The Master of Highbridge Manor. Susanne James
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to light up their path as they returned to the school building.
‘I’m just going back to my car for a moment,’ Ria said. ‘Something I’ve forgotten.’
‘I’ve forgotten something, too,’ he said, looking down and smiling briefly.
They made their way to the far side of the building towards the car park, Ria hugging her bare arms because, despite the warmth of the day, the night air had a distinctly chilly feel about it. Opening her car door, she reached over to the glovebox where she’d left the novel she was presently reading. It was by one of her favourite authors and Ria was glad that she’d remembered she’d left it behind. A few chapters later would relax her and give her what she hoped would be a restful night.
As she walked back slowly, Jasper was slamming his door and he looked up as she came up to him.
‘I’d forgotten my book,’ Ria said, trying to hide it under her arm. She didn’t imagine that her current choice of bedtime reading would meet with the headmaster’s approval!
‘And I’d forgotten my jacket,’ he remarked, slinging it casually over one shoulder.
‘Well, I wish I’d remembered to bring mine because it’s not quite summer yet, is it?’ she began and, before she could think—or say—another word, she found her shoulders being covered by Jasper’s jacket as he wrapped it around her.
‘There—that had to be the reason why I forgot to take this with me earlier,’ he said, and at his touch Ria’s whole body trembled—with what? she asked herself desperately. Not with desire, surely! Her tongue went dry at the thought. Hadn’t desire, as far as she was concerned, been extinguished for ever? And, if it hadn’t, would she ever let it put her at risk again? She quickened her step, going slightly ahead of him for a second, wanting to put space between them.
‘Well, that was lucky for me, then,’ she said, needing to get back to the sanctity and privacy of her room. ‘Thank you…Jasper.’ Did her voice sound as tremulous to him as it did to her?
They returned to the building and Jasper paused for a moment, looking down at her. ‘Well, then…classes start in earnest on Thursday,’ he said. ‘Tim will be looking after you.’
‘Yes, thanks—he’s already spoken to me about the last bit of the course we’ve got to cover,’ Ria said, turning away. ‘Goodnight, then…’
‘Goodnight, Ria,’ he said slowly. ‘By the way,’ he began, and there was a pause as she glanced back at him questioningly. ‘Um…my jacket?’ he suggested mildly, and Ria gasped, slipping it from her shoulders.
‘Of course! I’m so sorry…I’d forgotten about it—it felt so…cosy,’ she said, blushing. How could she have forgotten she had on something that was about ten sizes too big for her?
As he took it from her, her book fell to the floor and he immediately stooped to retrieve it. He glanced at the cover before handing it back to her without comment, and Ria’s heart sank. Why couldn’t it have been her copy of War and Peace instead of the colourful romantic novel she was enjoying?
They parted company and, after making his normal, latenight check-up and speaking to the caretaker, Jasper went back to his own flat, which was four away from the one Ria was occupying. As he passed her door, he imagined her slipping out of her clothes, perhaps already soaping her delectable figure under the shower, letting the water caress her creamy skin…
As he shut his door—with an unnecessarily firm bang—he cursed himself volubly. He was a hopeless case, he told himself grimly, because he knew he was in danger of being emotionally trapped yet again—big time. He had enjoyed the company of too many beautiful women in his life, admitting that he’d taken his time in choosing the one he would eventually select as his wife…and what a bloody nose she’d given him! Why wasn’t he more like Carl, who never seemed to need a woman? Carl seemed happy and content to focus entirely on his career, on this school and its continuing status and success.
Jasper stared moodily in the mirror, his eyes gleaming with dark intensity as his thoughts ran on. Then he turned resolutely. This latest female to stir his masculine propensities would be gone out of his sight for ever in a matter of months—and, until then, he’d make sure he had as little to do with her as was humanly possible. It was imperative—vital—for him to keep his mind, his thoughts, fixed on his responsibilities here, for this final term. Surely he could manage that.
As he went to hang up his jacket, the faintest drift of Ria’s perfume, still lingering in the fabric, reached his nostrils and he clicked his tongue in annoyance. That didn’t help! Next time—perhaps every time—that he wore it, she would be right there close to him, taunting him, teasing him, without even realizing it.
CHAPTER FOUR
ALMOST four weeks into her job, and Ria had hardly seen Jasper at all. He never attended the morning assemblies, and only on two occasions had she seen him in the distance, surrounded by a group of older boys. But the distinctive voice could be heard above the general hubbub, and on that occasion it was obvious that he was making an important point! Ria had smiled to herself. There had never been any doubt in her mind who was in charge here, and the fact that he was seldom seen—leaving the day-to-day teaching to his staff—added to his quietly aloof stature.
She was relieved that she had been allowed to get through these first days without being hassled or checked-up on. So far, she’d only been asked to teach the twelve-year-old boys and she found them cooperative and well-behaved and, although she admitted to feeling dead tired by the time her duties ended at four-thirty, it was a happy and satisfying tiredness. She felt she was coping OK, and Tim had only looked in on two of her lessons, and had later given her the thumbs-up sign as they’d passed in the corridor. She had the impression that she was being trusted to do her job properly without undue interference.
The only social occasion seemed to be the evening meal, which was more like a running buffet, with people coming and going at different times. But it did give Ria some time to meet other members of staff and have a chat for an hour. Jasper had certainly not been seen in the dining room since that first Tuesday, so he either came down much later, Ria thought, or didn’t bother at all. Or maybe he preferred to eat his dinner alone in his room, or in the pub they’d been to. Anyway, it didn’t matter to her. She was glad not to see him. She was enjoying her life, so far, and one of the best bits of it was closing her door and being by herself in her own flat, to make some tea and sometimes to watch late evening television.
One morning, a type-written note had been slipped under her door. It read:
There will be a staff meeting in the headmaster’s room at 5.30 today. Please do your best to attend.
It was obviously a circular, delivered by Helen, and was probably a regular event, Ria thought as she read it again. Jasper Trent keeping a firm hand on the steering wheel, keeping everyone on their toes.
After she’d finished lessons for the day, Ria let herself into her flat. Taking a fresh top from the wardrobe, she went into the bathroom for a quick shower before going down to the meeting. There wouldn’t be time to wash her hair because it always took so long to dry, so she’d just have to pat it into place for now, she thought.
Presently, she fell into step with several other members of staff as they walked along the corridor to Jasper’s room, the door of which was already wide open. He was standing behind his desk, with Helen sitting alongside him, notebook and pen at the ready, and he greeted them all casually as they began sitting down on the two lines of chairs arranged in a semicircle in front of him.
From the place she’d chosen, right over to one side, Ria had deliberately placed herself out of his direct line of vision, but almost immediately she saw him glancing across at her and their eyes met for a fraction of a second—a second that seemed to linger for much longer than necessary as those intensely thoughtful eyes held her captive. And, despite all her best intentions, Ria felt a tremor of excitement sweep through her, making all her nerve-endings tingle, and she swallowed nervously.