Point of No Return Read online

  ‘Don’t presume to judge my morals, Megan,’ Jerome snapped. ‘My relationships with the opposite sex last a hell of a lot longer than yours appear to.’

  ‘A year isn’t exactly a lifetime,’ she scorned.

  He scowled. ‘My little brother seems to have told you too damned much about my personal life!’

  ‘Will that be all, Mr Towers?’ she asked in a stilted voice. ‘I have work to do.’

  ‘That’s all, for the moment. Your mother should be returning on Monday, if you could help Freda in the kitchen until then.’

  ‘Oh yes, my mother. So nice of you to be concerned about her health,’ she snapped. ‘As long as she’s back here waiting on you on Monday morning you couldn’t give a damn about her.’

  ‘Your mother is feeling a lot better today,’ he informed her coldly. ‘In fact she wanted to return to work tomorrow, but I told her to leave it until next week.’

  ‘You told her?’ Megan’s eyes widened. ‘Have you seen my mother today?’

  ‘This morning,’ he confirmed tightly.

  ‘Oh.’ She felt completely deflated by this information.

  ‘I also went to see Patsy Jones. Apparently her husband has decided the work here is too much for her, that it’s all got too much for her the last couple of months, and her doctor agrees with him. Donald says she’s always been a nervy person, but that she’s got worse lately.’

  And being chased around the bedroom by Roddy Meyers was something the poor girl could well do without. Megan nodded. ‘I remember her at school, she was nervy even then.’

  ‘Mm. So you can see I’m not quite the ogre you like to think me. Be here at nine o’clock on Monday,’ said Jerome tersely, dismissively.

  * * *

  Megan’s mother felt well enough to sit up for a while that evening, and was still up when Brian came in for his evening meal.

  ‘You’re looking better.’ He bent to kiss his mother on the cheek.

  ‘I feel it,’ she smiled up at him. ‘What’s this Megan’s been telling me about your agreement with Mr Towers?’

  Brian gave Megan a probing look, but could read nothing from her closed expression. ‘Just let me wash,’ he suggested, ‘and we’ll all talk about it.’

  Megan had served up the chicken casserole and vegetables by the time he came back from having his wash, watching with satisfaction as her mother ate most of the small portion she had requested.

  Again Brian eyed her. ‘So Mr Towers spoke to you today,’ he probed guardedly.

  ‘Yes.’ She began to eat her own meal.

  ‘He mentioned it to me too,’ their mother said thoughtfully. ‘But the way I see it Megan has to be the one to decide what we do. She’s the one who has to make the sacrifice. Working at The Towers isn’t exactly what she had in mind for her career.’

  ‘It won’t be for ever, Mum,’ Megan hastily reassured her.

  ‘Does that mean you’re agreeable?’ Brian asked eagerly.

  She shrugged. ‘It’s worth a try, I suppose.’

  ‘That’s great!’ he enthused.

  ‘But what happens if at the end of six months you have to sell to Mr Towers?’ she asked him. ‘Where are we going to live if we sell the farm?’

  ‘Right here,’ Brian told her happily. ‘Mr Towers doesn’t want the farm itself, only the land.’

  ‘Okay,’ she shrugged. ‘But it’s going to be the longest six months of my life. I just can’t stand Jerome Towers!’

  ‘He seemed to be under the impression that you’re a friend of his brother.’

  She gave Brian a sharp look. ‘He told you that?’

  ‘He just mentioned it. He said he thought the two of you had met at the hospital.’

  ‘Yes, we did.’ She pushed her plate away, her food only half eaten.

  ‘He wasn’t there when the scandal blew up, was he?’ Brian said worriedly. ‘That’s all we need!’ he groaned. ‘Jerome Towers’ brother a first-hand witness to your dismissal.’

  Megan hoped Brian would never know just how much of a first-hand witness Roddy had really been; that could really blow his chances, because he would probably go out and beat the other man up. ‘He’d already left before I did,’ she said. Just!

  ‘Then if he’s a friend of yours you must invite him over for a meal,’ her mother suggested.

  ‘Oh—well, I’d rather not, Mum. Mr Towers doesn’t approve of his brother going out with the hired help,’ her mouth twisted bitterly.

  ‘Megan!’ Her mother scolded. ‘Mr Towers simply isn’t like that, he isn’t in the least snobbish. Ask Mr Meyers over to tea on Sunday,’ she encouraged.

  ‘Not this week, Mum,’ Megan evaded. ‘We’ll wait until you’re completely better.’

  ‘But I—’

  ‘Not this week.’ She stood up to kiss her mother affectionately on the cheek. ‘Now back to bed with you, you’ve been up quite long enough for one day.’

  When she came back from helping her mother into bed it was to find Brian waiting for her. ‘I thought you would have gone over to Joyce’s by now,’ she frowned.

  He looked up at her. ‘I just wanted to make sure everything really was all right with you. You don’t seem to like the idea of working for Jerome Towers. If you really couldn’t stand it then we can just drop the idea.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ she forced herself to smile. ‘I’ve got to work somewhere, and The Towers is as good a place as anywhere.’

  ‘Sure?’

  ‘Sure. I don’t fancy getting up at the crack of dawn to dig potatoes anyway,’ she grinned.

  ‘Brussels, Megan,’ he shook his head teasingly. ‘We’re into the sprout season now.’

  ‘Oh.’ She gave a rueful smile.

  ‘A fine farmer you’d make!’ her brother chuckled.

  ‘Brian, what are you going to do if it doesn’t work out?’ she asked quietly.

  He seemed unperturbed. ‘Mr Towers says he has a job lined up for me on the estate.’

  Megan’s mouth tightened. ‘He has it all worked out, doesn’t he?’

  Brian shrugged. ‘He knows what he wants and tries to get it.’ There was a wealth of respect in his voice.

  ‘So I’ve noticed,’ she said dryly. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t rather just sell to him now? He seems pretty confident you’re going to in the end anyway.’

  ‘Maybe I am. But I owe it to Dad to give it another try. Six more months won’t hurt us.’

  ‘I suppose not.’

  Megan wished she could really believe that. She tried to convince herself over the next few Jerome Towers-free days that the six months would soon pass, but she knew that to her it would be a lifetime. If only it could be as pleasant as these last few days without him had been—but she knew that as soon as he returned her resentment would return with him, and with it her knife-edged excitement in his presence.

  She met her friend Tracy from the hospital on Saturday afternoon, and wandered around the shops in Redford with her. Poor Tracy, she was very upset when she realised that it was her information that had helped Roddy Meyers find Megan’s room that fateful night. Megan reassured her that he would have found her room some other way if Tracy hadn’t told him, he had been that determined.

  Paul called for her that evening, whistling appreciatively at her appearance. ‘Surely all this isn’t for the local hop?’ he teased.

  Megan looked down selfconsciously at the figure-hugging brown dress, the long length of her legs shown to advantage in the high-heeled sandals she wore. ‘Have I gone over the top?’ she asked uncertainly.

  ‘Not as far as I’m concerned,’ he grinned his appreciation, opening the door for her. ‘Although you might shock a couple of the old biddies there.’

  ‘That will please Mum no end,’ Megan groaned. ‘After the episode at the hospital she’s extra-sensitive about my behaviour.’

  At the last moment her mother had decided to go and visit her sister for the weekend. Her cold had almost gone, except for a slight cough that she couldn�
��t seem to shake off. But she had only gone after warning Megan that she wasn’t to mention what had happened at the hospital to anyone at the dance tonight. As if she would!

  ‘You’ll just raise a few eyebrows,’ Paul assured her. ‘The other men there will envy me.’

  The hall was quite crowded by the time they arrived. Brian was already there with Joyce and her parents. Rachel Saunders was there too, with a stocky redhaired young man that Megan presumed to be Jeff Robbins. No wonder her mother had been surprised at her calling him good-looking; he looked pleasant enough, but he certainly wasn’t handsome.

  Megan and Paul collected a drink from the makeshift bar at the back of the room, then moved to circulate among their friends. Patsy and Donald Jones were there, Patsy’s nervous beauty seeming to be more so than ever.

  ‘I think this must be Roddy Meyers,’ Paul suddenly muttered in her ear.

  Megan spun round, groaning as she saw Roddy coming towards her. What on earth was he doing at a tame function like this? ‘He’s even worse than his brother!’ she said furiously.

  ‘Then he must be bad,’ Paul said wryly, his challenging gaze fixed on the other man.

  ‘Megan darling!’ Roddy greeted warmly, making her cringe. ‘How nice to see you here!’

  ‘Is it?’ she enquired tautly, sensing Paul’s antagonism already.

  ‘But of course,’ Roddy smiled, completely unconcerned by her obvious anger. ‘It’s nice to see someone I know.’ He looked at Paul. ‘Aren’t you going to introduce us, Megan?’

  She did so, grudgingly.

  Roddy held out his hand to the other man. ‘So you’re Paul,’ he said consideringly.

  Paul ignored the outstretched hand. ‘Meyers,’ he acknowledged tightly. ‘Excuse us, Megan and I have to go and speak to some friends of ours,’ implying that that was the last thing he was.

  ‘But of course,’ Roddy accepted smoothly, and his hand dropped to his side. ‘I’ll catch you later for a dance, Megan.’

  ‘Over my dead body,’ Paul muttered as they moved away. ‘What a creep!’

  Megan laughed at his expression. ‘I did warn you.’

  She studiously avoided Roddy for the rest of the evening, staying with her own crowd of friends, although she did notice him dancing with Patsy Jones a couple of times. Poor Patsy, she looked even more nervous than ever, shooting frightened glances at her husband as he watched them gloweringly. Donald had always been a possessive young man, and he obviously resented Roddy’s interest in his wife.

  Paul had gone over to the bar when Roddy came over for his dance, conveniently so, she thought. Roddy must have known by Paul’s attitude towards him that he wouldn’t welcome him even talking to her.

  ‘No, thank you,’ she politely refused his request.

  ‘No?’ He arched one blond eyebrow. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I don’t like you,’ she told him bluntly. ‘I thought we’d agreed to stay out of each other’s way?’

  Roddy shrugged. ‘It’s only a dance, Megan.’

  ‘Maybe later on,’ again she refused.

  ‘Now!’ He pulled her determinedly on to the dance floor.

  Without causing a scene Megan could do no other than dance with him, but she vowed to hate every minute of it. But Roddy was a good dancer, moving to the fast rhythm with an abandon that was catching. Some people actually stopped dancing to watch the uninhibited display they were putting on, others just gave them knowing looks as they themselves continued to dance.

  Megan could see Paul’s angry face as he stood on the edge of the crowd watching them, but she couldn’t stop her own enjoyment of the music. Her body swayed and beckoned, her expression one of rapt enjoyment. Paul was great fun to be with, but he had absolutely no rhythm when it came to dancing, so it was good to be with someone who had a feel for the music and who wasn’t ashamed to give in to it.

  ‘Don’t look now,’ Roddy grinned at her, not even breathing heavily, ‘but Big Brother is watching us!’

  Megan seemed to come out of her trance, turning almost guiltily to see Jerome Towers looking at them with contempt. And standing at his side was the most exquisitely beautiful woman Megan had ever seen. The face was perfect, the figure delectable enough for any man, and seeing the ‘bright red hair’, Megan presumed this to be Stella, Jerome Towers’ woman.

  ‘Oh God!’ she groaned, thankfully escaping as the music came to an end.

  She ran outside, aware of all the knowing looks being thrown in her direction. And she had promised her mother she would stay quietly in the background! The locals would remember her behaviour this evening for a long time to come.

  And why had Jerome Towers had to be here! He hadn’t been in the hall when Roddy asked her to dance, of that she was certain. He must have returned from London today, bringing his beautiful mistress with him.

  ‘Megan? Megan!’ She could hear Paul calling for her and she ducked behind the building, not up to facing him yet, not up to facing anyone.

  She could see him looking for her with a puzzled frown on his face, finally giving up the search to go back inside. Megan froze on the spot as she heard the muted conversation of another couple, the hedgerow she was standing behind hiding them from her view as much as she was hidden from theirs. And yet she knew who they were, knew and was shocked to the core.

  ‘I don’t like you being with her,’ came the petulantly female voice—Patsy Jones’ voice!

  ‘Don’t you like her?’ taunted the male voice—Roddy Meyers’ voice!

  ‘I like Megan well enough,’ Patsy dismissed. ‘But you love me, Roddy. You said you did,’ she added uncertainly.

  ‘And I do,’ he soothed. ‘But fiery Megan Finch is providing a very good camouflage for us.’ There was amusement in his voice. ‘We don’t want anyone to find out about us, so it’s better if everyone thinks that Megan and I have something going for us. Can’t you see that?’

  ‘I suppose so. But—Roddy!’ she groaned, cut off in mid-sentence. ‘Oh, Roddy!’ she sighed.

  By peering around the hedge Megan could see the other couple locked together in a passionate kiss. Patsy and Roddy! Megan felt sick. How could Patsy do it? She had barely been married six months, surely not long enough for her to have tired of her husband and gone in search of another man. And what a man—! Roddy Meyers was the most selfish, egotistical individual she had ever met. And now it appeared he wasn’t averse to breaking up marriages either.

  ‘Well, well, well,’ drawled a familiar voice, ‘if it isn’t my little secretary/housemaid!’

  Megan spun round to face Jerome Towers, blushing fiercely at the contempt he made no effort to hide. She had to get him away from here, she couldn’t let him see the other couple. Not that she was worried about Roddy, she couldn’t give a damn about him, but until she had had a chance to talk to Patsy she would prefer that no one else knew of her affair. Just knowing that she knew about it could be enough to make Patsy stop seeing Roddy.

  No wonder Patsy’s nerves had got worse the last few months! Donald would go berserk if he knew his bride of only six months was having an affair with another man. Maybe he already suspected something; why else would he make Patsy leave The Towers?

  ‘Good evening, Mr Towers,’ she greeted stiffly. Oh dear, he was walking towards her! She was galvanised into, action, stepping forward, a glowing smile to her lips. ‘Would you care to dance, Mr Towers?’ she invited.

  Brown eyes narrowed, eyes the same colour brown as the velvet jacket he wore, the cream silk shirt contrasting perfectly, the dark brown trousers moulded to his long legs. He raised one dark eyebrow. ‘Isn’t it the prerogative of the male to ask that?’

  Megan forced the smile to remain on her lips, although in reality she longed to wipe the sneer off his face. ‘Never heard of equality, Mr Towers?’ she enquired lightly.

  ‘I’ve heard of it.’ The disgust on his face showed his opinion of it, ‘And I’ll forgo the—pleasure of dancing with you, if you don’t mind. I have a guest waiting for
me inside.’

  ‘Ah yes—Stella.’

  ‘How did you know that?’

  ‘Because she’s a “beautiful little thing, with red hair”.’ Megan felt able to taunt him now, as a hurried look behind her had shown her that the other couple had gone. Thank goodness for that! How could Patsy be so stupid as to behave in that way at a function like this, when anyone might have seen her with Roddy? ‘My mother’s description,’ she explained at Jerome Towers’ questioning look.

  ‘And yours?’

  Megan shrugged. ‘She’s beautiful, and has red hair, what more can I say?’

  ‘What more indeed? If you’ll excuse me,’ he nodded dismissively, ‘I only came out to get Stella’s wrap. She’s feeling the cold.’

  ‘Couldn’t you think of some other way to warm her?’ Megan scorned.

  He eyed her coldly. ‘We don’t all have your desire for exhibitionism. I’m sure you and Roddy are just longing for me to get away so that you can finish what you started on that dance floor, so I won’t keep you any longer.’ He walked away.

  Suddenly it was imperative that he shouldn’t believe such things of her. ‘Mr Towers!’ she called. ‘Please—’

  ‘Yes?’ he said harshly, not even bothering to turn and look at her.

  ‘I—Oh, nothing,’ she said dejectedly.

  Jerome turned, his expression remote. ‘I meant what I said about you and Roddy. I want no affair going on in my home.’

  ‘There won’t be—’

  ‘Like hell there won’t!’ He was suddenly fierce, his expression savage. ‘If I should catch you just once—I’d make your life hell, Miss Finch.’

  ‘Haven’t you done that already?’ she asked dully. ‘I can imagine nothing worse than having to work for you.’

  ‘Oh, but there are, much worse things. As you’ll find out if you cross me,’ he warned before leaving.

  Paul was furious with her when she got back into the hall, and suggested they leave immediately.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Megan mumbled, Paul not having spoken a word during the journey.

  ‘For what?’ he rapped out.

  She sighed. ‘You know what.’