To Claim His Mistress: Mistress at a Price / Mother and Mistress / His Mistress's Secret

‘I’m very pleased,’ Cat said steadily. ‘I just have a lot of other things on my mind.’

David seemed in no hurry to leave. He clearly wanted to talk about the play, and Cat brewed more coffee and listened, wondering, as she did so, what her mother’s reaction would be to the news.

But I have enough problems of my own, she thought soberly, after he’d eventually gone. I can’t worry about two people who don’t even want to be in the same room with each other. And she sighed.

She was just finishing breakfast the next morning when she heard the doorbell. She went slowly to answer it, bracing herself for more disappointment.

It was the same courier standing outside, but this time he was holding a bouquet of flowers—pink, deeply scented roses and freesias. He handed her the card in its tiny envelope.

‘I’ve been told to wait for a reply, madam.’

The card said simply, ‘Tomorrow night—please?’

She buried her face in the flowers, inhaling their fragrance. Her voice was husky. ‘The message is—that—that will be fine.’

The door closed and she stood for a moment, her eyes closed. She thought, Tomorrow night. Then repeated it aloud, over and over again, her voice high with laughter as she danced round her living room, with Liam’s flowers held close against her breasts.

It seemed to Cat that Sunday night would never come. She’d spent most of Saturday morning going through her wardrobe and deciding that most of the things in it were boring, especially her underwear drawer. During the afternoon she’d gone shopping for replacements, choosing pretty lacy things in pastel colours rather than the overtly sexy gear that most of the boutiques were offering.

On Sunday she went for a walk in the park, lunched at a bistro near her flat, and tried and failed to read the newspapers. She applied a face pack, and took a long and leisurely bath, then gave herself a manicure.

She was wildly, stingingly nervous as she began to pack her overnight bag. Liam hadn’t mentioned a time, but she wanted to be ready when the car came for her.

I don’t want to waste a minute of my time with him, she told herself.

She chose one of her new bra and brief sets in white brod-erie anglaise, topping them with a linen shift dress in a soft, deep blue. She was just fastening the zip when the knock on the door came.

‘I’m coming,’ she called, as she dealt with the safety chain and undid the latch. Only to find herself confronted by her mother.

‘Hello, darling.’ Vanessa Carlton sauntered in, unfastening the jacket of her pale primrose suit. ‘They gave me your message at the hotel, so I thought I’d come round and see you. Spend a nice girlie evening together. Did you want anything special?’

‘Well, no.’ Cat swallowed her dismay. ‘It was just that I hadn’t seen you for a while and…’

‘Well, you’ll be seeing much more of me from now on.’ Vanessa disposed herself elegantly on the sofa. ‘If you’ve any Chardonnay in the fridge, I’d like some,’ she added.

‘Yes,’ Cat said mechanically. ‘Yes, of course.’ Oh, God, she wailed inwardly, as she found the corkscrew and opened the bottle. This is a disaster.

‘Could you manage to take a few hours off early next week?’ Vanessa asked, taking the glass Cat was proffering. ‘I’d really like you to come flat-hunting with me.’

‘Flat-hunting?’ Cat nearly spilled her own wine down the blue dress. ‘You can’t be tired of the Savoy, surely?’

‘No, but I don’t want to take up permanent residence either.’

‘But I thought you’d be going back to Beverly Hills?’

‘Well, normally I would be,’ Vanessa said. ‘But London’s an interesting place at the moment. There are a couple of projects I’m looking at, so I’ve decided to stay where the work is.’ She lifted her glass, an odd smile playing round her lips. ‘Cheers, darling.’

‘And what about Gil? His work’s in America, isn’t it? He won’t want to stay here.’

‘Ah, Gil,’ Vanessa said meditatively. ‘Let’s just say that negotiations are in progress.’

She leaned back against the cushions and looked her daughter up and down, her smile widening.

‘You look very nice, Cathy. That’s a good colour for you.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Would you like to go and eat somewhere?’

Cat nerved herself. ‘Actually, I can’t,’ she said. ‘I’m going out already—to see friends.’

‘And taking an overnight bag, I see.’ Vanessa missed nothing. ‘These people must be incredibly—friendly.’ She paused expectantly. ‘So tell me, sweetie, are you embarking on a private life at last? And, if so, who is he?’

‘If I told you,’ Cat said steadily, ‘it would no longer be private.’ And how can I tell you what I don’t even know myself?

‘Wow.’ Vanessa lifted her eyebrows. ‘If you want to hug it to yourself as a closely guarded secret it must be important.’ She paused. ‘As a concerned mother, don’t I get even a teensy clue?’

Cat gave her an ironic look. ‘Is that how you see yourself?’

Vanessa was unoffended. ‘Let’s just say it’s a new role that I’m considering—among others.’

As the door sounded she gave Cat a triumphant look. ‘And I think your secret life just hit the dust, my sweet.’

The driver was waiting impassively outside.

‘I’m sorry, but I have an unexpected visitor,’ Cat apologised in a low voice. ‘I’ll get a cab as soon as she’s gone.’

‘I have my instructions, madam.’ His smile was polite.

‘And no other appointments, so there’s no hurry. Whenever you’re ready.’

Cat turned back into the room to find Vanessa standing at the window.

‘Nice car, darling. Is that what Cinderella’s coach looks like these days? No sign of Prince Charming unfortunately,’ she added, moving back to the sofa and refilling her glass. ‘I shall just have to live in hope.’ And she sat down, crossing her legs with a seraphic smile.

Cat bit her lip. ‘Mother, the driver’s waiting for me. I—I really need to go.’

Vanessa tutted. ‘Piece of maternal advice, my pet. Don’t seem too eager.’

‘Treat ’em mean, keep ’em keen?’ Cat queried coolly. ‘Isn’t that a little dated?’

Her mother laughed. ‘Don’t you believe it. So, just relax and drink your wine, while we work out a day for flat-hunting. I’m quite serious about this.’

She was quite serious about a number of things, Cat thought resignedly as she sat down and reached for her glass.

She said, ‘The hotel said you’d gone away for the weekend. Was it anywhere special?’

Vanessa shrugged. ‘A get-together with old friends. I had a wonderful time.’

‘Did you take your—Gil?’

‘He had people of his own to see.’ Vanessa gave her an amused glance. ‘We’re not joined at the hip, you know.’