Читать книгу Catching Katie - Sophie Weston - Страница 6

CHAPTER ONE

‘YOU’RE not serious.’

Katie Marriott paused in the act of extracting herself from the bottom of the stairs. She was clasping a large artist’s easel. She was of medium height but it was bigger than she was.

‘Yes, I am,’ she said. Or rather puffed. The easel was not heavy but it was awkward, and she had wedged and balanced and pulled it down four flights of stairs. ‘I need it for my work.’

She squeezed past and found that a lock of curly red hair had tangled in a wooden joint. She detached it, wincing. Then she put both arms round the easel again and, locked in a rigid embrace, began to back toward the front door.

Andrea leaned against the doorpost and watched.

‘You look as if you’re dancing with an alien,’ she remarked helpfully.

Katie’s back was beginning to arch under the pressure.

‘Thank you very much for your support,’ she gasped over her shoulder.

Andrea took pity on her. She stepped forward and briskly righted the easel.

‘There has got,’ she announced, ‘to be an easier way to carry that thing than this. Doesn’t it collapse?’

Thus relieved, Katie straightened. She rubbed the back of her neck.

‘No, that was me collapsing,’ she said ruefully.

But Andrea, ever practical, was considering the problem. At last, she propped the easel against the wall and started twirling butterfly nuts decisively. There was a clunk and three sections abruptly telescoped. Katie stared, amazed.

Andrea dusted her hands. ‘Didn’t you know it did that?’

Katie shook her head. ‘I knew it was supposed to but I bought it second hand. I haven’t ever been able to undo those things. If only I had your strength,’ she mourned.

‘It’s not strength; it’s in the wrist action,’ Andrea said practically. ‘That’s what Home Economics does for you.’

‘All that beating egg whites by hand,’ Katie agreed. ‘I’ve heard about it.’ She looked at the easel and gave a sudden spurt of laughter. ‘I’ve been moving this thing round from room to room, trying to find the best light for painting, and every time I did, I collected a new set of bruises.’ She reached out and rotated a butterfly nut ‘I should have consulted you earlier.’

‘You’d do much better to get yourself a man,’ Andrea told her roundly. ‘They’re designed for moving furniture.’

Katie laughed even harder. ‘Too much like work.’

When she had stopped choking, she picked up the easel and headed for the small van outside. Andrea took hold of the last bags in the hall and followed.

‘I mean it,’ she said. ‘All right, you couldn’t ask anyone home as long as you were living with Claire and Judy. Not while they were scratching each other’s eyes out. But now that you’re going to be on your own, why don’t you do something about your social life?’

Katie shook her head. ‘I have to fit my painting round full-time teaching as it is. What time do I have for a social life?’

She stuffed the easel into the back of the van. Andrea handed her one of the bags.

‘Books,’ she said briefly. ‘Stuff them down there.’

Katie wedged them obediently. Andrea peered in the other bag.

‘This looks like bath stuff.’ She picked over the contents. ‘Soap, bath oil, shampoo. Anything precious?’

‘No, but it might leak.’ Katie closed the van doors and held out her hand. to hold them.’

They got in and set off. Andrea drove with care. Katie sat beside her, clutching the bathtime unguents upright and reading the road map over the top of them.

Andrea said, ‘Do you mind if we go via the supermarket? Time got away from me last night and the cupboard is bare.’

Katie looked out at the London pavements, diamond-bright in the morning sun.

‘Be my guest. My time’s my own.’

If she had not been clutching spillable liquids she would have stretched with delight. As it was she flexed her shoulders voluptuously. She was almost purring.

Andrea laughed. ‘Anyone would think you haven’t enjoyed sharing a flat with two of London’s hippest swingers.’

Katie nodded gravely. ‘No more unloading other people’s knickers from the machine before I can do my washing. No more queuing for the telephone. No more booking the bath. Oh, bliss.’

All he wanted, thought Haydon Tremayne, was peace and a bath.

The overnight plane from New York had been full and late. Now there were too many pushing bodies round the baggage carousels and so many people were shouting into their mobile phones that Haydon could not hear himself think. He said so.

‘Redirecting whoever was meeting them,’ said the respectful airline official beside him. It was the first time she had greeted this newest of the company’s non-executive directors and she was working hard at it. Haydon Tremayne had the reputation of being as tough as he was gorgeous. And he was gorgeous.

She looked at him and sighed. Tall and athletic, dark good looks—definitely not a typical millionaire. At least not in her experience. A movie star maybe. She had met plenty of those too. Except no movie star had that air of taking harsh decisions hourly—and not regretting a single one. She would not like to get on the wrong side of Haydon Tremayne.

And then he surprised her again.

‘The great technological advance,’ he said sardonically. ‘For which I and my kind are responsible.’

She looked up. His blue eyes were lit with wicked laughter. She smiled back, relaxing a little.

She touched her own mobile phone. ‘Would you like me to notify anyone?’

He shook his head. ‘Not a problem.’

Of course, she thought. It would not be a problem for the owner of Tremayne International. No doubt he had a brigade of personal assistants looking after the practical details.

He confirmed it. ‘Bates will wait as long as it takes. That’s what I pay him for.’

She was sure he was right. Bates, whoever he was, would do just that. Haydon Tremayne had the superb assurance of a man who had not been disobeyed in a long time.

‘Well, at least we should be able to get you through this quickly.’

Gorgeous though he undoubtedly was, Haydon did look tired, she thought sympathetically. No—more than tired; wiped out. She led him quickly through Customs and out onto the main concourse. In spite of his exhaustion, Haydon gave her a warm smile.

‘Thank you,’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘I really appreciate your help. Goodbye.’

she shook hands. ‘Goodbye.’ She surprised herself by adding, ‘I’d go home and have a good rest if I were you.’

A weary smile lit his eyes. ‘I’m not even going to wait that long. I’ve been thinking about stretching out on the back seat of the Roller for the last three hours.’

It was true. He was so tired that he felt his bones crumbling inside him, but he was not worried. He scanned the crowd. Thank God all he had to do was keep upright for another few minutes and then Bates would take over.

Bates was a rock, Haydon thought. He was always waiting when he said he would be, on the same spot—just to the side of an automatic door, away from the push of the crowd—always immaculate, always blessedly silent. Thank God for Bates.

‘Haydon,’ called out a voice.

Not Bates. Bates called him Mr Tremayne in public and Harry in private, or when he forgot. Mr and Mrs Bates had been with him ever since Carla had announced that millionaires’ wives did not keep house. In fact the voice sounded horribly like Carla’s for a moment. He braced himself.

But it was not Carla, the unregretted first Mrs Tremayne. It was Viola Lennox. Who wanted to be the second.

‘Haydon. Over here.’

What had that girl said? Go home and have a good rest? Just exactly the plan he had himself. He looked at Viola, advancing on him vivaciously, and assessed his chances of carrying it out in the immediate future. None.

She was upon him.

‘Viola,’ said Haydon without enthusiasm. ‘What are you doing here?’

Viola was not deterred. She was bright-eyed and quite determined that he was delighted to see her.

Haydon groaned inwardly. Asleep on his feet and he had to play social games. Oh, well, Bates would be along in a moment and then he could make his escape. In the meantime he pulled himself together and held out his hand with composed good manners.

But Viola was not interested in good manners. She flung her arms round him.

Haydon recoiled, but tiredness slowed his reactions. It was too late. She was kissing him full on the mouth.

‘Darling,’ said Viola.

Haydon swayed.

Viola cuddled in closer. ‘It’s been so long,’ she murmured.

Haydon let his case fall and stabilised himself with care. Then he caught her by the wrists and held her away from him.

‘What’s this?’

Viola’s eyes fell. ‘You seem to have been away for ever,’ she cooed. But her laugh sounded forced.

This, thought Haydon grimly, is entirely my own fault.

Break the rules once—just once—and you’ve got only yourself to blame.

He said drily, ‘You knew exactly how long I was going to be away, Viola. My secretary arranged a meeting for next week.’

She looked pained. ‘But that’s business.’

‘Oh, God,’ muttered Haydon under his breath.

The Tremayne board had decided some months ago that they needed a PR campaign to fight off a rumoured takeover bid. He had reluctantly agreed, and he had to admit Viola Lennox and her team had done a good job.

The problem had arisen one evening when, after a long day and a longer official dinner, Viola had made it more than clear that Tremayne International was not all she was interested in.

Haydon had been feeling very alone that night. He’d stayed. He’d regretted it immediately.

Being Haydon, he was used to facing unpleasant truths and then dealing with them. So he had told her so. Viola had not appeared to hear him.

She had gone on not hearing him for months. Haydon had got more and more suspicious. Take this morning—Viola was not normally demonstrative. He would have said the spontaneous kiss was utterly out of character. And yet . . .

He said gently, ‘Viola, I’m out on my feet. This is no time to talk if you want me to make sense.’

She nestled into his shirt-front. ‘Then don’t let’s talk,’ she murmured.

Haydon looked at her incredulously.

She caught herself at once and smiled appealingly. ‘Oh, it’s good to have you back. I’ve thought about you so much.’

Now why didn’t that ring true? Haydon thought. He looked at her: expensively disarranged hair, long, shapely legs, a skirt that professional women’s fashion decreed should be three inches above the knee, black suit with red facings. The facings, he noted with his usual precision, were exactly the same colour as her crimson nails. And lips. For her own private reasons she might have chosen to start behaving like a Labrador puppy. But she was still turning herself out like the successful career woman she was. Even on a Saturday morning, meeting the man she professed to be in love with.

He let go of her wrists. ‘Have you?’ he said drily.

Viola’s eyes fell away from his. ‘I was beginning to think I’d missed you—you’re so late. Was it a terrible flight? I’ve been here for ages.’

Haydon said coolly, ‘There was no need. Bates is collecting me.’

The luxury of the beautifully maintained Rolls Royce had never seemed more desirable. Nor had Bates’ unemotional welcome.

Viola laughed up at him. ‘Oh, no, he isn’t. I gave him the day off.’

Haydon went very still.

‘You did what?’ he said softly.

His subordinates would have recognised danger signs. Viola seemed oblivious.

She repeated it blithely. ‘I thought it was time you and I had a good talk. This looked like the ideal chance.’

Haydon stared at her in disbelief. Viola ignored it. Now she had made her announcement, she stopped being puppyish. She disengaged herself briskly and made for the exit. Her high heels tapped like hailstones on the shiny floor.

‘Come along,’ she flung over her shoulder.

Haydon picked up his case and followed. But if she had looked she would have seen his expression was unpromising in the extreme.

She had brought her car, a red sports job that matched her nails. It was three months old. Haydon knew that because Viola had not been able to talk about anything else for weeks. It had taken him some time, but eventually light had dawned. She had wanted him to make her a present of the racy new car.

It was then that Haydon had got really suspicious. He’d stopped their occasional dates and began to detach himself at once. And now Viola wanted a good talk.

Haydon was torn. His every instinct told him to tell Viola to get lost. He could take a taxi home easily enough. But conscience stirred uncomfortably. If he had not spent that night with her, she would never have started this.

He said quietly, ‘Do you think now is such a good time to talk? I haven’t been to bed for three days. I could be less than my flexible best.’

Viola waved his objections aside. ‘This is the rest of our lives we’re talking about,’ she said in reproof.

He looked at her gravely for a moment.

‘You’re talking about,’ he corrected.

But she was sliding behind the steering wheel and did not hear him. Or pretended not to. Haydon shrugged. If that was the way she wanted to play it, fine.

So he flung his case into the back and inserted his long frame into the passenger seat. He clipped his seat belt and, stretching, tipped his head back against the headrest.

New York time, it was around four o’clock in the morning. Haydon closed his eyes.

Viola started to talk at once. She was in full flood before she had even negotiated the short-term car park. By the time they were on the motorway for London she was well into the middle of a carefully rehearsed speech.

Haydon let it wash over him. He was regretting Bates’ absence more by the minute. Why did women always want to make a drama out of everything? At the craziest times, too.

‘It’s just stupid to let things drift,’ Viola said with energy. ‘We’re both adults. We both know what we want.’

For the first time an answer was clearly required. Haydon opened his eyes.

‘We do,’ he agreed drily.

It was the right answer. Superficially, at least. And Viola Lennox was not one for hearing the subtext, he thought.

She gave an indulgent laugh. ‘The trouble with you, Haydon, is you’re just scared to commit. You got burned once, so you think it will happen again.’

‘No. It won’t happen again,’ he said quietly.

So quietly, it seemed, that Viola did not hear that either.

‘You channel all your feelings into work so you don’t have to take any emotional risks. The world is full of men like you.’

Haydon sighed. ‘Would you say full?’

‘My therapist says all successful men are out of touch with their inner child. The trouble is. . .’

Haydon switched off. There was only so far conscience would carry him. When Viola started talking about her therapist, it gave out. Oh, Bates, Bates, where are you? he mourned inwardly.

Viola continued to analyse his character for the next ten miles. Traffic lights did not give her pause. Roadworks did not deflect her. The monologue took them over Westminster Bridge, through the Saturday-morning shopping traffic and into the quiet Georgian square where Haydon had his house.

All the time he looked out of the window, neither contradicting nor encouraging. Eventually Viola stopped the car outside his door. She swung round to face him.

‘Well?’ she said.

Haydon brought his attention back. ‘Well, what?’ he said wearily.

‘What are you going to do about it?’

He looked bored. ‘Your therapist, thank God, is no concern of mine.’

She was disconcerted. ‘What?’

‘This taradiddle. Didn’t you say it was your therapist’s idea?’

Viola bit her lip. ‘Of course not.’

Haydon raised his eyebrows. They were startlingly dark. When raised they soared upwards until they nearly touched his hairline. One besotted girlfriend had said they made him look like a samurai warrior.

Viola thought he just looked like a devil, a mocking, indifferent devil. She began to wonder whether her careful strategy had been so clever after all.

But she was an intelligent woman and she had been in the world of negotiations for a long time. If there was one thing she knew, it was how not to be discouraged by the first setback. She had always known that getting Haydon Tremayne to the altar would not be easy.

She pulled herself together and said quietly, ‘I told you what Madame Piroska said because that’s what I think too. She put everything in perspective for me.’

‘Then I’m glad for you,’ Haydon said politely.

He undid his seat belt and got out of the car. Viola sat watching him as he tipped the seat forward. For all its compactness, his case was not easy to get past the obstacle of designer seats and headrests. The sports car was not really intended to carry anything in the back except the odd makeup bag, he thought drily. Viola frowned.

‘Haydon, you can’t run away from this.’

He finally extracted the case. He did not reply. But he closed the car door with a finality that was an answer all on its own. Viola discarded her seat belt and whipped out of the car. She faced him across the roof.

‘Look,’ she said rapidly, ‘we’ve had some fun. But we’re not kids. We both need some stability in our lives. And we get on well—very well.’

It was hard to sound sexy at ten o’clock on a brilliant summer morning, with a car in between you and the object of your attentions. Especially when the man in question was not trying to hide his derision. But Viola gave it her best shot. She even lowered her lashes to give him a long, smouldering look. It was supposed to remind him of exactly how well they had got on.

It did not have the desired effect. Derision became outright amusement. Viola abandoned the tactic.

She said sharply, ‘You can’t keep me on a string for ever.’

The amusement was wiped away on the instant. His eyes hardened. ‘Is that what I’m doing?’

‘You know it is.’ She leaned forward, one fist on top of the car roof. ‘I never know where I am. You—’ She broke off.

A ramshackle van had drawn up behind them with a squeal of unoiled brakes. Viola glared at it impatiently.

‘Oh, this is impossible,’ she exclaimed. ‘Let’s go indoors and get some coffee, for heaven’s sake.’

She turned towards the front door.

Haydon said without expression, ‘I think not.’

Viola swung round. She looked as if she didn’t believe her ears. Haydon gave her a faint, weary smile and the angry protest died on her lips.

He picked up his case and came round the front of the car.

‘It was good of you to meet me,’ he said. He did not even try to sound as if he meant it.

Behind them two girls in tattered jeans started unloading the van. They did not do it quietly. Haydon winced.

‘But now I’m going to crash out. If I can.’

Viola did not like that. ‘Haydon—’

‘No coffee,’ he said with finality. ‘Look,’ he said, struggling to be honest, ‘I’m sorry if anything I’ve done has misled you. The truth is, marriage is not for me. No amount of talking will change that.’

Viola swallowed. Two spots of colour burned high in her cheekbones. She did not say anything.

There was a loud crash, followed by peals of girlish laughter. It was the last straw. Furious, Haydon swung round.

A collapsed artist’s easel lay drunkenly against the privet hedge next door. The two girls caught sight of his expression and their laughter died.

‘This is a residential square,’ he flung at them in icy tones.

They got their breath back.

‘Well, excuse us for breathing,’ one of them said.

She was a short girl with wild frizzy hair and a pugnacious expression. Her companion murmured something conciliatory. The companion had long legs and a swirl of auburn hair but Haydon was immune. His eyes skated over both equally with glacial indifference.

He was curt. ‘Then breathe quietly.’

The companion became rapidly less conciliating. She took a step forward.

‘I have a right to move my stuff.’ Her voice was shaky but she looked him straight in the eye.

No one had ever looked at Haydon like that, especially not a woman. Even before he made his first million women had been intrigued by him. These days they either fawned on him or—occasionally—tried to pretend to ignore his tall, distinguished attraction. Even now, the frizzy-haired girl had a distinctly speculative look.

But the other one—Haydon could not remember any girl looking at him with dislike before. Particularly not when she was shaking with anger and nerves at the time. For a moment he was taken aback.

Her hands clenched into fists. ‘I’m sorry if we disturbed you.’ She did not sound as if she meant it. ‘Moving isn’t a quiet business.’

Haydon was blank. ‘Moving? You mean—?’ He gestured at the articles on the pavement with disbelief. They looked as if they had been salvaged from a junk yard. ‘You’re moving that? In here?’

The girl flushed but her chin came up. It was a particularly pretty pointed chin, he noticed irrelevantly.

‘And why not?’

Viola said pleadingly, ‘Darling—’

Haydon ignored that. He stared at the girl, his eyes hard. ‘Are you squatters?’

‘Of course not. I’m house-sitting for the Mackenzies.’ Her voice wobbled all over the place. This time though it was due to pure fury, Haydon thought.

He found he liked the light of battle in the girl’s eyes. It infuriated him.

‘Prove it,’ he snapped.

‘Darling—’

‘Mrs Harding interviewed me.’ The girl flung it at him like a javelin.

‘Oh.’ Lisa Harding was Bob Mackenzie’s sister. Haydon knew her slightly.

The girl could see she had scored a winning point. She allowed herself a smile which bordered on gloating. ‘Would you like to see my references?’ she taunted.

Haydon’s eyes narrowed to slits. Light of battle was one thing. Triumph he did not like.

‘I’ll discuss that with Mrs Harding,’ he said.

‘Darling,’ said Viola again, her tone a command. ‘This is no time to get sidetracked.’

She moved, scarlet heels tapping on the glittering pavement, and aligned herself beside him. She looked the two girls up and down. She was very self-possessed.

‘You can’t leave that thing here.’ She did not even look at the battered van but it was clear what she meant.

‘Watch me,’ said the girl with the auburn hair.

Viola gave a faint smile, her superiority undented.

‘I’m sure you wouldn’t want it towed away.’

The girl snorted. ‘You can’t have a car towed away because it lets down the tone of the neighbourhood.’

Viola said briskly, ‘You would be surprised what I can do if I set my mind to it. Now tidy up your bits and pieces and move that thing.’

She turned away as if there was no more to be said. The auburn-haired girl did not agree.

She said with deceptive mildness, ‘Are you threatening me?’

Viola was taken aback. For the first time she looked uncertain. She turned to Haydon, laying her scarlet-tipped fingers on his arm beseechingly.

Even in his present jet lagged state it was an appeal to which he had to respond. He had been watching the sharp little exchange as if he was in a dream. Now he roused himself.

‘Miss Lennox is right. This is an area where the parking is reserved for residents,’ he said. ‘The police can remove anyone else.’

The girl bit her lip. She did not like it but she was clearly trying to contain her anger. ‘We won’t be here long. We’re only unloading.’

Suddenly all the tiredness was back. Haydon could feel himself swaying. He jerked himself upright and said more coldly than he meant, ‘Well, try to keep it civilised.’

The girl picked up a big piece of hardboard with a garish picture on one side of it and took a hasty step forward.

‘You mean like not throwing things?’ she asked sweetly tossing it at the other girl. Viola gave a small, ladylike scream. The other girl caught the picture, but only just.

All tiredness left Haydon abruptly. ‘That was a very childish thing to do.’

The girl’s eyes glittered. The tilt of that chin was now positively militant. She glared at Haydon.

‘Yes, wasn’t it?’ she agreed.

She picked up the easel. It was more unwieldy than the picture and rocked in her hands.

‘They say we should all release our childhood repressions,’ the girl said thoughtfully. She looked very young and determined. And not at all in control of the easel.

‘My car,’ screeched Viola, diving forward.

Haydon had a sudden, inexplicable desire to laugh. He turned his head away.

‘What would Madame Piroska have to say about that?’ he muttered.

But Viola was not listening. She had lost her air of superiority in simple alarm.

‘If you scratch my car, I’ll sue you till the pips squeak,’ she shouted.

The girl tossed back her auburn hair and cast her a look of unutterable scorn. Viola’s alarm escalated to panic.

‘You c-can’t,’ she stuttered.

The girl smiled. ‘You’d be surprised what I can do if I set my mind to it,’ she retorted with satisfaction.

Viola was pale. ‘That’s pure vandalism.’

Even the girl’s companion seemed a bit disconcerted.

‘Katie,’ she protested.

Haydon took charge.

‘This is nonsense. And you know it.’

He removed the easel from the girl’s hand with efficient ease. She glared, her eyes hot.

She said in a low, shaking voice, ‘Don’t you tell me what I know and don’t know.’

Haydon’s brows twitched together. The girl had been shaking with nerves at the start of the encounter. Now she was hell bent on war. It was amusing—and very odd. He knew that if he had not been so tired he would have got to the bottom of it. But those sleepless hours were catching up with him.

He said dismissively, ‘Then don’t behave like a fool.’ And turned away.

The girl stamped in temper. It was a hard stamp and it sent the easel rocking. Before Haydon knew what was happening, the thing had swung up in his hand and banged hard against the passenger door. There was a nasty silence as they all stared at the long, irregular scratch.

Viola let out a wail.

‘That’s torn it,’ said the frizzy-haired girl.

Furious with himself, Haydon cast the easel away from him. It fell squashily into the hedge.

‘If you have damaged my easel, you will replace it,’ announced the auburn-haired one. She was clearly on a roll.

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Haydon. He was no longer amused.

She showed her teeth in a smile that was an open challenge.

‘Just trying to keep things civilised,’ she mocked.

Their eyes locked. Haydon did not trust himself to speak. He turned on his heel and stormed into the house. Behind him the girl laughed.

He was so irritated that he forgot that he had refused Viola entry. With one last angry glance at her maltreated car, she strode into the house after him. Then Mrs Bates appeared in the hallway. Haydon’s irritation reached new heights. He turned.

‘I told you, Viola. No coffee. No heart-to-heart. Just go away,’ he said with great firmness.

‘But—’

He held the front door open for her. ‘Goodbye, Viola.’

‘Wow,’ said Andrea as they stormed off. ‘You really told him. I’ve never seen you like that.’

Katie leaned against the lamppost. Not just her hands, her whole body was shaking.

‘Nor have I,’ she said uncertainly. ‘I don’t know what came over me.’

Andrea pursed her lips. ‘Don’t you?’

‘No.’ Katie was honestly puzzled. ‘Do you?’

‘I’d say your hormones just met a worthy opponent,’ Andrea said cheerfully.

‘What?’ Katie was horrified.

Andrea laughed aloud.

They took everything inside. Eventually a fair amount of it was stashed in the hall while Katie decided what to do with it, but at least it was not littering the pavement any more. Katie began a systematic search for instant coffee.

Andrea looked round the chromium and white kitchen and words failed her.

‘It’s more like a laboratory than a kitchen,’ said Katie gloomily. ‘What’s more, the machines all look alike. I tried to wash a blouse in the cooker last night.’

Andrea shook her head. ‘The size of it,’ she said at last. ‘It’s a football pitch.’

Katie looked over her shoulder from the third cupboard door she had opened. ‘I’ll get plenty of exercise racing from the fridge to the stove,’ she agreed with a grin.

Andrea was awed. ‘If this place doesn’t teach you to cook, nothing will.’

‘Nothing will,’ Katie said firmly. The cupboard was full of gold-edged china. She shut the door and moved on. ‘If God had meant us to cook he wouldn’t have invented takeaway pizza.’

‘I wish I thought you didn’t mean that.’

Andrea taught Home Economics at the same school as Katie taught art and spent her spare time writing what she claimed to be the ultimate cookbook. In theory, Katie was illustrating it. But it had rapidly emerged that Katie did not know a sauce Béarnaise from a rice pudding. From time to time Andrea invited her home and did her best to remedy her education. But, as they both acknowledged, it was an uphill struggle.

Now Katie said cheerfully, ‘While I can work the microwave, I shan’t need anything else.’

Andrea shuddered.

‘As long as I can tell it from the burglar alarm, that is.’

‘Burglar alarm!’ Andrea was startled. She looked round as if she expected one of the silent machines to bite. ‘Is this stuff gold-plated or something?’

Katie shook her head. ‘It’s the area. Oh, they’ve got some antique furniture and a couple of good pictures. But mainly it’s because this is the sort of road that professional burglars like. Well, you saw what those two were like out there. There’s even a millionaire next door.’

‘Really? How do you know?’

‘Mrs Harding told me. Ah!’ She emerged from the seventh cupboard with a jar in her hand. ‘Coffee at last. Unless you want to hold out for freshly ground beans? There are bound to be some somewhere.’

‘Black, no sugar,’ said Andrea. Hard-working schoolteachers could not afford to be coffee snobs. She leaned on the counter as Katie plugged in the kettle. ‘Do you suppose that was him just now?’

‘Who? The millionaire?’ Katie turned back, startled by this novel thought. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t think so. The millionaire is quite old, I think. And antisocial.’

Andrea nodded. She was disappointed, but she was a realist. ‘He might have come on like Napoleon but he certainly wasn’t old.’

‘Nor antisocial,’ said Katie with irony. ‘Not with a blonde like that in tow.’

Andrea sighed. ‘She was a knockout, wasn’t she?’ Her tone was wistful.

Katie gave her a sharp glance. She knew Andrea was sensitive about her lack of height and her untameable hair.

‘Probably got ingrowing toenails,’ she said briskly. ‘And a heart like Cruella De Vil.’

Andrea laughed suddenly. ‘And you,’ she said, ‘have got a heart like chocolate fudge.’

Katie opened her eyes wide, disconcerted. ‘Me?’

‘You. I wouldn’t know what to do if I was a knockout blonde. But it’s nice of you to comfort me. That kettle has boiled by the way.’

Katie found mugs and spooned coffee granules into them. Andrea leaned her elbows on the counter.

‘You know, it’s odd,’ she mused. ‘You’re so gorgeous yourself. And yet you seem to know exactly what it’s like to be plain and difficult. I think that must be why the kids like you so much.’

Katie’s hands did not falter. ‘The kids like me,’ she said without excitement, ‘because they get to make a filthy mess in my class and they can bop around to Lucifer’s Eleven at the same time. Teenage heaven.’

She poured boiling water on the granules. Andrea took her mug.

‘And who brought the tapes of Lucifer’s Eleven in to school in the first place?’

Katie relaxed. She gave her wicked grin. ‘I like them.’

‘Your eardrums are depraved. I’m surprised Douglas hasn’t confiscated them.’

Katie tensed imperceptibly. ‘My eardrums?’

‘The tapes. I suppose he’s too relieved there’s one afternoon a week when the escape committee have a truce.’

Katie nodded. They taught at a big school with a lot of children from deprived families. Truancy was a problem.

‘I guess.’

‘In fact, Douglas must love you.’

Katie jumped. She disguised it by pretending that her coffee was too hot, but she was not sure Andrea was deceived. Douglas Grove’s attentions were becoming an embarrassment, especially as he was the headmaster. She did not know how much her colleagues had noticed. She did not want to give any reason to confirm whatever rumours there might be.

So she said lightly, ‘Me and Liam Brooker. He’s teaching the upper fourth salsa in their gym lesson.’

‘Liam Brooker is a maverick,’ Andrea said wistfully. She did not notice the strain in Katie’s voice. ‘Be warned. He’s also a ladies’ man.’

‘Not this lady,’ said Katie, relieved at the change of subject.

Andrea cocked an eyebrow. ‘No? You sure?’

‘Absolutely.’

The older girl looked at her curiously. ‘Why? I mean, he’s fun and he’s cool and he’s even good-looking in a battered sort of way. And you’re on the loose.’ She thought about it. ‘You haven’t got someone you’re hiding away, have you?’

Katie laughed. ‘No.’

‘Then why isn’t the dashing Liam in with a chance?’

Katie’s eyes danced. This at least was one area about which she had no secret traumas at all. ‘Three reasons. One—he doesn’t fancy me. Two—I don’t get involved with men I work with. Three—I don’t fancy him.’

Andrea was dissatisfied. ‘Why not? Every other woman in the school does.’ Although neither of them was going to admit it, this included Andrea herself.

Katie shrugged. ‘I guess I’m just different.’

‘Not that different,’ said Andrea drily. ‘You’re twenty-four. You’re unattached. Where’s the problem?’

Katie hesitated. ‘Let’s just say, I’d think very carefully before. I gave my heart.’

Andrea snorted loudly. ‘Who has time to think? You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘You could be right,’ Katie admitted. She pushed her half-drunk coffee away from her. ‘I’ll just put my painting stuff into the conservatory and then I’ll take you out for brunch. It’s really great of you to give me a hand like this.’

‘Any time,’ said Andrea, shrugging her shoulders. ‘Especially if you’re going to ask me over to play in this kitchen.’

Katie was stacking squares of hardboard and canvas under her arm.

‘Sure, if you want to,’ she said.

‘Really? Would it be all right?’

Katie was amused. ‘I’m house-sitting. I’m not in purdah. Mrs Harding said I could do what I want within reason.’

Andrea put down her own coffee and picked up the sketchbooks.

‘What does that mean? No Roman orgies?’

They went downstairs to the double-height conservatory. Katie dropped her load with relief and propped it behind a cane chair.

‘Well, not trash the place. And I can’t sublet, of course. Oh, and I’m not supposed to party loudly. The millionaire next door is freaky about noise.’

Andrea grinned and handed over the sketchbooks.

‘Kiss goodbye to Lucifer’s Eleven in the home, then,’ she said. ‘It’s going to be a long, boring summer.’

Haydon shut the door on Viola with finality. After a discreet couple of minutes Mrs Bates emerged from the kitchen.

‘You must be tired after your journey,’ she said. She was much too professional to refer to the altercation she could not have avoided overhearing. ‘Breakfast? Coffee?’

Haydon pushed a hand through his hair. He was beyond discretion. The Bateses had been with him a long time.

‘Women,’ he said explosively. ‘What I need is a strong drink. How is the whisky in the study?’

‘Ah.’ Mrs Bates looked uncomfortable. ‘Dr Davison arrived last night. He was working late and. . .’

Haydon sighed. Andrew Davison was an old friend and a distinguished researcher. But he left borrowed rooms in turmoil.

‘You mean the study looks like a cyclone hit it and you don’t even know where the whisky decanter is, let alone whether it’s full?’ he interpreted.

Mrs Bates chuckled. ‘That’s about the size of it.’

‘And I suppose Andrew is not up yet? So his papers are everywhere and you don’t like to tidy them in case you misplace something vital.’

Mrs Bates rode his annoyance with the ease of long practice. ‘You said yourself his work is very important.’

‘Yes.’ Haydon breathed hard. ‘I did, didn’t I? God preserve me from out of town friends.’

‘Why don’t you sit in the summerhouse?’ Mrs Bates suggested soothingly. ‘It’s a lovely morning and you’ll be quite comfortable. Bates put up the rocker. I’ll bring you out some breakfast.’

Haydon gave her a narrow-eyed look. ‘Alicia, are you pacifying me?’

‘Just trying to be practical,’ the housekeeper assured him. She added temptingly, ‘The coffee’s fresh-brewed.’

He flung up his hands. ‘Oh, very well. Whatever you say. Just make sure everyone keeps away from me until I feel human again.’

In the end Andrea would not stay for brunch. The dilapidated van was borrowed and she had to return it to her cousin’s boss. She hesitated, though, looking at Katie with concern.

‘Are you sure you’ll be all right? I mean, I know it’s a smashing gaff and everything. But it’s not like sharing, after all.’

Katie made a face. ‘After the last three months I’m never going to share again,’ she said with resolution. She hugged Andrea. ‘Believe me, being on my own is going to be a luxury.’ And, seeing her friend was still doubtful, she added, ‘First I’m going to have a Jacuzzi for the first time in my life. And then I’m going to paint the lilac tree in the garden. Heaven. Really.’

‘Oh, all right,’ said Andrea. ‘I suppose you know what you’re doing. But if you get lonely, just give me a ring.’

‘I won’t get lonely,’ said Katie.

Haydon was passing the telephone on his way to the garden when it rang. On pure instinct he picked it up.

Viola did not even wait for him to give the number. ‘Don’t think you’ve seen the last of me,’ she hissed.

She had to be on her mobile phone.

‘You shouldn’t drive and telephone at the same time,’ Haydon said calmly.

She ignored that. ‘I’m sending you the bill for the damage to my car.’

He sighed. ‘And I’ll be happy to pay it.’

‘You’d better.’

Haydon was so tired he felt light-headed. This, he thought, is ludicrous. He said so.

Viola gave a bark of unamused laughter. ‘It certainly is. I thought we were going to have a sensible talk.’

‘We did,’ Haydon said levelly. ‘There is no more to be said.’

‘Now that’s just where you’re wrong. I have plenty more to say.’

He could believe it. He said wearily, ‘Just send me the bill for the car, Viola.’

‘Oh, no. I’m not letting you walk away from this.’

He stiffened. But before he could demand an explanation, she spat ‘You owe me, Haydon. You’ll pay, believe me.’

And she cut the connection.