Lee Wilkinson - Marriage On The Agenda

In trouble.

With the beginnings of a headache, she longed for a cup of coffee but, resisting the temptation to ring for some and linger over it, she went through to the bathroom to shower.

She would have to show her face and give some kind of explanation sooner or later, so better to get it over with. Though what explanation could she give for spending the night with a virtual stranger? She couldn’t even explain to herself what had made her behave so out of character.

But perhaps it was better not to try and explain anything. Merely give the bare facts and then relieve them of her company, even if it meant staying at a hotel.

Having made the decision, she was starting to feel a shade better when it occurred to her that she couldn’t get back to London unless she left with Jonathan Drummond.

No! That wasn’t an option. She would sooner call a taxi. The thought of driving all that way with the man who had seduced her was insupportable. Not that she hadn’t been a willing victim, honesty forced her to admit. The blame was hers as much as his.

Belatedly it occurred to her to wonder how he was feeling. His behaviour hadn’t been exactly praiseworthy.

Possibly, depending on what kind of man he was, he would be embarrassed by what had happened? Maybe he’d be as anxious to leave as she was to have him go? He’d been wide awake when she had left his room, so with a bit of luck he would just dress and slip quietly away.

When she had dried herself, she made-up lightly to hide an unusual paleness before dressing in fine wool trousers the colour of tobacco, a cream blouse, and an embroidered waistcoat. Then, summoning up every ounce of composure she could muster, she lifted her chin and sallied forth.

Drawn like a magnet to the door of the room opposite, she stood listening. Not a sound. Did that mean he’d already gone? She fervently hoped so. Shamed and mortified by her own weakness, she dreaded the thought of having to meet him face to face again.

And there was another consideration. An important one. If he’d gone without anyone seeing him she wouldn’t have to divulge exactly who had slept in Mark’s room. That would save trouble all round. Though she had no reason to try and protect Jonathan Drummond, if Mark and her father were to learn his identity it could cost him dear. They would, she felt sure, pressure Cosby’s into getting rid of him on one pretext or another.

Needing to know for sure, she opened the door quietly and, holding her breath, peered inside. The room was blessedly empty, and the bathroom door, standing ajar, showed that was too.

Going over to the window, which overlooked the apron and the smooth green lawns at the front of the house, she peered out.

The rain had temporarily ceased, though the sky was heavy and overcast, threatening more. The garden looked battered and waterlogged, and shallow pools of water had gathered on the apron.

All the other sleek cars were still standing where they had been the previous night, but she could see no sign of the white saloon that Jonathan had been driving.

He must have gone back to London.

Sighing her relief, she made her way downstairs to the breakfast-room.

IN THE big, east-facing room all the lights were burning to counteract the dullness of the day. A few of the guests were still eating a late breakfast, while others lingered to converse over coffee, or glance through the Sunday papers.

There was no sign of her father, for which Loris was truly thankful. Though she recognised that it was cowardly, her impulse was to delay any showdown for as long as possible.

With a general, ‘Good morning,’ to the assembled company, she made her way to the end of the long table, where she froze in her tracks.

Sitting buttering toast and talking to her mother as though it was the most natural thing in the world, was Jonathan Drummond.

Fair hair smoothly brushed and shining under the lights, white teeth gleaming as he smiled in response to something Isobel had said, he looked infuriatingly attractive.

Glancing up, he saw her, and rose to his feet politely. ‘Good morning.’

He was dressed in a pair of charcoal trousers, a pale-green shirt and matching tie, and a jacket she recognised as Simon’s.

To her chagrin, he appeared cool and assured, every inch master of the situation.

Feeling the hot, embarrassed colour rising in her cheeks, somehow she answered, ‘Good morning.’ Then raggedly, ‘I thought you’d gone.’

‘Oh?’ He came around the end of the table and pulled out a chair for her.

Sinking into it, she said almost accusingly, ‘Your car wasn’t there.’

‘As I’d left it right in front of the entrance, I thought I’d better move it.’

Returning to his seat, and reaching for the marmalade, he added innocently, ‘Your mother suggested that as it was a hired car it might be better in one of the garages.’

To get it out of sight, no doubt, as it lowered the tone. The words were unspoken, but the sardonic twist to his lips said it all.

Refilling his coffee cup, Isobel smiled at him, the perfect hostess, making it clear that, though his car might not be up to scratch, she found him very personable.

To Loris, she said expansively, ‘Jonathan tells me he’s with Cosby’s…’

Wondering if her mother knew he was just a lowly PA, and deciding that she obviously didn’t, Loris said nothing.

‘I thought I remembered him from Ascot or somewhere, but obviously I was wrong…’

Ignoring the dishes keeping warm on the sideboard, Loris poured herself some coffee and drank it gratefully while her mother pursued, ‘I’ve just been saying how very kind it was of him to bring you all the way to Monkswood on such a night.’

Realising she was expected to add something, Loris agreed woodenly, ‘Yes, wasn’t it?’

Isobel turned to Jonathan and, as though to make up for her daughter’s marked lack of sociability, said, ‘I’m so pleased Loris managed to persuade you to stay.’ Then, without much hope, ‘Do you play whist or bridge by any chance?’

‘Both. Though not particularly well.’

‘At the last minute Colonel Jefferson couldn’t come, so anyone who plays cards at all will be a welcome addition to our little party.’

‘Oh, but Mr Drummond can’t possibly stay for the rest of the weekend,’ Loris said with more force than politeness.

Looking surprised by her daughter’s vehemence, Isobel pointed out, ‘It would make sense. Apparently the Elder has overflowed its banks and quite a few of the local roads are flooded, so the journey back to town could be very difficult.’

‘But h-he wasn’t prepared to stay.’ Loris tried to sound practical rather than panic-stricken. ‘I mean, it’s a question of clothes and things…’

‘Clothes aren’t a problem. Luckily Jonathan and Simon are much of a size, and Simon has a whole wardrobe of things he hasn’t even worn.’

With a speaking glance at him, Loris said, ‘But I’m sure Mr Drummond—’

Face straight, but a wicked gleam in his eyes, he broke in, ‘Oh, surely we know each other well enough for you to call me Jonathan.’

Biting her lip, she went on, ‘I’m sure Jonathan has to get back. We can’t expect him to—’

‘As I’ve already told your mother, I’d be delighted to stay,’ he broke in smoothly.

Wondering what he was up to, Loris glared at him in helpless fury.

‘There! You see, it’s all settled,’ Isobel said a little testily, ‘and has been for the past half-hour. I’m having Simon’s bed made up for Jonathan so that if Mark manages to get here after all he can have his usual room. Though he seemed doubtful at first—’

‘You’ve spoken to him?’

‘He rang up about twenty minutes ago to apologise for his absence and say he was sorry not to have come down as planned.’

‘Does Dad know?’

Isobel shook her head. ‘Your father went straight out after breakfast. He’s with Reynolds, checking on reported storm damage to some of the cottages on the estate.’

‘When you talked to Mark, did he tell you what had happened last night?’ Loris asked cautiously.

‘Apparently Alan Gresham’s daughter suddenly felt unwell, and because no taxi was immediately available, he offered to drive her home…’

Catching Jonathan’s eye, Loris saw a kind of amused contempt there.

‘As your father and I had already left, it’s just as well that Mark was on hand to do duty as a host.’

Judging by Isobel’s insouciance, she hadn’t the faintest idea that Alan Gresham’s daughter and ‘that blonde creature’ were one and the same.

‘He said he’d get hold of you and, if conditions allowed, possibly bring you down in time for lunch. He seemed very surprised when I told him you were already here…’

I bet he did, Loris thought cynically.

‘The whole thing, it seems, was a misunderstanding. He couldn’t find you to tell you what was happening, and then when he got back to the hotel you were nowhere to be seen and almost everyone had gone. He thought that, because of the weather, you must have made up your mind to go straight home instead of coming down here.’

Obviously wondering if they’d had a quarrel, her mother asked, ‘What made you decide to come without him?’

‘My flat was occupied.’

‘Occupied?’

‘I’ve lent it to Judy and Paul for last night and tonight.’

‘Even so—’

‘They’re on their honeymoon.’

‘Oh. Still, it’s worked out quite well. Or rather will have done when Mark gets here.’

‘I thought you said he might not be coming?’

‘He seemed doubtful at first, but as soon as he knew you were here he said he was definitely going to try to get down.’

Loris found herself hoping fervently that he wouldn’t succeed. The situation would be quite bad enough when her father discovered what had happened, without Mark’s presence adding to the problems.

‘Though I don’t know what his chances are…’

‘If he stays on the main road as far as Harefield, and then takes Dewy Lane, which runs along higher ground, he might manage to get through,’ Jonathan said with a cheerful optimism that grated on Loris’s frayed nerves.

Vexedly, she wondered why he sounded so laid-back, so unconcerned at the prospect of the other man arriving?

Probably he imagined she would keep quiet about what had happened the previous night. And if things had been different, unwilling to broadcast her shame, she no doubt would have done. But what he didn’t know, so had failed to take into account, was the unfortunate meeting with her father.

Once Mark and her father had talked, the fat would be in the fire. As well as being furious with her, both men would be out for Jonathan’s blood, and there was bound to be trouble.

Plainly surprised, Isobel was saying, ‘It sounds as if you know this part of the world well?’

‘I do.’

‘Then you haven’t always lived in the States?’

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