A Calculating Heart by Caro Fraser Read Free Book Online Page A

Rachel. Not that it was something she would ever admit to – not even to herself. She gave Charles love, in that she gave him time and affection, but Leo had always been a dominant presence. Charles had always assumed it was something she would get over with time. But lately, with their own relationship undergoing difficulties and uncertainties, he had begun to wonder whether Rachel was ever going to fall out of love with Leo.

    Leo drove back to Belgravia, feeling worn out. It had been a bastard of a day. He wanted nothing more than to excise the demons of the past twelve hours, even if only on a temporary basis. What he badly needed, he thought, as he parked his car in the mews and walked round to the flat, was to find Camilla sprawled on the long sofa, looking suitably and gravely school girlish, ready to be undressed and made love to over some duration. One of his favourite pastimes,at the moment, was finding novel ways of shocking and exciting her in the same instant. He took particular pleasure in provoking the incredibly sensual expression of wide-eyed perturbation that she wore at such moments, enjoying the sensation of being both aroused and amused by her. That, at any rate, would take his mind off his problems for an hour, at least.
    He threw the car keys on to the hall table and went into the drawing room. She was there, as he had hoped she’d be, reclining in a position of innocent invitation, damp and sweet-smelling from a recent shower, nicking with the remote control through the channels on Leo’s wide-screen television.
    ‘Just what I need,’ murmured Leo, sinking on to the sofa next to her and slipping his hand into her bathrobe to find the comforting, voluptuous softness of her breast. She gave a small sigh of pleasure, arched her body slightly towards him, and then, just as Leo was about to kiss her, said, ‘I had a really horrible conversation with my parents just before you came in.’
    ‘Oh?’ Leo immediately felt depressed. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear at this particular moment. In an attempt to change the subject, he slid his hand down between her thighs.
    But she merely wriggled with faint impatience and moved away. She wasn’t going to be deflected, he could tell. ‘What about?’ he sighed.
    ‘Moving in with you. They’re not keen.’
    ‘Why worry what they think? You’re a big, grown-upgirl. And a very sexy one, too …’ He bent his head to flick his tongue lightly over one nipple, which had the satisfactory effect of making her gasp slightly, but she moved his head gently away and carried on talking.
    Leo gave up, closing his eyes to listen.
    ‘I don’t like doing anything that upsets them. I’m very close to them. They don’t like the fact you’re so old.’
    ‘You make me sound like bloody Methuselah. I’m only forty-six.’
    ‘It’s not just that. What happens when they put two and two together, and realise you’re the same Leo Davies who’s just had his name and face all over the papers?’
    ‘Mmm.’
    ‘They want to meet you.’
    ‘Oh, Christ.’
    ‘Well, what’s the problem with that? If we’re going to be married, you
have
to meet them.’
    He was going to have to find a way to tell her that they should put the marriage idea on hold. Not that he didn’t love her … She was infinitely lovable, if only she would shut lip for a moment and let him get on with it.
    ‘I can’t meet them. Not this week. Not next week. Not next month, come to that.’
    Why?’
    ‘You yourself brought up the subject of my
scandalum magnatum.
If the thought of you living with me appals them, they’re not exactly going to relish having me as a son-in-law, are they?’
    She said nothing. Leo contemplated her, then pushedthe soft auburn hair away from her face. ‘Can we stop this conversation? I had hoped you were going to take my mind off things for a bit. Something I very badly need.’ He brought his mouth to hers, kissed her long and hard, and was gratified when she took