Free Her Own Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford Page A

sure what that means.”
    “You know, the kind of chap who has an attitude… love me on my terms, darling. Thanks for everything. Farewell . Hit-and-run chaps, that’s what we call them over here. I know several women who have suffered at Reed’s hands.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I did, Meredith, at least I tried to warn you as best I could. I did say he was a difficult man.”
    “Actually, you said he was a brooding Byronic hero, or words to that effect, and I never did really understand what you meant by that.”
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    “Oh that’s only the role he’s adopted for years. In essence, it’s a pose. But I suppose it has been rather effective, got him a long way with women. Not that he needs a pose, actually. His looks aside, he’s charming most of the time, despite that smoldering manner of his.”
    “All too true. But do you think women fall for that…for that brooding stance?”
    “Oh yes, I think so. Let’s face it, many do. The smoldering eyes, the soulful expression, the moody demeanor, can be appealing. There are a lot of women who go for the suffering, anguished Heathcliffs of this world. They want to change them, make them happy.”
    Patsy paused, then said, “Wasn’t that one of the things about him that attracted you?”
    “No,” Meredith answered quickly. “To tell you the truth, it was only this past November, in New York, that he turned morose and moody. It irritated me more than anything else.”
    Patsy laughed. “I bet it did! Anyway, the main thing is you don’t sound any the worse for giving him the boot.”
    Meredith also laughed. “I’m not. Naturally, I’m not thrilled about hurting someone’s feelings. But it had to be done; Reed had to be told. I needed that closure.”
    “I realize you did.”
    “I thought it only fair that Reed knew exactly how I felt. And immediately. It was much better to clear the air, cut it off before it dragged on any longer. These kinds of situations can end in such bitterness.”
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    “Don’t I know it!” Patsy exclaimed. “Tony’s been bitter about our divorce for years. Blames me, of course. Listen, do you want to come over for supper?
    Or we could go out if you like, if you don’t want to be alone…” Patsy’s voice trailed off.
    “That’s sweet of you, but I want to stay in tonight.
    I’ll order room service and pack. You did say you were picking me up at six tomorrow morning, didn’t you?”
    “Yes. Sorry about that, but we do have to leave early.
    We’ll be about four hours on the road, three and a half if the traffic’s light. We’ll spend a couple of hours in Keswick and then head down to Ripon. We’ve a great deal to do in one day. In fact, we might have to spend the night in Ripon.”
    “No problem. And Patsy?”
    “Yes?”
    “I don’t think I hurt his feelings too much, do you?”
    “You may have. Don’t underestimate the effect you had on him.”
    “I’ve probably damaged his ego, that’s all.”
    “Oh definitely, Meredith, I’m certain of that. But I also believe that our Reed, the glamorous playboy, fell rather heavily for you. That’s always been my opinion.
    Oh well, what can one do…so he finally met his Wa-terloo.”
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    M eredith found it hard to fall asleep.
    For a long time she tossed and turned until finally, in exasperation, she got out of bed. After putting on a warm woolen dressing gown, she went and sat on the sofa in the sitting room. Her mind was racing.
    She had not drawn the heavy velvet draperies earlier, and moonlight was filtering in through the muslin curtains that hung against the windowpanes.
    Everything had a silvery sheen from this natural light, and the room was peaceful.
    Meredith leaned back against the silk cushions of the sofa, thinking of Reed. How unpleasant their parting had been, and how foolish she had been to get involved with him in the first place. She was forty-four years old; she ought to have known