After the Affair(32)

'No, Cassie,' he said firmly, taking her elbow as they began climbing the steps up on to the suspension bridge. 'We can't. We are going to Sydney this afternoon and that's that. Roger will look after the foal. We need time alone together, away from here, away from everyone. We need privacy.'

Privacy... A knot formed in Cassie's stomach as she dwelt on that word and all its connotations. Privacy... As they crossed the bridge she darted a surreptitious glance down the river to the point, and the studio. Privacy with Dan meant only one thing...

Cassie stopped abruptly in the centre of the bridge. 'Dan...'

'Yes, Cassie?'

'Do you still paint?' she blurted out.

'No.'

She frowned.

Dan's mouth curved back into an ironic smile. 'I don't mind telling you why not,' he said, answering her unspoken question. 'Truth is, I haven't had much time for painting over the last few years. I've been too busy making money.'

'Oh.'

'You know, you've never even asked me what business I'm in. I could very well be a drug smuggler, for all you know.'

Cassie was taken aback by Dan's remark, more because of her reaction than the comment itself. She instinctively and immediately rejected any possibility of his being a criminal. Dan might be a typically selfish male, he might even have been an unfaithful husband, but he was basically good. Despite what had happened between them, she felt sure that he didn't deliberately set out to hurt people. He did seem to have a conscience. Somewhere. And criminals didn't.

'I wouldn't believe that for a second,' she stated truthfully.

'That's a relief to know.' His voice was dry. 'I thought you'd believe anything of me.'

'Of course I wouldn't.' She turned smiling eyes up to him and took pleasure in his surprise. 'Well? Are you going to tell me what business you're in, or do I have to drag it out of you?'

He laughed, then frowned. 'It's not that easy to explain.'

'See? Now you know why I didn't ask.'

He laughed again. Cassie liked the sound. In fact, she liked this relaxed, smiling Dan a lot. He seemed so different from the man who had callously told her that he didn't give a damn for her feelings. This was more like the warm, loving Dan of nine years ago, a Dan she could live with.

'How about import and export, property development, rental properties and blue-chip stocks?'

She pursed her lips. 'Sounds impressive.'

'And are you?'

'Am I what?'

'Impressed.'

It was her turn to laugh. 'Sorry. Money's not my thing.'

He sighed, but not unhappily so. 'I guessed as much. By the way, why did you ask me about my painting?'

Cassie swallowed and thought quickly. 'I...er...was just wondering what you intend doing with the studio,' she improvised, nodding down the river. Initially she had wanted to ask him about her portrait. Whether he had finished it or thrown it away. It had been only half-done when he'd left. But once again such a question felt too close to the bone for their fragile relationship. Better to keep the conversation light. She could handle that.

Dan stared down at the studio. Cassie was perturbed to see his features tighten. 'I intend doing nothing!' His tone was brusque.

'Nothing?'

'That's right. It's there and it can stay there. But I don't plan on using it. Come along.' He took Cassie's arm and propelled her forwards.

'Mrs Bertram always cooks breakfast for eight o'clock and there's nothing she hates more than cooking for absent mouths. She'll be having a pink fit.'

Mrs Bertram was doing no such thing. She was a very efficient woman and had everything under control. Cassie and Dan settled down in the morning-room to a delicious breakfast of freshly blended fruit juices, potato cakes and cheese-flavoured scrambled eggs, along with toast and coffee.

'This is simply delicious,' Cassie complimented, and the housekeeper beamed. 'I think I'm going to become very spoilt.'

'You'll have to tell me what Jason likes to eat, Mrs McKay,' the other woman said. 'Perhaps you could make a list and I can get in supplies while you're away.'

Dan looked up from where he'd been sitting, silently forking eggs into his mouth. Cassie was aware that his mood had changed since she'd mentioned the studio, and, while it bothered her underneath, she was determined to ignore it.

'You don't let Jason eat junk food, do you, Cassie?' Dan said. 'I don't agree with children eating rubbish all the time.'

Cassie prickled with resentment at what seemed like Dan interfering before she remembered her resolution. Compromise was the name of the game. 'Jason has always had a healthy, balanced diet, Dan, but the occasional ice-cream and sweet doesn't do any harm, does it, Mrs Bertram?'

'Of course not! Life would be pretty boring without some luxuries.'

A dry smile pulled at Dan's mouth. 'That's what I keep telling my wife... Speaking of diet, Mrs B., you won't forget to feed Hugo, will you?'

'Forget to feed that animal?' The housekeeper made a horrified sound. 'If I did I might end up on the menu myself. That dog eats like a lion!'