Romance 0f A Lifetime (Presents Plus) Read online

  And what Brenda wanted, she got. Beth had a feeling Martin had more than a few shocks waiting for him in the years to come.

  ‘It will be different with Brenda,’ Sean assured her grimly. ‘I know exactly what Martin is after, and how to deal with him. Don’t worry, Beth; he won’t get away with anything married to my daughter.’

  She could see that, felt an enormous sense of relief, as if the whole responsibility had been lifted from her shoulders. She couldn’t help thinking Brenda was condemning herself to a lifetime of unhappiness with Martin, but she was doing it wilfully, so what more was there to be said?

  Beth stood up. ‘There doesn’t seem to be anything more to be said.’ She shrugged.

  ‘No.’ Sean gave a rueful smile, standing up too. ‘But I do thank you for your concern, Beth; I know that it couldn’t have been easy for you to come here at all.’

  ‘Especially as it turned out to be so unnecessary,’ she grimaced.

  He gave a gentle smile. ‘Your father is a fool; I’ve told him so on numerous occasions.’

  ‘I’m sure he liked that.’ She still found it difficult to talk about her father.

  Sean shrugged. ‘I’ve never particularly cared whether he liked it or not. The first stupid thing he did was let your mother go; after that he just compounded things every time he saw her by acting like an idiot. He still loves her, you know.’

  Beth gave him a startled, disbelieving look. ‘He can’t do.’ She shook her head.

  ‘But he does,’ Sean nodded. ‘The only problem is that his ambition and drive are obsessional with him, and even people he loves are sacrificed to that end.’

  ‘I know that better than most,’ Beth said with remembered bitterness.

  ‘He’s been the loser,’ Sean sighed. ‘But he always will be, especially while there are people like Martin to benefit from his obsession. But you mustn’t worry about that situation any more, my dear,’ he said again firmly. ‘I’m not without power and ambition myself.’

  He would never have survived as her father’s partner all these years otherwise, Beth realised. And where Sean’s daughter’s happiness was concerned he wouldn’t hesitate to use his power, just as he wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone who threatened that happiness. But she knew now that Brenda had a lot of her father’s strength and determination, that she would probably never have need of his power, being quite capable of managing her own life in any way that suited her.

  She left to go and meet her mother for dinner, although she was still slightly shaken from the meeting with father and daughter.

  ‘She always was a spoilt little minx,’ her mother said ruefully when Beth had related the conversation to her. ‘I thought the finishing school in Switzerland might have changed all that.’

  ‘And instead her apparent docility is just a trap to ensnare Martin,’ Beth said ruefully.

  ‘She sounds just what he deserves,’ her mother said with satisfaction. ‘Two of a kind.’

  Beth nodded. ‘They do seem very alike. I just hope Brenda doesn’t end up getting hurt in spite of herself.’

  Her mother shook her head. ‘I doubt it. You’ll see, in twenty years’ time the two of them will still be married, and Martin will be totally bewildered by it all.’

  It conjured up an amusing picture, and Beth couldn’t help but smile.

  ‘That’s better.’ Her mother nodded her satisfaction. ‘I’ve been worried about you the last few days.’ She looked at Beth closely. ‘Has something happened to upset you?’

  Beth hadn’t seen Marcus since the morning after the party when she had told him the truth about Martin and he had said those awful things to her. But she had far from forgotten the incident, was still stunned by it. Marcus had spoken as if he had been warned against her, and she couldn’t think of anyone—other than her father and Martin, and he obviously didn’t know either of them—who disliked her enough to do such a thing. She also wondered exactly what he had been told to make him believe such things of her.

  But she didn’t know where he lived when he was in London, had no intention of embarrassing herself by asking the Trents for his telephone number, and so the situation had remained, as far as she was concerned, unresolved.

  ‘Beth?’ her mother prompted at her continued silence. ‘You haven’t heard anything from Marcus; is that the problem?’

  Her mother had no idea the two of them had spoken again after the party, and Beth had no intention of telling her otherwise. That humiliation was better kept to herself.

  ‘Of course not,’ she answered sharply.

  ‘Sure?’

  ‘Very,’ she replied vehemently to the gentle probing. ‘I… He was too much in the same mould as Charles for me to ever feel comfortable with him.’ And yet she had enjoyed his company, she knew she had, had been halfway to falling in love with him!

  Her mother frowned at this. ‘I don’t think he’s at all like your father in the ways that would affect you.’ She said slowly. ‘He’s capable, yes, very self-assured too, but I don’t think there’s any cruelty in him.’

  Maybe he wouldn’t be deliberately cruel, but he had hurt Beth, and he seemed willing to believe his informant about her, whoever he or she might be, rather than giving her the opportunity to defend herself.

  ‘Speak of the devil,’ her mother murmured.

  Beth looked up sharply, following her mother’s gaze across the room.

  Marcus had just entered the fashionable restaurant, a younger man at his side, although there was a certain family resemblance in the thick dark hair, grey eyes, and the slender but powerful build. Marcus hadn’t mentioned having a brother, only an older sister, and yet Beth couldn’t see the younger man being anything but a blood relative of his. A son, perhaps? That was a possibility she had never thought of. If Marcus also had a broken marriage behind him… But even so, that was no excuse for the way he had behaved towards her, especially as he didn’t really know what he was talking about.

  ‘He’s coming over,’ her mother muttered.

  Oh, God, now what was she supposed to do? They could hardly be polite to each other after the contemptuous way he had dismissed her on Sunday.

  ‘Katherine,’ he greeted her mother politely. ‘Beth…’ His voice cooled noticeably.

  She looked up at him reluctantly, her breath catching in her throat at how handsome he looked in the dark evening clothes. God, he was attractive. How on earth had she managed to resist him in romantic Italy? She hadn’t, not in the end!

  Delicate colour darkened her cheeks. ‘Marcus,’ she returned in a quiet voice.

  Dark brows rose. ‘Are you about to leave or would you rather we ate somewhere else?’

  Beth heard her mother gasp but continued to hold Marcus’s gaze herself. ‘We aren’t about to leave—haven’t been here long ourselves. And you can eat where you please.’ The last came out aggressively as her temper got the better of her. Did he have to make it so obvious he would rather not even eat in the same restaurant as her?

  ‘Katherine?’

  ‘Feel free.’ Her mother looked totally bewildered by the whole conversation.

  ‘Very well.’ He turned back to Beth. ‘As long as you won’t find it too embarrassing?’

  Her mouth firmed. ‘Why should I be embarrassed?’ she dismissed flippantly.

  He glanced across the room to where the younger man stood, looking slightly bored now, his hands thrust into his pockets as his gaze scanned the room for anyone who looked interesting. ‘If you’re sure,’ Marcus drawled. ‘Ross looks slightly impatient for his meal.’

  ‘Then you had better go and feed him, hadn’t you?’ Beth snapped tightly.

  His eyes darkened. ‘I have to admire your nerve.’

  ‘Do you?’ she returned challengingly.

  He nodded. ‘No one mentioned that you have guts.’

  Beth shrugged, inwardly shaking, but having no intention of letting Marcus see that. ‘Maybe your informant wasn’t as reliable as you seem to think,’ she derided harshly.

  ‘I said it wasn’t mentioned, not that it was denied,’ he grated.

  She glanced past him to his impatient companion, the younger man starting to look very irritated now at being kept waiting in this way. ‘Don’t let us keep you,’ she said coldly.

  He gave a slight smile. ‘Nice to have seen you again, Katherine.’

  His omission of Beth’s name was deliberate, and it showed.

  The last thing Beth wanted to do now was eat in this restaurant, but there was no way she was going to leave until she had done exactly that. Even if every mouthful choked her!

  Her mother looked deeply disturbed once they were alone. ‘What was all that about, Beth?’

  She shrugged, not quite able to meet her mother’s gaze. ‘I’m not sure. But I don’t think Marcus will be following me anywhere in future!’

  ‘Beth—’

  ‘Could we just forget it for now, Mummy?’ she cut in, holding on to her control with difficulty. ‘And enjoy our meal?’ She smiled up at the waiter as he brought their starters.

  Relaxing and enjoying anything was out of the question for her, of course, very upset as she was by the conversation with Marcus, but she somehow had to get through this.

  She didn’t know what had suddenly turned him against her, she only knew she could feel his antipathy across the restaurant, felt his gaze on her often, refusing to look in his direction herself, knowing her self-control would crumble if she did.

  Because she had fallen in love with him, not just halfway, but completely!

  She had sworn never to love again, had learnt the hard way how painful loving someone could be, and now she had fallen in love with someone even more unsuitable than Martin had been. Marcus actually seemed to hate her; Martin had just despised her!

  But she loved Marcus, more than she had ever loved Martin, this love based on experience and suffering the like of which she had never thought to know.

  It didn’t seem fair that she should love so unwisely a second time, but Marcus had persisted in her life until she could ignore him no longer. And now he didn’t even want to know her.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right, darling.’ Her mother looked at her worriedly as they came, thankfully, to the end of their meal, Beth’s crumbling control noticeable now despite all her efforts to the contrary.

  ‘Shall we go?’ Beth gave a strained smile, crushing her linen napkin and placing it on the table.

  Her mother frowned. ‘Do you want me to have a word with Marcus—’

  ‘No! No,’ she repeated less audibly, noticing several heads in the restaurant turning in their direction, Marcus’s one of them; he probably thought she was just having a temper tantrum. After all, that was what ‘spoilt little bitches’ did—wasn’t it? ‘The less either of us speak to Marcus Craven the better,’ she assured her mother with a shudder.

  Unfortunately they had to pass the table the two men occupied on their way out of the restaurant. To have left by any other route would have looked as if they were deliberately avoiding going near them, and Beth didn’t intend giving Marcus that satisfaction.

  Marcus looked at her coldly as they drew level with his table, and it was left to the younger man to give her an admiring glance, the invitation in his eyes leaving nothing to the imagination. Perhaps Marcus had told the other man she might welcome the attention! Although the glare he shot in the younger man’s direction didn’t seem to imply he approved of the attention he was paying Beth.

  His reaction brought out a streak of defiance in her, and she deliberately stopped beside the table, her smile seductive as she looked at the younger man while directing her remark to Marcus. ‘You didn’t introduce your friend earlier.’ Her voice was deliberately provocative.

  Marcus looked taken aback. ‘This is my nephew.’

  ‘Really?’ she pretended surprise, although the family resemblance had been obvious from the first. ‘I never would have guessed.’ She bestowed a warm smile on the younger man. ‘You don’t seem at all alike,’ she flashed hardly at Marcus, her eyes gleaming cat-like in her slightly flushed face. ‘Nice to have met you, Mr Craven,’ she told the younger man, her tone implying she didn’t feel the same way about his uncle, before she swept haughtily out of the restaurant, her mother at her side.

  ‘That was very good, darling,’ her mother murmured. ‘Very impressive. But it won’t keep you warm at night.’

  ‘Neither will Marcus!’ she said abruptly, feeling emotionally drained now, something her mother respected on the drive back to her apartment.

  ‘Do you want me to come in?’ her mother offered gently after parking the car.

  ‘No,’ she refused heavily, knowing a deep need to be alone.

  And yet once she was alone in her apartment it was the last thing she wanted, feeling closed in, unfairly judged, frustrated with that judgement, wanting to know the reason for it, angry with Marcus for so easily accepting whatever it was he had been told about her.

  It was the latter emotion that was predominant when the doorbell rang seconds later, and she answered it to find Marcus standing on the doorstep. ‘What do you want?’ she scorned. ‘Have you come to throw more insults at me?’ She stood defensively in the doorway, barring his entrance.

  ‘I have to talk to you,’ he rasped.

  Her brows rose. ‘That wasn’t the impression you gave earlier.’

  ‘Earlier I was…’ He shook his head. ‘I have to talk to you, Beth. Now.’

  ‘I don’t think I want to talk to you—’

  ‘Beth…’ the quiet authority in his voice silenced her ‘… tonight you met the man named as co-respondent in your divorce. Not only did you not recognise him, but he didn’t recognise you either, and you called him by completely the wrong name. Beth, my nephew is Kinross Bentley, the man you’re supposed to have committed adultery with, and the two of you don’t even know each other. Now I want to know what the hell is going on!’

  CHAPTER TEN

  BETH swallowed hard. That man, that arrogant young man with the knowing eyes and too much self-confidence, was the one Martin had paid to lie about her. Marcus’s nephew?

  ‘Why don’t you go and ask him that?’ she dismissed scornfully, a hundred different thoughts coursing through her mind, none of them making any sense. Not yet anyway; she was too stunned for that.

  ‘Because I’m asking you,’ Marcus grated. ‘I’m not interested in anything Ross has to say.’

  ‘You don’t seem to have had any trouble listening to him before!’ Because this surely had to be Marcus’s informant—a man who didn’t even know her!

  ‘And now I want to hear what you have to say,’ Marcus said grimly.

  ‘How do you know I’ll tell you the truth?’ she derided, her head back defiantly.

  He shook his head. ‘I know damn well that Ross hasn’t!’

  Beth sighed, stepping back. ‘Then you had better come in, hadn’t you,’ she said dully.

  She didn’t completely understand the situation herself. How long had Marcus known his nephew had been named in her divorce? Did that have something to do with their initial meeting, and the consequent ones? Was that the reason none of their meetings had been a ‘coincidence’?

  She turned to face Marcus across the lounge. ‘Perhaps you had better tell me what you already know,’ she told him flatly. ‘Or think you know,’ she added hardly.

  Marcus breathed in deeply, his hands thrust into his trouser pockets. ‘I have a feeling, having come to know you as I do, that you aren’t going to like it.’

  ‘I’m sure I won’t,’ she muttered. ‘But it has to be said anyway.’

  ‘Very well,’ he nodded decisively. ‘As you know, I’ve spent most of the last couple of years in America.’

  ‘It has been mentioned,’ she said drily.

  ‘Hmm,’ he grimaced. ‘Well, while I was there it would seem I neglected my duties as guardian to my nephew Ross.’

  Beth frowned. ‘He looked young, but not that young.’

  Marcus made a face. ‘Ross is only twenty, for all he might wish, and act, as if he were older. That was why, when it was brought to my attention, I was horrified at the affair and subsequent naming in the divorce of a woman several years older than he, not only in age but in experience.’

  ‘You mean me?’ Beth realised disbelievingly.

  He paced the room. ‘When I challenged Ross about the affair he told me that you had paid him to be named as co-respondent after your affair ended, that you were willing to do anything to get rid of the husband you had become bored with.’

  ‘That’s a lie,’ she gasped.

  ‘Let me finish, Beth,’ he urged gently. ‘Then you can tell me what really happened.’

  ‘How kind,’ she was stung into retaliating.

  ‘Beth, this isn’t easy for me either—it never is when you realise what a fool you’ve been.’ He looked pained.

  As well he might!

  ‘It can’t be,’ Beth scorned.

  ‘Ross is a very wealthy young man—’

  ‘Then why take the money my ex-husband paid him to lie about my adultery?’ she accused heatedly. ‘If he didn’t need the money—’

  ‘As Ross’s guardian I have the power to decide whether or not he takes control of that wealth at twenty-one or twenty-five. He’s had an allowance for the last three years, since my sister and her husband, his parents, were killed in a plane crash, but it would seem he’s been living well above that allowance, that he had debts that needed repaying, the sort of debts that he daren’t come to me about,’ Marcus added grimly. ‘He got in with a crowd that were older than him, that thought nothing of losing several thousand pounds a night in a casino—’

  ‘Martin’s crowd,’ Beth realised.

  ‘It would seem so,’ he confirmed. ‘He had debts that needed paying, and he admitted to me that he had accepted money from you to help you get rid of your husband.’

  ‘I didn’t divorce Martin; he divorced me—with the false evidence Ross gave him!’

  Marcus shook his head self-disgustedly. ‘I had no reason at that time to doubt Ross’s word. Even the fact that Bradshaw had changed his name to yours after the marriage seemed to confirm you were—’

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