‘It’s not just me who’s going somewhere,’ he said. ‘We are going away. As in together.’

She was fully awake now. ‘Where? You never said anything yesterday.’ What was going on here? Whatever it was, she liked it. Well, she thought she did.

‘I made a sudden decision last night. I don’t want to get trapped into another evening of drinking and keeping an eye on Cynthia. We’re heading south this morning, milady. To our block of land. Do you or do you not want to see our magnificent country mansion?’

Relief surged through her – and pleasure, too. They’d be alone. No Cynthia. No business meetings. ‘Well, of course I want to see it! Er – what time did you come up to bed last night?’

He pulled a wry face. ‘Just after one o’clock. And that was only because the bar closed. You were sound asleep.’

‘I’m sorry – I meant to wait up for you. That’s why I left the light on.’

He grinned. ‘It had no effect. You seem to have a talent for falling asleep on me.’

Megan nodded, waiting for an explanation of why he had been so late, then, when it didn’t come, telling herself she had to trust Ben. If she didn’t, they’d stand no chance together. But it was hard sometimes. Very hard.

He was over by the wardrobe now, pulling things out and tossing them on to the bed.

‘What’s the hurry?’

He came over to the bed. ‘You said you wanted to get away from luxury hotels, didn’t you? Well, we’re getting away. I want to leave before anyone starts ringing or sending me urgent messages. We’ll come back on Monday morning. Well? Are you going to get up, or do I have to tip you out of bed?’ He lifted one corner of the mattress, baring his teeth in a pirate’s grin.

With a shriek, she abandoned her worries and leaped out of the other side of the bed, making for the bathroom. When she returned, wrapped in a towel, his suitcase was nearly full. As she dressed, she started calculating what to take, entering into the spirit of things, her spirits lifting by the minute. ‘You order breakfast for me while I start my packing. Bacon and eggs will be fine. And maybe a few slices of toast. Oh, and a piece of fruit.’

He grimaced. ‘I’ll never understand how you can face that sort of thing so early in the morning.’

‘Because I’m always hungry within half an hour of waking up. You’ll just have to get used to it.’