Free A Pretend Engagement by Jessica Steele Page B

about her men-friends, that she was telling him of Martin Walker. `So I'm a bit off men just now-present company excepted,' she had told him with a smile, knowing instinctively that Russell felt the same as she-that they were friends and would never be, or want to be, more than that. She had an idea anyhow that he was still not over the woman whom he had once `come close' to marrying.

    They had dawdled over dinner and had dawdled over coffee, but at half past ten had stood in the hotel's car park about to part. Russell had said he was working in the north of England for the next few weeks, but would ring Aldwyn House on his return on the off-chance that she might be there.

    `You never know,' she had answered lightly, and they had thanked each other for a pleasant evening, kissed cheeks, and he had stood in the car park and watched as she had driven away.

    To her surprise the outside front porch light had been on when she'd reached Aldwyn House. She'd been surprised at Leon Beaumont's act of thoughtfulness. It had not been on when she had left. She had found she was smiling as she parked her car and went in.

    Her temporary employer had not yet retired for the night. By his normal lifestyle she guessed that eleven o'clock at night was early. She had noticed that the drawing room light was on. She had gone in. He had been reading, but had lowered his book to look at her, his eyes taking in the curve of a smile still on her mouth.

    `You seem in good humour,' he remarked off-handedly.

    Instantly Varnie was ready to rise. But, when never before had she bitten back some 'lippy' retort, she discovered, most weirdly, that she did not want to fight with him.

    `You know how it is: good food, good wine, g '

    `Good company?' he finished for her-and she just had to burst out laughing. They might live in the same house, temporarily, but no way could they be said to enjoy each other's company.

    `No offence,' she said.

    `None taken,' he replied mildly, his eyes flicking from her laughing mouth to her sparkling eyes. `You haven't imbibed too much, I hope?"

    'With these bendy roads to contend with?' she asked. He almost smiled. Her heart gave the most idiotic hiccup. Br can I get you anything-before I g-go up?' she enquired, feeling oddly breathless all at once.

    `Thank you, no,' he replied, and she suddenly felt a need to get out of there and turned to leave the drawing room. `Goodnight, Varnie,' he bade her quietly.

    'Goodnight-Leon,' she managed, and went quickly.

    She had not fallen asleep straight away. Had been awake for quite some while, her thoughts not on the man she had spent her evening with, but the man who had put the porch light on to guide her home. Stuff and nonsense, she ridiculed herself now, springing out of bed. She went to have her shower, but had no clear idea of what she was `stuff and nonsensing' about. Ridiculous!

    Even more ridiculous, she found-and could not quite believe it, was that she was feeling most peculiarly shy about seeing Leon again. Shy? Honestly! She had never been shy! It must be the fact that they had been cooped up in the same house together for days on end.

    Though when Varnie tried to analyze that thought she realized, since Leon was shut up in the study each day for hours at stretch, about the only time they were in each other's company for any prolonged length of time was when they breakfasted together. Which made the whole idea that she might feel shy with him just that utter nonsense.

    Utter nonsense or not, Varnie found that the only way to counter that shy feeling was to be as off-hand as he had appeared to be when she had first entered the drawing room last night.

    As usual he was in the kitchen before her, and poured her a cup of coffee. `Breakfast won't be long,' she said shortly. The kitchen was large; he seemed to fill it.

    `I thought you hadn't drunk too much?' he answered, his tone equally short. `I didn't!' she snapped.

    `Then you're doing a fine impression of