Page 192 of Original Sin

Tess searched his face, wanting to

believe him, but still too scared to. She could see that the usual mischievous twinkle in his eyes had dimmed into a softer sparkle of hope.

‘Is it true?’ she croaked.

He nodded, then pulled her closer and kissed her, soft lips brushing tenderly against hers, and at that moment, moulding herself to his body, surrounded by the glory of nature, she knew just how well they fitted.

‘Don’t leave me again,’ he smiled, stroking her hair, ‘Promise me.’

She inhaled, her breath shuddering, then laughed. She had spent so long in the wrong relationship, surrounding herself with things she didn’t need – the smart apartments, the high–flying job, the exotic holidays – desperately trying to convince herself it was right; suddenly now, being here with Sean, just felt an enormous, joyous relief.

‘I won’t,’ she whispered, ‘Believe me, I won’t.’

*

Tess knocked on the door of Meredith’s suite at Jewel Cay. Sean had gone to the airport to pick up William and Paula, and Tess knew there was only a small window of opportunity to confront her. The older woman was standing on the balcony of the grand old house in a long billowing linen dress, white hair swept into a chignon. She moved back into the room, closing the French doors behind her.

‘I was expecting you to come,’ she said flatly.

‘Really?’ said Tess, determined to keep her cool.

‘I saw you on the beach talking to Sean.’ Meredith’s face did not show one trace of guilt or discomfort. Tess knew that her employer was glacial at the best of times, but she wondered if ice really did run through her veins. She must have guessed that Tess would find out the truth about her attempt to derail her relationship with Sean, and yet it did not seem to bother her one jot. And why would it? thought Tess bitterly. I obviously mean nothing to her. She was disposable, just another employee like the gardeners and the maids. As for Sean, she supposed Meredith would think she had acted absolutely and unfailingly in his best interests.

‘Yes, we were talking,’ said Tess evenly. ‘And he told me that his proposal to Annabel was complete fabricated nonsense.’

‘Ah, the business about the ring,’ said Meredith coolly, gazing back out of the window. ‘I believe I made an understandable mistake.’

‘Mistake?’ replied Tess. ‘You knew exactly what the ring was for but you just lied to me, Meredith. You just didn’t want Sean and me to be together.’

‘A mother has to do what she has to do, Tess,’ she said simply. ‘I did what I thought was right.’

A well of fury grew in Tess’s stomach, thinking about the hours of hard work and dedication she had put into protecting Meredith’s plans and ambitions. It hadn’t just been a nine–to–five job – Tess had actually cared about the wellbeing and status of the Asgill family. Well, she was not going to protect her another moment.

‘It’s not the only thing you’ve lied to me about, is it?’ said Tess.

This time the old woman looked back at her. ‘I don’t understand you.’

Tess steadied herself. She knew she was taking a risk in proceeding; the last thing she wanted to do was jeopardize her relationship with Sean again, and she knew he wouldn’t take too kindly to threats and accusations about his mother, but Tess felt so close to the truth she could not stop herself.

‘You and Olivia Martin were having an affair, weren’t you?’ she said in a low, controlled voice.

Meredith looked at Tess with genuine surprise, then threw her head back and laughed, her tight, white face pinching up into a jigsaw of lines.

‘Oh my dear,’ she cried. ‘How ridiculous you are.’

‘Am I?’ said Tess. ‘You’ve had discreet “companions” since Howard died; in fact you had them throughout your marriage. But you were in love with Olivia.’

‘This is nonsense,’ hissed Meredith, waving her hand dismissively. ‘You know nothing about me.’

It was at that moment that Tess knew she was right. It was the sort of intuitive bullishness that had got her to the very top of journalism, a charge and passion for her career that she knew she sorely missed.

‘I know that you and Olivia were together on Bunny Bartlett’s yacht in Catalina,’ said Tess, ticking off the points on her fingers. ‘I know you were still close just before your wedding. I know you and Olivia were seen arguing at Riverview an hour before she vanished.’

She paused and looked at Meredith, whose face was now pale and unsmiling. ‘But what I don’t know is if you were involved in Olivia’s disappearance,’ said Tess. ‘If you were, I suggest you tell me right now. You can’t escape the truth forever, Meredith, I think we both know that.’

Meredith sat down in a wicker chair. Tess could see that her hands on the armrests were trembling as she realized she had been caught out.

It was a full minute before she spoke.