He didn’t let go, just took hold of her other wrist and pulled her closer to him. A thrill ran through her, but she didn’t answer, couldn’t find the breath, somehow.

His voice became lower, softer. ‘I asked you a question. Would you answer it, please?’

She was still filled with anger. She had been altogether too meek since they got married. Well, that was over now. So Ben was rich! Well, money wasn’t everything. She had got to stop letting it worry her and – and just get on with living. And he was the one who’d made such a parade of needing loyalty from a wife.

‘I must admit,’ she said, articulating her words with care, ‘that I don’t enjoy dining with my husband’s former mistress. Who would? And I feel sorry for that nice man who’s married to her. She probably drove him to the heart attack.’

‘You are jealous!’ He sounded surprised.

‘I’m not!’ A tearful snort escaped her control and as she felt his eyes on her, she shrugged and tried to blink the tears away. But they wouldn’t go, so she smeared them away with her fingers, muttering, ‘Well, any wife would be.’

‘Cynthia’s not my mistress now. And it was a very brief affair. Strangely enough, I’m the one who introduced her to Nick.’

‘I bet she got the grappling hooks out as soon as she saw his bank balance!’

Ben opened his mouth then shut it again. That was an uncomfortably accurate summary of how Cynthia had reacted to Nick’s open admiration. ‘You’re right. He’s a lot richer than I am.’

Megan couldn’t help asking, ‘Why didn’t you marry her yourself? She’s certainly a luscious piece!’

He scowled at her. ‘Cynthia always knew I wasn’t interested in marriage. I made that plain from the start of our relationship. I didn’t consider her – still don’t – wife material.’

‘Then why did you marry me? I don’t fit into your world. I’m an even less suitable wife for a man like you.’

His voice softened. ‘Because I wanted to marry you – very much – as I never wanted to marry Cynthia. Apart from the physical attraction, you and I both want the same things from a marriage.’

Megan sighed. She wasn’t sure she found this explanation satisfying but didn’t dare push him any further, not with that closed look still on his face. They’d trodden through enough emotional quicksand today. One step at a time, she said to herself. That was becoming her watchword. ‘Well, I know you like Nick, but just don’t expect me even to pretend to be friendly with Cynthia! She’s definitely not my type.’

‘A little common civility is all I ask. Surely that shouldn’t be too difficult?’