Читать книгу The Australian Affairs Collection - Margaret Way - Страница 31

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

IT WAS WORSE than hell, Jess decided by five the following afternoon. Firstly, it had rained overnight and she’d frozen to death, both in the church and at the cemetery. She did have a jacket, one which matched her black crepe skirt, having chosen to wear the black Chanel-style suit she’d made to attend her grandmother’s funeral. But even though it was lined it wasn’t a warm outfit. Everyone else, she saw, was wearing overcoats. Some were wearing hats. She didn’t even own a hat!

She’d warmed up a little during the drive from the lawn cemetery back into the city, though Ben hadn’t said a word. Obviously, he’d been in a pretty bad place in his head after having to deliver the main eulogy, then watch his father’s coffin being lowered into the ground. He’d held her hand so tightly whilst that had happened, she’d thought her fingers would break. She hadn’t known what to say to make him feel any better so she’d said nothing.

But none of that compared to the hell the wake proved to be. Jess had felt intimidated from the moment she’d set foot in that mausoleum of an apartment Ben’s father had owned. Maybe if she’d been able to stay by Ben’s side she would have been able to cope better. But people kept taking him away from her, smarmy men in black suits with sucking-up manners and ingratiating voices. Everyone seemed to want his ear now that he was no longer the heir but the man himself. It was all quite sickening. And depressing.

Time ticked away very slowly spent with people she didn’t know, making conversation with her about things she knew nothing about. When one particularly snobbish woman asked her what she did for a living, Jess rather enjoyed telling her that she was a mechanic. The expression on her snooty face was horrified. Anyone would have thought she’d said she was a garbage collector.

Finally, just after the grandfather clock in the main hallway struck five, an exasperated Jess scooped up a glass of white wine from a passing waiter and slipped out onto one of the many balconies, hopeful of finding some solitude and peace.

But she wasn’t about to be so lucky. A svelte blonde who’d been at the funeral, and who’d stared daggers at Jess across the graveside, followed her out onto the balcony.

‘Well, hello there,’ the blonde said. ‘You must be Ben’s new girlfriend, the one he told me about over the phone.’

It didn’t take a genius to conclude who the blonde was.

Amber wasn’t beautiful, Jess decided. But she was attractive, and she shouted money with her super-sleek hairdo, her shiny complexion and her expensive-looking black sheath dress. No doubt they were real diamonds twinkling in her ears, Jess wished that she was wearing the diamond pendant Andy had given her at the wedding. But she’d left it at home in her jewellery case.

Despite knowing that her own outfit didn’t look home-made it suddenly felt home-made. And dated. Which was silly.

‘Hi,’ Jess returned, refusing to feel intimidated any more today. ‘I presume you’re Amber. Ben told me all about you too.’

Amber’s smile was not at all nice. ‘Did he, now? I’ll bet he didn’t tell you what he and I used to get up to.’

Jess hated to think of Ben doing with this creature what he’d done with her. But there was no use pretending that some of it wouldn’t have happened. Ben obviously had a penchant for erotic fun and games.

‘I wouldn’t dream of questioning Ben over what he did with his previous girlfriends,’ she said coolly. ‘What’s past is past.’

The blonde laughed. ‘In that case, you might be in for a few surprises, sweetie. But let me warn you…if you’ve set your cap at marrying the dear boy, then it might be wise to play a more conservative role. I tried to accommodate his kinky little demands and it didn’t get me anywhere in the end. Not that I enjoyed any of it, but a girl will do just about anything, won’t they, when there are billions at stake.’

‘So it seems.’

Jess and Amber whirled at the sound of Ben’s voice.

Amber went a guilty shade of pink whilst Jess just stared at him.

‘Amazing what you learn after a relationship is over,’ he said, still glaring at Amber. ‘If I’d known your father was on the verge of bankruptcy, then I’d have better understood your sudden declaration of love. Not to mention your timely proposal.’

‘Ben, I…I…’

‘Save it, Amber,’ he snapped.

‘She doesn’t love you,’ Amber retaliated spitefully. ‘She just wants your money, the way your mother wanted your father’s money. For God’s sake, just look at her. She’s a nothing from down under. A nobody!’

Jess stepped forward and slapped Amber’s face before she could think better of it. ‘I do so love him,’ she spat at the stunned blonde. ‘And I am not a nobody!’

All of Amber’s face went bright red, not just the palm print on her cheek. ‘I’ll sue you for assault, you bitch. And you too, you bastard—for breach of promise. I’ll make you pay for wasting all that time on you.’

Ben’s look in return was chillingly cold. ‘Give it your best shot, sweetheart. I have billions at my disposal and you’ve got what? A dead-broke father and a dead-end job, working for peanuts in an art gallery.’

Amber opened her mouth to say something, then just whirled and stormed off.

Ben stared at Jess who was feeling somewhat shattered by the nasty incident.

‘Did you mean it?’ he asked her. ‘Do you really love me?’

Tears pricked at her eyes. ‘Of course I do. Why do you think I’m here?’

‘Amber just said it’s for the money.’

‘Amber’s a fool. And so are you, if you think that.’

‘I don’t think that. That’s why I love you.’

Jess gaped at him then burst into tears. He gathered her close and pressed his lips into her hair. ‘I love you,’ he murmured. ‘And I want to marry you.’

Jess wept all the harder. Because how could she marry this man and live this life with him? She would hate it. And soon she would hate him.

Finally, when the crying had stopped and she could gather enough courage, she pulled back from him and lifted still, wet eyes to his. ‘I do love you, Ben,’ she said shakily. ‘Very much. But I can’t marry you. I’m sorry. I just can’t.’