Living Together

‘But he doesn’t love me either,’ she protested.

‘He feels enough to make more of a commitment to you than he has to any other woman. He’s never offered to live with a woman before.’

‘Marriage is a commitment,’ Helen derided. ‘Living together can’t be called that.’

‘Do you want marriage?’

‘No!’ she replied instantly.

‘Then there you have your answer. Leon isn’t stupid, he knows you wouldn’t accept marriage even if he offered it.’

‘You really think I should just move in with him? Doesn’t it shock you that I’m even considering it?’

Jenny shook her head. ‘He’s good for you, Helen. These last four or five weeks you’ve started to live again. And in my book that’s all that matters.’

Helen’s emotions warred with each other. If she didn’t go to Leon now she might never see him again. And she wanted to see him very much, the gentle kiss they had shared still very much on her mind.

She stood up, coming to her decision in that moment. ‘I’ll just go and pack my suitcase.’

CHAPTER SIX

HELEN’S confidence had deserted her by the time she arrived at Leon’s apartment, and she had changed her mind a hundred times. What if he should have changed his mind about her? What if he hadn’t told Max to expect her? There were any number of questions running through her tortured mind—and all of them without answers.

Max opened the door to her tentative knock, stepping back to open the door wider when he saw who it was. ‘Good evening, Mrs West,’ he said politely, taking the suitcase out of her hand. ‘I have your room prepared if you’ll follow me.’

Well, that answered one of her questions; she was obviously expected. She followed the manservant into a pale blue and white decorated room, her feet sinking luxuriously into the thick pile of the fluffy white carpet. The furniture was white too, the bedspread on the double bed pale blue, as were the curtains. It was a lovely room, the vase of red roses on the dressing-table giving it a homely touch.

‘I hope the room is to your satisfaction, Mrs West?’ Max enquired solicitously.

‘It’s lovely, thank you,’ Helen smiled shyly.

‘You have a bathroom through here,’ he opened the connecting door, showing her into a brown and lemon bathroom that was the last thing in luxury, the large round bath sunken into the floor.

‘What—what time are you expecting Mr Masters?’ she asked jerkily, unable to meet his eyes.

‘He telephoned from the airport a short time ago and should be here very soon. He asked to speak to you, but of course you hadn’t yet arrived.’

‘Oh,’ Helen bit her lip.

Max hesitated at the bedroom door. ‘Will there be anything else, Mrs West?’

‘Er—no, no, thank you.’

‘Very well,’ he nodded politely before leaving the room.

Helen slumped down on the bed once he had left. That hadn’t gone too badly; she had been slightly apprehensive about Max’s reaction to her staying here, but it seemed he was going to take it in his stride.

But Leon had no idea she was here! What had he thought, what had he felt when Max had told him she hadn’t arrived? The red roses on the dressing-table seemed to point to him having expected her to turn up, and it must have shocked him to find she hadn’t.

She stood up to gently touch one of the velvety blooms, their deep redness indicating a love that had never been declared. But Leon didn’t love her, he just wanted to be with her.

There was a small white envelope tucked among the beautiful flowers, and Helen pulled it open with shaking fingers, shaking even more as she read what was written there. ‘Thank you.’ Leon was thanking her for being here—and as far as he knew she hadn’t turned up!

Tears came unbidden to her eyes. Leon did care for her, he did! She just hoped he arrived soon so that she might know his magnetic, and yet somehow reassuring, presence once more.

She was determined to look her best for him when he did arrive, choosing to wear royal blue velvet trouser suit, the trousers fitting snugly on her slender hips, the waistcoat top showing a creamy expanse of bare throat. Her hair hung in soft silky waves to her shoulders, her violet eyes sparklingly clear.

Once she was satisfied with her appearance she went to sit in the lounge, pretending an interest in a magazine she had found on the low coffee table, but really listening for any sound that would tell her of Leon’s arrival.