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felt it was a futile attempt, but to her amazement he released the pressure and within a moment he was cool and collected—a miraculous transformation! He stood away, a twisted smile on his lips, his dark eyes narrowed as if he would conceal the passion still to be seen within their depths.
    ‘Why did I stop?’ He was asking himself the question, and he shook his head and said with the hint of a frown, ‘I shall never know.’ He walked away to pour himself a drink then turned, half expecting her to be gone. But instead she had sunk weakly into a chair, ashamed of her fatigue but aware that he would know of it.
    ‘I hate you. . . .’ She spoke softly and her mouth trembled. ‘Just why are you doing this to me?’
    For a full thirty seconds he seemed not to have an answer to her question. But at last he said, in that faintly accented voice which for some reason seemed very alien now, ‘You appeal to me, physically, Emma, and—’
    ‘Don’t call me Emma!’ she seethed. ‘You know my name!’
    He seemed amused, eyes glimmering.
    ‘That temper again. I rather think I would like to curb it for you.’
    She drew a breath.
    ‘You’ll not have the opportunity!’ she assured him. ‘I’m leaving here—’
    ‘As I was saying,’ he broke in casually, ‘you appeal to me—more than any woman has for years. How would you like to stay for a while? You’d leave far richer than when you came.’
    So cool! Emma gasped and shook her head. The man was crazed with his own importance to women!
    ‘I’ll bid you good night!’ she said and rose unsteadily from the chair, conscious that desire was still affecting her nerves. The ache in her loins was still there, the thrilling sensation of his fingers on her breast.
    ‘Sit down,’ he advised, pointing to the chair. ‘You’re not yourself yet.’
    She managed to get to the door.
    ‘Think about my offer,’ he said as she opened it. ‘I rather have an idea you will accept it.’
    ‘Then your head’s bigger than I thought.’ She waited, but he said nothing and she added with a curious inflection, ‘You seem very serious about our having an affair, but have you visualised the situation it would create? My sister works here; she has a—well—liking for you. How would she feel? And do you suppose I’d be willing to hurt her?’ She shook her head in faint bewilderment. ‘You haven’t considered anything, have you?’
    ‘On the contrary,’ he rejoined, ‘I have considered every aspect. I would offer you a post in one of my offices in Saint Louis where I also own a delightful apartment, at present rented to a businessman, but he leaves in a week’s time. You can have the post—and I’d see, of course, that your hours were very short—just for appearance sake and to put your sister off the scent, as it were, and live in theapartment which I would refurbish for you.’ His suave voice faded as Emma shook her head in disbelief, a gasp on her lips.
    ‘You’ve worked it all out?’ Again she moved her head from side to side. ‘How confident you must be!’
    ‘I am, my dear, very confident. I can—’ He stopped abruptly, for Emma had opened the door.
    ‘—go to hell,’ she threw over her shoulder, finishing the sentence her way. And she went out, leaving the door wide open behind her.

Chapter Three
    Emma stood watching Jeremy playing ball on the lawn with one of the younger gardeners. He needs company of his own age, she thought, knowing that Louise could do much more for the child than she was doing. Was it her attitude towards Paul Fanchette that had caused her to become lax? There was certainly an essence of lethargy about her for most of the time; she had no patience with anyone these days.
    ‘He’s taking no harm.’ Louise had come up behind her on the patio. ‘You fuss too much, Emma. Jeremy is quite happy; he does have company at school, remember.’
    ‘And a good thing too,’ returned Emma dryly.
    ‘You think I’m shirking my duty, don’t