The Burlington Manor Affair

“Then the relationship ended. He gave me a lump sum to invest. To keep me quiet, as it were.”

“You stuck by your promise.”

“I did. Until now.” Another sly smile passed over her face. “Once he met Sylvia Shelby he wasn’t interested in keeping another woman on the side. She must have been ‘the one’ as it were. Unlike your poor old mother.”

What a bitch. She really meant to hurt him. Aside from anything else, her comment made it obvious she’d been kept on the side throughout his parents’ relationship. “It must have been so disappointing for you, being replaced by Sylvia.”

“Very perceptive. You’re a bright young man...considering you came from a broken home.” Every comment was deliberately barbed. She wanted someone to feel her pain. “I loved your father.”

Rex had the urge to tell her he didn’t give a toss. He resisted comment, though. It would probably be right up her alley. He couldn’t shake his suspicions, though. She was the obvious candidate. But why seek revenge on them now? She would have to have an accomplice, but he already suspected there was more than one person involved, because of the timing of events on the previous Friday.

He’d had enough. They were going around in circles here, with her taking a dig at him at every opportunity. The important thing was he knew enough to encourage Jacobson to dig a bit deeper with Olivia Fordyce.

“Well, thank you for your hospitality,” he said pointedly. “I’ve done my duty to the old man’s affairs so I’ll leave you in peace.”

He turned away quickly. He didn’t want to feel her icy hand in his again.

She followed him to the door. “It’s been intriguing, Rex. I enjoyed meeting you.”

I wish I could say the same.

Rex didn’t look back.

Outside, he hailed a taxi. The tube would be quicker but he didn’t fancy looking over his shoulder all the time. Once he got into the cab, he realized the bad vibe hadn’t been left on the pavement outside Olivia’s home, as he’d hoped it might.

What disturbed him most was the uneasy feeling he’d had after speaking to two women who’d been wronged by his dad—Olivia, and his own mother, Bea. Charles Carruthers had left them both unhappy.

Rex had never wanted to be like his father. One of his life rules was that he’d never cheat on a woman because of what adultery had done to his family. Yet he’d found himself being more of a womanizer than he liked. That had dissatisfied him. He was already beginning to change when Carmen came back into his life.

After that second weekend with Carmen his aims for their affair altered. He began to see that she could be his redemption. As she constantly pointed out, however, he had a poor track record, and that meant she was keeping up her guard. He also didn’t want to betray Carmen’s memory of his father by telling her about Olivia—although ultimately he supposed he might have to.

It was time to show her the letter. That would be a good place to start, and it was something that might force the issue of an ongoing relationship. Which he needed, badly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CARMEN WATCHED REX as he cleared the plates and leftovers from the Chinese takeout they’d enjoyed that evening. He seemed preoccupied. “I think I’ll call Mrs. Amery to see if the stairs have been fixed yet.”

Rex frowned. “I sent some people up there this week. Professionals.”

“Oh, so now you’re having things done at the manor without telling me?” She couldn’t resist teasing him. “Might I remind you that I own fifty percent of that property, which means you’re not in a position to take charge of it or do anything without discussing it with me first?”

He stopped dead and looked at her.

“For fuck’s sake,” he mumbled to himself.

Carmen chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you lost for words, Rex Carruthers.”

He ruffled his fingers through his hair and looked as if he was as annoyed with himself as he was with her. That made her curious.

“I wanted to talk to you tonight,” he said, “not about the house, but about us. I want us to be together. Like this.” He gestured around the apartment, which they were sharing, but which was completely strange and alien to the pair of them. “I want us to be like a regular couple. Dating, living together or whatever.”

Carmen burst out laughing. Never had she seen him so befuddled. She couldn’t resist teasing him some more. “You want us to live together? Here?”

“Not here, but somewhere.”

“That’s a relief. My place is way nicer than this.”

“You know what I mean. Somewhere mutual. This week has been great, hasn’t it?”