Bride of Desire by Sara Craven

in a swift smile, as if he’d read her thoughts.
     
      As they drove up to the house, Tante emerged, and stood waiting for them. Her face was tranquil as she watched Remy go round to the passenger door and help her great-niece, very circumspectly, to alight, but Allie was not deceived.
     
      She’s probably been pacing the rug since we left, she thought with a sigh.
     
      Remy must have sensed the same thing, because he said, with a touch of dryness, ‘As you see, I have returned her safely, madame.’
     
      She picked up his tone. ‘Mon cher Remy, I never doubted you for an instant.’ She paused. ‘May I offer you some coffee before you depart?’
     
      ‘Merci, madame, but I think I must get back to Trehel. I have some matters to discuss with the builders.’ He made her a small polite bow, then turned to Allie, his face smooth, but little devils glinting in his eyes. ‘Au revoir, Alys. I hope you will permit me to call on you again?’
     
      She looked down at her feet. ‘Why, yes. Thank you. If you wish. That would be—very nice,’ she added wildly.
     
      ‘Then I too shall look forward to it.’ There was only the slightest tremor in his voice, but the wickedly prim face he pulled at her as he walked towards the Jeep was almost her undoing.
     
      As he reached it, another vehicle—a blue pick-up—suddenly pulled in behind him with a crackling swirl of gravel. The driver’s door was flung wide, and a girl jumped down.
     
      She was small, with silver-blonde hair and a pretty heart-shaped face, all huge brown eyes, and a sexy mouth painted bright pink, with her finger and toenails enamelled to match.
     
      She possessed a shapely figure bordering on the frankly voluptuous, set off by tight white trousers and a scoop-necked top in a stinging shade of violet. And she was smiling widely as she ran across to Remy and kissed him on both cheeks, standing charmingly on tiptoe in order to do so.
     
      ‘Chéri.’ She had a soft, throaty voice. ‘I thought I recognised your Jeep. But why are you here?’ She turned to Madelon. ‘Please tell me you are not ill, ma chère madame.’
     
      ‘Not in the least,’ said Tante briskly. ‘Dr de Brizat has been kind enough to show my great-niece fromEngland something of the surrounding area. That is all.’
     
      ‘You, Remy? Turned tour guide?’ The newcomer gurgled with laughter. ‘Mon Dieu, the world will end tomorrow. And I thought your every moment outside work was spent either with Roland or on the renovations at Trehel.’
     
      ‘Not every moment,’ Remy returned coolly. ‘I allow myself some leisure—from time to time.’
     
      Her eyes widened extravagantly in a way that Allie decided must have taken hours of practice. ‘Then your friends can hope to see more of you, maybe? What a pleasure that will be.’
     
      She turned to Allie, her gaze flickering over her. A glance that assessed and dismissed. ‘So—an English visitor.’ She made it sound as if the other girl had escaped from a zoo. ‘Then we must all do what we can to ensure that you enjoy your vacation—Mademoiselle…?’ She paused questioningly.
     
      ‘Alys,’ Remy supplied quietly. ‘Alys Colville.’
     
      ‘Enchantée. And I am Solange Geran.’ The smile flashed again, but the brown eyes were watchful. ‘I am sure we shall become friends. You intend to remain for a long time with madame, I hope.’
     
      Under the gush, the message reached Allie loud and clear.
     
      She considers me no contest, she thought. But, all the same, she’d be delighted to hear that I’m leaving tomorrow.
     
      She shrugged gracefully. ‘My plans are—fluid at the moment.’
     
      ‘But mine, unfortunately, are not,’ Remy said briskly. ‘So, forgive me, but I must go.’ As he swung himself into the Jeep he looked briefly across at Allie, his lips miming a swift kiss before driving away.
     
      ‘Alors, I must find my purse,’ Madelon Colville