Heirs of Ravenscar. Barbara Taylor Bradford

the air with the heady scent of summer. Glancing across at the table in the far corner, she noted that the bottle of champagne was already in the silver bucket, with two crystal flutes on a tray next to it.

      Well done, Vane, she said to herself, thinking of the former parlour maid, whom she had promoted to be the under-housekeeper. The young woman was doing extremely well and she was pleased about this.

      Edward Deravenel always felt an enormous sense of relief when he arrived at Jane’s house. He knew that the moment he walked in the tensions of the day would instantly evaporate, and he would relax, become totally at ease with himself. It had been that way since he had first met her.

      They were highly compatible in every way. She gave him pleasure and satisfaction in bed, and delighted him out of it. Intelligent, articulate and full of knowledge about many things, she also had a unique quality about her – a lovely tranquillity surrounded Jane. Not only that, the calm atmosphere and well-ordered household met with his approval. Edward loathed chaos, and insisted on his own homes in London, Kent and Yorkshire being run perfectly.

      Even though he had a door key he always rang the bell before inserting the key in the lock and going inside. Usually it was Mrs Longden, the housekeeper, who greeted him, but she was nowhere in sight. It was Jane who hurried forward tonight, a happy smile on her face.

      ‘Ned, darling!’ she exclaimed, reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Oh, goodness, your face is cold. It must have turned chilly.’

      He laid his briefcase on a hall bench, brought her into his arms and held her close for a moment. ‘There’s an icy wind all of a sudden,’ he explained, releasing her, struggling out of his coat and scarf.

      ‘Didn’t Broadbent drive you here?’ she asked, looking up at him quizzically.

      ‘Yes, but there was an awful lot of traffic tonight, and I got out on the corner. It was easier to walk a few yards into the square, rather than having him struggle through that madness. I sent him off for his supper, and he’ll return in a few hours. By then the traffic will have lessened.’

      As he spoke, Edward put his coat, scarf and briefcase in the hall cupboard, and together they crossed the hall, heading in the direction of the parlour.

      ‘Mrs Longden’s off tonight: it’s her sister’s fiftieth birthday, which I’d totally forgotten about.’

      ‘Oh, Jane, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have taken you out to dinner.’

      ‘That would’ve been nice, Ned, but I know how much you enjoy dining here, and to be frank, so do I. Vane can serve us, and Cook has made some of your favourites – roast chicken, a cottage pie, and she managed to get an excellent smoked salmon from Fortnum and Mason. How does that sound?’

      ‘You’re making my mouth water,’ he said, laughing, following her into the parlour.

      It was Edward’s favourite room in the house, intimate and inviting, decorated in various shades of blue with touches of brilliant yellow throughout. Over the years Jane had collected exquisite decorative objects and all were well displayed, with flair, but it was the art which captivated. Jane had an excellent eye, and the paintings she had bought over the years, as well as those which Edward had given her, were superb. They enhanced the parlour, gave it even greater beauty.

      Jane hurried across the floor to the circular table in the corner, and picked up the bottle of champagne. ‘Would you like a glass of your favourite Krug?’ she asked, turning, smiling at him. ‘I think I will.’

      ‘Grand idea,’ he responded, going to stand in front of the fire, warming himself, his eyes resting on her as she poured the champagne.

      A moment later, as she approached, he suddenly thought of Lily. Almost from the first moment he had met Jane she had reminded him of Lily Overton, who had died so tragically. His darling Lily. For a split second a flicker of sadness clouded his brilliant blue eyes.

      Jane, who was particularly observant when it came to Edward Deravenel, saw the sudden shadow on his face, and as she handed him the flute of sparkling wine she asked quietly, ‘Young Edward is all right, isn’t he, Ned?’

      ‘Oh yes, he’s getting better. Much better. I spoke to the doctor before I left the office, because the boy still has an awful cough, and Leighton told me that’s not unusual with bronchitis. Apparently it lingers. And Young Edward is eating better. Also, my mother tells me he’s finally lost that rather disturbing glazed look.’

      ‘I’m relieved for you, darling. He’s obviously on the mend, thank goodness.’ Jane retrieved her own glass of champagne and came back to the fireside. She and Edward touched glasses and took a sip, and then she sat down on the sofa close to the fireplace.

      Lowering himself on a chair opposite her, Edward remarked, ‘I spoke to Vicky this evening, before I left Deravenels, and I was so pleased to hear that you finally accepted her invitation for tomorrow evening.’

      ‘I hesitated at first, because I didn’t want to intrude –’

      ‘How can you say such a thing?’ Edward interjected, sounding surprised. ‘Why would you think you’re intruding? You’re one of my oldest friends … we’ve known each other for ten years.’ He grinned at her. ‘Or had you forgotten how long it’s been?’

      ‘Of course not. It’s just that … well, you and Will and Vicky go back years –’ Jane broke off, shook her head. ‘I’ve always told you I never want to embarrass you, or be an embarrassment, and you know the reasons why.’

      ‘I do,’ he replied, an amused smile touching his mouth. ‘I’m a married man and you’re my mistress. However, you must remember, my darling, that Will and his sister are two of my best friends. They are not my wife’s friends. They never have been. They are part of my coterie, shall we call it, not hers. It is you they care about, Jane, not Elizabeth. But let’s not go into all those hatreds now. Let’s get back to the point – I’m happy we’ll be together tomorrow night.’

      Jane nodded. ‘I am too. But –’

      ‘Why have you stopped? Say what you started to say.’

      ‘Vicky told me Grace Rose will be there.’

      ‘I know that.’ He burst out laughing when he saw the troubled expression in Jane’s eyes, and shook his head. ‘Darling, do you think she doesn’t know you’re my mistress? Good Lord, of course she does. She’s eighteen and very clever, and very much my daughter … quite sophisticated, not at all naive. You know, Vicky and Stephen have been wonderful parents to her, have brought her up to be a lady, and she’s had an extraordinary education. She’s just lapped up knowledge, and has also become quite the historian. I’m extremely proud of her. Don’t you have any concerns about Grace, my dear. She’s on my side, and she always has been.’

      ‘Yes, I am being rather silly, aren’t I?’ Jane drank her champagne and began to laugh. ‘It’s been one of those days for me. Being silly.’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘I suddenly looked at myself in the mirror tonight and decided I looked old. And then I started to think about the difference in our ages. I am ten years older than you, after all, Ned.’

      ‘You don’t look it! Anyway, you know I’ve always preferred older women. And everyone knows I like blondes best, especially blonde widows.’ He grinned at her. ‘Or divorcees. Ten years is not that much, you know.’

      Jane realized it would be better to let this topic fade away, and she smiled and said, ‘I have a surprise for you.’ Putting down her glass of champagne, she went to her desk and returned to the fireside with an envelope, which she handed to Edward.

      ‘What is it?’ he asked curiously.

      ‘Something I found for you, if you want to buy it.’

      ‘Aha!