His Wedding-Night Heir(28)

After the sunlight, the big hall felt cool and shadowy, and there was a scent of lavender in the air.

Cally realised that he was carrying her towards the sweep of the staircase. She said breathlessly, 'Nick—put me down.'

'In my own good time.' There was a note of amusement in his voice—and something else, infinitely more dangerous.

'Asserting your marital rights already, darling?' It was a woman's voice, low-pitched, drawling, and instantly unpleasantly familiar. 'And it's only just teatime. No wonder the poor child looks stunned.'

There was a frozen silence, then, slowly and carefully, Nick lowered Cally to the ground and turned.

'Adele,' he said expressionlessly. 'What an unexpected pleasure. I really thought you were in Paris.'#p#分页标题#e#

Adele Tempest remained where she was, framed in the doorway to the drawing room. She was wearing a close-fitting white skirt and a wrap-around top in a deep violet shade. Her red-gold hair was piled on top of her head, with a few artless tendrils allowed to escape around her face and the nape of her neck. She was smiling.

'Oh, but I was,' she said. 'Then a little bird told me you were returning with the prodigal bride, and I thought at least one person should be here to welcome her. Apart from the servants, that is.' She looked Cally over, her smile widening. 'Nick's powers of persuasion must be overwhelming, my pet.

Or was it his money that you couldn't resist—yet again? After all, you've been living rough for a year now, and a fate worse than death probably seems marginally preferable to no fate at all."

Cally kept her voice steady somehow. 'It's good to see you, too, Adele. And nice to know you haven't changed.'

Adele laughed. 'Oh, Nick's the one for alterations. You won't recognise the place since your last brief visit. I gather he's transformed that gothic horror of a master bedroom that Ranald was so stubborn about into a real love nest. Of course, I had no idea it was intended for you.'

'Well, life's just full of surprises,' Cally said lightly. She turned to the housekeeper, who was standing behind them, looking faintly agonised. 'Perhaps you'll show me this amazing transformation upstairs, Mrs Thurston? I'd like to tidy myself after the journey. And then we'll all have tea in the drawing room.' She smiled up into Nick's icy face. 'Please entertain our guest for me, darling. I won't be long.'

Without hurrying, she began to climb the stairs, following the housekeeper along the gallery at the top until they reached a pair of double doors, which Mrs Thurston threw open.

"This is the master suite, Lady Tempest. I do hope you'll be comfortable.'

Cally found herself in a large bedroom with pale walls and a low ceiling. There was a pretty Edwardian dressing table, with a satin stool, and apart from that the major piece of furniture was a four-poster bed, canopied in a rich dark blue edged with cream, with a matching quilted cover. The large windows were hung with the same fabric.

Cally forced a smile. 'It's—absolutely lovely.'

Mrs Thurston permitted herself a pleased smile then hurried to open a door on the other side of the room, revealing a short passage, with more doors on either side.

"There's another bedroom at the end, which Sir Nicholas has been using up to now,' she announced. 'The dressing room, which is shared, is on the left, and the bathroom is directly opposite. If there's anything you need, you have only to ring.'

'I'm sure you haven't forgotten a thing,' Cally assured her.

The other woman hesitated. 'If I may say something, your ladyship? I—I'm really sorry about what happened downstairs just now. I knew Sir Nicholas wouldn't want any kind of intrusion today, but I didn't realise Lady Tempest was in the house.'

She shook her head. 'It was such a beautiful day, I opened the French windows in the drawing room. I suppose she walked across the garden from the Dower House and simply came up the terrace steps. I couldn't believe my eyes when I went in with the flowers and found her sitting on the sofa.'

Mrs Thurston paused. 'And, of course, she used to live here..."

'Which makes it doubly difficult to ask her to leave,' Cally supplied wryly. 'Please don't worry, Mrs Thurston. I'm sure my husband will deal with the situation.' She pulled a face. 'I suspect he's used to it.'

Mrs Thurston smiled dutifully, but she still seemed troubled as she left the room.#p#分页标题#e#

And why shouldn't she be? Cally asked herself, tossing her handbag on to the bed. I'm pretty troubled myself. Things are bad enough without Adele aiming her poison darts at every available target.

To find her waiting was turning the clock back with a vengeance.

She found her way to the bathroom, and washed her face and hands in cool water. It was die height of luxury, she thought, eyeing the creamy marble that tiled the walls and floor with reluctant appreciation. She was less certain about the big sunken bath and enormous shower cabinet, both of which looked as if they'd been deliberately designed for dual occupation.