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'Headstrong! Stubborn as aI have to say is going to have any effect on you, so you ht'

Colin really was a love, Jessica reflected fondly an hour later, opening the door to her flat They had an excellent working relationship, and if she someti

ainst his avuncularwith such talented and experienced man There was no one to follow hiht be prepared to offer her a partnership if things ell They would reed In spite of his experience he would always listen to her suggestions, and often adopted them

She griht of it in theher hair or renewing her lipstick, and both looked untidy; her lipstick because she constantly nibbled on her lower lip, and her hair froth

Without doubt her hair was her greatest asset, in her eyes; long, thick and glossy, it fell sentle bell Sonon, on those days when Colin wanted her to ht i for a well known designer was the fact that she got most of her clothes at cost; another was that her lissos were ideally suited to the subtle tweeds, silks and linens Colin preferred to use

'I do love seeing my clothes on a real woman,' he had told her once, appreciatively 'Models are caricatures of the female species, clothes-horses, the complete antitheses of the heavy county types who buy froht have been made for them,' he had told her

Isabel laughed about her cousin's employer 'An old woman' was how she referred to him, and while it had traces of truth, Jessica chided her Colin was shrewd and extreht not be as charismatic as enuine, with a genuine love for his chosen career

Another thing Isabel derided was Jessica's own fastidious reluctance to indulge in what she was pleased to term 'fun'

'Fun' to Isabel encompassed a wholly idealistic i alone in London In Jessica's place there was no end to the 'fun' she ht have, but unlike Jessica, as footloose and fancy-free, she was tied to the boring old parents, and dull Merton with its farmers and relaxed pace of life After one or two atteed that her cousin had no intention of letting herself be disillusioned, and besides, Jessica's 'freedoainst her parents when rebellion stirred It had struck Jessicato look tired Uncle Frank was talking about retiring, and Jessica sensed that in some ways it would be a relief to them when Isabel eventually married and sohter But so far Isabel had shown no signs of wanting to marry, and why should she? Jessica reflected In her opinion eighteen was far too young—or perhaps that was just one of the penalties of still being single at twenty-six; one becaers involved in , and de so much from them in return

Jessica are that Isabel had a far lighter approach to life than she did herself and would consequently probably have a hed, and chided herself for getting old and cynical as she showered quickly,barely sparing the briefest glance at the slender length of her body before draping it in a towel and padding into her bedroom

Jeans and a tee-shirt would suffice for the drive down to her aunt and uncle's, and she pulled the her hair with a swift econooodness, and she rarely used much old—an unusual combination with the satin sable hair, oval and faintly Oriental, adding a dash of piquancy to her features, even if she did lack Isabel's pretty pouting beauty

It was just after eight-thirty when she turned her se She frowned as she remembered her aunt's tearful telephone call What on earth had Isabel done this time?

Silence greeted her as she stopped the car and climbed out Nine o'clock was normally supper ti she would find her aunt in the kitchen Alice Jaave a small start, followed by a relieved s

'Jess! You made it—oh, I hoped you would! We've been so worried!'

'Is Belle here?' Jessica asked her, pulling a stool out fro co a story out of her aunt 'No She's out, with… with John Wellington, he's the young partner your uncle's taken on Belle seems pretty keen on him'

'And that's a proble the note of doubt in her aunt's voice 'I thought this hat you'd been praying for for the last couple of years?—that she'd find someone safe and steady and settle down' She was still at a loss to understand the reason for her aunt's concern 'Isn't that what you've alanted for her? A nice safe ain

'Everything anted for her,' her aunt confir to be spoiled, because of that wretched holiday!