trees outlined against a pale grey sky, which was all she could see from their third-floor window overlooking Hyde Park, she willed the lump in her throat to subside.
Nobody made her cry and got away with it. Least of all, she thought crossly, a bloody man.
But Bruno, misinterpreting her silence, was growing impatient. ‘Is it?’ he persisted. ‘Are you only interested in men with money? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?’
Maxine hit him with a pillow.
‘You bastard,’ she howled. ‘What do you think I am, some kind of bimbo gold-digger?
How dare you!’
‘Ouch.’ Bruno dodged out of reach as she lunged at him again. Overcome with relief, he broke into a grin. ‘Look, I wasn’t accusing, I was asking. And it’s a perfectly reasonable question, anyway. Lots of people are attracted to money. What about that ex-fiance of yours?’ he added in ultra-reasonable tones. ‘Janey told me about him. He was loaded, and you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.’
Just for a second, Maxine experienced a pang of longing for those lost luxuries. Of course she had loved living in a splendid house, swanning around in smart cars, flashing a diamond ring the size of a beech nut at anyone who came within a two-mile radius, never having to worry about the next gas bill ... But it hadn’t been enough. And, having left that life behind her, she had never even for a moment regretted doing so.
‘Oh yes, it was nice,’ she said. ‘But I gave it all up, didn’t I? And I gave the engagement ring back to him, in case you were wondering. It cost nine thousand pounds but I still did it.’
‘Pity,’ murmured Bruno. ‘That’s one noble gesture you might live to regret.’
‘Yes, well.’ Maxine couldn’t help agreeing with him there, but a girl had to have some scruples. Brown eyes flashing, she said proudly, ‘At least it proves I’m not a fortune hunter.’
Unable to resist making the dig, he countered, ‘What about Guy Cassidy? Would you have lusted after him if he’d been penniless and unknown?’
‘Guy doesn’t count,’ Maxine declared flatly. ‘I wanted to work for him because he could have boosted my career. Not that it did the slightest bit of good,’ she grumbled. ‘Do you know, in all the time I’ve been there he hasn’t taken so much as a single photograph of me? I’m sure that’s out of spite.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Bruno gave her a hug. ‘I’ve got a Kodak Instamatic. I’ll take thousands of photos of you.’
‘You aren’t influential and famous.’
‘I’m not rich either.’
She smiled. ‘I don’t care. Really.’
‘So what’s the verdict?’ Bruno realized that he was holding his breath. There are only a few moments in a lifetime when real decisions have to be made. This was one of those moments. ‘Do we give it a whirl?’
Maxine, both exhilarated and afraid, said in a low voice, ‘It isn’t going to be easy, you know. Being poor is the least of our worries. We’re going to upset quite a few people. You have Nina to deal with. I have Janey.’
‘What are you,’ Bruno demanded, ‘a bloody politician? Answer the question, Max. Does that mean yes or no?’
‘You idiot.’ Fondly she caressed his tanned arm. ‘How can you even ask? You saw through me right from the start. You knew I loved you almost before I knew it myself.’
‘You’re going to have to say it,’ he persisted evenly. ‘Yes, Maxine? Or—’
‘Darling!’ she exclaimed, loving him even more for his insecurity and hurling herself into his arms. ‘Don’t panic! I am the original girl who can’t say no.’
Chapter 40
‘This is terrible,’ said Janey, looking at her watch and seeing that it was almost ten o’clock.
‘There are so many things we should be doing. We really ought to get up.’
‘What could be more important than this?’ Alan, who didn’t want to move, kissed the top of her head. ‘Making love, catching up on lost time, getting to know one another all over again ...’
‘Phoning the police,’ she continued dryly.
‘What?’
Janey smiled. ‘You’re on the missing persons’ register. One of us is going to have to let them know you’re no longer missing.’
‘Oh God.’ Alan shuddered. ‘You can do that. What do you suppose they’ll do ... come round and rap my knuckles for running away without leaving a note?’
‘I haven’t the faintest idea, but we still have to phone them.’ Janey, wriggling out of reach, slid out of bed and grabbed her dressing gown. ‘And Paula’s downstairs, running the shop on her own. She doesn’t even know I’m up here. If she starts hearing footsteps, she’ll think we’re burglars.’
‘Why?’ Alan’s eyes narrowed. ‘Where does she think you spend your nights? Come to that,’ he added with growing suspicion, ‘who were you with last night? That was a pretty smart car you leapt out of. Are you sure there isn’t something you aren’t telling me?’
Janey hadn’t given Guy Cassidy so much as a thought until now. Belatedly she realized that she must have caused him considerable inconvenience. He had been due to fly up to Manchester at seven for a photo session with the much sought-after, deeply temperamental supermodel, Valentina di Angelo. She prayed that in letting him down at such short notice he wouldn’t have had to cancel the entire shoot.
‘There’s nothing to tell,’ she said in reassuring tones, still mindful of the unfounded suspicions which had prompted Alan’s disappearance in the first place. ‘Maxine moved back down here a few months ago and took a nannying job up at Trezale House, but for the past week she’s been in London making a TV advert. I offered to look after the children whilst she was away, so I’ve been staying at the house and Paula’s taken over in the shop. Everyone’s been doing everyone else’s job,’ she added cheerfully. ‘It’s been fun.’
