Page 53 of Wild About You

‘Oh, you know, the usual stuff. Regular picnic hampers from Fortnum and Mason’s. A year’s supply of coffee. Maybe a small sports car at Christmas.’

‘I can offer you beagle service at your desk and access to a pony at all times.’

I laughed. ‘Not sure I’ll ever be getting on a horse again.’

‘Not even if I ride with you and protect you from hedgerows?’

‘I doubt you could guarantee my protection,’ I said archly.

‘I’d try my best.’

My breath hitched.

‘Are you still there?’

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Still here.’

‘I guess I should thank you,’ he said, the amusement fading from his voice. ‘It was what you said about background being so important that made me… take another look at what might happen with Lucinda. Romance is a busted flush. Look at my parents.’

‘And to think you teased me about my family’s age-old saying,’ I said, in as bright a tone as I could muster.

‘Ah yes, what was that crappy saying again?’

‘You can’t put a hot pan on a cold stove.’

‘That’s it.’ He paused. ‘No, it still doesn’t make any sense.’

I bit back a laugh. ‘Of course it does. You’ve just said it yourself. Certain types of people fit together.’ I put on my poshest voice. ‘It’s all about the breeding.’

I heard him sigh. ‘You’re so chippy.’

‘I’m amazed you even know the word.’

‘Perhaps I know more than you think.’ The slight roughness in his voice silenced me again. ‘Is there a chance, Anna, that you might ever think of me as an actual human being?’

I swallowed hard.

‘Anna?’

‘I’m thinking.’

I heard the sound of his outbreath; I hoped it was a laugh.

‘I’ve thought. Maybe. One day. If you try very hard.’ It was meant to be a joke, but it sounded wrong.

‘And you thinkI’mdifficult.’

‘I never said that.’

‘You didn’t have to.’ Suddenly, I couldn’t read his tone. His voice was soft, but we were in dangerous territory. I had the urge to keep him talking, to battle out the differences between us. At the same time there was a dull ache of awareness that this conversation was a dead end. One, he was my boss. Two, he belonged to Lucinda now – whatever he said, that had been made patently clear to me.

‘I won’t keep you,’ I said. I could feel myself closing up, reverting to professional politeness. My telephone voice. ‘Thanks for calling. I’ll get the award submission to you tomorrow.’

The silence went on a beat too long. ‘Thanks. I’ll funnel any comments back through Callum.’ He put the phone down without another word.

CHAPTER 16

‘I know it’s impossible,’ the conservator said, ‘but the beagle urine seems to have actuallyhelpedthe piece a bit. It should still be cleaned, but strangely it seems to have improved it.’

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