"This meal is perfect as always Hillary." James told him as Hillary served some wine.

"Lady Croft told me that it was your favourite." Hillary said out of duty. He could not stand James for what had happened and the torture he was putting Lara through but he knew his place and would not step aside from it.

"She was right, is there any chance you could put the air conditioning on as you leave? This room is awfully stuffy." He asked making Hillary feel like his servant where as Lara treated him more as a friend.

"I'm afraid we do not have the pleasure of such a thing Sir. I could open a window?" Lara could hear the strain to be polite in Hillary's voice and decided to step in.

"It's fine Hilly, it's just as warm outside so it wouldn't make a difference. I just wish this heat wave would pass on. Then maybe we could all be a bit more comfortable." She smiled at him.

"As you wish..." Hillary answered and left the dining hall leaving Lara and James alone.

"I don't get what his problem is? Why do you put up with such an attitude from him Lara?" James asked as he helped himself to some more of the wine that had been left on the table.

"Because he has been a permanent fixture of this house and of my life since I was born." She told him flatly.

"Well, when we get married a lot of changes are going to have to happen around here."

"Like what? I like things the way they are."

"Well, like the house, you need air conditioning in here. These heat waves are to become a regular thing and we don't want our guests getting hot while they are eating do we?"

"James, this is a listed building before any work goes on here it needs to be approved by the English Heritage." Lara told him, she liked the house the way it was and didn't want it changing. Her name was on the deeds after all.

"I'll give them enough money for them to let me do what I want around this place. After this weeks meeting and gaining that new company our finances are going from strength to strength." He said with pride.

"I was going to ask you about the meeting. I'm glad it went well." Lara said, her years in finishing school had taught her that the man is always right and to flatter his job and career.

"Yes it did. I had a lot of people ask about you and how you were." He said taking a bit of his steak.

"Oh? And what did you tell them?" Lara asked completely uninterested so taking a sip of the wine.

"I told them that you were fine and that plans for the wedding were going ahead smoothly." He looked up at her. "They also asked about the little fiasco in the papers."

"And I hope you told them it was all lies."

"Well I could hardly do that now could I? In fact since that story broke we have had a lot more media interest in the company which has resulted in some possible takeovers."

"I'm glad that my suffering has helped your business James." Lara snapped.

"Lara, don't be like that. I have had all the embarrassment from this and I feel as though you are not supporting me." He looked angry, he knew he could get what he wanted from her if he used the reaction of being upset. She knew that if he got upset or angry her father would be the first to know about it. Immediately she backed down and broke her stone exterior.

"I'm sorry James. I will try and support you." She said quietly. He leant over to her and took her hands in his.

"Listen to me, I know this story must have been embarrassing for you as well so how about we come to a deal?" He asked soothingly

"What kind of deal?"

"I will keep Neal away from you so you have no need to be upset in any way and you and me get back to normal?" He smiled at her in a convincing way.

"How do you mean?" She knew what he meant and what he wanted.

"We start acting as partners again, no more separate rooms at night and no more fighting over stupid things." He rubbed over the scar on her hand. "Just you and me and you have my word that Neal will be nothing more than a business acquaintance to me and therefore have no reason to be near you." Lara sat confused. It felt so wrong. She hadn't been with anyone since that night and the thought of him touching her and being intimate with him made her feel sick. Yet if she did he had promised that Neal would not come near her. She would be safe from him, never have to be put in danger again. Was it really such a big price to pay for her safety? James sat looking at her and he looked so convincing. It could work.

"Ok, James swear to me that is the deal we will stick to."

"I swear to you!" He took his hand from hers and crossed his heart with his finger. Then he took her hand in his and shook it. She smiled and felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. He leant forward over the table and kissed her, she kissed him back. Her mind telling her that it wouldn't be as bad as what she had thought it would be, she had history with James and had no need to be afraid of being intimate with him. Telling herself it would be over quickly made her feel a bit better and she kissed James with more passion while she felt strong enough to be able to go through with it. Then suddenly and with no warning James stopped the kiss and held her by her shoulders. She looked at him confused.

"I'm sorry Lara but I can't carry on with this until I know something." He said gently. She didn't know whether to feel relieved that she might be excused from what was to come or scared that he didn't feel that way and use it as a reason to have a talk with her father over how unsuitable she was.

"What is it?" She asked her lip trembled slightly.

"I can't forget what you said about Neal that night. It's just if you were telling the truth and he had raped you I don't know if I could be intimate with you again." He looked at the floor as he said it. "It just wouldn't be the same being with you. I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable by putting you through that and I don't know if I could perform if I thought for one minute that you were thinking of it."

It was as though he was reading her mind. "James, I…" she started.

"I need to know Lara, however horrible and nasty it is of me to say this but if you were then I can't see a future between us if I could not be physically satisfied. I want children. I want them with you." He looked at her with a tear in his eye. She realised if this was going to work she would have to lie to him. He seemed so caring and loving, thinking of her feelings and not forcing her into a decision. This was how she wanted him to be.

"I made it up." She said very quietly, almost a whisper.

"What was that?" he asked her.

"I made it up." She said again a bit louder. He took her into his arms and put her head against his chest.

"Why? I just want to understand what's going on." He said.

"I thought you would be mad at me if you found out so I lied to cover my own back. I'm sorry James." She started crying, she hated lying and to make out that she had made the choice to be with Neal rather than have him force himself on her, hurt her so badly.

"I forgive you and I have to say it's a relief. Now look me in the eyes and tell me again." She sat up and looked in his eyes.

"I lied, Neal never raped me." She said it convincingly but inside her heart was breaking in bits.

"Thank you for being honest with me. Now listen, I want you to go upstairs and put something nice on for me. I will be up in a minute." He kissed her on the lips and she nodded and walked out of the door. As she walked up the stairs she burst into tears, she was scared of James being with her tonight. She hoped she could hold it together for long enough for him to be satisfied. If not he would know she lied and the relationship would be over. She walked into the bedroom and shut the door.

James however was quite busy. He helped himself to a glass of expensive whiskey and sat in one of the plush chairs that sat in front of the fireplace in the living room. A smile plastered on his face he took a mobile phone out of his pocket and rang a number stored on speed dial. No answer he left a message.

"Neal, it's James. I have just had a heart to heart with Lara and she has admitted you never raped her. What's more I have it on tape. I believed you all along mate and wanted you to know you don't have to worry anymore. She can't go to the police cause I have evidence she lied. Anyhow, I'm about to go to bed with her so don't come over to early if you know what I mean! Talk later." Snapping the lid on the phone shut he smiled and finished off the rest of the glass thoroughly proud of himself. He then threw the glass into the fireplace and made his way upstairs.