Sophie coloured and tried to take her hand away. "No boyish confidences, please, Alexander."
"Hold on! I was merely trying to explain." Alexander's grip tightened as he leaned closer.
"For your ears only, Sophie, to be perfectly truthful I'd have settled very happily for a less permanent relationship, but, believe it or not, Delphine held out for a wedding ring before she'd let me into her bed."
Sophie stared.
"You mean. . .?"
That's right, sweetheart. I was allowed to kiss, to touch as much as I liked, but nothing more. Not until I'd signed on the dotted line. "
Alexander's laugh was bitter.
"To put it in a nutshell, I'm not only a laughing stock, but I'm suffering and I do mean suffering from frustration. Plus the knowledge that I've behaved like several different varieties of fool over Miss Delphine Wyndham.
All of which are new experiences, I may add."
Sophie eyed him in consternation, unsure how to express her sympathy without making things worse. "I don't think you're a laughing-stock, Alexander," she said carefully.
"How could you be? You're a very popular, respected man in Deansbury. I'm sure no one has even considered laughing at you."
His eyes softened.
"Thank you, Sophie."
She looked away.
"And you're certainly not a fool. I imagine any man would have done the same for a girl as beautiful as Delphine."
"So I'm not a laughing-stock, and I'm not a fool. That disposes of two of my problems." Alexander put a finger under her chin.
"Have you anything to recommend for the third?"
It slowly dawned on Sophie what Alexander meant. Right here in the bar of the George he was, she realised, making some kind of proposition, and, amazingly, she wasn't as angry as she might have expected to be, if ever she'd imagined such a situation _arising between them. Not that she would have done in a million years. If their relationship had been slightly more than just employer and secretary from the beginning, it was only because their families had always been friends. Added to which, Alexander had been such a tower of strength to the boys when their mother died. Sophie regarded him absently as she remembered his patience when the twins, particularly, followed him round like puppies during the time when their father was so shattered. She herself had turned to Kate Paget for comfort, as was only natural, and had never felt as close to Alexander as her brothers did.
"You're very quiet," he commented, breaking into her thoughts.
"Alexander," she said tentatively,
"I would have thought this particular problem would have been, well, lessened while you were away."
"I fully intended it to be." He smiled crookedly. "But the other people in the hotel were couples, of varying sorts, and the thought' of purchasing a lady's favours--with all the dangers and drawbacks entailed-put a temporary damper on my baser male urges."
"Were there no other possibilities?" asked Sophie, rather surprised to find she wasn't embarrassed.
"None I cared to pursue." Alexander released her hand.
"I apologise, Sophie. Forget everything I said." He looked uncharacteristically contrite.
"I wouldn't blame you if you blacked my eye for even implying you might----'
“Restore your male ego to its former complacency? " Sophie finished for him acidly as she rose to go, _" Not exactly. “He held her jacket for her.
"I think I was just asking for comfort."
"And I happened to be nearest, I assume."
"Exactly," he agreed lightly, and took her by the elbow to steer her through the crowd.
"And possibly dearest, too," he said in her ear.
"After all, Sophie, you and I are very old friends. I was on your particular scene a damn sight earlier than Julian Brett!"
CHAPTER THREE
Sophie fully expected to feel awkward with Alexander after their lunch together, but he soon made it plain he felt no regret at having confided in her. In fact, Alexander now behaved towards her as though she were a woman with feelings and opinions to be considered, rather than just little Sophie
Gordon who was so efficient and familiar he hardly noticed she was there half the time. These days he was charm itself, and she viewed the charm with suspicion, certain he had an ulterior motive for it. If she hadn't known him better Sophie could have sworn Alexander was pulling out all the stops to make her reconsider her' resignation. Not that she had much time for conjecture, since Paget & Son were busier than ever, with the necessity for a new branch growing more urgent by the day.
"I wish your chum Jefford would hurry up and find something in the way of premises," said Alexander irritably.
"He's not my chum," Sophie replied. Alexander smiled in his old, superior manner. "Better beware, Sophie, when you work for him. He's just divorced his wife, and lonely men are dangerous beasts." He squeezed her waist unexpectedly as he held the door for her, and Sophie, her arms full of files, was helpless to prevent him.
"I say," said Perry sternly, cannoning into them from the opposite direction, 'would you two mind doing this sort of thing somewhere else, please? There are young, innocent draughts men about, you know. "
Alexander's cousin was in his late twenties, with a shock of blond hair a great deal less disciplined than that of his senior partner, and wide blue eyes which gave the lie to the razor-sharpness of the mind behind them.
Sophie included both men in an irritated glare and made for her office, wishing, not for the first time since Alexander's return, that he would revert to his former, pre-wedding-day self, to the time when his attitude towards her had been a lot more impersonal. And a lot easier to put up with, in many ways. She felt on edge most of the time lately, she realised, and put it down to the fact that she was up to her ears at home as well as the office. It was because the twins were leaving home for Edinburgh, she told herself firmly, and applied herself to the task of compiling a short-list from the applications received in response to the advertisement for her own replacement. Alexander flatly refused to have anything to do with it.
"Just weed out three or four from the bunch and I'll see them all on the same day," he said indifferently.
"Otherwise I don't want to know."
"But, Alexander, tell me if' you want someone young and attractive, or would you prefer mature and reliable ' “I want you, Sophie. But since you're hell-bent on deserting me I don't care a damn who you get in your _place, just so long as the woman's literate and can type--and make decent coffee. "
Alexander turned from his drawing-board to find Sophie frowning at him in disapproval.
"On reflection," he added, 'don't get someone too glamorous. George
Huntley's blood pressure is suspect and Perry, as you well know, has a very low threshold when it comes to your sex. "
Sophie glared at him.
"I see. You want someone unlikely to disturb you males with her physical charms. Thanks a lot, Alexander. In all the time I've worked here not a soul has ever made the slightest attempt to make a pass at me--which should tell me something!"
"My God, I should hope they haven't. They'd have had me to contend with!"
He laughed and took her by the shoulders, his eyes teasing.
"Didn't you realise everyone was given the " hands off" instruction right from the word go as far as you're concerned, Sophie, from Perry downwards? I won't include George because he's happily married and wrapped up in his children. The rest know only too well they'd have me to answer to if they started chasing you round your desk."
Sophie bit her lip.
"Oh. I see."
"By the way, I almost forgot," he said casually,
"I took a message for you while you were out to lunch. Brett can't make it tonight.
Asked me to apologise for him. "
"Oh, right. Thanks." Sophie nodded, undismayed.
"Aren't you disappointed?" said Alexander curiously.
"No." Sophie's dark eyes lit with laughter.
&nbs
p; "He was taking me to see some earnest foreign film at the Arts _Centre."
Alexander shook his fair head in wonder.
"Good God! And you don't mind missing such a treat? How noble, Sophie."
She chuckled.
"Don't be unkind. Julian's a very nice man, really.
It's just that some of his tastes are a little well, esoteric, that's all. "
Alexander's eyes glinted.
"Esoteric? What do you both get up to, may I ask?"
"Don't be disgusting!" she snapped.
He wagged a reproving finger.
"Now, now, Sophie. All I meant was poetry-reading, board-games and so on.
Nothing naughty."
Sophie flushed bright red and dived for the door, but Alexander caught her before she reached it and held her lightly.
"Sophie," he said softly, 'let me take you out to dinner tonight, instead. "
In the time it took for Sophie's colour to subside her mind worked at a furious rate. She was highly suspicious of this new Alexander, the one who'd taken to teasing her and touching her and generally making it impossible to ignore that lately his attitude towards her had taken a decided U-turn. He was missing Delphine, she reminded herself, and behaving in the main with exemplary stoicism about it.
Nevertheless, Sophie couldn't rid herself of a nagging suspicion which grew stronger by the day. Preposterous though it might seem, she was beginning to believe Alexander had elected to seek balm for his wounds from the last source she would ever have expected. Her own.
"Well?" he prompted.
"Will you, Sophie?"
_"I can't," she said.
"I'm cooking dinner for Dad and the boys as usual. I wasn't meeting Julian until later on."
Alexander released her and stood back, still regarding her in the same unsettling fashion.
"Just a thought. Some other time, perhaps, before you finally shake the dust of Deansbury from your shoes."
"Yes. Lovely." Sophie smiled brightly and retreated to her office, which was small and cramped, but blessedly private, with a door she could shut on the rest of the work force at Paget & Sons.
"Kate's coming round after dinner," announced Dr Gordon, as the family gathered round the table later that evening.
"Thought we'd thrash out a few plans for the wedding."
Matthew Gordon, large and dark like his father, received his plate with interest.
"What's this?"
"Beef olives."
Mark, who was a carbon copy of his brother, gave a loud whistle.
"Touch of the haute cuisine, no less. Special occasion?"
"No. I got home early for once, and thought I'd try something different."
Sophie tasted her own portion cautiously.
"Hm. The garlic's a bit violent."
"It's very good," her father assured her, then grinned.
"Cast-iron defence against vampires, too."
Sophie apologised, laughing, but the twins were enthusiastic. Their sojourn in France had given them a taste for the exotic and they ate heartily. Not, in their sister's opinion, that they ever did anything else.
"All our name tapes on?" asked Matt.
"Of course, Oh Master. Everything's ready for the off. And if you unpack anything else and wear it I'll throttle you," warned Sophie.
Dr Gordon scrutinised his daughter's tired face.
"Busy day today, love?"
"Very. On top of the usual stuff, I'm trying to find someone to replace me.
Not many of the applications are very promising so far."
Sophie felt dispirited, wondering now why she'd been ambitious enough to cook such a complicated meal at the same time as finishing off the twins' ironing.
"How's Alexander?" asked Mark.
"Pining for the tasty Delphine?"
"How would I know?" said Sophie shortly.
"Alexander's not the type to show his feelings to the world at large," observed her father.
"Though Kate is amazed at how well he's taken it." He fixed his sons with a peremptory eye.
"You two, by the way, can do the washing up. Sophie's going out with Julian."
Sophie disabused him of this idea, and braced herself for the usual barrage of teasing over Julian, who'd never managed to win her brothers' approval.
Ignoring them with the ease of long practice, she went to sit with her father, leaving the pots and pans to the noisy ministrations of the twins while she curled up in a corner of the sofa to watch the news. She thought half-heartedly about tidying herself, but decided against it, thinking Aunt
Kate was unlikely to mind a shiny nose and faded old denims just for once.
"Something worrying you, pet?" asked Dr Gordon.
Sophie smiled absently, her eyes on the screen.
"No, Dad. I'm fine." She turned to look at him. "I'm off to look at the cottage on Saturday, by the way, and since it's my Sunday at Grail's and the twins will have gone by then, I thought I'd stay the night at Greenacre."
"Of course, pet." He looked up as the doorbell rang.
"Kate, I expect."
"I'll go," yelled Matt from the kitchen, and to Sophie's consternation could be heard exclaiming in delight as a familiar voice greeted him at the door.
Alexander, it seemed, had decided to accompany his stepmother. ^ Kate came into the room to be kissed by David Gordon, her eyes apologetic as she gave
Sophie a hug.
"I know you've been stuck with my son all day, too, love, but Alexander volunteered to drive me over. It's a bit foggy tonight."
Alexander sauntered into the' room, smiling, looking rather different from
-the sober-suited architect of the day in a yellow polo shirt and khaki cord trousers. Mark and Matthew hot on his heels as usual.
He greeted Dr Gordon and Sophie with the air of a man confident of his welcome.
As he had a right to be, conceded Sophie, trying to be fair. They were all fond of Alexander, she told herself firmly, her brothers more than herself, of course. Indeed, Mark and Matthew seized on him at once, talking their heads off in unison about their eagerness to be off to Edinburgh, and Sophie retreated into her sofa-corner while her father poured drinks.
"You won't know what to do with yourself with those two off your hands,
Sophie," said Kate, joining _Sophie.
"Bliss," agreed Sophie.
"How those boys eat! I'm sure Tim never ate so much when he was their age.
Dad told you Tim wrote to say how pleased he was about the wedding?"
Kate nodded, her eyes warm.
"You've all been so good about it."
"And why wouldn't we be?" Sophie smiled wickedly.
"I'm not losing a father, after all--only gaining a very lovely stepmother.
Plus another brother to add to my tally," she added deliberately.
Alexander looked up sharply.
"What was that?"
When Kate repeated Sophie's comment, he looked unamused.
"While I," he said drily, 'seem to be losing out all round--first a bride, now a secretary. "
Sophie hugged her drawn-up knees, wishing she were somewhere else, but Matt bridged the awkward little silence with his usual blithe disregard for sensitivity.
"We were thrown by the news, Alexander. Who'd have thought Delphine would play a dirty trick like that? Pretty foul, if you ask me."
"But no one has, Matthew," said his father, 'so let us forget about the incident in question--my apologies, Alexander and talk about Kate and me instead. "
Alexander held up his hand promptly.
"Could I, as son and giver-away of the bride, make one request, David?"
Dr Gordon nodded good-humouredly.
"Do you intend marrying in church?" Alexander's flexible mouth turned down at the corners.
"I know it's not up to me, of course, but I'm sure I speak for Kate as well as myself when I say I don't think I could face another session in Deansbury
Register Office!"
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There was sympathetic laughter as David Gordon assured him the wedding would certainly be quiet, with only immediate family and one or two friends, but quite definitely in church.
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