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was a pretty obvious thing to say, Wasn't it?'
Clive shrugged, glancing sideways at her. 'Perhaps I meant it.' Caroline
made a disbelieving sound, and he went on: 'No, really. Deborah was right
about that - a man does need a woman. And I've had my share of running
around.'
Caroline grimaced into the darkness. 'And who did you have in mind?'
'That's a pretty obvious question, too, don't you think?'
'Me?' She gasped. 'Oh, honestly! I suppose you're going to tell me you fell
madly in love with me at first sight!'
'Could be.'
'Oh, stop it!' They had reached the village now, and the lights from the
Coach and Horses spilled out across the pavement. 'Where are we going?'
Clive slowed as a stray dog shot across the road in front of them. 'I suppose
this place is as good as anywhere. Do you fancy a drink?'
'If you do.'
Clive made a face at her. 'Such enthusiasm! You'll turn my head!'
Caroline hid a smile. 'Could I do that, Mr. Lester?'
Clive helped her out. 'Very easily,' he told her solemnly, exposing her
amusement. 'And the name's Clive.'
In fact, the next hour was one of the most pleasant Caroline had spent since
coming back to England. Clive was an entertaining companion, and so long
as they avoided personal issues, they got along very well together. He was
interested in her work in Sri Lanka, and she found herself telling him of the
poverty she had found there, and the austerity of life on a tea plantation. It
wasn't until he was driving her back to Maitlands that he brought James's
name into the conversation again.
'He'd never divorce her, you know,' he said suddenly, a propos of nothing at
all, and Caroline stiffened. 'James, I mean,' he added. 'So there's no
future -' He broke off. 'Do you know what I'm trying to say?'
'Yes.' Caroline looked down at her hands. There was no point in pretending.
'I only wonder why you think you have to say anything.'
Clive sighed. 'I like you, Caroline. I really do. In fact, I'd go further - I think
I could quite easily fall in love with you.'
. 'Oh, Clive!'
'No, listen to me. I mean it. You're different from the girls I've known. For
one thing, you work for a living. Most of the women I know would consider
that a disaster! And you've travelled. You've seen something of life in other
countries. You haven't just been content to sit at home and wait for some
man to come along and make you an offer you couldn't refuse.'
Caroline's lips twitched. She wondered what Clive would say if she told him
that had James been willing to marry her she would have been rapturously
happy to do just that.
Instead, she made some deprecating sound, and he went on: 'I'm only
speaking the truth. You're an unusual woman, Caroline, as well as a
beautiful one. And I don't think you should be working at Maitlands!'
It's nothing to do with you '
'I know, I know. But I know James, Caroline. I know he's had one hell of a
raw deal in his marriage. And I can't stand by and take the risk of his hurting
you without '
Caroline gasped. 'James Booth can't hurt me!'
'Are you sure about that?' Clive changed gear as the gates of Maitlands
loomed ahead of them. 'If he doesn't, Deborah may.'
'Oh, for goodness' sake!' Caroline's fingers tortured a fold of chiffon. 'If you
ask me, you're the one who's had too much to drink!'
Clive shrugged, sounding his horn for the gates to be opened, and then
driving through. 'All right, perhaps I'm wrong.' He looked across at her. 'Can
I see you again?'
'See me again ...?'
'That's right. I'd like to take you to meet my mother. We could have dinner
together.'
'Your mother?'
'Oh, yes, I have a mother. Believe it or not, I had two parents.'
Caroline felt another smile tugging at her lips. But still she hesitated. She
liked Clive, but she had no illusions about him. He was not a man she could
fall in love with, even without ...
'Well, all right,' she agreed at last, realizing she was taking the easy way out.
'But I shall have to ask Mrs. Booth first.'
'She's not your keeper, is she?' Clive frowned.
'No, but ...' Caroline glanced up at the house as he brought the sports car to a
halt at the foot of the steps. 'Can I ring you? Perhaps tomorrow?'
Clive nodded. 'Okay. The number's in the book. Double seven, double
dight.'
'That's easy to remember.'
Clive turned, putting his arm along the back of her seat. 'Would you mind if
I kissed you?'
'Do you usually ask?'
Clive shook his head, and bending his head explored her lips with his own.
'Mmm, nice,' he murmured, drawing back. 'Now, I suppose I'd better come
in and say my good nights like the polite boy I am.'
Only Deborah and the in-laws still occupied the lounge, and Caroline
expelled her breath with some relief.
'James is taking Trevor home,' replied Deborah in answer to Clive's query.
'Laura's gone with him.' She sounded tired now, and there were lines of
strain etching # her mouth.
'And we must be going, too,' exclaimed the elder Mrs. Booth. 'It's been a
lovely party, Deborah.'
Good nights were not prolonged, and feeling rather de trop Caroline
remained in the lounge while Deborah saw her guests to the door. But when
the wheelchair sighed back into the room, she was ready to leave.
'Leaving me alone?' Deborah's lips twisted as Caroline moved towards the
door. 'Don't you want to stay and say good night to my husband - and Laura,
of course?'
Caroline felt the beginnings of a headache probing her temples. She thought
it must be that which made Deborah's words sound so offensive. 'I - will you
apologize to them for me, Mrs. Booth?' she asked politely. 'I do have rather a
headache.'
'Really? And I thought you'd enjoyed yourself with Clive.'
'I did, I did. He's very nice.'
'Yes, isn't he?' Deborah's fingers suddenly gripped the arms of her chair
tightly, almost as if she was in pain. But when Caroline made an instinctive
move towards her, she relaxed, folding her hands together in her lap. 'Where
did he take you?'
'Oh, just to the Coach and Horses in the village. We had a couple of drinks,
that's all.'
'You took rather a long time over a couple of drinks.'
'I - we were talking. We didn't notice the time.'
Deborah regarded her closely. 'Oh, well, I suppose there are some things a
girl needs to keep to herself.'
Caroline frowned. 'I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Booth.'
Deborah smiled then, but it was a rather unpleasant display of her teeth. 'I
was not always confined to this wheelchair, Miss Douglas. I know what
happens when a man and a woman are alone together - in a car.'
'I can assure you ' Caroline could not believe her ears. 'I hardly know the
man!'
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