SILK WICKEDNESS 8

She feigned indifference.

Ryan was grinning fit to split. ‘And then you’ll do the ears bit, and the teeth bit, and then you’ll say, “Goodneth me, Mithter Wolf, ith there one thingle thing about you that ithn’t abtholutely whopping?” And then Big Bad Wolf 11 - ’

‘I get the message.’ Acting harder than she ever had in her life, Claudia flopped into her chair with a yawn. ‘Sounds a bit tame for a rugby club, if you ask me.’

It was no comfort to see the grin wiped off his face as he left. He had deflated, just as if somebody had stuck a pin in him.

Kate was out when she got home. She had left a note.

Paul’s dragging me off to some do in darkest Hampshire. Will stay the night as will probably be far too ratso

to drive back.

See you tomorrow, luv K. XXXX.

Paul was Kate’s latest and had already lasted four months, which was a record, for Kate.

Typical , she thought. Just when I need a shoulder to moan on.

After a long, soaky bath she donned the tartan flannelette pyjamas her mother had besto