Caroline

‘How do you do, miss,’ smiled the motherly little woman. ‘And what a surprise this is,’ she exclaimed, looking at Adam indulgently. ‘But it’s very glad we are to see you again, sir. Jones is chopping logs over at the woodshed just now, but he’ll be back directly if you want to see him.’

‘That’s all right, Mrs Jones,’ said Adam, removing his overcoat.

‘The fire is lit in the lounge, just in case you wanted it,’ went on Mrs Jones. ‘If you’d like to go in there I’ll bring you some tea just as soon as the kettle boils.’

Mrs Jones was round and fat and jolly, and Caroline took an immediate liking to her. As for Nero, he was a bundle of mischief and pranced round them as they entered the lounge. A big log fire burned in the grate and the room looked cosily inviting. Here the carpet changed to moss green while the low couches and armchairs were upholstered in dark red brocade. The wide windows overlooked the rear of the house where green lawns stretched down to a large swimming pool which had been emptied for the winter. Beyond the pool were tennis courts, but Adam drew the rich curtains across the windows as it was already quite dark, and switched on a tall standard lamp, thus curtailing Caroline’s gaze.

‘This is the only room in the house where there is an open fire,’ he remarked as she seated herself on one of the couches near the fire. ‘It’s simply that I enjoy seeing a real fire now and again.’

‘Oh, so do I,’ agreed Caroline, a sense of well-being stealing over her.

Adam came to sit beside her, and Caroline wondered whether he had any idea of the effect he had on her. She thought gloomily that he probably considered her simply as a rather nice child to whom he was giving a treat.

He stretched out his legs towards the blaze lazily and smiled at her.

‘This is the life,’ he remarked, lighting two cigarettes and handing her one. ‘Away from big business, trusts, high finance, land speculation…’ He groaned and closed his eyes.

Caroline smiled, looking intently at him. It was hard to conceive that on this man the livelihoods of several hundred employees rested. Just how many people depended upon his judgement? The Steinbeck Building housed a lot of different companies all owned by the Steinbeck Corporation and each one relied to a certain extent on Adam Steinbeck. He was the chairman of the board, he had the deciding vote if such a thing was necessary and he was responsible if there were any mistakes. She wished she had the courage to move closer to him and massage his temples. Aunt Agnes used to like her to do that; she said it soothed away all her tension.

Suddenly there was a tap at the door and Mrs Jones entered with a tray of tea, sandwiches and hot homemade scones.

Adam opened his eyes and sat up reluctantly. ‘Thank you, Mrs Jones. Do you think we could have dinner at about seven-thirty?’

‘Surely,’ she replied with a twinkle in her eye. ‘Now, you have a nice hot scone, and ring if you want more tea.’

‘Bless you,’ said Adam, and Mrs Jones chuckled as she went out.

Nero, who had settled himself in front of the fire also, now smelt food and Caroline allowed him to eat some of her sandwiches.

‘You’ll make him fat,’ remarked Adam with a grin. ‘He’s been badly spoiled by the Joneses.’

Caroline shrugged. ‘I know…but his eyes positively implore for more. He’s very persuasive and very lovable.’

‘Lucky Nero,’ said Adam rather dryly, and drank his tea.

When they had finished with the tray, Caroline placed it on the table near the door.

‘Ought I to take it through?’ she offered anxiously. She wasn’t used to having everything done for her in such a manner, pleasant though it might be.

‘No,’ he drawled lazily. ‘Come and sit beside me and tell me all about yourself

Caroline’s heart pounded as she seated herself beside him, intensely aware of his thigh only inches away from her own and of his head turned her way, eyes watching her, as he relaxed against the red brocade. The lighting from the standard lamp was not bright and Caroline hoped he was unaware of how much he disturbed her.

‘There’s not much to tell,’ she murmured quietly, gazing into the fire. ‘My parents died when I was very young. An aunt brought me up and then I moved in with Amanda six months ago.’

‘Very exciting,’ he remarked with a smile. ‘No romance?’

The intimacy of this situation washed over her and she shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. How could she make light-hearted conversation about a subject so newly apparent?

Adam moved slightly, until his thigh was touching hers, and cupped her face with one hand, forcing her to look at him. His eyes scanned her features intently, and she was sure he must be able to hear the thudding of her heart. She trembled violently, and jerked her face away before he could read what must be in her eyes. She felt his fingers playing with her hair, touching the nape of her neck, disturbing her emotions, so that she was forced to look at him again. Then, slowly and deliberately, he leant forward, and placed his mouth against hers, exploring its softness expertly, until her lips parted involuntarily, and the kiss hardened and lengthened into something much more demanding. Caroline had never dreamed a man’s mouth could arouse such sensations, and it was with a sense of loss she felt him release her and get up, with almost savage movements.