Lost heritage by Rebecca Stratton Page A

line; that was what you threatened me with last night, wasn't it?'
    *And I meant it, ma fille^ do not doubt it!' . Charlotte gave another anxious pull at her captive arm, looking up at him with bright defiant eyes. The worst thing that he could do was carry out his threat, and somehow she had a secret conviction that he was not going to do that.
    'Would Madame Menais let you?' she taunted, and caught her breath when Raoul swore vehemently in French.
    He pulled her close, so close that the muscular strength of his body sent small rippling shivers along her spine, and held her there for a moment while he looked down into her flushed face. His mouth looked hard and cruel and it was instinct that made her half-turn her head away when he brought his face down to hers.
    *You play a dangerous game,' he murmured against her cheek. *There is little Mademoiselle Villeaux could teach you about the art of provocation, but take care that you do not play it too well, mademoiselle ! I have no wife to consider and, as a Frenchman, I would feel it ungallant to refuse what was so tantalisingly offered!'
    Charlotte struggled against the strong hands that held her so firmly, but struggling, she discovered, added to the eroticism of the situation. She could not hope to free herself and his eyes had a deep, gleaming darkness that aroused dangerous responses from her. From the comer of her eye she saw his mouth come closer and instinctively closed her eyes.
    *I am a man, ma fille,^ he said between clenched teeth, his breath hot on her cheek. 'Which is something you seem to forget!'
    Whether or not she had intended to object, Charlotte was never sure, but he put one large hand to the back of her head and brought her face round to him, then pressed his

    mouth hard over hers until she was breathless. There was nothing of love or even gentleness in the kiss, just the sheer determination to dominate, and yet Charlotte was unable to do other than respond to it.
    He let her go slowly, his mouth lingering on her soft lips, reluctant to leave them, it seemed, and when he looked down into her flushed face there was a curious look of surprise in the grey eyes. Charlotte said nothing, nor did she move for the moment, her brain spinning with a whole gamut of emotions it was difficult to define.
    Then Raoul dropped his hands and stepped back far enough for her to feel oddly unsteady without his support, so that she reached back to grip the edge of the desk behind her. His long fingers spread for a second only in a curiously apologetic gesture, then he shrugged back his broad shoulders and turned from her, striding across to his own desk.
    *There is a great deal of work to be done,' he told her in a voice that barely altered in timbre from its normal pitch, and he gathered up some papers on his desk without looking across at her again. 'Let us begin, s*il vous pMt, mademoiselle V
    Charlotte reached for her notebook automatically, but her hands shook quite alarmingly and she glanced across at him, not quite believing he could simply return to normal
    so easily. *You ' she began without really knowing
    what it was she meant to say, and Raoul raised his head, his eyes shadowed by their thick lashes and unintelligible.
    *If you wish me to apologise. Miss Kennedy, I will do so,' he told her with a suggestion of sarcasm. Is that what you —demand?*
    Meeting his eyes for just a moment, Charlotte managed to convey her reproach, then she bent over the noteboc^ on her knee, the pencil poised and a fall of long tawny hair partially hiding her face. *I don't demand anything, man-

    sieuTy^ she told him in a slightly unsteady voice, *and you certainly have no need to apologise for kissing me. As Fve already told you, Fm not as naive as you seem to think, and Fm quite aware of your reason for doing what you did/
    *So?* Raoul's long fingers hovered resdessly over the papers on his desk, then he shook his head. Terhaps you will enlighten me at some time,' he said in a firm cool