He poured them both a gla.s.s, and then returned to the kitchen for his own tray.

"This place must seem like a mouse hole to you after Houghton House,"

Sarah commented wryly.

"It reminds me of my reporting days. I've lived in much worse than this, believe me..."

"What made you give it up, reporting I mean?"

As though he sensed her need to be distracted from her thoughts he responded to her question seriously.

"I got tired of all the travelling. I wanted more from life than to live constantly among strangers. After a while it makes you feel as though you're living in a gla.s.s bubble.. as though you're not properly in contact with the rest of the human race."

"So you've exchanged the glamour of being a foreign correspondent for village life. Quite a contrast."

"Maybe. But it's what I wanted...1 think most human beings at heart have a deep-seated need for their own place, a home base."

"Mmm... You know as a teenager I always longed to live in Houghton House myself," she admitted dreamily.

"I fell in love with the house when I was twelve, and I've remained faithful to it ever since." She laughed as she said it, glimpsing a strange expression in his eyes.

"And are you the faithful type in everything, Sarah?" he asked her softly.

"Your heart once given, given for ever?"

She knew he was just making idle conversation, trying to help her to relax, but still she responded seriously, as though the words were compelled out of her.

"Yes. Yes...1 am... The trouble is that these days most people don't want that sort of love. It's too heavy a burden' She thought fleetingly of Helene. She was divorced, like so many thousands of others.

Joss was looking at her. He was delving too deeply into her most personal thoughts, she thought in panic, learning too much about her.

"Tell me about your childhood," she demanded.

"Where were you brought up?"

"In Lancashire," he responded promptly.

"My father owned and ran a small printing business there. He and my mother emigrated to Australia five years ago when my sister married out there. They all live near Sydney..."

"You must miss them."

She was thinking how much she had missed her own parents, how much she would miss Jane if she and her family ever moved far away. "A little, but there are such things as planes and bear in mind that I'd been something of a roamer myself for several years before they left. Want another gla.s.s of wine?"

"I've already had three," Sarah protested. In point of fact, she was feeling pleasantly relaxed not to say slightly tipsy.

Joss glanced at his watch.

"There's a programme I'd like to see on TV in ten minutes. Would you mind?"

"No.. you go ahead," she invited him.

"What is it?"

"Oh, just a chat show, but they're interviewing an American author who I happen to know is looking for new English publishers. Henry Blake you might have heard of him."

Sarah had.

"Oh yes. He writes those books about the pyramids and outer s.p.a.ce, doesn't he?"

Joss's mouth twitched slightly.

"That's one was of describing them," he agreed gravely.

"He has a very large following ... and he puts forward an extremely convincing argument."

"Do you believe what he writes then?" Sarah challenged.

"I didn't say that." He got up, picking up both their trays and disappearing into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with two mugs of coffee.

"Mmm ... it's lovely to be waited on like this," Sarah told him.

"You're going to make someone a wonderful husband..." The words were out before she could stop them. It was the kind of teasing comment she might have made to any of her unmarried male friends in the same circ.u.mstances and yet for some reason the words hung uneasily on the air. For some reason? Liar, Sarah chided herself, you know d.a.m.n well there's only one person you'd want to see him married to. "Mmm ...

well when I get round to it I know where to come for a recommendation, don't I? Doesn't your sister spoil you when you visit her?" he added lightly, getting up again to turn on the television.

"She tries to, but it's a bit difficult for her with three children under five to look after," Sarah told him, 'especially in view of the fact that they're triplets. "

It struck her that for a moment Joss had gone slightly paler.

"My G.o.d ... do they run in your family?"

Sarah laughed.

"No... Jane had appendicitis when she was thirteen.

The operation blocked her fallopian tubes. She had to have an operation and fertility drugs before she could conceive. The doctor warned her she might have twins. Three instead of two was an extra bonus. "

She went quiet as the programme changed, pleasurably aware of the secure bulk of Joss's body next to her own on the settee. She had kicked off her sandals and her feet were tucked up beside her. A pleasant languor filled her body . the wine, she thought ruefully.

She would just close her eyes for a moment.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

'come on, sleepyhead, time you were in bed. "

Sarah could feel Joss's voice rumbling deep in his chest as well as hear it, but she didn't want to move from where she was. Instead, she burrowed deeper into his side, keeping her eyes closely shut.

"Sarah. Wake up ... it's bedtime."

Reluctantly she opened her eyes, realising that the blissful coc.o.o.n of warmth wrapped around her was Joss's arm.