‘Yes,’ she answered again; there was really nothing more either of them could add to it.
Together they checked over everything and found nothing to complain about. The rooms had used to be a fully self-contained study added on by a previous owner of the house who was a writer and liked his own space when he was working, so most of the necessary facilities had been built into the annexe. When the designers moved in they’d converted the whole thing into a state-of-the-art office for Leandros. But he’d rarely used it, preferring to use the conventional study in the main part of the house. Isobel had taken it over to use as a photo studio, where she’d developed her photographs and played around with them via the computer sitting in the corner on its state-of-the-art workstation.
With Diantha’s famed organisational skills, a bed had been added along with a couple of armchairs and a huge TV set. Reluctant though Isobel was to admit it, the place looked great.
‘I’ll want for nothing here,’ her mother announced with satisfaction. Even her luggage had been carefully unpacked and put away.
Now she must go and check on their other guest, she realised. ‘Where’s Lester Miles?’ she asked her mother.
‘Ask Leandros,’ she suggested. ‘He went looking for him a few minutes ago.’
But Lester Miles was being driven away from the house even as Isobel went to search him out. ‘What have you done with my lawyer?’ she demanded when she met Leandros in the hall.
‘He’s just left.’
Her very expressive eyes began to flash. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve sent him back to rough it at the Apollo!’
‘No.’ His mouth twitched. ‘He had to go back to England with some urgency. My driver is taking him to the airport.’
‘He won’t get a flight,’ Isobel stated confidently.
‘Oh?’ he murmured curiously. ‘Why not?’
‘Because all the flights to London are full—I already checked,’ she drawled.
‘How enterprising,’ he commended. ‘Were you hoping to escape before we made it to the bed or afterwards?’
Refusing to answer that, she turned and started up the stairs. Leandros arrived at her side.
‘I am flying your lawyer home—along with the Adonis. There,’ he smiled. ‘Am I not a graciously accommodating man?’
Refusing to rise to that bit of baiting, she kept her gaze fixed directly ahead.
‘Where are we going?’ he enquired lightly.
She was on her way to find her own luggage; where he was going did not interest her one little bit.
He smiled at her again. She wanted to hit him. ‘Is your mother comfortable?’ he enquired.
‘Perfectly, thank you,’ she answered primly.
The sound of low laughter curled her insides up. They arrived on the upper landing, where six doors led to elegant bedroom suites. Isobel made for one door while Leandros made for another. With their hands on the door handles they paused to glance at each other, Isobel with the light of defiance in her eyes, because the room she was about to enter was not the one they’d used to share. Leandros simply smiled—again.
‘Dinner,’ he said, ‘eight-thirty,’ and disappeared from view, leaving her standing there seething with anger and a sense of frustration because, by refusing to comment on the fact that she was clearly not intending to share a bedroom, he had managed to grab the higher ground.
Dinner was a confusing affair. Silvia was tired and had decided to eat in her room then watch a video film before going to bed. Isobel came down, wearing the same dress—since it was her only dress. Though she had taken a shower, pinned up her hair and added some light make-up.
Leandros on the other hand was wearing full formal dinner dress. He looked handsome and dashing and her heart turned over. ‘A bit over the top for an informal meal in, isn’t it?’ she remarked caustically.
‘I have to go out later,’ he explained. ‘My mother is expecting me, and, since I have been strictly unavailable to anyone today, either I turn up or she will come here to find out what I am playing at.’
Isobel wished she knew what he was playing at. There were undercurrents at work here that made her feel out of control. Yet she didn’t know why, because it wasn’t as if she hadn’t known about the dinner tonight. Diantha had mentioned it, being so efficient. What she had expected was that Leandros would make some concession for once in his important existence and have remained here with her.
Which was telling her what? she asked herself. She didn’t like the answer that came back at her, and that revolved around dear Diantha and his preference for where he would rather be!
They walked into the smaller of the two dining rooms that the house had to offer, like two strangers on their first date. Leandros politely held out a chair for her. Allise, she saw, had pulled out all the stops for this cosy dinner for two and the table had been dressed with the best china and candles flickered softly instead of electric lights.
She sat down. Leandros helped her settle her chair. By the time he’d moved away without so much as touching her even by accident, she was feeling so incensed she felt she was living within her own personal battle zone.