‘I feel for you. My childhood was great once I went to live with Nana and Gramps, they were everything a kid could want.’

‘Your parents? Do you remember much?’ A soft query; he knew some of the answer, but not all.

‘Not much. I was only four when they died. I remember my parents working at home, in long stretches like I often do, sometimes all night, so their nerves probably weren’t the calmest. They were computer geeks like me. I’d wake up at night when they’d be screaming at each other – I suppose they didn’t want to fight in front of me. It wasn’t often, but a kid remembers that. It’s scary. Otherwise they were super good to me, played with me, read to me, had tea parties with me and my toys.’ She shrugged. ‘Anyway, a little childhood angst. What can I say?’

He’d read about her parents in the brief. Both young hotshot software programmers, mother a Berkeley graduate where she’d met the father, father from a prominent Bay family who’d disowned him when he’d married a woman they saw as from the raw hinterlands and unacceptable. (That’s why Katherine used her mother’s surname.) Her parents’ car had gone over a cliff on Highway 1 north of San Francisco; according to the police report, alcohol was involved.

‘So don’t scream at me,’ Kate said. ‘I don’t like it.’ She smiled. ‘Not that I don’t do my share of arguing, but I don’t as a rule scream. Some Freudian shit I’ve never looked at too closely. I figure ignorance is bliss. And like you, there’s lots of people who have had much tougher lives than me. I have no complaints other than my slight paranoia with screaming.’

He held up his hand. ‘Promise. No screaming.’ As for any more of his family memories, no way he was going there. ‘Ready for one more game? Then we have to bath and dress for a cocktail party. Don’t scowl. I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want you pouting all day. We just have to stay for two hours.’

She groaned. ‘Why do I have to go?’

‘Because I’d miss you if you didn’t.’

‘No, really, why do I have to go?’

‘Really, cross my heart, I’d miss you. Some charity event Max’s wife helped organize had to shift venues when the hostess had a heart attack. I just found out about it yesterday. I tried to get out of it, couldn’t, and there you are – my companion at a boring cocktail party to raise funds for the Hong Kong Philharmonic. You can meet the President of Hong Kong, if you’re interested.’

She groaned louder this time.

‘My exact reaction. Max ignored me.’

‘You’re sure it’s OK with Max’s wife if I show up?’

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’

She shrugged. ‘Because I’m your current fuckee.’

‘You’re also a contractor for Knight Enterprises. And Olivia couldn’t care less. If I like you, she’ll like you. End of story. Don’t argue.’

A doleful grimace. ‘Do I get a reward for this miserable assignment?’

‘The minute the two hours are up.’ He didn’t have to ask what she meant.

‘So we’re talking nine-oh-one?’

‘Or as soon as I can chase you upstairs. We can stay at my house, if you like. My mother’s gone.’

‘I don’t care. You decide.’

‘We can decide later.’ He liked the isolation here. But it didn’t matter enough to dispute the point should Katherine prefer the house. ‘Would you like someone to come in and do your hair and make-up?’

She slammed him with a look. ‘Do I need it?’

‘God no, I was just being polite. Some women – don’t glare at me – I meant women in the generic sense. I’ve never had anyone ever brought in to do make-up and hair, here or anywhere.’

‘Greta,’ she reminded him with a narrowed glance.

‘They were her clothes. Who better than she to help you?’

‘Because I needed help?’

‘No, because I needed her to convince you to wear them.’

She sighed. ‘A part of me still thinks I should have refused.’

‘No, you shouldn’t have. You look gorgeous in all her things. It pleases me.’

‘So I must please you?’ The small familiar rebellion in her voice, her intrinsic need for autonomy in a constant struggle with her sexuality.

‘You never have to do anything you don’t want to do,’ he softly replied. ‘You know that.’

She studied a chess piece briefly, then looked up and met his gaze squarely. ‘I like to please you.’ She smiled. ‘You’re my dangerous unknown, my high-risk rush, my obsession. And best of all, I always get rewarded.’

‘We both do. You constantly delight me in every possible way.’ He was silent for a moment, feeling as though he’d said too much. ‘So one more game? Loser has to bath the winner?’

This game he deliberately lost.

CHAPTER 19

His tub was an oversized claw-foot model placed on an oriental carpet in the centre of an alcove adjacent to the bathroom. The arrangement, long an aristocratic practice, allowed servants to bath their masters, a circumstance not unlike that taking place at the Garden House. Not that anyone would characterize Dominic Knight as hired help, but he was definitely helpful in this instance for his own selfish reasons.

Needless to say, the bath took longer than usual because ultimately Dominic joined Kate, one thing led to another and by the time they climbed out of the tub, the carpet was soaked. Dominic placated Kate with conciliatory remarks about his well-paid staff who didn’t mind in the least if there was a little water on the floor as he led her into the bedroom and shut the door behind them.