The Marriage Solution

'Are they?' That look had unnerved her but she fought for normality as she slid into the car, taking a deep, calming breath as he walked

round the bonnet to join her. She had to remember last night as a warning and keep her distance mentally and physically from this man, she thought, because somehow, in spite of his cold authority and distant coolness, he had a fascinating aura about him that was frighteningly compelling. But it was just an illusion. She almost nodded to herself and caught the action just in time.

'So…' As he manoeuvred the powerful car out of the drive he glanced at her swiftly before concentrating on the road ahead. 'Tell me a little about yourself.'

'Me?' She shrugged deprecatingly. 'Not much to tell really. I'm twenty-three years old; I've worked as a teacher for the last two years.'

'Which school?' he asked quietly.

'Sandstone.' She didn't expect him to know it but mere was a brief pause before he nodded slowly.

'The special school?'

'You know it?' she asked in surprise and he nodded again. 'My father wasn't too pleased when I took a job there,' she said tightly; the subject was still painful to her. 'He thought—'

She stopped abruptly and then continued quickly as she realised that Carlton would probably have felt exactly the same. 'He thought it showed a lamentable lack of ambition,' she said flatly. 'I had a good degree and he thought I should use it in other areas, like Jennifer. But I'd always wanted to work with children and the fact mat this school was so close was an added advantage. It all seemed right.'

'Does it continue to seem right?' he asked expressionlessly, and she glanced at him quickly but could read nothing from the hard profile.

'Yes.' Her tone was both defensive and guarded.

'Then you clearly made the right decision,' he said coolly.

'I know.' She glanced at him again. 'I suppose you think like my father? That I should have gone on to do a PhD?'

'Then you suppose wrong.' He overtook a small family saloon before, he spoke again. 'What sort of degree have you got anyway?'

'Joint maths and chemistry—a first,' she said quietly.

'I'm impressed.' He smiled slightly. 'But I'm more impressed that you followed your own star and did what you felt was right for you and I've no doubt at all that the kids in your charge feel exactly the same.'

He had taken the wind right out of her sails and she stared at him in consternation before transferring her gaze straight ahead. What was this? Some sort of trick, a game? He must be a fiercely ambitious man to have got to where he was so young. Had he really meant what he just said—?

'Why the frown?'

'What?' She jumped as the dark voice sounded in her ear.

'You're frowning as though I'd just said something out of order.' He swore softly as a large thrush suddenly flew out of the hedge bordering the narrow road and skimmed the bonnet of the car, missing it by a hair's breadth. 'Stupid bird's got a death wish.'

'Well, in spite of being on the outskirts of London this is still in the country,' she said quickly, glad of the change of conversation. 'My father—'

'You haven't answered my question.'

'What question?' she prevaricated weakly.

'Why were you frowning?' he persisted quietly but with an intentness that told her he wouldn't be deflected.

She thought about lying for a moment, passing the incident off with a light, amusing reply, and then found herself speaking exactly what she had thought. 'I can't believe a man like you would approve of my actions,' she said flatly.

'Why? Because your father didn't?' he asked softly.

'Partly.' She licked her lips which had suddenly gone dry. 'And also…you are very successful and ambitious; I would have thought you would have approved-of my going on to do more important work.'

'You don't think handicapped children are important?' he asked expressionlessly, his tone fooling her into thinking the conversation hadn't affected him.

'I do,' she answered hotly before she had time to think. 'I just didn't—' She stopped abruptly.

'You didn't think I did?' he finished for her. 'Charming. What exactly have you heard about me that you dislike me so strongly?' he asked grimly, his voice icy.