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She’d find out soon enough.
She moved up the stairs slowly, trying to conceal the way her legs were unsteady beneath her. She’d changed into a flowing dress when she’d overheard Alexandra’s stern instructions to the housekeeper. It was a beautiful dress, though it did little to conceal her over-full waist and rounded bottom. She had always wanted to be reed-thin like her mother, but it was not her natural shape. And, as Alexandra was fond of pointing out, never would be if Carrie continued to indulge her penchant for creamy pastas and sitting around studying. So what if achieving her excellent academic results had required hours of sedentary desk-time? Alexandra had never taken much pride in Carrie’s scholastic achievements. She’d wished, frequently and obviously, for a daughter who followed after her, in terms of looks.
And that was certainly n
ot Carrie.
Her lips twisted wistfully as she walked purposefully past a photograph of her mother, taken at the height of her modelling fame. She had been one of the top-paid supermodels of the eighties; renowned for her slender, fragile beauty and enormous pale blue eyes. Now, in her early fifties, Alexandra was no less beautiful, and no less vain.
“Carrie.”
She froze in her tracks, halfway down the stately corridor. So he did remember her, at least. She turned, trying to affect an expression of nonchalance on her heart-shaped face.
“Gael,” she responded, cursing inwardly at the slight tremor in her breathy voice. She forced a smile to her face, as she looked up into his stormy dark eyes. “Welcome to Forrest View.”
He nodded, though it was obvious that he was making an effort to relax his stern expression. “Thank you. I’m only here briefly. Where is my father?”
Carrie couldn’t help the sympathetic grimace. “He spends most of his time in bed.”
“I see. And your mother?” Carrie knew she wasn’t imagining the slight curl of disdain that coloured his words.
She regarded him sharply, confusion making her eyes linger a little on his face. “She’ll be back soon. She had some business in town.”
“I see.” His lips were just a line in his face. “Do you know which room I’m to use?”
“Of course,” she nodded nervously. “I suspect you’re tired after your journey.”
His face relaxed completely, and he actually smiled at her properly now. “Not especially. I am hungry, though.”
“Hungry? Why don’t you … I mean … why don’t you come to the kitchen and I’ll fix you a sandwich.”
He grinned and shrugged. “Sure.” He fell into step beside her, and matched his stride to her shorter one. “My father tells me you have done extremely well at school.”
Her heart turned over at the idea of Gael expressing an interest in her. Even in something as benign as her academic achievements. She nodded modestly. “I was lucky with my final exams.”
He shot her a droll look of amusement. “I doubt luck had anything to do with it.”
Her smile was genuine. “Of course it plays a part. The questions catered well to my knowledge.”
“Knowledge you obtained by studying long and hard.”
She dipped her head forward in a silent concession. Her brown hair fell like a curtain.
“What do you intend to study at university?”
“I’ve been accepted into English at Oxford, and Economics at Cambridge.”
“Economics and English? Two vastly different courses. Which is your preference?”
She shrugged. “I like the idea of both. I just want to learn. I can’t wait to get to university.” Her smile was overflowing with enthusiasm. “I can’t imagine what it will be like to be surrounded by people who are smart and motivated and totally wrapped up in academia.”
He walked quietly beside her, his brain ticking over. “But surely of the two you have an area that interests you most?”
Carrie bit down on her lip. “I don’t know. I mean, I love both. And for different reasons. I’m going to tour the campuses and then make my choice.” She slowed her pace and tilted her face to look at him. “What do you recommend?”
“Me?” Gael was not comfortable advising her. He scanned her face thoughtfully, unsure exactly what it was about this young English woman that made him uneasy. “I couldn’t say.”
“But you studied economics, didn’t you?” She pushed.
