Ivory Innocence by Susan Stevens Read Free Book Online Page B

stretched smoothly over taut muscles. Her fingers itched to know what his skin would feel like, but she curled them into her palms, shaking the thought away.
    "Didn't you fancy an aperitif?" he demanded.
    "I'm really not much of a drinker, Mr. Kendrake," she replied levelly. "I prefer to be in control of myself."
    "So I've noticed," he said. "You kept beautifully cool this afternoon. But I can't help wondering if you ever go completely out of control."
    "I seldom do," Ivory said.
    "Indeed? I might take that as a challenge. But let's eat. I'm starving."
    He said no more about the incident of that afternoon. He was polite, impersonal, even amusing at times, but Ivory kept herself aloof, remembering her purpose there. Becoming involved with Matthew Ken-drake was not part of her plan, even though he showed all the signs of wishing to make her another conquest on an undoubtedly long list.

    During the following days, Ivory's life assumed a pattern that soon became routine. She had breakfast in the kitchen with Janey and the Barneses; Matthew apparently ate a frugal breakfast in the master suite after his morning workout. Mornings were for Janey's lessons, sometimes in the playroom and sometimes in the garden, depending on the weather. They both joined Matthew for lunch, unless he had a snack at his desk in the study, where he spent most of his time. And in the afternoons Ivory played with Janey, winning her confidence and working on her education in ways the child did not realize were "school." On warm afternoons, when she was sure her employer was out— either gone riding or up to the Home Farm to see the estate manager—she and Janey splashed in the pool. Ivory hoped that learning to swim would help Janey's return to full strength.
    The evenings were the most difficult. She was obliged to have dinner alone with Matthew. At those times she was most aware of the tension building under his surface politeness, and occasionally she glimpsed the dangerous man behind the bland mask when his glance flickered over her. It was like waiting for a storm to break.
    One Saturday in June, a few days of cool, rainy weather gave way to blue skies and breezy sunlight. Having been housebound during the wet spell, Ivory decided to take Janey up to Top Farm to meet Rebecca. Janey appeared to be coming out of her shell, and Ivory thought it high time she made a friend near her own age. She intended to ask Matthew's permission over lunch.
    But Matthew did not appear for lunch. Mrs. Barnes said he was, "Up to his eyes getting ready for a board meeting next week. He said he wasn't to be disturbed for anything, short of the house burning down. Anyway, dear, he won't mind Janey going out as long as you're with her. He just doesn't like her straying out of the grounds on her own. He's afraid she might get hurt again."
    "Again?" Ivory queried, glancing toward the corner where Janey was feeding her goldfish.
    "Yes. She was in an accident. Didn't you know?"
    "I understood she'd been ill," Ivory said. "You mean those scars on her leg… I haven't liked to inquire too deeply. Mr. Kendrake doesn't take kindly to personal questions."
    "I know, dear. He keeps himself to himself, doesn't he, poor man? But that's what I was told: Janey was hurt in a motor accident. Actually…" She lowered her voice and leaned closer to confide. "If you ask me, that was when her mother was killed, in that same accident. I've got reason to suspect that because of something I heard Miss Forsythe say. You'll have noticed that Janey never mentions her mother."
    "Yes, I have."
    "Well, that's why, dear. Too painful. You never know what a thing like that does to a child's mind, do you? Best not to stir things up."
    Ivory looked thoughtfully at the curly-headed child who was watching her goldfish swim round his bowl. If what Mrs. Barnes said was true, it might explain a great deal about Janey.
    After lunch, she and Janey set out to walk up the hill to Top Farm, using the side gate that lay