The Millionaire's Rebellious Mistress - By Catherine George Page 0,61
Bel and old Edgar, of course. After my divorce I wanted to go abroad as far as I could get at first, but I soon got over that. I need to be at least in the same country as my son. Though not near enough,’ she added with a smile, ‘to be breathing down his neck.’
‘From the way Alex talks about you, that’s not a problem for him.’
‘Does he talk about me?’
‘Not in detail. He told me about your visits.’ Sarah hesitated. ‘He doesn’t resemble you at all physically.’
Helen smiled ruefully. ‘No. He’s his father all over again. When I first met George he looked very much as Alex does now. Perhaps you can understand why I was swept off my feet?’
‘Yes, I can,’ said Sarah bleakly. ‘Alex is a very attractive man.’
‘And it’s obvious that he thinks the same about you,’ said Helen gently. ‘So what went wrong?’
Sarah looked into the sympathetic eyes for a moment, then found herself pouring out the entire story—from her initial aversion to the mere name of Merrick, to the hideously embarrassing scene with Bob Grover at Westhope Farm. ‘I wrote to Alex to apologise,’ she finished forlornly, ‘but no reply. And by his attitude the other day at the Pheasant I’m not likely to get one. Not,’ she added hastily, ‘that I blame him. But I still think he was unreasonable in some ways.’
‘And what ways were they?’
‘I get pretty tired during the week when I’m working flat-out, so I suggested—no, pleaded with him,’ she added bitterly, ‘to save our time together for weekends.’
‘And of course Alex, typical male that he is—and a Merrick at that—thought he should see you whenever he wanted to,’ said Helen, nodding. ‘So you took it for granted he was the one who did the stunt at Westhope Farm in petty revenge?’
Sarah flushed hectically. ‘I can’t believe, now, that I made such a terrible mistake without checking it out.’
‘But in spite of all this you still like my son?’
‘Much too much for my peace of mind. But don’t tell him that,’ Sarah added hastily.
‘Of course not.’ Helen got up. ‘How about some more tea while I tell you something which may help you to understand Alex better?’ She handed the cake plate over. ‘I should put the rest of that in a tin right away, so it doesn’t dry.’
When they were back in their former places, holding fresh cups of tea, Helen gave Sarah an odd little smile. ‘Tell me if I’m imagining things, but do you share this rapport I feel between us?’
‘I most certainly do,’ Sarah assured her. ‘It was part of my reason for asking you here.’
Helen chuckled. ‘And was the other part due to Alex’s rudeness about your lack of social life, by any chance?’
Sarah nodded sheepishly. ‘He annoyed me.’
‘I could tell! It’s obvious that you two have very strong feelings for each other, even if they’re not exactly cordial right now. So, be honest with me. Do you love my son?’
Sarah stared at her, startled, her first instinct to deny it vehemently. But the steady hazel eyes were so compelling it was impossible to lie. ‘Yes, I do,’ she said despondently. ‘For all the good it will do me now.’
Helen smiled reassuringly. ‘It will, I promise. Because Alex feels the same about you, Sarah. He gives himself away every time I mention your name. So, to understand him you should know that he had a pretty nasty experience at the hands of one young woman. It tends to colour his view of our sex.’
‘Which doesn’t mean he has to tar me with the same brush, Helen.’ Sarah sighed. ‘He was totally unreasonable.’
‘Of course he was. He’s a man! Now, I must go—or Edgar will be giving Bel the third degree about where I’ve gone. Poor dear, I don’t know how she puts up with him. Well, I do, really. She does it because she loves him. So do I, the old tyrant. You should meet him. He’d like you.’
Sarah shook her head as she accompanied her visitor to the door. ‘One Merrick was more than enough for me.’
‘I have some advice for you,’ said Helen. ‘You probably won’t want to follow it, but I’ll give it anyway. Alex will be at home next weekend, because he’s doing something to his garden. If you turn up out of the blue I doubt he’ll send you away.’
‘I can’t see myself doing that,’ said Sarah ruefully. ‘But thanks anyway.’