‘I remember.’ No references needed for a bar job. Good choice.
‘Well, she got it. She’s only been there two days but she says the tips are amazing.’
‘Let’s hope she’s not tempted to put her hand in the till,’ Damien remarked drily but there was no rancour in his eyes as they met hers for a couple of seconds longer than strictly necessary.
‘I’ve already given her a lecture about that,’ Violet said huffily.
‘And what about the partner in crime?’
‘He wasn’t a partner in crime.’
‘Aside from the forging of references technicality.’
‘He’s working on restoring a boat with his friend.’
‘He knows much about boat restoration?’
‘Er...’
‘Say no more, Violet. They’re obviously a match made in Heaven.’
‘You’re so cynical!’
‘Not according to my mother. She complimented me on my terrific taste in women and waxed lyrical about the joys of knowing that I’m no longer dating women with IQs smaller than their waist measurements.’
They had reached the café and he pushed open the door and stood aside as she walked past him. The brush of his body against hers made her skin burn. So his mother was pleased with her as a so-called girlfriend. She thought back to the eye-catching brunette on the magazine cover. He must find it trying to have pulled the short straw for this little arrangement. He could have been walking into a café, or into an expensive restaurant because hadn’t he already told her that the women he dated wouldn’t have been caught dead anywhere where they couldn’t be admired, with a leggy brunette dangling on his arm. Instead of her.
He ordered them both coffee and then sat back in his chair to idly run his finger along the handle of the cup.
‘Well?’ Violet prompted, suddenly uncomfortable with the silence. ‘I don’t suppose we’re here because you wanted to pass the time of day with me. It’s been nearly two weeks. The new term is due to start in another ten days. Your mother seems to be doing really well. Have you brought me here to tell me that this arrangement is over?’ She felt a hollow spasm in the pit of her stomach at the prospect of never seeing him again and then marvelled at how fast a habit, even a bad one, could be turned into something that left a gaping hole when there was the prospect of it being removed.
‘When I told you that our little deal would be over and done with in a matter of days, I hadn’t foreseen certain eventualities.’
‘What eventualities?’
‘The consultants agree that treatment can be continued in Devon.’
‘And that’s good, isn’t it? I know your mother is very anxious about Dominic. She speaks to him every day on the telephone and has plenty of contact with his carers, but he’s not accustomed to having her away for such a long period of time.’
‘When did she tell you this?’
‘She’s phoned me at home a couple of times.’
‘You never mentioned that to me.’
‘I didn’t realise that I was supposed to report back to you on a daily basis...’
‘You’re supposed to understand the limitations of what we have here. You’re supposed to recognise that there are boundaries. Encouraging my mother to telephone you is stepping outside them.’
‘I didn’t encourage your mother to call me!’
‘You gave her your mobile number.’
‘She asked for it. What was I supposed to do? Refuse to give it to her?’
‘My mother plans on returning to Devon tomorrow. She’ll be able to attend the local hospital and I will personally make sure that she has the best in house medical team to hand that money can buy.
‘That’s good.’ She would miss Eleanor Carver. She would miss the company of someone who was kind and witty and the first and only parent substitute she had known since her own mother had died. There had been no breathtaking revelations to the older woman or dark, secret confessions, but it had been an unexpected luxury to feel as though no one expected her to answer questions or be in charge. ‘I guess you’ll be going with her.’
‘I will.’
‘How is that going to work out for you and your work? I know you said that it’s easy to work out of the office but is that really how it’s going to be in practice?’
‘It’ll work.’ He paused and looked at her carefully. ‘The best laid plans, however...’
‘I hate to sound pushy but would you be willing to sign something so that I know you won’t go back on what you promised?’
‘Don’t you trust me?’ he asked, amused.
‘Well, you did put me in this position through some pretty underhand tactics...’
‘Remind me how much your sister is enjoying life in sunny Ibiza...’ Damien waved aside that pointed reminder of his generosity. ‘Naturally, I will be more than happy to sign a piece of paper confirming that your sister won’t be seeing the inside of a prison once our deal is over.’
‘But I thought it was...’ Violet looked at him in confusion.
‘There’s been an unfortunate extension.’ He delivered that in the tone of voice which promised that, whatever he had to say, there would be no room for rebuttal. ‘It seems that your avid attention and cosy chats with my mother on the phone have encouraged her to think that you should accompany me down to Devon.’
‘What?’ Violet stammered.
‘I could repeat it if you like, but I can see from the expression on your face that you’ve heard me loud and clear. Believe me, it’s not something I want either but, given the circumstances, there’s very little room for manoeuvre.’ Could he be treated to anyone looking more appalled than she currently was?
‘Of course there’s room for manoeuvre!’ Violet protested shakily.
‘Shall I tell her that the prospect of going to Devon horrifies you?’
‘You know that’s not the sort of thing I’m talking about. I...I...have loads to do before school starts...classes to prepare for...’
Damien waited patiently as she expounded on the million and one things that apparently required her urgent attention in London before raising his hand to stop her in mid-flow.
‘My mother seems to think that having you around for a few days while her treatment commences would give her strength. She’s aware that you start back at school in a week and a half.’ She had no choice but to do exactly what he said; Damien knew that. When it came to this arrangement, she didn’t have a vote. Still, he would have liked to have her on board without her kicking
