Cherish Collection

The Final Falcon Says I Do
Lucy Gordon
The Greek’s Tiny Miracle
Rebecca Winters
Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!
Leanne Banks
Bound by a Baby
Kate Hardy
The Man Behind the Mask
Barbara Wallace
The Sheriff’s Second Chance
Michelle Celmer
English Girl in New York
Scarlet Wilson
That Summer at the Shore
Callie Endicott
It Began with a Crush
Lilian Darcy
Reid’s Runaway Bride
Tracy Madison
Matched by Moonlight
Gina Wilkins
The Dashing Doc Next Door
Helen R. Myers

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

The Final Falcon Says I Do

Lucy Gordon

Mills & Boon are thrilled to conclude this new family saga from award-winning author Lucy Gordon

THE FALCON DYNASTY

Five successful brothers looking for brides!

Amos Falcon is a proud, self-made man who wants his legacy to live on through his five sons.

Each son is different, for they have different mothers, but in one aspect they are the same: he has raised them to be ruthless in business and sensible in matters of the heart.

But one by one these high-achieving brothers will find that when the right woman comes along love is the greatest power of them all …

LUCY GORDON cut her writing teeth on magazine journalism, interviewing many of the world’s most interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Charlton Heston and Sir Roger Moore. She also camped out with lions in Africa, and had many other unusual experiences, which have often provided the background for her books. Several years ago, while staying in Venice, she met a Venetian who proposed in two days. They have been married ever since. Naturally this has affected her writing, where romantic Italian men tend to feature strongly.

To Horus, the Falcon God, whose magical powers are always there, lurking mysteriously.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

EXCERPT

CHAPTER ONE

IT WOULD BE the wedding of the year. In an elegant, luxurious church in the heart of London, crowded with wealthy, glamorous people, Amos Falcon, the financial giant whose name inspired awe and fury in equal measure, was to escort his stepdaughter down the aisle to be the bride of Dan Connor, a man of wealth and importance in the television industry.

Not that that would impress Amos Falcon. It was common knowledge that he had wanted to marry his stepdaughter to one of his own sons but had failed: one of the few times in his life when he hadn’t got his own way.

The excitement level was rising. The wedding wasn’t until midday, but the television cameras had been in place an hour earlier. Gossip said the entire Falcon family would be present, which meant Amos’s five sons, who hailed from England, America, Russia and France. Some were famous. Some were wealthy. All were notable. And nobody wanted to miss so many fascinating arrivals.

‘Travis Falcon,’ sighed one young female journalist. ‘Oh, I do hope he turns up. I always watch his television series and I’d love to meet him.’

‘You reckon he’ll really come all the way to London from Los Angeles?’ queried Ken, the cameraman with her.

‘Why not? He went to Moscow last month for Leonid’s wedding. Hey, who’s that?’

A buzz of anticipation greeted the arrival of a luxurious car, which disgorged an expensively dressed couple. But then there was a faint groan of disappointment. This man wasn’t Travis.

‘Marcel Falcon,’ Ken mused. ‘The French brother. And the one in the car just behind is Leonid.’

He focussed his camera on the two brothers as they climbed the steps to the great entrance and disappeared inside, then switched quickly back to another car from which a man and woman had emerged.

‘Darius,’ he said. ‘English.’

‘What about Jackson?’ she asked. ‘Surely he’s English as well, and after Travis he’s the best known because of those TV documentaries he does.’

‘He’s not a guest. He’s the best man and he’ll arrive with the groom. After that it’ll be Amos and Freya, the bride. Ah, look who’s getting out of that car! Freya’s mother, the present Mrs Amos Falcon.’

Mrs Falcon was in her fifties, trim, well-dressed, but with an air of quiet reserve that made her stand out in this exotic atmosphere. She hurried up the steps, as though the spotlight made her uneasy.

Just inside the church Darius, Marcel and their wives were waiting for her. They embraced her warmly, and Darius said, ‘This must be a happy day for you, Janine. Freya has finally escaped the terrible fate of being married to one of us.’

His stepmother regarded him with wry affection.

‘You know very well that I’m fond of you all,’ she said, ‘and if Freya had really wanted to marry one of you I’d have had no problem. It was the just the way Amos— Well, you know...’

They nodded, understanding her reluctance to be candid about Amos’s determination to get his own way. It had come close to bullying, but a loyal wife couldn’t say so.

‘How did you persuade him to give her away?’ Harriet, Darius’ wife, murmured. ‘I should think it was the last thing he wanted to do.’

‘It was,’ Janine said wryly. ‘I told him if he wouldn’t do it, I would. When he realised I meant it he gave in. Exposing a family disagreement in public—well...’

‘It would have made people laugh at him,’ Harriet said. ‘And he couldn’t have that. You know, marrying you was the best thing that ever happened to Amos. You’re the only person who can make him stop his nonsense.’

‘Shh!’ Janine put a finger to her lips. ‘Never tell him I told you.’

‘It’s a promise.’

A cheer from outside put them all on alert.

‘Travis,’ Harriet said at once. ‘When you hear them cheering you know it’s Travis. I’ll bet he’s blowing kisses to them, putting his arms around girls in the crowd.’

‘Not if Charlene’s with him,’ Janine observed. ‘He’s almost paranoid about considering her feelings.’

‘And the joke is that it doesn’t bother her,’ Darius observed. ‘He can do as he likes because Charlene knows she’s got him just where she wants him.’

‘Sounds the perfect arrangement to me,’ said his wife.

‘And you should know,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘You snap your fingers and I jump to attention, don’t I?’

The look they shared seemed to sum up the air of joyful contentment that permeated the whole family these days. One by one the sons had found wives who were perfect for them.

Darius had turned his back on the society women who would gladly have been his to marry Harriet, a girl from the island he owned. Marcel had rediscovered love with Cassie, a woman he’d once known and lost. Travis had sought Charlene’s protection against an intrusive press, only to find that his need of her went further and deeper than he could have dreamed. And Leonid’s love for Perdita had survived quarrels and misunderstandings because their union had been fated from the moment they met.

Only one son was left: Jackson, who had introduced Freya to Dan Connor, the man she would marry today.

‘Does anyone know anything about the groom?’ Harriet asked.

‘He owns a big television production company,’ Travis explained. ‘His documentaries made Jackson a star.’

‘It’s nearly time for things to start happening,’ Janine said.

‘Yes,’ Travis agreed. ‘We ought to take our places. I thought Dan and Jackson would have been here by now. I wonder what’s keeping them.’

* * *

‘Aren’t you ready yet?’ Jackson called through the half-open door of the bedroom. ‘The car’s downstairs.’

‘I’m here,’ Dan said, appearing. ‘Just a few last-minute things to get right.’

The mirror threw back a reflection of two men in their thirties, both tall and handsome, both dressed for a wedding.

Jackson was the better looking, with a quick, teasing smile that could transform him. Observers sometimes said that of all Amos Falcon’s sons he most resembled him. His lean face and firm features came from the same mould as his father. Amos’s white hair had once been light brown, as Jackson’s still was, and their eyes were an identical deep blue.

The differences between them were subtle. A lifetime of demanding his own way and usually getting it had given Amos’s face a harsh, set look, as though it rested on stone. The same features in Jackson were gentler, as perhaps his father’s had been many years ago. Only the future would determine how much closer the resemblance would one day grow.

‘Do I look all right?’ Dan demanded, studying himself in the mirror.

‘You look fine to me,’ Jackson said, grinning. ‘The perfect picture of a deliriously happy groom.’

Dan threw him a withering look. ‘Just shut it, will you? There’s no such thing as a deliriously happy groom. We’re all shaking with nerves at the plunge we’re about to take.’

‘Come to think of it, you’re right,’ Jackson mused. ‘My brothers were all on edge at their weddings—at least until they got their brides safely riveted. Then they relaxed.’

But even as he said it he knew there was something more behind Dan’s tension. Dan was in his prime, wealthy, and with a streak of confidence that seemed to infuse his whole life. It had helped him build up Connor Productions, known for its colourful documentaries. It had also carried him through many affairs of the heart, which he’d survived by being wary of commitment.

But when Jackson had introduced him to Freya that wariness had begun to desert him, until suddenly, without warning, he’d made a determined and forceful proposal. Jackson knew that because he’d been sitting two tables away in the same restaurant, and had clearly heard Dan say, ‘That’s it! My mind’s made up. You’ve simply got to marry me.’

Freya had given the rich chuckle that was one of her attractions, and teased, ‘Oh, I’ve got to, have I?’

‘Definitely. It’s all settled. You’re going to be Mrs Connor.’

He’d slipped a hand behind her head, drawing her close for a kiss, untroubled by the crowd of other diners who’d laughed and applauded. The next day he’d bought her a diamond ring, and celebrations had commenced.

Jackson was glad for both of them. Freya had been his stepsister for six years. Their relationship might be called ‘jumpy’. Sometimes they were cordial, and sometimes she challenged him.

‘Who are you to give me orders?’ she’d demanded once.

‘I wasn’t—’

‘Yes, you were. You don’t even know you’re doing it. You’re just like your father.’

‘That’s a terrible thing to say!’

‘Why? I thought you admired him.’

‘Some of the time,’ he’d replied wryly. ‘I don’t like his way of giving orders without even realising he’s doing it. But that doesn’t mean I’m like him, and don’t you dare say I am.’

‘Oh, yeah?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah!’

And their sparring had ended in laughter, as it so often did.

He thought fondly of her now—a sensible girl with brains enough to have passed her nursing degree with top marks, who could yet enjoy a squabble and give as good as she got. She would never be a great beauty, but her looks were agreeable. Dan had chosen well, he reckoned.

Almost at once after their engagement he’d had to leave to film a documentary on the other side of the world. He’d returned a week before the wedding and seen that his friend was on edge. He’d attached little importance to this, considering it standard bridegroom stuff. Even Dan’s heavy drinking on his stag night had not alarmed him. It had merely underlined his duty to get Dan safely through the ceremony.

‘Come on,’ he said, opening the front door. ‘Time to go.’

‘Just a moment,’ Dan said quickly. ‘There’s something—’

‘Stop panicking. I’ve got it.’

‘Got—?’

‘The ring. Look.’ Jackson reached into his pocket for a small box, which he opened to reveal a gold ring. ‘That’s what you were getting worked up about, wasn’t it?’

‘Of course. Of course.’

The tension in Dan’s voice made Jackson regard him kindly and clap him on the shoulder. ‘Everything’s all right,’ he said. ‘Nothing can go wrong now. Time to go.’

In moments they were downstairs, greeting the chauffeur, settling into the back seat of the car.

It wasn’t a long journey to the church but the traffic was heavy that morning. As they crawled along at a snail’s pace Jackson gave a sigh of frustration.

‘Come on,’ he groaned. ‘If it takes any longer, Dad and Freya will turn up before we do.’

‘Is Amos really giving her away? I can’t get my head round that.’

‘Why shouldn’t he? Oh, you mean because he wanted her to marry one of his own sons? When Leonid married Perdita there was only me left, and I told him to forget it. I like Freya, but not in that way.’

‘I guess that’s why you introduced me to her? Hoping I’d do what you wouldn’t?’

‘It wasn’t like that,’ Jackson said, shocked. ‘Of course I was glad for her to know as many other guys as possible, but I wasn’t making secret plans.’

‘Aw, come on. You were hoping the old man would admit defeat. No way. He moved heaven and earth to stop this wedding.’

‘What the devil do you mean by that?’

‘When I was going out with Freya he came to see me. He wanted to warn me off. Said I should leave her alone, and if I didn’t—well, there were a few hints about the damage he could do to me financially.’

‘But you told him to get stuffed?’

‘I didn’t say anything. No chance. He said his piece and walked out, slamming the door. I guess he just took it for granted that I’d do as he said.’

‘Yes,’ Jackson murmured. ‘He has a way of doing that. He scares people. But not you. You stood up to him and proposed to her. Good for you. She’s a lucky girl to have a guy who loves her so much.’

‘But I’m not in love with her,’ Dan said explosively. ‘I lost my temper, that’s all. I’m damned if I’ll let any man give me orders. Sorry, I know he’s your father—’

‘That’s all right,’ Jackson said hastily. ‘But are you telling me you only proposed to Freya because you were angry? I don’t believe it.’

‘Believe it. I just saw red. But then suddenly we were engaged and—hell, I don’t know. She’s a nice girl, but I’m not in love, and if Amos hadn’t tried to scare me out of proposing I’d never have done it.’

‘I don’t believe this,’ Jackson said frantically. ‘I was there at your engagement party, and if ever I saw two people in love—’

‘Yes, I played the devoted lover—and you know why? Because Amos was there, looking fit to do murder. Oh, brother, did I enjoy that!’

‘But he’s giving her away.’

‘I reckon his wife twisted his arm. Freya’s her daughter and she wouldn’t want him making trouble.’

Jackson tore at his hair.

‘Let me understand this,’ he said, aghast. ‘You’ve let things get this far, and you’re really saying you’re not in love with the girl you’re about to marry?’

‘That’s right. I’m not. But what can I do? She’s obviously in love with me and I’m trapped. I can feel the noose tightening around my neck with every moment.’

‘You should have been honest with her before this,’ Jackson said furiously. ‘Now you’ll hurt her a lot more if you marry her without love and let her down later.’

In his agitated state Jackson spoke instinctively. Afterwards he was to curse himself for a fool, but by then it was too late.

‘That’s true,’ Dan said, staring at him as though a light had suddenly dawned. ‘And there’s still time to put things right.’

As he spoke the car halted at traffic lights. Dan opened the door and began to ease himself out.

‘You go on to the church,’ he said. ‘Explain why I’m not with you. Make them realise I had no choice.’

‘What? Don’t be daft. You’ve got to go through with it now.’

‘I can’t. You’ve just made me understand that.’

‘Dan! Don’t you dare— Come back.’

But Dan had slammed the door and begun to run.

‘Wait here,’ Jackson told the chauffeur, scrambling out of the car. ‘Dan! Come back. Come back.’

But Dan was running fast, darting in and out of the traffic which had started to move again. He reached the other side of the road and vanished down an alley. Jackson raced after him as fast as he could, nearly being hit by a car. But when he reached the street it was empty.

‘Dan!’ he yelled. ‘You can’t do this. Please!’

There was no answer.

‘Where are you?’ he cried. ‘Don’t hide from me. Let’s talk.’

He tore along the road, searching everywhere but without result.

‘I didn’t mean it!’ he shouted. ‘Not the way it came out. I spoke without thinking but I never meant— Don’t do this.’

He ran up and down for a few more minutes before facing facts.

‘Oh, no!’ he groaned. ‘This can’t be happening. But it is, and I’m to blame. It’ll be my fault if— Oh, what have I done? What have I done?’

Windows were opening above him. He made a hasty exit, returning to the car and throwing himself into the back seat. ‘Go on to the church,’ he growled.

At last the building came in sight, and he groaned again as he saw the excited crowds and the cameras.

‘Not here,’ he said hastily. ‘Go around the back.’

He slid down low, hoping not to be seen, and didn’t sit up again until they reached the back of the church. He paid the chauffeur, adding a generous tip and putting his finger over his lips. Then he hurried through a rear door as fast as he could.

In seven years of making documentaries Jackson had many times had to screw up his courage. He’d faced lions, swum in dangerously deep water, and talked into cameras from great heights. But none of those things had made his stomach churn as much as the thought of the next few minutes.

He tried to tell himself that Freya would cope well. She was a trained nurse and a strong, efficient, determined young woman, not a wilting violet. But a voice in his mind wouldn’t let him get away with that.

You’re just telling yourself what you want to believe. This is going to devastate her, and it’s your fault, so stop trying to make it easy on yourself.

As he slipped quietly into the main body of the church he saw the family gathered in the front pews. Travis looked up and gestured for him to approach.

‘What’s up?’ he asked as Jackson neared. ‘Where’s the groom?’

‘He’s not coming. He changed his mind at the last minute and dashed out of the car. I tried to follow but I lost sight of him.’

‘What do you mean?’ demanded Janine. ‘He can’t just dump my daughter with the wedding about to start.’

‘I’m afraid that’s what he’s done. It seems he’s always had doubts and suddenly they crushed him.’

Before anyone could say more the organ burst into the melody of ‘Here Comes The Bride.’

‘Oh, no!’ Jackson groaned.

‘There they are,’ said Darius. ‘Oh, heavens. What a disaster!’

Everyone stared to the end of the aisle, where Amos could clearly be seen with Freya on his arm. Jackson cursed himself for his clumsiness. He should have waited outside for the car and told them the truth there. Then Freya could have returned home at once, without having to make the humiliating trip down the aisle.

He thought of hurrying forward, approaching her now before she came any closer, but she was already in the spotlight. Or at least Amos was. People recognised him. Some waved to him. Some slipped into the aisle to greet him. Jackson had no choice but to wait, suffering agonies of impatience, his eyes fixed on Freya.

For a moment he almost believed that this was somebody else. The strong, sensible young woman who lived in his mind had vanished, replaced by a girl in a glamorous white satin dress. Her fair hair, normally straight, had been curled into an exotic creation and covered by a lace veil that trailed down almost to the floor.

There was a glow about her that he’d never seen before. She was smiling as though fate had brought her to a blissful destination. It made her look exactly as a happy bride ought to look, and Jackson closed his eyes, sickened by what was about to happen.

As they neared him and saw that Jackson was alone, Amos began to frown.

‘Where’s the groom?’ he rasped. ‘Why isn’t he with you?’

‘Shh!’ Freya silenced him with a finger over her lips. ‘He must have slipped away to the Gents. He’ll be here in a moment.’ She gave Jackson a teasing smile. ‘I expect he had a bit too much to drink last night, didn’t he?’

Her good nature was almost too much for him to bear. How could Dan not have wanted to marry this sweet creature?

‘I’m afraid there’s been a problem,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Dan isn’t here. He’s—he’s not coming.’

‘What do you mean?’ Freya asked. ‘Is he ill? Oh, heavens, I must go to him.’

‘No, he’s not ill,’ Jackson said. ‘I’m sorry, Freya, but he changed his mind at the last minute. He got out of the car and ran. I don’t even know where he is now.’

‘He ran?’ Freya whispered. ‘To get away from me? Oh, no!’ She withdrew her hand from Amos’s arm and faced Jackson. ‘But why?’

‘He lost his nerve,’ Jackson said uneasily.

The words seemed to swirl in Freya’s head, meaningless yet full of monstrous meaning.

‘What—what do you mean—lost his nerve?’ she stammered. ‘It doesn’t take nerve to—to—’

To marry someone you love. The words were on the tip of her tongue, yet some power stopped her from saying them.

Jackson understood and struggled for an answer.

‘It’s a big occasion,’ he managed. ‘Some men can’t cope.’

But Dan was used to big occasions, and they both knew it. Freya’s look of disbelief told Jackson he’d have to do better than that.

‘Why?’ she said fiercely. ‘What really happened?’

‘He just—couldn’t cope suddenly.’

Freya swung away from him, trying to cope with the feelings that stormed through her. Pain, disbelief, disillusion, humiliation all fought for supremacy. Humiliation won.

Dan had charmed her, filled her grey world with light and made her feel special—the kind of woman that other women envied. Now he was knocking her down in the eyes of the world. She clenched her hands into fists, holding them up against her eyes and emitting a soft groan.

Behind her Jackson said, ‘Freya—’ reaching out to touch her, but she pulled away.

‘I’m all right,’ she said, dropping her hands.

He didn’t believe it for a moment, but he respected her determination to appear strong.

Amos was in a stew, growling, ‘Just let me get my hands on him.’

It was on the tip of Jackson’s tongue to hurl a bitter accusation at his father, telling him how his actions had been the trigger. With a huge effort at control he fought back the words for Freya’s sake.

A murmur was rising from the congregation as they sensed trouble. The vicar drew close and spoke quietly.

‘Perhaps you’d like to come into the back and talk privately?’

Amos reached out to take Freya’s hand but Jackson was there first, slipping his arm around her and leading her away to where there were no curious eyes. The family followed them.

When they were safely in the back room Jackson repeated the story, keeping hold of Freya’s hand, feeling the terrible stillness that had settled over her.

‘Why did he do it?’ she whispered. ‘What did he say?’

‘Only that when he came to the point—he just couldn’t,’ Jackson prevaricated, wishing the earth would swallow him up.

‘I’ll kill him,’ Amos muttered.

‘Join the queue,’ Travis said. ‘We’ll all enjoy doing that.’

‘No,’ Freya said. ‘This is for me to take care of. I must speak to him. I need a phone.’

‘Not now,’ Jackson said quickly.

‘Yes, now,’ she said.

Darius produced a cell phone. Freya reached for it but Jackson got there first, seizing her wrist and shaking his head to make his brother back off.

‘Let go of me,’ she said. ‘Darius—’

But Darius had read the dark message in Jackson’s eyes.

‘He’s right, Freya,’ he admitted. ‘Not just now. Give yourself a moment first.’

She turned furious eyes on Jackson.

‘You’ve got a nerve. Who are you to tell me what to do?’

‘I’m your stepbrother who’s concerned about you,’ he said firmly.

‘And who thinks he can dictate to me. Give me that phone. I must talk to Dan.’

‘Wait. Let me try.’

He didn’t know what he was trying to achieve by speaking to Dan first. The situation was already a car wreck. But he took out his own cell phone and dialled the number. There was only silence.

Freya lost patience, seizing the phone from him and dialling again. Still there was no response. She closed her eyes, feeling as though she was surrounded by an infinity in which there was neither light nor sound. Only nothingness. At last she gave up. Her shoulders sagged.

‘He’s turned his phone off,’ she said bleakly. ‘He really is running away from me. I’ve got to get out of here. How can I find a way out through the back? I can’t go back down the aisle with everyone watching.’

‘Come on,’ Jackson said, taking her arm before anyone else in the family could do so and leading her out.

To his relief an exit soon appeared. But his relief was short-lived. His arrival without Dan had been seen and the word had already gone round, both in the congregation and the waiting press. People were gathering at the back of the church, alive with curiosity. When Freya appeared a cry went up.

‘There she is! What happened? Where’s the groom?’

‘Get away!’ Jackson yelled. ‘Leave her alone.’

He got in front of her, waving his hands to force them back.

‘It’s all right,’ he said, turning back to her. ‘Freya—Freya?’

She had gone, running away down the street in a way that ironically echoed Dan’s escape. For the second time that day Jackson gave chase, this time catching up easily.

‘Go away,’ she cried. ‘Leave me alone.’

She turned and would have run again but he seized her shoulders.

‘Let me go.’

‘Freya, I can’t do that. Heaven knows what would happen to you. I’m not taking that risk.’

‘It’s my risk, nobody else’s,’ she cried. ‘Do you think I care?’

‘No, but I care.’

‘Let me go!’

‘No! I’ve said no and I mean no, so stop arguing. Taxi!’

By great good luck one had appeared. He hustled her inside, gave the driver the address of the hotel where the family was staying, then got into the back and took her into his arms.

‘Let it out,’ he said. ‘Cry if you want to.’

‘I’m not going to cry,’ she declared. ‘I’m all right.’

But as he held her he knew she was far from all right, perhaps not weeping but shaking violently. He drew her close to him, patting her shoulder but saying nothing. Words would not help now. He could only offer friendship, knowing that even that was feeble against the blow that had struck her.

At last she looked up and he saw her face, pale and devastated.

‘I’m here,’ he said. ‘Hold onto me.’

Even as he said it he felt foolish. Yes, he was there, the person whose clumsiness had helped to bring about this disaster. But there was nothing else to say.

At last the hotel came in sight, and at once he knew he had another calamity on his hands. The front was crowded with people watching the street for interesting arrivals.

‘Oh, no!’ he groaned. ‘The word’s got out already.’

‘And they’re waiting for me to come crawling back,’ she said. ‘Look, someone’s got a camera.’

‘Then they’re going to be disappointed,’ Jackson said grimly. ‘Driver, there’s been a change of plan.’ He gave his own address and the car swerved away.

‘They’ll never find us at my place,’ he said. ‘You can stay until you’re safe.’

‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘But will I ever be safe again?’

‘You will be. I’ll see to it. Just hold me. Everything’s going to be all right.’

If only he could believe it.

CHAPTER TWO

AT LAST THEY reached the apartment block where Jackson lived, and managed to slip inside unseen. It took a few moments to go up in the elevator, and there was his front door.

‘Now we’re safe,’ he said, closing it behind them. ‘Forget them. They can’t get at you here.’

Freya looked around her as though confused, but suddenly she stopped, staring at a mirror on the wall. She was still wearing her veil and the pearl tiara that held it in place. With a gasp of fury she seized them, ripping them off and hurling them to the floor. Then she seized at her hair, tearing down the elaborate coiffure until it hung untidily about her face.

‘I’ve got to get out of this dress,’ she cried.

‘Come in here,’ Jackson said, leading her into his bedroom and opening the wardrobe. ‘Put something of mine on. My clothes will be too big for you, but they’ll do for a while. I’ll leave you.’

‘Wait.’ She turned so that her back was towards him. ‘I can’t undo it alone.’

There seemed to be a thousand tiny buttons to be released, and Jackson went to work. It wasn’t the first time he’d helped a woman undress, but those experiences were no use to him now. Inch by inch her figure came into view, and inwardly he cursed Dan again for abandoning such delicate beauty.

‘Thank you,’ she said at last. ‘I can manage the rest for myself.’

‘I’ll be outside if you want me,’ he said, and hurried away.

Left alone, Freya freed herself from the dress and the slip beneath. In the wardrobe she found a pair of jeans and a shirt, which she slipped on, and then she looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

It was only a short time ago that she’d stared at herself in the glamorous dress, hardly daring to believe that the beauty gazing back was actually herself.

‘And I shouldn’t have believed it,’ she murmured. ‘This is the real me—the one I always knew I was. Dull, ordinary. Not too bad on a good day, but pretty dreary on a bad one. I guess all the days are going to be bad from now on, and if I’m wise I’ll stick to working clothes.’

For several minutes she stood there, trying to get used to this other self, stranded in a bleak world.

* * *

In his office Jackson made a hurried phone call to Janine at the hotel.

‘Just to let you know that Freya’s all right,’ he told her. ‘I’ve brought her home with me.’

‘Oh, Jackson, thank you!’ she exclaimed. ‘There are such rows going on. Amos is fit to do murder. So are your brothers.’

‘I thought so. Freya needs to be well away from that. Don’t worry, I’ll keep her safe.’

‘How kind you are. She’s so lucky to have you!’

He gave a silent groan. If Janine knew the full story she’d be saying something very different. It was no use telling himself that he was essentially innocent. Dan had been seeking something that would trigger him into action and Jackson’s thoughtless words had done the trick. Now the beautiful bride was alone and humiliated, staring into an empty future.

‘Ask her to call me when she can,’ Janine said. ‘But as long as she’s with you I know she’s all right.’

He made a polite reply and hung up. For a moment he stayed tense and still, wishing he was anywhere in the universe but here. The click of the door made him look behind him to see Freya, clad in jeans and shirt, bearing no resemblance to the dazzling creature who’d come down the aisle in expectation of bliss.

‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s have something to eat. There’s a Chinese restaurant nearby that delivers. You like king prawns with black pepper, don’t you?’

‘Yes, but how did you know?’

‘It was the first thing I learned about you when we met six years ago. My father and your mother were just beginning to talk about marriage and the four of us had an evening out in a restaurant. But then some of Dad’s business contacts turned up and he simply forgot about the rest of us.’

‘We made a run for it,’ she remembered. ‘There was a Chinese place a few yards away.’

‘And we had a good time there,’ he said. ‘Lots of laughs. Right—prawns it is.’

He made the call and the food arrived a few minutes later. Briefly they were both absorbed in serving it and getting settled at the table, but then she uttered the words he’d been dreading.

‘Jackson, I want you to tell me what really happened.’

‘But I’ve told you—’

‘I mean the bits you’ve left out. Oh, please don’t pretend you didn’t. What you said in the church was the polite version. It had to be, with all those people listening, but I really need to know. Dan got this far and then he suddenly backed off. There has to be a reason, and I think I know what it is, but I need to hear you say it.’

‘You—know what it is?’ he said cautiously.

‘Are you afraid I won’t be able to cope? Don’t worry. I’m not going to burst into tears and weep all over you. But, however painful the truth is, knowing it is better than wondering. Was it something I did wrong?’

‘No, nothing like that.’

‘Then I guess I know the answer, and I can see why you don’t want to tell me.’

‘Can you?’ he said with growing alarm.

‘Well it’s obvious, isn’t it? Something happened to make him realise that he couldn’t go through with it.’

‘Don’t—jump to conclusions,’ he said uneasily while his mind whirled. Surely she couldn’t have guessed what had really happened?

‘There’s only one thing it can be.’ She took a deep breath. ‘When you were on the way to the church you and he got talking and—and—’

‘And what?’ he forced himself to say, inwardly cowering.

‘He told you he’s in love with someone else, didn’t he?’

Jackson’s relief was so great that he nearly dropped his spoon. Perhaps he was going to get off more lightly than he deserved.

‘I think she must have called him before he left,’ Freya went on. ‘And on the journey he realised that he loved her too much to marry me.’

‘No, he didn’t say anything like that. He just lost his nerve.’

‘Oh, please, I know you’re being kind, but this isn’t the moment for kindness. It’s the moment for truth, however brutal. There’s another woman, isn’t there?’

‘Not that I know about,’ he said firmly. ‘But if that were the answer isn’t it better for you to escape him now? If you’d found out after you were married it would have been a bigger disaster.’

‘Would it? Perhaps I might have seen her off. If he’d chosen me over her—’

‘Freya, listen to me. If a man can act like this on the way to his wedding then he’s only interested in himself and you’re better off without him.’

‘Maybe I’ll feel like that one day.’ She sighed. ‘But it’s hard to imagine now. I’ll always remember how it felt to walk down the aisle, looking for Dan, sure that he’d be watching for me. I was so happy—and such a fool. When you came towards us I was delighted to see you. But then—there was nothing but emptiness. I was going to build my life around Dan, and suddenly there’s no life to build. Oh, I’m sorry. I promised I wouldn’t embarrass you.’

‘I’m not embarrassed. Say anything you want to. But listen to me. One life may have vanished, but there’ll be another one—and it will be better.’

She gave a slightly hysterical laugh. ‘You think I should be glad this happened?’

‘Not right now, but in years to come you’ll see that it was for the best that you got rid of him.’

‘But I didn’t. He got rid of me. He threw me aside like a piece of unwanted waste.’

‘You mustn’t think like that. You’re worth a thousand of Dan. How could you ever have thought yourself in love with him?’

‘Because right from the first moment I knew he was going to be special to me. My whole life changed just because he existed. It was as though the world had suddenly opened up. And everything was different—more exciting, more wonderful. When he proposed to me I was sure I’d never be unhappy again.’

Jackson drew a long, hard breath. It would be so simple now to tell her that Dan’s proposal had just been a defiance of Amos. But her heart had already been broken once, and he flinched from the thought of breaking it again.

‘He let you down,’ he growled. ‘He’s not the man you thought him.’

‘And I’m not the woman he really wanted. I can’t hide from that. But I’ll survive—with your help. Thanks for everything today.’ She made a wry face. ‘Even the bits that made me mad at you.’

‘Sorry I had to come on so strong. I didn’t want to pull you around, but—’

‘I didn’t give you any choice, did I? If you’d let me run off down the road—well, where would I be now? I’ll swear you’re the best brother I’ve ever had.’

‘Since you don’t have any brothers I’m not sure how to take that.’

They laughed together, both sounding shaky.

‘And just think of the price you’re going to pay.’ She sighed again. ‘This is going to give Amos ideas again.’

‘About pairing us off, you mean? I guess so, but don’t worry. You have nothing to fear from me.’ He took her hand and assumed a theatrical tone. ‘Freya, I give you my word, nothing will ever make me marry you. Let thunderbolts and lightning descend, I will still declare: Not her. Anyone but her.’

‘Just be sure you say it to Amos and make it convincing.’

‘You too. We’ll have to persuade him that we can’t stand the sight of each other.’

‘I’ll try, but it’ll be hard. Right this minute you look like the nicest man in the world.’

‘That’s a delusion,’ he said self-consciously.

‘If you say so.’

‘I do say so. If you knew what a swine I really am you’d sock me in the jaw.’

‘Another time. Right now I have something else to ask of you.’ She slipped a hand into the jeans pocket and brought out the luscious engagement ring that she had worn until a few hours ago. ‘Will you give that back to Dan, please?’

‘Oh, heavens, now I remember. I’ve still got the other ring.’

He reached into his jacket pocket and took out the wedding ring, laying the two of them side by side on the table.

‘I’ll give these to him as soon as I see him.’

She didn’t reply. She was gazing at the rings as though transfixed. After a moment she brushed a hand over her eyes, but not soon enough to hide the tears.

‘I’m sorry, I just—’

‘You’ve endured enough,’ he said sympathetically. ‘Why don’t you go and lie down? I won’t disturb you. The bedroom’s yours. I’ll sleep out here on the sofa.’

‘Why are you so kind to me?’ she choked.

Because I feel guilty for what I accidentally did to you.

The words thrummed through his head, almost forcing their way out. But he controlled them and escorted her into the bedroom.

‘You’ll find some clean pyjamas in that drawer,’ he said, and hurried out before his conscience overwhelmed him.

Left alone, she sat down on the bed, staring into space, unable to find the strength for anything else. In Jackson’s company, feeling his kindly care, she’d managed to cope. But now she felt as though she was drifting through infinity, in a world in which nothing was real.

She had tried to describe how Dan had made her feel, but there were no words for the sensation of being newly alive that he had given her. For the first time in her life she’d felt valuable to someone. Her relationship with her mother was cordial, but she knew she’d never come first. Janine and her late father had adored each other with an intensity that had made Freya feel like an outsider.

She’d made a life for herself, training as a nurse and passing her exams with honours. She’d had the pleasure of knowing that her parents were proud of her—especially her father, a learned man, who had been delighted that his brains had passed to his daughter. That had to be her consolation for the feeling of having been outside the enchanted circle.

Her loneliness had been intensified when her father died. Mother and daughter had grieved, but not together. Janine had suffered mostly alone, in a place Freya had not been able to touch.

But she was a successful nurse, and life had seemed settled on a conventional path until, two years after her father’s death, her mother had become engaged to the notorious Amos Falcon and she had begun to meet his five sons.

Jackson had been the first, on that evening in the restaurant that he’d mentioned earlier. Their escape to the nearby Chinese restaurant had been merry, but there had been another feeling beneath her laughter. He was handsome, charming, and she wouldn’t have minded if he’d asked her out on a date.

He hadn’t. She had sighed, shrugged, and returned to the young man she’d been dating, but who had suddenly seemed less interesting. They’d drifted apart.

At last there had been the wedding of Janine and Amos in London, and a gathering of the whole family in a hotel the night before. Jackson had greeted her with a cry of, ‘There’s my little sister!’ and enfolded her in a huge hug.

They’d moved away from the others to chat about how their lives were going. That had been before his television career, when he’d still been a newspaper journalist, with a thousand fascinating tales to tell. Freya had listened, promising herself that this time she would attract his interest. She’d already discovered how much he liked to laugh.

‘Go on—tell me more,’ she’d teased. ‘I’m hanging on every word.’

‘Hey, I really like talking to you.’ He had chuckled. ‘You know how to flatter a guy’s vanity. Why don’t we—?’ He’d stopped, riveted by something he’d seen over her shoulder. ‘Hey, look who’s— Karen!’

Then he’d been gone, racing across the room to the girl who’d just appeared, seizing her in his arms, kissing her again and again.

‘So she turned up after all,’ a voice had said in Freya’s ear. ‘We all wondered if she would.’

It had been Darius, regarding his brother with good-humoured cynicism.

‘Who is she?’ Freya had asked casually.

‘His latest light o’ love.’

‘Latest?’

‘They come and they go. Jackson likes variety in his life, which is partly why they broke up. Now they’ve got back together we’ll have to wait and see what happens.’

‘No prizes for guessing what’s about to happen now,’ Freya had observed, watching the pair slip out of the room.

‘He wouldn’t be Jackson if he passed up the chance.’

It was a lucky escape, she’d told herself. She might have become seriously attracted to Jackson but fate had saved her.

He’d brought Karen to the wedding as his guest. She was beautiful, Freya had thought enviously. Others had thought so too, because at the reception another man hadn’t been able to take his eyes from her. He’d hovered, annoying Karen, until Jackson had taken a firm grip on him and said something that had made him back off. Freya hadn’t heard the words but she’d seen Jackson’s face, and there had been a look of menace that had stunned her. All the charm had gone from him.

It had been over in a moment. The man had fled and Jackson had reverted to his usual pleasant self. But Freya had never forgotten what she had glimpsed. She knew that if anyone had looked at her like that she would have been terrified.

She’d expected to hear that Jackson was engaged to Karen, but nothing had happened. And why should she care? she wondered. She’d been briefly attracted to him, but rescue had come in time and it was no big deal. They’d settled for a friendship in which they teased, challenged and infuriated each other. What might have been was safely in the past.

There was still a sense of irony that of all men it should be Jackson who had come to her rescue now, taking her into his home, offering her his shoulder to cry on. But irony had always been part of their relationship.

Early in her mother’s marriage she’d joined Amos and Janine at their home in Monte Carlo. A heart attack had left him vulnerable, and Janine had asked her to pay a long visit.

‘He won’t hear of a nurse being there night and day,’ she’d said. ‘But he’ll have to let my daughter visit us, won’t he?’

She’d made the visit reluctantly. Nothing about Amos appealed to her, especially the stories of his several wives and affairs. But Amos had taken a liking to his stepdaughter and begun plotting to marry her to one of his sons. Freya had been far from flattered.

‘Was he mad when he thought of that?’ she’d demanded of her mother. ‘There isn’t one of them I’d ever dream of—ye gods and little fishes!’

As soon as Amos’s health had improved she’d left Monte Carlo, returning to England and her nursing career.

Amos had failed to marry her to Darius, Marcel, Travis or Leonid. That left only Jackson. Their friendship was strong enough for him to ‘reject’ her theatrically, as he’d just done. Since she felt the same there was no problem.

She’d be as mad to marry him as he’d be to marry her. Though there was no denying he was a nice enough guy—at least he was if you overlooked a few things—but he was a bit too set on having his own way. He must get that from Amos, although he’d never admit it. But he had been good to her today.

She pulled on the pyjamas he’d offered her and lay down on the bed, certain that she would be unable to sleep, but the strain of the day caught up with her suddenly and she could do nothing but close her eyes.

* * *

Jackson spent the next couple of hours quietly, so as not to disturb Freya. There was research that needed to be done for his next documentary, but somehow it was hard to imagine himself continuing to work with Dan. Professionally they had both benefited from working together, which made their relationship cordial without being an outright friendship.

He considered calling his father but decided against it. After what he’d learned this afternoon he was afraid he might speak his mind too bluntly. He had things to say to Amos about his behaviour, but he’d rather say them face to face.

The old man’s determination to make Freya his daughter-in-law had been a source of comedy and irritation in equal measure to his five sons. Their amusement had been good-natured, helped by the fact that Freya was no keener on the idea than they were.

If anything it had seemed to put the brothers and Freya off each other. There was no denying that Jackson found her a nice, attractive girl, but he’d never really thought of Freya that way, and nor had his brothers. She’d been Amos’s ‘tool’—an instrument for his bullying. He briefly wondered whether Freya had ever fancied any of them.

No way. Unless—

A faint memory came back to him: the evening in the Chinese restaurant. They had laughed and exchanged significant glances as couples did at the start, when their attraction was in the flickering, questioning stage. But the pressure from Amos had begun soon afterwards and he’d backed off, sensing with relief that Freya was doing the same. After that each had known the other was out of bounds.

But if Amos’s clumsiness hadn’t come between them what would have happened? Until now he’d never really wondered.

Quietly he went to the bedroom door and opened it just a crack. From inside he could hear the sound of soft breathing. He opened it a little further, enough to catch a faint glimpse of her lying on the bed.

Freya wasn’t the only woman who’d slept in that bed. It was large enough for two people, and he used it for what he thought of as ‘entertaining’. Many women had lain there, skimpily dressed or undressed. They’d looked at him through half-closed eyes, pretending to sleep while actually studying him, planning their next move.

But Freya’s form was totally concealed by his pyjamas. Her eyes were closed and the faint sounds she made told him that she was sunk in the sleep of exhaustion. She looked like a vulnerable child. He was heart-stricken. And he was floundering, baffled about how to cope. It was a new experience—one that alarmed him.

Quietly he closed the door and went to switch on the television. Almost at once he heard the words ‘Dan Connor’.

The screen was focussed on a film première. There were the stars, walking along the red carpet, and there was a luscious young female clutching the arm of her escort. Dan Connor.

‘There’s someone we didn’t expect to see,’ declared the presenter. ‘Dan Connor, television bigshot. He should have got married today, but—hey, Dan, what happened?’

‘Life happened,’ Dan declared, grinning in a way that made Jackson want to commit murder. ‘Apart from that—no comment.’ He leered at the girl on his arm. ‘Shall we go in?’

Jackson clenched his hands, silently calling Dan every name he could think of. He moved quickly to turn the set off, but it was too late. A faint sound made him look to see Freya standing in the doorway.

‘So that’s who she is,’ Freya said quietly.

‘No. Freya, you’re wrong. I’ll swear he’s not in love with her. He must have just grabbed the first girl he met so that he could get his face onto the news. That’s a PR stunt you’re witnessing. You’ve had a lucky escape.’

She smiled at him, calm and seemingly untroubled.

‘You may be right. He replaced me easily, didn’t he? At any rate it’s all over now. As far as I’m concerned Dan never existed. Goodnight.’

She retreated into the bedroom, leaving Jackson wishing he could believe that she was really recovering so easily. But his heart told him she was only putting on a brave face.

Before going to bed he listened outside her door and heard something that made him clench his hands in agony. From inside came the sound of gasping sobs, telling all too clearly of the grief Freya could only release when she was alone.

Unable to endure it, he opened the door, ready to go in, take her in his arms and comfort her. But wisdom held him back. She wouldn’t be glad of his comfort. She would hate it, wanting no curious eyes.

He backed out and closed the door, knowing that he wasn’t wanted.

* * *

Freya awoke early the next morning. Briefly she wondered where she was, then remembered and groaned. Creeping out of the room, she searched for Jackson on the sofa, but it was empty except for a scrap of paper that read, I’ll be back soon. Don’t go away.

She thought of the hotel, where the family was staying, and knew she should return to them, but the thought made her shudder.

If only Jackson were here. She’d always considered herself a strong person, but suddenly it seemed terrible to be alone.

‘That’s his fault for supporting me so well,’ she muttered wryly. ‘Now I can’t cope without him. All his fault. Oh, where is he?’

It was an hour before he returned and it seemed like for ever.

‘I’ve been to the hotel,’ he said, dumping a large suitcase on the table. ‘I took the wedding dress with me and your mother’s going to pack it away for you. She gave me some clothes to bring you.’

Her wedding dress had been hanging up in the bedroom, which meant he must have crept in and removed it while she was asleep. Then her attention was taken by the clothes she found in the case.

‘Why did you bring this?’ she asked, lifting a glittering cocktail dress.

‘You can wear it tonight, when we go out.’

‘Are we going out?’

‘Yes. I’ll take you back to your hotel at the end of the evening, but before that we need to give Dan a taste of his own medicine. He flaunted himself before the cameras, so you have to do the same. Then everyone will know you don’t give a stuff about him.’

‘Don’t I?’

‘No, you don’t. You mustn’t. I know what I’m doing, Freya. Trust me.’

‘I do,’ she said.

‘But you think I’m giving you orders again, don’t you? Laying down the law, acting like my father?’

‘No, he never takes so much trouble about people’s feelings,’ she said. ‘I don’t mind taking a few orders from you.’

‘What was that? Did I hear you right? My bolshie Freya being meek and mild? I don’t believe it.’

‘I can do meek and mild if there’s a good reason.’ She managed a smile. ‘I can even say, Yes, sir. No, sir. Three bags full, sir.’

‘This I have to see,’ he said dramatically. ‘It’ll be a whole new experience.’ Then abruptly he dropped the humorous manner. ‘Don’t worry. I just mean to look after you.’ He took her face between his hands. ‘That’s all that matters now. Please believe me.’

‘I do,’ she said. ‘It’s strange how content I feel to leave everything in your hands. I didn’t know it before, but there’s nobody I trust like you.’

To her surprise Jackson looked uneasy, but she thought she understood. He was more used to her sparring with him than trusting him. But now those days seemed a long way off.

CHAPTER THREE

NOW FREYA REALLY discovered Jackson’s flair for taking charge. In the suitcase she found items of make-up and for hair care, evidently packed by her mother.

‘Thank goodness,’ she said. ‘At least I can look my best tonight.’

But he shook his head.

‘Tonight you’re a star,’ he said, ‘and a star doesn’t do those jobs herself. She employs a professional.’

‘You mean a beautician? I don’t know any.’

‘But I do. She’ll arrive this afternoon, to place herself at your service.’ He hesitated before adding, ‘Unless, that is, you have any objections?’

Her lips twitched. ‘Don’t worry. I know the proper answer to that. Yes, sir. No, sir.’

‘You forgot Three bags full, sir. But I’ll let you off this time. I’ve got to leave now, but I’ll be back this evening.’

Naomi, the beautician, arrived at three in the afternoon. She listened politely to what Freya had to say, but clearly needed no instructions, having already received them from Jackson.

It was ironic that once Freya would have objected to the way he was directing every step. But now the sadness that consumed her made it hard to think, and it was a relief to leave the decisions to him.

She had to admit that Naomi did a magnificent job, turning her into as great a beauty as she had been as a bride. The elegant dress had a short skirt that showed off her well-shaped legs, and the expert make-up made her look delightful, the lavish hairstyle enhanced her. But when she offered to pay Naomi waved her away.

‘That’s all been taken care of,’ she said.

‘But can’t I give you a tip to thank you?’

‘That’s been taken care of too. Mr Falcon was very insistent.’

‘You mean he told you not to take a penny from me?’

Naomi smiled and shrugged. ‘Mr Falcon is a very generous man.’

She hurried out.

Yes, he is, Freya thought. More than I ever knew.

Jackson was home at six o’clock, nodded approval at the sight of her, then disappeared to don his evening clothes. When he emerged she too nodded her approval.

‘We’ll do each other credit,’ she said.

‘That’s the spirit. We’ll show ’em.’

Downstairs, he loaded her case into his car and headed out onto the road.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked.

He gave her the name of a restaurant, famous for its glamour and luxury and for being a favourite home of major personalities. Within a few minutes they had arrived.

‘Ready?’ he asked as they headed for the entrance.

‘Ready for anything,’ she replied.

‘Then here we go. Smile. They’ll be watching.’

‘Do they know we’re coming?’

‘I have a few friends in the press.’

Sure enough, heads turned as they entered. There were some cheerful waves, which Jackson returned.

A waiter showed them to a table, and the first few moments were taken up with formalities. At last they were alone.

‘Now, let’s get down to business,’ he said.

‘Business?’

‘You see those two over there?’ he asked, nodding in the direction of a table where a young couple were holding hands and gazing rapturously into each other’s eyes.

‘Yes. But we’re not going to do that, are we?’ she asked, aghast.

‘No way. Hell will freeze over before I ask you to give me that adoring look. They’re an example of what we mustn’t do. If we act like a couple in love it’ll cause a scandal. People will think you were betraying Dan and that’s why he headed for the hills.’

‘Right. So what do we do?’

‘We laugh. Let everyone see how light-hearted you are.’

‘You’ve got this all worked out to the last detail, haven’t you?’

‘Is that a polite way of saying that I’m taking charge too precisely?’

‘No, but you do seem to have a gift for organising. Perhaps nature meant you to be a film director.’

Jackson grinned. ‘You’re not the first person to say that, but the guy who said it first was really mad at me. He was the director of a TV show and I annoyed him by arguing all the time. “Everything’s got to be done the way you say, hasn’t it?” he yelled.’

‘And what did you reply? I’m glad you’ve realised that?’

‘You understand me far too well.’

Then the humour died from his face and he took a long breath.

‘I went to see Dan today. There were a few sharp words and now I don’t work for him any more.’

‘Oh, no! Your career—I never meant to harm you.’

‘You haven’t. I was already thinking of leaving. Someone else has been in touch.’

He named a firm, high ranking in the production business.

‘They’ve been dangling offers in front of me for a while. I didn’t accept because I was OK where I was, but that’s over now, so I called the man who runs this other place. He wants to do a series about ancient Egypt—myths, traditions, rituals, pyramids, that sort of thing. Once we’ve settled my contract I’ll go out there to explore. It’s a place that’s always fascinated me.’

‘Yes, it’s got a magical reputation hasn’t it? Tell me more.’

As Jackson talked she did as he’d suggested—smiling, nodding, seeming fascinated. Nobody must guess that inside she felt wretched.

She managed the pretence until Jackson finished by saying, ‘So now we can both consign Dan to the past.’

She had a feeling of being punched in the stomach.

‘Yes, we can, can’t we?’ she said bleakly.

‘But I guess it won’t happen all in a moment.’ He looked intensely at her face. ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned him.’

‘No, I’m strong. I can cope.’

‘I don’t think you’re as strong as you like to believe you are.’

‘You’re wrong,’ she said firmly.

‘I hope so. You’ll get over him, Freya. You must.’

‘Yes, I must,’ she whispered, dismayed at hearing her voice crack on the last word. At all costs she must not weep.

Jackson took a gentle hold of her hand.

‘You can’t believe it now, but truly it will happen. The best of your life is still in front of you.’

‘Yes—of course—it’s just—I can’t—’ The tears were there again, refusing to be defeated.

‘Come on,’ Jackson said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

He summoned the waiter, paid the bill and led her outside. She sat in silence on the journey. The courage and defiance that had carried her through the evening had vanished without warning, and she felt crushed.

When they reached the hotel he said, ‘Shall I call your mother and tell her you’re here?’

‘No,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t want to see anyone.’

‘All right.’ He kept his arm around her shoulders as they went up to her room, and went inside with her.

‘Goodnight,’ she said.

‘Not yet. I don’t like leaving you alone. You’ve been brave, and coped wonderfully, but nobody can be brave for ever.’

‘They can if they have to,’ she said huskily.

‘But you don’t have to. You’ve got a friend who’ll always be there for you.’

‘Don’t,’ she begged. ‘I can manage—truly I can. I just need to—to—’

She tried to fight back the tears but it was hopeless. Grief devastated her.

‘You need to do this,’ Jackson said, taking her in his arms and drawing her close.

At once she gave up the fight for control. The warmth and sweetness of his gesture overcame her resistance and she let her head rest on his shoulder. He was right. While he was here she didn’t need to be brave.

He turned his head, resting his cheek against her hair.

‘Go on,’ he murmured. ‘Let it happen.’

She had no choice but to let it happen. Strong, controlled Freya could do nothing but yield to the despair she’d once managed to hold at bay. She could feel Jackson patting her shoulders as they shook with sobs, and for several minutes they stood quietly, leaning against each other.

She had the sensation of being in another world. It was warm, kindly, safe. She wanted to stay there for ever.

‘Freya—’

His gentle voice made her look up to see his face just above hers, so close that she could feel his breath.

‘Freya—’ he murmured again.

There was something in his voice that she’d never heard before: uncertainty, perhaps even alarm.

‘Freya—’

‘Yes—’

She felt the touch of his lips against hers and drew in a soft breath. Next moment she was pressing against him, not even knowing what she did. Something deep inside her drove her on, telling her this was where she belonged. Without realising what she was doing she slipped her arms about him. She would have tightened them, but he tensed and raised his mouth from hers.

Suddenly tremors went through her body. The world had changed. She didn’t know where she was. She knew only that this wasn’t where she should be.

‘Freya—’

‘Let me go.’

The words were needless. He was already stepping back, putting distance between them.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said harshly. ‘I didn’t mean—’

‘Neither did I,’ she said, in a voice whose harshness matched his own. ‘Please go now.’

‘Freya, my dear—’

‘I’m not your dear. I’m not your anything. Just because Dan dumped me, did you think I was there for the taking?’

‘Of course not. I wasn’t trying to make love to you. I promise that’s one thing I’ll never do. You can count on that. It was meant as comfort.’

‘That’s one kind of comfort I don’t need.’

He seemed about to say something, but then his shoulders sagged as though he realised it was useless and he turned to the door.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s not what you think. Don’t be angry. I only wanted to help you.’

‘Not like that,’ she snapped. ‘Goodbye, Jackson.’

He gave her an uneasy look, then left without another word.

He left her standing alone in the middle of the room, until her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the floor, wrapping her arms about her head, burying her face as though trying to hide from herself.

How could that have happened? How could she have felt that flickering of treacherous desire for Jackson when she was still dead inside from Dan’s betrayal? She’d been so sure that all feeling was over for her, yet in a moment the old attraction for Jackson had come flickering out of the shadows, confusing, threatening.

‘No,’ she muttered. ‘No, no, no!’

She’d run into his arms, grateful for the safety he’d seemed to offer. But there was no safety—only more devastation. The only safety lay in escape. She must get far away from him.

Monte Carlo. Janine and Amos would be leaving soon and she would go with them. Once there, she could retreat into herself and cease to exist as far as Jackson was concerned.

Cease to exist. It had a reassuring sound. And it was the only refuge that would not betray her.

She lay down on the bed and stared into the darkness for the rest of the night. Even darkness was reassuring now.

The next morning Freya went to Janine’s and Amos’s room, glad to find her mother alone. Janine was delighted with her daughter’s decision.

‘You’re coming with us? That’s wonderful. If only we could convince Jackson to come too. He was here an hour ago and Amos was hoping to persuade him, but no luck. Such a pity.’

‘He’s starting a new job,’ Freya said.

‘So he said, but Amos is furious. They’ve had a big row. He’s as stubborn as his father, so it’s stalemate for the moment. But perhaps Jackson will change his mind and join us soon.’

‘No,’ Freya said quietly. ‘I don’t think he will.’

For Jackson to join them was the last thing she wanted. Nothing mattered now but to get a safe distance from him until she could cope with what had happened.

* * *

The next few days passed in a daze: the flight to Monte Carlo, the drive to Amos’s magnificent house overlooking the bay, the feeling of having put trouble behind her at least for the moment.

Jackson stayed in touch, linking up via a video connection every evening, talking cheerfully to them from the screen. At first Freya watched these occasions from the sidelines, out of Jackson’s sight, not joining in the conversations.

But then he noticed her before she could slip away and cried, ‘Hey, there’s my little sister. How’s it going, sis?’

His use of the word ‘sister’ sounded like a message. He was telling her that their old pleasant relationship could be restored. But she doubted that could ever happen.

‘It’s going well,’ she said.

‘Glad to hear it.’

‘Is everything all right with you?’ she asked politely.

‘I’ve never had such a fascinating trip. And, Dad, when I see you I’ve got something to tell you that’ll really make you sit up...’

* * *

At last Jackson arrived at the villa. His greeting to Freya was friendly, without any tense edge. She knew a moment’s resentment that he’d brushed everything aside so easily. Clearly what had happened mattered little to him and he thought it was the same with her. Yet he was right, she realised. Casual indifference was the only thing that would make each other’s presence bearable.

Over a pleasant dinner Jackson told vivid tales.

‘I’ve never regarded myself as a man susceptible to magic,’ he said, ‘but the magic began as soon as I arrived. I was in a hotel that looked out over the desert where the great pyramids are, and I could see one from my widow. I’ll never forget standing there as dawn broke, seeing the pyramid slowly emerge from the darkness. And everywhere I went—the temples, the Valley of the Kings—there was something that would make me stare with amazement.’

‘But what was it you had to tell your father?’ Janine said. ‘We’re dying of curiosity.’

‘All right. Here goes. I had to study the Egyptian gods. There are many of them, with varying degrees of power. One of the most powerful is called Horus.’

‘But why should I be interested in him?’ Amos wanted to know.

‘Because he’s known as the Falcon god. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard that, but in pictures and statues he’s represented as a falcon. Look.’

He reached into a bag and brought out a small statue of a bird with a cap on its head.

‘That’s Horus the Falcon god,’ he said, handing it to Amos.

Janine burst out laughing at the sight of Amos’s face as he studied the figure.

‘You said it was powerful,’ he murmured.

‘He’s the god of the sky, the sun and the moon,’ Jackson explained. ‘I thought you’d enjoy that.’

It was rare for Amos to smile with genuine pleasure, but now he managed a grin.

‘That sounds about right,’ he said.

‘They knew about you all the time,’ Freya teased him.

As the meal ended Jackson drew his father aside to tell him more colourful stories about Egypt.

‘I’m so glad about that,’ Janine told her daughter when they were alone. ‘Amos is really enjoying it.’

‘I wonder how powerful Horus really was,’ Freya mused. ‘Maybe Jackson has exaggerated a bit to please Amos.’

‘Well, good for him if he has,’ her mother said. ‘It was nice.’

‘Yes. He is nice, isn’t he?’

The reminder of Jackson’s kindly side gave Freya a feeling of relief. At last she bade them all goodnight and went to bed. There she lay, brooding, wistful, daring to hope that perhaps the wretched memory could be banished into the shadows and their friendship could be restored. At last she fell asleep.

She was awoken by sounds coming from the next room, which she knew to be Jackson’s. He was talking in a sharp voice, as though annoyed. The other man’s voice sounded like Dan.

Rising quickly, she slipped on a dressing gown and went out into the corridor. Jackson’s door was closed but she could hear the angry voices clearly.

‘You should be ashamed of what you did,’ Jackson snapped. ‘And you damned well know it. Running off like that just before the wedding.’

‘Don’t heap all the blame on me,’ came Dan’s voice. ‘You were the one who made it happen.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘Yes, it is. You said it would be better to dump her then rather than later and I took your advice.’

For a moment Freya froze, then she flung open the door.

Jackson was sitting at his computer, confronting Dan, who glared back at him from the screen via a video link. Dan’s face had a self-satisfied expression that she realised she had seen many times before. But it faded as he saw her come to stand behind Jackson. Just for a moment he was taken aback.

‘Surprised to see me, Dan?’ she asked coolly. ‘After all the times you’ve avoided me it must come as a nasty shock.’

Jackson had also received a shock, going by his face as he looked up at her.

‘Freya,’ he said, almost stammering in his dismay, ‘it’s best if we talk later.’

‘I’ll talk to you later. I’ll talk to him now.’

‘There’s not much to talk about,’ Dan said.

‘What did you mean about taking Jackson’s advice?’

‘I told him I wasn’t keen on our marriage and he said I should dump you right away. I thought he knew best, so I did. I’ve got to go now, Freya. Goodbye.’

There was a click and Dan vanished from the screen.

Freya clutched her forehead.

‘He’s lying, isn’t he?’ she choked. ‘Tell me he’s lying. You never said anything like that.’

‘He’s twisted my words,’ Jackson said desperately. ‘He said he hadn’t ever wanted to get married. He proposed because Amos tried to scare him off, not because of love. I was appalled that he’d deceived you and let it get so far. I said he should have been honest with you from the start, that he would hurt you more if he married you without love and let you down later.’

‘So you did say it?’ she demanded, aghast.

‘Not the way he made it sound. I meant that he should never have planned a wedding in the first place, not that he should back off at the last minute. But he seized on it as a way out. Don’t you see? It gave him an excuse to shift the blame. All right, I was clumsy and stupid, but not malicious. Please, Freya, try to understand. I never intended it to happen the way it did.’

‘What do you mean about him proposing because of Amos?’

‘Oh, heavens!’ He groaned. ‘Amos tried to make him back off, threatened him. Dan lost his temper and—’

‘And that’s why he proposed to me?’ she whispered. ‘That’s all it was?’

‘Yes.’

‘He never loved me at all?’

‘I’m afraid not.’

‘And you’ve known this all the time?’

‘I only found out on the way to the church. If I’d known earlier I’d have warned you, but it was too late.’

‘Too late to warn me, but not too late to make him run for it.’

‘I told you I never meant that to happen. I spoke clumsily.’

‘You’ve deceived me—’

‘No!’

‘I begged you to tell me why he ran, but you never told me the truth—’

‘I was as honest as I could be, but I couldn’t repeat all the things he said. Have you forgotten the terrible state you were in that day? There was no way I could tell you everything. It would have finished you off, Freya. Please be fair.’

But she was too distraught to be fair.

‘I trusted you,’ she choked. ‘Talked to you, told you things I’d never have told anyone else. And all the time you were laughing up your sleeve at me.’

‘That isn’t true. I was trying to do my best for you. I’m sorry if I got it wrong, but I meant well. Call me an idiot, if you like, but don’t call me a deceiver.’

‘I believed you,’ she whispered. ‘Relied on you. I thought you were being so kind to me.’

‘I felt terrible about what happened—how I helped to bring it about. I’d have done anything to make it up to you.’

‘Anything except tell me the truth. Be honest, Jackson, if you know how. You’ve been enjoying watching me be an idiot, haven’t you?’

‘No, I swear it. Freya. you’ve got to believe me.’

‘How can I? When I think of some of the things I said—how I trusted and confided in you. What a fool I must have sounded!’

‘No, I was the fool for damaging you so idiotically. But I did my best to help you survive it—all right, it was a poor best, but I tried. Why don’t we talk later, when you’ve had a chance to calm down?’

She had a feeling that a chilly bleakness had settled over the world.

‘You think I’ll see sense, don’t you?’ she said bitterly. ‘You’re wrong. Nothing will change. You won’t ever look different to me from the way you do now. Mean, spiteful, contemptible.’

‘Freya—’ He reached out for her hand but she snatched it away.

‘No, don’t touch me. I can’t bear the sight of you.’

‘Please don’t let this spoil our friendship.’

‘There never was a friendship,’ she whispered. ‘There never could be.’

‘Freya—’

He reached out for her again but she darted away. After a moment he heard her bedroom door shut and the key turn in the lock.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.