The Midnight Rose Read Online Free PDF Page B

responding to any of them at present. She felt furious with Jack for making any comment on what had taken place in the park.
    By tomorrow, the world’s media would be speculating on who would design her wedding dress, where they would hold the ceremony and, probably, whether she was pregnant.
    Rebecca closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She was twenty-nine years of age and up until last night, the idea of marriage and kids had been but a fleeting thought, something that might happen in the future.
    But Jack was pushing forty, had bedded most of his costars and, as he had told her, felt it was time to settle down. Whereas for her, this was only her second serious relationship, after many years of being with her childhood sweetheart. Her burgeoning career and eventual fame had destroyed that love story too.
    “I’m afraid it’s going to take a good few hours to get down to Devon, Miss Bradley,” said her friendly driver. “My name is Graham, by the way, and you let me know if you need to stop for any reason on the way.”
    “I will,” said Rebecca, feeling at this moment that she’d rather he drove her to a vast desert somewhere in Africa, someplace where there were no photographers, newspapers or cell phone signals.
    “Pretty isolated where you’re going, Miss Bradley,” commented Graham, mirroring her thoughts. “Not a lot of bright lights and shops on Dartmoor,” he added. “Magnificent old place you’re filming in, mind you. Like going back to a totally different era. I didn’t think anyone still lived in grand places like that anymore. Anyway, the countrysidemakes a pleasant change for me, I can tell you. Normally I’m ferrying actors to the studios through the London traffic.”
    His words comforted Rebecca somewhat. Perhaps the media would leave her alone if she was out in the middle of nowhere.
    “Looks like we’ve got a bike on our tail, Miss Bradley,” said Graham, looking in his rearview mirror and abruptly destroying her hopes of privacy. “Don’t worry, we’ll lose him as soon as we’re on the motorway.”
    “Thank you,” said Rebecca, trying to calm her fraught nerves. She sank back into her seat, closed her eyes and did her best to try to sleep.
    •  •  •
    “We’re nearly there, Miss Bradley.”
    After four and a half hours in the car, dozing intermittently, Rebecca was feeling the disorientation of jet lag. She looked blearily out of the window. “Where are we?” she asked as she gazed out at the rugged, empty moorland surrounding them.
    “On Dartmoor. It looks pleasant today with the sun shining, but I bet it’s pretty bleak in the winter. Excuse me,” Graham said as his phone rang, “it’s the production manager. I’ll just pull over to take the call.”
    As the driver answered his cell phone, Rebecca opened the door and stepped out onto the rough grass at the side of the narrow road. She breathed in deeply and smelled the sweet freshness of the air. There was a slight breeze blowing across the moorland, and in the distance she could see clumps of jagged rocks silhouetted against the skyline. There was not a single human being to be seen for miles. “Heaven,” she breathed as Graham started up the engine and she climbed back in. “It’s so peaceful here,” she commented.
    “Yes,” he agreed, “but unfortunately, Miss Bradley, the production manager phoned to say there’s already a collection of photographers gathered outside the hotel the cast are staying in. They’re waiting for you to arrive. So, he suggests I take you straight to Astbury Hall, where you’re filming.”
    “Okay.” Rebecca bit her lip in further despair as they drove off.
    “Sorry, Miss Bradley,” he offered sympathetically. “I’m always telling my kids that being a rich and famous movie star isn’t quite what it’s made out to be. It must be hard for you, especially at moments like this.”
    His sympathy prompted a lump in Rebecca’s throat. “It is, sometimes.”
    “The