Free In the Millionaire's Possession by Sara Craven Page B

falling apart — and you sound so bloody casual. ’

    She gave him an inimical look. ‘ And, for the record, there is no “ both ” . There ’ s myself alone, and no one else. ’

    ‘ Are you so sure of that? ’

    ‘ What are you saying? That he ’ ll dump this new lady too, and come back to me? ’ She shook her head. ‘ I don ’ t think so. And do you know why that is, Monsieur Delaroche? It ’ s because I lack the necessary social skills. Also, I ’ m frigid — and she isn ’ t, ’ she added, her voice cracking. Then stopped, horrified at what she ’ d let him see.

    ‘ He told you that? ’ Marc Delaroche raised his eyebrows. ‘ But how can he possibly know? ’

    She stared at him in silence, almost paralysed with shame as she interpreted what he ’ d just said to her. Oh God, she thought, he — he knows I ’ m still a virgin. And I wish I ’ d died before he told me so.

    But you were the one who told him , said a small cold voice in her head. You let it slip the last time he was here. And he said he ’ d be patient. How could you have forgotten that?

    She ’ d tried to block out every detail of their previous encounter, but that was something she should have remembered. Because it spelled danger.

    ‘ I understand now why you pushed him into the lake, ’ Marc added.

    ‘ I didn ’ t push him, ’ Helen said icily. ‘ He slipped. ’

    ‘ Quel dommage , ’ he murmured. ‘ And, no — he will certainly not come back, ’ he went on calmly. ‘ But for a reason far removed from the ones you have given. ’

    She said, ‘ Oh? ’ her voice wooden.

    The dark eyes studied her. ‘ He did not tell you, peut-être , the identity of his new fiancée? Then I shall. Her name is Amanda Clayburn. ’

    ‘ Clayburn? ’ Helen repeated, bewildered. ‘ You — you mean she ’ s related to Sir Donald Clayburn, the chairman of the bank? ’

    ‘ His only daughter. ’ His grin was cynical. ‘ Your Nigel is an ambitious man, ma mie . He has chosen money and the fast track to the boardroom. ’

    ‘ No, ’ she said. ‘ He couldn ’ t. He wouldn ’ t . And, anyway, he doesn ’ t need to do that. He has money of his own. ’

    ‘ Which he prefers to keep, sans doute . ’ He bent and added another handful of twigs to the fire. ‘ But it is all true. I have a colleague with contacts at the bank, and he informs me their affaire has been an open secret for weeks. She is wild and spoiled, this Amanda, and her father, they say, is glad she is marrying before she disgraces him openly. ’

    ‘ Obviously a marriage made in heaven. ’ The words cut at her, but she refused to wince. Instead, she threw back her head. ‘ Monteagle and Nigel — the two things I care most about in the world — I ’ ve lost them both. ’

    ‘ I notice, ’ he said, ‘ you place the house before your fiancé. ’

    ‘ Yes, ’ she said. ‘ Nigel said that too. He said that because of Monteagle I would never be capable of loving anyone properly. All in all, it was a pretty comprehensive condemnation. And do you know the worst of it, Monsieur Delaroche? You — you were here to watch it happening. ’ She almost choked on the words. ‘ You — of all the people in the world. You ’ re like some terrible jinx — do you know that? — because each time you appear in my life, everything goes wrong. ’

    She punched her fist into the palm of her other hand. ‘ Well, you ’ ve had your fun, monsieur , if that ’ s what you came for, so now you can go. I need to be on my own. Even you should be able to appreciate that, ’ she added burningly.

    His own glance was cool. ‘ You have a strange idea of how I choose to amuse myself, ma chère , ’ he drawled. ‘ And, although I am desolate to grieve you further, I must tell you I have no intention of leaving yet. Because I came not just to warn you, but also to offer my help. ’

    ‘ Oh, of course, ’ she said. ‘ You spoke up for me at the committee — you