Read Online A Pretend Engagement by Jessica Steele - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jessica Steele
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interloper, not her!
Varnie was glad to feel mutinous; it made what she had done seem funny again. Without pausing to knock, she entered her grandfather's study. Leon Beaumont was engrossed with what the computer screen had to offer.
`I thought you might be hungry,' she lied , finding some space on the large desk and placing the sandwiches down. He looked up. She smiled. `I'll make some fresh coffee.' He did not answer. She turned away. But then knew she wasn't going to keep this bottled up. `Your visitor departed, by the way,' she informed him, turning back. She saw she had his attention. `I don't think you'll have any more trouble there,' she announced.
Leon favoured her with an unsmiling look. `I find that hard to believe,' he grated. `I've tried every diplomatic and not so diplomatic-way I know to get that result.'
Varnie smiled again. 'Ah, but there was one way you didn't think to try,' she said sweetly.
`Oh, to have your superior brain,' he mocked.
Bubbles to him. He annoyed her-so what else was new? She headed for the door.
`You're not going to leave it there, I trust?'
She turned again. And it gave her tremendous pleasure to be able to report, `Mrs King was so determined to see you that purely in the interests of her keeping her job, of course-I told her that you and I were-partners.'
`Partners?' he echoed. Clearly he was not believing his hearing.
`Live-in lovers,' Varnie answered prettily.
`You told her-'
Quiet before the storm! Varnie got in quickly. `I told her that you were madly in love with me.'
`You did what?' he roared, and was on his feet.
Oh, my word, it was worth it. `I knew you'd be pleased.' She stood her ground, even though Leon Beaumont came and stood over her-she had a feeling she was close to being grabbed by her ankles and swung around the study by her feet.
`Why, you conniving little-'
`Conniving?' she cut in, starting to get angry at being so accused.
`I told you, I specifically told you, that I was off all women-'
`I know-in spades,' she butted in.
`And that included you. If you think for one minute that, having aligned yourself with me, having broadcast that you and I are lovers, it will get you anywhere with me, then you can-'
`Why, you miserable-miserable...' there wasn't a name bad enough for him '...toad!' she erupted. The cheek of the man! The insufferable... `I wouldn't fancy you if you were the last man breathing.'
`You're just as bad as she is.'
`For your information, I've had it up to here too-with men!'
`I warned you not to take advantage of this situation.'
`You're all a bunch of-'She broke off. They both seemed to be having their own individual argument here. `If you didn't want her to find you-and in my view the woman shows extremely poor taste-why the devil did you give her this address?'
Leon Beaumont threw Varnie a look of disgust, but had reined in his fury when he clipped, `I didn't. She went to see Evelyn Douglas, my PA, yesterday. Evelyn had an envelope on her desk addressed to me here that she intended to post personally. She rang me to say Antonia King had seen it before she could cover it up. I feared I might expect a visit.'
`What it is to be popular!' Varnie offered sarcastically. And, still angry at being accused of trying to get her hooks into him, `Sort your own love-life out, Beaumont. Should Antonia King call again I shall take great delight in telling her that you're free and that she's welcome to you.
With that she went storming out from the study. That man! She was going to leave! She'd had it with him. How dared he accuse her of wanting to `get somewhere' with him? Why, he was as good as accusing her of having designs on his wallet!
Varnie stormed upstairs to pack. Never had she met such a man. Why, she was all of a tremble just from having to speak to him. No man had ever put her into this state before and that included Martin Walker.
Up in her room, she took down her suitcase and had half filled it
Varnie was glad to feel mutinous; it made what she had done seem funny again. Without pausing to knock, she entered her grandfather's study. Leon Beaumont was engrossed with what the computer screen had to offer.
`I thought you might be hungry,' she lied , finding some space on the large desk and placing the sandwiches down. He looked up. She smiled. `I'll make some fresh coffee.' He did not answer. She turned away. But then knew she wasn't going to keep this bottled up. `Your visitor departed, by the way,' she informed him, turning back. She saw she had his attention. `I don't think you'll have any more trouble there,' she announced.
Leon favoured her with an unsmiling look. `I find that hard to believe,' he grated. `I've tried every diplomatic and not so diplomatic-way I know to get that result.'
Varnie smiled again. 'Ah, but there was one way you didn't think to try,' she said sweetly.
`Oh, to have your superior brain,' he mocked.
Bubbles to him. He annoyed her-so what else was new? She headed for the door.
`You're not going to leave it there, I trust?'
She turned again. And it gave her tremendous pleasure to be able to report, `Mrs King was so determined to see you that purely in the interests of her keeping her job, of course-I told her that you and I were-partners.'
`Partners?' he echoed. Clearly he was not believing his hearing.
`Live-in lovers,' Varnie answered prettily.
`You told her-'
Quiet before the storm! Varnie got in quickly. `I told her that you were madly in love with me.'
`You did what?' he roared, and was on his feet.
Oh, my word, it was worth it. `I knew you'd be pleased.' She stood her ground, even though Leon Beaumont came and stood over her-she had a feeling she was close to being grabbed by her ankles and swung around the study by her feet.
`Why, you conniving little-'
`Conniving?' she cut in, starting to get angry at being so accused.
`I told you, I specifically told you, that I was off all women-'
`I know-in spades,' she butted in.
`And that included you. If you think for one minute that, having aligned yourself with me, having broadcast that you and I are lovers, it will get you anywhere with me, then you can-'
`Why, you miserable-miserable...' there wasn't a name bad enough for him '...toad!' she erupted. The cheek of the man! The insufferable... `I wouldn't fancy you if you were the last man breathing.'
`You're just as bad as she is.'
`For your information, I've had it up to here too-with men!'
`I warned you not to take advantage of this situation.'
`You're all a bunch of-'She broke off. They both seemed to be having their own individual argument here. `If you didn't want her to find you-and in my view the woman shows extremely poor taste-why the devil did you give her this address?'
Leon Beaumont threw Varnie a look of disgust, but had reined in his fury when he clipped, `I didn't. She went to see Evelyn Douglas, my PA, yesterday. Evelyn had an envelope on her desk addressed to me here that she intended to post personally. She rang me to say Antonia King had seen it before she could cover it up. I feared I might expect a visit.'
`What it is to be popular!' Varnie offered sarcastically. And, still angry at being accused of trying to get her hooks into him, `Sort your own love-life out, Beaumont. Should Antonia King call again I shall take great delight in telling her that you're free and that she's welcome to you.
With that she went storming out from the study. That man! She was going to leave! She'd had it with him. How dared he accuse her of wanting to `get somewhere' with him? Why, he was as good as accusing her of having designs on his wallet!
Varnie stormed upstairs to pack. Never had she met such a man. Why, she was all of a tremble just from having to speak to him. No man had ever put her into this state before and that included Martin Walker.
Up in her room, she took down her suitcase and had half filled it
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