Not that she was alone tonight. Despite their past lack of rapport she had been surprisingly glad of Luke’s company after the initial fright. She had begun to be tired of her own company. She would even miss him when he went on his way in the morning.
IN the morning, however, Saskia got up to find Luke sitting at the breakfast table with a pot of coffee in front of him, obviously in no hurry to go anywhere.
‘Good morning,’ she said, yawning.
‘Good morning, Sassy. Sleep well?’
She nodded. ‘Actually, I did. My sleepless nights finally caught up with me.’
Luke raised an eyebrow. ‘Or maybe you were more relaxed with company in the house.’
Saskia helped herself to coffee from the pot and sat down. ‘I’m not nervous on my own, Luke.’ She looked at him squarely. ‘What exactly are your plans? Is my presence here a problem?’
He returned the look in silence for a moment, then shrugged. ‘I admit I’d intended staying here for a few days. I should have checked with Marina. But not to worry; I’ll find a hotel.’
She drank some of her coffee. ‘You don’t have to do that,’ she said, after a while. ‘I’m sure we can manage to occupy the same house for a few days without coming to blows. Especially if you intend to be out every day.’
‘I can arrange to be out every evening as well,’ he said dryly, ‘if you’d prefer.’
Saskia could well imagine it. Luke was the sort of man who had friends everywhere. And not all of them female, she allowed, with justice.
‘It makes no difference to me either way,’ she said, deliberately indifferent. ‘Want some breakfast? No bacon and egg, though-just fruit, yoghurt and a couple of yesterday’s rolls I could heat up. I need to do some shopping.’
‘I could run you somewhere, if you like,’ he offered.
She shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I’ll walk to the village later.’
Luke jumped to his feet. ‘As you like. If you’ll excuse me I’ll take a shower. I skipped one earlier, in case I woke you.’
‘I’ll have breakfast ready by the time you are, then.’ He shook his head. ‘Don’t bother, Saskia. I’ll get something on my travels.’ He strode from the room without looking at her, and she stared after him, biting her lip.
She had offended him again. Which was by no means the first time. But this time, for once, she hadn’t intended to. On the rare occasions they spent time in each other’s company these days they were usually in Oxford, with Sam and Marina, and made an effort to remain civil. Not, conceded Saskia with sudden honesty, that Luke was ever uncivil. She was the culprit. Due to an in-house gym at the bank and a determinedly healthy diet her skin was good these days, and while she would never be thin she was no longer overweight. Nevertheless, the moment she was in Luke’s company some secret part of her instantly reverted to the plump, hostile teenager of their first meeting.
Saskia switched the oven on, set out butter, fruit and some cartons of yoghurt, made a fresh pot of coffee, then went out to sit on the terrace to lie in wait for Luke, in case he intended taking off without saying goodbye. She heard him leave the bathroom, then a minute or two later he came out on the terrace, wearing well-cut jeans and a white shirt, a lightweight jacket over his arm. But there was no suitcase in evidence, she noted, brightening.
‘I’m off, then, Saskia,’ he said briskly.
‘If you’ve got time, please stay and have breakfast first,’ she said. ‘I obviously put my foot in it again just now. I really didn’t mean to.’
Luke looked down at her, eyes narrowed, then he shrugged and laid his jacket down on one of the wicker chairs. ‘All right’
They ate yoghurt and peaches in silence, then Saskia poured coffee and got up to take the rolls from the oven.
‘Pax?’ she said lightly as she set them on the table.
Luke eyed her expressionlessly. ‘I don’t know. You tell me.’
She gave him a reluctant, apologetic smile. ‘I’m not at my best right now.’
‘And even at your best you’re not over-affectionate where I’m concerned.’ He took a roll and buttered it. ‘I’ve often wondered why, exactly, Saskia. Is there something about my person that offends you?’
‘No, of course not. It’s just-’ She shrugged. ‘I’m off men at the moment’
‘That explains this particular moment, maybe, but you’ve been hostile towards me for the best part of ten years.’ Luke stirred his coffee slowly, staring down into the cup. ‘I always assumed it was because Marina and I hit it off so well from the first’
‘Good heavens, no,’ Saskia said in genuine surprise. ‘I was pleased for Mother because you obviously liked her so much. She was very nervous about you before she met you.’
Luke’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Was she really? I never knew that’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Was that the problem, then? Because I made her nervous?’
Saskia sighed. ‘No. I told you why before. I resented you, Lucius Armytage, because I was such an ugly duckling.’
He let out a crack of laughter. ‘But that wasn’t my fault, Sassy.’
‘Of course it wasn’t-but I still hated you.’
‘Do you hate me still?’ he asked, surprising her.
‘No.’ She smiled a little. ‘At least, not so much.’
‘Good.’ He leaned back in his chair, scrutinising her lazily. ‘And you must know, if only from the odd look in the mirror, that Saskia grown up is no ugly duckling. Though,’ he added warily, ‘I’m not sure about the hair.’
‘You don’t like my gold threads?’
‘I meant the cut. I preferred that long mane of yours, Sassy.’
‘It’ll grow,’ she said prosaically. ‘Though I hope it doesn’t quite yet This particular visit to the hairdresser cost an arm and a leg, not to mention ages on a waiting list for the man who actually cut my hair.’
Luke raised an eyebrow. ‘Was this for some special occasion?’
‘Of course-in honour of moving in with Francis Lawford.’ Saskia refilled their cups, avoiding Luke’s eyes.
‘So what happened?’
‘I changed my mind.’
There was silence for a moment while he waited for her to say more. When she didn’t Luke finished his coffee and got up. ‘I must go.’
Saskia had also changed her mind about wanting to go with him. But Luke didn’t ask
