A Question of Love (15 page)

`Have you been to Edinburgh again today, to meet your current boyfriend?’ she asked, taking her sister by surprise as she had intended.

`
How do you know about that?’ Robinia asked.

`
Mother told me she had seen you one afternoon last week. Is he the Jonathan you mentioned so often when you were doing assignments together?’ she asked.

`
Ye-es…’ Robinia admitted slowly. `He’s a photographer. We worked together most of the time during the past nine months, but we’ve known each other almost since we both began in the fashion industry.’

`
Did he like our new flat?’ Roseanne asked innocently.

`
How do you know he’s seen it?’ Robinia asked quickly.

`
I saw his aftershave in the bathroom.’ Roseanne grinned at her sister’s frown.

`
There’s no hiding anything from you, is there dear sister?’

`
Not a lot. I suspect there must be something special about this Jonathan? You’ve never brought any of your other men to stay.’

`Yes, he is special.
He’s different. Oh Roseanne I really care about him, just as you said I would one day,’ Robinia confessed, her blush deepening. `I’m almost afraid to introduce him to you and mother.’

`
He matters so much? Are we likely to disillusion him?’

`H
e might prefer you to me when he meets you. Looks wouldn’t count for anything because we’re so alike, but Jonathan has a more serious outlook on life, and you two would have a lot in common. As for Mother you know what she’s like for questioning people about their prospects,` she added dryly. `I mean in this day and age men don’t expect to be vetted by a future mother-in-law, do they?’

`
I wouldn’t know. Does that mean you are thinking about marriage then? It’s that serious?’

`
Yes,’ Robinia said in a small voice. `We’re thinking of having a quiet wedding in a registry office, then telling everyone afterwards. I hadn’t really meant to tell you that but you took me by surprise. Would you be terribly hurt, Ros?’ Robinia looked at her anxiously.

`No-o, I suppose not, if it’s what you both want,
but I would like to meet him before you took such a serious step. I’m sure mother would be disappointed though. You know how proud she is of your glamorous lifestyle. She’d love arranging a wedding and making you the bride of the year. Besides it would be good publicity for you taking over the boutique.’

`
If Mother is so proud of me why does she keep telling me I should be more like you?’ Robinia asked, almost accusingly.

`
Like me? She wouldn’t want two of me. She’s always telling me I should pay more attention to my appearance and make more of myself, as you do.’

`
Our mother is a wretch!’ Robinia said, almost angrily. `She persuaded me to help you buy this flat because she said yours was in the wrong area and too small to give you any status. As though you need status with all your assets and brilliant career,’ she scoffed. `But she wouldn’t listen.’

`
I believe you,’ Roseanne said dryly. `The angle she used with me was that you frittered away all your money. She insisted that if I would buy a half share in a decent flat with you it would compel you to save some money and give you an investment for your future. She came down to inspect it you know before I signed on the dotted line.’

`
Well!’ Robinia exclaimed indignantly. `I’ve never frittered away my money. How could I after the way she brought us up? She worked so hard after Daddy died.’

`
I know,’ Roseanne said quietly. `She must have had a struggle. She can’t get used to not being in charge of everything we do – like doling out our pocket money and withholding it if we were naughty. She still likes to think she has some control over us so she resorts to being a bit devious.’

`
I suppose she means well,’ Robinia agreed with a sigh. `So you think Jonathan and I shouldn’t get married in secret? You think Mother will be mortally wounded?’

`
I think you should at least introduce Jonathan to Mother. I’d like to meet him too, preferably before you get engaged, or were you planning to cut out that step?’

`I don’t know.
I’ll discuss it with him,’ Robinia promised. `Speaking of meeting I’d like a look at your Euan now he’s nearly recovered.’

`
He’s not my Euan,’ Roseanne denied hastily, too hastily for a sister who knew her so well. Robinia looked amused as she watched her cheeks fire up. `Anyway if he gets out of hospital this next week he’ll be more independent. He’ll probably not need me to visit.’ It was clear to Rob that her big sister was eager to see Euan whether or not he needed her. She didn’t want to play their old pranks on him either. That could mean only one thing - Roseanne really cared for Euan Kennedy. Rob frowned. Was he worthy of her beloved sister, or would he forget her as soon as he was well enough to resume his travels and take up his own affairs again? Robinia couldn’t bear the thought of Roseanne being let down and hurt. Although they grumbled between themselves when their mother tried to organise them the three of them had always looked out for each other. Rob decided she would like to meet Euan Kennedy and see what kind of man he was. It would be easier to pay him a short visit while he was still in hospital, rather than wait until he was convalescing at the farm. There was no time to lose if he was to be discharged soon.

Robinia
travelled down to the hospital the following morning, without telling Roseanne of her plans. She would have lunch in the town and arrive early for the afternoon visiting in case Euan’s mother visited too. She was wearing the navy trouser suit she had worn to fly home and she had pleated her long auburn hair and coiled it around her neatly shaped head in the same style which Roseanne wore when she was working. She had not done it with the conscious intention of playing their old tricks on Euan Kennedy. When they had pretended to take each other’s identity in the past they had both been teenagers and they had swapped clothes and agreed on a plot together, usually to give a persistent or arrogant young man his come-uppance, but as she caught a glimpse of herself in the long windows Rob almost believed it was Roseanne looking back at her.

Euan
was sitting in a chair looking out of the window with a pair of crutches beside him and a pile of books and his computer on a table. When Robinia walked into the room she saw his eyes light up in welcome.

`
This is a lovely surprise, Roseanne,’ he said holding out his hand in eager greeting, beckoning her close. He held up his face for a kiss. Robinia hesitated for a fraction of a second, realising he thought she was Roseanne, then she bent and kissed him fully on the mouth. Robinia never did things by half. Euan blinked. His spirits rose.

`
How did you wangle an extra day? Is Uncle Simon taking over for once?’

`
Something like that,’ Robinia murmured, only now beginning to realise this might not be such a good idea. It was one thing to play tricks with Roseanne’s cooperation when they filled each other in on what to say and do, or not, but it was quite another to act in secret. Roseanne and Euan had spent a lot of time together in recent weeks. What did they discuss? How intimate had they become? She began to talk about the flat. Euan listened, puzzled. Had she forgotten he’d seen the flat several times when he helped her to move? There was something wrong, something different. A vague memory teased at his mind.

`
I’ve been in touch with two of my business colleagues,’ he said. `They’re going to discuss my proposition to sell each of them a quarter of my company. As soon as I’m well enough to travel to London we’ll have a meeting. Will you come with me, Roseanne?’

`
If you want me to?’ Robinia smiled uncertainly but she was sure her sister would be willing to go with him. He was certainly a good looking man and he had a most attractive smile. She wondered why he was selling off his company, or at least a large part of it. Was he short of money? She frowned and scrutinized his face. Surely he couldn’t be after Roseanne’s share in Kershaw’s. Euan wondered why she was studying him so intently.

`
Who else would I ask to accompany me? You have the business skills and training to advise me.’

`
Oh, so it’s only my knowledge you want?’ Robinia asked, but she fluttered her thick lashes at him. Was she flirting with him? Euan’s eyes widened. Roseanne didn’t flirt and she never wore so much mascara or that green eye shadow. He looked more closely. He clasped her hand, stroking her palm with his thumb. Roseanne always reacted to that particular touch. Today he could have been stroking the bedpost. He turned her hand over and studied her nails, carefully manicured, painted with purple nail varnish. His eyes narrowed. Roseanne never painted her nails when she was working in case she was called to one of the food processing plants and he had never seen her with such bright coloured nails. Could this be her sister? How alike they were. They could have been twins. He had a brief recollection of Jock McIntyre telling him how the sisters had often swapped places to play tricks on at least one young man. Had Roseanne agreed to play a trick on him? If so why?

`
You know I admire your business expertise,’ he said smoothly, although his brain was racing. Something didn’t add up. `I need you to help me work out a fair deal for all of us.’ His voice deepened deliberately. `You must know I want what will be best for us? For the future, Roseanne?’ He slid her a sideways glance.

`I – er y
es, of course,’ Robinia said but she had no idea what Euan was talking about or how far she was committing her sister. Euan looked down at her hand as it lay in his. He looked up and saw her gaze was fixed on the view. He studied her intently. His brain was whirring.

`Your hair seems
shorter. It doesn’t quite meet.’ He frowned. It had more blond streaks now that he looked closely.

`
I er I often get the ends cut off. It makes it look thicker.’ Robinia saw his intent stare. She knew he was beginning to suspect she was not Roseanne. Should she come clean? `I – er, I think I’d better be going now’ His grip on her hand tightened.

`This is a very
short visit. You can’t go yet.’

`Er... I wanted to pop in to make sure you’re all
right. I must be getting back.’

`Why shouldn’t I be all right? Except
I can’t wait to get out of this place, but you know that already.’

`
When do they plan to discharge you?’

`
Wednesday.’ He gave the wrong day deliberately. It was the first thing Roseanne had asked on Friday evening. She never forgot details like that, especially when she knew how important it was to him. She bent to kiss him good bye. Her perfume was different too, stronger, not Roseanne’s light flowery scent. As soon as she was out of sight he reached for his crutches and swung himself along to where the windows overlooked the visitors’ car park. There she was with her long legs and the graceful walk he so admired. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her but she was not getting into her little blue car. He stared as she climbed into the driver’s seat of a sporty yellow model. He knew for sure then he’d just had a visit from Roseanne’s sister. He couldn’t believe how alike they looked. Why hadn’t Roseanne warned him she would be coming? Or had she agreed to the deception?

Robinia
heaved a huge sigh of relief. She should have told him who she was as soon as he kissed her and she realised he had mistaken her for Roseanne. She was still not sure whether Euan Kennedy would make Roseanne happy. He was certainly a good looking guy but her sister needed more than looks to satisfy her. She was not the type to go travelling the world with him either, especially if they had children. Roseanne would want stability. She felt uneasy at visiting him without her Ros’s permission.

Euan
muttered under his breath. There was something phoney going on. He remembered that first email at Kershaw & Co, and his encounter with Roseanne. Even then the sparks had flown between them like ice and fire, attracted and repelled; attracted again with an almighty fizz when they had spent the weekend at Ashburn, then the icy anger over the blasted entries in the company bank statement. But what was it she had written in the email?

`
…he seems a fine looking beast with a nicely developed rump on him. I’d say he’s been around a bit so he could be ripe for a roasting if you’re agreeable? Perhaps it’s time we played our old tricks again and had a bit of fun.’ He had assumed that email had been to a man called Rob. He’d assumed he was Roseanne’s boyfriend. She had not contradicted him, then or later. He recalled the pangs of envy he had felt, and still felt, at the mere thought of them together.

H
ad Roseanne arranged for her sister to visit him today? Was she a party to the trick? She had to be. He was more hurt by her subterfuge than he cared to admit. They were having fun at his expense. He frowned. He had believed he and Roseanne had moved on rapidly during the last few weeks. They had explored each other’s minds and he had believed Roseanne enjoyed his company and their discussions as much as he had enjoyed hers. Had she simply spent so much time with him because she still felt responsible for his accident?