The fact was, she’d never seen such a selection of food in her whole life, and it would have taken all the evening for her to make up her mind. But what was good enough for him was good enough for her!
He gave their order to the hovering waiter, and watched her silently while she sipped at her champagne. She’d stayed true to type, he mused, and had responded in exactly the way he would have expected. He had not fazed her in the slightest. She was still in total control of herself, yet there was that air of naïvety that made him feel protective of her! Heaven alone knew where she’d got that dress from—though the colour suited her well enough. Her hair was drawn primly back, as usual, shining with obvious health and fresh shampooing, and not a hint of make up had been applied to her face. Nor was a single item of jewellery anywhere to be seen. He took in all these details with a certain sense of satisfaction. It was as if she’d almost gone out of her way not to impress him, he thought. A most unusual and refreshing female—and a type he hadn’t met before!
As the evening went on she proved to be an engaging conversationalist, answering his questions about Hydebound and its staff without any apparent evasiveness, and with extremely loyal and affectionate remarks about the previous owners. There was certainly no gossip or snippets of scandal which he might have been interested in. She was obviously a very worthy member of staff, he decided—someone who could prove useful to him in the future. His eyes narrowed briefly. He could spot a bargain a mile off.
‘Why are you called Cryssie?’ he asked suddenly, as they started helping themselves to the delicately presented food which had appeared. ‘Is it Christine? Christina?’
Cryssie sighed as she looked down at her plate. ‘I hate having to own up to my name,’ she said resignedly. ‘It’s…Crystal.’
‘So what’s wrong with Crystal?’ he asked mildly. ‘I like it. It’s…unusual.’
‘Well, that’s all right, then,’ she replied tartly. ‘But I don’t like it. It’s a silly name. How many people have you met called Crystal?’
‘Not many. Not any. But I still like it.’
‘Well, I’m not called Crystal. I’m called Cryssie.’
‘Okay, Cryssie. I’ll try to remember.’
She looked across at him, at his teasing, dangerous eyes. ‘I shall have it changed properly one day,’ she said, stabbing a spear of asparagus with her fork. ‘I will.’
‘I’m quite sure you will…Cryssie,’ he said. ‘I can’t think that many of your plans come unstuck.’ He paused. ‘Do you have a grand life plan? I mean, you won’t be wanting to stay with Hydebound for ever, I suppose?’
His question took Cryssie by surprise, and she shot him an anxious glance. The last thing she wanted was to be chucked out—or given the option to leave. She’d better watch what she was saying. Was this a veiled reference that he might not want her to stay? She shuddered briefly, trying to mix the unexpected—undeniable—pleasure of this evening with the upsetting news of the day.
‘You said you’re not married?’ he persisted.
Before he could say anything more, she blurted out, ‘No, I’m not married, and I don’t ever intend to be! I have Milo to consider, as well as my sister, who is ill most of the time. They both depend on me, and on what I earn. And I’m paid enough—and happy—at Hydebound. So I don’t intend any immediate changes unless they’re intended for me,’ she added significantly, her heart missing a beat at hearing herself say those words. ‘As for a “life plan”, as you call it—well, the only one is for Milo, and his happiness.’
He regarded her coolly for a moment. ‘Milo is lucky to have such a loving auntie,’ he said quietly, catching her on the wrong foot. Well, he was good at that!
Cryssie looked away, biting her lip. ‘I…I didn’t say that Milo wasn’t my son,’ she said.
‘No, you didn’t. But I was studying the staff files this afternoon,’ he said casually, ‘and I saw that you live with your sister and her son. That’s why I felt able to drag you away from the family nest on New Year’s Eve.’ He paused. ‘Why? Is it a secret?’
‘No, of course not,’ Cryssie said hurriedly, realising that of course he would naturally have been checking all the files. Could find out whatever he wanted. ‘The fact is…I actually look on Milo as my own son, and he’s as good as my own son, because I shall never have any of my own and I don’t want any. Not while I’ve got him. He loves me and I adore him, while Polly—my sister—really only lives for herself. And it’s not her fault, because she’s been ill since Milo was born and I don’t think it’s going to get any better. If anything should…happen…to her, I’d adopt Milo at once. So, since you ask, that’s my life plan,’ she added.