Mirry flushed. ‘No, of course I don’t, but I’m a woman and I know in her position I wouldn’t have been able to give up my baby either, in spite of the difficulties of being a single mother.’
Something flickered in those silvery-grey eyes and then was gone, his face completely expressionless as he asked, ‘And in my mother’s place would you have handed the child you couldn’t bear to part with over to a series of unsupervised au pair girls? Would you have packed him off to boarding-school before he was eight years old and made it obvious he was a damned nuisance when he had to be at home for the school holidays?’
He spoke dispassionately, but Mirry was appalled at the picture he painted. ‘That—that happened to you?’ she whispered. ‘Oh, Jay, if only your father had known…’
‘You think he would have cared?’
His tone was so disbelieving that she said fiercely, ‘Yes! Yes, of course, he would. He’d have moved heaven and earth—’
‘Since it wouldn’t have taken anything like that much effort to find out how my mother was spending his money,’ Jay dismissed, ‘you must forgive me if I’m not convinced.’
Mirry opened her mouth to argue the point, then closed it again. Maybe David should have asserted himself more over his son’s upbringing. She sighed, remembering her mother telling her it had been David who had been the vulnerable one in that affair. She said slowly, ‘Your father was a very innocent man in many ways. I don’t think it would have occurred to him that your mother wasn’t giving you all the loving care you needed, not when she had always refused to give you up.’
Jay merely shrugged, as if bored with the conversation. ‘Oh, well, it hardly matters now.’
‘Of course it matters—’ Mirry began distressfully, when the door opened with a rush and an eager voice said:
‘I got back earlier than I expected, Jay, and when I saw the lights on and the car outside…’
Annabel came right into the room, closing the door behind her, glancing quickly at Mirry then back to Jay, her expression one of expectant curiosity. ‘Hello, Mirry. I hope I’m not interrupting…’
Mirry watched, hiding her frustration, as Jay sprang to his feet with pleased relief. ‘We were just having a drink. Come and join us, Annabel.’ He urged her into his own place on the sofa and crossed to the drinks tray. ‘What will you have?’
‘Oh, my usual, please, Jay. That’s if you’re sure I’m not in the way? When I recognised the car outside I thought you must be discussing the conversion plans. Does that mean you’ve finally decided to go ahead with it?’
Some of the warmth faded from Jay’s face as he said repressively, ‘I’ve not thought any more about that, let alone had reason to discuss it.’
‘Oh.’ Annabel’s disappointment was apparent, and in the sidelong glance she flicked at Mirry was the unspoken question: well, what have you been talking about, then? And maybe her piqued curiosity was justified, Mirry thought with a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. If Annabel felt able to walk into the house unannounced and be sure of the kind of welcome she had met with from Jay, then their relationship must be deepening rapidly.
‘I gave Jay a lift home from the Mintos’, that’s all,’ she explained hurriedly, pushing herself up from the low couch. ‘And you’re not interrupting at all, Annabel. It’s time I was leaving.’
Annabel looked pleased, and, expecting to see the same feeling reflected in Jay’s expression as he took her glass, she was surprised to see his mouth drawn into a tight line. ‘You don’t have to rush off, Mirry,’ he protested.
The thought of playing gooseberry, even for a few minutes, was more than she could stomach. ‘I’ve still got to get Simon’s pride and joy home safely. No, don’t bother to see me out, Jay. I’m sure you and Annabel have plenty to talk about. Goodnight.’ She hurried to the door without looking at either of them again, almost running as she crossed the big hall, the gravel spurting from beneath the Lotus’s wheels as she accelerated away. Because another thought had just occurred to her; if Annabel was sure enough of her welcome to walk into Jay’s home unannounced at this time of night, were they already lovers?
As she had anticipated, Mirry thoroughly enjoyed driving the Lotus back to London, though she did have a few hairy moments, feeling horribly close to the ground and vulnerable compared to the juggernaut lorries. But she had timed it well and only had half an hour to hang about at the airport before she saw Simon, even more handsome in his uniform, hurrying towards her.
‘You made it in one piece, then?’ The relief on his face was evidence that he’d felt some concern, but, grinning at him, Mirry pretended those qualms had been only for his car.
‘As you see, and not a dent, not a scratch, not even a fingerprint. Was it a good flight?’
‘Hot and uneventful.’ Even so, on the drive into London he kept her entertained with some of his repeatable experiences.
Simon’s flat was in Fulham, and at that time in the afternoon he was able to find a parking space quite close. Taking his flight bag and Mirry’s overnight bag out of the boot, he shepherded her into the lift and up to the fifth floor. The stale air of rooms shut up for several weeks met them as he pushed open the front door. Mirry wrinkled her nose, and while Simon bent to pick up the mail that had accumulated in his absence she crossed to the sitting-room window and flung it open.
Looking around she said, ‘This place doesn’t look any more like a home than it did when you moved in five years ago.’
Simon looked up from sorting through his letters. ‘Why? What’s the matter with it?’
‘It’s so—so bare! Why don’t you have more personal things about? A few pictures on the walls, some ornaments and plants. Even a couple of bright cushions on the sofa.’
‘You could be right about the cushions,’ he conceded, ‘but spare me the knick-knacks. Anyway, I never spend enough time here to look on it as home.’
And Mirry was aware that when he was here, it wasn’t always alone, having often had her phone calls to him answered by a variety of female voices. Thinking of her two eldest brothers happily married, and of Andrew, who would like to be if only Annabel felt the same way, she asked curiously, ‘Haven’t you ever felt the urge to settle down with one woman, Simon? To make a real home?’
He grimaced, then surprised her by saying, ‘Chance’d be a fine thing! If I found the right girl, how does a gypsy like me compete with the home-based chaps?’
His attention returned to his mail. ‘Hand-delivered! P’raps some little chick’s waiting with bated breath for my return…’ He tore the letter open, scanning the single sheet quickly. ‘Well, what do you know! You did bring something fancy to wear tonight, Mirry?’
‘Yes, but—Look, if that’s in invitation from a girlfriend, you don’t have to worry about me. I can—’
‘Nothing like that. It’s from Jay Elphick.’
‘Jay?’ Mirry was incredulous. She hadn’t seen him since she’d given him the lift home in the Lotus, though she knew from a very disgruntled Annabel that he had returned to London. The last thing she had expected was to have any contact with him on this visit. ‘Wh—what does he want?’
‘Our company for the evening, apparently.’ Simon was already punching numbers into the phone. ‘Jay? Simon Grey. Just got back and found your note. Sure she is.’ He looked across at Mirry, grinning as he listened. ‘Like that, is it? Yes, we’ll enjoy that. Oh, and as to your other suggestion, I’ll accept with thanks on Mirry’s behalf.’ Mirry was almost exploding with indignant curiosity while he listened again, his grin broadening. ‘That gives us an hour and a half. Should be long enough, even for Mirry. Right, Jay, see you then.’
‘And just what was all that about, brother dear?’ Mirry demanded with a militant sparkle in her eyes.
‘That’s a question I hoped you’d be able to answer.’ Simon surveyed her, one eyebrow rising speculatively. ‘What have you been doing to the poor man that he needs me as a go-between?’
To her annoyance,
Mirry felt the colour rising in her cheeks. ‘I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.’
Simon’s brows rose even higher. ‘No idea why he should think the only way he’ll get to see you is to have me along as well?’
‘He didn’t tell you that? He couldn’t have!’ she protested, her eyes widening. ‘Either you misunderstood or you’re deliberately teasing, Simon. Jay disliked me on sight.’
Simon shook his head pityingly. ‘If there’s a misunderstanding, I don’t think it’s on my part.’ Picking up her bag, he carried it into the guest-room. ‘I suppose I’ll have to give you first crack at the bathroom, but don’t hog it.’
Mirry puzzled over this surprising development as she showered. Not that she could take Simon’s teasing seriously. There was a lot her brother didn’t know: Jay’s antagonism towards the Greys and the reasons behind it, for one thing, his romantic involvement with Annabel for another. But surely this invitation had to be in the nature of an olive branch? It must mean that the things Jay had learned since his arrival at Wenlow had softened his attitude.
Banging on Simon’s door to let him know the bathroom was free, Mirry went back to her own room, wondering as she studied herself in the mirror how even someone as partial as a brother could imagine Jay might find her attractive. She supposed ‘elfin’ was the best that could be said for her looks, with her pointed chin and tip-tilted nose. At least the curl in her hair was natural, and she did have splendid teeth, she told her derisive reflection. It was probably a little more eyeshadow and mascara than usual that brought out the sparkle in her brown eyes, and her too wide mouth would keep turning up at the corners as she tried to gloss it with a peachy lipstick, for, although she was trying to use her common sense, a sparkly excitement was like champagne in her veins.
The clothes she had brought with her for the evening had been chosen for their uncrushable qualities: an ankle-length black wrap-round skirt in an embossed silky material, finely pleated, and a silky cream blouson top with an elasticated waistband and scooped-out neckline, but it was an outfit that always made her feel good, the skirt rippling sensuously around her as she moved, giving an occasional glimpse of slender leg, the blouse softly feminine. Very feminine too, were the fragile black sandals with their high, spindly heels that she slipped on her narrow feet, and the touches of Ivoire on her pulse spots.
Simon was lounging on the sofa in the sitting-room when she finally emerged. He looked her over with brotherly appraisal. ‘Hmm. I’m beginning to see why Jay’s smitten.’
‘Oh, you…’ Mirry derided, but her expression was unconsciously wistful. ‘You ought to write novels, with your imagination.’ She was beginning to realise how embarrassing this evening could be if she didn’t rid Simon of his misapprehension. What the devil had Jay said to him to start him on this tack, anyway? ‘If Jay’s smitten with anyone, then it’s Annabel. I was there when they met. He took one look at her and I ceased to exist.’
‘You don’t fancy him yourself?’ Simon looked quizzical.
Her brother was too astute to let her get away with a flat denial, so she said lightly, ‘I quite fancy Richard Gere too, but I know my limitations. I’ll be happy to settle for Jay as a cousin.’
She must have been convincing, because Simon shrugged. ‘Maybe it’s just as well. I can’t see Mum and Dad taking to the idea of Valerie Elphick as your mother-in-law.’
That came a little too close to her secret dream for comfort, but the idea of it being Jay’s dream too was laughable.
The doorbell brought the discussion to a close. Mirry took a deep breath to try to slow the sudden acceleration of her heartbeat as she listened to Simon’s cheerful, ‘Come in, Jay. Time for a drink?’
The two men came in together. Both were immaculate in dinner-jacket and black tie, and, though there was no doubting that Simon was the better-looking, it was to Jay that her eyes were inexorably drawn, her tongue sneaking out to moisten suddenly dry lips.
‘A drink?’ Jay said vaguely, his silvery gaze sweeping Mirry from head to toe. ‘Oh, no thanks, Simon, I’m driving.’
‘Well, we’re both ready.’ Simon picked up Mirry’s shawl, galvanising her into action.
‘This is very handsome of you, Jay.’ She sent him a beaming smile, determined to quell the turbulent feelings he aroused in her and just enjoy this unexpected evening.
He merely inclined his head, watching her silently as she walked past him and through the door. They were in the lift when he said, ‘You got the car to London in one piece, then?’ and Mirry began to tell him about her journey, hamming up her story to make him laugh, knowing she was prattling but unable to stop until, walking out of the building, the sight of an attractive, dark-haired woman getting out of the passenger seat of Jay’s car dried up the flow.
‘Sorry to keep you waiting, Kate,’ Jay was saying. ‘Let me introduce you to Mirry Grey and her brother Simon.’
The woman smiled up at him with the familiarity of long acquaintance. ‘I was just about to congratulate you for being so quick.’ She transferred her smile to Mirry and Simon, holding out her hand. ‘Hello, I’m Kate Redding.’
As she shook hands, Mirry found herself thinking, so this is the kind of woman who shares his life in London. Less sophisticated than she had expected, but definitely not less beautiful with her shining cap of expertly cut dark hair and a dress that was surely couture beneath the short mink jacket. She wondered if Annabel knew of Kate’s existence, then she told herself it was none of her business as she slid into the rear seat with Simon beside her.
As Jay drove them into the West End, Kate entertained them with the story of a flat in Fulham she had once shared with three other girls. She was nice, Mirry decided, liking her natural warmth, though maybe Simon was showing a little too plainly how much he liked her, too.
When they left the car parked in a side street, she would have taken her brother’s arm, but somehow Jay was there instead. ‘You’re looking very beautiful tonight, Mirry,’ he said, one hand lightly at her waist as he piloted her along the pavement.
‘Th-thank you.’ Astonished at his compliment, she gazed up at him.
But there was no mockery or sarcasm in the silvery eyes that returned her gaze, only a wry twist of his mouth as he said, ‘Why so surprised? Did you think I hadn’t noticed?’
‘I—er—no—’ It was a new experience for Mirry to find herself tongue-tied, and involuntarily she glanced back over her shoulder, but Kate was busily chattering to Simon and appeared not to notice.
‘Kate works for Wren Interiors,’ Jay said, as if that would explain everything. ‘They do all the interior designs for Alpha Hotels. I thought you’d like to meet her.’
Mirry found her widening gaze trapped once again by his, but he added nothing more, leaving her to wonder at his motive. Was he still intending to turn Wenlow into a hotel, then? Or had he remembered her rash statement about going into interior design herself? Was this introduction an attempt to help her get a job? But surely he must realise a firm like Kate’s would never look at someone as inexperienced as herself?
With all these thoughts whirling inside her head, she hardly noticed where they were going until Jay held the door open for her to step inside the discreetly luxurious restaurant.
The maitre d’ stepped forward with a formal smile of welcome and murmured, ‘Good evening, Mr Elphick.’ Then his smile warmed to one of real pleasure. ‘And Miss Grey! How delightful. Your brother is still improving, I trust?’
‘Yes, indeed, thank you, Charles,’ Mirry responded, returning his smile with interest; she was conscious of Jay’s surprise, but before he could make any comment Charles was ushering them through to the bar and clicking his fingers for a waiter.
‘I wish I could dine at a place like this often enough for the staff to recognise me,’ Kate laughed, as they settled themselves round a small table.
‘I’d have thought a pretty girl like you would rarely have an evening at home,’ Simon said gallantly,
taking a menu from Charles with a word of thanks.
Kate’s face lit with pleasure. ‘You don’t know what that’s done for my self-esteem, Simon, both the “pretty” and the “girl”, though I’m obliged to point out I left my girlhood behind some time ago. Maybe I could go out more often if I chose, but naturally I like to spend the time when I’m not working with my little girls.’
Simon’s gaze dropped to the rings on her left hand. ‘You’re married.’ His voice was curiously flat.
‘I’m a widow,’ Kate said quietly. ‘I thought Jay would have told you.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Simon’s hand reached out to cover hers.
‘Oh, don’t let me put a damper on the evening. It’s been nearly three years, after all. Jay winkles me out of my domesticity from time to time.’ She smiled at him across the table. ‘He was Steven’s oldest friend, and is also godfather to the twins.’
That put rather a different light on Jay’s relationship with Kate, and Mirry couldn’t deny a lightening of her spirits. ‘Twins, Kate? How lovely! You must hate having to leave them to go to work.’
Kate nodded. ‘Yes, I do, but please… I promised myself I wouldn’t even mention my kids tonight.’
‘Why ever not?’ Simon asked. ‘I’d have thought they’d be your favourite topic of conversation.’
‘Mine, yes, but not other people’s,’ Kate laughed.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Simon reflected. ‘I’ve always fancied the idea of having daughters myself.’
‘Simon comes from a big family, Kate,’ Jay put in. ‘Not only Mirry, but four brothers too.’
‘And any number of foster brothers and sisters,’ Simon added. ‘Our house was always swarming with kids.’
‘Really?’ Kate looked intrigued. ‘Your parents must be very remarkable people.’
‘We think so, don’t we, Mirry?’ Simon threw an affectionate arm around his sister’s shoulders.
‘Oh, yes,’ Mirry agreed, an unconscious challenge in the tilt of her chin as she looked at Jay. ‘They’re something special.’
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