The Bedroom Incident. Elizabeth Oldfield

their dealings, the businessman had shown himself to be hard-headed, thoughtful and conservative, yet with the occasional flash of flamboyance. If his flamboyance had had him offering the job, the offer would be withdrawn, smartish. He refused to be landed with some ‘fizzing’ female.

      ‘That you’d like her and you will.’ Sir George shepherded him towards the door. ‘I’ll introduce you.’

      ‘She’s here?’ he protested.

      The dinner was a ‘welcome on board’ to the journalists who had been newly appointed and to those who were continuing on The Ambassador’s staff. A muscle tightened in his jaw. The woman was not being welcomed on board. Far from it. Yet her presence signalled an expectation on Sir George’s part and thus put pressure on him.

      ‘I thought I’d keep her as a pleasant surprise. She’s in the room next door to yours, though she may well have gone to the drawing room by now,’ his host said, but as they stepped out onto the wide, thick-carpeted corridor he smiled. ‘Perfect timing.’

      Kristin slipped the key into her brown satin evening bag and turned. She had become so absorbed in making her notes that time had sped by and she had suddenly realised she was in danger of being late.

      ‘Hello,’ she said, surprised to find her host beaming at her from a few yards away.

      Matthew Lingard was standing beside him, though his expression was grave.

      ‘Kristin, I’d like to introduce Matthew Lingard,’ Sir George said. ‘Matt, this is Kristin Blake, the young lady I interviewed for the women’s pages.’

      His smile was slight, without mirth. ‘We’ve already met,’ he said.