Читать книгу Tempestuous Affair - Кэрол Мортимер, Carole Mortimer - Страница 5

‘GREAT,’ snapped Joel with sarcasm, waving Lindsay’s letter of resignation about in his hand. ‘Just great! Your loyalty when I’m tied up in this contract for Reader is incredible!’ He glared down at her.

Joel had been in his studio when she arrived at work half an hour ago, and the first thing she had done after checking the post had been to type out her letter of resignation, putting it in with the letters she had taken in to him a short time ago. His reaction was to be expected.

‘I thought you went to America to complete that contract,’ she frowned.

‘I did,’ he scowled, looking as if last night hadn’t agreed with him either, whether he had slept alone or not. ‘He liked the photographs so much he wants me to do the promotional shots on the new cosmetic range they have coming out,’ he told her grudgingly. ‘I’ve spent most of the last month trying to find the right model.’

Lindsay felt a flash of jealousy for all the beautiful women he would have seen the last month.

‘None of them were right for the cosmetics,’ he added mockingly as he saw her pensive expression.

‘Did you test them all personally?’ she heard herself ask waspishly.

‘Photographically?’ he drawled tauntingly, his eyebrows raised mockingly. ‘Yes.’

She mentally berated herself for showing her jealousy so plainly, knowing Joel was aware of exactly how she felt, that he was elated by it. Damn!

‘Regretting your decision, Lindsay?’ He sat on the edge of her desk, dangerously close, his tangy aftershave discernible to her. ‘It isn’t too late to change your mind, you know,’ he encouraged throatily.

‘My notice stands, thank you.’ She was deliberately obtuse, knowing that wasn’t the decision he was talking about.

His eyes darkened to tawny slits, and he stood up, pushing her letter into the hip pocket of his trousers. ‘Bring me in the file on all the models I’ve used the last five years,’ he instructed her curtly.

Her brows rose. ‘All of them?’

‘That’s what I said, didn’t I?’ he snapped.

‘Yes …’

‘Then do it,’ he rasped rudely. ‘And don’t keep me waiting all day!’ The door slammed after him as he went back into his studio.

‘Was that the bastard I know and love?’ drawled an amused voice from the doorway.

‘Cally!’ Lindsay cried excitedly, getting up to hug the newcomer enthusiastically. ‘When did you get back to town?’

‘Over the weekend,’ the other woman smiled. ‘I thought I’d look in on my tormentor of the last four years. How is he?’ she asked lightly.

Lindsay gave a rueful grimace at the firmly closed studio door. ‘As charming as usual!’ she said dryly. ‘But don’t let’s talk about Joel,’ she dismissed abruptly. ‘Tell me how you like married life.’

Cally Robin had been Joel’s top model until two months ago when she had met, and as quickly married, an up-and-coming Member of Parliament, much to the surprise of her friends, and much to the annoyance of Joel when she informed him she was giving up modelling to help her husband in his career. Joel and Cally had had an affair once, years ago, and Cally was one of the few women he now called friend. Lindsay had been a little jealous of their relationship to begin with, but as the warmth and friendliness of Cally soon overflowed to her too she had no reason to do so.

‘I love it,’ Cally answered, her blue eyes sparkling, her red hair a glowing cloud about her shoulders. ‘David has to be the most wonderful man in the world,’ she added dreamily.

‘I thought he was rather handsome when I met him at the wedding,’ Lindsay smiled teasingly.

‘Keep your hands off,’ Cally warned jokingly. ‘I have enough trouble fighting off all his female constituents, without having to worry about you too! So what’s wong with Joel?’ she sobered. ‘He sounded as if he was being a bear.’

Lindsay shrugged. ‘He’s no worse than usual,’ she prevaricated, knowing that Joel hadn’t been like this with her since before she moved in with him.

‘And heaven knows that’s bad enough!’ Cally grimaced. ‘What—or should I say who—has upset him?’

Lindsay sighed. ‘I have a feeling it was me.’

‘Yes?’ Blue eyes widened in surprise. ‘Are you telling me he still rants and raves at you?’

Lindsay stiffened, her expression uncertain. ‘Still?’ she enquired softly.

Cally patted her hand understandingly. ‘You mustn’t mind that I know the two of you are living together—Joel just happened to let it slip one day,’ she explained gently.

‘Oh,’ said Lindsay dully. ‘Then perhaps I should tell you that we aren’t, not any longer.’

Cally frowned at this. ‘Since when?’

‘Since I moved out.’

‘You did?’ The other woman was obviously surprised that she had been the one to end the relationship. ‘That must have been a surprise for poor Joel,’ she added questioningly.

‘You could say that,’ Lindsay grimaced.

‘Oh, I do,’ Cally nodded, looking thoughtful. ‘The way he was talking it was a permanent arrangement.’

‘As permanent as anything can be with a man like Joel,’ Lindsay derided.

‘No, I mean it,’ Cally said, perfectly seriously. ‘I really thought this was “it” for him.’

‘If you mean love, Cally, then you should know him better than that,’ said Lindsay flatly.

‘He still has that problem, hmm?’ Cally nodded shrewdly.

Lindsay gave her a sharp, probing look. ‘What problem?’

‘He doesn’t know how to accept or give love.’

Her expression was dejected. ‘How can you accept or give something you don’t know exists!’

‘Oh, Lindsay,’ Cally was all sympathy. ‘Don’t——’

‘What the hell is delaying you, Lindsay?’ Joel suddenly appeared in the studio doorway, his eyes narrowing as he saw Cally perched provocatively on the side of Lindsay’s desk. ‘I might have known you had something to do with it,’ he snapped. ‘What’s wrong, has married life begun to pall already?’ he taunted.

Cally stood up, smoothing down the skirt of her dress with deliberate slowness before walking over to kiss him lingeringly on the mouth, seeming immune to his glowing displeasure. ‘Married life is wonderful,’ she gave him a mocking sideways glance. ‘I would highly recommend it.’

His mouth twisted. ‘Then you must be one of the few people who do,’ he derided. ‘And after only two months I don’t think you’ve had time to really speak with any authority.’

‘Cynic!’ she said goodnaturedly, used to his bad humour.

‘Realist.’ He shot Lindsay a telling glance. ‘I simply don’t have stars in my eyes about an institution that’s been failing for years. I’d rather get myself certified!’

Lindsay blanched, knowing the last was being said for her benefit, that Joel was making it clear once again that he would never contemplate marriage, to anyone. And that wasn’t fair, because she had never mentioned marriage to him.

‘Keep on the way you are,’ Cally drawled mockingly, ‘and I might just do it for you.’

He looked down at her with narrowed tawny eyes. ‘What do you mean?’ he bit out.

‘Lindsay tells me you’re no longer living together,’ she provoked. ‘You have to be insane to have let her escape.’

‘Cally——’

‘It was Lindsay’s decision to leave,’ Joel forcefully cut in on her dismayed response to Cally’s taunting.

‘Well, no one could think her insane for leaving you, darling,’ Cally mocked. ‘You’re virtually impossible to work with, let alone be with twenty-four hours a day.’

‘I take it this is what friends are for?’ he rasped. ‘To insult you?’

‘To tell you the truth when necessary, sweetie,’ she touched his cheek affectionately.

‘Well, today I can do without it,’ he dismissed harshly. ‘Come through to the studio if you want to talk to me, if you don’t then stop keeping my employees from their work,’ he added coldly.

Lindsay was still pale from his last dig at her. This last one made her flinch, something Joel seemed as immune to as he was every other emotion. She didn’t know how she could ever have fooled herself into thinking he would one day love her!

‘Here’s the file you wanted.’ She handed it to him, taking care not to touch him, a fact he seemed well aware of as his mouth twisted derisively.

He nodded acknowledgement of the file, turning to Cally. ‘Are you staying or going?’

‘Much as I hate to turn down your gracious invitation,’ she mocked him, her eyes gleaming with mischief, ‘I have to meet David in a few minutes, so I can’t stay long. I actually came round to invite you both to dinner at the weekend. Although in the circumstances perhaps I should say invite you both and your respective partners.’ She looked at them with feigned innocence.

Joel’s scowl deepened, and Lindsay wondered, not for the first time, how Cally dared to antagonise him when he was in this mood. She always steered clear of him at such times, although perhaps Cally felt that their past association allowed her to. goad him in this way.

‘Suits me,’ he snapped. ‘Just tell me what time and day, and I’ll be there.’

‘Saturday, eight o’clock.’ She looked enquiringly at Lindsay. ‘Is that okay for you?’

Any evening and time suited her at the moment, they were all free. But she had no idea who she could take as her ‘partner’ for the evening. ‘Fine,’ she agreed lightly, ignoring the way Joel’s eyes narrowed speculatively. No doubt he would have no trouble at all finding someone to accompany him!

‘Now, Joel,’ Cally put her arm through the crook of his arm, walking into the studio with him, ‘I just have time for you to tell me all about …’

The rest of the conversation was cut off as Joel firmly closed the door behind them. Lindsay put up a shaking hand to her temple, as she sat down behind her desk. The next month, while she worked her notice, was going to seem a very long time indeed.

‘Hey, are you all right?’ asked a concerned voice, the accent distinctly American. ‘You look a little pale.’

Lindsay looked up into the attractive face of the man leaning over her desk, a man of about forty, possibly a little younger, with dark hair heavily tinged with grey at his temples, and pale blue eyes that could also look grey in certain lights or moods. Even leaning over as he was she could see he was tall, his tailored suit fitting him well, his lean body containing a liquid grace that spoke of training of movement.

‘I’m fine.’ She sat up straighter in her chair, a little unnerved by the way he kept staring at her with warm blue eyes. ‘And I’m afraid the agency who sent you must have made a mistake—Mr Sutherland doesn’t photograph male models.’

The man looked amused by the assumption, and straightened slightly, the blue eyes twinkling merrily. ‘I’m flattered you should think me young enough or attractive enough to be a male model,’ he drawled softly. ‘But isn’t forty-one a little old for all that?’ He raised dark brows.

‘It really depends what line of modelling you’re interested in,’ she shrugged.

‘I really shouldn’t be teasing you in this way,’ he smiled, laughter lines fanning out from his eyes in the tanned face. ‘Malcolm Reader,’ and he put out his hand in friendly greeting.

Lindsay gave a start of surprise. This was the famous Malcolm Reader, the man who had made millions in the cosmetic business? He didn’t seem old enough or ruthless enough, although she sensed a certain steel in his nature beneath the easy charm. But she hadn’t realised he was in England. Did Joel?

‘Lindsay Pope.’ She put her hand into his, finding it lost in his much bigger grip, his hand surprisingly firm and calloused considering he must spend most of his time seated behind a desk.

‘Rope burn,’ he seemed to guess her thoughts. ‘I spend most of my weekends sailing. And I know exactly who you are, Joel spoke of you often when he was in New York.’

‘Oh yes?’ she asked warily, aware that he had forgotten to release her hand, and extricating it herself.

Blue eyes looked at her steadily. ‘Yes.’

Delicate colour darkened her cheeks. ‘I can’t imagine what he said,’ she evaded.

‘Can’t you?’

‘No!’

‘Well, he didn’t tell me how beautiful you are, for one thing,’ his teasing manner was back. ‘You wouldn’t take pity on a visitor to London and have dinner with me one evening, would you?’ He looked at her encouragingly.

‘I——’

‘Malcolm!’ Joel greeted harshly behind them, looking accusingly at Lindsay. ‘Why didn’t you tell me Mr Reader was here?’ he rasped.

‘I’ve only just arrived,’ the other man exaggerated, moving forward to shake his outstretched hand. ‘Your secretary was taking very good care of me. And who is this beautiful young lady?’ He looked appreciatively at Cally.

Lindsay took the opportunity while they made the introductions of fading into the background. Whatever Joel had told the other man about her he couldn’t have told him they were living together, Malcolm Reader would hardly have been likely to invite her out if he had! She felt grateful for the fact that she hadn’t had to make any reply to his invitation, not wanting to upset a man who was so important to Joel, but still feeling too raw from her break-up with Joel to contemplate seeing another man.

‘Handsome devil,’ Cally remarked thoughtfully, the two men being ensconced in the inner office now. ‘He’s worth cultivating, Lindsay,’ she added softly.

‘Whatever do you mean by cultivate, Cally?’ asked Lindsay, tongue-in-cheek.

Deep blue eyes glowed with amusement. ‘You know very well what I mean. And he was attracted to you too, I could tell.’

‘Really?’ she said uninterestedly. Tall, dark, handsome men were not on her list of favourite things at the moment.

‘Really,’ Cally insisted forcefully. ‘Has it ever occurred to you that all Joel needs is a little old-fashioned jealousy to make him realise what he’s giving up?’

‘He doesn’t even know the meaning of the word,’ Lindsay dismissed with bitterness.

‘Don’t you believe it,’ the other woman said with certainty. ‘Just because he doesn’t show it it doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it. He’s just adept at hiding what he really feels.’

Lindsay sighed. ‘I know you mean well, Cally,’ she said softly. ‘But it’s over between Joel and me. I think six months is long enough for anyone to realise they’re banging their head rather painfully against a brick wall. Right now I just want to get my life back in order, and then get on with it. And none of that involves Joel.’

‘I see,’ Cally sighed with regret. ‘It’s a shame—I really thought that with you he was getting it all together. He’s seemed more relaxed since you lived with him, less inclined to retreat inside his emotions. Still, if you say it’s over then it’s over,’ she shrugged.

‘It is,’ Lindsay nodded. ‘I’ve also given in my notice today.’

‘So he told me. Well, I’ll see you Saturday, then?’ Gaily quirked auburn brows.

‘I’m not sure——’

‘Oh, you have to come,’ the other woman encouraged. ‘Joel is sure to, and if you don’t turn up he’ll know it was because you couldn’t face him on a social level.’

‘I don’t think I can,’ Lindsay admitted huskily.

‘Of course you can,’ Cally told her firmly. ‘And bring along some handsome man just to prove it.’

Lindsay’s mouth twisted. ‘I don’t know any handsome men.’

‘What about Malcolm Reader?’

That idea had fleetingly entered her own mind, but she had as quickly dismissed it. He was a pleasant enough man, seemed very nice, was undoubtedly handsome, but he was also a very important client of Joel’s, convincing her that she shouldn’t become involved with him on a social level. Joel would certainly never forgive her if she upset the other man in any way!

‘He’s business,’ she shrugged. ‘So he doesn’t count.’

‘He looked as if he counted to me,’ Cally teased.

‘He’s probably married with half a dozen children!’

Cally shook her head. ‘He’s one of America’s most eligible bachelors.’

‘Then what is his problem?’ Lindsay frowned.

The other woman laughed. ‘He doesn’t have one, except maybe that he just hasn’t met the right woman yet. You could be her, Lindsay. Just think what a blow that would be to Joel’s pride!’

‘I’m not out to hurt anyone, Cally,’ Lindsay said wearily. ‘I just want to forget any of this ever happened.’

‘Do you think you can?’

‘No.’

‘I’m beginning to feel guilty because I’m so happy,’ Cally grimaced, kissing Lindsay on the cheek by way of departure. ‘You’ll never get over the selfish swine completely,’ she said huskily. ‘But once the love stops being so intense it doesn’t hurt so much. Take my word for it,’ she added ruefully.

Lindsay had always suspected the other woman’s feelings had been more deeply involved with Joel in the past than she had admitted to, and Cally had just confirmed it. But Cally had had four years to get over her love for him, while she only had as many days if she were to go to the other woman’s dinner party on Saturday and see him with another woman with any degree of confidence. The way her heart ached at the moment she didn’t think she was going to make it.

‘I’ll try,’ she nodded. ‘And I’ll call you about Saturday,’ she promised.

‘I really would like you to come,’ Cally encouraged before leaving to meet her husband.

Lindsay was engrossed in her work when Malcolm Reader left Joel’s studio an hour later, the older man coming over to talk to her as Joel took into his studio the model that had been waiting outside to begin her session with him.

‘Nice life if you can get it,’ Malcolm Reader mocked lightly, sitting on the edge of Lindsay’s desk.

‘I’ve heard that you have,’ she said dryly, looking up at him guilelessly.

He chuckled softly. ‘The beautiful Mrs Robin has heard of my reputation, hmm?’

Lindsay nodded. ‘And all of it exaggerated, no doubt,’ she mocked.

‘Very little, I’m afraid,’ he drawled derisively.

She had to laugh at his honesty, feeling humour when a few minutes ago she had thought she would never laugh again. ‘That’s interesting to know,’ she smiled.

‘Only interesting?’ He looked disappointed. ‘Most women are eager to find out the truth for themselves.’

‘I’ll be happy to take your word for it,’ she teased lightly, liking this man in spite of his outrageous sense of humour.

‘Pity,’ he drawled. ‘Did you give some thought to my dinner invitation?’ He quirked dark brows. ‘As I recall you hadn’t answered me when we were interrupted.’

Her amusement instantly faded. ‘It’s very nice of you to ask me, Mr Reader——’

‘When a beautiful woman calls me “Mr” then I know I’m going to be turned down!’ he grinned ruefully. ‘And I was hoping you would show me the highlights of London.’

‘I don’t know that many,’ she shrugged. ‘And I’m sure you’ve been to London before?’

‘Many times,’ he nodded. ‘It’s a fascinating place.’

‘Surely no more so than New York?’

‘In a different way,’ he replied thoughtfully. ‘And I find most of my enjoyment of London by seeing it through the eyes of other people.’

‘Women’s eyes,’ she teased.

‘Women’s eyes,’ he confirmed with a smile. ‘Have you ever been to New York?’

Lindsay shook her head. ‘I’ve never been out of England.’

‘Joel should have brought you with him, I would have enjoyed showing you my home town.’

If she had been invited by Joel to go on his business trip maybe she wouldn’t have left him. But although their last night together had been spent in a frenzy of lovemaking Joel hadn’t once suggested she accompany him. ‘Someone had to run the office while he was away,’ she said with forced brightness.

‘I guess so,’ Malcolm Reader conceded. ‘Although it seems a pity we couldn’t have met earlier.’

If they had met before he would now know her to be Joel’s ex-mistress. The two of them had never broadcast their living arrangements, but they had made no secret of it either, admitting it if asked directly. If they had gone to New York together then Malcolm Reader would know exactly what she was. And somehow she didn’t want him to know.

‘Is there already a man in your life?’ Malcom was asking her now.

Lindsay looked up with a start, having been lost in thought. ‘Sorry?’

‘Am I stepping on some lucky man’s toes by making the dinner invitation?’ he explained.

‘No!’ She blushed as she realised how sharply her denial had come out, almost guiltily. ‘No, it isn’t that,’ she said more calmly. ‘It’s just——’

‘It’s okay, Lindsay,’ he chuckled as he stood up. ‘I Can take no for an answer without putting you on the rack. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t making an absolute idiot of myself if I kept asking. And I will keep asking, Lindsay,’ he added seriously. ‘You’ll find I’m not a man who gives up easily.’

‘That’s okay,’ her own voice was light, ‘because I don’t give in easily either.’

He smiled his appreciation of her show of independence, little knowing that she was all the more determined not to be charmed by him because she had so recently been hurt by a man with even less charm than him. ‘Good girl,’ he straightened. ‘But I’ll be seeing you soon.’

It was a promise, not a threat, and Lindsay was left with the feeling that Malcolm Reader was a man with as much strength of will as Joel, that he wouldn’t give up easily either, although perhaps his method of getting his own way would be more subtle than Joel’s. But Cally had been right about one thing—Malcolm Reader certainly didn’t have a problem!

‘Planning to replace me already?’ Joel rasped harshly.

Lindsay looked up at him coolly, although her heart rate accelerated considerably, having been unaware of the model leaving and Joel watching her. ‘Hardly,’ she drawled. ‘Although Mr Reader seems a very charming man,’ she added challengingly.

‘Oh, he is,’ Joel scorned. ‘Maybe he could even charm you into living with him. But if you think I’m a bastard you should—God, I’m sorry,’ he groaned as he saw her pale. ‘I didn’t mean it that way. Lindsay? Lindsay——!’ he questioned sharply as she suddenly stood up to collect her jacket and handbag.

‘I’m going to lunch,’ she told him stiffly. ‘I know it’s a little earlier than my usual time, but I—I feel as if I need the break now. I’ll be back in an hour,’ she added firmly as she heard her voice begin to quiver with emotion.

‘Lindsay——’

‘An hour, Joel.’ She couldn’t even look at him as she rushed from the office and out of the building, not looking back once as she hurried down the street, not even sure where she was going, just needing to get away, away from Joel and his power to hurt her with every word he spoke.

Never before had Joel chosen to hurt her the way he was doing at the moment, seeming to hit out at her on purpose, something he had never done before today. Oh, he had a temper, a whiplash tongue at times, but his remarks had never been personal before; never designed to hurt and go on hurting.

She didn’t stop walking for the next hour, although she never afterwards knew where she went, only that she walked and walked, sightlessly pushing Joel to the back of her mind.

But finally she had to think of him, of facing him again, and if he was still in that cruelly hurtful mood when she did, when he could taunt the way she had loved him enough to move in with him, she didn’t know what she would do.

He was sitting at her desk when she got back, watching her warily as she woodenly hung up her jacket and smoothed her hair. ‘I’m sorry,’ he finally spoke, his voice husky. ‘I didn’t mean that remark about Reader.’ His eyes were a stormy tawny gold as he looked at her searchingly. ‘Do you believe me?’ he prompted at her continued silence.

‘Of course,’ she acknowledged flatly.

He stood up, coming round to the front of her desk, the warmth of his body reaching out to her in the confines of the room. ‘He did ask you out, though, didn’t he?’ his eyes narrowed.

She looked at him unflinchingly. ‘And if he did?’

Joel’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. ‘I could tell he was attracted to you,’ he ground out.

‘If I didn’t know you better, Joel,’ she taunted, ‘and luckily I do,’ she added hardly, ‘I would think you cared.’

His mouth tightened. ‘I care that because of the way we’ve parted you might find yourself involved when you don’t really want to be.’

Lindsay looked at him with dislike. ‘And since when did you become an expert on what I want?’ She knew it was the wrong thing to say even as she said it, the soft colour flooding her cheeks. Joel knew exactly what she wanted, what she needed, when it came to making love! His eyes mocked her with that knowledge now. ‘I meant emotionally,’ she snapped.

He ignored the jibe. ‘Are you going out with Reader?’ he persisted in the subject of the other man.

Lindsay shrugged. ‘I might. But I doubt it,’ she added as his eyes darkened stormily. ‘I’ve learnt the hard way that mixing business and pleasure just doesn’t work out.’

His mouth tightened. ‘Which part of that applies to your relationship with me the last six months?’

She swallowed hard. ‘I’m beginning to think neither!’

Joel gave a deep sigh, closing his eyes momentarily. ‘God, I can’t seem to stop hitting out at you. Maybe you’re right to want to leave, after all,’ he shook his head. ‘I’m only hurting you.’

‘You have to care to be hurt,’ she sat down behind her desk, paler than ever, ‘and we’ve agreed that neither of us does that.’

‘Yes,’ he bit out. ‘I think I’ll go to lunch now,’ he added suddenly, leaving abruptly.

Lindsay’s shattered nerves relaxed slowly once he had left. This was so much more traumatic than even she had imagined, Joel reacting much more strongly than she had thought he would. She had seen the women come and go in his life for so long, and he had never been so bitter about it before. But then it had never been the woman’s decision to end things before. Joel seemed to have an inborn radar that warned him when a woman was becoming too emotionally involved with him, and at the first sign of that he would end things between them, usually with a bouquet of flowers and a carefully worded note. Maybe if she didn’t love him so much she would have sent him flowers and a carefully worded note!

The uneasy truce that existed between them over the next few days made the studio hell to go to, but Lindsay was determined not to show any sign of weakness by not going in. Joel had shown her all too clearly when she had almost admitted her love for him how much he deplored such human frailties.

But the strain showed on her as the week progressed, her days fraught with tension as Joel remained likely to explode at the slightest provocation, her nights no easier as she ached for his arms about her, his body filling her as they cried out their enjoyment of each other.

The tension between them wasn’t helped by the fact that Malcolm Reader was likely to call in or telephone her without warning. As promised, he hadn’t given up asking her to go out with him, and he was proving to be as persistent as Joel had once been. Malcolm’s frequent presence in his secretary’s office was viewed with anger by Joel, and she felt sure it was only that he was working for Malcolm that kept him from asking the other man to leave.

Joel returned the file of the models he had used during the last five years on Thursday lunchtime, his sigh one of dissatisfaction.

‘No luck?’ She looked up at him with a frown, knowing there were some really beautiful women in there.

‘No,’ he rasped.

‘But surely one of them is suitable?’

‘Suitable, yes,’ he bit out. ‘But I happen to want someone who’s perfect.’

If the strain of the last four days showed on her then Joel hadn’t escaped unscathed either. Of course he was going out every night, usually with a different woman, and apparently not getting in until the early hours of the morning, when undoubtedly he didn’t sleep alone. He certainly looked tired, with lines beside his eyes, the sharp sense of humour he had once possessed no longer in evidence. Even if he were now making up for lost time with an abundance of different women he certainly didn’t look happy about it.

But Lindsay felt no satisfaction from knowing that, knew such deep unhappiness herself that if Joel felt even one tenth of the misery she did then she pitied him.

‘Perhaps you’re being too critical, Joel,’ she reasoned. ‘After all, the make-up is surely meant for a number of different women, not just one type.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s an exclusive line, meant only for brunettes.’