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