Dangerous Obsession

  Dangerous Obsession

  Patricia Wilson

  CHAPTER ONE

  IT WOULD rain soon. Anna knew it, but she still kept on walking through the woods. There was something about walking that eased the mind, or so they said. Nothing could ease her mind at the moment. She looked up into the trees, giant trees, old trees; they had been in this parkland for centuries and seen so many changes, so many people who had lived and died at Langford Hall. Not one of them could have been more loved than Gavin Toren. She had loved him like a father and his sudden death had left her shattered. She was not a Toren, she was Anna Mazzini and she had always known that. In spite of the love and care that Gavin had shown her, in spite of her deep love and friendship for Elaine, she had never been in any doubt that she was merely Gavin's ward and no Toren at all. Dan had seen to that!

  Soon, very soon, Dan would arrive. It irritated her that she would have to bow to any decision he made, but for now there was nothing she could do. He would soon know about the plans for her future, and if he felt as annoyed as she did then everything was going to be all right. In any case, there was trouble enough, and she didn't want Elaine brought into any further distress. For once in his life, Dan would have to listen to her.

  She hadn't seen him for four years, not since she was nearly eighteen and just accepted at Oxford. Maybe he was no longer the same. Perhaps he didn't care about Elaine either now? Perhaps he would want to sell Langford Hall? The new responsibility that had been thrust upon him would make him furious. Well, she would have to face that. He wouldn't be the only one who was furious!

  The sky was almost black with the threatening rain as she came to the edge of the woods and faced Langford Hall across the wide expanse of lawn. It always brought a queer tilt to her heart to see the clean, beautifully balanced lines of the old Georgian mansion, and this time she looked at it more closely than ever. Soon, perhaps, she would never see it again. It all depended upon what Dan decided to do. All her hopes and fears had once been wrapped up in this house, all her childish dreams.

  She took a deep breath and stepped out for the house.

  Wallowing in self-pity was not really her style. Elaine had more than enough to worry about without comforting her. She entered the large, square hall, turning at once to the drawing-room at the sound of voices. It wasn't Dan. He hadn't yet arrived, and she knew that for sure because the only car parked at the front was her own Polo a present from Gavin on her twenty-first birthday four months ago. Tears misted her dark eyes. She would never see Gavin Toren again. She was on her own finally.

  And what would Dan say? They hadn't even been able to get in touch with him to give him time to get here for the funeral. He would be three days late. He would never see his father again. Would he blame them? Would he be bitter? No, not Dan! Dan would just arrive and take over. If he had bothered to come home more often, then he would have seen his father before the end. His coming now would only tie up a few loose ends. Elaine waited for him as if he could solve any problem at all, and he probably could, for Elaine. To Anna he meant trouble, unless he was utterly indifferent and saw her as merely a nuisance. That would be nothing unusual!

  'Dan's going to arrive in the middle of a rain storm!' Elaine looked up and spoke as Anna came into the room, her voice calm whatever she was feeling. She was curled up on the settee, looking weary and worried, and Anna squashed her own worries at the sight of Elaine's pale face.

  'Maybe he won't come until tomorrow?'

  Edna, the Toren housekeeper, was obviously the one who had been talking to Elaine, but Anna shook her head as Edna voiced this thought.

  'He'll come soon, tonight!'

  Elaine smiled, her weary face brightening for a moment as she looked across at Anna.

  'You've always known when Dan would be here. I've always thought that uncanny. Maybe it's the Welsh blood in you on your mother's side.'

  Maybe it's because I've always had to watch my step with Dan, and developed an instinct to warn me, Anna thought bitterly. She only smiled, though, and Edna bustled out of the room.

  Elaine's eyes lingered on Anna's face. She was always a brilliant picture to look at, jet-black hair straight and long, hanging down her back like a thick curtain that invariably gleamed with blue lights. Dark eyes, thick lashed, and a beautiful skin that was faintly olive-tinted, soft rose-tinged at her cheeks. Her bright red woolen jacket vied with her brilliant color but lost, and Elaine's eyes stayed on her. Anna had always been secret and dark and, in spite of their great affection for each other, Elaine always felt slightly immature at the side of her, although she was nearly four years older. Perhaps it was all that striking darkness? Perhaps it was the Italian blood and the Welsh blood that made Anna a very complex character. It was probably just that Anna was brilliantly clever!

  'What's Dan going to say?' Elaine asked anxiously. 'I've no idea what to do about the wedding! It will be so difficult to postpone. I don't think I could face the extra organization. I've spoken to Uncle Jack and he's willing to take Dad's place and give me away. Will Dan object, though? It's only two weeks from now, and he won't even have time to get used to being home, to not having Dad around.'

  'I'm sure he won't object!' Anna said with more conviction than she felt.

  Who knew what Dan would say? Who knew what he was thinking? He would get a succession of shocks as soon as he arrived. His father had died suddenly, Elaine's wedding was already arranged, the invitations sent out, and then there was this guardian business.

  Lurking at the back of her mind was the problem of her finals, but the back of her mind was where it would have to stay for now. After she had helped Elaine to fight any battle with Dan, she would feel able to get on with her revision. About the other thing, Dan would be in agreement with her for once, she was sure. Her guardian was dead and, at twenty-one, she didn't need another, and certainly not Dan. He would not want to be burdened; his life was too fast and furious, too glamorous. Even so, she was a bit nervous, gearing herself up for an imaginary fight, anxious about him, as she had been all her life in this house.

  The phone rang and it was Steve, wanting Elaine.

  Anna thought it a good opportunity to go out of the room. She was thinking too much to keep her face expressionless, and as the subject of her thoughts was Dan it was as well to escape. Her face had been schooled for years to show no emotion when Dan was there, but she might slip.

  'Shall I serve afternoon tea now, or wait for Mr. Toren to arrive?' Edna stuck her head into the room and looked questioningly at Anna.

  'We'll wait a little longer, I don't think either of us is desperate. I've got a few things to sort out in my room!'

  She stood quickly, glad of the excuse to get out and be alone. It was difficult to sit there with Elaine's eyes scanning her face, wondering as she wondered herself how Dan would react to everything.

  'That brother of yours is going to be late!' Edna informed her as she stepped into the hall and made for the big, dark oak staircase and the tranquility of her room.

  'He's not coming from just up the road! He's coming from California. I think we can allow him a little extra time. In any case, he'll be here soon. Keep the kettle boiling.' Anna managed a slight smile.

  He was not her brother! He had made that plain in so many ways, ever since her childhood. Edna's face looked satisfied, years of knowledge of the family in her next words.

  'That's all right, then. You were always close to Mr. Dan!'

  Not likely! It was just that she had always known which side her bread was buttered on, how to keep her head out of the lion's mouth! Anna turned and raced up the stairs, facing facts squarely. She was worried. It was no use denying it.

  Dan had always had a great deal of power over her.
He had been eighteen when she had arrived at this house, Elaine ten, and the two girls had got on famously. Dan of course was older, and not much given to carting two younger girls around with him, but even as she was growing up he had been toweringly domineering, or so it seemed, although he never criticized her openly. It was there in his eyes, though. Would he wish to go on as before, ignoring her for most of the time, or would he now wish to interfere?

  Well, there was no escape, she couldn't simply cut and run, plead the need to go back to Oxford. It was the end of term and she couldn't think of one good reason to go back yet, except to escape from Dan. Elaine needed her, in any case, and she was no coward. She was used to facing things.

  Thankfully she closed her door, although it didn't really help except that now nobody could see her face. There was nothing to do here, and she walked across to the window, looking down at the front of the house, not switching on the light, waiting for Dan to arrive. That was nothing new!

  She had waited for him to arrive for most of her life, wondering how he would be. When he was at Cambridge she had awaited his holidays with trepidation, praying that Gavin wouldn't begin to boast again about her school results. He always had, and Dan would look at her with those tawny eyes until she became all anxious and trembling.

  Once, Dan had picked her up and given her a hug, and she had been so shocked by any show of affection from him that she had wriggled with fright until he put her down. He had been highly amused, so had Gavin.

  Dan had called her a 'prickly little hedgehog'. But she had always known that it was necessary to hide the fact that almost everything she did was to please Dan, that she wanted his interest, his approval. He was utterly indifferent for most of the time.

  She closed her mind to the past and forced herself to remember that Dan would be tired, grief-stricken, probably in need of help himself; while Elaine waited for him as if he was, the answer to all things, and she waited with selfish fears racing around in the back of her mind. It was Dan's father who had died so suddenly. She must try to be normal and give him no other cause for grief.

  There was nothing very normal about standing staring out at the darkening landscape, but she was still doing that when the car came up the long drive. She didn't recognize it. She was still so far back in the past, expecting Dan's Porsche. Of course he would have hired a car at the airport. It had to be Dan. She could feel it.

  When he stopped and stepped out, she drew back behind the curtain, even though it was probably too dark for her to be seen anyway, certainly too dark from down there. She could see him, though, and her heart gave a queer lurch as he got out and straightened up. Had she expected him to have changed? He had not, not from here.

  The lights from the house caught his hair, the dark golden-bronze color of it that was so perfect with those clear tawny eyes. He was in a dark suit, the white of his shirt startlingly clear from here, almost as if she could reach down and touch him. How many times in her life had she seen Dan arrive? How many times had she

  He stood looking across the parkland, out towards the woods, and then turned to the house, his eyes running over it almost lovingly. He too was remembering his life in this house before fame and necessity had taken him away. He raised his head and his eyes moved upwards, straight to her window, and Anna gasped, drawing back even more. He couldn't see her! Surely he couldn't see even a vague glimpse in this light? It was sheer chance that his eyes had moved straight to her room. And what was she doing behaving like this? There was nothing natural about her, even though she had been determined to show that she had forgotten the way they had always skirted carefully around each other. She should have waved, opened the window and called down!

  She heard the car door slam and knew she could not put off the meeting for much longer. Dan was home. He had to be greeted. His father was dead and he would expect to see Elaine and herself at once. He had to be helped with his grief. Her battle with him, if there was to be one, would come later.

  She glanced at herself in the mirror, hastily running a comb through her thick, long hair. Perhaps she should have changed? This red jacket was hardly suitable at a time like this, and she was wearing jeans, her college 'uniform'. It was too late now. If she delayed, he would think she was avoiding him. He knew she had good reason to avoid him. She went out of her room and along the passage to the stairs.

  She could hear them in the hall even before she reached the top of the staircase.

  'Dan, we couldn't get in touch with you in time. We rang Nassau and asked them to send a launch to the island, but they already knew you weren't there!'

  'It's all right, Elaine. It was all so sudden, wasn't it? I had to be away. They're filming the final sequence of my latest book, there were a few alterations to the script. I went there with the firm intention of coming straight, on to England for your wedding. I never expected that....' The rich, deep voice stopped suddenly and then picked up. 'Anyway, I was finished and ready to leave when I finally got the message from you.'

  Elaine flung her arms around his neck.

  'I'm so sorry, Dan. I wish you could have been here. It's been so terrible!' Everything hurt Elaine deeply, and Dan smiled, gathering his sister close, his face against her hair.

  'I know, honey. I know,' he murmured softly, more comforting than comforted.

  Anna was half-way down the stairs when he saw her, and he went on holding Elaine, his eyes on Anna as she moved down into the hall. He must have stiffened, because Elaine suddenly drew back and looked up, seeing Anna too.

  'Hello, Dan.'

  She couldn't think of anything else to say. Seeing him again was a bigger shock than she had bargained for, and Elaine had said they were sorry, had explained why he was not able to be contacted before the funeral. He had to know that she was sorry, too. She had loved Gavin Toren like a father. He was the only father she remembered. Surely Dan knew that? It was not Elaine who had tried to contact Dan, she had done that. Elaine had gone to pieces.

  'Anna.' He just said her name in that softly deep voice, and she was standing in front of him as he moved watched anxiously from here? It was like looking at her past life in one searing flash forward to meet her. He didn't clasp her close, though, as he had done with Elaine, and she was grateful for that; she hadn't quite got her act together but it would come. His hands came to her shoulders arid he just looked down at her.

  He was just the same, except that he seemed more tanned than ever. His golden-bronze hair gleamed in the lights, the same well-cut thick hair framing the handsome face, his hazel eyes tawny above the high cheekbones. They were slightly long eyes, heavily lashed, almost beautiful. There was no softness in his face, though. It was strong and filled with character, probably too much character. It could be a dangerous face.

  Almost stealthily her eyes moved over him, seeing the fine-drawn lines of weariness, the tired look of that firm mouth, the sleepless glaze to his eyes.

  'You're tired!' It sounded almost accusing, and for the first time the carved lips quirked into a slight smile.

  'I apologize.' His eyes gleamed momentarily with the old remembered derisive laughter, and she looked away abruptly, suddenly unbearably conscious of those strong hands on her slender shoulders, other memories making her withdraw a little.

  'I'll miss him, Dan!' she whispered, grief-stricken all over again, and he suddenly drew her close in a loose embrace.

  'I know,' he sighed, his hands running down the shining length of her hair.

  'I'll serve dinner now. It's too late for afternoon tea!' Edna's appearance and her stubborn look jerked them all out of a sort of timeless trance, and Dan straightened, releasing Anna and turning to his luggage that stood in the hall by the door.

  'Give me ten minutes, Edna,' he ordered quietly. 'I'll just have a quick freshen up.'

  'Yes, Mr. Toren!' Edna's pouting look vanished. Dan was back and she knew now that the ship had a strong hand at the helm. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he passed, and she disappeared into th
e kitchen as rosy as an apple.

  They were all family again, except that Gavin was missing. As they sat in the drawing-room after dinner, Anna kept well into the background and watched. She had always done that when Dan was there, and she slipped into her old role easily. Dan had eased Elaine's worries, calmed her. His very presence was a comfort in an odd sort of way, because even though Anna knew that her turn would come, that those tawny eyes would finally get around to her, probing and questioning; it felt as if he had never been away, as their problems were brought out and aired.

  'Steve and I ... well-we'll postpone the wedding,' Elaine offered nervously, but Dan's eyes were on her at once, his strong face softened.

  'Don't!' He smiled as if his swift word had been harsh and as if he wanted to make sure she didn't feel upset. 'It's two weeks. The arrangements have all been made. Keep it like that, Elaine. Dad would have wanted it.'

  'I-I don't know, Dan .. .'

  'I do,' he assured her softly. 'Life goes on, Elaine. You loved him while he was here. Live your life now.'

  'What about giving the bride away, Dan? I thought perhaps Uncle Jack .. .'

  'I agree!' His hands covered Elaine's. 'I'm glad you didn't pass that on to me! I wouldn't have liked to stand in for Dad.'

  He looked unbearably sad for a moment, and then his gaze turned to Anna, his eyes very intent. 'What do you plan to do?'

  'After the finals?' Anna glanced across at him. 'I'll stay on in Oxford, get a temporary job until the results are out. Maybe I'll go to Wales and visit my home country-or Italy, that's my home country, too. In any case, Elaine will be married and in her own home. This is your house. Langford Hall has been in your family for generations.'

  His brows had drawn together as she mentioned a temporary job, but at her last words he looked really angry, his lips tightening.

  'Since you became Gavin's ward, this has been your home. It's still your home! I don't know what the Will says and I don't much care! I've made all the money already that I'm ever going to need. I don't live here, and I don't plan to live here! If you think that....'