A Class Apart (28 page)

“There’s someone over there I have to see,” he said. “Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

Kate was a bit put out that he didn’t take her with him, but there was so much going on around her, she was content to stand and watch for a while.

Ellamarie was laughing up into the face of the Adonis. “I don’t believe you,” she said.

“It’s true. I have seen everything you’ve ever done,” and he tried to pull her closer. “You are the most beautiful creature God, in his wisdom, has ever created.”

“Oh, I don’t think I would go quite that far.”

“I’d go much further.”

“Please, don’t,” she said, covering his mouth with her fingers. “I’m not sure I can take any more.”

“I watch you every night.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Every night. I feel like I know you. Like I know every inch of you. I’ve kept everything that’s ever been written about you, every picture that’s ever been taken of you.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“I could show you, if you let me.”

She laughed a little nervously. There was something about his manner and what he was saying that made her uncomfortable. To be complimented and flattered was one thing. But to be adored, idolised even, by a total stranger, well, it sent shivers down her spine. He was watching her closely, his pale eyes almost smothering her face, and she looked away.

“Don’t,” he said, pulling her close, and he started to cover her face with light kisses. He lifted her hair from her neck, and gently kissed that too. His hands were stroking her back, tantalising her, and she could feel his breath, warm and moist on her skin.

“Please, don’t,” she protested, weakly, and tried to push him away.

He looked into her eyes, and she thought his expression curious, odd even. “I want to kiss you all over, just like that,” he whispered. “Every inch of you.” As he smiled the light in his eyes gleamed, almost hungrily, belying the softness of his voice. He bent his head to hers, and ran his tongue across her open mouth.

“Please,” she said, “you’re embarrassing me.” She wished that Bob was here so that he could rescue her from this strange man.

“Let me take you somewhere, where we can be alone.” He took her hand and, unable to stop herself, she began to follow him out of the room. She watched him as he walked in front of her, and wondered why she was following him. Why was she allowing this stranger to take her away, where he could be alone with her, and . . .

“Ellamarie!”

Ellamarie swung round to see Kate waving at her. The Adonis tightened his grip on her hand, but she pulled away.

“Excuse me,” she said. “That’s a friend of mine over there. I really must go and see if she’s all right.”

“You can see that she’s all right,” he said. “You don’t need to go to her.”

“No, really, I must. Please, let me go.”

He kept hold of her hand. “I’ll be waiting, Ellamarie,” he whispered.

Ellamarie tugged her hand free and turned abruptly towards Kate. The Adonis watched her as she almost ran across the room, but Ellamarie didn’t look back.

“Thank God you were here,” said Ellamarie. “I dread to think what might have happened if you hadn’t called out.”

“You’re complaining?” said Kate. “He’s divine.”

“He’s weird!” Ellamarie shuddered. “Where’s Joel?”

“Over there, talking to someone, don’t ask me who. But have you seen Ashley? She’s only talking to Sean Connery.”

“Are you kidding? Where? Where is he?”

“In there.” Kate pointed towards the ballroom.

“Can’t we be introduced as well?”

“I think not, unfortunately. She’s with Robert Blackwell, honoured guest and all that.”

“Pity. Seen Jenneen anywhere?”

“Thought I saw her dancing with Paul Deane – you know, the cricketer. My guess is she’s up to no good by now.”

Ellamarie laughed. “It’ll be what she needs.”

“Has she said anything to you? About Matthew?”

“Not a word. All I know is he’s not living there any more. Do you know what happened?”

“Not a clue. I asked Ashley earlier, but she doesn’t know either.”

“I wonder why she won’t talk about it?”

Kate shrugged. “Well, Paul Deane was really making her laugh when I last saw them, so at least that’s something.”

“Isn’t he married?”

“Mmm, I think so. But when did that ever stop anyone?”

Ellamarie threw her a look. “Touché,” she grinned. “How are things going with Joel? Did he say why he hasn’t called for ages?”

“Not a word – sssh! Here he comes,” said Kate, her face lighting up as she looked past Ellamarie.

“No one swept you off your feet yet, Ellamarie?” Joel grinned, planting a kiss on Kate’s cheek.

“Why, are you offering?”

“Of course.” He turned round and Kate noticed that someone was making their way across the room to join them. “Oh no,” she muttered, under her breath.

“Ladies,” said Joel, “I believe you have already met Conrad Frazier. Conrad, Ellamarie and Kate.”

Conrad nodded abruptly. His manners haven’t improved any, thought Kate and Ellamarie in unison, and they both gave cold nods in return.

“Ready, Ellamarie?” said Joel, offering her his arm, and he took her off to the dance floor.

Kate looked at Conrad, but Conrad was watching the people at the fountain, pouring champagne into their shoes. He laughed as a very drunken, astonishingly beautiful woman disentangled herself from the crowd and teetered her way towards him.

Kate found herself studying Conrad’s face as he lifted the straps of the woman’s dress back onto her shoulders and smiled down into her eyes. Despite her dislike of him, Kate felt her heart turn over. Dear God, he was so handsome. The woman kissed him, full on the mouth, and unashamedly Kate watched as he kissed her back,

“Candy, darling,” she heard him whisper, “I think you’ve had a little too much.”

“Oh nonsense,” Candy slurred, in a Southern drawl, and she staggered back to the champagne fountain. Conrad turned back to Kate, who blushed as she realized that she hadn’t taken her eyes off him once. He smiled at her, and involuntarily she smiled back.

“What brings you here?” she asked, having to shout over the cacophony of laughter coming from the fountain.

“I was invited,” he said, taking a sip of champagne.

She raised her eyebrows. “I gathered that. But don’t you live in New York?”

“Sure,” he said. “But I had business to attend to in London, so I thought I’d combine the two.”

“Julian isn’t here, is he?” Kate asked, quickly.

“Not that I know of.”

“Thank God for that.”

Conrad seemed amused. “Don’t tell me, yours is another heart broken by the devastating Arbrey-Nelmes charm?”

“Actually, no!” Kate snapped.

Conrad shrugged, and seemed to lose interest in her.

“Are you always so rude?” she said, walking round to stand in front of him.

“Me?”

“Yes, you!”

He seemed to think about this for a minute. “Yes,” he said, finally. “Yes, I probably am.”

“Don’t you care about offending people?”

“Not really. These son of parties bore me, and so do the people that come to them.”

“Of all the . . .”

“Kate!” cried Ashley, coming towards her. “You’ll never guess who I’ve just been talking to.”

“Sean Connery,” said Kate, turning round, “and I could kill you. If I don’t kill him first,” she added under her breath, jerking her head towards Conrad.

Ashley paled as she saw him, and he grinned. He held out his hand towards her and said, “I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your name.”

The flash of indignation that shot through Asley’s eyes did not go unnoticed, but it only seemed to amuse him further.

“Conrad Frazier,” he said, introducing himself.

“Yes, I know who you are.” Ashley ignored his hand.

“Are you going to remind me who you are? Besides being my partner’s mistress.”

Ashley gasped. How dare he! She turned her back on him. Kate took her by the arm and they walked away from him.

Conrad watched them go, a thoughtful smile playing around his lips, and then turned to see what had caused the shrieks of delight behind him. Candida was pouring tiny rivers of champagne over her naked body. As he reached her side, she looked up into his face, as if waiting for his kiss, then with a hiccup, punctuated by a long sigh, she collapsed into his arms.

Bob pulled his car to a halt in the country lane, and switched off the engine. Looking out along the drive he could see the bright lights from the house glowing through the trees. He knew that Ellamarie was inside, that was why he had come. So why had he stopped now? Why didn’t he just drive in, and go and find her?

He turned on the radio, but the sound irritated him, and he turned it off again.

He leaned back against the head-rest. What a bloody mess this was all turning out to be. He didn’t know what was happening to his life, or what he wanted from it any more. He had tried to do some work on the
Queen of Cornwall
, but he had been unable to concentrate. Visions of their faces seemed to block everything else from his mind. Ellamarie, shouting at him, trying to hide the hurt and bewilderment she felt inside. Linda, silent, trying to be strong, but he could see the pain and confusion she was in. And in both their eyes he could see the love they had for him. And his heart was weighted with the love he felt for them.

What was he going to do? What could he do? All he knew was that this couldn’t go on. It wasn’t fair on either of them, and he couldn’t cope with it much longer himself. Had he come here with the intention of telling Ellamarie it was over? Or had he come here because he couldn’t stand being away from her? The confusion was twisting his mind, and nowhere could he find the answers he needed. Whatever he did, someone was going to be hurt. And he would be hurt too. But he didn’t care about himself, he only cared about them. Which one of them was it to be? Whom should he walk away from, and never see again?

He thought about Ellamarie. She was probably dancing with someone inside, laughing and flirting, completely oblivious to him sitting here, contemplating whether to put an end to her happiness. But what was the point in even thinking about it? He wasn’t going to do it, so he might as well stop tormenting himself like this. Just go in, he told himself, find her, and tell her you love her.

But what would he say to Linda? Linda, I’ve fallen in love with someone else. Our marriage is over, and I’m leaving you. He shuddered, and knew that he could never say it. Linda, I love you, I’m sorry for all the hurt I’ve caused you, but it’s over now, I’m here, and I will never do anything to hurt you again. She would ask no questions, she would just take him in her arms, and hold him, and tell him it was all right, as long as he was there.

Dear God, which was the right way to go?

He turned the key in the ignition, and reversed the car. Weak he might be, but he couldn’t make the decision – not now. Probably he never would. Instead, he would let fate decide what was to become of them all. Yes, let fate take the insupportable burden.

SEVENTEEN

Conrad walked back into the room. After Candida had passed out he had taken her upstairs and put her to bed. For a moment he had toyed with the idea of staying with her, but there was some unfinished business he had to attend to. He looked around for Robert Blackwell and saw that he was talking to Ashley. Her eyes were bright and feverish and Conrad gave a smile. Robert always was a fast worker – and as if to confirm this, he turned and started to walk towards the door that led outside to the pool. Ashley placed her glass on the tray of a passing waiter, then gathered up her handbag.

Conrad moved swiftly, and caught up with her as she was about to disappear through the door. Ashley spun round as she felt the hand close around her wrist.

“Dance!” said Conrad.

“Let go of me!” she demanded, glaring first at his hand, then at him.

He smiled, “I said dance,” and keeping a tight grip on her wrist, he all but dragged her into the ballroom.

“How dare you!” she hissed, pulling away from him, but his hold remained firm, and she couldn’t break away. She trod heavily on his foot, and enjoyed the expression of pain that shot across his face.

“Don’t do that again,” he said.

She glared at him. “What are you playing at?”

He lifted an eyebrow, and looked down at her, his mouth angled in that lopsided grin that she detested so bitterly. “Robert Blackwell was inviting you to take a swim, was he not?”

Ashley looked at him from beneath her eyelids.

“Just as I thought,” he said. And didn’t enlarge.

“I don’t call that an explanation.” She tried to tread on his foot again, and failed.

“Have you any idea what is going on out there in the pool?”

“I imagine that people are swimming.”

“They are doing a lot of things in the pool, but swimming is not one of them.”