The Master of Highbridge Manor
Susanne James
Step into a world of sophistication and glamour, where sinfully seductive heroes await you in luxurious international locations.
At the boss’s bidding!
Walking up to the imposing gates of Highbridge Manor, Ria cannot contain her shivers of anticipation; she has come here to escape her past and start over. But when she is greeted by Jasper Trent, her devilishly handsome new boss, she realises she’s on dangerous ground.
Plucky and proud, Ria holds her head high while doing her new job though she can’t control her blushes when Jasper is in the vicinity! She’s always been strictly professional, but now it seems the master of Highbridge Manor has other plans for her once the working day is done!
He smiled across at her. ‘I promise to be extremely quiet,’ he said.
How very informally polite they were being, Ria thought, now that they were alone together for the first time since he’d kissed her. There was nothing in his expression to suggest that it had crossed his mind since—and how was she managing to appear so casual…so completely normal? She’d even stopped herself from blushing—which must be a first.
Susanne James has enjoyed creative writing since childhood, completing her first—sadly unpublished—novel by the age of twelve. She has three grown-up children who were, and are, her pride and joy, and who all live happily in Oxfordshire with their families. She was always happy to put the needs of her family before her ambition to write seriously, although along the way some published articles for magazines and newspapers helped to keep the dream alive!
Susanne’s big regret is that her beloved husband is no longer here to share the pleasure of her recent success. She now shares her life with Toffee, her young Cavalier King Charles spaniel, who decides when it’s time to get up (early) and when a walk in the park is overdue!
Recent titles by the same author:
THE BOSELLI BRIDE
THE PLAYBOY OF PENGARROTH HALL
THE BRITISH BILLIONAIRE’S INNOCENT BRIDE
Highbridge Manor
by
Susanne James
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CHAPTER ONE
RIA drove slowly towards the entrance of the large Victorian building, the tyres of her elderly car grumbling along the gravel drive. A faint smile played around her lips as she took in the scene…This was the archetypal daunting place of learning, she thought, as she imagined the scores of palefaced children who would have come to this boarding school for the first time, their stomachs churning, their mouths dry. Something she could easily identify with.
The school was a long two-storey building, its two sections separated by a bell tower and, although it had obviously stood for a hundred years or more in this rather remote area of the Hampshire countryside, it looked well-maintained and cared for. The lawns flanking the drive were neat and orderly, with white stones placed at regular intervals along the edge to prohibit the unauthorized parking of cars, and over to the left were the four tennis courts, their nets taut and bristling with the anticipation of four hundred boys coming back for the start of the summer term.
A rush of familiarity filled Ria as she parked a little way away from the pillared-stone entrance and got out of the car. She had spent so much of her own childhood in a boarding school and, although she’d not yet set foot inside Highbridge Manor, she knew it would present her with nothing new. There would be the smell of cleaning materials and polished wood, the distinctive dusty scent of books and paper, and somewhere from away in the distance the unmistakable odour of vegetables being boiled. Not that she would expect there to be any sign of cooking today, she realized, as she reached up to pull the doorbell, because the students were not due to return until next week.
As the heavy door was opened, Ria found herself looking up into the shrewd blue eyes of a smartly dressed woman in a grey skirt and jumper, her reading spectacles pushed up and planted safely on the top of her slightly greying brown hair. Ria instinctively guessed her to be about fifty, her self-assured manner demonstrating a comfortable familiarity with the place.
‘Ah—Ria Davidson?’ The woman’s smile was strangely wary, and Ria answered quickly.
‘Yes. I’ve an appointment with Mr Trent at ten-thirty,’ she said.
There was a pause. ‘We’ve been expecting you. Do come in.’ She gestured for Ria to enter. ‘I’m Helen Brown. I’m the school secretary,’ she added.
Of course you are, Ria thought. You couldn’t be anything else. In her experience, school secretaries were a breed apart—competent, possessive…and scary.
Ria followed Helen along the corridor and into a small room which overlooked the tennis courts.
‘This is my abode, my study,’ Helen said. ‘Do sit down for a moment. I’ll let Mr Trent know you’re here.’ She picked up the phone and dialled an internal number. ‘Miss Davidson has arrived,’ she murmured. ‘Shall I bring her along now?’ Then, ‘Oh, yes, OK—we’ll be with you in ten minutes.’
Glancing at the small clock on the wall in front of her, Ria noticed that it was still only ten-twenty—she’d arrived rather early. But, clearly, Mr Trent was sticking to the arrangement, she thought. Ten-thirty was ten-thirty—not ten-twenty! She sighed inwardly. He was going to be one of those, she thought—a stickler for precise detail.
Helen replaced the receiver. ‘He’s caught up with the caretaker at the moment,’ she said. ‘But he won’t be long.’
Ria sat back, glad of a brief opportunity to find out a few things. ‘The agency only contacted me yesterday about this position,’ she began, and Helen interrupted.
‘I know; it’s been an absolute pain.’ She paused. ‘One of our English tutors left very unexpectedly just before the end of last term—which was somewhat unfortunate, but frankly…’ and, speaking slightly from the corner of her mouth as if she might be overheard, Helen added, ‘…it was something of a blessing in disguise. No tears shed, I can tell you.’ She sighed. ‘We’ve already interviewed three candidates, only one of whom was suitable—and she turned us down! So, we’re in a bit of a fix at the moment.’
‘Yes, I gathered this was a rush job.’ Ria smiled.
‘It’s only a temporary post until the end of next term, in any case—as you know, I’m sure,’ Helen went on. ‘It should be easier to find someone permanent for September.’
‘Have you been here a long time?’ Ria asked Helen.
The woman smiled, studying her well-kept nails for a second. ‘About fifteen years,’ she said, ‘so I feel I’ve earned my apprenticeship!’
‘I understand it’s always been a private school,’ Ria said.
‘Oh, yes—owned and run, very successfully, by the Trent family for as long as the school has been in existence,’ Helen said. ‘Which I think is quite a record of continuity, don’t you?’
Presently, Helen stood up. ‘I think we can go now,’ she said, glancing up at the clock. It was exactly ten twenty-eight.
They walked together along the polished floor of the long corridor, arriving at a door at the end which stated ‘Headmaster’ in bold lettering. Helen knocked timidly and waited and, after a moment, a strong voice answered, ‘Come.’
As she followed Helen inside, Ria had to shade her eyes against the strong sunlight which shafted in through the windows, but as she quickly adjusted her vision she was almost bowled over by the awesome vision of Mr Jasper Trent.
He was young—not old at all—which she’d thought he would be, probably only in his late thirties, and was six feet four at least, she guessed, broad-shouldered and well-built, and dressed formally in a dark suit and tie. His black hair was fashionably cut, his strong, bold features dominated by the most all-seeing dark eyes Ria had ever seen in her life. My goodness, she thought; there wouldn’t be any problem with discipline in this school! Would anyone like to argue with Mr Jasper Trent? And, when he spoke, his crisp, authoritative voice answered that question!
‘Miss Davidson? Please come in and sit down,’ he said, the rather solemn features breaking into a brief smile as he came towards Ria. He held out his hand in greeting, clasping hers tightly. Then, ‘Thank you, Helen.’
‘Thank you, Mr Trent,’ Helen said deferentially as she went out, closing the door softly behind her.
Trying hard to quell the anxious fluttering of her heart, Ria sat down on the large leather swivel chair she was offered, while Mr Trent took his own place behind the desk opposite and studied the latest candidate for the post on offer, his unblinking gaze holding Ria almost spellbound.
Two immediate thoughts arose in his mind as he continued looking at her—the first being one of undeniable enchantment, very closely followed by one of intense irritation. This woman was not at all what he had expected, and he frowned, glancing down at the papers in front of him.
‘You will forgive me for beginning by mentioning your age, Miss Davidson,’ he said coolly, ‘but I understood you to be…um…fifty-five years old.’ He paused. ‘Which, clearly, you are not.’
Ria couldn’t help smiling—they’d both got something wrong this morning. ‘No,’ she agreed. ‘I am twenty-five.’
‘Well, that’s something we’ve cleared up straight away,’ Mr Trent said flatly and, noting the somewhat discouraging expression on his handsome features, Ria automatically held on to the arms of her chair to stop her hands from shaking. She’d always loathed interviews—and today’s was no exception. Someone might have warned her what—who—to expect! Why had she thought he’d be a kind, fatherly person with grey hair and glasses and a body showing signs of wear and tear?
‘So,’ he went on, ‘Miss Davidson is—twenty-five—and according to the CV which was e-mailed through to me yesterday, you’re a graduate in English, with three years’ teaching experience, together with supply work and some private tutoring…?’
‘Correct,’ Ria said.
‘And you do realize that—if we find each other suitable—the position is only until the end of the present school year?’ Mr Trent went on, his mind rushing ahead as usual. It might have been for longer than that if she proved to be the perfect applicant, he thought, but all his instincts told him that he shouldn’t consider the possibility. Miss Ria Davidson was not only young, she was exquisite. Immaculately turned out in a cream linen suit, her rich auburn hair was coiled up on top and held with a tortoiseshell clip, while her fine buttermilk skin was flawless, her large hazel eyes set in whites of pure snow. Just the sort of woman he did not want on the premises, he told himself emphatically. For all sorts of reasons. He silently cursed the incompetence of the agency which had got her details wrong.
‘I do realize that,’ Ria said in answer to his question. ‘And it fits my own plans exactly…if we find each other suitable,’ she amended solemnly.
He raised one eyebrow. ‘Am I allowed to know what your plans are?’ he asked, and Ria shrugged.
‘Oh, they aren’t particularly original, I’m afraid,’ she said. ‘It’s just that I have been enmeshed with school life from the age of four, and I suddenly feel the need to escape. So—’ she paused ‘—in September I intend to travel to as many unusual destinations as I can. I have saved up enough to fund myself for about a year, but I’m sure I’ll be able to find teaching work along the way—if I get desperate.’ She paused. ‘I don’t want to leave it any longer or I’ll lose my nerve.’
‘Will you go alone?’ Mr Trent enquired, his gaze flickering briefly at her long slender legs crossed neatly there in front of him.
‘Yes, because unfortunately none of my friends can afford to have the time off,’ Ria said, ‘so I shall have to pluck up my courage. Anyway,’ she added, ‘I expect to meet plenty of ordinary people like me, doing the same thing.’
Several moments passed, during which he appeared to be deep in thought, before he spoke again.
‘You would be required to teach the younger boys,’ he said, ‘and to complete the course already set for them. The Head of Department—Tim Robbinson—would give you full support, naturally.’
Looking back at him steadily, Ria had the impression that the job was as good as hers…if she wanted it. And she couldn’t deny that she did want it!
‘If our salary scale was not acceptable, I imagine that you wouldn’t have come here today,’ he said, glancing down and moving some papers on his desk, and Ria was painfully aware of his strong brown hands and long sensitive fingers.
‘No—I mean, yes—your terms are…acceptable,’ she said quickly.
There was another long pause, then, ‘So…then I’m happy to offer you the post, Miss Davidson,’ he said slowly, putting down the pen he’d been holding and leaning back in his chair. ‘And, if you accept, I am sure you have some questions of your own.’
Ria felt a rush of exhilaration. She’d made it! And, even if it was only to be a very temporary position, it didn’t alter the fact that she’d succeeded. Succeeded in convincing the head of this school that she was worth paying. For the first time during their meeting, Ria felt able to relax and give him the benefit of one of her dazzling smiles.
‘Thank you—and I am pleased to agree,’ she said lightly, adding, ‘The agency gave me one of your brochures, so I don’t think I need to ask you anything—at the moment,’ she added slowly. Now that she was coming here, she thought, she’d take more time to really study the literature regarding this wellestablished place.
He stood up then, obviously relieved that the matter was settled. ‘I’d better show you your accommodation,’ he said. ‘The caretaker has been making sure it’s up to scratch.’
The main thing which had attracted Ria to the post was the fact that a room went with the job, because at the moment she had nowhere of her own in which to live. The lease on the flat she’d shared with her friend Sara had expired, and Sara was about to be married in any case. So, for the moment, the only valid address which Ria had was the parental family home in north London and, although she had her own space there if she needed it, it had never seemed like home. Why should it? She’d spent so little time there. And now, with Diana, her father’s second wife, in control, it seemed less like home than ever.
Mr Trent opened the door for her to go in front of him, then they left the room and walked side by side along the corridor. He glanced down at her, noting the way that the sun’s rays were adding golden lights to the glossiness of her hair.
‘The place is obviously very quiet when the kids are away,’ he remarked, trying to ignore the physical sensations rippling through his body at her closeness. ‘But I try to make the most of it because a lot of noise goes with the job, I’m afraid. This time next week it’ll be a very different matter.’ He steered her around a corner at the far end of the corridor and they began mounting a wide stone staircase.
‘I think anyone who’s been in teaching, even for five minutes, would be impervious to noise and mayhem,’ she said. She paused. ‘But I’ve never worked at an all-boys boarding school before, so maybe I will have to ask for some advice now and then.’ She looked up to find him staring down at her thoughtfully, and Ria coloured up immediately. She hoped that didn’t make her sound pathetic. She swallowed. ‘But I’m sure I’ll soon fit in…’ she added.
He nodded briefly. ‘Everyone needs advice from time to time,’ he said.
No more was said, and in a moment or two he unlocked a door at the end of the row and, going inside, Ria gazed around her, not believing her luck. This was not just a room—it was a small, well-contained flat! She followed Mr Trent as he showed her the tiny sitting room containing two armchairs and a round coffee table, a desk, bookcase and television set and, slightly cut off in one corner, what passed for a kitchen. It had a minute sink, a neat fridge, a kettle and a toaster and a microwave. It was just perfect for one person to eat casually, she thought, already sensing that she would feel at home here. The en suite bathroom adjoining the compact bedroom was the finishing touch. And she was going to have the place all to herself! What more did anyone need? She looked up gratefully.
‘This is lovely,’ she said. ‘Far nicer than I expected,’ she added truthfully, and he shrugged.
‘It’s very important for the staff to feel comfortable while they’re working here,’ he said. ‘By the way, as a general rule, the staff have their main evening meal together in the dining room, but it’s entirely up to you. Sometimes you may have work to complete and would prefer to eat alone in your room—which is why there are basic facilities here.’
‘Do all the staff live in?’ Ria asked, wandering over to the window to admire the tranquil view.
‘No—only about half of them, I suppose,’ he replied. ‘The rest live close enough to do the daily commute.’
Presently, they made their way back downstairs and Mr Trent accompanied Ria to the entrance door, just as Helen emerged from her room.
‘Ah, Helen—Miss Davidson will be taking up her post next week,’ he said, and the woman smiled a rather strange little smile.
‘Oh, good,’ she said, and Ria looked at her quickly. She didn’t know quite what to make of Helen Brown—was she friend…or foe? Too early to tell, she thought.
‘I’ll sort out all the formal stuff with the agency,’ Helen said primly, going back into her room.
Outside, it was pleasantly warm as the two made their way to Ria’s car, and she looked longingly at the tennis courts. She’d love a game now, she thought—to get some air into her lungs and to clear her head, which had felt distinctly dizzy since meeting Mr Trent.
Holding the car door open for her, he said, ‘Do you have far to go? I don’t think I was told where you live…’
‘Actually, I’m homeless at the moment,’ Ria said lightly. ‘But a friend has been putting me up at her house in Salisbury for a few days.’ She smiled. ‘I expect she’ll be quite glad to know that I’ve got somewhere else to live for a bit.’
She looked up uncertainly. He didn’t seem in any hurry to go, but just stood there, leaning his arm on the open car door, his other hand thrust casually in his pocket.
‘So,’ he said, ‘are you going back to Salisbury straight away?’
‘Um…I don’t know. I haven’t really decided,’ Ria said. She hadn’t thought further than the morning’s interview.
‘Well, perhaps we’d better have some lunch,’ he said. ‘There are several decent places around here, and you’ll need to get to know the area.’
That was the most unexpected invitation she’d had in a long time! And, after she was about to graciously refuse—this man was going to be her boss, after all; she didn’t want to get too cosy!—something made Ria change her mind.
‘Well…thanks,’ she said simply. ‘That’s…very kind. Thank you,’ she repeated.
He did stand back then. ‘Hop out,’ he said briefly. ‘We’ll take my car.’
Ria did as she was told, closing and locking her car door, and falling into step alongside him as they made their way towards the side of the building to where he obviously kept his car.
‘By the way,’ he said, glancing down at her, ‘we always use Christian names at school—other than in the children’s hearing. I’m Jasper. Which I expect you already know.’
Ria returned his glance. ‘And, as you already know, I’m Ria,’ she said lightly.
As they walked along in comparative silence, Jasper Trent sighed inwardly. He had expected to be confronted by a mature, no-nonsense woman this morning, not this perfect example of desirable womanhood.
Suddenly, he was desperate to get away from here and hand the baton back to his brother—and resume his own profession. When Carl had asked this unexpected favour of him, he’d tried to come up with all sorts of reasons to refuse—one of which was that he doubted that he would really fit in here. Carl was such an outstanding headmaster that he, Jasper, would surely turn out to be a very pale imitation—even if it was to be a temporary arrangement. But eventually his sense of fair play had made him agree. It was Carl who’d been the dutiful son, after all—he deserved some quality time for himself. Because, although Jasper’s Cambridge science degree had more than qualified him to teach, and to take a full part in the running of the school, he’d always declared his intention to do other things—to the huge disappointment of his father, who had expected both his sons to fall in line. To the older man, tradition was all. But then, as Jasper had pointed out on more than one occasion, every family had a black sheep, a rebel, and he was quite happy to fill that vacancy.
And now, watching the two from her window as they disappeared from her view, Helen Brown pursed her lips thoughtfully, then shrugged. Well, be it on his own head, she thought.
CHAPTER TWO
AS SHE sat beside him, her hands clasped in her lap, Ria couldn’t help comparing the car she was sitting in with its owner—long, sleek and powerful. She glanced up at him, noticing for the first time—now that she was close to him—a faint but discernible mark running from the corner of his left eye and ending just short of his lip. He’d obviously been in an accident of some sort, she thought briefly, but nature had done a very good repair job because the scar did nothing at all to detract from his impossibly good looks. In fact, it seemed to add to his rugged appeal—an appeal which might even have hinted at cruelty…though Ria discounted that possibility straight away. Nothing about Jasper Trent, so far, suggested unkindness, or harshness. Anyway, she’d find out soon enough what he was really like—though she somehow didn’t think their paths would cross much during the working day, sensing that he probably enjoyed a typically isolated position in his rather austere headmaster’s room.
Being in the company of yet another handsome man made Ria’s thoughts turn briefly to Seth…Would she ever be able to banish him entirely from her mind? she asked herself. But how could she easily rub out that time when her heart had been ripped from her? As if it was some minor incident that could be forgotten? And was the man sitting beside her another one just like him—was he, too, utterly self-confident, utterly self-assured, delighting in his powerful masculinity? Did Jasper Trent see only his own life and hopes and dreams—with scant concern for anyone else’s?
She turned her attention to the scenery unfolding all around them and took a deep breath. She had no doubt that Jasper Trent had been in perfect charge of his school for a good number of years, running it with impeccable authority. But what did he do in his private life? she wondered. To her, he didn’t look the marrying kind with a clutch of kids at home, so how would he spend his time, what did he do in order to relax? Ria scolded herself. What he did or didn’t do was no concern of hers.
He glanced across at her briefly. ‘You’ll have noticed the car parking area when we picked mine up just now,’ he said. ‘You might even be lucky enough to nab one of the garages sometimes.’
Ria smiled. ‘Oh, my car has never been used to the dignity of being garaged,’ she said. ‘Anyway, I’ll be selling it in a few months’ time when I head off.’ She paused. ‘And, who knows…I may not come back at all. I may find that the grass really is greener away from England.’
‘There’s only one way to find out about that,’ he said levelly, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.
‘It’ll do me good to put my toe into alien waters and see if I can cope with the unknown without going to pieces,’ Ria said. She wasn’t going to admit that she was already rather dreading the moment of departure, that sometimes she wished she’d never planned it at all. But she’d talked for hours and hours with friends who’d done exciting things, been to exciting places, and she’d boxed herself into a corner she couldn’t escape from. And everyone was egging her on all the time—to change her mind now would be pathetic.
The Lamb was about a five-minute drive from the school, and the restaurant was just nicely crowded as, presently, Ria and her new employer sat at a corner table by the window enjoying their meal. She looked across at him as she put down her knife.
‘That cheese platter was just perfect,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
He leaned back and picked up his pint of lager. ‘Yes, the food is generally pretty good here,’ he said, ‘and the atmosphere is always relaxed and congenial. It seems to have become the school’s “local” over the years. Some of the staff drop in for a drink now and then, and our older pupils, too, have been known to enjoy chilling out after exams.’ He watched as Ria drank the last of the sparkling water she’d ordered, noting the way her slender fingers curled around the stem of the glass, admiring the unassuming elegance of her every move. She looked up then and saw him studying her, and almost at once her cool cheeks warmed visibly.
‘So,’ she said lightly, ‘term begins next Wednesday—a week from today?’
‘It does,’ he replied. ‘But the boys will be returning on Monday—or some on Tuesday.’ He paused. ‘I expect you’d like to do the same?’
‘Tuesday would be very convenient for me,’ Ria said.
‘Helen will be at school permanently from Monday. She’ll give you your keys, show you the ropes.’
‘Does Helen live in?’ Ria asked.
‘No, she has a cottage just walking distance from school. She lives there with her elderly mother,’ he replied briefly.
‘She seems very…competent,’ Ria said.
He replied quickly, ‘She is certainly that. I think we’re all a bit afraid of her.’
Ria smiled, but said nothing. She could never imagine Jasper Trent being afraid of anyone—or anything.
‘And do you live permanently “above the shop”?’ Ria asked innocently, hoping that she wasn’t being inquisitive—but wanting to know, just the same.
‘I occupy my own flat during most of term time,’ he replied casually, ‘but it’s not my permanent home.’ He paused before going on, ‘I am merely acting Head of school, in any case,’ he added shortly.
Ria looked across, really surprised at that. ‘Oh?’ she said curiously.
‘My brother is the permanent Head, but he decided he’d like a bit of time off, so I agreed to step into his shoes for a few months and allow him some space.’ The strong mouth lifted wryly in one corner as he went on, ‘But, unfortunately, while he was on a skiing trip he had a bad accident, resulting in various complications, so the anticipated few months will have become a full school year.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But he takes up the reins again in September.’
Ria couldn’t help feeling confused. Jasper Trent had seemed to her to be the perfect headmaster, determined and authoritative, and apparently entrenched in the school’s life. She decided to go one step further.
‘So…where do you normally live, then?’ she asked.
‘Somerset,’ he said briefly. ‘Not so far away that I can’t make fairly regular flying visits for a day or so when I feel like it.’
Yes, but what did he do in Somerset? Ria wondered—but didn’t have the courage to enquire, and neither spoke for a few moments after that.
‘You said you were “homeless” at the moment,’ Jasper said casually.
‘Well, that’s not exactly true,’ she said. ‘My family home is in north London, but I’ve hardly ever lived there, not really. Though, naturally, I was sometimes there in the school holidays. But the house is often empty because my father works for the Foreign Office, and he and my stepmother are frequently away. So, until two months ago, I shared a flat with a girl friend, but her plans have changed so we didn’t renew the lease and I feel in a bit of a vacuum at the moment.’ She smiled. ‘Luckily for me, the friend in Salisbury insisted I stay with her until I take off in September—but now, of course, thanks to Highbridge Manor, I shall have somewhere of my very own for a while.’
He’d been watching her closely as she spoke, loving the changing expressions flickering across her heart-shaped face, and every instinct he possessed warned him not to get carried away, not to be overly affected by this beautiful, warm and appealing woman. But Jasper Trent’s more sensible instincts were heavily outnumbered by his hormones, and he was having difficulty keeping his eyes off her.
Pushing back his chair slightly, he glanced across. ‘Let’s order coffee, shall we? I could do with one.’ Almost before she could agree or not, he’d got up and gone over to the bar. Ria watched him speaking briefly to the bartender. Jasper Trent was so outstandingly handsome, she thought—there must surely be a woman on the scene? How could he possibly avoid it? Yet nothing he’d said indicated that there was. It had all been very first person singular. Then her expression darkened briefly. He was probably—no, obviously—a man who enjoyed relationships with no ties. That must be it. With his physical attributes, he could pick from any bunch he happened to be with, enjoy the moment and pass on to the next. Then she bit her lip. Stop it, she told herself fiercely, stop putting the poor bloke in the compartment of your own choice. You know nothing of his personal life at all. Stop making things up.
In a few moments he returned to the table with a tray holding two mugs of coffee, plus a bowl of sugar and a small jug of cream, and she glanced up at him as he set the things down.
‘You must have guessed how I like my coffee,’ she murmured, helping herself to the sugar before letting a generous slick of cream dribble over the back of her spoon.
‘Well, I knew you probably wouldn’t like it the way I do,’ he said easily, picking up his own black unsweetened coffee. ‘And, since I don’t know your particular tastes, I thought I’d cover all possibilities.’
She smiled now as she put the mug to her lips. ‘And you got it just right,’ she said.
His black eyes softened as he continued gazing at her. And he wasn’t alone in his fascination. He’d been only too aware of the lingering glances in her direction from other males in the restaurant—and the man behind the bar, who knew the residents of Highbridge Manor very well, had been blunt enough to enquire who she was. ‘New girl on the block?’ he’d asked suggestively, raising his eyes in appreciation. And Jasper had fielded the question casually, as if he was surprised at the enquiry. ‘Oh, yes, but very temporary—she’s sort of passing through,’ he’d said, turning away with the drinks.
Presently, glancing at his watch, Jasper said, ‘I’m sorry to rush you but I’m interviewing a part-time games assistant at three o’clock…’
Ria immediately got to her feet. ‘Of course, and I should be getting along,’ she said. ‘I told Hannah that I’d be back long before this.’ She bent to pick up her bag. ‘It’s her birthday today,’ she added, ‘and we’re going out somewhere later to celebrate.’ She looked up at Jasper as he stood aside to let her go past. ‘It’ll be a double celebration,’ she added, ‘because I’ve got a job with a home attached.’
Much later, after he’d finished what he had to do, Jasper shut down his computer, then picked up his jacket from the back of the chair. It had been a good day, he thought, all the important details connected with the start of his last term successfully completed. The young games assistant he’d appointed seemed able and enthusiastic, and it had been a great relief to have found someone to fill the temporary post in the English department. He paused for a moment before leaving the room, a slight frown creasing his brow. He hoped he’d done the right thing, engaging Ria Davidson…It wasn’t anything to do with her ability in her subject, of course, and he knew only too well that his pupils would fall for her at first sight—but would she be able to keep them in their place? Keep law and order in the classroom? Yet something told him that she’d cope well enough and, anyway, he’d make damned sure the boys wouldn’t take advantage of her. He had a daunting reputation for looking in briefly—unexpectedly—while classes were in progress, to check up on general discipline, and nothing ever escaped his notice. He took pleasure in running a tight ship, so it would be in his own interests to steer Miss Davidson through any troubled waters for the short time she’d be at the school.
For some reason, Jasper felt strangely restless. Perhaps he’d go home tonight, rather than wait until the weekend as he’d intended. His beautiful old cottage in the countryside frequently enticed him back, and today was one of those days. Besides, he might not be able to be there very much during the frantically busy summer term ahead—the end-of-year examinations, and the end of his tenure. Speech day, final cricket matches and the tennis tournament to arrange…School-leavers’ functions and presentations. It all added up to a mass of organization which must be sorted by him. It was obvious he wouldn’t have much time for himself, so he’d better escape for a few days now, while he had the chance.
After telling the caretaker that he was about to leave, he made his way over to the car park. Allowing for traffic, he’d be home in time for supper. He’d phone Debra and tell her he was coming. He knew she didn’t like it when he was away for too long at a time.
Ria and Hannah left the cosy trattoria where they’d spent the evening and strolled along the streets of the town, gazing in at the brightly lit shop windows.
‘I feel really lucky getting that job,’ Ria said, ‘because I need the money to top up my resources for next year. Not to mention having somewhere to live! Couldn’t be more convenient.’
‘I think they’re lucky to get you,’ Hannah said, ‘and don’t forget—you’re always welcome to stay at mine again, if things don’t turn out right. Although,’ she added mischievously, ‘from your description of Mr Headmaster, I doubt whether you’ll give up on the place—or on him—very quickly.’
‘It will certainly be in my interests not to give up,’ Ria said firmly, ‘however bad or difficult things turn out to be. Anyway, it’s to be for such a short time.’ They waited for some cars to pass before crossing the road. ‘And, by the way, Hannah, please don’t let your romantic imagination run away with you, please. You know very well what my feelings are in that direction.’
Hannah stopped and took hold of Ria’s arm for a second. ‘When are you going to give yourself a break and get back to normal, Ria?’ she asked seriously. ‘This state of affairs isn’t right. You’ve got to start believing in yourself again, and get rid of all that guilt you’re carrying around with you. You deserve to find happiness with someone else.’
‘If you say so, Hannah,’ Ria replied listlessly, ‘but at the moment all I require, all I care about, is a job and somewhere of my own to rest my head. And, thanks to Mr Jasper Trent, I’ve got both.’
CHAPTER THREE
ON THE following Tuesday afternoon, Ria stood in the centre of her new bedroom and looked around. With her own duvet and pillows cosily in place and her make-up, travel clock and other personal belongings neatly arranged on the small table by her bed, it was already beginning to feel like home.
Ria always managed to travel fairly light, her clothes packed into two suitcases, with a couple of large holdalls coping with other bulkier stuff, and it hadn’t taken her long to unpack. The one wardrobe and chest of drawers were perfectly adequate to hold the modest amount of clothing she’d brought with her—which mostly consisted of simple things suitable for the classroom.
Going into the bathroom, she swilled her hands and face and released her hair from its ponytail, feeling the need to relax for a few moments. She wouldn’t mind having a quick nap, she thought wryly—she and Hannah had stayed up very late last night, talking, but apart from that Ria recognized the tremor of apprehension she always experienced in new situations. Surely she should be growing out of that by now? she scolded herself. She bit her lip thoughtfully. Her anticipated year of travelling was going to clinch it, once and for all, she thought.
Outside her room, Jasper Trent hesitated for a few seconds before knocking on the door. He’d been told that she’d arrived but had deliberately not bothered to seek her out or make a particular point of welcoming her. Anyway, Helen would have taken care of her, taken care of everything.
Ever since he’d appointed Ria, he’d asked himself over and over again what on earth had made him do it. But then he’d been getting desperate about filling the post, he’d reasoned, and she had impressed him—on so many counts. Although she was much younger than he’d have liked, she was direct in conversation, with no fluffy beating about the bush or being tongue-tied, and he had the feeling that she could state her case with no difficulty. Could take care of herself. Just as well, he thought, if she intended travelling alone in the not-toodistant future. Then he shrugged. That was a long way off and none of his concern. His only responsibility was in seeing that she did the job he’d be paying her for—and that she behaved herself. His expression hardened. He’d learned a strong lesson this year, learned it in spades. He’d be relieved when Carl took over again, he thought—the difficulties of the business world could be tricky enough, but running a large boarding school was in a category all of its own.
Now, he gave two short raps on Ria’s door and, after a few moments, she opened it and stood aside at once for him to come in.
‘Hi, there,’ he said casually, glancing around him briefly. ‘Just checking that you’re here, and that everything’s OK.’
She smiled up at him quickly. ‘I am here, and everything’s perfectly OK,’ she said brightly. He was formally dressed as before, but he seemed even taller in the confined space of her small flat, and she was intensely conscious of his eyes searching her out as he gazed down. ‘Helen gave me my key,’ she said, ‘and she also introduced me to Tim Robbinson.’
‘Ah, yes, good…Tim is a very able head of department. I’m sure you’ll get on well. And if there are any problems don’t be afraid to ask him.’ He paused. ‘Or me, for that matter,’ he added as an afterthought. ‘I don’t want there to be any unfinished business left for my brother to sort out when he returns, and I naturally rely on all the staff to support me in that aim.’ He paused. ‘What I don’t know about, I can’t deal with,’ he added.
Ria felt slightly confused for a moment. His attitude was strangely cool today, she thought, lacking the easy familiarity there’d been before. Still, what did she expect? That was then, this was now. He was the boss—and she shouldn’t forget it.
He stared down at her. The jeans and white T-shirt she was wearing made her look younger, more vulnerable than when she’d presented herself as the brisk, archetypal interviewee, and her hair, loose like that around her shoulders, added to the unsophisticated impression, to her appeal.
He cleared his throat. ‘It’s been bedlam here all day, of course, with the boarders returning,’ he said, ‘and it won’t be much better tomorrow when the day boys come back.’ He went over to look out of the window for a second. ‘But, by Thursday, some work should be in progress and a modicum of sanity restored.’
‘Oh—I thought all the pupils were boarders,’ Ria said, and he interrupted.
‘No, only about half of them. Their quarters are in the residential block over there—you can see it from this window—while we, the staff, live here in the old, original building.’ He turned to look at her again, and Ria’s heart missed a beat or two. He had to be about the most gorgeous headmaster this side of the equator, she thought. Good job he didn’t run a girls’ school. They’d make his life impossible.
‘I…I…um…would offer you a cup of tea,’ she began, ‘but I haven’t been to the shops yet, or sorted out my kitchen…’
‘Thank you, but I don’t need tea at the moment,’ he said flatly. ‘By the way, the basics should be here already—tea, and coffee et cetera, and when you need more you can ask Claudia, the housekeeper. She’s in charge of all that kind of thing, but it’s up to you how you stock your kitchen.’ He turned to look at her again, trying to stem the feelings which would keep surfacing, conscious of a familiar, annoying muscle in his neck twitching briefly. There was silence for a few moments, then, without looking at her, he said, ‘I believe Tim gave you the timetable and showed you the way around—where you’re going to be teaching?’ He didn’t wait for her to reply before going on, ‘I appreciate that it’s a lot to take in all at once…’
‘Oh, I’ll probably cope,’ Ria said.
‘Yes, I’m sure you will,’ he said, going towards the door. He turned to glance back at her. ‘Helen told me that she’s shown you where the dining room is—and dinner is at eight o’clock.’
As he went back down the staircase, Jasper frowned, cross with himself. The trouble was, he admitted to himself, he didn’t feel particularly cool when he was in Ria Davidson’s presence.
After he’d gone, Ria felt rattled. In two or three minutes flat, Jasper Trent had managed to really confuse her. He was so charming and considerate at the interview; now he was acting like a different person. Of course, then it had been in his interests to show her his nicer side because it had been obvious that he was having difficulty in filling the vacant post, and time was running out. But he’d got what he’d wanted and now he was fulfilling his allotted role here—master of the house in every sense.
She wandered over to the window and stared out for a few moments. She could see the boys’ dormitory block quite easily from here—as Jasper had pointed out—and now the area was a hive of activity with boys and parents going in and out with cases and belongings.
She went across to the sink to fill the kettle. Jasper Trent might not feel the need for a cup of tea, she thought, but at this precise moment she was desperate for one.
Ria spent the rest of the afternoon arranging and rearranging her things in the flat and stacking her books into the bookcase. She always had study materials with her—dictionaries and reference books—but was never without a current novel to read before she settled down to sleep at the end of each day.
Later, glancing at the clock, she realized that it was time to get ready for dinner, so, after having a quick shower, she took out her straight, knee-length black pencil skirt and cream lacy top from the wardrobe, before tying her hair back in one long plait. There wouldn’t be any need for much make-up, she thought wryly, because her cheeks were already rosy-pink with the anxious anticipation of having to mingle with a crowd of complete strangers who were already known to each other.
At about quarter to eight there was a discreet knock on the door and Ria’s heart fluttered—much to her annoyance. Jasper Trent was no doubt presenting himself to accompany her down to the dining room, she thought, glancing once again in the mirror before going over to open the door. Perhaps he had some more instructions for her! But it was Helen, not Jasper, who was standing there.
‘Everything OK? Settling in all right?’ Helen enquired and, without waiting for a reply, said, ‘I’ve come to fetch you because I thought you might like some company on your first evening—I’m staying for dinner myself, tonight.’ She didn’t bother to mention that she was following Jasper’s instructions in accompanying Ria.
A wave of gratitude swept over Ria. She’d been dreading going into that crowded dining room by herself.
‘Oh, thanks, Helen, that was thoughtful of you,’ she said, picking up her bag. ‘I’m all ready.’
‘I don’t always stay for dinner,’ Helen remarked, as they went down the wide staircase, ‘because I need to get back. I live with my mother, who often isn’t well enough to do any cooking. But she’s not too bad at the moment, so it won’t matter if I’m late home.’
‘What’s the food like at Highbridge Manor?’ Ria asked lightly as they walked along together. ‘Edible?’
‘You wait and see,’ Helen replied as they approached the dining room, through the open doors of which loud conversation could be heard. ‘Sandy is a fantastic chef, and all I need to add is that half the staff are overweight!’
As they went inside, Ria saw that three long trestle tables were laid for the meal, but everyone seemed to be standing around in groups, chatting, with drinks in their hands. Almost immediately, Jasper appeared at their side.
‘Ladies,’ he said formally, ‘what would you like to drink? Helen, you like red wine, don’t you—and, Ria, what can I get for you?’
Ria was about to say that all she wanted was some water, but that would sound so boring, she thought, so at the last second she said, ‘Yes, I’d like red wine, too, please.’
In a few moments Jasper came back with their drinks and Ria looked up at him quickly. He was wearing grey well-cut trousers and an open-neck shirt which revealed his strongmuscled neck and throat. She’d already been aware that he was one of the tallest—if not the tallest—man in the room, his whole persona casting an aura of stylish dominance about him, and his voice—that voice which had barely left her consciousness for a week, and which could only be described as commanding of tone—carried easily above the hubbub of conversation in the room.
Helen moved away then to speak to someone for a moment, leaving Ria standing next to Jasper. Dragging her eyes away from him, she took a sip of her wine and glanced around, trying to get a handle on her surroundings. There were at least forty members of staff present, she noticed, mostly men, and she tried not to be aware of the glances directed at her by several of them, not responding to their unashamed interest. At the other end of the room she saw a long counter and open hatch from where their food was obviously served, and Jasper followed her gaze.
‘I’m afraid we have to help ourselves to everything,’ he said, looking down at her. ‘Waiter service was abandoned long ago.’ His eyes narrowed briefly. Ria Davidson did wear her clothes so well, he thought. The outfit she had on was simple enough, but she somehow managed to make it look outstanding. He smiled suddenly, disarmingly, and Ria smiled back, a welcome surge of pleasure filling her for a moment. He was nice, she thought instinctively. His attitude towards her earlier in the day was probably out of character…Well, she certainly hoped so.
‘I’m not used to people waiting on me,’ she said. ‘And, anyway, I prefer to choose what I have to eat.’
Almost at once, someone struck a gong by the hatch and everyone moved forward straight away. Jasper put his hand lightly on Ria’s arm to push her in front of him. ‘That gong,’ he said, ‘has been in more or less constant use since the first day this school existed.’
She looked up at him, her eyes bright with interest. ‘Really? The same one?’ she said eagerly. ‘I love that—it’s history, isn’t it?’
They took their places in the queue and she went on, ‘I have an almost unhealthy liking for consistency, for maintaining things as they always were.’ She paused. ‘I don’t think I like change, that’s the thing, and sometimes I wish I could “stop all the clocks”—do you know Auden’s poem?—“Stop all the clocks, Cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum…” Oh, it goes on and on,’ she said apologetically, ‘but what I’m talking about is not being able to hold on to something you’re enjoying…valuing…or on to good times, generally, I suppose. I mean…contentment with any situation often seems to slip through your fingers before you’ve had the chance to appreciate it.’
She looked up at him, colour instantly flooding her cheeks as their eyes met, and she shrank inside herself for a moment. What on earth had made her waffle on like that—and what must he think of her? ‘I sometimes feel it would be good for everything to just pause…for a bit,’ she added, her voice faltering for a second.
He didn’t reply at once, enjoying listening to her…He had spotted the potential in Ria Davidson on their first meeting, he reminded himself. Apart from being a modern, fashionable woman, she was much deeper than her appearance might have suggested, and there was that beguiling thoughtfulness about her that sent his male urges tingling in a familiar way.
‘I do know what you mean,’ he said, ‘about the manic passing of time—and I have a lot of sympathy with your outlook. In fact, I see my place in Somerset as the sanctuary I rely on to detach me from all the change and progress and stress you’re talking about. Life, there, does actually seem to stand still sometimes.’
She looked up at him gratefully. Just so long as he didn’t think she was crazy!
It was their turn to choose the food they wanted, and Ria was impressed by the variety on offer. There was deliciouslooking chicken, coated in a fine honey glaze, tender pork fillet with onion stuffing, thick slices of baked ham with peach dressing, an interesting-looking vegetarian alternative, plus several different vegetables or salad to go with it all. She looked up at Jasper.
‘How can I choose from all this?’ she asked helplessly.
‘The menu on our first day back is always rather selfindulgent, ’ he admitted, ‘but we must make the most of it—it’ll probably be mince and mash tomorrow!’
Helen was standing almost right behind them and she called out, ‘See what I mean, Ria? It never takes much persuasion to get me to stay for dinner occasionally.’
There was apparently no pecking order at the tables, everyone sitting where they liked and, seated between Helen and Jasper, Ria suddenly felt so overwhelmingly optimistic she could have burst into tears. It must be that glass of wine making her feel so sensitive, she thought, or the tender pork she’d just finished, right to the last morsel. Whatever it was, she wasn’t complaining and, when the glorious creamy desserts appeared at the counter, she felt as if she’d been invited to a wonderful celebration of some sort instead of her first night at her new job! She bit her lip—she hoped she wasn’t going to turn into Cinderella and find that this was all a charade, a terrible mistake that she was here at all. Then she silently kicked herself. Why spoil the evening with these horrible, dark thoughts? Why couldn’t she leave all that behind, once and for all? Was she never going to be able to believe that life could be good, happy and fulfilling once again?
The meal ended and they all stood up to leave just as Tim Robbinson sauntered across to speak to them. He was obviously younger than Jasper, Ria noted, his mass of brown curly hair framing a happy, uncomplicated face, reminding her of an oversized baby.
‘Hi, everyone,’ Tim said good-naturedly. ‘That was a great meal, Jasper.’
Jasper nodded. ‘Yes, it was.’ He paused. ‘Look, I’ve got a phone call to make,’ he said. ‘Perhaps you’d like to stay and have a few words with Ria, Tim. I’m sure there’s plenty of stuff she wants to find out.’
‘My pleasure,’ Tim said at once, smiling at Ria, and for the next twenty minutes or so the two sat chatting together easily.
Presently, the room emptied and, after saying goodnight to Tim, Ria wandered out of the building, breathing in the balmy air gratefully. She didn’t feel like going to bed yet because she wasn’t at all tired, she realized—her head too full of everything that had gone on, so turning impulsively, she decided to go for a short walk.
She had spotted a small wooded area behind the tennis courts and, curious to know where it led, she set off, her feet treading lightly over the short grass. Almost immediately, she could see that the path led to the cricket green—the surroundings of this school were almost unbelievably beautiful, she thought, certainly outdoing anything she’d ever known.
It was nearly dark now, as Ria came to a small gate leading to some open ground where a small flock of sheep were grazing and, leaning over it, she wished that she could hold this perfect tranquil moment for ever. What a fantastic—and rather unusual—slice of luck had come her way, she thought, that the temporary post she’d been looking for had landed her here! Could this be the first small ray of hope that the ball might bounce in her direction?
As usual, Ria’s introspectiveness threw the events of her life into sharp focus, once again, as she stood there…how different things might have been, she thought…if only. She certainly wouldn’t be here at Highbridge Manor. She would be cradling her longed-for baby in her arms and basking in the warmth and love of a real family. A faint snort of derision left her lips. In her dreams, she thought bleakly.
Suddenly, and without any warning, her eyes filled and two large tears gently coursed down her cheeks. And she didn’t try to stop them. It was good to cry, so she’d been told. So then, she’d cry. Well, she’d done enough of it in the last year. But it was strange that her feelings of happiness at being here could make her feel so sad.
‘Oh, dear—we haven’t upset you already, have we, Ria?’
Jasper had seen her walking away in the distance as he’d returned from parking the car and had decided to catch her up, to keep her company, admitting that something about her brought out all his protective instincts. Well, it was her first day, after all.
Nearly jumping out of her skin at the sound of his voice, Ria turned and looked up into those achingly desirable eyes, which were glistening more blackly than ever in the dim light, and she unzipped her bag, frantically searching for a tissue.
‘Oh…no…I think it’s a bit of hay fever, that’s all,’ she lied. ‘I do suffer from it occasionally.’
Help, she thought. How did he know where I was—and why did he follow me, anyway? She was going to have to pull herself together and act normally.
She found a tissue, dabbing at her eyes. ‘I was just admiring this wonderful place,’ she sniffed. ‘I hope the boys realize how lucky they are to be at school here.’
‘Oh, I doubt it,’ Jasper said flatly. ‘Did any of us appreciate our lives when we were young? It’s the norm to take everything for granted, isn’t it?’
Well, the good life had certainly been the norm for him and Carl, he acknowledged, feeling a sense of shame when he compared their lot with some of the boys who turned up here. The Trent brothers had had loving and diligent parents, whose one thought had been the well-being and happiness of their sons—and of all the children who passed through their school.
Neither spoke for a moment, then Ria said, pointing, ‘Does the school own all this land as well?’
‘Yes—that’s all part of us,’ he said. ‘Local farmers borrow it from time to time to feed their stock.’ He paused. ‘Observing those animals, hearing them grazing, pulling lazily at the grass, especially after the sun’s gone down, can be very therapeutic, ’ he added, and Ria glanced up at him quickly. He had expressed her own inner thoughts exactly.
He was standing very close to her now, so that they were almost touching, and for a ridiculous moment Ria wanted to lean into him, to feel the warmth of his body mingle with hers, to be comforted, to be loved. It must be wonderful to be the woman in his life, she thought—because there had to be one. There had to be a beautiful woman somewhere, waiting for this gorgeous, strong, dependable man to come home, she thought and, to her horror, Ria thought she was going to start crying again. But feeling sorry for herself was the last thing she could do with right now.
Moving away from him slightly, she blew her nose.
‘So, then, won’t you be sorry to leave all this when your brother comes back?’ she asked.
‘Oh…sort of…I suppose,’ he said non-committally. ‘But Carl is the one for this job, not me—not really. No, he is the headmaster par excellence.’
Something in the faintly sardonic tone of Jasper’s voice as he said that made Ria frown briefly. She was in no doubt that Jasper Trent had fulfilled his obligations to perfection during the short time he’d been in office. In fact, Tim had said as much, earlier. ‘Jasper has been terrific,’ he’d said, ‘and great to work with, so long as you watch your Ps and Qs…though he doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Which is why he’s so successful with the manufacturing business he owns in Somerset, I suppose,’ he’d added. ‘Everyone certainly knows exactly where they stand with him.’
Now, not really wanting to leave this spot, yet realizing that it was getting late, Ria turned to leave. ‘I suppose I should go back—and have a good night’s sleep,’ she said, glancing up and forcing herself to smile quickly at Jasper as he fell into step beside her.
He looked down at her thoughtfully. As soon as he’d reached her a few minutes ago, he’d known only too well that she was upset about something. And it had been nothing at all to do with hay fever, either. That season had not arrived yet. No, he sensed Ria Davidson to be far more vulnerable than the impression she liked to give—perhaps partly explained by the fact that she had spent so much of her childhood away from her family, he thought. She had also mentioned her stepmother briefly, hadn’t she. Perhaps they had never got on, and she still nurtured bad memories. But all that was unlikely to be the cause of her distress tonight, he reasoned. He hoped she wasn’t regretting accepting the post, regretting being here. Yet he knew that wasn’t the case. She had been so obviously grateful to have her own flat, and to earn the money which would help her get started on her travels, and during dinner she’d been lively and quite obviously feeling happy.
He shrugged inwardly. Keeping the staff contented with their lot, sorting out emotional and practical problems with everyone from time to time, had been one of the most difficult aspects of the job and Carl was welcome to have it back, he thought.
They walked back together in comparative—but surprisingly easy—silence, and by now it was almost pitch-black. But the security lights everywhere were more than sufficient to light up their path as they returned to the school building.
‘I’m just going back to my car for a moment,’ Ria said. ‘Something I’ve forgotten.’
‘I’ve forgotten something, too,’ he said, looking down and smiling briefly.
They made their way to the far side of the building towards the car park, Ria hugging her bare arms because, despite the warmth of the day, the night air had a distinctly chilly feel about it. Opening her car door, she reached over to the glovebox where she’d left the novel she was presently reading. It was by one of her favourite authors and Ria was glad that she’d remembered she’d left it behind. A few chapters later would relax her and give her what she hoped would be a restful night.
As she walked back slowly, Jasper was slamming his door and he looked up as she came up to him.
‘I’d forgotten my book,’ Ria said, trying to hide it under her arm. She didn’t imagine that her current choice of bedtime reading would meet with the headmaster’s approval!
‘And I’d forgotten my jacket,’ he remarked, slinging it casually over one shoulder.
‘Well, I wish I’d remembered to bring mine because it’s not quite summer yet, is it?’ she began and, before she could think—or say—another word, she found her shoulders being covered by Jasper’s jacket as he wrapped it around her.
‘There—that had to be the reason why I forgot to take this with me earlier,’ he said, and at his touch Ria’s whole body trembled—with what? she asked herself desperately. Not with desire, surely! Her tongue went dry at the thought. Hadn’t desire, as far as she was concerned, been extinguished for ever? And, if it hadn’t, would she ever let it put her at risk again? She quickened her step, going slightly ahead of him for a second, wanting to put space between them.
‘Well, that was lucky for me, then,’ she said, needing to get back to the sanctity and privacy of her room. ‘Thank you…Jasper.’ Did her voice sound as tremulous to him as it did to her?
They returned to the building and Jasper paused for a moment, looking down at her. ‘Well, then…classes start in earnest on Thursday,’ he said. ‘Tim will be looking after you.’
‘Yes, thanks—he’s already spoken to me about the last bit of the course we’ve got to cover,’ Ria said, turning away. ‘Goodnight, then…’
‘Goodnight, Ria,’ he said slowly. ‘By the way,’ he began, and there was a pause as she glanced back at him questioningly. ‘Um…my jacket?’ he suggested mildly, and Ria gasped, slipping it from her shoulders.
‘Of course! I’m so sorry…I’d forgotten about it—it felt so…cosy,’ she said, blushing. How could she have forgotten she had on something that was about ten sizes too big for her?
As he took it from her, her book fell to the floor and he immediately stooped to retrieve it. He glanced at the cover before handing it back to her without comment, and Ria’s heart sank. Why couldn’t it have been her copy of War and Peace instead of the colourful romantic novel she was enjoying?
They parted company and, after making his normal, latenight check-up and speaking to the caretaker, Jasper went back to his own flat, which was four away from the one Ria was occupying. As he passed her door, he imagined her slipping out of her clothes, perhaps already soaping her delectable figure under the shower, letting the water caress her creamy skin…
As he shut his door—with an unnecessarily firm bang—he cursed himself volubly. He was a hopeless case, he told himself grimly, because he knew he was in danger of being emotionally trapped yet again—big time. He had enjoyed the company of too many beautiful women in his life, admitting that he’d taken his time in choosing the one he would eventually select as his wife…and what a bloody nose she’d given him! Why wasn’t he more like Carl, who never seemed to need a woman? Carl seemed happy and content to focus entirely on his career, on this school and its continuing status and success.
Jasper stared moodily in the mirror, his eyes gleaming with dark intensity as his thoughts ran on. Then he turned resolutely. This latest female to stir his masculine propensities would be gone out of his sight for ever in a matter of months—and, until then, he’d make sure he had as little to do with her as was humanly possible. It was imperative—vital—for him to keep his mind, his thoughts, fixed on his responsibilities here, for this final term. Surely he could manage that.
As he went to hang up his jacket, the faintest drift of Ria’s perfume, still lingering in the fabric, reached his nostrils and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. That didn’t help! Next time—perhaps every time—that he wore it, she would be right there close to him, taunting him, teasing him, without even realizing it.
CHAPTER FOUR
ALMOST four weeks into her job, and Ria had hardly seen Jasper at all. He never attended the morning assemblies, and only on two occasions had she seen him in the distance, surrounded by a group of older boys. But the distinctive voice could be heard above the general hubbub, and on that occasion it was obvious that he was making an important point! Ria had smiled to herself. There had never been any doubt in her mind who was in charge here, and the fact that he was seldom seen—leaving the day-to-day teaching to his staff—added to his quietly aloof stature.
She was relieved that she had been allowed to get through these first days without being hassled or checked-up on. So far, she’d only been asked to teach the twelve-year-old boys and she found them cooperative and well-behaved and, although she admitted to feeling dead tired by the time her duties ended at four-thirty, it was a happy and satisfying tiredness. She felt she was coping OK, and Tim had only looked in on two of her lessons, and had later given her the thumbs-up sign as they’d passed in the corridor. She had the impression that she was being trusted to do her job properly without undue interference.
The only social occasion seemed to be the evening meal, which was more like a running buffet, with people coming and going at different times. But it did give Ria some time to meet other members of staff and have a chat for an hour. Jasper had certainly not been seen in the dining room since that first Tuesday, so he either came down much later, Ria thought, or didn’t bother at all. Or maybe he preferred to eat his dinner alone in his room, or in the pub they’d been to. Anyway, it didn’t matter to her. She was glad not to see him. She was enjoying her life, so far, and one of the best bits of it was closing her door and being by herself in her own flat, to make some tea and sometimes to watch late evening television.
One morning, a type-written note had been slipped under her door. It read:
There will be a staff meeting in the headmaster’s room at 5.30 today. Please do your best to attend.
It was obviously a circular, delivered by Helen, and was probably a regular event, Ria thought as she read it again. Jasper Trent keeping a firm hand on the steering wheel, keeping everyone on their toes.
After she’d finished lessons for the day, Ria let herself into her flat. Taking a fresh top from the wardrobe, she went into the bathroom for a quick shower before going down to the meeting. There wouldn’t be time to wash her hair because it always took so long to dry, so she’d just have to pat it into place for now, she thought.
Presently, she fell into step with several other members of staff as they walked along the corridor to Jasper’s room, the door of which was already wide open. He was standing behind his desk, with Helen sitting alongside him, notebook and pen at the ready, and he greeted them all casually as they began sitting down on the two lines of chairs arranged in a semicircle in front of him.
From the place she’d chosen, right over to one side, Ria had deliberately placed herself out of his direct line of vision, but almost immediately she saw him glancing across at her and their eyes met for a fraction of a second—a second that seemed to linger for much longer than necessary as those intensely thoughtful eyes held her captive. And, despite all her best intentions, Ria felt a tremor of excitement sweep through her, making all her nerve-endings tingle, and she swallowed nervously. This was the first time she’d been anywhere close to her employer since the day she’d arrived, and even in this crowded room she felt again the leap of her pulse as her eyes flickered over him. He was sharp-suited as usual, the strong hair falling slightly over the expansive forehead, the uncompromising mouth set in a firm line. But it was his persona, the definable presence of the man which gripped her, and it was not what she wanted The last thing in the world that she wanted was being emotionally seduced—again—by another self-assertive alpha male. She was in unlooked for, dangerous waters and she bit her lip. She hoped that if she was asked to contribute to the meeting she’d be able to find her voice and say something sensible.
It proved to be a routine affair and at seven o’clock Jasper concluded the meeting. Ria stood up, relieved that nothing had been asked of her. But then, suddenly, he called across and she turned to look back at him.
‘Ria, would you mind staying for a few moments, please?’ he said—and it was not exactly a request.
She paused uncertainly, fiddling with the clasp of her bag and wondering why she was being singled out. Presently, after the chairs had been stacked neatly away again and everyone else had left, he gestured for her to come and sit opposite him once more.
‘Now,’ he said, looking directly at her, ‘I want to know how everything’s going for you. I didn’t think for a minute that you’d want to air any problems in public. So fire away.’
Although his expression was serious, the voice was warm enough and Ria felt herself relaxing. She smiled, shrugging slightly.
‘Well, actually, so far there haven’t been any problems—none that I’m aware of,’ she added. ‘Lessons have been uncomplicated, and I think I’ve got their interest—most of the time.’ She smiled again. ‘I haven’t had to wake anyone up so far, anyway.’
He nodded slowly, remembering the other time she’d sat in that chair and how wonderful she’d looked then. And today was no exception, he acknowledged, her black narrow-leg trousers and crisp white shirt giving her a brisk, efficient air. And her glorious hair, just slightly out of place today, with a few fronds escaping to fall towards the curve of her cheeks only added to her appeal. He picked up a pen, trying not to keep looking at her.
‘Tim has already told me that he’s never known class three to be so well-behaved, or to show such concentration.’ He paused for a moment, remembering Tim’s enthusiastic opinion about Ria. ‘ So…’ he looked up and smiled, his teeth white against his tanned skin ‘…well done,’ he murmured. ‘You seem to have fitted in very well—as I anticipated,’ he added.
Ria was genuinely thrilled to be told that. She couldn’t remember anyone bothering to compliment her on her work before, and it was true that she’d felt a special empathy with the class she’d been entrusted with.
‘Well, thank you,’ she said simply. ‘I’m enjoying teaching these children more than any I’ve come across so far. I hope I can keep it up,’ she added.
There was silence for a few moments, then, ‘Actually, there is a small point which is bothering me…’ she said slowly, and Jasper raised his eyebrows. ‘It concerns Josh…’ she began, and he interrupted.
‘Joshua Mills? Our new boy?’
Ria hesitated before going on. She didn’t want to make a minor problem worse by saying too much about it. ‘I think he’s rather…unhappy…at the moment,’ she said.
Jasper nodded. ‘I’m not really surprised,’ he said. ‘Of course, it’s very unusual for us to take any new student at this point of the year, but his parents are having severe personal problems at the moment, which are apparently not helped by their son being at home and getting under their feet. Joshua was not due here until September,’ he added.
Suddenly the rugged features were dark with distaste as he went on. ‘In my view, vulnerable children are not things, to be put in convenient boxes at given times.’ He paused and leaned back in his chair. ‘But, after thinking long and hard about it, I decided that being here was perhaps the kindest option for him—and Matron and his House Mistress are well aware of his particular problem.’
‘Well, that probably does explain quite a lot,’ Ria said. She paused. ‘And it doesn’t help that he is so much smaller than the rest of his year.’ She didn’t want to confess that seeing Josh, with his brown eyes looking at her pensively through rather large thick-framed spectacles, had made her want to gather him up in her arms.
‘None of the others have been getting at him, have they?’ Jasper said suddenly. ‘No bullying, I hope?’
‘Not that I’ve seen,’ Ria said, hesitating for a moment before going on. ‘Though there is something that’s really bothering him.’ She paused. ‘It’s about the tennis tournament.’
‘What about it?’
‘A couple of boys have told him that anyone refusing to take part will be severely punished.’
‘Rubbish,’ Jasper said flatly. ‘It’s certainly true that we encourage everyone to participate because it creates team spirit, with House against House, and as a school we believe that competition exposes talent and breeds excellence.’ His mouth twisted slightly as he recalled the battles, masquerading as games of tennis, which he and Carl had fought in their youth, matching each other, shot for shot, each deadly serious and determined to win. He glanced across at Ria. ‘But punishing those who really do not want to take part is a fiction,’ he said.
Ria was relieved. ‘I didn’t believe it,’ she said, ‘but Josh does. So I’ll be able to put his mind at rest about that, at least.’
Jasper looked across at her thoughtfully. ‘You’ve obviously gained his confidence very quickly, Ria,’ he said.
‘Well, he does stay behind for a few moments after class, and we have a little chat,’ Ria admitted. ‘He told me that he’s never enjoyed anything to do with sport—to the annoyance and regret of his father, apparently.’
Jasper tilted his head to one side briefly. ‘Joshua is certainly a very academic child,’ he said. ‘His grasp of mathematics is awesome, I believe—so he probably prefers to grapple with complex theorems rather than hitting balls over nets, or anywhere else, for that matter.’
‘He told me he was often expected to play tennis for hours on end, and hated every minute of it,’ Ria went on. ‘Couldn’t see the point of it at all. Consequently, he was always rubbish at it—his words.’ She smiled, pausing. ‘The thing is—he’s afraid of looking a wimp in front of all the others when he misses the shots all the time or, worse, if he asks to be given dispensation.’
Jasper’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then, after a moment, ‘Um…well…I think we can fix that easily enough,’ he said. He leaned forward to scribble something down on the pad in front of him. ‘Joshua can be one of the umpires,’ he said. ‘At least in the early heats. He obviously knows the game through and through, so there’ll be no question of him getting the scoring wrong.’ He smiled suddenly. ‘It’ll make him feel very superior to be sitting up there above everyone else—a job usually given to the older students, but that’s not an unbreakable rule. Joshua can take his turn at doing the honours as well this time.’
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