Impetuous Masquerade Read online

  ‘My decision?’ Rhia looked helplessly beyond him. ‘Jared, there’s someone at the door.’

  ‘Travis, I’d guess,’ agreed Jared dryly, making no move to allow her to pass him. ‘Rhia, I want to know what you’re going to do before you open that door.’

  Rhia shook her head. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’

  ‘Then think.’

  ‘Jared, let me pass.’ The doorbell pealed again, and she gazed at him incredulously. ‘Simon will wonder what’s going on,’ she exclaimed, trying impotently to remove his arm, and only succeeding in eliminating what little space there was between them.

  Jared was close, suddenly too close for comfort, the clean male smell of his skin filling her nostrils and making her overpoweringly conscious of the hard strength of his lean body. Where he had unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, she could see the shadow of fine dark hair against his brown flesh, and her own skin felt sensitised by that unwanted awareness. Dear God, she thought in sudden panic, if he touched her now, she wouldn’t be able to stop him…

  Her eyes turned helplessly up to his and in that night-dark gaze, she saw the reflection of her own awareness. Without a doubt he knew what she was thinking, and embarrassment flooded her being. Then, in a moment, she was free and unimpeded, facing an empty hall. Without a word, he had removed his arm, and himself, from her proximity, and not trusting herself a backward glance, Rhia hastened to open the door.

  There was no one outside, but when Rhia looked out into the corridor, she saw Simon walking back towards the lift. For a moment she was tempted to let him go, but even as common sense caused her to speak his name, he glanced back.

  ‘Rhia!’ he exclaimed, coming back more quickly than he had left. ‘Heavens, I thought I might have missed you!’

  ‘Missed me?’ Rhia felt hopelessly blank, but right now her mind was occupied with other things, things she would have preferred not to think about.

  ‘Yes, missed you.’ Simon followed her into the hall, and closed the door behind them. ‘I rang the hospital, you see, and they told me you’d gone home—’

  ‘They told you—oh, Simon! What did you ring the hospital for? Couldn’t you wait?’

  ‘Don’t get upset. I didn’t tell them who I was,’ replied Simon, rather pompously. ‘Honestly, Rhia, aren’t you treating this matter a little too seriously? It’s not your affair—’

  ‘Simon, please—’

  Aware of Jared in the room at the end of the hall, Rhia tried to shut him up, but Simon was determined to have his say. ‘It’s true,’ he insisted, forcing her to lead the way into the living room. ‘Val’s problems are her own and no one else’s. You can’t keep on defending her. She’s old enough to look after herself. And if half of what Frazer says is true—Frazer!’

  ‘That’s what I was trying to tell you, Simon,’ Rhia murmured unhappily, noticing that Jared had put on his jacket again in her absence, and tightened the knot of his tie. ‘We—er—we’ve just come from the hospital.’

  Simon’s mouth was a thin line. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, really,’ said Jared flatly. ‘And I’ve got to get back there. Coming, Rhia?’

  Rhia thrust her shaking hands into the hip pockets of her pants, moving her shoulders helplessly. Then, without answering Jared, she addressed Simon again. ‘There—there’s been a telegram. From Val,’ she murmured, nodding towards the buff-coloured sheet of paper lying on the table. ‘Read it.’

  Simon shrugged, but curiosity got the better of him, and picking it up, he scanned its contents. Then he turned to Rhia, red-faced with anger. ‘The little devil!’ he exclaimed, which she privately thought was a very mild interpretation of her own feelings. ‘She’s done a bunk!’

  Rhia sighed. ‘So it seems.’

  ‘I suppose this is genuine.’

  Rhia stiffened. ‘I—I don’t know—’

  ‘Has her passport disappeared?’ asked Jared, with flat practicality, and after Rhia had checked, she came back into the room nodding her head.

  ‘She wouldn’t have mentioned Daddy unless she intended to involve him,’ she said, scuffing the toe of her shoe. ‘She knows he’ll ring me as soon as she arrives.’

  ‘Well, at least that lets you off the hook, Rhia,’ Simon remarked with some satisfaction, putting a familiar arm across her shoulders. ‘There’s not much point in flogging a dead horse, is there?’

  Jared looked at Rhia, then shrugged his shoulders. ‘Are you coming?’ he asked, and her stomach fluttered unhappily, reminding her she had not had anything to eat since the hamburger at lunchtime.

  ‘Of course she’s not coming.’ It was Simon who answered for her, sticking his chin out aggressively, staunch and protective. ‘Look here, Frazer, we’ve both been pretty patient—’

  ‘I asked Rhia,’ declared Jared expressionlessly. ‘Well, Rhia? It’s your decision.’

  But it wasn’t, and he knew it, damn him, she thought impotently. If anything happened to Glyn now, she would never, ever, forgive herself.

  ‘I’m sorry, Simon,’ she said now, meaning it, but Simon, correctly defining her meaning, removed his arm from her shoulders.

  ‘You’re going with him?’

  ‘I have to.’

  ‘You don’t have to do anything.’

  ‘I do.’ Rhia glanced unwillingly at Jared. ‘For a little while longer I have to pretend. But once Glyn is out of danger, once he’s well enough to be told the truth—’

  ‘And how long might this take?’ demanded Simon angrily.

  ‘A few days,’ inserted Jared evenly.

  ‘A few days!’ Simon snorted. ‘And I’m supposed to kick my heels while Rhia plays the part of the grieving girl-friend!’

  ‘Simon, it’s the least I can do, can’t you see?’

  ‘Frankly, no. But then I don’t much care what happens to Frazer or his nephew.’

  Jared shrugged, but to Rhia’s relief he did not appear to take offence. Instead, he moved politely towards the door and when her eyes met his, he inclined his head. ‘I’ll wait in the car,’ he said, his tone eloquent with meaning, and Rhia nodded a jerky acknowledgement.

  But when Jared had left them, Simon caught her by the shoulders. ‘Don’t do this, Rhia,’ he pleaded urgently. ‘For heaven’s sake, you’re wearing yourself out!’

  ‘It’s only a few days, Simon.’ Rhia touched his cheek. ‘Don’t worry, I can take it. I’d rather. I don’t want this family to be involved in any more trouble.’

  Simon sighed. ‘What about the concert?’

  ‘What concert?’

  ‘The Bartok concert,’ exclaimed Simon impatiently. ‘Don’t say you’ve forgotten.’

  ‘Oh—the Bartok concert.’ Rhia made an awkward gesture. ‘Well, that’s not until tomorrow evening, is it?’

  ‘And do you think you’ll be free tomorrow evening?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘That’s what I thought.’ Simon pursed his lips. ‘Oh, well, I can see that you’re determined. There’s nothing I can say that will deter you. I just hope you know what you’re doing, that’s all.’

  * * *

  Rhia hoped so, too, and never more acutely than at eleven o’clock that night when Glyn awakened.

  After leaving the flat—and Simon—Jared had taken her to a small restaurant not far from the hospital. She had assured him a sandwich would do, but he had insisted that she ate a proper meal, and over barbecued spare ribs and a dish of savoury rice, she had had to concede how hungry she was. Jared ate little, she noticed, although he did swallow the better part of the bottle of wine he had ordered to accompany the meal, and while she ate, he told her a little about Glyn’s life here in London. He spoke sparingly, merely outlining his nephew’s reasons for going to college in London, and relating where he lived and what his interests were. Aware of her sister’s shallow personality, Rhia did not think Val would have paid much attention to Glyn’s background anyway. Her main interests had seemed to be the vapid pursuits of entertainment and
pleasure, and so long as Glyn could supply them, she would be content, until something—or someone—more attractive came along. It was amazing that someone so frivolous could have apparently evoked such genuine emotion, and Rhia wondered how much longer Glyn would have been deceived.

  When he stirred, Rhia’s mouth went unpleasantly dry, and she thought how typical it was that Jared should have chosen that minute to go and talk with the doctor. He had been sitting with her, a silent observer in the corner of the room, no doubt conscious of the fact that any conversation between them might be overheard. But only moments before, the consultant in charge of Glyn’s case had come into the room, and after examining his nephew had invited Jared to join him in sister’s office.

  ‘Val!’

  It was disturbing that her sister’s name should be the first that came to his lips, and Rhia leant forward and touched his hand. ‘I—I’m here, Glyn.’

  ‘Val.’ He said her name again, more confidently this time, and those clear blue eyes seemed to look right through her.

  ‘How—how do you feel?’ Rhia glanced apprehensively towards the door, wishing Jared would come back. ‘You’ve slept for hours. Are you hungry?’

  Glyn’s lips turned back to reveal even white teeth. ‘And have you been sitting here all this time?’ he asked, his fingers sliding over her wrist and drawing her nearer.

  ‘Some of it,’ Rhia agreed, resisting his weakened grasp without too much effort. ‘Your uncle took me to get something to eat, but apart from that, I’ve been watching you sleep.’

  ‘Not a pretty picture.’ Glyn’s lips twitched. ‘But not one you’re unfamiliar with, hmm?’ he added revealingly, and Rhia had to stifle a gasp. She had never considered that Val might have been sleeping with him. And yet why not? she conceded wryly. Her sister was a grown woman, after all. She had to remember that.

  Her silence encouraged Glyn to speak again, and he tugged rather ineffectively at her sleeve. ‘Where’s Jared now?’ he asked, and it took Rhia a moment to realise he was speaking of his uncle. When she explained he was out of the room at the moment, Glyn went on: ‘He’s quite a guy, isn’t he? We all depend on him a hell of a lot.’

  Rhia hesitated. ‘All?’ she ventured faintly.

  ‘Sure. Mom, and Pa, and the men—’

  ‘I thought your father was dead!’

  The words were out before Rhia could prevent them, but to her relief, Glyn seemed to notice nothing amiss. ‘I mean Grandpa, of course,’ he explained. ‘Only he’s always called Pa, and I forget people who don’t know him don’t understand.’

  Rhia nodded, and then realising he couldn’t see her, she said: ‘Well, I’m sure all your family will be delighted to know you’re going to be all right—’ she began, and then broke off with a wince when Glyn’s fingers tightened round her wrist with unexpected strength.

  ‘Am I?’ he hissed urgently, and she was alarmed by his sudden attack. ‘Am I going to be all right?’ he demanded. ‘Have you heard anything? Is there anything I should know?’

  Rhia shifted uneasily on her seat, but the door remained obstinately closed, and she was forced to try and reassure him. ‘Of course you’re going to be all right,’ she exclaimed, endeavouring to sound confident. ‘Your injuries are not serious. You’ve got a few cuts around your eyes, and you may have some concussion, but there’s no reason—’

  ‘But I’m blind!’ he broke in raggedly. ‘I’m blind! I can’t see a damn thing. What are they going to do about that?’

  ‘I—don’t know.’ And Rhia didn’t know how to handle this. ‘I—I believe sometimes—after a crash—this can happen—’

  ‘Do you? Do you?’ He wanted to believe her, and she thought how tragic it was that he had never once reproached her for her supposed part in the accident.

  ‘I’m sure of it,’ she said now, pressing his arm. ‘It just takes time, that’s all.’

  ‘I haven’t told them, you know,’ he said suddenly, in a low voice, and Rhia guessed what he was talking about. ‘I wouldn’t do that. It wasn’t your fault. If that cat hadn’t scared you…’ He moved his head inconsequently. ‘I just wanted you to know. You don’t have to worry.’

  If anything, Rhia felt even worse, and she was unutterably relieved when the Night Sister entered the room. ‘So—our patient’s awake, is he?’ she remarked, with the cheerful familiarity of her profession. ‘And how are you feeling this evening, Mr Frazer? Are you going to let Miss Mallory go home and get some sleep?’

  ‘What time is it?’ Glyn was disorientated, and Sister Bainbridge glanced at the watch pinned to her apron, as she checked his chart.

  ‘It’s nearly half past eleven,’ she declared, coming round the bed to take his pulse. ‘And Dr Singh will want to see you, now you’re awake. I suggest you let Miss Mallory come back in the morning. By then you should be feeling a lot better.’

  Rhia rose to her feet. ‘Yes. Yes, I’ll go, Glyn,’ she said, smiling at the Sister. ‘I’ll come back tomorrow.’

  ‘Will they let you?’ Glyn held on to her fingers. ‘I mean—don’t you have to work?’ Then, to Sister Bainbridge, he added: ‘Val’s a nurse, too, in her first year at St Mary’s. So I’ll be in good hands when I go home, won’t I?’

  Rhia’s face flamed with colour, but Sister Bainbridge was too busy attending to Glyn’s medication to pay much attention to her appearance. ‘I know a Sister at St Mary’s,’ she remarked, without looking up. ‘Margaret Fleming. Do you know her?’

  Rhia didn’t, but did Val? ‘I—the name sounds familiar,’ she murmured unhappily, and Sister Bainbridge laughed.

  ‘It would,’ she chuckled, examining the drip beside him. ‘I believe she’s got quite a reputation with student nurses. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, doesn’t Margaret.’

  ‘Well—I’d better go.’ Rhia bent quickly and deposited a light kiss on Glyn’s forehead. ‘See you tomorrow, hmm? Be good.’

  Glyn looked as if he was going to object to that fairly impersonal salutation, but Sister Bainbridge had already taken Rhia’s place, and began pushing back the sleeve of his gown, preparatory to taking his blood pressure.

  ‘Okay,’ he said, his sightless eyes turning unerringly in her direction. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. Or rather—I won’t—’

  ‘Come now, Mr Frazer. That’s no way to bid your girl-friend goodbye.’ Sister Bainbridge was not deterred. ‘Didn’t Dr Singh tell you there was nothing wrong with your eyes? Give them time. They’ve had a shock. They’re just reluctant to start working again.’

  Rhia emerged into the corridor with an intense feeling of exhaustion. It was ridiculous. She had done nothing. And yet she could sense Glyn’s frustration, and be affected by it.

  Jared was standing some yards along the corridor, still deep in conversation with a dark-skinned man in a white coat. Dr Singh? Rhia speculated bleakly, and then stiffened instinctively as Jared saw her and beckoned her to join them.

  ‘This is Miss Mallory,’ he said, by way of an introduction. ‘I’ve just been explaining the circumstances to Dr Singh.’

  Rhia looked at him. ‘You mean—’

  ‘He means, he has told me that you are not the young lady Mr Frazer believes you to be, Miss Mallory,’ the doctor informed her crisply.

  ‘I see.’ Rhia caught her lower lip between her teeth. ‘And—and what is your opinion?’

  ‘Of Mr Frazer? Or of your deception?’

  Rhia shrugged. ‘I—well, both.’

  Dr Singh hesitated. ‘Mr Frazer will recover,’ he said slowly. ‘His visible injuries are not considerable. Indeed, I would say he might be out of this hospital in one week or less.’

  ‘Oh, thank heaven!’

  ‘But,’ he continued heavily, ‘how soon he recovers his sight is another matter.’

  ‘But I thought his blindness was only temporary!’ exclaimed Rhia, glancing to Jared for confirmation, and he nodded:

  ‘It could be.’

  ‘What Mr Frazer is trying to explain is that the kind of blindness
his nephew is suffering from is a—how shall I put it?—a spastic condition,’ said Dr Singh quietly. ‘Regrettably, we do not yet know sufficient about these nervous convulsions to be able to say with any confidence how soon the sight might return.’

  Rhia gazed at him. ‘You mean—it could last indefinitely?’

  ‘Of that we can be certain,’ said Dr Singh dryly. ‘How long indefinitely may be is another matter.’

  Rhia shook her head. ‘And—and Val? Do you think he should be told about Val?’

  ‘Not at the moment.’ Dr Singh sighed. ‘I realise how difficult this must be for you, Miss Mallory, but I have to say this is not the time to give Mr Frazer any more unwelcome shocks.’

  Rhia quivered. ‘But sooner or later he’s going to find out.’

  ‘I appreciate that,’ Dr Singh nodded. ‘I suggest we do as the Americans say, and “play it by ear”, hmm? For the moment, he needs rest and reassurance. We must see that he gets it.’

  Rhia was not so sure, and Jared chose that moment to break his own bombshell. ‘You say Glyn should be out of here in a week?’ he queried.

  ‘About that,’ agreed the doctor consideringly. ‘Maybe ten days.’

  ‘Well, I’m afraid I can’t spare that amount of time. Not now I know Glyn’s going to be all right.’ Jared frowned. ‘What I’d like to do, if you’ve got no objection, is fly back home on Monday, and come back again next weekend. Then, if Glyn’s fit to travel, he can come home with me. I’m sure we can make some arrangements with the hospital in Calgary to continue any treatment he may be having.’

  ‘Of course.’ Dr Singh was thoughtful. ‘I can see no reason why your nephew shouldn’t make the trip. Providing he’s well cared for. I’m sure the airline would be happy—’

  ‘That won’t be necessary.’ Jared was abrupt. ‘I have my own aircraft. Glyn will receive every care and attention.’

  Rhia, who was still trembling at the realisation that Jared was going to leave her to cope with Glyn’s recovery alone, felt a jolt of disbelief at this news. Jared had his own aircraft! She had never even met anyone who owned a private plane before, and for the first time she wondered exactly what kind of business he was tied up with. It was all getting far too complicated for her, and she realised Simon had been more right than he knew when he warned her that she would regret this.