A Wicked Persuasion (3 page)

‘There are some points I’d like to go over with you before I meet up with your father.’

His money is getting us out of a hole, she reminded herself. ‘When would you like to come to my office?’

‘I meant a private meeting—over dinner tomorrow evening.’

Harriet almost dropped her phone. ‘Is that absolutely necessary?’

‘Imperative. I need certain facts clarified before I come to River House. Don’t worry,’ he added sardonically, ‘I’m not asking to dine
à deux
. I’m staying with my sister. The dinner invitation is from Moira.’

Harriet’s eyebrows rose. ‘How very kind of her.’

‘You’ll come then?’

Think of the money, she chanted in a silent mantra. ‘Where does your sister live?’

‘A couple of miles off the Oxford road as you leave town. Her husband recently bought The Old Rectory at Wood End. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.’

‘No—thank you,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m sure I can find it.’

Harriet felt oddly baffled as she disconnected. James could hardly intend to taunt her about the past at his sister’s dinner table. Hiring River House would surely be revenge enough for him without that. But for a split second at the office she could have sworn he’d been ready to change his mind when he heard she no longer lived in the house. But surely he would have said he intended backing out while he was in her office, rather than have his sister invite her to dinner. Moira Crawford, Harriet knew, had stood in
loco parentis
to James and his brother after their parents died, and made a good job of it by the affection in his voice when he spoke of her. It was a surprise to learn that she lived locally now.

James, she thought, depressed, had changed out of all recognition from the charmer she’d fallen in love with. At one time the gravel tones in his voice had rendered her weak at the knees, but during the interview they had acted like sandpaper on her nerves. His hair was more disciplined and the lanky body had gained muscle and hardened, and his dress sense was now impeccable, all as she would have expected. His personality was the big difference. She had adored his smile in the old days, but there’d been no sign
of it today. The driving ambition necessary to build up a successful telecom company obviously left no room for the soft option of charm.

Harriet made sure she finished work on the dot the following day, in good time to prepare herself for crossing swords with the client who had once been her sweetheart. But never her actual lover. Knowing he would be her first, he’d indulged her plea to wait until they moved in together. Which, looking back, would have been a recipe for disaster. With James sharing her bed it would have been a wrench to leave it to attend lectures. Even so, if she had been the sole target of her father’s anger she would have dug her heels in and defied him. But his threat to have James arrested had beaten her into the dust.

Harriet thrust thoughts of the past away as she dealt with her exuberant hair, which was neither dark like Julia’s nor fair like Sophie’s, but a shade somewhere between. When it was restrained in the workaday coil it looked quite dark, but newly washed and let loose on her shoulders it took on light and shade and transformed her appearance, as she well knew. She shrugged. It was only common sense to face James armed with the best weapon in her armoury. She tugged on the clinging black dress, hung gilt and crystal drops in her ears, and saw her father coming down the drive as she opened the door to leave.

‘Ah,’ he said, crestfallen, ‘you’re going out. Mrs Rogers left me so much food I hoped you might join me for dinner for once.’

‘Sorry, Father,’ she said politely. ‘I’m having dinner with a friend.’ Sort of.

It was a measure of their relationship these days that Aubrey Wilde didn’t even ask the identity of the friend. ‘Another time then, Harriet. Enjoy your evening.’

The Old Rectory at Wood End dated from the eighteen-hundreds, when families of the clergy were usually large. Harriet’s eyes narrowed as she drove up the tree-lined drive towards the house. It looked more than big enough for a party. Her heart gave an errant thump when James appeared as she parked on the gravel circle in front of the main door.

He came to help her out of the car looking more like the young man she’d once known than the successful tycoon he’d become. His casual garb gave her a moment’s doubt about her dress until she saw that his sweater was cashmere, and the jeans fitted his long legs so faithfully they’d obviously been cut by a master.

‘Good evening, Harriet,’ he said, his eyes on her hair.

She smiled at him serenely. ‘Hi.’ She looked up at the façade of windows as he led her to the door. ‘What a lovely house.’

He turned to the woman hurrying to join them. ‘My sister,’ James informed his guest. ‘Moira, this is Harriet Wilde.’

‘Welcome, Harriet.’ Moira smiled warmly as she took the sheaf of flowers her guest handed her. ‘How lovely, thank you. Come on in. We’re all out here. My husband will give you a drink while I see to the flowers.’

All? Harriet followed her hostess across a wide hall and into a conservatory looking out over the back garden. A large smiling man got to his feet, followed by two young women, one with opulent curves and sheets of straight blonde hair, the other a less spectacular brunette.

‘Marcus Graveney,’ said her host, shaking her hand. ‘These are my stepsisters, Claudia and Lily.’

‘Hi,’ said the sultry Claudia without enthusiasm, leaving Lily to make up for it with the sincere warmth of her greeting.

Marcus gave Harriet the glass of tonic she chose, and
led her to one of the comfortable cane chairs. ‘James says you’re a native of these parts.’

She nodded. ‘I’m an accountant with Barlow & Greer in the town.’

Claudia made a face. ‘Isn’t that deadly dull?’

‘It would be for you,’ said James indulgently.

‘A closer relationship with figures wouldn’t do you any harm, Miss, dull or not,’ said her brother.

‘Do you enjoy your job?’ asked Lily.

‘Yes,’ said Harriet with truth. ‘It’s a very busy practice, and I meet a lot of interesting people in the course of my work.’

‘It’s good of you to spare the time to come this evening,’ said James as he sat down next to Claudia.

‘I often dine with clients as part of the job,’ Harriet assured him.

‘Surely you’re not going to talk business over dinner, James,’ said Claudia, pouting.

‘Not over the meal.’ He slid a consoling arm round her waist. ‘I’ll borrow your study for a few moments afterwards if I may, Marcus. Harriet and I can have our talk in there without boring your sisters.’

Moira Graveney was a cook of considerable skill, and in other circumstances Harriet would have enjoyed the meal and the lively conversation, during which she learned that Marcus had recently joined the legal chambers near her offices in Broad Street. But with James’s arm brushing hers from time to time, and waves of hostility sizzling across the table from Claudia, it was a relief when Moira finally suggested they all adjourn to the conservatory for coffee.

‘Harriet and I will have ours in the study, love,’ said James.

‘Thank you for a delicious meal, Mrs Graveney,’ said
Harriet, surprised to see a look of sympathy in Moira’s distinctive hazel eyes.

‘Do call me Moira. But you weren’t hungry, were you?’

‘On a diet?’ said Claudia sweetly.

‘No. Just a bit tired.’

‘Unlike some people, lazybones, Harriet’s been slaving away all day,’ said Lily in typical sister fashion. ‘And you’re the one on a diet—not that it’s working.’

‘Now then, girls,’ said their brother, and waved them away. ‘You carry on, James. I’ll send coffee in for you.’

James led Harriet to a very masculine panelled room. ‘This is Marcus’s retreat, where sermons were written in the past. When they moved here shortly after their marriage earlier this year, a study was his top priority. Moira’s was the large garden we never had when we were young.’

Harriet sat down in the big leather chair he held out for her and got to the point. ‘So have you brought me in here to read me a sermon, James?’

He held up a hand and went to the door to let in Claudia with a tray. ‘Thanks, sweetheart.’

She reached up and tapped his cheek with a red-tipped finger. ‘Don’t be long.’

Harriet smiled politely as James handed her a cup of coffee. ‘Thank you. So what did you want to talk about?’

He sat behind the desk, the dark-rimmed hazel irises spearing hers. ‘No sermon, but I want some information before I meet your father—for the first time, incidentally, even though he tried to get me sacked from Combe Computers. Does he know who he’s dealing with?’

Harriet raised an eyebrow. ‘Tried?’

He nodded. ‘George Lassiter didn’t actually sack me all those years ago, Harriet. He merely transferred me up to his Newcastle outfit, which got me far away from you, as your father wanted, but kept me very firmly on George’s
payroll. He even gave me a rise. I was really good at my job, remember. Or had you forgotten?’

‘No. I hadn’t forgotten.’ Anything. She looked at him steadily. ‘I haven’t told my father who you are other than the client paying good money to hire River House for a party.’

He eyed her grimly. ‘So when I introduce myself he might cancel the whole idea!’

Harriet shook her head. ‘It’s all signed and sealed. My father can’t back out.’ Nor would he if it meant losing such easy money.

‘When Ms Brewster suggested River House as a location I thought I was hearing things.’ James’s smile sent shivers down her spine. ‘It was just too good to pass up.’

‘For payback?’

‘What else?’ He frowned. ‘Yet you don’t actually live in the house any more. What the devil are you doing alone at the Lodge?’

‘I wanted a place of my own.’

‘I can understand that, but if that was your goal why not live down in the town? Or couldn’t you bear to be too far away from Daddy?’ When she made no response to that he eyed her curiously. ‘I thought you’d be married by now.’

‘Ditto!’

He shook his head. ‘After the treatment you dished out, Miss Wilde, I gave up on relationships and concentrated on the really important things in life—success and money.’

‘With spectacular results. I congratulate you.’ She stood up. ‘If that’s all you wanted I’ll go home now, and let you get back to Claudia.’

He laughed. ‘She’s jealous as hell of you, Harriet.’

She eyed him blankly. ‘Really? Why?’

‘I told her that you and I had a fling together once upon a time.’

‘A fling?’ she said with distaste.

He raised a mocking eyebrow. ‘How else would you describe something so unimportant?’

She dropped her eyes. ‘I never thought of it that way.’

‘I’m surprised you ever thought of it at all!’ he said caustically.

‘Are you?’ She looked at her watch. ‘I really must go. Does ten on Saturday work for you?’

‘Perfectly.’ He opened the door for her.

Harriet caught a whiff of soap and expensive wool as she passed him; and something else that was so familiar and singularly James she felt dizzy.

‘Hey,’ he said quickly, ‘are you all right?’

She forced a smile. ‘Too much coffee, and too many late nights.’

‘You’re as white as a sheet,’ he said roughly. ‘Let me drive you home. I’ll get your car back to you tomorrow.’

‘No! Please, I’m fine. I just need to get to bed.’ And, please God, sleep when she got there.

James eyed her closely as they made for the conservatory. ‘You obviously work too hard,’ he said, the familiar husky tone in his voice more pronounced. ‘No change there; you always did, even as a teenager.’

Moira got up with a welcoming smile as they joined the others. ‘You weren’t long.’

‘Mission accomplished,’ said Harriet, and returned the smile warmly. ‘It’s been such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you again for the delicious dinner.’

Moira’s face fell. ‘Surely you’re not leaving already, dear? It’s early, and I’ve had no chance to talk to you!’

Marcus came to stand by his wife. ‘They obviously work you too hard at your firm, Harriet.’

From the look on Claudia’s face, this plainly meant she
looked like a hag. Harriet smiled brightly. ‘It’s a busy time right now.’

‘It’s been lovely to meet you. Please come again,’ said Lily eagerly. ‘We don’t know anyone here.’

‘And never likely to out in the wilds like this,’ complained her sister, and pouted at Marcus. ‘All right for you newly-weds, but not much fun for us.’

He gave her a quelling look and put an arm round his wife. ‘Since you city girls only come here on flying visits it’s hardly a problem.’

Time to go, thought Harriet. I get enough angst with my own family. ‘I really must be off. Thank you again. Goodnight.’

‘I’ll see you out,’ said James.

Claudia scrambled to her feet. ‘I’ll come with you.’

James shook his head. ‘I need to finalise arrangements with Harriet.’

She sat down again abruptly, hiding her flush of mortification behind the fall of pale hair.

‘Do come and see us again soon,’ said Moira, as Harriet left.

‘But you obviously don’t want to come here again, do you?’ demanded James as he saw Harriet to her car.

‘No, I don’t,’ she said frankly. ‘I like your sister and her husband very much, Lily too. Claudia obviously resents me due to this “fling” you mentioned, but the main reason is you, James. You still bear me a grudge.’

His face hardened in the bright security lights. ‘Do you blame me?’

‘Not in the least.’ Harriet slid into the car, switched on the ignition and opened the window. ‘Saturday then.’

‘Saturday it is.’ He gave her an unsettling smile. ‘I’ll be there on the stroke of ten. I’m really looking forward to meeting your father.’

His parting words sent chills down Harriet’s spine as she drove home. Did he intend coming to River House on Saturday for a showdown with her father before cancelling the party? Harriet shivered at the prospect, though she knew exactly why James had asked her to the Old Rectory. He could easily have obtained the information he wanted during a phone call, but instead he had wanted, maybe needed, to demonstrate that he now had a family background like hers. And that he was the object of the sexy Claudia’s passion. He needn’t have bothered about the last. Harriet had no doubt that he’d been the object of several women’s passion over the years. In his twenties he’d been attractive enough, but now he was ten years older he took her breath away.