the next few weeks, and I hope you will make a similar effort.’
‘Why should I? I can live at the house on my own, Gail doesn’t need to know.’
‘But she would.’
‘Why?’ she asked sharply. ‘Would you tell her? I’m sure you can’t be any more anxious to have me at your house than I am to stay there.’
‘I’m not,’ he agreed coldly. ‘But other people in the village are sure to visit Gail and it would only take one thoughtless person to mention where you’re living to put her in a state of nerves.’
‘But I could—–’
‘For God’s sake grow up, Alexandra!’ he snapped. ‘Stop thinking of yourself so much. Gail can’t take any more, don’t you understand?’
She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. ‘I suppose so.’
‘I’m not at home a lot of the time anyway,’ he added by way of consolation. ‘I’m away all day Wednesday and Thursday recording the programme.’
‘Overnight too?’
His mouth tightened. ‘Yes.’
‘So that’s when you intend seeing Miss Gilbert.’
‘Yes.’
‘I bet you’ve got a harem going,’ she taunted.
‘One woman at a time is enough for me. Besides, I don’t have the time for all these women. Each programme I do involves a lot of research, research that has to be done in a matter of hours, not days, if a political situation arises.’
‘You haven’t been away for some time,’ she remarked softly.
He grinned. ‘Then you’ll just have to hope something comes up during the next four weeks to take me away. I’m sure nothing would please you more.’
‘It wouldn’t.’
He was openly laughing at her now. ‘Sometimes you’re an enigma, but in your dislike of me I can see right through you.’
‘Good,’ she said childishly.
‘Oh, by the way,’ he remarked casually, ‘I don’t mind you having Young round occasionally, but I don’t want to keep tripping over him.’
Alexandra glared at him. ‘Am I allowed to make the same comment about Miss Gilbert?’
‘No.’
‘I didn’t think I would be.’
Dominic gave her an impatient look. ‘You aren’t a welcome guest, Alexandra, so I don’t intend letting your friends take over my house.’
‘I take it Miss Gilbert is a welcome guest?’
‘You take it right.’
‘Don’t worry, Dominic,’ she said sharply. ‘If I want to see any of my friends I’ll arrange to meet them elsewhere than your house.’
‘There’s no need to go to that extreme,’ he taunted.
Alexandra looked out of the car window as they approached the mansion that was to be her home for the next month. How on earth could she stand to share a house with this arrogant mocking man, see him every day for four weeks, when she found it difficult to be polite to him just during Sunday lunch? It appeared she had little choice but to try.
Charles met them in the reception area. ‘I have prepared Miss Paige’s room, sir.’
His employer nodded, and threw his car keys down on the side-table. ‘Thank you, Charles. Perhaps you would like to freshen up before tea, Alexandra?’
She didn’t think this was going to be the normal cup of tea and a biscuit she and Gail usually shared in the afternoon, and her denims and tee shirt suddenly seemed out of place in these elegant surroundings.
‘Thank you,’ she accepted softly, ‘I’d like that.’
‘I’ll take you upstairs now,’ Charles said gravely.
It was a lovely room he showed her into, all lemon and white decor. It had its own adjoining bathroom, a luxury she had never had before. She and Trevor usually fought over who would get into the bathroom first in the morning.
The adjoining bathroom was in lemon and brown, but she didn’t stay to admire it, quickly rinsing her face and hands before brushing her hair and applying a lip-gloss. The rumblings of her stomach were far too strong for her to waste any more time. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast this morning and she was starving hungry.
Dominic was sitting in the lounge when she came hesitantly into the room, stubbing his cheroot out in the ashtray at her entrance. His elegant light grey trousers and black fitted shirt only seemed to emphasise her own scruffiness. Well, how was she supposed to know she would be taking tea with the famous Dominic Tempest!
‘Sit down, Alexandra,’ he said impatiently. ‘You might as well play hostess.’
She blushed at his scathing mockery. ‘I’d rather not.’
‘Oh, come on, Alex,’ he encouraged shortly. ‘I’m as hungry as you are. I missed out on lunch too, remember?’
She picked up the china teapot. ‘I didn’t know you admitted to such human feelings as hunger.’
His grey eyes taunted. ‘I admit to much more human feelings than that.’
She should have known her effort to hit out at him would only rebound on her. ‘Lemon, milk and sugar?’ she asked tightly.
‘Just lemon, please. I’m sweet enough already.’
‘That’s a matter of opinion!’
He laughed, showing even white teeth in his tanned face. ‘Somehow I knew you would say that.’
‘Then I’m glad you weren’t disappointed.’
He took the proffered cup of tea. ‘You never disappoint me, Alex. You’re very entertaining.’
She poured her own tea. ‘I’m glad I’m of some use!’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh dear, is it feel sorry for Alex day?’
Her blue eyes showed her anger. ‘No, it isn’t! And my name is Alexandra.’
‘So it is,’ he appeared unconcerned. ‘But I prefer Alex. Much more friendly.’
‘As I have no intention of becoming a friend of yours I would prefer you to use my full name.’
‘And I would prefer not to. Oh, shut up, Alex,’ he ordered abruptly as she went to speak again. ‘And pass me a sandwich.’
Her cup landed with a clatter on the table. ‘I may have to stay here with you, but I’m certainly not going to be reduced to the level of another servant for you to order about!’
‘If you were a servant we might get on better,’ he retorted. ‘I happen to like all my employees. But I would certainly never take from them what I’ve taken from you today.’
‘Don’t expect the next month to be any different.’ She bit hungrily into a ham sandwich. ‘Staying here won’t make me like you any the more.’
Dominic raised his eyes heavenwards, pushing the blond hair back off his forehead. ‘Thank God you’ll be out of the house most of the time.’
‘I will?’
‘I hope so. College should—oh no!’ he groaned. ‘College has finished for the summer, hasn’t it?’
She smiled sweetly. ‘It has.’
‘Oh hell!’
‘Temper, temper,’ she taunted. ‘Anyone would think you weren’t going to enjoy having me about.’