Ive used your tickets! she exclaimed apologetically.
When I knew I would be able to make it after all, I was easily able to get another, he said with a smile. And, turning to Romillie, You must be Eleanors daughter.
Romillie studied him for a moment before deciding that she liked the look of him. She had a feeling he would not deliberately harm her motherand held out her hand. Glad to know you, Mr Selby, she said, for he could be none other.
Lewis, please, he suggested, and they shook hands.
And while he and her mother discussed the picture in front of them, and commented on other works to be seen, Romillie for the moment kept to the sidelines while she wonderedhad Lewis Selby really been unable to use the tickets he had given her mother? Or, in the face of her refusing to go out with him, had he intended to be there all along, this merely a ploy to have some time with her away from her home? At any rate, he was not moving on, but appeared to have latched on to them.
She was still pondering that matter when she noticed a tall man who must have just come in, because she had not spotted him previously. What especially caught her notice was that the tall, good-looking man, somewhere in his mid-thirties, was standing stock still and just staring at her.
Romillie tilted her chin a trifleand looked through him. She had seen tall, good-looking men beforetall, good-looking and untrustworthy. She turned back to tune in to what Lewis Selby and her mother were saying. But suddenly they were interrupted when the good-looking man she had been ready to ignore was there, proving that he was not so easy to ignore.
Naylor! Lewis exclaimed. I thought you were still at the office!
Im taking time off for good behaviour, Naylor replied, his voice even and well modulated.
Let me introduce you, Lewis said pleasantly. Naylor is my deputy and will take over when I retire. Naylor, Mrs Eleanor Fairfax. And, as they shook hands, And this is Romillie, Eleanors daughter.
Romillie, Naylor acknowledged, and shook her hand too, but did not, she thought, seem overly impressed, because he turned from her and straight away asked her mother if she was enjoying the exhibits, and if she had far to come or lived in London.
And while Eleanor explained briefly where they lived, and that they had journeyed up by car, Romillie realised she must have gained the wrong impression when she had thought Naylor Cardell had been standing stock still when he had seen her. If he had, he must have seen all he wanted to, because he was not looking at her nowand in fact had barely given her another glance.
She felt slightly miffed for no reason, because she was sure she did not want the next chairman of Tritel Incorporated to be interested in herwhich clearly he was not. So, after first checking that her mother appeared to be all right and in no way anxious, Romillie moved a step or two away to look at a different painting.
From the corner of her eye she saw her mother and Lewis Selby move on. She had thought Naylor Cardell had moved on with them. Butwronghe was all at once there in front of her.
Romillie looked up and observed that he had short dark blondish hair and quite striking blue eyeseyes that were looking no more interested now than they had. Andmorewere definitely unfriendly. Abruptly, she glanced from him to see that her mother, although now out of earshot, was otherwise chatting happily to Lewis.
Romillie flicked her glance back to Naylor Cardell. She had a feeling she did not like him. Had a feeling he did not like her. Fine. She did not have to like himif he was standing there waiting for her to say something hed have a long wait.
But he wasnt waiting. His tone curt, You know that Lewis has asked your mother out? he gritted.
Romillie was so taken aback she wasnt sure that her jaw did not drop. She took another glance to where her mother and Lewis appeared to be getting on famously.
He told you? she questioned sharply, not at all sure how she felt about that, but her protective instincts on the upsurge.
Were friends as well as colleagues, Naylor Cardell stated. Lewis Selby is a fine man, he went curtly. I admire him tremendously.
Romillie did not care to be spoken to curtly. Who the blazes did he think he was? Youre suggesting I should join his fan club? she asked acidly.
Naylors eyes narrowed at her impudenceRomillie had a feeling that he was more used to women falling at his feet than giving him a load of lip. He swallowed down his ire, however, to inform her, Lewis is an honourable man. I can guarantee that should Eleanor take up his invitation she will come to no harm.
Romillie had had enough of this before it started. He had known her mother for five minutesshe had spent this last five years trying to help her through what had been a very dreadful time for her.
Ill bear that in mind! she retorted, and went to walk awaythe nerve of the man!
Hear me out. Naylor insisted.
Romillie could think of not one single, solitary reason why she should. But, glancing at her mother again, she saw her laugh at something Lewis had just said. And just then she was struck by the change in her mother since that day she had first invited Lewis Selby in for a cup of tea. She seemed, in fact, from that day onwards, to have made great strides in surfacing from the despair that had held her in its grip for so long, and moving on towards regaining her full confidence. So maybe, just maybe, she owed this manwho clearly held Lewis Selby in high regardsome small hearing.
So? she invited.
So Ill tell you, Naylor Cardell took up, without waiting for her to change her mind, because its for certain that Lewis wont. He went through one horrendous divorce a couple of years ago, where he was too much of a gentleman to fight back. She, the ex, did everything she could to destroy him. She almost succeeded.
That had such a familiar ring to ithad not her own father tried to undermine her mother at every turn, done everything he could to make her crumple?
She hated it like hell when he proved too much of a man for her, Naylor went on. But that doesnt mean he didnt suffer just the same.
Romillie could feel herself warming to Lewis Selby. Oh, the poor man. IfShe checked the thought. She mustnt go soft here. Her mother was still her prime consideration.
So? she tossed at him, chin jutting.
Naylor Cardells eyes glinted steel. So, he said heavily, from the little Lewis has told me of your motherand I swear to you he has not broken any confidences, he added, when she started to bridle, Id say that both your mother and Lewis could do with a break.
A break for what? Romillie questioned hostilely, as ever her mothers guardian.
A break to get to know each other, wouldnt you say?
Romillie was not sure that she would. She looked into those striking blue eyes and could feel herself giving in while not sure what she was giving in to. Time to toughen up! Who elected you cupid? she challenged curtlyand discovered that he didnt like being spoken to that way either.
Look here, Fairfax, he rapped. Its an initial dinner thats in the offing, not a trip to see the vicar. And if you could forget to be thoroughly selfish for two minutes, and after all your mother does for you do something for her for a change, it might improve your disposition.
Romillies jaw did drop. That was so unfair! How dared he? She felt like hitting him. But she was used to dampening down her feelings, and so swallowed down the urge to hit him or to tell him just how wrong he had got it. No way was she going to tell him anything of how downcast her mother had been.
So, she stared up at him. Then suddenly she smiled, the phoney smile she had up to then reserved for Jeff Davidson, and with no intention whatsoever of doing anything Naylor Cardell might suggest, What would you like me to do? she invited sweetly.
Whether he saw straight through her or not, Romillie had no idea, but Naylor Cardell seemed to be giving the matter every consideration before, after several moments, he suggested, Why not urge Eleanor to take up his dinner invitation? To accept
She wont. Romillie cut him off. Oh, my, he wasnt used to being interrupted. That was plain as she weathered the exasperated look he sent her.
Lewis tells me theres a chance if you go too, he grated.
Oh, help us, this Naylor Cardell really did dislike her, didnt he? She should worry! My mother would never agree to that, Romillie told him forthrightly. But then, out of positively nowherethough perhaps since he had been trying to back her into a corner where she, it seemed, was selfish and uncaringRomillie thought it about time she challenged him for a change. My mother wouldnt agree to that, she reiterated, but added, bringing out her phoney smile again, and looking up at him all wide-eyed and innocent, But she might agree if we went out in a foursome.
Naylor Cardell stared at her as if he just could not believe his hearing. As if his normal powers of rapid comprehension had just deserted him.
Foursome? he queried slowly. We? he questioned, scandalised.
Suddenly Romillie was having a lovely time. It was all right, wasnt it, when he was doing the challenging, he urging she persuade her mother to accept Lewiss invitation, but different again when that challenge was bounced back at him. Its time to put your money where your mouth is, she told him. And just had to release a light laugh that bubbled up and would not stay down when she added, Be brave, Cardellyouve been elected.
He stared down into her wide brown eyes, looked down at her laughing lovely mouth, and appeared to be very much taken abackeven a little stunned. She was still smiling, not a phoney smile this time, but a genuine smile that came from the fact that in putting him on the spot for a change her good humour was restored. It was not, however, to last.
Because suddenly her own previous phoney smile was being lobbed back at her, and she just did not believe it when, Very well, Naylor Cardell conceded. And, while that wiped the smile from her face, Ill make up a foursome, he agreed, bestowing on her a superior kind of look that had soon put paid to her smile. And, in case she was in any doubt, But if your mother still says no, he added, its off.
The nerve of the man! Open-mouthed, she stared at him. Dont flatter yourself! she retorted heatedly, having no need of the reminder that he had no personal interest in her but, when he would not normally dream of going out with her, would if it would help out a friend and colleague who had been through very bad times. Youre not married? she thought to question, committed, by the look of it, but already searching for a way out.
The trouble was, he seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. It was all there in his silkily drawled, You dont get out of it that easily. Im completely unattachedand like it that way.
Romillie breathed out heavily. Good for you! she erupted, niggled, and was more annoyed when he took out his business card and handed it to her.
Call me, he said.
She did not want his wretched card, but without another word took it from him. Fuming, she turned from him and went in search of her mother. You dont get out of it that easily he had said. She did not like the sound of that. Somehow, those words had sounded ominously like a threat!