Her Heart's Desire (14 page)

‘The poor girl, banished from the house with no notice. One day she thought they were getting married, the next…’

‘Married!’ Marisa gasped.

‘Oh, yes, they were engaged! She thought he
loved
her, too.’ Sarcasm dripped from her icy tone.

Marisa fled from the living room, leaving Mrs. Reed grinning gleefully to herself.

She ran blindly through the gardens, tears stinging her face as she thought of all the intimacies they had shared, how only the previous evening he had told her he loved her, now it seems he did the same with
all
his secretaries, and engaged, he was engaged to Corinne!

She found herself in the maze, running blindly through the tight- hedged passages until she reached the center, exhausted. She sat on the love seat beside a statue of a former Lord St. John.
I wonder if you were a dog as well,
she thought bitterly.

She remembered their maid and master fantasy he had so wanted to fulfil, and she felt a deep twinge of regret.
I’ve been such a fool
, she thought bitterly. No wonder they all fell for him. His routine must be so well-practiced, and oh, God, he was
good
at it. She had really believed him when he said he loved her.

She recalled his ready supply of condoms in his London apartment.
I bet he takes women there all the time
. She cried into her hands. She felt devastated and humiliated.
God he’s just like Mike, they’re all the fucking same
! She stayed there for a while until she had calmed down and planned what she would do next. She returned to her rooms and wrote a short letter.

James,

I am leaving.

I know about Corinne.

I’ve been a fool, I can’t stay now.

She folded it and sealed it in an envelope then went to his bedroom where she laid it on his pillow, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She rushed back to her room and packed hastily. Throwing her clothes into her suitcase, she cleared her dressing room and snapped the lock shut. Her heart thundered, and she sobbed bitterly, despising herself for her stupidity. She felt like a used whore, no wonder Marcus had tried his luck. Obviously all the women in this house were fair game, there for the master’s pleasure and anyone else who wanted a go.

She thought of Mike and the way he had betrayed her. She was not going to let any man use her and let her down again. She wasn’t hanging around until Lord St. John got bored with her.
No way
.

A knock at the door startled her. She ignored it, anxious to get away, worried in case James had already gotten her note.

‘Miss Lowell, are you in there?’ asked Mrs. Reed through the door.

Oh, Christ, that cold bitch. What does she want now?
Marisa thought bitterly.

‘
Are you all right?’
Mrs. Reed feigned concern.

Marisa dried her tears and went to open the door.

‘I’m fine, Mrs. Reed; you will be pleased to hear I am leaving today.’

‘Leaving, oh dear, I hope it wasn’t anything I said,’ she replied sarcastically.

‘No not at all. I have had an urgent call from my sister, family matters. I must leave immediately.’

‘Very well, Miss Lowell. I will arrange a taxi and book the first available flight to New York.

‘Great, thanks,’ Marisa said begrudgingly, knowing the cow was delirious with happiness to see the back of her.

‘Please say good-bye to the children for me.’ Marisa had to stop the tears from flowing again. She had so enjoyed being with them. They had taken hold of her heart in a big way, and she would miss them so much.

‘Of course I shall,’ Mrs. Reed said, a twisted smirk playing on her lips.

* * * *

James sat in his London office looking out over the domes of St. Paul’s Cathedral, deep in thought.

I’ll have to tell Marisa about Corinne. There’s nothing else for it
. He pondered. He wished Clara hadn’t stirred things up, trust her, meddling bitch.

He would explain everything to Marisa. He hadn’t loved Corinne, and she had left in a huff when he refused to be rushed into marriage, a marriage he
didn‘t
want.

Whether she would believe him or not was another thing, but he couldn’t contemplate losing her, so he pushed that thought to the back of his mind and continued working.

Marisa rang Melanie to tell her she was coming home.

‘Oh, God, what happened? I warned you not to get involved with him so quickly!’

‘I really don’t need to hear
that
right now, Melanie!’ Marisa shrieked into the phone.

‘I’m sorry, honey. I don’t mean to upset you, just come home. Everything will be all right.’

‘It won’t, Mel. I love him. I really love him, and he used me. He’s made a complete fool out of me!’

‘Then just get the hell out of there as fast as you can.’

* * * *

Marisa went to say good-bye to Mrs. Rose, hugging her fondly.

‘I’m so sorry you’re leaving, deary,’ Mrs. Rose said.

‘Me, too,’ Marisa said.

Marcus was lurking in the lounge as she walked past with her case.

‘Hey, what’s going on? Where are you off to?’ he inquired.

‘Home,’ Marisa answered bluntly and continued walking towards the door. He followed, looking perplexed.

‘May I ask why? I hope it wasn’t anything I did or
didn’t
do.’ He grinned slyly.

‘Oh, for God’s sake, Marcus. It has nothing to do with you, but you are an insufferable prick, isn’t that how you
English
say it,
insufferable
?’

He looked rattled at her rebuff.

She was glad she had told him what she thought of him. Anyway, he was a prick.

The taxicab pulled up, and the driver took her case as she got into the backseat and slumped low. She had been in England six months in total, two and a half of them as his lover. She sobbed quietly as the car pulled away. She looked back out of the rear window, watching solemnly as Highcroft shrunk into the distance behind her, until it finally vanished in the swirling mist.

* * * *

James was appalled to find Marisa’s note when he returned from London. He sat down, unable to take it in. She had gone, just like that. He felt utterly bereft. Anger rose in him as he realized who was to blame. There was only one person in the house who would have called Clara and told her about Marisa.

‘Mrs. Reed!’ he bellowed as he strode along the corridors. ‘Mrs. Reed,’ he shouted as he hammered her door.

‘Lord St. John. Whatever is the matter, sir?’ Mrs. Reed peeped around the door, and he pushed it open, striding in, waving Marisa’s note around.

‘Where has Miss Lowell gone?’ he demanded.

‘Oh, yes, sir. I was just about to come and inform you of Miss Lowell’s departure.’

‘Why are you so angry, sir? I’ve never seen you so upset.’

‘I believe you know quite well why I am so upset! What did you say to make her leave, Mrs. Reed?’ He was fuming; he glowered at the woman who had been in his employ for over ten years, the woman who cared for his children. How could she betray him in this way, and why?’

‘Nothing, sir, she left because of personal reasons. She said she had to return to America immediately.’

‘Why would she leave without telling me? Why?’ he demanded.

Mrs. Reed looked shaken. ‘Please don’t shout at me. I can’t bear it. My lord, please, I have done nothing wrong!’ she whined, taking a step towards him, reaching out, she stroked his face.

‘Mrs. Reed, have you lost your mind, woman?’ He jerked away from her touch.

‘No, I have not lost my mind. I have spoken it. I have gotten rid of her. She was no good for you, just like the others!’

Mrs. Reed lunged at him, kissing his mouth before he had a chance to avoid her hungry lips. James jerked his head away, his eyes wide in astonishment.

‘Mrs. Reed, stop this!’ He stepped back, bewildered by her behavior.

‘No, no, don’t you see, I love you, my lord.
I love you
!’ she cried as she came at him again.

‘No!’ he growled as pushed her away. The woman was insane, clearly demented.

She stumbled and fell. She pulled herself up and sat on the edge of the bed and opened her legs in a lewd display. James averted his eyes immediately ‘Yes, sir, take me if you want, take me and do what you will. I’m yours, and I will always be yours!’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Cover yourself, madam!’ he shouted, repulsed and dismayed by her crazed behaviour.

Without warning, she flew off the bed and lunged at him, screeching like a banshee.

‘How dare you, how dare you reject me!’ she screeched, beating his chest with her fists, slapping him on his face, head, and arms.

He grabbed her and threw her back onto the bed.

‘Don’t touch me, you mad woman!’ He fled, leaving her there in her twisted state.

He went to the living room and poured himself a large brandy. William looked up from his paper.

‘Good god, man, whatever’s going on?’ he inquired, concerned.

‘Mrs. Reed has gone mad, William. Please see to it that she leaves this house at the soonest opportunity.’

‘What do you mean, gone mad, and where’s Marisa?’ William asked.

‘Oh,
our wonderful
Mrs. Reed has seen to it that Marisa has gone back to America!

‘What?’ William sat up straight on the sofa.

‘Oh, yes, she has been quite creative. I don’t doubt she has told her some vicious lies…she has ruined everything!’

James sat on the sofa, his head in his hands. He couldn’t believe what was happening, what had
been
happening under his
own
roof.

‘All this time, Mrs. Reed, plotting and scheming
god knows what!’

‘But why?’
William asked.

‘Oh, this is the best bit, she has told me she is in love with me!’

‘That’s ridiculous, bloody outrageous, is she insane?’ William looked astonished.

James cocked his brow. ‘Er...not that ridiculous!’

William laughed lightly. James pushed his hands through his hair, his eyes wild.

‘Please, William, get rid of her. I don’t want that woman in my house!’

‘Of course. Yes of course! Leave it to me, what are you going to do about Marisa?’

‘What am I going to do, what
can
I do to make this right?’ James searched for the answer.

‘Have you tried ringing?’

‘Yes, of course, umpteen bloody times. Her phone is switched off.’

He slammed his glass down on the table and made a call.

‘Who are you ringing?’ William asked.

James held his hand over his phone.

‘British Airways. I need a flight to New York tonight. I’m going, William, I have to get her back.’

‘Okay, do what you have to do, and I shall hold the fort here until you return.’

William patted his brother’s shoulder reassuringly.

James took a deep breath, his mind whirling.

‘Thank you, William. Felicity will be back from Bath in the morning. I don’t know where Marcus is, please let them know I will be in the States for as long as it takes, and don’t forget to remove Mrs. Reed.’

‘No need, sir,’ Mrs. Reed said. James and William turned to look at her.

She stood holding her coat and an overnight bag.

‘I’ve called for a taxi. I will send for my things as soon as I have a new position.’

James looked at her with anger in his eyes and, she looked away quickly.

‘Very well, Mrs. Reed, I will see to it you have a month’s severance pay in your bank account. I’m afraid, due to your current mental state, I cannot possibly give you a reference. I would advise you to seek medical attention.’

She looked down at the floor, and he almost felt sorry for her. The woman was clearly not right. Silence hung heavy in the air until she turned around and left without saying another word.

The St. John brothers looked at each other with eyebrows raised.

‘Phew, well, that was easy,’ said William.

‘Yes, thankfully one less problem to sort out,’ James agreed.

‘Come on, I’ll drive you to the airport.’

‘Thanks, I’ll be staying at the Plaza, my usual suite. Any problems here, ring me there if you can’t get me on my mobile’

‘I shall, don’t worry, everything will be fine. Come on, let’s get you to Heathrow.’

‘
What if she won
’
t come back, William?
’ James looked forlorn.