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can tell him
    what tale you like, as long as it's not the unvarnished truth. Don't let him
    have that satisfaction. And then I'll take you home, pride intact.'
    It did not occur to Catriona until she was sitting in one of the elaborately
    furnished bedrooms, renewing her lipstick, that Jason Lord had not
    specified precisely where 'home' was.
    As he had predicted, it was inevitable when she emerged from the
    bedroom that Jeremy was waiting outside.
    'Trina!' His face was white, and he moistened his lips nervously. 'I
    couldn't believe it. What on earth are you doing here? Who brought you?'
    Afterwards Catriona was amazed at the way the lie sprang so readily to her
    lips.
    'Oh, I know it was mean,' she said, smiling radiantly at him. 'But Jason
    and I just thought what a joke it would be if I—turned up, like a skeleton
    from the past. And your face was marvellous when you saw me. I
    wouldn't have missed it.'
    Relief was struggling with incredulity on his face. 'You're Jason's girl?"
    he queried sharply.
    'Quite correct.' Jason himself joined them, looking faintly amused. "I
    don't think you realise just what you've let slip through your fingers this
    time, dear nephew.'
    Jeremy laughed uneasily. 'Oh, Trina's an angel. I—I ' don't blame you at all.
    It was just such a—surprise.'

    'Well, the world's fail of surprises,' Catriona said gaily. 'Poor lamb, I
    should have let you know I was here, but Jason has hardly given me time
    to breathe since I got to London.'
    Jason came to stand beside her, dropping his arm lightly across her
    shoulders. She felt the usual urge to draw away, but was forced to stand
    still in his embrace, trapped by her own pretence. She noticed he was
    carrying her stole over his arm.
    'Are you leaving already?' Jeremy asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.
    'Why, yes.' Before Catriona could move, or protest, Jason bent and kissed
    her slowly and deliberately on the mouth. 'It's time, I think, that all good
    little girls were in bed,' he went on, smiling down into her outraged eyes.
    Jeremy flushed, and he looked at Catriona with unmistakable speculation.
    'So that's how it is. Fine. Be happy,' he said, with a fair attempt at
    nonchalance.
    'Besides,' there was no disguising the amusement in Jason's voice, 'Sally
    would never forgive me if I kept Catriona out too late.'
    Jeremy looked at him quickly. 'Sally Fenton? Is Trina staying with her?
    I—see.'
    'I doubt it,' Jason said lightly, and took Catriona's hand. 'Come on, love,
    time to go. Tell your mother I'll phone her,' he added to the nonplussed
    Jeremy as he led Catriona away.
    In the car she turned on him furiously. 'How dared you?'
    'How dared I do what?' He was infuriatingly unruffled as the car moved
    down the drive and nosed out on to the road.
    'Paw me in that insulting way!' she raged, and was further incensed by his
    laughter.

    'You flatter yourself, Miss Muir.' He flashed her a swift glance. 'Surely that
    can't have been the most strenuous embrace you've experienced. I must
    have a word with Jeremy.'
    'Oh, shut up,' she said bitterly. 'At least with Jeremy I never
    felt—besmirched.'
    Something came and went in his face, but his voice was still amused. 'I'm
    sure you would have done—in time.'
    She sought for a retort that would silence him once and for all, but none was
    forthcoming, so she retired behind a hostile tight-lipped barrier of silence.
    Jason Lord seemed totally unconcerned. He hummed snatches of tunes,
    commented on the road conditions and eventually with a courteous, 'I hope
    you don't mind,' switched on the radio. It was a foreign station. Catriona
    could not recognise the announcer's accent, but the music they were playing
    had an oddly soothing quality. The street lights and the white lines on the
    road became fused in a soft blurring of consciousness. Her head slipped
    sideways on to her companion's shoulder, and her breathing became soft
    and even.

    She was floating on a cloud, weightless and carefree. Jeremy was