Act of Betrayal by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page B

to tell herself that
    for .once Jason might have met his match in Celia, but she didn't
    believe it in her heart. Whether or not Celia deserved it, she
    felt anxious for her. She'd even considered seeking Jason
    out—not here, but at whatever hotel he was staying at and
    telling him bluntly that she didn't believe he wanted to bury the
    past.
    She wanted to say, 'Whatever residue of bittern remains, let it
    stay just between the two of us. If you must punish someone for
    what happened, then punish me, not my family. My uncle only acted
    as he did to protect me, because he loved me.' She tried to
    imagine his reaction to her words. Tried, and failed. It was a
    relief to see Alan's red Mini backing carefully into a space
    between two far more opulent vehicles. She snatched up her bag
    and wrap and flew downstairs just as the doorbell sounded,
    calling, 'I'll get it,' to Mrs Fraser. Alan was smiling broadly
    as she opened the door. He handed her a cellophane box. 'Happy
    restaurant opening.' The box contained flowers freesias tied with
    a bow of silver ribbon. She heard herself say, 'How lovely. No-
    one's ever brought me flowers before.' Except once, her memory
    reminded her relentlessly, and they were freesias too. Bought
    from a street stall on your wedding day as you walked together to
    the registrar's. She said, 'I'll put them in water.' Alan looked
    surprised. 'You're supposed to wear them, I think.' 'But if you
    do, they die almost at once, and it's such a shame.' She put the
    box down gently. 'Do you mind if we leave at once, have our drink
    in a pub after all? My cousin's having a cocktail party—
    business and very boring. I don't really want us to be; caught up
    in it.' He was disappointed, she could see that at once. It was
    the first time he'd been to the house, and he'd obviously been
    looking forward to seeing more of it than just the hall. She was
    going to say something reassuring about
    other times, when the drawing room door opened, and Celia said,
    'Another guest? How lovely. Do come in.' Laura froze. Behind
    Celia, towering head and shoulders above her was Jason. He was
    smiling, but his eyes as they met Laura's were as bleak as
    winter. Returning to this house had clearly revived memories for
    him too, and she knew that Uncle Martin was fooling himself if he
    thought the past could simply be brushed aside where this man was
    concerned. That hard look told her more openly than words that
    Jason had neither forgiven nor forgotten anything. She said
    sharply, 'Actually, we're just going out.' 'Rubbish.' Celia
    walked across the hall, smiling and holding out her hand. ' I
    presume you must be Alan. Laura's told me such a lot about you,
    and it's nice to meet you at last. But you surely don't intend to
    run away without having just one little drink.' She linked her
    arm through his, her smile widening. 'I've had to speak to Cousin
    Laura before about keeping all the really attractive men to
    herself.' 'Well—a whisky and soda would be marvellous,' Alan
    accepted, trying not to sound too eager, and failing. Laura's
    heart sank as she followed them into the drawing room. It was
    something of a relief to find that the party was on the point of
    breaking up. People had their last drinks in their hands, and
    some were beginning to edge discreetly towards the door. Alan had
    his drink, and was blossoming rapidly, as Celia led him round the
    room introducing him to people. Laura, holding a dry sherry she
    didn't want, had no desire to follow round the room in their
    wake, so she stayed beside the french windows, watching the
    evening sun dappling through the trees on to the smooth lawn. She
    could hear her uncle's laugh booming out. He enjoyed socialising,
    playing the expansive host, and she'd always found this rather
    endearing. Now she was disconcerted and alarmed to find how
    readily he'd adapted to this intolerable situation which had been
    forced on them. If he was determined to look on