s and it had the unique architectural feature of having incorporated one of the city's historic landmarks in its structure-the old Treasury building. Vivienne liked t

uge open quadrangle. Above it-all three storeys of the Treasury Building-was a sky-lighted roof through which sunlight streamed during the day. A huge urn, resplendant with

ceilinged room, furnished with all the formal elegance of a Victorian mansion. All the waiters were in tails, the tables graced

as she was seated with elabora

asked, eyeing her sharp

thank

their glasses. Gabriel Car

d may you savour eve

e said smoothly. 'I int

do, now that you've finished y

a locum for a while... get some

ed appr

en decided he might as well know it now. 'I intend to

that any, sign of disapproval from him might act as a

e care of the people who can't pay for what they need, who don't have anyone to

give. But there had to be some way around it. Be damned if he would see her sent to some godforsaken hole! He could pull some strin

versation was deferred while they m

ar's Eve,' Gabriel said in a deliberate ch

ed her as a father, Vivienne figured, and she kept rigidly to the lines. she had drawn up in her mind. They were very basic ... the provision of a ro

her father because it was a public acknowledgement of her kinship with him, and she would not be de

children had held pride of place all their lives. That wa

tourb-de force,' she remarked lightly.

d welco

teal any of Ar

-status if it meant a chance that I'd approve her choice of second husb

will

th. She was four years older than Vivienne and she had resumed her position as head of

he's a better bet than the high-class wimp she chose last

cynicism. 'Don't you care t

taking on, it's most likely she doesn't want to know. If I tell her, she'll only think I'm trying to destroy her one

possible she held the fate of her half-sister in her hands made

ts, no strings attached, and he sti

ter raised a sc

ought him off. And hate me for it.' He looked at Vivienn

N

xtend that far. 'What you suggest ... I would do that for you, Vivienne, because you have the strength of charact

Father. I have my own ways and means,' Vivienne informe

ante, his other daughter a superficial socialite: but Vivienne was of the same fibre as himself and

gh of her to make a fair judgement. I leave it to

he lived long enough ... if his heart didn't give out before he could close the gap b

cerned,' he said tiredly. 'All I can do is kee

bear fruit some time in the future. He decided it was worth a try. 'My door is always

at him. 'I didn't

e for you to take ... when you w