The Threat of Love

'Leave me alone!'

'I think you should have this discussion somewhere else,' Gil said, seeing the anger in his grandmother's face. 'Miranda, help me get Colin into the hall. Come on, Colin, don't be an idiot... you can't talk to Miranda in here.' He jerked his head towards his grandmother, and the Earl looked blankly at her, then gave a loud gasp.

'Oh, quite... Sorry... leave immediately...'

'This way,' Gil drily said, propelling him through the door. The Countess reluctantly followed; the door closed on all three, and Lady Westbrook let out a long, audible breath. Caro felt intense relief, too, and sighed, which brought the old lady's eyes round to her face. Lady Westbrook frowned then, as if only just remembering her presence.

'I apologise, Caroline,' she said stiffly.

'No, please... really... it doesn't matter,' stammered Caro, wishing she was somewhere else.

'It does indeed!' Lady Westbrook said sternly. 'My grandson is behaving disgracefully, and I'm sorry you had to be a witness to that unpleasant little scene. He had no business allowing it to take place in front of you.'

Caro suddenly saw that the old lady's hands were shaking violently, and felt a pang of sympathy. She got up and went over to Lady Westbrook, knelt down beside her chair and took hold of her trembling hands. Their skin was dry and papery, very cold. Caro massaged them gently, smiling into the pale old face.

'Don't upset yourself, it isn't worth it.'

There was the gleam of tears in Lady Westbrook's eyes. Her mouth quivered. 'He's such a fool!'

'Gil?' guessed Caro. She wouldn't argue with that; he was undoubtedly a fool, getting involved with a woman like Miranda.

'I warned him Miranda meant trouble,' Lady Westbrook muttered, as if reading Caro's thoughts. 'I know the type. Easily bored, always looking for new sensations, extravagant... if Colin divorces her Gil will have to marry her, and she'll ruin his life. My family worked very hard to build up our business, and I'd rather leave the money to charity than let it fall into Miranda's hands and have her spend it all on herself.'

'Is that why you're selling Westbrooks?' asked Caro gently and Lady Westbrook gave her a strange look, half angry, half miserable.

She nodded, then bit her lip before bursting out, 'I gave him an ultimatum. He either swore never to see Miranda again there and then—or I would offer the store to your father!'

Caro whistled softly, imagining the scene. She knew Gil Martell by now; she knew how he would react to that piece of blackmail. His grandmother should have known, too. Her grey eyes gazed at Lady Westbrook, who stared down into them defiantly.

'Oh, I know what you're thinking! It was a mistake, 1 knew it the minute I'd said it, but I was so angry, and Gil wouldn't talk about it, he just told me to mind my own business! I lost my temper, and I'd said it before I could stop myself, and... and...'

'And he told you to do as you liked, he didn't give a damn?' Caro could almost hear him saying it. She began to laugh and Lady Westbrook stared at her in utter amazement for a minute, and then suddenly she began to laugh, too, the tears still in her eyes.

When their laughter died away the old lady produced a handkerchief and dried her eyes, and gave Caro a shaky smile. 'Thank you for listening, my dear, you're very kind.'

'Not at all.' Caro was shy now; she didn't know what to say or do.

A French clock on the mantelshelf chimed musically, and she started, looking at her own watch in surprise and relief. It was a way out.

'Gracious, look at the time! It is nearly ten o'clock. I'd no idea it was so late. I must be going. Thank you so much for the delicious meal, I enjoyed seeing you again, getting to know you better.'

She was gabbling, she thought; gabbling, no other word for it. Tonight had been quite an ordeal; she had never in her life had to face anything like it. She had been flung from one emotional situation to another all evening, and she was mentally drained. It wasn't over yet, either. To leave, she had to make her way across that hall, where no doubt there was still a nasty triangular scene going on. She wished there was some other way out, but she couldn't stay here a second longer, she had to get away.

'But you must wait for Gil to come back!' Lady Westbrook protested.

Not on your life! thought Caro, but could not say that, so instead she muttered, 'Oh, I'll see him on my way out, I expect.'

'But how will you get home?'

'Our house is just five minutes away, I'll walk.'

'In the dark? I don't think you should, my dear,' Lady Westbrook argued unhappily, but Caro shook hands and bolted out of the room.

/> For a second she thought the hall was empty, and then she heard the slam of the great oak front door and Gil moved towards her from the shadows around it. He halted as he saw her, lifting his dark brows.

'Where are you going?'

'Home,' she said tersely.