The Millionaire's Rebellious Mistress - By Catherine George Page 0,58
took to be Jane Hicks, Stephen’s wife. She showed them into one of the smaller dining rooms, and seated them with a view of the pretty garden at the back of the pub.
‘We do Sunday roasts of varying kinds, but you can order from the à la carte menu if you prefer.’ She handed out menus, gave Oliver the wine list, and with a smile excused herself to see to the next arrivals.
Once a waiter had taken their order for wine, Oliver sat back to peruse the menu with his customary respect for the business of eating.
‘Good place, this,’ he commented, as he ran his eye down the list of choices. ‘I’m torn between the rack of lamb and the roast duck.’
Sarah smiled at him fondly. ‘Not your usual steak today?’
‘For once, no. I’ll keep to Sunday lunch convention.’ Oliver was presented with a bottle of wine to inspect. A little was poured into his glass, he tasted, rolled it round his palate, then nodded in approval, and the waiter filled their glasses.
Well used to the ritual, Sarah went on studying the menu, then looked up with interest when a feminine voice said, ‘Oliver Moore! How are you?’
Oliver rose to his feet with a delighted smile. ‘Helen! How wonderful to see you.’
‘Likewise.’ The lady was tall, with stylishly cut fair hair and large hazel eyes which smiled at Sarah in enquiry. ‘Hello. I’m Helen Alexander.’
‘This is my goddaughter, Sarah Carver,’ said Oliver, and pulled out a chair. ‘Do join us.’
‘I’d love to, my dear, but I’m lunching in the next room with my sister-in-law and my son. Our meal will soon be ready, so I must get back. All right, Alex—I’m coming,’ she added, as an all too familiar figure joined her. ‘Look who’s here, darling.’
‘Hello, Sarah,’ said Alex briefly, and shook hands with Oliver. ‘How are you, sir?’
‘Very well, my boy,’ said Oliver. ‘I liked the place so much the day you brought us, I persuaded Sarah to eat here again.’
‘Stephen’s a fabulous chef, isn’t he?’ said Helen. ‘Do you live nearby, Sarah?’
‘Yes.’ Sarah found her voice at last. ‘I have a flat in Medlar House—the old girls’ school.’
‘Really? It’s such a lovely building. I always wanted to look round it, but I didn’t have a daughter as a pretext.’ Helen smiled at her son. ‘Alex knew it well. He went to parties there when he was young.’
‘I’ve heard about the parties,’ said Sarah.
‘How is your project coming along?’ Alex asked her stiffly.
His mother looked at him in surprise. ‘You two know each other professionally?’
‘Of course they do,’ said Oliver. ‘Sarah’s in the same line of business.’
‘Scrap metal?’ said Helen, astonished.
Alex shook his head. ‘Sarah’s involved in property conversions.’
‘Then you really must take her to see your barn, darling.’
‘She’s already seen it,’ her son informed her shortly. ‘We’d better get back to our table. Aunt Bel will be wondering where we are.’
Helen Alexander offered a cheek to Oliver to kiss, and smiled warmly at Sarah. ‘Come and take another look at Alex’s house while I’m staying there. I’ll give you tea.’
‘Sarah’s far too busy to waste time on mere socialising,’ said Alex coldly, and won a look of shocked disapproval from his parent.
‘Perhaps you’d have tea with me at Medlar House instead, Mrs Alexander?’ said Sarah, surprising him. And herself. ‘I never work on Sundays.’
‘Why, thank you. I’d like that very much indeed. Next week?’ said Helen, ignoring her son’s stony face. ‘I leave for home shortly after that.’
Oliver regarded Sarah with intense interest when they were alone. ‘Did I detect a certain froideur between you and young Merrick?’
‘Yes,’ said Sarah baldly, and turned away in relief as a waitress came to take their order.
A past-master at cross-examination, Oliver returned to the subject as soon as they were alone. ‘The last time we were here I gained the distinct impression that young Alex was smitten with you.’
‘You were wrong,’ she said flatly. ‘Do you know his mother well?’
‘I met her at some party, back in the mists of time. Like a fool I introduced her to George Merrick and lost her to the younger man.’ Oliver looked down his formidable nose. ‘But now he’s lost Helen, which makes him the fool.’
The encounter with Alex’s attractive mother made Sarah deeply curious to know more. ‘Why did she leave him?’
‘Usual story—another woman. Stupid idiot,’ Oliver added bitterly.
‘Cheer up,’ said Sarah, as much to herself as to Oliver. ‘Here comes our lunch.’