Unknown (10 page)

At the bridge she paused, leaning her elbows on the crumbling stone wall and staring sadly into the slow-moving waters. Why did life always treat her so unfairly?

Suddenly she heard her aunt calling urgently. Racing towards the cottage, she saw Gammy’s white face, it’s Janice,’ she called almost before Taryn was within hearing distance. ‘She’s had a fall. We must get her to hospital.’

‘Where’s Trevor?'

‘Plymouth. There’s no way of getting hold of him. If we send for an ambulance it might be too late. I’m afraid she’s going to lose the baby. Will you take her, Taryn?’

‘Of course.’ Taryn was already pulling the key from her bag. Within seconds the car was moving towards her cousin’s cottage. Inside she found Janice sitting in an armchair, her face devoid of colour and drawn with pain.

‘Please tell me the baby’s going to be all right,’ Janice implored. ‘I think I’ll die if I lose him now.’

Taryn murmured a few sympathetic words as between them she and Gammy helped her out to the car. The roads were fairly quiet on this Monday morning and Taryn was able to make good time. Gammy held her granddaughter’s hand and spoke encouragingly, but Taryn knew she was desperately worried, both for the sake of Janice and the unborn child.

At the hospital Janice was immediately admitted.

There was nothing Taryn or her aunt could do now except wait. One hour passed and then two. They were informed that an operation was necessary if the baby’s life was to be saved—and then, joy of joys, a smiling nurse told them that Janice had a son. Gammy was unashamedly crying and Taryn felt the prick of tears at the back of her eyes.

‘And Janice?’ whispered Gammy.

‘Fine,’ nodded the nurse. ‘You have no need to worry.’

‘Can we see her?’ asked Gammy next.

‘For a few minutes. She’s only just come round from the anaesthetic. She’s still dazed, you understand?’

Dazed or not Janice, smiled at them as they approached her bed. ‘I’ve done it,’ she said, ‘I’ve given Trevor his son. Poor little mite, he’s so tiny. They’ve put him in an incubator. Oh, Gammy, you will tell Trevor the minute he gets home?’

‘Taryn will,’ nodded her grandmother. ‘I’m staying here.'

It was mid-afternoon before Taryn eventually left the hospital, and as she had had nothing to eat since breakfast she decided to have a coffee and a sandwich before starting the journey back.

For the last few hours Taryn had forgotten all about her own troubles, but now, as she sipped the hot coffee and gazed morosely into the creamy liquid, memory returned. Why does it always happen to me? she pondered. Why can’t I ? She never finished her sentence. A gentle hand touched her shoulder. Startled, she swung round. ‘Luke! What are you doing here? ’ She took no trouble to hide her delight.

‘Hoping to find you,' he smiled. ‘You didn’t really think I’d go without saying goodbye? I had to make a short trip, but by the time I got back Andy told me you’d left for Exeter.''

‘I thought it strange,’ admitted Taryn, ‘but how did you know I was in here?’

‘I didn’t. I’d admitted defeat and was going to have one last coffee before returning to London. Did you get your curtain material?’

‘What?’ She looked at him blankly. ‘Oh, that. No, I’ve been at the hospital.’ And she proceeded to relate the events of the day.

‘So now you have to dash back to Ferndale to tell her husband?’

‘That’s right.'

‘Then why are we waiting? Let’s go! ’

‘But I thought you were going back to London?’

‘Let’s say something more urgent has cropped up.’ The meaning behind his words was clear as he smiled down into her eyes, and his hand beneath her arm as they left the restaurant seemed to burn into her flesh.

‘I’ll drive,' he said as they approached the car. Wordlessly Taryn passed him the key. How difficult it would be to get this man out of her mind, and why was he treating her so—intimately?

Suddenly she noticed they were travelling in the wrong direction. ‘Hey,’ she said, ‘where are we going?’

‘My ’copter’s not far away. It will be quicker. I’ll get someone to fetch your car later.’

Taryn sat upright in her seat. ‘But I couldn’t! I mean, is it safe?’

He laughed. ‘Of course it’s safe. You’ve flown before. What are you worried about?'

She swallowed. ‘There’s a lot of difference between a Boeing and your helicopter. It looks so fragile.’

He slanted her a reassuring smile. ‘I’ve travelled hundreds—no, it must be thousands of miles in her. She’s never failed me yet.’

‘There’s always a first time,’ replied Taryn faintly. ‘You surprise me. Have you no faith?’

‘Yes—but '

He caught her hand, squeezing her fingers gently. ‘Dearest Taryn. I’ll see no harm comes to you.’

Taryn’s heart beat uncomfortably fast. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but she was afraid of hurting his feelings. He spoke as though she really meant something to him. Why? What game was he playing?

Intercepting her puzzled look, he remarked, ‘Now what’s the matter? Don’t you believe me?’

‘Yes—it’s just me. I’m being silly.'

By this time they had reached the field where his craft was waiting. Without giving her further time to argue Luke was out of the car. He held her hand as they walked towards the helicopter.

Taryn looked fearfully at its gleaming bodywork and bit her lip anxiously. Her heart beat so loud she was sure Luke must hear it and once inside she was even more afraid. After he had started the engine and the blades began to whirr overhead it was too noisy even to talk without shouting. He passed her a pair of earphones, turning round to smile reassuringly, and before she knew it the ground was falling away beneath them.

Suddenly she was enjoying herself. The sensation was so different from what she had expected. It was as though they were being gently lifted into the sky, then propelled slowly forward. It was as though they were floating above the earth and as they climbed higher they hardly seemed to be moving at all. Taryn leaned back in her seat and relaxed, watching the patchwork of fields slide away below.

It seemed no time at all before she saw Ferndale rising to meet them. From this angle it looked so different—like a model village, everything in miniature but in perfect scale. As they lost height Dale End grew larger and larger. The row of cottages reassumed their identity.

They landed safely in the top field, but as they climbed out Taryn was surprised to find how wobbly her legs were and was glad of Luke’s supporting hand. ‘Everyone feels like that on their first flight,’ he said kindly. ‘You’ll be all right in a minute. Hang on to me.’

She was still holding his arm when they reached Janice’s cottage. At the same time Trevor pulled up in his car. He cast them a speculative glance, but before he could speak Taryn said, ‘Congratulations, Trevor. You’re a father at last!'

He frowned and looked towards the house. ‘I can’t be—Janice was all right when I left. She’s another month yet—where is she?’ and he began running towards the door.

‘She’s not there,' Taryn called out. ‘She had a fall.’ He stopped and looked back in concern. ‘Don’t worry, she’s perfectly okay. Your son’s beautiful.’

‘My son! ’ Trevor said the words proudly, experimentally. ‘I must go. Where is she—Exeter?’

Taryn nodded. ‘At the ’

Trevor was already climbing back into his car.

‘Be careful,’ she called, ‘mind how you go,’ but her words were lost as his wheels spun the gravel and he disappeared in a cloud of dust.

‘A cup of tea would be very welcome now,’ said Luke, heading in the direction of Honeysuckle Cottage.

The idea of being alone in the cottage with Luke was both tantalising and frightening. Taryn wanted desperately to be near him—but was it wise? He gave every indication that he no longer treated her as an employee. In fact, he seemed to find her very desirable. Under these circumstances would it be prudent to take him home? On the other hand, if she refused he would think it childish. After all, he had gone out of his way to bring her back here and Gammy would expect her to reward his kindness. ‘Me, too,’ she said hesitantly. ‘It’s been rather an exhausting day.'

Once inside Taryn was even more aware of Luke’s presence. His height dwarfed the already small rooms and when he offered to help in the kitchen it was inevitable that their bodies should touch.

‘Would you like something to eat?’ asked Taryn breathlessly, more for something to say than because she was hungry herself. If things had been different she would have enjoyed Luke’s company; as it was, her whole body was on edge, wondering whether he would take advantage of the situation—even wanting him to. She curled her fingers in her palms to try and still their trembling. He must not see the effect his presence had on her.

‘I thought you’d never ask,' he mocked, apparently unaware of her tension.

‘Sorry,' she grimaced. ‘It was thoughtless of me. How about a salad? There’s some cold chicken in the fridge, and one of Gammy’s apple pies to follow.'

‘Sounds great. I'll go and get a lettuce.'

Whistling softly to himself, he disappeared into the garden and Taryn took the opportunity of the few moments she was alone to try and pull herself together. What’s the matter? she chided. Luke’s given no indication that he has any ulterior motive in inviting himself here. You’re behaving like a lovesick schoolgirl instead of a responsible adult. In any case, surely you know how to handle him should he try any funny business? Of course she did. She was worrying for nothing. It wasn’t the first time they had been alone, and nothing had happened before—so why was she working herself up into such a state now?

‘Here we are.' Luke dropped the lettuce into the sink and turned on the tap. ‘Come on, slowcoach.' he called over his shoulder, ‘you’ve done nothing while I was away.’

Taryn smiled. ‘I was thinking how strange it was to have you here like this.'

‘You don’t mind?’

‘Of course not,' she lied. ‘Gammy would expect it of me.'

‘So you’re entertaining me purely to please your aunt?’

‘Don’t be silly,' retorted Taryn before she noticed the dimple in his cheek. ‘Oh, stop making fun of me! ’

‘Would you like me to do something else?’ He didn’t look round again, but his deepening voice told her what he had in mind.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said primly.

‘I think you do.’ He looked at her now, but at her startled expression he laughed suddenly and flicked a wet lettuce leaf in her direction. ‘Don’t worry, I’m too hungry to think of other things. Anyway, what’s got into you today? You seem different. I haven’t done anything to upset you?’

Taryn shook her head. ‘It’s probably because of Janice. I don’t like hospitals very much.'

He looked relieved. ‘I should have known. What shall I do next?’ He piled the lettuce into a dish and stood it on the table. ‘Slice the tomatoes?'

‘There’s no need—really, I can manage.'

‘I like helping,’ he insisted. ‘It’s sort of cosy doing things together. I never knew domesticity could be such fun.’

She wondered whether he ever helped his wife. Or whether he was away from home so often that the opportunity never arose. It was a peculiar state of affairs.

At last the meal was ready. They carried it into the living room and arranged it on the table near the window. Dale End was in full view from this point and as Taryn poured their tea she noticed the way Luke kept looking up towards the house. ‘I wonder if the plumbers came?’ she mused.

Luke nodded. ‘They were there this morning. I really must congratulate you on the way things are turning out. It’s better than I dared hope.’

‘I’m pleased myself.’ Taryn’s face turned pink under his approval. ‘And I just love Mrs Major’s room,’ she continued in a rush. ‘Do you think she’ll like it?’

‘Without a doubt. When we move in you must come up and let her congratulate you herself. I think you’ll get on well together.’

Taryn lifted her brows at this profound statement, but declined to comment, concentrating instead on picking her chicken bone.

Luke himself, unaware of her reaction, continued, ‘It’s strange you should choose pink. It’s always been one of her favourite colours. I remember ’

‘How about
your
room?’ cut in Taryn shortly, unable to stand hearing him talk about his wife.

He waved his fork expressively. ‘Delightful—absolutely perfect—I can say no more. Your tastes are exquisite, my dear Taryn.’

‘You flatter me.’

‘No, I mean it. I can see that by the time you've finished I shall be unable to tear myself away.’

‘Then don’t,’ she said. ‘Surely your hotels will run themselves? You have managers?’

‘Naturally, but other people are not so conscientious as oneself. I like to keep them on their toes.'

They finished their meal in silence after that, but it was a comfortable quiet and Taryn could not help but think how wonderful it would be to spend the rest of her life with this man. They understood each other so well; there was an affinity between them that needed no words. In fact, if he spoke now, it would ruin everything. This was how love should be —relaxing, undemanding, perfect union.

Not until Luke waved a hand before her face did Taryn realise she had been staring at him.

‘Penny for them,’ he smiled.

‘They’re not worth it.’

‘Try me.’

‘They’re too private.’ She jumped up and began stacking their empty plates on to a tray.

Immediately he began to help, but when his hand accidentally touched hers and she backed sharply away he said, ‘Taryn, something is wrong. You must tell me.’

She turned away, but he caught her shoulders and forced her to face him. With one finger he lifted her chin until she looked into his eyes. ‘Now,’ he said sternly, ‘what is this all about?’

But how could she declare her love—tell him that the thought of his wife tormented her? He had given no true indication that he returned her feelings. He found her good company, desirable even—as a woman, but he did not love her. She could not risk making a fool of herself, so instead she stiffened and said in a tight little voice, ‘You’re making a mistake. Why should there be anything the matter?'