smiling.
He shrugged. “If that’s what you want to think then there is nothing I can do to change your mind.”
“Don’t you see, Peter? If we ever did marry I would really never be convinced that you wanted me for myself.”
“Then my only alternative is to make MacNair Products such a huge success that it will overshadow all other cosmetics, including your precious Nightsong Perfume.”
“If that happens, then Lorna will take you for everything you have and you’ll still need Nightsong.”
“You’re impossible,” he answered with an annoyed twist of his mouth. He glanced at the clock on the night stand. “Good Lord. I had no idea it was this late. I have to go.” He leaned over and kissed her again. “My only desire in this whole world is to be able to stay with you all night, every night for the rest of our lives.”
She put her arms around him and idly toyed with the shaggy hair at the back of his neck. “You made me very happy this evening, Peter. Thank you.”
“Lunch with me tomorrow. I’ll call for you at your office at twelve-thirty.”
“I can’t. Leon is coming down from school. I promised I’d take him to lunch.”
“Oh, yes, Prince Ke Loo’s boy.”
“My boy,” Lydia insisted. “He wants nothing to do with his father. In fact, he’s even Americanized his name from Li Ahn to Leon. I swear I’m not imagining it, but the longer he remains here the more Occidental he looks. His eyes seem to have lost the slight slant they once had and even lightened in color.” She gave a little laugh. “I know that’s impossible but I swear it’s true.”
“I haven’t seen the lad in several years. He should be quite a young man now.”
“Nineteen and very much a man, he wants everyone to think.”
“It’s strange that he has adapted so well, especially with the prejudice many Americans have against Orientals.”
“He had a terrible life with Prince Ke Loo. Do you know they used to bleed him when he was a child in order to drain him of any trace of my blood in his veins?”
“Good God, no wonder he’s so opposed to his father.”
“And as far as prejudice is concerned, you above everyone else should know that where money is concerned prejudices don’t exist.”
He kissed her quickly. “I must go.” He got up and started to dress. “Perhaps I could join you and Leon tomorrow. I’d like to get to know the boy. Perhaps introduce him to my son, Efrem. The two are about the same age.”
“Heaven forbid, Peter. What are you thinking? Your wife would throw a tantrum that would be heard across the state. You know how she despises anything connected with me—including my products, I understand.”
He laughed. “She’d die before she’d wear any Empress Cosmetic product, even though all her friends think her foolish. I must hand it to you, Lydia—for a silly little girl of missionary parents you certainly made something of yourself.”
“Perhaps I’ve made too much of myself,” she answered wistfully. “The price was high.”
He leaned down and kissed her mouth as she pulled the sheet over her naked body. “Dinner tomorrow night?” Seeing her hesitation he added, “Lorna is going to visit friends in Sacramento for a few days. There’s no chance of her causing a scene.”
Lydia thought for a moment. “Very well,” she said.
“Good. I’ll call for you at seven-thirty.”
* * * * * * *
He was fifteen minutes early. “My place was like a morgue,” he explained. “I got restless. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
He looked around. “For some reason I thought I’d find you in the bosom of your family, as the expression goes. You know—little tots on your lap, your son sitting dutifully at your side.”
She chuckled. “Leon is off somewhere with friends from school and the little ones are already asleep upstairs with their amah.” She made a face and corrected herself. “Their nurse. After all these years it is one of the few Oriental expressions I can’t stop using.”
He winked suggestively. “Then we have the downstairs all to ourselves again tonight.”
She saw his eyes move toward the bedroom. “Behave yourself, Peter MacNair. You are taking me to dinner.” She moved toward the liquor cart. “Would you care for a cocktail?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Minutes later they settled themselves side by side on the Victorian settee, she with a cassis and he with a scotch over ice.
He said, “Did I tell you, you look ravishing as usual?”
She smiled demurely. “Thank you, kind sir.”
The doorbell rang.
Lydia looked annoyed. “Who could that be? I’m not expecting anyone. Excuse me, Peter. The servants are off. I’ll see who it is.”
When she opened the door Raymond removed his hat and smiled. “I was in the neighborhood and wondered if you were free for dinner.”
“As it so happens, I am not free,” Lydia said, frowning.
“Entertaining?” He nodded to Peter’s carriage tied to the hitching post.
“You always were inquisitive, Raymond. One day that nose of yours will get you into trouble.”
“MacNair’s carriage, isn’t it?”
Lydia gave him a defiant look. “Yes, it is.”
“Good,” he said forcing down his anger. He pushed past her. “I’ll join you for a drink.”
“Raymond, please,” she called after him as he went directly toward the drawing room.
Peter was refreshing his scotch when Raymond walked in. “Good evening, Raymond,” Peter said pleasantly.
Raymond glanced at the scotch decanter in Peter’s hand. “You certainly are making yourself free enough in this house.”
Peter merely widened his grin. “It’s Lydia’s liquor and I’m sure she doesn’t object to my helping myself to it.”
“But I do.”
“Raymond!” Lydia snapped, standing nervously in the doorway. “Peter is a guest of mine.”
He turned on her. “Well, I strongly object to your asking him here. If I recall, you’ve always expressed an intense dislike for the man.” He saw Lydia glance anxiously at Peter and saw Peter frown.
She said, “You are being
