A Question of Love (11 page)

`
While we’re talking about cheating and deceit I’d advise you not to judge everybody by your own standards. You owe me an explanation and an apology.’

`
An apology? I don’t think so,’ Euan snapped sharply, wondering why he felt he had fought a battle and lost a war.

`
Your uncle knew nothing about the email instructing me to take you down to Ashburn. You manipulated me, as well as your mother. Don’t speak to me again until you have an explanation.` She turned and walked briskly to her own office, leaving his door wide open, as it had been when she arrived. She knew now he had been waiting for her.

She
was filled with anger and disappointment and most of all she was hurt. Surely she had just as much reason to distrust him, coming into the offices and taking over his uncle’s place, sifting through the accounts on the pretext of checking the workings of the new computer system. It was fortunate that he had only discovered access to the day to day accounts and not the company’s balance sheet and capital accounts. Supposing he was an impostor? She stood still as a statue for a second. But no… She flopped into her chair, her elbows on the desk as she stared into space. No, he was no impostor. He and Mr K had met at the airport and Mr K had phoned to tell her of his arrival – to
warn
her of his arrival. She frowned. Why did he think she needed warning? What exactly had he said in that brief phone call? His nephew would be arriving. He would be reviewing the company’s office computers. `He will probably install new ones – but don’t let him persuade you to do anything you don’t want to do, lassie.’ She frowned. What had Mr K had in mind? He’d told her his nephew had a forceful personality. `He’s needed it to get where he is today,’ he’d added, ‘but you and I will decide what’s best for Kershaw & Co.’

He’d
rung off in a hurry to catch his plane. She’d had no opportunity to ask questions. In her mind she went over their brief conversation. She always tried to see all sides of any dispute and assess situations fairly. It was one of the reasons the workers came to her if they had problems. Since Euan Kennedy could access so much about their business affairs she could understand why he might wonder why her personal pension and insurance were paid through the firm. In her heart she knew what had really upset and dismayed her was that Euan did not trust her. Why had he thought it necessary to check up at all? How could he make such assumptions without even consulting her or his uncle first?

It
took her a long time to settle to her work that morning and several times she made mistakes and had to re-check. Consequently she was not finished as early as she had intended. By the time she was ready to leave Sam was waiting for her with the van at the front door, swinging the keys in his hand.

`
Thanks Sam. I’ll leave my car here tonight. I’ll bring the van back in the morning.’

`
It was a good job you phoned through to tell me you wanted the keys tonight, Miss Roseanne. Mr Kennedy came down for the van half an hour ago but I told him I’d other instructions. He wasna very pleased,’ he added anxiously. ’I dinna ken why he wanted it. I told him he could use it any night next week. He said that was no bloody good to him.’

`
Don’t worry, Sam. I’ll sort out Mr Kennedy. He’d no right to speak to you like that.’

`Och, I dinna mind,’
he grinned, `but I wouldn’t like to cause any trouble with the boss’s nephew. Now you’re sure you don’t need a lift with all your boxes?’

`
Not tonight, thanks, Sam. I could do with some help with some pieces of furniture tomorrow though please?’

`
I’ll be ready, lassie. Good night and take care.’

Nine

Roseanne
didn’t stop to eat an evening meal. Her stomach had churned all day and she chided herself constantly for allowing Euan to get under her skin to such an extent but she hated being misjudged. She hated quarrels too. She straightened her slim shoulders. Her conscience was clear. She would not be cowed by Euan Kennedy, however much he attracted her physically. She changed into an old tee shirt and a pair of scruffy jeans which seemed to have shrunk. She began carrying the boxes to the van. She had stowed away about half a dozen but when she arrived with her next precarious load a tall figure was leaning against the van. He looked relaxed and at ease and Roseanne’s temper flared at the sight of that rueful smile lifting the corner of his well-shaped mouth. She noticed the quizzical look in his grey eyes. How dare he come here as though nothing had happened between them?

`
What do you think you’re doing?’ she demanded, almost toppling the top box onto the ground. Euan caught it and placed it carefully in the van and turned to take the next one from her. `I can manage perfectly well on my own,’ she snapped. `Go away.’

`
I promised to help you move the remaining boxes.’

`
And I told you not to speak to me until you'd apologised for your trickery.’

`
We could work in silence, I suppose,’ he suggested, raising one brow ironically, `or I can apologise for using a little subterfuge to get you down to Ashburn. I can’t say I’m sorry because I wanted your company, and if you’re honest I think you enjoyed the weekend too – all of it.’ She glared at him and cursed at the way her colour rose. She knew he was remembering the forfeit he had claimed, or maybe the chocolate kisses. His expression changed and he looked grave. `As to the business this morning…’ He tried to take her arm but she shrugged him off. `We need to talk, Roseanne, but not out here on the pavement. Can’t we go inside?’

`
Can’t you see I’m busy? Anyway we did more than enough talking this morning.’

`
All right I’ll help you load up the rest of the boxes and then we’ll have something to eat before we unload them. We’ll talk while we eat,’ he said.

`
And how would you know I want to eat, especially in your company? As for talking to you, I want that even less.’ Roseanne stood with her hands on her slim hips and glared at him. She was not ready to forgive and forget however much she might like to wipe out this morning’s scene.

`
You haven’t had time to eat. I saw you leave in the van. I was going to bring it for you but Sam refused to let me have the keys. All the staff are very loyal to you. There’s been a distinctly chilly air where ever I went today.’ Roseanne turned away to hide the glimmer of a smile which threatened to spoil her haughty and unforgiving stance. Her mother had always said she boiled up swiftly but cooled quickly too, but she didn’t believe anything could dispel the hurt she felt at being so badly misjudged by Euan.

He
ignored her silence and insisted on helping her load the rest of the boxes. Then he ran up the stairs two at a time while she locked the van doors. She was tempted to drive away and leave him but the keys to her new home were still inside. Slowly she climbed the stairs. She'd only had a cup of coffee and half a sandwich at lunchtime and her stomach was beginning to make hollow rumbles. Euan had switched on the grill and a hot plate.

`
Will bacon and eggs do? Your fridge is almost empty.’

`
What else would you expect. I’m moving tomorrow,’ she snapped. `Anyway I have not invited anyone to supper, as far as I'm aware.` He went on laying rashers of bacon and halved tomatoes on the grill pan then set them to cook. He turned and reached for the only two glasses in the cupboard. `A tumbler will have to do,’ he said pouring her some white wine.

`
Don’t pour that for me,’ she snapped. `I’m driving.’

`
I’ll drive the van. Drink up. It will relax you.’

`
If you mean it will mellow me you’ll be wrong. Too much wine can make me very argumentative.’

‘
All right.’ He sighed heavily. ‘Please yourself.’ She did. She drained the glass. It was not a good idea on an empty stomach. She hooked a foot round the remaining stool and drew it towards her, sitting down with a heavy sigh. She watched as he sliced bread. He had his back to her so she couldn’t see his face. ‘I telephoned Australia,’ he said. `I didn't want to interrupt Uncle Simon's holiday but…’ He shrugged. `I had to know why you were so furious. Why you looked so -so hurt. Mother said they were just about to eat their meal. Uncle Simon was decidedly sharp and irritable. I don’t know whether it was because he was hungry or because I’d had the audacity to query anything concerning his perfect Miss Fairfax's administration.’

`
In other words he gave you a flea in your ear,’ Roseanne said bluntly. He glared at her. She couldn’t prevent a splutter of laughter.

`
It’s the wine,’ she choked. `Shouldn’t have had it on an empty stomach.’

`
I see.’ He frowned, only half believing her. He broke the four remaining eggs into the frying pan. `In that case you’d better eat and then we’ll talk.’

`
Nothing to talk about. You think I’m dishonest. I hate you for that. Why don’t you go away and leave me in peace.’

`
Here, eat this lot,’ he said placing a plate of bacon and tomatoes in front of her then adding two fried eggs.’

`
I can’t eat all that! I’m not a baby elephant.’

`
Eat what you can then.’ He passed the crusty loaf she had bought at the bakery on the way home and she took a piece.

`
You’re not very good at slicing new bread are you?’ she said examining the wedge shaped slice. He didn’t answer and they ate in silence. Roseanne couldn’t believe it when she’d cleared her plate. She hadn’t realised she was so hungry. Euan poured two mugs of coffee. She sipped hers slowly and the world didn’t seem such a bad place after all. She looked across at Euan and saw that he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. She cleared away the dishes and began to wash them. He dried them in silence.

`
Whatever you have to say for goodness sake get it over with,’ she said impatiently. `It can’t be any worse than the things you said this morning.’

`I know. That’s the trouble.
I owe you a huge apology and I’m not used to needing to apologise. I’m so used to making my own judgments and taking decisions. I find it difficult to accept things on trust.` He looked her in the eye and it was the humility she saw there which tugged her heart strings more than she cared to admit, but she remained silent, waiting. `You’re right,’ Euan continued, `Uncle Simon did tear a strip off me.’ He grimaced. `He made me feel like a little school boy. He didn’t give me chance to say my concerns were purely for him, or even what I wanted to ask. He said so long as you were in charge he had no worries as far as Kershaw & Co. goes. At the airport he had asked a few questions about my own business strategy. He seemed to guess we might strike sparks off each other. He reminded me that he had warned me not to disagree with you about anything to do with Kershaw & Co.’

`
Your uncle trusts me as I trust him - implicitly.’ Roseanne nodded. `I wouldn’t have stayed with the company otherwise. He’s the nearest person I’ve known to a father figure.’

`
I think I can understand that,’ Euan said carefully, `but I still don’t know why your personal finances have anything to do with the firm’s accounts. All my instincts had told me you were as honest and trustworthy as my Uncle said - which is more than I can say for many of the women I have known, especially given the wide scope of your responsibilities in the firm.’

`
I don't believe women are any more untrustworthy than men.’

`Usually men only want to strike a good business deal and nothing more, but
I have known several women who were prepared to use every feminine wile in the book, and out of it, to get what they want. Some women are only interested in money and whether there’s something in it for them. I have not always been so cynical but experience has taught me some nasty lessons. I'm usually a fair judge of character, but you are different to any of the women I've known. I suppose that’s why I felt doubly angry and disillusioned when I stumbled across those figures. Surely you can admit they look as though you’re feathering your nest at Uncle Simon’s expense?’

`I suppose it might to someone who does
n’t understand the way we work,’ Roseanne admitted slowly.

`Are they in lieu of some kind of bonus?’

`I can see you still don’t trust me,’ Roseanne snapped.

I suppose the payments could be in in lieu of a bonus, or something. I hadn’t thought of that.’

`Why don’t you wait and discuss the matter with your uncle when you see him if you really think it is any of your business.’

`You still haven’t forgiven me,
I can see that. I’ve hurt you…’

`Yes. I’m not used to anyone mistrusting me. That
is hard to forgive, or forget.’

`Oh Roseanne I can’t tell you how sorry I am. And a
fter hearing Uncle Simon on the other end of the telephone I reckon he can take care of himself, and you. I got a distinct feeling he was protecting you in some way, but why should you need protecting, especially from me, his own nephew?’

`Why indeed,’ Roseanne muttered. Mr K would never have supposed they would strike such sparks of each other.
All fire and passion one minute and ice cold distrust the next. `I suppose you may be his relative but you must admit you’re a stranger to him. He has known me all my life. Maybe he needs time to get to know you.’

`
He certainly didn't sound like a cuddlesome daddy, that’s for sure.’

`
He can be tough when he needs to be. Did he explain away your suspicions?` she asked coldly, grimly, still smarting from his opinion of her as a possible cheat, even though she could see why he might jump to such conclusions from the figures he had seen in the accounts.

`He didn’t let me get round to the details. In any case I don’t think Uncle Simon
considered there was anything he needed to explain, at least not to me. All I got was a curt good-bye!’

`Good
,' she said with satisfaction, her green eyes gleaming. He suspected she was holding back a smile. Was she laughing at his discomfort? `I'm still furious with you for doubting my integrity. I can’t forgive you for that,’ she held up her hand to silence him, `but I’ve had time to realise there are things you don’t know about the company and the way we work. In the circumstances perhaps I’d have reached the same conclusion but I hope I'd have handled the situation more diplomatically until I knew all the circumstances.’ Euan felt like a schoolboy who had had his knuckles wrapped.

`Fair enough,
’ he said. `I really am sorry I’ve made an arse of things. Can we at least be friends?’ Euan couldn’t remember ever needing to plead with a woman before, but deep down he really wanted to be friends with Roseanne – more than friends. If his uncle could put so much trust in her why shouldn't he?

`
Perhaps if he’d known you well enough, or if you’d had more time together, your uncle would have explained things and the way we work. As it is –’ she shrugged, `you’ll have to wait until he returns.’

Euan
noticed she had not agreed to be friends and he felt more disappointed than he liked to admit. He'd been a fool to accuse her the way he had and he regretted it bitterly, but he had been tired and frustrated, then disappointed. He still had no proof his earlier suspicions were unfounded though but he didn't believe anyone could look him straight in the eye, as Roseanne certainly did, if they were guilty of the smallest sin.

Roseanne
was exhausted by the time she fell into bed but she knew she would have been more exhausted without Euan’s help. They had worked most of the time in silence. It was not the earlier angry silence but it was unlikely they could return to the blossoming friendship they had shared during their weekend at Ashburn and she regretted that.

***

Roseanne was relieved when William telephoned from Ashburn early on Friday morning.

`
The police asked us to thank you for letting them know Mr and Mrs Lennox are away and that the farmhouse is empty. They have been really diligent,’ he said.

`I’m glad to hear it,’ Roseanne said, `but has your grandfather noticed any suspicious characters lurking around?’

`He hasn’t but he thinks they would be more likely to creep about on foot during the night to discover the layout and where the animals are grazing.’

`Mmm, I expect he’s right,’ Roseanne agreed anxiously.

`One of the policemen used to live in the village when he was a boy and he remembers coming to see Mr Kershaw’s rare breed animals. He reckons there will be a big outcry in the newspapers if some of them are stolen and killed for meat. They have given us a direct number to telephone to save time going through emergency services if we see anything suspicious. They asked if you and Mr Kershaw would agree to join the Farm Watch Scheme. It is only getting going round here. They reckon it hasn’t taken off in this area with local farmers because we haven’t had any trouble until recently.’