‘Saturday? Oh, when I dropped Diana off at that party? Were you there?’
‘Yes.’
‘What was it like? Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid, but if I’d known you were there I’d have come in.’
‘What? Didn’t you stay?’
‘I thought you were there? You must know I didn’t.’ James was frowning.
‘I saw you arrive as I was leaving in a taxi.’ Catherine stared at him, appalled at this evidence of sheer malicious luck.
James’s face broke in to a wolfish smile. ‘If I wasn’t such a nice person,’ he said, ‘I’d be jumping through hoops of joy right now thinking that you might, just might , have been miserable with jealousy for the past few days.’
‘And why should that please you?’ asked Catherine as haughtily as she was able, given her tear-stained face and wild hair hanging tangled over her shoulders.
‘Oh, Cat.’ James was laughing gently as he came down to sit at her feet, taking both of her hands in his. ‘Don’t you know?’
‘No,’ snapped Catherine. ‘I’m afraid I’m hopelessly lost. I don’t know what’s going on, James Grant. I feel as though I’ve wandered into a Greek drama and don’t know the words.’
‘Shall we spell them out then?’ he said softly, standing up and drawing her gently to her feet. ‘Catherine Long, since you were a beautiful red-haired young colt I’ve lusted after you, and for what seems like an eternity now, I’ve loved you. I couldn’t do anything about it, because you kept running away, and the first time you did it, I thought I’d lost you for ever and did my best to forget you. But I never did. And then all my Christmases came at once and you were back in my life – only to run away every time I got near you. I thought, mistakenly, that I was giving you time by staying away in Sussex, and then when I came back in the early hours of Sunday morning and came knocking on your door, you weren’t here. I thought you’d run away again, especially when Andrew was known to be up in London and nobody knew where you were.’
B emused, Catherine realised that they were no longer by the fire and that somehow, they had reached something which felt suspiciously, to the back of her legs, like a bed.
‘And then what did you do?’ she whispered, delighted to feel strong hands divesting her of jeans suddenly grown too tight.
‘Waited,’ he said, removing his own jacket. ‘Until you phoned on Sunday night. And then I have to apologise, but I was in such a state before you called, let alone afterwards, that I’m afraid–’
‘Don’t be afraid, ’ Catherine said against his skin, as they lay close together on the big four-poster bed. ‘It was wonderful. But you made me feel as though it was a mistake.’
‘It was the best mistake I ever made.’ There was a warm chuckle from beside her in the darkness, ‘And I think I’m just about to make it all over again, but ...’ he paused.
‘What?’ Catherine raised herself on one elbow to look down at him.
‘I’ve said I love you.’ She could see his eyes glinting in the darkness and her heart turned over. ‘But how do you feel? I know we’re good together like this, but–’
‘Oh, James.’ She collapsed beside him, taking his face in her hands. ‘I never ever thought this would happen. How can you not know how much I love you? I always thought you could see through me like a mirror. I felt such a fool for being so transparent. Of course I love you.’
‘Mirrors,’ he said rolling her beneath him and kissing the tip of her nose, ‘are not transparent. And before we move on to the most important item on the agenda ...’ He held her face between his two hands and looked at her seriously. ‘Can I take it that if I make love to you, you will promise to make an honest man of me?’
Catherine sighed ecstatically. ‘Oh, James, of course you can.’
‘G ood,’ he said. ‘Andrew will be pleased.’
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