A Winter Proposal / His Diamond Bride. Lucy Gordon

and he had to move on.

      Pippa hurried into the building and took the elevator to the third floor. Once in her apartment, she tossed the bags away and began to strip off.

      ‘Shower, shower,’ she muttered. ‘Just let me get under the shower!’

      When she was naked she hurried into the bathroom and got under the water, sighing with satisfaction. After relishing the cascade for a few minutes, she got out and dried herself off, thinking of the evening’s work that lay ahead. She felt ready for it now.

      But then something caught her eye. One of her bags lay open on its side, the contents spilling out, and she could see at once that one vital object was missing.

      ‘Oh, heavens!’ she groaned. ‘It must have fallen out in his car and he drove off with it.’

       The sound of the doorbell revived her hope. Roscoe Havering. He’s found it, brought it back to me. Thank heavens!

      Pulling a large towelling robe around her, she ran to the door. ‘I’m so glad to see you—’

      Then she stopped, stunned by the sight of the young man who stood there, his air a mixture of pleading and defiance.

      ‘Oh, no,’ she breathed. ‘You promised not to do this again.’

      CHAPTER TWO

      FOR most of the journey Roscoe wore a frown. Things were falling into place nicely. Not that this was a surprise. He was an organised man, skilled at controlling his surroundings and making things happen as he wanted, but even he could hardly have arranged matters as neatly as this.

      So his frown didn’t imply problems, simply that there were still details to be sorted before he’d fixed everything to suit himself, and he was giving that desirable outcome the concentration it deserved.

      Now he could see the large, comfortable house that had once been his home. These days it housed only his mother and younger brother Charlie, although Roscoe had kept his room and usually slept there a couple of nights a week to keep a protective eye on both of them. His mother was looking anxiously out of the window and came to the door as soon as she saw him. She was approaching sixty, nervously thin but still with the remnants of good looks.

      ‘Is it all right?’ she asked. ‘Have you sorted it?’

      He kissed her. ‘Sorted what?’

      ‘About Charlie. Have you arranged everything?’

      For just the briefest moment he tensed, then smiled.

      ‘Mother, it’s too soon to arrange everything, but I’m working on it. Don’t worry.’

      ‘Oh, but I must worry. He’s so frail and vulnerable.’

      Luckily she wasn’t looking directly at him, or she’d have seen the cynical twist of his mouth. Roscoe had an unsentimental, clear-eyed view of his younger brother. He knew Charlie’s volatility, his ramshackle behaviour, his headlong craziness and his selfishness. All these he saw through a filter of brotherly affection, but he never fooled himself. Frail and vulnerable? No way!

      But he knew his mother’s perception was different and he always avoided hurting her, so he simply said, ‘Leave it to me. You know you can trust me.’

      ‘But you will make them drop those stupid charges, won’t you? You’ll make those horrid people admit that he’s innocent.’

      ‘Mother, he’s not exactly innocent. He more or less admitted—’

      ‘Oh, but he didn’t know what he was saying. He was confused.’

      ‘He’s not a child. He’s a young man of twenty-four.’

      ‘He’s a child in his heart, and he needs his big brother to defend him.’

      ‘I’m doing my best. Just leave it to me.’

      ‘Oh, yes, you always protect him, don’t you? You’re such a good brother. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’

      ‘Well, you don’t have to,’ he said gently. ‘So it’s all right.’

      ‘Now come indoors and have your supper.’

      ‘Fine, I’ll just get my things.’

      But, as he leaned into the car, he froze suddenly.

      ‘Oh, Lord! ‘ he groaned, seizing something from the floor at the back. ‘How did that get there?’ He straightened up, holding a large envelope. ‘It must have fallen out of one of her bags and she rushed off without noticing. Perhaps I can call her.’

      He pulled out the contents, all papers, and went through them looking for her phone number. He didn’t find it, but he did notice that these were serious papers. She’d spoken of a heavy night’s work ahead, and would probably need them.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ he sighed. ‘Can you hold supper? I’ll be back in an hour.’

      He was gone before his mother could complain.

      ‘Jimmy, you promised to leave me alone.’ As Pippa spoke she was backing off, one hand clutching the robe across her breast, the other held up defensively. ‘We agreed it was over.’

      ‘No, you said it was over,’ he protested. ‘I never said it. I couldn’t say it, feeling the way I do. Oh, Pippa, I miss you so much, if you only knew. But you do know in your heart, don’t you? I couldn’t be so crazy about you if you didn’t feel just a little something for me.’

      ‘I do feel something for you,’ she sighed.

      ‘There, I knew it!’

      ‘But it’s not what you want. It’s mostly pity and a sort of guilt that I let things go so far. Honestly, Jimmy, I didn’t mean to. I thought we were just having a good time with no strings. If I’d known you were getting so serious I’d have discouraged you earlier.’

      ‘But you didn’t,’ the young man pleaded. ‘Doesn’t that prove you feel something for me?’

      ‘Yes, it means I feel like a kindly aunt, and that’s not what you want.’

      His face fell and she knew a pang over her heart. He was a nice boy, and he’d appeared on the scene just in time to discourage the one before him. She’d been grateful, and after that they’d shared many a laugh, some dinner engagements and a few kisses.

      Then things had got out of hand. He’d grown serious, wanting to take her away for a weekend. Her refusal had increased his ardour. He’d spoken of his respect, and proposed marriage. Her rejection had cast him into despair.

      ‘Couldn’t we give it another try?’ he begged now. ‘You tell me what it is about me that annoys you and I’ll be careful never to do that.’

      Reluctantly, Pippa decided that only firmness would be any use now.

      ‘When you talk like that it annoys me,’ she said. ‘When you haunt me, and telephone at all hours, sending me flowers which I don’t want, bombarding me with text messages asking what I’m wearing, then I get very annoyed.

      ‘You’re a nice boy, Jimmy, but you’re not for me. I’m sorry if I led you to believe otherwise. I didn’t mean to. Now, please go.’

      Something in his eyes made her pull the edges of her robe closer, clutching them firmly. His anguish was being replaced by the determination of a man who would no longer accept no for an answer.

      ‘Please go,’ she said, stepping back.

      ‘Not without a kiss. You can grant me that, can’t you?’

      ‘I think not. Goodbye.’

      Pippa tried to close the door but he forestalled her. Now his breathing was coming heavily, the arms that closed around her were strong, and she was no longer sure she could deal with him.

      ‘Let