In Separate Bedrooms by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online Page A

think—I didn’t think—Jack Beauchamp didn’t actually— Oh, Mattie, what am I going to do with you?’ There were tears in her eyes as she made her age-old cry whenever Mattie got into one of her scrapes. Which was often.
    Mattie reached over and clasped her mother’s hand. ‘It will be all right,’ she reassured her warmly. ‘After all, you will have the man’s dog here to hold for ransom!’
    Her mother gave a tearful laugh. ‘So I will,’ she conceded. ‘I just can’t believe you’re going to Paris with him.’ She shook her head dazedly.
    ‘I thought you liked him,’ Mattie reminded her.
    ‘I do. I did,’ her mother corrected herself. ‘In fact, I did wonder at one stage yesterday if there were any more at home like him, but maybe a little older.’
    ‘Did you really?’ Mattie smiled.
    ‘Really,’ her mother confirmed. ‘But that was before I realized the man was going to whisk my daughter off to Paris for the weekend!’
    Now it was Mattie’s turn to give a husky laugh. ‘Oh, Mum. You don’t think—’ She broke off as the door opened after the briefest of knocks, her eyes widening in astonishment as she saw Jack standing there in the doorway.
    He was dressed for the office, in dark suit, cream shirt and meticulously knotted brown tie, his hair still damp from an early-morning shower. And it must have been very early morning, because it was only eight o’clocknow! Which also begged the question, what florist had he found open this time of the day from which to buy the bunch of spring daffodils he carried in his hand?
    Mattie stood up slowly. ‘What are you doing here?’ she snapped impatiently, giving a pointed look in her mother’s direction.
    ‘Good morning to you too, Mattie,’ Jack greeted cheerfully as he came fully into the kitchen and closed the door behind him. ‘And I’m not actually here to see you,’ he added, before turning to present her mother with the daffodils.
    Well, really! Not only did he turn up here bearing gifts before she was even dressed—but he then proceeded to give those gifts to her mother!
    ‘Why don’t you go and get yourself ready for work?’ Jack suggested. ‘While I have a few quiet words with your mother,’ he explained with a smile in Diana’s direction.
    Why didn’t she—? Really, the man was insufferable. How dared he come here at this unsociable hour and start issuing orders? And, actually, unless she was mistaken, she was sure now those daffodils he had just given her mother had been picked from their own front garden!
    She felt an absolute mess. Her hair wasn’t even brushed, she had no make-up on, she was wearing her oldest—and most comfortable!—dressing-gown, over striped pyjamas. But, then, she hadn’t been expecting visitors this time of the morning, had she?
    ‘Please,’ Jack added politely, just as Mattie was about to fire off a blistering reply.
    ‘Better,’ she snapped, picking up her unfinished mug of coffee to walk over to the doorway that led out to thehallway. ‘Remember the ransom, Mum,’ she couldn’t resist adding.
    Much to Jack’s confusion, she was pleased to note as she left the room after giving him a triumphant grin.
    What on earth was he doing here at this time of the morning? They had parted yesterday evening with an agreement to meet again this evening to discuss in more detail the arrangements for the weekend; Jack certainly hadn’t mentioned anything then about coming here this morning. Mattie would have made at least a bit of an effort with her appearance if he had.
    Not that it particularly mattered what she looked like; Jack didn’t give the impression he found her in the least attractive, whatever she was wearing. She was just a means to an end for him. And she was the one who had better keep remembering that!
    She took her time getting ready for work, taking a shower before putting on her make-up, dressing in a black business suit and pale cream blouse, and brushing her hair.
    Quite a