A Reckless Affair. Alexandra Scott
‘Virginia.’ The name lingered on his tongue, mingling with a groan, as if even its familiarity had taken on a whole new meaning. ‘I can hardly believe we’ve known each other for just two days and yet...and yet...’ Intense blue eyes burned down into hers, his voice deepened. ‘I feel I’ve always known you. At least, I’ve suspected, hoped you were out there somewhere, waiting for me to find you.’
His words were such an echo of her own feelings that she knew a moment’s sheer exultation, so intense and powerful as to frighten her after a moment into sense and even banality. ‘Yes.’ Her tone was considering, slightly doubtful, and her jaw was rigid with the strain of her false smile. ‘Well, what I find so marvellous is that everyone is so friendly. Your mother didn’t even blink when we arrived today, right in the midst of the preparations for the party.’
‘Well, Mother takes everything in her stride. She is the world’s best organiser.’
Not unlike her own mother. The bleak thought was like another reminder. ‘You realise, of course, that if I had known about their anniversary before you popped it out at me on the plane nothing would have persuaded me to come?’ Hard to imagine a less appropriate visitor at their family celebration, on the tines of the wicked fairy at the christening, though maledictions were not in her plan.
‘Nonsense.’ He dismissed her protestations with easy confidence. ‘They are all thrilled to have you, though I confess they’re going to be taken aback to discover you’re not exactly what you appear to be.’
‘What?’ His words caused a throb of anxiety bordering on real fear. She was becoming so enmeshed in deceit she would soon be unable to pick her way through all the lies. ‘What on earth do you mean?’
‘Well, I suspect—’ he grinned ‘—in fact I’m sure they’ve got the idea that you and I are... Well, I’m not in the habit of flying down from New York with girls in tow.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I hope it won’t make things difficult for you when they find out the truth. I mean...’ She felt colour rise in her cheeks. ‘I mean when your father knows it’s really him I came to see.’ She hoped her detached tone might cool the situation just a little, and certainly when he answered he was a little more thoughtful.
‘Funnily enough I don’t think he has the faintest idea. Certainly he showed no sign when he heard your name, though Browne, even with an e, is fairly common.’
‘Oh.’ Now was the moment to begin to clear up at least a minor deceit. ‘Maybe I can explain that. He would know my...my parents as Martyn-Browne, but when Dad left the army he dropped the first part. He thought it was pretentious and had been tacked on just a generation or so ago. A bit of a relief, really—some of these double-barrelled names can be quite a mouthful.’ Her smile was tentative, apologetic, even. ‘Can you imagine, “Virginia Martyn-Browne”?’
‘Ah.’ He looked steadily down at her for what seemed a long time. ‘And what other secrets have you been hiding from me, Miss Martyn-Browne?’
For a moment her heart seemed to stand still, then it was racing hectically. But, with an effort, she forced herself to answer lightly. ‘So many I don’t know where to begin.’ It was a relief to see him smile, and she felt she could hurry on. ‘But perhaps it was a mistake—first of all coming down here, but, more than that, hiding the real reason for my visit. On reflection, it might have been better to explain at once.’
‘Mmm.’ Jake considered. ‘But that will be resolved this evening, when all the guests have gone and we’re having a family dinner, just the four of us.’
She spoke slowly, sorrowfully, voicing thoughts which had been on her conscience since the early moments of their acquaintance. ‘You know, you are very trusting, Jake. You have only my word that I’m who I say I am, that your father and mine were so very friendly all those years ago. I could be perpetrating the most enormous con trick.’
And I am, she admitted silently. How often in the courts I have seen and heard the lies with which people use and abuse each other, and I feel nothing but disgust. Yet here I am, pursuing a most devious line against the kindest people... Tears began to prick at her eyes.
‘Are you?’ His voice was mellow and amused, a dark slender eyebrow raised in gentle disbelief...
Yes. She wanted to say it, but couldn’t. For the simple reason that the truth was not something she could share with Hugo’s son. If he chose to do so that was a different matter, but it was not her secret. So she managed a false smile. ‘I’m not.’ Stricken with guilt at her deception, she took refuge in some trite advice. ‘But people these days ought not to be so trusting. I might have some dire reason for wishing to infiltrate your family...’
‘I’ll lock my door tonight as a precaution.’ Now his look was teasing but with a hint of a challenge.
‘I promise you are quite, quite safe.’ Her tone was slightly sharp and the eyes raised to his were brilliant with indignation. As well as frustration.
‘You disappoint me.’ She found herself manoeuvred against the bole of one of the ancient oaks, and as he spoke in that low disturbing voice he placed one hand flat against the trunk and hooked the other against her waist, pulling her into the curve of his body, effectively overpowering her.
‘Jake.’ It was a gasp of fear and longing. ‘Jake, don’t.’
And gently, gently, all his attention on her mouth, he lowered his mouth to hers. She willed him to stop, of course she did, and with a quite desperate longing to be free. She saw him, felt him come nearer, felt his breath on her skin, was close enough to confirm the ridiculous length of the lashes which framed his eyes. And she was losing control, could feel it slipping away from her, and was helpless to do anything about it. Her heart was hammering against her ribs, her legs had turned to water—only the strength of his arm stopped her from slipping to the ground.
It didn’t seem possible that what she was engaged in was forbidden, against the laws of nature. Her lips parted to ease her frantic breathing, adding an air of eager collusion.
But his mouth on hers was unbearably sweet, coaxing and tender one moment, irresistibly fierce and demanding a moment later. Very much as Ginny had, in the past forty-eight hours, imagined it would be. And for the time being all her fears and reservations were submerged in this wash of delicious, sensual indulgence, this opening up, this giving and taking of such mind-blowing pleasure and...
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