Freya banged her hand against her forehead, snapping out a thoroughly unladylike word.
‘I don’t know why I’m surprised,’ she said. ‘You said he couldn’t surprise me any more. He actually thought that Jackson and I—after everything that’s happened—’
‘Well, the two of you do seem to be getting on very well again.’
‘Only as friends,’ Freya said quickly. ‘Nothing more. How did you learn what he’d been up to?’
‘Earlier tonight we saw you wandering along the riverbank together and he was so pleased with himself that he told me what he’d done—pretending to be ill to get you out here.’
‘And you were so worried...’ Freya breathed. ‘Didn’t he understand what he was doing to you?’
‘Does he ever understand anything that doesn’t suit him?’
‘No, never. Well, that’s it. He doesn’t need me, so I’m going back to England. I don’t think I can endure the sight of him any more.’
‘I think I’ll come with you. I need to put some space between Amos and me while I try to see into the future. Don’t go to England. Come to Monte Carlo and stay with me for a while.’
‘All right. It’ll be good to have some time alone together. Are you seriously thinking of leaving Amos?’
‘I don’t really know. What I do know is that things between us aren’t as I hoped, and I have to mull it over. I need space and to be free of him for a while.’
‘Yes,’ Freya murmured. ‘To be free.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AS THEY WAITED for the coach the next morning Jackson came to stand beside Freya.
‘What’s up with them?’ he asked, inclining his head to Amos and Janine. Although they were standing together there was an unmistakable air of frostiness.
‘They’ve quarrelled, and this time it’s serious,’ Freya said. ‘She found out that he never was ill. He only pretended to be short of breath.’
‘But why?’
‘To make me come out here and to get you and me together. He hasn’t given up, and this is his latest trick.’
Jackson swore under his breath. ‘I could strangle him!’
‘Join the queue.’
‘How did your mother find out?’
‘He told her. Apparently he was so sure the trick had worked that he boasted about it.’
‘I should have realised, but I can hardly believe it—even of him. Goodness knows what the atmosphere will be like between him and Janine now.’
‘You don’t need to worry about that. Mum’s going home. She says she needs to get away from him for a while. And I’m going with her.’
‘Must you?’
‘I can’t let her be alone now she’s so unhappy.’
‘I suppose not, but I wish you weren’t going. Ah, well, we’ll be finished in Egypt soon. Once we’re all back in England things will be better. We can meet and talk.’
‘I shan’t be in England for a while. I’m going to Monte Carlo with her.’
‘How long for?’
‘I’m not sure. Certainly until Amos comes home, and maybe a while after that if I think she needs me.’
‘But, Freya—’
‘Oh, look, Amos is waving at you. Perhaps you should go and talk to him.’
He seemed about to protest, but then he nodded and went over to his father.
Freya joined Janine.
‘You were both very quiet at breakfast.’
‘I’ve told him I’m returning to Monte Carlo and he’s furious with me. But I’m going anyway. My days of jumping to do his bidding are over.’
‘It’s news to me that you ever did jump to do his bidding.’
‘I tried to please him as often as possible. If I had to refuse him I did it gently, lovingly. But now I have to make a stand. I’m doing what suits me, and if he doesn’t like it he can take a running jump.’
‘Good for you. I’ll call the airport as soon as we reach Cairo.’
On the coach journey they sat together, while Jackson claimed the seat beside his father. Their words were inaudible, but Freya sensed that Jackson was trying to soothe him. She doubted that he was totally successful, but Amos’s scowl faded, to be replaced by a look that might have been sadness.
When they reached the hotel in Cairo Freya went straight to the reception desk and asked for a call to be put through to the airport. What followed took only a few minutes.
‘There’s a plane leaving for Nice tonight,’ she told Janine. ‘I’ve booked us on it.’
She heard Amos’s harsh gasp and guessed that he’d counted on having this evening to pressurise Janine into staying. But Freya knew her mother’s mind was made up. Suddenly everything had changed, making her stronger. Clearly Amos had also sensed that change, but he seemed unable to cope with it. Freya actually found herself feeling sorry for him.
Jackson and Amos came with them to the airport and saw them as far as Check In. Jackson drew Freya aside.
‘I wish you weren’t going,’ he said, his hands gentle but firm on her arms.
‘You’ll be better without me,’ she said. ‘I’m a distraction. It’s your first job with this firm. You have to give it everything.’
‘There’s only one thing in the world that can make me want to give everything. All myself. All my heart and soul.’
‘Don’t.’ She laid her fingertips over his mouth. ‘Not yet.’
‘Not yet? But perhaps some day soon?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said desperately.
‘But one thing you do know. I’m yours if you want me. Do you need to know more?’
‘I need time. Sometimes things seem so clear and sometimes everything’s a wild confusion. Please, Jackson.’
‘All right. I guess I can be patient as long as I have some hope. But don’t torture me too long. Please.’
‘Jackson, I don’t— I can’t—’
Their boarding call came from the loudspeaker.
‘I must go,’ she said quickly. ‘Goodbye.’
‘Goodbye—until we meet again.’
Together the two women walked away through Check In and on to the Departure Lounge. At the end of the corridor they turned and saw the two men still standing there, watching them from a distance.
Freya had an eerie feeling of history repeating itself in mirror image. It was only a few weeks ago that she and Janine had stood together in an airport, watching Amos and Jackson depart. There had been desolation in her heart then, although nothing like what she felt now. It was all so different, and she no longer knew what to think about anything in the world. Including Jackson. Including her own heart.
His words should have made her spirits soar. Yet to hear his declaration of love when she was walking away from him, perhaps for ever, had sunk her in despair.
I’m mad, she thought. Mad, crazy, stupid. And I have