‘What I want doesn’t enter into it.’
‘Are you lovers?’
Rachel got to her feet with as much dignity as she could muster. ‘As my employer you have a number of rights, but asking that isn’t one of them.’
‘Don’t be offended, my dear.’ The transition from interrogator to kindly uncle was made with bewildering speed. ‘If you want the man why don’t you fight for him? You have weapons in your arsenal that I lack.’
Rachel’s nostrils flared in annoyance. She didn’t trust the crocodile smile one little bit. ‘I think I should go,’ she said firmly.
‘A child—a baby—would make Benedict see where his responsibilities lie.’
Halfway to the door Rachel froze. She looked at the man behind the big desk with white-faced astonishment. ‘Are you actually suggesting I get pregnant in order to keep Ben in the country?’
‘It must have occurred to you.’
‘You think so?’ He was serious.
‘There are in-built disadvantages to being a woman—no old-boy network, prejudices in the workplace—but there are also advantages, and I’ve always admired women who use their femininity to get what they want. A hint of cleavage can be just as affective as an old school tie.’
‘Even if I did agree with you—which I don’t—I hardly think what you’re suggesting is comparable,’ she croaked hoarsely.
‘I’m only suggesting you utilise all the weapons at your disposal. If you don’t like the idea of actually getting pregnant I understand. The mere possibility would be enough to bring him to his senses and lots of women lose babies…’ His voice trailed off suggestively.
‘You want me to pretend I’m pregnant?’
‘Naturally I’d leave the details up to you.’
Her mouth worked and no sound came out. ‘You expected me to go along with this idea?’ All emotion was leached from her voice.
‘Well, we both have something to gain.’
She took a deep, wrathful breath, her bosom swelling impressively as she did so. ‘I’ll encourage Ben to leave the country if it means he’ll be clear of your devious machinations!’ she announced, chin up, eyes blazing. ‘What you’ve suggested is monstrous and immoral. I would never, ever use a child, or even,’ she drawled sarcastically, ‘the idea of a child, to trap a man. I think you’ve got a very warped idea of what love is, Sir Stuart. The sort of love I believe in doesn’t manipulate and control a person.’
‘Then you do love my son.’ Sir Stuart looked thoughtful.
‘I doubt very much if you know the meaning of the word.’
He laughed suddenly. ‘You know, my wife said that to me the first time I proposed. She had that same look of disdain on her face when she said it, too,’ he recalled with a nostalgic sigh.
‘How did you get her to say yes? Threaten to bankrupt her father, or did you just kidnap her sick granny?’
To her amazement he appeared to find her sarcasm amusing. ‘Perhaps she’ll tell you one of these days, my dear. I hope there are no hard feelings; it was worth a shot. I’d do anything to keep Benedict from ruining his career,’ he said simply.
‘Maybe you justify your actions under the mantle of parental concern, but I don’t swallow it. I think you’re more concerned with how you feel, Sir Stuart.’ She turned on her heel and left a very startled peer of the realm staring after her.
‘Did Charlie really take the news well?’
‘Better than I expected,’ Rachel assured him. This evening was going better than she’d expected too. Christophe really was a pleasant companion. The natural awkwardness had faded quickly. He was an amusing, interesting companion, and a naturally kind man. ‘She’s fascinated by the idea of relations she’s never met. I left her curled up with a book of French grammar—light reading, you know?’ She laughed.
‘A mixed blessing being so bright?’
She nodded at his perception. ‘Sometimes,’ she confessed. ‘She milked me dry for details about your family. I hadn’t realised until recently how much she wanted to know about her father. If I had…who knows?’ She gave herself a sharp mental shake; it was never useful to reflect on paths you hadn’t taken. ‘I think she wants to interrogate you now.’
‘You scare me.’
‘I said she could stay up late to see you again—if you’d like.’
His smile deepened. ‘I’d like. Annabel wanted to fly over, but I said it was probably better to play things slowly. I don’t want to overwhelm her.’