Sweet Surrender by Catherine George Read Free Book Online Page B

he’d matured into a powerfully attractive man he still had the same ability to make her pulse race, but she didn’t need her famous qualifications to recognise it as pure basic chemistry. An inconvenience, but nothingmore than that. Alasdair Drummond would be given no chance to disrupt her life a second time.
     
    Because Fenny, as usual, preferred not to drive herself to college, instead of letting her go by train Kate gave her a lift back next day, stayed for a while to drink coffee and chat with some of Fenny’s friends in her room in hall, then drove back to Stavely in time for dinner alone with her parents for the first time.
    ‘So what do you want to do with the rest of your week?’ asked Frances.
    ‘As little as possible. I’m going out with Toby tomorrow night, but otherwise I thought I’d just catch up on some sleep, walk the dog, and wheel the baby out in his buggy now and then. But first I quite fancy a trip into Pennington. Are you free to go out to play tomorrow, Mother? I need some clothes.’
    ‘When is your mother not free to go shopping for clothes?’ said Tom, laughing.
    ‘Very true,’ agreed his wife with relish. ‘I’d love to, Kate. I’ve got a dentist’s appointment there after lunch, but otherwise I’m yours. What did you have in mind?’
    ‘Nothing exciting. A new bathing suit for swimming with the school, some underwear—and lots of window shopping.’ Kate smiled. ‘Village post office apart, Foychurch is a bit lacking that way. I yearn to gaze into shop windows full of things I can’t afford.’
    When Alasdair rang, halfway through the meal, Kate excused herself and left the room to speak to him.
    ‘Have you sorted out somewhere for Thursday, Kate?’
    ‘I’m told the Forrester’s Arms is the local in-place for food these days. Only five miles away and no need to book. See you about seven, then, Alasdair—’
    ‘Hold on, what’s the rush?’
    ‘I’m in the middle of dinner,’ said Kate firmly. ‘See you Thursday.’ And she returned to the meal, wondering why Alasdair Drummond, who hadn’t been in contact for years, now seemed unable to let a day go by without getting in touch.
    Thoroughly enjoying the shopping expedition next day, Kate bought a plain navy swimsuit from a sports shop, some cotton underwear from a chainstore and resisted all her mother’s coaxing on the subject of a new dress for her evening with Alasdair. ‘The one I wore for the christening was a pricey little number, so I might as well get some mileage out of it.’
    And nothing Frances could say would change her mind, though Kate’s resistance weakened when her mother spotted a pair of cropped trousers in bright coral linen in a window. ‘Perfect for the summer—you need something frivolous, so let me treat you,’ said her mother firmly. ‘I only wish I was young enough to wear them myself.’
    Kate gave in without a struggle. And when her mother bought her more underwear, frivolous and lacy this time, Kate’s resistance was at an all-time low.
    ‘Come on, you subversive creature,’ she said to Frances. ‘Let’s get out of here before you undermine every principle I’ve got.’
    But Frances went on to buy miniature T-shirts and dungarees for the baby, a lipstick each for Kate and Gabriel, and a bag full of goodies from the food hall before they moved on to as much window gazing as Kate’s heart desired. And later, during lunch, Frances was so obviously enjoying the time spent with her daughter Kate felt guilty because she wasn’t home to do this kind of thing more often.
    Later Frances went off to her dentist, leaving Kate tohaul their shopping back to Dysart’s. On her way to the auction house she tripped and dropped one of her parcels, and to her surprise found that the smiling man who retrieved it was Jack Spencer.
    ‘Why, hello there!’ Kate returned the smile with pleasure. ‘Thank you. As you can see, I’ve been indulging in some serious retail therapy. How’s the new