Past All Forgetting by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online

and could never be relegated again. The diamond on her left hand seemed to glint coldly at her and she shivered. The sensation that all her safe, secure world was falling to pieces around her was stronger than ever. So many things she had never allowed herself to think about, and now they were all jostling for utterance. Her dislike for Colin's father, for instance, with his self-importance and smug satisfaction at his own success, and coupled with this her vague dissatisfaction that Colin had never wanted to cut free and see what he could achieve on his own, without his father's all-pervading influence.
    She turned away from the window, crumpling Mrs Parsons' note and sending it spinning on to the fire. I should never have come back here, she thought despairingly. I'm blaming Colin for what I didn't do myself. I should have struck out on my own. Travelled—I said I always wanted to—taken a job abroad. And unbidden, the traitorous thought came to her mind that she still could.
    She groaned aloud. To run away—was that the answer? Once before, she had been a coward, and that was why she was confronted by her present predicament. There was nothing to be gained by running away. She would have to stay and face whatever there was to face. That would be her punishment.
    But as she went slowly back upstairs to her room, it chillingly occurred to her that—for Rian—that might not be enough.
     
    It was not a pleasant weekend. On Saturday morning, Janna shopped for her mother, all the time keeping a wary eye open for Rian's car, but she saw no sign of the vehicle or its occupant. During the afternoon Colin picked her up, and they went for a drive before returning to his father's house to have dinner. Sir Robert was in one of his most expansive and self-congratulatory moods, and Janna found she was having to work hard to conceal her irritation. He had pulled off some deal concerning shares, and although she did not fully comprehend the ins and outs of the situation, she did gather that this coup had been at the expense of a business rival, and could not join in Colin's obvious enthusiasm for his father's acumen.
    When the exquisitely cooked and served meal was over, Sir Robert turned to more personal topics.
    'Now that you've found somewhere to live, I suppose you'll be fixing a date?'
    'Somewhere to live?' Janna began uncertainly, and Sir Robert, who was lighting a cigar, gave her a sharp look.
    'Why, yes. Colin told me he had first refusal on the old Tempest place. A fine house that Just what you need. And you're to have
carte blanche
in furnishing it Just choose what you want and send the bills to my secretary. I can't say fairer than that' He sat back with a pleased air, expelling a cloud of smoke, and waiting to be thanked.
    Janna swallowed, avoiding Colin's glance. 'The thing is— I'm not sure…' she began again.
    'Not sure about what?'
    Janna was uneasily aware that she had Sir Robert's undivided attention, and that the pleased air had dissipated to some extent His voice, in fact, held the slight bark which indicated his suspicion that he was about to be told something he did not particularly want to hear. Janna had never personally experienced this before. She had always been treated with a rather fulsome kindness in the past.
    Colin came to her rescue as she searched for words.
    'Janna isn't totally sold on Carrisbeck House,' he said, sounding deliberately casual.
    'And why not, may I ask?' Sir Robert glared at the pair of them, his pleasure in the meal and his cigar destroyed by this strange obduracy. It's a fine property, and the fishing rights go with it. What's the matter with it, I'd like to know?'
    'Nothing,' Janna answered desperately. She moistened her lips. 'You see, I knew the Tempests, and the thought of living in their old home—and the size of the place— rather overwhelms me, that's all.'
    'Oh.' Sir Robert digested this for a moment. 'Well, you're going to be a Travers, my girl, so you'll have to learn