Letter to Reader Title Page Dedication CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE Copyright
Happy 25th birthday, Harlequin Presents
May the next 25 years be as much fun!
Love, 25 always
Carde Martime
Dear Reader,
Like you, I’m thrilled and excited to see Harlequin Presents®’ twenty-fifth anniversary. The year 1998 marks my eighteenth year of writing for Presents. During that time I have written almost one hundred books for the line—and I’ve enjoyed writing, and being part of, every single one of them! Love and romance are what keep my world turning, as I’m sure they do yours; and having someone of your own to love, that special someone, makes life all the more satisfying and exciting. Harlequin Presents® stories give the same glow—long may they continue!
Love, as always,
Carole Mortimer
The Diamond Bride
Carole Mortimer
For Tim
CHAPTER ONE
‘IF YOU’RE thinking of jumping, I should wait another couple of hours until the tide is back in!’
Annie turned with a start at the sound of that deeply masculine voice—a voice she didn’t recognise!
A dark figure loomed in the fog. A tall, menacing figure.
‘At the moment,’ that deep voice continued, ‘you’ll most likely just find yourself buried up to your ankles in mud!’
She had been lost in thought as she stood on the end of this small jetty, troubled thoughts that went round and round in circles, their beginnings always meeting up with their ends, giving no answers.
She had been so lost in those thoughts she hadn’t heard the man’s approach, but she was conscious now of how alone she was, the thick, swirling afternoon fog meaning she couldn’t be seen by anyone up at the house that stood so majestically on the clifftop above. This small, private beach was rarely used by any member of the Diamond family, and was certainly not going to be visited by any of them at this time of the day.
Alone now, with this stranger, she realised how foolish her choice had been.
‘I also don’t think the Diamond family would be too pleased at another suicide taking place on their estate,’ the gravelly voice continued harshly.
Another suicide...? Had someone once killed themselves here? What—?
Another suicide! Surely this man didn’t imagine that was what she intended doing down here? Although in truth, with the tide obviously out, and the fog making visibility negligible, it must seem strange for her to be standing out here on this waterless jetty. But suicide...!
She took an involuntary step backwards as the man moved towards her out of the mist, only to find herself pressed up against the railing with nowhere to go—except, as he’d said, down into the mud below.
Her eyes widened apprehensively as the fog seemed to part to allow the man to step out in front of her—a man, she was sure, who must be the epitome of every fictional hero.
She gasped even as the ridiculous thought jumped into her head. But at first sight he was the personification of that romantic hero Rochester: so tall, dark hair long and unruly, his face strong and powerful, eyes as dark as coal. He was Rochester come to life!
Annie shivered. Whether because of this overpowering stranger, or the dampness of the fog penetrating to her bones through the light jacket and denims she wore, she wasn’t altogether sure.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ he challenged with a rise of one dark brow.
Up close—too close!—she could see that his eyes weren’t black at all, but a very deep blue, the iris barely discernible from that dark cobalt, his features so hardly hewn they might have been carved from granite.
He tilted his head to one side, his expression speculative, black hair resting almost on his shoulders, seeming immune himself to the dampness of the weather in his dark jacket, blue casual shirt and faded blue denims.
“‘Trespassers will be prosecuted”’. He dryly quoted the sign that precluded access onto this secluded beach.
She swallowed hard, moistening her lips as she realised how dry her mouth had become. But the only way off the jetty was past this man, and being slightly built—only a little over five feet in height—she thought her chances of making good her escape were probably a little slim.
An avid reader, she tried to think what a fictional heroine would do in these circumstances. Humour him, that was it. Then wait until he was off-guard—and make a run for it. Once she had disappeared into the thick fog he would have great trouble finding her again.
She attempted a slight, conciliatory smile. ‘I’m sure that if you leave now the Diamond family will never be aware that you were ever here at all,’ she suggested lightly—desperately hoping that none of the panic she felt was evident in her voice.
Dark eyes widened. ‘If I leave...?’ He frowned. ‘My dear girl, I have no intention of leaving.’
He didn’t intend leaving...
Annie swallowed hard again, hands tightly clenched in her jacket pockets. ‘I really think that would be the best thing for you to do.’ She forced soothing calm into her voice. ‘Before—er—Mr Diamond comes down here and finds you trespassing on his land.’
‘Mr Diamond...?’ he echoed questioningly.
‘Anthony Diamond,’ Annie supplied quickly, at last feeling she might be making some progress in her effort to get him to leave.
‘He’s here?’ the man rasped, casting a look in the direction of the house above on the cliff, now hidden by the fog.
‘Oh, yes.’ She nodded eagerly. ‘All of the family are in residence.’
‘Are they indeed?’ he mused harshly, his brow clearing, his mouth twisting with contempt. ‘Well, I can assure you there’s no possibility of Anthony coming down here,’ he dismissed derisively. ‘He hates the sea and everything to do with it—more so since