Into Temptation (Spoils of Time 03) by Penny Vincenzi Page A

done it and that’s all that matters.’
    ‘Kit, you’re going to have to forgive her some time,’ said Barty gently.
    ‘Don’t you start on it, for God’s sake. I can’t ever forgive her. Or understand what she’s done.’
    ‘No, all right. Sorry. Let’s just concentrate on having a nice lunch. Did you ever come here when – ’ an imperceptible pause ‘ – when you were a little boy?’
    ‘You mean did I ever come here when I could see? Yes, of course. My mother felt she had to take me to all the smart restaurants. It was part of my education.’ He sighed. ‘I specially liked it here, actually, because of the view of the river. A lot of the others seemed rather boring. I mean the Ritz, all that gilt! So unamusing. I liked Simpsons too, I remember, because of the great big covered silver salvers on wheels and the huge joints of meat. I used to love watching the waiters carving them. The only place she never took me to was Rules. I was always asking her, because I loved the cartoons. Boy took me sometimes. But she wouldn’t.’
    ‘No, she never took me there either,’ said Barty casually. She had a shrewd idea of the reason; she had once suggested she and Sebastian went there, and he had refused.
    ‘Sorry Barty,’ he had said firmly. ‘Rather not. Bad associations.’
    ‘Bad?’
    ‘Well – you know. Painful. A bit, anyway.’
    ‘So,’ she said now, ‘scallops? You always like them.’
    ‘I do. Or have they any asparagus? I might like that.’
    ‘It’s on the menu, yes.’
    ‘Good. Where’s Jenna?’
    ‘With Lucy. The Warwick nanny has taken them both to the zoo.’
    ‘Poor woman.’
    ‘Yes, I shall be surprised if she survives the experience. Still, she insisted.’
    ‘She’s an extraordinary child, Barty. Incredible conversations I’ve had with her. I do wish I’d met Laurence.’
    ‘You don’t need to,’ said Barty laughing, ‘he’s been reborn in his daughter, I cannot believe how alike they are. I sometimes think there’s no Miller in her at all.’
    ‘Her voice is like yours,’ said Kit.
    ‘Of course it’s not. She speaks American.’
    ‘She has that lovely huskiness you have. I’ve always loved your voice.’
    ‘Oh Kit,’ she said, laughing, turning on a Scarlett O’Hara twang. ‘You certainly do know how to flatter a girl.’
    ‘I wish I did,’ he said heavily. ‘I’m not doing very well in that direction. Thirty-three and still a bachelor. Bit sad, wouldn’t you say?’
    ‘Well—’
    ‘Go on,’ he said, his voice heavy suddenly. ‘Go on, admit it. It would be pretty nice to have a girlfriend. A wife. Children.’
    ‘Kit, you will. It’s just—’
    ‘Just what? A matter of time? At this rate, Barty, I’ll be a hundred before I even meet someone.’
    She sighed. ‘You’re very down, aren’t you?’
    ‘No. Well – yes, I am a bit. It’s not just this wretched business of my mother. And leaving Lyttons, which in many ways I don’t want to do. I feel a bit—’
    ‘Stuck?’
    ‘Well, yes. That’s about the size of it. I feel I’ve conquered all the demons I could, I’ve found a career for myself, I can support myself, I’ve got my other interests, music and so on. Is that it, Barty, do you think? Is there going to be any more?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ she said carefully. ‘I wish I did.’ She paused, then said, ‘Look, Kit, why don’t you come and stay with us for a bit? In New York. And no, before you say anything, this is in no way a bid to coerce you, undermine your determination to leave Lyttons. Or even a silly attempt to “buck you up”, in quotes. It’s just that I’d love it, Jenna would love it, and you’d love New York.’
    ‘What would I love about it?’ he said slightly wearily.
    ‘It’s so – exciting. So fast. So busy. And everyone is so alive, so enthusiastic about everything.’
    ‘Would I be able to join in?’
    ‘Of course you would. Look, think about it. Please. I promise you’d have a good time.’
    He