In the Millionaire's Possession by Sara Craven

and its problems.

    ‘ C ’ est vrai ? ’ he queried softly. ‘ You wish me to reserve one for later, perhaps? ’

    Her head lifted from the menu she was studying as if she ’ d been shot, her mouth tightening indignantly as she saw the wicked amusement in the dark eyes.

    She said between her teeth, ‘ Will you — please — not say things like that? ’

    ‘ Forgive me, ’ he said, showing no obvious signs of repentance. ‘ But you are so easy to tease, ma mie , and you blush so adorably. Calm yourself with some champagne. ’

    ‘ Is there something to celebrate? ’ She picked up her glass.

    ‘ Who knows? ’ He shrugged. ‘ But, anyway, let us drink to Monteagle — and its future. ’

    ‘ Actually, ’ Helen began, ‘ I ’ ve been giving that some thought and —’

    He lifted a silencing hand. ‘ Later, cherie , ’ he told her softly. ‘ You must learn how the game is played. And also accept that a man rarely grants favours on an empty stomach, ’ he added drily.

    ‘ But it ’ s not a game, ’ she protested. ‘ Not to me. ’

    ‘ Quand même , ’ he said. ‘ We will eat first. ’

    His rules, Helen thought resentfully, transferring her attention back to the list of food. A man who likes his own way. And just how far is he prepared to go in order to achieve it? she wondered, and shivered slightly.

    But in the meantime she might as well enjoy the food, as this would probably be her first and last visit. She chose potted shrimps for her first course, following them with a rack of lamb, roasted pink, with grilled vegetables.

    Marc ordered tournedos of beef, with foie gras and dark-gilled mushrooms, served with a Madeira sauce.

    The Burgundy he picked to accompany the meal seemed to caress her throat like velvet.

    ‘ Will you tell me something? ’ Helen said, once they ’ d been served and the waiters had departed.

    ‘ If I can. ’

    ‘ Why did the committee bother to hear me if they meant to turn me down? ’

    ‘ We interview every applicant, or those that represent them. Mainly we concentrate on projects that will revive the tourist industry in former trouble spots, or attract it to areas entirely off the beaten track. ’ He shrugged. ‘ Your application was thought to be interesting, but not particularly deserving. Unluckily for you, cherie , you do not have to walk ten miles to find water each day, and your home is lit by the flick of a switch, ’ he added drily.

    ‘ Only, ’ she said, ‘ if I can afford to pay the bill. ’

    They ate in silence for a moment or two, and she was just nerving herself to mention the bed and breakfast idea when he said, ‘ Hélène — in an ideal world, what would you wish for Monteagle? ’

    ‘ That ’ s simple. I ’ d like it to be my home again, but with the money to maintain it properly, of course. ’ She sighed. ‘ No tour parties, no cream teas. Just peace, comfort and privacy. The way it once was. And the way a home should be, don ’ t you think? ’

    ‘ I would not know, ’ he told her drily. ‘ I have an apartment in Paris and a hotel suite in London. When I was a child my father never settled in any place for very long, ’ he added with a faint shrug. ‘ Only when he retired did he find somewhere — a vineyard in Burgundy with a small dilapidated château, close to the village where he was born. He planned to live there and make wine, but he died very suddenly before it was even habitable. ’

    ‘ What happened to it? ’ she asked.

    ‘ I sold it to an English family in search of la vie douce . ’ He smiled faintly. ‘ Only God knows if they ever found it. ’

    ‘ You weren ’ t tempted to live there yourself? ’

    ‘ And tend my vines in the sun? ’ He shook his head. ‘ I have factories to produce, and a world to travel in order to sell them. ’

    As he spoke he looked past her, and Helen saw him stiffen slightly, the dark brows snapping together. ‘ Ah, ’ he said softly. ‘ C ’ est complet