An Heir Made in the Marriage Bed Read online

  ‘Oh, there you are, Mrs Novak,’ she exclaimed with evident relief. ‘We were so worried about you, weren’t we, Mr Matt? My granddaughter didn’t know where you’d gone.’

  ‘I’m sorry—’ began Joanna, but before she could continue, Matt intervened.

  ‘Mrs Novak decided to take a swim,’ he said, making no mention of his part in bringing her back to shore. ‘Perhaps you’d apologise to Callie. I’m sure my—Joanna—regrets not informing you what she was planning to do.’

  Matt wasn’t looking at her and she smiled at the housekeeper instead. ‘That’s right,’ she said. ‘It was a little foolish.’ It was easier to admit her mistake. ‘But it was such a lovely morning and I haven’t had a swim since I arrived.’

  Teresa frowned. ‘You could always use the pool,’ she said, looking at Matt, but he didn’t say anything. ‘Oh, well,’ she continued, purposely cheerful. ‘No harm done.’

  Her eyes lingered for a moment on Joanna’s belly, and Joanna assured herself that Teresa couldn’t possibly know what had been going on. She was sure her hair was mussed and there was probably sand coating her thighs. But hopefully the housekeeper would assume she’d been sitting on the beach after her swim and not indulging in hot, sweaty sex.

  Now, Teresa glanced back towards the villa, and said, ‘Anyway, I’d better get back to my kitchen. With visitors coming this afternoon—’ She pulled a wry face. ‘There’s still quite a lot to do.’

  Offering another polite smile, she hurried away, and Joanna bent to pick up her towel. Shaking it free of sand, she said curiously, ‘Visitors? I didn’t know you were expecting company.’

  Matt shrugged. ‘I doubt if you’ll be pleased to hear who it is.’

  Joanna waited for him to go on, but he didn’t. She thought she could guess the identity of his visitors after what he’d just said, but it was hard not to feel excluded from his life.

  Gathering her belongings, she avoided his eyes as she said, ‘Well, give your parents my best, won’t you? Particularly your father. Tell him he’s welcome to come to the cottage any time.’

  ‘Okay.’ Matt blew out a breath. ‘I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘Will you have time for me, now that you’ve got visitors?’ Joanna asked, aware that she sounded resentful. ‘I doubt if your mother will want to see me again.’

  Matt heaved a sigh. ‘My mother coming here has nothing to do with us. What happened, happened, Jo. You know it and I know it. You wanted me, and you’re pretty good at getting your own way.’

  Joanna felt sick. ‘Well, at least I know where I stand,’ she said stiffly, bundling the towel about her. ‘I know I don’t look very appealing at the moment, but I could do without you making me feel like a desperate housewife!’

  That hadn’t been his intention, and now Matt felt guilty. ‘It wasn’t a criticism,’ he muttered gruffly. ‘But for pity’s sake, Jo, you need to decide what it is you want from me.’

  With an effort, Joanna managed to stem the tears that burned behind her eyes. ‘Go and get ready for your guests. I’m sure they’ll be better company than I am.’

  ‘I doubt it.’ Matt’s tone was gentler now. ‘My mother thought the trip would give my father something to think about besides his health.’

  ‘Oh—’ Joanna pressed a hand to her throat. ‘But they do know I’m staying here?’

  ‘They know,’ agreed Matt, picking up her wrap and removing the towel to drape the silk shawl over her shoulders. He was tempted to bend his head and kiss the soft curve of her nape, but he restrained himself. His eyes darkened with some concern. ‘You are okay? I mean with what just happened. I didn’t hurt you?’

  ‘No, you didn’t hurt me,’ she replied, although the ache in her heart told a different tale, but she couldn’t let him see how she really felt.

  Matt heaved a breath and glanced back towards the villa. He wasn’t proud of what he’d done, particularly after he’d promised himself this wouldn’t happen again. Yet here he was, having just enjoyed the most delightful sex of his life and he was looking for reasons to blame her for his weakness.

  Dammit, why did Joanna have to be so sexy? Even in her present condition, he’d never wanted any other woman. Was that why his attraction to her was so addictive? Because his feelings towards her couldn’t be replaced? He had the feeling he wouldn’t like the answer. It had always been that way with her.

  ‘So,’ he said, trying to defuse the situation. ‘So long as you’re okay, I’d better be getting back.’ He glanced down at his legs, which, like hers, were coated with sand. ‘I need a shower and I’m sure you do, too.’ He paused. ‘If Henry’s home, I’ll get him to drive you back to the cottage. It will save you walking so far in this heat.’

  ‘I’d prefer to walk,’ declared Joanna at once, even though her legs still felt like jelly. Her lips twisted. ‘Give your mother my regards, won’t you? I’m sure she’ll appreciate the irony.’

  ‘Jo!’

  But she didn’t stop, and Matt decided it wouldn’t be wise to go after her. He needed time—hell, they both needed time—to come to terms with what came next.

  * * *

  When she got back to the cottage, the first thing Joanna did was run herself a bath.

  Her legs were covered in sand, yes, and she didn’t like the gritty feeling on her skin. But despite what she’d told Matt, her back was aching, and she felt a warm bath might ease the stiffness in her bones.

  Callie knocked on the door as Joanna was drying herself. ‘Would you like an iced tea, Mrs Novak?’ she asked, with a certain amount of diffidence. She was evidently feeling guilty for causing such a panic over Joanna’s disappearance.

  Joanna sighed, wrapping the huge bath towel around her and opening the door. ‘That sounds good,’ she said, earning a relieved smile from the young woman waiting outside. ‘Sorry if I worried you earlier. I’ll be out in about ten minutes.’

  Deciding it was too warm, even for shorts, Joanna slipped a loose cotton caftan over her head. The ankle-length dress, patterned in shades of green and apricot, was cool and comfortable. She’d bought it at a boutique on one of her trips to town. Typical tourist wear.

  She’d washed her hair, too, and she left it loose about her shoulders. She didn’t expect to see anyone, other than the two women who worked at the cottage. She was sure Matt would have his hands full if his parents were coming to stay.

  It was a day for relaxing, she decided, as though most days didn’t fall into that category anyway. Maybe it would be a good day to check up on what was happening in the rest of the world.

  With that purpose in mind, she carried the worn leather case containing her father’s old laptop out onto the veranda, where Callie had left her a tray of iced tea and a dish of newly baked muffins. She was going to be horribly fat when this was over, she thought ruefully, taking one of the muffins and biting into the rich fruity filling. She doubted David would appreciate his new partner looking like a blimp.

  Thinking of David reminded her that after the baby was born, she’d be going back to London. It was no longer an appealing prospect, but after today she was only fooling herself if she thought that Matt was going to change his mind about her. She could feel the baby moving energetically inside her. A particularly sharp kick, just below her ribcage, had her wincing at the unexpected blow. Was Matt’s son exacting the revenge his father was denied?

  Finishing her muffin, Joanna drank some of the iced tea and then set her glass aside. Pulling the laptop towards her, she unzipped the case and pulled out the old computer. She didn’t know why she bothered putting it in its case really. It was hardly in pristine condition.

  The last time she’d used it, she’d scanned some of her father’s old emails. She’d hoped she might find something about the accident and what his reaction had been. But Angus had evidently kept his business corresponde
nce in an encrypted folder, and she didn’t have the password, or there was nothing about the case to find.

  The only anomaly, which she’d just read the evening before, was an email from a betting website. It was a demand for money, informing her father that he was several hundred pounds in the red. Obviously, whoever had sent the email didn’t know Angus had died, and, knowing what her father had always thought about gambling, she ignored it. She had intended to mention it to Matt the next time she saw him. But after this morning’s episode, that might be some distance in the future.

  She pulled the computer out of its case, as usual, but this time a worn scrap of paper fell to the floor. Bending to pick it up, she saw it was a letter. And judging by its shabby appearance, it was probably older than the computer itself.

  Frowning, she unfolded the page, wondering how long it had been there. It must have been lodged in one of the compartments, and because there were so many tears in the paper it was written on, it hadn’t dropped out straight away. Back in London, she used the computer at the gallery to do her work, and it was only since she’d been here that it had been of any use.

  The letter she’d rescued was dated June 1980, and Joanna whistled through her teeth. Goodness—that was almost forty years ago. Why on earth would her father keep a letter that long? Surely it must have been written while he was still at university?

  Was the letter from her mother? It started Darling Angus and that was a very intimate form of address. Turning the page, Joanna looked for her mother’s signature. But instead it read Much love, Adrienne.

  Adrienne!

  The address was Girton College, Cambridge. Girton! Her mother had attended one of the London universities. Had her father been involved with this woman before he and Glenys had got together? Had her mother known about this other woman in her father’s life?

  Joanna frowned, turning back to the front of the letter and reading the address again. Whoever had written it had been a student at Girton College. Her father had been at Trinity College, Cambridge, but that was all she knew.

  She felt a little guilty, reading a letter that had so obviously been addressed to her father. But, as with the emails, it couldn’t hurt him now. Besides, she was only human. And she was curious.

  Reading on, she frowned in concentration.

  Darling Angus,

  It isn’t easy for me to write this letter, my dear, but I’m afraid I can’t see you again. We’ve had some wonderful times together, and I’m going to miss you, terribly. But you must have realised, as I did, that it couldn’t go on for ever, I’m going back to the States to marry Oliver—

  Joanna broke off, her jaw dropping. Oliver! Was this letter from Adrienne Novak? she wondered incredulously. Although of course, Adrienne’s surname hadn’t been Novak in those days.

  She read on.

  It will make all the difference to my family. He’s promised to help Daddy financially, and you know I could never live on a shoestring, my dear. I’m returning to New York at the end of the week. But before I left I wanted to wish you every happiness for the future. I’m sure you and Glenys—

  Joanna’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help it. It was one thing to speculate if her father had had an affair and quite another to have it confirmed.

  —will get married as you originally intended. I don’t think either of us took our relationship seriously. I know I didn’t. We’re two different people, Angus. It’s been fun while it lasted, but like all good things it must sadly come to an end.

  Much love...

  Joanna was stunned. The tone of the letter really irritated her. She wondered if her father and mother had been engaged at the time. If they had, this was such a betrayal. She doubted her mother knew anything about it, and it certainly showed Angus’s outrage at his wife’s departure for the hypocrisy it had been.

  She wondered why her father had kept the letter for so many years. Had he had some intention of using it for his own ends? Why else would he have kept it, unless he’d had some ulterior motive for doing so? Which undoubtedly cast a shadow over other things he’d done.

  Was that why Adrienne had always hated her? Had she been afraid that Angus might tell Oliver about their affair? It must have been a bitter irony that her son should have fallen in love with Angus’s daughter. No wonder she’d tried her best to keep them apart.

  Did it also explain why her father had been so willing to merge his company with NovCo? And why, initially, he hadn’t opposed her marriage to Matt? The accident had brought things to a head, of course, and he’d involved her in it. But could the accusations Angus had made against Matt and his father now be seen in a different light?

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  JOANNA WAS IN the kitchen, talking to Rowena, when Callie came to tell her she had a visitor. ‘It’s Mr Novak,’ she said in a hushed voice. ‘My grandfather brought him over.’

  Mr Novak? For a moment Joanna couldn’t think what she meant. And then she realised: it must be Matt’s father. Dared she hope his wife hadn’t come with him?

  Although the Novaks had arrived a couple of days ago, Joanna hadn’t seen them. She’d heard from Callie that Mr Matt’s father spent most of his days in a wheelchair, but she’d also said he was cheerful enough, and obviously pleased to be here.

  With a hasty examination of her appearance, Joanna followed the girl into the parlour. But both Oliver Novak and Henry Powell were waiting for her on the veranda; Oliver in his electric wheelchair and Henry standing proudly beside him.

  ‘Here she is,’ said Oliver at once, only the faint slur in his speech revealing the lingering effects of his stroke. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you again, Jo. Come and give an old man a kiss.’

  Joanna smiled and went to hug Matt’s father warmly. ‘It’s great to see you, too,’ she said, regarding him with real affection. ‘It must be nearly two years since we last met.’

  ‘At least,’ agreed Oliver, glancing up at the man at his side. Then he said, ‘You go and visit with your granddaughter, Henry. I’ll let you know when I want to leave.’

  ‘Yes, sir, Mr Novak.’

  Callie had already gone back to her duties, and as Henry was about to follow her Joanna said, ‘Perhaps you’d ask Rowena to bring us some iced tea? I’m sure Mr Novak is ready for a drink.’

  ‘A beer would be better,’ muttered Oliver, but both Joanna and Henry pretended not to hear him. It was too early in the day to start drinking alcohol.

  After Henry had gone, Joanna seated herself on one of the chairs beside the bamboo table where she often did her work.

  Then, with another smile for her visitor, she said, ‘How are you? I know Matt’s been worried about you.’

  ‘Has he?’ Oliver didn’t sound as if he believed that, but he leant across to pat Joanna’s arm with his right hand. ‘More to the point, how are you? I couldn’t believe my ears when Matt told me you were having a baby.’

  Joanna felt a deepening of colour in her cheeks. ‘I couldn’t believe it either. Not at first,’ she admitted honestly. ‘After all those false alarms.’

  ‘But you’re pleased about it?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I’m delighted.’

  ‘Even though Matt’s the father?’

  Especially because Matt’s the father, thought Joanna ruefully, but she kept that to herself.

  ‘We’re working things out,’ she said instead, and Oliver regarded her with thoughtful eyes.

  ‘I was sorry to hear about your father,’ he said suddenly. ‘Even though he was no friend of mine, I wouldn’t have wished him ill.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘But I have to say, he caused a lot of unhappiness for you and Matt, and I’m hoping that this baby will go some way to healing the wounds between you.’

  Joanna sighed. ‘Oh, Oliver—’

  She would have said more,
but Rowena arrived at that moment with a jug of iced tea.

  In all honesty, Joanna was glad of the diversion. She had the feeling that Matt’s father hadn’t just come here to say hello. Pouring the iced tea gave her time to absorb what he was saying, but she was still not prepared for what was to come.

  Setting his tea aside, Oliver regarded her intently. ‘I know you and Matt are not back together,’ he said quietly, ‘but I’m here to tell you that your father was not the innocent he claimed to be.’ He sighed. ‘There were things Matt didn’t tell you. Things he was fool enough to keep to himself. And then, when he did try to explain the situation, you wouldn’t listen to him.’

  Joanna shifted a little uncomfortably. ‘Oliver—’

  ‘No, listen to me.’ It was obvious he felt strongly about what he was saying, but she was a little alarmed to see the colour that had entered his cheeks as he spoke. ‘Your father resented me from the moment I married Matt’s mother. He and Adrienne were sweethearts, you know? While she was at college in England.’

  Joanna’s jaw dropped. ‘You know about that?’

  ‘Ah.’ Oliver nodded. ‘I’m surprised he told you. In any case, it doesn’t matter,’ he went on firmly. ‘He should have known that my father was every bit as astute as I believe I am, and there was nothing Adrienne did before our marriage that John Novak didn’t know about.’

  ‘I don’t see what that has to do—’

  ‘It has everything to do with his attitude towards Matt. Joanna, Angus knew his firm was in difficulties before you married my son, and to begin with it was enough for him to have Matt bail him out.’

  ‘He was very grateful.’

  ‘Was he?’ Oliver’s tone was ironic now. ‘Well, I have to tell you, Jo, that gratitude didn’t last very long.’

  ‘If you’re talking about the accident—’

  ‘Of course, I’m talking about the accident.’ Oliver reached for his glass and managed to take a mouthful of tea.

  ‘It was unfortunate that Angus had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the time, but that was no reason for him to tell lies about my son.’