‘I—Yes! I—I think it might.’ The admission came as something of a surprise to Helen.
Jenny squeezed her hand reassuringly. ‘He won’t hate you, I’m sure of it.’
‘Yes, but how—Oh God, I have to go, my five minutes were up long ago. Wish me luck, Jen,’ she begged.
‘You know I do,’ Jenny smiled encouragingly.
Leon’s tawny eyes darkened appreciatively as Helen came out of the bedroom. ‘You look beautiful,’ he said huskily, seeing the brightness of the dress making her hair appear much darker. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I used your telephone to call Max and tell him we’d be there in about fifteen minutes.’
Helen gave a shy smile. ‘No, I don’t mind.’
They were both silent on the drive to his apartment, Helen because she was nervous of the evening ahead, and Leon’s reason she could only guess at. A Bee Gees cassette playing softly in the background alleviated complete silence.
He took hold of her elbow on the way into his apartment. ‘Don’t let Max make you feel nervous.’
‘Do you think he might?’ she asked.
‘If he can scare me there’s no telling what he’ll do to you.’
Helen chuckled. ‘I think you’re teasing me.’
She heard a ragged breath and looked up curiously. ‘God, Helen, you’re beautiful!’ Leon groaned, his eyes never leaving her face.
She instantly moved away from him, her eyes like those of a frightene
d animal. ‘Please don’t!’
‘I don’t know what that bastard did to you,’ he said grimly, ‘but he’s really messed you up.’
‘Please, I—I don’t want to talk about it,’ she begged.
‘Not yet,’ he soothed.
‘Not—’
‘Ah, Mr Masters,’ a firm quiet voice said from behind them, ‘dinner is ready to be served.’
‘Thank you, Max.’ Leon grinned at Helen before turning to face the manservant. ‘This is Helen West, Max,’ he introduced.
Max was tall and thin, in his mid-fifties, dressed very correctly with not a grey hair out of place. ‘Miss West,’ he acknowledged stiffly.
‘Mrs West, Max,’ his employer corrected him.
‘I see.’ His chilly voice echoed the disapproval on his face.
‘Helen is a widow,’ Leon explained with a grin.
‘Yes, sir.’ Max turned on his heel and went back to the kitchen.
‘I’m sure he doesn’t believe you,’ Helen whispered.
‘That isn’t surprising,’ Leon said dryly. ‘You don’t look old enough to have been married and widowed.’
‘I may not look it, but I feel it,’ she shuddered.
’Come on,’ he took hold of her arm, ‘let’s have a drink before dinner.’
‘Are you sure Max will allow it?’ she asked lightly, anxious not to bring up the subject of Michael just yet, if at all. She had been about to tell Leon she didn’t want to talk about him when Max had interrupted them.