Feeling ashamed, he brought the car to a halt in front of an imposing oak door and, taking her hand, raised it to his lips. ‘No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m just being a bear. As a matter of fact it’s nice to find someone genuinely enthusiastic about the old place.’
Despite his apology she still looked uncomfortable and, watching her half-averted face, he cursed himself for the way he had lashed out at her simply because she liked it.
For one thing, none of this mess was her fault and, for another, if he lost ground it could easily wreck all his plans.
Bearing that in mind, he released the hand he was still holding, then turned to unfasten both their seat belts.
He was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek and she sat still as any statue.
When she continued to look straight ahead, using a single finger he turned her face to his.
‘Forgive me?’
‘There’s nothing to forgive.’
‘Kind and generous as well as beautiful,’ he murmured softly.
His mouth was only inches from hers and she froze.
Afraid he was going to kiss her.
Afraid he wasn’t.
His kiss, when it came, was as light as thistledown, but it scattered her wits, brought every nerve-ending in her body zinging into life and effortlessly rekindled that morning’s burning desire. As her lips quivered beneath his, he ran the tip of his tongue between them, finding the silky, sensitive inner skin, teasing and tantalizing, coaxing them to part.
When they did, he deepened the kiss until her head reeled and, caught in a spell of sensual delight, she lost all sense of time and place.
Slipping his hand inside her jacket, he brushed his fingertips lightly over her breasts and, feeling the nipples firm beneath his touch, smiled to himself. She was obviously a passionate woman and quick to respond, as he’d discovered that morning.
The only problem was that in deliberately arousing her he’d been hoist with his own petard and had felt as frustrated as hell ever since.
But now wasn’t the time to take her to bed, he reminded himself, there were still things to do, things to be settled. There would be time for pleasure when everything was going smoothly.
CHAPTER FIVE
DRAWING away with reluctance, Richard said, ‘We’d better go in before Hannah, who never misses a thing though she’s nearly eighty, comes out to see what could be keeping us.’
As he spoke, one leaf of the heavy studded door opened and a small woman, hardly bigger than a child, with a silver bun and a very straight back, appeared.
‘What did I tell you?’ he murmured, and left the car to come round and help Tina out.
In something of a daze, she picked up her shoulder bag and allowed herself to be led across the cobbles to where the old woman waited.
As they approached, the housekeeper, who was neatly dressed in old-fashioned black and wore a jet necklace and earrings, came forward to meet them.
‘Mr Richard…’ Her wizened face creased into a beam of pleasure. ‘Welcome home! Everything’s ready for you.
‘It seems to have turned a shade cooler and, as I know how much you like a good fire, I’ve had one lit in the living-room.’ Then, with genuine emotion, ‘It’s nice to have you back.’
‘It’s nice to be back, Hannah.’ His arm around Tina’s shoulders, he added, ‘This is the lady I told you about when I rang.’
Shrewd dark eyes, bright as a bird’s, acknowledged Tina’s smile and weighed her up. Then, apparently satisfied with what she saw, the housekeeper’s face relaxed into a smile. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Dunbar. If you need a ladies’ maid, please let me know.’
Hannah appeared to think they were staying and, before Richard could put her right, she went on, ‘I’ve ordered roast pheasant for dinner, which cook’s timing for seven-thirty if that suits you? But the kettle’s just boiled if you’d like a cup of tea in the meantime?’
‘We’d love one,’ he told her. ‘But get young Milly to do the running about.’
‘I must admit that these days I’m glad to,’ Hannah confessed. ‘Though I keep very well, thank the good Lord, I’m not as nimble on my feet as I used to be.’
But, as though to disprove those words, she led the way into the hall in a sprightly fashion and disappeared through a small door at the rear.
The panelled hall, with its black oak floorboards and huge stone fireplace, was furnished with lovingly polished antiques and lit by long, intricately leaded windows that bore the maker’s name and the date. On the right, an elegant oak staircase with a lion’s head on the newel post climbed to a small minstrels’ gallery.
Tina thought it was absolutely beautiful, but hesitated to say so. Even when Richard gave her an interrogative glance, she refrained from comment.
He turned to face her and, putting a hand against her cheek in an oddly remorseful gesture, remarked quietly, ‘I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to spoil it for you.’
Finding her voice, she said, ‘You haven’t. I’m enjoying it all very much.’
‘But afraid to say so?’
‘A little wary,’ she admitted.
‘Please don’t be.’He bent his head and kissed her lightly on the lips, making her pulses leap, before going on, ‘These rooms off the hall form the main living area. The breakfast room, the morning room, the formal dining-room…’As he spoke he led her round the hall, opening doors to show glimpses of beautiful old rooms with wood-panelled walls and period furniture.
‘The library-cum-study,’ he went on, ‘is the only room where the twenty-first century has been allowed to hold unreserved sway…’
Glancing in, Tina saw a pleasant room with book-lined walls and an oak-panelled ceiling. Ranged on an impressive leather-topped desk was a businesslike computer and an array of up-to-date communication equipment.
‘And next door is the living-room…’ A hand at her waist, he led her into a beautifully proportioned room with panelled walls and a white ceiling. Once again the leaded windows that looked across the courtyard were a work of art executed and signed by a master craftsman.
Most of the furniture was antique and bore the glorious patina of age, but the soft natural leather suite grouped around the inglenook fireplace was up-to-date and comfortable-looking.
A log fire blazed cheerfully in the grate, a grandfather clock tick-tocked in the corner and flowers and photographs made the room feel lived-in and homely.
This time Tina said without hesitation, ‘What a lovely room.’
He gave her the kind of smile that made her heart turn over. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
‘And not a television in sight,’ she added quizzically, remembering the comments he’d made the previous evening.
His smile widened into a grin. ‘It wasn’t easy to bring in modern technology without spoiling the atmosphere. But voilà!’
Sliding aside the doors of a large and handsome oak cabinet, he revealed a state-of-the-art television, a video, a DVD player and a comprehensive music centre.
‘All the trappings of modern-day entertainment,’ he said a shade wryly, ‘though blessedly not on view unless they’re in use.’
They had just settled themselves by the fireside when there was a tap at the door and a young maid brought in a tray of tea