Call Back Yesterday by Charlotte Lamb

Author:Charlotte Lamb [Lamb, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction in English, Yorkshire (England), Widows
ISBN: 9780263092608
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Published: 1978-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

'What did it look like?' she asked lightly. 'Oh, I've no doubt my money enhances my attraction for Alan, but I have other attributes.'

'I've noticed them,' he said sardonically. His blue eyes travelled down her body appreciatively. 'What one might call gilt-edged stock.'

She was forced to laugh, and he grinned at her. 'That's better.

What answer did you give your ardent suitor?'

Oriel did not reply, her slanting green eyes taunting him.

Devil caught her closer and bit her ear. She gave a little yelp of pain. 'You're a brute, do you know that?'

'Aren't you going to thank me for taking Clare to hospital?' he asked softly.

'You ought to have done it months ago. You were going to let her die!'

'For God's sake,' he said, exasperated. 'I've tried, on my honour. I've tried to get her to go, but she always refused. So last night I put some sleeping pills in her cocoa and when she was out for the count I drove her down to Dr Warne and told him she could go into hospital. It wasn't unusual for her to be in a drunken stupor. Warne didn't suspect I'd drugged her. They took her into hospital, so now she's being properly looked after, just as you wanted.'

She looked up at him gravely. 'You shouldn't have married her if you meant to be so cruel to her.'

'I didn't intend to be cruel,' he denied angrily. 'I married her without loving her. That was my crime, and I've paid for it. It was knowing that that drove her to drink, but, Oriel, she knew when she married me. God above 1 She begged me to marry her. She said she didn't care whether I loved her or not. She said it then, but afterwards it was another story.'

Oriel sighed. 'You must go. It's so late.'

'Must I?' His gaze was speculative. 'Why?'

'Oh, Devil...' She moved restlessly, aware of him in every fibre. She did not want him to go. She wanted him to stay; her body cried out for him. She longed to sink into his arms and forget everything but her own driving hunger. But there was Clare, and his child Linnet, and her own self-respect. The barriers between them were too great.

'You must go,' she repeated huskily.

'I want you,' he said abruptly. 'I want you as I've never wanted anything before, even Chantries ... Don't send me away tonight, my dearest. Let me stay. I'm half out of my mind with loving you and if I have to go back up to Devil's Leap unsatisfied I can't be responsible for what I'll do. Say yes to me tonight or I'll never ask you again.'

She stared at him, his words shocking her beyond belief.

'Devil, I can't... you're married...'

'Forget Clare. Forget everything. Say yes now.' He stared down at her hungrily, his blue eyes intense.

'No, Devil,' she whispered miserably, knowing her own terrible desire to say yes but fighting it down.

'My God, you ..His voice soared, shaking with rage. He looked at her with black ferocity.

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