Shadowed Stranger by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488099021
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

HER first thought, rather hysterically, was that Rick hadn’t said goodbye to her as he had promised he would. Then she remembered that he had said goodbye, he had teased her about kissing her would-be seducer goodbye. If she had known it was to be a final parting she would have refused!

Why had he gone like this? Why, when they loved each other? But they didn’t! Oh, she had been so stupid. Rick hadn’t said he loved her, he had only shown her that he wanted her. And she had deceived herself into thinking it was love because she had wanted him to be in love with her.

He had warned her she would be hurt, but the pain she was going through now was unbearable. Rick had opted out of her life, left her at a time when she had been at her happiest.

How long she stood there she never afterwards knew, but it was dark by the time she pulled herself together enough to drag herself back downstairs, switch off the lights and close the door to Orchard House for the last time. She would never come back here; just to look at it from the outside would be painful reminder enough of her impetuous love for Rick.

She hadn’t cried—she couldn’t. Inside she was numb, past pain, past feeling, the pain too deep-rooted to even hurt her. Rick hadn’t just rejected her, he had walked out of her life for good.

Her mother was in the kitchen when Robyn let herself into the house. ‘My God, you’re all right!’ she cried, grasping Robyn’s arm to make sure she was really there and not just a figment of her imagination. ‘Where have you been, Robyn?’ Concern gave way to anger. ‘Your father and I have been so worried!’

‘I went to see Rick—’

‘But he isn’t there!’

‘How do you know that?’ Robyn asked sharply.

‘He came into the shop—’

‘Oh,’ she said dully. ‘No, he isn’t there. He’s gone.’

‘Then where have you been all this time? It’s hours since you left work,’ her mother frowned.

‘I know. I—I was thinking.’ She just wanted to go to her room, to be left alone in her misery.

‘All this time?’ her mother persisted.

‘Yes,’ Robyn snapped.

Her mother sighed. ‘All right, dear. I can see you’re upset. Although what your father will say … He’s out looking for you, you know.’

‘I’m sorry,’ her voice was emotionless. ‘Tell him I’m sorry.’

‘You can tell him yourself, love. He’ll be back soon.’

‘I’d like to go to bed—if you don’t mind.’

‘Robyn …’

She looked at her mother with lifeless eyes. ‘Yes?’

‘Last night. Did you—’

‘No.’ She gave a bitter smile, knowing that she couldn’t take any credit for that.

‘Oh!’ Her mother’s sigh was obviously one of relief.

‘I’m sorry for asking, dear, but I—’

‘It’s all right, Mum, I understand. Is it okay if I go to my room now?’

‘Yes, of course. Are you really all right, Robyn?’

She gave a bright smile, totally false. ‘Really. He wasn’t for me, I knew that from the start. I’ll get over it,’ she lied.

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