Forbidden Surrender

Aunt Susan shrugged. ‘Just that you knew about Marie and your father. He thought we should know.’

Dominic Thorne took too much upon himself. She didn’t like having her life taken out of her hands in this way. And if he thought he had got away with it then he was in for a surprise!

She sighed. ‘I’m not going to ask you for reasons, I’m sure you’re as incapable of giving them as Mr Lindlay is.’

‘Probably,’ her aunt nodded. ‘But I can tell you that your mother regretted what happened all her life.’

‘I don’t believe that! She was happy with Richard, they—–’

‘Not that part,’ Aunt Susan interrupted gently. ‘Rachel always regretted taking you away from your sister. I think in the end she would rather have given you up completely than risk the pain you’re going through now.’

‘No!’ Sara cried chokingly. ‘No, she loved me. She—–’

‘Of course she loved you. It was because she loved you, and Marie, that she knew she’d done the wrong thing in separating you. It’s strange, really,’ her voice broke emotionally, ‘but your mother was actually going to tell you about Marie, was going to bring you over here next month on your birthday and introduce the two of you. But fate decided it wouldn’t work out that way.’

Sara frowned. ‘My mother was really going to do that?’

‘Oh yes,’ her aunt nodded. ‘I can show you the letter if you like.’

‘No, no, that won’t be necessary. I—I think I’ll go to bed now.’ She turned blindly out of the room.

‘Sara—–’

‘Leave her, Susan,’ she could hear her uncle’s firm voice. ‘Leave her on her own, she needs time to adjust.’

Time. Everyone seemed to think that with time she would be able to accept this situation. And maybe she would.

She spent a restless night, eating an almost silent breakfast before leaving the house. Her aunt and uncle were still respecting her wish to be left alone, and she felt grateful to them.

The woman behind the desk was the capable middle-aged woman Sara had expected to be Dominic Thorne’s secretary.

‘Miss Lindlay,’ she greeted with a smile. She was a woman of possibly forty-five, her appearance smart, very attractive in a mature sort of way, her ringless hands evidence of her single state. ‘Shall I tell Mr Thorne you’re here?’

Why not? ‘Please do,’ Sara’s voice was distinctly English.

There was a short conversation on the intercom before the secretary told her to go in.

‘Thank you,’ Sara smiled.

The inner office was even more impressive, wood-panelled walls, thickly carpeted floor, drinks cabinet and easy chairs, and most impressive of all, Dominic Thorne seated behind the huge mahogany desk.

He looked up as she entered the room, putting down the gold pen he was working with, his smile welcoming. ‘Mar—–’ his eyes narrowed and he frowned. ‘But it isn’t, is it? Hello, Sara,’ he greeted huskily, standing up.

Her irritation was impossible to hide. ‘How did you know?’ She used her own voice when talking to him.

Dominic shrugged. ‘I’m learning, that’s all.’

‘You mean there is a difference?’

He gave her a considering look, bringing a blush to her cheeks. ‘Yes, there’s a difference.’

‘What is it?’ she frowned.

He held back a smile. ‘I’m too much of a gentleman to tell you.’

Her eyes flashed. ‘You aren’t a gentleman at all, which is why I’m here.’

Dominic sighed, moving around the desk to lean back against it. ‘I had no idea you wouldn’t have told your aunt and uncle everything, the parts they didn’t already know anyway.’

‘I needed time to think.’

‘And have you now thought?’ he mocked.

‘Not completely.’ Sara turned to look at the rows of books in the bookcase along one wall. They were all on engineering, something she knew nothing about.

‘What do you need to think about?’ he asked from behind her. ‘They’re your family.’

‘Yes,’ she agreed dully, turning. ‘But it isn’t easy accepting that.’