Read Unknown Online

Authors: Unknown

Unknown (4 page)

‘Let me answer that one for myself,’ interrupted her companion. ‘I said I’d give you a ride and so I will.’

‘Gee, thanks, Mr Major.’ Rory hopped up and down excitedly, while looking hopefully at Taryn from beneath fair lashes.

She turned her attention to Luke. ‘He didn’t know you,’ she protested. ‘He should have known better than to talk to strangers.’

‘But he’s not a stranger any more, so it’s all right now, isn’t it, Aunty Taryn?’ Rory tugged her hand impatiently.

As usual Luke appeared amused by her indecision.

‘I suppose so,’ she said reluctantly, if Mr Major’s sure^ it’s no trouble.’

‘Mr Major’s quite sure,’ mimicked Luke softly. He held out his hand. ‘Come along, young man. There’s no time like the present.’

Readily Rory slipped his hand into Luke’s.

‘I think you ought to ask your mother first,’ suggested Taryn. ‘Your dinner must be nearly ready.’

‘Take me to her,’ commanded Luke with a smile, 'I'll ask the good lady myself,’ and then in a conspiratorial whisper to Rory, 'I’m sure she won’t say no to me.’

Taryn watched them go, man and boy, laughing together over something Luke had said. She envied Rory his childhood innocence, his ability for instant friendship without any of the inhibitions he would feel in later life. It was not until you had been hurt that you learned to distrust, she thought. Until her meeting with Mark she had been as innocent and vulnerable as her nephew. None of life’s harsh realities had marred her path. That was why her grief had been doubly hard to bear. No one had prepared her for such trials.

Sighing deeply and despising herself for allowing the past once again to catch up with her, she retraced her steps into the house.

Gammy looked up, surprised to see her alone. ‘Where’s Luke?’

‘Taking Rory up in his helicopter. I hope they won’t be long. I should hate him to be late back at school.’

Her aunt laughed. ‘So the little one’s got his way after all. Stir this gravy for me, there’s a love, while I slice the meat. Your new employer must be very rich—buying a big house like Dale End
and
owning a helicopter.’

‘How do you know it’s his?’

‘Because I asked him. He’s got his own business too.’

‘Gammy!’ Taryn was horrified. ‘How could you?’

Aunt Margaret gave a satisfied smile. ‘I wanted to know what sort of a man my favourite niece is going to work for. You can’t be too careful these days.’

Taryn felt annoyed and pleased both at the same time. ‘And does he pass?’ she asked drily.

‘He’s a nice boy,’ her aunt said. ‘I have no fears there. If your Mark was anything like him I can see why you were cut up about his jilting you.’

Taryn paused in her stirring. ‘Having spent a little time in Luke’s company I’m beginning to realise that he’s not so very much like Mark after all. Mark would never have enjoyed looking round your garden, yet Luke was really interested.’

‘Would you say he compared favourably?’

The question hung in the air. It was too early in their relationship to say what she thought of Luke. She strongly resented his coming into her life and reviving all that she had tried so desperately to forget, yet there was something about him that made it impossible to dislike him altogether. He was so—she sought for the right word. Nice sounded too weak, yet she could think of no other suitable description. Gammy had obviously taken an instant liking to him, Rory too—and a child had an uncanny way of knowing whether a person was all he seemed to be on the outside. She could never imagine Luke double-crossing anyone. In fact, had he not looked like Mark she would have undoubtedly been attracted—a realisation which shook her.

‘I suppose he does,’ she said eventually. ‘Though I wouldn’t have said that in the early days. I loved him so much, Gammy, my heart felt as though it was broken in two when I found out about Maria. It’s only now that I can see what a selfish man he was.’

‘Yet I’ve no doubt you would forgive him if he asked you to take him back?’

‘Would I?’ Taryn’s blue eyes studied her aunt for a second before she shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. Once bitten, twice shy.’

‘I think this man’s going to make a big difference in your life,’ smiled Gammy, in fact, I would say that the rainbow’s already working.'

‘What do you mean?’ The response was jerked from her lips.

Gammy looked at her niece candidly. ‘You’re so obviously right for each other.’

‘How can you say that? You’ve only just met him.’ Taryn knew that her aunt relied on her faith in the mythical powers of the rainbow and that once she’d made up her mind that it was this natural phenomenon that had brought them together nothing would persuade her otherwise.

‘I know, my child, I’ve seen the signs. You wait and see. Time will prove me right. I hope he’s not going to be too long with Rory, or dinner will be ruined.’

The subject was changed and Taryn absently carried on mixing the gravy, wondering how her aunt could be so sure.

During lunch it was Gammy and Luke who did most of the talking. Taryn remained silent, almost afraid to speak in case her aunt wrongly interpreted her words, or told Luke about the rainbow and the possible effect it could have on their lives. In fact they monopolised the conversation to such an extent that Taryn became lost in a world of her own. Sitting across the table from Luke, listening to the deep-timbred voice, watching the unusual tawny eyes alter colour with his swift changes of mood—lightening to amber when he laughed and as dark as woodland peat when he was serious—she was vividly reminded of her last dinner with Mark.

He had taken her to their favourite restaurant, treated her with the courtesy and tenderness that had been missing of late. She had been wooed into a false sense of security, almost believing that all her fears had been unfounded, that despite her apprehension he still loved her. When suddenly, without preamble, he had asked to be released from their engagement. He wanted to marry Maria! She had been shocked beyond belief. He had never told her there was anyone else. He had explained his frequent absence as business trips, cultivating new custom, arranging this show or that. To think that he had been double-crossing her all the time; it was more than she could bear.

Taryn smiled now, recalling his expression when she had stood up at the table, pushing back her chair so violently that it had fallen with a crash and brought the attention of the whole restaurant to her irate form. Tugging off her ring, she had thrown it on to the table with a force that had shattered a wine glass. ‘Marry Maria! ’ she had spat. ‘Marry whoever you like, but don’t two-time her as you have me. You’re despicable, Mark Vandyke, do you hear, completely and utterly despicable, and I never want to see you again as long as I live!’ Head held high, Taryn had stormed from the room. She had never felt so angry or humiliated in her life. She had not seen Mark since.

Unaware that a fleeting succession of emotions had crossed her face as she recollected this scene, Taryn was surprised to find her aunt and Luke watching her closely.

‘Are you all right?’ frowned Gammy.

‘Of course,’ she snapped, unable to stop the fine edge of anger her memories had evoked.

‘You look—strange,’ the other woman persisted.

‘I tell you there’s nothing the matter.’

‘Nothing?’ Luke joined in her aunt’s concern, looking more closely at Taryn’s face. ‘I should say there’s a whole lot wrong with you. Perhaps it’s the heat in here. Shall I open the door?’

‘For God’s sake!’ Taryn pushed away her unfinished food and planted her hands firmly on the table. ‘If you’re really so interested I’ll tell you.’ She ignored her aunt and glared at the man seated opposite. ‘Every time I see you I’m reminded of Mark. It’s bad enough at a distance, but how do you think I feel now—sitting so close I have only to reach out my hand to touch you? Looking at a face which is so hauntingly like the man I loved that it’s enough to drive me out of my mind. Why have you come here? Why are you doing this to me?’ Then she covered her face with her hands and rushed from the room.

Luke made to follow, but Gammy put a restraining hand on his arm. ‘Best leave her alone. It’s been a great shock, but she’ll get over it. She’ll soon get used to you.’

Taryn heard her aunt’s counsel as she mounted the stairs. How easy it was to convince yourself with a few well chosen words. But she would never be able to look at Luke without being reminded of Mark. She ought not to have taken the job. It would never work out.

Lying on the bed, Taryn stared at the sloping ceiling, finally deciding that she must tell Luke she c:ould not work for him. Painful memories that had taken so long to erase were all too easily revived. She would never be able to face Luke without recalling this last final scene which had been her degradation. It was no use fooling herself any longer that the wounds had healed, and working with Luke would only open them further.

Determinedly she sprang to her feet and after running a brush through her hair made her faltering way back down to the living room. On the bottom stair she halted. Gammy sat alone, the remains of their meal still on the table.

‘Where’s Luke?’ Taryn’s voice was a mere whisper.

‘Gone. He couldn’t wait for you to come out of your tantrum.’

‘I was not in a tantrum,’ retorted Taryn, ‘I was merely telling him the truth.’

Gammy snorted. ‘You sounded very rude to me. I don’t know what’s come over you. I’ve never known you behave like this before. Have you forgotten that you’re going to work for him?’

But Taryn was not listening. She was across the room and out of the door, running down the path to the road. Perhaps she could stop him; perhaps it wasn’t too late—but there was no one in sight and as she looked towards the top field the helicopter rose into the air. He flew low across the valley. Taryn waved frantically, and he saw her. So close was the aircraft that she saw the white of his teeth as he smiled. She shouted to him to come back, but her words were borne away on the wind. His hand waved in salute before he lifted with sudden swiftness and disappeared into the blue summer sky.

In chagrin Taryn bit her lip. He thought she was saying goodbye. She turned, startled to find Gammy at her side.

‘He left a message,’ remarked the older woman. ‘He said you’re to go up to Dale End tomorrow and explain to his man exactly what you want doing.’

‘But, Gammy,’ Taryn’s face crumpled, ‘I’ve changed my mind. I wanted to tell him—it won’t work out. You saw my reaction. I can’t do it.’ The last words were choked from her lips, and placing an arm about her niece’s shoulders Gammy led her back into the cottage.

‘You’re overwrought,’ she consoled. ‘It’s been a shock. You’ll adjust in time.’

Taryn shook her head. ‘Never. To me he will always be Mark—and I hate him!’ Her voice rose hysterically. ‘Oh, Gammy, it’s against the laws of nature for two man to look so alike. Do you still think he can really be Mark?'

‘I don’t know what to think, love. All I know is that he seems a nice enough man, whoever he is, and if you know what’s good for you you’ll start that job tomorrow and act as though he’s any normal employer. Work is what you need right now, and by the time Luke’s back you’ll have grown used to the idea of seeing him about.’

‘I suppose you’re right,’ admitted Taryn. ‘Do you know when he’ll be coming?’

‘He said something about the weekend. That’s four days to pull yourself together.’

 

Taryn went early to the house the next day. Her aunt was right. She did need something to occupy her mind. Every waking hour, every minute, every second, her thoughts dwelled constantly on Luke. She had lain awake far into the night, unable to banish from her mind this man who had ravaged her calm. entered into her valley of peace, crushed with one mighty blow the fence she had built round her broken heart. Did Luke himself know the anguish he had caused? Could he guess how it felt to be so reminded of the man who had tossed her casually to one side? Her thoughts ran on and on in the same vein until she felt bemused and unable to face the new day. Only Gammy’s plain speaking had brought her to her senses.

'There’s no point in brooding, love. 'Whatever will be will be' as the song goes, and very true it is. Luke can’t help what he looks like, and it's up to you to accept him as he is and forget about everything else. You’ve let that Italian affair upset you too much, though I’ve never told you so before. Now you’ve got an interesting job you must count it as a blessing. Everything happens for the best, even if it doesn't look like it at the time.’

Taryn recalled her aunt’s words as she climbed up to Dale End and smiled wryly. Gammy was rarely wrong. A Land Rover was parked at the side of the house, its tracks dearly outlined in the overgrown drive—the only vehicle to use the path for many years.

The heavy front door stood open. Taryn walked inside, her shoes making a staccato of sound on the bare boards. She thought now, as she had on her first visit, how strange it was that the house should be completely bare. She had somehow expected everything to be as it was when the old man died, but instead it had been divested of carpets, curtains, furniture, the lot. Not so much as a box remained to give an indication of its previous owner. It made their job easier, without a doubt, yet it gave the house a curiously detached air. Again she gave an involuntary shiver and looked over her shoulder as if expecting to see old Henry’s ghost. When someone spoke she cried out in surprise.

‘There’s no need to be nervous, lass. Didn’t you know I was here?'

As the owner of the gruff voice moved into the shaft of sunlight that filtered in through the open door Taryn breathed in relief. This was no spirit—a tall, broad man in his early fifties, skin weathered to a rich mahogany and twinkling blue eyes that watched her with amusement.

She nodded. ‘I guessed you were, but it’s this house, it gives me the creeps.’

‘There’s nothing here to be afeared of,’ he said. ‘I guess you must be Miss Penreath? The gaffer told me you’d be coming. Andrew Shire’s the name, but I’d be pleased if you’d call me Andy.’ He extended a brown, work-worn hand.

Other books

El legado de la Espada Arcana by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Destiny's Path by Frewin Jones
The Second Shooter by Chuck Hustmyre
Hanno’s Doll by Evelyn Piper
The Wine of Youth by John Fante
Cypress Nights by Stella Cameron