She shrugged. ‘It depends what you mean by that.’
‘Wife of Jordan Lord,’ he drawled. ‘Daughter of David Darrow.’
‘That’s me,’ she nodded. ‘Should I know you, Mr—?’
‘Ben!’ Maggie said warningly.
‘Okay, darling,’ he grinned. ‘No need to panic, I’m going now. Nice meeting you, Mrs Lord.’ He nodded before leaving.
‘Now what were we talking about?’ Maggie said brittlely. ‘Ah yes, Jordan. Now—’
‘Maggie,’ Kelly interrupted tautly, ‘your boy-friend’s name was Ben. It—It wouldn’t be Ben Durston, would it?’
‘Kelly—’
‘Would it?’ she demanded shrilly, a terrible feeling of inevitability washing over her.
‘Yes,’ Maggie admitted with some reluctance.
‘The Ben Durston who wrote that story about my father?’
‘Yes,’ she sighed.
‘It was you all the time!’ Kelly accused. ‘All this time we’ve been puzzling over it, and it was you. Why, Maggie?’ she choked. ‘Why did you do that to me?’
Maggie’s eyes flashed angrily. ‘I did it to keep Ben,’ she snapped.
‘But you said you were the one who was unsure of your relationship, not him,’ she frowned.
‘So I lied.’
‘And you betrayed a confidence to keep him,’ Kelly said disgustedly.
‘I’d do anything to keep him,’ Maggie told her vehemently.
‘I thought we were friends!’
‘We are, but when it comes to men it’s another matter. Ask Jordan about that,’ Maggie’s mouth twisted. ‘I’m sure he would be only too pleased to tell you about the times I tried to get him into bed with me.’
Kelly went deathly white. ‘What are you saying? You and Jordan…?’
‘No,’ she gave a harsh laugh. ‘Not me and Jordan. Although it wasn’t for want of trying on my part.’
‘Jordan turned you down?’
‘Oh yes,’ she confirmed angrily. ‘The bastard! Even after you’d left him he still didn’t want to know.’
‘He said you had been to see him,’ Kelly remembered dully.
‘One last try,’ Maggie nodded. ‘He was just as insulting as ever. God, how I hate him—still want him too,’ she revealed bitterly.
‘And that’s why Jordan doesn’t like or trust you.’ Kelly spoke almost to herself. It also explained his comparison to Judas. Jordan must have known all along exactly what sort of friend Maggie was to her.
Maggie shrugged. ‘Now I suppose you feel the same way.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed unhesitantly. ‘You have no morals or principles.’
‘And we both know you do,’ Maggie scorned. ‘It didn’t help you keep your precious Jordan, though, did it?’