Millionaire's Woman

She shook her head smiling. ‘I’m not a morning person. I’ll probably see you at school later on.’

‘I hope so. Goodnight, Kate.’ He shook her hand very formally. ‘Thank you for your company.’

Once she reached her room Kate rang reception to order breakfast there instead of in the dining room as she would have much preferred. Having dinner with a stranger was one thing, breakfast a different thing entirely. Philip Brace, she suspected, was another man finding it hard to adjust to single status.

Kate’s phone rang when she was settled down in bed with a book. She checked the caller ID and smiled smugly. ‘Hello, Jack.’

‘Are you in your room?’ he asked, ‘or have I interrupted your dinner?’

‘I’ve had dinner. I’m reading in bed.’

‘Anna Maitland told me where you were this weekend. Why couldn’t you have told me?’

‘Last time we spoke you weren’t exactly friendly.’

‘I’d just heard you’d been to the theatre with Forster.’

‘It’s not against the law.’

‘True. Why didn’t you tell me where you were going this weekend?’

‘To be honest, Jack, it never occurred to me.’

‘God, you’re a cruel woman!’

‘Why did you want to speak to me tonight?’

‘Must I have a reason?’

‘It’s a bit late for a chat,’ she said tartly.

‘I waited until now to avoid interrupting your dinner. Was it good?’

‘Very good indeed.’

‘Did you dine alone?’

Kate ground her teeth. ‘As it happens, no. The father of one of the other pupils is staying here. He suggested we join forces.’

‘Is he with you now?’

‘No, Jack,’ she snapped. ‘I told you. I’m in bed.’

Jack chuckled. ‘You’re annoyed.’

‘Such intuition! Is that why you rang? To annoy me?’

‘No. I rang to invite you to dinner at Mill House next Saturday. With the Maitlands and the Beresfords.’

‘Ah. Lucy won’t be livid after all, then.’

‘Run that past me again?’

‘I spoke to Anna earlier. She didn’t know you’d invited Mrs Beresford.’

‘Were you offended because I hadn’t asked you?’

‘Not in the least. You’re obviously repaying Anna’s hospitality. You haven’t had any from me.’