Glass Slippers And Unicorns

‘Don’t look so surprised, Darcy,’ he taunted. ‘I do have business dealings in the States, you know.’

‘I do know, but—it’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?’ Even for him! He hadn’t mentioned anything about it earlier today.

His mouth thinned, his eyes narrowed. ‘Something has come up. Are you willing to come with me or not?’

‘Of course I’m willing.’ She frowned. ‘There’s nothing wrong, is there?’

‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ he bit out in a voice that boded ill for someone.

‘Reed!’ Marc joined them, slapping the other man on the back in greeting. ‘I know I invited you, but after your mother’s arrival this morning I didn’t expect to see you tonight.’

‘My mother has gone to bed,’ he drawled. ‘And she assured me that she wanted me to go out and enjoy myself.’

‘And are you?’ Marc challenged, his arm about Darcy’s shoulders.

Reed met that challenge. ‘Not particularly. Don’t you think it might have been a little—kinder, to have warned Darcy about all these people being here?’

‘Then it wouldn’t have been the surprise it was intended to be,’ Marc scorned.

‘Darcy doesn’t like surprises; haven’t you noticed that?’ he rasped.

He made her sound about as interesting as yesterday’s bath water! OK, so she liked her private life ordered and repetitious, but things were less likely to get forgotten that way! Besides, she had enough excitement in her life just being his secretary.

‘She liked this one,’ Marc claimed stubbornly. ‘But if you aren’t enjoying the party you can always leave.’

‘I think I will,’ Reed snapped, pulling Darcy’s hand up from her side to slap a small parcel into it. ‘Happy Birthday. I’ll give you a call tomorrow about Sunday,’ he added abruptly, striding over to the door, to be waylaid by a beautiful red-head as he pulled it open. He murmured something in her ear; the woman’s throaty laugh floated in the air as they left together.

‘I wonder what—or who—has upset him?’ Marc mused a little dazedly, the two men usually being good friends away from the office.

‘His mother,’ she said wearily, slowly unwrapping the present Reed had given her.

Marc pulled a surprised face. ‘She seemed rather sweet to me.’

‘Reed can’t stand it when someone isn’t as organised as he is,’ she murmured, tears filling her eyes as she looked at the gold necklace nestled in the velvet box, a gold unicorn threaded on its length. A fantasy animal for a woman who lived in a dream world sixty per cent of the time!

‘Dear, are you sure you’re going the right way?’ Maud Hunter fretted. ‘I’m sure that sign back there said——’

‘Mother,’ Reed interrupted patiently. ‘As you always read a road map upside down because it “makes more sense", I don’t think you’re in a position to judge signposts!’

Maud turned to give Darcy a vague smile as she sat in the back of the Mercedes, and Darcy sighed softly as she was once again left to her silent perusal of the countryside on the way to Southampton, feeling as if Maud had made her a conspirator to her vagueness with that smile.

Reed had telephoned her early that morning and asked her if she would like to accompany them to Southampton, saying that his mother would like it if she did. Darcy had still been a little befuddled from waking up, otherwise she might have found an excuse not to come.

The party had dragged on until almost three in the morning, and as it was supposed to be for her she hadn’t been able to leave until everyone else had without offending Marc, then had insisted on helping him tidy the apartment, refusing his invitation to stay the night, despite his assertion that he would sleep on the sofa. Considering the early hour of Reed’s call she had a feeling he had expected either to have Marc answer the call or for her to still be at the other man’s home.

She was also sure that Reed would rather she hadn’t come today, despite his mother’s obvious pleasure in having her here. After all, he had two of them to keep in line now!

She wished it could have been different, wished she could have been as cool and self-assured as the women who had occasionally called for him at the office. But she doubted she would ever be any different now, had trained herself too well. As long as she continued her efficiency in the office she could continue seeing Reed; she would be the one to hand in her resignation if she thought her work was below the standard he demanded. But it was going to be a long time before he forgot what had happened yesterday.

She held the unicorn aloft in the palm of her hand as it hung suspended about her neck. It was a beautiful piece of jewellery, and she knew she would always wear it simply because Reed had been the one to give it to her. But it represented how Reed felt about her, a woman who lived in a world that wasn’t quite real, as the unicorn wasn’t. He could have no idea how close she had come to living completely in that shadow world, how much more attractive it could look than the starkness of reality. But she never talked to anyone about that twilight world except Rupert. And she knew her secret was safe with him.

‘… continue on, Darcy?’

She looked up guiltily as she realised Reed’s mother had been talking to her, paling a little as she saw the fierce glitter in Reed’s eyes as she met his gaze in the driving-mirror. It wasn’t fair! Yesterday had knocked her confidence in her abilities for six! She wouldn’t normally be so nervous about a little lapse in concentration.

She sat forward in the seat, giving Maud a dazzling smile. ‘I’m sorry, I was miles away,’ she admitted honestly, challenge in her eyes as she met the mockery in Reed’s.

‘I know how you feel, dear.’ Maud nodded without chagrin. ‘I’d forgotten just how beautiful England was,’ she added wistfully. ‘It’s so green and—and lush.’

‘And damp and cold in the winter,’ her son drawled unromantically.

Maud gave him an impatient look. ‘You needn’t try and put me off; I have no intention of intruding on the cosy life you’ve made for yourself here away from the rest of the family. I was just stating that I had forgotten how lovely England is.’

Reed scowled. ‘You’re more than welcome to move in with me any time you want to, you know that.’

Green eyes that were so much kinder than her son’s could ever be twinkled merrily at Darcy before she winked conspiratorially. ‘I’d drive you to distraction in a week!’ she mocked without rancour. ‘Your father always said I was the reason you were such a good athlete; you were trying to run away from home!’

Darcy held back her own smile with difficulty. Although she didn’t really know what she had to smile about: Maud Hunter had just confirmed what she had already guessed, that Reed would run a mile from falling in love with a woman even remotely like his mother.

‘You know that isn’t true——’

‘I know it is true,’ his mother chuckled, turning to Darcy. ‘And I was just asking you if you would like to stop for lunch or continue on?’

She shrugged, glancing at Reed. ‘Whatever the two of you would prefer.’

‘Very diplomatic,’ he drawled, his mouth twisted. ‘Mother would like to stop, I would like to go on.’

No wonder they had asked her; now she was in the position to upset one of them. But the rumblings of her stomach told her she had missed breakfast and that it would be grateful if she didn’t give lunch a miss too. ‘It might be nice for your mother if we stopped for a pub lunch,’ she suggested blandly. ‘But, of course, if you would prefer not to bother …’

Maud laughed softly. ‘I like your secretary, Reed,’ she smiled.

‘I get the feeling she likes you, too,’ he muttered, looking around for a pub that served lunches.

Darcy had never seen him quite this caustic before; obviously his mother had a strange effect on him. He definitely wasn’t his usual charming self.

The pub that Reed finally chose had a formal restaurant at the back overlooking the gently flowing stream that was populated by several swans and ducks, the pub itself looking centuries old with its thatched roof and beamed ceilings. But for all the notice Reed took of its rustic charm he might have been sitting in a bus shelter! He really was in a bad humour today.

‘Just ignore him, dear,’ Maud advised her after they had ordered their meal. ‘He’s always been the same until he’s eaten. Even as a baby——’

‘I’m sure Darcy isn’t interested in that, Mother,’ he snapped impatiently.

‘I wonder why it is that men don’t like to admit they were ever drooling babies that needed their nappies changed just like other people?’ Maud mused.

‘Mother!’ Reed threatened in a thunderous voice, Darcy having difficulty holding back her amusement as he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.

‘Well, until you bring a nice girl home for me to tell all your childhood anecdotes to Darcy will do just fine,’ his mother dismissed. ‘Besides, I’m sure she is interested in learning you’re as human as the rest of us.’

Darcy gave the older woman a sharp questioning look, blushing a little at the warm understanding she found in Maud’s eyes. The other woman knew she was in love with her son!