Love's Only Deception

‘I’m sure he would rather keep the shares in the family—his family.’

‘You little—!’ Logan thrust her away from him.

‘God, you sicken me!’

‘No more than you sicken me,’ Callie said bitterly. ‘So we’re both agreed that we’ve had a lucky escape.’

‘Without doubt.’

‘Then let’s just leave it at that, shall we?’ She collected her bags together.

‘Leave it?’ he taunted grimly. ‘Oh no, we won’t leave it. But the next time we meet will be a

cross a boardroom table. And believe me, you won’t have things your own way then.’

‘I never thought it for a moment.’ Although that had been when she thought she just had Sir Charles to contend with, Logan was a much more formidable opponent.

And she was determined to fight now, she wouldn’t let Jeff’s memory be tainted in any way. Logan had told her exactly what the family believed about them, and that shocked her more than anything she had heard here today. Jeff had been of their flesh and blood, didn’t they know him well enough to realise that he would never ever have contemplated the relationship they thought him guilty of? One day she would take great pleasure in telling them the truth, but not yet, not until they had known her full contempt.

‘As long as you realise that,’ Logan nodded arrogantly, and left the room as softly as he had entered it.

Callie was too numb to cry, too hurt, too bewildered—too damned mad! The arrogance of that family, to think they could say those things about Jeff and get away with it. For herself she was past caring, but for Jeff and—

‘Caroline?’ Donald Spencer hesitated in the doorway, his expression uncertain. ‘Is it all right if I come in?’

‘Why not?’ she scorned, checking she had her handbag and case. ‘I was just leaving anyway.’

‘Ah. Well, I—I was wondering if you would like me to drive you home?’

His nervous eagerness jarred her nerves, but what he had just said reminded her of the fact that she had come here with Logan, that she no longer had transport home. ‘You’ve only just arrived,’ she pointed out stiffly.

‘I don’t mind.’

‘But it’s Christmas Day.’

‘All the more reason for me to drive you home, there won’t be any public transport today, and I doubt you’d get a taxi either.’

He was probably right, and yet she was loath to accept anything from this family; she disliked every member of it, with the possible exception of Cicely Carrington, who probably still hadn’t caught up fully with the conversation. And yet what a triumph to leave with Logan’s cousin, to show him that after all there was still Donald.

‘Caroline?’ he prompted hopefully.

‘All right,’ she accepted briskly. ‘As long as we can leave now.’

‘Oh yes, of course. Straight away.’ He took the small suitcase out of her hand. ‘Of course,’ he repeated excitedly.

Callie walked down the stairs with her head held high, Donald trailing dog-like behind her, almost dropping her overnight case in his hurry to rush forward and open the huge double doors to the drawing-room.

‘Thank you,’ she nodded distantly, her eyes cold as her gaze passed slowly over every person in the room.

Cicely Carrington still looked totally confused, Lady Spencer looked irritated, Sir Charles looked glowering, and she looked lastly at Logan, meeting his open contempt with equal scorn. Not an hour ago she had thought him the most wonderful man in the world, had wanted to spend her whole life with him, and now she hated him with such a vengeance she would do anything she could to hurt him.

Lady Spencer’s expression brightened as she saw Callie’s case in her son’s hand. ‘You’re leaving now, then?’ she said in her aristocratic voice.

Callie’s mouth twisted. ‘Yes, I’m leaving. Donald has kindly offered to drive me.’

‘Anyone care for a drink?’ Logan cut in tautly, making straight for the drinks cabinet as no one answered him.

Callie watched with cold eyes as he poured himself a large glass of whisky, drinking it down in one gulp before refilling the glass.