She had thought she would find living with the knowledge of his deceit exceedingly painful, but in actual fact the only thing that was smarting was her pride that she had been so gullible. How could she have been so unworldly as not to smell something fishy when the only times shed seen him had been when he was Cheltenham way on business? And that had always been in the week. True, she had worked peculiar hours too. But reallyand dim wasnt the word for itonly now did the fact that in all the months she had known him never once had they both had a weekend free at the same time. Even one time when he was supposed to be free, and shed managed to swap duties and arranged to see him, he had rung at the last minute to say that something had cropped up. Of course it hadhis wife and children!
Varnie put him from her mind, realising that perhaps she had Leon Beaumont to thank that Martin Walker hadnt spent the whole of that morning occupying her head. For goodness sake, it wasnt every day that she strolled naked into some mans bedroom! That was certainly enough to block off all thoughts of some other man. And that was without his overbearing attitude and all that followed. The arrogant
Varnie calmed down. Johnny. She must keep that clever brother, butas his father saidoften without a grain of sense, to the forefront of her mind. He did not deserve her consideration after what he had done; how dared he hand over his key to her property and invite his boss to use the place as his own? But Johnny did so love his job, and wanted desperately to keep it, and he was her brother and, as her brother, the rights and wrongs of it just didnt come into it.
That being so, Varnie decided she must make the best of a bad job. She did not want Beaumont in her house, but since, she reluctantly faced, she could not throw him out if Johnny was to keep his job, she would allow him to stayand only hope it wouldnt be for more than a day or so.
She pulled up her car to the side of the house and started to extract the groceries while at the same time deciding that, since it looked as though she was going to have to put up with him, she might as well be nice to Beaumont. No, not BeaumontLeon.
He came into the kitchen just as she placed her first three carriers down on the kitchen table. You took your time! he opened curtly.
She felt her hackles go on the incline. Be nice. Be nice. She smiled. I met a friend. We had coffee, she replied pleasantly, and was about to add that shed have brunch ready in next to no time when he butted ina habit of his she had noticed and didnt very much care for.
You know someone here? he questioned sharply.
She very nearly slipped up and said of course she did, that she had spent all her childhood holidays here. In time, she remembered. I did tell you Id been here before, she stated quietly.
With Metcalfe?
Naturally. Heumrented this place before.
How well do you know him? Leon Beaumont was interested in knowing.
Oh, youd be surprised. She toyed briefly with the idea of confessing that Johnny was her brother, her stepbrother, but only briefly. Her being here, skivvying, was her attempt to prove to Leon just how very efficient his assistant was. How, when Mrs Lloyd could not make it, his resourceful and worthwhile assistant had speedily found a replacement to cook and clean for him. Besides, this man didnt take favours. No, she definitely could not tell him that his assistant was her brother. So, in answer to his question of how well she knew him, she had to settle for, Very well.
You and he are an item?
No! she answered, more sharply than shed meant.
Youve slept with him? he questioned shortly.
Do I ask you whom youve slept with? she retaliated. The sauce of it!
So you have?
A childhood memorya sweet childhood memoryof her being very upset one time. A stray cat had been run over just outside. She had been horrified and dreadfully tearful. She had been awake in the night, sobbing, and Johnny had come from his roomhed have been about eight at the time. Dont cry, Varnie, hed begged, and had climbed into her bed and cuddled her better. They had both dropped off to sleep. Who could help but love him? She smiled at the fond memory. Yes, she agreed, Ive slept with him.
Obviously not a lasting experience, Leon Beaumont answered with a dismissive kind of a gruntinferring, she felt, that his assistant had dumped her when he had grown tired of her.
Perhaps youll feel sweeter when youve got something in your stomach, she said nicelylead shot came to mind.
He gave her a nasty look and wandered away, and in between stowing the shopping Varnie cooked him bacon, eggs and beans. In the hope that his arteries were clogging up, she added a piece of fried bread.
The meal was almost ready when she went to lay a place in the dining room. Beaumont came out of the study and saw her with the tray in her hands. Ill eat in the kitchen, he decided, and she was sure he only said it to be difficult. Still, if he wanted to eat with what he thought was the hired help, who was she to say he couldnt?
She had thought the meal would be eaten with not a word being exchanged. But, sitting at one end of the scrubbed-top kitchen table, a cloth hastily thrown over it, he at the other end, she had barely cut into her bacon when to her surprise he enquired, Where do you come from?
Varnie popped a morsel of bacon in her mouth, and under cover of chewing it, and emptying her mouth before speaking, cogitated on her answer. Had Johnny, during the miles he had driven him around the country, told him anything at all about his family? Or had Beaumont been occupied with work the whole of the time?
Gloucestershire. She decided to risk it. Her brother had lived in London for some years now.
Where did you meet Metcalfe? he wanted to know.
He stayed at a hotel I worked at one time. And shed thought she hated liars!
Though of course Johnny had stayed at the hotel. But why wouldnt he? Their parents had owned it. Leon Beaumont opened his mouth to ask another question she was sure she wouldnt want to answer either, but she butted in first. It made a change.
Talking of staying, how long were you thinking of staying on here? she asked, and felt herself go a touch pink. She saw his glance on her delicate colouring, saw his glance go to what had once been described as a very kissable mouth, and she hated him when he ignored her question and made an observation instead.
Youre looking guilty about something? he questioned grimly. What have you done?
Nothing! she denied hotly. Honestly, youre the most, most she got stuck for a word most Ive ever met! Oddly then, his lips twitched, as though she amused him. Though his smile never made it. Abruptly she dragged her eyes from his well-shaped mouth. It was a quite innocent question, she defended. I like to know where I am. If I have some idea of how long you intend to be here, then Ill have some idea of what to do with regard to the catering arrangements. She was starting to feel a fool. Just how long are you staying? she demanded. As if she expected an answer! She didnt get one.
Im on holiday, was as much as he revealed. And that annoyed her.
Its November! Why cant you holiday abroad like everybody else? she snapped, exasperated.
Ive done the abroad bit, he answered, and while she was wondering what the penalty was for fratricideshe felt like murdering her brotherBeaumont went silkily on, Youve got something against my holidaying here?
Im on holiday, was as much as he revealed. And that annoyed her.
Its November! Why cant you holiday abroad like everybody else? she snapped, exasperated.
Ive done the abroad bit, he answered, and while she was wondering what the penalty was for fratricideshe felt like murdering her brotherBeaumont went silkily on, Youve got something against my holidaying here?
Who am I to complain? Im only the skivvy! This was helping Johnny keep his job? No, of course not, she swallowed her ire. I feel very lucky that Johnny Bother, she should have said John. Too late now. ErJohnny Metcalfe thought of me when he wanted emergency cover. Its just that I should hate to let him down should a job offer come before yourumholiday is over. Naturally Id honour my contract with John Metcalfe first. He was insistent that I didnt let you down Oh, grief, was she laying on John Metcalfes efficient reliability too thickly? Theres more bacon there if youd like
You sound as if youre fond of him, as if youd do anything for him?
Varnie had had quite enough of Beaumonts observations. Well, Ive always found him to be a man of the highest integrity. She found she was spreading more ongrief, she was sounding like a talking reference.
Youre in love with him? Blunt, to the point.
No, Im not! she denied, realising that perhaps she had been singing Johnnys praises a little too highly. She tried for the middle ground. Hes a very nice person, thats all, and Im very fond of him.
But not in love with him?
Varnie gave him an exasperated look. I said not! she exploded. And, before she could stop herself, And, contrary to your opinion that I might fancy youIm off men, quite severely, right now. And, with barely veiled innuendo, In particular men to whom the state of marriage means nothing! There, pick the bones out of that!
He did. But to her further annoyance chose not to see her remarks as a dig at him for his disgraceful goings-onthat womanwhat was her name?Antonia Kingwas still living with her husband, for goodness sake. Some man refused to marry you? Beaumont leaned back in his chair to enquire coolly.
Varnie sent him a filthy look for his trouble. She didnt mean her! She meant him! It didnt get that far, she erupted. I found out he was married! She looked away in disgust. Had she really openly just told Leon Beaumont that? For goodness sake! Okay, she accepted that to be a successful businessman probably meant having an investigative mind, an enquiring mind, a mind that determined to find out that which he did not know. But
He proved it. You dumped him?
Honestly, this man! Quicker than that! she snapped. And, having had quite sufficient of his company, thank you, she abruptly got to her feet. If youve had enough to eat, Ill wash these dishes, she said shortly.
He carried his own used dishes over to the sink, but wasnt yet done with his questions, apparently. This man, the one you had coffee withis he the married one who?
I never said my friend was a man.
Leon Beaumont looked loftily down at her. Youre saying your friend was female?
She felt a fool again. She did not like the feeling. Do you give all youryour staff thisumthird degree? she questioned hostilely.
He smiled. He actually smiled. It did wonders for the mostly severe expression she was more used to. She wasnt sure that her heartbeats did not give a little fliputter nonsense, of coursebut it did make her see, as Johnny had told her, why women fell for him like ninepins. Not her, of course. Heaven forbid.
Not all of them, he drawled. But youre so delightful to wind up.
The pig! He was baiting her for his own amusement! While she admitted that there was not very much going on around here in the way of entertainment, she did not take kindly to the fact that he was amusing himself by getting her to risethat she was the star turn! How she hid the fact that she would like to crack the plate in her hands over his head, she did not know.
Thanks a bunch! she told him huffily. Ill let you know when dinners ready.
Your friend knows youre here at Aldwyn House? he stayed to enquire, ignoring her hint that she hoped not to see him again before dinner.
I expect so, she answered carefully.
You didnt say what you were doing here? Leon Beaumonts tone had hardened, as he reminded her how much he wanted his whereabouts kept secret.
For about two seconds she played with the idea of saying that she had. Then thoughts of Johnny were there again. Perishing brothers! No, she replied. I didnt think youd like me to tell him.
Are you having coffee with him again? he wanted to know, taking in his stride the information that her friend had been male, as he had thought.
She shook her head. Russell is returning to his home in Caernarvon soon, she replied.
Good! Leon Beaumont grunted, and, taking up the newspaper from the top of one of the units, where she had put it, he went casually out from the kitchen.
Varnie did not mistake that that Good! was anything other than good because it meant there was someone less for her to blab to about his whereabouts. The man did not care a jot how many men she had coffee with, that much was certain. His privacy was all that concerned him. She wouldnt have it any other way.