The Ninety Days of Genevieve by Lucinda Carrington Page B

their place in the world. In return she has a luxurious lifestyle. She has respect. She has children. She also knows that her husband would never do anything to disgrace the family name. It means too much to him. The arrangement suits both of them.'
    Genevieve remembered the obvious appreciation she had seen in Zaid's eyes when he first saw her. 'And I'm sure he's completely faithful, too/ she said coolly.
    'Zaid isn't celibate when he's abroad/ Sinclair said. 'His wife wouldn't expect it. He's permitted his sexual indulgences. He's a man, after all.' He glanced at her. 'And an attractive one, wouldn't you say?'
    'Yes/ she agreed, in a neutral voice. 'Very nice.'
    He looks a lot like you, she thought, but I'm damned if I'm going to tell you so. She remembered the slight pressure of the Arab's hand on hers. She knew he had found her attractive. Was that what Sinclair was planning? Was he going to offer her services to his friend? And if he did, would she agree?
    'Don't feel sorry for Zaid's wife/ Sinclair said. 'It was an arranged marriage, but they both agreed to it, and I doubt if they were pressured. You might say it was a business agreement.' He smiled at her, and again she was reminded of Zaid's smile. 'You should appreciate the logic of that.'
    I'm sure Zaid does too, Genevieve thought. It gives him respectability and the right to play the field. She followed Sinclair up the wide stairs. A couple passed them and smiled, the woman glittering with jewellery that Genevieve instinctively knew was genuine. She also knew Sinclair was planning something, and she was equally certain it involved his Arab friend. But what was it? And what had Zaid meant when he insisted that Sinclair show her 'everything'?
    She soon realised why Sinclair had told her that the house was a suitable venue for an antiques fair. Each room was decorated in a different style or historical period, and the antiques on display had been chosen to suit the decor. In every room smartly dressed purchasers were politely haggling or writing cheques.
    The Victorian nursery housed a toy collection. A flamboyant Chinese room had a display of silks, fans and screens. The Regency room contained furniture. A twenties-style music-room held a collection of instruments and music boxes. One, in a beautiful, polished-wood box, chimed 'Danny Boy' when Genevieve opened the lid. 'This is lovely/ she said. She looked unsuccessfully for a price tag. There was only a small number attached to the box. 'I think I'll buy it. How much is it?'
    'Go and ask/ Sinclair said. 'The gentleman at the table over there will give you all the details.'
    'This box?' The discreet, soft-spoken salesman glanced at the number. 'I'm sorry, madam, I believe this one has been sold.' He checked with a small laptop computer. 'Yes, it has. My apologies. I should have removed the number.'
    Genuinely annoyed, Genevieve was about to argue when she heard an unexpected and familiar husky voice.
    'James, darling. I didn't know you were interested in music.'
    She turned in time to see Jade Chalfont kiss Sinclair affectionately on the cheek, brushing back her heavy fall of dark hair as she did so. In a figure-hugging black dress with her usual chunky jewellery she looked as self-confident as a top model posing on the catwalk. Her bright red, sensual mouth smiled insincerely as Genevieve walked towards her.
    'James, you're with a friend. I didn't realise.'
    'Miss Genevieve Loften,' Sinclair said.
    Jade Chalfonf s smile turned frosty. 'Oh yes. You're a Barringtons rep, aren't you?'
    'An account manager,' Genevieve said, equally frosty.
    'Do Barringtons still call them that? How quaint.' Jade Chalfont kept the smile fixed on her glossy red lips. 'You like antiques too, do you?' Her eyes looked briefly at the box Genevieve was holding. 'You collect little music boxes. That's very sweet.'
    Because she was furious at Jade Chalfont's patronising tone, and well aware that Sinclair knew it, she fell into the trap Jade had