Lucy Gordon - A Winter Proposal / His Diamond Bride - A Winter Proposal / His Diamond Bride

‘You’re having a bad day for insults, aren’t you?’

‘Between you and him, yes.’

‘Then I may as well add to my crimes by pointing out that he didn’t walk away from you, he ran away at full speed. Perhaps I’ve hired the wrong person.’

‘You could be right. Desperate measures are called for. I must lure my prey into a net from which he cannot escape.’

‘Always assuming that he returns at all,’ Roscoe pointed out. ‘You may have to go after him.’

‘Please!’ She appeared horrified. ‘I never “go after” a man. They come after me.’

‘Always?’ he asked, eyes narrowed.

‘If I want them to. Sometimes I don’t bother.’ Thoroughly enjoying his discomfiture, she smiled. ‘And never mind condemning me as a hussy, because that’s exactly what you hired me for.’

‘Is there any point in my defending myself?’ he growled.

‘None whatever,’ she assured him.

She was curious to know what he would say next, but Charlie spoiled things by reappearing, cursing because his prey had escaped.

‘Did he owe you very much?’ Pippa asked, turning from Roscoe with reluctance.

‘A few thousand.’

‘Perhaps we can recover it by legal action,’ she suggested.

‘Ah…no,’ he said awkwardly. ‘It’s a bit…well…’

‘All right, let’s leave it,’ she said quickly. ‘The sooner we get down to business, the better.’

‘Yes, we must have a long talk over dinner,’ Charlie said. ‘The Diamond is the best place in town. Come on, let’s go.’

‘First you ask Miss Jenson if she is free,’ Roscoe said firmly. ‘If she is, then you ask if she can endure an evening with us.’

‘Us? Ah, well—I didn’t actually mean that you should come with—’

‘I know exactly what you meant, and you can forget that idea. Miss Jenson, could you put up with the two of us for a few more hours?’

‘I’ll do my best,’ she said solemnly. ‘We have serious matters to discuss.’

‘I agree, so we can forget The Diamond,’ Roscoe said, taking out his cellphone and dialling. ‘Hello, Mother? Yes, it’s me. We’re on our way home and we have a guest. I’ve found a first-rate lawyer for Charlie, so roll out the red carpet for her. Fine. See you soon.’ He ended the call.

Charlie, who had been spluttering fruitlessly, now found his voice. ‘What about how I feel? ‘ he demanded.

‘The Diamond is no place for a serious discussion.’

‘And doesn’t Pippa get a say?’

‘Miss Jenson has already done us the honour of agreeing to dine with us. Since this is a business meeting, I’m sure she feels that the venue is irrelevant.’

‘Certainly,’ Pippa said in her briskest tone. ‘I have no opinion either way.’

‘You’re going to just let him walk over you?’ Charlie demanded.

Pippa couldn’t resist. Giving Roscoe a cheeky sideways look, she leaned towards Charlie and said, ‘It can’t be helped. In my job you get used to clients who want to rule the roost.’ She added conspiratorially, ‘There are ways of dealing with them.’

The young man choked with laughter, jerking his head towards Roscoe. ‘Think you can get him on the ropes?’

‘Think I can’t?’

She was watching Roscoe for his reaction. There was none. His eyes were on her but his face revealed nothing. Clearly, the notion of tussling with her, whether physically or emotionally, caused him no excitement.

‘Just promise that I can be there to see you crush him beneath your heel,’ Charlie implored.

‘When you two have finished,’ Roscoe said in a bored voice.

‘Just a little innocent fun,’ Charlie protested.

‘Sorry, I don’t do fun.’ Roscoe’s voice was so withering that Pippa threw him another quick glance. For a moment his face was tight, hard, older.

‘That’s right, he doesn’t,’ Charlie said.

‘OK, I’m here,’ said a voice overhead.

Charlie groaned, then bounced up as he recognised the man who owed him money, now holding out an envelope.

‘I only ran to get this,’ he said. ‘I always meant to repay you.’ He dropped the envelope and fled. The reason became obvious a moment later.

‘There’s only half here,’ Charlie yelped. ‘Hey, come back!’ He resumed the pursuit.

Alone again, Roscoe and Pippa eyed each other, suspicion on one side, defiance on the other.

‘How am I doing?’ she asked.

‘You’ve certainly got his attention. I’d give a lot to know what he’s thinking.’

‘He believes what he wants to believe,’ she said with a small flash of anger. ‘Men always do. Didn’t you know that? I know it. And so does any woman who’s ever had a man in her life.’

‘And when a woman knows it she makes use of it? ‘

‘She does if she has any sense of self-preservation. And may I remind you again, Mr Havering, that I’m doing what you hired me to do? You’re paying for my skills, but you don’t get to dictate what skills I use or how I use them.’

‘Don’t I?’

‘No, because if you try I’ll simply step aside and let Charlie see you pulling my strings.’

He drew a sharp breath. ‘You really know how to fight dirty.’

‘Have you only just realised that?’

He regarded her. ‘I think I have.’

‘Good, then we understand each other. Now he’s coming back. Smile at me so that he’ll know that all is well between us.’

‘I wonder if that day will ever come,’ he said softly.

But the next moment he was smiling as she’d suggested, even talking pleasantly, loud enough for Charlie to hear. ‘My mother’s housekeeper is an expert cook. I promise that you’ll enjoy tonight’s meal, Miss Havering.’

‘Pippa,’ she said. ‘After all, we’re fighting on the same side.’

His eyes warned her not to push her luck, but he only inclined his head before rising and saying, ‘I’ll get the car. Be waiting for me outside and don’t take too long.’

She longed to salute him ironically and say, Yes sir, no sir. I obey, sir. But he was gone before she had the chance.

‘That’s his way,’ Charlie said, correctly interpreting her seething. ‘People give up arguing. You will too.’

‘Will I? I wonder. Did you catch up with that man?’

‘No, he escaped again. But at least I got some of the money. And now we’re alone, can I tell you that you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever met?’

‘No, you can’t tell me that,’ she said. ‘For one thing, I already know and, for another, your brother wouldn’t approve.’

‘Oh, forget him. What does he have to do with us? ‘

Pippa frowned. ‘He’s protecting you. Don’t you owe him some kind of consideration?’

‘Why? He’s only thinking of himself. The good name of Havering must be defended at all costs. The truth is, he cares for nobody.’

‘And nobody cares for him?’ she murmured slowly.

Charlie shrugged. ‘Who knows? He doesn’t let anyone inside.’

It sounded so convincing, but suddenly there was the whispered memory of Roscoe saying, ‘If anything happens to Charlie, it would break my mother’s heart… At all costs I want to save her from more suffering.’

This wasn’t a man who cared nothing for anyone. He might care so much that he only admitted it under stress.

Or perhaps Charlie was right. Which of the two was the real man? Impossible to say. Unless.

Suddenly the waiter hurried up to them, almost stuttering in his agitation. ‘He’s in the car…says he told you to be out there waiting for him. He’s good ‘n mad.’

They ran outside to where Roscoe’s car was by the kerb, engine running. When they had tumbled into the back seat, Pippa said politely, ‘I’m really sorry,’ but Roscoe only grunted, his eyes on the traffic as he edged his way into the flow. She supposed she couldn’t blame him.