him back?’
‘I went to the house and confronted the couple looking after him.’ He shuddered. ‘The place was filthy. Todd recognized me and started to scream. The man back-handed him across the room. If his wife hadn’t called the police I think I would have killed him.’
‘Oh, God.’ Tears filled her eyes. ‘How could she have left him in a place like that? How did you prove he was your son?’
‘The foster parents got regular checks from his grandparents in Sydney. DNA tests did the rest.’ He gave an ironic shrug. ‘Once the story was put before the court I was awarded custody.’
‘Thanks for telling me.’
Her heart began to behave strangely when he gave a tentative smile. ‘There was a reason for it. Todd loves you, and I think–’
They both jumped as the phone began to ring. Startled by the noise a mouse scuttled across the floor and disappeared into the cupboard.
‘Bad timing,’ Patrick said with a grin.
‘Yes.’ Remembering the answering machine was on she turned back to him, waiting with bated breath for him to continue. ‘What were you going to say?’
He was going to tell her he loved her - his eyes showed it all too clearly.
‘I apologize for calling you on a Sunday, Miss Bryce.’
Her father’s lawyer.
‘Your instructions regarding the disposal of your investments have been completed.’
Her father’s lawyer!
‘All the smaller creditors ...’ Panic in her eyes, she made a grab for the receiver. ‘... have been paid–’
‘Thank you, Mister Wentworth.’
Curse you, Mister Wentworth!
* * * *
Patrick was rigid with shock. His eyes raked over her ashen face, found what they were seeking, then became flint.
‘If I can ever be of service to you again, please don’t hesitate to call me.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Good-bye, Mister Wentworth.’
‘You
lied
to me.’
She discovered she was shivering. ‘It wasn’t exactly a lie.’
‘Don’t try and wriggle out of this.’ His voice was so tight with hurt that she could hardly bear it. ‘You lied by omission.’
‘You wouldn’t have understood,’ she said miserably.
‘You didn’t give me the
chance
to understand.’ He rose to his feet and stared down at her. ‘That was one expensive lay, Eloise. I hope I gave you your money’s worth.’
Face flaming, she shot from her chair and reminded him. ‘I don’t recall hiring you as a stud, but since you ask ...?’ Her lip curled. ‘You were definitely worth it.’
His finger hooked his jacket from the back of the chair. ‘It’s been nice knowing you, Ellie.’
‘You don’t understand.’ Desperately she tried to explain as she followed him from the house. ‘My father was an honorable man.’
‘No kidding?’
‘If he’d known the company was in trouble he’d have used that money to pay his debts. I only did what he’d have expected of me.’
‘Go back to the house,’ he roared when they reached the gate.
‘What about us?’ she yelled. ‘Doesn’t it mean anything to you?’
‘
Us?’
Her heart sank as he turned and faced her. Etched on his face was the shuttered expression she knew so well. ‘If you think you’re
important
to me, forget it.’
‘Now who’s being a liar?’ If she’d been bigger and stronger she’d have shaken him until his teeth rattled in his head.
‘You overrate your attraction, Eloise.’ His eyes were slices of ice cutting into hers. ‘The bottom line is this. I detest being patronized or forced to accept
charity.
Got it?’
‘It wasn’t charity.’ Her heart was cracking open as he strode off. Suddenly furious she shouted after him. ‘What makes you so
arrogant?
You’re not the only person to get money back from the deal. If you swallowed your stinking male pride you’d realize you’re overdosing on self-pity. If you think I love you enough to put up with
that
you’re crazy. I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth.’
‘I didn’t ask you to,’ he flung over his shoulder. ‘Go and fly your broomstick, Eloise. Just keep it out of my backyard.’
Her empty lie mocked her. Who are you kidding, Ellie? You’d take him with or without a wedding ring. Just as certain, was the knowledge that he loved her as much as she loved him, and had been about to admit it before that damned phone call. She wondered how far she’d get if she sued the lawyer over it.
‘You love me, you stubborn brute,’ she whispered as he disappeared from her sight. ‘When you’ve thought things over you’ll be back.’
He was back within five minutes - in a taxi. Where did he find a taxi in the middle of nowhere? It became clear when Aunt Vera’s diminutive figure alighted from the back. Patrick marched past her with the cases and dumped them on the floor.
‘I’m sorry I can’t stay, Vera.’
His voice was so gruff she wanted to laugh. He’d been sprung by her aunt and didn’t know quite how to handle it.
* * * *
‘You left your toothbrush in the bathroom, Patch,’ she cooed, flicking a grin at his dirty look.
‘I’ll get it another time - the cab’s waiting.’
Aunt Vera laughed as Patrick almost bolted through the door. ‘That was very naughty of you, dear.’ Her eyes twinkled as they came to rest on her. ‘What have you been doing to the poor man? His aura is shot to pieces, and yours is disturbingly mischievous.’
She laughed as she hugged her aunt. ‘You should know. Why didn’t you warn me about him?’
‘But I did, dear.’ Aunt Vera beamed. ‘It was in the letter I sent you with your star chart. It’s such an event when things are revealed during meditation.’
‘There wasn’t any letter.’
‘Wasn’t there?’ She thought for a second. ‘I must have forgotten to write it. It’s really quite simple, dear. You, Todd and Patrick were together in a past life. Todd passed over to the other side for lack of a wet nurse, shortly after you. Your souls have been searching for each other ever since.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t bother hiding her skepticism. ‘How exactly did I ... pass over? No, don’t tell me - Patrick strangled me in a fit of rage?’
‘Not so,’ Aunt Vera said indignantly, the dear boy wouldn’t do such a nasty thing.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘You’re not going to believe this, dear.’
‘Try me,’ she said with a sigh, knowing Aunt Vera would tell her anyway.
‘You dabbled in magic potions, and ended up on the ducking stool in the village pond.’
‘What exactly are you saying?’ An awful suspicion took form in Ellie’s mind and was confirmed by her aunt.
‘You were a witch.’ Aunt Vera patted her on the cheek. ‘Exciting, isn’t it?’
‘Hah!’
Staggering to a chair she sank into the cushions and stared at her aunt. Then she started to laugh, she couldn’t help it.
‘I’ll see you in a week.’ Anne gave a final wave as Andrew’s car purred into life. ‘Thanks for the tarot reading, Aunt Vera. I hope we meet again, some time.’
‘I’m sure we shall.’ Aunt Vera smiled happily as she turned. ‘It’s sweet of Andrew to drive her all the way back to Melbourne. She’s such a lovely girl. She deserves the happiness coming her way.’
Her aunt’s smile faded and Ellie absorbed her penetrating glance, trying to keep her eyes innocent. ‘I think it’s about time you and I had a little chat. There are disturbing influences in my home. Scruff’s peeved about something, and we have
mice!
Aunt Vera nodded when Ellie gave a shame-faced grin. ‘Patrick said the smell of paint would bring them out, and they did.
‘What have you been up to in my absence, missy?’
* * * *
Four days later Ellie’s ears still burned when she thought of the lecture her aunt had given her on the perils of witchcraft. The book, a gift from a well-meaning friend, had been burned, and Scruff’s self-confidence restored to him by the simple procedure of hunger forcing him to resume his normal duties.
* * * *
She kept her eye on the window whilst she dotted smarties over the packet cake she’d made. Bronwyn was due to arrive with Todd any minute. Her aunt was working on the many requests for star charts she received in the mail.
When a car turned in from the road her heart nearly stopped.
Patrick!
Her disappointment was agonizing when she heard the engine still running after the passengers had got out.
Rushing to the door she caught the running boy up in her arms and hugged him tight. Ah, how familiar he smelled, she thought, burying her face in his neck. Smothered in kisses, she tentatively glanced at Patrick. One icy glance froze any hopes she might have harbored. He’d hadn’t forgiven her for lying to him, and looked as though he never would.
Despite her despair, she had a wonderful day. Bronwyn seemed content to leave Todd in her charge whilst she chatted to Aunt Vera, but Ellie was sensitive to the fact she was being covertly observed. Her panicky anticipation of encountering Patrick again was alleviated when Andrew turned up to collect them.
He drew her aside, his smile enigmatic. ‘I’ll be in Melbourne next week. Perhaps we could have dinner together.’ He kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered in her ear. ‘Bring Anne along.’
Bronwyn’s lips pursed slightly as her sharp eyes took in the exchange. ‘Is it trouble you’ll be bringing on my house, then?’ Ellie heard her say as the car drove away.
A lump formed in her throat when Todd smiled Patrick’s smile at her through the back window. She blew him a kiss, and another for Patrick. It crossed her mind when the car disappeared from sight, that it might be the last time she saw Todd.
* * * *
‘Why are people so nasty?’ Anne shuffled through a stack of letters in her hand. ‘Last week you had five proposals, fourteen begging letters and three obscene phone calls. How do these people ferret out where you live?’
‘From the telephone book, I suppose.’ She scowled. ‘I’ll sort them out later. They’re getting fewer every week. Eventually, they’ll stop.’
Anne gazed at her. ‘Why don’t you come to Sydney with me and Andrew this weekend? I worry about you being alone with all this going on.’
‘Don’t be a twit!’ Making an effort Ellie smiled at her. ‘I’ve got plenty to do. I’ve decided to give the house a spring clean.’ Picking up her car keys, she grinned. ‘Besides, a man who drives all that way to see you twice a week is obviously nuts about you. He won’t want me playing gooseberry.’
When a dreamy expression crossed Anne’s face she felt a small stab of envy. ‘Andrew’s invited me to meet his parents. Do you think he feels the same way about me as I feel about him?’
Ellie
knew
he did - why else would she be secretly meeting him for lunch? To help him choose an engagement ring for Anne, that’s why. He planned a romantic proposal.
Her face softened as she picked up her bag. ‘I shouldn’t be at all surprised if I had to look for a new housemate shortly. Come on, Anne, let’s go. I don’t want to be late for work.’
* * * *
Ellie came wide awake with her heart thumping. She hadn’t dreamed it! Someone was pounding on the door.
* * * *
Thoughts of an accident flying through her mind she scrambled from her bed and threw on her dressing gown. Unease gripped her when a second thought blotted out the first. What if it was one of the nutters who’d written to her?
Grabbing the quartz egg from her dressing table for protection, she crept down the narrow stairs of the small terrace house. Should she call the police? No - the doors and windows were locked and she’d taken the precaution of punching the police station’s number into the telephone’s memory. All she had to do was lift the receiver and press a button if she needed them.
‘Who is it?’ Her voice hardly registered on her fear-dried vocal chords. ‘Who’s there?’ she said more aggressively.
Patrick’s voice nearly blasted a hole through the door. ‘The big bad wolf. Do I have to stand in this rain all night?’
She’d hardly released the variety of recently installed locks, when Patrick strode through the door and into the lounge. ‘Where is he?’
She followed after him. ‘Where’s who?’
‘Don’t play the innocent with me.’ He gave her a scathing look. ‘Andrew’s car is parked outside your home. Who else would I mean?’
A glow of immense satisfaction appeared in the region of Ellie’s diaphragm, though she managed to pull a concerned mask over her face. It was too early to look smug; nevertheless her voice was as smooth and golden as melted butter
‘Is something wrong?’
‘Not if you discount the fact that I’m about to murder my brother.’ He gave her a suitably threatening smile. ‘You made me an offer once. I’m here to take you up on it. This weekend I’ve decided to be your
trinket.
Reciprocal arrangements - remember? God knows, you paid enough for the privilege.’
‘So I did.’ His eyes became incensed when she grinned slightly.
‘I imagine you conveniently forgot to mention it to my brother.’
Gritted teeth, no less!
‘I’m here to do that.’
Magnificent!
She didn’t say a word when he headed for the stairs and took them two at a time, merely moved into the kitchen and plugged in the kettle.