James?”
“I’m fine.” She drew away and added coolly, “I should watch where I’m going.”
They stared at each other, and it seemed that in just thirty seconds, they’d exhausted all avenues of conversation.
He cleared his throat. “I meant to say...you look a bit upset. I hope you survived your encounter with Mr Duncan earlier. I trust he did nothing...untoward.”
“Untoward?”
Crikey, he talked like he was straight out of
Downton Abbey
.
“No, of course he didn’t. Ciaran was a perfect gentleman,” she lied.
“Good. I must say I’m surprised. But then, you’re not his usual sort of woman, after all.”
His words – and his condescension – sent a renewed flicker of anger through her.
“And what – or who – is his ‘usual sort of woman,’ Mr Darcy?”
He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “I only meant that you’re a bit young for him, that’s all.”
“Really? Well,” Holly said, tilting her head back to meet his gaze, with a defiant gleam in her eye, “he doesn’t think so. In fact, he’s asked me to spend the day with him tomorrow – as publicity for the store. And I’ve said yes.”
“I see.”
Again they stared at one another, and again there seemed to be nothing more to say.
He looked as if he might venture another comment, but thought the better of it. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Miss James,” he said tightly.
“Thank you. I will.”
She moved to walk around him, to find Jamie and tell him about her plans with Ciaran, and was just about to push through the baize door to the kitchen when he spoke again.
“It’s not a good idea, you know. He’s not worth your time. He’s no good.”
Holly whirled around. “Excuse me? And how would
you
know
that
?”
He lifted one shoulder. “It’s common knowledge. He’s not known for sticking around...or keeping promises. He’s not a marrying sort of man.”
“Who says I want to get
married
?” Holly said, and let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’m already engaged, thank you very much. It’s just a publicity thing, Mr Darcy, not a – a lifetime commitment. At any rate,” she couldn’t help adding, “I’m just a silly, shallow girl with no style and no more depth than a puddle. Isn’t that right?”
He looked at her with a mixture of surprise and dismay. “You heard me talking to Ms. Welch.”
“Yes, I did. But you needn’t worry. I’m not interested in you in the least, so you can rest easy. Besides, I have my day with Ciaran tomorrow to look forward to. Unlike you, he knows how to have fun, and flirt, and make a girl feel special.” She tilted her chin up. “You should try it sometime. Having fun, I mean.”
His dark eyes met hers, and in their depths she thought she glimpsed, very briefly, pain.
As quickly as it came, it was gone.
“Perhaps I should,” he agreed stiffly, and turned away to get his coat. He shrugged his arms into the sleeves – it was an excellent quality coat, Holly noted irrelevantly – and brushed past her with a curt nod, vanishing through the front doors, and out into the night.
Chapter Four
“Oh, thank you, Alastair,” Natalie said as her father-in-law returned to the drawing room and draped a pashmina around her bare shoulders. “These evening gowns don’t do much to keep a girl warm.”
“That’s what you have me for, darling.” Her husband Rhys rested a proprietary hand at the small of her back and leaned forward to brush his lips against her cheek.
“And I’m very glad of it,” she said, and squeezed his arm.
“Congratulations on your pregnancy,” Alastair’s wife Cherie offered. “I haven’t really had a chance to talk to you since you found out. How far along are you now?”
“Four months and a bit.” Natalie laid a hand atop the noticeable bulge of her stomach.
“How very exciting. I’m thrilled for you and Rhys, I can’t tell you. We must throw you an extravagant baby shower, and soon. Now, if you’ll excuse me‒” she touched