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The answer to her unasked question was the one she had expected

'And just why are you here, Mr Deverenko? And don't tell me it's just to relax between tours!'

'If you can't call me David, you'd better settle for a deferential 'maestro',' he taunted her excessive politeness 'Since you see'

'You still haven't answered my question, David'

'All in good ti to show me to my room? I meant it when I said I was tired'

'Yes, of course,' Clare said auto him out of the office Actually, he did look rather worn There were shadows beneath his dark eyes and a slight hollowness to his cheeks that had not been there the last ti, or at least dimmed 'When did you arrive from London?' she asked, as they traversed the foyer and turned down the narrow, echoing hallhich led to the staff wing of the sprawling lodge

'The day before yesterday I'm used to air travel, it usually doesn't affectin London as well as the concerts, and I had two engagements in New York to fit in, thanks to the curse of Concorde I have an A up next er—to extricateas I used to be, and I refuse to perform the miracles I did when I enty… I' assessment

'You look older,' she told him as she opened the door to Miles's twin-bedroomed suite

He chuckled 'Is that the truth, or are you just trying to emphasise your disapproval of me? What have I done, Clare, besides avail myself of your hospitality, to make you dislike me so?'

'I don't dislike you; I don't know you'

'That's why I'm here'

'What?' She swung around froe

Deverenko tossed his keys on to a kauri coffee-table and strolled across to look out theat the splendid view of the glassy lake 'You were right You accused e about you I'm here to remedy that'

His dark eyes were a challenge that Clare didn't darefoot—partly my fault, partly yours But I don't think Tim should suffer because of our differences—'

'Ti—'