One of the Family by Maggie Ford

Author:Maggie Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Seen much of him while I’ve been away?” Geoffrey whispered, the rest of the office having made for home, grateful that tomorrow, Saturday, was only a half-day, the rest of the weekend theirs.

He had hovered in a passage out of sight for some while until nearly all the office had gone, hoping Mary might not be in too much hurry to be first to leave. He couldn’t know that she was deliberately lingering, certain that, after their exchange of glances, he would seek her out when the others had gone.

Until then he had made himself scarce, poring over the catering accounts with Samson; checking the stores – to Chef’s suppressed annoyance, for there had been no need for checks; making the same nuisance of himself with his maitre d’; prolonging conversation with the lunch guests he recognised and who were mostly happy to chat with him and enjoy his fine repertoire of pithy jokes. All that in an effort to keep away from Mary’s workplace.

Now he had come into the empty office to pose his question.

She moved awkwardly past him, going for her hat on its hook behind the door. “Who?” she asked inadequately. She knew who.

“That Goodridge chap you keep company with.”

Gathering her hat from the peg, Mary gave a little smile with more embarrassment than warmth in it.

“Does he yet know about us?” he went on.

She hadn’t put on her hat, was standing between him and the door, not moving, not looking at him. “I haven’t told him.”

“Is that because you feel something for him, or because you don’t think I’m serious?”

“A bit of both, I suppose.”

It sounded like defiance, a challenge. He needed to take up the gauntlet, know where he stood.

“Do you want to call it a day – you and I?”

“No!” The cry forced itself from her. Conveying exactly what he had wanted to know, it sent a surge of relief and joy through his breast. Going to her, he kissed her, briefly at first, but as the tingle which the kiss prompted in her brought her arms about his neck, he pressed his lips down on hers more urgently, the same feeling shooting through him.

While he had been away she had slipped out of his mind, but after a while, and as the days of fun and sun drew closer to their end, her face had come back and all he could think of was having her in his arms again. At times like that he was sure he was head over heels in love with Mary Owen, so different from the other girls who hung about with him, the wealthy, pampered, silly girls.

“I’ve missed you, Mary my darling,” he whispered between kisses. His loins ached for her. “God, how I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Geoffrey,” he heard her whisper against his lips.

Tonight. He’d have to have her tonight. A hotel room somewhere…

A sound by the office door made them jump clear of each other. Both saw him at once. It was Geoffrey who found his voice first, Mary not daring to utter a word.

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