A Mistletoe Proposal

CHAPTER FOUR

CHARLIE drew a long, slow breath, visibly stunned. This was useful, Pippa thought, bringing a professional mind to bear on the situation, because it gave her the chance to study him.

He was certainly handsome. His face was slightly fuller than his brother’s, just enough to give it a vivacious quality that was alluring. His mouth was attractively curved, and she guessed that many a girl had sighed hopelessly for him. He was too boyish to attract her, but he seemed pleasant.

‘Hello,’ he murmured, distracted. Then he recovered his poise and seated himself next to Pippa. ‘Look, I’m sorry. I’m only mad at him.’ He indicated Roscoe.

‘He must be an absolutely terrible person,’ she said sympathetically.

‘He is. Definitely.’

‘And now he wants to force his choice of lawyer on you-someone middle-aged and ignorant of the modern world, who won’t understand you. Oh, yes, and respectable. Shocking!’

She couldn’t meet Roscoe’s eye. He was leaning back, regarding her performance with wry appreciation.

‘By the way, I’m Charlie Havering,’ the young man said, holding out a hand.

‘I’m Pippa Jenson,’ she said, taking it. ‘And I’m your lawyer.’

Charlie grinned. ‘Yeah, right!’

‘Seriously. I’m a solicitor. I work for Farley & Son.’

‘But you can’t be,’ Charlie protested. ‘You don’t look at all respectable.’

‘Watch your manners, Charlie,’ Roscoe said. ‘This is a highly qualified lady you’re talking to.’

‘I can see that,’ Charlie said, taking her hand. ‘Very highly qualified.’

Roscoe caught his breath as he found himself surrounded by double entendres. ‘I only meant,’ he said carefully, ‘that she’s a professional-no, not like that-’

He swore inwardly as he realised what Pippa could make of this, but she surprised him, bursting out laughing. Laughter possessed her utterly, making her rock back and forth while peals of merriment danced up from her and Charlie regarded her with delight. In fact Roscoe realised that everyone in the place was smiling at her, as though just by being there she brightened the day.

She reached across the table and took Roscoe’s hand. ‘Oh, shut up,’ she told him, still laughing, ‘You make it worse with every word.’

‘I don’t mean to. I was considering your feelings,’ he said stiffly, withdrawing his hand.

‘Heavens, we’re way past that. Enough. It’s finished.’

‘As you wish. But Charlie, behave yourself.’

‘Why, when I’m talking to the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever met? Hey!’

One moment he was leaning close in a seductive conspiracy. The next, he was bouncing with agitation at something he’d seen.

‘It’s him,’ he yelped, leaping to his feet. ‘Just let me get to him.’

Across the restaurant, a long-haired young man turned in alarm, then vanished between some curtains, closely followed by Charlie.

‘What was that?’ Pippa said, looking around.

‘A man who owes him money,’ Roscoe observed. ‘One of many.’

‘So that’s your brother. He’ll be an interesting client. Yes, I think I’ll accept his case.’

It was on the tip of Roscoe’s tongue to tell her to forget it because he’d changed his mind. But he controlled the impulse, as he controlled so many impulses in his life, and sat in tense silence, a prey to opposing feelings. On the surface, things were working out exactly as he’d wanted. The smile she’d given Charlie was perfect for the purpose, and it had had the desired effect. His brother had been transfixed, just as Roscoe had meant him to be. So, what more did he want?

He didn’t know. All he knew for certain was that he hated it.

‘Pippa,’ he said edgily, ‘I must be honest, I think you’re going about this the wrong way.’

‘What?’ She stared at him. ‘I’m doing what you said you wanted.’

‘Yes, but I had in mind something a little more-’ He hesitated, made cautious by the look in her eyes.

‘A little more what?’ she asked in a voice that was softly dangerous.

‘More subtle,’ he said desperately.

‘Mr Havering, are you telling me how to do my job?’

‘I wouldn’t dare.’

‘Really? I’m not sure of that. Perhaps we should have discussed this before now, so that you could tell me exactly how a woman goes about beguiling a man? After all, I know so little about the subject, don’t I? How stupid of me not to have taken lessons from you! Why don’t you instruct me now so that I’ll know which boxes to tick?’

‘All right,’ he said quickly. ‘Of course you know more than I do about this.’

‘Which I thought was why you hired me. Anyway, I’m not doing well, since his attention was so easily distracted. One hint of an unpaid debt and he’s off. Hmm! Perhaps I should review my strategy.’

‘I feel sure your strategy is quite up to the challenge.’

‘It’s the first time a man has walked away from me when I was trying to mesmerise him. I could feel quite insulted by that.’

‘You’re having a bad day for insults, aren’t you?’

‘Between you and him, yes.’

‘Then I may as well add to my crimes by pointing out that he didn’t walk away from you, he ran away at full speed. Perhaps I’ve hired the wrong person.’

‘You could be right. Desperate measures are called for. I must lure my prey into a net from which he cannot escape.’

‘Always assuming that he returns at all,’ Roscoe pointed out. ‘You may have to go after him.’

‘Please!’ She appeared horrified. ‘I never “go after” a man. They come after me.’

‘Always?’ he asked, eyes narrowed.

‘If I want them to. Sometimes I don’t bother.’ Thoroughly enjoying his discomfiture, she smiled. ‘And never mind condemning me as a hussy, because that’s exactly what you hired me for.’

‘Is there any point in my defending myself?’ he growled.

‘None whatever,’ she assured him.

She was curious to know what he would say next, but Charlie spoiled things by reappearing, cursing because his prey had escaped.

‘Did he owe you very much?’ Pippa asked, turning from Roscoe with reluctance.

‘A few thousand.’

‘Perhaps we can recover it by legal action,’ she suggested.

‘Ah…no,’ he said awkwardly. ‘It’s a bit…well…’

‘All right, let’s leave it,’ she said quickly. ‘The sooner we get down to business, the better.’

‘Yes, we must have a long talk over dinner,’ Charlie said. ‘The Diamond is the best place in town. Come on, let’s go.’

‘First you ask Miss Jenson if she is free,’ Roscoe said firmly. ‘If she is, then you ask if she can endure an evening with us.’

‘Us? Ah, well-I didn’t actually mean that you should come with-’

‘I know exactly what you meant, and you can forget that idea. Miss Jenson, could you put up with the two of us for a few more hours?’

‘I’ll do my best,’ she said solemnly. ‘We have serious matters to discuss.’

‘I agree, so we can forget The Diamond,’ Roscoe said, taking out his cellphone and dialling. ‘Hello, Mother? Yes, it’s me. We’re on our way home and we have a guest. I’ve found a first-rate lawyer for Charlie, so roll out the red carpet for her. Fine. See you soon.’ He ended the call.

Charlie, who had been spluttering fruitlessly, now found his voice. ‘What about how I feel?’ he demanded.

‘The Diamond is no place for a serious discussion.’

‘And doesn’t Pippa get a say?’

‘Miss Jenson has already done us the honour of agreeing to dine with us. Since this is a business meeting, I’m sure she feels that the venue is irrelevant.’

‘Certainly,’ Pippa said in her briskest tone. ‘I have no opinion either way.’

‘You’re going to just let him walk over you?’ Charlie demanded.

Pippa couldn’t resist. Giving Roscoe a cheeky sideways look, she leaned towards Charlie and said, ‘It can’t be helped. In my job you get used to clients who want to rule the roost.’ She added conspiratorially, ‘There are ways of dealing with them.’

The young man choked with laughter, jerking his head towards Roscoe. ‘Think you can get him on the ropes?’

‘Think I can’t?’

She was watching Roscoe for his reaction. There was none. His eyes were on her but his face revealed nothing. Clearly, the notion of tussling with her, whether physically or emotionally, caused him no excitement.

‘Just promise that I can be there to see you crush him beneath your heel,’ Charlie implored.

‘When you two have finished,’ Roscoe said in a bored voice.

‘Just a little innocent fun,’ Charlie protested.

‘Sorry, I don’t do fun.’ Roscoe’s voice was so withering that Pippa threw him another quick glance. For a moment his face was tight, hard, older.

‘That’s right, he doesn’t,’ Charlie said.

‘OK, I’m here,’ said a voice overhead.

Charlie groaned, then bounced up as he recognised the man who owed him money, now holding out an envelope.

‘I only ran to get this,’ he said. ‘I always meant to repay you.’ He dropped the envelope and fled. The reason became obvious a moment later.

‘There’s only half here,’ Charlie yelped. ‘Hey, come back!’ He resumed the pursuit.

Alone again, Roscoe and Pippa eyed each other, suspicion on one side, defiance on the other.

‘How am I doing?’ she asked.

‘You’ve certainly got his attention. I’d give a lot to know what he’s thinking.’

‘He believes what he wants to believe,’ she said with a small flash of anger. ‘Men always do. Didn’t you know that? I know it. And so does any woman who’s ever had a man in her life.’

‘And when a woman knows it she makes use of it?’

‘She does if she has any sense of self-preservation. And may I remind you again, Mr Havering, that I’m doing what you hired me to do? You’re paying for my skills, but you don’t get to dictate what skills I use or how I use them.’

‘Don’t I?’

‘No, because if you try I’ll simply step aside and let Charlie see you pulling my strings.’

He drew a sharp breath. ‘You really know how to fight dirty.’

‘Have you only just realised that?’

He regarded her. ‘I think I have.’

‘Good, then we understand each other. Now he’s coming back. Smile at me so that he’ll know that all is well between us.’

‘I wonder if that day will ever come,’ he said softly.

But the next moment he was smiling as she’d suggested, even talking pleasantly, loud enough for Charlie to hear. ‘My mother’s housekeeper is an expert cook. I promise that you’ll enjoy tonight’s meal, Miss Havering.’

‘Pippa,’ she said. ‘After all, we’re fighting on the same side.’

His eyes warned her not to push her luck, but he only inclined his head before rising and saying, ‘I’ll get the car. Be waiting for me outside and don’t take too long.’

She longed to salute him ironically and say, Yes sir, no sir. I obey, sir. But he was gone before she had the chance.

‘That’s his way,’ Charlie said, correctly interpreting her seething. ‘People give up arguing. You will too.’

‘Will I? I wonder. Did you catch up with that man?’

‘No, he escaped again. But at least I got some of the money. And now we’re alone, can I tell you that you are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever met?’

‘No, you can’t tell me that,’ she said. ‘For one thing, I already know and, for another, your brother wouldn’t approve.’

‘Oh, forget him. What does he have to do with us?’

Pippa frowned. ‘He’s protecting you. Don’t you owe him some kind of consideration?’

‘Why? He’s only thinking of himself. The good name of Havering must be defended at all costs. The truth is, he cares for nobody.’

‘And nobody cares for him?’ she murmured slowly.

Charlie shrugged. ‘Who knows? He doesn’t let anyone inside.’

It sounded so convincing, but suddenly there was the whispered memory of Roscoe saying, ‘If anything happens to Charlie, it would break my mother’s heart… At all costs I want to save her from more suffering.’

This wasn’t a man who cared nothing for anyone. He might care so much that he only admitted it under stress.

Or perhaps Charlie was right. Which of the two was the real man? Impossible to say. Unless…

Suddenly the waiter hurried up to them, almost stuttering in his agitation. ‘He’s in the car…says he told you to be out there waiting for him. He’s good ’n mad.’

They ran outside to where Roscoe’s car was by the kerb, engine running. When they had tumbled into the back seat, Pippa said politely, ‘I’m really sorry,’ but Roscoe only grunted, his eyes on the traffic as he edged his way into the flow. She supposed she couldn’t blame him.

Their destination was an expensive London suburb, full of large detached houses standing in luxurious gardens. A woman was waiting by the gate, smiling and waving at the sight of them. She was thin and frail-looking, and Pippa recalled Roscoe saying that she’d been in a bad way ever since his father’s death, fifteen years earlier.

But her face was brilliant with joy as Charlie got out of the car and she could hug him. He handed Pippa out and she found herself being scrutinised by two bright eyes before Angela Havering thrust out a hand declaring that she was so glad to meet her.

Roscoe drove the car away.

‘He has to park at the back,’ Charlie explained. ‘He’ll join us in a minute.’

‘Come inside,’ Angela said, taking her hand. ‘I want to know all about you, and how you’re going to save my dear boy.’

She drew Pippa into the house, a lavishly elegant establishment, clearly furnished and tended by someone who’d brought housekeeping to a fine art, with the cash to do it.

In the kitchen they found Nora, a cheerful, middle-aged woman in a large apron, presiding over a variety of dishes.

‘I hope I didn’t make your life difficult, coming unexpectedly,’ Pippa said as they were introduced.

‘There’s plenty to eat,’ Angela said. ‘It’s always been one of my husband’s maxims that a successful house has food ready all the time.’

Pippa smiled, but she had a strange, edgy feeling. Angela spoke almost as if her husband were still alive.

Nora poured wine and Angela handed them each a glass and raised hers in salute.

‘Welcome to our home,’ she said to Pippa. ‘I’m sure you’re going to make everything all right.’

It was a charming scene, but it would have been more charming, Pippa thought, if she’d waited for Roscoe to join them. It was a tiny point, but it troubled her.

From the kitchen window, she had a view of the back garden, with a large garage at the far end. As she watched, Roscoe came out of a side door of the garage and began walking to the house.

‘Here he is,’ she said, pointing.

‘Oh, good. I was afraid he’d keep us waiting. Honestly, he can be so inconsiderate.’

Over supper, Angela was on edge, constantly turning an anxious expression on Charlie, then a frowning gaze at Roscoe, as though silently criticising him for something. To Pippa, it seemed as though she’d given all her love to one son and barely registered the existence of the other.

Of course, she argued with herself, Charlie was a vulnerable boy threatened with disaster, while Roscoe was a powerful man, well able to take care of himself. But still…

Charlie’s cellphone rang. He went out into the hall to speak to the caller and, as soon as he’d gone, Angela clasped Pippa’s hand.

‘You see how he is, how he needs to be cared for.’

‘And he’s lucky to have a brother who cares for him,’ Pippa couldn’t resist saying.

‘Oh, yes, of course there’s Roscoe. He does his best, but when I think of what might happen to my darling…maybe prison…’

‘He won’t go to prison,’ Pippa said at once. ‘It’s a first offence, nothing was stolen and nobody was hurt. A fine, and perhaps some community service is the worst that will happen.’

‘But he’ll have a criminal record.’

‘Yes, and that’s why we’re working so hard to defend him.’

‘Oh, if only my husband were here,’ Angela wailed. ‘William would know what to do. He always does.’

Roscoe’s eyes met Pippa’s and a little shake of his head warned her to say nothing. She nodded, feeling all at sea, glad to keep quiet.

‘But you’ve got me to help, Mother,’ Roscoe reminded her.

‘Oh, yes, and you do your best, but it’s not the same, is it?’

‘No, it’s not the same,’ Roscoe said quietly.

‘If only he hadn’t gone away. He should be here now that we need him so much.’

Again, she might have been speaking of a living man, and Pippa wondered uneasily just how much she lived in the real world.

As she spoke, Angela fiddled constantly was a ring on her left hand. It was an engagement ring, with an awesome central diamond, surrounded by smaller diamonds.

‘That’s my engagement ring,’ Angela said, seeing her glance. ‘It was much too expensive and William couldn’t really afford it in those days, but he said that nothing was too much for me. All these years later, I still have it to remind me that his love never died.’ Her voice shook.

Pippa was uncertain where to look. Angela’s determination to thrust her emotion on everyone was difficult to cope with, even without knowing that it was misplaced.

Charlie returned after a moment, bearing a cup of tea which he set before his mother.

‘Why, darling, how kind of you to think of me!’ She turned to Roscoe. ‘Isn’t Charlie a wonderful son?’

‘The best,’ Roscoe agreed kindly. ‘Now, drink up, and have plenty of sugar because that always does you good.’

‘Here,’ Charlie said, spooning sugar madly into the cup. His mother beamed at him.

So the spoilt child got all the credit, Pippa thought, while Roscoe, who was genuinely working hard to ease her troubles, was barely noticed.

Then she reproved herself for being over-emotional. Roscoe was only doing what was sensible, supporting his mother and Charlie so that the family should not disintegrate. The idea that he might be saddened by being relegated to the shadows of Angela’s affection was too sentimental for words. And if there was one thing Roscoe was not, it was sentimental.

And neither was she, she reminded herself.

Nonetheless, she couldn’t help warming to him for his generosity and patience.

A little later Angela went away into the kitchen, and she seized the chance to tell Charlie about Ginevra. He was reluctant to believe the worst, but Pippa was firm, saying, ‘I don’t want you to contact her unless I say so. Give me your word.’

‘All right, maybe I was a bit mad but she made my head spin.’

‘Well, it’s time to stop spinning. Mr Havering, do you have a computer here that I could use?’

‘It’s upstairs,’ Roscoe said. ‘I’ll show you.’

‘Beware,’ Charlie warned. ‘He’s taking you up to his bedroom, a place where no sensible woman goes.’

‘Cut it out,’ Roscoe advised him wearily. ‘Miss Jenson, I hope you know you have absolutely nothing to fear from me.’

‘That’s not very flattering,’ Charlie protested illogically.

‘Unflattering but sensible and businesslike,’ Pippa said. ‘Mr Havering, let me return the compliment by declaring that I too am entirely free from temptation. Now, shall we go?’

‘I’ll come too,’ Charlie declared. ‘To protect you.’

‘I need no protection,’ she declared firmly. ‘Ask your brother how I deal with troublesome men.’

Charlie’s eyes widened. ‘Hey, he didn’t-?’

‘No, I didn’t,’ Roscoe said, exasperated. ‘But I witnessed the fate of someone who did. Take it from me, you wouldn’t like it. Stay here and look after Mother.’

Roscoe’s room was much as she would have expected-full of straight lines, plain, unadorned, unrevealing. The bed was narrow and looked hard, the wallpaper was pale grey, without pattern. There was a television, modest, neat, efficient; a set where a man would watch the news. A monk could have lived in this room.

But his real home was an apartment elsewhere, she reminded herself. She wondered if that was any different, and doubted it.

But then she saw something that made her stare and gasp with delight.

‘Wow!’ she breathed. ‘How about that? Let me look at it. Can you just-? Yes, that’s right. Oh, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever-yes-yes-yes-’ Her hands were clasped in sheer ecstasy, her voice full of joy, her eyes glowing with blissful satisfaction.

Roscoe regarded her, fascinated. It wasn’t his first sight of a beautiful woman in transports-in his arms, sometimes in his bed.

But this one was looking at his computer.

A touch of the switch had caused the machine to flower into glorious life, making her watch, riveted, as one state-of-the-art accessory after another leapt into the spotlight.

‘Oh, goodness,’ she breathed. ‘Why haven’t I ever-? I’ve never even heard of some of these.’

‘One of my clients owns a firm that makes software and computer peripherals,’ Roscoe said. ‘He’s at the cutting edge and I get everything ahead of the game. I’ll tell him you’re interested and I’m sure he’ll fix you up.’

‘Oh, yes, please! And look at the size of that screen, the biggest I’ve ever seen.’

‘You should try one,’ Roscoe said. ‘It’s useful for having multiple documents open at once.’

‘Ah, yes,’ she murmured. ‘Useful. How do I go online?’

He touched a switch and in a moment she’d connected with her work computer, entered the password and brought up a list of documents. A few more clicks brought Ginevra’s face to the screen just as Charlie entered the room.

‘Hey, that’s her!’ he exclaimed. Then he stared at the caption. ‘But who’s Biddy Felsom?’

‘She is,’ Pippa said. ‘Known to the police as a small-time offender and pain in the neck. She enjoys getting stupid boys to do things they shouldn’t, pulling their strings, like she pulled yours.’

‘Well, she’s history,’ Charlie said. ‘I know that you’ll save me from her.’

‘Good. Now it’s time I was going home,’ Pippa observed.

‘I’ll drive you,’ Roscoe said.

‘No you won’t, I will,’ Charlie was quick to say.

‘Neither of you will,’ Pippa said. ‘Mr Havering, will you call me a taxi?’

‘I’ll drive you,’ Charlie insisted.

‘Shut up!’ his brother said impatiently. ‘Can’t you see she’s had enough of the pair of us tonight? Miss Jenson, I suggest that the next meeting should be at my office. My secretary will call you to fix a time.’

‘Certainly,’ she said in her most efficient tone.

‘I know you can rescue me,’ Charlie said. ‘We’ll do it together because I’m going to take your advice in everything.’

He said the last word with a breathless sincerity that made her regard him wryly. His eyes twinkled back at her and they laughed together.

Angela came in and demanded to know what was happening. Charlie proclaimed his faith in Pippa, which made his mother embrace her.

Roscoe took no part in this. He was calling the taxi.

Just before it arrived, Charlie came to stand before her. ‘There’s something I’ve just got to know,’ he breathed.

‘I’ll tell you if I can,’ she promised. ‘What is it?’

‘This,’ he said, putting a hand behind her head and whipping out the clip in her hair, letting her glorious locks flow free.

‘I’ve wanted to do that ever since we met,’ he said.

‘Then you should be ashamed of yourself,’ Roscoe growled. ‘That’s no way to treat a lady.’

‘Pippa’s not offended,’ Charlie pleaded. ‘Are you?’

‘No, I’m not offended, but right this minute I feel like your nursemaid. I think you should call me Nanny.’

‘Not in a million years,’ he said fervently.

She gave a crow of laughter. ‘Well, my taxi seems to be here, so I’m leaving now. I’ll see you soon.’

Charlie and Angela came with her to the gate, but Roscoe stayed back, declaring curtly that he had work to do. At the last minute he pushed a scrap of paper into Pippa’s hand and turned away to climb the stairs.

As the taxi drew away she strained to read what was on the paper, mystified by Roscoe. When her hair flowed free she’d caught a glimpse of his face, full of shock as though he’d been stunned. But that made no sense. He’d seen her hair the night before. There was nothing to surprise him. Yet a man who’d been punched in the stomach might have looked like that.

Now he was giving her secret notes, and she wondered if his stern facade had melted long enough for him to send her a personal message. Could he be reacting to her as a man to a woman? She found herself hoping so. There was something about him that made her want to know more. In another moment she would find out…

Then she passed under a street lamp long enough to see what he’d written to her.

It was the address of his client’s computer firm.