An Exception to His Rule(69)

                ‘What?’ Arthur enquired. ‘A dog or two that escaped completely unscathed?’

                Damien’s lips twisted. ‘No. But anyway, she’s a bit down in the dumps and I didn’t—’ he paused and was struck by a brainwave ‘—I didn’t believe Penny would like to think of Harriet like that.’

                ‘Of course not,’ Arthur agreed. ‘I’ll come up tomorrow morning. How’s Charlie?’

                * * *

                Damien put the phone down a few minutes later. Then he lifted the receiver again and proceeded to order not one but two wheelchairs, and two pairs of crutches.





                                      CHAPTER NINE

                ‘HOW’S PENNY?’

                Harriet and Arthur were in the dining room and Arthur was pushing her around in a wheelchair from painting to painting. Harriet was taking notes.

                ‘Well, we were expecting morning sickness, of course, and some form of—I don’t know—maybe emotional highs and lows, some weird cravings like pickles on jam, but she doesn’t seem to have ever been better.’

                Harriet hid a smile. Arthur sounded quite worried.

                ‘That’s good news,’ she said. ‘Sounds as if she’s having an uncomplicated pregnancy. Oh!’ Harriet stared at a picture on the wall. ‘I can’t believe I never noticed that before.’

                ‘Tom Roberts. Heidelberg School. One of my favourites. I was lucky to get that,’ Arthur said complacently

                ‘I love his beach scenes,’ Harriet said dreamily. ‘Where did you find it?’

                Arthur pushed her a bit further on and into the hall as he told her the story of how he’d acquired the Tom Roberts for Damien’s father. Harriet listened, genuinely fascinated, and they spent a pleasurable couple of hours going through the Wyatt collection.

                In fact, when they’d finished and he’d wheeled her back to the studio, Harriet said energetically, ‘Arthur, I’ll need—’

                ‘I’ll get all the stuff you need, Harriet. It’s quite some time since they were last done—I’ve been urging Damien to do it for a while so I’m really pleased he’s asked you. You seem to—’ he eyed Tottie, who was lying next to the wheelchair ‘—fit in here really well, too.’

                Harriet opened her mouth to dispute this but that could only sound churlish, so she simply nodded.

                He went shortly thereafter but sought Damien out before driving off.

                He was up in his study, which gave Arthur a sense of déjà vu.

                ‘Come in,’ Damien responded to his triple knock.

                ‘Mission accomplished,’ Arthur said. ‘She’s going to do them. She even sounds quite enthusiastic about it now.’

                ‘Thanks, mate.’

                Arthur fingered his blue waistcoat with purple airships on it as he pulled up a chair. ‘Unusual girl that, you know.’

                Damien couldn’t help a swift glance at the settee across the room, and made the sudden unspoken decision to have it moved elsewhere. ‘Yes, I do, as a matter of fact,’ he replied dryly.