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.And apologise to your aunt as well, if you want me to.'Ruth pressed her lips together.'Dominic, you shouldn't have done this—''It was the only way I could think of to see youalone.' he replied simply, and she shook her head.'But how did you know—I mean—how did you find out where I was learning to drive?''Oh.' he grimaced, turning his head on his hands to look at her, 'that was easy.I asked your aunt.''Aunt Davina?' Ruth was shocked.'Yes.Why not? When I asked where you were and she told me you were taking a driving lesson, it was not unreasonable to ask who was teaching you.''Oh, you mean on Tuesday?' Ruth nodded.'I see.''As to the time.'He shrugged.'I had someone make enquiries.''Who?''My secretary.''Oh!' Ruth bent her head.'A Mrs Cooke,' he told her flatly.'She used to be my father's secretary, actually, but now she's mine.'Ruth's tongue circled her upper lip.'My—my aunt said she'd read that your father has retired.'Dominic nodded.'That's right, he has.Or at least, he's trying to.''And—and you're in charge?''Nominally,' he agreed dryly.'For a trial period.''Do you like it?' Ruth was interested, in spite of herself.He moved his shoulders in a dismissing gesture.'I don't know,' he said at last, it's a big responsibility.'is that why—I mean—' Ruth stopped in some confusion, and then, realising she had to finish, she went on: 'You look—tired.I thought—I wondered—''—if I was losing sleep over the company?' Dominic's mouth twisted in self-mockery.'Oh, no.I don't lose any sleep over Crown Chemicals.' He paused.'Only over you.''Me?' Ruth stared at him, wide-eyed.'But you can't! I—I don't believe you!'He straightened, reaching for the ignition.'I'll take you back now,' he said heavily, starting the engine, and Ruth gazed at him helplessly, not knowing what to say next.'Wait.' she articulated at last, as he drove to the end of the layby, and prepared to pull out.'Dominic —Dominic, where were you taking me?''Does it matter?'He was cold and detached now, and she couldn't bear it.'It—it might,' she ventured, preventing him from putting the car into gear.'Dominic, please, I—I'd like to know.Don't—don't be angry with me.'His eyes darkened before he could prevent her seeing it, but his voice was still chilling as he said shortly: 'I was taking you to Marlin Spike.Now will you let go my arm?'Ruth sighed, gazing up at him.'Then take me there,' she said huskily, and when he gave her a suspicious look, she added: 'I'll ring Aunt Davina.I'll tell her I'm staying in town to do some shopping.Really.I like seeing new places.Is it a town or a village?'Dominic shook his head.'Marlin Spike is the place where I was brought up,' he said heavily, it's a house—my house.Now, do you still want to come?'Ruth hesitated.A house! A place where they might be completely alone! Her legs felt like jellys.'A-all right.' she got out jerkily.'Is—is it far?''Not too far.' he conceded, estimating the speed of a slow-moving lorry, and pulling out ahead of it.'Well? Do we go on—or turn back at the next roundabout?''We go on,' she murmured huskily, and slumped in her seat with sudden exhaustion.She had wanted to see more of England, and she was seeing it.With the sprawling suburbs of London giving way to acres of fields and woodlands, with only villages to break up the landscape, she began to relax.She had not realised the country lay so close to the town, and even though some of the villages were evidently extending their boundaries rapidly, to accommodate the outflow from the urban districts, they still had beauty and character.There was light and space, and when the sun pushed its way through the clouds, to cast a watery brilliance over everything.there was colour, too.It was as if the day was trying to show her that she had made the right decision, and her spirits rose as the sun's warmth grew.She would have liked to take off her coat, but it was still damp and clinging to her, and her hair felt heavy about her ears
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