In the Millionaire's Possession by Sara Craven Page A

. The last table is now occupied — and by people you know, ma belle . ’

    She said, bewildered, ‘ People…? ’ And then stopped, staring at him, appalled.

    ‘ Oh, God, ’ she said unevenly. ‘ It ’ s Nigel, isn ’ t it? And his new lady? ’

    ‘ And an older couple — ses parents , sans doute , ’ Marc drawled. Then, as Helen began to push her plate away, he reached across the table and captured her hands in his, holding them firmly. ‘ Doucement , cherie , ’ he ordered softly. ‘ You are going nowhere. ’

    ‘ But I must, ’ she whispered frantically. ‘ I can ’ t stay here and see them together. I can ’ t… ’

    ‘ But you do not have to, ’ he said. ‘ It is all quite simple. You just look at me instead. ’ He lifted her hands to his lips, brushing light kisses across her white knuckles, nibbling gently at the tips of her trembling fingers, while she sat as if mesmerised allowing it to happen.

    His eyes smiled into hers. ‘ Think, Hélène, ’ he urged quietly. ‘ If you run away, then they will know they have the power to make you suffer — and so they win. Better that you remain here — with me — and we finish our meal, hein ? ’

    He released her hands and refilled her glass, wincing slightly as she took an unguarded panicky gulp of the precious wine.

    She said huskily, ‘ Have they seen me? ’

    ‘ I notice a certain chagrin , yes. ’ His mouth twisted. ‘ La mère , I think, wishes to go, but her husband — c ’ est un homme inflexible , and he will get his way. ’

    ‘ And Nigel? ’ She swallowed. ‘ How — how does he look? ’

    He shrugged. ‘ He seems to have survived his wetting in the lake. ’

    ‘ Oh, God, ’ she said miserably. ‘ He ’ ll never forgive me for that. ’

    ‘ Perhaps, ’ he said. ‘ But that can no longer be allowed to matter to you. ’ He paused to let that sink in, then nodded at her plate. ‘ Now eat, ma mie , and take your time. After all, we still have the dessert to come. The apricot soufflés, I think, which have to be cooked to order, and will prove, therefore, that we are in no particular hurry. ’

    He cut off a sliver of beef and proffered it to her on his fork. ‘ In the meantime, try this, and — smile at me a little. ’

    ‘ It ’ s all right for you. ’ Unwillingly she did as she was told. The fact that he was talking sense made his advice no more palatable. ‘ You ’ re not the one whose heart is being broken. ’

    He gave her a sardonic look. ‘ And nor are you, cherie , although you may not believe it at this moment. ’

    ‘ How can you say that? How can someone like you possibly understand? ’ Helen asked passionately.

    His brows lifted. ‘ You speak as if I was something less than human. Yet , je t ’ assure, I share all the normal emotions. ’ He smiled at her coolly. ‘ You wish me to demonstrate? ’

    ‘ No ! ’ Her face warmed. ‘ I meant that you ’ ve obviously never loved someone all your life as I ’ ve loved Nigel. ’ She shook her head. ‘ Why, I ’ ve never even looked at another man. ’

    ‘ Perhaps because you have never had the chance to do so, ’ he said, unmoved. ‘ And your life is far from over. Now, eat something, ma belle , before your lack of appetite is noticed. ’

    Helen shot him a mutinous look from under her lashes, then reluctantly complied.

    As they ate, Marc chatted to her lightly, asking mainly questions about the history of Monteagle, encouraging her to expand her monosyllabic replies into real animation as she warmed to her subject.

    Making it almost possible, she realised with a sense of shock, for her to believe that she was there with him because she wished it, and not as a matter of expedience.

    But she had to convince him of her enthusiasm, and her will to work, she thought, if she was to persuade him to lend her the money for the guest house scheme.

    If only Nigel hadn ’ t been there she ’ d have been able to outline her plan by