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‘To confirm a few things and make some more money.’ He looked around. ‘Very cosy. But where’s the boyfriend? Still sleeping off the Ariadne effect?’ His smile was a lecherous insult. ‘Hasn’t lasted, though, your grand passion, has it? Maybe it occurred to him that having Grace Trewint’s daughter as his mistress was a bit too close to home.
‘Oh, yes,’ he added softly, as Rhianna gave an involuntary gasp. ‘People couldn’t wait to fill me in on the old scandal—not when they heard what you’d done to Miss Seymour. Your name’s dirt in Polkernick. And lucky me has another exclusive. I gather the wronged wife lives just over the French border,’ he went on. ‘What will she say, I wonder, when she hears that her son’s been following so closely in his father’s footsteps? Will she be impressed? I don’t think so.’
Rhianna said calmly, ‘The most you’ll get is “no comment”. I can promise you that. Anyway, why involve her when you have me? I’ll give you what you want to know.’
She got up, smoothing her dress and smiling. ‘As you’ve guessed, it was just a brief fling.’ She slowed her voice to a drawl. ‘One of those things that happen when you’ve both had too much to drink, alas. I threw myself at him, and he caught me. Something that seemed like a good idea at the time, but wasn’t. And now it’s over, and I’m out of here.’ Her smile widened. ‘If you’re heading for the airport I’d be glad of a lift.’
For a moment Jason Tully looked almost nonplussed. ‘You have no plans to meet him again?’
‘Absolutely none,’ she said. ‘We agreed on just one thing—enough is definitely enough.’
‘Right,’ he said slowly. ‘And what are you planning to say to Caroline Seymour next time you see her?’
How was it possible to stand and talk and function with some semblance of normality when you were hurting so much? When all you wanted to do was sink to your knees and howl?
She shrugged. ‘I have no idea, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.’
‘And how do you react to rumours that your Castle Pride contract may be cancelled after the next series has been shown?’
She certainly hadn’t been expecting that, she thought, flinching inwardly. Who said there was no such thing as bad publicity?
She said lightly, ‘Merely that all good things come to an end.’
She was braced for another question, but at that moment Pilar suddenly erupted on to the scene from the back of the house, her voice rising in a crescendo of fierce Spanish as she flourished a threatening broom at the startled Tully and his companion.
‘Hey!’ he shouted as the bristles grazed his shoulder. He turned on Rhianna. ‘You tell her that’s assault, and I’ll have the law on her.’
‘I think she’ll tell you this is trespass,’ Rhianna returned evenly. ‘Also this is her country, and her boss is a respected figure locally, so don’t count on the police being on your side. I’d just leave, if I were you.’
She didn’t expect her advice to be taken, but with a lot of muttering they went, and she heard the car drive away.
It was only when she felt Pilar’s hand on her shoulder, and the older woman’s voice urging her to be calm, that she realised she had sunk back on to the bottom stair and was sitting with her face in her hands.
She said shakily, ‘Pilar, I have to go now. This minute. I must get back to England. Get an earlier flight if I can. Could Felipe drive me to Oviedo?’
‘Felipe is disgrace,’ Pilar said icily. ‘He let in men—strangers—to the house of Señor Diaz. Take money. Bring dishonour on family.’ She paused. ‘Better you wait for the señor.’
‘No!’ Rhianna grasped her hand. ‘I can’t—not after this.’ I can’t face him. Not after what’s happened—and what I’ve said. She went on, ‘Whatever Felipe’s done, I really need him to drive the car. Please, Pilar. Tell him to take me to the airport, por favor.’
There was a silence, then Pilar nodded reluctantly.
‘Ay de mi.’ She raised clenched fists. ‘What I say to the señor when he comes? What I tell him of men in house?’
Rhianna handed her the crumpled newspaper. ‘Just give him this,’ she said quietly. ‘It will explain everything. And now will you get Felipe, please? Because I really have to go.’
‘You’re not serious.’ Daisy stared at Rhianna open-mouthed. ‘You’re coming out of Castle Pride because of this nonsense? Darling, you don’t mean it.’
