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reached the office at nine o'clock every morning, left at seven, had a snack supper at an Italian restaurant on the highway that led past the Gables, and arrived at the big house at eight o'clock. I remained with Aitken for an hour and a half, discussing the business of the day and going through any letters that usually he would have dealt with, then I went down to the Cadillac, where Lucille waited for me.

    It was this moment I lived for. The rest of the hours were just a chore to get through somehow and as quickly as possible. After I had said good night to Watkins and had heard him shut the front door, then, and only then, did I come really alive.

    From nine-thirty until eleven o'clock, Lucille and I cruised the secondary roads. We didn't talk a great deal. For one thing she had to concentrate on her driving. I found her concentration failed and she was inclined to let the car wander about the road if I talked to her. Also she so obviously enjoyed handling the Cadillac that I could see she didn't really welcome any interruption to the sensation in which she revelled. It was only when we pulled up outside the big wrought-iron gates of the Gables that we spent five or so minutes talking.

    During those three evenings with her, my love for her grew to a degree that I had to exert a great deal of control not to show my feelings.

    She did nothing to encourage me. She treated me as a friend whom she liked, and I knew she did like me. I could tell that by the way she spoke and the way she looked at me, but that was as far as it went.

    It was my attitude towards her that bothered me. I knew if she gave me the slightest encouragement I could not have resisted making love to her.

    I knew I was playing with fire. If ever Aitken found out what was going on, I was sure he would throw me out of the firm. She had said he was possessive, and by now I knew him well enough to realize he wouldn't for one moment tolerate me fooling around with his wife, no matter how platonic her feelings towards me were.

    I kept telling myself that I should stop this before it got out of hand, then I tried to convince myself that, so long as Lucille wasn't falling in love with me, there surely could be no harm to continue the driving lessons.

    As we were saying good night on the third evening, I reminded her I wouldn't be at the house the following night.

    'Mr. Aitken has given me the weekend off,' I explained. 'So I won't be up.'

    'Does that mean I'm not going to have a lesson?' she asked twisting around in the car seat to look at me.

    'Not until Monday night.'

    'Are you going away, then?'

    'No, I'm not going away.'

    'Then why can't you come up as usual? You can meet me down here and not up at the house or perhaps you don't want to?'

    'It's not that I don't want to, but I must admit this worries me sometimes,' I said, looking at her. 'I'm sure if your husband found out he would be furious.'

    She laughed. She had the most infectious laugh I had ever heard. She put both her hands on my arm and rocked me a little.

    'He would be absolutely livid, but we don't mind, do we? Besides, he will never find out'

    'Watkins or Mrs. Hepple might see us ...'

    'They never go out at night, but I tell you what we will do. I'll meet you at your place. I'll come down on my bicycle. May I do that? I'd like to see your bungalow.'

    My heart began to beat fast.

    'You'd better not. No, you mustn't come down there. If you really want a lesson tomorrow, then I'll be out here at nine o'clock but only if you really want it.'

    She opened the car door and slid out, then she turned and looked in through the open window at me.

    'I'll be here,' she said. 'Ches, I still think you're the nicest man I know. I am improving, aren't I? I'll soon be able to apply for a permit, won't I?'

    'You're doing fine,' I said huskily. I would have given a lot to have taken her in my arms and felt her lips responding against mine. 'Okay, I'll see you tomorrow.'
    Back in my big lounge, I