Page 113 of Guilty Pleasures

‘What’s the matter?’

‘The Christian Dior idea your publisher just mentioned,’ he said quietly. ‘Is that the one I’m writing?’

He had such a stiff upper lip. God bless the civilized English thought Cassandra, knowing he was unlikely to make any sort of fuss.

‘Yes, a Christian Dior biography was something I mentioned to her,’ she said briskly. ‘They were pushing me for suggestions for book two. Anyway, it’s hardly the most original idea in the world, is it?’

‘So you think you will do it?’

Her eyes challenged him. Warned him.

‘Perhaps.’

Giles simply nodded and she smiled. He knew that to do or say anything further was futile. He was one of the few anointed members of her court, but that status could be revoked at any given time. In time he would see that what was best for her, was best for both of them. She looked around for Max; he was a few yards away chatting distractedly to Alison Edmonds. While she helped herself to another canapé, he gave her a small smile and motioned gently with his head towards the stairs. Noticing that Laura was now deep in conversation with Giles, she slowly followed. There was a long corridor at the top and only one door was ajar. Looking both ways to check she hadn’t been seen, Cassandra pushed the handle. Max was standing just inside and he grabbed her, forcing his lips down on hers, his hands caressing her bare back, his fingers slipping inside down the curve of her ass.

‘Max, please,’ she moaned, not wanting him to stop.

‘Laura is going to some other party,’ he whispered. ‘I said I’d see her back at the house.’

She looked up, their faces inches apart, sharing the same air.

‘What did you have in mind?’ she murmured.

He smiled wolfishly. ‘I think you know. When do you think you can get away from here?’

‘Max. It’s my party. Plus Ruby is here.’

‘It’s nine-thirty, the party is almost over. Can’t Ruby go home with your driver?’

He rubbed the palm of his hand across her breast, feeling her nipple harden at his touch.

Suddenly nothing seemed as important as her own longing, ripping at every nerve ending.

‘Where shall we meet?’

‘I’ve booked a room at the Cadogan Hotel.’

‘Sorry, darling, but I have to go and do some more work,’ said Cassandra, slipping an arm around Ruby’s shoulders and brushing aside a pang of guilt at the deliberate lie to her daughter. ‘Andrew will take you back to the house. What’s happening to Pandora and Amaryllis? Are their parents in London?’

‘Yes and Amaryllis has just invited me to sleep over. Apparently their house is amazing.’

‘I’m sure,’ smiled Cassandra.

‘So I can go?’

‘Where’s their house?’

‘In Regents Park. Andrew could drop us off there instead.’

Amaryllis stepped forward and handed Cassandra a card. ‘That’s our address. Someone will bring Ruby back home tomorrow or she can come to Battersea heliport with us. Daddy’s helicopter is taking us back to school.’

‘Well, I think that all sounds in order,’ said Cassandra briskly. She made a quick call to Andrew confirming the arrangements, requesting that he take her to the Cadogan Hotel first before he returned to collect the girls. Kissing her mother goodbye, Ruby headed to the bathroom with Pandora and Amaryllis, all of them giggling.

‘Do you think she’ll find out?’ said Ruby, looking up into the wide mirror as Amaryllis applied a slick of red lip-gloss.

‘Find out what? You are staying at our house. We’re just going clubbing first,’ smiled her friend.

‘Are you sure we’ll get in?’