But Milly, it seemed, had been waiting for the day Roz would take more interest in the household, because she said, ‘What a great idea! We could make teas—all sorts of things. By the way, I was going to mention that the wallpaper and the seat coverings in the dining-room look a little shabby, which is a good excuse for doing some redecorating in there. I usually get an interior decorator in, but would you …?’
Roz would love to, she decided. Then Nimmitabel passed the crucial period and the fracture was pronounced to be healing well—well enough for her to be put to stud eventually and spend the rest of her days pursuing maternity. Like me, thought Roz with some irony. I hope she’s more successful!
Two weeks later, the herb garden had been dug and planted and the dining-rooms redecorated. The, speed with which they had been able to finish the dining-room was mostly due to Jeanette, who had proved a dab hand at upholstery, and now the twelve magnificent mahogany chairs had dull yellow slub silk seat covers which matched the wallpaper, although they had got a professional in to hang that.
It was Flavia, calling in unexpectedly, who helped Roz to add the finishing touches.
‘My dear Roz,’ she cried as she stared round the all but finished room; ‘I adore it! I had no idea you were so gifted.’
Roz smiled ruefully, then sobered. ‘It needs a few—I’m not quite sure what—to finish it off, though. None of the ornaments or lamps we had before seem to fit. I thought all white perhaps, but …’ She shrugged.
Flavia blinked, then said softly, ‘But how perfect … perhaps with just one focal touch of a soft jade green. Come with me, Roz!’ she commanded. ‘I know just where to go.’
Hours later Roz arrived back from an arduous tour of all Flavia’s favourite antique shops exhausted but happy, as she explained to Adam that night when she took him into the dining-room and described what they had bought. ‘I think the alabaster lamps will look super on the sideboard, and we found this enormous pottery vase with a beautiful soft green glaze and perfectly elegant handles at the neck that could stand here, and then a really unusual ceramic candelabrum for the table. That’s all … oh no, we got a new dinner service and some table linen,’ she remembered guiltily. ‘I’ve spent an awful lot of your money today, Adam.’
‘Egged on by, my mother, no doubt,’ he commented.
‘She … well, she did say she was sure you wouldn’t mind.’
‘That sounds like her,’ he said a shade drily.
Roz hesitated and felt her cheeks grow warm. ‘Do you mind? Perhaps I Should have checked with you first. Only she arrived out of the blue today and … we did have fun,’ she finished lamely.
‘That sounds like my mother too. By the way,’ he idly examined the colour in her cheeks, ‘you don’t have to look like a naughty schoolgirl. I’m not going to beat you for having so much fun!’
Roz’s expression changed to one of indignation. ‘You were teasing me!’
‘I just couldn’t resist it,’ he murmured. ‘And now I’m going to kiss you. Any objection? After all, you said yourself you’d spent an awful lot of my money today.’
‘Well … but I saved you some too. Milly was going to get a decorator in, so we didn’t have that expense, and Jeanette made the seat covers. And your mother drives a mean bargain with antique dealers, believe me, whereas a decorator … Adam,’ she protested breathlessly, ‘Not here!’
His long fingers stilled on the front of her blouse. ‘You had somewhere else in mind?’ he asked, his dark eyes glinting wickedly.
‘No! Dinner will be ready soon …’
‘But you said not here, which made me think you had somewhere else in mind, like your bedroom, I’m easy.’ His fingers moved on her buttons again until her blouse was open to the waistband of her skirt and he slipped his hands inside to cup her breasts. She’d showered after coming home and not bothered to put a bra on because it was a hot, still evening.‘
‘Oh,’ she whispered, ‘I think you’re in an impossible mood. You know what I meant … Someone could come in at any moment!’
‘Why? We don’t use this room when we’re on our own. Anyway, do you care?’ said Adam softly. ‘They’d only turn around and go straight out again.’
Roz stared up at him, her lips parted and her lashes fluttering as; he drew his thumbs across her nipples. She trembled beneath his hands and felt her control slipping. She tore her gaze away and looked around a little wildly—at the smooth, bare surface of the dining-room table—and gasped at the images that flooded her mind.