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.She thought fleetingly of Don, and the times he had taken her out on her birthday, but no real emotion stirred her at the memories.The tea poured, she put down the pot and picked up the sandwiches.He took one from the plate and put it on the one in front of him.The children were chattering, excited about the party.Barry wanted to know if he could go to the shops to look for a present, but Tamsin said she was going to pick Auntie Jane a bunch of flowers from the garden.‘I haven’t any money to buy a present,’ Barry said, looking at his uncle.‘Will you please give me some ?’‘Barry!’ exclaimed Jane, horrified.‘You do not ask for money!’But to her surprise Philippe only laughed good-humouredly and promised that Barry should have some money and that Bhoosan would take him to the shops.Jane, hot with embarrassment at the idea of her employer giving Barry money for a present for her, would have protested, but at that moment Yvette came up, looking cool and lovely in a crisp leaf-green dress of linen, cut low to reveal shapely shoulders and to show off to advantage the beautiful diamond and sapphire necklace she was wearing.‘Philippe! I’ve been looking for you everywhere! I never expected you to be here, having tea with the children and their—nanny!’ No mistaking the intonation when the last word was spoken, or the malevolent expression in the eyes that met Jane’s in a prolonged and narrowed stare.‘A pleasant change,’ returned Philippe imperturbably as he rose with the intention of giving Yvette his chair.She flung a hand arrogantly and said she was going for a walk.‘I shall see you later, then.’ Philippe glanced over her svelte figure with eyes that could only be described as indifferent.‘Dinner will be a little late this evening, as I’ve some work to do.I shall be in my study until about nine o’clock.’Yvette frowned heavily.She was angry and some of the colour had left her face, giving it a look of transparency that was far from attractive.‘What time’s dinner to be, then?’‘Around half-past nine, or even ten o’clock.’Yvette’s glance went from Philippe to Jane and back again, an ugly line curving her mouth.It was plain that she blamed Jane for the lateness of dinner, since if Philippe were not taking tea with her and the children he would be in his study doing the work which he was intending to do later.Before she had time to speak Barry was saying.‘We’re having a tea-party on Saturday! It’s Auntie Jane’s birthday!’‘A party?’ echoed Yvette, her frown deepening.‘Just for us four! It’s going to be on the beach!’‘A party for four?’ The arched brows lifted fractionally, ‘How very exciting.’ The sarcasm was of course lost on the children and Barry was soon asking Yvette if she would like to come to the party.‘Then it’ll make five! ’ he added.‘Miss Sutcliffe will have gone to her own home by then, Barry.’ Philippe was still standing by his chair, one strong brown hand resting on the back of it.‘She is leaving us on Friday.’‘I could stay till Saturday evening.’ Smooth the tone, and faintly challenging.‘Certainly, if you would like to come to the party, Yvette,’ was Philippe’s gracious rejoinder.‘I’ll think about it,’ she told him shortly, and a moment later she was gone.Meri and Rima prepared the party, bringing out a low table and chairs, while Barry and Tamsin helped by carrying cutlery and plates and cups and saucers.For Jane it was something entirely new and she was happy for the children, but she had to agree with what Meri had said earlier about its not being a real party since there were not enough people.However, the presence of their uncle was a real treat for the children and the absence of other children seemed to trouble them not at all.Barry had been out with Bhoosan, who took him to several shops before Barry managed to get what he wanted.Bhoosan told Jane afterwards that he had never met a child so particular in his choice
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