are here I’d like to introduce you to –’
‘We’ve already met,’ interrupted Tania.
‘When?’ asked her mother.
‘When I was out riding. Isn’t that right, Sir Matthew.’
Annabel noticed that, although Sir Matthew nodded and smiled in agreement, he wasn’t quite as appreciative of Tania as might have been expected, and quickly turned his attention back to her mother.
Tania didn’t like this. ‘God, I could use a drink. Isn’t anyone going to offer me one?’
‘Dinner’s ready,’ said her stepfather. ‘We’ve all been waiting for you.’
‘I’m sure you can wait five more minutes while I have a quick gin. Crispian, be an angel and pour me one, would you?’
‘How could I refuse?’ he asked with a lopsided smile. His father and stepmother glanced briefly at one another. And Annabel wondered if they were both aware of how close their offspring really were.
‘Even if you know my stepsister, I don’t suppose anyone’s thought to introduce you to Annabel,’ murmured Crispian as he poured out Tania’s gin.
‘How rude of me,’ said his stepmother, turning towards the waiting Annabel. ‘Sir Matthew, I’d like you to meet Annabel Moss. She works for David Crosbie and comes highly recommended by him. You’ve probably heard of David?’
‘Good heavens, yes. I knew him a few years ago. We ran with the same crowd but then I moved away. I haven’t seen him now for about three years or more. Is he still with Martin?’ he asked Annabel as he lightly took her outstretched hand.
‘Yes, yes, he is,’ she said in a low voice, hoping that he couldn’t feel the way her hand was trembling in his. It was utterly ridiculous, and she didn’t know what was the matter with her, but all she wanted was to get this man into bed with her, to feel his strong, capable hands on her breasts, thighs, and buttocks. She’d heard of instant physical attraction, but never believed in it. Now she knew that it could happen. The only trouble was, he clearly didn’t feel the same.
‘Good. What are you planning to do with the Hall?’
‘I really don’t know yet. I only arrived this afternoon and although Lady Corbett-Wynne and I discussed some provisional ideas, they were just a starting point.’
‘I’m sure her taste will prove impeccable,’ replied Sir Matthew. He then turned away from Annabel and started talking to his hostess again.
‘Bad luck!’ whispered Crispian as he passed behind Annabel. ‘It seems he likes the more mature woman!’
Annabel flushed, mortified that anyone had realised how she felt.
‘Do come along,’ Lord Corbett-Wynne said irritably. ‘I’m famished and Susan told us dinner was ready over ten minutes ago.’
‘Sorry, Step-papa,’ drawled Tania. They all moved towards the door.
The dining room was large and dark. Old family portraits adorned the walls and the suspended lights over the dark mahogany dining table had navy-blue shades with gold braids over them. Annabel found herself seated between Lord Corbett-Wynne and Sir Matthew, which rather pleased her, with Tania and Crispian opposite her.
The damask table cloth was immaculate and the pure crystal glasses shone, while the eighteenth-century pistol-handled cutlery added a wonderful touch. Small vases of freesias were placed along the centre of the table and their scent drifted in the air, masking the musty odour that seemed to be present in all the rooms of the Hall.
The first course was delicious, smoked salmon in saffron aspic, and was accompanied by an excellent Chablis. Annabel found that the presence of Sir Matthew on her right seemed to have removed her appetite but she managed to force most of the light fish down.
‘Tell me what you think of my place then,’ said Lord Corbett-Wynne as Sir Matthew talked softly and intimately to the lord’s wife. ‘Like it?’
‘I think it’s got tremendous character,’ said Annabel with total honesty. ‘I’d want to keep the atmosphere too. I had thought in
‘We’ve already met,’ interrupted Tania.
‘When?’ asked her mother.
‘When I was out riding. Isn’t that right, Sir Matthew.’
Annabel noticed that, although Sir Matthew nodded and smiled in agreement, he wasn’t quite as appreciative of Tania as might have been expected, and quickly turned his attention back to her mother.
Tania didn’t like this. ‘God, I could use a drink. Isn’t anyone going to offer me one?’
‘Dinner’s ready,’ said her stepfather. ‘We’ve all been waiting for you.’
‘I’m sure you can wait five more minutes while I have a quick gin. Crispian, be an angel and pour me one, would you?’
‘How could I refuse?’ he asked with a lopsided smile. His father and stepmother glanced briefly at one another. And Annabel wondered if they were both aware of how close their offspring really were.
‘Even if you know my stepsister, I don’t suppose anyone’s thought to introduce you to Annabel,’ murmured Crispian as he poured out Tania’s gin.
‘How rude of me,’ said his stepmother, turning towards the waiting Annabel. ‘Sir Matthew, I’d like you to meet Annabel Moss. She works for David Crosbie and comes highly recommended by him. You’ve probably heard of David?’
‘Good heavens, yes. I knew him a few years ago. We ran with the same crowd but then I moved away. I haven’t seen him now for about three years or more. Is he still with Martin?’ he asked Annabel as he lightly took her outstretched hand.
‘Yes, yes, he is,’ she said in a low voice, hoping that he couldn’t feel the way her hand was trembling in his. It was utterly ridiculous, and she didn’t know what was the matter with her, but all she wanted was to get this man into bed with her, to feel his strong, capable hands on her breasts, thighs, and buttocks. She’d heard of instant physical attraction, but never believed in it. Now she knew that it could happen. The only trouble was, he clearly didn’t feel the same.
‘Good. What are you planning to do with the Hall?’
‘I really don’t know yet. I only arrived this afternoon and although Lady Corbett-Wynne and I discussed some provisional ideas, they were just a starting point.’
‘I’m sure her taste will prove impeccable,’ replied Sir Matthew. He then turned away from Annabel and started talking to his hostess again.
‘Bad luck!’ whispered Crispian as he passed behind Annabel. ‘It seems he likes the more mature woman!’
Annabel flushed, mortified that anyone had realised how she felt.
‘Do come along,’ Lord Corbett-Wynne said irritably. ‘I’m famished and Susan told us dinner was ready over ten minutes ago.’
‘Sorry, Step-papa,’ drawled Tania. They all moved towards the door.
The dining room was large and dark. Old family portraits adorned the walls and the suspended lights over the dark mahogany dining table had navy-blue shades with gold braids over them. Annabel found herself seated between Lord Corbett-Wynne and Sir Matthew, which rather pleased her, with Tania and Crispian opposite her.
The damask table cloth was immaculate and the pure crystal glasses shone, while the eighteenth-century pistol-handled cutlery added a wonderful touch. Small vases of freesias were placed along the centre of the table and their scent drifted in the air, masking the musty odour that seemed to be present in all the rooms of the Hall.
The first course was delicious, smoked salmon in saffron aspic, and was accompanied by an excellent Chablis. Annabel found that the presence of Sir Matthew on her right seemed to have removed her appetite but she managed to force most of the light fish down.
‘Tell me what you think of my place then,’ said Lord Corbett-Wynne as Sir Matthew talked softly and intimately to the lord’s wife. ‘Like it?’
‘I think it’s got tremendous character,’ said Annabel with total honesty. ‘I’d want to keep the atmosphere too. I had thought in
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