Flawless. Sara Craven

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      It wasn’t a large restaurant, and it relied heavily on the intimacy of its atmosphere. The lights were low, the tables screened from each other by trellis-work covered in climbing plants, and in one corner a lone guitarist played music which was pleasant without being obtrusive.

      ‘The food here used to be wonderful,’ Saul remarked, handing her a menu.

      It still was. They ate stuffed courgette flowers, and scallops grilled in their shells, followed by osso buco and roast quails with polenta. To finish the meal Carly had a frothy chocolate concoction, rich with cream and liqueur, and Saul asked for cheese. The coffee was strong, black and aromatic, and served with Strega.

      While they ate, the conversation had been general. Carly had encouraged Saul to talk about his life in America, and the glossy magazine scene in New York. He also told her about a book he had coming out.

      ‘I did a hell of a lot of travelling while I was over there,’ he said. ‘So, it’s a kind of odyssey in pictures. My tribute to everything I liked best about life Stateside. Places and people that I loved.’

      His tone gave nothing away, but Carly found herself wondering how many of those people had been women.

      ‘It sounds—illuminating,’ she said. ‘Do you intend to go back to America?’

      Saul signalled for more coffee. ‘At the moment, I’m not sure,’ he said. ‘My plans are—fluid. I need to see how things work out for me here, once the Flawless assignment is finished.’ He paused. ‘And, while we’re on the subject, have you come to any decision yet?’

      Carly gasped. ‘I’ve hardly had time to think,’ she began.

      ‘Really?’ He gave her a straight look. ‘I had the impression several times tonight that you were so deep in thought you were a million miles away.’

      She flushed a little. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve been poor company …’

      ‘I didn’t say that.’ He leaned forward. ‘If you’re still not sure, spend the day with me tomorrow, and I’ll take some pictures of you—convince you that way.’

      Carly shook her head. ‘I can’t tomorrow. I’m going home to visit.’

      ‘Where is home?’

      ‘In the country. Very quiet and dull.’

      ‘With you there?’ He slanted a smile at her. ‘Impossible. Tell you what, why don’t I come with you? I was going to walk you along the Embankment and through the parks, but a rural background would be even better.’

      ‘I’m sorry, but it’s out of the question.’ Her flush deepened. ‘It’s going to be rather hectic—a houseful of people. My sister’s getting engaged.’

      ‘Not so quiet and dull, after all,’ he said.

      ‘It usually is. My family is—very conventional. I don’t think they altogether approve of my life in London.’

      ‘And what heinous sins do they think you commit? Perhaps I could reassure them.’

      ‘But you don’t know me,’ she said. ‘You don’t know what I’m capable of.’

      ‘Not at this moment,’ he said. ‘But I intend to know you, Carly North, in every way there is.’

      He was smiling, but as the grey eyes met hers Carly was conscious of a curious intentness in their depths. She felt vulnerable suddenly, and afraid, as if Saul’s gaze was probing too deeply, staring straight into her mind, laying bare all her innermost secrets.

      Her heart missed a beat, and her throat felt tight. She said huskily, ‘I find remarks like that—distasteful.’

      ‘Then I apologise.’ He didn’t sound sorry at all. ‘I’ll begin our acquaintance solely through the lens of a camera, and in no other way, I swear.’ He stretched out a hand to her across the table, and reluctantly she allowed his fingers to close round hers. ‘Will you work with me, Carly North? Will you be my Flawless Girl?’

      ‘I can’t tell you now. I have to think about it.’ She withdrew her hand from his grasp. ‘May I have the weekend?’

      ‘I won’t argue with that.’ He took a diary out of an inside pocket of his dinner-jacket, tore out a page and scribbled down a telephone number. ‘Call me on this when you’ve decided.’ He paused. ‘You say that your sister’s getting engaged. What about you, Carly? You’re not wearing any rings, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot in these liberated days. Are you attached? Are there any lovers or husbands lurking in your vicinity?’

      ‘There’s nobody.’

      ‘You astound me.’

      ‘It’s through my own choice.’ She despised the defensiveness in her own voice.

      ‘I’m sure it is.’

      ‘Am I allowed to ask you the same question? How many ex-wives have you left sighing over you?’

      ‘None at all—and no present Mrs Kingsland either.’ He was laughing openly. ‘I am entirely without encumbrances.’

      Of course he was, she thought. Saul Kingsland was a rolling stone, a man who would never settle or opt for an ordered existence. He would walk into a woman’s life, take what he wanted, and walk on without a backward look. A wreaker of havoc, unknowing and uncaring. And you didn’t even have to be a woman to suffer at his hands.

      Abruptly, Carly pushed back her chair. ‘I really should be going.’

      ‘Already? It’s still relatively early.’

      ‘I have to leave first thing in the morning. My mother will be needing help with the arrangements.’

      ‘Ah, yes,’ he said softly. ‘The devoted daughter rushing back to the bosom of the family. Oddly enough, that’s not the impression I had of you. When I saw you standing in the moonlight, I thought I’d never seen anyone look so solitary—so used to being alone. It just shows how wrong one can be.’

      ‘First impressions are often misleading.’ She made her voice deliberately dismissive. ‘Would you ask someone to find me a cab, please?’

      Saul looked at her in surprise. ‘There’s no need for that. I’ll drive you home.’

      ‘I—I don’t want to take you out of your way.’

      ‘That’s very thoughtful of you.’ His smile was sardonic. ‘How do you know that you will be?’

      ‘I—don’t, actually.’

      ‘Then there’s no more to be said,’ he told her, indicating to the head waiter that he required the bill.

      Carly bit her lip, trying to hide her annoyance.

      ‘Do you never take “no” for an answer?’ she enquired acidly, when they were in the car, and he was following her reluctantly given instructions.

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