Past All Forgetting (6 page)

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 not to be overwhelmed.'

'Janna knows that. Dad,' Colin broke in soothingly. 'But I don't want to rush her into anything she's not happy about, so I've given her a few days to come round in her own way.'

'Fair enough, I suppose.' Sir Robert sounded slightly mollified. 'But don't take weeks over it, lass, or some fly character will be in ahead of you.'

For one moment Janna was tempted to ask Sir Robert if he had known Rian, or if he was aware he was back in the locality, but she remained silent. Any such reference on her part could lead to precisely the sort of cross-examination she most wanted to avoid, she thought.

She spent the evening watching television in a desultory manner while Colin allowed his father to beat him at chess.

Later, as Colin drove her home, she sat quietly beside him, hoping against hope that he would not raise the subject of the house again. But she was disappointed. As the car slid to a halt before her gate, Colin said almost too casually, 'I shall have to let Barry know about the Tempest place by Monday, Janna. You'd better let me have your decision one way or another tomorrow.'

'Your father seems to think there's only one decision to be made,' she said, trying to smile.

'Oh, you know Dad.' He was silent for a minute. 'Besides, he has rather a vested interest in the place, I'm afraid.'

'I don't really see why.'

'No.' Colin paused again and then said ruefully, 'I'll have to tell you, darling. He's already had an architect to look at the place and draw up some plans to convert the old stables and garage block into a luxury flat for himself. Says his house is too big now that he's on his own. Wants to be near us—and his grandchildren.'

Janna's mouth was suddenly dry. 'I see.'

'Do you, darling?' He drew her into his arms and kissed her,, but for the first time in their relationship, she was incapable of more than a token response. 'I was hoping you would. He's not getting any younger, after all, and he wouldn't actually be living
with
us. Mrs Masham would come with him, to cook for
him
and look after him generally.'

Janna shook her head. 'I can see he has it all worked out,' she said more calmly than she felt.

Inwardly, she was seething with anger. This—this was moral blackmail, she told herself. If she turned Carrisbeck House down now, it would seem as if she was doing it because she did not want her future father-in-law living on the premises. She bit her lip. She had been surprised by the uncharacteristic generosity of his offer to furnish the house. Sir Robert had never believed in throwing what he termed 'good brass' about on anything which did not directly concern himself or his own comfort. Now she understood the motive behind the offer, she would rather live with bare boards and orange boxes than accept, she thought, her temper mounting.

'Janna?' Colin's voice was questioning, his mouth persuasive against her ear. 'You wouldn't really mind, would you, darling? An old man's whim? He may not even go through with it. And he's very fond of you, you know.'

She gave an edged smile, disengaging herself from his arms. 'I'll take your word for it,' she answered quietly. 'I won't pretend that this hasn't been a shock, Colin. I had no idea your father was thinking along these lines… However, you'd better go along with the purchase, as it's what you both want.'

'But you have to want it too.' He turned her face to his, his eyes searching hers worriedly.

'I've agreed, haven't I?' she said steadily. 'I won't go back on it.'

'I know you won't' He took her hand and carried it to his lips. 'That's one of the wonderful things about you, Janna. You're so dependable.'

'Or so predictable?' she questioned dryly. 'I didn't used to be like that Colin. Beware, I might revert to type.'

He laughed, relieved at the apparent lightening of the atmosphere between them. 'I don't think there's much chance of that,' he said carelessly. He kissed her again. 'Goodnight, my love, and dream of me.'

Mrs Prentiss was alone in the sitting room watching a horror film on television as Janna let herself in.

'Hallo, dear, had a nice evening?' she queried automatically as her daughter entered the room, and without a pause, 'I can't understand these people at all, Janna. The villagers, have warned them to stay away from the castle, and yet they're all going to spend the night there. It beats me why they're so daft.'

'Why do you watch it then, if that's what you feel?' Janna sat down beside her mother and cast a tolerant eye at the cobwebbed horrors being depicted on the screen.

'I love Christopher Lee,' Mrs Prentiss confessed, reaching for another peppermint cream.

Janna had to anile in spite of herself. She forced herself to sit and watch as the heroine's friend succumbed to the vampire's lure, then, trying to sound casual, she said, 'Mum, when you were engaged, did you have—doubts?'

Mrs Prentiss wrenched her attention away from the bloodstained goings-on in front of her with an obvious effort. 'About your dad?' she exclaimed. 'I don't think so. Why do you ask?'

'No reason,' Janna said uncomfortably. 'I'm just— interested, that's all.'

Her mother surveyed her. 'Are you having second thoughts about marrying Colin?' she demanded. 'Because, if so you want your head seeing to. The trouble with young people today is that you want everything perfect all the time. You're not prepared to work at a relationship. Have you quarrelled?'

'Oh, no!' Janna was aghast. 'Please, Mum, let's drop the subject.'

'Well, you raised it in the first place,' Mrs Prentiss pointed out reasonably. She leaned forward and switched off the television set. 'Now, let's have this out. Are you having second thoughts about Colin, and if you are, why?'

Janna bit her lip. 'It's nothing as definite as that,' she said miserably. Swiftly she told her mother about Colin's wish to buy Carrisbeck House, and Sir Robert's plan to live in the stable block.

Her mother seemed unimpressed, however. 'It's a modern thing, this wanting to live away from your family,' she remarked. 'When I was a girl, people had their parents to live with them and thought nothing about it. And he won't actually be in the house. I don't see what you're making all the fuss about. Colin is all he's got, after all, and for all his money, he's a lonely man, I daresay.'

'You think I'm being selfish,' Janna said forlornly.

'Not altogether, but I think you're crossing your bridges before you come to them,' Mrs Prentiss said bracingly. 'As Colin said, he may change his mind. And it's a lovely house. There was a time when we couldn't keep you away from there. Not many young people have a chance to start their married life in those circumstances, you know. Look at it from Colin's point of view. And what have you got against the place, anyway?'

It would have been an immense consolation to put her head down on her mother's lap and sob out the whole wretched truth, but Janna could not permit herself that indulgence. Her mother did not deserve to be upset like that after all this time, she thought wearily. The time for confession was long past.

She forced a smile and rose to her feet. 'Nothing, of course. You're right, Mum, I'm sure you are. It's just bridal nerves, I suppose.' She bent and kissed her swiftly.

'Now watch
the
rest of your film. I'm going to bed before I get nightmares!'

She had not arranged to see Colin on Sunday, and spent a quiet day, lazing round the house, acting her normal self for all she was worth, conscious of the occasional worried glance from her mother. She slept badly that night and rose late on Monday morning, feeling as if she had not rested at all. She was helping her mother strip the beds ready for the weekly wash, when the phone rang.

'Colin?' she said in surprised response to the terse tones at the other end of the line. 'What a strange time to ring. Is anything wrong?'

'Oh, no.' Colin's voice was heavy with sarcasm. 'Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. I just thought you'd like to know that the supreme sacrifice will not be demanded from you after all.'

'What are you talking about?'

'You won't have to live in Carrisbeck House, my sweet It's been snapped up by someone else while you were dithering about last Friday.' His voice sharpened. 'Hello— Janna—are you still there?'

'Yes, I'm still here,' she managed. 'Colin, I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry. I know how you'd set your heart on it. Do you know—have you any idea who it is?'

'Of course I know.' He gave a short, savage laugh. 'It's in safe hands, darling. Back safely in the bosom of the Tempest family, just as you secretly wished. The Colonel's nephew—Rian or whatever his damned name is—has come back, and he's bought it'