Kingdom of Shadows (103 page)

Emma nodded.

She had tried to ring Peter, three times, leaving messages at his hotel to ring her back urgently. If he had she would have changed her mind; flown out to Singapore – met him anywhere on earth.

As she closed the door of the house the phone had rung and she had fought with the key to rush back in and get to it before it stopped, praying it was him, but it was Gillian, reminding her to give Clare her love …

There was no Clare to meet the helicopter at Duncairn. As it landed on the side lawn at the hotel, whipping the snow into a small blizzard around it, Emma and Julia craned out of the windows to see.

‘It’s like fairy land with all the snow and the Christmas trees and there’s the castle!’ Julia cried, seeing the turrets and the Victorian battlements of the hotel.

‘No honey, there’s the real castle, over there, behind the trees.’ Rex pointed. He felt a strange sadness at seeing it again, a catch in the throat and a feeling of relief too that it would never now be his, that the whole thing had been taken out of his hands. ‘We’ll see it soon. Come on, honey, let’s go.’

It was a perplexed Jack Grant who came out to meet them. ‘Mrs Royland is not here. Surely she rang to tell you?’

‘Not here?’ Emma’s voice was flat with disappointment.

‘Her husband took her away after the accident.’

‘Accident? What accident? Was she hurt?’ Emma stared at him in shock.

‘Not Clare – the dog. Mr Royland shot the dog, by mistake.’ His emphasis on the last two words spoke volumes.

‘Oh God!’ Emma looked helplessly at Rex, then at Julia whose eyes had filled with tears, some for Casta and some for herself, as she sensed the imminent collapse of all their fairytale plans.

Jack too looked at the child. He reached out and took her hand. ‘Well, come away in for now, anyway. You must be Julia? I brought a Christmas tree in especially for you, lassie. So you must come in and see it. You’d be more than welcome to stay for Christmas, Mrs Cassidy.’ He looked from Emma to Rex hopefully over the child’s head. ‘We’ve everything prepared. All I have to do is send Catriona up to put hot water bottles in the beds.’

Emma shook her head, confused. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’ll have to speak to Clare. I should have rung – I tried to ring.’

Jack nodded ruefully. ‘The lines are down. We’re not back on the phone yet.’

Rex turned and ran back towards the helicopter. He climbed stiffly back inside and had a word with the pilot and moments later the idling rotor blades stopped. The pilot completed his close-down procedures and followed Rex back into the snow.

‘I’ve told him to wait while we decide what’s best,’ Rex called. ‘We can always use his radio to get a message to Clare, and then if necessary later we can get him to drop us somewhere else.’ Panting he rejoined Emma and put his arm around her. ‘He’s on loan to us for the rest of the day, so we can do what we like. Even if we can’t get a message to Clare it could be fun to stay anyway, honey, if Mr Grant doesn’t mind.’ He threw a longing glance in the direction of the castle.

‘Mind!’ Jack grinned. ‘It won’t be Christmas without you here!’

Julia shrieked with delight when she saw the huge tree Jack had set up and laboriously decorated in the restaurant after Clare had gone. It had pleased the few customers who had fought their way through the snow and it had cheered him up too. He had found that he missed Clare and Casta more than he liked to admit.

Now they all crowded round it admiring. ‘Can we have lunch right here, next to it? Please?’ Julia tugged at Emma’s hand.

‘Of course, darling, if Mr Grant doesn’t mind.’

‘And Bill too.’ Julia had taken a great fancy to the Sigma helicopter pilot.

‘And Bill too.’ Emma smiled at him.

‘And can we stay? Please?’

‘I suppose so.’ Emma shrugged her shoulders. ‘Why not? It would be fun.’

Later she and Rex went with Jack to complete the formalities whilst Bill went back to the helicopter to unload their luggage.

‘I think we’d like a double room,’ Rex answered when Jack enquired how many rooms they would need.

‘No!’ Emma’s retort was sharp. ‘No Rex. I’m sorry. I’m not ready for that yet.’

Jack turned away, a little embarrassed. ‘No problem,’ he said with a cheerful sweep of his hand. ‘You have the choice of the first floor between you. You can have three bedrooms each if you like.’ He smiled.

Rex ignored him. ‘Why not, Emma?’ He spoke in an angry undertone as Jack walked ahead of them into his office. ‘Come on! I thought we wanted to get to know each other.’ His anger vanished as fast as it had come and suddenly he was crestfallen.

‘I’m sorry, Rex.’

All the time on the flight from London she had found herself thinking about Peter, wishing he was sitting beside her instead of Rex, realising that the whole holiday was going to be a mistake. She looked away, unable to bear the reproach in Rex’s eyes. ‘Think of Julia. She comes to my room all the time – I couldn’t do that to her –’

‘OK, OK.’ Rex turned away to hide his hurt and anger and followed Jack into the office. ‘So, I guess we need three single rooms, landlord, if you please.’

‘Whatever you say.’ Jack gave him a sympathetic smile.

He had no love of the Sigma corporation and he wasn’t quite sure now how they fitted in with Clare’s sister-in-law, but without a miracle they would soon be the owners, and if Clare had invited this man to stay for Christmas, who was he to argue? Obviously she had fallen in with Paul’s plans after all and authorised the sale. He pushed aside his dismay yet again, wondering sadly what Neil thought of all the latest developments. Time enough for worrying about all that later.

It was after lunch that Emma glanced in at the open door of the room next to hers and noticed Clare’s belongings still scattered around it. She went in and stared round, frowning. Clare had obviously left in one hell of a hurry. Some of her make-up was there on the dressing table and her negligée was hanging behind the door. She opened the wardrobe and peered in. Two dresses hung there and right at the back, pushed almost out of sight, Clare’s mink coat.

Emma pulled it out of the cupboard and buried her face in the silky chocolate-coloured fur. It smelled faintly of Clare’s perfume. Clare must have left fast to leave that behind in this weather! Still holding the coat in her arms she stared round the room again. Books, tissues, underwear, notebooks, sketchbooks – Emma stared at them in surprise; she had never realised Clare could draw – and draw well. They all lay scattered around, waiting for their owner. Clare was a tidy person, she would never leave the room like this. Emma frowned, suddenly suspicious. Somehow they had to contact her, and contact her soon. Of course, it could just mean that she intended to be back soon, to join them for Christmas after all. Cheered at the thought, she turned to leave the room. The mirror on the inside of the cupboard door caught her eye and she realised that she was still holding Clare’s coat. Suddenly daring, she slipped it on and pulled the door further open to admire herself, turning the collar up around her ears, twirling a little to make the full-length furs swirl out around her. It was luxurious and warm and made her feel a million dollars.

Rex had been standing in the doorway for several minutes before she noticed him. She blushed. ‘I know I shouldn’t. It’s Clare’s, but I couldn’t resist it.’

‘I’ll get you one just like it, if you want one, Emma.’ Rex moved over to her and took her in his arms.

She was surprised by the shock of pleasure his action gave her and she found herself returning his kiss, almost shyly, suddenly confused. ‘It’s a tempting thought,’ she whispered.

‘Then it will be the first thing on my shopping list when we get back to London.’

‘You don’t mind too much about the rooms, Rex?’

‘Sure I mind. I mind like hell! But I’ll put up with it.’ He softened the words with a smile. ‘Just so long as I’m with you.’

‘Oh, Rex.’ Suddenly she knew she was going to cry. She turned and fled out of the room.

‘Emma –’

‘Don’t worry. I just need to be alone for a bit, that’s all. I’ve got to think, Rex,’ she called back as she sped along the hall. ‘Where’s Julia?’

‘Grant took her tobogganing with Bill. They’re out front somewhere.’

‘Then I’m going out for a walk. Don’t follow me, please, Rex. I’ll be all right when I’ve had a walk … I have to think …’

It was only when she was outside in the snow that she realised that she was still wearing Clare’s coat.

Peter was exhausted. He had just arrived at the Shangri La Hotel after a five-day trip touring oil palm and rubber plantations and property developments in southern Malaysia and having got rid of the hired car he was looking forward to a shower and a long cold drink.

His room was in the Garden Wing. He looked round appreciatively and noted with a scowl that the red message light on the telephone console by the bed was already flashing. Ignoring it he walked through into the white marble bathroom and stripped off his clothes. Outside the rain was pouring down into the lush gardens, pitting the swimming pool, swilling off the glossy leaves of the plants on his balcony. It was very hot with the balcony window open.

Sipping his gin and tonic he rang the switchboard and frowned. Three messages all from Emma. He glanced at his watch. It was the middle of the night in England, but if it was urgent she wouldn’t mind. He dialled the Kew number and waited. There was no reply. Twice more he dialled then he looked at his message again. From the 23rd she would be at Duncairn. Shrugging, he dialled Scotland. The line was dead.

Taking his gin he walked out on to the balcony and stood looking down into the gardens. The rain had stopped as abruptly as it had started and the sun had come out. Everything was steaming. The vegetation smelt lush and very beautiful. He smiled. Emma would have loved this. Next time he would bring her. Somehow.

Paul drove as fast as he dared on the snow-covered roads. Twice he stopped, once for petrol, once at an inn just outside Aberdeen where he bought himself a drink and ordered a pie and chips. He didn’t want to reach Duncairn before Cummin got there. He wanted to time it exactly right.

He smiled grimly as he waited for his food, glancing at the briefcase which he had brought in from the Range Rover so that he needn’t let it out of his sight. He was looking forward to seeing Rex Cummin’s face.

He reached Duncairn just after three. The place was deserted. Twice he rang the bell in the hall, then he put his head around the door of Grant’s office. It was empty. His gun, he noticed, was where Grant had left it in the corner by the filing cabinet. He frowned, putting his hand into the pocket of his jacket. The remaining cartridges were still there, and he fingered them gently for a moment.

‘Royland!’ Rex had appeared in the doorway behind him. ‘What are you doing here? Where is your wife?’

Paul looked him up and down slowly. ‘I came here to see you.’

‘Me?’

‘Why else? I’ve something here which might interest you.’

‘Indeed?’

Rex was still upset and angry with Emma and furious with himself for handling the bedroom situation with her so ineptly. He was in no mood to trifle with Paul Royland, the man who had done him out of Duncairn. If they had completed the deal a month ago as Paul had promised, Duncairn would have been his by now. He took a deep breath, trying to control himself. ‘I can’t think what you could possibly have that would interest me.’

‘Duncairn.’

Rex laughed. ‘You’ve sold Duncairn to Sigma!’

‘Supposing I haven’t.’ Suddenly Paul had forgotten the need for discretion. He had forgotten everything except the importance of telling this man that he had finally won, that in the end he had forced Clare to give in. ‘Supposing the documents I gave Warner weren’t legally binding? Supposing the signature was false?’

‘You mean your wife still wouldn’t play ball?’

Paul smiled. ‘Now she has,’ he said softly. ‘Now Duncairn is mine to sell to whom I wish.’

He still had that bad feeling about Sigma; his heart had almost stopped beating when he saw the helicopter outside the hotel even though he was half expecting to see it. ‘I have the deeds to the hotel in my briefcase, together with Clare’s signature on the document, giving me absolute authority to sell. She gave in in the end.’ He smiled.

‘Too bad she took so long.’ Rex eyed him with dislike. ‘I seem to remember telling you that I wasn’t interested in buying any more. I haven’t changed my mind.’

‘OK.’ Paul could feel the sweat breaking out between his shoulder-blades. ‘So, the deal was too rich for you?’ His mocking tone hid his panic.

‘No, but it sure as hell stank.’ Rex folded his arms.

‘I suppose you think you’re going to beat me down.’ Paul turned away to Grant’s desk and sat down. His hands were shaking.

‘I could beat you into the ground, my friend.’ Rex was growing bored with the conversation. ‘I could tell your DTI friends a few things about you, remember?’ His tone was menacing. ‘Don’t think you’re going to leg me over now, Royland, because you are sure as hell not. I don’t want your damn hotel.’

‘Then why are you here?’ Paul’s voice was silky. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve come up to Duncairn for pleasure.’

Rex was silent. So, Paul didn’t know he was here with Emma! And, by God, he didn’t want him to know. He just wanted him to go away. He prayed that Emma would not choose that moment to return from her walk. ‘OK. Say I’m interested.’ All he wanted now was to find out where Clare was and get Paul out of there. ‘Supposing you show me this famous agreement of your wife’s.’ He folded his arms.

Paul reached down and swinging his briefcase on to Jack’s desk snapped open the locks. Inside it there was nothing but a manilla envelope. In it was the paper Clare had signed. He handed it, still sealed, to Rex and smiled.

Rex tore it open. He unfolded the sheet and read it through carefully. When at last he came to the signature he stared at it, then slowly he began to laugh.

‘What’s wrong?’ Paul’s voice was edgy.

‘What’s wrong?’ Rex looked at him with pity. ‘What kind of a dumb head do you take me for, Royland?’