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‘Yes,’ Rhianna said steadily, ‘I do. I’ve realised I simply can’t do it any longer.’ She pushed the tabloid newspaper she’d brought with her across the kitchen table. ‘This decided me.’
She pointed at a large picture of Diaz walking along a street, his face cold and fierce with anger as he realised the presence of the camera, and at the screaming headline which accompanied it: ‘He laid Ariadne and lived! Millionaire’s drunken sex romp!’
She shook her head. ‘Oh, God, how vile and sordid is that? Diaz is the last man in the world to want his private life gloated over in this ghastly way. Especially now that the papers have all picked up the story about my mother and his father being lovers.’
She attempted a smile. ‘My attempt at a diversionary tactic has just made things a thousand times worse. I’ve failed everyone, including myself. But I’ve been well punished for my failure. Diaz must really hate me after all this.’
Daisy picked up the coffee pot and refilled their cups. ‘Well,’ she pointed out reasonably, ‘as you’ve sworn you’re never going to see him again that hardly matters. Nor are you responsible for something that happened long before you were born.’ She paused. ‘Besides, you didn’t drag Diaz Penvarnon on board a yacht and sail off with him into the wide blue yonder. That was all his own idea, and if it’s backfired—tough. It’s certainly no reason to jeopardise your entire career.’
She gave Rhianna a long look. ‘What on earth did your agent say?’
Rhianna bit her lip. ‘Plenty.’
‘I bet,’ said Daisy. ‘And the production company probably said even more.’
‘I haven’t had their reaction yet,’ Rhianna returned. ‘Although I’ve reason to believe they won’t be too upset. Not that it will make any difference.’ She leaned forward. ‘Don’t you see? In everyone’s minds I’ve turned into Lady Ariadne—this monstrous creature. She’s become the reality instead of me. And I can’t handle that any more. When I started playing her it all seemed quite harmless, but it isn’t any more. And I—I need to get away from it all. To get away from her.’
I’ve also realised I don’t want to take off any of my clothes again in front of anyone but the man I love, she thought with sudden anguish.
‘Just don’t be too hasty.’ Daisy put a comforting hand on her arm. ‘Because it won’t always be like that. This Donna Winston rubbish will soon be forgotten.’
‘Not,’ Rhianna said bitterly, ‘by me. Or by many other people while she’s on every daytime TV chat show, banging on about her fight for love and the safety of her unborn child. Making me into the real-life villainess of the piece.’
‘Whereas, of course, the actual villain has got off scot-free.’ Daisy wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘According to one story I read, he’s vanished to South Africa—and good riddance.’ She hesitated. ‘Have you managed to contact your friend in Cornwall yet?’
‘No,’ Rhianna admitted dejectedly. ‘I’ve tried phoning the house, but they won’t let me speak to her.’ She stared into her cup. ‘And last time, when her mother answered, she called me a treacherous bitch.’
‘And why wouldn’t she?’ Daisy said robustly. ‘You’ve said yourself she’s always hated you. She needs someone to blame, that’s all.’
‘She and a million others,’ Rhianna said unhappily. ‘I feel I’m a step away from being stoned in the streets. I came here this morning in a wig and a pair of sunglasses so no one on the Tube would recognise me. And though the Jessops have been wonderful, as always, letting me stay with them while the press are camped out at my flat, it can’t be a permanent arrangement.’
She sighed. ‘I feel I need to go and hide somewhere that no one will ever find me.’
‘As long as you come out of hiding in six months’ time,’ Daisy said agreeably. ‘Because you’re going to be wanted as a godmother.’
‘A godmother?’ Rhianna sat up sharply, her own woes temporarily on hold. ‘Truly? Oh, Daisy, my love, that’s so wonderful.’ She hesitated. ‘Is that why Rob…?’
‘Went into panic mode and ran?’ Daisy supplied, brows raised. ‘Absolutely. My beloved idiot suddenly saw a future where all the work had dried up and he had a wife and child he couldn’t support. He got all the way to his parents in Norfolk, realised he was insane, and came back.’
She began to smile. ‘Now he’s given up the idea of being theatrical knight and his lady in favour of being a patriarch, with his family and their golden retriever in the garden of their palatial country home.’
