Letter From a Stranger

  ‘Of course it is. We recognized each other the moment we met. We knew we were meant for each other, and we both immediately understood we had found our soul-mate. I realized you were the woman I wanted to be with…’ He stopped short, leaned back against the seat, staring out towards the sea, his eyes reflective. Fate. She might easily have arrived in Istanbul while he was back in New York. Or anywhere in the world. Destiny. It was their destiny to be together, wasn’t it?

  Justine waited patiently, knowing he would tell her what was troubling him eventually, and she relaxed. The only reason she wanted to know was to help him, if she could.

  It was not very long before Michael said slowly, ‘I had a call from one of my clients, when we were all having drinks in the garden earlier. He needs to see me urgently in London on Monday, instead of later next week. He wouldn’t explain anything on the phone. To be honest, I got the feeling he had bad news to impart. About what I don’t know.’

  ‘So now you’ll have to change your plans?’

  ‘I will. I was trying to stay until Tuesday afternoon before leaving for Paris, and then going on to London on Thursday, but that just won’t work now.’

  ‘I understand,’ she murmured, sounding disappointed.

  He glanced at her. ‘I did tell you I had to be away next week.’

  She said, ‘That’s true.’

  Michael said, ‘And you promised you’d wait for me to come back, if you remember?’

  ‘I do. And I will, Michael. I’ve no intention of going back to New York at the moment. What about you? How long are you staying in Istanbul?’

  ‘I’ll be in Europe for a few weeks. I came over to meet with clients in various countries, and some will be very quick trips. I hope you can join me on a few. Maybe in a week or two you’ll feel that you can leave Gabriele, come with me? I want that, I want us to be together as much as possible.’

  ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to do that. I think Gran will soon understand I’ll always be there for her, whenever she needs me, and for the rest of her life.’

  ‘Oh Justine, I think she knows that already! The whole story has been revealed, she knows the truth, realizes the estrangement had nothing to do with you and Richard. And look at the lengths you went in order to find her.’

  ‘I guess you’re right. I’m probably going to be around here anyway, making the documentary. I just need to go back to New York to see Miranda Evans. At CNI, the woman I work with at the network. I hope to make a deal with her. She’s always been a big booster of mine – bought my first documentary about African blood diamonds.’

  ‘If I’m not here, I’ll be waiting for you in New York. Better still, we’ll go back together.’

  ‘You’d do that? Leave when I leave?’

  ‘Of course. I won’t let you out of my sight.’

  ‘You’re never going to shake me, Mr Dalton.’

  ‘Thank God for that!’

  They stared at each other for the longest moment. Then Michael made a swift move, drew her closer, kissed her on the forehead. A moment later they were kissing passionately, as they had longed to do since they first met. They were free of all restraint now, understanding each other the way they did.

  Justine clung to him, wanting this as much as he did, and she returned his kisses with ardour. They were locked in each other’s arms, oblivious to everything except themselves and their feelings for each other.

  At last they drew apart, staring at each other, both of them slightly dazed by the impact they had on each other. He knew she was as aroused as he was, and he enfolded her in his arms and held her close. He could hear her heart thudding, as his own was, and he leaned into her and kissed her neck. They sat like this for a short while, knowing what the inevitable outcome was going to be.

  He said softly, ‘I want to make love to you, and I have since I met you. You feel the same, so don’t deny it.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to.’

  ‘We can’t stay here like this,’ he muttered. ‘It will get out of hand soon and it’s not very private here in the garden. It’s also getting cooler, there’s a wind blowing up.’

  ‘We could go to your room. Or mine?’ she suggested.

  ‘I don’t know… I guess I feel a bit awkward about that.’ He sounded hesitant, which was not like him.

  Suddenly she realized what was bothering him; wanted to laugh, it was so ludicrous. But she kept a straight face. ‘They won’t mind, the grans I mean,’ she reassured him.

  ‘I know they won’t.’

  Sitting up, turning to face him, Justine said, ‘I think we’re being silly, Michael. The grans would have a big laugh if they knew we were sitting out here like this, having a debate about where to make love when there are bedrooms in the yalis. They’re itching for us to get together, for God’s sake. Look, I’m thirty-two, going on thirty-three, and you’ll soon be thirty-nine. We’re grown-ups. So let’s go and do what we want to do so very badly, which is make love to each other. Your room, or mine?’

  Michael burst out laughing, jumped up and pulled her to her feet. That’s what he loved about her, this honesty and directness; it was so fresh and appealing. ‘Come on, let’s go to yours. That way, if Gabriele comes looking for you, she’ll find you where you should be… in your bed.’

  ‘With you!’ she exclaimed, grabbing his hand, running with him across the garden, both of them laughing, and mostly at themselves.

  After slipping through the wisteria and Judas trees, they were in the little area between the two yalis. Justine opened Gran’s door and went inside, and Michael was right behind her. There was a light on in the hall, and this illuminated the staircase. She went up first; Michael followed. She knew her grandmother was not asleep because, as she passed her room, she saw light shining out from underneath the door. So did he.

  They tiptoed down the corridor, and went into Justine’s bedroom. As soon as they were inside, Michael closed the door and leaned against it. He pulled Justine into his arms, kissing her deeply, overwhelmed by his feelings.

  After a moment, Justine broke their embrace. She stepped over to the closet, took off the tunic and trousers and placed the earrings on the dressing table.

  Michael stood watching her, then locked the door, walked towards her, unbuttoning his shirt as he did. They fell into each other’s arms in a rush, kissing again. At the same time, Michael struggled out of his shirt as they both scrambled to undress.

  A moment later they were stretched out next to each other on the bed. Michael pushed himself up on one elbow, looked down and touched her cheek gently. He kissed her, brought her close to him, held her tightly against his body. He said in a low voice, ‘I never thought I could feel like this about someone.’

  ‘How do you feel?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘Undone. Completely undone when I’m with you. And unnerved, and I’m usually completely in control of myself.’

  ‘I feel exactly the same way.’ Lifting a hand, she pulled all the pins out of the chignon so that her hair tumbled down over her bare shoulders.

  To Michael, she was irresistible, and his hands were soon all over her, and hers were on him. Several times he sighed as she touched him, and when he opened his eyes and gazed at her his heart shifted inside him. He felt a sudden rush of the most intense feeling for her; it overwhelmed him.

  Justine stared back at Michael, her expression one of yearning. He saw her desire for him written on her face, and it reflected his. He brought his mouth to hers, began to kiss her once more. Their tongues touched, slid together, and he was moved by the intimacy of this moment.

  Unexpectedly, he suddenly released her, got off the bed, strode over to the dressing table, turned off the two lamps. Immediately the light in the room was softer, the moonlight streaming in through the windows filling it with a silver haze.

  She watched him walking back to her and began to shake inside. Her excitement was growing; heat rushed through. Even her face felt flushed. It did not seem possible that this was finally happen
ing, that they were together like this in her room. It was all so sudden, so new, and yet absolutely right. She ached for Michael. It was a new experience for her.

  ‘That’s better,’ he murmured as he lay down next to her, brought her back into his arms, stroking her face, her breasts, kissing them tenderly. Slowly he began to run his hands over her entire body, fired on by the silkiness of her skin under his hands, and his rampant desire for her.

  He looked down at her. Her eyes were closed and he saw the rapture on her face. Her body was very hot now, and it grew hotter under his continuous touching and stroking.

  Justine relaxed as Michael continued to explore her body, then she stiffened for a moment when his hand finally touched the core of her, gently at first, then more probing. Unexpectedly, she felt her body arching of its own accord, pushing up towards him; she wanted to be part of him in the most intimate way.

  Her ardent response to him inflamed Michael. He slid on top of her, taking her by surprise, and she gasped when he took possession of her. He felt her arms go around his back. ‘There,’ he whispered against her cheek. ‘I’m there at last where I’ve longed to be. Part of you.’

  Within moments they found their own rhythm, were welded to each other, moved as one. Her passion soared with his; her fervour matched his. Now they were moving almost violently, clutching at each other, straining, soaring higher and higher. Ecstasy was sweeping through them both at the same time, but they went on moving, unable to stop, greedily wanting more and more of each other.

  Michael finally slowed to a stop, fell against her body, sated; and she put her arms around him, held him close as if never to let him go.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  They lay together side by side, catching their breath, both of them lost in their own thoughts for a short while. The room was filled with the same silvery haze from the moonlight, and a wind rippled the curtains at the windows. All was peaceful.

  Justine felt as if she was floating on air, enjoying a sense of the most lovely euphoria, and all because of this man stretched out on the bed next to her. Unexpectedly, tears came into her eyes, startling her. They slid out from under her lids, trickled down her cheeks, much to her surprise.

  Michael turned on his side, reached for her, took her in his arms, and as his face touched hers he felt the dampness.

  He pushed himself up. ‘What’s wrong, darling, why are you crying?’ he asked, looking down at her.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said through her tears, smiling weakly. ‘I suppose because I’m happy. I’m intensely emotional about you, Michael. I’ve never behaved like this with any other man before, and I’m sort of astonished at myself. I can’t remember ever being so passionate or so abandoned. I feel euphoric. Happy. And perhaps that’s why I was moved to tears. All to do with happiness and contentment.’

  ‘I feel the same way, Justine. I shared your feelings of longing,’ he remarked quietly. ‘I fell hard for you, but you’re aware of that.’

  A small smile flickered around her mouth, and she said in a teasing tone, ‘Oh, but I believe you were well and truly set up! By those plotting grandmothers of ours.’

  ‘I don’t think so, because they didn’t know you were going to arrive when you did, floating up out of the Bosphorus like a beautiful mermaid, to quote Gabriele.’

  ‘But Anita had written the letter and mailed it, and obviously she expected me to show up eventually.’

  ‘I think she expected your mother.’

  ‘I bet you Gran didn’t, if she knew.’

  ‘Maybe you’re right.’ He laughed, amused, and went on, ‘No, I wasn’t set up, sweetheart. But when you almost trampled me underfoot on the jetty and I ran after you, I said to myself, she’s for me.’

  ‘Did you really?’

  ‘I did.’

  His dark eyes were twinkling mischievously, when he said, ‘There was a moment when you stared back at me quite boldly, and then quickly looked away. And you blushed. Dead giveaway.’

  She merely smiled, continued to look at him closely, studying the planes of his face, the masculine cut of his jaw, the cleft in his chin, the brows arched above his warm brown eyes, which she now saw were filled with love for her.

  How could this man be hers?

  A week ago she hadn’t even known him. She was filled with astonishment – about Michael, about the unexpectedness of life, this most extraordinary passion he had aroused in her… Sheer wonderment filled her with joy.

  ‘What are you thinking about?’ he asked, reaching into her thoughts.

  ‘How handsome you are, and how lucky I am, and I still keep asking myself how this gorgeous man in my bed could be mine?’

  ‘Oh, but he is, and then some, and don’t you forget it, kid.’ He grinned as he said that, then went on in a more serious tone, ‘In fact, this man has never been anyone else’s before you.’

  ‘But you were engaged.’ She gave him a puzzled look, frowned.

  ‘That’s true, and it was a commitment I took seriously, until I came to understand that the relationship didn’t work for me. I knew it would never work. There wasn’t even a relationship, if I’m being truthful, just sex. I began to understand that I was withholding part of myself from her. And I’ve got to tell you, this has become even more apparent in the last couple of days. Since I met you, actually.’

  ‘Why is it different with me?’

  ‘There are no barriers between us, for one thing. I can be myself, be who I am. Also, I trust you, I feel safe with you. I know that’s a funny word to use. I think what I mean is that I feel secure with you. Because you’re loyal, trustworthy; you’ll never betray me.’

  ‘And I know you’ll be there for me.’ Justine reached out, touched his face, ‘Anita said to me, “My boy’s true blue,” and Gabriele said you’d never betray me, and they should know.’

  ‘They’re a hoot, those two. I often call them the Gold Dust Twins, and it tickles them to death, makes them laugh.’

  ‘It would, and they’re devoted to you. I want to thank you again for looking after Gran these last ten years. I know how much you did for her. I’m grateful you were here sometimes and made her feel less lonely, and that you were so caring, Michael.’

  ‘I always will be. My God, I wouldn’t even be here on this planet if it weren’t for Aunt Gabri.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘She saved Anita’s life when they were young girls, around fourteen. Every single member of our family loves her for that, as well as for what she is as a human being.’

  Justine was gaping at him. She said in a baffled tone, ‘How did she save Anita’s life? What happened?’

  Michael realized his mistake at once. He had made a blunder. Obviously, Justine knew nothing about Gabriele’s terrible past, of Anita’s fractured early life either.

  He noticed the avid curiosity on her face, and he said swiftly, almost dismissively, ‘Oh look, Justine, it’s Anita’s story.’ He smiled, adopted a more casual manner, and in a lower voice, murmured, ‘I think you should ask Anita yourself. Anyway, she’s expecting you to interview her about her life in Istanbul later this week. For the documentary. And she’ll tell you all about it then.’

  ‘Perhaps I’d better ask Gran.’

  ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, darling. Gabriele is shy, doesn’t ever want to talk about it, prefers not to rehash it. There’s a lot of humility in her, despite all that she is as a woman, and her success in business. She can’t stand what she calls boasters and blowhards.’

  ‘How like Gran to be so modest,’ Justine replied.

  ‘It is, yes.’ He moved closer to her, began to kiss her, and within seconds he was aroused and so was she. They began to make love again, in a quieter and more tender way, and soon they were lost to the world, enraptured with each other.

  PART FIVE

  The Mystery

  The Angel of Death has been abroad throughout the land; you may almost hear the beating of his wings.

  John Bright, House of
Commons speech,

  23 February 1855

  Behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.

  Revelation 5: 1

  TWENTY-SIX

  Gabriele was, by nature, an early riser, and on this bright sunny Monday morning in the middle of May she was up and about at five thirty, had eaten a small breakfast by six, and had done an hour’s work in her studio by seven.

  Now, as she walked along the wide path in the tulip gardens, which flowed from her property onto Anita’s, she felt suddenly uplifted by the sight: hundreds of brilliantly coloured flowers, tall, stately, standing like proud sentinels in the sunlight, the mass of brilliant colour taking her breath away.

  She moved slowly, gazing at the different specimens, remembering some of their names, although not all, and at last she was standing in front of her favourite, the snow-white tulip with its petals ‘feathered’ and ‘flamed’ in deep burgundy. Unique, utterly unique, she thought. Moving down the path, she came to a large patch of yellow flowers, their petals ‘feathered’ in brilliant red. The ‘broken’ tulips, as they were called, were her all-time favourites, although she loved every kind, even the plain, solid-colour tulips. Standing back, continuing to gaze at them, she could not help thinking what a sight they were, something truly beautiful to feast the eyes on.

  She sighed under her breath, remembering all the years she and Trent had worked on the gardens. It had been a long, tiring task, but they had enjoyed every moment of their labours; how proud Trent had been when their gardens had won acclaim from everyone who visited them.

  As she continued to move around the different paths, taking the pictures she needed to create new designs for her fabric line, she was unaware that Michael was standing at the far end of the lawn, observing her.