Passionate Scandal

‘Fifty-fifty,’ he corrected admonishingly. ‘We have to take the blame for our sins both past and present on a fifty-fifty share-out, Madeline.’

‘And the future?’ she asked. ‘What will the share-out on that be?’

‘Oh, that all depends on how you behave,’ he murmured, unmoved by her sarcasm.

Madeline turned fully to face him, glorious, with her blue eyes sparking. ‘I warned you, Dominic,’ she said tightly. ‘I won’t play games!’

‘Too late, darling.’ He touched a finger to the tip of her small straight nose. ‘The game began at the restaurant the other day. You could have put a stop to it then if you’d really wanted to.’

‘God,’ she choked, spinning away from his disturbing touch. ‘You’re insufferable!’

‘I know,’ he sighed just behind her. ‘One of my worst failings, so I’m told.’

‘Why are you doing this?’ She was busily watching the brilliant way Perry was holding everyone’s attention away from them, but her own attention was stingingly locked on the man standing directly behind her.

‘Why? To set the record straight of course,’ he drawled. ‘Blame it on the accountant in me. I can’t stand long-outstanding debts.’

‘I owe you nothing!’ she spat at him furiously. ‘And just remember,’ she warned, ‘we’re all here tonight for Vicky’s sake. Not so you can—’

‘Strange,’ he cut in smoothly. ‘I thought we were here so Madeline Gilburn could show us all how wonderfully grown-up and sensible she has become.’

She moved angrily away from him, his soft laughter

gnawing at her nerves. For the rest of the evening she played the gracious hostess to the hilt, and no one, not even Dominic, could have faulted her performance.

CHAPTER NINE

‘OK, I’M not too big to admit it. I’m impressed,’ Dominic said, hours later, when Madeline had at last paused for breath and allowed herself to stand back and view her triumphs with a well deserved metaphorical pat on the back.

Only one potentially explosive incident had taken place since her altercation with Dominic before dinner, and ironically it had happened as they were preparing to leave her home, and Madeline realised she’d left her wrap in her room.

‘I’ll get it,’ Perry offered, already striding for the stairs when he added questioningly, ‘The black velvet thing I saw draped over your chair, is it?’

‘Yes,’ she called, smiling warmly after him before turning back to face the hallway to find Dominic’s gaze narrowed on her. He stared coldly at her for a moment, then flicked his gaze up to where Perry was disappearing along the upper landing. Madeline felt the air lock tight in her throat, a dark blush running angrily up her cheeks when she realised what was going through his suspicious mind. Her chin came up, eyes defying him to question Perry’s right to be familiar with her bedroom. He said nothing but his contempt was obvious.

Perry came back with her wrap, and lightly caressed her nape with his lips before settling it over her shoulders. Dominic spun his back to them and, sharp as always, Perry noticed the movement and sent Madeline a smugly amused look which told her he had done it all quite deliberately.

‘You’re a devil,’ she murmured drily to him.

‘He’s seething,’ he remarked unrepentantly.

‘And I repeat, you’re a devil.’

Perry just laughed and placed his arm warmly about her shoulders as they walked outside. Dominic watched them appear, then deliberately turned Diane to face him and kissed her on her mouth.

Madeline froze, taking his form of punishment like a punch in the solar plexus. Perry’s arm tightened consolingly. ‘Sorry,’ he murmured. ‘My fault.’

‘Let’s go,’ was all she said, but inside she was a seething mass of the kind of emotions only the old Madeline had used to experience. And she was glad to climb into the back of Perry’s bright red Lotus so that she could hide her face in the dim interior of the car while she brought herself firmly back under control.

They drove to the Prestons’ in two cars, Dominic driving Diane while the rest of them travelled with Perry. By the time they all arrived at the Prestons’ home, it was getting late. Dominic and Diane were already waiting for them at the door, Diane huddling into her warm fur jacket against the cold April night air.

‘You should have gone in,’ Perry quizzed their sense in waiting out in the cold.

‘Solidarity is the order of the evening.’ Dominic levelled his cool gaze on Madeline. ‘Isn’t that so, darling?’ he drawled.

‘Yes,’ she said firmly, taking in a deep breath for courage.

‘Have I missed something important to do with this evening?’ Forman drawled sardonically.