The Tempestuous Flame. Кэрол Мортимер

and continued to keep in contact even after Caroline had gone to finishing school and Esther had married John, her sober lawyer husband. With Esther being such a lighthearted girl and never taking anything seriously, and John being the exact opposite, Caroline had often wondered at the success of their marriage—and it was very successful. The two of them were just as much in love now as they had been when they first married two years earlier, in fact, probably more so.

      ‘Hi,’ grinned Esther, her short black curls bouncing impishly as she spoke. ‘What’s wrong?’

      Caroline never ceased to be amazed at how Esther could always discern her moods without her even having to say a word. Even though she didn’t particularly feel like it she found herself smiling. ‘Daddy!’ Her voice was eloquent with meaning.

      ‘Oh.’ Esther had become accustomed to Caroline’s constant upsets with her father. The trouble with the two of them was that they were too much alike, although Caroline didn’t have that iron streak running through her character that made Matt Rayner so successful.

      ‘Mm,’ sighed Caroline, smiling gratefully at the waiter as he placed her sherry before her. ‘Daddy has another prospective husband lined up for me. The only trouble is he’s gone one step further this time. Do you know who he’s chosen for me? Greg Fortnum!’

      Esther gasped. Matt had gone one step further. Whatever had possessed him to try and marry a beautiful girl like Caroline to a rake like Greg Fortnum? That man’s reputation with women was notorious. ‘But why? Why doesn’t he just let you choose your own husband?’

      ‘Because he thinks they’ll only be marrying me for my money—or in this case, his money. Not very flattering, is it?’

      ‘But I still don’t understand. Look at the last one he introduced you to—Anthony, is that right? Well he was certainly after your father’s money.’

      Caroline waited until the waiter had left with their order before answering. ‘I know that, but so did Daddy. Andrew was the type of fortune-hunter Daddy could handle, the fact that I didn’t like him made no difference. He’s so terrified I’ll meet someone who he can’t control that he’s decided if I must marry it shall be someone of his choosing. But Greg Fortnum!’ she said the last with disgust, staring miserably down into her glass.

      ‘Quite,’ agreed Esther dryly. ‘Although he doesn’t fit the description you’ve just given me. Greg Fortnum sounds anything but manageable.’

      ‘I know,’ sighed Caroline. ‘That’s why I think there’s more to this than just Greg Fortnum needing a wife. Goodness, if he needed a wife that badly he has only to say so and thousands of girls would jump at the chance.’

      ‘Mm,’ Esther said thoughtfully. ‘But perhaps they aren’t the type of wife he would want. He would need someone who was used to entertaining people, someone beautiful and versed in all the social graces. And you have to admit you’re all of those things,’ she pointed out.

      ‘You’re beginning to sound like Daddy. Doesn’t love enter into his plans at all?’

      ‘Obviously not.’

      ‘I suppose he would expect me to meekly sit at home while he went out to see his mistress. Well, I don’t want that type of marriage. I want—I want a marriage like yours.’

      Esther laughed, a tinkling bell-like sound that caused many male heads to turn in their direction. The two of them were totally unconcerned about the admiring glances that had been directed towards them during the last fifteen minutes, being accustomed to causing a stir wherever they went, one being so darkly beautiful and the other so fair.

      ‘Well, I’m pleased that you find my marriage a good example of married life, but even John and I argue at times. I think all married couples do. As for you sitting meekly at home while your husband goes out, I certainly can’t see that happening. But you’re not seriously thinking of marrying him, are you?’ She couldn’t help but sound surprised, knowing how stubborn Caroline could be when she set her mind on something.

      ‘Certainly not! I’ve told Daddy that he can entertain Greg Fortnum on his own this weekend, and I also told him I was going away for a couple of days. I wasn’t, but I think I may go down to the cottage for a while. Anything to avoid meeting that man.’

      ‘Go to the cottage in this weather?’ Esther referred to the rain outside. ‘But, Caroline, it’s probably freezing there this time of year. Why don’t you come to us instead?’

      Caroline shook her head, tucking into the steak she had ordered with unconcealed relish. She might have argued with her father, but it certainly hadn’t robbed her of her appetite. ‘No, I think it would be better if I got right away from town. Thanks for the offer, though. Mmm, this steak’s good,’ she took a sip of wine. ‘The cottage will be all right once I get a fire going. I could stay for a couple of weeks if I wanted to.’

      ‘I think you would be better to come to us. You know we love having you and perhaps we could ask Nick to make up a foursome. John and I found a lovely new restaurant the other day, we could try that out again.’

      Nick was Esther’s brother, and although Caroline liked him very much, to her he was just like the brother she had never had. She and Esther were like sisters anyway, and so it had been a natural progression. ‘No, Esther, it’s lovely of you to ask me, but I don’t want to be near enough for Daddy to find me. You understand? You’ll be the first person Daddy thinks of contacting when he starts looking for me.’

      Esther nodded. ‘I suppose so. But I think you’re making a mistake. Would it do any harm for you to meet the man? That wouldn’t commit you to anything, would it?’

      ‘No, except it gives Daddy a certain amount of satisfaction I don’t intend him to have. I think the best thing for me to do is stay out of the way until he forgets all about marriage and Greg Fortnum. And I can work at the cottage.’ She thought with pleasure of the studio her father had converted for her from one of the bedrooms at the cottage. As there had only been three of them to start with she had thought it very generous of him—she knew how he loved his comforts. Not that he spent a lot of time at their cottage, making Caroline regard it as her personal property.

      John arrived a few minutes later to take Esther shopping for the afternoon, and after a few minutes’ chatter Caroline excused herself. If she wanted to reach the cottage today she would have to leave soon. She walked gracefully out of the restaurant, a tall honey-blonde girl with the face of a perfect sculpture. It was this perfection that kept most of the men who weren’t fortune-hunters away from her, they couldn’t be kept away by anything.

      She let herself quietly into the apartment, but a quick look around assured her that her father wasn’t at home. It didn’t take her long to pack the necessary clothing for a stay at the Cumbrian cottage, just a few pairs of trousers and some thick jumpers to keep out the cold. Esther was right, January wasn’t really the ideal month to go to her retreat, but after her father’s earlier determination she didn’t want to be anywhere he could reach her easily. He could be very persuasive in the right mood, and she wasn’t impervious to his charm. The cottage was the ideal place to go in the circumstances. Of course there was a telephone there, her father refused to go anywhere there wasn’t one, but if she didn’t answer it he wouldn’t know she was there.

      She left him a note saying she would call him during the next few days, but that she refused to come back until Greg Fortnum was well out of the picture. She gave a nod of satisfaction and picking up the hastily packed suitcase, walked to the door. It was at just that moment the telephone began to ring. Caroline looked at it irritably; should she answer it or shouldn’t she? If it was her father she could always pretend to be Maggie, their housekeeper.

      ‘Yes?’ she enquired curtly, automatically reciting their telephone number.

      ‘Good afternoon,’ greeted a coolly clipped voice. ‘I wish to speak to Mr Rayner. Is that possible?’

      ‘I’m afraid not,’ Caroline replied politely. What an attractive voice this man had, although it wasn’t