The Master of Highbridge Manor. Susanne James

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СКАЧАТЬ front of him, then they left the room and walked side by side along the corridor. He glanced down at her, noting the way that the sun’s rays were adding golden lights to the glossiness of her hair.

      ‘The place is obviously very quiet when the kids are away,’ he remarked, trying to ignore the physical sensations rippling through his body at her closeness. ‘But I try to make the most of it because a lot of noise goes with the job, I’m afraid. This time next week it’ll be a very different matter.’ He steered her around a corner at the far end of the corridor and they began mounting a wide stone staircase.

      ‘I think anyone who’s been in teaching, even for five minutes, would be impervious to noise and mayhem,’ she said. She paused. ‘But I’ve never worked at an all-boys boarding school before, so maybe I will have to ask for some advice now and then.’ She looked up to find him staring down at her thoughtfully, and Ria coloured up immediately. She hoped that didn’t make her sound pathetic. She swallowed. ‘But I’m sure I’ll soon fit in…’ she added.

      He nodded briefly. ‘Everyone needs advice from time to time,’ he said.

      No more was said, and in a moment or two he unlocked a door at the end of the row and, going inside, Ria gazed around her, not believing her luck. This was not just a room—it was a small, well-contained flat! She followed Mr Trent as he showed her the tiny sitting room containing two armchairs and a round coffee table, a desk, bookcase and television set and, slightly cut off in one corner, what passed for a kitchen. It had a minute sink, a neat fridge, a kettle and a toaster and a microwave. It was just perfect for one person to eat casually, she thought, already sensing that she would feel at home here. The en suite bathroom adjoining the compact bedroom was the finishing touch. And she was going to have the place all to herself! What more did anyone need? She looked up gratefully.

      ‘This is lovely,’ she said. ‘Far nicer than I expected,’ she added truthfully, and he shrugged.

      ‘It’s very important for the staff to feel comfortable while they’re working here,’ he said. ‘By the way, as a general rule, the staff have their main evening meal together in the dining room, but it’s entirely up to you. Sometimes you may have work to complete and would prefer to eat alone in your room—which is why there are basic facilities here.’

      ‘Do all the staff live in?’ Ria asked, wandering over to the window to admire the tranquil view.

      ‘No—only about half of them, I suppose,’ he replied. ‘The rest live close enough to do the daily commute.’

      Presently, they made their way back downstairs and Mr Trent accompanied Ria to the entrance door, just as Helen emerged from her room.

      ‘Ah, Helen—Miss Davidson will be taking up her post next week,’ he said, and the woman smiled a rather strange little smile.

      ‘Oh, good,’ she said, and Ria looked at her quickly. She didn’t know quite what to make of Helen Brown—was she friend…or foe? Too early to tell, she thought.

      ‘I’ll sort out all the formal stuff with the agency,’ Helen said primly, going back into her room.

      Outside, it was pleasantly warm as the two made their way to Ria’s car, and she looked longingly at the tennis courts. She’d love a game now, she thought—to get some air into her lungs and to clear her head, which had felt distinctly dizzy since meeting Mr Trent.

      Holding the car door open for her, he said, ‘Do you have far to go? I don’t think I was told where you live…’

      ‘Actually, I’m homeless at the moment,’ Ria said lightly. ‘But a friend has been putting me up at her house in Salisbury for a few days.’ She smiled. ‘I expect she’ll be quite glad to know that I’ve got somewhere else to live for a bit.’

      She looked up uncertainly. He didn’t seem in any hurry to go, but just stood there, leaning his arm on the open car door, his other hand thrust casually in his pocket.

      ‘So,’ he said, ‘are you going back to Salisbury straight away?’

      ‘Um…I don’t know. I haven’t really decided,’ Ria said. She hadn’t thought further than the morning’s interview.

      ‘Well, perhaps we’d better have some lunch,’ he said. ‘There are several decent places around here, and you’ll need to get to know the area.’

      That was the most unexpected invitation she’d had in a long time! And, after she was about to graciously refuse—this man was going to be her boss, after all; she didn’t want to get too cosy!—something made Ria change her mind.

      ‘Well…thanks,’ she said simply. ‘That’s…very kind. Thank you,’ she repeated.

      He did stand back then. ‘Hop out,’ he said briefly. ‘We’ll take my car.’

      Ria did as she was told, closing and locking her car door, and falling into step alongside him as they made their way towards the side of the building to where he obviously kept his car.

      ‘By the way,’ he said, glancing down at her, ‘we always use Christian names at school—other than in the children’s hearing. I’m Jasper. Which I expect you already know.’

      Ria returned his glance. ‘And, as you already know, I’m Ria,’ she said lightly.

      As they walked along in comparative silence, Jasper Trent sighed inwardly. He had expected to be confronted by a mature, no-nonsense woman this morning, not this perfect example of desirable womanhood.

      Suddenly, he was desperate to get away from here and hand the baton back to his brother—and resume his own profession. When Carl had asked this unexpected favour of him, he’d tried to come up with all sorts of reasons to refuse—one of which was that he doubted that he would really fit in here. Carl was such an outstanding headmaster that he, Jasper, would surely turn out to be a very pale imitation—even if it was to be a temporary arrangement. But eventually his sense of fair play had made him agree. It was Carl who’d been the dutiful son, after all—he deserved some quality time for himself. Because, although Jasper’s Cambridge science degree had more than qualified him to teach, and to take a full part in the running of the school, he’d always declared his intention to do other things—to the huge disappointment of his father, who had expected both his sons to fall in line. To the older man, tradition was all. But then, as Jasper had pointed out on more than one occasion, every family had a black sheep, a rebel, and he was quite happy to fill that vacancy.

      And now, watching the two from her window as they disappeared from her view, Helen Brown pursed her lips thoughtfully, then shrugged. Well, be it on his own head, she thought.

      CHAPTER TWO

      AS SHE sat beside him, her hands clasped in her lap, Ria couldn’t help comparing the car she was sitting in with its owner—long, sleek and powerful. She glanced up at him, noticing for the first time—now that she was close to him—a faint but discernible mark running from the corner of his left eye and ending just short of his lip. He’d obviously been in an accident of some sort, she thought briefly, but nature had done a very good repair job because the scar did nothing at all to detract from his impossibly good looks. In fact, it seemed to add to his rugged appeal—an appeal which might even have hinted at cruelty…though Ria discounted that possibility straight away. Nothing about Jasper Trent, so far, suggested unkindness, or harshness. Anyway, she’d find out soon enough what he was really like—though she somehow СКАЧАТЬ