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'Could be. Have an early night.' Jago returned his attention to the paper.
Savanna recognised the snub, and knew it was not undeserved. Twice, in
quick succession, she had been deliberately unpleasant, whereas neither of
the remarks which had offended her had been intended to annoy.
Another girl, faced with Jago's withdrawal, might have reacted by pouting
and removing herself to her corner, there to make matters worse by sulking.
But until two years before, she had lived with parents whose marriage had
not been entirely a matter of luck. The Bancrofts, like all happy couples, had
known how to stop minor tiffs from becoming major quarrels; and, by
example rather than precept, had taught the technique to their children.
So it was because she-had often seen her mother, and her father, eating
humble pie with a good grace, that she laid both hands on his arm and, with
a warmly repentant smile said, 'I am sorry truly. It was horrid of me to say
that to you when it's not half an hour since you demonstrated what nice
instincts you have.'
His expression remained aloof, but he raised an eyebrow and said, 'Really?'
'By staying to hoist the others' luggage off the conveyor belt for them. Some
men with a car waiting outside would have left them to manage by
themselves. I thought it was very sweet of you.'
I should call it the normal behaviour of any man in a baggage room where
several of the women are known to him.'
'I shouldn't. Chivalrous manners are rare enough to be very much
appreciated.'
'Not always. You'd be surprised at how often I've held a shop door open for
one woman, only to have six march through it, none of them even bothering
to smile at me.'
'That happens to everyone, and it's maddening.'
Not realising it could be pushed out of the way, Savanna moved round the
armrest and perched on the edge of his side of the seat.
'If Marsh really never looks, can we kiss and make up?'
His charming smile appeared. 'With pleasure.'
He removed the rest, making more room for her to snuggle against him and
offer her lips.
She was still in the circle of his arm, and they were both reading the book
reviews, when she realised they had passed through the green belt and were
nearing the town where she lived.
'Had I better give Marsh some directions?' she asked.
'No need. I gave your address to my secretary yesterday. She will have
relayed it to him, and he will have found out the way there. It's part of his
job.'
'But how did you know my address?'
'It was one of the facts I had checked when I wanted to know who you were.'
'What other facts do you know?'
'Your birth date. Your height. Your weight. Your vital statistics. Your
telephone number.'
'Where did you get all that information?'
'I don't know the source probably your agent. I merely rang up a friend
-who works for American Vogue, and left it to them to do the detective
work.'
'I'm not sure I like the idea of those details being so easily available. You
might have been some horrible old lecher plotting to seduce me.'
*I am plotting to seduce you but in the most respectable way, in a bridal
suite somewhere, with a marriage certificate in our luggage. Where would
you like to go for your honeymoon?'
'Anywhere you choose to take me.'
He nuzzled her ear, his arm tightening round her waist. 'Just stay as
beautiful and biddable as you are at this moment, and we'll be on a
permanent honeymoon.'
'I hope so.' Savanna gave a sigh of contentment, the friction between them
forgotten as she nestled against his strong shoulder.
'One thing is certain anyway,' she murmured, a few moments later.
'Although she's bound to be startled when I tell her about our engagement,
my mother is sure to like you.'
But strangely, although she was usually the most welcoming of parents to
any of her children's friends, Mary Bancroft's manner towards Jago was
courteous but markedly reserved.
Probably he did not realise that she was not her normal friendly self, but
Savanna sensed it immediately. Thinking that, in spite of her mother's
assurance that all had gone well in her absence, some problem must have
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