Fear Of Love

‘Of course I will,’ she assured her sister hurriedly. ‘I’m sure he’ll—he’ll take good care of me.’

Dominic moved forward, the mockery in his eyes taunting her. ‘You know I will,’ he drawled. ‘You saw how I like to keep my guests entertained this morning.’

Alexandra raised startled eyes. Yes, she had seen all too clearly how he had entertained his guest over the weekend, and she had no intention of being entertained in the same way. Arrogant devil!

Gail looked interested. ‘You had someone staying with you this weekend?’

‘Just overnight.’ He met Alexandra’s scathing look with an unflinching stare.

Trevor stood up. ‘I think it’s time we left you to get this rest you’re supposed to be having.’

His wife pouted. ‘I’m sure it isn’t necessary. I shall be very lonely in here all on my own.’

‘Of course you won’t,’ Alexandra chided. ‘I shall visit you every day, and I’m sure you’ll have plenty of other visitors.’

‘Not least of all me.’ Trevor bent down and kissed his wife lingeringly on the lips. ‘I’ll be in to see you later.’

Dominic kissed Gail’s cheek. ‘I’ll bring Alexandra in tomorrow,’ he promised.

So already he had started to arrange her life for her! She buried her resentment for when they got outside, for the moment intent only on making sure Gail had nothing at all to worry about.

‘Look after yourself,’ she told her. ‘And as Dominic says, I’ll be in tomorrow.’ Not that he would be bringing her, she wanted as little to do with him as possible.

They parted from Trevor once they were outside the room, he having to go back on duty for a few hours before going home to collect his things.

Alexandra waited until they were in Dominic Tempest’s car before she exploded. ‘You knew about this,’ she accused angrily. ‘You knew I had to stay with you!’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Your remorse didn’t last long.’

She blushed. ‘Gail doesn’t seem to blame me’.

He shrugged. ‘She wouldn’t.’

‘But you do.’

‘It’s not up to me to blame you.’

‘Then mind your own business! I’m not going to stay at your house, you know,’ she told him stubbornly.

‘Oh yes, you are,’ he said calmly.

‘I’m not. I can look after myself. I’m not afraid to stay at the house on my own.’

‘It isn’t because we thought you would be afraid that we made these arrangements.’

‘Then why? Why does Trevor have to move into the hospital? I’m perfectly capable of looking after him.’

‘I don’t doubt it,’ he said dryly.

‘So why all these elaborate plans?’

Dominic sighed. ‘They aren’t elaborate. They’re the most reasonable course of action.’

‘Not to me they aren’t,’ she declared stubbornly.

‘No, they wouldn’t be. It wouldn’t occur to you to think of the damage you could do to Trevor’s career and his marriage to Gail by staying at the house with him.’

‘What on earth are you talking about?’ she scorned. ‘Trevor is my brother-in-law.’

‘You little fool, do you think that would matter to the people around here? Don’t be stupid. All that would matter to them would be that Gail, eight months pregnant, has been taken to hospital, and her husband and young sister are living alone together. This is a village community, Alex, things get around.’

‘But surely they wouldn’t—–’ But she knew they would! ‘How disgusting!’

‘Yes, isn’t it?’

‘But I don’t see how I can be thought any safer living with you. We all know your reputation,’ she added bitchily.

Dominic smiled, a cruel mocking smile. ‘But I have servants to chaperone us. And for what it’s worth, I’ve never found rebellious adolescents in the least attractive.’

‘I hate you!’ she said with feeling.

‘I couldn’t give a damn what you feel for me, I’m not that keen on you either. But I do intend to try and put up with you for the next few weeks, and I hope you will make a similar effort.’

‘Why should I? I can live at the house on my own, Gail doesn’t need to know.’

‘But she would.’

‘Why?’ she asked sharply. ‘Would you tell her? I’m sure you can’t be any more anxious to have me at your house than I am to stay there.’

‘I’m not,’ he agreed coldly. ‘But other people in the village are sure to visit Gail and it would only take one thoughtless person to mention where you’re living to put her in a state of nerves.’

‘But I could—–’

‘For God’s sake grow up, Alexandra!’ he snapped. ‘Stop thinking of yourself so much. Gail can’t take any more, don’t you understand?’

She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. ‘I suppose so.’

‘I’m not at home a lot of the time anyway,’ he added by way of consolation. ‘I’m away all day Wednesday and Thursday recording the programme.’

‘Overnight too?’

His mouth tightened. ‘Yes.’

‘So that’s when you intend seeing Miss Gilbert.’

‘Yes.’

‘I bet you’ve got a harem going,’ she taunted.