Carole Mortimer - Ice In His Veins

‘I own the magazine she runs.’

‘Oh!’ She couldn’t deny that this information had taken her by surprise, but really she ought to have made the connection herself. ‘I see. But would Isobel Morton see your—dinner in the same light?’ she enquired sweetly.

His mouth tightened into a thin line. ‘Meaning?’

‘Oh, I’m sure you know what I mean, Mr Earle.’

‘No, you tell me.’

Eden shrugged. ‘It’s public knowledge that you’re going to marry my father’s widow.’

‘Is it now?’ he queried softly.

‘Oh yes. Do you think she would approve of you seeing Claire?’

‘Do you intend telling her?’

‘Me?’ She couldn’t hide her surprise. ‘Why should I tell her, I’ve never met her and already I dislike her. She broke up my parents’ marriage, she and my grandfather. Besides, it’s nothing to do with me.’

‘I couldn’t agree more,’ he said grimly, his arms tightening painfully about her waist and so pulling her closer to the hard strength of his body. ‘I consider my private life none of your business.’

‘But you do intend marrying Isobel Morton?’ She wished he would let her go. The music had changed twice since they had come on to the dance floor and she could see Tim giving them anxious looks. And as for Claire…!

‘I may be,’ he agreed tightly.

‘Does Claire know about that?’

He raised dark eyebrows. ‘Are you by any chance threatening me?’

Eden opened wide innocent eyes. ‘Threatening you? I have no idea what you mean, Mr Earle.’

‘Oh, I think you do, Eden,’ his voice was icy. ‘I don’t react well to threats.’

Her laugh wasn’t quite as confident as she would have liked it to be. ‘I think you’ve misunderstood me, Mr Earle. I merely wondered if Claire knew you were shortly to be married.’

‘I’m well aware of what you wondered,’ he snapped. ‘And although I may have been a friend of Isobel’s for some time now there’ve been no definite wedding plans made, no matter what may or may not be public knowledge,’ he added mockingly. ‘Tell me, why didn’t you just come right out and tell Tim and Claire that you know me?’

‘Why didn’t you?’

He shrugged. ‘I took my cue from you. You didn’t seem to want them to know.’

‘I didn’t see the point, as I have no intention of going to see my grandfather. But don’t worry, Mr Earle, I won’t tell Claire about your other—friend.’

‘Claire knows about Isobel,’ he told her coldly. ‘I’ve never made her any promises concerning our own relationship.’

‘I don’t suppose you need to—the poor woman worships you,’ she said disgustedly. ‘I find it quite nauseating to watch.’

‘Then don’t,’ he advised abruptly.

‘It’s a little hard not to.’ She moved out of his arms. ‘Shall we go back to the table, Mr Earle, now that you’ve assured yourself that I don’t intend making things awkward for you?’

‘You can make things as awkward as you want, Eden, or attempt to. I don’t think Claire would be particularly bothered by anything you have to say. But I do think we should return to the table, we’ve said all we want to say to each other—for the moment.’

‘Does that mean I can be excused having dinner with you tomorrow?’

Jason’s mouth thinned angrily. ‘You make it sound as if I forced you into the arrangement.’

‘And didn’t you?’ she challenged.

‘I don’t think so,’ he met that challenge unflinchingly. ‘I think you’re under a misapprehension concerning this proposed visit to your grandfather. Quite frankly I couldn’t give a damn whether you go to England or not. I promised your grandfather that I would see you and suggest it to you, as far as I’m concerned I’ve done that.’

‘So you feel your obligation to my grandfather is fulfilled?’

‘I’m not under obligation to your grandfather! I was coming to New York on business and so I——’

‘Decided to do an old man a favour,’ she finished.

‘ Yes .’ He took her arm and almost dragged her back to the table.

‘I thought you were never coming back.’ Tim leant forward to kiss her lightly on the nose as Eden sat down next to him.

She raised her face for his kiss, ignoring the mockery clearly visible in watching grey eyes. ‘Mr Earle thought it best to get all our duty dances over in one go,’ she said rudely, hitting out at the man who unnerved her with just a look.

Tim looked surprised by her outburst. ‘I——’

Eden laughed lightly at his expression. ‘Only teasing, Tim. Mr Earle and I were talking and forgot the passing of the time.’

‘Yes.’ Jason relaxed back in his chair, his arm thrown casually across Claire’s shoulders. ‘We were discussing the fact that Eden is David’s granddaughter.’

Claire frowned. ‘David Morton?’

‘Mm,’ he nodded.

‘Then she’s——’

‘Graham Morton’s child by his first marriage.’

‘I see,’ Claire said tightly.

Eden wished she did. She hadn’t for one moment thought Jason Earle would blatantly admit to them knowing each other, although perhaps she should have realised what he would do—hadn’t his eyes promised punishment earlier tonight when she had been disparaging about his age? That Claire knew who David Morton, and consequently Isobel Morton, were, was obvious, although Tim looked a little puzzled by the conversation.

‘I don’t understand.’ He looked at the two of them. ‘Did you know each other before today?’

‘Not before today, no,’ Jason answered.

‘How strange that you should meet through Tim and me,’ Claire said softly.

‘But we didn’t,’ once again Jason answered for them both. ‘I called on Eden and her parents earlier this evening.’

Claire’s blue eyes passed calculatingly over the two of them, the dreamy glow she had had all evening slowly evaporating. ‘Why didn’t you tell us that when Tim introduced you?’

Jason shrugged. ‘There was nothing to tell.’

Tim still looked puzzled. ‘I still don’t understand the relationship. I thought Drew was your father.’

‘Stepfather,’ Eden corrected him. ‘Don’t look so surprised, Tim,’ she gave a light laugh. ‘Divorce and remarriage are quite common nowadays.’

‘But I—I didn’t know. I always thought Drew…’

‘He’s the only father I’ve ever known or wanted,’ she said harshly. ‘I don’t go about broadcasting the fact that my real father was a weak man who was ruled by his own father, that he——’

‘That’s enough, Eden,’ Jason cut in. ‘It isn’t necessary to go into all the details of your parents’ breakdown of marriage.’

‘No! Because if I did that your precious Isobel might come under fire.’

‘I believe we’ve already dealt with my relationship to Isobel,’ he warned harshly.

‘Well,’ Tim broke the awkward silence, ‘this is a—a——’

‘Surprise?’ Eden finished sweetly. ‘Yes, isn’t it? Mr Earle and I were quite bowled over by the surprise of it all. He was the last person I expected to see here this evening.’ Especially with Claire Channing.

‘Let’s dance, Jason,’ Claire suggested, almost sighing her relief when he complied.

Eden studied the bottom of her glass until they were safely away from the table. The last thing she had wanted was to have an argument with Jason Earle in front of the Channings, but he had put her in an awkward position by mentioning her grandfather, forcing her into explanations she would rather not have given, to Tim or anyone else.

‘Why didn’t you tell me you knew Jason?’ Tim hissed angrily. ‘I felt a damned fool just now when he told us.’

‘How could I tell you? I didn’t know he was Claire’s mysterious lover.’