Part 7 (1/2)

Although Kate had insisted that there was no need for him to wait, Alex had hung about the school gates for over an hour while she and Joanne had their interview with Mr Coulthard, Joanne's head teacher.

And it was just as well he had, Alex reflected now, glancing once again at Kate's white face. The head teacher had proved to be tough and intractable, and she had taken his decision badly. He also knew she blamed herself for Joanne's behaviour and no amount of persuasion on either his or Joanne's part would change her mind.

Joanne, herself, had proved surprisingly resilient, though Alex suspected she might behave somewhat differently in the privacy of her own room at home. But she seemed to realise how upset her mother was and in consequence she'd kept her own feelings to herself.

Alex admired her sensitivity, and after they'd dropped the girl at the flat he'd done his utmost to convince Kate that, far from letting her daughter down, she'd given her values anyone would admire. But he couldn't do anything about Joanne's suspension, or make Kate see that Mr Coulthard had really had no choice.

Now, he realised, he didn't want to return her to the office. Despite her a.s.sertion that she'd be better off at work, he was of the opinion that she needed a break. Her mother, whom he'd met briefly that morning, had suggested that he might be agreeable to giving her the rest of the day off, but although he had willingly concurred Kate had insisted on returning to the stables.

'Have lunch with me,' he offered abruptly as he swung the Range Rover between the stone gateposts, and Kate turned to give him a startled look.

'Lunch?' she echoed, and he nodded. 'Oh, really, that's not necessary. Um-I've got some biscuits in my office. That's all I need.'

Alex slowed the car. 'Is that what you usually have for lunch? Biscuits?'

'Well-no.' Kate moistened her lips. 'As-as a matter of fact, I usually get a sandwich from the van.' A firm from King's Montford delivered fresh sandwiches every morning, but of course today she hadn't been there when they came round.

'Then why not join me today?' Alex persisted, allowing the engine to idle. 'Mrs Muir will be glad to have someone to cater for, for a change.'

Kate drew a breath. She was hesitating, and Alex pressed his advantage. 'You can tell me what Coulthard's going to do about the other girls who were involved.'

Kate sighed. 'Are you really interested?'

'I am, as a matter of fact. I like Joanne.'

'And she likes you,' murmured Kate almost inaudibly, and then blushed when she realised he'd heard her. 'Well-if you're sure your housekeeper won't object.'

'It is my house,' Alex reminded her mildly, turning up towards the main building. He parked on the paved forecourt. 'Come on. You look as if you could use a drink.'

Mrs Muir appeared as they entered the large reception hall, where a Waterford crystal chandelier was suspended from the ceiling of the second floor. As the little woman came to meet them, he was aware of Kate looking about her with interest and for the first time in years he wondered what someone else thought of his home.

Agnes Muir was thin and angular, not at all the rosy-cheeked retainer so lovingly described in popular fiction. Yet, for all that, she was loyal, and she had a kind and generous nature, and it had hurt her very badly when Rachel was taken away.

'Och, there you are, Mr Kellerman!' she exclaimed, her eyes darting swiftly between them, and he guessed she was curious about why he'd brought Kate here. 'Mrs Sheridan's been on the phone half a dozen times this morning already. Didn't you promise her you'd go and look at her new colt?'

'd.a.m.n.' He'd forgotten all about Lacey's invitation, and he saw Kate turn to give him a doubtful glance. He should have rung Lacey before he left, but he'd been thinking of other things at the time. 'Not to worry,' he added rea.s.suringly, more for Kate's benefit than his housekeeper's. 'If she rings again, I'll explain that I had to go out.'

'Very well.' Mrs Muir folded her hands at her waist, and he knew she was waiting for him to tell her where he'd been. Either that or introduce her to his companion, he conceded without rancour.

Agnes had begun to consider herself the mistress of the house.

'If you'd rather-' began Kate awkwardly, and he realised she'd misunderstood his hesitation, probably imagining he would rather have kept his appointment with Lacey.

'I wouldn't,' he a.s.sured her, taking her arm to bring her forward, and then frowning when she jerked away.

But he had no time to consider that rejection, or what it might mean, and, keeping his temper in check, he introduced her to the housekeeper without delay. 'Mrs Hughes works with Sam, as you know,' he added, aware that his tone was clipped and formal. 'I've invited her for lunch. Is that a problem?'

'As if it would be!' exclaimed Agnes, evidently liking what she'd seen of Kate. 'If you'll give me thirty minutes, I'll have the meal ready for you.'

'Thanks.'

Alex knew his voice was curt, but he couldn't help it. He hadn't realised until then how much Kate's confidence in him had meant. But the way she'd pulled away, as if she was revolted by his touch, had dealt him quite a blow, and he wondered if she'd been fooling him all along.

The thought was repellent, and rather than allow it to fester he pushed it a side and led the way into the library, which was situated at the front of the house. The leather-bound volumes on the shelves were seldom moved, but the room was one of his favourites, the open fire in the huge hearth giving it a warmth and familiarity he normally enjoyed.

'What would you like to drink?' he asked, moving to a cabinet in the corner, where a selection of bottles and decanters occupiedasilver tray. There was a built-in fridge below which Mrs Muir kept stocked with beer and mixers, despite her contention that Alex drank too much.

'Oh-just an orange juice, please.'

Kate was hovering in the entrance, and he wondered if she was afraid he might jump her if she closed the door. He might, too, he thought aggressively, if only to punish her for treating him like one of the untouchables, but then he saw her anxious face and his anger cooled.

'Orange juice,' he said, bending to swing open the door of the cool-box. He found what he wanted, flicked the tab, and poured the contents into a stemmed gla.s.s. 'Is that okay?'

'Thanks.'

She took the gla.s.s from him, but this time he made sure their fingers didn't touch. If she thought he'd invited her here for any ulterior motive, she could think again. He'd felt sorry for her, that was all. He'd have done the same for anyone.

Like Alicia...

He scowled. He didn't want to think about her now. He didn't want to remember how she'd deceived him, too. All that talk about her husband beating her; how she was too afraid to go on living at home. He should have put her in touch with social services or one of those hostels that catered for battered wives, instead of giving her temporary accommodation in his home.

The memory of how she'd duped him caused him to regard Kate with even less sympathy. What if she was only here to see how much she could get out of him? He still wasn't entirely satisfied she'd told him the truth about taking this job.

'You've got a lovely home,' she murmured as he was opening a bottle of beer for himself. 'Is-is the house very old?'

'Parts of it date back to the seventeenth century,' he told her coolly. He took a swig of beer from the bottle and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. 'Thankfully, my grandfather decided to modernise the old place. Much as I appreciate its history, it's b.l.o.o.d.y hard to keep it warm.'

Kate smiled. 'I love open fires, don't you?' she said, gesturing towards the logs burning in the grate. 'We just have electric heating at the flat.'

Alex watched her. 'And you live there with your mother and your daughter?'

'That's right. I couldn't have got-got a job without her help.'

Now why did he think she had been going to say something other than that she'd been able to get a job? he wondered. There was no doubt that when Joanne was younger she'd have needed a babysitter for the child. He lifted the bottle to his lips and took another swallow. He was letting his irritation at her edginess affect his mood.

'Why don't you sit down?' he suggested, gesturing towards an armchair nearer the fire, and although he was sure she would have preferred to stand she moved to take the seat.

'I envy you all these books,' she remarked rather nervously, when he came to stand in front of the fire. 'I've always loved books and reading.' She grimaced. 'I just wish Joanne felt the same.'

Alex hesitated, and then, because he wasn't naturally aggressive, he subsided into the chair across the hearth. 'I shouldn't worry,' he said, with rather more warmth. 'Maybe being suspended will prove a G.o.dsend in the long run.'

'How can you say that?'

She wasn't prepared to be polite where her daughter was concerned and Alex noticed how her eyes sparkled when she was provoked. He found himself wondering how she would look if he was making love to her. Would her mouth taste as hot and sensual as it looked right now?

'I mean,' he said mildly, 'it will give her time to consider her options, and if Coulthard's going to put her into a different cla.s.s next term it will be like a new start.'

Kate hunched her shoulders. 'I suppose.'

'Well, he had to do something, Kate!' Alex exclaimed reasonably, and then cursed himself when her arching brows told him she'd noted the familiarity. 'Shoplifting is a serious offence,' he added, trying to cover himself. 'If he'd let her off, he'd have had to let the other girls off as well.'