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While her companion was certainly the only man present not observing the dress code.
‘I bet you’re the only person in the country allowed in here without a tie,’ Tavy said, putting down her spoon and suppressing a sigh of repletion. ‘Don’t you ever worry that people will refuse to serve you? Or is your presence considered such an accolade that they overlook minor details like house rules?’
‘The answer to both questions is no,’ he said, and frowned. ‘And I think I had a tie once. I’ll have to see if I can find it. As it matters so much to you.’
‘Nothing of the kind,’ Tavy said quickly. ‘It was just a remark.’
‘On the contrary,’ he said, leaning back in his chair. ‘I see it as a great leap forward. Now it’s my turn.’ He paused. ‘I read some of your father’s book this afternoon. The Manor seems to have had a pretty chequered history, hacked about by succeeding generations.’
‘I believe so.’
‘But it’s in safe hands now.’ As her lips tightened, he added quietly, ‘I wish you’d believe that, Octavia.’
‘It’s really none of my concern,’ she said stiffly. ‘And I had no right to speak as I did earlier. I—I’m sorry.’ And you have no right to call me Octavia...
‘But you still wish you hadn’t been cornered into coming here tonight.’
‘Well—naturally.’
‘Because you’d hoped you’d never set eyes on me again.’
She flushed. ‘That too.’
‘And you’d like very much for us both to forget our first encounter ever happened.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes, I would.’
‘Very understandable. And for me, anyway, quite impossible. The vision of you rising like Venus from the waves will always be a treasured memory.’ He paused. ‘And I like your hair loose.’
She was burning all over now. It wasn’t just what he’d said, but the way he’d looked at her across the table, as if her dress—her underwear—had ceased to exist under his gaze. As if her hair tumbling around her shoulders was her only covering. And as if he knew that her nipples in some damnable way were hardening into aching peaks inside the lacy confines of her bra.
But if her skin was fire, her voice was ice. ‘Fortunately, your preferences are immaterial to me.’
‘At present anyway.’ He signalled to a waiter. ‘Would you like to have coffee here or in the drawing room?’
She bit her lip. ‘Here, perhaps. Wherever we go, there’ll be people staring at you. Watching every move you make.’
‘Waiting for me to start breaking the place up, I suppose. They’ll be sadly disappointed. Besides, I’m not the only one attracting attention. There’s a trio on the other side of the room who can’t take their eyes off you.’
She glanced round and stiffened, her lips parting in a gasp of sheer incredulity.
Patrick, she thought. And his mother. With Fiona Culham, of all people. But it isn’t—it can’t be possible. He couldn’t possibly afford these prices—I’ve heard him say so. And Mrs Wilding simply wouldn’t pay them. So what on earth is going on? And why is Fiona with them?
As her astonished gaze met theirs, they all turned away, and began to talk. And no prizes for guessing the main topic of conversation, Tavy thought grimly.
‘Friends of yours?’
‘My employer,’ she said briefly. ‘Her son. A neighbour’s daughter.’
‘They seem in no hurry to come over,’ he commented. ‘They’ve been here for over half an hour.’
‘I see.’ Her voice sounded hollow. ‘It looks as if I could well find myself out of a job on Monday.’
His brows lifted. ‘Why?’
‘I think it’s called fraternising with the enemy,’ she said tautly. ‘Because that’s how the local people regard you.’
‘Some perhaps,’ he said. ‘But not all. Ted Jackson, for one, thinks I’m God’s gift to landscape gardening.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find that comforting.’ She reached for her bag. ‘I think I won’t have coffee, after all. I’d like to leave, please, if reception will get me a taxi.’
‘No need. Charlie is standing by to take you home.’
She said quickly, ‘I’d rather make my own arrangements.’
‘Even if I tell you I have work to do, and I won’t be coming with you?’ There was overt mockery in his voice.
