Sara Craven - Counterfeit Bride

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Former journalist SARA CRAVENpublished her first novel ‘Garden of Dreams’ for Mills & Boon in 1975. Apart from her writing (naturally!) her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell/cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire – Shakespeare country.

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TITLE PAGE Counterfeit Bride Sara Craven www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Former journalist SARA CRAVEN published her first novel ‘Garden of Dreams’ for Mills & Boon in 1975. Apart from her writing (naturally!) her passions include reading, bridge, Italian cities, Greek islands, the French language and countryside, and her rescue Jack Russell/cross Button. She has appeared on several TV quiz shows and in 1997 became UK TV Mastermind champion. She lives near her family in Warwickshire – Shakespeare country.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

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COPYRIGHT

‘YOU know something?’ Elaine Fairmont announced. ‘I’m really going to miss Mexico.’

Nicola looked up from the files she was packing into a carton, her lips curving in amusement.

‘What’s prompted this sudden, if belated, change of heart?’ she enquired. ‘I thought nothing in Mexico City could possibly compare with Los Angeles?’

‘Well, I’ve been giving the matter some thought, and I’ve decided that actually they have quite a lot in common,’ Elaine said solemnly. She began to count off on her fingers. ‘There’s the traffic and the smog—and the possibility of earthquakes—we mustn’t forget those. Of course L.A. isn’t actually sinking into a lake as far as I know, but the San Andreas fault could change all that.’

‘It could indeed,’ Nicola agreed, her eyes dancing. ‘I suppose there’s no chance that you’ll change your mind a step further and come with me on my sightseeing trip?’

Elaine shook her head. ‘No, honey. To me a ruin is a ruin, and who needs them? I’m no tourist, and besides, I’ve read about those Aztecs, and they had some pretty creepy habits. I’m not going back to L.A. with nightmares.’ She paused. ‘I suppose you haven’t changed your mind either?’

‘About returning to California with Trans-Chem?’ It was Nicola’s turn to shake her head. ‘No, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working for them, but this contract was really just a means to an end—a way of letting me see Mexico.’ And a way of getting me as far away from Zurich and from Ewan as possible, she thought with a pang.

‘So, sign another contract and see the U.S.A.,’ Elaine suggested amiably. ‘Martin’s all set to fix you up with a work permit the moment you say the word, and all my folks are dying to meet you.’

Nicola smiled. ‘It’s very tempting, I admit. But I’m not sure where I want to work next time. I think it will almost certainly be Europe again.’

‘Then why not Spain?’ Elaine asked. ‘Your Spanish is terrific, thanks to Teresita’s coaching. It would be a great chance to make use of it.’

‘Perhaps.’ Nicola gave a slight grimace. ‘Actually I’d planned on finding somewhere a little more liberated next time.’

Elaine laughed. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve gotten tired of all this guera preciosa as you walk down the street?’

‘I hate it.’ There was a sudden intensity in Nicola’s tone which made Elaine glance curiously at her before she returned to her task of feeding unwanted documents into the shredder. ‘It’s insulting. I haven’t any illusions about my attractions, such as they are, and I don’t need my ego boosted by meaningless compliments from total strangers. “Precious light-haired one” indeed! It’s not even a particularly valid description,’ she added, tugging at a strand of her tawny sun-streaked hair. ‘Surely you of all people can’t go along with this incessant reduction of women to mere sex objects?’

Elaine lifted a negligent shoulder. ‘It doesn’t really bother me. It’s harmless as long as you don’t take it seriously, or respond in any way, and I quite like being admired. The Women’s Lib movement isn’t the whole answer, you know. I’ve seen what it’s done to people—to my own sister, in fact. She was happily married, or she sure seemed to be until someone started raising her consciousness. Now she’s divorced, the kids cry all the time, and there’s endless hassle with lawyers about alimony, and who gets the car and the ice-box.’

Nicola closed the carton and fastened it with sealing tape.

‘That’s rather going to extremes,’ she said. ‘What I can’t get used to is the attitude here that a woman is just—an adjunct to a man. Industrially, Mexico is making giant strides, but there are some things still which haven’t changed from the days of the conquistadores—and that’s what I find so hard to take. Well, look at Teresita, for instance.’

‘I’m looking,’ Elaine agreed. ‘What’s her problem?’

‘Everything.’ Nicola spread her hands helplessly. ‘There’s this guardian of hers. She’s been sharing our apartment for three months now, and she still hasn’t told him. He thinks she’s living in that convent hostel, and from things she’s said, I gather even that was a concession.’

Nicola’s tone became heated, and Elaine smiled.

‘Calm down,’ she advised. ‘If there was ever anyone who doesn’t need our sympathy, then it’s Teresita.’

‘You mean because she’s actually going to escape from the trap?’ Nicola reached for another carton. ‘I suppose you’re right.’

‘No, that wasn’t what I meant,’ Elaine said drily. ‘Nor am I too sure she is going to escape, as you put it.’

Nicola put down the files she was holding, and stared at the other girl with growing concern.

‘But of course she will, when she marries Cliff. He won’t keep her chained up. Or are you saying you don’t think they will get married?’ When Elaine nodded, she burst out, ‘But that’s ridiculous! You’ve said yourself you’ve never seen two people so much in love. Why, she’s living for him to get back from Chicago, you know she is.’

‘Sure,’ Elaine said. ‘Teresita and Cliff are the year’s most heartwarming sight—but marriage?’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. Do you imagine that guardian of hers is going to allow her to throw herself away on a mere chemical engineer?’

‘Perhaps he won’t care,’ said Nicola. ‘After all, he doesn’t take a great deal of interest in her. He never comes to see her—which is just as well under the circumstances—and his letters are few and far between.’

‘True, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get good and interested if she plans to marry someone he doesn’t approve of.’

‘But why shouldn’t he approve of Cliff? Apart from being one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet, he’s well qualified, has a good job, and is more than able to support a wife.’

Elaine shrugged. ‘I have a feeling that he’ll need a lot more than that to be acceptable as husband material for Teresita. Just consider—since we’ve known her, how many paying jobs has she had?’

‘Only one,’ Nicola acknowledged. ‘The couple of weeks she spent here as receptionist.’