Just as her body had been nothing more than a means of exacting his revenge on her. Ruthlessly, deliberately using her pathetic weakness, her criminally stupid vulnerability to him, turning it against her, using it as a deadly annihilating weapon against her.
Right to the very, very last.
Cold flushed through her, sickening and shaming.
Even when she’d been yelling her fury and defiance at him he’d still had to do nothing more than walk up to her, touch her, kiss her…
And take her.
She shut her eyes, shame burning through her.
‘Vicky—are you all right?’
Her eyes flew open. The concern in Jem’s voice making her instantly tense.
‘Yes—fine.’ She got to her feet. ‘Just a bit depressed—which isn’t surprising really, is it?’
She tried to keep the edge from her voice, and failed. Like a pressure cooker with the lid tightly screwed down, she could feel the fury and rage boil within her.
‘You know,’ Jem was saying, ‘I still think the best thing to do would simply be to tell him what Pycott Grange is going to be used for. Surely the man can’t refuse to release the money then?’
Vicky’s face tightened instantly.
‘It wouldn’t do any good. He’ll never hand the money over. Never.’
Her mouth snapped shut like a clam.
Jem gave a heavy, exasperated sigh, and ran his hand through his hair.
‘Well, what about my other suggestion, then? Give the story to the press. OK, the guy’s in Greece, but even so, surely the tabloids there would snap up a story about some rich tycoon who won’t fund a holiday home for deprived kids?’
‘No!’ A shudder went through her. ‘I could never do that. And anyway, it won’t work. Look, Jem, nothing will work! The man is a total and absolute bastard!’
‘Well, what about your uncle, then? The money came from him originally. Maybe he’d give you what he agreed, and then get the original amount back from your ex?’
‘No!’ Her negation came again, more high-pitched this time. ‘Jem, stop it—there isn’t any way. There just isn’t!’
‘Maybe your uncle would simply make a charitable donation, then, irrespective of any deal or whatever that was set up when you married—’
‘Jem! No! It’s impossible. I can’t go to my uncle—I can’t!’
Jem’s face set. ‘Vicky, it’s your family, I know, and I don’t want to interfere. But think about it—your uncle is rich. It’s insane to ignore that. We need the money so urgently—we really do. We can do what we can—get some local help, try and raise money here—but it’s just so frustrating knowing that you’re owed that money and your ex is too bloody tight-fisted to hand it over.’
Vicky’s hands clutched together. ‘I’m sorry, Jem. I’m really, really sorry. But I can’t get in touch again—I just can’t. Please don’t ask me to.’
She kept her voice calm, as calm as she could. But Jem’s searching eyes looked at her.
‘OK, I’ll back off.’ His arms came around her in a warm, comforting bear hug. ‘You’re very important to me, Vic, and I don’t want you upset by anything or anyone.’ He released his hug, but slid big hands either side of her face. Then he dropped a kiss on her forehead. ‘You take care now, OK? Promise me?’
He smiled reassuringly at her. ‘We’ll work something out. Don’t you worry. We haven’t got this far just to give in now. Look, I tell you what—I’ll drive down to Devon tomorrow, see what the latest state of play is down there. Maybe there are areas the builders can suggest we do a temporary, cheaper job on, just for the moment, so we can still open this summer. There are ways and means—there always are.’
He dropped a last kiss on her forehead and let go of her. But even as he released her her arms wrapped around his waist, and she pressed her cheek against his chest.
‘Oh, Jem, I’m so sorry—I really am.’
He patted her back. ‘That’s OK, Vic—truly. I know that whole marriage scene was a bad time. But you’ve got me—you know that. We go back a long way, you and I. Thick and thin.’
She pulled away from him, smiling up at him.