‘Of course I was,’ she snapped. ‘They must have a terrible opinion of me!’
‘Not at all.’ He massaged his temple as if it ached. ‘And you would have found it more embarrassing if my mother had suddenly appeared on the doorstep. She comes up to town occasionally and usually drops in here, in fact I usually drive her home. Would you have preferred it if they’d found out that way?’
‘You know I wouldn’t. But—’
‘Then stop grousing,’ he ordered.
‘Did you tell them everything?’
‘Everything that mattered. Of course I had to embroider it with a little romanticism,’ he drawled mockingly. ‘They’re a little old-fashioned about these things.’
‘What do you mean, “embroider” it?’ Helen asked suspiciously.
‘I told them we were in love with each other,’ he informed her calmly.
She sprang to her feet. ‘You did what?’
‘They wouldn’t understand the real motivation behind this.’
’I suppose not,’ she acknowledged quietly. ‘But did you have to tell them that? How am I supposed to bluff my way through with your mother tomorrow? You really are the most inconsiderate—’
‘Tomorrow?’ Leon interrupted sharply. ‘What’s happening tomorrow?’
‘One of those shopping trips to London you just mentioned. What I want to know is how I’m supposed—’
‘You’re going shopping with my mother?’
‘I’ve just said so, haven’t I! For goodness’ sake, Leon, listen to what I have to say! Your mother will expect me to be like some lovesick idiot mooning over—Will you stop laughing!’ she snapped. ‘It isn’t in the least funny.’
‘Stop being so serious, Helen,’ he still chuckled. ‘I’m sure you’ll manage very well.’
‘You’re the actor in this family—’ She broke off in confusion at her words. ‘I’m sorry, I meant—’
Leon sat forward, taking her hands in his. ‘Don’t apologise, darling,’ he said huskily. ‘You give me hope for our future relationship when you say things like that.’
And she had already decided to leave as soon as he was out of the country! Oh God, she mustn’t let him even guess that. ‘I’ll never convince your mother, Leon. She’ll think I’m a—’
‘No!’ he cut in angrily. ‘My mother will think no such thing. You’re much too sweet and innocent for anyone to mistake exactly what you are. Why do you think Max treats you as if you were his own daughter? No one could ever think badly of you,’ he said vehemently.
‘Thousands of people did just that,’ she reminded him bitterly.
‘Because they were supposed to,’ he muttered. ‘My mother and father know all about the newspaper publicity, and they refused to believe it was true even before I told them it wasn’t.’
’I like your parents,’ she smiled shyly. ‘They’re like you.’
‘Does that mean you like me?’ he pounced.
If only he knew! ‘You know I do.’
‘Do I?’ he said almost wearily. ‘Sometimes I wonder.’
‘I more than like you, I—’ Helen broke off as she realised what she had been about to admit to.
‘Yes?’ he probed deeply. ‘You—?’
‘I like you a lot,’ she amended her intended words.
He dropped her hands and slumped back in his chair. ‘Never commit yourself, Helen,’ he taunted raggedly. ‘That would be too much, wouldn’t it?’