that he hadn't been around to hear her fumblings after all. But
at the same time she couldn't help wishing that he'd stayed—given
her his support—even explained exactly why Flynn was gunning for
her.
Flynn again, she realised with total exasperation. And until she
could dismiss him and his machinations from her brain, she was
simply wasting her time here. She glanced at her watch and saw it
was getting late. So it was probably best to call it a day, anyway.
She closed the piano and went up to her room to change for dinner.
'So there you are!' Crispin was standing beside the window.
'Darling, where on earth have you been? Bridie said you'd gone out
somewhere with the twins.'
'I did—for a little while. We went swimming. But I've been back for
ages—in the music room.'
'Well, it doesn't matter,' he said dismissively. 'Hurry up and change,
my sweet, and I'll take you out for a meal.'
Her heart skipped a beat. 'I—I don't think that would be very
sensible, in the circumstances.'
'What on earth are you talking about?' His brows drew together.
Sandie bit her lip. 'Crispin, why didn't you tell me you were
married?'
'So that's it,' he said ruefully. 'My poor sweet, have you been
worrying your head off about the fact that I have a wife somewhere?
Because you really needn't, you know. Come out to dinner with me,
and I'll tell you all about it.'
'Do you think we should?'
'Well, it will certainly be less wearing on the nervous system than
eating here, and a damned sight more private,' he said shortly. 'I
gather Magda worked a miracle and persuaded Flynn you were
staying.'
'Yes, she did,' Sandie bit her lip. 'But I think slie may be regretting
it. Our—first session didn't go terribly well this morning.'
'Well, that was rather silly, sweetheart. Particularly when she's gone
out of her way to help you.'
'I'm sorry,' Sandie said rather coolly, stung by the note of censure in
his voice. 'But you weren't the only one to have—a traumatic
interview with the master of the house today.'
Crispin sent her a repentant look. 'My poor girl! Was he a swine to
you?'
'Yes,' she said baldly. She hesitated. 'Crispin, do you really think it
was a good idea to bring me here- all things considered?'
'Darling, I didn't know Flynn was going to descend on. as like a ton
of bricks. He normally avoids the place like the plague when we're
all here, and especially when I'm among those present. But you don't
have to worry. He'll be gone soon, I promise.' He ran a smiling but
at the same time critical eye over her casual attire. 'Now be quick
and put on something pretty for me.'
Sandie noted with dismay that he showed no signs of taking his
departure. Surely he didn't intend to stay in the room while she
changed her clothes? Perhaps it was the kind of thing other girls
took in their stride, but it was altogether too intimate a situation for
her to handle this early in their relationship—especially when she
didn't even know if there could be a relationship.
She said stiltedly. 'I'll—see you downstairs, shall I?'
His brows lifted. 'Turning me out, sweetheart? Well, I'll accept it
this time—but you won't be shy of me forever, will you?'
She bent her head. 'I—I don't know. Crispin, I'm not sure what to
think any more.'
Crispin smiled, brushing her heated cheek with a careless finger as
he walked past her to the door. 'That's why I want to talk to you—
alone, away from prying ears. I want to set the record straight, my
sweet. So don't keep me waiting too long, will you?'
When she was alone, Sandie tore off her clothes with almost
feverish haste, making her way along to the bathroom. Even if it
meant keeping Crispin hanging about, she had to have a bath, and
wash the salt out of her hair.
Half an hour later she walked sedately down to the hall. She was
wearing one of her favourite skirts- huge jungle flowers in pink,
turquoise and gold on a black background—and a plain black silky
top,
at the same time she couldn't help wishing that he'd stayed—given
her his support—even explained exactly why Flynn was gunning for
her.
Flynn again, she realised with total exasperation. And until she
could dismiss him and his machinations from her brain, she was
simply wasting her time here. She glanced at her watch and saw it
was getting late. So it was probably best to call it a day, anyway.
She closed the piano and went up to her room to change for dinner.
'So there you are!' Crispin was standing beside the window.
'Darling, where on earth have you been? Bridie said you'd gone out
somewhere with the twins.'
'I did—for a little while. We went swimming. But I've been back for
ages—in the music room.'
'Well, it doesn't matter,' he said dismissively. 'Hurry up and change,
my sweet, and I'll take you out for a meal.'
Her heart skipped a beat. 'I—I don't think that would be very
sensible, in the circumstances.'
'What on earth are you talking about?' His brows drew together.
Sandie bit her lip. 'Crispin, why didn't you tell me you were
married?'
'So that's it,' he said ruefully. 'My poor sweet, have you been
worrying your head off about the fact that I have a wife somewhere?
Because you really needn't, you know. Come out to dinner with me,
and I'll tell you all about it.'
'Do you think we should?'
'Well, it will certainly be less wearing on the nervous system than
eating here, and a damned sight more private,' he said shortly. 'I
gather Magda worked a miracle and persuaded Flynn you were
staying.'
'Yes, she did,' Sandie bit her lip. 'But I think slie may be regretting
it. Our—first session didn't go terribly well this morning.'
'Well, that was rather silly, sweetheart. Particularly when she's gone
out of her way to help you.'
'I'm sorry,' Sandie said rather coolly, stung by the note of censure in
his voice. 'But you weren't the only one to have—a traumatic
interview with the master of the house today.'
Crispin sent her a repentant look. 'My poor girl! Was he a swine to
you?'
'Yes,' she said baldly. She hesitated. 'Crispin, do you really think it
was a good idea to bring me here- all things considered?'
'Darling, I didn't know Flynn was going to descend on. as like a ton
of bricks. He normally avoids the place like the plague when we're
all here, and especially when I'm among those present. But you don't
have to worry. He'll be gone soon, I promise.' He ran a smiling but
at the same time critical eye over her casual attire. 'Now be quick
and put on something pretty for me.'
Sandie noted with dismay that he showed no signs of taking his
departure. Surely he didn't intend to stay in the room while she
changed her clothes? Perhaps it was the kind of thing other girls
took in their stride, but it was altogether too intimate a situation for
her to handle this early in their relationship—especially when she
didn't even know if there could be a relationship.
She said stiltedly. 'I'll—see you downstairs, shall I?'
His brows lifted. 'Turning me out, sweetheart? Well, I'll accept it
this time—but you won't be shy of me forever, will you?'
She bent her head. 'I—I don't know. Crispin, I'm not sure what to
think any more.'
Crispin smiled, brushing her heated cheek with a careless finger as
he walked past her to the door. 'That's why I want to talk to you—
alone, away from prying ears. I want to set the record straight, my
sweet. So don't keep me waiting too long, will you?'
When she was alone, Sandie tore off her clothes with almost
feverish haste, making her way along to the bathroom. Even if it
meant keeping Crispin hanging about, she had to have a bath, and
wash the salt out of her hair.
Half an hour later she walked sedately down to the hall. She was
wearing one of her favourite skirts- huge jungle flowers in pink,
turquoise and gold on a black background—and a plain black silky
top,
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