Read First: White Rose of Winter---Complete - Page 10

Asher caught her by the shoulder , forcing her to look up at him ,: Maya , I want to know the truth . Is Emma my child ?"

Maya stared at him for a long moment before speaking . She had been expecting this ever since she had so involuntarily supplied the information about blood groups to the doctor and yet she was still unprepared for it .

" I do not you have any right to ask such a question.' she said at last .

" Right ? Right ?" Asher was savage ." Of course ,I have the right . If Emma is my daughter , I deserve to know .'

Maya tried to free herself ,' How can you say that ? When you left for Venezuela without a second thought for me !"

" That's not true !" his fingers tightened , biting in to her soft flesh . " Dear God , forgive me , but my every second thought has been for you ! But you married Mike , you didn't wait for me to come back , you made me despise you ! And when I did return from Venezuela , I wished you dead , believe me !'

Maya quivered , trying to keep calm , but it was terribly difficult when his every touch disturbed the emotional depth of her inmost being ," I - I wrote to you ," she stammered . I - I asked you to come back . I said I wanted to see you ."

" Without giving me any reason whatsoever !" Asher almost bit out the words ," Just a blank statement asking me to return to England . How could I answer that ? What was I suppose to make of it ? Had anything changed ? I had to go to Gauba . I had to find the reason for explosion . How the hell could I throw everything up and return to England when all I expected from you were more recriminations , more ultimatums ? " His face and voice were strained now . " Maya , you will never know how I felt that night when you walked out of my mother's house !You'll never know what agonies I suffered when I came to your flat and you threw my offer of marriage back in my face . I wanted you so badly , I love you so much , that I think it was only the realization that I was needed in Gauba that kept me sane !"

Maya could not bear to meet his compelling gaze without revealing her own feelings in her eyes ." It was all a long time ago ," she said finally.

" Not to me ,' He snapped , shaking her . I can remember it as though it were yesterday . Do you think I haven't scourged myself with the knowledge that if I had not lost my temper with you , If I had not lost control of myself , If I hadn't behaved so - so mindlessly , that evening , you would have been prepared to see my offer for what it was : a desire to keep you with me at all costs!!'

Maya moved her head slowly from side to side ," How can I believe you ?"

" God help me , it's the truth ,' He groaned .

" How do I know it's not some clever ploy to induce me to confess Emma's parentage to you so that you can deprive me of my daughter completely ?" Maya's voice was choked .

" Maya !" Mike left me the responsibility for Emma . I already have the right to direct her life in whatever way I choose . Now why do you suppose he did that ?"

Maya wrenched herself away , turning her back on him , hugging herself closely ." I don't know ,' she said , in a muffled voice ." I just do not know ."

Asher uttered an imprecation ." Of course you know Maya . Who had a better right than I ? God , Maya , say it ! Tell me it's so !"

Maya swung round , her eyes wild and defensive , her lips working tremulously ." Very well , Asher ,' she cried ." Emma is your daughter . But you will never be able to prove it !"( That time DNA was not in?)

Asher took a deep breath ." S it's true ,' he sad speaking in stunned voice ," My God !' he took a moment to take it all in . Then he said ," Why should I want to prove it ? " his eyes narrowed and he was regarding her intently .

Maya shrugged defeatedly , " Do not play games with me ,Asher ,' she said ." I am not a child ,I know what this must mean to you . You despised me before . How much more must you despise me now ? I do not you consider I'm a fit and proper person to have care of your daughter !" her voice broke and she turned away to hide her humiliation.

Asher made an abortive movement towards her , and then swung to his heel and left the room , leaving her standing there , her shoulders hunched , her attitude one of complete desolation .

Later that evening , an orderly brought a suitcase to the side ward where Maya was sitting with Emma . The orderly explained that the case had been left with the night porter and Maya realized that it contained the clothes she had asked Asher to collect from Mrs. Hudson.

The following morning Mrs. Hudson herself arrived to see Emma . Maya had slept little in the narrow hospital bed and was sitting with her daughter when the house keeper arrived . The warmth of Mrs. Hudson s cheerful personality warmed Maya's chilled system , and even Emma responded in her vitality . She had brought some jigsaw puzzled and a box of felt pieces which could be pressed on to a board to make pictures , and Emma was soon engrossed .

Emma looked much better this morning , and although she never had much color there was definite lessening of her pallor . While she concentrated on her new toys, Mrs. Hudson looked rather reprovingly at Maya .

" What on earth happened to you last night ?" she asked ." You look terrible ! All eyes . Heavens , once Mr. Asher arrived there was a little chance that the child wouldn't soon be as good as new !"

Maya sighed ," I didn't sleep well ."

" But it's not the only thing ,is it ?" Mrs. Hudson clicked her tongue . " Do you think I am a fool ? You are worrying about something , and Emma's illness is just part of it ." she folded her gloves ." And as for Mr. Asher !" she raised her eyes heavenwards ." What a foul temper he was in when he came back last night ! I really felt sorry for Miss Lawson."

" Miss- Lawson?" Maya frowned at her .

" Yes, Sandra Lawson .She left this morning ."

" She did what ? Maya was astounded ." But why ?"

"Various reasons, I suppose ." Mrs. Hudson bit her lip ." Most particularly the fact that Emma is to go to the village school , I should think.'

Maya gasped, and Emma who had apparently been engrossed in her new toys looked up in astonishment .

" Is it true ?" she exclaimed excitedly ." Mummy , Is it true ?"

Maya shook her head a trifle helplessly. If - if Mrs. Hudson says so .' she said dazedly ." But - but why ? Did he say ?"

" I hardly had words with him ,' replied Mrs. Hudson , enjoying her moment of importance." I overheard their voices in the lounge , and later Miss Lawson told me the gist of what he had said . But personally I think she kept the most of it to herself ."

" And I'm to go to school ," Emma breathed .

" It seems so ,' agreed Maya ." But - did he not mention Mr. Hillingdon?"

" Not to me , as I say , he wasn't in the best of tempers when he arrived , and he hadn't improved much when he left from sound of his tyres on the forecourt. Fair tore it up , he did ."

Maya sighed ,' Well , at least that's something we've achieved .'

Mrs. Hudson nodded . " That's what I thought . I don't really think Mr. Asher ever liked the woman . She wasn't sort to have charge of a sensitive child."

Emma bounced a little on the bed and Maya had to restrain her .' When will I be able to start school?"

Maya grew the bed covers straight ,' Now calm down , or you will make your head ache again and then you will have to stay in the hospital for much longer . You will probably start school after Christmas , when all the children start ."

Emma clasped her hands round her knees." Oh, how super !"

" Yes, but you are not to imagine you can get your own way over everything , just because in this instance , Uncle Asher" Maya broke off. If she was not careful she was going to make a complete fool of herself and burst into tears .

Mrs. Hudson seemed to sense her upheaval , for she distracted Emma's attention by showing an interest what she was doing . Maya controlled herself . Mrs. Hudson left with Maya's promise that she would ring her later and let her know when she was coming home .

In the afternoon she had unexpected visitor ,Lucy Pemberton. And she swept in the sideward like visiting royalty .

" Oh , my precious ,' she exclaimed , when she saw the bandages round Emma's head ." Darling , what they have done to you ?"

Emma was not used to this kind of reaction and looked as though she was about to burst into tears , until Maya moved forward and said," Emma's much, much better. And staff here have been marvelous , haven't they ,darling ?"

Emma nodded , but Lucy looked about her with frank distaste ." But it's so bare !" she exclaimed ." The child should move to a private nursing home , somewhere civilized , where there are carpets on the floor , and wallpapers on the walls !" Then she asked Emma how she was feeling ?

" I'm all right ,' said Emma , looking up at Maya . She had never felt at ease with her grand mother since the night she had been sick .

Lucy perched on the side of the bed and asked why she was not informed of this last evening ? And then she gave the parcels to Emma she has brought for her .

Maya looked taken back Were- weren't you ? I - I thought that - that Asher...'

Asher told me this morning - by telephone ,' said Lucy disgustedly ," Naturally , he expected you as her mother - to let me know ."

Maya pressed her lips together . It was obvious from Lucy's attitude that Asher had not told her about Emma's parentage. But how long would it be before he did ?

" I am sorry .' she said now ." But I should not have wanted to worry you unnecessarily .'

" I have the right to know when my grand daughter is seriously hurt .

" You're making it sound much worse than it actually was ,' exclaimed Maya defensively . " Emma was hurt , yes ; She had a nasty cut on her forehead and multiple bruises , but that's all"

"All ? All ? Lucy was scornful . My dear Maya , blood transfusion are not given lightly , you know ."

Maya took a deep breath . So , Asher had told his mother about the transfusion .

" What a great job there was sufficient blood here on hand to deal with it .' Lucy went on ,' Can you imagine what might have happened had they not had supply?"

The knowledge was buzzing around her head that Asher had not explained that he himself had been the blood donor .

While leaving Lucy told Maya that she is going to make arrangements for Emma to be shifted to some nursing home .

" I don't want her to be shifted from here as its near the home and its handy . I expect I shall be going there back tonight ."Maya said .

Lucy was impatient ." Then I will talk to Asher ,' she said ." Its inconceivable that a grand child of mine remain here in such awful , depressing surroundings ."

Maya shrugged," As you wish . I can't stop you ."

" Can't you ? " Lucy shook her head and said that Asher has dismissed Sandra. Do you know why ? "

" Emma is to attend village school ."

"A state school !" Lucy was horrified .

" That's right ."

" Oh, that's going too fast . What Asher be thinking of ?" her eyes narrowed ." This is your doing , of course .'

Maya stood her grounds. " Emma needs to mix with other children ,' she said quietly ." Surely you can see that ."

Lucy's lips twisted for a moment , and then she sighed ." Oh, Maya ,' she said and there was a strange note of bitterness in her voice ,' I can see so much ," Then she looked again at her and now there was an unexpected look of pleading in her eyes ." Maya, you won't do anything to hurt Asher again , will you ?"

Maya was astound." I ? Hurt Asher ? " She echoed .

Lucy shook her head as though shake away her moment of appeal ." I'm foolish old woman ," she said shortly ," I must go . Good bye , Maya."

Later that evening , Maya took a taxi home . Mrs. Hudson welcomed her warmly , helping her to remove her coat . Outside it was damp and cold but inside the house it was all warmth and light ,yet Maya felt depressed .

Mrs. Hudson asked her if she has eaten anything , hovering just inside the lounge door .

Maya shook her head and said she was not feeling hungry and at the same moment her attention caught by an enormous vase of white roses , which was standing on the table at the far side of the room ." Where have they come from ?"

Mrs. Hudson said .' They arrived this afternoon , Mrs. Pemberton . Beautiful , aren't they ?'

Maya frowned ,' But who are they from ?'

Mrs. Hudson shrugged . " There was no card ,Mrs. Pemberton . I thought perhaps you'd know ."

Maya shook her head ." No , No , O don't ," she said ,bewilderedly ." Have - have you heard from Mr. Asher today ?"

" No , Ma'am . Have you ?"

" No he may have rung the hospital , of course . I don't know ."

" Do you think he may have sent the roses , Mrs. Pemberton ?"

Maya shook her head quickly ." No , No of course not . I - I just wondered if you had heard from him ?"

Then Mrs. Hudson asked about Emma and her condition . and told Maya that she looked tired . " Why do not you go to your room and I will bring you up nice warm milk ."

Maya asked her ," where did Sandra go ? "

Mrs. Hudson said might had gone to Sara . And told her not to worry otherwise she will make herself ill.

Maya rested her head against the soft upholstery of the couch ," I am alright . Thank you ."

Suddenly on the still of the night air , there was a sound of car on the driveway and harsh sound of brakes as it halted before the house . Maya was on her feet in a moment , a hasty hand smoothing the tangled disorder of her hair .

" Who ever it is , I'm not in . " She said unevenly to the housekeeper ," I - I can't face anyone now ."

" Very well ma'am ." and she went to open the door as the bell pealed through the house , and Maya closed the lounge door behind her and leaned against it as if she would repel any intruder by force .

However , her momentary peace was shattered by the foot steps crossing the hall and the door was manually propelled open and Maya stood uncertainly to one side as Asher entered the room exuding an air of coldness. He did not see her immediately behind the door and he looked impatient before he caught sight of her . Then he firmly closed the door again , and unfastened his coat buttons of his suede overcoat .

Maya moved away from the door , away from him , and crossed the stand on the hearth before the artificial logs of the electric fire , wishing he would say something , and when he did not , she said carefully : " If you have come to see Emma she is not here .

" I know that ,' Asher removed his overcoat revealing the dark lounge shit beneath ." I've been to hospital . I expected to find you there . I was to bring you home . How did you get here ? Did Hillingdon bring you here ?'

" Francis ?" Maya frowned , " No - why ?"

" He said he was going to the hospital to see Emma ,' he shrugged. " It does not matter. It's not important .'

Maya took a trembling breath ." You'll know that Emma is better now , then ?"

" Yes, They let me see her . She was asleep , of course , but I could tell she was breathing quite naturally , and her color was better."

" Good, good." Maya was nervous and it was beginning to show .

" Damn you , aren't you going to ask me why I'm here , then?" Asher snapped .

Maya made a helpless gesture. " All- all right . Why are you here ?'

Asher moved away from the door . In the shaded light from the lamps she could see that he looked tired , too, and there was still a look of strain around his eyes and mouth . His gaze flickered over the vase of roses on the side table and she thought he was going to make some comment about them , but instead he said : " I came to see you Maya ."

" Oh, yes ?" Maya tugged at her ear ." Why ? I don't see what more we have to say to one another .Unless you're going to tell me when I may expect your mother to confront me with the knowledge of Emma being your daughter all along ."

" Maya !' his tone was tortured . Stop talking like that . No one will ever know of Emma's parentage from me !'

Maya stared at him ." How can I believe that ?"

Asher shook his head slowly . You must think me some kind of brute if you think I would make it public the fact that my brother chose to father my child ! So far as everyone is concerned , Emma is Mike's daughter , and she'll remain that way . I could never do less for a man I loved and admired .'

Maya felt the prick of tears behind her eyes ." I see . Then - then why did you have to know ? Why did you make me tell you ?"

Asher halted before her , looking down at her intently . Because I m selfish enough to want to be certain that the reason you married Mike had nothing to do with falling in love with him."

Maya trembled . " Mike was very kind to me . I - I don't know what I should have done without him .'

" But you should have told me !" Asher exclaimed harshly ." Maya, I was the one you should have turned to - not Mike !"

" How could I do that ? You weren't there . And I could hardly write after everything that had been said and badly state that you would have to come home and marry me because I was pregnant ? How- how charming that would have sounded !"

Asher's eyes dropped disturbingly down at her ." You don't seem to understand ,' he said thickly ." I would have welcomed those words from you ."

Maya's breathing constricted ." How can you say that ? After the way you replied to my letter .'

Asher heaved a sigh ." I know , I know . But I was angry , don't you see? Try to understand me , Maya .You had just refused to listen to anything I had to say . You'd refused to marry me , when I practically begged you to do so . You'd refused to understand my position with regard to Gauba project . How was I to supposed to guess the real meaning behind the stilted little letter? I tore it up . I Wasn't even going to reply . But then I had second thoughts."

Maya nails dug into her palms . " Why?"

Asher shook his head ." Oh, I don't know . I think deep down I could not accept that everything was over between us . I think I half expected to see you again when I got back from Venezuela , to take up from where we left off."

" That was certainly not the impression your letter gave ," said Maya tautly.

" I know ." Asher raked a hand through the thickness of his dark hair , allowing his hand to rest at the back of his neck ." I realized by replying at all I drove you to take some other means to support yourself and the child , but did you have to marry my own brother ?"

Maya held up her head ." It was easy decision , believe me . But I was alone , and Mike was only human being to show me a little understanding - a little kindness. He - he asked me to write to you and tell you the truth . He - he knew you would shoulder your responsibilities , but - but I did not want you on those terms -" she moved quickly away on the other side of the room , unable to be this close to him without revealing her feelings .

But Asher moved after her , pulling her close to him ." Maya , do not send me away again !"

Maya breathed protestingly . " Asher , you may be Emma's father , but you are engaged to Sara , and you've no right to talk to me like this ."

" Haven't I ?" he asked huskily , twisting her in to his arms and looking deeply into her tear- drowned eyes ." I think I have every right . I love you , Maya . I have never stopped loving you , even when I hated you , and believe me , when I found you had married Mike , I did hate you . And you love me , so do not try to deny me ."

Maya moved her head slowly from side to side ." I - I won't deny that I love you , but I will never be your - your mistress!"

Asher's brows drew together darkly ." Is that what you thought I meant ?" he demanded harshly . Is that why you - ran away from me last week-end?"

Maya shivered ," What else could I think ? As - as I've said , you're Sara's finance ----

" To hell with Sara ," he murmured savagely , " I don't love Sara . I never did . I told her so this morning ."

Maya blinked ." You told her ?"

" Of course . You didn't think that once I knew that you - you hadn't stopped loving me , I could bear to share my life with another woman ?" he drew her closer with his intense gaze upon her . He was pale and strained .

" You've got to marry me , Maya ," he said taking a deep breath of air ." Tell me you will , or God help me - I - I don't know what I'll do ."

" Oh, Asher ! Maya smoothed her hands down his cheeks , feeling the roughness of his stubble beneath her fingers ," I'll marry you whenever you say . But first , I - I've got to apologize , too. I was a fool six years ago . What happened was as much my fault as yours , you must know that . And - and afterwards , when I was carrying the child , it- it - oh , how can I say it ? she shook her head . " I wanted it , can you understand that ? I wanted your child !"

Maya smiled then and asked gently :" And did you mean what you said about Emma ?"

Asher looked into her face ," Of course . Only you and me will ever know the truth of that ."

" And your mother ?"

" If she guessed , and I told her today that it was all over between Sara and myself , she'll never say anything . That's not her way ."

" No ." Maya nodded . It also explained Lucy's rather strange and cryptic comment when she was leaving .

" Tell me something ,' said Asher suddenly ." If- if I hadn't guessed about Emma , would you have ever told me ?"

Maya bent her head ," And have you think I was trying to come between you and Sara ?"

" Hell , Maya , you must have known last week-end that what I felt for Sara was a very paltry thing compared to my feelings for you ," he shook his head ." Thank God Sandra cut down the swing . It's a terrible thing to say , but without Emma's accident we might have been fencing about with one another for months ."

Maya looked at him ." You would have married Sara in the spring .'

" You think so ?" Asher shook his head again " From the moment you walked off the plane , from the moment I learned that Mike was dead even , I knew sooner or later I would have to tell you how I felt ."

Maya touched his cheek ," But that day I went out with Francis , you were so angry ...'

" I was jealous !" he muttered violently ." And if you'd more confidence in me , you'd never seen my selfish anger for what it was ."

" Oh , Asher ,' she said again , sliding her arms round his neck . Then she frowned ," But how did you find about the swing ?"

" Mrs. Hudson told me ."

Maya smiled . " Of course . It was lucky you were there ,though . It could have been worse . Why were you here anyway ?"

Asher sighed ." I'd been to see Francis and had lunch there , and afterwards Francis tried to sell me some story about Emma being happier if she attended the village school ."

Maya nodded," I - I asked him to talk to you ."

"Yes , I know . And I was pretty mad , particularly as after last week-end , I'd decided to give the idea a try myself ."

" Had you ? Had you really ?" Maya hugged him ." Oh , darling . I am so glad ."

" Well it was obvious that Emma was not going to respond to a woman like Sandra . Besides , I didn't like the idea that she might have been placed in the house as a kind of watchdog for my misdeeds." He smoothed her hair behind her Ears ." When will you marry me ? Soon ? It must be soon."

Maya's eyes suddenly widened ," The white roses !" she exclaimed as everything clicked into place . " you sent me the white roses ."

" Of course ." he nodded ." Who else ?"

Maya shook her head , " But after yesterday evening at the hospital I hardly dared to think of you , let alone imagine you might send me flowers !"

Asher's gaze rested on her ," I didn't want to leave you like that yesterday evening , but I had to speak to Sara before I could approach you . As you said , I was not free , and I needed to be . I needed to be very much ."

Maya drew back a little ." Do you- do you think the reason Mike left Emma in your care was because he hoped this might happen?" she whispered .

Asher frowned . " Perhaps . I should think it's very possible . He knew that without some good reason you would never contact me and he needed to know that you would always be cared for ."

" But he can't have known that you - that I---

" Can't he ?" Asher shook his head ." He must have guessed that visit he made to England when Emma was toddler that I was more than ordinarily interested in you - on your lives out there ."

Asher then put her determinedly away from him ." I must go now . Maya told him he can stay in the spare room . " I somehow don't think that would work out ,' he stated firmly . " Maya , I adore you . I will come in the morning and we will go to the hospital and tell Emma . " He murmured . Do you think Emma will mind ?"

Maya shook her head . " She adores you , you know that . "

" And one day when she is old enough to understand , we'll tell her the truth ," said Asher ." And she will understand ," he added gently , " Because she is your daughter ."

At Last completed ...Give me your opinion about if there was any trash in the name of Romance .

Coming with Another Anne Mather,s Moon Witch

Originally posted by: .Enchantress.

Neerja when will we get the new chapter? 😳

Originally posted by: Neerjaa

Just completed Shanaya . Now will start with another .But give me your opinion about this 43 years old novel

Originally posted by: tvluvr

finally we have the last chapter.loved it,just a pure mills n boon love story,where heroin is immature and naive and hero is... the complete man mature ,dashing, sophisticated.. who will not fall for him.the story has all the charm of old times.no nonsense and ott dramas.

Originally posted by: Neerjaa

Thank you Khushi ( is it ) i have collection of some of mine favorite MBs writers from that time and are in shreds but I can not throw them away .Yes that time trash was less and tone down . I have not edited much in this novel . Yes this is one reason I find FK just fits the shoes and he looks like a<font face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif"> Debonair , Suave , sophisticated , gentleman .</font>

Originally posted by: tvluvr

yes.thank you so much neerja for typing the novel here.would love to read the other novels from the collection in future if you can type those here.fawad fits really well in the category we have mentioned.can't imagine any other actor from his contemporaries instead of him.