Lydia paused for breath Sue launched into a description of her latest modelling assignment with great gusto, and as the other three listened patiently Lydia caught Wolf’s eye. He winked, slowly and very sardonically, before turning away. He had recognised the manoeuvre and given her due acclamation. She quickly checked the surge of pleasure she felt. Careful,
Lydia, careful, she told herself silently. It doesn't mean a thing.
All in all she felt overwhelming relief when Wolf glanced pointedly at his watch as they finished dinner and made their apologies.
"It's been a long day," he drawled lazily as Sue pouted in his direction.
"We're all dead on our feet."
"A quick coffee, then?" Sue smiled beguilingly.
"It's ready and will keep you awake on the drive back to the hotel."
Wolf raised enquiring eyebrows at Lydia and, much as she would have liked to shake her head and agree they go immediately, she found herself politely acceding to just one cup. It seemed unnecessarily rude not to.
"Come and help me, Lydia," Sue invited surprisingly. "Many hands make light work, and all that."
Once in the huge fitted kitchen, that was the ultimate in elegance.
Sue shut the door carefully, her eyes narrowed as she turned to Lydia and indicated the tray and cups and saucers on the work-surface.
"Have you known _Wolf long?" She removed the aromatic pot of coffee from its stand and waited while Lydia set the tray.
"Not really." Lydia felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle as though in warning of a confrontation, but told herself she was imagining things.
"His secretary is on maternity leave and I'm standing in for her," she explained quietly.
"Really...?" Sue stood back a pace and surveyed Lydia's blonde beauty through half closed eyes.
"You aren't the normal sort of office girl, are you?" It was meant to insult, and Lydia stared back steadily as she felt herself stiffen in readiness for the attack. Their glances held for a long moment and Sue was the first to look away, a sudden flush of colour flaring across the high cheekbones.
"There has been a steady stream of young hopefuls in Wolfs life since Miranda died," the hard voice continued nastily as Sue walked across to a cupboard at the far end of the kitchen.
"You know he was married, of course?" she added as she suddenly swung round to face Lydia, eyes narrowed like a beautiful cat about to pounce.
"Of course." Whatever impulse had made Wolf share the confidence she blessed tenfold. Sue had obviously hoped and expected it would be a shock.
"The accident must have been a shock for everyone," she said expressionlessly.
"The women absolutely adore him, you know." Sue clearly wasn't going to be deflected from her chosen form of attack.
"Well, it isn't surprising, is it? He has to be the most gorgeous man in the whole of London."
"Well, as his secretary, my job is to organise and help as far as I can in me office," Lydia said calmly, keeping _her temper in check with considerable effort. The woman was a monster.
"Oh, of course..." The words were delivered in such a way as to make them a subtle insult.
"His secretary..." Sue turned and extracted some fresh napkins from the well-stocked cupboard, her movements graceful and cool. She really was elegance personified, Lydia thought dispassionately as she watched the regal brunette carefully, and she had never met anyone she liked less.
She waited quietly for the next attack and it wasn't long in coming as Sue walked over to the tray, slinging the napkins carelessly by the side of the expensive bone china.
"I was his wife's best friend, you know." She had obviously changed the direction of the assault, Lydia thought warily as Sue spoke again.
"We were both models, of course, and quite inseparable when Miranda married
Wolf. She was just so beautiful, everyone adored her."
"Did they?" Lydia prayed for composure as she watched the other woman open a box of after-dinner mints and place them on the tray. She didn't want to hear any of this, but she had the feeling there was no escape.