Lucy Gordon - Rescued by the Brooding Tycoon

As they left the house Harriet happened to notice the children exchanging glances, and was almost certain that she heard Mark whisper, ‘I told you she’d come.’

On the journey home they made her talk about Herringdean, yearning for the moment when they could look down at it from high in the air. When that moment finally came they were speechless, gazing open-mouthed at so much beauty. Darius, watching them, understood.

‘That’s what I thought when I first saw it,’ he said. ‘The loveliest place in the world.’

They nodded agreement, but Harriet detected a slight bafflement in their manner. Their father had actually said that? Who was he trying to kid?

At last it was time to land and make their way to Giant’s Beacon. As she had expected, their first meeting with Phantom was joyful. Since he asked nothing better than to be the centre of attention all the time and they had lots of attention to give, they forged an instant three-way friendship.

After supper she and Kate saw them to bed with the promise of plenty of action next day. They were already yawning and climbed into bed without argument.

Downstairs, Darius poured her a glass of wine and raised his own glass in salute.

‘To you,’ he said. ‘Without you, none of this would be happening.’

‘But it is happening. Now it’s up to you to make the best of it.’

‘Did you see their faces when I told them I felt the same as they when I first saw Herringdean? They didn’t really believe I could feel that way.’ He added wryly, ‘Any more than you did.’

‘I wish you’d stop brooding about that. It was a lifetime ago. You’re not the same man.’

‘Maybe not,’ he murmured. ‘But who am I now?’

‘You’ll find that out with them.’

‘And you?’

‘No. This is you and them. I’m not really a part of it.’

‘That’s not true and you know it,’ he said quietly.

Suddenly she was faced with a dilemma. His words offered her the chance to turn the conversation in a direction that tempted her. Try as she might to stop her heart inclining towards him, it seemed to have a life of its own, beating more intensely when he was near, bringing her alive in his presence in a way that wasn’t true at any other time. A little cleverness, a little scheming, and she could secure him. It would be so easy, if only-

If only she could bring herself to settle for second best, for a marriage in which she gave love in return only for gratitude.

‘Why did you sigh?’ he asked. ‘Did I offend you by saying that?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘I really forced you here against your will, didn’t I? I’m sorry.’

‘There’s nothing to be sorry for. Stop being so gloomy. Now, I’m going to take Phantom out for a walk before I go to bed.’

‘I’ll come with you.’

‘Better not,’ she said quickly. ‘He wants me to himself for a while. Goodnight.’

She slipped away before he could say any more, escaping from the danger that always hovered in his presence these days, hurrying out of the house, signalling Phantom to follow her. Darius watched them run away in the moonlight, and only when they were out of sight did he climb the stairs to find two little faces looking down at him.

‘Dad, Dad! ’

‘What are you two doing up? You should be asleep.’

‘Harry’s gone,’ Frankie wailed. ‘She took Phantom with her.’

‘Don’t panic. They’ve just gone for a walk. They’ll be back.’

‘Promise!’ she demanded.

‘Word of honour. And if she doesn’t I’ll go and fetch them. Now, back to bed.’

They vanished obediently and he, being naïve, assumed they had obeyed him. It was only later, as he strolled in the garden watching for Harriet’s return, that he realised they were looking out of the window over his head.

‘Is she coming yet?’ Mark called.

Darius was about to admonish them when he had the strangest sensation that Harriet was there, reading his mind, shaking her head in disapproval. Enlightenment dawned.

‘Come on down and we’ll wait together,’ he called back.

They darted away, appearing in the garden a moment later. Kate brought out milkshakes and they sat around a small table, chatting to pass the time. Darius described his first encounter with Phantom. Once, the thought of anyone, even-or especially-his own children-knowing about that undignified incident would have filled him with horror. Now, he found himself describing it in detail, relishing their shrieks of laughter.

Harriet would have been proud of him, he felt.

‘Perhaps we should go with her next time,’ Frankie suggested.

‘You don’t have to keep guard over her,’ Darius said. ‘She’s not going to run away.’

‘Really? She’ll stay with us for ever and ever?’

‘That’s for her to say,’ Darius said quietly.

A mysterious understanding was creeping over him. Like himself, they had seen Harriet in a light that set her apart from everyone else, as though she possessed a special power that acted like a shield against all the evil of the world. Those she defended were safe. Those she loved were fortunate beyond their dreams.

The difference between them was that they had seen at once what he had taken time to understand. And that delay might be his undoing. But for now he must profit by her influence to find the right words for his children’s questions. He crossed his fingers, hoping against hope for wisdom.

But before he could speak Harriet again intervened to save him.

‘Here she is,’ Frankie cried, bounding up and pointing to two figures emerging from the trees.

She and Mark made off at top speed and in the riot of noisy delight nobody noticed Darius closing his eyes and thanking a merciful fate. When he was calm again he strolled towards her, calling, ‘Nice to see you back.’

Harriet smiled at him. ‘Nice to be back,’ she said.

His eyes held hers. ‘Really?’

‘Yes, really. Right, you kids. Bed.’

When that job was done she leaned against the wall, yawning. ‘I’m nodding off right here.’

‘Go and get some sleep, because you’re going to need it.’

‘You too. Goodnight.’

Harriet slept until the early hours, then got up and glanced out of the window. From here she could just see a glow of light that she knew came from Darius’s office.

Throwing on her dressing gown, she slipped downstairs. From behind the door she could hear him on the phone.

‘I accessed the website half an hour ago and there’s no doubt-I know how to fight this-I’ve already put things in place that’ll make them think twice-don’t worry, I’ve got it in hand.’

He sounded almost like the man she’d heard before vowing, ‘No mercy’, but she sensed something different. The cruelty had gone from his voice and only the determination remained.

As he hung up she opened the door and found him staring at the screen. He looked round and smiled wanly.

‘Don’t you ever sleep?’ she asked.

‘I’m trying to catch up at night so that I can be free during the day. There are things I still have to do.’

‘You poor soul. Can I do anything to help?’

‘I’d be glad of a coffee.’

She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a full mug a few minutes later, only to find him dozing. She set down the mug and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, so that he awoke at once, looking up at her with a faint smile. She had never seen him so vulnerable, never been so dangerously close to loving him.

‘I’m going to do it,’ he said. ‘You’ll be proud of me, teacher.’

‘I was proud of you tonight,’ she said. ‘When I saw you sitting outside with them, cracking jokes. You must have been telling them a great story to make them laugh like that.’