City Cinderella. Catherine George

      ‘I was speaking figuratively. Apart from staggering out to the kitchen to make my supper, I haven’t left my bed all day.’ He coughed again. ‘I trust you feel suitably sympathetic?’

      ‘Of course I do. I was a fellow sufferer not so long ago, remember. Goodnight. I hope you sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning.’

      Emily had barely put the phone down when it rang again.

      ‘At last, darling,’ said Claire Warner. ‘I’ve been trying to get you for the past ten minutes.’

      ‘Hi, Mother. What’s wrong?’

      ‘Miles rang here half an hour ago, demanding your address.’

      ‘No!’ Emily groaned. ‘You didn’t tell him?’

      ‘Of course not,’ said her mother scornfully. ‘I didn’t even speak to him. Your father answered the phone and wiped the floor with him; told him to leave you alone.’

      ‘Way to go, Dad,’ crowed Emily, then sobered. ‘Actually, Miles left a message here just now, too. He’s got hold of my new number somehow.’

      ‘Oh, Emily. Have you given it to someone he knows?’

      ‘Only Ginny. But she wouldn’t tell him.’

      ‘I’m sure she wouldn’t. How is she?’

      ‘Fine. We had our usual little jolly together yesterday. Though she spent most of it lecturing me.’ Emily explained about Lucas Tennent’s flu.

      Because Claire Warner failed to see why her daughter had to do the man’s cleaning in the first place, let alone look after him now he was ill, she expressed wholehearted agreement with Ginny. ‘For heaven’s sake, child. It’s not all that long since you were down with flu yourself. Amongst other things.’

      ‘Temper, mainly.’

      ‘You’re certainly well shot of Miles Denny. I hope Nat hasn’t put your name on his door!’

      ‘Of course he hasn’t. Nat lets me know if my presence is required when he’s around, and Ginny rings me as she’s coming down the street and I go down and let her in.’

      ‘Terribly cloak and dagger—like living in a safe house.’

      ‘Nat’s house is safe.’

      ‘You know what I mean!’

      ‘You read too many crime novels, Mother. I just needed a place in London to get myself together for a bit. And Nat has provided it. I’m very grateful to him.’

      ‘Darling,’ said her mother, after a pause. ‘Nat’s a charming man, but—’

      ‘Oh, Mother! Nat is Andrew’s friend, not mine at all, really. And he’s married to Thea and father to the twins. What on earth do you take me for?’

      ‘At the moment, a very vulnerable girl,’ said Claire Warner bluntly.

      ‘I’ve learned my lesson, believe me.’

      ‘No more men, you mean?’

      ‘Certainly not. I’m off Miles, Mother dear, not men in general.’

      But afterwards Emily felt deeply uneasy. If Miles had her phone number maybe he could track down her address, too—even have it already. Though if he was brass-faced enough to turn up in person he’d have to get past Nat, and possibly Mark as well, to get hold of her.

      Emily had just got down to work on her book when the phone rang for a third time. She groaned in frustration, but at the sound of Ginny’s familiar tones she cut through the message to answer.

      ‘Hold it, I’m here.’

      ‘Emily, thank heavens. You’ve been engaged forever. You’ll never guess who came round here this evening!’

      Emily sighed. ‘I bet I can—Miles.’

      ‘Yes. How did you work that out?’

      ‘He rang my parents earlier, but my father gave him a very un-Christian ticking off, according to Mother.’

      ‘Brilliant! That must have been before he came here, then. I was in the shower when he turned up, so Charlie left him cooling his heels in the hall until I deigned to appear.’

      ‘Well done. What did he want?’

      ‘Your phone number and address, of course.’

      ‘You didn’t—’

      ‘Of course not. Even though he kept hammering away that it was a matter of life and death that he got in touch with you.’

      Emily snorted. ‘Not a hope.’

      ‘My words exactly. He didn’t like it one bit,’ Ginny informed her with satisfaction. ‘Took umbrage, big-time.’

      ‘What happened then?’

      ‘Charlie showed him the door.’

      Emily giggled. Ginny’s large husband was by nature imperturbable, unless someone was foolish enough to upset his wife. ‘I don’t suppose he physically threw Miles out?’ she asked hopefully.

      Ginny laughed. ‘Next best thing. I doubt Miles will pay us a repeat visit. Let’s hope he doesn’t try to visit you, either. Has he ever met Nat?’

      ‘No. Hopefully he never will, either.’

      The idea of Miles tracking her down kept Emily awake for a while, but in the end she slept well enough, and woke with a feeling of anticipation she eventually identified—with alarm—as pleasure at seeing Lucas Tennent again. None of that, she warned herself, and went off to take a shower.

      When Emily went downstairs later Nat was in the hall, about to leave for the day. He looked tired and pale, but not, she saw with relief, as depressed as he usually did after parting with the twins.

      ‘How did it go?’ she asked warily. ‘I didn’t like to barge in on you yesterday to ask.’

      ‘The twins flew at Thea, and before she could say a word demanded that I stay for tea.’ He smiled crookedly. ‘To my amazement, their wish was granted. And the occasion went off surprisingly well, mainly because the twins dominated the entire occasion over the tea and cakes.’ He shrugged. ‘Who knows? Next time maybe Thea will ask me to supper.’

      ‘Oh, Nat, I do hope so. By the way,’ she added, ‘my ex left a message on my phone last night.’

      Nat’s eyes narrowed. ‘How the hell did he get hold of the number?’

      ‘No idea. I just hope he doesn’t ferret out the address, too.’

      ‘Don’t worry, Em. I’ll deal with him if he does. Give me a photograph.’

      ‘No can do. I burned them all.’

      ‘Description, then.’

      ‘About your height, but heavier, dark eyes and hair, toothpaste ad smile, and so full of himself you’ll recognise him on sight.’

      Nat grinned. ‘You’re still angry with him, then.’

      ‘Livid!’ She looked at her watch. ‘Must go.’

      ‘You look rather special this morning,’ he said, giving her the once-over.

      ‘Things to do after my morning cleaning session,’ she fibbed. ‘But I’ll see to your place this afternoon.’

      ‘Right, I must be off, too.’ Nat gave her an evil grin. ‘And don’t worry, if Mr Denny comes knocking I’ll throw him out, neck and crop.’

      Emily set off for her normal working day with anticipation she firmly dismissed as utter nonsense. Lucas Tennent was feeling rough and needed company; she was merely the person willing to brave his germs. And to brighten him up she was wearing a newish yellow sweater