Heart of Glass

by Dana James

Genres: Women's Fiction; Romance; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Returning from her much-needed holiday in the sun, Shelley is met by shocking news. She hadn't even known Great-uncle Nicholas was dead. Her saviour three years ago when she had badly needed a friend, he had allowed her to rent one of his cottages and a sail-loft in a lovely Cornish harbour for her glass-making business.  Now all the property belongs to his grandson, Adam.  Shelley knows she can expect no mercy from Adam. For hadn't she walked out on him, and her family, just before their wedding ? without any explanation?

Release date: June 1, 2001

Publisher: Chivers

Print pages: 196

Sample

Chapter One

Adam Trelawney lifted the newly installed telephone from a large plan spread out on the floor of the empty room, and set it on the marble hearth.

Rolling the plan into its protecting cardboard tube, he straightened with athletic ease and brushed dust from the sleeve of his beautifully cut dark business suit.

He surveyed the room. Its exquisite proportions were repeated throughout the house.

Late-afternoon sunlight streamed in through long, elegant windows, the cracked and missing panes now replaced. Even the cobwebs, dust and years of neglect could not detract from the high moulded ceiling and white marble fireplace.

The decorators had started outside. Interior work would begin tomorrow and once that was finished the hardwood floor, now muddy and dirt-streaked, would again reveal its mellow beauty.

Absently turning the cardboard tube in his hands, Adam moved to the window. It would take longer to restore the gardens. He had already put word out, hoping to find the men who used to work here. Men who knew the soil and the needs of the plants, shrubs and trees that grew in it, and who would require little supervision. Given the money he was prepared to pay there would be no shortage of willing applicants. He lifted his gaze to the town on the far side of the river.

Turning abruptly he left the house, locking the front door behind him. His shoes crunched on the weed-choked gravel. As he approached the maroon Daimler it occurred to him that he would have to buy another car, something smaller and more suited to the narrow, winding Cornish roads. He’d keep the Daimler though. It would be useful for trips up to London.

He got into the car, tossed the plan onto the back seat, and glanced out of the side window at the house. What was he doing here? Why had he bought this place? He had washed his hands of her, put her out of his mind, over and over again. She had walked – no, run – out of his life without a word of explanation. Had it not been for the strange business of his grandfather Nicholas’s will it was unlikely their paths would ever have crossed again.

His mobile beeped softly. He lifted it to his ear. ‘Trelawney.’ He listened. ‘No, not this afternoon. It will have to be tomorrow.’ He turned his head and his gaze focused on a row of four terraced cottages on the quay almost directly opposite. ‘I have a meeting.’ He listened again. ‘Important? It could be,’ he said quietly and replaced the receiver. His long, powerful fingers lingered for a moment on the cool plastic as he brooded.

Then his jaw tightened. One corner of his mouth lifted in a grim smile and, with the self-assurance that characterised all his actions, he started the big car. At the top of the curving drive, he turned on to the road that would take him across the bridge and into the town.

Setting her suitcase down Shelley heaved a happy sigh and allowed her gaze to wander over buttermilk rough-plastered walls, jade-green carpet, and the sofa and armchair she had re-covered in a print of rose, cream and jade. Shelves in alcoves on either side of the fireplace contained her books, a compact stereo unit and rose-shaded lamps. Her tiny portable TV stood on a table in the corner. Hers: and though she had needed the break she was happy to be home.

She scooped up the letters scattered on the mat and, with barely a glance, laid them on the small, polished table below the narrow staircase. She had all evening to read them. No doubt most of them would be invoices or bills.

Her first and most important task was to buy some food, then light a fire. She had been gone only a fortnight but March had poked cold, damp fingers into every corner.

Collecting her shopping basket and purse, Shelley went out once more into the late-afternoon sunlight. Scanning the harbour, she revelled in the familiar and much-loved view.

A stiff breeze stirred the water into choppy waves tipped with white foam. The workboats were back on their moorings, sails stowed, having returned from dredging for oysters in the estuary. Tangerine and shocking-pink buoys, set out in rows for the summer sailors, bobbed about like discarded party balloons.

After Easter, slender racing yachts with aluminium masts would begin to appear, like migratory birds. By June the harbour would be crowded with boats of every shape and size, from small sailing dinghies to sleek, fat launches, their chrome and glass superstructures bristling with radar and radio antennae.

Sapphire-blue where the sun touched it, the restless water looked grey and very cold in the shadows of warehouses and shop-backs.

Shelley sucked in a lungful of salt-laden air and smiled. From the moment she had arrived three years ago, alone and desperate, the little Cornish town had proved to be the haven she so badly needed. Here, free from the unhappiness that had clouded her existence for so long, she had rebuilt her life.

The bell above the door tinkled as Shelley entered the little vegetarian takeaway. The aroma of fresh, crusty bread and savoury pies cooking made her mouth water.

‘Hi, Janet,’ she called. ‘I’m back.’

Janet Penrose bustled through the curtain of multicoloured plastic strips that divided shop from kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel. The front of her blue and white striped apron was dusty with flour and a lock of her thick fair hair had escaped from the bright cotton scarf knotted at the back of her head.

‘Did you have a good time?’ Her smile was warm and her eyes bright with interest.

Shelley sighed happily. ‘Fantastic! I just lay by the pool in the sun and baked. Actually, that’s not strictly true. I did go into the souk a couple of times. I saw some beautiful silver filigree. And I treated myself to a gorgeous kaftan. I even rode into the Sahara on a camel to watch the sunrise.’

Janet shook her head. ‘You’ve got more nerve than me, going to these here foreign countries all by yourself. You must’ve seen stories in the papers about local men trying to get off with women holidaymakers to get their money.’

Shelley raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s not all one-sided, Janet. There are plenty of stories about women who go looking for young men. And it’s not money they’re after.’

‘Well I never! Weren’t you scared?’

Shelley laughed. ‘No. The hotel staff were lovely and most of them spoke English. Tunisia is very popular with tourists, especially Europeans who want some sun.’

‘You certainly look ’andsome,’ Janet allowed. ‘Brown as a nut you are. Your cough better, is it?’

Shelley nodded. ‘It’s completely gone.’

‘That was some nasty dose of ’flu you had.’

Shelley dug into her shopping basket for her purse. ‘Yes, and I wasn’t the only one. Half the town has been down with it. Last summer was so wet I don’t think we got the chance to build up any resistance.’ She surveyed the display of home-made flans, pasties and pies, and the bowls of different salads behind the glass counter.

Janet clicked her tongue. ‘My Eddy says it’s getting so we only have two seasons in the year, June and winter. Dreadful for the visitors, last year was. Now, what are you going to have?’

‘A mushroom quiche, a tub of winter salad with bean sprouts, and a tub of coleslaw. Oh, and a pint of milk.’ Shelley felt her stomach rumble.

‘When did you get in?’ Janet spooned diced vegetables, glossy with oil and vinegar dressing, from a large earthenware bowl into a shallow polystyrene tray and snapped the lid shut.

Shelley glanced at the thin gold watch on her brown wrist; ‘Almost an hour ago. The train was only ten minutes late. It poured all the way down to Plymouth. But once we crossed the Tamar bridge the sun came out.’

Janet shot her an amused glance. ‘Anyone would think you was glad to be home.’

‘Oh, I am.’ Shelley’s agreement was heartfelt. ‘I needed the holiday, and it’s done me good. But I love this place. It’s the first real home I’ve ever had. I’ll never leave here.’ Then aware of Janet’s quick curiosity she smiled brightly. ‘I just dumped my case and came straight out. After five hours on the train I needed some fresh air.’

‘I should think you get all the fresh air a body can stand, living down on the quay.’ Janet’s tone was dry. ‘It’s a wonder to me you haven’t been washed away. And there’s more gales coming next week.’

‘Those cottages have stood up to a hundred years of Cornish weather,’ Shelley retorted. ‘They were built to last.’

‘Oh, yes?’ Janet was sceptical. ‘How come Percy Bishop moved up to the old folks’ bungalows, then? He always said they’d have to carry him but feet first.’

‘It was his arthritis, not the cottage,’ Shelley replied. ‘He couldn’t walk up the slip any more. And after Edna died last year there wasn’t anyone to look after him. I think he was lonely. Anyway, I’ve still got Elsie on one side and Doreen and Frank on the other, and none of us intend to budge.’

Janet pulled a wry face. ‘How many times have you had to sandbag the front doors this winter?’

‘Only once, and that wouldn’t have been necessary if the gale hadn’t come at the same time as the spring tides.’ Shelley smiled again, acknowledging her defensiveness over the little cottage. The strength of her protective feelings for the tiny two-up, two-down house with its two-foot-thick walls and small, square sash windows surprised even her on occasions.

Though Great-Uncle Nicholas had refused to sell it to her, he had promised she was safe there for as long as she wanted – at a fair and reasonable rent, of course. Shelley smiled inwardly. Virtually a recluse, communicating with her only rarely and then by letter, Great-Uncle Nicholas was, nevertheless, a true Trelawney. Business before everything. Hadn’t Adam been exactly the same?

Adam. Shelley felt a gnawing hollow in the pit of her stomach. She looked down quickly, pretending there was something in her shoe. That was all in the past. Time healed all wounds and she had come a long way in three years. If she felt tense it had nothing to do with the unexpected memory of Adam. Two days of travelling was enough to make anyone weary. As for the sensation of emptiness inside her, that was simple hunger.

Janet slid a golden-topped quiche carefully into a greaseproof bag and laid it on the counter. ‘You all right, my bird?’ Her round face, flushed from the heat of the kitchen, reflected concern.

Shelley forced a smile. ‘I’m fine. Just a bit tired. The change of climate tends to come as a bit of a shock, too. That quiche looks delicious.’ She opened her purse. ‘Honestly, Jan, I’m eating like a horse. My appetite has gone mad.’

‘Good thing too,’ the older woman replied. ‘There isn’t much of you at the best of times.’

Shelley’s brown-gold hair, streaked by the hot north African sun, fell forward over her shoulders as she surveyed her slender figure. Her faded denims were tucked into low-heeled ankle boots, and a coral padded jacket covered a navy guernsey and beige and coral checked shirt. ‘I don’t know,’ she frowned. ‘If I go on eating at this rate, by the time summer comes I’ll look like one of those little fat fishermen John Denny’s always painting.’

Janet took the money and rang it into the till. ‘Talking of John, I don’t suppose you’ve been up to the Gallery yet.’ Her tone made the words a statement but something in her voice brought Shelley’s head up.

‘No, I haven’t.’

Janet picked up the tea towel and absently wiped her hands again. ‘Best thing,’ she comforted. ‘Tomorrow’ll be soon enough. After all, you only just got back. Best to have a good meal and a night’s sleep before you face that lot.’

Shelley’s forehead puckered in bewilderment. ‘What lot? What are you talking about?’

‘Bedlam up there it is.’ Janet’s Cornish accent grew stronger with her agitation. ‘John and Sue Denny say you must have known all along. Gary won’t have it. He says you’d never have gone off on holiday if you’d known. Kath isn’t saying much at all, but you can see she’s fretting. John says Gary isn’t facing facts and is blind to the truth because he fancies you. I heard all this yesterday when they come in for pasties.’

Apprehension clenched icy fingers around Shelley’s heart. ‘Janet, I don’t know what you’re talking about. What about the Gallery? What’s happened?’

Janet stared at her then moved her ample shoulders awkwardly. ‘It’s been sold. There’s a great notice up on the wall.’

‘Sold?’ Shelley gasped. ‘It can’t have been. There must be some mistake.’

‘Don’t look like no mistake. Not by the size of that there notice.’ Janet’s tone was dry, but her eyes were full of sympathy. ‘Here, don’t forget your tea.’ She pushed the two trays and paper bag across the counter.

‘Thanks.’ Shelley scooped them into her basket on top of the other groceries and hurried to the door.

‘Don’t you go rushing up there and getting all upset,’ Janet warned. ‘Let it wait till morning. A few more hours won’t make no difference. ’Sides, you’ll face it better after a good night’s sleep.’

‘I know you mean well, Janet. But the Gallery is – was – rented in my name. If someone told you this place had been sold without your knowledge, would you leave it till another day to find out what was going on? Besides, until I find out what’s going on I can’t see me getting much sleep at all.’

‘I should never have said –’

‘I’m glad you told me.’

‘Some welcome home though.’ Janet pulled a wry face. ‘Here, shouldn’t you have had some notice? You paid your rent regular, didn’t you?’ When Shelley nodded, she went on, ‘Well, then, isn’t there some law?’

‘That’s one of the things I intend to find out.’ Shelley pulled open the door. Above her head the bell tinkled.

Janet called after her, ‘Let me know …’ but Shelley was already on her way up the street.

Her mouth was dry and her heart pounded painfully as her nervous system reacted to the shock. Whatever was happening, it had to be a mistake.

Great-Uncle Nicholas had rented her the old sail loft at the same time as the cottage. It was one of several properties he owned in the town and had been exactly what she was looking for.

She had instinctively known that people would be more interested in buying the delicate glass sculptures she created if they could actually see them being made. So she had set up her workbench facing the street in the largest window. Then at right angles to it, she had installed illuminated shelves displaying examples of her various designs.

It hadn’t taken long for word to spread, though among the locals curiosity had been greater than sales. While pleasant and polite, Shelley made no effort to ingratiate herself. She wanted so much to belong, to make friends and become part of the community but in closing the door on her past, she had also cut herself off from the usual talk of family and background by which the locals would weigh her worth and credibility. Guarding her tongue and her privacy, Shelley let her work speak for itself.

After she had inadvertently let slip to Janet at the takeaway that her mother’s maiden name was Trelawney, there had been a distinct warming of attitudes as this information sped along the grapevine. She volunteered no further information nor was any sought, but it was clear that being related to such an old and respected Cornish surname meant she was no longer an outsider.

Exhibiting in the craft tent at the county agricu. . .