outside, ‘who did cause the mischief with Westhope Farm?’
‘A man called Dan Mason. His parents keep the Green Man. Do you know him?’
‘I know of him. He was the hugely bright boy who walked away with all the prizes on Speech Day when Alex was in school.’ She shook her head in wonder. ‘What on earth made him do such a preposterous thing?’
Sarah’s mouth turned down. ‘It sounds a bit big-headed, but I think it was just to cause trouble because I preferred Alex to him.’
‘And are you going to let him get away with it?’ said Helen slyly.
Sarah looked into the challenging hazel gaze and came to a decision. ‘No. No, I’m not. I’ll take your advice and beard the lion in his den next Sunday. Alex can’t eat me.’
Helen took two cards from her bag and gave one to Sarah. ‘Ring me to tell me how you got on. Ring me any time you want, in fact. Whatever happens with you and Alex, I’d like to keep in touch with you, Sarah. Now, tell me your number and I’ll scribble it down. Goodbye, my dear.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘Shall I give Alex your love?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘I doubt that he’d want it right now.’
‘Oh, he would. We mothers know these things,’ said Helen, and smiled wickedly as the doorbell rang. ‘There he is now, come to drive me home.’
When the bell gave a peremptory second ring, Sarah gave Helen a wild look and picked up the receiver.
‘Alex here.’ The familiar voice set Sarah’s pulse racing. ‘Is my mother ready?’
Sarah pressed the button to release the outer door, then opened her own. Helen stood beside her as they watched Alex cross the hall towards them. ‘I could have gone outside, but this is so much more interesting,’ she whispered.
‘Hello, Sarah,’ said Alex woodenly as he reached them.
‘Hi,’ she returned, managing to paste on a smile.
‘Thank you for tea, Sarah,’ said Helen. ‘And for showing me your quite remarkable home. It’s amazing, isn’t it, Alex?’
‘Yes,’ he agreed stiffly, then, as if the words were torn from him, ‘How are you, Sarah?’
‘Absolutely fine,’ she lied. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m absolutely fine, too.’ He turned to his mother. ‘Are you ready?’
‘Yes, dear.’ Helen kissed Sarah’s cheek. ‘Thank you again. I’ve enjoyed my afternoon. I’m going home tomorrow, so I’ll say goodbye. Perhaps you’ll give me tea again next time I’m here?’
‘I’d be very happy to. Thank you so much for coming.’
Alex gave Sarah a formal nod as he took his mother’s arm. Helen turned to wave at the outer door and Sarah waved back, but Alex kept his back turned as he hurried his mother out to the car.
CHAPTER TWELVE
RAIN CAME down in sheets as the Jensen left the courtyard, so instead of a peaceful stroll in the gardens Sarah settled down to the paperwork she’d been too tired to work on during the week. Afterwards she rang Oliver, to report progress and tell him about the visit from Alex’s mother.
‘Got to go, Oliver,’ she said as the doorbell rang. ‘Someone’s at the door. I’ll ring you next week.’
The sound of Alex’s voice over the intercom again sent Sarah so haywire her hand shook as she pressed the button to let him in.
He strode across the Sunday quiet of the hall towards her, rain dripping down his shirt from his hair. Without a word he pushed her inside, thrust the door shut behind him, and seized her in his arms, kissing her with a craving she responded to helplessly.
‘I can’t do this any more,’ he said hoarsely, when he raised his head.
‘Do—what—?’ she gasped.
‘I give in. To hell with it. I’ll take your terms. Whatever I can get.’ His mouth found hers again, and for a hot, breathless interval they kissed with a wildness that left them shaking when she pushed him away far enough to let her look up into his face.
‘Let me say I’m sorry, Alex,’ she said, in a voice so unsteady it sounded like a stranger’s. ‘I should have known—’
His kiss smothered the rest of her plea, and for a while it seemed more important to kiss him back than to try and talk.
‘No—please,’ she panted at last. ‘You must let me speak. I should have trusted you. Known you wouldn’t do anything so monstrous. I would have apologised as soon as we got back from Westhope, but you didn’t give me the chance.’
‘Because I was mad as hell,’ he said, and kissed her again. ‘As soon as