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Rowena get along all right,’ said Lewis quietly. ‘She’s going through a difficult time at the moment. The film we’re getting ready is going to test her like she’s neverbeen tested before. She needs a lot of understanding and support. Sometimes she can seem difficult, but it’s insecurity. You find most actors and actresses are basically insecure.’
    ‘I’d be insecure if my work depended on my appearance,’ said Harriet.
    Lewis looked directly at her. ‘I don’t think you’d have any reason for your insecurity.’
    Harriet went warm at the unexpected compliment and couldn’t think how to respond. ‘I think Rowena’s beautiful,’ she said eventually.
    ‘She was beautiful, but at thirty the camera can be very unkind.’
    ‘Is she thirty? She doesn’t look it!’ exclaimed Harriet.
    Lewis raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re learning fast. That’s exactly the kind of thing she needs to hear.’
    ‘But it’s true,’ protested Harriet.
    ‘Having you here won’t help her believe that,’ he remarked.
    ‘Well, she chose me. It isn’t my fault I’m only twenty-three.’
    ‘Of course not,’ said Lewis reassuringly, knowing that it was he and not Rowena who’d chosen Harriet, and his choice had been a very careful one. He needed to stoke Rowena’s insecurity, to trigger off some form of jealousy if the plan was to work. It was the only way he could think of to help her.
    An awkward silence fell, but then the door opened and Rowena returned with a slim, blond-haired, blue-eyed young man behind her. His complexion was fresh and at first glance he looked little more than a boy, but on closer inspection Harriet thought he was probably in his late twenties.
    ‘Chris, this is Harriet Radcliffe,’ said Rowena proudly. ‘Harriet, I’d like you to meet Chris Falkener, my half-brother.’
    Harriet sat forward on the sofa and shook hands with the young man who was staring at her quite openly. ‘You’re a knock-out!’ he exclaimed in apparent surprise. ‘Whatever were you thinking of, Rowena, letting a beautiful young lady like this loose in the house?’
    To Harriet’s dismay Rowena flushed and in the light from the window it looked as though there were tears in her eyes, although when she spoke her voice was quite steady. ‘Don’t be silly, Chris, you’ll embarrass Harriet. Besides, why shouldn’t I have an attractive personal assistant for a change? You know I like beautiful things around me.’
    ‘Things yeah, but not women. Well, you’re the nicest surprise I’ve had since Christmas, Harriet. Welcome to our little family.’
    Harriet smiled politely, but her first impression of him wasn’t favourable. He seemed spoilt and ill-mannered, and it was difficult to believe he was Rowena’s half-brother.
    After the introductions a maid was summoned to take Harriet to her rooms. ‘If there’s anything you don’t like, let me know,’ said Rowena with a smile. ‘We want you to feel really at home here. Part of the family unit.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Harriet politely, privately thinking that as a personal assistant she was unlikely to be involved in their domestic life, and in any case it was hardly a family. A husband, wife and half-brother didn’t seem to her to symbolise a close-knit unit, exclusion from which would be devastating. She decided it was just atypical exaggeration by an actress.
    Her rooms astonished her. She had expected them to be large, but not particularly plush. In fact the bedroom, decorated in varying shades of blue, looked large enough for two couples rather than a single female. The deep blue carpet flecked with white was wool, its pile thick and luxurious beneath her feet, and was beautifully complemented by the blue curtains patterned with tiny white flowers. As for the bed, Harriet could hardly believe her eyes at the sight of it.
    It was enormous, the largest bed she’d ever seen, and at each corner an ornate gold column rose up at least five feet towards the