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‘I don’t blame them, you created something out of this world. So, let’s sell it to them,’ Linnet replied in a rush, and at the same pace she continued, ‘Also, I think your idea for an entire floor for brides is inspirational. I’d really appreciate it if you could give me something on paper. As soon as possible.’

‘I’ve got a lot of stuff on my computer already. I’ll print it out for you before I go to Yorkshire.’

‘Thanks. When are you going to Pennistone Royal?’

‘In three days. Gideon and I are driving up on Saturday. I’m glad. I’m already a bit panicky to tell you the truth, I feel as if I’m about to give birth at any moment.’ She said this lightly, laughing as she spoke, but she was genuinely worried that this actually might happen.

So was Linnet, although she also laughed and tried to reassure Evan. ‘You’ll be fine, darling. Julian and I will be there for the weekend, so I can help with any last-minute details for your wedding.’

‘That’s lovely, thanks for offering, but there’s not much to do. It’s only the family, after all.’

‘Your parents are coming over though, aren’t they?’

‘Oh yes, and my sisters. My mother’s already here, she arrived several days ago, and the others will be flying in next week. Robin’s being wonderful, very kind, and he’s invited my parents and sisters to stay at Lackland Priory.’

‘Well, that’s nice of him, of course, but don’t forget you’ve given him a new lease of life, Evan. Mummy says he’s never looked better. And India tells me that Great-Aunt Edwina is bursting with joie de vivre, at the top of her form.’

‘So I’ve heard, but that’s surely because India is going to marry Dusty at Clonloughlin this summer. A big fancy wedding is just up Great-Aunt Edwina’s alley,’ Evan pointed out with a huge grin.

Linnet agreed, then pushed herself to her feet and picked up her coat. ‘I’d better go, I’ve loads of paperwork to catch up with. Thanks for listening, and for your input. It was just what I needed.’ She paused at the door, blew a kiss. ‘I’ll see you later.’ Smiling, she was gone.

Evan gazed at the door, her face already clouding over.

She was fully aware that Linnet’s nonchalance was assumed, that in fact she was concerned, worried what her mother’s reaction would be to her ideas for the Knightsbridge store. Although they were not particularly radical, Evan knew they would fall flat. As a newcomer, she saw Paula O’Neill from an entirely different viewpoint from her daughters and India Standish, Paula’s niece. Evan was aware that their boss was a woman who had become a trifle set in her ways. She was also determined to keep Harte’s in its traditional mode, to keep its image intact. What Linnet wanted to do wouldn’t destroy Harte’s image. On the other hand, Paula would be upset. She was Emma Harte’s granddaughter and heiress, and she never deviated from the rules set down by Emma. Having run Harte’s in exactly the same way for well over thirty years, since before Emma’s death, she wasn’t likely to make any changes now.

There’ll be trouble between them, Evan suddenly thought with a sense of foreboding. Real trouble.

Endeavouring to brush this irrational feeling aside, she turned to her computer, went to her plans for the bridal floor. She hoped to lose herself in her work, but this did not happen. That peculiar sense of uneasiness persisted, and it disturbed her.

CHAPTER TWO

He could see her in the distance, high above him riding on the escalator, obviously heading for the upper floors of the store.

The bright red hair was a fiery halo around her face, impossible to miss, as was the sleek silhouette of her smartly-tailored black suit, austere except for the touches of white at the collar and cuffs.

She was the spitting image of Emma Harte and knew that she was, because everyone had told her this for years. And they had also told her how smart she was and canny, like her great-grandmother, and that she had inherited her intelligence, vivaciousness and drive. But, Jack Figg, head of Security and old family friend, suddenly wondered, had anyone ever told her that she, and only she in the entire family, had been lucky enough to inherit Emma’s enormous glamour as well. Certainly Linnet was much more glamorous than Paula or her half-sister, Tessa Fairley. In fact, Linnet stole everyone’s thunder on that score.

Such a hard thing to define, glamour, Jack thought, walking towards the escalator. It couldn’t be acquired. A person was either born with it or not … glamour was innate, something which came from within. It had nothing to do with the length of a woman’s hair or its colour, or the beauty of her skin, or her face and figure. Glamour had much more to do with enormous presence and charisma, rather than anything else. And those lucky enough to possess it, be it man or woman, made an impact wherever they went, always caused heads to turn, induced people to make a beeline for them.

A small smile flickered on Jack’s face as he stepped onto the escalator, and he acknowledged, somewhat ruefully, that he was prejudiced when it came to Linnet O’Neill. She was his favourite and always had been. To Jack she was the smartest of the younger generation in this family. She and her cousin Gideon Harte were the best and the brightest of the whole bunch. Not that their siblings or cousins were dullards or dimwits – far from it. Very simply put, it was these two who outshone the rest in almost every way. As a whole, though, the family was quite spectacular, with plenty of brain power between them. Hard-working, diligent, loyal and trustworthy, each and every Harte was also extremely good-looking, just like Emma and her two brothers had been.

His thoughts swung to Gideon Harte, who was to marry Evan Hughes in ten days.

Evan Hughes … now there was a name to conjure with. The newly-found American relative … quite a story that was. Sent to London a year ago by her dying British grandmother Glynnis Hughes, to seek out Emma Harte … who Evan quickly found out had been dead for thirty years. Evan stumbling into the midst of the Hartes, meeting Gideon that first day in the store and falling under his spell … as he had fallen under hers. Instantly. Love at first sight was grand when it happened. Evan impressing Linnet enough to be hired to work at the store … eventually causing Paula to wonder about her origins and delve into the past to uncover the truth about Evan’s antecedents … Paula discovering that Evan was the granddaughter of her uncle, Robin Ainsley, Emma’s favourite son.

And then another story had emerged and unravelled. Robin had had a secret liaison with Glynnis during the Second World War. Glynnis had borne Robin a son called Owen, soon after her marriage to her G.I. boyfriend, Richard Hughes, who had brought the boy up as his own. At the end of the war Richard had taken his Welsh bride and the boy to New York, and there she had lived until her death. But there was a much more complex story to the relationship between Robin and Glynnis, Jack knew that now. They all knew it.

Everything was out in the open; there were no more secrets, and with their typical generosity of spirit the entire family had welcomed Evan, made her feel at home amongst them. And later they had welcomed Evan’s parents, Owen and Marietta Hughes, brought them into the clan without a murmur or qualm.

And then there was Jonathan Ainsley. He hadn’t welcomed the Hughes family at all. Now there’s the rub, Jack thought with a grimace, as he considered Robin’s legitimate son, who had been thrown out of the family years ago for double-dealing, disloyalty, and cheating the division of Harte Enterprises which he ran.

Paula, her father David Amory and her cousin Alexander had dispatched him, and he had become their sworn enemy. David was long dead, and all of Jonathan’s hatred had been focused on Paula for years. He considered her his great nemesis.

Because of his dangerous games, Jack had Ainsley under surveillance at all times wherever he was in the world, as it happened mostly in Paris and Hong Kong. Jack needed to know what Ainsley was up to, when he was up to it, and most importantly, where.

Ainsley was currently in London, and this disturbed Jack. Now that he was once again running Harte’s security on a full-time basis, he felt responsible for every member of the family. Ainsley’s sudden presence was like a time-bomb ticking.

There was Evan’s and Gideon’s marriage to think of and it was uppermost in his mind at this moment. It was taking place on Saturday, January 19th, in the little church in the village of Pennistone. Small though the wedding was going to be, most of the immediate family would be present and undoubtedly they offered great temptation to Jonathan Ainsley.

Jack was convinced that Evan and her father were undoubtedly targets now, just as Paula and Linnet were. Linnet’s resemblance to Emma must inflame Ainsley no end, get his hackles up. And he must loathe Owen Hughes, his newly-found half-brother, albeit an illegitimate brother. As for Evan, she was the grandchild Robin had always craved. Jonathan, who had been married and divorced, had never produced any children.

Stepping onto the top floor of the store, Jack glanced around. Linnet, who had been in his line of vision a moment ago, had disappeared.

After walking around the top floor for a few minutes, Jack spotted Linnet in the auditorium. Pushing open the glass doors, he called out, ‘Linnet! Good morning.’

Swinging around, a smile struck her face at the sight of Jack; she sped over to him and gave him a hug, then stepped back, and said, ‘What a lovely surprise! And how did you know where to find me?’

He grinned. ‘I’m good at that, finding people, you know. Actually, I spotted you on the escalator and jumped on behind you. You’re a sight for sore eyes, Beauty. I’m glad you’re back. How was your honeymoon?’

‘Brilliant. Barbados was hot. New York cold. And exciting. We had a great time, enjoyed both places. But it’s nice to be home, and to see you.’

Linnet had known Jack Figg all of her life, and he was more like a favourite uncle than a colleague; now she tucked her arm through his in an intimate way, and together they walked across the floor to a grouping of chairs near the stage.

Linnet said, ‘I was going to phone you a little later, to talk about Gideon’s wedding.’

As they sat down, Jack told her, ‘Everything’s in place, and the security will be as extensive as it was for your wedding last month. Truly, there’s nothing to worry about.’

Linnet nodded and leaned forward. ‘Mummy’s staying in Yorkshire to have a rest. Ostensibly. But she felt she’d better be there to help Aunt Emily and Uncle Robin with the plans for the reception, since it’ll be at Pennistone Royal. Mums could do it by herself, but the others want to be involved. Insist, actually. Robin because of Evan, and Emily because Gideon’s her favourite child. Nothing’s too good for him.’

‘Does anyone ever admit to having a favourite?’ Jack asked, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. ‘Especially in this family?’

Linnet laughed, amused by his tone. ‘No. But they have them. Any everyone loves Gid, you know that. He’s special.’

Immediately Jack thought of Gideon’s brother Toby, whom he found highly competitive when it came to his younger sibling. Toby was jealous. But Jack decided not to comment on this. He merely said, ‘True enough,’ and continued, ‘Your mother gave me Emily’s guest list, and I received Gideon’s a couple of days ago. It seems to me that family only have been invited.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

There was a small silence.

Jack broke it finally, his voice grown more serious when he said, ‘There’s something I need to tell you, Linnet … Jonathan Ainsley’s back in London, I wanted you to be aware of that.’

‘He always manages to show up at the wrong time!’ she cried, her voice rising.

‘I have everything under control,’ Jack reassured her swiftly. ‘My people have him under surveillance on a permanent basis, that’s how we know he’s back here.’ Having no wish to upset her unduly, he refrained from telling her that Ainsley had been spotted that very morning watching the store from across the road. And so he went on quietly, his voice as always calm and soothing, ‘I’m simply telling you this because I promised to keep you informed about him. I just want you to be aware … and on your guard, so to speak.’

‘I will be. Have you mentioned it to Gideon?’

‘Not yet.’

‘Shall I say something to Evan?’

‘No, don’t. It could upset her, and, after all, she’s very, very pregnant.’

‘She’s holding her own, though. And the babies are not due until the last week of March. But it’s probably better she doesn’t know Ainsley’s around. She and Gideon are going to Yorkshire to stay at Pennistone Royal until the wedding. She can take it easy up there, have a rest.’

‘And she’ll certainly be safe,’ he murmured in response. ‘That place is like Fort Knox these days.’

‘Thanks to you! And no doubt Gid’s had you working on Beck House. Installing a security system, I bet.’

‘He has indeed,’ Jack answered, smiling. ‘It’s a lovely old house and they’re both thrilled it came on the market when it did. Gideon especially, since his father owned it once.’

‘With Daddy when they were gay young blades,’ Linnet pointed out. ‘Gid told me it’s almost ready for them to move in.’

‘I know. But getting back to the guest lists, do you think there might be any last-minute invitations? To non-family members?’

‘I doubt it. You see, Jack, Evan hasn’t really made any friends, I mean outside the family. She’s been caught up with Gideon most of the time, and with India, Tessa and me. Oh wait a minute, there’s that couple who own the hotel … George and Arlette Thomas. Her father’s friends. I’m sure she would probably invite them, but—’

‘She did,’ Jack cut in, ‘they’re on Gideon’s list.’

‘Then I can’t think of anyone else.’

Jack nodded. ‘As I said, there’ll be plenty of security, but I do need your help with one thing, if you don’t mind.’

‘Tell me.’

‘More than anyone else, you know every person who’s going to attend the wedding. You would spot a stranger in a crowd, and instantly. Far quicker, certainly, than me. Or any of my people. And also, although I’m acquainted with every member of the family, I obviously can’t be everywhere at once. So, here’s what I want you to do … Keep your eyes peeled, make a mental note of everyone who’s there, and particularly strangers, and tell me or one of my operatives if you see anyone you don’t know. Immediately.’

Linnet nodded her head. ‘I could wear a wire, or whatever you call it. A mike and an earpiece. Like you did at my wedding.’

Jack burst out laughing, and sat back in the chair, staring at her, amusement reflected in his eyes. There was no one quite like her … except for Emma when she was alive. She would have made exactly the same kind of outrageous suggestion as Linnet just had.

‘Why are you laughing?’ she asked, looking baffled.

‘Because only you or your great-grandmother would have said that to me. My God, you’re so like her.’

‘I’m glad I am, but getting back to the wedding, I could wear an earpiece and a mike, couldn’t I, Jack? I mean, why not? What’s to stop me? Or who?’

‘No one really, but don’t you think it might alarm some members of the family? Like Great-Aunt Edwina, for instance.’

‘Oh come on, Jack, not Edwina! You know better than that. Anyway, if Edwina were to spot me with a mike on my lapel she’d want one, too. You know she’s the general in the family, bossing everyone around and taking charge at the drop of a hat. But she’s a good egg.’

‘Indeed,’ he murmured, biting back a smile. There was no denying it, at times Linnet took his breath away, but he had no doubts about her whatsoever. She was brave and determined as well as smart, and one day she would take charge, be the one to run the Harte stores. She was a star.

‘Jack, what about it?’ she pressed. ‘Can I wear a mike?’

‘It’s not a bad idea at that, Linny,’ he replied at last, thinking: But would Paula stand for it? Wouldn’t she balk at her daughter being miked-up at a family wedding?

Almost as if she had read his mind, Linnet announced, ‘Mummy might object. If she knew. But she doesn’t have to know. I’m sure I can hide the mike on my lapel, behind a large flower. And nobody would notice an earpiece. My hair’s longer.’ As she spoke she fluffed out her auburn bob, staring at him pointedly, her green eyes intense.

‘Your hair is longer, that’s true,’ he murmured and stood up, glancing at his watch as he did. ‘Listen, I’ll get back to you on that idea later in the day. Let me think it through. Basically, I don’t believe it will be necessary. It is a small wedding, after all.’

As Jack moved away, heading for the door, he turned, and said, ‘Oh, there is one other thing. Your mother told me that all of the help at the reception are locals, who’ve been employed at Pennistone Royal in the past. Just scan them for me on the day, okay?’

She nodded, and rose, walked over to him. ‘I’ll mention it to Margaret this weekend, make sure they’re old hands. And of course I’ll keep my eyes open at the reception.’

‘Thanks, Beauty.’

Linnet fell in step with him, and just before they reached the door of the auditorium she touched his arm lightly. ‘Jack?’

‘Yes?’ He looked down at her questioningly.

‘Do you really think Jonathan Ainsley might try to cause trouble? Do something insane?’

‘No, I don’t think he will. He’s too smart. On the other hand, I like to be one step ahead of the other guys. So I play it safe.’

CHAPTER THREE

Evan picked up a thick, felt-tipped pen and in her bold, flowing handwriting wrote across the manila folder the word BRIDE. Then she pushed the folder to one side of the desk, smiling to herself as she patted it almost lovingly. She had not realized how much work she had already done on the idea of creating an entire floor devoted to brides until she had gone into her computer an hour ago and printed everything out.

After reading all of the pages written weeks ago, she knew she had a workable and comprehensive blueprint for the bridal floor, and she was pleased. She hoped that Linnet would also be pleased. More than likely she would be. But what about Paula O’Neill? Would their boss really let them create a floor catering only to brides at the expense of other departments?

The question hung there in the air for a moment. It was a tantalizing question for which she had no answer. A sense that problems were brewing, a premonition of trouble ahead still lingered in her mind. Very determinedly she tried to push this away, disinclined to ponder problems today. As Linnet would say, in her quaint way, there were better fish to fry.

Rising, Evan walked across the floor to her long work table at the other side of her office. The top of the table was covered with photographs of the house Gideon had bought in Yorkshire, and she had an overwhelming desire to look at the pictures again.

Sitting down at the table, she stared at those which she had laid out days ago. Once more she experienced the now-familiar pleasure and excitement that knowing this would be her home engendered in her, as well as a genuine longing to be there. Such feelings were paramount in her these days, and she could hardly wait to move in.

As she shuffled through photographs of the grounds and the exterior of the house, she thought of that Saturday morning last October, only three months ago, when she had first seen the house.

Gideon had driven her over to the small, picturesque village of West Tanfield, and had explained on the way that he wanted her to look at an old house with him. ‘It’s a house I’ve always liked, and it’s on the market,’ he had said. ‘My only worry is that it might be a bit ramshackle and need too much work. But we can walk through it, and see how we feel about it, can’t we?’

Evan had immediately agreed, even though she was taken by surprise that he wanted a house in Yorkshire when they both lived and worked in London, especially since they could stay with his parents or at Pennistone Royal whenever they felt the need to escape the city. But then she had suddenly realized that he wanted a place of their own, especially after the twins were born, because his apartment in London, where they were currently living together, would become rather cramped. The idea of a house in the Dales appealed to her.

On the drive over she learned that West Tanfield was halfway between Pennistone Royal, the great stately home which had been Emma’s and was now Paula’s, and Allington Hall, his parents’ family home, which had been inherited from his grandfather, Randolph Harte.

Just before they reached the village Gideon had begun to laugh softly, and had confided that many years earlier his father and Shane O’Neill had actually owned the house they were about to see. Winston and Shane were the same age, the closest of friends since childhood, and had been at Oxford together. They had apparently bought the house originally as a property investment, intending to renovate it and then sell it for a vast profit.

Instead the two young bachelors had become so attached to the house whilst working on it they had finally decided to move in themselves. It became their weekend retreat until Winston married Emily Barkstone, Gideon’s mother. Shane had continued to live at Beck House for a year, but in the end he had felt lonely without his old sparring partner, and had finally told Winston he thought they ought to put the house on the market. Winston had agreed they should sell, and the house was snapped up almost immediately. And in the ensuing years it had changed hands only once.

‘Dad told me it was on the market,’ Gideon had gone on, as he parked outside the house which stood at the bottom of a small hill at the edge of the village. ‘He said that whatever its state I shouldn’t worry too much, because he and Shane had practically rebuilt it. Anyway, come on, darling, I have the key from the estate agents. Let’s go and take a look at what might become our family home.’

He had jumped out of the car and run around to the passenger side to help her alight, and then led her to the black iron gate set in an ancient stone wall. It was quite a high wall with lichen and moss growing between the stones, and many tall trees were visible above it.

‘Beck House,’ she had read aloud when they finally stood in front of the gate. ‘I like the name, Gid.’

He had merely smiled and led her through the gate, along the path to the house. ‘It’s called Beck House because there’s a little stream, a beck, running through the grounds.’

The minute she saw it Evan was instantly enchanted, and she knew whatever its condition she wanted to live there. It was positively beautiful.

Situated in a small dell, it was surrounded by sycamore trees and huge old oaks which encircled the back. Elizabethan in origin, it was a charming house, rather picturesque, low and rambling, made of local stone. It had tall chimneys, leaded windows, and a half-timbered front façade that was Tudor in style.

In her mind’s eye Evan had always had an image of what an English country house should look like, an image instilled in her by her grandmother Glynnis Hughes. And on that cool and sunny October Saturday morning, she had seen this image in her mind’s eye take shape in reality. And when he put the big old key in the lock of the front door, her excitement knew no bounds; she couldn’t wait to step inside.

Evan knew she would never forget how she had felt when she stepped over the threshold and looked around the front hall … she filled with a wonderful sense of joy, and she felt, deep within herself, that she was going to live here with Gideon and their children … and she knew without any doubt whatsoever that they were going to be happy here. The house had a good feeling, and she was at ease, felt welcomed.