A Wicked Persuasion

Harriet was relieved when her sisters’ reappearance put a welcome end to the tense silence which followed her father’s statement. Soon afterwards, Sophie drove home, and Harriet retreated thankfully to the Lodge without mentioning that someone was already interested in taking River House over for a project. It had seemed best to get her father used to the idea before hitting him with the first punter right away.

But instead of concentrating on a workable solution to the problem of River House’s finances, Harriet’s mind kept returning to the past once she was in bed. Over the years she had trained herself to forget that James Crawford existed, but running into him earlier had brought back that long ago idyllic summer so vividly that sleep was impossible.

The Lodge, once occupied by Margaret before her marriage to John Rogers, had been empty when Harriet announced at fifteen that she wanted to take it over to study there in peace. In return for her father’s permission she’d promised to take care of it herself. She was at her desk there one hot summer morning a few years later when her computer crashed. A frantic phone call to the local suppliers brought quick response in the shape of a tall young technician with shaggy black hair and bright hazel eyes which lit up with gratifying pleasure at the sight of her.

‘Hi. I’m from Combe Computers,’ he said in deep gravel tones which sent shivers down her spine.

Harriet smiled shyly and showed him into the small sitting room she’d made into a study. She gestured to the computer on the desk. ‘Can you do anything with it?’

‘I’ll do my best, Miss Wilde.’

‘Harriet.’

‘James.’ He smiled. ‘James Crawford.’

She curled up on the window seat to watch as he set to work, impressed by his skill as he took the machine apart.

‘It’s the mother board,’ he announced after a while, and opened his bulging black bag. ‘I’ll fit a new one. It won’t take long.’

He was right. Far too soon for Harriet, the computer was up and running and James Crawford was ready to leave.

‘I can’t thank you enough,’ she said warmly as she saw him to the door. ‘I was tearing my hair out before you came.’

‘A crime with hair like yours!’ He smiled down at her in the tiny porch. ‘Do you work in the evenings, too?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘How about taking time off to come out for a drink tonight?’

‘Yes,’ she said promptly.

His smile sent her brain reeling. ‘I like a woman who knows her own mind. I’ll pick you up at seven.’

‘No, thanks,’ she said hastily. ‘I’ll meet you. Where?’

From that first night in a small pub far enough from the town to give them anonymity, they’d found an immediate rapport. Unknown to Aubrey Wilde and Miriam Cairns, or to Sophie, who was away in France for the summer with her best friend’s family, they spent every moment possible together from that night on. If questioned on her whereabouts, Harriet enlisted the willing help of a friend, and lied shamelessly that she was making the most of her time with Anne during her vacation. As the time drew near for Harriet to leave for her second year at university the prospect of parting grew so painful James came up with the idea of sharing a flat near the college for the duration of her course.

‘I can freelance, and still be on call for the firm,’ he assured her. ‘Most important of all, we can be together.’

Harriet had agreed rapturously, willing to defy her father on her own account when it came to living with the man she loved, but in the end afraid to risk ruin to James Crawford’s career when Aubrey Wilde’s threats sounded the death knell to the plan.

CHAPTER TWO

HARRIET woke next morning with dark-ringed eyes which needed serious work with camouflage before she was ready to face her day. To her surprise, Julia arrived as she was about to leave. ‘I thought you were having a lie-in!’

Julia nodded glumly. ‘So did I. But my body clock is still ticking on London time. Besides, I wanted to catch you before you took off. Does Charlotte Brewster already have something in mind for River House? Knowing you, cautious one, I was pretty sure you wouldn’t have stated your case so strongly otherwise.’

‘You’re right. She’s sending me our first punter this morning. Some man who wants the house for a party.’ Harriet looked at her watch. ‘I’d better get going. I’ll give you a ring tonight to report.’

‘In that case I’ll be noble and keep Sophie in the loop for you.’ Julia shot her sister a wry look. ‘I suppose you know why she’s such a cow to you?’

Harriet nodded. ‘She’s jealous of my so-called relationship with Father.’

Julia eyed her thoughtfully. ‘She hasn’t a clue, has she? So why do you stay?’

Harriet concentrated on packing her briefcase. ‘Because just before … before the end, I promised Mother I would help Father take good care of River House.’

Julia shook her head in disapproval. ‘Leave him to do it himself. I love the place too, but you need more in your life than a house, Harriet! Mother would be the first to agree with me.’

‘I enjoy a normal social life,’ said Harriet defensively.

‘Ah, but do you ever enjoy a sleepover with the men you go out with? I doubt that you ask anyone back here!’

‘For heaven’s sake, Julia, it’s too early in the morning for this—I have to go.’

Julia paused in the doorway. ‘Take my advice—if money does come in this way, or any other way at all, get part of it tied up tight in a separate business account for the house. Otherwise Pa might start dabbling in shares and Lord knows what else again and we’ll be back to square one.’

‘I intend to,’ Harriet assured her. ‘When I break the glad news to him can I say I have your full support?’

‘Absolutely. Good luck.’

Harriet reached the premises in Broad Street on time, as usual. She exchanged greetings with Lydia, the long-time receptionist, and made for the small office with a single tall window overlooking the gardens—a view that more than compensated for lack of space. As she gazed out for her brief morning ritual of peace, the new trainee came in to ask about coffee.

‘Not right now, thanks, Simon.’ Harriet smiled at him. ‘Bring some when my nine-thirty appointment arrives. Tell Lydia to buzz you the moment he does so you can usher him in with due pomp.’

‘Will do. You look good today,’ he remarked. ‘New suit?’

‘New to you, yes.’ She smiled. ‘Now, hop off and let me get on.’

Harriet worked steadily for an hour before taking a break to tidy up. She was back at her desk, absorbed again, when Simon knocked on her door and ushered in her client.

‘Your nine-thirty appointment, Miss Wilde,’ he announced.

Harriet got to her feet feeling as though all the air had been sucked out of her office as James Crawford, elegant in a dark city suit, strolled in and dominated it by the sheer force of his personality. Now she had the time to take a good look, she could see that he was harder, older and colder, with little resemblance to the man she’d fallen in love with.

‘Good morning, Harriet.’ He held out his hand. ‘I had no time yesterday to mention we’d be meeting in an official capacity today.’

Or he wanted to give her a nasty surprise. ‘Good morning.’ Manfully hiding her shock, Harriet took the strong, slim hand. Ignoring the searing streak of heat along her veins at the contact, she smiled politely. ‘This is a surprise. Charlotte Brewster told me I had a possible client to hire River House, but she forgot to give me a name.’

James drew up a chair in front of her desk and sat down, looking so relaxed Harriet wanted to hit him. ‘She didn’t forget. I asked to remain anonymous.’

‘Why?’

His eyes gleamed with mockery. ‘In case you refused to see me.’

‘Why would I do that?’ she said, determinedly pleasant.

Simon came in bearing a tray with the silver coffee pot and fine china normally reserved for clients of the senior partner. ‘Ring if you need anything else, Miss Wilde.’

‘Thank you, Simon.’

Once she’d served James’s coffee, Harriet forced herself to sip hers slowly rather than glug the caffeine down like medicine.

‘To business,’ said James briskly, putting his cup down. ‘I met Ms Brewster over the weekend. During our conversation I told her I believe in keeping my employees happy and was on the lookout for an unusual location to throw a party for them.’ His eyes speared hers. ‘Imagine my surprise when she suggested River House.’

She could, vividly. ‘What kind of company do you run?’

‘We provide broadband and phone lines to businesses and various commercial outfits,’ he informed her, and smiled. ‘I’ve moved on a bit from the day I was called out to repair your computer. The usual rags-to-riches story, according to the press.’

‘Congratulations. I’m afraid I missed reading about it.’ She glued her smile in place. ‘So what, exactly, did you have in mind with regard to River House?’ Other than humiliating Harriet Wilde by hiring her home.

He leaned back, still irritatingly relaxed. ‘Briefly, my aim is a party to celebrate the recent expansion in my Live Wires Group. I’ve recently taken over a couple of small companies who ran into trouble. This event will welcome their employees on to my staff, and at the same time reward my original workforce for their efforts. I could use a hotel, obviously, but I liked the idea of an actual home setting as a venue.’

The Wilde home in particular. ‘River House doesn’t have room to put many people up overnight,’ Harriet warned, her mind in turmoil behind her professional demeanour.

He shook his head. ‘Not my intention. Transport will be provided for arrival and departure on the same day. I seem to remember a terrace leading to a large lawn, so a marquee seems the most practical idea, with drinks on the terrace beforehand if the weather’s good. What parking facilities can you provide?’

‘There’s an adjoining paddock we used for my sister’s wedding. Would your caterers need the kitchen?’ By this stage Harriet was experiencing serious qualms about hiring her home to any client, let alone to James Crawford.

‘The firm I have in mind provides their own,’ he informed her. ‘And the other necessary facilities will be set up out of sight somewhere in the gardens. You need suffer very little intrusion on your privacy.’

Harriet smiled coolly. ‘It makes no difference to me personally. I don’t live there.’

He tensed, eyes narrowed. ‘You’re based here in the town?’

‘No. Perhaps you may remember the Lodge at River House? I’ve lived there for quite a while.’

Of course he remembered the Lodge! James tried to look as though he were attempting to recall it. ‘I see.’ But he didn’t. This self-contained woman with her tailored suit and severe, pulled back hair was very different from the warm, loving girl he remembered. But then, when push came to shove that girl had not cared enough for him to give up her lifestyle at River House. For which he should be eternally grateful. The hurt and humiliation she’d dished out had fired him with the ambition to make such a success of his life James Crawford would be good enough for anyone, Aubrey Wilde’s daughter included. It was a blow to hear she’d moved out of River House itself, but if her father still lived there that would have to do.

‘I’ll need to see over the house,’ he informed her, ‘at some time convenient to you and your father, of course.’

Of course. Harriet had been steeling herself for that from the moment he entered her office and turned her life on its head again.

‘I’m staying in the locality with my sister for a few days,’ said James, ‘so any time up to, and including, Sunday would suit me.’

‘Perhaps I could ring you later when I’ve had a word with my father.’

‘By all means.’ James stood up and handed her a card. ‘You can reach me on any of the numbers. Goodbye … Miss Wilde.’ He strode from her office and down the hall, smiling briefly at the receptionist as he said goodbye. Outside in bright morning sunshine he breathed in deeply, savouring the overwhelming satisfaction of the moment. It had taken a long time and a hell of a lot of hard graft to achieve financial success, while George Lassiter, his old boss, had hinted over lunch recently that Aubrey Wilde’s finances were not too buoyant these days. James’s eyes glittered coldly. They must be reaching crisis point if he was willing to hire his house out to the man who’d once been considered unfit to enter its hallowed portals.

As soon as she heard the street door close Harriet rang Charlotte Brewster to report.

‘James said he knew you slightly years ago and asked to remain anonymous so he could surprise you,’ Charlotte informed her. ‘How well did you know him?’

‘When I was a student he came to the Lodge to mend my computer. But before I let James Crawford look over River House, Ms Brewster, I need to know how much he’s willing to pay for the privilege.’

Charlotte chuckled. ‘You sounded just like Julia then! When I was a prefect we clashed constantly. I hear she edits one of those glossy style magazines these days. Did she marry?’

‘Not yet.’

‘And you’re not married either—though the love of your life is easy to identify!’

Harriet went cold.

‘River House obviously means the world to you,’ Charlotte continued with sympathy. ‘But take my advice; don’t expend all your love on bricks and mortar. A man in one’s life is no bad thing, you know.’

‘Fascinating though the subject is, Charlotte, let’s get down to brass tacks. How much will Mr Crawford cough up to hire River House?’

Harriet drove home in a very different mood from the night before. One detail apart, she had good news for her father. By the time she reached the Lodge she had even recovered enough from the shock of James Crawford as their first client to enjoy a solitary, celebratory meal alone before she went up to the house. She found her father hovering in the kitchen, waiting for her.

‘Well?’ he said eagerly. ‘Julia said you were seeing this Brewster woman today. Do you have good news?’

‘Yes. Let’s discuss it over coffee in the study.’

‘I’ve already made it for you,’ he said, surprising her.

Once they were settled in the study Harriet informed him that her meeting had been with an actual client for the new venture, and told him how much the client would pay for hiring River House to host a party for his workforce. ‘But this is where I burst your bubble, Father.’

He was thinking with such rapture of the fee he took time to register her remark. ‘Eh? What’s that?’

‘To make this arrangement work, only part of the money will be paid into your personal account; the rest will go into a business account only I will draw on for maintenance for River House. Julia is in full agreement with me on this.’ Harriet’s eyes locked with his, and Aubrey Wilde nodded, defeated.

‘Whatever you say. But it’s a sad day when daughters don’t trust their father.’

Not without cause, thought Harriet, unmoved. ‘Charlotte Brewster tells me she has several further possibilities in mind for River House, so our venture has every chance of being successful. On condition, she emphasizes, that the house and gardens are maintained to a standard high enough to attract future clients.’

Aubrey raised his still handsome head, his smile bleak. ‘I hear you. I’ll sign on whatever dotted line you put in front of me—once I’ve read every word of the small print, of course.’

‘Of course,’ she agreed, relaxing slightly.

‘This would be damned embarrassing if I were still at the bank. I’m glad I retired when I did,’ he said, depressed.

‘Yet you of all people know that a business account like this makes sense,’ said Harriet briskly, watching closely while he signed the documents. ‘By the way, the client would like to see over the house and garden as soon as possible. Do you want to be here when he comes?’

He looked up irritably. ‘Of course I do! Dammit, girl, it’s my home! Just make sure you’re here, too.’

‘As you wish. I’d rather not take time off so I’ll suggest Saturday to the client and ask Will to give us extra time in the garden beforehand. The weather forecast is good for the weekend, fortunately. I checked.’

He nodded glumly. ‘Saturday it is then. I was booked to play golf, but I’ll cancel.’

‘Good. I’ll ask the client to come at ten.’

‘Who is he, by the way?’

‘Head of the Live Wires Group.’

‘Can’t say I’ve heard of it. But it must be successful if he’s prepared to shell out like this just to entertain his employees. You’d better have a word with Mrs Rogers to prepare her, Harriet.’

‘It won’t affect her too much. Margaret keeps the entire house at inspection standard all the time anyway. And the kitchen won’t be needed for the party catering.’

‘But people will be swarming all over the rest of the house,’ he said gloomily.

‘Not in this instance. There’s to be a marquee on the lawn—probably like the one you had for Sophie’s wedding.’

‘The affair won’t be too intrusive then.’ Aubrey hovered as she packed the documents away. ‘If that’s everything I might as well go out for an hour.’

‘Cheer up, Father. It’s better than selling the house.’

‘By God you’re right,’ he said with feeling, and squeezed her hand. ‘You’re a good girl, Harriet.’

She withdrew her hand gently. ‘Goodnight, Father.’

Harriet returned to the Lodge and stood at the window, watching her father’s newest car purr down the drive. She left a message for Julia to report on the meeting, and finally steeled herself to contact James.

‘This is Harriet—Harriet Wilde.’

‘I haven’t forgotten your name! So when do we meet?’

‘Does Saturday suit you?’

‘Saturday is fine to inspect the house, but I need to see you before then, Harriet. Or should I keep to Miss Wilde?’

She stiffened. ‘Your choice entirely. Why do you want to see me?’

‘There are some points I’d like to go over with you before I meet up with your father.’

His money is getting us out of a hole, she reminded herself. ‘When would you like to come to my office?’

‘I meant a private meeting—over dinner tomorrow evening.’

Harriet almost dropped her phone. ‘Is that absolutely necessary?’

‘Imperative. I need certain facts clarified before I come to River House. Don’t worry,’ he added sardonically, ‘I’m not asking to dine à deux. I’m staying with my sister. The dinner invitation is from Moira.’

Harriet’s eyebrows rose. ‘How very kind of her.’

‘You’ll come then?’

Think of the money, she chanted in a silent mantra. ‘Where does your sister live?’

‘A couple of miles off the Oxford road as you leave town. Her husband recently bought The Old Rectory at Wood End. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.’

‘No—thank you,’ she said quickly. ‘I’m sure I can find it.’

Harriet felt oddly baffled as she disconnected. James could hardly intend to taunt her about the past at his sister’s dinner table. Hiring River House would surely be revenge enough for him without that. But for a split second at the office she could have sworn he’d been ready to change his mind when he heard she no longer lived in the house. But surely he would have said he intended backing out while he was in her office, rather than have his sister invite her to dinner. Moira Crawford, Harriet knew, had stood in loco parentis to James and his brother after their parents died, and made a good job of it by the affection in his voice when he spoke of her. It was a surprise to learn that she lived locally now.

James, she thought, depressed, had changed out of all recognition from the charmer she’d fallen in love with. At one time the gravel tones in his voice had rendered her weak at the knees, but during the interview they had acted like sandpaper on her nerves. His hair was more disciplined and the lanky body had gained muscle and hardened, and his dress sense was now impeccable, all as she would have expected. His personality was the big difference. She had adored his smile in the old days, but there’d been no sign of it today. The driving ambition necessary to build up a successful telecom company obviously left no room for the soft option of charm.

Harriet made sure she finished work on the dot the following day, in good time to prepare herself for crossing swords with the client who had once been her sweetheart. But never her actual lover. Knowing he would be her first, he’d indulged her plea to wait until they moved in together. Which, looking back, would have been a recipe for disaster. With James sharing her bed it would have been a wrench to leave it to attend lectures. Even so, if she had been the sole target of her father’s anger she would have dug her heels in and defied him. But his threat to have James arrested had beaten her into the dust.

Harriet thrust thoughts of the past away as she dealt with her exuberant hair, which was neither dark like Julia’s nor fair like Sophie’s, but a shade somewhere between. When it was restrained in the workaday coil it looked quite dark, but newly washed and let loose on her shoulders it took on light and shade and transformed her appearance, as she well knew. She shrugged. It was only common sense to face James armed with the best weapon in her armoury. She tugged on the clinging black dress, hung gilt and crystal drops in her ears, and saw her father coming down the drive as she opened the door to leave.

‘Ah,’ he said, crestfallen, ‘you’re going out. Mrs Rogers left me so much food I hoped you might join me for dinner for once.’

‘Sorry, Father,’ she said politely. ‘I’m having dinner with a friend.’ Sort of.

It was a measure of their relationship these days that Aubrey Wilde didn’t even ask the identity of the friend. ‘Another time then, Harriet. Enjoy your evening.’

The Old Rectory at Wood End dated from the eighteen-hundreds, when families of the clergy were usually large. Harriet’s eyes narrowed as she drove up the tree-lined drive towards the house. It looked more than big enough for a party. Her heart gave an errant thump when James appeared as she parked on the gravel circle in front of the main door.

He came to help her out of the car looking more like the young man she’d once known than the successful tycoon he’d become. His casual garb gave her a moment’s doubt about her dress until she saw that his sweater was cashmere, and the jeans fitted his long legs so faithfully they’d obviously been cut by a master.

‘Good evening, Harriet,’ he said, his eyes on her hair.

She smiled at him serenely. ‘Hi.’ She looked up at the façade of windows as he led her to the door. ‘What a lovely house.’

He turned to the woman hurrying to join them. ‘My sister,’ James informed his guest. ‘Moira, this is Harriet Wilde.’

‘Welcome, Harriet.’ Moira smiled warmly as she took the sheaf of flowers her guest handed her. ‘How lovely, thank you. Come on in. We’re all out here. My husband will give you a drink while I see to the flowers.’

All? Harriet followed her hostess across a wide hall and into a conservatory looking out over the back garden. A large smiling man got to his feet, followed by two young women, one with opulent curves and sheets of straight blonde hair, the other a less spectacular brunette.

‘Marcus Graveney,’ said her host, shaking her hand. ‘These are my stepsisters, Claudia and Lily.’

‘Hi,’ said the sultry Claudia without enthusiasm, leaving Lily to make up for it with the sincere warmth of her greeting.

Marcus gave Harriet the glass of tonic she chose, and led her to one of the comfortable cane chairs. ‘James says you’re a native of these parts.’

She nodded. ‘I’m an accountant with Barlow & Greer in the town.’

Claudia made a face. ‘Isn’t that deadly dull?’

‘It would be for you,’ said James indulgently.

‘A closer relationship with figures wouldn’t do you any harm, Miss, dull or not,’ said her brother.

‘Do you enjoy your job?’ asked Lily.

‘Yes,’ said Harriet with truth. ‘It’s a very busy practice, and I meet a lot of interesting people in the course of my work.’