Nicky’s eyes widened when he saw her, and Briony laughed as he sniffed appreciatively at her perfume. One day Nicky was going to be as potently male as his father, but for now he was still her precious little boy.
His eyes had just closed when Kieron walked into his room. He had changed into evening clothes, the narrow black trousers making him look taller and leaner, the white shirt and jacket a pale blur in the evening dusk. He kissed Nicky, who hugged him back sleepily.
Whatever else had not turned out right, at least Nicky had his father, and it was impossible to doubt their feelings for each other. Nicky’s every other sentence seemed to contain the words ‘Daddy said’. It would be easy to feel jealous, Briony admitted, but instead she could only feel relief that some good at least would come out of this ill-fated marriage.
Louise raised her eyebrows a little when she saw Briony, and there was jealousy in the narrowed gaze. The brunette was wearing red—a slim satin sheath of a dress which emphasised her voluptuous curves.
Because they were going out, Héloise had prepared a light meal. It was delicious, and Briony had consumed two glasses of wine before she realised that her glass had been refilled. They had been a mistake, she reflected a little woozily as they went out to the car.
Marian had insisted on Louise accompanying her in her car, leaving Briony and Kieron to follow alone.
As they drove down the Grande Corniche the city glittered beneath them, the dark blue Mediterranean bristling with expensive yachts, bedecked with coloured lights.
Kieron parked by the harbour and they walked past the glittering array of craft before turning away from the coast, placing Briony’s arm through his as he drew her across the road. The slight contact triggered off insane desires which she fought hard to quell.
The casino was noisy and full, and Briony watched the tables, wide-eyed and awed that anyone could lose money with such careless sangfroid.
Louise smiled at her condescendingly. They had been waiting for them in the foyer, and no sooner had they all stepped into the main gaming room than Marian had been swept off by a party of old friends, delighted to see her and anxious for her to spend some time with them.
‘You will dance with me, won’t you?’ Louise pleaded with Kieron. ‘We always used to dance so well together…as we did everything.…’
‘But now I’m a married man and must dance only with my wife,’ Kieron said dryly.
He bought some chips and handed some to Briony. She followed his instructions carefully, but in no time at all the small pile had disappeared.
‘You are no gambler,’ Louise said scornfully. ‘You should have placed the lot on one number.’
‘Briony’s too cautious to be an all or nothing girl.’ Kieron’s mocking smile pierced her heart. ‘But I’m trying to teach her.’
Louise wanted a drink, and as Kieron turned to summon a waiter, they were parted by the crowd. A feeling of panic came over Briony as she searched anxiously for him, and the crowd seemed to press down upon her until she felt that she was suffocating. At last it parted and she saw Kieron standing with his back to her, Louise in his arms.
When she reached them the brunette’s smile was smug. ‘I nearly fell over and Kieron had to rescue me. Which he did most gallantly,’ she added, kissing Kieron lingeringly on the mouth.
Something exploded inside Briony. She had nearly been crushed to death by the crowds, but all that Kieron had been concerned about was rescuing Louise from ‘nearly falling’.
‘It’s stuffy in here,’ she said coldly. ‘I’m going to get some fresh air. I’ll meet you by the car when you’re ready to leave, Kieron.’
She hurried out before either of them could speak. Let Kieron have Louise if that was what he wanted. She didn’t care. Let them dance together and make love together. Let them.…She dashed away the angry tears with the back of her hand, stumbling out into the fresh air and heading instinctively for the sea. She had just crossed the road when Kieron’s fingers clamped on her arm.
‘What the hell was all that about?’ he demanded savagely. ‘You little fool, you didn’t even look when you crossed the road back there!’
‘Perhaps I’m tired of looking,’ Briony said fiercely. ‘Especially at you and Louise. Oh, why don’t you go back to her? I’m sure she’s far more satisfactory than I am in every way.’
‘Except that she doesn’t happen to have borne my son,’ Kieron said softly.
‘Which is the only reason that we’re married, and I wish to God you’d remember that and stop tormenting me with this fictitious “lovemaking”. If that’s what you want, get it from Louise—I’m sure she would be more than happy to oblige.’