Seduction Never Lies(12)

Colour rose in her face. 'No you're not.'

'Which totally confirms my suspicions,' he murmured.

'Well, you have no right to suspect anything,' Tavy countered, her  flush deepening. 'Or to indulge in any kind of unwarranted speculation  about my personal life.'

'Wow, that's serious stuff,' Jago said, grinning at her. 'I shall consider myself rebuked.'

'Now I'll ask you something,' she said. 'What made you choose the Willow Tree of all places tonight?'

'I didn't,' he said. 'In case you think I'm stalking you or something  equally sinister. In fact, the former Mrs Latimer suggested it. She and  her father came up to the Manor this morning to introduce themselves,  and, as they were leaving, I asked her if she'd like to go for a drink.'

He paused. 'You see? My life, unlike yours, is an open book.'

'But one I'd prefer not to read,' she said crisply, seeing with relief  that Patrick was returning from the bar, edging gingerly through the  crowd with his brimming glass, his face flushed and sullen. 'Just as I'd  rather we kept our distance from each other in future.'

'That could be tricky,' he said thoughtfully. 'Hazelton Magna being  such a very small village.' He added softly, 'Besides, Octavia, you were  the one who came calling first. If you remember.'

She took a gulp of champagne to ease the sudden tightness in her throat.

She said thickly, 'I'm hardly likely to forget.'                       
       
           



       

His smile seemed to touch her like the stroke of a finger on her skin.  'Then at least we have that in common,' he murmured and rose politely as  Fiona also reappeared.

After that, it was downhill all the way. Once the complimentary  champagne was gone, Jago, to Fiona's open satisfaction and her own  secret dismay, simply ordered another bottle.

She tried to catch Patrick's eye to hint it was time to go, but her  signal was ignored and he went off to the bar in his turn to obtain a  third, or, she realised, startled, possibly even a fourth pint.

Which meant that he'd be in no fit state to drive, she thought, taking a  covert peep at her watch, and trying to remember the timing of the last  bus.

She'd never known him drink as much before. A pint and a half or maybe a  couple of glasses of red wine were generally his limit.

I should have talked to him when I first got here, she told herself  unhappily. Persuaded him to tell me what was troubling him. Why his day  had been so rotten. Now, there's no chance.

Fiona was off again, describing parties she'd been to in London, film  premieres, theatre opening nights. Dropping celebrity names in an  obvious effort to establish mutual acquaintances, but without any marked  success.

Jago listened politely, but explained that he had spent most of the  time since the band split up travelling abroad, and was therefore out of  the loop.

'Oh, but once it's known you're back, all that will change,' Fiona  said. 'Besides, there was a piece in one of the papers only a few weeks  ago, saying Descent might be getting back together. How marvellous would  that be?'

'I read that too,' he said. 'Pure speculation.'

'I know you fell out with Pete Hilton,' she said. 'But surely you could find another bass player.'

'Dozens, probably, if we wanted,' he said, refilling her glass.

'But you heard the reaction to Easy, Easy here tonight,' she protested. 'Imagine that repeated a million times over.'

'I don't have to use my imagination.' There was a sudden harshness in  his voice. 'We experienced it in real life. Now we've made different  choices.'

'That's crap and you know it,' Patrick said belligerently. 'With enough  money on the table, you'd be off touring again tomorrow.'

Tavy groaned inwardly. She put her hand on his arm. 'I think it's time we were going.'

'No,' he said. 'I want him to admit it.'

Jago looked down at the table, shrugging slightly. 'Fine,' he said. 'Whatever you say, mate.'

'And I'm not your mate,' Patrick retorted. 'Face it, you're going to  need a couple more million in the coffers to make that dump you've  bought hab-habitable.' He brought the word out with difficulty.

'Which reminds me,' Fiona broke in hurriedly. 'I have a list of some  simply marvellous interior designers-top people-that friends of mine  used in London. I'll give it to you.'

'Thanks,' Jago said. 'But I've already decided to use only local firms.'

'Lord Bountiful in person,' Patrick muttered. 'Crumbs from the rich  man's table. I hope they remember to touch their forelocks.'

Jago's lips tightened, but he said nothing, just turned in his chair  and beckoned, and Tavy saw the landlord Bill Taylor approaching.

'Now then, Mr Wilding.' His voice was polite but firm. 'Let's call it a  night, shall we? The wife's phoning for a taxi to take you home, so  I'll have your keys, if I may, and you can pick up your car in the  morning. I'll put it at the back next to mine, so it'll be quite safe.'

'I can drive,' Patrick said. 'I can drive perfectly well, damn your bloody cheek.'

The older man shook his head. 'Sorry, sir. I can't allow that. If  anything should happen-if you were picked up by the police, it would  reflect on me and the good name of the pub, letting you leave like  this.'

He looked at Tavy. 'And I'll make sure you get back safely too, my dear.'

'I'll be fine,' said Tavy, humiliation settling on her like a clammy hand. 'I can catch the bus.'

'On the contrary,' said Jago. 'I'll be taking Miss Denison home.' As  Tavy's lips parted in instinctive protest, he added softly, 'Not  negotiable.'

That was all very well, thought Tavy, her throat tightening, but she  knew what Fiona's reaction would be to having her evening spoiled in  this way. She could almost feel the daggers piercing her flesh.                       
       
           



       

But when she ventured a glance at the other girl, she found Fiona was  not even looking her way. Instead her eyes were fixed on Patrick who was  still hunched, red-faced, in his chair.

She looks-almost triumphant, thought Tavy in total bewilderment. But why?

It was an awkward journey, with Charlie at the wheel, and all of them  seated in the rear of the car, Jago in the middle. There was plenty of  room, but Tavy found herself trying to edge further away just the same,  squashing into the corner, and staring fixedly out of the window at very  little, as she tried not to hear what the others were saying.

And she could well have done without that faint trace of musky scent in  the air, released by the warmth of his skin and reviving memories of  her own that she could have dispensed with too.

While even more disturbing was the imminent risk of his thigh grazing hers.

'Ted Jackson.' Fiona's voice had lifted a disapproving notch. 'I do  wish you'd talked to Daddy before hiring him. His wife is the most  appalling gossip, but Ted can match her, rumour for rumour. You won't be  able to keep anything secret.'

'I doubt I have any secrets left,' said Jago. 'The tabloids did a  pretty good dissection of my life and crimes while I was still with the  band.'

'They say your quarrel with Pete was over a woman.'

'I'm sure they do,' he said. 'However, I prefer the past to remain that way and concentrate instead on a blameless future.'

'That sounds terribly dull,' Fiona said with a giggle. 'Everyone needs a few dark corners.'

'Even Octavia here?'

Tavy heard the smile in his voice, and bit her lip hard.

'Oh, no,' said Fiona. 'The Vicar's good girl never puts a foot wrong. An example to us all.'

Her tone made it sound a fate worse than death.

'How very disappointing,' he said lightly. 'Yet people like the  Jacksons can be very useful. For a newcomer to the district, anyway. You  can find out a hell of a lot quite quickly.'

'Well, on no account hire him to build you a swimming pool. We had  endless problems and in the end Daddy had to sack him, and bring in  someone else to finish the work.'

'That won't be a problem,' said Jago. 'I have no plans for a pool.'

'But you must have, surely. There's that big disused conservatory at the side of the house. It would be ideal.'

'I have other ideas about that,' he said. 'And when I want to swim, I have a lake.'

'You must be joking,' said Fiona with distaste. 'That's a frightful  place, all overgrown and full of weeds. You should have it filled in.'

'On the contrary,' he said. 'I find it has a charm all of its own. And  when it's been cleared out, I intend to use it regularly. With its naked  goddess for company, of course,' he added reflectively.

Bastard, thought Tavy inexcusably, wondering how many bones she would  break if she opened the car door and hurled herself out on to the verge.

On the other hand, there wasn't far to go, and she was bound to be  dropped off first, she thought, steeling herself, which would leave Jago  and Fiona at liberty for-whatever.

Instead, she realised Charlie was taking the left fork for Hazelton Parva, and the White Gables stud, and groaned silently.

'You will come in for coffee, won't you,' Fiona asked when they reached  the house, adding perfunctorily, 'You too, of course, Octavia.'