‘Yes, I have,’ Kieron astounded her by drawling, his eyes amused as they rested fleetingly on her startled face. ‘But to spare her blushes I thought it might be better if I gave it to her when we’re alone. In fact,’ he added, getting up from the table, ‘I was going to ask if you would keep an eye on Nicky for us while I did.’
Marian laughed, and told him he was making Briony blush.
‘I know,’ was his wicked response. ‘I like it.’
There was no way Briony was going to get out of going with him, and with a rather forced smile she thanked Marian for looking after Nicky and got up to follow Kieron.
When he opened the french windows to their sitting room, she hesitated, and he watched her through narrowed eyes.
‘Scared?’ he taunted softly. ‘My gift isn’t anything physical, although you’re on the right lines. I’m hoping it will help that long-buried woman in you to surface. Here you are.’
He threw her a large oblong parcel wrapped in soft green tissue paper and tied with matching ribbons.
Confused, Briony caught it, fingering the paper doubtfully.
‘Open it,’ Kieron demanded softly. ‘Marian isn’t going to rest until she finds out what it is. You really are the most exasperating female,’ he added, when she made no move to open the parcel. ‘Any other woman would be consumed with curiosity.’
Realising that she wasn’t going to be allowed to escape until it was open, Briony hesitated over the wrappings. The name on the box when the paper was removed drew her brows together in a slight frown, but this was nothing to the expression on her face when the lid was removed and the contents of the box presented themselves to her startled eyes. Her fingers trembled over a dainty bra in peach satin trimmed with écru lace; matching panties so brief as to be almost indecent, a tiny, cobwebby suspender belt, and sheer silk stockings. There was also a nightdress in gossamer-fine silk and a matching negligee, but these she barely took in, her face going white and then a dull, dark red, as she stared at the silk and satin underwear.
‘How dare you buy me anything like this?’ she demanded at last in a voice which shook with rage. ‘How dare you!’
‘I wanted to remind you that you were female,’ Kieron drawled. He was standing watching her, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, his manner outwardly relaxed, but she sensed within him a waiting, assessing quality which added churning sickness to her other emotions. ‘Or perhaps it was just to remind myself,’ he said coldly, his eyes suddenly darkening as she flung the box down on the bed. ‘There’s precious little other evidence.’
Quite why she should be so infuriated with the gift, Briony did not know. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that since Nicky’s birth there had never been money to spare for such luxurious items; her underwear had all been chain store purchased and bought to last; there hadn’t been the opportunity or the need to think of herself in feminine terms, and the sight of those feminine, frivolous pieces of satin and lace touched the deep aching chord inside her which had once thought only of dressing to please Kieron and which had slowly and silently died when he left.
‘Get out of here,’ she breathed quietly. ‘There’s no woman to be disinterred, Kieron, you destroyed her completely.’ She had her back to him and when she turned round the room was empty. Like a sleepwalker she crossed to the bed, touching the satin absently, folding the minute garments and putting them back in the box. It was a gift more suitable for the Louises of this world than for her. She opened a drawer and pushed the box as far into it as it would go, and then, holding herself erect, she went back to the patio.
‘Are you all right, Briony?’ Marian asked in concern. ‘You look pale.’
‘I’m fine. Where’s Nicky?’ She looked round for the little boy.
‘Oh, Louise wanted to go into Nice, so Kieron has taken her, and Nicky went with them.’ She frowned a little. ‘I’m sorry about Louise descending on us like this. Her mother is an old friend of mine, but Louise has never been one of my favourite people.’
‘She does seem a bit of a man-eater,’ Briony commented dryly, guessing what was worrying her hostess. ‘Am I right in thinking that she and Kieron had a bit of a thing together at one time?’
Marian’s smile was relieved.
‘How sensible you are, my dear! I thought you might be worried about Louise’s rather obvious tactics. I’m sure Kieron never felt more than a casual interest in her. It was the summer after he was so ill, and I’m afraid I rather encouraged her at the time. I was desperate for something to lift him out of himself. Those were dreadful times. I’m afraid I was rather bitter about you in those days, Briony. In fact you are far different from how I imagined you would be.’