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Perhaps the night they’d just spent had not been as important to him as it had to her, a sly inner voice suggested, and she recoiled from the thought.
At the same time, she had to admit that Malory couldn’t have learned his undoubted sexual expertise solely from textbooks. Other women, before herself, must have sobbed their delight in his arms.
So perhaps he could afford to be blase about her joyous and wanton response to his lovemaking.
Oh, stop it, she told herself impatiently as she threw back the covers and swung her feet to the floor. He left me to sleep late, and that’s all there is to it.
She gathered up her clothes and retreated to her own room. Half an hour later, bathed and dressed in slim-fitting corded jeans and a cream roll-necked sweater, she ran downstairs, expecting to find Malory there. But he wasn’t in his study, or the drawing-room, and any hopes that he might simply be out taking the dog for a walk were extinguished when she entered the kitchen to find Harvey snoring in his basket near the Aga.
Mrs Priddy, who was making pastry, welcomed her placidly with the news that the caterers had removed the last of their equipment, and the house was back to normal.
‘So there was no need for you to get up so soon at all, madam,’ she told Amanda severely. ‘Dr Templeton said you’d had a very late night, and needed to rest.’
Amanda suppressed a giggle inside her. ‘Has he gone out?’ she asked.
Mrs Priddy nodded. ‘Two hours ago, madam.’
‘To the laboratories?’
‘He didn’t say, I’m afraid, Mrs Templeton.’ Mrs Priddy gave her a comfortable smile. ‘Now, can I get you some breakfast?’
Amanda stifled a sigh. ‘I—I don’t think so, thanks. Just some coffee would be fine’ Suddenly she didn’t feel like giggling any more. She felt almost bereft.
The phone rang several times during the hour that followed- Each time Amanda answered it, her heart lifting in excitement, but each time it was a bread-and-butter call of thanks from someone who’d been at her party.
Eventually, Amanda decided she was sick and tired of roaming round the house like a caged animal, waiting on tenterhooks for her husband’s return. She would put some of her brimming energy to good use, and take Harvey for a long walk across the fields. And, if Malory came back while she was out, then he could wait for her for a change.
Harvey was clearly delighted at the scheme, although Mrs Priddy clucked reproachfully over Amanda’s announcement that she would dispense with lunch, and have a snack when she returned.
When she returned, cheeks glowing, two hours later, it was to find Malory’s car standing in the drive, and her spirits rose magically as she ran into the house.
He was just coming downstairs, and her eager rush to him was halted when she saw he was carrying a suitcase, and had an airline bag slung over his shoulder. She stood still, the warmth and excitement dying out of her face under his cool, unsmiling regard.
Amanda swallowed. ‘You—you’re going somewhere?’ she ventured inanely.
‘Unfortunately, yes.’ This formal stranger couldn’t be the man who’d scaled pleasure’s heights with her the previous night, she thought with total incredulity. ‘I find I have to go to America’
‘But you didn’t say anything about it last…’ She stopped, and substituted, ‘Yesterday.’
‘A last-minute change of plan, and quite unavoidable, I’m afraid.’ He sounded almost bored, and not in the least apologetic.
‘How—how long will you be away?’ To her horror, Amanda found it an effort to keep her voice steady.
‘It’s difficult to say.’ Malory clearly had no such problem. ‘A matter of weeks rather than days, I imagine.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘And I’ll have to hurry if I want to catch the next flight. You’ll have to excuse me.’
She couldn’t believe this was happening. One quivering, wretched part of her mind was urging her to fling herself at his feet and beg him to take her with him—on a later flight, if necessary. But her last remnants of pride, and a very real fear of his refusal, kept her silent.
She summoned a smile from somewhere. ‘Well, as they say, have a nice day.’ Lifting her chin, she turned and walked away into the drawing-room, Harvey following her, tail down, aware that all was not well in his world.
She stood, staring out of the window, looking at the green spikes of bulbs showing above the dark earth—proof, if she needed it, that even if she was dying inside, life went on. Waiting, hoping that Malory would drop those damned cases and come after her. That he’d take her in his arms and tell her with love and yearning why he had to leave her behind at this emotional turning-point in their lives.
