Sophisticated Seduction. Jayne Bauling
bypassed fleshcoloured when shopping because it seemed so utilitarian, attracted by the more prettily frivolous colours. ‘You would be an expert on women’s underwear!’
She heard him laughing at her as she stalked from the veranda into the house, and she thought tempestuously that she had never met anyone so vile in her life.
‘You got my message, then?’ With a quick, raking glance for Bridget, Nicholas addressed Sita Menon, having found the two of them together in the cool, spacious kitchen on his return to the house that evening.
Bridget’s senses had given an odd little jump as he entered, and somehow the kitchen seemed smaller in response to the overwhelming vibrancy of his presence, as if he existed surrounded by an aura of energy that took up all the space around him.
‘Yes, sir.’ A slim, trim woman of thirty, the housekeeper and cook gave him an open smile. ‘And welcome back. It has been too long, but in fact your welcome dinner comes with the assistance of Bridget.’
‘I’m honoured.’
Slightly sardonic as it was, his smile made Bridget catch her breath, and the reaction put her on the defensive.
‘Don’t flatter yourself. I’d have helped even if you hadn’t been here.’
She had offered on getting back to the house and learning that Sita had been summoned, Nicholas intending dining here tonight. Her participation in preparing the meal certainly hadn’t been meant as a peaceoffering, since she didn’t owe him any such thing, but now it occurred to her that it might help create a more agreeable atmosphere between herself and this man with whom it seemed she would temporarily be sharing the house. She just wished she were in a position to ignore his warning not to retreat to a hotel, but as Virginia herself always stayed here the budget for this trip wouldn’t stretch to the expense.
Not a fighter by nature, Bridget could usually find excuses for people’s bad behaviour, and of course Nicholas would have been irritated at discovering a mystery surrounding his sister and no explanation forthcoming from Virginia’s replacement, especially if he had business matters on his mind as well.
Now he turned his gaze on Bridget, who had changed into a simple thin cotton dress with tiny creamy flowers scattered over a golden-yellow background and had pulled her dark hair into a single loose plait that hung down her back.
‘You cook?’ he enquired, considering her dispassionately.
‘And eat,’ she added, recalling his comments in that regard, before her enthusiasm for the discoveries she was making brought a shy smile to her face. ‘It’s fun cooking in a new country, a challenge because some of the things we use at home aren’t available here, but then there are all sorts of other fascinating ingredients I’ve never come across before. I’ve been shopping with Sita a couple of times and she has been teaching me some Indian dishes— only simple ones so far, so it’s tandoori chicken tonight. She says you like it?’
‘Yes,’ he agreed almost absently, seemingly studying the pure, youthful curve of her cheek.
‘Sita could have the evening off, couldn’t she?’ she went on quickly, taking advantage of his mood. ‘If you don’t need her to serve? Remember I told you she has got a relative in hospital? I could do it just as easily.’
‘You are eating with me?’ he prompted, his tone unfathomable.
She didn’t really relish the thought of being alone with him, but Sita’s need was real, and perhaps by now he had accepted that Virginia really had given her this assignment and that she must therefore be capable of doing the selecting and ordering it entailed.
‘If I may,’ she responded demurely, and he laughed.
‘Then fine. I’ll be with you shortly. I want a shower.’
It was a start, she reflected with relief as she departed.
‘Thank you, Bridget,’ Sita said gratefully. ‘I didn’t like to ask so soon after his arrival, but my nephew relies on me now that the doctor has ordered my sister to bed for this stage of her pregnancy, and my brother-in-law is away on these army exercises. He gets so bored if no one comes, and upsets the whole ward with his mischief.’
‘Poor little thing.’ Bridget already knew all about the nephew’s accident. ‘Maybe I could visit him too one evening?’
Sita had departed by the time Nicholas returned, wearing casually stylish trousers and an open-necked shirt.
‘Time for a drink first?’ he asked, finding Bridget in the living-room, and she nodded. ‘I don’t use spirits here—the Scotch in the kitchen is just in case my grandfather was right to swear by it for scratches and cuts in a hot climate. I presume you’ve been warned to be careful if you acquire any sort of wound? Have you tried Indian wine? It’s in the Portuguese vinho verde tradition. You know about Goa? But I’m not sure if you should have any ’
‘Just how old do you think I am?’ Bridget demanded, peaceable intentions blown.
He looked amused. ‘I wasn’t referring to your age, but this is your first time in India and if you’re not acclimatised yet you should stay with soft drinks. Take lots of liquid anyway. Don’t fight the heat. Give in to it, slow down, drink lots, forget fashion and go for comfort—only I notice you don’t follow fashion anyway, although that’s a pretty dress, and it suits you. Strange, that, for someone from Ginny’s.’
He would spoil it. She had been about to apologise for jumping to conclusions, but that last observation killed the impulse.
‘Perhaps they’re following a different trend in your elderly circles! You’re the rudest, most bossy man I’ve ever met,’ she told him in a soft, angry rush. ‘What makes you think I need all that advice?’
‘Since most people in my experience are incapable of taking care of themselves in any environment, why should an innocent like you be any different?’ he derided.
‘So you think you’ve got to look after them?’ Bridget taunted. ‘Most people would rather be left to get into trouble all by themselves.’
‘That’s generally what I let them do,’ he returned dismissively.
‘Not your family, though.’
‘That’s different,’ he snapped, a glint of annoyance in his eyes. ‘Wine, then, Bridget? I saw Anand Bhandari today, incidentally. You’ve really made an impression on him, haven’t you? He kept referring to you as “that lovely young girl”.’
‘Oh!’ Unaffected surprise and pleasure made her face light up. ‘That was kind of him.’
‘I think he was being truthful rather than kind,’ Nicholas commented unexpectedly. ‘You’re certainly going to be very lovely once you’ve acquired some poise and maturity. You could make a lot of yourself.’
‘There has to be a sting in the tail of everything you say, doesn’t there?’ Bridget accused in some confusion, anger warring with amusement as he brought her a glass of wine. ‘Was Mr Bhandari able to help you? About Virginia, I mean?’
‘No, not at all, and he didn’t have any wild theories such as yours to offer, either. She merely told him she’d had to cancel this trip for herself but was sending you in her place.’ Nicholas was frowning. ‘I cannot believe she’s stupid enough to sacrifice her favourite part of her job for what she might imagine is true love, and yet I have to believe that she doesn’t know what she’s doing, sending a child like you out here as a buyer.’
‘Thanks.’ Sarcasm was new to Bridget and she spoilt the effect by continuing with her habitual sincerity, ‘I really am a trainee buyer, you know, and Virginia would have started sending me overseas next year.’
‘She