‘No, she’s over fifty. She cooks and cleans and makes dire predictions about how I’ll never find a wife because no younger woman will put up with that draughty building.’

‘Are the draughts really bad?’

‘They are in winter. Thick stone walls and flagstones to walk on.’

‘Sounds really primitive.’

‘I guess it is. It was built eight hundred years ago and as soon as I finish one repair it seems I have to start another. But in summer it’s beautiful. That’s when you appreciate the stone keeping you cool. And when you go out in the early morning and look down the valley, there’s a soft light that you see at no other time. But you have to be there at exactly the right moment, because it only lasts a few minutes. Then the light changes, becomes harsher, and if you want to see the magic again you have to go back next morning.’

He stopped, slightly surprised at himself for using so many words, and for the almost poetic strain of feeling that had come through them. He realised that she was looking at him with gentle interest.

‘Tell me more,’ she said. ‘I like listening to people talk about what they love.’

‘Yes, I suppose I do love it,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘I love the whole life, even though it’s demanding, and sometimes rough and uncomfortable. At harvest you get up at dawn and go to bed when you’re in a state of collapse, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

‘You got brothers, sisters?’

‘I’ve got a younger brother-’ Leo grinned ‘-although technically Guido is the elder. In fact, legally I barely exist because it turned out my parents weren’t married, only nobody knew at the time.’

She made a quick, alert movement. ‘You mean you’re a bastard too?’

‘Yes, I guess I am.’

‘Do you care?’

‘Not in the slightest.’

‘Me neither,’ she said contentedly. ‘It sort of leaves you free. You can go where you want and do what you want, be who you want. Do you find it’s like that?’

Receiving no answer she turned to look at Leo and found him leaned right back, his eyes closed, his body stretched out in an attitude of abandon. Jet lag wouldn’t be fought off any longer.

Selena reached out to nudge him awake, but stopped with her hand an inch away, and watched him. The day’s turbulent events had left her no chance to consider him at leisure. He’d been the rescuer who’d caught up with Elliot, when she herself might not have done so in time, and whose gentle hands and voice had calmed the animal. If her beloved Elliot accepted him then she must too.

In the bathroom he’d saved her from nasty injury. Beyond that she hadn’t allowed herself to think. But she could think about it now, how it had felt to be held tightly against him, the soft scratching of the hairs on his chest against her bare breasts. She could remember, too, the bold way he’d grasped her behind with his big hand, hauling her to safety and removing his hand at once.

A gentleman, she thought. Even at that moment.

Everything about him pleased her, starting with the broad sweep of his forehead, half hidden now by a lock of hair that had fallen over it, and the heavy brows, and the dark-brown eyes beneath them. She liked the straight nose and the slightly heavy curved mouth that could smile in a way that hinted at delight to come for a woman with a brave spirit.

She wondered just how brave her own spirit was. In the ring she would take any risk, dare any fall, chance any unfamiliar horse, and laugh. But folk were different, harder to understand than horses. They were awkward and they could hurt you more than any tumble.

And yet she wanted to see Leo’s smile again, and follow the tempting hints to their conclusion.

She liked his foreignness, his faint Italian accent, his way of pronouncing certain words in a way that was strange to her, but delightful. She wanted to know him better, to discover more about the big, generously proportioned body, and to realise the promise implicit in those broad shoulders and lean, hard torso. As if drawn by a magnet her eyes fell on his hands, and memories sprang alive in her flesh. Those long fingers, touching her nakedness as he lifted her out of the bath. They seemed to be touching her now, this minute. She could feel them…

Hell, who did she think she was kidding? Everyone knew that Italians liked curvy females, with hour-glass figures.

And I don’t have any in-and-out, she reminded herself sorrowfully. Just ‘in.’ And he’s seen me now, so there’s no way to fool him.

Life was very hard!

Elliot whinnied softly, and the sound was enough to awaken Leo. He opened his eyes while her face was still close to his, and smiled.

‘I’ve died and gone to heaven,’ he said. ‘And you’re an angel.’

‘I don’t think they’ll be sending me to heaven. Not unless someone’s changed the rules.’

They both laughed, and she went to Elliot, who had whinnied again.

‘He’s just jealous because you’re giving me so much attention,’ Leo said.

‘He’s got nothing to be jealous about, and he knows it,’ Selena said. ‘He’s my family.’

‘Where do you live?’

‘Wherever Elliot and I happen to be.’

‘But you must have some sort of home base, where you stay when you’re not travelling?’

‘Nope.’

‘You mean, you’re travelling all the time?’

‘Yup.’

‘With no home to go to?’ he asked, aghast.

‘I’ve got a place where I’m registered for paying taxes. But I don’t live there. I live with Elliot. He’s my home as well as my family. And he always will be.’

‘It can’t be “always”,’ he pointed out. ‘I don’t know how old he is, but-’

‘He’s not old,’ Selena said quickly. ‘He looks older than he is because he’s a bit battered, but that’s all.’

‘Yes, I’m sure,’ Leo said gently. ‘But just how old is he?’

She sighed. ‘I’m not sure. But he’s not finished yet.’ She laid her cheek against Elliot’s nose. ‘They don’t know you like I do,’ she whispered, and turned her head away so that he couldn’t see the anguish that swamped her.

But he did see it, and his heart ached for her. That raw-boned animal, past his best, was all she had in the world to love.

Suddenly her strength seemed to drain away. Leo quickly took hold of her.

‘That’s it, you’re going to bed. Don’t argue because I won’t take no for an answer.’

He kept his arm firmly fixed about her waist in case she had any other ideas, but she was too weary to argue, and let him lead her away to the house and up the stairs to her room.

‘Goodnight,’ he said at her door. ‘Sleep well.’

‘Leo, you don’t understand,’ she confided in a low voice. ‘I can’t sleep in that bed. It’s too soft. Every time I move it bounces.’

His lips twitched. ‘They’re supposed to. Still, I know what you mean. If it’s not what you’re used to it can be worse than stones. You’ll just have to try to put up with all this comfort. You’ll get used to it.’

‘Not me,’ she said with conviction, and slipped into her room.

He stood looking at the closed door, a prey to unfamiliar feelings that confused him. He wanted to follow her into her bedroom, not to have his evil way, but to ask her to lay her problems on him, and promise to make everything right for her.

Having his evil way could come later. When he’d earned the right.

It was almost dawn when the last guest drove away, waving an arm out of the window and yodelling, ‘See ya!’ Bleary eyed and cheerful, the household drifted off to bed.

Leo sat down on his bed with a feeling of pleasant vagueness. The evening had contained much bourbon and rye, especially the last part, after he’d said goodnight to Selena and returned to the festivities. Now he was at peace with the world.

But he didn’t miss the sound of footsteps that stopped outside Selena’s bedroom door. A pause, then a soft creak as the door was opened. That was enough to make Leo’s tipsy haze pass, and send him out into the corridor in time to catch Paulie halfway through Selena’s door.

‘Why, isn’t this nice?’ he said in a voice that made Paulie jump. ‘Both of us so concerned about Selena that we couldn’t sleep until we knew she was fine.’

Paulie gave him a glassy smile. ‘Can’t neglect a guest.’

‘Paulie, you’re an example to us all.’

Leo was moving into the room as he spoke, switching on the light. Then both men stopped, taken aback by the sight of the empty bed.

‘That tomfool female has gone back to the stables,’ Leo muttered.

‘No I haven’t,’ came from a heap on the floor.

Leo switched on the bedside light and saw the heap separate itself into its various parts, which included a blanket, a pillow, and one tomfool female whose red hair stood up on her head in a shock.

‘What is it?’ she asked, sitting up. ‘Has something happened?’

‘No, Paulie and I were concerned for you, so we came to see how you were.’

‘That’s very kind,’ she said, guessing the truth at once. ‘I’m fine.’

‘She’s fine, Paulie. You can go to bed now, and sleep tight.’ Leo sat down on the floor beside Selena with the air of a man taking root.

‘Er-well, I just-’

‘Goodnight, Paulie.’ They spoke as one.

Forced to accept defeat, Paulie backed himself out of the door. The last thing they saw was his scowl.

‘I could have coped, you know,’ Selena said.

‘When you’re well, I’m sure you could,’ Leo said tactfully. ‘But let’s wait until then. Underneath Paulie’s flabby exterior there’s a very ugly customer waiting to get out.’

‘I reckoned that. But that’s three times in one day you’ve come galloping to my rescue. I just don’t want you to think I’m a wimp.’

‘After the day you’ve had, aren’t you entitled to be just a bit of a wimp?’

‘Nobody is entitled to be a wimp.’

‘Sorry!’

‘No, I’m sorry,’ she said contritely. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude. I know you were trying to be kind, but all this rescuing is getting to be a bad habit.’

‘I promise not to do it again. Next time I’ll abandon you to your fate, I swear.’

‘Do that.’

‘Are you all right on the floor?’

‘I put up with the bed as long as I could,’ she complained, ‘but it’s insane. Every time I turned over I went six feet in the air. This is much better.’

‘I’d better leave before I fall asleep.’ Suddenly he found himself vague. ‘Where am I? Is the party over?’

‘Must be.’ She smiled, fully understanding. ‘Was the whisky very good?’

‘Barton’s whisky is always good. And I should know. I had plenty of it.’

‘Shall I help you back to your room?’

‘I think I can make it. Lock your door when I’m gone. I wouldn’t put it past Delia’s little boy to try again.’

But then he remembered that the door it didn’t lock. He sighed. There was only one thing for it.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked as he returned to the bed and scooped up a blanket and pillow.

‘What does it look as if I’m doing?’ he said, dropping to the floor and stretching out across the door. ‘If he can open this door now he’s a better man than I take him for.’

‘You promised to leave me to my fate next time,’ she reminded him indignantly.

‘I know, but you can’t trust a word I say.’

Blessed sleep was overtaking him. His last coherent thought was that he’d be made to suffer for this in the morning.

But at least she would be safe.

He awoke feeling better than he had any right to after what he recalled of the barbecue. Already he could sense the house stirring about him, and reckoned it was safe to leave her.

It was better to be gone before she awoke. He wouldn’t have known what to say to her. Inside him he was jeering at himself for going into what he ironically called ‘chivalrous mode’.

That was something he’d never done before in his life. The women whose company he sought were cut from the same cloth as himself, and after much the same things. Fun, laughter, uncomplicated pleasure, a good time had by all, and no hearts broken. It had always worked beautifully.

Until now.

Now, suddenly, he found himself acting like a knight in shining armour, and it worried him.

Chivalry or no, he dropped gently down beside her sleeping form, and studied her face. Her colour had improved since last night and he could see that she slept, as he always did himself, dead to the world, like a contented animal.

She’d removed her dressing, so that the cut and bruise on her forehead showed up starkly against her pallor. She had a funny little face, he thought, right now looking as vulnerable as child’s, with the caution and worldly wisdom smoothed from it by sleep.

He reflected on the story she’d told him the night before, and guessed that she’d learned too much of the world in one way, and not enough in another.

He had an almost overmastering desire to lean down and kiss her, but the next moment he was glad he hadn’t, because she opened her eyes. They were wonderful eyes, large and sea deep, and they made the child vanish.