CHAPTER ELEVEN
PAIGE sighed wearily as she shut off the Jaguar’s engine. She’d expected to get back late, but this was ridiculous. Hours had passed since she’d left for the airport. The afternoon had stretched into a cold, moonless night, and the rain, which had let up for a short while, had begun again.
The mews was silent, the house dark. Norah was probably asleep, Paige thought, and she felt a twinge of regret. Even the housekeeper, always polite although never really friendly, would have been a welcome companion tonight.
She let herself into the house and then leaned her back against the closed door. There was a throbbing pain in her temple. A tension headache, probably. It had been building ever since she’d left the house with her father hours before. Everything had conspired against her: traffic to Heathrow had been horrendous, and then there’d been an accident on the A4 that had resulted in a detour. And she still wasn’t entirely comfortable driving on what she thought of as the wrong side of the road. By the time they’d finally reached the airport, her father had missed his flight.
‘You don’t have to wait around, Paige,’ he’d said. ‘I’ll be fine.’
She’d nodded and started to leave, and then she’d sighed. ‘Come on, Father,’ she’d said, forcing a smile to her face. ‘Let’s get some coffee.’
Her father had switched from coffee to brandy after a while. ‘I need something to relax me,’ he’d said, and that was just what the brandy had done. He’d become nostalgic, even maudlin, explaining endlessly how he’d only wanted the best for her always, until finally Paige had told him that for a man who kept saying that, he certainly did some strange and unforgivable things. Still, when it was finally time to see him on board his plane, he’d hugged her and her eyes had misted.
‘I’ll repay every dollar,’ he’d promised. ‘You tell that to your husband for me.’
Paige sighed as she undid her coat. Before she could do that, she’d have to tell Quinn she’d taken all that money. God, she dreaded it! But he’d understand, if he listened with his heart, and she was sure he was ready to do that. When he came home, they’d put aside all the misunderstanding that separated them. Passion had brought them together, but only honesty and trust could make their marriage real.
The stairs looked as steep as a slope in the Rockies. And her head was beginning to pound. Well, she thought as she climbed slowly to the upper floor, some aspirin and a good night’s sleep would fix it. A phone call from Quinn would be even more welcome. She wouldn’t tell him about her father’s visit over the phone—that was something best done face to face—but the sound of his voice would make her feel better.
She paused on the landing. Maybe he’d called while she was out. No, Norah would have left a message on the hall table, and it had been bare. It was late, but not so late that he might not still call. She’d shower and put on her nightgown and hope.
The bedroom was dark. The curtains were drawn against the rainy night—Norah’s work, she thought, sinking down on the edge of the bed. God, she was exhausted! Her father’s visit had worn her out. Now there was a new set of problems added to the old.
She put her hand to her throat, searching, as always, for the solace of Quinn’s ring.
The ring! Where was it? Paige sprang to her feet, her heart thudding erratically while she fumbled for the ruby in its accustomed place between her breasts—and then she shut her eyes and blew a sigh of relief.
What was the matter with her? The ring was on the bedside table, where she’d left it after breaking the chain when she and Quinn…
But it wasn’t. The other table, then. She must have forgotten.
But the ring was gone. She’d lost it. She…
‘Stop it,’ she whispered aloud. ‘Ruby rings don’t just walk off. It must be somewhere. It…’
‘It is.’
Light flooded the room. ‘Quinn?’ Paige stared into the corner in disbelief. ‘Quinn,’ she said again, and laughed. ‘You scared the life out of me.’
He was leaning against the wall, still dressed as he had been that morning. A smile curved over his lips.
‘Surprise, darling,’ he said. ‘I’m back early.’
There was something strange about his eyes, she thought. The colour seemed muted. Almost dulled.
‘Aren’t you glad to see me, Paige?’
She took a step towards him. ‘Of course. I’m just surprised you’re back so soon. A week, you said.’
‘So I did.’
‘Is… is everything all right? You sound strange.’
He nodded. ‘Everything’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be?’
It wasn’t. There was a dark undertone in his voice, a warning that chilled her. Could he know about her father and the money? No, of course not. It was just her guilty conscience playing tricks.
She smiled at him. ‘You should have called. I’d have met you at the airport.’