Broken Open. Lauren Dane

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      “There's a good pub outside of Sharning,” said Peter, helping Julie on with her coat. “The Beeswing, do you know it?”

      “I'm afraid not.” Patrick pulled on a dark grey overcoat with a fur lining. “But you lead the way – we'll follow.”

      “Okay.” Peter was obviously feeling pleased with himself. “Ruth knows the Sharning road and it's just beyond the village.”

      “Right.”

      Patrick nodded and they all went outside to get into the cars. Ruth had to wait while Patrick brought his car out of the garage and the others waved and drove off as the Mini came to a halt beside her. Patrick pushed open the door from inside and Ruth got in quickly, folding her long skirts about her legs.

      “I hope you don't find this too confining,” he commented dryly, as she was wondering how he managed to get behind the wheel. “But I needed some form of transport and as I don't intend to do any great distance this seemed ideal for towns.”

      Ruth knew she couldn't ignore him completely, so she said: “I have a Mini myself,” in rather terse tones.

      Sharning was the next village to Cupley where the Stephensons had their estate, and it wasn't long before the lights of the houses came into view. The tail lights of a car ahead turned out to be Peter Forrester's and pretty soon they were turning between the gates of a well-lit hotel. They parked the cars, and the two girls walked ahead into the building.

      “You don't mind, do you, Ruth?” Julie whispered rather anxiously as they entered the foyer, and Ruth knew she couldn't disappoint her.

      “No, of course not,” she denied. “Is this where we leave our coats?”

      It was a larger hotel than Ruth had expected with several bars and a small dance floor in the lounge. A three-piece group was playing and the room was filled to capacity. Patrick suggested that they had a drink in one of the bars and went into the lounge later, and the others agreed.

      Because of the throng of people and the hum of noise, it was possible for Ruth to relax somewhat. Peter was quite an amusing companion when he lost his initial shyness, and Patrick had his own brand of humour to offer. Certainly Ruth's lack of conversation did not appear to be noticed and she sipped her way through three vodka and tonics quite happily.

      Then Patrick suggested they tried the lounge again, and they left the bar to push their way into the larger room. It was not quite so crowded as it had been earlier and Peter drew Julie determinedly after him on to the dance floor.

      Left with Patrick, Ruth panicked. “If you'll excuse me,” she began, “I must go to the cloakroom –”

      Patrick's fingers caught her upper arm. “Why?”

      Ruth flushed. “Why do you think?”

      “Can't you wait?”

      Ruth was taken aback. “If you must know – no!”

      “I don't believe you,” he murmured, looking down at her burning cheeks. “I don't think you want to go at all. I think you're avoiding being alone with me.”

      “Are you going to let me go?” she demanded hotly.

      “No. At least – not yet. Come on, I want to dance with you.”

      She was forced to go with him. His hold on her arm was very sure and in any case she didn't want to cause a scene. Once on the dance floor he drew her closely into his arms, and while some of the couples were dancing apart from one another, he refused to let her go.

      And after a while She didn't want him to. There was something infinitely desirable about being as close to him as this, her hands imprisoned against the silk material of his shirt, feeling the heat of his chest and the heavy beat of his heart beneath her fingers. He had his arms about her waist, and they moved slowly in time to the music.

      “Now this isn't so bad, is it?” he queried softly, against her hair.

      Ruth shook her head. “No,” she conceded huskily.

      “I'm sorry,” he said.

      “Sorry?” Ruth tipped her head to look at him. His face was very close and she quickly averted it again. “Sorry about what?”

      “About this morning,” he replied quietly. “I'm afraid I was very rude.”

      Ruth quivered. “That's all right.”

      “Well, thank you. I behaved quite boorishly. I don't usually – but I had my reasons.”

      Ruth's palms were moist. “Yes?” she prompted, relaxing against him completely.

      His withdrawal was immediate, a physical detachment of his body from hers. But when he spoke again, he sounded as amiable as before.

      “I'll try and explain. The last time I was in England, about five years ago, Marion spent the whole time trying to marry me off to some distant cousin of hers.” He sighed reminiscently. “Oh, Celia – that was her name, by the way – was a charming girl, and I've no doubt she'd make some man a charming wife, but not me!”

      Ruth knew something was expected of her and assuming an indifference she did not feel, she said: “And you thought I was another candidate, is that right?”

      It was amazing, she thought to herself, how inconsequential she could sound when something inside her seemed to be screwing her up in little knots.

      “That's correct,” he smiled, and it was a disturbingly intimate smile. “But then this afternoon Marion explained who you were and of course I felt rather a fool.”

      “Who – who I was?” Ruth was confused. “Who am I?”

      His eyes glinted with humour. “Don't you know?”

      “You tell me.”

      “Well, you're Joseph Farrell's daughter, of course. An heiress, no less, and certainly in no way likely to be looking for the first unattached male that comes along. Besides, I'm sure that when you marry, your father will make sure your husband to be has more to offer you than a physio-chemist's salary!”

      Ruth digested this. “I see,” she said slowly.

      “So I suggest we forget what happened this morning, and start again,” he continued. “It will teach me not to be so conceited, as you said!”

      Ruth didn't know why, but she suddenly felt badly in need of a drink. Pressing her hands against his chest and separating herself from him, she said: “Do you mind if we go and sit down again now? It's rather hot in here.”

      “Not at all.” He released her at once. “We'll go and get another drink. The others will find us later. I must admit I'm finding it pretty exhausting myself.”

      In the bar they found a table and Ruth swallowed her fourth vodka and tonic as though it were her last. But something unpleasant had happened to her, and she didn't want to think about it.

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