But Meryl knew better than to repeat any of this.
‘He told me you’re in a bad way,’ she said cautiously, ‘but I knew that already. How much would it take to repair this place and install central heating?’
‘God knows! I never let myself think about it. But there’s more than the castle. There’s a whole estate out there, going deep inland: farmers who are my tenants and need help. There are a dozen schemes I could use to help them if I could afford to.’
‘Then it looks like I’m your best hope. So why are you so much “agin” me?’
‘Because you’re an invader,’ he snapped before he could stop himself. Then, ‘I’m sorry. That was rude.’
‘It was honest. I don’t mind that.’
‘Then I’ll give you another reason. You’re living in a dream world. You have no idea how much this would really cost.’
She shrugged. ‘A few million, I suppose. Pounds, sterling.’
‘And you can afford that?’ he asked ironically.
‘I can once I’m married.’
‘And suppose, when you’ve paid my “price”, you turn out not to have enough money left for yourself?’
Meryl smiled with sheer amusement. It was the smile of a rich woman and it reminded Jarvis that she’d said he ‘couldn’t afford’ to turn her down.
‘You let me worry about that,’ she said. ‘I know how much I’m worth and it’s enough to take care of you and Benedict.’
‘Benedict?’
‘Benedict Steen. He’s a friend of mine in New York. He designs haute couture clothes, and I plan to invest in his business to put him at the top, where he belongs.’
Jarvis stared at her. ‘And is that going to take much?’
‘Ten million,’ she said serenely.
‘Pounds?’
‘Dollars.’
With an abrupt movement Jarvis rose and went to his desk, keeping his face averted so that she shouldn’t see the sudden feeling of revulsion that had swept him. He’d known she was wealthy. Now he understood that she had enough money to march in, take over Larne and change everything to suit herself. Her invasion would be impossible to resist-unless he resisted now.
‘You’ve got it all worked out neatly,’ he said. ‘Too neatly. You haven’t thought it through.’
‘I know what I can afford.’
As though that was the only consideration, he thought savagely.
‘I’m sure you do,’ he said. ‘But you don’t know what you can’t afford.’
She shrugged, lulled into incautiousness by the wine and a feeling of well-being. ‘I’ve never found that yet.’
‘Well, you’ve found it now,’ he grated.
She shook herself awake. ‘I didn’t mean-’
‘I know what you meant. If you’ve finished your supper I’ll escort you upstairs.’
She sighed but didn’t try to argue further. Together they gathered up her parcels and left the Library, heading for the stairs.
‘Jarvis!’ It was Hannah, calling from the kitchen. ‘Can I have a word?’
‘I’m coming,’ he called back. ‘I’ll say goodnight now, then.’
‘Goodnight,’ she said, and went on up the stairs alone.
Once in her room she hung up her new clothes, took a quick shower and donned a wispy lace and satin nightdress. It was low cut, held up by narrow lace straps, and probably not the right attire for this chilly place. But it was better than high-necked flannel, she thought.
She was about to switch off the light when she heard heavy footsteps in the corridor outside. They stopped and there was a long pause. Then the door was flung open with a crash and Jarvis strode into the room, his hands clenched into fists, a look of anger on his face.
‘Hey, where do you get off marching in here without knocking?’ she demanded indignantly.
Jarvis’s hands unclenched, but his face remained dark. ‘I came to find out who was in this room without my permission. I don’t go softly with intruders.’
‘Intruders be blowed! You put me in this room.’
‘No, I put you in the Green Room.’
‘This isn’t the Green Room? So that’s it! I wondered why it wasn’t green.’
‘This room belongs to Lady Larne,’ he said flatly. ‘You have no right to be here. Did you tell Hannah to bring you here?’
‘Of course not. How could I? I didn’t know there was such a place.’
‘Hmm!’
‘Don’t “hmm” me! I don’t tell lies.’
‘You’ll forgive my being suspicious-’
‘No, I won’t!’
‘But you’re a woman who feels entitled to go where she pleases, as she pleases. You’ve already made it clear that you think you can take over at Larne.’
‘I’ve done no such thing! Stop exaggerating. I just made a few suggestions.’
‘Apply for grants, restore the causeway-’
‘I have an organised mind. It thinks of things. I was only trying to help you.’
‘Have I asked for your help?’
‘Well, maybe it’s time you asked for somebody’s. And who else can help you?’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you serious?’
‘No.’ She backed off quickly. ‘You’re not at all what I had in mind.’
‘And I’ll bet I know just the kind of man you were looking for. A nonentity who’d give you no trouble afterwards.’
‘Then we’re the same,’ she flashed, ‘because you’d agree fast enough if you thought you could get me out of your hair the next day.’
‘Then neither of us is going to get what they want. Oh, boy, did you take a lot for granted! Even if I’d answered your advertisement, who’s to say I’d have wanted you when we met?’
Meryl’s answer was a smile. He’d asked the one question to which she knew the answer. He’d have wanted her, if she’d wanted him to. She knew that.
Jarvis read the smile without difficulty, as she’d intended, and felt a stirring of unease. Her confidence in herself as a woman was like a dark, unknown force. It had no place here, yet it seemed to confront him at every turn.
More troubling still was knowing that she was right to be confident. She should have been at a disadvantage but she’d mysteriously asserted herself with one silent gesture. Without the barrier of her money he’d have been almost uncontrollably attracted to her. And she knew it, confound her!
He spoke with difficulty. ‘A decent woman would cover herself.’
‘A decent man would have left my room by now.’
‘You’re very sure of the power of your money,’ he said slowly.
She smiled again. ‘Jarvis, it’s not my money that you’re looking at.’
‘But the money’s always there, as you well know. It’s behind everything you do. It gives you the arrogance to act as you please. One day you’ll come a cropper because of that arrogance. I just hope I’m there to see it.’
‘If you’re going to throw me out I don’t suppose you will be,’ Meryl retorted.
‘I’d almost marry you for the pleasure of seeing your face when you’ve got more trouble than you can cope with.’
Her eyes challenged him. ‘I’ve always been able to deal with trouble.’
‘Oh, yes, with an army of servants running around after you,’ he said grimly. ‘But you’re on your own here, with a man who doesn’t like you.’
‘But you want me,’ Meryl said softly.
‘Then it was even more stupid of you to put yourself at my mercy.’
‘Jarvis, understand me. I’ve never been at any man’s mercy, and I never will be.’
He didn’t answer, but stood there watching her, and suddenly her confidence began to slip away. This man knew how she looked naked. The memory was in his eyes, plus something else that made her realise she had her back to the fire, and her shape must show plainly through the thin material. Their battle had become a game, one that she’d thought she could easily play. But it was as he’d said. She’d walked alone into his domain with only her wits to help her. And perhaps they wouldn’t be enough.