Deceit of Angels (49 page)

Jason was
delighted to tell Anna about Deborah’s fall from grace, when they met the
following evening.  And it was during the conversation that the phone rang and
Jason went to answer it.  His tone was first one of surprise, then anger. 

He
shook his head as he came to sit next to Anna.  “That was Nigel.  It seems
Deborah is on her way to San Francisco to work for her father.  But before she
left she accused me of ruining her life as she’s having to sell her business.”

Anna
took his hand.  “It’s certainly not your fault that her life is in shreds. 
That’s her doing.”

“Yes,
you’re right.  She’s not worth wasting breath over and I hope she stays in
America.”

Anna
let the subject drop and spent the rest of the time before dinner, telling
Jason about the groom who had passed out during the ceremony and the bride who
had nearly caused Margaret to have a fit when she suggested transplanting some
of the flowerbeds in the garden.  Although Jason laughed at her stories, he
felt deeply sad.

Watching
Anna’s animated face, his eyes scanning her misshapen but fruitful body, he
knew he should be the luckiest man on earth.  But Deborah’s part in all this
had shaken him.  In her own inimitable style she had sullied a wonderful time
in his life, by spitting hatred at both Anna and him.  But she was a nasty
piece of work and he couldn’t have expected anything better from her. 
Unfortunately, it had made him realise once again, that there were still many
problems ahead of them.  And problems that could mar their
happiness.                   

Before Jason
left, he and Anna took a walk in the rose garden and Anna remembered his
previous phone call. 

“What
was it you wanted to discuss with me?”

He
gave a grin.  “Coming to live back at the Grange.”

At
first Anna felt stunned.  “You want to sell the house in Bishop Sutton?”

“Yes,”
he nodded.  “I feel as though my time there is finished and I know you’re happy
here.”

“But
what about your business?”

“It’s
just as easy to get to Bristol from here as from Bishop Sutton.  I can jump
straight onto the M5.  It’s nearer the seaside for Hollie and she’ll get more
fresh air and exercise.”

“What
about her school?”

“It’s
still within easy travelling distance.”

“And
Ben and Mrs Wilby?”

Jason
couldn’t help laughing.  “You think of everything, don’t you!  I haven’t
mentioned it to them, but Mother is in desperate need of more help.  The Grange
has really taken off this last year.”  He chucked her under the chin.  “And
then, of course, there’s you.”

“Me?”

He
suddenly became serious.  “Sweetheart, I’ve often thought of what you told me
down by the lake that day.  Of your dreams to go to university and then become
a teacher.  I want you to do just that.  I want you to follow your dream.”

Anna
looked down at her swollen stomach.  “But I’ll have a baby to look after.”

“We
can all help look after the baby.  Mother’s said that Fran is very keen to
become an unofficial nanny.”

“I
don’t…know.  Those plans seemed a long time ago.  I was a different person
then.”

He
blew out a long breath.  “OK, but the teaching profession will be poorer for
it.”

Anna
struggled to explain.  “Those were the dreams of youth.  Being with you has
changed all that.  I’ve found more happiness with you than I’ve done for many
years and I’m content in that happiness.”

“I’m
so glad to hear it,” he smiled.  He pressed a kiss on her lips.  “I’ll still
need a PA.”

“Ah,
but I’m a wedding planner now.”

 
Jason thought for a moment.  “There’s plenty of time to decide.  I’ll leave it
up to you whether you stay as a wedding planner or become my PA.”

“Will
I get a pay rise?”

“I’ll
check with Graham.”  He tilted his head.  “So, milady agrees that we should all
move into the Grange?”

“Milady?”

“One
day you’ll be mistress of the manor.”

Anna
felt uncomfortable.  “One day.  But at the moment it’s only my home because
it’s yours, but yes, it would be lovely for us all to be together again.”

“Then
it’s settled.  I’ll put the house on the market straight away.  It should sell
easily enough.”

When everyone
arrived the following Saturday, they came in two cars, as Ben followed the
Mercedes driving the Peugeot, with Martyn sitting next to him.

“Thought
it might come in handy,” Jason beamed.  “I’ll get the seat fixed up so it’ll be
ready for baby’s arrival.  Then you’ll be able to pay us visits at Bishop
Sutton until the house is sold.”

The
week turned out to be full of enjoyable moments, including a visit to Doctor
Orchard who gave them the all-clear for a home birth, much to Anna’s relief. 
She was told that the baby’s head was fully engaged and that it might come
earlier than expected.  And when everyone left the following Saturday, Anna
knew that their next visit would be to see her new baby.

“So, it’s all
systems go,” said Nigel.

Jason
nodded.  “Yes, just one week to the happy event.  Mother’s going to phone me
should anything start happening.”

“And
you’re going to be there at the birth?”  He couldn’t hold back his smiles.

“I
wouldn’t miss it for the world.”  Jason had made an appointment with his
solicitor to start proceedings for selling his house.  Nigel hadn’t been
surprised that Jason wanted to move back to the Grange.  After all, it was his
boyhood home and his mother was getting on.  “I think everything’s going to be
OK.  Especially since Deborah left.  I’m glad she’s buggered off to America. 
At least she’s not around to cause any more trouble.”

After
a slight pause, Nigel said,  “I’ve given Ellen her job back.”

“Have
you?  After all she did?”

Nigel
breathed a heavy sigh.  “It wasn’t her fault.  I’ve taken her back on some very
strict conditions.  And Sophia has found her an apartment.”

“She’s
not living with Peter any more?”

“No,
she’s left him.  She can start afresh now and I thought she deserved a second
chance.”

“You’ve
got a soft heart.”

Nigel
shrugged.  “I think we all deserve a second chance in life.”

Jason
took a gulp of coffee from his mug.   “Do you remember what you said about
being up to your ears in paternity suits?”  Nigel nodded, his heart in his
mouth.  “Anna’s been threatened by her ex-husband.  He’s wanting to know if the
baby is his and if it is, he’s going to apply for access.”

Nigel’s
legal mind jumped into action.  “Has he been to see her?”

“Yes,
about mid-June I think.”

“He
has no right to hassle her!  I can apply for an injunction if Anna wishes it.”

Jason
shook his head.  “She doesn’t want that.”

“Then
he’ll have to be prevented from setting foot on the premises.”

“Already
sorted.  Mother has informed every member of staff.  I doubt he’ll get past the
gate.”

Nigel
nodded again.  “You must have a DNA test as soon as possible and then the
matter will be cleared up.  But if it is his child then I’ll do all I can for
you.”

CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE

I
t was
Saturday again and Anna was looking forward to Jason’s weekend visit.  He was
due later that afternoon and with the baby expected in only four days’ time,
Anna’s hopes were high.  Everything was prepared and Sister Davenport was on
standby.  The thought that her ex-husband might pay a visit had dwindled to the
back of her mind.  She was happy, contented and secure.  The front gate was now
permanently locked and fitted with an electronic system.  Visitors had to speak
into an intercom and announce themselves before being admitted.  The buzzer had
been installed in the kitchen and John or Fran had been given the job of
checking every visitor with the appointment book.  They had also been asked to
look out for a dark blue BMW.

Although
Fran gave a little moan at having to perform yet another duty, she secretly
enjoyed talking into the intercom and had acquired a ‘cultivated’ voice to go
with the task.  Their most important role was to make sure that Anna was happy
with the client before leaving her alone with them.  On no account must a
visitor go into the library unaccompanied.

However,
that particular Saturday afternoon, Fran was in no mind to trek up and down the
stairs.  

“Have
you got an appointment?” she asked sullenly, when the intercom buzzed.

“Yes,
my name is Jackson.  I have an appointment at three o’clock with the wedding
planner.  I want to book this venue for my daughter.”

“Go
through the main door and you’ll find Mrs Stevens in the library.  First door
on the right,” said Fran, as she pressed the button that swung the gates open. 
She leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the chair opposite.  She
was having her break and nobody was going to disturb her.

Dave
Stevens parked his car and walked through the main entrance.  He soon found the
library and after knocking sharply, he entered.

“Mrs
Stevens,” he said with a grin.  He slammed the door shut and quickly turned the
key in the lock.  Anna rose slowly from her chair.  “I see you’ve kept your
married name.  That’s very civil of you.”

“You
shouldn’t be here,” said Anna.  Although frightened she tried to stay calm. 
“Why did Fran let you in?”

“Who’s
Fran?  The gates were opened for me but I saw no one.”

Anna
looked down at her diary.  “I have an appointment at three with a Mr Jackson.”

“Yes,
that’s me.  David Jackson.  Thought I’d use my mother’s maiden name.”

Anna’s
mouth went dry.   “What do you want?”

“I
told you I’d come back.  You can’t have long now.”  She refused to answer as
his eyes swept over her.  “Did you tell your fiancé what I intend doing if that
kid’s mine?”

“Yes,
he knows.”

He
gave a cruel laugh.  “I bet that gave him a shock.  I can just imagine that a
man like Jason Harrington is used to having anything he wanted.  Even exclusive
rights to another man’s child.”

“This
is not your baby!  This baby is Jason’s.  Please will you leave.”

“We
shall see.”  He stepped closer.  “I must say you look positively blooming.  But
there again, you always seem to thrive on pregnancy.  Perhaps I should have
given you more kids, then you would have been too busy to run away from me.”

“I
should have left you when the twins were babies.  When I first found out about
you.” 

“That
unhappy with me, eh?”

“I
was bitterly unhappy.  Your behaviour made me miserable.”

He
clicked his tongue.  “How come?  I provided for you.  You had everything you
wanted.”

“Except
you disrespected me with other women.  And you told lies about this Pam.  You
were seeing her weren’t you?”

“All
right, I was.  But it wasn’t serious at the time…”

“I
don’t care!  Your behaviour made me feel insignificant.  As though I wasn’t
important.”  Anger began to rise up inside her.  She hated this man, hated
everything he stood for.  Her hand brushed against the handle of the scissors
lying on her desk.  “You treated me like a scivvy as if I was there just for
you, while you amused yourself when and where you liked.”

“Perhaps
if I’d had more attention from you, then I would have stayed at home.”

She
stepped closer to him.  “Don’t you dare blame me for your infidelity.  I was a
good wife to you and loyal.  You didn’t deserve me.”

“And
he does?  Harrington?”  His eyes swept round the library.  “Yes, he can give
you anything you want, but I’ll still be around.  I’ll want to see my child
regularly.”

Her
fingers curled round the handle of the scissors.

Jason arrived at
the Grange a little later than expected.  He had hoped to be there for lunch but
now it was gone three o’clock.  Grinning, he pressed the button on the remote
control and the gates swung open with a smooth hiss.  This new system with the
gates was much more convenient and he couldn’t understand why they hadn’t done
it sooner.  He drove down to the main entrance of the house, but immediately
saw a second vehicle parked to one side.  It was a dark blue BMW and he started
panicking.  As he hurried to the main door, he almost collided with Fran racing
out of the porch, a look of terror on her face.

“Oh,
sir.  I went to ask miss about some coffee for her visitor and the door’s
locked.  The gentleman said…said he had an appointment.”

Jason
steadied her, his heart racing furiously.  “Go and find your father.”