Remember (25 page)

The scent of the roses was more intoxicating than ever, and somewhere nearby a bee buzzed and hummed as it danced in the balmy air. It had been on such a day as this that she had first encountered Charles Devereaux.

Innumerable memories assailed her. Four years fell away. It was suddenly that Friday afternoon in June of 1985 when Charles had walked into her life. She closed her eyes once more, reliving that day all over again, remembering …

remembering …

A perfect rose, Nicky thouht. The most perfect rose I’ve seen in a long time. It was large, a pale pearly yellow, and it had opened fully, but was not yet overblown and fragile, ready to fall. She leaned forward, touched a velvet petal of the rose lightly with a f ngertip and breathed in its lovely scent.

It was then that she heard the crunch offootsteps on the path and turned. A man was strolling toward her, a young man, obviously in his thirties. As he drew closer, she saw that he was not much taller than she, about five foot eight in height, and slender and compact of build.

He was naturally fair in coing but she noticed how tanned he was, and his lght brown hair had been streaked blond by the sun. He was good-looking in a lean and hungry way, with high cheekbones, sharply chiseled, somewhat gaunt features and a thin aristocratic nose.

“Xou’reAndrew’sdauhter, “hesaid, staringatherwith intensity, not even bothering to conceal his curiosity and interest in her.

Thrusting out her hand, she nodded. “Nicky Wells.”

“Charles Devereaux, “he responded as hegrasped her hand in a f I’m grip.

Nicky found herself looking into a pair of green eyes, the clearestgreen eyesshe had everseen. They continued to stareateach other, their hands still clasped. Nicky was experiencing an overwhelmin, and spontaneous attraction to him.

His scrutiny was intense, and she knew that he was as taken with her as she was with him. Her face grew warm and she felt the color rising from her neck to suffuse her face.

“You re blushing, Miss Wells. Are you not accustomed to having a man look atyou with undisguised admiration?”

Nicky gaped at him, feeling suddenly tongue-tied and at a loss.

He was certainly direct, and not in the least impeded by social conventions. Hegot straight to the point. Very brash, especually for an Englishman, and an aristocratat that, she thoughtand smiled inwardly. She rather liked his directnessj it was refreshing, if a little unnerving. And she found his upper-class English voice a joy to listen to. It was beautiful, the voice of a Shakespearean actor, full of color and cadences and rhythms.

Richard Burton, she thought. He sounds like Richard Burton.

Charles said, “You’re very silent—oh dear, I’m afraid I’ve embarrassed you, Miss Wells.”

“No, you haven’t, and please call me Nicky.”

“I will. And please, do excuse my bad manners. But you are very beautiful, you know. Undoubtedly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”

“Beware of a suave Englishman paying lavish compliments.” Leaning back, she eyed him carefully, with a certain amusement.

“I meant what I saud. Look here, will you have dinner with me on Monday evening? In London. Just the two of us. I want to get to know you better.”

“Yes, I’ll have dinner with you, I’d love it, ” Nicky found herself saying.

“Excellent. We’ll have an intimate dinner in a quiet little restaurant. Leave it to me, I know the ideal spot. Areyou stayingat Claridge’s with your parents?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock. Please be prompt. I can * bear to be kept waitin by women. And dress simply, even casually. The place where we’ll be dining is not very fancy.”

“Areyou always this dictatorial, Mr. Devereaux?”

“Call me Charles and no, I’m not. I do apologize. I didn’t intend to sound so insufferable.”

“Youdidn’t, notreally.”

“I have a confession to make.”

“Oh. So soon in our relationship?“Nicky quipped, raising her brows.

Charles chuckled. “Ah, a sense of humor, I see, as well as a perfect face. Almost too good to be true.” He chuckled again, and told her in that mellifluous voice of his, “A week ago today I went to fetch your parentsfrom the hotel, to drive them down here for the weekend. In their suite I saw a photograph of you.” He took a deep breath, and if rushed with some deliberation, “I was utterly bowled over by you. ” Nicky could think of nothing to say.

Charles went on, “Your mother caught me studying your photograph, and she told me all aboutyou. “He paused and there was a vey direct look in hisgreen eyes when he added, “I’m afraid I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since then.”

“This is the bestline I’ve heard in a long time, “Nicky said, her tone teasing.

Charleshad thegrace to laugh. “But i really mean whatIsay. When I arrived at the house fifteen minutes ago, the first thing I did was ask my mother whereyou were. And when she told me, I came straight out here to f nd you.”

“Charles, “Nicky began and stopped abruptly.

Itsuddenly struck her that he was in earnest, that he was being quite serious, and she murmured, “I honestly don’t know what to say, how to respond to you.

You’re so outspoken, so blunt, even a bit aressive. You knock the breath right out of me.”

“And you take my breath away.” Very gently, Nicky extricated her hand and glanced down at it. He had held it so tightly there were red marks on her skin and her hand felt sore.

Charlesfollowed heraze, and said, “I’msosory!SometimesIdon’t know my own strength. Mygrip can be far too strong. “As he f rushed speaking hegently caught her hand in his, brought it to his mouth and brushed his lips across it.

Nicky thought she wasgoing to jump out of her skin. His touch was likean electricshock. Swiftlyshepulled back herhand andglanced away, conscious of those cool green eyes watching her so intently.

There wasa silence, then Charlesasked, “And tell me, whaton earth were you doing, lingering out here?”

“Looking at the roses.” Nicky turned to him, and striving to sound normal, she said, “In particular, I was studying this one.

It’s the most perfect rose of all.” She touched theyellow bloom and saud, “Isn’t it?”

Charlesglanced at the rose, and then at her and exclaimed, “Your eyes are the exact color of speedwells.”

“What are they?”

“Littleflowers of the brightest blue.” Suddenly taking f I’m hold of her elbow, Charles steered Nicky toward the wooden door at the other end of thegarden. “I think we’d bettergo in for tea. That’s the safest thing for us to do right now.” Charles stayed close by her side for the next hour or so, disappearing for only about ten minutes toward the end of tea, which was being served in the drawing room.

Nicky was acutely conscious of his eyes on her for most of this time, and so were her mother and Anne, who kept exchanging knowin and delighted glances. Her father was too busy talking to Philip about Margaret Thatcher and the British political scene to notice anything.

The two older men sat off to oneside of the room by themselves, and were so engrossed in their conversation they were oblivious.

Later, when she went upstairs to dress for dinner, the first thin Nicky noticed when she entered her room was the yellow rose she had admired in thegarden. It was in a crystal bud vase on her bedside table.

Propped next to it was an envelope with her name on it. The note inside was written in a neat, precise hand. It said very simply, “I dudn’t mean to embarrass or offend you.

Think kindly of me. C.D. ” She dropped the note on the bed, picked up the vase and pressed her face into the center of the rose, breathing deeply of its scent. She felt overwhelmed by Charles Devereaux.

He’sgoing to be my undoing, she thoughtand sighed, knowing she was incapable of doing anything about that now. It was already too late.

She had fallen for him in the space of a few hours, captivated by his looks, his voice, his charisma and even his somewhat domineering manner. He had charm and panache and the most extraordinary nerve. He is unique, she decided, as she dressed for the evening.

I’ve never met anyone like him.

A little while later, when she ran into him in the foyer outside the drawingroom, shethanked himfortherose. Hesaud withaslihtsmie, “Perfection deserves perfection, ” and for the rest of the evening he hovered over her so solicitously, so constantly, even her father became aware of his attentions to her. He even renarked about it to her privately, when they went up to bed. As her mother hurried along the corridor to their bedroom, her father lingered outside hers and f nally followed her inside. “Idon’t wantyou to think I’m interfering, Nicky, ” he said quietly, putting his hand on her shoulder affectionately.

“But I’ve known Charles for several years, and he’s quite the man-abouttown. And used to getting his own way with women.”

“I can well imagine that, Daddy, ” Nicky saud, looking into a pair of eyes as blue as her own, noticing immediately their worried expression.

“Hey, Dad, relax! I can take care of myself! ” She laughed and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “I’m a pretty tough journalist, remember, and the independent, feisty, capable woman you brought me up to be.” Andrew Wells nodded. “I know thatyour mother and I instilled the best and bravest instincts in you, angelface. And I know you can look after yourself. You’ve been facing danger for years in your work.

But this is notyour work, and Charles Devereaux is a special breed of man.

He’sEton, Oxford and theBritish Establishment, very much thearistocrat with an auust lineage and an impeccable background. Don’t forget, hisgrandfather was a peer of the realm, his uncle is the present earl and his mother has a title in her own rht.”

“I’m not quite sure I know what you’regetting at, Dad.”

“The British aristocracy is a world unto itself very snobbish, and inbred. And closed to most.” Nicky burst out laughing. “I can’t believe I’m hearingyou say this, Andrew Wells! Are you suggesting that I may be viewed as “not suitable, ” quote unquote, for Charles Devereaux, because I’m an American ?”

Andrew laughed with her. “Not really. As far as I’m concerned, you’re good enough for anyone, my dearest girl. And probably far too good for most men.”

“Spoken like a true, devoted, adoring father.”

“I’m simply trying to say that he comes from a different world than you.

And I merely want to caution you, and to explain that Philip once told me Charles was a bit of a playboy, that’s all.”

“I can handle myself Pops, honestly, I can.”

“I know. Just watch your step.”

“And keep myeyes open. That’s what you used to say when I was little.

Watchyourstep and keep your eyes open, Nick. And that’s what I always did, and I’ve never forgotten any of your instructions, Daddy, ” she f rushed with a small grin.

Andrew hugged her to him. “You re the best, Nick. The very best there is, and the apple of my eye. I just don’t want you to get hurt unnecessarily. Now, good night, darling.” Nicky and Charles spent the entire day together on Saturdayj theygot to know each other better as he drove her around Pullenbrook estate in his Land-Rover. She soon discovered he was well read, knowledgeable, informed about world politics, extremely intellient and erudite. And shefound herselflikinghim asa person, quiteasidefrom beingattracted to him as a man.

Annegave a dinner party on Saturday night and invited several local couplesj it was a pleasant evening. Once again, Charles was assiduous in his attentions to her and scarcely seemed to notice his mother’sguests or anyone else except her. And she was equally engrossed in him, although she played it a little cooler than he, conscious of her father’s eyes on her for a good part of the evening.

By the time she went to bed she was euphoric, floating, and after she had undressed, she sat on the window seat dreamily azing out at the moonlit grounds. Her thoughts were only of Charles. There was a sudden, Ight tappin on the door. She went to open it and was not in the least surprised to see Charles standing there.

Without a word he came into the room quickly, closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

“Forgive the intrusion at this late hour, ” he said. “But I couldn t sleep. I had to come and see you, if only for a moment.

” He took a step forward, reachedfor her hand, and pulled her toward him. “I had the most pressing and desperate need to—kiss you good night. “He peered atherclosely, and smiled a quietlittlesmile.

Without another word he kissed her fully on the mouth. Her arms went around his neck, and immediately he drew her even closer. After a moment he loosened his hold and said against her hair, “I want to make love to you, Nicky. Let me stay with you tonight—don’t send me away.

“

She was silent.

He kissed her again, more passionately than beforej she could not help responding, and clung to him.

“Oh, my darling, ” he said, and brushed his mouth against her cheek.

“Please let me stay.”

“But I hardly knowyou, ” she began, and then let her voice trail off uncertainly. She was unnerved by him, and afraid. Charles Devereaux was having a potent effect on her. He was lethal, and she suddenly understood that she could quite easily be devastated by him.

Charles took her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes.

His voice was tender when he murmured, “Oh Nicky, Nicky, don’t let’s play games with each other. We’re both adults, we’re mature, intelligent people. “Again thefaintsmile played around his mouth, and headded, “And do you honestly think you’ll know me any better on Monday? What difference does it make whether we make love tonight or wait until then?“Hebroughthismouth tohers, kissed herlongand hard and then released her, leaving her standing in the middle of thefloor.

Pivoting, he went to the door and locked it. As he walked back to her he took off his silk dressing gown and threw it on a chair, and began to unbutton his pajama top. When he stood in front of her, he said in his low-pitched, seductive voice, “You know you want me as much as I want you, Nicky. It’s written all over your face.” Unfazed by her continuin silence, very sure of himself and entirely in command, he took her hand and led her toward the four-poster bed.