Impetuous Masquerade

‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’ Simon was looking at her in surprise. ‘You did hear the doorbell, didn’t you? Perhaps it’s Val. Perhaps she’s forgotten her key. Perhaps your fears were unfounded.’

Rhia had distinct doubts that this could be so, but she could not ignore the caller, whoever it was. If she didn’t answer the door, Simon would; he was already half out of his seat, as if growing impatient of her hesitation.

Putting down her coffee cup, Rhia smoothed her damp palms down over the seat of her jeans and walked determinedly along the hall. As she went, she mentally rehearsed what she was going to say, deciding with resignation that she could not pretend she didn’t know what it was all about. Valentina had disappeared, she would tell them that. What they chose to make of it was not her concern.

When she opened the door, however, it was not the blue uniform of a police constable that confronted her, but the grey suede waistcoat of a three-piece suit. And the man who was wearing it with such indolent assurance was the man who had briefly terrorised her the night before.

CHAPTER THREE (#u58bed758-bfe5-5b86-80eb-eecb02d47974)

‘MR FRAZER!’ she breathed, glancing swiftly behind her, aware that Simon would be able to overhear what was said.

‘Miss Mallory,’ Jared Frazer returned equably. ‘Can I come in? I need to talk with you.’

Again!’ Rhia pressed nervous lips together.

‘Yes, again,’ he confirmed, looking pointedly over her shoulder. ‘Can I come in? I think you’ll want to hear what I have to tell you.’

Rhia couldn’t believe that she would. After the way he had behaved the previous evening, she had no wish to have anything more to do with him. He was too arrogant, too sure of himself; and how was she to explain his identity to Simon, when she hadn’t even mentioned what had happened?

‘Could you come back?’ she asked at last, awkwardly. ‘I—it’s difficult for me to speak to you now——’

‘Why?’ His narrowed eyes sought and speared her anxious gaze. ‘Have I come at an inopportune moment? Is Valentina here? Is that what you’re trying so desperately to hide? Well, if she is, so much the better——’ and thrusting Rhia aside, he strode determinedly into the flat.

Rhia was too shocked to stop him, and in any case, she doubted that she could. With a helpless shrug of her shoulders, she closed the door, and then hastened after him. Oh, lord, she fretted uneasily, what was Simon going to make of all of this? If only she had explained what had happened before Jared Frazer made his appearance!

Jared had halted in the middle of the living room, and when Rhia reached the doorway Simon had risen to his feet to confront the taller man. Rhia knew an almost hysterical desire to laugh at their conflicting expressions—Simon’s blustering and indignant, Jared Frazer’s hostile and suspicious.

‘What’s going on here?’

It was Simon who spoke, turning to Rhia in protest, his young good-looking face mirroring his confusion. If he had heard Jared Frazer’s name mentioned, it had meant nothing to him, and Rhia spread her hands wearily as she came into the room.

‘This—this is Glyn’s uncle, Simon,’ she answered him quietly, giving Jared a resentful look. ‘You know—Glyn, Val’s boy-friend; his uncle is here because of—of the accident.’

‘Where is your sister?’

Jared was evidently in no mood to wait while Rhia made the necessary introductions. With an expression of impatience he cast a quick look into the kitchen, then stood regarding her broodingly when she voiced an objection.

‘She’s not here,’ she declared quickly, deciding that Simon’s explanations would have to wait. ‘Mr Frazer, I told you last night I didn’t know where my sister was. I don’t. And—and what’s more, her clothes have disappeared.’

‘Rhia——’ Simon tried to intervene, but Jared wouldn’t let him.

‘You mean, she’s run away,’ he inserted harshly. ‘That doesn’t surprise me.’ He shook his head. ‘I suppose you’ve known all along that she was driving the car.’

Rhia gasped, and Simon took an involuntary step forward. ‘Don’t talk such rot!’ he exclaimed, putting out a hand to Rhia and squeezing her fingers reassuringly. ‘Val can’t drive—she’s never had the opportunity. I don’t know what you’re hoping to gain, Frazer, but blaming an innocent girl for your nephew’s accident isn’t going to help anyone.’

Jared ignored Simon, and addressed himself solely to Rhia. ‘Let’s not indulge in heedless argument, Miss Mallory,’ he suggested bleakly. ‘Your sister was driving that car. I’ve no doubt the police will be able to prove it. But that’s not important now. Glyn’s come round. He’s conscious. And—God help him—he’s asking for your sister.’

‘Oh!’ Rhia pressed both hands to her cheeks.

‘You really don’t know where she is?’

‘No.’ Rhia shook her head. ‘I—I wish I did.’

Jared nodded. Then after a moment’s consideration he seemed to come to a decision. ‘You’ll have to do it instead.’

‘Do it?’ echoed Rhia faintly. ‘Do what?’

‘Pretend to be your sister,’ said Jared flatly.

‘Now, look here——’

Once again Simon tried to intervene, but this time Rhia overrode him: ‘I can’t do that! Glyn will know I’m not Val.’

‘Not necessarily,’ declared Jared heavily. ‘From what I can remember of your sister, you are not unalike in appearance.’

‘But Glyn——’

‘Glyn seems to be having some difficulty with his sight,’ conceded her adversary bleakly. ‘He’s conscious, yes, but that’s all. He didn’t even recognise me at first.’

‘But——’

‘Voices can be deceptive,’ he continued steadily. ‘Sometimes a person doesn’t really listen to a voice, only to who’s speaking. Do you understand me? And your voice can’t be so dissimilar from Valentina’s. If you tell him you’re her, he’ll believe you.’

Rhia’s lips parted to allow her tongue to appear. Then she looked helplessly at Simon, begging his approval.

‘Why can’t you tell your nephew the truth?’ he demanded, ignoring Rhia’s silent appeal. ‘Surely he’s got to know sooner or later.’

Jared Frazer’s lips twisted, but with a shrug of his suede-clad shoulders, he dismissed what Simon had said. ‘Get your coat, Miss Mallory. I’ll drive you to the hospital. I’m sure you want to do all you can to ensure that Glyn recovers.’

‘Rhia, wait——’

Simon tried to restrain her, but Rhia released herself from his impatient grasp with a regretful sigh. ‘I’ve got to do it, Simon. Can’t you see? It’s not Glyn’s fault that Val’s run out on him.’

‘It’s not your fault either,’ countered Simon irritably, eyeing the tall Canadian with evident resentment. Then, when it became obvious that Rhia was not going to take any notice of his objections, he exclaimed, ‘Very well, I’ll take you to the hospital myself. That way, I’ll be there if anyone tries to intimidate you.’

‘No,’ Jared positioned himself squarely by the door, ‘that won’t be necessary, Mr—er——’

‘Travis,’ put in Simon shortly.

‘Fine—Mr Travis.’ Jared inclined his head politely. ‘I suggest you wait for us here. I’ll bring her back safely, don’t worry.’

‘Wait a minute——’

‘I think you’d better go home, Simon,’ said Rhia unhappily, re-entering the room, a blue corded jacket about her shoulders. ‘I’ll ring you as soon as I get back from the hospital. I’m sorry, but there doesn’t seem anything else I can do.’

Simon’s fair features were flushed with anger as he viewed her apologetic expression. ‘I feel as if you’ve brought me here on a wild goose chase, Rhia,’ he exclaimed. ‘Why didn’t you tell me last night that Frazer here had been to the flat? Even this morning, you’ve let me go on thinking it was what Val had said that had upset you, when all the while you’ve had this on your mind.’

‘It wasn’t like that, Simon,’ Rhia began, but Jared was urging her towards the door, and she realised she didn’t have time to explain anything now. ‘I—I’ll see you later,’ she murmured, as they emerged into the corridor, and Simon contented himself with giving her companion a series of malevolent looks as they all went down in the lift together.