When the Devil Drives

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As she heard the doorbell peal, she went on swift and silent feet backto her room, and waited for Mrs Thursgood to admit him.She gave herself a long, critical 190k in the mirror. Her slim navylinen skirt, and the pure silk cream shirt she wore with it, looked neatand uncompromisingly businesslike. She'd drawn her hair severelyback from her face and confined it at the nape of her neck with a widenavy ribbon.She'd had plenty of time to prepare for this confrontation. Simon hadphoned mid-morning to tell her that Fiona was being kept in forobservation, at her own insistence.'She's a bit fraught, Jo.' He'd sounded thoroughly miserable. 'Hit theroof when I suggested pushing off.' He'd paused. 'I feel an absoluteworm about this. Do you think you can cope with Blackstone—feedhim some story or other to keep him off for a while?''I can try,' she'd said wearily. 'Cheer up, Si. I hope Fiona feels bettersoon.'Now Mrs Thursgood was tapping at her door. 'Your visitor's come,madam. I've put him in't drawing- room.'Joanna counted to ten, breathing deeply, then walked sedately alongthe broad landing and down the stairs. She didn't hesitate at thedrawing-room door, but went straight in, closing it behind her.He was standing on the rug in front of the empty fireplace, studyingher grandfather's portrait. At the sound of her entry, he turned, thegrey eyes skimming over her, missing nothing.'Good afternoon, Mrs Bentham.' The cool laconic voice grated on her.'A historic moment, wouldn't you say?'
'Hardly a giant step for mankind, Mr Blackstone,' she returned withequal insouciance. 'Perhaps you'd like to state your business.''I'm sure your brother's informed you of the changes that have takenplace during your—period of mourning.'Joanna shrugged. 'I understand you now have a financial interest inthe Craft Company.''It's more than that. As far as money's concerned, I am the CraftCompany.' He glanced round. 'May I sit down?''If you wish.' She pretended faintly surprised amusement. 'Is thisgoing to be a long interview? I do have other plans...''Then cancel them,' he said pleasantly, seating himself on the sofa. 'I'dprefer your undivided attention.' He leaned back, crossing his longlegs. 'I gather Simon will not be joining us.' - She hesitated. 'His wifeisn't very well.''I'm sorry to hear it.' He didn't sound even slightly regretful. 'She musttake after her mother. She's thoroughly enjoyed very poor health foryears. Apparently medical science is baffled.'He'd captured the lady's martyred tones with wicked accuracy. To herannoyance, Joanna discovered an unwilling giggle welling up insideher, and hastily turned it into a cough.'Can we get back to the business in hand, please?' She took thearmchair opposite to him. 'I suppose you want to know when you'llsee some tangible return on your investment.''No,' he said. 'I'm prepared to bide my time on that. There are other farmore pressing matters between Simon and myself.' He reached intothe inside pocket of his jacket and extracted a small sheaf of papers,
Page 2 and 3: WHEN THE DEVILDRIVESSara Craven
Page 4 and 5: CHAPTER ONE'SIMON, you don't—you
Page 6 and 7: Because Cal Blackstone wasn't inter
Page 8 and 9: Joanna bit her lip hard. It was Phi
Page 10 and 11: ack in his face, for God's sake.' H
Page 12 and 13: 'Here?' Joanna stared at him, appal
Page 14 and 15: Know your enemy, had been one of Jo
Page 16 and 17: By the time she'd fetched the jack,
Page 18 and 19: Joanna sniffed delicately, grimacin
Page 20 and 21: Cal Blackstone threw back his head
Page 22 and 23: 'Ah, but it will,' he said softly.
Page 24 and 25: CHAPTER TWOTHE mist swirled thickly
Page 26 and 27: 'After all,' Fiona had often pouted
Page 30 and 31: held together by an elastic band. H
Page 32 and 33: She didn't want to hear any more. H
Page 34 and 35: 'And so it will be soon,' he said s
Page 36: 'I don't need twenty-four seconds,'
Page 40 and 41: Why the hell was she worrying about
Page 42 and 43: 'Not yours to that extent. Simon, a
Page 44 and 45: 'And having my private affairs chew
Page 46 and 47: CHAPTER THREEDOWN by the reservoir,
Page 48 and 49: She started violently. She'd been s
Page 50 and 51: 'Isn't that what all men want?'He s
Page 52 and 53: Joanna's watch said eight o'clock p
Page 54 and 55: the wedding ceremony, even in the n
Page 56 and 57: 'I wouldn't blame it,' he said dril
Page 58 and 59: She sat rigidly on the edge of the
Page 60 and 61: 'It's all right, sweetie,' her fath
Page 62 and 63: 'You don't need to make excuses for
Page 64 and 65: His hand slid under her hair, lifti
Page 66 and 67: CHAPTER FOURJOANNA awoke from sleep
Page 68 and 69: 'You were clearly in a highly nervo
Page 70 and 71: 'You intend to go on with this—ob
Page 72 and 73: The living-room, she found, had alr
Page 74 and 75: Her smile was civil but totally dis
Page 76 and 77: 'No one would ever regard your gran
Page 78 and 79:
on your wedding night? Did you keep
Page 80 and 81:
line of her throat to his mouth. He
Page 82 and 83:
He moved out of the doorway, allowi
Page 84 and 85:
Because she knew now, quite unequiv
Page 86 and 87:
action would be to hire a business
Page 88 and 89:
of some way by now to keep him off
Page 90 and 91:
CHAPTER FIVEJOANNA felt better afte
Page 92 and 93:
'How very good of you.' Joanna's fa
Page 94 and 95:
And the trouble is it could all be
Page 96 and 97:
with you to show you a cottage at N
Page 98 and 99:
lavish arrangement of dried flowers
Page 100 and 101:
There was a sudden burning ache in
Page 102 and 103:
'Where do you think you're going?'
Page 104 and 105:
thought about us. She assumed that
Page 106 and 107:
She slid into the driving seat and
Page 108 and 109:
Somehow, against all logic and all
Page 110 and 111:
else around. She could not have bor
Page 112 and 113:
Joanna had accepted his occasional
Page 114 and 115:
Joanna had felt nauseated, close to
Page 116 and 117:
She drew a deep, quivering sigh, an
Page 118 and 119:
There was a moment of silence, tota
Page 120 and 121:
'I found out while you were in Amer
Page 122 and 123:
She shivered as she remembered the
Page 124 and 125:
CHAPTER SEVENJOANNA spent the follo
Page 126 and 127:
Callum Blackstone had wanted Joanna
Page 128 and 129:
How marvellous to be able to map ou
Page 130 and 131:
The envelope was lying on the carpe
Page 132 and 133:
using for the kitchen units. We've
Page 134 and 135:
'Maybe we should.' Cal's eyes dwell
Page 136 and 137:
'That's our business.' Joanna wonde
Page 138 and 139:
'He never will.' She was hurting so
Page 140 and 141:
She could taste blood in her mouth,
Page 142 and 143:
At the same time, Joanna was sane e
Page 144 and 145:
'That woman has got to go,' Mrs Dri
Page 146 and 147:
Once I would simply have blamed the
Page 148 and 149:
Anthony Chalfont stirred in his une
Page 150 and 151:
traumatic thing. You were his nanny
Page 152 and 153:
from then on.' She sighed. 'He'd ha
Page 154 and 155:
'Oh, we've been in touch with Mr Dr
Page 156 and 157:
CHAPTER NINETHERE was darkness all
Page 158 and 159:
Cal carried Joanna out into the hal
Page 160 and 161:
A moment later the front door bange
Page 162 and 163:
Needless to say, her father had bee
Page 164 and 165:
'Perhaps,' Joanna said evenly. 'But
Page 166 and 167:
It was the same receptionist at the
Page 168 and 169:
She stared at him. 'Why—everythin
Page 170 and 171:
When she was alone, she glanced rou
Page 172 and 173:
een sheer hell for them both. He pr
Page 174 and 175:
In between kisses, they spoke the f
Page 176 and 177:
'There's no need.' His hand gently
Page 178 and 179:
'No, my darling.' Cal looked at her
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When the Devil Drives

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