The Deserving Mistress

She stared at him for several long seconds, not sure whether she believed him or not, but knowing that she didn’t have time at this moment to debate the subject.

She turned agitatedly. ‘You have to go,’ she told Jude forcefully, clasping her hands together so tightly that the knuckles turned white. ‘No—you have to stay,’ she amended frantically, moving agitatedly about the room now as she tried to decide what she should do for the best, all the time her brain racing.

January and March were the last people she wanted back here, now of all times, May all too conscious of the fact that April Robine was only miles away. And that January and March had no idea, despite the fact that the woman was an internationally acclaimed actress, that she was also their mother.

While they were all growing up it had never occurred to May that either of her sisters need ever know that their mother hadn’t really died twenty-two years ago but had deserted them. Even once May had realised that the actress who had become April Robine was their mother, it hadn’t seemed necessary to tell her sisters the truth; after all, what were the chances of any of them ever meeting the famous actress, by accident or design? None, May had decided.

Wrongly…

And now both her sisters had returned home unexpectedly, and April Robine was in a hotel only a few miles away.

What was she going to do?

Jude was obviously wondering the same thing—if for totally different reasons—as he dropped the kitchen curtain back into place before turning to look at her, dark brows raised mockingly. ‘Make your mind up, May,’ he drawled. ‘Do I go or do I stay?’

She wanted him to go, of course, as far away from here as it was possible for him to go—and for him to take April Robine with him. But as she knew there was no chance of that happening, especially now that Max and Will had arrived, his presence here might be helpful in trying to explain away some of the agitation she was too disturbed to be able to hide.

‘You stay,’ she told Jude firmly, grasping his arms to sit him down on one of the kitchen chairs. ‘Just don’t—try not to—’ She drew in a deeply controlling breath, willing herself to calm down, knowing that she mustn’t make Jude suspicious of her behaviour, either.

What a mess. What an absolute nightmare. What on earth were January and March doing back here? The last time May had spoken to January, she and Max were having such a good time they were staying on in the Caribbean for another week, and had several days to go yet, and March had been nicely ensconced in London meeting her future in-laws. So, if Jude really hadn’t told them she was alone here, what were either of them doing back here?

May straightened, forcing herself to calm down. ‘Would you please stay, Jude?’ she said evenly. ‘But could you not—?’ She moistened dry lips. ‘Please don’t mention either David Melton or April Robine’s presence in the area?’ She looked at him pleadingly, hoping that mentioning David, too, might put him off the scent of it really being the famous actress she didn’t want mentioned.

Jude calmly returned her gaze, obviously completely puzzled by her behaviour—but too much a man who liked to be in control, of any situation, to admit to the feeling.

Well, for the moment that would do. Oh, May had no doubts that Jude would demand a more detailed explanation at a later date, but she would deal with that problem when the time came. For the moment she just needed his cooperation over that one point.

He frowned. ‘Don’t your sisters know about the film offer?’

‘Yes, they know about it,’ she snapped impatiently. ‘They also know that I’ve turned it down.’

‘But not that David Melton is in the area hotly pursuing the subject?’ Jude guessed shrewdly.

‘No, not that.’ May sighed irritably.

‘Or that April is here to help press the point. May, what is your problem with April?’ he rasped as May felt herself pale just at the mention of the other woman.

She drew in a deeply controlling breath. If he were to mention April Robine in front of her sisters… ‘I really would rather not discuss this any more tonight, Jude.’ She looked at him determinedly.

Jude’s mouth twisted derisively. ‘You do realise my silence is going to cost you?’ he drawled mockingly.

‘Yes,’ she sighed her impatience, able to hear the happy murmur of her sisters’ voices outside the door now, willing to promise Jude anything right now to ensure his silence concerning April Robine.

‘Dinner tomorrow evening?’ he prompted softly, obviously also aware of those approaching voices.

May’s eyes widened. ‘Just dinner?’

Jude frowned darkly, his expression harsh. ‘What else did you think I had in mind?’ he grated.

‘I have no idea,’ she dismissed impatiently. ‘But dinner tomorrow sounds fine.’

‘You don’t know how glad I am to hear that!’ Jude rasped disgustedly. ‘May, I have no idea what sort of man you think I am, but I do not go around—’

‘Shh,’ she cut in warningly, moving hastily across the room to pick up the coffee-pot as the door began to open, as if she had been in the act of refilling their cups.

The next few minutes were filled with a babble of happy voices as the three sisters greeted each other, January and March absolutely thrilled that their having arrived home unexpectedly as a surprise for May had so obviously worked.

Surprise? May wondered with inward exasperation—her sisters had nearly given her that heart attack Jude had once referred to.