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'Is she a good help with Emma?' asked Victoria, glad to follow his change of
subject.
'Marvellous,' said Claire with enthusiasm, and shot a humorous look at
Gavin. 'And the thing is she has a definite tendresse for my little brother
here.'
'Rather him than me,' said Alistair jovially, and took Victoria's glass away
for a refill.
Victoria grinned at Gavin maliciously. 'I imagine she's turned on by that
facade you keep turned to the world you know all steely-eyed and
sneering-lipped.'
'Good God,' he said with distaste. 'Is that how I come across?'
'In your photograph as the S.S. officer, yes,' she said candidly. 'Too sadistic
and sexy for words. The girls at college were all foaming at the mouth over
you.'
He closed his eyes in disgust, then opened them again to glare at her. 'Were
you one of the ones "foaming", may I ask?'
'Well, no,' she said apologetically. 'I'm afraid I didn't watch the series.'
Alistair shouted with laughter and handed Victoria a brimming glass,
darting a sly look at his brother-in- law. 'One in the eye for you, old chap!'
'Why not?' Gavin asked, ignoring Alistair.
'It went out on Thursdays, and that was one of the evenings I worked in a
wine-bar when I was in college.'
'Oh dear,' said Claire, chuckling. 'So you weren't one of the "thinking
women" who voted him their perfect man, then.'
Victoria allowed herself a small, demure smile. 'Ah, but I had known him
before, you see,' she said to the great enjoyment of the Fawcetts. Gavin, it
was plain, was not in the least amused.
'Bad luck,' said Alistair cheerfully. 'You'll have to fall back on Helga after
all, Gavin.'
At that moment the lady in question put in an appearance, curtailing the
mirth of her employers. She was a quite superb specimen of womanhood, all
milk- white teeth and sparkling blue eyes, wheat-blonde plaits like ropes
falling over her magnificent shoulders. She stood well over six feet tall in a
black vest and brief white shorts that revealed yards of deeply tanned leg,
and made Victoria feel like a pygmy.
'Good evening, I am so pleased to meet you,' she said with enthusiasm as
Claire introduced Victoria. 'I am Helga Lindstrom, how do you do, and this
is my charge, my little Emma.' She thrust forward a small girl a year or so
older than Rory, the child's round little face falling as she saw Victoria was
alone.
'Didn't you bring your little boy?' she demanded. 'I wanted to play with him.'
'Victoria will bring him next time,' promised Gavin, holding out his arms.
'Come over here and kiss me good night, honey bunch.'
Diverted, Emma ran happily to her uncle to be kissed and cuddled and made
much of before saying her good nights and going off with the statuesque
Swedish girl.
'Come on then, everyone,' said Claire. 'Let's eat.' She smiled warmly at
Victoria, who looked a little taken aback, and glanced at Gavin uncertainly.
'Oh, but I hadn't expected--'
'You haven't eaten, have you?' he asked casually.
'Well, no--'
'Then come and join us,' said Claire kindly.
The meal, in the rather spartan cottage dining-room, was very leisurely, with
Helga popping in and out to remove dishes and bring in others. Her shorts
had been replaced by a denim skirt, but the magnificent bosom was still
restrained solely by the black running vest, which caused Gavin not a little
uneasiness, Victoria saw with amusement, as the ebullient young Swede
managed to brush near him at all possible moments. He caught Victoria's
eye and a sudden rush of colour flared along his prominent cheekbones, to
her surprise, and she looked down at her plate quickly, discomfited by the
black look her gave her.
'We'll manage now, Helga, thank you,' said Claire eventually, when they
were at the cheese and fruit stage. 'I'll make coffee you go off and enjoy
yourself.'
'What's on tonight then, Helga?' asked Alistair.
'I go to the disco in the village hall, Mr Fawcett.' She beamed at him happily.
'All the young men here are all so friendly, and I like very much to dance.'
'Have fun,' said Victoria, responding involuntarily to the girl's warmth.
'Thank you. Good night.' Helga sent a languishing smile in Gavin's
direction. 'Good night, Mr Gavin.'
'Ciao, Helga,' he said briskly. 'Don't let the lads get too friendly.'
She laughed delightedly and went out, humming the latest pop tune as she
went.
'Can you imagine the effect she has on the crowd at the village hall?' Alistair
let out a low whistle.
'I think she's absolutely wonderful,' said Victoria, laughing. 'Only she makes
me feel like a shrimp!'
'Me too,' said Gavin, grinning broadly, 'so don't let it bother you. I hardly
think she'll find anyone her own size to dance with down there, either. It
must be like bopping with the Statue of Liberty.' [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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