Chapter One Hundred and Fifty Three

"Hello —what's the time?" he asked.

"Seven fifteen" Penny told him. "I have brought you a cup of tea"

Jeremy sat up. Completely unselfconscious, he stretched his arms, rubbed his chest, and grinned at her like a school boy.

"Gosh! I feel good" he said. "Darling, put that cup of tea down and come here".

Obediently, Penny placed the cup on the bedside table and sat down beside him, pulling her dressing gown across her knees

"Modest little sweet, aren't you?" he said, still smiling. But before she could answer, he pulled her against him with a quick gesture and kissed her on the mouth. Then he held her at arms length and said :

"Let me look at you. Yes, you are still as lovely as ever. Some women look ghastly in the morning... You both look and smell beautiful"

"I've just had a bath" Penny replied, but she was thinking : 'I was right. There have been other women... Women who looked ghastly in the morning'

She drew away from him and reached for the tea pot.