Innocent Cinderella: His Untamed Innocent / Penniless and Purchased / Her Last Night of Innocence

Her laugh tinkled out. ‘And here am I, praying for two fine days in a row.’

‘You keep up the pressure, Diana,’ said Robert Bannister. ‘Graham will give in eventually.’

Will he? Marin wondered, noting the host’s set expression. Somehow, I doubt it.

‘What about you, Miss Wade?’ All eyes swivelled to Marin as Diana spoke, smiling. ‘I’m sure you must have hankered for your own special place in the sun.’

Which is why, she’s implying, that I’m dating a millionaire, thought Marin.

But she smiled back with the utmost tranquillity. ‘I’m very fortunate, Mrs Halsay. My parents have a home in Portugal, and I spend a lot of time with them there.’

Or I would, if I didn’t have to work so hard and so long in order to make a living.

‘Really?’ Diana said brightly. ‘How fascinating.’ And she changed the subject—and her target.

It was much later, while coffee was being served and she was taking a surreptitious look at her watch, that Marin found herself unexpectedly under her hostess’s spotlight again.

‘Do you swim at all, Miss Wade?’ Diana enquired sweetly from the foot of the table during a lull in the conversation. ‘Because my little Saturday morning gala is becoming quite a tradition. I do hope you’ll feel able to take part in it.’

Well, that explained the session with Lynne in the sports department, Marin thought drily. She debated whether to mention that she’d swum for her school, and in a junior county team, and decided to keep quiet.

‘Thank you,’ she responded calmly. ‘I shall look forward to it.’

‘Excellent.’ Diana’s smile wafted past her to Jake. ‘And I can’t wait to see if anyone can beat you, darling.’

‘I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, my dear.’ Graham’s intervention was also smiling but brisk. ‘Jake and I have business to discuss tomorrow, which makes us both non-starters. I thought you understood that.’

There was a pause, then Diana sighed prettily. ‘Ah, well.’ She spread her hands in a humorous gesture of resignation. ‘This is what happens when you marry a workaholic. But I’m sure I don’t need to remind any of the wives present of that.’

She looked back at Marin. ‘Beware, Miss Wade, of becoming involved with a man who puts the job first.’

In fact, thought Marin, you’re really saying—don’t get involved with Jake. Full stop. And you’re addressing your own interests rather than mine.

She said composedly, ‘I’ll certainly bear your advice in mind, Mrs Halsay—if I’m ever tempted.’

As they left the dining room, Jake was momentarily detained by his host, and Marin found herself claimed by Sylvia Bannister.

‘You’ve turned out to be the surprise of the weekend.’ Her tone was faintly supercilious. ‘How did you and Jake Radley-Smith become such an item? Or is it indiscreet to ask?’

‘Certainly not,’ Marin returned. ‘We met through my sister. She works for him.’

‘Oh.’ The other woman was clearly surprised. ‘But you don’t?’

‘Heavens, no.’ Marin produced a mock shudder. ‘That would be terribly unwise. Don’t they say never mix business with pleasure?’

‘I’ve heard it mentioned.’ Mrs Bannister paused. ‘So how do you earn a crust, if I may ask?’

‘I work for the Ingram Organisation,’ Marin said coolly. ‘We supply a whole range of secretarial services for companies and private individuals.’

‘You must be good at your job. It certainly seems to pay very well.’ Sylvia Bannister ran a narrow-eyed glance over the Fenella Finch dress. ‘And when did you meet Jake?’

Marin shrugged. ‘A while back.’ She added nonchalantly, ‘But I seem to have known him for ever.’ And she realised with a little shiver of awareness that it was no more than the truth.

Mrs Bannister’s eyes narrowed. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘You’ve been his best-kept secret until now.’ She glanced towards Diana Halsay who was standing alone by the fireplace. ‘No wonder…’ She checked herself fsuddenly. ‘But that’s not important.’

‘No,’ Marin said gently. ‘It isn’t.’ She smiled politely and turned away, then after a brief hesitation walked over to Diana.

She said quietly, ‘I hope you’ll excuse me, Mrs Halsay, if I say goodnight. It’s been rather a long day.’ Nor do I want any more sessions with the Spanish Inquisition.

‘And will probably be a much longer night.’ Diana’s mouth smiled brightly, but her eyes were like stone. ‘Do make sure, my pet, that Jake allows you just a little rest. We don’t want to drag you out of the deep end tomorrow.’

Marin felt embarrassed colour flood her face, but she kept her voice steady. ‘Thanks for the advice, Mrs Halsay, but I think I’ll manage to keep afloat.’ She added lightly, ‘Besides, Jake’s not an easy man to refuse.’

I’ll probably have to pay for that, she thought with a soundless sigh as she turned away. I hope it was worth it.

She was in her room, replacing her dress in the wardrobe, when there was a knock on the door and Jake’s voice said, ‘Marin—a word, please.’

She hesitated. ‘Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I—I’m rather tired.’

‘I’d rather we spoke now.’ He paused, then added flatly, ‘I’ll count to three, then I’m coming in.’

To find her, she realised numbly, naked except for a pair of lace briefs.

She heard him say, ‘One…’ and called back, her voice strangled, ‘No, wait—please.’

Hastily she searched along the rail for the pretty ivory satin robe which Lynne had insisted should be added to their haul and dragged it from its hanger, thrusting her arms into its sleeves and knotting the sash firmly round her slender waist.

As she opened the door, Jake walked past her into the room and stood hands on hips, viewing her critically. ‘I must remember to tell Lynne that her taste is faultless,’ he commented.

She lifted her chin. ‘If that’s all you came to say, it could certainly have waited.’

‘I don’t do waiting,’ he said. ‘I thought you’d have picked up on that by now. But I wanted to talk about something else.’ He paused. ‘Clare Dawson, who’s taken a shine to you, told me quietly that you seemed to be having a minor confrontation with Diana just now, and she was afraid you could have retired hurt.’ He shook his head. ‘I should have been with you to draw her fire.’

Marin bit her lip. ‘No need.’ She forced a smile. ‘I think I actually came off best from the encounter—this time, at least.’

He said with a touch of harshness, ‘And I fear she’s just getting into her stride. Goddamn it, I should have said no to Graham’s invitation and insisted on a weekday meeting instead.’

Marin shrugged. ‘I’ve been in worse situations.’ She thought of Greg and her skin felt suddenly clammy.

‘Then you have my sympathy.’ His mouth twisted wryly. ‘However, you don’t have to take part in Diana’s swimming fest tomorrow, if you’d rather not. I can find some way of getting you out of it.’

‘After you’ve bought me a new swimsuit?’ Marin enquired coolly. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it. And I’ll try not to make a complete fool of myself.’

‘One more thing,’ he said softly. ‘Is there really a villa in Portugal?’

‘Yes, of course. I wouldn’t lie about a thing like that. Has Lynne never mentioned it?’

‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘Even—probably. Although we don’t share every facet of our lives.’