‘So?’
‘So let me up.’ I tried to wrench myself out of Jasper’s grasp but he wasn’t having it.
To my considerable horror, he laid me flat on the sofa and hovered over me, a menacing leer on his face, so close to mine that it blurred.
‘Jasper,’ I squeaked, and the door opened.
‘I do beg your pardon.’ Colin Cutts’ voice was frosty to say the least. ‘I seem to be interrupting something.’
‘Oh, don’t apologise.’ Jasper’s tone was airy. He straightened himself and stood, holding out a hand for Colin to shake.
I remained in my supine position, unable to think of anything to say or do that might improve this situation.
‘Sarah?’ Colin looked between me and Jasper, apparently at a loss.
‘Yes, you did interrupt something, but it doesn’t matter,’ said Jasper. ‘I was working on blocking a scene, you see. Trying to establish where I need my actors to be and how they should move.’
‘Blocking a scene?’ echoed Colin.
‘Yes. I’m so sorry. I haven’t introduced myself, have I? Sometimes I get a little above myself and expect to be recognised, which is terribly arrogant, I know.’ He produced a card from his inner jacket pocket and handed it over. ‘Jasper Jay.’
‘The director?’ said Colin, turning the card over in his fingers.
‘That’s right. Sarah and I are … good friends … and when she told me she was working here, I decided to come and visit, for location scouting purposes.’
Colin’s ears pricked up at this.
‘Really?’
‘Yes. I’m working on a Victorian-set project and I need authentic period locations. This would be absolutely perfect … of course, you’d have to put it to your trustees …’
‘Why don’t you step into my office, Mr Jay? I’d be very interested in discussing this further with you.’
‘Of course.’
I watched, barely able to comprehend how the hell Jasper pulled this one off, as the two men left me to my own devices on the chaise longue and disappeared to the reception area.
I was grateful of the opportunity to catch my breath, for all sorts of reasons, but one really stood out from the crowd.
Jasper was back.
Jasper was back and he still wanted me.
Did I still want him?
My body thought it knew the answer to that one.
I paced about the room, unable to keep still until I saw Jasper emerge from the reception build
ing and run over to the Victorian house. I went outside to intercept him. He was wreathed in scintillating smiles.
‘What have you made poor Colin agree to?’ I asked, once he was within earshot.
‘He’s going to lend me the Victorian house every evening until Christmas,’ he said.
‘So you really are making a costume drama? That wasn’t a fib?’
‘Are you calling me a liar, Ms Wells?’ His voice was low in his throat and he took hold of my fingers and squeezed them before returning to dazzling-beam mode. ‘Actually, I haven’t decided. I might well do. There’s a script that interests me.’