Persuade Me by Juliet Archer Read Free Book Online Page A

profoundly irritating and completely at odds with her sophisticated image. He made himself listen, however, and soon learned that she was Elisabeth-with-an-s, Lisa for short, eldest daughter of Sir Walter Elliot, 8th Baronet. She’d apparently given up a successful career in the City – she didn’t say what – to devote her time to various worthy causes connected with Kellynch. First impressions led Rick to suspect that there was no worthier cause than the beautification of Elisabeth Elliot.
    The Lodge nestled beside a pair of gates that were even more impressive – and, on closer inspection, even more run down – than the previous ones. Rick guessed that they’d once been the main entrance and the path he was walking along had originally been a proper drive. There were signs that workmen had been: the grass outside The Lodge was flattened and muddied, and most of the windows were ajar, their frames freshly painted. Lisa bent down to retrieve a key from under an empty terracotta plant pot – giving him ample opportunity to observe her taste in underwear, a black thong – and unlocked the front door.
    There wasn’t much to see. It was basically small, with two bedrooms, and in need of a good clean and a lick of paint; the kitchen and bathroom had been cleared, presumably in preparation for new fittings. Lisa stayed close, which wasn’t difficult in such a confined space.
    ‘So, when’s it due to be finished?’ he said, as they went out again into the sultry air.
    She shrugged. ‘No idea. When do you want it finished? Are you coming to stay? Just give me a date and I’ll have them working day and night to deliver.’
    He gave her an appraising look – she’d probably enjoy cracking the whip, metaphorically at least – but merely said, ‘I’ll be visiting Sophie and Ed whenever I can. It doesn’t matter to me whether they’re here or in Uppercross.’ He added, in the hope of learning something useful about Anna before tonight, ‘Sophie tells me you’ve got a sister there. Do you see much of her?’
    Just then a horn blared and a silver, open-topped sports car swung into the lay-by on the other side of the gates, with Lilac behind the wheel. She leaned across the passenger seat and called, ‘Urree, or we’ll meess ze class.’
    Lisa smirked and gave her slim, pink-clad thigh a light tap. ‘Mustn’t be late, have to keep the cellulite at bay.’ She treated him to a full-on smile, an advertisement for a Harley Street orthodontist no doubt. ‘But don’t worry – I’ll pop over to see my sister more often, now that I know you might be just round the corner.’ Before he could think up a non-committal reply, she sauntered through a little side gate and slipped into the car next to Lilac. As they drove off Lisa tilted the wing mirror towards her, checked her make-up and flicked her fingers in a careless wave.
    He stood for several minutes staring after her. Not in admiration, however; he was casting his mind back to Anna’s comments about her older sister. They’d been few and uncharacteristically dismissive.
    And now he could understand why.

Chapter Eight
    At Uppercross, despite all Anna’s coaxing, Mona was still in bed.
    ‘I’m not going there for lunch,’ she said flatly. ‘Even if it is Roger’s birthday. Tell them I’m resting before the party.’
    ‘But you’ve only just woken up.’
    ‘They don’t know that.’ Mona examined her fingernails. ‘You can give me one of your special manicures when I’ve had a bath.’
    ‘I really think you should go,’ Anna said, with a frown. ‘We needn’t stay long.’
    ‘They never normally bother with me , it’s only because you’re here.’
    ‘“Never” seems a bit harsh, weren’t you there for lunch the other weekend?’
    ‘Don’t be so bloody pedantic.’ Mona paused. ‘Maybe I’ll see how I feel after my bath. Henrietta said I could borrow her red dress for tonight, which means I’ll have to go there to fetch it. She never