Prada And Prejudice

“Something happened after lunch today,” he said grimly. “And whatever it was, it got your knickers in a twist.”

“Ah, yes, my knickers…that’s a subject that really fascinates you, isn’t it?” Natalie flung back. Her fists were clenched at her sides.

He stared at her. “What?”

“I heard you myself,” she accused him, “when I came back to your office. You were talking about me on the phone.”

He frowned. “I talked to my brother for a few minutes. And we didn’t talk about you…or your knickers.” He cast his mind back over their chat – football scores, Jamie’s promotion to sous chef…and Alastair James’s party. “We didn’t talk about anything objectionable. And you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping,” he added pointedly.

“I could hardly help but overhear you, could I? You were speculating about how good I’d be in bed! You don’t consider that objectionable?”

“You’re mistaken.”

“I know what I heard,” Natalie insisted, her voice undercut with fury. “Don’t add lying to your sins. You were so kind after Dominic dumped me at the party, you even offered to take me home. But you had an ulterior motive. You were making the most of the publicity, and you used me to do it!”

“It wasn’t like that—”

“No? How was it, then?” she demanded. “And don’t tell me it doesn’t boost your male ego, seeing photos of us in the tabloids, adding another affair to your long, sordid list—”

“It’s preferable to seeing photos of you tossing wine on Dominic Heath.”

Her lip trembled. “You used me. You knew I was drunk, and you took advantage—”

“Used you? Really?” he asked, incredulous. “Because unless you were too inebriated to remember, you asked me to have sex with you, not once, but several times.”

She squeaked in outraged mortification.

“I could’ve given you what you wanted,” Rhys went on, fuelled by his rising anger. “I could’ve shagged you in your flat, or on the Triumph, or on the pavement, for that matter—”

Natalie paled. “You’re the crudest, most disgusting man—”

“But I didn’t! I fucking well didn’t, precisely because—” he stepped closer and lowered his voice “—I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I know Dominic humiliated you at Alastair’s party.” He scowled. “And I know you think I’m a heartless bastard with no redeeming qualities. Maybe I am. But I did not take advantage of you.”

Natalie sniffed, only partially mollified. “You made it look like we were having an affair—”

“I used the situation, Natalie. Not you.” He looked at her, his eyes intense. “It was damage control. I turned what might’ve been a bad situation to advantage. I did it to protect Dashwood and James from a lawsuit, and to protect you. I won’t apologise for that. I’d do it again.”

“You told your brother I wasn’t your type.” She dropped her gaze from his and fiddled with her wristwatch. “And when he asked if I were any good in bed, you said he ought to ask Dominic. And that you imagined I was probably a…hellcat.”

To her utter amazement, he began to laugh.

“It isn’t funny!” she sputtered.

“Oh, but it is.” He shook his head. “You’ve got the wrong end of the stick. That’s what happens when you eavesdrop.”

“I didn’t eavesdrop!” she protested. “I couldn’t help but overhear your crude comments. Don’t deny it – I heard you.”

He held up a hand in surrender. “I did say those things, it’s true. And they weren’t very gentlemanly, I suppose.” He paused. “But I wasn’t talking about you.”

She gazed at him with mingled distrust and confusion. “You…weren’t? Who were you talking about, then?”

“Keeley.”

“Keeley,” Natalie repeated.

He nodded. “When I told Jamie that Dominic had dumped you for his ex-wife, Keeley whatsit—”

“Oh, it’s just ‘Keeley’,” Natalie supplied. “No last name. Like Madonna. Or Posh.”

“—he was over the moon with excitement that I’d seen her at the party. According to Jamie, she’s the hottest pop singer in Britain. He’s had a crush on her since he was twelve.”

She regarded him with scepticism. “You must’ve lived in a cave for the last ten years if you’ve never heard of Keeley.”

He shrugged. “I left home at seventeen. I was working, going to school at night, so I didn’t keep up with that sort of thing. I didn’t have time.”

“So…you weren’t talking about me,” Natalie said in a small voice.

“No.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have said those things about Keeley, about anyone. But I was talking to my brother, bloke to bloke.” He eyed her accusingly. “And I didn’t know you were listening.”

“Is everything all right?” Natalie’s mother inquired suspiciously as she opened the door.

“Fine,” Natalie said quickly, and turned to her mother. “Mum, this is Rhys Gordon. We were just discussing…a problem.”

Rhys leaned forward and thrust out his hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, Lady Dashwood.”

“Mr. Gordon.” She took his hand in her best queenly manner and cast Natalie a keen glance. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“None of it good, I’m sure,” he said equably.

“Very little,” she agreed. “But I prefer to make up my own mind. I’m sorry I missed the board meeting. Please, come in. I’ve just made coffee.”

He shook his head. “Thank you, I can’t stay. I’m working tomorrow.”

“But tomorrow’s Saturday!” Natalie objected.

“Yes, and the offices are closed. But I’ve a lot to tackle and I get more done when no one’s there.” He gave Nat’s mum a warm smile. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Dashwood.”

She smiled and toyed with the pearls at her throat. “Celia, please. I enjoyed meeting you as well, Mr. Gordon. I must say…you’re not at all what I expected.”

Natalie eyed her mother in amazement. If she didn’t know better, she’d almost think mum was flirting with Rhys.

“Can I give you a lift?” Rhys asked Natalie as he turned to leave.

“Thanks, I drove.” She grabbed her handbag and keys and turned to kiss her mother goodbye. “Goodnight, mum.”

“Goodnight, darling.”

As Lady Dashwood returned to the drawing room to gather up the cups and saucers, she heard a buzzing sound coming from the pantry. Mystified, she set the plates down and pushed open the pantry door. “What on earth—?”