Four Warned (Quick Reads 2014) Read Online Free PDF Page A

laughed at his jokes, and even seemed to be interested in his work at
the bank. Well, he had slightly exaggerated his position and the size of the deals he was working on.
    After dinner, which was a little more expensive than he’d anticipated, he drove her back to her home in Pavilion Road, and was surprised when she invited him in for coffee, and even more
surprised when they ended up in bed.
    Jeremy had never slept with a woman on a first date before. He could only assume that it was what ‘the set’ did, and when he left the next morning, he certainly didn’t expect
to ever hear from her again. But she called that afternoon and invited him over for supper at her place. From that moment, they hardly spent a day apart during the next month.
    What pleased Jeremy most was that Arabella didn’t seem to mind that he couldn’t afford to take her to her usual haunts, and appeared quite happy to share a Chinese or Indian meal
when they went out for dinner, often insisting that they split the bill. But he didn’t believe it could last, until one night she said, ‘You do realise I’m in love with you,
don’t you, Jeremy?’
    Jeremy had never shown his true feelings for Arabella. He’d assumed their relationship was nothing more than what her set would describe as a ‘fling’. Not that she’d ever
introduced him to anyone from her set. When he fell on one knee and proposed to her on the dance floor at Annabel’s nightclub, he couldn’t believe it when she said yes.
    ‘I’ll buy a ring tomorrow,’ he said, trying not to think about the awful state of his bank account, which had turned a deeper shade of red since he’d met Arabella.
    ‘Why bother to buy one, when you can steal the best there is?’ she said.
    Jeremy burst out laughing, but it quickly became clear Arabella wasn’t joking. That was the moment he should have walked away, but he realised that he couldn’t if it meant losing
her. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this beautiful and intoxicating woman, and if stealing a ring was what it took, it seemed a small price to pay.
    ‘What type shall I steal?’ he asked, still not altogether sure that she was serious.
    ‘The expensive type,’ she replied. ‘In fact, I’ve already chosen the one I want.’ She passed him a De Beers catalogue.
    ‘Page forty-three,’ she said. ‘It’s called the Kandice Diamond.’
    ‘But have you worked out how I’m going to steal it?’ asked Jeremy, studying a photograph of the faultless yellow diamond.
    ‘Oh, that’s the easy part, darling,’ she said. ‘All you’ll have to do is follow my instructions.’
    Jeremy didn’t say a word until she’d finished outlining her plan.
    That’s how he had ended up in The Ritz that morning, wearing his only tailored suit, a pair of Links cufflinks, a Cartier Tank watch and an old Etonian tie, all of which belonged to
Arabella’s father.
    ‘I will have to return everything by tonight,’ she said, ‘otherwise Pa might miss them and start asking questions.’
    ‘Of course,’ said Jeremy, who was enjoying becoming accustomed to the trappings of the rich, even if it was only a fleeting acquaintance.
    The waiter returned, carrying a silver tray. Neither of them spoke as he placed a cup of mint tea in front of Arabella and a pot of coffee on Jeremy’s side of the table.
    ‘Will there be anything else, sir?’
    ‘No, thank you,’ said Jeremy with an assurance he’d gained during the past month.
    ‘Do you think you’re ready?’ asked Arabella, her knee brushing against the inside of his leg while she once again gave him the smile that had so captivated him at Ascot.
    ‘I’m ready,’ said Jeremy, trying to sound convincing.
    ‘Good. I’ll wait here until you return, darling.’ That same smile. ‘You know how much this means to me.’
    Jeremy nodded, rose from his place and, without another word, walked out of the morning room, across the corridor, through the swing doors and out on