Angel of Darkness

‘And Russ.’ Russ’s arm tightened round Kelda’s rigid back.

‘Perhaps Kelda and Russ would like to join us.’ As Isabel turned to address Angelo, she rested her left hand on his sleeve and the elegant diamond solitaire on her engagement finger caught the light. ‘The more the merrier when one’s celebrating, don’t you think?’ she said with a teasing smile.

‘Sorry, we’re with a party of our own,’ Russ retorted with a distinctly forced smile.

A moment later, Kelda dropped heavily down into her chair, white as a sheet.

‘What’s wrong?’ Gina asked of Russ.

‘The bastard just introduced her to his fiancée.’

* * *

‘Men!’ Gina snorted, unlocking the door of her docklands apartment where Kelda was to spend the night. Russ was staying the night with his best man. Gina stalked over to the drinks cabinet. ‘You need a brandy. You look like a corpse!’

‘No,’ Kelda shook her head.

‘Not even this once?’ Gina wheedled.

‘Sorry.’

‘Well then, I insist you get straight into bed and I’ll bring supper in.’

‘Gina, it’s only ten—’

‘We should have had a hen-night and stayed home,’ her friend muttered crossly. ‘That club was Russ’s idea.’

‘I was bound to run into Angelo sooner or later.’ With a very real effort, Kelda tilted her chin and managed to smile. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

‘Do you think I came down with the last shower of rain?’ Gina enquired very drily. ‘You are abso-lutely devastated!’

Kelda contrived a jerky shrug. ‘It was on the cards. So, he’s getting married...so what?’

‘You should have told him the truth months ago!’

‘Gina!’ Kelda was shaken.

Her friend sighed. ‘You deliberately drove him away by letting him think that Russ and you were involved—’

‘I didn’t know I was pregnant—’

‘And then you tell him it’s not his baby!’ Gina recounted.

‘Do you really think that he wanted to hear that it was?’

Presented with that angle, Gina winced.

Kelda managed to produce a wry laugh. ‘I did the right thing, Gina, and I’m over him. I’m really not martyr material. Plenty more fish in the sea.’

Gina frowned. ‘Is that really how you feel?’

‘Yes.’ Kelda walked into the kitchen. ‘Now where is this fancy no-cook supper you promised me, and all the gossip?’

‘Have you found out yet who is sending you those luscious hampers every week?’

Kelda smiled. For months she had been receiving luxury hampers of fabulous food from Harrods. ‘Tomaso, of course.’

‘Your stepfather?’ Gina exclaimed in comical disappointment. ‘I thought you had a secret admirer!’